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Denver Broncos home preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers." Denver Broncos Preseason3 things to watch during the Broncos-49ers preseason gameNew Courtland Sutton Jersey White ,161commentsThese are the three big things I’m looking for during the Denver Broncos home preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers. MDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:3 things to watch during the Broncos-49ers preseason gameTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailA little over a week ago, Coach Vic Fangio has said that outside of 40 or so locked in guys, the other roster spots are up for grabs. We’ve reached that point in the preseason where a little clarity has come to some position battles. I wrote about how the Broncos’ stocks are trending last week and while there’s still enough time to halt the ax, this game is huge for the future of guys on the back end of the roster.If you read my questions prior to the Broncos game with the Falcons or Seahawks, you’ll know that some questions remain.You may notice for this week’s projection how I reordered the position battles. This is where I expect players currently stand based on snaps, tape, and reports out of camp. Guys marked yellow are players who’ve intrigue me going into this game, while red guys are players I’d bet are headed towards the practice squad or the street.Where things stand as of August, 18th. These are the three things I’m really keyed in on tonight:1. Can a backup lineman (or two) earn Munchak’s trust?I’ve probably watched the first two preseason games more than any sane person would recommend. One of the biggest concerns I have coming out of game two with the Seahawks is porous second and third lines. Before you panic, this is pretty standard across the NFL. If you’ve read my work for long, you know I’m an ardent believer in Bill Parcell’s planet theory, the idea that there’s simply a short supply of big people who are also athletic enough to thrive in the NFL. It’s why guys like Chris Lindstrom go in the top half of the 2019 NFL Draft despite playing guard: he’s an incredible athlete.What’s most concerning about the Broncos’ shaky depth along the offensive line is when you add in the starting right side’s troubling injury history. Ronald Leary’s health concerns are long past well documented at this point, but Ja’Wuan James has played in 62 of a possible 80 career games and started every game just once since his rookie year in 2014.It wouldn’t surprise me if Elijah Wilkinson’s currently seen as the primary backup behind four of the five spots. Down the 2018 stretch, he started 7 games for the Broncos at right guard and has worked at both tackle spots under Munchak.Behind him, Don Barclay looks like the primary depth inside after playing in place of Ron Leary for the majority of camp. Since coming into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2012, Barclay has worn Packers, Lions, and Saints uniforms in addition to his current orange and blue. So far this preseason he’s had a couple promising moments which have helped to keep most in the media at bay. 15 things I think I think after the Denver Broncos Hall of Fame game - Mile High ReportMake no mistake, his position as OL7 is a bit of an indictment for the younger competition for spots. It would be huge if any of them can show out in week 3.2. Can any of the linebackers push Alexander Johnson?The 27-year old second year pro has quietly been one of the best stories of camp so far. With Todd Davis, Josey Jewell, and Joe Jones all going through various ailments Johnson has locked down a roster spot and impressed with his play on defense.Watching him play, Johnson reminds me of both Davis and Jewell in that he’s more adequate than solid in space, but brings it against the run. Fangio’s scheme and the superstar duo of Bradley Chubb and Von Miller should work to hide the stack linebacker’s athletic limitations in 2019, but I’m curious if any of the younger guys can push Johnson.Justin Hollins looks most likely to. The 2019 5th-round pick has been working at both edge and stack linebacker and shows a ton of promise. Here’s hoping he can get to where Fangio uses him in sub packages. He offers an enticing blend of athleticism, length, and comfort in space to potentially thrive as a chess piece in nickel personnel.However, as exciting as he’s been, it’s important to remember he’s a rookie learning two positions, as Fangio said last Friday:3. Can the young Quarterbacks make a jump?After the first preseason game Joe Flacco Jersey , there was a bit of pessimism in the air about Drew Lock mixed with his ardent believers arguing it was just one game. After the second preseason game, there was a lot of optimism in the air about Drew Lock with the realists arguing it was just one game.You probably see where I’m going with this. I’ve made a point to study Lock’s first two games so far this preseason and can see many of the promising things that had me rank him as my Broncos’ QB2 last April, as well as many of the reasons he scared me to death.Brian Baldinger highlighted Lock’s 10 great throws, which led to even more rampant speculation that the 2nd rounder is well on his way to Canton. It was easy to dismiss Lock’s safety, interception, and his throws into the dirt because of the struggles of the offensive line.This is on Lock as much as anyone. One big reason I’ve held off on any sort of definitive, sweeping statements about Lock thus far is the fact that it’s still so early in the process. He’s still working out how to get the verbiage out in the huddle, for goodness sake. John Elway hit the nail on the head when asked about it Saturday:So going into Monday night with the 49ers, my hope is to see Lock make another jump in his performance as he did from the Hall of Fame game to Seattle.My hope for Rypien is even more simple: I hope to see him. Many of his most ardent fans continue to believe that Hogan’s struggles make Rypien’s chances at the roster far more likely. This simply ignores the reality that Rypien played 0 snaps last Thursday.I continue to believe the Broncos are looking to stash Rypien on the practice squad this year while they carry Hogan or even just two quarterbacks, but the former Boise State Bronco could make that impossible for them if he can string together a few plays like this. The second-year linebacker appreciates the extra attention to the linebacker corps from the head coach." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesMile High Report homepageHorizontal - WhiteMile High Reporta Denver Broncos communityFollow Mile High Report online:Follow Mile High Report on TwitterFollow Mile High Report on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchMile High Report main menuFanpostsFanshotsSectionsBroncosOddsShopAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Broncos NewsBroncos ScheduleBroncos PodcastsBroncos Film RoomBroncos RosterBroncos Injury UpdatesFull ArchiveBroncos StoriesScheduleRosterStatsOdds Shop About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Josey Jewell loves Vic Fangio’s coaching - and his defenseNew,33commentsThe second-year linebacker appreciates the extra attention to the linebacker corps from the head coach.MDTJosey Jewell is the latest Bronco to join the Vic Fangio Fan Club.The second-year linebacker - who one could argue benefitted the most from the Broncos taking fellow Iowa Hawkeye Noah Fant in the first round of the draft instead of fan-favorite linebacker Devin Bush - is feeling more relaxed this season and is taking in all he can from the man considered a defensive guru.“It’s awesome being able to work with these guys every day and being able to hear Coach Fangio talk in our defensive meetings,” he said. “We’ve really learned a lot about defense and different types of concepts. I think with his defense what’s really cool is [the offenses] are never really knowing what you’re in — what coverage you’re in. It really disguises everything really well.”Seeing that in action - and working as designed - will be a relief for Broncos fans who have suffered through inept defense the past few seasons despite all its superstars in the room.And linebackers coach Reggie Herring is doing his part to make sure the linebacker corps is not the defense’s weak link.“He’s an intense guy if you see him,” Jewell said, joking about whether anyone “heard” Herring yelling at them. “He’s a great guy though. He cares about you and he wants everybody do their best to make everybody look good. I respect the guy and I like him as a coach a lot.”And Fangio manages to work in a few critiques of his own.“Maybe [Fangio] walks by us a couple extra times during practices. I don’t know,” Jewell laughed. “He might say a couple more things here and there. I think the criticism is good when we pretty much have two linebackers coaches like that. We have Coach Herring and then we get a little extra from Coach Fangio if he feels the need. I think it’s good we’re getting two sets of eyes on us and really getting a lot of work.”Given that the linebacker position is not just a key piece to Fangio’s scheme but also that it’s becoming an increasingly more important position as offenses utilize tight ends and running backs more in the passing game, Jewell knows he needs to play smart.But he likes how the defense - which Jewell describes as only a little different from last year - helps linebackers cover those tight ends.“Yeah, definitely. With a bunch of different coverages that he has and the way he disguises things, sometimes a quarterback is not going to know what you’re in and not going to know where to pick on you,” Jewell said. “Say you’re in Cover-3 and he thinks you’re in man or something like that. He’s not going to be able to pick it out and know exactly where to go right away and have those quick throws.”Having former Hawkeye teammate Fant on the other side of the field will be helpful for Jewell and the other linebackers figuring out how to cover the growing number of fast, athletic tight ends across the league.“He’s a dude. ...He’s kind of like one of those hybrid guys but not a lot of people give him credit for his blocking. I think he does a great job blocking also,” Jewell said. “His route tree is pretty good, and he can just flat out run. He’s going to be a mismatch for some people.”Trying to overcome that mismatch will be a goal for all the linebackers, and Jewell is aiming to make sure his skillset is one that Fangio needs.“I hope so. Only he can answer that one,” Jewell said about his fit in the scheme. “I definitely hope that’s what he’s looking for. I’m definitely working on a lot of parts of my game here today and through these OTAs.”But Jewell also had complimentary words for his new teammate, Justin Hollins, who is learning/playing both inside and outside linebacker right now.“He seems to be doing great so far just being able to transition from the nickel packages and then in base [defense] going back to outside linebacker. It would be pretty tough, I think,” Jewell noted. “You just have to be able to go home and study a little bit—maybe an hour a day or more—and just be able to understand the different types of concepts you’re trying to learn with different packages.”