Broncos Know Their New Pass Rushers Can Step Up This Year

The Denver Broncos believe in their new pass rushers, and they’re going to need them to perform in a big way. Jonah Elliss and Que Robinson are the latest members of the Broncos defense who are being counted on to step up, and the level of confidence in both is high. 

That’s because they’re playing well. Robinson had a sack against the Green Bay Packer in the Broncos second preseason game, and Elliss played extremely well in camp to the point where the Broncos are talking about ways to get him on the field. 

Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has unique takes on both players, and he offered it in a piece by Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. 

“My take on Jonah is, when you watched our cut-ups after the season, he played really well, but he didn’t play enough. Same with Que,” Joseph said during the second week of training camp, before Cooper had been placed on the exempt list. “So to get (Elliss) on the field more often and maybe packaged (at inside linebacker) so we can play Que more often also, it’s really team-based to get our better players more reps. If he’s one of our better players, I don’t want him to be watching. I want him to be playing.”

Robinson has learned what it will take for him to get to the next level, even with his Alabama pedigree. His time has come, and he’s going to get his chance now rather than just being a depth piece. 

“I sat by these guys and being able to watch them get to like 68 sacks and stuff like and, man, you get to see the technicality side of it,” Robinson said midway through what became a breakout training camp. “Why they made a certain move and when did they make it? How did they time it up? I just took it all in and just now I’m just getting a chance to apply it.”

Robinson has also receivered a boost from the veterans, as he’s been a veritable sponge in camp so far. 

“It’s a lot easier when you’ve got older guys who believe in you,” he said.

The compliments have come from everywhere, and Robinson is soaking those in, too. He knows he still has a lot of work to do, but the talent is there, and it’s been there all along. 

“It was a good thing for me to hear that from them,” he said about being lauded for the players he made in spot appearances last year. Especially being in my sixth game, not really thinking I’d be playing in that game. It was a good feeling just to know my teammates were behind me. It gave me confidence to go make plays.”