Based on Broncos Camp Buzz, DL Dre'Mont Jones is Poised to Take his Game 'To Another Level' in Year 2
Fans wondered why the Denver Broncos only re-signed defensive lineman Shelby Harris to a one-year deal when he was brought back this past spring. With training camp almost complete, the answer can be summed up with two words: Dre'Mont Jones.
The Broncos drafted Jones in the third round last year out of Ohio State and like most rookies, it took him some time to weather the trial-and-error learning curve and get his NFL legs beneath him. By the time Denver hit the home stretch, though, the kid seemed to be firing on all cylinders.
When Derek Wolfe went down with a season-ending elbow injury in Week 13, the Broncos called on Jones to step in and help stop the gap. He did just that, even earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in Week 16 vs. Detroit.
By the time the season ended, Jones had posted 3.5 sacks as a rotational interior rusher. It was a more than encouraging rookie debut and set the stage for higher expectations entering Year 2.
New to the Broncos' defensive line equation is veteran Jurrell Casey, who was acquired via trade from Tennessee during the offseason. A five-time Pro Bowler, Casey quickly took on a mantle of leadership in the room and on the defense and seems to have taken Jones under his wing.
Jones earned a rare compliment from D-line coach Bill Kollar earlier this week, who said that the second-year pro is looking "real good right now." The praise didn't end there, though, as Casey dropped some serious compliments Jones' way following Thursday's practice.
“He’s looking nice out there," Casey said of Jones. "He understands how to play the game. His reaction time is unbelievable. He reminds me of my younger self when I could move twitchy like that. He’s got—I think he’s going to definitely take his game to another level. Working together and just having him out there, being able to work side-by-side with him has definitely been a joy.”
Watching the Broncos practice in camp, it's easy to see that Jones has been highly disruptive as an interior pass rusher. At 6-foot-3, 281 pounds, he's a little light for a traditional 5-tech but that's not a deal-breaker.
Jones is twitched up, as Casey said, and it's very telling to hear the veteran talk about Jones' reaction time. Based on what we saw from Jones last year, the expectation was that he'd make a jump in 2020 but we might be underselling just how impactful he's going to be in Vic Fangio's defense.
Harris is likely to be penciled in to start opposite of Casey at defensive end but it wouldn't be surprising in the least to see Jones leapfrog him on the depth chart at some point during the season. But in order to do that, Jones will have to prove to Fangio and Kollar that he can hold up against the run on first and second down.
In back-to-back drafts, the Broncos selected a defensive lineman in the third round. Last year it was Jones, and this year it was McTelvin Agim out of Arkansas. Agim has been steadily plugging away but without a preseason to get some live-bullet reps, it's been difficult to get a bead on how the rookie is managing his NFL jump. Casey provided some insight.
“I think with a little more experience, he’s definitely going to be ready to go," Casey said of Agim. "It sucks that he hasn’t gotten any preseason games in to really get his feet wet, but I definitely think it’s been a good camp for him. He’s been showing up. He’s been showing that he wants to play, that he’s ready to go. It’s going to really just come down to the coaches trusting in him and believing in him, but the kid is ready to go.”
When an NFL veteran gets asked about a teammate, the expectation is that a positive remark will ensue that can be presented as a nice little sound bite. When it comes to rookies, however, vets are traditionally much more guarded in their praise.
Casey's remarks about Agim are noteworthy but what he said about Jones should cause every Broncos fan to sit up in their seat. Big things are on the horizon for Jones in his second year in the Fangio defense.
Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHudde.
