Broncos Camp: Three Superstars Emerge After the First Week
The first week of Denver Broncos training camp is in the books, and the cream is beginning to rise to the top. There are players who shine each day, but there are three guys that have stood out the entire time.
This trio of players are the superstars of training camp so far.
Zach Allen | DL
The Broncos replaced Dre’Mont Jones this offseason with Allen, and so far, it looks like a masterful move. Allen has been wreaking havoc on the offense, so much so that they may have to put someone else in his place in order for the offense to execute plays.
Allen is constantly in the backfield, disrupting both running and passing plays from his defensive end spot. He's also able to rotate to either side of the line and, no matter who he goes against, make them look foolish.
If the plays in training camp were actual games, Allen would be getting sacks often. An example of just how dominating he is came on one play where he shoved offensive tackle Cameron Fleming at least three yards into the backfield with ease. Allen is just coming into his prime for his position, and that's great news for the future of the Broncos' defense.
Patrick Surtain II | CB
Surtain was the best cornerback in the NFL last season, and it's hard to imagine that he could get even better, but that's exactly what has happened. As we all know, he has impeccable technique, fluid hips, and is a student of the game.
Those skills show up every day at training camp without fail. Surtain goes against Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton on nearly every play, and his defense has been stifling.
When either receiver does make a catch against Surtain, it's almost always a perfectly thrown ball or a circus catch by the receiver. Judging by what he has done in the first part of training camp, opposing quarterbacks would be fools to challenge him on game day.
It appears it will be another All-Pro season for the stellar corner.
Courtland Sutton | WR
People have expected Sutton to bounce back from his knee injury in 2020, but that has not happened yet. Competing against Surtain in training camp is not making it easy for Sutton to stand out, yet he's done just that.
Sutton has the aggressive nature going after the ball that he had pre-injury which made him one of the best 50/50 ball receivers in the NFL. So far in this training camp, he's made the type of tough, contested catches that fans came to expect from him after his Pro Bowl campaign of 2019.
I watched Sutton make a terrific one-handed grab on the sidelines under blanket coverage on a deep pass. His performance in camp leads me to believe he's got his confidence back and is ready to have that season that fans hoped for the last two years.
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