ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — With a cadre of talented players, the Broncos' secondary has the potential to be one of the league's best.
Justin Simmons is one of the game's best safeties. Pat Surtain II is a former top-10 pick and arguably the league's best defensive rookie. Kyle Fuller and Kareem Jackson both have first-round pedigrees, and Bryce Callahan has been among the league's best slot cornerbacks.
But after the last couple of weeks in which the defensive backfield has allowed multiple big gains, the production hasn't necessarily matched the unit's ability.
Against the Steelers, that manifested itself via several key plays. On the first drive of the game, Ben Roethlisberger connected with Diontae Johnson for a 50-yard touchdown over Fuller's outstretched arm. Later in the first half, Fuller was whistled for pass interference on third-and-15, and the ball was placed on the 1-yard line. The Steelers scored a touchdown two plays later.
On Pittsburgh's final touchdown of the game, Roethlisberger's pass split Simmons and Jackson for a 18-yard touchdown to Chase Claypool.
Those problems were also present in the Broncos' loss to the Ravens, as Baltimore connected on three passes of at least 30 yards. In Week 1, Fuller allowed a deep completion against New York, and he was beat for a touchdown in Week 2 against the Jaguars.
Head Coach Vic Fangio said Fuller still looks like the player he was in 2018 when he earned first-team All-Pro honors in Chicago, but he noted that the team's technique and coaching both have to be better for the results to improve.
"We just have to play with better technique all the time," Fangio said Monday of the entire secondary. "You just can't assume that because you're such-and-such player that you can fudge on your technique. When you're going against good receivers and a good quarterback, he's going to expose you. Our technique has to be better across the board. We have to do a better job of coaching them to play that technique."
That seems to be particularly true early in games. Against the Giants, Jaguars and Steelers, Fuller and the Broncos allowed those long passes that resulted in either a substantial gain or a touchdown.
"The urgency defensively — especially on a road game — you've got to be able to pack your defense," Simmons said Sunday. "The offense relies on stuff like that — [the] energy. We've got to be able to be better at starting the game off. That's what we want to do, and we've got to be able to execute."
Despite those plays, all is not lost. The Broncos remain third in total defense, sixth in passing defense and second in scoring defense. And against the Steelers, the Broncos buckled down in the fourth quarter to force a three-and-out and hold a Steelers to a field goal on their other drive in the frame. The last two weeks, though, show the need for improvement. Denver has allowed 25 points per game since Week 4, which would rank 22nd in the league.
The Broncos could regain at least one key player in Week 6 against the Raiders, as Fangio said he's hopeful that Ronald Darby will make his return on Sunday. The team activated Darby on Saturday before the Pittsburgh game, but he was inactive after Surtain was able to play with his chest injury.
"He only had a little bit of practice because the medical people had him on a pitch count last week, which we adhered to," Fangio said of Darby. "He didn't quite feel he was ready and grooved in. We were hoping we didn't have to play him, but knew we'd bring him up this week."
Fangio did not disclose how Darby would figure into the defense if he can return. In Week 1, before Darby suffered a hamstring injury that led to him being placed on IR, Darby played the right cornerback spot and Fuller played on the left side. Callahan played nickel, and Surtain played largely in the dime package, save for a series where he replaced Fuller on the left.
"We'll figure that out as the week goes on and after we get some good looks at 'Darbs'," Fangio said. "Hopefully the medical staff will allow him to practice more than they would last week."
Whoever trots out in the defensive backfield, Simmons and Co. know they need to find a way to improve as they prepare to face the league's fourth-ranked passing attack this weekend.
"It was a tough game on the secondary in general," Simmons said. "I wouldn't put anything just on Kyle. I think as a unit we can be better, and we'll find ways to make more plays."
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