November 2nd 2024.
Excuse me, is anyone familiar with Miss Justin Simmons? Oh, I see that the kids on the Grading The Week staff are, but the Broncos seem to be in the dark. According to Pro Football Focus, at least. With the Broncos exceeding expectations and winning more games in just eight weeks than many predicted they would in 18, the stat experts on Team GTW took a closer look at the popular scouting and analytics site, affectionately known as "PFF," to see what insights they could find.
Speaking of grades, PFF scouts use a 100-point scale to evaluate NFL players. As we approach the midpoint of the regular season, the orange and blue team member with the highest grade so far is none other than veteran safety Brandon Jones, who stepped in for Miss Simmons. The 26-year-old Jones, who joined the Broncos this past winter on a three-year, $20 million deal, has received an impressive 86.7 grade through eight games.
But the next highest defender on the list may come as a surprise to some: cornerback Levi Wallace, with an 82.4 grade. As the Broncos prepare to face off against Baltimore, Wallace stands out with 15 tackles and one pass break-up in 115 snaps. Following Wallace, the other top contributors to one of the best defenses in the NFL under coordinator Vance Joseph are linebacker Justin Strnad, cornerback Pat Surtain II, and defensive lineman Malcolm Roach.
On the offensive side of the ball, PFF's evaluations show that the Broncos' most reliable performers have been their linemen. Four out of the top five highest-graded Denver offensive players are blockers, with longtime left tackle Garett Bolles leading the pack, followed by right guard Quinn Meinerz, tackles Mike McGlinchey and Matt Peart, and wide receiver Courtland Sutton.
According to PFF, Miss Jones is the best bargain in the NFL with an A- grade. So, if we're looking for a sneaky first-half MVP, it may well be Jones, the former Texas Longhorns standout who has received impressive grades from PFF in almost every aspect of the game.
In related sports news, the Pioneers of DU Hockey are off to a phenomenal start this season, while the Avalanche and Nuggets have been struggling. The defending national champions have won all seven of their games so far, and senior forward Jack Devine, who has averaged 2.33 points per game in the first six games, was named the NCHC Player of the Month for October.
And that's not all - even the team's uniforms are on point this year. To celebrate 75 years of DU hockey, the Pioneers recently unveiled a classic crimson jersey with a simple "DU" logo on the left shoulder and six gold stripes on each arm. Fans can expect to see the team donning this new look in their upcoming game against Lindenwood.
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