Jonas Griffith: Every day “competition” for Broncos inside linebacker spot

Among those surprised earlier this offseason when the Broncos didn’t re-sign or draft any inside linebackers to challenge a group that includes Jonas Griffith to start alongside Josey Jewell?

Jonas Griffith.

“I was expecting them to keep one of the guys (from last year) or draft someone,” he said before Friday’s sixth organized team activity practice.

Instead, the Broncos moved Baron Browning to outside linebacker, declined to retain Alexander Johnson, Kenny Young or Micah Kiser, and passed on drafting a player. Those decisions, combined with his play late last year, created an opening for Griffith; he has lined up next to Jewell in the two OTAs that have been open to the media.

“It wasn’t (a) relief,” Griffith said of the non-additions. “You still have to do the job. That’s been my approach since being in the NFL. They can bring anybody in at any moment.”

Griffith joined the Broncos after last year’s training camp, acquired from San Francisco with a seventh-round pick in exchange for a sixth-rounder and a 2023 seventh-rounder to fortify the special teams.

The Broncos’ inside linebacker attrition began in Week 2 when Jewell sustained a torn pectoral. Griffith, though, wasn’t available to join the mix because of a hamstring injury that cost him four games.

It wasn’t until Week 14 against Detroit that Griffith played his first defensive snap of the year. He was immediately off and running … and tackling. Over the final 4 1/2 games, he made 42 tackles (including 13 at Las Vegas and 12 at the Chargers) in 255 snaps.

“You definitely saw a couple of steps (forward) in the last couple games last year, whether it be the quickness or (in) recognizing plays,” Jewell said. “He’s a guy who is always fast and then you just (saw) the physicality start to creep up. It’s been fun watching him progress.”

Griffith missed only one tackle and had 5 1/2 run “stuffs” (gain of one or fewer yards not including short-yardage or goal-line), according to The Denver Post’s game charting.

Behind Jewell and Griffith on an unofficial depth chart are Alex Singleton (137 tackles for Philadelphia last year and 214 special teams snaps), Justin Strnad (five starts last year), Barrington Wade (52 snaps in four games) and undrafted rookies Kana’I Mauga and Kadofi Wright.

“Every day is a competition,” Griffith said. “I don’t think anything is solidified. Every day is an opportunity to show this coaching staff what I can do.”

What Griffith can do is play the run (24 of his tackles last year) and move well at a listed 250 pounds.

The Broncos have added to the defensive line with free agent D.J. Jones and fourth-round pick Eyioma Uwazurike to improve the run defense. Most of Griffith’s snaps are expected to be in the base package so he will be responsible for making plays when Jones, Uwazurike, Dre’Mont Jones and Mike Purcell command blocking attention.

“That will free us up to flow and make tackles and it will help us in coverage, too, (if the line is) getting pressure on the quarterback,” Griffith said.

If Griffith emerges as a starter Sept. 12 at Seattle, he will lean on the experience gained last year to keep his spot.

“You kind of have the illusion of, ‘OK, I can do this,’ but once you actually do it, that’s different,” he said. “Going out there and doing it and proving that I could do it and showing myself I could do it, it was huge for me and a confidence booster.”

Source: Read Full Article