Denver Broncos: What We've Learned Through Week 3 of Preseason

Things change quickly in the NFL. When the Denver Broncos opened up training camp on July 31 at UC Health Training Center, they had a much different look than the team we see on the field today.

The Broncos are holding joint practices this week with the San Francisco 49ers. Both teams are preparing for what is known as the dress rehearsal for the regular season—aka Week 3 of the preseason. The game is coming up on Saturday night, and it’s the home opener (in the preseason) for the Broncos.

The first round of cuts is coming up, and general manager John Elway knows how difficult this part of the process is.

“Fortunately, we have a lot of tough decisions. We have a lot of good football players and this is always the hardest time of the year because we have to cut down to eventually 53, but 75 by Monday. This is tough time of year, but we’re fortunate in the fact that we’ve got a lot of tough decisions. Hopefully we can make the right ones.”

This team is still in a Super Bowl window, and the Broncos seem to be flying under the radar on the national level. As the season draws closer, more pieces of the puzzle will fall into place for Denver.

Here’s what we’ve learned through three weeks of the preseason.

Evan Mathis Brought in to Start

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

The Broncos added one of the best offensive guards in the game when they signed free agent Evan Mathis to a contract on Tuesday. With so much inexperience on the offensive line, it was imperative for the team to look for more experienced (and quality) players.

Elway admits the team is constantly on the look for better talent.

“We were always out there looking at possibilities and seeing what was going to happen. Obviously, Evan was out there and we were in contact with him and his agent. We were able to work out a deal that was beneficial for him and also beneficial for us.”

Elway continued, “I think when you look at us offensive line-wise, I think we’re going to be very good. We’re just very young, and so I think we need a little bit of experience, especially on that left side. Evan’s able to bring that. Plus, [he is] a Pro Bowl-caliber type player.”

Mathis will start at left guard in place of rookie Max Garcia.

His presence gives the Broncos the type of veteran experience they need. On his right will be second-year center Matt Paradis. He’s not a rookie, but Paradis didn’t play last year as he spent his first season in the pros on the practice squad.

Mathis will have a true rookie on his left. Ty Sambrailo was a second-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft. He was thought to be a candidate to start on the right side, but he was immediately switched to left tackle once Ryan Clady went down with a season-ending knee injury earlier this year.

Having Mathis in the middle of these two inexperienced players will help immensely. He’s going to be able to notice stunts and delayed blitzes that Sambrailo and Paradis don’t anticipate. Mathis will help blast open holes for the rushing attack, but he’ll also help Peyton Manning stay upright.

Mathis was not just a good addition—this was a master stroke by Elway as he continues to construct a roster that can compete for a championship.

Montee Ball Tumbling Down the Depth Chart

George Bridges/Associated Press

Last week, we learned that Ronnie Hillman was pushing Montee Ball for the primary backup job behind starter C.J. Anderson. This week, it seems like Ball is now being pushed for the third-string job by Juwan Thompson.

In the team’s second game of the preseason, Ball only rushed for four yards. Thompson looked great against the Houston Texans, rushing for 32 yards—including the longest run of the night (a 22-yard jaunt). Ball runs with some power, but Thompson is nearly unstoppable when he builds up a head of steam.

New free safety Darian Stewart admits that both Ball and Thompson are tough to stop.

"The toughest back to go against? [RB] Montee [Ball] has been doing a good job," Stewart said. "I think that [RB] Juwan [Thompson] has been doing a good job. I love them. It's a battle. They have some good size to them too, so it really doesn't [matter] to me."

Ball is better than he’s showing in the preseason.

He’s looked good in training camp, but he has not pushed Anderson for the starting job like he wanted to. Instead, Ball is being pushed—and maybe he gets pushed to the inactive list if he can’t earn the third-string job at least.

Watch to see if Thompson can continue to push Ball for that spot as the preseason rolls on.

The Defense Is Scary Good

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

The defense has undergone a major overhaul this offseason. Under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, this defense should be much more aggressive than what we saw under former coordinator Jack Del Rio.

One of the players who could benefit the most from this change in philosophy is outside linebacker Von Miller.

As a pass-rusher coming from the edge, it’s not going to be a shock to see Miller lead the league in sacks this season. He has the quickness and burst to get around a blocker and to the quarterback in the blink of an eye. He’s also more powerful than some people think, and he can bull-rush his way back to the passer.

Former Broncos (and Philadelphia Eagles) strong safety Brian Dawkins knows what it takes to be an intimidator on the football field. He’s excited by the prospects of Miller in 2015.

“In this type of defense, because you’re going to be blitzing from other places as well, offenses will have to pay attention to so many other things, and then they forget about No. 58 on one side over there, who can work by himself without blitzing,” Dawkins summarized. “I can see him easily, definitely easily, having a double-digit, pushing 15-20 sacks.”

Miller isn’t the only player who could devastate opponents in 2015.

DeMarcus Ware wore down last season, and he only compiled two sacks over the final eight games of the regular season. This year, he could stay fresh and push for double-digit sacks again.

Part of the reason Ware could stay fresh is the addition of rookie Shane Ray. The Broncos moved up in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft so they could secure his services. Ray should work well as a part-time pass-rusher for the Broncos this season.

These three players (along with other defensive playmakers) could make the Broncos a scary defense in 2015.

Brandon Marshall Back on the Attack

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The Broncos found a star when they picked up linebacker Brandon Marshall. He was a fifth-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012, but the Broncos promptly scooped him up Jacksonville released him in 2013.

Two short years later, Marshall is one of the key pieces for the Broncos defense.

In the new 3-4 scheme, he is going to see a lot of action funneled his way. He’s been recovering from offseason foot surgery, but he is back on track to start in Week 1 of the regular season.

Marshall returned to the field against the Houston Texans in the team’s second preseason game. In that game, he had three tackles and defensed two passes. This week, the Broncos will get to see Danny Trevathan back in action for the first time since recovering from his knee injury.

Trevathan is ready to rock.

“The emotions are going to show on game day. Right now, I’m just preparing my mind. I’ve been doing this going on four years. I know what it takes and I know the mindset that you need to go out there and play at this level that we’re trying to compete at.”

Trevathan continued, “It’s one thing to say it and it’s another thing to go out and do it. That’s why I don’t really talk too much. I’m really one of those shower guys. Come game time, I’m going to be ready.”

Marshall and Trevathan are going to do a lot of the dirty work for this Broncos defense. They’ll be cleaning up as tacklers and in coverage while the pass-rushers get to go crazy on the outside. The inside linebackers will also be able to work well behind the revamped defensive line.

Brock Osweiler Progressing

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Perhaps nobody on the Broncos roster had more to gain this preseason than quarterback Brock Osweiler. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, he has the chance to earn a contract extension if he performs well in the preseason.

He started the preseason off as the starter against the Seattle Seahawks. Osweiler came through in that contest with 151 passing yards and one touchdown. He followed up that performance by backing up Manning and passing for 121 yards and one touchdown (with one interception returned for a touchdown) against the Texans.

Elway has been monitoring Osweiler closely this offseason: “Especially from OTAs, I think Brock’s really taken a lot of improvement. He’s taken strides. Obviously, he’s still working through the offense, but I’m thrilled with his progress up to this point.”

Osweiler has the arm strength to make every throw required in the NFL. He has the athleticism to bootleg from under center, and he does a good job of throwing on the run. If the play breaks down, Osweiler can always just take off and run.

If Osweiler continues to play well in the preseason, the Broncos could decide to keep him around as the quarterback of the future.

All quotes and injury/practice observations were obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information was provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted. Advanced stats were via ESPN's employees-only database.

Contract and salary-cap information was provided by Spotrac. Transaction history was provided by Pro Sports Transactions.