Denver Broncos Week 6 Stock Report
The Denver Broncos are 5-0 and travel to play the Cleveland Browns in Week 6. They were able to get their second division win of the season against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. With the other three teams in the AFC West all losing in Week 5, the Broncos have a healthy lead with their undefeated record.
Even with a victory over the Raiders in Week 5, Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak knows there are things the team must improve on going forward.
"You never know how you’re going to get played defensively by personnel," he said. "The biggest thing offensively is that we have to finish. I think that we’re working hard and the guys are working hard, but we’re just not playing very consistently and we have to find a way to do that."
Here is the stock report for the Broncos as they head into Week 6.
Stock Up: LB Shane Ray
1 of 5
The Broncos moved up in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft for a good reason—Shane Ray was still on the board. He was a force to be reckoned with in college at Missouri, and he was one of the most exciting pass-rushers in the 2015 draft class.
Denver added Ray to the roster even though the team had to wait to see him on the field. A foot injury had plagued him during the predraft process, so the Broncos took a slow approach with the talented rookie. They eased him in during training camp and the preseason with the idea that he could be near full strength by the start of the year.
After back-to-back games with a sack, it’s safe to say that Ray has arrived.
Ray is working as a part-time player, but he is making an impact when he’s on the field. He goes after the passer with a relentless mindset and natural violence. He may not have a ton of different moves to get to the quarterback, but his burst, heart and hustle help him greatly.
Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips appreciates the work Ray has put in so far.
"He's showing the same things overall," Phillips said. "He's still learning playing behind the two guys [OLBs Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware] that he's playing behind. That's tough for him, but I think that he's learned to just be yourself, keep working hard at what you're doing and keep trying to get better. He's done a good job of that."
We might see Ware miss the game against the Browns this week as he deals with a minor back injury. That would likely thrust Ray into the starting lineup opposite Miller. The rookie looks ready to prove himself with a larger role.
Stock Down: RT Michael Schofield
2 of 5
After a debut against the Minnesota Vikings where he played well, right tackle Michael Schofield struggled against the Raiders on Sunday.
The entire offensive line struggled, and the rushing attack could not get on track. C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman combined for only 43 yards on 18 carries (2.4 yards per carry). Quarterback Peyton Manning was under fire from the Raiders, getting hit three times and sacked twice.
Kubiak discussed the lack of a ground game after the Raiders win: “I can’t really go out there and say that we’ve been committed to running the football. We just didn’t finish and do it well. If you finish and do those things well, you’re doing the right thing.”
Kubiak summarized, “We have to look at everything.”
The offensive line is not done shuffling. Rookie left tackle Ty Sambrailo could be back in action by Week 8 at the latest. He could return to his spot on the left side and force Ryan Harris and/or Tyler Polumbus over to right tackle.
Harris has performed well this year, but he’s been a little banged up with a knee injury. Polumbus is the newest lineman on the Broncos, but the seasoned veteran has a ton of experience and would be a fine starter on the right side.
It looks like Schofield may have not done enough to keep a starting job for the Broncos.
Stock Up: DE Derek Wolfe
3 of 5
In his first game back from suspension, defensive end Derek Wolfe made a positive impact. The Broncos have the best defense in the league, but they’ve played four games without their top starting defensive end.
He’s never going to be a force as a pass-rusher, but Wolfe does a good job of setting the edge as a run defender. He is a strong player who is difficult to move on the outside. He can control his man at the point of attack and goes after the ball-carrier with a nonstop motor.
Against the Raiders in Week 5, Wolfe played an important role for a Broncos defense that held it opponent to 65 rushing yards on 25 carries. The Raiders tried to soften up the Broncos with big backs such as Latavius Murray and Jamize Olawale, but it was all for naught. Even change-of-pace back Roy Helu couldn’t shake free from the Broncos' crushing defense.
Wolfe was happy to be back.
"Yeah, I was there for all of training camp," he said. "So I didn’t miss the important parts; I just missed the first four games. It’s the last four [games] that count, so that’s what we’re trying to get to."
The Broncos have an amazing defense, and they’re even better with Wolfe back on the field.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Stock Down: TEs Owen Daniels and Virgil Green
4 of 5
The offense has struggled mightily in the red zone this year. The Broncos are missing a target such as tight end Julius Thomas, who scored a whopping 24 touchdowns over the last two years for the Broncos. They let him move on in free agency to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and they’ve replaced him with veteran Owen Daniels.
Rarely has Daniels played a snap as a pro where Kubiak was not his head coach or offensive coordinator. He knows the offense like the back of his hand, but Daniels isn’t quite the same player he used to be.
Against the Raiders, he failed to catch a pass in a game for the first time since 2006.
Every team that has faced the Raiders this season has had success going to the tight end. Daniels was targeted five times, but he couldn’t snare a single pass from Manning in Week 5.
Manning was candid when talking about the team’s struggles in the red zone.
“We just have to execute better. I have to eliminate turning the ball over. It costs us points,” Manning said. “We just have to find a way to get into the end zone more.”
The veteran quarterback revealed: “It’s a couple of close plays, here and there. I think there are plays we can correct and plays we can continue to work on. We can win games as we’re working to find our rhythm.”
If the team can become more efficient in the red zone, Daniels could be part of that metamorphosis.
Stock Up: CB Chris Harris
5 of 5
Talent can come from anywhere, and cornerback Chris Harris Jr. is a living example of that. Undrafted out of Kansas in 2011, Harris has worked his way to become arguably the best cornerback in the NFL. The Broncos have a world-class defense, and having players in the secondary such as Harris is a great asset.
In the game against the Raiders, Harris sealed the victory with a fourth-quarter pick-six. He scored more points than Manning and company as the offense failed to score a touchdown for the second game this season.
The Broncos were getting after Raiders quarterback Derek Carr early and often. The young passer did a good job of managing through the chaos, but he mistakenly lost track of Harris in coverage on the critical play.
Harris is thankful for the pass-rushers in front of him.
"It's huge," he said. "Being able to have that rush, we sometimes are able to buy them some time to be able to get back there. We work together in that. That's why we're No. 1 in the league."
Harris is a bold competitor who forever plays with a chip on his shoulder. This helps him shine for the Broncos defense, and he should continue to do that going forward.
All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted. Advanced stats via ESPN's employees-only database.
Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
