Jim Leonhard is eager to come into work every day. The Broncos are building something special at cornerback, and Denver’s first-year defensive backs coach senses it.
Pat Surtain II established himself as a high-level cornerback from the moment he stepped onto the field as a rookie in 2021. But the emergence of second-year CB Riley Moss, nickel cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian and feisty rookie Kris Abrams-Draine has made the unit a formidable bunch with immense potential, which has the franchise anticipating a bright future.
“There’s a lot of excitement within the organization,” Leonhard told The Denver Post. “They’re only scratching the surface as far as where they’re going to be as players in the NFL.”
Each cornerback has a unique skill set that has been beneficial for the defense, which ranked third in passer rating allowed (83.1) through 15 games. Leonhard said Moss has impressive physical traits, but his attitude toward the game stands out the most. Moss is willing to challenge any receiver that lines up against him, which is an important mindset to have when playing on the opposite side of Surtain.
The teams will tend to throw away from the All-Pro cornerback, meaning his running mate is primed for more targets. In 12 games before sustaining an MCL injury, he was targeted 78 times — third-most in the league, according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
In the offseason, there were questions about whether Moss was ready for the starting job after hardly playing during his rookie season. He struggled in the season opener against the Seahawks, allowing six catches for 77 yards. Then Moss settled in and had a three-week stretch where he gave up 26.6 yards per game. His performance during that period had head coach Sean Payton speaking highly of him to the top brass of the franchise.
“I just finished telling (owner & CEO) Greg (Penner) and (general manager) George (Paton), ‘Man, if you’re watching the film of this guy, he’s playing at a high level,’” Payton said in October. “One of the traits you have to have at that position is (at some point) you’re going to fail, and you have to dare to fail and get right back.”
Moss went from being a question mark on defense to being an integral part of the unit’s revival after last year’s struggles. Denver played man coverage on 39.5% of dropbacks and allowed 6.8 air yards per attempt in Weeks 1-12 when Moss was active. In the three games he missed, the Broncos used man coverage on 30.3% of dropbacks and gave up 8.2 air yards per attempt, according to Next Gen Stats.
“He’s powerful,” Leonhard told The Post.
Moss’ success allowed the Broncos to keep Abrams-Draine on ice, growing comfortable with defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s scheme. When Abrams-Draine’s number was called, the coaching staff was confident that he could handle the moment.
In Weeks 13-16, the fifth-round pick allowed four catches, 37 yards and a passer rating of 9.8 on 14 targets as the nearest defender. In Denver’s 34-27 loss to the Chargers, Abrams-Draine recorded his first career interception against quarterback Justin Herbert, who entered the game having thrown just two picks.
“We watched him grow week in and out,” Leonhard said of the former Missouri defensive back. “Five or six weeks into the year, we’re like ‘He is ready whenever we need him.’ He’s gotten his opportunity, and played extremely well.”
McMillian, an undrafted free agent in 2022, has become one of the better nickel cornerbacks in the league. Leonhard lauded how McMillian has a strong sense of space and plays with great anticipation, which allows him to make plays on the ball.
Last season, McMillian recorded a turnover in three straight games. Against the Browns in Week 13, he had a clutch pick-six to help secure the win.
“He’s a step ahead as far as how he anticipates things, and understanding when to use leverage,” Leonhard said. “He makes certain plays that you think he won’t be able to make.”
At the head of the snake is Surtain, who is 24 and under contract with the Broncos until 2030 after agreeing to a contract extension worth $96 million in the fall.
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During Leonhard’s 10-year NFL career, he played with top cornerbacks like Darrelle Revis and Champ Bailey. When Leonhard sees Surtain, it’s almost like watching his former teammates, as the game looks effortless for the former Alabama standout.
Surtain has only elevated his game since signing the dotted line in the fall. He entered Week 17 with 36 tackles, 11 passes defended and four interceptions — tied for a career high. To add more context to Surtain’s defensive player of the year type of season, he had given up a passer rating of 52.3 on 46 targets. Surtain also had a 23.9% ball hawk rate, the second-highest rate among cornerbacks with a minimum of 30 targets, according to Next Gen Stats.
“It’s almost teach tape,” Leonhard said. “You look at the other guys and say ‘Just do it like Pat does.’ It’s not that easy, but the way you want to coach it, their bodies naturally do it. Twenty-four years old and physically in his peak.”
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton said: “Pat probably came out of the womb the way he is. He oozes that aura (by) the way he plays the position (and) goes about himself. The dude is a baller.”
Although Denver’s fairly young cornerbacks have different strengths, they share a similar willingness to learn. That’s what Leonhard loves the most about the group.
“It’s exciting as a coach,” Leonhard said. “They’re going to continue to push because they always want more knowledge.”
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