Von Miller Jersey , but these things do. Here are nine things I’ll be watching for during the preseason game against the Seahawks." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesMile High Report homepageHorizontal - WhiteMile High Reporta Denver Broncos communityFollow Mile High Report online:Follow Mile High Report on TwitterFollow Mile High Report on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchMile High Report main menuFanpostsFanshotsSectionsBroncosOddsShopAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Broncos NewsBroncos ScheduleBroncos PodcastsBroncos Film RoomBroncos RosterBroncos Injury UpdatesFull ArchiveBroncos StoriesScheduleRosterStatsOdds Shop About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕9 things to watch during the Broncos-Seahawks game New,33commentsThe score doesn’t matter, but these things do. Here are nine things I’ll be watching for during the preseason game against the Seahawks.MDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:9 things to watch during the Broncos-Seahawks game TwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailIf you read last week’s “7 things” prior to the Broncos game with the Falcons, you’ll know that some questions remain. If you checked out the Mile High Report roundtable, you’ll know that Drew Lock and the quarterbacks are front and center. But what about everything else?Obviously there’s still a lot to be determined. Coach Fangio has said that outside of 40 or so locked in guys the other roster spots are up for grabs. Tonight’s game could go a long way towards helping someone lock down a job in 2019. On the MHR Radio Podcast (ApplePodcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher), Adam Malnati and Ian St. Clair previewed the game with what and who to watch for. How things look as of August 7th, 2019. 1. Can Reed, Jones and Walker keep it up?If you read my observations after watching the Hall of Fame game, you’ll know I’m sky high on Malik Reed. He jumped out time and again against the Falcons and as I said Tuesday: he looks like a soft lock for the roster. DeMarcus Walker also had himself a game and currently looks like he’s in line to make the final cut to 53. Last year, Fangio’s Bears used sub packages almost 80 percent of the time, so Walker’s pass rushing acumen could be an asset inside after two years floundering under Vance Joseph. However, it’s worth noting that the Broncos’ head coach sounded like he needed to see more when asked about Walker’s performance.The Broncos look likely to carry four or five edge rushers, and six or seven defensive linemen. Things could still change over the next month. Jeff Holland, Justin Hollins and Aaron Wallace all showed up along the edge. If Fangio prefers a sturdier sixth man on the line, Mike Purcell showed out as a nose tackle type and has previous experience with the coaching staff.While Dre’Mont Jones is certainly making the Broncos roster, the more he flashes, the harder it’s going to be to keep him on the bench. 2. What linebackers will be left standing?More and more this position battle is looking like a war of attrition. Josey Jewell, Todd Davis, and Joseph Jones will all miss the Seahawks game with different ailments. While this could prove troubling in a month’s time, right now it presents a huge opportunity for the guys suiting up.Alexander Johnson currently looks like the closest thing to a lock among the remaining linebackers. He had a coverage gaff in the middle of the Hall of Fame game, but looked head and shoulder ahead of the younger players. Josh Watson also had some promising play and brings the kind of range neither Joe Dineen or Keishawn Bierria offer. Of course, anyone who’s watched linebackers for long will explain to you how a players anticipation and angles can make up for physical limitations. So don’t count anyone out just yet. 3. Where will Justin Hollins line up?It’s impossible to ignore Hollins as I think about the the other front 7 positions. He played a bit of both last week, and the coaching staff has expressed their desire to get him up to speed for both roles. I’m excited to see what he can do, and advise you to keep an eye out for 52.4. Does Booker play? When Elway and the Broncos’ coaching staff brought in Theo Riddick Joe Flacco Jersey , it became clear maybe one of the running backs logging the majority of snaps this preseason will make the active roster.Devontae Booker is the most experienced in that group after serving as the third down back in 2018. Rumors persist that he could be trade bait, so it will be interesting if and how he performs.5. What about RB4?Even if he does, the battle between Khalfani Muhammad and Devontae Jackson will be one to watch. Both are diminutive speedsters who will need to stand out on special teams as well as offense to stick to the active roster. Chances are good one makes the practice squad, but who will it be?6. What about the pass catchers?Relative to early camp expectations, no player had a more disappointing Hall of Fame game than Austin Fort. It’s hardly his own fault, as he’s an undrafted rookie just trying to keep his NFL dream alive. Rather, the hype coming out of camp had ballooned what I thought we’d see. Instead, he showed off impressive body control and a still developing frame. At present, he looks like an undrafted version of what the Broncos have in Noah Fant. That’s perfectly okay, and if the coaching staff keeps four tight ends he’s definitely still in the mix. Especially if the coaching staff gives up on Jake Butt and his knee issues.He’d do a lot to convince them if he can have a better game tonight. To do so he’ll need to continue looking like a reliable option in the passing game but show some strides as a blocker. He’s not going to get stronger overnight, but if he can show better footwork and body positioning it’d go a long way, flashing special teams value would also help.It continues to look like the Broncos will carry six or more receivers. Juwann Winfree is certainly a soft lock after a standout camp and a promising touchdown catch to cap off the Falcons game. Behind him it’s a free for all, and someone could go a long way toward securing a spot if they show out as a returner.7. Will any of the young linemen impress? Back during the first week of camp Vic Fangio mentioned that the team could carry eight, nine or 10 offensive linemen. Assuming the starting group is Bolles-Risner-McGovern-Leary-James, that could leave as few as three remaining spots for 11 players. I currently expect Elijah Wilkinson and Don Barclay to make the final 53 as they’ve played a decent bit in place of Leary and James. You start to see how the math isn’t doing any of the young guys favors. Jake Brendel is one to watch as he’s also spent time rotating in for Leary. Sam Jones is a local favorite and brings versatility to the interior positions, which could help him. Chaz Green served as Bolles backup last game, though I have serious questions about his pass set. It starts to get questionable really quick. This isn’t altogether surprising as most NFL teams have trouble digging up eight serviceable lineman, but with the health an ever present question for Leary it’d be nice for the Broncos and Mike Munchak to have some developmental talent.8. What about the DBs?It certainly looks like Horace Richardson is running away with that fifth corner spot. If the Broncos see Kareem Jackson as versatile enough to steer away from carrying a sixth corner, every other guy may be playing to unseat Richardson or make the practice squad.At safety it currently looks like a competition between Su’a Cravens, Dymonte Thomas and Shamarko Thomas. Cravens had a couple of nice plays around the line of scrimmage, but still made a gaffe in pass pro that left me wanting. Dymonte looks like the closest thing to a free safety among this group, while Shamarko brings the most special teams value. I wouldn’t sleep on him.Lastly, I’ve mentioned this a few times but the secondary is going to be an open question until it isn’t. A big reason for this is because I’m stuck watching broadcast cam, so 70+ percent of their play is off camera. Blame NFL Gamepass.9. How far off is Drew Lock?This is the question everyone wants to answer.Most in the media are going to frame the entire game around the Drew Lock-Paxton Lynch “battle.” Seriously, don’t be shocked if you’re drowning in QB coverage after the game. Locked In: The story of why Denver drafted Missouri QB Drew Lock 42nd overall" Denver Broncos 2019 DraftWhy the Denver Broncos Drafted Drew LockNew,208commentsLocked In: The story of why Denver drafted Missouri QB Drew Lock 42nd overallMDTJoe Flacco has seen this before. In 2018 Phillip Lindsay Jersey , the Baltimore Ravens traded back up into the first round of the draft with the Philadelphia Eagles to select QB Lamar Jackson with the 32nd overall pick. Flacco had to bat away rumors that his starting quarterback job was slipping into the hands of Jackson, until the rumors turned into facts on November 18, 2018. Injuries and lack of production seemingly forced the Ravens into making the decision to go with Jackson, and now Flacco’s fate in Denver doesn’t appear to be much different.Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY SportsEnter 6’4”, 225-lb. QB Drew Lock out of Missouri. Fresh off a senior season that came nowhere close to the stat production of his junior year, Lock had taken a hit to his draft stock. The Denver Broncos saw an opportunity and took it, trading with Cincinnati to move into the 42nd slot to grab the top QB on John Elway’s draft board. The temptation was irresistible. Lock has since said all the right things. He knows he is the backup, yet his confidence and appearance have drawn comparisons to former Broncos’ QB Jay Cutler. Since trading up to snag Dalton Risner and Drew Lock back-to-back, the Broncos’ Day 2 haul has built momentum as one of the best in 2019.Drew Lock on people saying he reminds them of Jay Cutler: The Missouri product seems pumped and excited to get to work. The fact that Denver nabbed Lock in the second round of the 2019 draft, instead of the first, alleviates some of the pressure on Elway and Fangio to play Lock right away. This should give Flacco plenty of time to pick up the system and make a name for himself here in Denver early on, if he’s ever going to.Lock is anxious to embrace his new orange and blue threads, after growing up in Missouri and learning to hate those colors as a Chiefs’ fan. There will be doubters, as shown in the draft when Lock fell all the way to 42nd overall, after being seen as a sure-fire first rounder merely a season ago. Lock is ready to prove them wrong. The dynamic between how Denver uses Flacco and Lock will be closely monitored, and Flacco has made it known that he believes this is his team.It must be tough keeping a level head as you wait and watch teams pick other players, not knowing when your name will be called. However, Lock is embracing the opportunity in Denver, and there may not have been a better fit. Elway has compared the Broncos’ plan with their QBs to Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. Broncos Country is willing to be patient with that plan, as long as it results in a Super Bowl win, as it did for Rodgers in 2010.Five years is an awfully long time for Denver to wait for a Super Bowl. Some wonder if Elway will be around as the GM to see his final plan through, but a pattern is becoming clear in the way the Broncos draft their players. Joe Flacco’s task this year may be just as daunting as the one he faced a year ago, but the veteran Super Bowl MVP is not one to shy away from competition, and it doesn’t sound like the young Drew Lock is, either. This should be fun.