Bradley Roby doesn’t want to be known as a shutdown safety.
But as the Broncos continue their offseason program this week, the promising cornerback remains agreeable to dabbling at a new position. Coach Gary Kubiak broached the experiment at the league meetings last month and coaches have begun persuading Roby that it could work.
“I consider myself a cornerback. I don’t see myself as a safety. But I am open to it,” Roby said. “They have talked about putting me in certain packages to get me on the field rather than having one of their better players watching from the sidelines. I understand what they are thinking.”
Roby opened eyes last season, delivering as a rookie in nickel coverage. He didn’t shy from the spotlight or contact. The first-round pick sealed the season-opening victory with a play against Indianapolis’ Reggie Wayne. Roby excels at open-field tackling, and, as Pro Bowl strong safety T.J. Ward explained, “He’s not a little guy.”
Training in Los Angeles and Phoenix in the offseason, Roby added muscle without compromising speed. He is physically equipped for free safety cameos, comfortable at close to 195 pounds, five shy of former starter Rahim Moore’s weight. Kubiak’s interest in creating a larger role for the former Ohio State star stems from his production.
“It’s just us saying, ‘Hey, he needs to be out there.’ If that’s how we get him out there full time, then that’s something we’re going to address. I don’t want to do too much to him where we take something away from him,” Kubiak said, “but at the same time he needs to be a guy playing 70 to 100 percent someway, somehow.”
Roby finished with 65 tackles, two forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles, and two interceptions (he kept the ball from his first, a pick of New England’s Tom Brady). However, he logged 859 snaps, 291 fewer than Moore.
“That’s why they are considering it. There’s no doubt I can do it. It just teeters in my mind: Is this something for the rest of my career or just certain times in the game?” Roby said. “I hope it leans to the first one. But adding versatility will only help.”
Ward talked with Roby about safety, and left impressed with Roby’s selflessness. Ward believes that he could make a seamless transition, combining with free-agent acquisition Darian Stewart to man a position opened when Moore signed with the Houston Texans.
“It’s about getting him on the field more. Some guys can’t do it, but he has the ability to make it happen. He’s smart enough, strong enough,” Ward said. “He’s just a football player.”
Roby loves the game. He watched Ohio State’s semifinal and national championship victories from the Buckeyes’ sideline and recently visited their spring practice.
“Even though I didn’t play, there was a certain amount of pride,” Roby said. “A lot of those guys looked up to us. We felt like in our own way we got them ready for that moment.”
As it turns out, Roby began preparing for time at safety 13 years ago. During his first tackle football season at age 9, he played safety and receiver, positions he held through eighth grade. He purposefully switched to cornerback late in his high school career, leading to his scholarship at Ohio State.
Roby grew to relish one-on-one matchups. He views himself as a cornerback, but working as a safety net could give the Broncos’ defense a stronger chance of succeeding.
“I can say I have done it before, though little league football is obviously no comparison,” he said, laughing. “The coaches are doing a good job right now of just teaching us the defense as one entire group. I don’t know exactly how I would be used as safety, but whatever it is I will be ready to do what’s best for the team.”
Troy E. Renck: trenck@denverpost.com or
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| Safety Net | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| The Broncos are prepared to experiment with cornerback Bradley Roby at free safety in some packages. They also signed free agent Darian Stewart. The draft offers little help, with safety considered the weakest position. NFL reporter Troy E. Renck analyzes, the top safeties. | |||
| Player | School | Projected Round | Analysis |
| Landon Collins | Alabama | Late first round | Physical presence, coverage needs work |
| Byron Jones | Connecticut | Late first, early second | Freakish athlete who can play cornerback |
| Damarious Randall | Arizona State | Late second, early third | Sound tackler, but small at 5-foot-10 |
