Since earning a starting spot in Week 5, Alexander Johnson has been playing like the inside linebacker the Broncos have long wanted. Now he has an honor to back it up.
Pro Football Focus on Friday named Johnson its . Johnson received a 91.9 grade by PFF — the second highest among linebackers behind Vikings’ Eric Kendricks, the NFC defensive player of the month.
PFF’s Ben Linsey writes: “Since (Week 5), all he has done is earn the highest overall grade of any defender in the AFC. Johnson’s 29 total tackles without a missed tackle are the most of any player in the league over the month of October, and despite being targeted 20 times as the primary coverage defender (sixth-most among linebackers over the last four weeks), Johnson is allowing just under six yards per target on those plays. He’s proving to Vic Fangio and company that he deserves a spot on the field.”
Johnson isn’t the only Denver player to earn praise. While San Francisco’s Nick Bosa has, far and away, the best pass-rush win rate for rookies last month — an insane 24% — Denver’s Malik Reed and Dre’Mont Jones are second and third at 13%, apiece.
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What’s on Tap?
- Avalanche: Nashville Predators, 7 p.m. Thursday, ALT |
- Nuggets: Philadelphia 76ers, 7 p.m. Friday, ALT |
TV/RADIO: Here’s what sports are airing today
Scoreboard
NHL: Stars 4, Avalanche 1
Full story |
NBA: Nuggets 109, Heat 89
Full story |
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Must-Read
Antonio Alfano transfer brings recruiting “momentum” to CU Buffs, Mel Tucker says
The Buffs think they found that momentum in a big way, when Tucker tweeted late Monday night that Antonio Alfano, a freshman Alabama defensive end and former five-star recruit, was transferring to CU.
And the first-year Buffs coach admitted Tuesday that he hopes the addition of the top defensive end prospect in the nation in the Class of 2019, according to 247Sports.com, raises enough eyebrows across the country to entice more elite prospects to consider a future at Folsom Field, Sean Keeler writes. Read more…
- Antonio Alfano is Mel Tucker’s biggest CU Buffs win since Nebraska.
The Nuggets’ offense has been underwhelming. Here’s the problem.
An outfit that was in the NBA’s top-10 last season ranks 19th overall this season, with their passing and shooting numbers among the league’s lowest. Some of that falls on center Nikola Jokic, whose productive yet inconsistent start to the season has drawn plenty of attention, Mike Singer reports. Read more…
Kickin’ It with Kiz Podcast: Disappearing quarterback? Why the son of a Denver sports legend quit the NFL in his prime.
His father made the biggest trade in Nuggets history. He threw the winning touchdown pass at the Pro Bowl in 1976. He walked away from the sport at age 28. Now, decades later, Mike Boryla takes center stage in a one-man play to explain his abrupt divorce from football. Listen here…
Quick Hits
+ Rockies Mailbag: Colorado’s “train wreck” pitching, hot stove updates, juiced baseballs and more
+ CSU Rams basketball holds off Denver Pioneers in season opener
+ Avalanche gameday: Still no sign of Mikko Rantanen.
+ Yellow flags, red flags, black eyes for NFL’s 100th season.
+ Estes Park may buy a mountain to save two climbing areas.
+ Black cat scampers on field at Cowboys-Giants game.
+ Tre Jones, No. 4 Duke open season by edging No. 3 Kansas
+ Now with Wizards, ex-Celtics and Nuggets guard Isaiah Thomas starts again.
Ask The Experts
+ Broncos Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
+ Nuggets Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
+ Avs Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
+ Rockies Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
By The Numbers
Ep. 7
Kickin’ It with Kiz Podcast: Disappearing quarterback? Why the son of a Denver sports legend quit the NFL in his prime.
His father made the biggest trade in Nuggets history. He threw the winning touchdown pass at the Pro Bowl in 1976. He walked away from the sport at age 28. Now, decades later, Mike Boryla takes center stage in a one-man play to explain his abrupt divorce from football. Listen here…
Parting Shot
Former Browns safety Jermaine Whitehead “deeply regretful” for rant after Broncos game
On his Instagram page, the 26-year-old player said his behavior was “out of character for me” and that he was “deeply regretful.” Whitehead said he was frustrated by the way he played, adding that although he had a broken hand “that is no excuse for my actions.” Read more…
Get in Touch
If you see something thatap cause for question or have a comment, thought or suggestion, email me at dboniface@denverpost.com or tweet me .
