#TBvsDEN's Burning Questions: Are Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler ready for increased roles?

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CAN THE BRONCOS GET PRESSURE ON TOM BRADY?


The Broncos' best performances against Tom Brady have come when they've been able to apply pressure on the future Hall of Famer. That may not be as easy without Von Miller on the active roster. Through two games, the Broncos have tallied just two sacks, which ranks 24th in the NFL. They have been successful, though, at hurrying the opposing quarterbacks. Denver has hurried its opponent's quarterback on 12.6 percent of dropbacks, which ranks eighth in the NFL. They haven't been quite as good as knocking down those quarterbacks, as they rank 16th in knockdowns per pass attempt and 14th in pressure percentage, which combines hurries, knockdowns and sacks. Against Brady, the Broncos will need to get home. The six-time Super Bowl champion is too good to allow him to sit in the pocket and pick apart a secondary that features two rookie cornerbacks.


"We're going to mix looks," Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell said Thursday. "When you bring more players, sometimes it takes the stress off. A lot of these balls were coming out quick in these first couple weeks and I think it will continue to get better. Bradley [Chubb] is finding his stride, and you'll see him spike and continue to improve. I see it coming and we should be on pace for a real strong rush."


Chubb is still looking for his first sack of the season, but he could force a game-changing play against Brady by either recording a strip-sack or forcing an errant throw. Through two weeks, the Buccaneers have turned the ball over five times, which is the second-highest total in the league.


ARE JERRY JEUDY AND KJ HAMLER READY FOR INCREASED ROLES?


With Sutton out for the year with a knee injury, the Broncos' top two rookie receivers suddenly find themselves in the spotlight. Jeudy and Hamler combined for seven catches for 110 yards on Sunday, and they may need to be even better against the Buccaneers. They'll be challenged by Buccaneers cornerbacks Sean Murphy-Bunting and Carlton Davis, but Hamler believes they're ready for the challenge.


"We prepare a lot, so I think that everybody is ready to step up," Hamler said Thursday. "I think you saw that last week that everybody has to be prepared at their position and do what they have to do. Our receiver room is very versatile and we can play every position on the field, so I think that brings value to us as well."


Tight end Noah Fant will certainly draw some attention away from the young players, as his nine catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns through two games rank among the best totals in the league for tight ends. In all likelihood, the Broncos will replace Sutton by committee rather than have one player singularly replicate his 72 catches and 1,112 yards from a year ago. Still, this week will be the first opportunity for Jeudy and Hamler to prove why the Broncos used their draft capital to bring them to Denver.


"The young guys have to step up," running back Melvin Gordon III said. "In some situations, you don't have to step up until the end of the season or maybe the next year. We've had some key guys go down, so you know what, you have to grow up quicker than most. Those guys have the confidence in themselves to go out there and make a play. They have the talent. You've seen KJ go do what he does. Those guys have the confidence and the ability. When they get that full swagger, it becomes whoever lines up in front of me — just how they were in college — it's easy work. Once they get that, then it's going to be on. It takes reps like anything else. In this league, it takes reps and those guys are going to have that."