It’s been obvious all along, but Phillip Lindsay is not going to cede the starting job to Melvin Gordon.

From undrafted free agent to back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons to start his NFL career, Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay defines the term underdog. Then, rather than give him a contract extension this offseason, the Broncos went out and signed Melvin Gordon in free agency.

In reality, there’s plenty of pressure on Gordon to justify the move and produce as Denver’s “bell cow” running back over Lindsay. But Lindsay has not seemed ready to relinquish anything to Gordon, and his recent comments to the team’s website (via CBS Sports) are further confirmation.

Phillip Lindsay is ready to win the job for the Denver Broncos

“At the end of the day, does it matter? He’s here. I’m here,” Lindsay said, via the Broncos website. “When I get the opportunity to be in the game, I’m going to make explosive plays. That’s what it’s all about. I’m going to go from there.

“And that’s what it comes down to. And the fact is, I’m going to do that. So it doesn’t matter who they pay for or who they brought in, they’ve got to get through me and it’s very hard to do that.”

They’ve got to get through me….

As he surely carries a significant chip on his shoulder, the bluntness of Lindsay’s punchline says it all. Even if Gordon asserts himself as the lead back, his history with the Chargers says there will be ample room for Lindsay to contribute. Lindsay actually has more 1,000-yard rushing seasons than Gordon (2 to 1), though Gordon has shown himself to be a productive touchdown scorer and pass catcher.

Gordon and Lindsay have both said the right things about how they’ll co-exist as a 1-2 punch in the Broncos’ backfield. But Lindsay will not be pushed aside easily, and it’s worth wondering how long a fairly ordinary talent like Gordon will be able to hold him off.

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Von Miller will be holding his Pass Rush Summit virtually this summer.

Getting after the quarterback is what has made Von Miller a household name.

The 31-year-old outside linebacker of the Denver Broncos will be a Pro Football Hall of Famer and a College Football Hall of Famer shortly after he retires. The Super Bowl 50 MVP has been an eight-time Pro Bowler in Denver and been on three All-Pro First Teams. In college at Texas A&M, he was a two-time First-Team All-American and took home the Butkus Award in 2010.

Despite having his hall of fame legacies already etched in stone, Miller is always looking for ways to get better at his craft. So for the fourth-straight year, Miller will host the Pass Rush Summit. He has welcomed pro and college football players to this year’s pass-rushing clinic. The only difference is it will be done virtually this year due to the global pandemic.

Von Miller welcomes college players to his virtual Pass Rush Summit.

The virtual event will take place on Thursday, June 25 between 6:00 p.m. ET and 8:00 p.m. ET. Miller told professionals and college athletes to send him a direct message on Twitter so they can get the information so that they can “link and learn”.

The Pass Rush Summit is something completely unique. Passing academies and seven-on-seven have become the norm for aspiring college and pro quarterbacks. It has become somewhat of a cottage industry in the last decade-plus. While moving the sticks aerially with your arm is important, more so than ever is it important in figuring out to drive a quarterback into the turf.

The cool part about this pass-rushing clinic it is allows the players to share what works for them and their skill set. Some guys may have incredibly quick and strong hands. Others may have a great first step or two once the ball is snapped. Whether its a bull rush, a swim move or a spin move, there are so many ways front-seven defenders can go about rushing the passer.

When the Pass Rush Summit first happened, some may have questioned why these defensive linemen and outside linebackers would want to willingly give up their trade secrets when it comes to slowing down the opposition’s passing game. What people have failed to realize is everybody can benefit from coming together and sharing information over a common passion.

So if you want to learn from Miller on Thursday, slide into his DM’s and get the details.

For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.

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Denver Broncos rookie receiver Jerry Jeudy has some of the best feet in the NFL already.

Jerry Jeudy is going to prove a major steal for the Denver Broncos.

Drafted 15th-overall in April’s NFL Draft, Jeudy has long profiled for stardom in the pros. Looking at his latest workout video, it’s clear route-running and footwork won’t be a problem.

Jerry Jeudy is set up for stardom with the Broncos

Anybody who watched Jeudy star for the Alabama Crimson Tide over the past three seasons isn’t surprised by this wildness. The 21-year-old was a two-time First-Team All-SEC largely because he gained great separation at the line of scrimmage with elite feet and quickness. In 2018, Jeudy won the Biletnikoff Award, given the best collegiate receiver in the game.

At Alabama, Jeudy racked up 2,478 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns over the past two seasons.  Now headed to Denver, he’ll team up with Courtland Sutton on the outside to form one of the best duos in the league. Factor in second-year quarterback Drew Lock, the tandem of Phillip Lindsay and Melvin Gordon in the backfield and Noah Fant at tight end, and the Broncos are cooking.

The Florida native was the second receiver taken in what many believe is one of the best drafts in history for the position. Oddly enough, it was teammate Henry Ruggs III who was taken before him, landing with the AFC West-rival Las Vegas Raiders.

While every rookie has a learning curve, Jeudy’s ability to use his feet to move cornerbacks should be help his time between adjusting and producing at the next level.

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The Broncos are a team on the rise, but they don’t have the firepower to knock off the Chiefs in the AFC West this season.

John Elway and the Broncos front office deserve a lot of credit for the way they are building up the talent base in Denver. That doesn’t mean Drew Lock and his teammates are ready to challenge the Chiefs for an AFC West title this season. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs still the kings of that division and the entire AFC.

Colin Cowherd has gone on record with his belief that the Broncos can win 11-12 games this season. That statement isn’t crazy. The Broncos return a top-notch defense that could easily turn into a top-five unit in the final NFL standings.

Drew Lock has a chance to grow up quickly on the offensive side of the ball. The Broncos did a great job of giving him some young weapons to grow with in this year’s NFL Draft. Both Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler should make big contributions as rookies. Adding them to a receiving corps that already featured Courtland Simmons and Noah Fant gives Lock a great chance to grow up in his sophomore season.

None of that means the Broncos are ready to knock off the defending Super Bowl champions. Lock has some obvious talent at the quarterback position, but there’s no way to know how much progress he can make in 2020.

It’s very possible Denver will still trot out a below-average NFL quarterback for most of next season.  Notching double-digit wins without a quality signal-caller is a really difficult road to navigate in the modern NFL.

Even if Denver does manage to scrape out 11 wins, there’s a strong likelihood that it won’t be enough to top the Chiefs’ win total. OddsShark currently has Kansas City’s over/under for wins set at 11.5. There’s a very strong chance that Kansas City racks up 12 or 13 wins this season. That would put them completely out of the Broncos grasp.

Next: NFL Draft grades: Did the Broncos get Drew Lock enough help?

This is simply a year too soon for the Broncos to start believing they’re ready to challenge the Chiefs for the AFC West crown. If Lock takes a significant step forward this season it’s possible that Denver could be ready for Super Bowl contention in 2021. That’s how good they’ll need to be to give Kansas City any trouble in the division.

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Drew Lock is worth the excitement, and he gives the Broncos hope for 2020.

John Elway and the Denver Broncos had cycled through quite a few names under center since Peyton manning. However, Elway may have found his future quarterback with Drew Lock.

Elway used the 42nd-overall pick to select Lock out of Missouri in the 2019 NFL Draft. In the preseason, Lock did not show much, as many rookies do in their first action.

Although, Lock played well after his stint on the injured reserve list. He suited up as the starter in Week 13, playing each remaining game of the season. The Broncos went 4-1, and he threw for 1,020 yards with seven touchdowns and three picks. Very solid work.

The Broncos have hope this season because of Drew Lock

Now, 2020 looms, and so does a rather large campaign for Lock. Optimistic fans, and a front office hungry for an answer at quarterback, have begun to hope that Lock is the guy. And, he brings a real hope for this season.

With such a small sample size, it’s difficult to truly evaluate Lock’s body of work from 2019. His traditional stats look decent, and they are. But he did not throw the deep ball well, with just 6.5 yards gained per attempt.

According to Pro Football Focus, Lock was an above-average passer when it came to throws up to nine yards. However, he struggled when it came to throwing the ball 10 or more. When you look at his next gen numbers, you will see how well he did within that 9-10 yard range. He just needs to be more effective with the chunk plays downfield.

Lock not completing a lot of passes downfield should not kill those hopes of him being a good quarterback in the NFL. Not by any means. In fact, it should heighten those aspirations. Considering he was injured and missed a significant chunk of developmental time, this is a fixable issue.

Also, Lock will have a handful of play makers at his disposal in 2020.  Jerry Jeudy was drafted in the first round, and he joins Courtland Sutton, Melvin Gordon, Phillip Lindsay, Noah Fant, and fellow draftee KJ Hamler.

With more targets, reps, and experience, Lock provides substantial, real hope. As his arm develops at the top level and he familiarizes himself with the playbook and league more, he can take a massive step forward in 2020.

Do not let those negatives outweigh the positives and tarnish that hope. Lock can become the real deal this season.

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Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon has taken several parting shots at the Los Angeles Chargers.

One offseason after sitting out some early games of the regular season for the Los Angeles Chargers while seeking a new contract, Melvin Gordon clearly has not forgiven his former team.

Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon takes shot at Los Angeles Chargers.

This winter, Gordon signed a two-year deal with the Broncos after his market didn’t develop as he hoped. Of course, signing with the Chargers’ rival in Denver was an extra twist of the proverbial knife to his former team.

On Thursday, the Broncos running back took things up a notch and echoed what many of us already know — there’s far too much to do in Los Angeles to be stuck watching mediocre football.

A year after making it to the AFC Divisional round — and getting plastered by the New England Patriots — the Chargers fell apart, finishing 5-11 and getting the No. 6 overall pick as a result in April’s NFL Draft.

This offseason, Gordon was allowed to leave alongside quarterback Philip Rivers, who exited stage left after 16 seasons with the Bolts. Now, it’s a battle under center between veteran Tyrod Taylor and the man picked with the No. 6 overall choice, Justin Herbert.

As for Gordon, the 27-year-old believes he has moved on to greener pastures, and has spent the last several weeks hyping up second-year quarterback Drew Lock. On the surface, Denver’s offense looks relatively scary.

Not every AFC West team can live up to the Kansas City Chiefs’ firepower, but at the very least they should have some competition in Denver. The Chargers, meanwhile, are playing the long game, and the likes of Gordon get to kick them while they’re down.

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The team from the Mile High City has missed the playoffs four straight years. But which five players can the Denver Broncos add to reverse that trend?

It’s a team that circling made a strong impression down the stretch a year ago. After opening his NFL head coaching career with four consecutive losses, Vic Fangio would lead the Denver Broncos to seven wins in their final 12 contests. That include four victories in their final five outings with a rookie quarterback at the helm.

Now this club prepares for 2020 bolstered by one of the better offseasons in the league. General manager John Elway was proactive during free agency and also made several key acquisitions via the trade route. April’s draft was also fruitful as well as the team used their first two selections on adding talent to the wide receiving corps.

But they’re still plenty of work to be done. And this is a club coming off three consecutive losing seasons for the first time since the early days of the franchise. So what additional players could Elway add over the next few weeks to get this team back in the playoffs for the first time since 2015?

5. C Justin Britt (Released by Seattle Seahawks)

Last month, the Broncos used the second of three selections in the third round to secure the services of LSU center Lloyd Cushenberry. This offseason, the team also the departure of Connor McGovern – a 16-game starter this past year – to the New York Jets via free agency.

Earlier this year, there was speculation that free-agent pickup Graham Glasgow (Lions) could wind up at the pivot. In any case, there will be a new player snapping the football to quarterback Drew Lock. But why not add a little veteran insurance in case the rookie center has his issues?

Versatile offensive lineman Justin Britt was recently released by the Seattle Seahawks. He lined up basically everywhere on the offensive line during his days in the Pacific Northwest and he spent the last four seasons at center but missed the final eight games. He would add proven depth and playoff experience to this club.

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Tyrann Mathieu’s troll game is already in midseason form, which is bad news for Drew Lock.

Life must feel good for the Denver Broncos right now. After an impressive offseason, which included an outstanding NFL Draft, the AFC West team is entering the 2020 campaign with high expectations. What will young quarterback Drew Lock have in store for Year 2?

While the former Missouri signal-caller made plenty of noise last season, Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu is here to remind the Denver quarterback that the division, and league for that matter, still belongs to the reigning Super Bowl champions.

Drew lock gon be good but he better stop playing with me. https://t.co/6XmBMuyhED

— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) May 18, 2020

The burn is in reference to a play from last season where Lock tried to drop a dime to Courtland Sutton for a touchdown. Mathieu, being the shutdown defender that he is, didn’t let it happen and is ready to remind Lock that more of that awaits him whenever football returns.

Learn the message and learn it well, Drew Lock: Arrowhead Stadium will always be Mathieu’s house whenever you and the Broncos come to town.

With Mathieu being among the many defensive standouts, KC cruised to the Super Bowl and brought home its first Lombardi Trophy in 50 years.

Next: 5 breakout stars for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020

Even though the Broncos are expected to see a major improvement from their 7-9 season in 2019, Mathieu will be quick to let everyone know who the kings of the NFL are. Everyone will be gunning to take the Chiefs down. Good luck with that.

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As the Denver Broncos position themselves for a rise up the AFC West standings, these five players will have to be great in 2020.

The Denver Broncos started last season 0-4, and they never recovered on the way to 7-9. Joe Flacco opened the season as the starting quarterback, before a neck injury sidelined him. Brandon Allen made three starts, then rookie Drew Lock made his way back from a thumb injury to start the final five games.

Denver went 4-1 in Lock’s starts, with the lone loss coming to the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in a snow game. Lock started fast, with five touchdown passes in his first two starts, and finished slowly, but overall it looks like the Broncos have finally found a quarterback of the future.

General manager John Elway confirmed the commitment to Lock, using this year’s first two draft picks on wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler. In the fourth round, Lock’s college teammate Albert Okwuegbunam was brought in to form a formidable tight end duo with Noah Fant. Draft picks and free agent resources were poured into the offensive line too.

The Chiefs are the kings of the AFC West until someone dethrones them. If the Broncos plan on making a rise to the playoffs in 2020, these five players will have to be great.

5. OLB Bradley Chubb

Chubb stepped right in as a worthy running mate for Von Miller in 2018, with 12 sacks, 60 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 21 quarterback hits in a terrific rookie season. But he played just four games last year before suffering a torn ACL, and registered just one sack.

Back in March, former Bronco DeMarcus Ware has spoken highly of Chubb looking to the 2020 season.

“The thing is the mentality of ‘I can’t be stopped,’” “And I know that Bradley Chubb, he has that mentality. No matter what type of injury you have, you can come back from it if you work hard enough, and I know he’s going to come back stronger.”

The Broncos’ team sack total didn’t fall far from 2018 (44) to 2019 (40), and the addition of Jurrell Casey to the defensive line will be good. But a healthy Chubb is a special player. He will need to be healthy and back to his 2018 form for the Denver defense to have a chance to be a reincarnation of franchise’s famed “Orange Crush” defense.

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