Vic Fangio sees versatility in Patrick Surtain

Last night, the Denver Broncos used their first-round pick (9th overall) on Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II. He’ll be added to a secondary that includes Kyle Fuller, Ronald Darby, Justin Simmons, Bryce Callahan, and Kareem Jackson.

Paton said last night that Vic Fangio would appoint Surtain’s role in the Broncos’ defensive scheme.

“As you guys know, we are playing a lot of five defensive backs,” Fangio said. “A good bit of the time, we play five or more—75 percent to 85 percent of the time.”

“We’ll have plenty of opportunity to get him in there,” he added.

Fangio sounded realistic about whether Surtain’s contribution would make the Broncos a top-league defense, noting that he couldn’t answer that question until training camp, after he’s seen everyone in action together.

“I will say that I like the group of guys,” he remarked, “And hopefully when you ask that question in late August or early September, I’ll give you a really positive answer.”

Fangio gave some insight on their evaluation process, detailing the things that really attracted Denver to Surtain.

“What I like about him is that he has shown that he is very capable both in man and zone,” Fangio said. “I think that he has good eyes, meaning that he sees more than just the man he’s lined up on. [He’s] a good tackler in the running game and has good ball skills.”

Fangio added that he believes Surtain has the versatility even though it’s not on tape yet.

“Everything we know about him and what he’s shown, I think that there’s a chance that he can play inside if we need him to as a fifth or sixth DB,” he added.

Surtain’s not the only good news for Denver’s secondary, either. Bryce Callahan is officially “100 percent” after recovering from his recent foot injury.

“He’s good to go,” Fangio announced.

I’m going to state the obvious here: teams don’t win games without scoring points. Great offenses are still necessary. Aaron Rodgers trade rumors aside, there’s still time for Denver to secure a new starting QB before the 2021 season starts, and I hope they utilize that time.

That said, I’m cautiously optimistic. I have no doubts about Surtain’s abilities, or whether he’ll fit into Broncos Country and offer something invaluable to the corner position. At the end of the day, Fangio is a great defensive mind and I can appreciate what he’s putting together with this line.