What Vikings fans need to know about Bradley Chubb
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It may not be a regular season matchup, but preseason football at least allows us to figure out which young players should be starting or not, as well as allow veteran players to get back in a groove while playing in a scrimmage that doesn’t matter to them.
Tonight, The Vikings will face the Broncos at Denver for the team’s first preseason action of 2018. Now obviously, the Vikings have many feared players on their defense, including Everson Griffen, Harrison Smith, Anthony Barr, Xavier Rhodes, Danielle Hunter, and Linval Joseph.
On the opposing team, one player is likely to strike an equal amount of fear in his rookie season.
Drafted out of NC State in the first round, Broncos defensive end Bradley Chubb (yes, cousin of rookie Browns running back Nick Chubb) received loads of awards and honors coming out of his senior season, including ACC Defensive Player of the Year. The Broncos have the blessing of pairing up Chubb with outside linebacker Von Miller, and the two look to form a dynamic pass rushing duo entering the 2018 season.
The game starts at 9:05 Eastern Time (8:05 Central Time for Vikings fans), so here’s a quick piece on what Vikings fans should expect from Bradley Chubb.
One thing you’ll here a lot from draft and NFL analysts is how incredible Chubb’s bend is. For a good bend, you must be able to show good balance while also being able to turn at a sharp angle in order to pressure or sack the quarterback. Chubb does so on this play. He Pushes off his left foot just a little after he gets off the line of scrimmage, giving him outside leverage. Then, he bends and keeps his balance, leaving him unguarded as he takes down the quarterback.
Here’s an example of Chubb’s bend on a running play. Notice how smoothly he’s able to contort his body when reaching for the running back without falling to the ground. The result is a stuffed play and a tackle for a loss.
Chubb’s game is high not just because of his athleticism, but because he also has the brains to be a pass rusher. Here, he hesitates his movement a little after the ball is snapped, as he notices the end around player is not a factor in the play. With that in mind, he reads the option play perfectly, wasting no time in stuffing the back. Chubb’s intelligence truly stands out.
Some have said that Chubb isn’t the most powerful guy on the field, but he’s able to make up for that with his athleticism and football smarts. Even so, he’s no pushover, as shown here. Chubb chops past the left tackle on another read option before the quarterback can even process his presence. He notices the back is getting the ball and proceeds to eat him alive for a sensational tackle.
Who knows how much of Bradley Chubb we’ll see tonight, but to conclude, expect a pass rushing monster. His footwork, incredible bend, fluid athleticism, vision and intelligence all stand out, and if the Vikings ever face the Broncos in the regular season in the next few years, expect a focus on the NC State defensive end.