Colorado native Dalton Risner ended his second year in the NFL with a painful 32-31 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday. After being selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Risner started all 32 games in the left guard, bringing stability to a besieged offensive line position room.
Risner will be in his third year with the Broncos, while the team tries to regain its identity. The news that John Elway is accepting a senior role in the Denver front office and relinquishing GM’s duties, combined with that of CEO Joe Ellis, who announces that he does not intend to continue in his 2022 position, raises more questions than answers. for the franchise.
But the Broncos can afford a fifth consecutive losing season. In fact, the Broncos are the first team in the NFL to win a championship and miss the playoffs in the next five years, and if that series ends, it will take more than a simple regime change at the top.
On Wednesday, the 25-year-old fan favorite joined 104.3 fans Nick and Cecil show to reflect on the 2020 season. While Elway and company are looking for a GM, Risner has expanded the work required of players to improve in 2021 and hinder the five-year reign of World of Suck.
“Listen, we were 5-11 this year,” Risner said Hay. “Am I checked on this? Yes. I’m really struggling to enjoy the off-season. It’s only been the third day and I want to go back to the gym already because I want to be a better football team. It sounds cliché, “But I promise I’m connected to it. When I look back on this year, one thing I’m proud of about the boys is how I’ve come to work every Sunday and not even that, but 365 days a year.” “You have to work out of season as a football athlete. You have to work during the week. You have to prepare in the right way. I decomposed the film into every game.”
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According to Pro Football Focus, Risner played 1,015 photos in the 2020 season. While, with the naked eye, he may appear to have had a “second-year slowdown,” a more accurate representation of his performance appears on film and in advanced analysis. He allowed six total QB shots and 28 total pressures. However, he did not register any penalties or bags allowed.
No matter how divided the fan base is and no matter how disorganized the team seems at the moment, Risner says he understands the frustrations of Broncos Country. He should know, growing up on a farm in rural Colorado, playing football with six men as a fan of “Orange and Blue.”
“Listen, man, it’s special, man,” Risner said when asked about the difference between Broncos Country and other NFL fan bases. “And guess what? You guys at Broncos Country expect a lot from us and I like it. I wouldn’t want anything else. I see some of the comments after the games and you know what? I don’t get angry, I respect him. Because they want to see us we manage to figure this out and see that we’re great. I love being Bronco, I never give up.
Risner was not afraid to admit how frustrated he and his colleagues are with Broncos’ lack of success. But he also revealed how determined they are to do their part to return the ship in 2021.
“We’re tired of how we’re doing now,” Risner said. “As players, we have to realize this. Coaches can call games, and the organization can meet the needs of position, shooting and introducing boys. I think we are a much better team than 5-11 even with the injuries we had. It’s our business in the room, it’s our business out of season to figure it out. I watched Broncos football grow up and I was part of this thing growing up. I grew up in this thing. I was the kid who was broken every Sunday, I didn’t want to go to school if Broncos lost. I know what it’s like to be a Bronco man, I like it. “
Follow Luke on Twitter @LukePattersonLP and @MileHighHuddle.