Cornerback James Bradberry
September 9, 2021
Q: What do (the Broncos) present? They’ve got some pretty good receivers you’re going against this week.
A: Sure. They’ve got a mixture of some down the field, vertical guys and then they’ve got some shift guys with (Broncos Wide Receiver Jerry) Jeudy. Of course, (Broncos Wide Receiver Courtland) Sutton and (Wide Receiver) Tim Patrick are the deep ball guys, bigger physical receivers that catch the 50-50 balls down the field. They’ve also got some speedsters too in (Broncos Wide Receiver) K.J. Hamler.
Q: Who’s your favorite teammate? If it’s number 54, what’s his name and how much do you like him? (Asked by Linebacker Blake Martinez)
A: My favorite teammate is Blake Martinez. I like him so much that I voted for him three times on the captain sheet. (laughs)
Q: What’d he give you?
A: Friendship, friendship. (laughs)
Q: When a team has this many good receivers, is it harder for them to put you on one guy to lock down? Doesn’t it make more sense for you to have to rove and kind of what they’re running, that’s what you’re doing?
A: It’s definitely harder to match up with a team that has so many explosive receivers because they’ve got so many weapons. That’s why a D coordinator puts together a good game plan for us to go into the game. Just go out there and execute the game plan.
Q: How important does (Cornerback) Adoree’ (Jackson) become in this because he has a different skill set, so you can match up accordingly if you guys decide to go that direction?
A: I think his role is very important because he adds another key veteran to our lineup. He’s very smart, very athletic and he has that speed dynamic that we need on our defense.
Q: What’s unique about (Broncos Quarterback) Teddy Bridgewater as a quarterback? What challenges does he present?
A: I think he’s very accurate and he makes good decisions with the ball. I think that’s what makes him very unique.
Q: When he was younger, he would run more. Has he cut that back at all?
A: I believe so. That happens anytime you have an injury to your lower extremity or something. You’re going to stop doing something that you’re used to doing all the time. So, I think he has definitely stopped running quite a bit, but I think he’s still capable of running.
Q: Where do you view the defense in regard to your progression from where you started this summer compared to where you are now or looking at where you were last year even?
A: It’s hard to compare where we were last year to this year, but I know we’re in a good spot right now. Today we had a good practice and hopefully tomorrow we end up having a good practice as well. That will give us momentum going into Sunday’s game, so I think we’re in a good spot. We’ve got pretty much most of the same starters that we had last year.
Q: Why is it hard to compare then if you do have most of the starters?
A: Because we’ve got different opponents this year, different guys that we have to go against, different matchups. Then, you never know with injuries. It’s football, injuries are going to happen. You never know how the season is going to turn out, so that’s why it’s so hard to compare to last year.
Q: Setting aside the ‘what if’ about injuries, you guys bring back a lot of people on this defense. You were pretty good last year. You added some pieces like Adoree’. In your mind, should this be a top-10 defense this year?
A: You’ve got to take it one week at a time. I think we have a good squad on paper, but you definitely still have to go out there, execute and make plays.
Q: Do you prepare your body any differently when you have two games this close back-to-back than you would for a normal week Sunday to Sunday?
A: You just know once you get done with Sunday’s game you’ve got to immediately go to the next game. As far as recovery, I start recovery as soon as I can right after the game. It’s a home game, so I’m going to get on my Normatec boots right after the game, probably try to do a little bit more treatment as far as massage and whatnot, extra stretching.
Q: (Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator) Pat Graham said there’s definitely more scheme at this time now than there was last year. Do you feel the sense that you guys are ready to do more?
A: I think so. I think we’re smart enough on the backend to do a lot, but of course last year was our first year under Patrick Graham’s regime and his scheme. This year, it’s kind of the same scheme. We’re more comfortable in it.
Q: I know you guys got a taste of what (Safety) Xavier (McKinney) can bring to the backend, but was it enough of a taste to know what kind of player he can be, or do you think this summer he’s kind of shown you guys how he’s ready to be a part of what you guys have going on in the backend?
A: It’s only his second year so I don’t want to put too much on his shoulders, but he’s growing and getting better week in and week out. I think the sky’s the limit for him. He’s just got to go out there and execute and just play well.
Q: Did he ever open up at the end of last season to the almost spreading your wings kind of thing that he wasn’t a rookie, or did it take until you guys came back this year that you started seeing more of the guy he is today?
A: I think last year I saw from him that he was just happy to be out there after coming off the injury that kept him sidelined for so long. Then this year, of course he’s trying to be more proactive because he’s on the field now, he’s able to take live reps and whatnot. He’s always communicating out on the field, doing the extra stuff with some of the teammates. I feel like he’s growing week in and week out like I said.
Q: Which interception was better, yours in Chicago last year or Blake’s against New England?
A: I think it was equally a great play. Mine was during a live game, so I guess you’ve got to go with mine. It wasn’t a preseason game.
