Vance Joseph points to McCaffrey's third-down work as Broncos' key problem
The short version
- Vance Joseph calls Christian McCaffrey a 'Hall of Fame player' and points to his third-down receiving as Denver's main defensive problem
- Broncos visit the undefeated 49ers on Sunday in Week 4; CSB carries the game in blue regions of the broadcast map
- Bo Nix praises Brock Purdy, noting he has played in a Super Bowl and may be a little underrated
- Denver lost last season's AFC Championship Game 10-7 to New England, with Joseph as defensive coordinator
- Nix cites early-down success and execution as keys to avoiding slow starts
Denver's defensive coordinator says the 49ers use scheme to free Christian McCaffrey as a receiver on third downs; Bo Nix also praised Brock Purdy ahead of Sunday's Week 4 game.
Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has singled out San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey as the biggest problem his defense must solve this week. The Broncos travel to face the 49ers on Sunday in Week 4, and Joseph's comments made clear that McCaffrey's work as a receiver is at the center of Denver's preparation.
Joseph called McCaffrey a "Hall of Fame player" and said the running back is still performing at a high level in both the running game and the passing game. The biggest issue, in his view, is third down, where he said McCaffrey has been San Francisco's leading receiver.
Joseph explained that planning to cover a running back on third down is difficult because the 49ers use their scheme to spring McCaffrey open and steer him toward matchups they like. He said the job for Denver is to find the right matchups of its own and have the right calls in place to counter him.
The report also noted that covering running backs and tight ends as receivers has been a recurring trouble spot for Denver's defense under Joseph. It added that he has often found ways to adjust during games and steady his unit, and framed Sunday as another matchup that could require early corrections.
San Francisco enters Week 4 without a loss, giving Denver a difficult road assignment. According to the report's broadcast information, viewers in regions shown in blue on the Week 4 television map will get the Broncos and 49ers on CSB.
Denver is in its first season since reaching the AFC Championship Game, which the Broncos lost 10-7 to the New England Patriots at Empower Field at Mile High on January 25. Joseph was the team's defensive coordinator in that game, and his unit now prepares for an undefeated opponent on the road.
On offense, quarterback Bo Nix discussed his counterpart, Brock Purdy, whom he met for the first time when the teams held joint practices last year. Nix said he has heard good things about Purdy and admires how the 49ers quarterback uses his platform for things bigger than football. He described Purdy as a really good quarterback who has played in a Super Bowl and plenty of big games, and suggested he may be a little underrated. Nix also addressed San Francisco linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw, saying they have played in tandem for a while and are really good.
Turning to his own side of the ball, Nix emphasized balance between running and passing, saying the right approach depends on what a defense gives and on getting Denver's playmakers in space. He said early-down success is the priority because staying out of third down keeps a defense from getting off the field.
On the subject of slow starts, Nix pointed to execution, sustaining drives, converting an early first down and staying on the field longer. He credited a calm huddle for helping in high-pressure moments and expressed confidence that the Broncos can always come back, while noting that teams that win championships start fast instead of relying on second-half rallies.
