While some might have been surprised by how quickly Caden Sterns established himself as the Broncos’ dime back after being drafted in the fifth round last year, Sterns’ former college teammate and fellow safety P.J. Locke wasn’t among them.
Locke saw firsthand how quick of a football study Sterns was at Texas. Locke was a junior when Sterns came into the program as an early enrollee and promptly turned heads en route to being named first-team all-conference and the Big-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year.
“He’s a really sharp player who has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to the IQ of the game,” Locke said. “He’s a true playmaker, too… and that combination is what everyone saw last year.”
Hence the high expectations from Locke for Sterns, who will be the primary backup to Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson.
“Caden is ready to take another step this year,” Locke said. “And I know he will based off everything I’ve seen from him up close (in college and the NFL).”
Locke recalled one play in particular from he and Sterns’ college days that underscores that belief, and shows just how quickly Sterns can acclimate to a higher level of football.
“I remember when he came in as a freshman at UT, he was an early enrollee (freshman) and we had spring ball,” Locke recalled. “I already knew he had the tools from watching his tape, but there’s one play I’ll never forget. I was on the sideline, and he was already running with the No. 2s. He was playing safety and running away from me, on the opposite hash, and he read the play and took a perfect angle to an interception.
“That’s when I knew he was for real. He was starting soon (as a freshman at Texas), and I see the same thing here, where entering Year 2 he’s already got the presence of a starter in this league, even if he’s not quite there yet.”
Sterns wants to prove he’s elevated his game to the point where should anything happen to Simmons or Jackson, the Broncos have a plug-and-play replacement waiting.
“If anything were to happen at safety with those guys, I want to make sure there’s no fall-off,” Sterns said. “This year I’m taking more of the mindset of, even though I’m not a starter, I’m trying to prove myself as one as far as understanding the schemes, helping some of the younger guys out at our position and just getting better with my technique and everything I do back there.”
Sterns played 32% of the defensive snaps last year, the majority as the dime back in defensive sub packages, and also contributed on special teams where he played 34% of the snaps. His first pick came against the Jets in Week 3 and he had another on the road in the Broncos’ upset win over Dallas in Week 9, plus five passes defensed and 28 tackles.
“Last year, I feel like I proved I was able to play the dime, and I consistently showed I can do that,” Sterns said. “So this year, it’s just more about slowing the game down (in my mind) and making more plays when they come my way.”
First-year defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero complimented Sterns on the versatility that No. 30 displayed over the course of training camp and the preseason. Sterns will also see action on special teams again this year after playing 34% of the snaps on those units last year.
“He can cover, he can blitz, and he can be a linebacker (as the dime) that gives you a little better coverage,” Evero said.
