Roster battles: Revealing the winners from Broncos' preseason Game 2

There were multiple battles that I've been keeping an eye on going into the Denver Broncos vs the Seattle Seahawks game. These are position battles that are carrying over from camp, and mostly for a spot on the 53-man roster or the practice squad.

After going over the game multiple times, I can tell you who won these battles. So let's dive in and break down who emerged victoriously and why.

QBs: Drew Lock vs. Kevin Hogan

Of course, the backup quarterback battle makes this report. This battle is important for many reasons. If Denver can get away with keeping two quarterbacks, that is one roster spot they can use elsewhere.

Hogan was slightly better in the first game, but it was more because Lock struggled in his first NFL action. We needed to see growth from Lock in his second game action and less nerves, and see Hogan actually play well instead of just decent enough.

Winner: Drew Lock

I wanted to see growth from Lock and he showed it. It was a good game from Lock, especially factoring in the pressure he was dealing with because of the reserve offensive lines struggles.

He was quick with his reads and decisions and footwork continues to look improved. Was it great? No, and there is still a lot that needs work, but he looks more like a backup quarterback than Hogan right now.

Hogan struggled with ball placement on just about every pass attempt and on one in particular, he had a hop in the middle of throwing that ended up putting the ball way too low. It was still catchable, but there was no need for the hop and the low ball to make the receiver's work even harder.

RBs: Theo Riddick vs. Devontae Booker

The battle for the No. 3 running back spot is rather interesting. Word is Riddick was promised a spot on the 53-man roster and a good role in the offense, and his contract would back that up.

So it is likely his job, but don’t expect Booker to go down quietly. Riddick has to show it on the field, and it's going to be hard with how little time he has had with the team entering this game. Can Booker make the Broncos regret bringing in Riddick, or can Riddick stand out and make plays early in his time with the team?

Winner: Devontae Booker

There is a clear winner in Booker, who had a couple of good runs. He wasn’t good enough to potentially make the Broncos regret signing Riddick, but he was the better of the two.

Riddick had a bad drop and a bad carry, and just failed to really make an impact. Booker was better, but it was more because of how poorly Riddick showed, though it is still early in his time with Denver.

CBs: Horace Richardson vs. Alijah Holder

This is a battle for the practice squad between two young corners. Going into the game, Richardson had the edge on Holder after a strong performance in the Hall of Fame game.

Holder was solid, but Richardson was really good. With the other corners on the roster either guaranteed a roster spot, or playing their way to being cut, these two stand alone in the competition. The Seahawks game gave each a chance to separate from the other.

Winner: Neither

Both players didn’t stand out against the Seahawks. I walked away with very similar notes between the two of them. Richardson still has an edge over Holder, but it comes from the preseason opener. It is a shame Richardson couldn’t build off that. If he had managed to shine, it would have been hard for Holder to overcome.

OLBs: Malik Reed vs. Jeff Holland

There are many who are talking about Holland having a huge edge being the incumbent in this battle. However, Reed has been killing it all camp and followed suit in the Hall of Fame Game, which earned him my highest grade for the defense and overall.

This was also a battle to watch in that game, which Reed handily won. So if there was an edge for Holland, there isn’t any one more and he may not even make the roster with Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, Justin Hollins and Dekoda Watson all being able to bring pressure off the edge. There is likely room for only one spot between these two.

Winner: Malik Reed

Whatever edge Holland may have had, he doesn’t anymore. Reed has the advantage after a great camp and two excellent games. He is showing up and wreaking havoc, all while Holland isn’t standing out and is making mistakes.

Remember, the two edge rushers are facing the same competition. There are three games left for Holland to come back, but it is Reed’s job to lose.

C/OG: Austin Schlottmann vs. Jake Brendel

The battle for a backup interior offensive lineman isn’t very exciting, but with how poorly they showed in the Hall of Fame Game, resolution is needed. These two are battling for the backup center spot, and with Connor McGovern struggling to snap when the quarterback is in shotgun, backup center is more important.

Neither of these players stood out in a good way during the first game. That needs to change in their second game.

Winner: Austin Schlottmann

While he wasn’t great, Schlottman was solid out there on CenturyLink Field. He made some good blocks in the running game, didn’t give up a lot of pressures in the passing game, and snapped the ball well.

Meanwhile, Brendel struggled, and had a bad snap or two during the game.

OTs: Chaz Green vs Jake Rodgers

During the Hall of Fame game, Green was one of the first reserve tackles to be put in, and he played very poorly. Would that continue?

Denver is a little weak in options for their backup tackle spot, so they need them all to step up. Jake Rodgers is another backup tackle that had a lot of chatter going into camp, but he hasn’t lived up to it. With how much Green struggled, it could open the door for Rodgers.

Winner: Jake Rodgers

Not only did the Seattle game open the door for Rodgers, he stepped through it. It wasn’t a great performance, but he was really solid for the Broncos at right tackle and got in there pretty early.

Seattle has some depth in their front seven, and Rodgers more than held his own. It is clear on tape that Rogers has surpassed Green, who struggled against the Seahawks and gave up a lot of pressure and penetration.

WRs: Nick Williams vs. Trinity Benson vs. Kelvin McKnight

This receiver trio is fighting for a potential sixth receiver the Broncos keep. Each game they will probably be included in this report, because the winner likely has a role as a returner.

Benson has good long speed, McKnight has good quickness and Williams is shifty, so they all have different receiver styles. It is on each to show why he is the style the Broncos need to keep. Benson and Williams bring something that the Broncos don’t have in their receiver corps.

Winner(s): Nick Williams and Trinity Benson

Both of these receivers had one catch for 20-plus yards. Williams and Benson showed what their strengths are and how they can be used. Williams built upon a strong Hall of Fame Game, while we got our first glimpse of Benson, though it will be nice to see him as a returner.

McKnight struggled, and nearly muffed a punt. Williams and Benson might have only had one catch, respectively, but they created solid separation on other plays. The two wideouts didn’t see the ball go their way much. McKnight didn’t get consistent separation in coverage when he was on the field.

SS: Trey Marshall vs. Jamal Carter

After the Hall of Fame game, Carter's stock was going down while Marshall's was going up. Marshall was solid, but would he carry that into Game 2 and build on it?

On the other side, Carter struggled, so would he rebound and put together a good game? There is possibly one safety spot left with Justin Simmons, Will Parks, Dymonte Thomas and Su’a Cravens taking four, and that spot comes down to Marshall and Carter.

Winner: Trey Marshall

Neither player had a great game and both made mistakes. However, Carter made a few more mistakes, and his were a little worse than Marshall’s. This was a close battle, that Marshall just barely came out on top in.

ILBs: Josh Watson vs. Alexander Johnson

It has been a strong camp for Johnson and he was very solid in their first game. Watson has been right behind him with a strong camp, and also had a solid debut.

With Josey Jewell, Joe Jones and Todd Davis injured, these two are going to get ample opportunity to show what they can do and stand out. There may be one or two spots on the roster for an off-ball linebacker, and these two are fighting for it.

Winner: Alexander Johnson

Both of them played very well in the game. Watson saw time attacking off the edge, and had some solid plays there, and looked good off-ball. However, Johnson was just better.

There was one blitz he was a little manic when attacking instead of having a plan, but it was still a good play from him despite the outcome. He looked quicker, and did well going to the sideline. There is obvious growth, and tremendous growth from last year, and even improvement from that first game.

DL: DeMarcus Walker vs. Zach Kerr vs/ DeShawn Williams

The battle for the last two spots for the defensive line is here again. The depth on the D-line is a unit of strength for the Broncos, and these three are the reason why.

They each have stood out during camp and in the first game. It is an intense battle that is going to raise the eyebrows of coaches as they try to sort through who to make it and who not to make it.

Winner(s): Zach Kerr and DeShawn Williams

Neither Kerr or Williams had a huge impact play, but they were solid. They got good penetration, and held their own against the Seahawks and didn’t get blown up off their spot.

Walker struggled mightily during the game. There were a couple run plays he got washed out, and he looked like a one-trick pony. He got close to applying a pressure a couple of times and they came on stunts, which is exactly like the first game.

When he attacks head-on as a pass rusher, he gets nothing, and seems like he can only find traction when stunting. That is not good news for him and he needs to find ways to apply pressure when attacking head-on.

Follow Erick on Twitter @ErickTrickel.

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