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Want a Sneak Peek at Sports Authority Field Upgrades?

May 18th, 2013 - 8:34am by Stuart Zaas

Maybe you’ve already seen the photos of the new Sports Authority Field at Mile High scoreboards being installed.

But today is your first chance to see the improvements live and in person.

The other professional sports team that calls Sports Authority Field home will play its home opener at the stadium tonight.

The undefeated Denver Outlaws (3-0), who appeared in the Major League Lacrosse title game last year, take on the Rochester Rattlers (1-2) at 7 p.m. MDT tonight at Sports Authority Field.

Tickets are still available for the game and may be purchased online or in-person before the game starting at $10.

The Outlaws game will be preceded by the Class 4A and 5A state championship lacrosse games, which face off at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively. Admission to both of those high school games is free with the purchase of an Outlaws ticket.

Today’s lacrosse tripleheader offers the first look at the $30 million of improvements that include a brand new 220 foot by 40 foot high-definition scoreboard on the south side of the stadium. The new scoreboard is believed to be either the third or fourth-largest in the United States.

Pro Football Focus Says Miller Has No Weakness as Rusher

May 16th, 2013 - 10:24am by Stuart Zaas

Pro Football Focus, an advanced NFL statistics website, profiled Broncos linebacker Von Miller today.

The piece breaks down Miller’s strengths and weaknesses as a pass rusher and pinpoints the tackles that Miller victimized the most, and who had the most success blocking the linebacker. It also goes into what last season means for Miller’s future prospects.

It doesn’t take long to read through the third-year player’s weaknesses — there are none listed.

Below is the excerpt from Pro Football Focus’ Ben Stockwell:

Weakness

None

The only category that Miller didn’t rank among the league’s Top 20 in terms of pressure rate this season was at getting unblocked pressure, and when you’re talking about Von Miller that’s hardly a surprise

Across his two seasons in the NFL Miller has recorded only 12 unblocked pressures, which is fewer than Aldon Smith (14) and Calvin Pace (13) recorded this season alone. When you dig further into Miller’s unblocked stats you find that he even makes the most of these rare occasions that he can get at the opposing pass rusher without anyone picking him up. Of those 12 unblocked pressures he has recorded, he failed to turn only one of those into a sack or hit of the opposing quarterback, further illustrating why you just can’t leave Miller unaccounted for in your blocking scheme. In his rookie season Miller converted his six unblocked pressures into five hits and one hurry, while this season he converted six into three hits and three sacks. Miller doesn’t get much of his pass rush for “free” but when he does, he makes you pay in full for not picking him up.


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Broncos Help Build Community

May 15th, 2013 - 2:29pm by Stuart Zaas

Be a Champion in the Community Week continued on Wednesday with a trip to Habitat for Humanity sites around Denver.

A group of players including cornerback Champ Bailey, safety David Bruton, longsnapper Aaron Brewer, punter Britton Colquitt, kicker Matt Prater and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas visited a pair of Habitat sites in Denver’s Globeville Neighborhood.

At the same time, tackle Paul Cornick, guard Ben Garland, linebacker Steven Johnson, defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and tight end Jacob Tamme visited Habitat build site in the Chase Street neighborhood in Lakewood, Colo.

“They are overwhelemed,” Habitat for Humanity Director of Development and Communication Ryan Smith said. “They are so excited to know that the Denver Broncos are helping build their homes financially and with volunteers. Especially here in Globeville. A lot of these families have been here 30, 40 or 50 years.”

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Del Rio: Williams ‘Very Determined in His Approach’

May 14th, 2013 - 8:34am by Gray Caldwell

After the draft, Head Coach John Fox said it was “safe to say” Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio was very excited about the team’s first-round pick, defensive tackle Sylvester Williams.

Now that he’s had three days to coach him during last weekend’s rookie minicamp, Del Rio made it clear that assessment was valid.

“Sylvester is a big guy — has some quickness, very serious and very determined in his approach,” Del Rio said. “That is a pretty good way to begin — come in here humble, but definitely ready to work and kind of man-up and do his job. That part has been very impressive.”

When asked whether Williams’ intangibles are similar to last year’s top pick, Derek Wolfe, Del Rio said it wasn’t exactly a fair comparison. But the attitude with which both players come to work is nearly identical.

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Be a Champion in the Community Week Kicks Off

May 13th, 2013 - 3:06pm by Stuart Zaas

The Broncos opened up Be a Champion in the Community Week with a visit to Whittier School and the Denver Center for International Studies on Monday afternoon.

Throughout the week, the team will be spending time with different community partners in the greater Denver area.

“Our primary goal is to get an all-hands-on-deck approach involved in all of our community platforms,” Vice President of Community Development Cindy Kellogg said. “What’s special about this year in particular is having an entire week devoted to our community initiatives. In its second year, I think this will really bolster the impact of that, as well as introduce our players to the work that our organization is doing in the community.”

To start the week’s events, cornerback Mario Butler, tight end Joel Dreessen, guard Ben Garland, defensive end Malik Jackson, linebacker Steven Jackson, center Quentin Saulsberry and defensive tackle Sealver Siliga visited Whittier students at recess to promote healthy, active lifestyles. Cornerback Omar Bolden, cornerback Tony Carter, wide receiver Greg Orton and wide receiver Gerell Robinson did the same at Denver Center for International Studies.

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Broncos Sign Fourth Draft Pick

May 13th, 2013 - 2:52pm by Gray Caldwell

Last week, the Broncos inked three of their seven 2013 NFL Draft picks.

On Monday, the number jumped to four.

Quarterback Zac Dysert, the club’s seventh-round selection, signed with the team Monday afternoon.

Dysert played 46 career games for Miami University as the school’s first ever three-time captain. He finished as the Redhawks’ all-time leading passer with 12,013 yards, 73 touchdowns and 51 interceptions.

The three remaining unsigned picks are the Broncos’ first-, second- and third-rounders.

Broncos D: The Super Friends? Miller Asks for Nickname

May 13th, 2013 - 1:31pm by Gray Caldwell

When Von Miller came into the league, he quickly dubbed the dynamic duo he formed with Elvis Dumervil “Batman and Robin.”

So now that Dumervil is gone, does that mean Miller is Batman?

“I think we’ll just have to change it up now,” he smiled. “I think it’ll just have to be the Super Friends League, something like that. It’s up to you guys.”

He said either Derek Wolfe or Kevin Vickerson could be The Thing — the rock-like, strongman creature from the Fantastic Four. But that’s as far as he could get on his own.

“It’s not the Fantastic Four, we’ve got a lot of superheroes in there,” Miller said. “Hopefully you guys will name that for us.”

So, fans, any ideas? What is your nickname for the Broncos’ pass rush? What about the defense as a whole?

Let us know in the comments.

Broncos Honor Their Moms on Mother’s Day

May 12th, 2013 - 8:59am by Stuart Zaas

Several Broncos players took the time to show their appreciation for their mothers’ roles in their lives. In celebration of Mother’s Day, here are some thoughts from players on their moms:

Linebacker Von Miller
“My mom has never ever missed anything I have ever participated in, whether it be an assembly at school or at track meet out in Miami or a football game up in Oakland—or wherever. My mom has never missed anything I have been a part of. I think that’s what makes my mom different from a lot of moms and that’s what makes her special to me.”

Tight End Jacob Tamme
“I’ll go back and see (my mother) this Mother’s Day, actually. With my wife being a mother now, that’s the one you always forget about. You always think of your mom, then you have a small kid and now your wife’s a mom, too. That’s a big deal. You can’t forget about that one (laughing). I’m with you. It’s a big deal. You gain an appreciation for it the more you see what your wife does. You think you’re working hard, but you spend a few days at home and you see what it’s like.”

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For Coaches, Rookie Minicamp Like Opening a Present

May 11th, 2013 - 1:59pm by Gray Caldwell

As exciting as this weekend’s rookie minicamp is for the players, it’s just as big a deal for the men coaching them.

“I think any coach worth their weight likes to be on the grass and on the field coaching,” Head Coach John Fox said. “It’s the fun part of coaching. That’s really why most of us do it. There’s no doubt it’s an excitement level, even though it’s just the rookies at this point. To be on the field with them is great.”

Not only is it a chance for the coaches to get back to running organized practices before OTAs and training camp kick off, it’s like a reward for all the hard work that went into the draft process. The teachers finally get a chance to see their new pupils.

“Having these draft picks and free agents come in and join this rookie class, you get started with them and kind of find out what you have,” Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio said. “It’s like opening a present at Christmas time. You want to see what the present is like. We’ve added some talent, we’ve added some players that will come in and compete for spots and for roles. I definitely look forward to this time of year.”

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Broncos Ink Fifth-Round Picks

May 10th, 2013 - 12:58pm by Stuart Zaas

Defensive end Quanterus Smith and wide receiver Tavarres King were drafted just 15 picks apart by the Broncos — both fifth-round selections.

So fittingly, the pair officially signed their rookie contracts approximately 15 minutes apart on Friday.

Smith was added with the 146th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Western Kentucky University, where he totaled 23 sacks. The defensive end led the nation with 1.25 sacks per game in his injury-shortened senior season.

Smith is still recovering from an ACL injury that cut his 2012 season short, but is in attendance at this weekend’s rookie minicamp.

King, a wide receiver out of Georgia, was selected with the 161st pick. He ranks fourth in Bulldogs history with 2,602 receiving yards and his 950 yards in 2012 are fourth-most all-time for a single season in school annals.

Tackle Vinston Painter signed his rookie deal on Thursday evening, giving the Broncos three of their seven selections under contract.