12:36 P.M. MDT: “I actually feel that after OTAs we’re ready to play a game,” he said when addressing the progress the team made during its 15 days of on-field work.
12:37 P.M. MDT: Although the football landscape has changed, the on-field work at training camp remains evident in Shanahan’s eyes. “You get back in football shape, but there’s nothing like putting pads on … until you put the pads on and get in football shape, (being ready) doesn’t come naturally,” he said.
12:38 P.M. MDT: “You have to be smart on how much contact you have … We don’t tackle, but there’s a lot of run drills and nine-on-seven and one-on-one where the contact’s there but you’re not bringing people to the ground.”
12:39 P.M. MDT: Rod Smith, Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler will begin training camp on the physically-unable to perform list and thus will not take part in practice Sunday. Each could be taken off of the PUP list during camp if they’re ready; for now, they will work exclusively with the strength-and-conditioning coaches.
12:42 P.M. MDT: “Where do you think you stack up against the AFC West teams?” Shanahan was asked. “At the bottom,” he deadpanned.
12:43 P.M. MDT: “Dre’ Bly comes in and is a legitimate starter, first day,” Shanahan said. “He went through OTAs and was exceptionally good.” Shanahan speaks further of how Daniel Graham and Travis Henry can come in and start, something that is hard to find in free agency nowadays.
12:43 P.M. MDT: Leadership without Wilson and with Smith on PUP: “Who those leaders will be, I can’t tell you. Natural leaders, you take a look at a guy like John Lynch and how he handles himself on the football field,” Shanahan said, also speaking of Matt Lepsis, Tom Nalen and Champ Bailey, among others. “What you’re hoping is that these younger guys who have talent have the type of work ethic these veterans have. You do that, you have the chance to have a special team.”
12:45 P.M. MDT: Shanahan said that Jarvis Moss has signed, and that all the draft picks are in the fold.
12:46 P.M. MDT: Shanahan on Terrell Davis: “I don’t know how you get any better than Terrell Davis — as a person and as a football player … To see him get in that Ring of Fame is very special.”
12:47 P.M. MDT: On entering his 13th season as head coach: “You always take it year by year, but I’m very excited, and hopefully I’ll be here for a while.”
12:52 P.M. MDT: Shanahan is done, and now President/CEO Pat Bowlen is discussing Terrell Davis’ induction into the Ring of Fame, a choice that came “very quickly,” Bowlen said. “There was a very positive feeling about putting Terrell in the Ring of Fame. That’s been talked about for the last three or four months.” … “In my mind, we had one of the greatest running backs to ever play.” … As for Davis as a Hall of Famer? “Absolutely. When I look back at other running backs who have made the hall of fame and where he ranks, what he did … I would very very surprised if he was not a definite Hall of Famer.”
12:57 P.M. MDT: Assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates now takes his turn in the hot seat. “We’re as far ahead as I’ve ever been at this time with a new team, so I feel very comfortable going into camp.”
12:58 P.M. MDT: “Going into camp, we’re very optimistic with what we have to work with.”
12:59 P.M. MDT: With Sam Brandon released after failing a physical, Domonique Foxworth will see some time at safety this coming training camp; he started there last December and filled in for an absent Nick Ferguson on the first day of minicamp. “(Foxworth) is our starting nickel back going into camp and one of the finest nickel backs I’ve ever seen.
1:00 P.M. MDT: Bates revealed that Eddie Moore might have to have his knee scoped once again. The strongside linebacker position is “wide open,” and Bates said he will try as many as five players there. “There’ll be a lot of rotation going until somebody says, ‘That position’s mine’ … we would like to have named that starting (strongside) linebacker going into the Cleveland game (which is the third preseason game).”
Tags: Mike Shanahan, Training Camp
[...] Mason’s Morsels, the official Denver Broncos blog of Andrew Mason, is posting continuous coverage of the training camp press conference. Be sure to check it out with the link above, but here are some of the breaking news tidbits: [...]
[...] posted on denverbroncos.com. He also has a break down of the conference on his blog over at Mason’s Morsels. Here’s a quick look at a few points of [...]
Andrew, my guess is that you’re going to have quite a few of these trackbacks when camp starts tomorrow. You’re first hand coverage is just TOO good not to mention and link to!
If Denver fans haven’t bookmarked your blog yet, they need to break down and do it.
Best. Broncos blog. ever.
…and speaking of Simpson’s… Where’s your movie review? We KNOW you went to see it opening night! We’re all waiting to hear your thoughts.
Jonathan Douglas
http://www.mydenverobsession.com