Saturday morning’s practice brought a welcomed sight as the Broncos took the field in pads for the first time.
It was another hot morning at Dove Valley, but the players were admittedly excited to be back in pads and the energy picked up on the field as a result, with playmakers coming alive once again throughout the session.
ROLL CALL
After leaving the field yesterday with injuries, rookies Von Miller and Quinton Carter were both back for the start of today’s practice. Both showed no sign of limitation as they rejoined their respective position groups.
In addition to Brian Dawkins — who has yet to practice — veterans D.J. Williams and Renaldo Hill did not participate. All three watched practice in shorts from the sideline.
And fresh after signing their respective tenders, linebacker Wesley Woodyard, kicker Matt Prater and defensive lineman Ryan McBean took in practice from the sidelines as well. The three are not able to take part in practices until the start of the new league year — next Thursday.
NEW DRILLS FOR THE DEFENSE
The introduction of pads signaled a change in the drill selection as each defensive position group rotated through some different stations.
Defensive linemen and linebackers each worked through a wrap-up drill where they shed blockers and stopped a would-be ball carrier. Players were later instructed to step over a series of pads before scooping up a loose ball for a score.
Defensive backs spent some time wrapping up as well in addition to thier interception drills, but all three position groups took a turn at the tackle mat, where players were told to stutter step, sprint towards a tackle dummy held above the mat and launch themselves at it. Those who didn’t wrap up got an earful on their way to the back of the line.
After the drill stations, Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen worked with the linebackers and defensive backs on their coverage assignments with Dawkins surveying the action right beside him.
GROUND GAME
The Broncos spent much of the first half part of practice working on the running game. Head Coach John Fox has expressed a need for a more balanced offense, and that was evident during team drills, when multiple running plays were called in succession.
The offense also spent a good amount of time hammering out thier blocking assignments on designed plays.
ONE-ON-ONES
PLAYMAKERS
The team will be back on the field tonight at 6 p.m. for a walkthrough session open only to the media.
Look for more coverage on the morning session on DenverBroncos.com shortly. Remember to check the Training Camp page for all our coverage in one central location.
Below are more pictures from Saturday’s morning practice.
- Max Henson
Tags: Training Camp
Thomas will probably be on the list Ed Reed got on last year where he’s inactive for the first 6 games.
I believe thats the PUP list … physically unable to perform and if they cant perform by a certain time, he has to be moved to IR … but yea, Thomas will probably be on the PUP. TRB out…
I don’t think this link has been posted,sorry if it has:
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcwest/post/_/id/29647/broncos-struggling-with-cap-issues
Tribune the Bears have agreed to terms with defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, the 10th overall pick in the 2007 draft. Okoye will get a one-year contract.
Sorry to those like me who were hoping for Amobi Okoye. Seems like the Bears snagged him. Sigh … we cannot get ANYONE. TRB out..
Damn! Okoye is signing with the Bears?
What are EFX doing????twittling their thumbs.Man it’s just like the draft,we are passing on every DT that is worth anything!!!!!!!!
I mean i know we have cap issues but GOD!!! come on. McD is still screwing us. If this is what holding to Orton will do deal him for whatever. We have already lost so much DT potential. TRB out.
We’ll probably sign Ty Warren a 30 year old that sat out all year last year with a hip injury,or even worse plug Fields into the starting lineup…B.S.
so the bears go both Paea and Okoye that i wanted … just great. Sigh watever. Instead we got the Texans WR … wrong texan. TRB out…
How is it we are able to sign a WR with supposidly no cap money???
If we have money to spend,then why don’t we sign a DT???
I don’t even know why anyone would still be getting all worked up about getting someone worthy in FA, it’s an exercise in futility, that ship has long sailed. Average to below average FA players is all we’ll be able to attract, and therefore I’m not really paying it anymore attention, honest.
I know right … and Okoye was only signed to a 1 year deal. I dont think it was alot of money. Sigh … watever…im over this free agency. Just start the darn season. After all the wait. All the talk of Agressive in FA … all the guys we have liked we havent gotten. None of them. From months ago with Safety AJ Atogwe … till now … Its a lil sad and depressing but hey, Maybe Okoye just wanted to play for a team thats a playoff contender. I was hoping that since he playe with Elvis in college they could be reunited. Guess not. TRB out..
once again we somehow blow every opportunity to get a decent dt
Bears also got Marion Barber … i swear .. its like ever team has cap room but us. But i guess its understandable when u think about the fact that McDaniels gave alot of lofty deals to FAs and players in general. TRB out…
DT is the broncos biggest need and there wasnt 1 drafted, i could live with that if we could sign 1 in free agency that ive heard off.
Yeah it looks as if the only talented players we can get are the ones drafted to come here and play,just like last year!
and we couldnt have given a very good deal out at all if akoye signed a 1 year deal.
cut orton and make a trade, thats my best advice
Even if the trade goes through. Doesnt matter cuz everyone worth signing is gone already. Assuming they even wanted to come here. So i could personally careless if a orton deal is done … minus the fact that i guess it will save us 10 mil and give us some compensation. But im about to take Baylins approach. Im officially over this dissapointing FA. It is what it is. We have talented rooks. TRB out…
Word is cutting Hill freed up 5.5 million to help sign FAs……..what a WR?
All I’m asking for is just one stinking DT that can be descent against the run,that’s not asking too much,but it is what it is!!!!!!
So glad Hill is Gone
Peyton Manning signs a 5 year 90 million dollar contract,they offered him 100 million,but he said take the other 10 mil and sign our FAs,so they resigned Joseph Addai,talk about a team player!
Maybe we go after Tommie Harris?
You want to know how bad it really is about us being unable to sign FAs?
When it was reported that Fells, Landry and Hatcher where coming in town for visits yesterday the DP said that in such a short FA period when FAs took the time to come to a team to visit the odds were very high they would sign, next thing that happened all three FAs left town without signing, and today the funny part is, in the DP they are talking about the next guy coming in for a visit but this time they say you need to be aware that just because someone is coming in for a visit doesn’t mean he will sign.
FREAKING hilarious about the DP writers.
FREAKING sad about the state of the organization.
If Houston, a team that was also defensively challanged last season, cut him you have to believe he couldn’t help us out on the defensive line. We have the Elway-Kubiak connection, we are probably lucky the Bears have him, and how come they only signed him for a year? There is still time to pick up a decent DT, this is going to take some time to repair the McDaniels experiment. First thing we have to do is get the money staightened out so we can sign players, you can’t drink champagne on a beer budget. Go Broncos
I’m afraid you are incorrect imready, Houston has had one of the best front 7 in the league on D for years including last year, where their D really suffered is in the backfield where they were absolutely horrendous hence they addressed that in FA and felt they could let go of some of their better contingent to do just that. Always helps to do the research, haha.
I’m frankly not buying any of you guys everything is going just dandy we have plenty of time to get a good DT arguments, they just simply don’t hold water for me anymore, so sorry but I won’t argue this particular area of Black Week any longer, I’ll live with whoever they get at DT if they even get someone.
Sorry Barber fans:
Former Cowboys RB Marion Barber reaches agreement on a 2-year deal for $5 million with the Chicago Bears.
Addai, gone too:
First beneficiary of Manning deal: Colts source say they have signed FA Joseph Addai to return to team
After all their major big time FA acquisitions the last couple of days, this is amazing:
As if they needed the help, Eagles now have two 2s, two 4s, two 5s and two 6s in 2012 draft. Talk about a well-run organization.
Well I’m tired of reading about other teams doing great, so I’m signing off before I go off the deep end.
Like bay said and I did earlier, Okoye is good. He has the same exact stats as the heralded Mebane give or take a few. They have played the same amount of years except that Okoye is 2 years younger. Texans have had a solid front 7 for a while now. The only reason Okoye is not there now is because with the addition of wade phillips as thier DC … they run 3-4 now and he is not a NT or a 3-4 DE … he is a pure 4-3 DT. TRB out…
I had no, I mean absolute zero hope in any kind of impact FA this year. It may just be the same next year. We have a complete re-organization at the Front Office level, new coach, new CBA, etc. The uncertainty is unbelievable. We as an organization must first prove to the league that we have a viable franchise. The days of players wanting to be at the fore front of a franchise turn around are all but dead. It is not apart of the culture of the NFL and has not been for quite some time. Now our only hope is that EFX are capable of turning this franchise around. Which the lack of a D-Line draft pick absolutely points in the negative direction. Ignorant to believe FA could bring Denver a viable option… My hopes are further void of my consciousness to imagine anything better than a dismal season.
Steve Wyche is a funny guy! Thought this story wasnt any more-
Denver and Miami I’m loving the game of chicken both teams are playing with the Kyle Orton trade. I hate that Orton is caught up in it, though. It can’t be comfortable knowing the team you’re on is trying to deal you and the team you could be playing for thinks your value is less than what your current team does. That’s why the Dolphins won’t pony up much in a trade.
I do think a deal gets done in a matter of days. Miami’s signing of QB Matt Moore is hardly the move to tank the deal. Then it’s Tebow Time in Denver while Chad Henne can either respond to Orton’s challenge in Miami or buckle like he did last season when given the chance to start.
As far as the FAs not wanting to come to Denver, I’m calling goosfabra.
Nate Clements signed in Cincy. Proof positive.
I refuse to believe, no FA wants to come to Denver because it’s not an ideal situation. Please. What football player wouldn’t want to come in and play along side Elvis, Champ, Dawkins, DJ and the new guy Von. Moreover, chatter among NFL coaching circles claim Dennis Allen is going to be a great DC. Fox has the experience as a no nonsense HC. Who was basically forced out of his last position. John freaking Elway as the VP! Pat Bowlen the owner. Maybe it’s Xanders. But even so, I trust that Elway, Ellis and Mr. Bowline chose to stick with him for a reason.
I know it’s not what many of us hoped for after the stupid lockout and then the sudden reinstatement. We were told it was going to be a whirlwind. A frenzy. A mad dash to the end.
I must admit. I’m quite impressed with these tactics from the front office.
Nobody wants to come play with our guys?!
Fine. Let’s make sure OUR guys have that posted in the locker room.
(if Orton does indeed start, I get the feeling he’s gonna have a little something to prove as well)
I feel so terrible. I am sorry for spelling Mr. Bowlens name wrong.
(for the record, apple needs to come up with a better auto correct function)
“We as an organization must first prove to the league that we have a viable franchise.”
I am with you sndvl that we have many of the needed components to turn this ship around, but even having all of the puzzle pieces never guarantees a finished product. You must also not forget the current culture of NFL player, which is, so what, who cares, what’s in it for me.
The broncos need to trade or cut orton. lets not have the drama continue. We need to know if Tebow is going to be our qb for the future. Having orton here olny prolongs this. If tebow is not the qb then we get another one next season. we need to move on and get away from the nightmare from the last 5 seasons.
digest it…
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