NOTE: Thursday’s practice time has been changed from the morning to 4:50-7:30pm. It is still free and open to the public. Thank you.

After a 43-hour break, the longest since training camp started last week, the Denver Broncos hit the practice field this afternoon for an intense padded practice that focused a lot on two-minute drill.

There was plenty going on to keep the fans entertained as camp is really cranking up.

ROLL CALL
Newly acquired defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley jumped right into the mix. In his first practice, No. 77 joined the starting defensive line alongside Kevin Vickerson and ends Elvis Dumervil and Robert Ayers.

Linebacker D.J. Williams, running back Lendale White and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas did not participate.

FIRE DRILL
During the later of two team sessions during practice, the Broncos worked exclusively on the two minute drill with quarterbacks Kyle Orton, Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn all getting a shot at running the offense. Each time the ball started on their own 40-yard line with 1:10 left on the scoreboard clock mounted on the side of the team office building. The offense was down 20-14 to the defense.

Orton was up first and started with a 15-yard pass to running back Knowshon Moreno out of the backfield, who ran it out of bounds to stop the clock. After an incomplete pass to receiver Eric Decker, Orton found receiver Brandon Lloyd over the middle for a 12-yard gain, and then tight end Julius Thomas over the middle for a 22-yard gain. With the clock still running, Orton threw another incomplete pass Decker’s way after avoiding a sack by linebacker Von Miller, who made his way into the backfield. However, on the next play, second-and-10 from the 11-yard line with 12 seconds left, Orton found Thomas a yard deep into the end zone for a diving catch. Orton finished the drive 4-for-6 for 60 yards and the score.

Next up was Tebow, who got some help after his first completion, a 5-yard pass to running back Lance Ball, who ran out of bounds. On the next play, Tebow found receiver Matt Willis over the middle, who did a spin move that left two defensive backs running into each other and raced all the way down to the 32-yard line before going out of bounds. The sideline was jacked up as Moreno and Lloyd chased Willis back down the sideline with Lloyd giving the American Ninja Warrior a flying Ninja kick to the back. Tebow proceeded to throw an incomplete pass to receiver Britt Davis in the end zone but on the very next play, they redeemed themselves and Tebow hooked up with Davis on a 10-yard pass over the middle. Davis ran it the rest of the way for the touchdown. Tebow finished 3-for-4 for 60 yards and the score with 40 seconds left on the clock.

Last up was Quinn. The signal caller started out quick, connecting with receiver Eron Riley over the middle for a 9-yard gain, then hitting receiver D’Andre Goodwin over the middle for a 11-yard pickup. These didn’t stop the clock, so with 32 seconds left, Quinn found tight end Dan Gronkowski on a short route, but the play was broken up on a huge hit by linebacker Braxton Kelley, who has layed out several people already during camp. Quinn made up for it by hitting Riley with a diving 11-yard catch on the sideline and then running back Mario Fannin over the middle for a 7-yard gain. This left only 14 seconds on the clock so Quinn became the only quarterback to use a timeout. On the next play, Quinn came out of the timeout and threw to the end zone, but rookie linebacker Nate Irving was there for the interception on the goal line. Irving ran to the 13-yard line before sliding down. Quinn finished 4-for-6 for 38 yards and an interception.

DEFENSE DOMINATION
While the offense controlled the defense for most of the two-minute scrimmages, the defense, notably linebacker Joe Mays, dominated 9-on-7s (granted, they were up two players). Mays stoned Moreno in the backfield and on the next play, recovered a fumble from Lance Ball. Ball got redemption by running through linebacker Jason Hunter a few plays later but it was the defense’s time to shine as linebacker Lee Robinson wrapped up running back Brandon Minor for a solo stop in the backfield shortly after.

PLAYMAKERS

Tebow had a good showing in one-on-ones, connecting in the end zone on all three of his 40-yard passes to the front cone: one each to Davis, Willis and Jamel Hamler.

Cornerback Syd’Quan Thompson seems to have an interception almost every practice, this one coming on a ball thrown by Quinn as Thompson jumped the route.

Rookie quarterback Adam Weber got into the mix, throwing a 30-yard touchdown pass to Goodwin to end the first team session.

Orton hit Decker over the middle for a 40-yard touchdown pass during 7-on-7s.

Bunkley visibly earned the love of his new linemates as he battered around offensive linemen Shawn Murphy during one-on-ones.

The O-line got one back though as Ryan Clady stopped Miller, after which Ayers could be seen talking to Miller on the sideline.

Moreno stiff-armed safety Quinton Carter during 9-on-7s, after which Dumervil patted Carter on the head reassuringly.

Also during 9-on-7s, Fannin, who has made some plays during camp, juked safety Darcel McBath, then stiff-armed safety Kyle McCarthy to go into the end zone.

Decker rose above everyone, climbing in the back of the end zone to get a 10-yard ball thrown from Orton during the last team session.

Also during the last team session, cornerback Perrish Cox put a huge hit on Ball, causing a fumble after which the entire defense erupted on the sidelines.

Thomas had two touchdown catches during the last five minutes of practice, one from Weber — 15-yards over the middle — and the last one from Quinn on a 5-yard route to end practice.

QUOTABLES

“OH YEAH!” – The offensive line reacting to Zane Beadles pushing down Mitch Unrein during one-on-ones.

“Good job Eron, yeah boy!” – Wide Receivers Coach Tyke Tolbert to Riley after a nice cut during one-on-ones.

“There you go! Very good, that’s nice!” – Tolbert to Royal during one-on-ones after Royal made a great cut.

“I see you Britt! Good angle.” – Quinn to Davis after Davis left his defender in the dust with a juke move during one-on-ones.

“Good job Mike!” – Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen after linebacker Mike Mohamed stopped Moreno in the backfield.

QUICK HITS

Former Broncos receiver and legend Rod Smith attended practice. Smith spent considerable time talking with former battery mate John Elway and said hi to current receivers Lloyd, Decker and Royal. He also watched practice alongside Brian Dawkins for the first hour or so.

Tebow headbutted everyone in the huddle when he came in during 9-on-7s.

Cornerback Cassius Vaughn got first team reps opposite Champ Bailey during the very last team session to end practice.

Fullback Austin Sylvester made a huge block to free up the middle for Fannin to score a touchdown during 9-on-7s.

The defense spent the first part of practice rotating through three drills that focused on stripping and recovering fumbles to work on being aggressive.

For more photos of today’s action, see below.

-Kenny Legan

Tags: Training Camp

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