The Broncos’ preseason-opening 31-3 defeat of the Bears saw breakout performances from several young defenders.
With two first-half sacks, it was rookie Derek Wolfe who had an evening many fans are likely to remember. But Wolfe wasn’t the only young defensive lineman to make his presence felt as a pass rusher and contribute to the team’s total of six sacks.
With his team leading 24-0 in the fourth quarter, defensive end Jeremy Beal found his way to Chicago quarterback Matt Blanchard for a sack on third-and-9.
Minutes later, he made it two sacks in four offensive snaps when he brought down Blanchard again, this time with the Bears facing third-and-12 from their own 10-yard line.
“It was like a D-line effort,” Beal said of his two-sack night. “I wouldn’t say it was just me. It was a good start, but it needs to get better. I have a long ways to go.”
Denver selected Beal in the seventh round of the 2011 draft after he finished his college career ranked second in Oklahoma’s program history in sacks (29) and tackles for a loss (56.5). He spent last year on the Broncos practice squad, a place he doesn’t want to be when this year’s 53-man roster is finalized before the start of the regular season.
“Last year it didn’t go the way I wanted, but I just have to get better every day and watch the veterans, watch the great ones, and see what they do,” Beal said. “Every day, just try to get better. That’s the approach I took, and that’s the approach I’m taking right now, just trying to make the 53.”
While he’s unsure what the next few weeks will bring, Beal knows that his two-sack performance Thursday was the best evening of his young career.
“Definitely, yeah,” Beal said. “I haven’t had a lot, so therefore, yeah. It has to be the best.”
Tags: Training Camp 2012
I hear ya.
I went to Huntington and Seal beaches as a pre-teen. Remember all of the jelly fish? Good times but you can’t find parking down there during the summers anymore.
I lkie Seal Beach, lots of little crabs running everywhere around the rocks. Good childhood memories.
Huntington was my hang out near the pear. Lots of surfers out there.
Thats when I went to the beach anyway.
Haha – tried to get mom to cook those crabs for dinner. You ever get laid out accidentally stepping on a dead jelly-fish? My sister and I both stepped on the same one within minutes of each other. Couldn’t walk for weeks. I thought I had died – worst childhood pain I can recall.
We always preferred Seal Beach because the water was so warm. Mom liked Huntington because they had all the lifeguards. Funny to think you and I could have been on the beach at the same time as little yonkers.
DB – I was stationed out at Edwards AFB back in the ’80s, so we did hit the beach from time to time.
Thought my wife would be back by now – I’m getting anxious – we were supposed to leave already.
Royal – I’m doing quite a bit with the Chaplains from Edwards right now. 20 minutes from my house. Bet you thought you’d died and gone to hell. That’s one barren place! Huge! Good friend of mine is an officer – he collapsed on a run last week. He has to prove that he was already running when the Code Black announcement was made. He could be in a lot of trouble.
Wife Showed – outta here guys!!! Be Good!
Yeah – still have memories of the Joshua trees out there. No kiddin db, that place has has to be one of the hottest spots on Earth!!
Just like Death Valley. Blazing hot!
Those life guard stations are spread out every few hundred feet. Lots!
DB- I’m pretty sure that the Oline will improve much BECAUSE of Peyton. I wasn’t here so I didn’t get to see your thoughts on that. I also do think it was hard for some of them to change to the option offense that we were running. They weren’t used to it and that has to be tough.
DB- Please do not be derogatory on the blog. God loves all of us the same and it’s cruel when you speak rudely of those who make different choices than you do, whether they are sinning or not. Please save your judgement for a different place and not the blog. We don’t want to discourage our Bronco family from posting because of derogatory statements made about sexuality choices. Thank you.
Hi all, Anyone hear anything from DJ’s trial yet? Cat when you wondered how Tim would do with other teams, I think he would do fine. Every one needs players on special teams. lol
Amen to that Cat, our OLine should is going back to what they do best, pass protection.
I am a bit wary of our growing list of injuries… the positive here is that we may see others stepping up and going all the way..
Broncos20, I think we’re doing better than SOME teams with injuries. We have so much depth I feel okay with it. They’re trying a few new things on the Oline and I’d be okay if it was a different rotation, throw defenses off the track!
Wolfedom, I posted this to Royal earlier:
They do have some talented receivers for sure. I know that everyone is saying that the system is so good in Green Bay that any QB could do well and I just don’t know. Aaron Rodgers is a fantastic QB and I think he would be ANYWHERE… Matt Flynn showed fantastic poise when he filled in for Aaron two years ago when he had concussions and also the game last season. I don’t know how I feel about blatant statements. Obviously, Peyton Manning’s offense is MUCH harder than Tom Brady’s, but I’m not going to say that Tim Tebow could fit well in NE or GB, so what are your thoughts on that?
They tried to get a mistrial, wolfe, but Klis says that they’re in closing arguements right now.
Twitter:
Lindsay Jones@PostBroncos
Broncos experimenting at times with OL that has Clady left tackle, Beadles LG, Ramierwz at C, Franklin RG, Clark RT.
Oops, wolfe, read your comment wrong, thought you said “where did you say” instead of “when you”
cat – you’re right about certain qb’s working well in certain systems vs. others. Seahawks run a variation of West Coast Offense so I think Flynn will do well in that system. I think Tim Tebow will do well in Jets system as Sporano will include Wildcat. Broncos staff did well in adapting to his strengths last season with run option. Tebow is obviously not a pocket passer just yet and will need to continue to develop if he can. I understand he bulked up this year in comparison to last year. Don’t think that benefits a pocket passer. Not sure what you were referring to with blatant statements.
Blatant statements “Aaron Rodgers just has a good system, he’s not a good QB” I’ve heard plenty of stupid people say that.
I agree, I was SHOCKED when Tim gained weight. Oh well, they think they know what they’re doing s good luck to them.
DJ’s fate is with the jury.
He was found guilty!
Lindsay Jones just said : Fox said Hunter will be out four months.
Both Kupe and Hunter had surgery
So the verdict is in for DJ?
Kuper had surgery? Oh man!
The ya go, he’s out for a least two more games in my opinion and we’ll have to wait and see what happens legally.
Yep ;(
Not quite a DUO, DWAI instead, driving while ability impaired. He was also charged with driving without his lights on…
DUI, not DUO
Thats an automatic 9 months suspended drivers license.
See, that’s why I think he’s going to get more games suspended. I heard from a reporter real close to the team that DJ isn’t going anywhere because the coaches like him. Grrrrr
Cat, I sent ya an Email.
You never know, He might be cut after the suspensions are done. I lkie DJ`s play, but his off the field issues are increasing.
They are… I wonder how the John’s are going to handle it!
strand- it turned out to be my flat screen monitor on my home pc. Had to buy another one.
Bummer Royal.
Yeah these flatscreens have a bulb in them and once they burnout, time to replace them…
Good to know. We just bought a new tower a few weeks ago.
no blog on practice today? I was hoping for the trivia question before heading to bed.
In terms of the oline injuries, it’ll be interesting to see if they replace Kuper straight up with someone like Ramirez or move Franklin to RG and Beadles to tackle, then insert someone else. Either way, I think we’re deep enough to still have a decent line, even though Kuper is a good player.
Shame to hear about Hunter too, he plays with a chip on his shoulder, I like the guy.
It’ll be interesting to see what Beal and Jackson develop into, it’s never bad to have more pass rushing threats than just Miller and Dumervil. I also thought Unrein looked pretty good in against CHI.
New blog.