After last night’s physical practice at INVESCO Field at Mile High, the team’s workload was a little lighter Friday afternoon. The players wore shorts — though some wore sweat pants — and most didn’t have pads on.
Here are some quick hits from the session, which lasted a little longer than two hours.
ROLL CALL: Nic Clemons was no longer wearing an orange jersey, back to his normal blue defensive jersey.
Rulon Davis, Brian Dawkins, Vernon Fox, Brandon Marshall and J’Vonne Parker did not participate in the session.
Wesley Woodyard walked off the practice field after a set of drills and did not return.
POSITIONING: The first offensive unit consisted of Brandon Stokley, Eddie Royal and Jabar Gaffney at receiver, Daniel Graham at tight end, Kyle Orton at quarterback, LaMont Jordan at running back, and the same five starters on the offensive line — Ryan Clady, Ben Hamilton, Casey Wiegmann, Chris Kuper and Ryan Harris.
The first defensive unit saw Ryan McBean, Ronald Fields and Kenny Peterson on the line, Darrell Reid, D.J. Williams, Andra Davis and Elvis Dumervil at linebacker, Champ Bailey and Andre’ Goodman at cornerback and David Bruton and Renaldo Hill at safety.Several other players cracked that lineup depending on the formation, including Robert Ayers, Josh Barrett, Jack Williams and Alphonso Smith.
Joshua Bell looked to be lined up at safety during a couple plays in one package, but also stepped up to play cornerback when an extra receiver came into the game.
DRILLS: Brett Kern worked one-on-one with special teams coordinator Mike Priefer on what looked like footwork and drops before punts. Priefer threw him the ball under-handed like a snap, and Kern caught it, took a few steps and dropped it as if he were punting.
Almost every day, linebackers coach Don Martindale and assistant linebackers coach Roman Phifer have run their unit through a drill that has them run side to side before the coaches throw them the ball to practice catching interceptions. During the drill today, Woodyard sprinted left, then right, then straight back, catching a pass over his shoulder left with one hand.
When the team worked on kickoff returns, the usual names came up — Royal, Smith and Kenny McKinley. But another player fielded a kick today who fans might not expect — Spencer Larsen. No, the inside linebacker/fullback isn’t making a run at the returner gig, he just practiced fielding kicks because he’s the “up” man, and short kicks might fall into his arms.
PLAYMAKERS: The slow tempo of practice meant there weren’t too many spectacular plays, but a few names stuck out.
Jordan broke up a potential interception by Hill early in what seemed to be an 11-on-11 walkthrough session, getting his hand on the ball in Hill’s arms to make sure the pass fell incomplete.
Nate Swift caught a long pass from Orton down the sideline, drawing some cheers from the crowd.
It was just walkthrough speed, so no plays were called dead, but on one play, Jarvis Moss broke through the offensive line to get to Simms. Instead of going for the hypothetical sack, he let the play continue, simply standing in front of him, jumping and waiving his arms.
QUICK HITS: Orton spent a lot of time under center this afternoon. Chris Simms and Tom Brandstater still got some snaps, but it seemed like today Orton got even more reps than usual, often staying at quarterback no matter who else was in on offense or defense.
The team seemed to be using the scoreboard placed on the side of the building at Dove Valley to help set up different situational plays. It displayed time left in the game and the score.
The players got to have a little fun at the end of practice. Harkening back to the first days of minicamps, two defensive linemen dropped back to field punts to earn a privilege for the team. This time it wasn’t to get out of meetings, however — it was the right to have no curfew tonight, the day before the team gets a day off from practice — a “mental health day,” as McDaniels put it. Peterson stepped back first, and as teammates reminded him to take the wind into account, tossing grass into the air and watching the wind take it, the veteran lineman calmly hauled in the punt before being mobbed by his teammates.
But the fun wasn’t quite over, as Chris Baker stepped back to field a punt to earn the same privilege for the rookies. The first punt sailed over his head and he tried to run back and catch it over his shoulder, but it fell to the ground as he and his teammates laughed. McDaniels gave him another chance, however, and this time he called for a fair catch, stepped forward and let the ball fly over his head into the end zone, earning more laughs and high fives. On the third attempt, he found the ball in the air, backed up and fielded it perfectly in the end zone before throwing his arms in the air as his fellow rookies congratulated him.
DAILY JUKEBOX: Just a few tunes today, but they were some goodies.
Practice opened up with a little Michael Jackson – “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”
Stone Temple Pilots – “Plush”
Arrested Development – “Tennessee”
Metallica – “Enter Sandman”
During the last song, Ayers threw down some serious air guitar skills as the team finished up stretching, and Woodyard did a little head-banging as he started to run through linebacker drills.
QUOTABLE:
“I don’t have to see these guys. I can actually lay in my own bed and watch my own TV and cook my own food. Well, I won’t really be cooking. Eat my own food.”
-Kenny Peterson, joking on why tomorrow’s day off will be nice
The team has a day off from practice tomorrow, and will be back on the field at 2:30 p.m. MDT on Sunday, Aug. 9.
Below are the pictures from the morning session.
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Training Camp
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first to comment
Thanks for the update Gray.
Torain, to answer you’re question on the previous blog, I’ve never done a 4 division league and I’ve also never done individual defensive players so this league should be fun.
cool
Don’t care about Moreno. Where is Barrett.
Barrett?
are u reading the updates, it mentions barrett
Yes thank you for correcting me. Where is Barrett?
lol
Breaking News:
Moreno signed
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_13017408
Ok I see it now thx. Bruton over Barrett? Do u guys think McD is going to use him more at OLB?
Good thing he signed. I was going to start calling him Knowshon Crabtree. LOL
someone came up with the name knowshow moreno. I thought that was funny.
K so i really hope DT Chris Baker makes the final roster. It’s a position we need help with and this kid can really develop into something great in a couple years….
I am confused by one thing…. How come our 4th round safety David Bruton is getting so much time with the first team and our 2nd round safety Darcel McBath is getting very little time?
Is Bruton that much better than McBath?
yeah the team just got ten times better Moreno’s on board!!!!!!!!!
apparently on Bruton. I love the fact McDaniels plays whoever is better. For example he is not handing out starting positions because he chose them. Jack Williams over Phonzy. Bruton over McBath and Barrett.
even though bruton was a 4th rounder over his 2nd rounder. thats what we need. Talent to play.
dont carer who plays, as long as they are better than who is on the field.
didnt come out right. i dont care who plays as long as they are better than the guy on the bench.
WOO HOO! We signed Knowshon! Give me some Knowshon Mile High Magic in December Baby!!!
BRONCOS GO 10-6 AND TO THE PLAYOFFS IN 09!!1
still is disappointing that out 2 second rounders are getting beat out by Jack Williams and David Bruton.
Thanks for the update, Doc. Now I can wear my jersey.
why is it disappointing, they are rookies. Give them time to develop. Its only 8 days of practice. Im happy a fourth rounder is kicking butt. Doom was 4th rounder.
id be more disappointed in barrett then i would be in the rookies. he has 1 year experience. but it also looks like he playing LB on occasion so who knows.
Haven’t really looked, but maybe the Bruton, McBath thing has to do with one being a FS and the other a SS? I’m not positive on that but it may be? Also, I already guessed that Hill would start over any rookie. Williams has skills and a year in the NFL under his belt. The rookies will be our soldiers of the future. As for Barrett, he has been playing S and LB and ST so hopefully he will have some worth to the Broncos?
i believe barrett will contribute on ST and maybe on D. of course hill is the starter. he and goodman did very well last year for miami.
Woodyard, could you please stop getting hurt?!! Really excited to watch you play this year, stay healthy yo!!!
Finally Moreno signs…..geeesh. He was really starting to bug me. Now, stay healthy and injury free Broncos!
GO BRONCOS!!!!
ATV, yes they did. I foresee great things out of the 2ndary this year. We can start with some INT’s of JaMarcus “the dough boy” Brussels and later against Phallus Slivers.
Could have not said it better myself.
SBXXXII..Iwzthr!, ha, ha, I hear you. I was ready to get me a Royal jersey. What the heck, might as well get one anyways.
but it starts first againt Ocho dunzo.
Yeah, and his sidekick, Carsoon “I can’t stay healthy” Embalmer.
Then it’s Derek Quinn and Brady Anderson… No, wait?
yer i was thinking the same thing about burton starting over macbeth, but burton seems alot bigger and stronger that what macbeth does, macbeth is known for his coverage skills if i recall correctly :s, and smith will be a nickel back over jack williams, cos williams performed well last year in preseason but never got a look in, in the regular season, and josh bell beat him to a start in the last couple of days
Yeah, whoever makes the team, it’s nice to know that Denvers 2ndary will have some depth.
I just don’t want us to cut the wrong guy
I hope Thomas beats out Fields for the starting NT spot. Feilds has spent time in Nolans system w/ the 49ers but Thomas is bigger and more athletic. Also glad to have knowshon on board.
yeah someone mentioned bruton is backing up the SS and mcbath is backing the FS, which i think is the case. right now i’m waiting to see the day when ayers cracks the starting lineup
broncofritz, Thomas will not beat out Fields. Fields has more experience at NT. He is ultra fast off the line. When he gets his hands under the player, he is hard to fight off. Thomas went up in weight to play NT while Fields is at his natural weight. They list him at 314 lbs. but it just depends on who you ask. Fields has too many advantages. That’s also why he is playing with the 1st string. Him, Peterson and McBean will be the front 3.
B1997, yeah, give Ayers a little time to learn/catch up and he will be a force, IMO.
I have Q’s about McBean like where did he come from? Didn’t he spend last season on our practice squad? How’d he go from practice squad to Starter? Was Shanahan really that bad at evaluating Defensive talent?
Is Thomas playing NT or DE?
McBean was drafted by Pittsburgh, but got injured and cut.
4th round
I know everyone thinks McDaniels is just playing who he sees as better. But Barrett was a stud against Gonzalez and played very well for us down the stretch. I’d much rather look at what he did in NFL games than what these 2 rookies are showing in training camp, where the pressure isn’t nearly as high. Barrett and Larsen are two guys I feel need to be on the field ALOT this year.
Nice to see Moreno signed.
Marshall get out of the trainer’s room.
Thomas, both. McDaniel wants to be able to rotate players if someone gets hurt. Thats why receivers practice all positions.
Barrett is a athletic and versatile guy like Hillis. I think he will make the roster because McDaniels loves guys that can really contribute to special teams and use in rotations.
Does anyone else see the potential in undrafted rookie DT Chris Baker like i do?
Yeah, I saw. Aparently he had 7.5 sacks in two years at OSU and 4.5 of those came his senior year.
i mentioned barrett on tony g. on an earlier blog and i agree. but also remember the defensive system is different. so what he did last year might not matter too much in this system.
How does everyone feel about McDaniels Patriots approach to dealing with injuries? I kind of like it, keeps our opponents from getting the full scoop on us but also keeps us fans out of the loop as well
i love it. it protects our players. no one can targety their injury.