Veteran cornerback Champ Bailey has stood across from wide receiver Eric Decker in practice for the entirety of the young wide out’s career. As Decker enters his third training camp, Bailey sees “a different person” wearing the same No. 87.
“He’s grown so much,” Bailey said. “He wants to learn. He wants to be the best. I love that about him. The guy is making tremendous strides and I expect him to get better and better every week.”
Decker made a huge stride from his rookie campaign to his second year. In 2010 he made six catches in 14 games. Last year, he jumped to a team-leading 44 receptions and eight touchdown grabs in an offense that set a team record in single-season rushing yards.
This year, with quarterback Peyton Manning under center, the offense will look much different. So will Decker.
In the offseason, Decker worked out with Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald at his offseason training camp in Minnesota. He said Fitzgerald helped him understand exactly what it takes to be an elite receiver in the NFL.
“Getting the work in the offseason with a guy like Larry Fitzgerald, it helped me compete and understand what it takes to be good at this level – or with a guy like Larry, what it takes to be great,” Decker said. “But also what kind of work ethic you need to have to stay in this game. “
He’s also absorbing some football knowledge from the Broncos’ most polished leaders.
“You’ve got to focus on nutrition,” Decker said. “You’ve got to take care of yourself physically. You’ve got to get in the playbook and study all of the teams. Those little things add up because young guys and young players kind of neglect it, but you find out that’s important. A kind of guy like Champ Bailey and Peyton Manning, you learn how they study and how they go about their business. You take as much from them and try to build on your own game.”
A productive offseason, an 11-time Pro Bowler as his quarterback, and great health – the pieces seem to be in place for a prolific 2012 campaign out of Eric Decker.
“My health is great. I think I feel comfortable with this organization, the city, what I’m trying to accomplish,” Decker said. “A guy like Peyton Manning at quarterback… You’ve got to take advantage of those opportunities.”
Tags: 2012 Training Camp, Eric Decker
Can’t wait to see decker take it to the house go broncos go
Blog overload!!!!
Great pics, vids and audio. Ah yes. 2 weeks till some game action! Lovin it.
Broncos Country Strong 2012!
Hope you’re feeling better Turtle! You up for running the season prediction contest?
Yea, I am still hoping that Thomas will do better. I love Decker but I see Thomas as being like megatron or Andre Johnson. He has huge potential! That size and speed is insane! Saw in the practice blog how he caught a mid range pass and raced passed Tracy Porter for the TD today. As long as he can get hits routes down and be where Peyton wants him at the right time then he should be huge!! I see him having over 1000 yards this year!!! I hope he has like 13-16 TD’s too. That would be awesome!!
It’s making to be a great year!!
Goodnight my Broncos family…off to bed!
I can run contest if y’all would like for me to. Just let me know and I’d be happy to take care of it!!
What a great day! I truly love me some DENVER BRONCOS!!!
From a few blogs back:
“During those special teams drills, Knowshon Moreno worked on a separate field with all four quarterbacks. Manning, Caleb Hanie, Brock Osweiler and Adam Weber all worked on first avoiding pressure then placing a pass directly into Moreno’s hands.”
Does this mean we’re finally going to see some screen passes this year? With how our WR’s learned to block downfield last year, look out…
Hola sndvl! I feel pretty good, started stuttering the last couple days and it is really odd… I’m all for running the season prediction contest…
Feels good to be this close to the season, and to be able to say “Two Weeks until B-R-O-N-C-O-S BRONCOS BRONCOS BRONCOS in LIVE ACTION” is GREAT!
I would also like to have a Season Record Prediction Contest… Pretty much the same as last years, all entries for this contest will be accepted after the first Pre-Season game up to the Saturday 12m Blog time the day before our first regular season game… I’m already on Record with my Prediction! but I will make an Official entry after the first Pre-Season Game same as everyone else!!!
Sorry to hear about that BT, hope everything is okay.. I know it’s considered lucky if a bird lands one on ya (which has happened to me once), maybe it’s the same deal for that?
I didn’t feel real Lucky OT… Scared and Tingly is how I felt!!! But now I’m getting all Warm and Tingly for the Season! I really can’t wait… I’m sure it’s the same for all of you, but for 3 hours once a week nothing really matters except the Orange and Blue, and I do mean nothing else matters during game time! It’s great to have the live blog, so I know I’m not the only one that feels this way about our team…
I knew you’d come around Turtle!!! Have to admit, it was pretty exciting seeing The Neck throw that deep pass… Eh Bronco Brother
BT: I hope you recover quickly and can get back to some normalcy. Me and some of my family have been knocked down by lightning on the driving range at a golf course. I thought i was hit and so did my brother after all was said and done eight people were knocked to the ground.
A year after that i was playing golf and looked at my buddy as we were walking down the fairway. I said, “man your hair is standing straight up” “he said, so is yours”. I kicked off my golf shoe and was doing a dive and roll all the way to the clubhouse. I’m sure it looked hilarious!
sndvl, I did enjoy the highlights of Practice today, and the interview that Tom Jackson did with Peyton.. No reason not to be excited!!! I’m not overly optimistic yet but I’m as excited as I’ve ever been for a football season to start!
One Love in Broncos Country! B-R-O-N-C-O-S BRONCOS BRONCOS BRONCOS!!!!
PUM PUM PUM BRING ON THE STEELERS!!!!
Throughout the last few months ive seen many saying I cant wait to see Manning throw his first TD or Take a hit or Bailey make an INT.
In all honesty the thing I cant wait for the most is the crack of a hard hit.
Did you guys read the part where it says Manning was taking snaps from Kuper in previous blog. Maybe we remove walton, move Kuper to C then move Franklin in and Harris to Tackle position.
LVD… Good Call! That would make for a really mean Offensive line! I’m excited to have Harris back in Orange and Blue. With Kuper being the Veteran this OL could be really special for many years to come. I don’t care what people say about Beadles, in my eyes he is a young Kuper, same Bad Attitude with the ability to take on big DL’s by his lonesome… He was showing signs of consistantly getting to the second level late in the season last year, and he never quits on a play!
Clady, Beadles, Kuper, Franklin and Harris… I do like the way that looks!!!
Turtle: suggestion for season scoring prediction contest . Two tier tioe breaker:
First tie breaker: Each entry includes prediction of who’ll win each game.
Second tie breaker: Score of foinal game of the year.
You getting hiot by lightening reminded me of a contestant on an old Gsary Moore called “I’ve got a Secret”. Contestant, who was a park ranger, had nbeen hit by lightening 14 times!!! Talk about a charmed like!!!
Be well, my friend.
My favorite thing that I’m most excited about this season is Manning throwing his 1st TD as a Bronco. Because not only will that be his 1st TD as a Bronco but it will be his 400th passing TD he’s thrown!!!!!
Glad his 400th TD will be as a Bronco Baby!!!
That was some quality viewing on the old tv yesterday! I usually pass out around 10 am after working night shift but i was up til 3 pm yesterday!! So much amazing coverage, and how about 4300 plus for the first training camp session!!! Unbelievable! I am so excited for this season and on a side note my vintage Atwater jersey showed up yesterday and I think I am going to rock it for the Saints game I am attending!!! AHHHHH BRONCOS BABY!!!
LETS GO!!!!!!!
That’s awesome Scalp!
I’ll be attending the Falcons, Panthers, and Ravens game this year!! I am going to order an elite Manning orange jersey and elite Miller blue jersey whenever those come out. I just haven’t decided yet actually if I want two Orange or a blue and an orange…Kind of want both orange with how we just switched back to our home jerseys at home but then again all the games I’m going to this season will all be away games so they’ll be wearing the blue jerseys..
haha I don’t know what to do
Thats cool freak. Right now i am working on going to home opener with family. It will be my sons first game. Cant wait.
New Blog!