Renaldo Hill spoke with the media after practice today, and he talked a little about how the team is coming together already this offseason.
It’s a tough undertaking to step into a locker room filled with a lot of new names, but everyone is bonding and getting to know one another quickly.
“That’s big about the offseason, because we’re pretty much around each other all day every day,” he said. “It gives us a chance to get to know one another. You might not get the names in the first couple weeks, but eventually you get around to knowing everyone and knowing everyone’s personality. That’s the good part about it — knowing who you’re going to be around helps you that much more on the football field.”
And Hill knows who he’s going to be around in the defensive secondary — former teammate and playmaker Andre’ Goodman, future Hall-of-Famers Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins and three 2009 NFL Draft picks, among others. The hope is that going into this year that unit can create more plays to help the team win games.
Hill said there are several things to focus on this offseason to make sure the secondary is successful come the season.
“Not making mistakes, being sound, being accountable to one another, minimizing gains and not giving up deep balls — that’s a huge thing that we’re focusing on this year,” he said.
Last season with the Dolphins, Hill said from what he saw in the film room, the 2008 Denver secondary didn’t play up to its full potential.
“Secondary-wise, I was just hearing that it wasn’t a good year,” he recalled. “A lot of injuries. A lot of deep balls going over their heads. That’s just the perecption I heard, I don’t know as far as what the guys were saying on the team. But coming in, that was the scouting report we had.”
But now that he’s part of the team, he sees what the unit is capable of. In fact, he said he believes the mix of veteran leadership and youth will combine to create great success. More specifically, he said the Broncos secondary should be No. 1 unit in the league in 2009.
“It’s our expectation,” he said. “We’ve all played a lot of football in this league. There’s a lot of talent back there, so we’re not expecting anything less. Our goal is to be the top secondary in the league.”
“If we’re not considering ourselves to be the top, we’re selling ourselves short.”
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Passing Camp, Renaldo Hill, Secondary
Samoanbronco – Sorry if my realism sounds like pessimism. My point is, it’s easy to say we’re going to do this and that and be a top defense. It’s not as if these guys play to be second best. EVERYONE in the league is there to be the best. That’s why they play.
We definitely have better people in the secondary but that doesn’t matter if QB’s have too much time to throw. That is an overlooked problem.
Dave, sorry to hear that about your mom. Wish you and yours well, man.
Alright everyone Off to watch the Nuggets game!
GO NUGGETS!!!!!
did anyone just see Lamar Odom’s story about how he’s addicted to candy? how does he still have his teeth?
Tough break Dave, sorry to hear about your mom. Hope you are holding up and I wish you the best.
Hope the nuggets can win today.
Did you guys see J.J Arriginton got cut today by the team, on Denverpost.
Haha Samoanbronco, yes I did see that, wasn’t that on NRL.com. Yeah he is a true Queenslander. Doesn’t care who NSW picks just wants to smash whoever is in the blue jumper.
S.D bronco, I am from Canberra.
Tough break Dave, sorry to hear that about your mum. I wish you all the best man.
Hope the Nuggets win today it would be great to take a lead in the series.
Did you guys hear that J.J Arrigington got cut by the team today, Denverpost.
BREAKING NEWS:
Broncos release JJ Arrington because he couldnt pass his physical. Fine with me Moreno is every down back.
he was just a special teams player. no biggy. Moreno and Hillis will carry the load.
haha bronco#80 beat you to it.
I know, I didnt even read your comment before mine, I just wanted to type right away and after i finished typing I saw you beat me to it. People thought he would be are 3rd down back, but I neer thought so, with Hillis at FB and Moreno at RB they could be the best backfield in the NFL.
Oh and im sorry for your loss Dave, just remember God must of called her to be an angel.
Well said bronco#80, our thoughts go out to you Dave.
And yeah I agree Hillis and Moreno will carry the load and I think Torain may beat out Buckhalter and Jordon.
game tied at 25 at end of first.
what do you guys think of Lamant Jordan being are short yardage back. Im not sure
Aussie, I see Buckhaler, Hillis, Moreno and Torain as our 4 backs. its mainly a one-back set in McD’s system so I see Hillis getting more time at HB then FB.
I see Jordan getting cut.
Chris, No lamant Jordan?
why would we need him when we have Hillis for short yardage?
I would think that Buckhalter or torain would be cut rather than Jordan, this is how I see it.
starting RB Moreno
back up RB Torain or Buchalter (whichever doent get cut)
short yardage back Lamant Jordan
FB Hillis
I guess your right Chris, Hillis short yardage back.
theirs no fullback in McD’s system.
and if either Torain or Buckhalter has to be cut, I expect Torain to be cut. Buckhalter has proven he can be a consistent #2 HB and Torain can’t stay healthy.
Are their any player contracts that we need to worry about after this season? I know Kyle Orton, Tony Scheffler, and Brandon Marshall are entering the final year of their contracts. is their anyone else?
I would have Torain over Buckhalter. Buckhalter is coming off injuries as well and is getting on in years. Were Torain is still young and has more of a feature.
Dave, thoughts and prayers are with you….
Lakers and Nuggets all tied up at 56 piece, should go right dowwn to the end
We could have a 3-headed monster:
Moreno
Hillis
Torain
earth, wind, and fire.
Hillis is earth- pounding and crushing
Torain is wind- glides past the defense
Moreno is fire- electrifying player
LOL
I think all of those Backs should e kept, remember Hillis and Torain had season ending injuries.
Anyone else watching the Nuggets Game? The officials are calling it way in favor of the Lakers. Horrible officiating!
Now that I think about we might actually have a FB, Josh Mcdaniels isnt going to use the exact same kind of offense as the Patriots, im sure there will be some changes and if he thinks he will benefit from adding a FB to his offense then I think he will, because he has the perfect person for the position, Peyton Hillis.
Bronco80, good point.
Josh Mcdaniels has surprised alot of people this season with the whole Cutler saga and draft so I think theres a good chance we will have a FB this season.
But if we dont have a FB that would be pretty cool, the 3-headed monster, Moreno, Torain, and Hillis.
of course officiating is in favor of lakers…commish wants a lakers cavs final, even though cavs are down..and Moreno will start, and hillis can do it all…i think we keep jordan as short yardage, not sure about torrain with injury
71-66 Nuggets
Yardo – I wasn’t hating on you just trying to provide some optimism. All the hate coming from the so called “Know alls” on our the boys can be contageous.
I think it was Dynamicdave that said, as a fan, he wanted to enter the new season with with a hppy heart and no doubts about our team. Its a new season with new staff and players. The slate is wiped clean and we start again.. Just look at the Fins they turned it around in one season 1-15 to the post-season. “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down…” lol
PS Pavalova – As kiwi as the haka
lol
GO BRONCOS!!!!!
Thanks everyone. Doc, I don’t see Marshall being released next year. Orton neither. Scheff, who knows? As for Hillis, yes McD will use him as a halfback AND a FB. He will open holes foir Moreno. If Torain is healthy for camp as he said he will be, then he will make the team. He is THAT good, when healthy.
samoan, how do you put a smiley on a comment?
Denver’s losing their composure a bit. 4 turnovers in a row.
all tied up at the end of 3rd at 76
Lakers are starting to do some dirty playing.
Chris, you make a smile face by making a colin and then a paranthases, like this (: except the oppopsite way
sorry just experimenting, hey Samoan, how do you make a half smile face
Nuggets are really down 91-81
Don’t be sad… Lakers still have to go to Denver again!
Your right, I have plenty of things to happy about, Lakers have to go to denver again, denver will win the series, denver will win the Finals, Broncos will be a playoff team next year, Broncos defense is much improved, broncos secondary has the potential to be #1, and the Nuggets are still in this game. there is no reason for me to be sad, I am HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!!!!
I mean the yellow smiley face!
Trust me, I know sad, but I don’t let it stay for long. As for the Nuggets, they let the crowd get into it which fired up the Lakers. Lakers are getting away with A LOT of fouls.
Have you guys releaized that the Nuggets and Lakers have been tied at the end of each quarter all the way up to the 3rd? anyways 96-89 Lakers