On October 31, the Broncos travel across the Atlantic Ocean to take on the San Francisco 49ers in London. During today’s final minicamp practice, they got a taste of what the weather may be like in six months.
Much like yesterday, temperatures were in the 40s with a steady rain falling throughout the session. Dicky Lyons readied himself for the weather by wearing long sleeves, gloves and a hand warmer.
SITUATIONAL FOOTBALL
The last practice of mandatory minicamp was all about situational football, forcing the players to react to specific scenarios they might see in the games. Why practice under the shelter of a practice bubble when you’ll have to play games in the rain?
Mario Haggan saw the weather and joked, “is this situational football, too, coach?” Head Coach Josh McDaniels told him he was right.
Position coaches put each group of players through drills meant to test the team’s ability to play through the muck. The wide receivers practiced changing direction by cutting hard on the wet surface to practice breaking off routes in the end zone. Each player was encouraged to “sell it” on every cut.
The offensive linemen were more mobile than usual in their position drills, honing their agility by pulling and sprinting on the slippery surface.
Running backs, wide receivers, linebackers and safeties went through a special teams exercise where one offensive player received a ball while two defensive players sprinted right at them, making sharp cuts and corraling the returners.
In team drills McDaniels put the club through situations with varying downs and distances all over the field. For example he would call out that a play is 3rd-and-1, 3rd-and-11, 1st-and-goal at the 8-yard-line or 2nd-and-15. The coach let all three quarterbacks run the offense in two minute drills with the team backed up against its own goal line and red zone scenarios with little clock left.
At the end of practice McDaniels enlisted every player on the sideline to simulate crowd noise for Matt Prater field goals. The coach then took a time out to ice the kicker before his first attempt. Prater missed the first field goal, but rebounded by drilling the second and earning the cheers of the raucous crowd.
PLAYMAKERS
QUICK HITS
Below are photos from Sunday’s practice:
-Gabe Hiatt, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Brady Quinn, Bruce Hall, Correll Buckhalter, Demaryius Thomas, Dicky Lyons, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Knowshon Moreno, Kyle Orton, Mario Haggan, Rich Tuten
Can’t wait to see them play already!
I guess Tebow wasn’t mentioned for the first time in a practice!
Sign Doom!!
Denver Broncos 2010!
Damn, Thomas looks good in every pic, if he plays half as good as he looks, we won’t be missing Marshall at all, not that I would anyway, but you know what I mean. Cool to see that even on a Sunday we are going to get a report on the final day of mini camp, GREAT JOB KYLE!
24…He will be mentioned..They just posted the pictures above and they’re going to include all the big time plays and highlights of the day. Hope they have some good stuff on Thomas and Tebow.
Yes, great job indeed Kyle! Oh, wait,you meant Kyle Sonneman. Not the Other Kyle; Kyle Orton!!!
GO BRONCOS 2K10!!!!!!!!!!
SIGN DOOM
HEY! It doesn’t always rain in England. Admittedly, I have spent the day at a cricket match that was called off when the field started to resemble a lake but that was summer, winter’s much nicer.
With McDaniels’ interview, it really does sound like Ayers is in the doghouse. Why else would McD refuse to talk about it?
sndvl, never missing an occasion to build up your boy Orton, LOL.
I bet BroncoAussie is watching his team getting the snot beat out of them by the Germans, your team is too old BA.
aussie, aussie, aussie
“PAY DOOM”
Whats up Bronco Bros? Looks like last years players are steppin up this year. And #88 looks to contribute sooner than thought. Can’t wait to see Moreno go off for a pro bowl year and call call him superbowl MVP. Love me some orange and blue.
Go Broncos!!!
Bay Bay is gonna contribute a lot faster than people think,and I can’t wait till Decker heals up,so he can strut his stuff.All in all I think we’ll be stacked at the WR position,but I still miss the Beast,but time will heal all wounds,or so they say.Thanks Kyle for giving us the last day of minicamp,great job.
BFE
Another great update. Thanks Kyle!! Thomas is looking better & better with each practice. Can’t wait to see them all in action at training camp. Gonna be a long summer… sigh. lol :’(
Keep the faith Bronco Country…
GO BRONCOS in 2010!!!!!
There is no fair QB competition if all three men don’t get equal reps!!!!!!!
Quit blowing smoke Coach! I beetched and moaned all through the end of last year and this spring for a new QB and you made my day by going out and getting two!! Wow, major upper! yeah!
Now, you give both the new guys far fewer reps than Orton and say “if they can get better with less practice than they can possibly beat out Orton”??? What a crock of frog snot! I don’t like that idea at all!!!! major downer!!
Why did you even spend the draft picks on those other QB’s if you aren’t going to give them a FAIR chance? Equal Reps! I am finally completely querulous with your way of thinking on this issue…
I say if you trade away four draft picks and a player for a couple new QB’s and call it an “open competition” then you should have chosen ones who could really be better than the one you are trying to replace…. Thats a lot of investment for guys to sit on the bench and “push” Orton not to mess up..?? what a mess… give them equal reps!!
This is probably a big sign that Quinn is not what McD hoped and Tebow is a much bigger project than McD antisipated…
If we change QB’s in mid season it will be chaos and another collapse. Or we can stay with Ordinary Orton and hope that 8-8 can squeak us into the playoffs..
Then next year we can go QBack at square one… Maybe we can trade Tebow, Quinn and Doom for the #1 pick and draft Jake Locker and let him hold the clip board for Orton..sheesh
Initially my thoughts on Jarvis Moss were that he may not make the Team this year. Good to read that he’s been working hard in the weight room, class and now earning more reps on the field. He’s fought through alot of adversity and now seems comfortable in his role as a hybrid OLB/DE. I get the feeling Moss and Ayers will share an outside OLB position.
Another good point you made earlier, bay… Ayers may have been reluctant to the news and made his feelings known, thus the punishment. Not a bad thing to share the position, as both can rush the QB and now Moss is starting to feel it in space. We know he has the wing span to knock down passes, and create turnovers. Way to go #94!
Also good to read the situation with Ayers is over per Coach McD.
Sounds like a competative battle is now brewing with #56 and #94.
Our defense can only get better with the contribution of these two players, at the top of their game!
man orange…you are such a debbie downer
did you ever think maybe orton was a decent qb that has improved in his second year of josh’s system???
imo – you surround your qb with talent he doesn’t have to be peyton manning to win championships. kelly…marino couldn’t do it. elway couldn’t do it until he got td, shannon, rod, eddie mac, and the killer OL that they had.
i am amazed at how people think drafting a player like tebow is going to instantly make or break a team. doesn’t work that way…takes time
i am a believer in my beloved broncos and support every move they have made. it is all about getting the right pieces in place!!!
BRONCOS…TEAM OF THIS DECADE!!!
i am happy to hear that Jarvis Moss is stepping it up. Does anyone here think that Ayers could play inside linebacker and have moss and doom play on the outside?
SIGN DOOM!!!!!!!!
Yeah, for now it looks like the honeymoon of Brady Quinn and the hysteria of Tebow are taking a back seat to the non exciting even so somehow effective reign of Orton. I would have to agree to a point with OC that Orton is utterly helpless when the pass protection breaks down and he finds himself stuck in the pocket with absolutely no physical ability nor mental foresight to be able to get out of troubles. That being said, OC also realizes as he says that Quinn probably hasn’t shown what McD had hoped for and Tebow is as far from being ready for the NFL as the rest of the football media claims. So here we are with Orton, at least for training camp, McD made sure to say if someone really stands out, no matter who , they would get the job, problem is, as OC says, if you don’t get the reps with the ones, it’s damn hard to make an impression on your coach with the 2′s and the 3′s. Big Dilemna, but McD has clearly picked the safe route with Orton for now. Tells me he is much more interested in winning now rather than preparing Tebow early for bigger dividends down the road. That’s his decision and we all have to stick by it, but I’m honestly not excited at the prospect of watching another somehow efficient season as long as everything is in complete control, but total mayhem as soon as things are out of control season with Orton at the helm. Average is what we can be with Orton, it’s mental and physical with him, he cannot improvise the way QB’s need to to get ahead of the pack, sorry I cannot have a much more positive outlook with Orton, 500 or a game better is all I see him muster. Just my opinion.
It all goes back to the fact that this year we don’t have a legitimate starting QB. And without a starting QB to hold your hat on, you have no identity. McD realizes that and as of now the only one he sees able to handle his system is Orton, and that’s that. Orton for now wins by default, that’s all it is, and sadly for now that’s the best we got, might as well get used to it. Having two capable QB’s behind a starting QB is a great thing, having three QB’s fighting it out for a starting job without a clear starting QB is a Quarterback Quagmire. That’s where I feel we’re at, but it’s not the end of the world, next season Tebow will become the man, or maybe sooner, one can always hope for greatness, can he?
“PAY DOOM”
Thanks Kyle S for letting me post again. I Di not quite underrstand why I was not allowed to post but anyway thanks. I think I like the silence wrapped around E. royal in the slot this year. A hundred catch year could be in E. Royal’s future. Glad to hear Orton speak of all his new
WEAPONS being on the same page and his confidence is starting to drip on his shoes. Hope to hear updated at each position over the course of the last two weeks. Thanks again Kyle S.
go Broncos!!!
First, bay, you’re big man, too, dude. Always a honor.
Second, I’m beginning to think It’s just me, but what I got from McD’s words was that Orton is the starter. So, he’s #1. Period. End of “controversy”. And what he says about “if someone else plays better than the starter, he will play”, applies to every position. If Cox or Thompson play better than Champ or Goody, they will start. If Moss plays better than Doom, he will start. If Bruton plays better than Dawkins, he will start… and there aren’t CBs controversies, or Safety controversies, right?
Do you really imagine one of those situations happening? Not me. We know Champ, Goody, Dawkins and Doom are the starters, and unless an injury happens, that’s how it will be on regular season… so why should it be different with Orton, even when McD has said that he’s the starter, and again, and again, and again?… “Because if he was ok with Orton, why did he bring Quinn and Tebow’”
Well, I think he’s very “ok” with Champ and Goody, and he drafted Smith last year and two more CBs this year. So? He said Doom deserves his contract and drafted a OLB this year. So?
The truth is the MEDIA is responsible for this “Broncos QB Controversy”, and they just simply won’t let it fade away so easily, because Tebow is involved and Tebow is ratting. So they make Tebow news (even when he’s not anymore) to make sure people keep following them.
My 2 cents.
SIGN DOOM!
SIGN DOOM
And can we beat a divisonal opponent at home this year???
Yeah, what you are saying about Tebow’s high ratings draw holds water, just look at what I said in my 7:34 pm post, even so the ratings factor wasn’t my intent: “Yeah, for now it looks like the honeymoon of Brady Quinn and the hysteria of Tebow are taking a back seat to the non exciting even so somehow effective reign of Orton.” Meaning excitement sells, Orton doesn’t, simple as that…
I agree with both OC and Baylin … which is amazing in it self lol. J/K
Why get those QBs if u wont give them equal shots to be ready. you never know. For example, brandstater was behind even simms las tyear, and then was sent to a less talented scout team. All i know is that u draft a guy in the first round, even if he is project, if u call it an open competition. the reps desperity should not be high
I personalyl dont think that orton can get any better. And trueonbfan, I actually think that we have less talent around our QB because thats the patriot way. but patriots also had tom brady. And Colie, garcon and all of them did well and Indy did good, because they have peyton. When u have a stud at QB. u dont necesarily need a stud at WR. We have neither. We better own the ground game and defense. I really would hate to have to watch orton for another season….just me tho. But if he wins the job,….wateva…more power to him…
I’m tired about everyone talking about quarterbacks. Does anyone here think Ayers can play inside linebacker if Moss beats him out for OLB?
Give Doom the money
I have to agree with OC,Baylin,and TRB.Huh…..that’s scary all of us agreeing on the same thing.Orton is not the man,and I would rather see Quinn or Tebow getting more reps,thus getting a fair shake at the starting QB role.Orton’s lack of mobility and the long ball hinders our Offense and hinders the running game,if Defenses don’t fear the deep ball they key in on dump passes,short routes and the running game,making it very difficult to run short plays,if there’s 8 or 9 men in the box on Defense.All the Oline and WR help we got in the draft does us no good with a mediocre QB.Just one man’s opinion that don’t mean a Helluva lot.
BFE
r8rh8rdude….Ayers was a true DE in college,so I don’t see him playing inside,if he can’t cut it at the OLB spot,I think you put 20-25 lbs on him and move him to DE,but don’t give up on him yet,he has more talent than Moss,there’s no way Moss beats him out of the starting lineup,I think he was in McD’s doghouse,nobody has come out and stayed around yet (Hillis,Marshall,Sheff),but Ayers is under contract for a few years,so maybe McD still has plans for him,too many hush hush secrets going on this offseason,I’ve never seen it this bad in my 28 years as a Bronco fan.I’m a big Ayers fan,and I think the guy will breakout this year,along with Moreno and Phonzy.
First of all Kyle Orton is 29-20 as a starter in the NFL. That is not a 500 QB, that is an above 500 QB. So I don’t think there is any reason to say that he is not a quality NFL QB, cuz after all it is about the wins. And to soley blame the 8-8 season on him last year is bogus. Yeah he wasnt great like a peyton manning or a tom brady but not many qbs are. He was solid with 3800 passing yds and a 21-12 TD to INT ratio. That is a lot better than over half of the QB’s in the league last year. I think that Orton gives us the BEST chance to win a football game BY FAR over both Quinn and Tebow. GO ORTON……And GO BRONCOS!!!!!
Secondly, I don’t think that there is any way that Ayers will be moved to ILB. You have to remember he was a DE in college and a Pass Rushing specialist (much like Doom). Making the transistion into the NFL from College is hard enough not to mention Ayers had to do it while learning a new postion. I think he will do fine as an OLB pass rusher but as far as droping into coverage and filling gaps to stop the run we will have to wait and see.
sorry r8r h8r but i have to say something about Orton,
TRB, do you really believe Orton can’t get better?? that stuns me when you look at the facts! Orton had his best season in the NFL last year improving in every statistic! he is in his SECOND year with arguably the best QB coach in the history of the league and he has lots of weapons at his disposal in thomas, royal, grahm, decker, moreno, stokes, willis, and Lloyd and on top of that a revamped offensive line! I’ll admit Orton isn’t flashy or a QB that can bring out the oohs and ahhs, but he can get the job done! I personally am extatic to see that Mcd is so quick to call Orton the starter, I understand a lot of people think it’s because Tebow and Quinn arn’t as good as we thought but has anyone thought maybe Orton is a much better QB so far? Trust me I can’t wait to see Tebow as a starter, but I would rather wait until he is comfortable in the system!
Orton 2010!!!! GO BRONCOS!!!
Thanks bay, I needed another remind that our team got beat down. had to get up at 4 am to watch this game. But the Germans are a very good team, sixth in the world. Just shows how far we as a country need to go to be one of the best.
And the Ayers thing interests me. It seems more like a disciplinary action then in the doghouse to me. Was Ayers late to training? Fall asleep in a meeting? Or go out on the piss before Training? I think he has done something wrong and been disciplined for it.
You’re welcome Aussie. BTW I posted that only 10 minutes into the match when it was only 1-0 because anybody who knows anything about soccer would know that Germany is one of the best world cup team ever and the Aussies didn’t have a prayer in hell. Like if the Bills or the Browns were going to play the Colts or the Saints in the superbowl, no contest.
Anyway, back to real football for us, Legwold had this to say about the Ayers thing, let’s hope it’s as benign as McD makes it sound:
Ayers declined to explain what had happened, whether it was an off-the-field issue or something such as a missed meeting. He called it “a mistake I made and I really just want to leave it at that. That’s all. But at the end of the day it will make me a better player and a better person,” Ayers said. “Every rep you miss is always a loss. You learn from your mistakes and move forward, and that’s what I’m going to do.” McDaniels continually praised Ayers’ offseason work until pushing him to the sideline. But he said Sunday that Ayers was back in good standing overall. “He’s fine. I commend him for the work he’s done and the way he’s approached this entire offseason,” McDaniels said. “That’s something that I think has resolved itself. We’re all excited to move forward with that. There’s no other issues with that.”
CoachCasey, about you not picking Lloyd to make the final WR corp, this might change your mind, also reported by Legwold:
Orton and McDaniels have said Royal should have a bigger impact this year. Lloyd too. Orton and Lloyd were teammates for a season in Chicago. “I had a lot of confidence in Brandon. He’s an explosive receiver and can make plays when he’s covered,” Orton said of Lloyd. “He’s really coming into his own on this team. Everybody has confidence in him. . . . He’s had a heck of a spring.”
Finally, Klis has some good obseravtions on Orton the man:
Unnoticed by the local latte sippers, not discussed from the area bar stools, is what Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton hasn’t done. Orton hasn’t pulled a Jay Cutler. Similar situation, only worse. Orton entered this offseason hoping to stuff a long-term contract into his back pocket. Instead, he got Brady Quinn and Tim Tebow rammed down his throat. Cutler only got an after-the-fact threat of Matt Cassel last year and demanded out. Orton received a far more apparent message of no confidence, yet didn’t go public with his complaints. He didn’t question whether coach Josh McDaniels had his back. He didn’t demand a trade. He didn’t even skip a voluntary offseason practice, as so many other restricted free agents.
Did Orton have to give himself a pep talk, remind himself to carry on despite all the offseason trans-actions that flowed away from his long-term future in Denver? “Well, yeah, sure, every player wants security,” Orton said. “But that’s going to take care of itself. Through the play, I’ll let that speak for itself.”
Unfortunately for all the bloggers here who think Orton shouldn’t be the guy, all of the above is part of why he is holding on like he is. You gotta admire the guy for how he is handling himself in this QQ, not a cry baby like Cutler, just a well balanced individual. I just hope he can translate some of this coolness under pressure onto the field. Why would he be so cool under pressure off the field and so rattled under pressure on the field? That to me is a mystery. If he can resolve that conundrum I’m all for him to lead us… for now.
I like that Legwold… where does he write?
Bringing 2 QBs to a team not always mean you’re looking for a starter for “right now”, so, maybe you need to give them shots, yeah, but to have a reliable backup. That’s what I think is happening with Brandstater in Indy. Or is there anyone here thinking that Brandstater is with the Colts because maybe Manning is not their guy? I think maybe that’s what’s happening here with Quinn (Tebow is the future, he’s another story). And that doesn’t mean there won’t be competition, which pushes everyone forward.
Last year Orton had a “not-convenient” comfort area vs. Simms and rookie Brandstater. This year McD disappeared that comfort area bringing two better QBs. Does this mean Orton is the long term answer? No, and I don’t think there’s a lot of long term players in the team right now, anyway. Maybe Royal, Kuper, D.J. and Doom (if this contract BS get solved soon). The rest are veterans or rookies or they haven’t proved anything yet (Moreno) or something weird happened to them (as Clady and Harris with their injuries). Does that mean Orton isn’t McD’s guy for this year? No, he hasn’t said anything like that. On the contrary. All controversy comes from the Media and from the anti-Orton guys.
So, does McD need to waive Tebow and Quinn to finish the controversy? Because it seems it will always be controversy while Orton and other QB be with the Broncos.
SIGN DOOM!
baylin, you left out one of the most telling parts of that article.
The line that shows Orton has a 39-3; TD to INT ratio (13-1) in the red zone. More proof he is the ant-cutler. LOL
Im with you Melo. I too believe Orton gives us the best chance to succeed this season. And won the job based on his performance. We all can agree that McD wants Tebow on the field ASAP. But Tebow would be the first to admit, youre not entitled to a starting job. You have to earn it.
Which Orton did.
Obviously
I believe he can build off his solid season last year. And have an even better year this time around.
GO BRONCOS 2K10!!!!!!!!!!
was hoping to wake up with the headline-
DOOM SIGNED
oh well
SIGN DOOM
Jeff Legwold has been with the DP a long time but kind of seldom, straight shooter, I like him.
Yes, I agree Bay.
Can’t wait to see our secondary,I think we had the #1 last year,this years will be very good,with the additions of Jones,Thompson,and Cox.ST should be a lot better too,with Arrington,Thompson,and Cox.Like to see us score some td’s on ST,that would be AWESOME.
The secondary seems to be the talk of the moment, Klis seems pretty impressed himself:
Even while only paying half-attention to the Broncos’ practices this offseason, and then mostly on how the quarterbacks were throwing, the secondary kept jumping out at me. By far, the Broncos’ most talented position is at defensive back. Champ Bailey is not far-and-away the most skilled player back there, anymore. He might still be the best, but not by much. What makes this year’s group stand out, at least so far, is the addition of Nate Jones, noticeable improvement of Alphonso Smith, and this rookie kid named Perrish Cox. During a goal-to-go passing drill Saturday, Cox took some first-team reps away from Bailey at left corner. Add those guys to a starting four of Bailey, Andre’ Goodman, Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill, plus 2009 draft picks Darcel McBath and David Bruton, and this secondary is loaded.
Having said that, there is still enough age in that starting group _ Bailey and Goodman will turn 32 before the preseason, Hill will turn 32 and Dawkins 37 during the season _ that this secondary will still need a pass rush.
THEREFORE WHY DON’T WE GO AHEAD AND SIGN DOOM NOW ALREADY!! Geeezzz…
Amen to that Baylin.
i agree wit ya bay and i think ayers can play da middle and outside linebacker but since we cut andre davis our middle for last year i think the should slide mario haggan at inside and let robert ayers and jarvis moss play outside
With Bailey, Dawkins, Hill, Goodman all getting old, the best chance to win right now is Orton. Maybe I am reading McDaniels’ comments differently than the rest of you. It doesn’t appear as it is an “open competition” Orton is the starter until someone proves otherwise. With that mentality, he deserves to get the majority of the reps to give us the best chance to win NOW. Quinn and Tebow can develop plenty without getting the equal reps, they are still getting reps but they can learn alot in the film room.
I think committing to Tebow or Quinn would indicate full blown rebuild mode and the veterans who haven’t won Super Bowls (Dawkins and Bailey) would be disapointed. Matt Cassel looked like a stud in the McDaniels system… he deserves one more year (or the first half of the season) to prove he can lead this team to the playoff. If he can’t then yea, give the keys to the team to Tebow and throw him into the fire to gain experience
For whatever reason the previous posts weren’t all showing, my apologies for repeating Melo and sndvl, but with that said I agree with the belief Orton is still the guy and rightfully so.
Just because a guy is a first round pick doesn’t mean he should start from Day 1, there are different ways to develop a guy without starting
i really dont see how some of yall are trashing kyle orton he had a pretty decent season for the under first year of the season. The only problem wit kyle is that he is injury prone thats why we have quinn and tebow to coming and run the team in case of injury maybe next year the will start but dis year its just to soon. I want to go to the playoffs not sit back and watch and experiment. The best way for us to make the playoffs and go deep is with kyle.
elwayallday, I know you didn’t mean it this way, but when you said the best way to go deep is with Kyle, I thought it was hilarious, LOL.
Yovi,
I really don’t think Orton can get drastically better. He can understand the playbook better but thats about it. Thats my opinion tho. He wont all of a sudden become a out of the box thinker or stronger armed or more mobile. He has weapons but rookie and average weapons. Only people that thrive with rookie and average WR weapons are studs is all im saying. Orton also likes to lock in on 1 receiver. and none of the ones we have now are as good as marshall so he will be locking in on one reciever that isnt as good as marshall…. I just need him to feel like he might lose his job with adequate reps across the board. Put some pressure on him to become better for this year because he wont be startign next year…….
Atwater4HOF,
no one will prove they are better than orton if they dont get close to the same amount of snaps. I think thats what people are saying. After all the movement and trades and picks spent on Quinn and Tebow. It should be more balanced is all.
But like I said, “if Orton wins, more power to him.” But make it a fair fight….
Thanks for the Legwold ref. bay.
Today is deadline for Doom to sign his tender. Will he do it? Will he skip the deadline and risk a downgrade in his salary if he isn’t signed? Will the contract be ready and signed today before midnight?
Stay tuned…
SIGN DOOM!
Nevermind… he did it. He signed.
Come on!!! Give Doom his contract!!
SIGN DOOM!!!
There has to be a decision though to either develop the young guy or continue to allow Orton to master the system. More reps will help Orton continue to grow in the system, which I think is the more important thing to do at this point. Quinn and Tebow don’t deserve the equal reps yet, they have to be stellar with the reps they get to prove they warrant more.