After nearly two months of organized team activities, there is no question Darcel McBath is more comfortable now than he was upon his arrival to Dove Valley.
When he suited up for his first mini-camp practice with the Broncos on May 1, McBath – like all rookies – went through the typical growing pains associated with venturing into unchartered territory. But now, with OTAs in the rearview mirror and training camp on the horizon, McBath describes his current comfort level with the NFL game as “night and day” compared to his first few practices with the club.
“The first mini-camp we came to after the draft was pretty tough,” McBath said. “But after that we got used to it, and it’s just football. Once you get used to it, you get in the groove of things, you start playing better and you start feeling better about it.”It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that McBath – the team’s second round draft choice (48th overall) in the 2009 NFL Draft – is finding his groove with the squad. The 6-foot-1, 198-pounder has a track record for overcoming hurdles and picking up new assignments speedily.
Look no further than his transition from cornerback to safety at Texas Tech University. That move worked out quite nicely for both McBath and the Red Raiders.
After being named the District 9-3A Most Valuable Player by The Dallas Morning News as a senior at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Texas – where he played defensive back, wide receiver and running back - McBath joined Texas Tech as a cornerback.
Right off the bat, he encountered a roadblock. As a redshirt freshman, McBath broke his arm during preseason drills, missing the first six games of the season. Once healthy, McBath took the field for the Red Raiders at cornerback for the final six games of the 2005 season.
Those contests, however, proved to be his final days as a cover corner for Texas Tech. McBath was asked to move from cornerback to safety heading into his sophomore season.
The results? Promising. From the get-go, McBath found success in his new secondary role. Starting all 13 games in 2006, McBath finished with 75 tackles (tops among Big 12 defensive backs) and added a team-high three interceptions – receiving second-team All-Big 12 honors for his efforts.
Numerous accolades followed for McBath. He finished his career with the Red Raiders tied for fifth in program history with 12 interceptions. He recorded at least 70 tackles in each of his final three seasons at Texas Tech, while starting every game during that time period.
McBath’s senior campaign was arguably his strongest. In his final collegiate season in 2008, he tied for first in the nation with seven interceptions (two of which he returned for touchdowns), In turn, he received first-team All-Big 12 honors and was selected as a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association.
Now he is attempting to make another successful transition – to the NFL. To try and speed up the learning curve, McBath, like fellow rookie safety David Bruton, is learning the ins and outs of the pro game from two of the league’s most respected defensive backs – Brian Dawkins and Champ Bailey. Any time his veteran secondary comrades share tips with the rest of the unit, McBath is an eager listener.
“It’s great, because those guys are willing to teach and help us be better players,” McBath said. “It makes it easier for us — anytime we mess up we don’t have to go to coach (Ed) Donatell, we can go straight to those guys and they can set us straight.”
McBath isn’t quite sure what his role will be this season. Right now he’s focused on earning playing time by making a lasting impression on his teammates and coaches during training camp.
“I’m just trying to make (a role), whatever it may be,” he said. “Hopefully I can compete on special teams and earn the coaches’ trust out there, and then hopefully that leads to bigger things. But I’m just trying to earn a role right now.”
Currently, many players are spending their time away from team headquarters, getting in some rest and relaxation before the season begins. McBath’s primary focus during the month-long layoff has been keeping himself in shape for his rookie run.
“I’m looking forward to it,” McBath said of training camp, which begins on July 31st. “They say it’s tough, but it’s only going to make us better, so I’m looking forward to it.”
– Zach Eisendrath, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Darcel McBath
if he can learn under dawkins for the next few years thatd be huge. Its been a while it seems like since we’ve had a great YOUNG safety.
I am glad to hear that many of the players are continueing their conditioning. I would hate to see the injury bug hit again. (I’m knocking on wood). Denver sounds like they are loaded with talent. Just hit the books, learn the system and gel as a team.
He can be very successful. He is also underrated.
isnt dawkins playing strong safety? cuz if he is, maybe that would make it easier on mcbath to start as free safety.
?
Excellent!!! A safety that tackles well. Dawkins can make him NFL savy. I hope Denvers D becomes a tackling machine. Lowest yards after contact/catch in the league would be a great stat to have for a change.
No, Hill will start at FS. McBath is our S of the future and will also play ST.
edit -unchartered +uncharted
i just want a better defence and its good to know that denver is trying to pursue this, also this is off topic but, what if denver traded for tyler thigpen, i think he would ablolutely destroy in our offence
I just want the team to be very competitive this year. I hope JMAC turns some heads and I hope the Bears fall apart.
I loved the video on NFL Network with Rod Smith. He put Jamie Dukes in his place. At the end when Rod said he’d “put up his dukes with 2 rings,” was priceless. Rod is standing up and supporting the Broncos, as it should be. There are a few fans on this blog who could stand to follow his example.
stnicka, I think Denver is about done with trade scenarios. Oh, just a friendly FYU, but defense and offense has an “s” in it, not a “c.”
So Dawkins plays SS, what does Barret play?
Jamie Dukes is a dumba$$
He was on nfl network yesterday with Rod Smith and was like dogging the Broncos again and saying Mcd doesnt have the resect of the players. He is so bias because the broncos beat his butt in the SB when they smashed Atl .
Rod just flashed his rings at him and said you can’t judge the broncos till they take the field and as far as he knows Mcd has all the players byeing into what he is doing and loveing him for it.
Sorry I know it is off topic but just had to vent. I can’t wait till the no good sob eats his words when Broncos win the afc west.
BRONCOS FOREVER
Yeah DynamicDave i saw with Rod Smith and Jamie Dukes video it was great. Rod Smith is probably my favorite all time bronco, yes even more than Elway, i think. And I dont think there will be any more trades, except maybe if the Mashall situation goes really bad, but i think not.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d81147803/Broncos-2009-outlook
This is the interview I was talking about.
yeah i watched it early even though the video would mess up every 5 seconds i still watched it, but the broncos will show the world this season.
Brian Dawkins, Josh Barret, David Bruton, Darcel McBath, Renaldo Hill, Vernon Fox, thats a lot of S. I know Dawkins is staying for sures, but who else you think were going to keep? Im mainly rooting for Josh Barret to stay. Who are you rooting for to stay?
bronco#80, I think Barrett will back up Dawkins and also play ST.
broncogodd, we don’t need the link, thanks. It’s ruight here on the Denver site. Go to the video and audio portion. That’s how I saw it because I don’t have direct TV.
I saw the video. I have no respect for jaime Dukes.
I think Fox will be gone for sure, and maybe Bruton, but im not sure. So what are the positions of eack player, FS or SS. Does anyone know?
bronco#80 I would like us to keep Bruton he has so much upside, but I agree that Fox will be gone
I forgot there was tow positions on safety
I like Barrett but He will be hard pressed to keep his job. He has played both FS and SS. Fox is a FS. Bruton is a SS and a ST ace. Hill is FS. Dawk is SS. McBath is a FS although he has played both and CB as well.
Rethinking that, I think Barrett will stay and I agree, Fox will not stay.
Fox will be gone. Barrett and Bruton will stay.
Barrett has the most potential i think out of our 3 young safteys
for one thing he is the fastest, biggest and strongest of the three which allows him to play in different ways and also he is probley the best big hitter. I think we keep 5 safteys this year with one been a safety/corner. The safteys we Dawkins, Barrett, Hill, Burton and Mcbath as the saftey/corner.
Yeah i agree we will keep 4 safetys and 1 corner/safety in Bruton. Hey Doc how you doing, havent been on for awhile.
I still remember when woodyard played safety againts Carolina I think
Yeah fox will get the axe… & i love the way Rod Smith put jamie dukes in his place cause he’s the main one who’s been bad mouthing the broncos… (hate that guy) – Did everybody hear that Marshall is going to report to training camp.. with brandon back i think this offense could be unstoppable with KNOWSHON, ROYAL, BRANDON…
I don’t know about barrett yet: nor do I know too much about any of our rookie safety’s. But why do alot of people seem to be so big on Barrett? I saw his play last year. He has a great attitude, but from his performance last year, I am not sold on him. I think coach will give the rookies a chance to shine, as he picked them to be on this team. I think Barrett will have to shine to keep his job. He may get stuck back on the Practice Squad.
Help me understand 15thebeast, why are you so bug on him? You said:”or one thing he is the fastest, biggest and strongest of the three which allows him to play in different ways and also he is probley the best big hitter.”
When have you seen these things in him. He looked like he was frequently out of position last year and missing a lot of tackles….. As was most of our defense…
I think we will be way better this year. Hill looks pretty good with Dawkins, and the rooks look pretty good from the little I have seen.
Haha, did anyone notice they removed the comment thing on coopers blog so we can’t comment there anymore, that is too bad.
I noticed that too, thats messed up. i am guessing its due to cdud and you yesterday. Mostly cdud though, you weren’t nearly as bad. I wonder if they will put it back up?
Doubt it, doesn’t matter too much we will just move around.
yeah that pretty stupid that they would do something like that.
Josh Barrett is huge at 6″3′ 225lbs. and is speedy fast with a 4.3 40 time. do the math. size+speed=Phillip Rivers injured.
when he injures phyllis, then i will be a fan, size and speed need to = great play on the field. He does have the attributes of a beast
jazzy you are right, he doesn’t have the mental part of the game yet. that’s why Dawkins is here. Dawkins will injure Rivers this season. Barrett will injure him next.