The 2012 Broncos rookie class isn’t the only group enjoying its first NFL offseason together as a unit this year.
John Fox and his coaching staff didn’t have a typical NFL offseason a year ago due to the lockout.
This year, they’ve enjoyed the opportunity to work with the players both on and off the field.
“This is way different from a year ago when we went out on the field and practiced basically for the first time just before we were going to go out there for real,” Secondary Coach Ron Milus said. “So this time, this year, having the opportunity to work with these guys prior to training camp has been a big, big help.”
In 2011, the coaches and players weren’t able to work together until the beginning of training camp in late July.
That was especially difficult on the Broncos since the new coaching staff had a brand new playbook to install. In a typical offseason, teams like Denver that had hired a new head coach would have been given extra OTA sessions. Instead, the Broncos had to teach their entire new system during the grind of training camp.
“This year has been great,” Linebackers Coach Richard Smith said. “Last year we didn’t have any of the OTAs to be able to teach our players our new system. We had to go right into training camp with it.
Right now I think we’re much further along as a football team. Right now, starting the season we’re going to be way ahead of where we were a year ago at this time.”
Without having to introduce a brand new system to the team, coaches have been able to use OTAs and minicamps to work on smaller details of the game that had to be taught at the same time as the playbook during training camp.
During the 2011 training camp, Fox had nameplates taped to players’ helmets as the entire team got to know one another for the first time.
With a full offseason under their belts, players and coaches can focus on learning the playbook and perfecting their on-field skills rather than trying to remember their teammates’ names.
“It was good to have the players here to be able to go on the field and work with some fundamentals,” Wide Receivers Coach Tyke Tolbert said. “Last year we were doing all that in training camp, trying to get to know our players, how they run routes and all that stuff. It’s a whole lot different this year.
We’re able to work with them hands-on. We’re able to work some footwork drills, some ball drills. We didn’t get a chance to do that last year.
“This offseason has been very helpful and very beneficial for us.”
-Stuart Zaas
Tags: Head Coach John Fox, Linebackers Coach Richard Smith, Secondary Coach Ron Milus, Wide Receivers Coach Tyke Tolbert
Hey Broncos Country!!
I havent been on in a while because it seems to be the same ol crap every blog… Tebow this, Manning that…. blah blah blah… Can t wait for even the preseason lol… anyways hope everyone is doing well and I will talk to you all when there is actually something going on… Cheers!
p.s. Props to Cat for mentioning my buddy Landeskog on winning the Calder… the kid is a stud and hes only 19!! He will get bigger, stronger and faster and I expect a huge year next year for my avs!!! GO AVS GO!!! GO BRONCOS!! I am so pumped for my trip to Denver in October… catching the Saints game and hopefully a couple avs games!! WOO peace out.
thanks for the links alex………..unfortunately I can’t view them cause they’re only available in the US.
Again, another day of no Broncos news to comment on. No Prater signing sightings yet………….ugh.
Does anyone know when the Broncos will be featured on the 32 in 32 on the NFL network?
Hey Scalp…………we talk about more than just Tebow and Manning you know! hahaha Nice to see you checking in though.
Yeah, congrats to Landeskog for winning the Calder………..over RNH, a player on my fave team. I think if RNH had played a full season, he might have come away with the trophy. But I can’t take anything away from Landeskog………he played awesome and will be a force in the NHL for years to come.
Kod I have no idea about 32 in 32 because I thought they were doing it in draft order, but then they did the Lions and I got all confused!
Yes RNH would’ve beat him out if he had played the full season, but I am very excited for Gabriel and the Avs! Yeah!
The NHL Draft happens tomorrow night………and my Oilers have the first overall pick. I’m hoping they trade it for a top D-man or a goalie cause that’s our biggest glaring need right now…………not another scoring forward! lol I’m excited to see how it goes down.
Yeah, you’d think that would be the logical order of showing the teams…………I wish they’d post a schedule. Guess I’ll just have to keep checking Total Access.
Me too! But that’s the way they keep you watching! Not that I need a reason. (-;
Sports are so cool! I love the drafts… it’s cool to see these young kids livin their dream!
Kod, I looked and they have done way more 32 in 32 videos that I realized. The Packers are today. Are they saving us til last? That would be a first.
Please dont talk about the NHL or Avs or anyother hockey team for that matter on here. Go to avs.com or something. More than half the people out there- myself included, dont give a chit about HOCKEY!! I respect them and whatnot, but cmon maan!! I am a huge sports fan-especially CO sports, but again, just like the majority of people out there, when it comes to NHL or Soccer (in the states) WHO GIVES A ****. This is a BRONCOS board. not hockey puck.
GO BRONCOS!!!!
Excited as I have been in a while for this upcoming season!!!!!
Dude, it’s the offseason and I am talkin about Hockey if I want and you don’t have to read it if you don’t want to, right DB?
Geez Orange84………..take a chill pill. It was a couple of comments………in leiu of no new Broncos news to discuss. Also, I have every right to discuss whatever I please……….if you don’t want to read it, then don’t. But don’t tell me what to post/not to post.
If you’ve read the blogs you would notice that the majority of the conversations are always Broncos related……..but as a Broncos community, we also like to discuss other matters as well. If you don’t like that, then tough ****.
Plus! We are a family here and even if it’s not Bronco related we like to know about things that make each other happy. And we argue a lot too, but we all love each other so it’s good to see you and I hope you want to chat with us in the future.
What a difference a year makes. Am looking forward to seeing a balanced attack this year, and a decent record to boot. Some tough games up ahead but am sure we shall prevail, been a lurker for awhile, this is my first post. Been a fan since 1989 mainly due to a board game called Statis Pro I got involved into the whole NFL thing.
Go Broncos from Kingston upon Hull UK
Easy there Orange84Crush – most of the die hard Broncos bloggers on here have an established comraderie and talk about different things during the offseason. Hey- at least this conversation was sports related…. lol!
If you have something Broncos related… we love to hear from you!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!
Welcome to the blog UK……….always nice to have new bloggers on board and I look forward to discussing our team with you. So if you were introduced to the NFL in general, what was it that made you choose the Broncos as your team?
For me, it was “The Drive”. A friend of mine, when I was like 13 years old, was watching this game at her place……..I had never really watched football up to that point………but her dad was a Broncos fan and she thought JE was, “just so handsome!”
So I sat and watched this amazing game unfold and from that point on, JE became my favorite player and the Broncos became my favorite team and my loyalty has lived on eversince.
Hey rbf1! How goes it today? Another slow one on here again……….but heaven forbid we discuss anything but the broncos………LMAO!
Hey fellas, didnt mean to come across all heated, just another day in the office. You are right about wat u said, so I’ll admit it- my bad. On the bright side, at least you know I dont like those two sports! (not like u care) lol
What’s up kod !! How goes it?
Do you have a link or how I can find your song at youtube for future reference? I’m sure you’ll have future requests when the season starts.
It’s going good man……….daily grind here at work……..paying the bills! lol
Here’s the link……….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6UYrzOX2NI&feature=plcp
or you can just check out my channel called killerkod. I’ve got a few other vids posted of some of the sketch comedy I’ve done as well as some stand-up.
no worries Orange84…………..we’ll all be having heated discussions about our Broncos when they get started training camp! Like rbf1 said, we’ve all built a comrodarie here on the blog and like to discuss lots of different things. Hope to have you in the conversations.
Dont sweat the small stuff ORG84 we all get a little excited around here and this season is going to be fun to watch.
Welcome UK Bronc! And Good morning to the rest of Bronco Country!!!!
don’t sweat the petty stuff and don’t pet the sweaty stuff!
nice statement Kod. Like it
specially if it’s a 325 pound D-line man! LMAO
Good to see Alex show up! Hey Alex!
Cat – Right! you got it!! LOL
Grandma woke up this morning combative and a little confused but we could understand what she was saying. It is pretty comical to watch a sweet little lady who has never been out of sorts in her entire life – get in the face of the doctors and my Dad telling them that they are all lying and trying to kill her – but she’s on to them!
Today is my 26th anniversary!!! (Gonna spend it studying, and visiting in the hospital, with a trip to LAX)
Thanks again Alex – Good vids!
Congrats on the anniversary, DB!
And welcome to those new and old faces that have come to chat, thingsll pick up in about a month (-;
I have officially decided that Percy Harvin is bipolar and I really think they ought to have him see a mental health specialist. I find it quite amusing, but it seems like he might be completely unaware of what he did yesterday! LOLOLOLOL!
These are the days I love the lack of DRAMA. GO BRONCOS!
SIGN MATT PRATER ASAP!!!
Tap you cleats three times!
We got Peyton!
He’s not in Indy anymore!!!
I miss Tebow Time.. LOL just kidding Bronco family. NBA Finals tonight any Miami Heat fans?
I am a die hard Bronco fan and have been for 25 years. season ticket holder at the old mile high in the north stands!!! I cant remember another year besides the repeat Super Bowl year that there has been this much excitement for our squad. With the additions we have made and the way our team reacted to the new coaching staff we have a lot to be excited for. In the NFL everyone knows your only as good as your last game and injuries can change the course of a season drastically. That being said we are stacked and have a lot of depth at key positions (except qb after Manning) I live in KC (its painful but profitable)for work and Ill take a million losses with the blue and orange over one miserable day in mulletland (arrowhead) Pops has season tickets and I go to the Bronco game ONLY! Remember how it felt when we beat GB and Atlanta??? also bear in mind how it felt when we lost to Jacksonville (Jagwads – thanks Woody Paige) the year before. A pat on the back is a few inches from a kick in the butt. Here’s to the boys working hard the next 5 weeks to keep mo going into camp! this year has the potential to be special…