When cornerback Drayton Florence signed with Denver, he said it was all about timing.
The Broncos are coming off a strong defensive season, quarterback Peyton Manning has joined the team and Florence has a chance to compete for a championship in his 10th NFL season.
“I’ve got a great group of DBs I’ve been working with and a lot of competition back there,” Florence said Tuesday during OTAs. “So I’ve enjoyed it so far. A little competition is good for everybody. The situation that they brought me in, to compete for a starting job, possibly playing nickel, is something that I thought was a great opportunity for me. With Peyton Manning being here and it being my 10th year in the league, I’m trying to win a Super Bowl ring. I’ve enjoyed it so far, everything is going smooth. I’m getting comfortable, getting settled in and into the community, and things are going pretty good so far.”
When asked if he’s expecting to play the nickel cornerback position, Florence made it clear that everyone — with one exception — is battling for a starting spot.
“(Head) Coach (John) Fox told me that if I come here, everyone is going to be competing,” he said. “Nobody in the secondary has a job except for Champ Bailey, which is obvious, and everyone else is out there competing. That is what we’re going to do. All the good teams have competition at every position and that is how you build a successful team.”
Florence spent the past three seasons with Buffalo after one year with Jacksonville and five with San Diego.
The cornerback played under Broncos Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville, and he said a little of the defensive scheme is familiar, but there’s plenty different, and the club is in the early stages of installation.
Regardless of the scheme, Florence knows what he and the rest of the defense has to do this season.
“Football is football — it hasn’t changed in one hundred years and it’s not going to change,” he said. “It’s about tackling the football, getting turnovers, and this year since we have one of the better quarterbacks in the league, turnovers are going to be a thing that we are really focusing on. If we can get Peyton as many opportunities to go down and get us six points, it’s going to put us in the win column a lot this year.”
The 10th-year pro has 17 interceptions for his career — including three last season, one of which he returned for a touchdown. It marked the second interception return for a touchdown in his career.
In addition, Florence has accumulated 441 tackles, 87 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries — one for another defensive touchdown — in his career.
Even with nine years of NFL experience, the veteran said he won’t hesitate to learn from fellow vets like cornerback Champ Bailey and safety Mike Adams, to “take a few of the things that they do well and put it in my toolbox.”
And he doesn’t feel he’s slowing down.
“The older you get the smarter you should be getting,” Florence said. “You’ve seen a lot, nothing should really be new. Week-in and week-out you should know how to prepare for teams. Like I said, being around veteran guys is only going to make me better, guys like Champ Bailey and Mike Adams in the secondary. In this business you have to keep improving, and if you don’t, you all know how that goes.”
Florence said he brings “a physical presence” at the corner position, and prides himself on getting his hands on receivers at the line of scrimmage.
With so many other talented players on both sides of the ball, Florence is excited for what 2012 could bring.
“The opportunity came up for me where I had a chance to come out here to Denver and play with Champ Bailey — obviously a guy I’ve looked up to my whole career — and then Peyton Manning,” he said. “So it was an easy decision for me to make.”
Tags: Drayton Florence
ok goodnight guys it is finally movie time with the wifey we are gonna watch the descendents with george clooney
i watched red tails earliar thought it was good 3 stars out of five
LOL!!! I love it! Ok, I was pulled over once, but he didn’t give me a ticket!
That’s sad. I think you’re right though. That’s probably why our system is broken.
The law and I dont get a long lol. The law and my family dont get along…. Lol. I was on the show cops when I was less than 1 because I was in a car with my uncle who was drunk driving lol. I had to spend 3 months in a juvenile correction facility. Thats actually the only trouble I had with the law. My case is proof two wrongs dont make a right….
Anyways, much debating on the blog. I used to debate a lot with BFE and FTR. No hate just disagreements. Nothing personal. (Even though I seem to be pretty hated on the blog by some lol) Oh well.
BRONC ON BRONCOS COUNTRY STRONG !!!!!
GOGOSOX SOUTHSIDEHITMEN swept the indians over the weekend woohoo
Okay, skillz. Good night. I’m headed out too. Remember, be a blindly loyal Broncos fan always! BLBF!!!!
ab i don’t think anyone hates anyone here maybe tired of some of the things others say is all we are all BRONCOS COUNTRY
BLBF!!!!!
ABl you and I got into to it and I still consider you a friend. Besides, you know We’re all Bronco fans and that’s what matters most.
lol Skillz I wouldnt be so sure about that… lol
Im out though. Peace out Broncos country. ILMSDB!!!!! Oh and All hail the NECK!!!!!!!
BLBF man!!!!!!
All hail the neck!!!!!!!!!
Shillz:
Jail sucks!! County is a lot different than Prison! You should always be scared! Never think second time will be easier! You can never expect it to be the same!! Be Good cuz Bad things happen!!
Just me.
FTR
Antbody out there left on this right to serve blog!! LOL
FTR
Broncos Country:
I can only wish to my Bronco Brothers who served that you have at least a good night’s sleep! And that you have no bad dreams!! I hope this for myself but do not think I will be sleeping a lot to night.
Just me!
FTR
Peace out!
I forgot one thing! ALL HAIL THE NECK!!
ILMSDB!!!
Now its Peace Out!!
FTR
ALL HAIL THE NECK!!!!!!!!!!
BFE
BFE r u around?
A good evening to everyone:-)
I see I missed the party :-\
Any one on? I guess not
New blog please!!! Nice convo tonight – everyone getting along and doing so without Daddy being around to monitor. So much love in Bronco Country!!! LOL
We need BFE and Turtle back on together – that’ll lite stuff up!!! LOL
Morning Broncos Country!
I guess my american friends are all enjoying today off for the memorial day weekend. I must say I’m a little jealous about that as I sit in my office at work. lol
Welcome to the blog VB36……………..and also tlcat06! Depending on the time you usually blog, our paths may never cross. lol I’m usually a morning/early afternoon blogger cause I’m on the far east coast.
Still haven’t heard from my boy OT………….still sobbing over the blue shirts? hahahaha It’s not 1994 and the Juice ain’t loose! LMAO!
Not much happening with our Broncos since the first OTA’s. That’s to be expected though I guess…………but it is the end of May and training camp isn’t overly far away. It feels a heck of a lot closer than it did back in Feb, I can tell you that much . The draft seemed so far away then, sure.
But with every passing day, my excitement for this season builds more and more. I’m so pumped about the team we’re gonna field this year. There’s a hightened sense of optimism that I haven’t felt in years and years…………I know this can set things up for a major let-down…………but I honestly don’t see that happening what-so-ever.
GO BRONCOS!
and yes………….I agree with DB…………..bring on a new blog already! But with the holiday, I highly doubt we’ll see anything until tomorrow at least.
I would say by judging the photo above that Drayton Florence has a Very Bright Future, there is a Real Glow about him, almost Halo’ish….hehe….lol
I think you could see the future in there if you look close enough…
Okay, I rubbed that spot on my computer screen and stared into it for a really long time and I saw the Broncos Winning the Super Bowl this year!!!!
kdn
Well OC……..I think we’ve got as best of a chance as we’ve had in a long long time………But we gotta play the games first!
Okay, there IS actually a small crystal football on the desk in the photo? Hmmmmm?
It would make sense that it must be John Elways ‘future seeing’ device, seeing as how he has a full head of hair and would need an artificial looking glass…
The only other thing that looks out of place in that photo is THE SPOON?
What is it with that spoon sitting there, while the contract is getting signed??… hmmm?
Maybe they give each player the ‘Goldie Lox Porage Test’ before letting them sign the contract?
Maybe they use it to slap them on the back of the hand if they don’t sign…
Oh, I’ve got it! When Coach Fox gets nervous over contract negotiations he likes to eat a cup of yogert and fruit to relax….
Oh hi kk, I was just making funnies…..
Killerkod, I am a teacher, theres a possibility we might chat this summer when I don’t have to work.
OC I am trying not to get my hopes too high…
I just noticed the spoon. Strange!
On this day of Memorial I would like to say, God bless all of our Service Men and Wemon who have parished to keep us and this great country free, and may God bless all those who have lost someone they love.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!
god bless all our service men and women and much love and all the respect in the world
you would think they would have a better tv huh
Johnny Tapia died yesterday sad day for us American Mexicans
Mi Vida Loca !!!!!!!
man kk sucks to be working. i know how you feel tho. i work all the dang time. it never ever ends for me man. but i took today off. i needed it. and i dont think we are in for any let down. we will be good. dont let last season cloud your vision for this year.
anything is better than the football we played last year. we won, ya, but we were .500 and were playing terribly. relying on the other team to screw the pooch and let us squeak by in the last seconds is not good bronco football or anything to be proud of. the only reason it was celebrated was because of the love for the man behind center. can you imagine if elway had an 8 game stretch like that back in the day. if any other person on earth had played qb like that, they wouldve been ridiculed and booed of the field. but noooooo, the fact we won despite miserable play overall was somehow deemed miraculous. my butt it was miraculous. it was dumb luck and embarrassing. and the fact we made the playoffs and won a game seems to blur over the fact that it was done while playing terrible. we were not a strong 10-6 team with a solid o and d that got into the playoffs, won a game and then had a team squeak by us in a hard fought game. we backed into the playoffs because of a pitiful division and some unreal miracles, and i still dont know how we beat pittsburgh playing like we did but we did. they played an inexplicably bad game on d and we won on a prayer in overtime. then we got rightly annihalated by a team i despise in 15 kinds of ways so it made it that much worse. was a bad year imo and i will argue all day long with the people who say it was a good year. uh, no it wasnt. it was torture for 95% of it with a yahoo or two mixed in. i cringed the entire year and shook my head almost non stop. that is not broncos football and ayone who is satisfied with it is not of the same mindset as me and i will never understand it. but anyway this year looks alot better, we are building a solid team with a good core and have a true field general leading us. i want to see good football for 60 minutes and if we lose at least we fought hard and looked good trying.
was one of the great boxers of our time record was 58-5-2
won titles in three weight classes
A champion who never had the chance for a normal life he cheated death numerous times his father was murdered when his mom was pregnant with him
Johnny Tapia’s life began with tragedy. His father had reportedly been murdered while his mother was pregnant with him. When he was eight years old, his mother, Virginia, was kidnapped, raped, hanged, repeatedly stabbed, and left for dead by her assailant. Tapia was awakened by her screams and saw her chained to the back of a pickup truck. He tried to alert others in his household, but no one believed him. His mother was later found by the police and taken to the hospital after she had crawled 100 yards to a road. She died four days after the attack without regaining consciousness. Raised thereafter by his grandmother, Tapia turned to boxing at the age of nine.[1]
damn skillz
‘i want to see good football for 60 minutes and if we lose at least we fought hard and looked good trying.’
?!?! Really… thanks for that LBF… at least I never have to argue a point with you again… REALLY? Maybe you took one to many pain pills but REALLY… Ouch dude Ouch…
O, and Happy Memorial Day Broncos Country!!! Here’s to WINNING UGLY!!! and up your nose with a rubber hose to let’s at least look good while losing?!?! WTF Man…
I hear ya lbf…………..and I couldn’t agree more. It was an embarrassing year for the Broncos last year. Yeah, we got some wins…….and people will say ugly wins are still wins. True enough, but I hated having those ugly wins characterize our team. I took them, as any fan would……..but they were nothing to be proud of to say the least.
Backing into the playoffs like we did still burns me………and what makes it even worse is that we could not beat Kyle Orton and the Cheifs at home of all things? The D held their end of the bargain all game long…………and we couldn’t even muster 7 meazly points? That game still pisses me right off and the win against pitt does nothing to ease my anger.
I was not looking forward to seeing another season of horrible offense. And even with an off-season, I honestly didn’t see it getting much better. Prob gonna ruffle some of the TT supporters feathers here but I for one am glad he is GONE and we actually have a legit QB behind center. TT will never be half the QB that PM is………..and I’ll stick my NECK out on that one!
I’m not dissing TT, the man or leader cause he has those qualities that I appreciate………but as far as a pure QB, he just doesn’t cut the mustard.
http://www.cnnsi.com/2012/writers/peter_king/05/27/mmqb/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t11_a0
Interesting to see a Kyle Orton/Broncos Story this time of year but hey, it’s Football Related and Broncos Related so I figured it was worth a read…
well kod looks like i ruffled some tebowite feathers 1st. and i took alot more than one too many pain pills. however many a few years worth is. but your never gonna hafta argue again? what fun would that be? then i wouldnt be right as much. u can keep trying i dont mind.
You and Flip Flop make a great pair, maybe you two should sign up of Mixed Man Dancing together LBF… You are just not very bright…
And you’ve Never one a single arguement to date… with anyone here at least!!!
*won
But thanks for demonstrating with undeniable proof what I’ve been saying about you all along!!!
hm. that is interesting. i wonder who that third round pick for us woulda been? woulda been nice to have. may have used it and alot of other picks to try for luck but its doubtful it woulda been enough. plus the rams might of went after luck and traded bradford. luck is thought of pretty highly. but hey the bottom line is we got manning so it worked out.
Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the barn…..lol
Listen turtle……….I’m not a freaking flip flop and I don’t appreciate being called one. I’ve always been critical of his play, even in the wins. I’ve kept the same opinion of his QB play the same…………so I don’t know why you think I’ve changed my opinion back and forth or something.
oh, and I guess I’m still on Bay’s lap too……..even though he’s not here anymore.
OC… I think I woke up in Twilight Barn! and then came to a Bazarro Blog where i read that looking good while losing is more important than winning?!?!
KK… AB is Flip Flop… settle down, I did not address you at all