It was another hot afternoon at Broncos training camp with the team holding its special teams session. The team spent the afternoon working on kickoffs. Here is a recap of the action.
ATTENDANCE REPORT: Being a special teams only practice, many of the Broncos not on special teams hit the weight room early and had finished their workouts as practice was getting underway. The Broncos special team regulars with the exception of Peyton Hillis, who is still listed as out of pads, suited up for practice.
POSTURING FOR POSITION: Anthony Alridge, Samie Parker, Glenn Martinez, Eddie Royal, Clifford Russell and Andre Hall made up the group of returners fielding the kickoffs.
FOCAL POINTS: The team began practice working on its onside kicks.
Kicker Matt Prater worked on his kickoffs. One series of drill focused on higher, shallower kickoffs, Prater’s kicks were fielded by John Engelberger near the sideline at approximately the 15-yard line.
From there Prater focused on kicking it deep, he was kicking from the 35-yard line,during games kickoffs are from the 30, still Prater managed to have nearly 70-yard kickoffs. All of his kicks went into the endzone, about half landing near the front and the other half nearly clearing the back. Prater was kicking into a slight breeze.
The returners rotated who fielded the kicks with no one returner getting a bulk of the run-backs. The drill focused on positioning and making sure the coverage unit collapsed on the returner.
TAKE AWAYS:After practice Special Teams Coordinator Scott O’Brien talked about Prater’s production during camp.
“Every kick good or bad is a learning experience,” he said. “Why was it good, or why did he miss it. That is what camp is for, being a young guy he has to understand that the feel he gets after kicking the ball and the result that he has when he looks up and takes a look at the ball. That means a lot so he can learn how to adjust by that feel.”
Thus far in camp Prater has made 21 out of 24 field goal attempts, according to Coach O’Brien.
“So far so good,” O’Brien said. “Do you want him to make it all, sure you do. Does it happen all the time? No it doesn’t. But right now if we were in the season and in this position, I would be feeling pretty good as long as we are improving.”
O’Brien also addressed the punting situation. He said the coaches are looking for consistency in placing the ball, being able to get the ball off quickly, staying in control and accuracy.
He said Sam Paulescu is showing his experience having been through a training camp before but that Brett Kern is adapting and performing well.
As far as whose leading the battle, O’Brien said it is still up for grabs.
“Right now we don’t have a leader, basically they are really close,” he said. “I think they understand where they are at and what they need to do. Another week will give us another look at them and show us exactly where we are heading into our first preseason game.”
It’s a wrap from day eight of training camp, check in to the blog tomorrow for a recap of all the action from day nine.
NOTE: TOMORROW’S AFTERNOON PRACTICE HAS BEEN CANCELLED
The morning practice will go on as scheduled.
-Jake Grilley, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Brett Kern, Eddie Royal, Jake Grilley, John Engelberger, Josh Barrett, Special Teams, Training Camp
Great notes – thanks guys!
How is Woodyard doing? I’ve heard that Winborn is overpursuing, a fault last year. Could Woodyard be sneaking up?
This is for the Bronco fans:
Alright ladies and gentleman I’m going to tell like it is: The Bronco fans need to BRING IT this year. Mile High Stadium used to be known as a hostile environment for opposing teams to play, does anyone disagree with that statement? I spent a ton of money a couple of years ago to get my Mom and I great seats at Invesco agaisnt the Patties. We were in the southwest corner of the endzone 2 rows up. We freakin’ made as much noise as possible while people in the first row looked up at us like we were crazy! People, this year, let’s bring the “magic” back to “Mile High”. Let’s rock that place. We’ve been known to do it already. I was at a game a long time ago against the Patriots (with Drew Bledsoe) and the Guieness book of world recods came out at half time and measured the sound of the crowd. We set a world record that day, but since then have been surpassed by places like Kansas City. We need to ROCK Mile High every game this year. The Broncos are putting together one of the best teams in recent history, but it don’t mean anything if we can’t give these guys a home field advantage. The Broncos start the season on the road at the dreaded raiders, but then game 2 is home against the chargers. If you are a “real” Bronco fan then you understand that we cannot let the chargers come into our house and think it’s a walk in the park. Make the NOISE people! That game is a must win for the Broncos. We have to make a statement in the AFC West. Come on Bronco fans……………MAKE SOME NOISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let’s make our stadium a VERY “HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT” for these punks to come in and play us! It’s time the Broncos add the third Lombardi Trophy, the other two are getting lonely!
Sports Illustrated says Prater is a sleeper pick for fantasy owners, so if I pick him up, not only will he lead my real NFL team to victory in many instances, he’ll do likewise for me in my league!
yo navy bronco i will make some noise if you hook me up with some tickets. i live in columbus oh and would love to fly out for a weekend but dont know how to get tickets. i know every game is sold out so what should i do scalp tickets not sure if i want to do that depending on pricing. go broncos and go buckeyes