For the second day in a row, the Broncos practiced in shorts, shells and helmets. Tuesday marked the first time since his signing that safety Jim Leonhard has participated, as Leonhard has been working his way back from a knee injury.
ROLL CALL
While Leonhard took part in practice, a number of players did not. Defensive end Jason Hunter (triceps), guard Chris Kuper (forearm), defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson (concussion), linebacker Keith Brooking (hamstring), wide receiver Andre Caldwell (rib), linebacker Nate Irving (rib), linebacker Mike Mohamed (hamstring) and wide receiver Tyler Grisham (knee).
Head Coach John Fox also announced that the team waived cornerback Joshua Moore, and Leonhard was officially taken off the PUP list. On Tuesday, cornerback Omar Bolden donned No. 31, Moore’s old number.
PLAYMAKERS
- Wide receiver Eric Decker came up with a nice catch deep down the sideline, making the reception with cornerback Champ Bailey in coverage.
- Bailey came up with an interception of a pass intended for wide receiver Greg Orton, tipping the ball in the air and catching it while running stride for stride with Orton deep down the sideline.
- The longest pass of the day came on a flea flicker. After handing off the football and having it thrown back to him, quarterback Adam Weber found wide receiver Jason Hill open deep down the sideline for an easy touchdown.
- Early in the practice, wide receiver Mark Dell came up with a nice catch deep down the middle of the field.
- During team drills, cornerback Tracy Porter was able to get a hand on a pass intended for wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, but Thomas was still able to make the catch off the deflection.
- Defensive tackle Sealver Siliga broke through the offensive line for a ‘sack’ during a team drill.
QUICK HITS
- Former Broncos wide receivers Vance Johnson and Mark Jackson both attended Tuesday’s practice. Johnson and Jackson, along with Ricky Nattiel, made up the Broncos’ “Three Amigos,” a trio of pass catchers that stood out for Denver during the 1980s and 1990s. Johnson said he was impressed with what he saw watching Manning in person.
“(Owner) Pat Bowlen actually asked us to get suited up and come out here and get a tryout, but he asked us to sign a waiver first and I wasn’t willing to do that,” Johnson laughed.
- For the second day in a row, quarterback Peyton Manning worked separately with rookie running back Ronnie Hillman, this time with Manning walking through end zone routes, slowly demonstrating how and when to cut. In addition to working with Hillman one-on-one, Manning got some extra work in with tight end Jacob Tamme and wide receiver Brandon Stokley.
Tags: Practice Blog, Preseason Week 3
While games are won and lost in the trenches – in my opinion “skill positions” are more difficult to find exceptional players to fill. MJD is at least in the argument for being the best back in the league. Clady is great – but more easily replaced. -IMO.
Dude, we don’t have to talk about replacing Clady. That freaks me out like nothing else. I don’t want MDJ if it jeopardizes Clady BUT I doubt that JE would EVER do something like that. If he makes this work it’ll have no affect on Clady’s contract, imo.
AB – that shouldn’t be viewed as a challenge. I know you watch with a linebackers eye. I’m just saying I can’t see what you are seeing.
You’re right Cat in the sense that Clady should be the last option. But Clady is not out of the question like; Champ, PM, or Miller.
Brincos Country:
Claydy stays!!! McGahee stays!!
FTR
I agree 100% FTR
Okay then DB, I guess I’m most interested in who you think is expendable.
@cat
No worries!! And sorry for mss reading you termanator post.
FTR
My thing with Clady is hes to valuable as a pass protector and would be a huge loss on our OLine in both run and pass game. So while we gain a great RB we loose our best OLinemen.
I havnt watched out for Mays a lot but if hes playing good then I hope he can keep it up through the season. Last season I just always saw him out of place and going the opposite of the ball carrier at times. Also going high on the bigger backs and low on the scat backs. Which to me is wrong. I was always taught to wrap up the big backs legs nice and tight and make them fall like a lumberjack chopping down a tree because hitting them up high your just as likely to get bulldozed as to make the tackle. As for scat back i was taught hit them hard in the upper body to rock them but make sure you get them and keep them wrapped. Going for the legs is just a sidestep away from missing the tackle. A lot of his missed tackles were for those reasons. Tried tackling the wrong way. Hopefully JDR has fixed that.
FTR – I’ve done that Brincos a thousand times. It’s easy to hit that ‘I’ instead of the ‘O’. LOL
DB:
You start crap for fun! Please stop!
FTR
FTR, it’s all good. I didn’t write it clearly so I tried to fix it!
Give it a look then AB – Mays is looking like JDR has spent some time refining his game. Mays was getting shoe strings, jerseys, chops on the ball – the way I see it, Mays absence in the 2nd half led to those long runs. They did get one big run on Mays though.
@cat
We are good, Keep it up!
FTR
Sorry FTR – probably won’t stop… but I don’t mean anything by it.
Well Time for me to go to work.
You all play good!!
Peace Out!
ILMSDB!!
LONG LIVE THE NECK!!
FTR
I’m surprised TideBronco hasn’t stopped by in a while. TIde? you out there?
Peace – FTR !
Dude, you never told me who you thought was expendable… DB?
Cat- not ignoring your question – I just don’t know how to answer. I think MJD is a high value acquisition. The Jax are going to need a high value trade. We don’t give away the farm – we don’t give away our identity…
DB If Mays has turned it up than im happy. Next time its on I will watch him closely. Always had other players out there I was watching. But I watch for Mays. THanks for the heads up about it DB.
Not saying he’s DJ talent – but he is doing the MLB duty.
I just dont like the idea of giving up Clady if we were to get MJD. Clady is the anchor on our OLine and our run and pass games will suffer greatly for it.
Gonna give the blog back now – Got to give the wife a call.
Be Good.
ILMSDB!!!
Okay, well, I’m going to head to bed. If this MDJ thing happens for the Broncos it’d be nuts but I can’t have Christmas everyday so I’m not going to think about it anymore. We already got WAY more than I had ever hoped. Holy cow, sometimes I still have to pinch myself until I see Peyton in that orange jersey and know it’s real. Our team is good without MJD, it would be better with him and Peyton always says he enjoys having talented players on his team. LOL
I agree 100% AB. Clady is NOT expendable. Neither is PM, Champ, Willis, Dumervil, Porter, Decker, Thomas… honestly I could keep going, but I’m going to head to bed instead. Chat with y’all tomorrow.
So I hear Mike Wallace will be reporting this weekend.
So we might be interested in MJD. No to the Clady deal. It`s got to be a draft pick. He`s worth a 2nd rounder and throw in Moreno to boot.
Strand it would have to be a first rounder and moreno and possibly someone else.
Interesting discussion about MJD. I haven’t seen anything linking him to Denver, nor anything saying the Jags are looking to trade him. I realize that all could change, but I just don’t see it happening. If it ever came down to Clady or MJD, it would be Clady hands down – not even a discussion IMO.
MJD is a great RB, but the drop off for RB’s come VERY quickly in the NFL, and often happen without warning. He knows this too, which is why he wants to lock up a long term deal now, rather than finishing his current contract. If we could somehow package up a few players on the bubble, along with mid round picks, I’d be into it, but I’m very hesitant to give up 1st round draft pick(s), for an aging RB, as I’d rather continue to try and build out this defense for the long haul. Imagine going into this year without Wolfe, or last year without Miller.
After years of poor drafting, we finally seem to have a solid draft process in place, and I’d like to see it through. Let’s not forget the rookie wage scale, which has made draft picks more valuable than ever. Also consider that only one RB was selected within the first 30 picks of the draft this year, and only one in the top 37 picks of the draft the year before. In today’s game I think you’re better off with a great OL, and a revolving door at RB. Just my opinion.
Morning OT………….
I think this all started with MJD telling his agent he’s open to be traded……….but nothing from the Jags HO that they’re seeking to trade him. It’s all interesting though, to say the least.
IMO, if it was between MJD or keeping Clady, I’d have to go with Clady hands down. He is far more valuable to the team than another RB. Yes, MJD is a special back, but what’s the good in that if you don’t have somone like Clady protecting the QB?
I think the price would be too steep for MJD………..but the thought of him running for the Broncos is extremely intruiging. He’s a stud back that can really put us over the top. Between him and McG, plus Hillman as the change of pace back…………WOWSERS!
Loved the outtakes from the Direct TV commercials……….pretty funny stuff!
and I agree, we should let Oman get some reps in the 49er’s game. We already know what we have in the other backs, and he’s really an X factor………and we need to see what he’s got. I really don’t care much for Ball whatsoever.
Hey there kod. Yea, that backfield would be scary good.. Dont get me wrong, I would open him with open arms, but I don’t think it’s worth mortgaging your future for, and I also don’t think the Jags will trade him. The great thing about Manning is he didn’t cost us any draft picks, and several people have critized how the Colts let him walk for nothing by waiting until the last minute. The money can always be reworked, but you can’t get draft picks back. Hopefully McGahee can get us through this season, and Hillman begins to develop, and maybe Omon emerges. I can see us taking a big bodied RB somewhere in rounds 2-4 of the draft next year.
I’m sure the organization will be kicking at the tires at least………along with almost every other team in the league.
They’ll be in it I’m sure but I think I was just drunk on the idea of MJD in Denver again for the second time since March and obviously this wouldn’t happen.
So Kod you’re telling me that if we got MJD and won two SB and then sucked for two yearsyou wouldn’t do it? Not saying that Os is abbust or anything just throwing an idea out there.
never say never cat………if there’s anyone that can make it happen, it’s elway, with PM factoring into the equation. I mean, MJD has never had a QB worth talking about…………
I would be all for it! Lord knows we’ve sucked enough since the last super bowl, with the exception of a couple of years………..I could put up with a bit more if it meant more championships! lol
All I meant was that if it came down right now between keeping clady or getting MJD, I’d be more inclined to keep clady…….
But I’m sure if Elway actually goes after MJD, having to potentially lose Clady wouldn’t even be in the picture……Clady won’t be going anywhere.
I KNOW! And who’s to say he’d have to have a huge deal this year. To play behind Peyton he might not be as greedy with us. But my hopes are up for a second time and I need to get them down. But Elways a madman. If there is someone who could get this done without morgaging our future it would be him.
Ahhhhh I couldnt sleep last night because of this crap! Stupid rumors!
Never say never indeed.. I don’t mean to rain on anyone’s parade, and there is a legitimate arguement for pushing the rest of our chips into the center of the table now that we got Manning…
Anyway, have a good day Broncos Country!!!
that’s the other thing as well……….I wouldn’t want to see him mortgage our future for this guy. We’re starting to build the right way…………through the draft………
I highly doubt that Jax will actually even trade him………..they’ll prob let him sit it out.
This is still all crazy bu it reminds me of our Cutler trade except that Jay seemed to hole more cards than MJD does:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000052986/article/maurice-jonesdrews-camp-already-softening-stance?campaign=Twitter_atl
I think so too kod he is 75% of their offense.
Love this: http://m.denverpost.com/site?targetUrl=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_21368691&webredirect=true&stopparam=stopRedirect&stopvalue=true
We def got the better of that trade…….Bailey has far out-performed and out-lasted Portis.
Yes!!! He is still going strong and there is not an end in sight for him @34
My twitter people are telling me we are not pursuing MJD.