After a day off following Saturday’s victory against Seattle, the Broncos were back on the field Monday at Dove Valley, practicing in shells as they prepare for Thursday’s final exhibition against Arizona.
ROLL CALL
Linebacker D.J. Williams and defensive lineman Brodrick Bunkley both missed practice after sustaining injuries against the Seahawks.
Offensive lineman Chris Kuper and defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson also did not participate.
Russ Hochstein worked with the first-team O-line in place of Kuper and Jeremy Jarmon and Ryan McBean ran with the first-team D-line in place of Bunkley and Vickerson. Wesley Woodyard served as Williams’ replacement at linebacker.
Safety David Bruton and linebacker Mario Haggan practiced after being held out of Saturday’s game.
DAILY JUKEBOX
“Purple Haze” – Jimmy Hendrix
“Look At Me Now” – Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes
“Song 2” – Blur
POSTION DRILLS
The team broke into groups and the defense immediately went to work on fumble drills. Each position practiced strip sacks and the linebackers later went through a footwork drill before scooping up a loose ball.
The quarterbacks worked with wide receivers on sideline routes, with the wideouts working on controlling the ball with two feet in bounds.
The tight ends, meanwhile, focused on blocking.
PLAYMAKERS
The defensive backs were credited with several interceptions today.
The first one was provided by cornerback Perrish Cox, who intercepted Adam Weber during team drills.
Later on in 7-on-7 drills, cornerback Champ Bailey picked off Brady Quinn and Chris Harris came down with an interception shortly thereafter – catching the ball after Kyle Orton’s pass bounced off of Eric Decker.
Rahim Moore intercepted Quinn when the team returned to team drills and David Bruton picked off a short pass from Tim Tebow. But Tebow responded immediately, connecting with D’Andre Goodwin deep down the left sideline on the next play.
Bruton recorded the final interception of the session and received a rowdy applause from his defensive teammates after he jumped a route and stretched out to make a highlight-reel catch.
Running back Jeremiah Johnson produced some big plays during a 9-on-9 running game-only session, reaching the end zone on three separate occasions from 20 yards out.
QUICK HITS
–Max Henson
Tags: Preseason
Wow, I made some bad typos there.
Grammar Nazis, please give me a break.
Either way he did something stupid to leave himself open that way.
Just to be clear, if he really raped her it was worse than stupid. That is an understatement.
Yup, sounds like a problem for the courts. Anyway im out — on the east coast and its mad late. Later days, TRB
TRB:
I couldn’t agree with your conclusion any more. Absolutely right.
Hey, the masses are paying attention?!?!?!?:
Tim Tebow’s jersey no longer ranks No. 1 in NFL merchandise sales.
Maybe those who want them already have their allotment of Tim Tebow jerseys hanging in the closet. Maybe Tebow’s roller-coaster ride with the Broncos through training camp and the preseason has taken its toll. Either way, the extraordinarily popular quarterback’s jersey sales have taken a bit of a dip recently.
According to the NFL, from April 1 to July 31, Tebow had the eighth-most popular jersey in terms of sales at the league’s merchandise website.
In sales numbers from April through Monday, Tebow jerseys were the 10th-most popular in the NFL.
I know I’m not doing well this morning for not wanting to talk about you know who, but how can I pass that up by Woody:
The Miami Dolphins have scheduled the most asinine sports promotion since the Cleveland Indians’ infamous 10-Cent Beer Night in 1974.
That major-league game, tied at 5 in the bottom of the ninth, was halted and forfeited to the Rangers on account of what the plate umpire termed “uncontrollable beasts.”
On Oct. 23, when the Broncos play in South Florida, the Dolphins will honor Tim Tebow, a quarterback for the opposing team.
What?
The Dolphins are having problems selling out their season tickets (even sideline seats were available on the team’s website Monday), and many home games are in danger of being blacked out on local TV, according to The Miami Herald.
‘Phin heads, or Pinheads, decided to use Tebow as a star attraction (Gator Bait?), although he probably won’t play a moment in the game.
Because of their sticky- ticket scheme, the Dolphins will learn, as I have the past year, that lots of Florida folks, because of you know who, have become Broncos backers.
The you know who thing I started long ago has not only been picked up by Shefter but now Woody…. both avid readers of the blog, haha.
BTW, to be clear, the 2008 University of Florida football team (which beat Oklahoma in the BCS championship at the same stadium), will be saluted at the Dolphins’ game with the Broncos, not just Tim (the quarterback of those No. 1 Gators was Tebow). So it’s not as selective as when Tebow was giving hommage last year to help sell out the game in Jacksonville, but bottom line is you know who still sells in Florida, big time, even on the sidelines holding a clipboard… well, he did rush twice for two yards in Jacksonville, so we can probably expect some of the same for the Miami game, so the Dolphin fans get their money’s worth, LOL.
This from Legwold, and not I even so it very well could be, about DJ and his injury set back:
About the WLB position the Broncos may need a Plan B, both in the near future and later.
That’s because, at this point in his career with 101 career starts, DJ Williams is a fairly battered player for a 29-year-old.
He’s out after suffering a dislocated right elbow after a tackle attempt in the preseason win over the Seahawks on Saturday.
He had right shoulder surgery in early 2009 and has played with a brace on the shoulder at times. He suffered a torn MCL in 2008 and has missed practice time with hip, hamstring, knee, thigh and shoulder injuries through the years. He also missed time last season because of a concussion.
At such a high-impact position, that is already a significant list of injuries. Often it’s just the way things trend in football, because the game is tough to play and the people who play it ask a lot of their bodies.
Not to mention the two DUIs, the lack of leadership, the lack of commitment, yeah, extremely talented of course, but just one of those players who could of beeen great had he applied the same kind of dedication to the game including off season workouts that great probowl players do (DJ has never made the probowl regardless of his tackling numbers). That last paragraph was me, not Legwold, LOL.
And Legwold goes on echoing the worries about our depth that some bloggers have had on this blogsite and he also outlines the areas we all know need special attention and we can do something about it on cut day September 3rd, and we will be second in line, no excuses:
The Broncos are expected to be on the lookout for an offensive lineman or two on the waiver wire, including a tackle who can play on both sides of the line. They need another interior lineman, plus a running back and a cornerback. Linebacker may need a look too.
Wesley Woodyard will fill in for Williams at the weakside spot to open the season.
Woodyard (229 pounds) is smaller than Williams (240), and he also happens to be one of the most important players on the special-teams units. That means he will play defense, have situational work in the nickel package and play on special teams — which will expose a smaller linebacker to even more impact.
It is just one example of what will be the Broncos’ biggest hurdle this season. They have shown themselves to be improved and willing to play hard, and they need some Pro Bowl talent among their starters.
But injuries, even a few, will expose their biggest weakness, which is depth. That thin amount of talent can be traced to too many changes in draft strategy, too many traded picks and too few of those players selected with the retained picks making it through two coaching changes in the span of three years.
And too many injuries like Williams’ will turn some of the optimism they have about the upcoming season into a few worry lines.
I remember arguing here with some folks about our lack of depth, and they were quick to point out we have depth at many positions to which I argue that we may have depth but not quality depth, that’s what matters, quality backups, not just bodies, and we frankly don’t have much of that, and you can rest assured I will take that into heavy consideration before making my record prediction. That’s a HUGE issue, just ask the Packers who last year lost 15 men to IR! Depth is what gets you great records, just saying.
Waived vs. released players:
Waived; players that have less than four years of experience are “waived” — meaning a player has to clear the NFL waiver wire before becoming a free agent. When a player is placed on waivers, the other 31 teams have a day to place a claim on him. The team with the highest spot in the waiver order is then awarded that player. If no team makes a claim, that player is then a free agent and can sign with any team. Through the first couple weeks of the season, the Broncos have the No. 2 spot in the waiver wire, behind only Carolina, meaning the Broncos have a decent chance of picking up whichever players they want off waivers. Look for the Broncos to be actively scouring the waiver wire this weekend to try to add depth to the offensive and defensive lines, among other positions.
Released; players with more than four years experience are considered vested veterans, so at least through midseason, they are not subject to the waiver process. As soon as his release paperwork clears, he is free to sign with another team. This is why, when the Broncos made their cuts today, six of the seven players were designated as “waived.” Only Nate Jones, in his eighth season, was formally released.
This just to help with understanding what we will be soon up against come Sept 3rd in our search for “quality” depth.
About the value of undrafted rookies, however rare it is that they pan out:
Vaughn:
“I worked hard this summer,” Vaughn said. “I didn’t want to disappoint anyone here. I just wanted a chance, and the coaches gave us opportunities, and I took advantage of those opportunities to be in this lineup.
“Dawkins and Joe Mays, they played such a big role in my development into camp this summer. They gave me the confidence to come out and made me realize I have the ability to come out here and do it.”
McCarthy:
McCarthy, described by Dawkins as an “effort guy”, “that guy is working his behind off,” Dawkins said. “For those of us who saw his work in practice last year, we could tell. Even when he was on the look team last year, you could see the potential.”
Just imagine how great DJ could be if he had only half the drive of these guys….
I agree we do need some quality depth. We’ve already lost some guys due to injury and it seems like more and more are falling like flies. Hopefully we can claim some decent players on waivers to fill in for some key spots. Maybe we’ll find a gem or two in the scrap bin.
Bay,
My season record contest entry. 9-7.
One thing that freaks me out is both Legwold and Klis don’t even necessarily think we will bring another DT in regardless of the injury to Bunkley. Well I’m not that shocked anymore of course after Fox passed on every possible DT in the draft and went for some at the last minute in FA, it seems like a fait accompli that Fox could give a crap about DTs, it’s like he wishes he could just simply do away with the position, all the strength coming from the edges.
However the Raider’s running game will be the first test to see if Fox’s way can really work in our division, these teams can run, and run, and run some more….
Who are our quality back ups? I would say Hunter, Haggen, M. Thomas, Carter has potential, Irving has potential but I’d like to see more, Cox if he’s around, I like our receivers….that’s how I see it.
Some DTs….we need some freakin’ DTs!
Oh….and Woodyard I’d say has potential but I haven’t seen enough of him.
That’s the point, quality basically ends with the starting line up, because the ones who may have quality at backups are mainly rookies or guys with very little experience and with a shortened off season, good luck contributing if they’re needed.
I know Fox likes speed so maybe he’s going to put a emphasis on his LBs flying to the ball carrier. The DTs just need to “occupy” some space and a couple of offensive lineman. The other view is with the key going to be on Miller and Doom, maybe they won’t look at our DTs as much and maybe that can take a way from the double team on our DTs so they can have chance to make some plays. I don’t know I just don’t want to have teams run on us like they have been.
Worth repeating, Carolina against the run:
2008, 20th
2009, 22nd
2010, 23rd
Not exactly reassuring, but better than 32nd for sure, LOL.
I know we’re probably not going to be too successful at stoping the run but, you’re right, anything is better than 32nd. That’s ok though I’m ready for anything that comes our way this season…helmet…check…bubble wrap…check…mouth guard…check…pace maker….check….blood pressure medication…check….heart surgeon on hand…check. LOL!
LMAO!!!
That’s why I never set the bar up too high, the ticker at my age isn’t what it used to be. Low expectations means less far to fall and a great experience if they are exceeded, I can’t lose that way, to each his own.
I’m a realist for my own good, haha.
Here is a familiar name:
Lions released RB Mike Bell
Some teams still like to acquire DTs:
Seattle traded CB Kelly Jennings to Cincinnati in exchange for DT Clinton McDonald.
Things have picked up speed with the cut to 80 already:
Former Patriots starting safety James Sanders, released today by New England, is scheduled to meet Tuesday with the Atlanta Falcons.
Maybe we should think of trading DJ for a DT? There’s gotta be a decent team looking for a LB that has a decent DT that would be a fair trade?
Bay my contest entry is 7-9. If we could stop run would be optimistic. But giving current personnel I believe the above is the best we can hope for.
I saw this on NFL.com. We have the 4th lowest cap # behind Tampa, KC & Cincinnati with available room at $28,028,480
Bay, thanks for the post detailing waivers vs. releases. Like I said before, I am new to the in-depth looking at personnel and stats and the like, so the info was quite helpful.
I am also worried about us stopping the run, but I’m hoping that having Doom and Miller on the edges will thin out blockers on the inside and allow Mays to step up an crush RB’s that try to find their way through. I may just be my hopeless optimism, but I think that Mays is going to have a very good season. Man that guy can HIT!
You’re welcome, that was courtesy of Lindsay Jones.
Mays laid a lick on Moeiaki (spelling) during the KC game last season on their onside kick. Dude get lit up couldn’t even stand afterwards.
recovering from hip replacement…
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