The Broncos concluded their three-day mini camp Sunday afternoon. Here are some quick hits from today’s practice.
SPIRITED COMPETITION: Even though there was no contact during mini camp, there was some spirited back and forth between the offense and defense. Most of the talk was between Wesley Woodyard and Daniel Graham, with some Darrell Reid thrown in as well. All of it was in good fun, but you could tell the competition was fierce even in early May.
TWO MINUTES: After several spirited 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills, the team concluded practice with an 11-on-11 two-minute drill. Kyle Orton was five-of-six on his two-minute drive, completing three consecutive passes to Brandon Stokley before hitting Eddie Royal to set up a Matt Prater field goal. Chris Simms was up next, he was four-of-seven and completed two big passes to rookie Nate Swift to set up another Prater field goal.
SECONDARY SHINES: Although the offense had its moments on Sunday, so did the defense — especially the secondary. In 7-on-7 drills, Jabar Gaffney got behind the defense and went up to grab the reception, but a fast-closing Renaldo Hill knocked the ball away. Rookie Alphonso Smith also got into the action, knocking away a Simms pass intended for Chad Jackson. In 11-on-11 drills, both Andre Goodman and Jack Williams knocked away passes, Williams as he blitzed Orton who was looking for the bubble screen.
CATCHING PUNTS: At the end if practice, Head Coach Josh McDaniels gathered the team and gave them a challenge. If an offensive or defensive lineman was able to field a punt, their respective side of the ball wouldn’t have meetings following practice.
Ryan Harris represented the offense and Kenny Peterson the defense. Harris misjudged his punt, but made a nice diving recovery only to have the ball just fall out of his grasp — much to the enjoyment of the defense. Peterson — despite the heckling offense — was able to get under his opportunity and fielded the catch with ease.
Coach McDaniels gave the offense one more shot, but gave the defense the opportunity to pick which lineman would receive. Unanimously, they chose Ryan Clady. Brett Kern’s punt made Clady move to his left, but the big man was able to grab the punt cleanly and the offense and defense were able to call it a day without meetings.
“That was just something fun — I think the players got a kick out of it,” McDaniels said. “I told them if we had a good day of work today that we might throw them a bone, they had a good day of work so we let them have an opportunity to miss the very last meeting.”
MISC: Along with Prater’s two successful field goal attempts in 11-on-11, he was four-of-five during the field goal session, with his only miss coming on a bobbled hold by rookie Britton Colquitt … Tom Brandstater hit fellow rookie Kenny McKinley down the middle between two defenders in 7-on-7 drills … As the quarterbacks worked with the wide receivers, LaMont Jordan accurately fired passes to his fellow running backs … Donning number 66, Lonie Paxton snapped to the quarterbacks during 7-on-7 drills. Many had to double-take to make sure it wasn’t Tom Nalen back out there … With meetings canceled thanks to the punt catching skills of their teammates, Champ Bailey and Daniel Graham raced off the field in an effort to make it to the Pepsi Center before tip-off of the Nuggets – Mavericks playoff game … As the vets scampered off the field, all of the rookies worked on their conditioning with Strength and Conditioning Coach Rich Tuten. Many commented about the altitude as they were huffing and puffing off the field.
Here are some photos of the day and to read more about the day’s action, click here.
ahhhhh. it has begun. People are more concerened about the type of defense well be playing rather than the players that will be on the field. its beautiful hilarious.
Fact of the matter is: DJ is a great linebacker inside or out, more than likely he will play inside, but either way if thiers no linemen infront of him that can command double teams we wont even notice he’s on the field.
Our best hope is that we go with an undersized D-line that is all about penetration by shooting gaps, beating the offensive lineman to a spot, and hope that the players we have can do it. Thats a best case scenario…… worst case scenario is. being worse at stopping the run than we have been in the past, because lets face it this is the worst D-line weve had in a while.
So lets all temper our expectations. realistically im not seeing more than 9 wins and really with the players we have on deffense thats all im expecting.
But I am confident that 2 to 3 years from now. We will have collected enough talent on deffense to make a real run for the super bowl
Im hearing all this talk about Vick and i was just wondering if the QB’s we have now dont work out do you think the broncos will be one of the teams looking in to him
Sorry to break it to you, but there is ZERO chance that the Broncos pursue Vick, not only because his off the field issues, but he does not fit the offense in any way.
just wondering who every one thinks will be the starting QB? My vote is for Simms but only because the last guy that had a full beard during the season is somewhere in Idaho.
Honestly Plummer should have stayed as our QB he was 40-18, now I think Cutler was 17-20 which sounds better? Orton is starter hands down, he is smart and is still improving
Offense:
QB Orton
RB Moreno
FB Hillis
TE Grahm
WR1 Marshall
WR2 Royal
OT Ryan Harris
OG Kuper
C Wieggman
Sorry didnt finish
Offense:
QB Orton
RB Moreno
FB Hillis
TE Grahm
WR1 Marshall
WR2 Royal
OT Ryan Harris
OG Kuper
C Wieggman
OG Ben Hamilton
OT Clady
Sounds about right to me Bronco#80
Football season is getting closer and I’m getting more and more excited. Even with a tough schedule, I think we’re going to surprise every other team in the NFL with the wins we pull out. We’ve let go of some very beneficial players and staff, but it’s just an opprotunity to replace them with someone even more beneficial. It’s really pretty exciting!
I also would like vick. But orton is fine. We have the toughest schedule in football so a guy who has been playing works out. And why do we have all these Rbs and Wrs
I say why not, the broncos will use a lot of 4 and 5 wide receiver set and if we can attack a defense with 4 or 5 talented guys, then I see a great season ahead. As for RB’s, it was proven last year that either running backs are less durable, or hitters are becoming more punishing, as the broncos had 7 rbs on IR, and the patriots had injury problems all year.
nothing says championship like 900 rbs..
Hey Broncos Faithful,
Don’t know about you guys, but after the craziness of this off-season I’m just happy to see the team get back to playing football, ’cause that’s what it is really all about. This weeks SI has a nice little article on the team in the “Inside The NFL” department.
Vick are you guys insane? This team is known of integrity why soil it with even the mention of the dog killer! Please are QB situation isn’t as bad as everyone seems to think! Remember the naysayers in NE and the so called experts when that announced they were going with castle ? Pleas IF coach knows 1 thing its the QB position! If he can make make Castle a house hold name and that late round pick QB what was his name…O yea Brady he can and will pull more than 1 rabbit out of his hat in what is going to be his long term stay in Denver. Simms is back in football shape after his tragic injury and if hes recovered witch i think he is he has the pedigree and the talent to be the starter in Denver for many years to come the only real Q with simms is Harris solid enough to protect his blind side not if he has the talent(and the ability to win playoff games)! And Orton is way underrated as A QB he was throwing in Chicago for heaven sakes one of the worst stadiums for QB in the NFL(fact) and who were his big name receivers in Chicago and he got that dead offence to the playoffs and won so before evroyone goes all crazy about the QB situation check the stats these guys are winners no matter what “the Experts” say!!! Next whats up with the week draft grades we got 5 players in day one who else had that many on that fact alone should be a B+ at least and we are getting Powell back witch in essence is another draft pic and with the addition of Baker which astounds me he wasn’t drafted which should be yet another pick and the addition of The Marine this team has serious potential! No coach did not fill all the needs that we have but wow how cold our D was Hideous and will take several years to recover from the inept D coordinators we had to deal with in Denver since Coyer was stupidly let go! Anyway give these guys a chance not many if any teams have a solid receiving and running corps as we now do in Denver Everyone will soon be having to make excuses for Jay its a new system or some junk like that mark my words! hes got who Hester hes no #1 receiver and Olson yea good luck with that Jay ! And wow who in the west had a better draft SD NOT the Riders Whatever we are getting better in leaps and bounds and i cant wait to see the morons on the NFL network admit to Prime Time that he was right letting Cutler might have been the right call !drinking with type 1 wow Jay might never grow up! So I’m going on record as saying we win the division this year and the bowel In 3!
Jay Cutler is not a franchise Quarterback. To me a franchise quarterback has two things: I love for football and his teammates, and to always want to be te leader and best player he can be.
well the last lb we took from tenn worked out great for us lets see what ayers has.
Hightlights from our new rookie qb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1p-QWy3NAc&NR=1
I will be visiting Denver during the mandatory minicamp June 12-14th. Where is the minicamp taking place? And is that minicamp open to the public and the fans? If so that would be very cool. If anyone could please let me know that would be great.
Thanks
michael vick?