The Broncos put the pads back on again Sunday as the temperature at the team’s headquarters approached 90 degrees.

Several former Broncos took in the team’s practice as Tom Jackson and Brian Dawkins visited Dove Valley, while Karl Mecklenburg helped coach for the second day in a row. Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen visited with Mecklenburg and Jackson on the field before practice began.

ESPN broadcast from practice which helped pump up an already excitable crowd of 4,003 fans that encouraged the players with their raucous cheers throughout the session.

ROLL CALL
Guard Chris Kuper continued to rotate with Manny Ramirez at right guard as Kuper recovers from his late-season injury last year. Safety Quinton Carter (hamstring), defensive end Jamie Blatnick (ankle) and tackle Orlando Franklin (slight concussion) did not practice today. Defensive tackle Justin Bannan left practice with a strained calf and did not return.

LINE ‘EM UP
Tackle Chris Clark played right tackle with the first team in place of Franklin.

Defensive linemen Derek Wolfe and Ben Garland both got work at defensive end and defensive tackle on Sunday.

Coaches continued to mix players in with different groups throughout the session. Cornerback Chris Harris saw some time with the first nickel defense and Rahim Moore spent most of the afternoon playing with the first base defense. Linebacker Wesley Woodyard saw time with the ones and twos.

At quarterback, almost every drill had a different order of appearance as to who followed Peyton Manning.

PLAYMAKERS

• Jacob Tamme turned in the highlight grab of the session with a one-handed, over-the-shoulder catch on a pass from Manning. After the play, linebacker Danny Trevathan, who was in coverage, just shook his head in amazement as he walked back to the sideline.
• Wide receiver Jason Hill also came up with a one-handed snag on a bullet from quarterback Brock Osweiler in the back corner of the end zone.
• Running backs Ronnie Hillman and Jeremiah Johnson each broke off long runs to the delight of the fans.
• During team drills, defensive linemen Kevin Vickerson and Jason Hunter each leaped in the air to bat down passes from quarterbacks Adam Weber and Caleb Hanie, respectively.
• No one is allowed to hit the quarterbacks during practice, but defensive end Cyril Obiozor was in position for a pair of sacks during team drills.
• The defense came up with several pass breakups throughout the WR-vs-DB drills. Cornerback Champ Bailey started the defense on a strong note when he got his hands in to break up a pass intended for Demaryius Thomas.
• Cornerback Joshua Moore seemed to be beat by wide receiver Matthew Willis on a fade, but Moore caught up and jumped in the air to tip the pass harmlessly into the crowd.
• Cornerbacks Tracy Porter and Drayton Florence also came up with pass breakups in the end zone during the one-on-one drills.
• At the beginning of practice, defensive end Elvis Dumervil broke past the offensive lineman blocking him one-on-one and drove running back Willis McGahee to the ground.

QUICK HITS

• The defensive line executed a new drill at the start of practice, ducking in a three-point stance beneath a large trampoline before exploding forward.
• Manning stayed on the field to throw a few reps with the second-team wideouts during seven-on-sevens.
• During red zone drills, Hanie was forced to throw the ball away and in doing so hit the crossbar. As the ball deflected into the air and back towards the playing field, Moore turned around and made a diving catch that drew a big cheer from the defense as well as the fans.
• Also during red zone drills, Weber saw no one open downfield so he took off scrambling up the middle and reached the end zone, thanks to the “nobody-hit-the-quarterback” rule. Fans responded with a loud applause anyway, which didn’t please the defense.
• In between team drills, the quarterbacks moved to the other field and practiced throws from the 4-yard line to receivers Eric Decker and Brandon Stokley and running back Knowshon Moreno.
• Near the end of practice, Bailey and Dawkins spent time talking to one another on the sideline as they watched the second and third teams’ drills.

The team is back on the field Monday morning for a practice free and open to the public. The session begins at 8:50 a.m., and gates open one hour prior.

Click below for a photo gallery from today’s practice.

Tags: 2012 Training Camp

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