And here we go. The Broncos’ 2012 training camp kicked off Thursday morning to a raucous — and record-setting — crowd at Dove Valley. Officially, 4,372 people gathered around the practice fields to soak in the first session of training camp — a Dove Valley record.
The sky was clear, it was hot — but not too hot, about 80 degrees — and the players were fired up. In other words, the perfect atmosphere to kick off camp.
ROLL CALL
Before we get started, wanted to throw out a little piece of trivia. Or rather, ask you to take a wild guess at the answer.
Who were the first three players to take the field Thursday morning?
The answer will be revealed later on in the blog.
As for attendance, the only player absent from practice was wide receiver Brandon Stokley, who had the flu. Limited in practice today were defensive tackle Justin Bannan (calf) and defensive end Jamie Blatnick (ankle).
WELCOME, NO. 18
The loudest cheers of the day came when quarterback Peyton Manning jogged out from the locker room and made his way onto the field to kick off his first training camp practice as a Bronco.
Throughout the morning, all eyes seemed to be on Manning. As soon as practice started, the team went right into a team walkthrough. The first play of the day was a completion from Manning to fullback Chris Gronkowski, drawing more exuberant cheers. When Manning took off from the pocket on a scramble a few plays later, it felt like a game day the cheers got so loud.
“I kind of liked when he ran and did a little stiff arm,” rookie Ronnie Hillman said after practice. “They all got crazy. That was pretty funny. He could run faster than I thought he could.”
As always at Broncos camp, there were a wide variety of jerseys, from old school (Tom Jackson, Randy Gradishar, Steve Atwater) to new school (Manning, Von Miller, Demaryius Thomas), and of course there were plenty of No. 7s. But this year there were even a few Manning Colts jerseys sprinkled in the crowd.
Needless to say, the Broncos’ newest signal caller is plenty popular.
LINE ‘EM UP
During training camp, there’s no official depth chart, so the first-unit offense and defense might vary from day-to-day. But for day one of camp, here were the first-team groups.
Ryan Clady, Zane Beadles, J.D. Walton, Manny Ramirez and Orlando Franklin made up the offensive line, as Chris Kuper continues his recovery from a Week 17 injury. Manning was quarterback and Willis McGahee joined him at running back in the backfield. Occasionally the team went with two receivers — Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas — and two tight ends — Jacob Tamme and Joel Dreessen. When there was a third receiver in, it was Andre Caldwell. When there was a fullback, it was Gronkowski.
On defense, Elvis Dumervil, Ty Warren, Mitch Unrein and Robert Ayers were the linemen. Wesley Woodyard, Joe Mays and Von Miller manned the linebacker positions. Champ Bailey, Tracy Porter, Mike Adams and Rahim Moore rounded out the unit in the secondary.
PLAYMAKERS
- During one-on-ones between wide receivers and defensive backs, Caldwell drew the first big cheers from the fans. The receiver beat cornerback Tony Carter deep to the end zone, hauling in a long touchdown pass much to the crowd’s delight. It was just the first of several big plays for Caldwell, as he hauled in a deep pass from Manning on the sideline later during team drills.
- Later in practice, Carter had a big play of his own, reeling in an over-the-shoulder interception in the end zone.
- Shortly after Caldwell’s catch, Greg Orton sprinted deep as well, making a diving, fingertip catch for a touchdown on a pass from Manning.
- The third big play from that one-on-one drill came when Thomas caught a mid-range pass before turning the corner and sprinting past Porter to the end zone. Both men patted each other’s helmet after the play.
- During 7-on-7s, quarterback Brock Osweiler connected on a pretty pass down the sideline to wide receiver Jason Hill, who hauled it in past a leaping Quinton Carter and made his way into the end zone.
- A few other big plays included a Bailey breakup of a Manning pass intended for Decker, followed later a Decker sideline catch in front of Bailey. Defensive tackle Sealver Siliga batted down a pass at the line during the final portion of team drills.
QUICK HITS
- Decker, Porter, Syd’Quan Thompson and Drayton Florence took turns fielding punts during special teams drills.
- During those special teams drills, Knowshon Moreno worked on a separate field with all four quarterbacks. Manning, Caleb Hanie, Brock Osweiler and Adam Weber all worked on first avoiding pressure then placing a pass directly into Moreno’s hands.
- Denver’s top pick, Derek Wolfe, saw some second-team reps on defense during Thursday’s opening practice.
- To answer the question from the top of the blog, the first three players to take the practice field, in order, were Jason Hill, Lonie Paxton and Brock Osweiler.
The team will be back on the field for a walkthrough closed to the public this evening, and we’ll bring you more coverage. The next open practice is tomorrow at 2:20 p.m. MDT.
A photo gallery from this morning’s opening practice has been posted — but it will be updated again shortly. Team photographer Eric Lars Bakke will provide exclusive photos from the action during practice, and we’ll add them to the gallery. This paragraph will be updated when the gallery is updated.
Tags: 2012 Training Camp
SOOOOO AWESOME!!! Look at all those deep pass TD’s thrown by Manning!!!! He hasn’t missed a beat baby!!!! I’M SOOOOOOO STOKED!!!
I love this! Awesome!!!! Just so you know, Peyton said he is not scared of getting blindsided by James Harrison. If he’s not there is no reason for me to be! Of course, he said that wasn’t and invitation! LOL
Glad to see Bay Bay catching a TD pass and sprinting to the endzone!!!
First completed pass out of the backfield by C. GRONK THE BRONC….HMMM
That was me who came up with that GRONK THE BRONC
Horse I loooove it! I want our Gronk to kick NE Gronks butt even though they’re brothers and play completely different positions! LOL
Yea Horse! Love Gronk the Bronc. May Gronk the Bronc make a huge impact for us the Broncs!!
I wonder if the Broncos traded for him as a fullback that could basically be another TE except out of the backfiel.
we traded for him with the colts and gave them Vaughn for us to get Gronk. I’m sure they wont use him as a TE as we have several nice TE’s already. I hope to see Julius Thomas step up and be dominant. I hope he proves that he was a huge steal in the draft!!!
I bet they wished they would’ve kept vaughn now. He was a great returner and we could use a returner now. I would like for us to get him back and him be our main return man. Would also like to see Syd win the starting returner job! He’s done a good job from what I’ve seen. Deff dont want our starting CB in Porter or starting WR in Decker to be the returner and risk them getting banged up!
Was a Colts fan since 1958, pulled for Denver in the Super Bowls and other games. Now I am a true Broncos fan. Irsay lied and I hope Peyton and the Broncos get to tan their hides. We got our #18 Manning jersys and Bronco hats ready along w/DTV football package. Go Broncos!!!!!!!!!!!! We’re glad to be onboard.
Figured y’all would like this! Via Bill Williamson…
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – One of the players I am most interested watching Thursday when the Denver Broncos open training camp is rookie running back Ronnie Hillman.
HillmanA strong offseason session started the buzz on Hillman, who I think could play a big role for the Broncos. There is some thought in the scouting community that Hillman, a San Diego State product whom Denver took with the No. 67 pick in April’s draft, could potentially supplant Willis McGahee as Denver’s primary back this season.
Whether or not he becomes the starter, I do think Denver will give the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Hillman a chance to play often, and to be a receiving threat out of the backfield in addition to running the ball.
“He’s explosive,” Denver coach John Fox said of Hillman. “We like what we’ve seen so far. We targeted him and we think he will be able to help us.”
Thursday, he gets to begin the process in earnest.
Welcome namvet67!!! You just moved on from a colt to Bronco no shame in that. lol
Welcome to BRONCO COUNTRY!!!
Freak: Just thinking if Gronk the Bronc can hit a block than shed off for a nice screen. Not that he would be used as a TE, although he has the size.
And i assume you are a Vnam vet, if so, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE…SIR!!!
Nam! Great to have you! I bleed blue and orange and have since birth but Peyton is my favorite QB of all time and I couldn’t be more thrilled! Jim Irsay made a mistake in my opinion. But we got Peyton so TAP YOUR CLEATS THREE TINES! HE’S NOT IN INDY ANYMORE… Just look for him somewhere beyond that orange and blue rainbow
Freak, I have been watching Hillman for the last few years in the MWC and he is sneaky sneaky. Fast and productive and I look forward to him having an immediate impact!
Rookie Derek Wolfe lined up at defensive end and took ownership of the position in team drills. Ryan Harris was able to handle the rookie in individual work, but Wolfe was relentless and impressive in the larger setting. Fellow rookie defensive end Malik Jackson also looked unstoppable at times. In consecutive individual drills, Jackson first sent Baylor rookie C/G Philip Blake to the floor, then penetrated past his next blocker to the hoots-and-hollers of his coaches and teammates.
The starting defensive unit will rotate in and out as camp progresses, but here is how I saw them line up during 11-on-11′s near the end of practice:
Defensive End: Robert Ayers, Elvis Dumervil
Defensive Tackle: Ty Warren, Mitch Unrein
Linebacker: Von Miller, Joe Mays, Wesley Woodyard
Cornerback: Champ Bailey, Tracy Porter
Safety: Mike Adams, Rahim Moore
http://broncotalk.net/2012/07/39211/broncos-blog/denver-broncos-2012-training-camp-day-1/
Those last two posts from me came from here. Those were two things that really caught my attention.
namvet…great to have you onboard…and thanks for your service sir
loved vaughns returning capabilities. Sad to lose him, hope gronk comes through. Larsen was a beast but wasnt a true FB, maybe we have one now, time will tell.
Nothing like the first training camp to remind fans football is in the air … its awesome. Can’t wait to see the rooks and 1 year pros at preseason. This offseason flew by, last years seemed to drag for me but then again between the lockout and all the free time i had on my hands, it felt like eternity. Heres to a good year.
Later days, TRB out…
RB Ronnie Hillman can be as good as he wants to be, and I think that’s close to Marshall Faulk good. Anything and everything happens in the NFL, we see it day in and day out with injuries, arrests and other things, but after watching him play (I wanted the Boise St kid, Doug Martin), I am convinced he has the goods…
Bf… I wanted Doug Martin and was beyond mad because we had him. He dropped in our laps and we let someone come in and take him. But I think Hillman has a good chance of being pretty amazing.
Welcome Namvet67, Glad to see you on board. Enjoy the blog.
I also was a big Martin fan, hope we have a good one in Hillman. I have all the confidence in the world in our FO. GO BRONCOS!!!
This is AWESOME!!!! I have a sigh of relief already because we have now started training camp! lol
Welcome to Broncos Country namvet67!! The more the merrier… Smart choice by the way
I’m sure it wasn’t easy transitioning from a team you’ve been a fan of for a very long time to another. And Mile High Salute to you sir for your service for our great country. Thank you SO very much.
I guess Manning look aight in Orange & Blue. Need time to adjust to this…….
@horsepower1, Thanks, USMC ground pounder here, just tried to give something back. Who says you can’t change horses in the middle of a stream? lol
I really wanted Martin too but you have to think about it, him and McGahee basically have the same type of running style. Both downhill runners and very physical. Hillman is extremely shifty and he has that one cut off to the tracks type of style. He is extremely agile and elusive which makes him hard to bring down. I believe him and McGahee will compliment each other very well!!
I wanted Martin because my favorite RB (Outside of our own) is Ray Rice and Martin reminds me of Rice so much.
I’m soooo pissed off! I got wrapped up with work, and missed everything after the Champ interview on espn… Hope I didn’t miss much. In other news, I just ordered Direct TV!!!
This is WHY I feel bad for Mark Sanchez. Not okay!
Adam Schefter: Most Awkward moment of the day: a reporter asking Mark Sanchez a question, calling him “Tim.” To which Sanchez responded “I’m Mark.”
07Elway I know what you mean about getting used to him in a different tone of blue. Hope I get used to it by preseason!
CLADY SIGNED 50 MILLION DOLLAR DEALLL BABY!!!!
I live in SoCAL, and have been a SDSU fan for a long time – my youngest son graduated from there … so when R Hillman decided to go pro, I was greatly disappointed … then the Broncos drafted him, and I was ecstatic … can’t wait to see the 1st time he breaks into the clear … Bronco fans are really in for a treat …
YES!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Freak!!!
hey guys I heard on ESPN that they have a Broncos special coming on at ESPN at 8 eastern time!! Definitely a MUST WATCH!!!
well it’s not official yet with Clady. They said they’re very close to a deal. Probably be done today!
New blog! I get two hours of non stop Broncos on TV I might faint! New blog!
Freak where did you hear it?
Thanks to all of you for the warm welcome, now, let’s get some BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good evening to all.