The Broncos have added more experience — and size — to the defensive line.
Recently released Seattle Seahawk Kevin Vickerson signed with the team Tuesday.
The 6-foot-5, 321-pounder spent the last three seasons with the Tennessee Titans, accumulating 75 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four passes defensed and a fumble recovery.
“He’s a big, talented guy that has played a couple different places and was playing well in the preseason,” Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. “I wasn’t expecting (him to be released) — I don’t think (General Manager) Brian (Xanders) was either, but our personnel department had really done their work.”
In 2009, Vickerson made the first two starts of his career, playing in 13 games and posting 49 tackles, nine quarterback pressures and three passes defensed. He tied for the team lead in quarterback pressures in two games — part of a Titans defense that helped the team bounce back from an 0-6 start to narrowly miss the playoffs at 8-8.
Originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft, Vickerson didn’t see playing time until signing with the Titans in 2007. He played in Tennessee’s playoff contests in 2007 and 2008, making four tackles in the latter against Baltimore.
“(We) just felt like he could really give us some flexibility — he’s played over the nose and he’s also played on the end,” McDaniels said. “He gives you some pass rush and he’s still a relatively younger player.”
“Hopefully we’ll be ready to go with him on Sunday.”
To make room for the addition, the team released defensive lineman Le Kevin Smith.
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Kevin Vickerson
BAY-BAY PRACTICED TODAY!!!!!! hahaha
If he is such a great find, how come a bad team like Seattle released him just after acquiring him this off season, makes you wonder….
Im think overall this is a good move by the Broncos,I mean you get a guy who has playing excperiance and release a guy who did not really play that much for us.So overall good move by the Broncos.Oh and did Demaryius Thomas actually practice today? GO BRONCOS!!!!!
This is what I got from the Seattle Times about this guy:
Vickerson is a positively mammoth defensive tackle, someone who added size inside. He was a feisty player, but also was slowed by injuries over the course of his time in Seattle.
We love these less than 100% healthy players over here, just add them to the list, however he must be ok now if they are hoping he’ll be ready to go Sunday, but that brings another point, why on earth do we have to hope 4 days before game time that a guy is gonna be able to go, are we hurting that bad on the D line? MJD must be salivating right about now.
Good to see Baylin off the boat! Boy do you have some writing to do after reading the posts lately! Go for it! I can not wait. You know why—some need schooled!
ILMSDB
FTR
Thomas and Graham both practiced today.
FTR, funny, I did read all of it already, always like to know the pulse of my Broncos brethrens, did post some in the previous blog about it, but took it easy on all, no sense letting someone have it from a couple days ago, LOL.
You can see the fever is mounting though, and on both side of the spectrum, the we can do no wrong and the we are doing it all wrong, haha, spices things up. I like it.
Yeah, Bay. I think I would have preffered to be on the Orange Crush over the weekend instead of here posting. LOL Still a lot of unanswered concerns going in to the season. I still can’t believe we picked up another injured running back. LOL Hope he is really a stud when he comes around. It has also been a bit discouraging looking at the how all the national NFL analysts view the Denver Broncos this season. I know better than to take there predictions too seriously. But I don’t have a lot of ammunition to make a good argument back at them. I know McD likes to operate under a viel of secrecy, so I really hope he is hiding some postive factors that I can’t see. I did post earlier that my prediction was 10-6 a week or two ago. I’m going to stick with it but I know it would be a real accomplishment to achieve that. I agree with your analysis on McD, he has some growing up to do but is doing a respectable job for someone who is one year my elder. All I can say is that it will be an interesting season. Can’t wait for the real games to start, because….
I LOVE ME SOME DENVER BRONCOS….
There is one I wasn’t expecting:
Bengals claimed rookie QB Dan LeFevour on waivers from Bears.
Many bloggers liked what we saw of LeFevour at the Senior Bowl, oh well..
Hey bay did u read this articlehttp://espn.go.com/blog/afcwest/post/_/id/16551/alphonso-smith-trade-is-embarrassing-for-denver
How did things go on the boat. Was it all good, did you catch a big one?
I agree Bayln. What do you think of the final 53?
Yeah Big D, you are pretty brave with your 10-6, but trust me I feel very brave with my 9-7, I mean this is the sort of season that could easily unravel quickly if things don’t go our way early, that’s why I was saying it will be so important for McD to get the troops’ respect this year, because with how lean and inexperienced we are at so many positions, it wouldn’t take long for the guys to work for a paycheck rather than wins if we start like 2-6, not saying that will happen, but this season has the sense of a potentially dangerous season to me, like Jaworski said he thinks we are heading for “troubles” this year, I can see where that comes from is all. September will tell us what we need to know about our chances would be my bet. If we start off poorly, how can we expect our team to finish strong when they haven’t done so in years, it’s gotta to be somewhere in the back of every players’ head who has experienced those dreadful collapses, it’s going to be hard to put it out of their mind.
About getting another RB who can’t play with a turf toe, while we only have Bucky and Ball ready to go with Moreno just a maybe was one of those moves I don’t even try to wrap my hands around. It’s the same mentality that McD has when drafting he drafts on talent alone, he doesn’t care where he needs it, or making the final cuts, he doesn’t care to have 6 CB’s and only 4 RB’s because the talent we have is at CB, same with the injured player, he doesn’t care that they can’t perform now, he sees greater talent he goes for it, Thomas and Decker in the draft, now this RB, whatever, that’s part of the maturity thing I think he needs to grasp, his ways are not all good ways, I think we all know that by now, but the real question is, does he?
I’m sorry but what is McDaniels up to? I really haven’t understood some of his recent moves..? Anyone have some insight into his mind I don’t? Oh and really stupid question here, but why does Demaryius Thomas get called “Bay-Bay”?
so is he just warming up for next week or is there a possibility we could see him this week against the jags?
Looking at a lot of predictions, I think a lot of people are underestimating some of our opponents. I can’t even remember the last time we beat Jacksonville; they always seem to get the upper hand. Seattle may be a new team with Carroll at it head. The Raiders and Chiefs will both be much better this year. At Tennessee will be tough. The Jets may or may not be tough, depending on how much of their talk is just talk. I honestly don’t see Denver over 8-8, unless some people step up in a major way. It would be very easy to end up 7-9 or below. My hopes certainly involve domination, playoffs, and Super Bowl victories, but the realist inside of me says it will never happen.
Well, yeah, when you trade your first round pick which turns out to be #14 and a year later you trade the half pint size dude for a 7th round pick is like getting caught with your pants down coming out of a cold shower, pretty futile exercise, LOL.
Anyhow, the Phonzy must go campaign worked to a charm and I’m happy to say we’ll be having only full size pints in the secondary once again, no girly stuf with those half pint size beers. Only real man need apply, LOL.
Right ppl are not realizing how tough our schedule is… and its not going to get better if we can’t run the ball with our SUSPECT O-line
FTR, in the final 53, my only surprises, where Branson, but that’s explained by his injuries, Jarvis Green, a lot of money paid for zero results, Bowlen must be a bit bummed over the 3 million signing bonus there, Stokley I had called that months ago simply for the fact that he can’t remain healthy and Lloyd and Willis have just come on too strong to cut, but those three players are now worth over 6 million dollar in dead money, counts against the cap but no one here to show for it, that’s tough not only on Bowlen but for all of us, depriving us of 6 million dollar of talent.
Other than that we are way to thin at RB with 4 backs, but that’s McD’s design, the running game is just a side show, and I strongly disagree with that approach, definitely miss Shanny for that aspect of the game. Other than that I pretty much agree with the moves made, he kept the best he could with all the blows he got dealt.
Eventually as the season wears on running the ball and stopping the run will be paramount to our chances, we might get away with a win here and there early without accomplishing both, but teams will catch on quickly and make us pay, time of possession, gotta win that, only Manning gets away with winning while losing the TOP battle, that certainly won’t be the case for Orton, he needs help so does our aging D, so what’s with the lack of commitment to the running game? I think sometimes you get so deep into the game that you get overwhelmed by the details and lose a clear view of the overall picture, that’s the only way I can explain some of what McD is doing, it’s not rocket science to win football games, but unfortunately I think it is in McD’s head, complicated system, takes years to grasp, etc, etc… What about hardnose football, winning it at the line of scrimmage, where you don’t have to be a science major to figure it out. I think that’s where we are lacking, McD might be just over analizing this game and actually making it more difficult than it is.
Broncofan-in-ak, as a child Bay Bay got his nickname by his parents because he watched a TV program called Bay Bay Kids. I guess he watched it religously.
Capt. Josh T McKirk… Taking football where no man has gone before…..
Judging solely on this preseason I can only say one aspect of our team is solid. That aspect would be Matt Prater. He looked so confident and accurate. Wish I could say the same for our O and D lines!
So when the Broncos were 6-0 then “McD was overanalyzing” and making the game harder . . . I’m not buying that at all. It’s a question of team building. McD has proven that he knows a heck of a lot more about offense than you or I will ever know–based on what he was able to do with NE’s offense. Anyone out there been an OC for a winning NFL team?
Basing an opinion on our preseason record? Ridiculous. Check out how our first team D did while they were in–bent but didn’t break. Broncos generally ahead when the 1st team came out. Minn. offense didn’t score–their 7 points came from their 1st team D on a fumble. Broncos shut down Cinncinnati. Remember the Steelers game? What was it at halftime, 20-3? Preseason record is meaningless. Chargers were 1-3 as well. If you saw the passing D shut down T.O. and Ocho, you wouldn’t say that Prater was the only solid part of our team–but have missed that game.
Baylin, not following your logic . . . you talk about needing a rushing game, and criticize McD for picking up an RB with turf toe that may not play for one game–how about picking up an RB that couldn’t play for the first four games? Now that White’s out for the year, McD makes a brilliant pick-up of a back that led his team in rushing during the preseason in only three games. So he’s not available for one game, but fills the need for a big back for short yardage situations. There is one back who is almost 3 inches taller and 20 pounds heavier than Brown–look for him to get those “situational” yards in Jax.
I`m an optimist. Looks like all the armchairs are tilted a little too high, and there not even getting paid. BUT WE ALL BLEED ORANGE!!!!!! GO BRONCO`S!!!!!!!! Bronco`s 27-17 WIN!!
I never refer to what McD can do as an offensive coach, I always talk about what he does or does not do as an HC, that’s a completely different type of responsibility and McD has been a bit overwhelmed by it, no hurt in pointing it out. Every new job has a learning curve, for McD it’s how to put enough order in this huge new undertaking for him to become an efficient HC.
And no, none of us bloggers have ever coach an NFL team, but that won’t stop me from talking about it with an open mind criticizing when I feel it’s due and praising when it’s warranteed, you might as well get used to it. I could probably be best described as the black sheep in the group, never been afraid or conditioned to follow the flock just because that’s where the flow goes, that’s probably why I owned my own businesses for over 20 years, doing things how I see fit, talking my peace, right of free speech, or to question the establishment, even, dare I say it, the Broncos’ HC, haha. You should try it, it’s a refreshing approach.
I’ve known turf toe to be a lingering injury, we would be lucky if he is only out one game because of it, as for White that was just something McD did because he was in dire need of help since he completely ignored the need for a power RB in the off season, so too little too late would pretty much tell the tale there. I was here since January yelling to the top of my lungs for not one but two power backs, but to no avail, well now it seems as if McD is finally hearing that scream for help there, it’s pretty much how it goes very often with McD, he ends up getting it in the long run, but he sure hurts us a lot in the process. My motto about McD is better late than never, just what I’ve observed, don’t kill me for it, LOL.
I have been an OC for a winning NFL blog…..? hehe…kddn
Whoa, not trying to criticize a criticizer, as I also do the same. Been around quite awhile myself (started following the Broncos in the 70′s when I was stationed in CO with the Army), and can understand some frustration with a HC that makes mistakes. All are entitled to their own opinions, and all want the Broncos to win. Seems like McD believed that short yardage woes were perhaps Oline blocking woes, and not necessarily due to a lack of a RB. We get a change in blocking scheme, new and bigger personnel in the draft, but along comes the injury bug, and what do you know, our 2nd and third string line can’t open a hole during the preseason–notice when White scored versus when we couldn’t gain a yard. So, assuming a healthy line, which has worked together–essential in a PB scheme–and a healthy number one RB, perhaps we get those yards. Unfortunately, we currently have none of the above. The 1st string Oline per the current roster has how much time working together– probably none. Our No. 1 hasn’t worked with the line either. So, I tend to agree with Baylin, which brings us back to why, when Hillis was traded, the Broncos didn’t “replace” him with a power RB before the preseason . . . hate to keep ringing the same bell, but I really believe that T2 is the key. McD has got something up his sleeve that he isn’t showing, and its some kind of short yard, option package. We may use it until he is more confident in the Oline and RB situation to go for that 3rd and 2 in the red zone.