A pair of undrafted wide receivers are drawing some attention from Offensive Coordinator Mike McCoy during offseason practices.
Gerell Robinson is one of three rookies on the Denver Broncos from Arizona State University.
Robinson impressed McCoy and staff when they checked out quarterback Brock Osweiler during a pre-draft workout. McCoy said the young guys will continue to get lots of reps in offseason drills, and with a new playbook and a quarterback in Peyton Manning who keeps a rapid pace, Robinson will have an opportunity to earn his keep this summer.
“We’re throwing a ton at them, and we’ve told them from Day One we’re not waiting for them,” McCoy said. “So they’ve got to get in their books and study extremely hard every day and they can’t miss an opportunity. They’ve got to take all the mental reps in the world because we’re going at the quarterback’s speed. And the quarterback has played a long time so everyone has to keep up with him.”
Mark Dell is an undrafted wideout who the Broncos picked up last July. McCoy spoke of Dell and another undrafted player, running back Mario Fannin, as two guys who came in last year as rookies and looked good initially, but never made it to the regular season due to injuries. Now, they’re trying to pick up where they left off.
“They did a great job last year of making the most of their opportunities,” McCoy said. “Unfortunately they both got injured last year but they did a great job of coming in as young players in our system, they bought into what we were doing and they did it the way they were getting taught. Injuries are all part of the game. They’ve worked extremely hard.”
Dell still came to team meetings throughout the year, continuing to ask questions and study the playbook.
“That’s going to pay off before long enough for both those guys,” McCoy said.
Fullback Chris Gronkowski was another fresh name discussed during Wednesday’s press conference at Dove Valley. Gronkowski was acquired via trade from the Indianapolis Colts on May 23rd. McCoy especially likes the team’s latest acquisition because it’ll be easier to use some of the formations that the offensive coordinator and Head Coach John Fox used when they were together at Carolina.
“He fits what we do and what we’ve done in the past — whether it’s here or in Carolina, where we were more of a two-back offense,” McCoy said. “He’s that fullback you’re looking for.”
But Gronkowkski won’t be used only as the fullback in dual-back formations. Coaches say he has the versatility to play in several different spots on the field. After all, his little brother Rob in New England and older brother — and former Bronco — Dan have shown that there’s plenty more than blocking in the family genes.
“We can flex him out a little bit,” McCoy said. “He’s athletic enough to expand the formations and he’s got some position flexibility if you don’t want to just line up in the I-formation all day long. We can move him around.”
-Sam Davis
Tags: Chris Gronkowski, Gerell Robinson, Mario Fannin, Mark Dell
*sigh* Now I think I’ll thank my Lord Jesus Christ for giving me the opportunity to chat with you today DB…
Daddy – Daddy did you see that?!!! Isn’t the neck great!
Sorry – I was watching the Jets game! LOL
Gonna watch Manning on tevo!
that’s Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! And I appreciate it as well! LOL
Isn’t Mark Sanchez amazing? It’s amazing what a little pressure will do for your game isn’t it?
But I think I’ll stick with the greatest team in NFL history and watch Peyton act like a reindeer while throwing for 250+ yards.
i’m not following db. whats the kiiler instinct?
I don’t think he’ll be on the sidelines chewin ice chips……….
you can say 3 games but i dont see that. i see 3-5 years!!
One big Bronco family in here!
OT, yes, I just wan to thank my Lord and SAVIOR Jesus Christ for having the opportunity to chat with you. I think that I am truly blessed to be surrounded by such true Bronco fans. You all make me look like a newbie and I appreciate your continued support as I work to become more knowledgeable.
Broncos Country:
Hello to all!! Hay LBF how did the tiger balm work out for your back?
FTR
Ok, DB, please ignore my sarcasm. I loved every minute of last season, ok?
worked great ftr. great tip. used it on my neck tonight. thats some good stuff man!
Killer instinct = when you have just a little more to give than everyone else on the field. The work ethic to put in more hours with more intensity than your peers. The desire to win over and above skill/talent/ability. The ability to pull it off – when everyone else says you can’t. The ability to pull it off with 5 minutes left in the game!!!
Cat – consider yourself respectfully and kindly ignored.
At least I didn’t get called a twit. OT wouldn’t have been having that happy familial feeling!!! LOL
LBF:
Good I am glad it worked for you. It’s espensive but worth it.
Ben Garland from the Air Force Acadamy is my sleeper pick. And it’s great to get the inside on the other youngsters!
ALL HAIL THE NECK!!
LMSDB.
LOL!!!!! good. I don’t think I want to be friends with people who like Philip Rivers. Just throwin it out there.
OT and I are totally tight. If I called him a twit, I think he’d be okay with it…l but he probably would’ve read the article before calling me out on mentioning Dennis Allen (who I am not ready to hate yet).
Me either – he looks like another Manning brother! LOL
well db what makes you think he doesnt have it? he’s young but that doesnt mean he doesnt have it.
Oh no – Cat still likes a fader!!! LOL Oh no!!!
Yeah, I guess he’s like JE too, because I remember him calling players out on the field. Maybe I can like Philip Rivers afterall…..
Lou – I don’t know and I wish Oz the very best – I just think Tebow was one-of-a-kind – and I’m still whining! LOL
Funny how with Elway I was yelling at the TV over receiver mistakes before Elway got to it.
Cat:
NO FAIDERS!! LOL
FTR
Well, Manning has never been your QB so you’ve never felt protective of him or wanted him to play well. Perhaps you’ll be yelling at SpDecker and Cadwell before you know it.
Hey. People aren’t ready to give up Tebow. I’m not ready to give up Allen. He is a good guy and a huge reason we won last season. He’s going to change that organization and I happen to like that a little bit. If that makes you hate me, I’m good with it.
Decker and Caldwell. Sheesh.
nobody could hate you cat. its impossible!! and tebow will be great on special teams and wildcat and theres nothing wrong with that. he’s just not a starting nfl qb. period. never will be.
LOL! Thanks for that. I’ll get over the Allen thing eventually. I promise. I just need a little more time.
Cat is a firecracker! I love the feisty attitude.. Dennis Allen is a good young coach, but he’s way too green to be a HC, and he is in over his head IMO. I actually think he may end up as the HC in Denver after Fox retires, and he cuts his teeth in Oakland.
I just hope we can keep JDR for a few years.. McCoy will no doubt get offers next year and may leave, but he would be making a big mistake IMO.
OT… See? I can’t hate a future head coach of the Broncos! LOL. Probably is, but I think he is going to do some good things there. I’d be ok with the Lions being the dirtiest team in football.
and thats what tebow needs. to be put where he’ll succeed. he’s a good kid and good for the game. if he stays on special teams and a situational runner/qb he will be celebrated for the good job he’ll do in that aspect. you put him at qb he will fail and he will lose his confidence and it will possibly ruin him. his fans are doing more harm than good and they dont even know it. let him play what he will do well at and quit pushing him into something he will fail miserably at. makes no sense to me.
McCoy should stay put in Denver for the next five years. IMO that would be his best decision.
testing..1…2…3
As much as I hate to admit it, the Raiders are on a much better path these days, starting when they hired a proper GM. Allen may have some success, but other than McFadden (who can’t stay healthy), a few young WR’s, and maybe Palmer, their team doesn’t scare me all that much. They have a big hole to climb out of, and their mishandling of draft picks is the main reason IMO.
LBF, I am Tim’s fan. So I’m going to say “a large portion of” his fans are blind. Dawk said yesterday that a large portion do his fans are “blind to what he needs to work on” to be a better QB. I really liked hearing that. I was but my eyes have been opened a bit since March 19th (the best day of 2012).
I am not scared of the Raiders, but I wouldn’t mind seeing them become a more gentle giant.
Cat, let us not forget that the Raiders have pretty much owned us lately, and completely embarrassed us on Black Sunday… You’re not gonna get any Raider sympathy around these parts… Lol
LOL! I know. I’m just saying how I feel. Beating them last year was nice. I’d like to own the west this season though.
We owe them a good old fashioned ass whooping, and unfortunately for Allen, he is in the wrong place at the wrong time… But, what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger, so we’re really helping our future coach learn the ropes, so it’s all good.. Lol
LOL!!! well, he knew our offense last year and npknew how to stop it. He knows nothing now. Same with JOsh McDaniels.
I’m out guys. Had fun though!! See ya later!
Sheesh, you’re really pushing all the hot buttons tonight.. Lol. Again, I HATE to admit it, but I think Napoleon is back where he belongs, and Lloyd is set to have a monster year… We need that third pass rusher to get the Brady, and I was blue in the face over it during the draft.. I just never realized that it could come from the middle with a guy like Wolfe, but I’m on board with it now.
*get to Brady…
Read on Denver Post where the roster is now 2/3 Elway’s!! I like it! The Duke of Denver with The Neck! If any AFC spy’s are here like fadier spy’s—@AFC WEST Broncos Country is just doing fine here look forward to meeting you on the field!! Broncos Football is back!!! With that said I am out.
LMSDB!!!
FTR
Hey, DB riled me up. What can I say? LOL! Napoleon is going to crash and burn at some point. I’m pretty sure that Bill sends his little protégés out to destroy teams he thinks are a threat.
YA KNOW WHAT
I for one will never let Eddie Royal go
That is my boy
screw allen and tebow