Camp Day 9: Afternoon Report
If ever a picture accurately encapsulated its subject, I think the above image of special-teams coordinator Scott O’Brien is it.
He spent the hour-long afternoon session exhorting, teaching, chiding and — most notably — participating with his players as they drilled specific kickoff situations such as squibs, pooches and on-side kickoffs. His hands-on coaching reached a new peak when he started diving around the grass at midfield, showing his players how to properly retrieve on-side kickoffs — whether they were on the receiving or kicking teams.
At one particular instance, O’Brien excoriated running back Andre Hall, who failed to cleanly field a pooched kickoff that took its time before coming down at around the 15-yard line. “That’s why you can never be a punt returner, Andre!” O’Brien yelled.
Mistakes like that can happen; after all, no one is perfect. Assignments and tackles will sometimes be missed. Loose, bouncing footballs will occasionally go unfielded. But what is inexcusable is a lack of effort — which is why the Broncos opened the special-teams session by gathering in a huddle, putting their hands together and collectively yelling, “One, two, three — hard work!”
And the key to working hard is simple — just follow O’Brien’s lead.
A few more images from the special-teams session:
That’s it for today. I’ve got content for the first two editions of Broncos Gameday to write — the two cover stories for the preseason editions of our game program. So, hopefully if you come down to the stadium for the Browns and Cardinals games, you’ll buy a copy. Shameless plug, I know, but what better souvenir of a night at the stadium can you have than a game program?
This concludes the sales-pitch portion of my blog. With the next entry Wednesday morning, we return to your regularly scheduled programming. Until then, vaya con Dios.
August 7th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
[…] 1.5, DAY 2, DAY 2.5, DAY 3, DAY 3.5, DAY 4, DAY 4.5, DAY 5, DAY 6, DAY 7, DAY 8, DAY 8.5, DAY 9, DAY 9.5, Andrew also runs the official team website over at Denverbroncos.com. It’s got pictures, […]
August 7th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Won’t be able to get to the stadium, but I do get a subscription so I will be eagerly anticipating my copy in the mail….
Definitely psyched about the change in attitude on spoecial teams….
Question….Any chance the team keeps 3 kickers, as they have done in the past, with Brandon Pace handling kick-off duties? I personally don’t think there is a roster spot we can waste, but we need to get some touchbacks this year to improve upon the worst kick-off coverage in the NFL….
TSG
http://www.milehighreport.com
http://www.nowlive.com/mhrradio
August 8th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
TSG:
Glad you’re a reader … hope you enjoy the copies.
Three kickers … there’s always a chance, but with competition so fierce at wide receiver, tight end and on the defensive line, I would be surprised if they did. One never knows, though, especially since special teams is a major point of emphasis this year. I wouldn’t rule it out — especially since Ernster’s kickoff numbers in ‘06 were a sizable improvement over Sauerbrun’s in ‘05 — but we’ll probably get more of a clue as to the potential direction during the preseason games. Interestingly, Ernster actually had the best kickoff season for any Bronco since the kickoffs were moved back to the 30-yard-line in terms of touchback percentage and average distance per kickoff.
August 8th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
[…] Kick-Off Return Team: Scott O’Brien had a very active Special Teams practice in the afternoon. Check out Andrew Mason’s blog entry covering this: HERE. […]