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Posts Tagged ‘Bill Johnson’

Everyday Evaluation on the D-Line

August 22nd, 2007 - 5:16pm by AndrewOther posts by

John Browning

With John Browning making his practice debut Wednesday afternoon, the defensive line remained the focal point as the Broncos moved a day closer to what could well be a revealing preseason game against Cleveland on Saturday night.

But how much that game shows about Browning remains to be seen. It has been nearly 20 months since he played in a regular-season game, and after leaving the Chiefs with an injury settlement on Sept. 30 of last year after suffering a back injury, it has been nearly 11 months since he had a team to call his own. Wednesday afternoon represented his first session, and his coaches were pleased with his work, although there’s little that could be gauged from a practice that took place just hours after his signing.

“For what we did today, he looked like he did just fine,” defensive line coach Bill Johnson said. “But it takes time. We’ll get him some game time and see how it goes. It’s hard to tell after one practice when you’re in a game-week situation, but, he did show some striking ability and some firmness in there, and that’s a good start.”

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OTA Day 12: Notes, Photos and Sam Adams

June 5th, 2007 - 4:11pm by AndrewOther posts by

Sam Adams
The newest Bronco had little choice but to don jersey No. 63 for his first organized team activity of the 2007 offseason. All the numbers in the 90s — including jersey No. 95, which he wore in Cincinnati last season — were claimed by his new teammates.

“Sixty-three is a great number,” he said. “My father was 61. There’s no significance.”

But, to say the least, the jersey was a tad snug on the 345-pound defensive tackle.

“As you can see, I had to hold my breath the entire practice, so I won’t be in this (practice jersey),” he said.

But it wasn’t how he looked in a jersey, but how he looked in action, that concerned Head Coach Mike Shanahan.

“He looked pretty good today, even though he didn’t get a lot of reps,” Shanahan said. “He got a few reps, and it looks like he’s been working out. With the offseason conditioning program and summer camp, hopefully there’s no setbacks and he’s ready to go.

Tuesday’s session was Adams’ first since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery earlier this year, but he appeared to show no ill effects.

“I feel good,” Adams said. “This is a great system to be a part of as a defensive lineman. It’s an attacking front. It allows us to put pressure on the football, whether it be run or pass.”

More Day 12 notes:

… One of the niftier catches of the day belonged to tight end Nate Jackson, who reached back while falling — and actually had one knee on the ground — in order to snag a pass from Darrell Hackney that had passed just behind him …

… Shanahan said that he thought about returning safety Sam Brandon to full team work this week, but opted to wait as the sixth-year veteran returns from two torn knee ligaments. Shanahan said that Brandon should be “full speed” by minicamp, which begins July 9 …

… More photos from the morning:

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More on Adams on the main site later tonight, and more in the blog on OTA Day 13 tomorrow. Adios.

OTA Day 6: Photos and Notes

May 23rd, 2007 - 1:32pm by AndrewOther posts by

OTA Day 6
This is one of my favorite shots of the OTAs to date, taken as the team stretched out prior to the practice session. Some of the coaches stroll through the players as they warm up, engaging in conversation. But looking at Bill Johnson standing on the FieldTurf surface about 50 yards from the players, I couldn’t help but notice how intently he watched his defensive linemen prepare. With the blocking sled in place, it’s as if he’s thinking, “I’m ready when you are, guys — let’s hurry up and get this thing started!”

And really, could you blame him for feeling that way? Three of the Broncos’ four picks over the first four rounds of the draft are under his jurisdiction. He’s helping a cadre of returning veterans adjust to Jim Bates’ new defensive scheme. There’s a lot Johnson and his fellow defensive coaches want to impart, and only eight more OTAs and three mini-camp days left in which to do it.

“We’re putting in quite a few defenses,” defensive tackle Gerard Warren said. “Coach (Bates) expects us to pick them up fast and keep it moving.”

And the movement won’t stop for the four-day Memorial Day weekend respite the players receive. “(Bates) told us to take those playbooks home and make sure we stay polished up for the next camp,” Warren said.

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