Getting Started
The bottom line is always the most important factor in the NFL. The bottom line is wins and losses.
From that standpoint, it was a tough day for the Broncos in Jacksonville.
But I don’t think it is the entire story. Because the bottom line tends to dwarf everything else, some of the things the Broncos did well get overshadowed by the fact they lost the game. I understand, that is the nature of the beast and it likely always will be.
Young ‘Lions’ in Our Lineup
Bruce Hall, Lance Ball, Eric Decker and Matthew Willis mixed in with Jabar Gaffney’s performance excited me. Yep, I’m a homer. Justin Fargas did a nice job, too. You know me if you’ve been reading this long enough. In preseason I look for bright spots and don’t really watch the game as much.
I liked what I saw out of the first team offense outside other than the tipped pass, which is going to happen from time to time, and the game got out of hand early, but by halftime we were only down by two. It was a nice drive during the 2-minute drill.
Minicamp Underway
The final Broncos camp until training camp got underway on Friday under overcast skies and cooler temperatures. As the session wore on, more and more playmakers entered the fray in an action-packed practice.
LINEUP
The rest of the defensive lineup featured Justin Bannan, Jamal Williams and Ryan McBean on the line and Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill at safety.
Day 3: A.M. Blog
The Broncos were back with the early sun, completing the first half of their second two-a-day stint of training camp. Here are some quick hits from the morning session.
ROLL CALL: Carted off the field during Saturday’s practice, Nic Clemons missed the session.
“Nic probably won’t be out here for the next couple of days, but nothing serious, and hopefully he’ll be back here soon,” Head Coach Josh McDaniels said.
A New Transition
Through the better part of three decades as a collegiate head coach, Steve Spurrier has instructed his share of talented wide receivers.
From his 12-year tenure at Florida and on through his current post at South Carolina, Spurrier has worked with a number of NFL-caliber wide outs in the Southeastern Conference — thirteen-year NFL veteran Ike Hilliard, Minnesota Vikings 2007 draft pick Sidney Rice and first-year Bronco Jabar Gaffney are a few names that come to mind.
Yet, Spurrier has labeled a different individual as the “best wide receiver I’ve ever coached.” The ol’ ball coach has given that distinct honor to Broncos fifth round draft pick Kenny McKinley.
“I really appreciate Coach Spurrier and look up to him. Those comments coming from him, with all the people that he has coached, is a big statement,” McKinley said at his post-draft press conference. “When I heard that he said that it really got to me because he got me to where I am today coming from playing QB in high school to being a pretty good receiver playing in the NFL for the Denver Broncos.”
Monday’s Practice Report
The last open practice of passing camp took place on Monday, and the team was in high spirits. The weather was great — sunny, but with enough breeze that it wasn’t too hot — and the energy on the field was contagious. Head Coach Josh McDaniels even bantered back and forth with some of the media as practice was starting, commenting on the bright color of one reporter’s jacket.
Without further adieu, here are some notes from Monday’s practice session.
OFFENSIVE IN THE RED ZONE
Early in practice, the offense and defense lined up for one play in the red zone. As the units got set at the line of scrimmage, Kyle Orton barked out a few commands and tried to get the defense to show its hand. After a particularly loud shout, Robert Ayers jumped slightly forward, letting Orton know he intended to blitz. He alerted the offensive line, took the snap and lofted a pass to the back corner of the end zone where Brandon Stokley snatched the ball just in front of Jack Williams.
Later in practice it was the offense that shined again in the red zone. McDaniels announced the situation — ball on the two-yard line, both teams are out of timeouts and the offense needs to score. It’s one play to decide the game, and Chris Simms was at the helm. Simms took the snap, backpedaled, avoided some pressure and fired a pass to Jabar Gaffney, who made quite a catch in the corner of the end zone even though Champ Bailey seemed to have him blanketed.