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Broncos Training Camp Report (1 Viewer)

Cecil Lammey

Cecil Lammey

Footballguy
Everyone, I am happy to be reporting from out at Dove Valley once again! Training camp has started for the Denver Broncos and the turnout on day 1 has been great.

I am going to be out here every day, make sure to follow http://twitter.com/theaudible for my thoughts as the day is going on. At night I will write up a summary of the day, and post it right here in the Shark Pool!

:fishing:

 
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Don't forget the sunblock Cec - unless you can manage to snuggle up to the tree line on the W side.

Maybe I'll meet you out there for a day in the next couple of weeks. Enjoy, and thanks for the effort.

 
It must be Training Camp time because I have read that Ryan Torain is impressing again...

Any word on this?

Thanks for the updates by the way.

 
A new era dawned at Dove Valley on Friday, and both fans and media alike were anxious to see what the “new look” Broncos would look like on their first day of training camp.

Before I get into the players I must comment on the differences between camp Shanahan and camp McDaniels. McD plays music during warmups U2, Young Jeezy, Poison (lol), and Ozzy during warmups, Shanny would've never done that. There’s nothing like stretching to “Don’t Need Nothing But a Good Time.” The afternoon practice playlist included Led Zepplin, Pearl Jam, Michael Jackson (complete with Alphonso Smith doing the Thriller dance), and some Ice Cube. The players were in full pads on the first day, which was another Shanny no-no.

When practice finally started one couldn’t help but notice the pace. Everything was very uptempo, with very little standing around for any player. Under Shanahan there was more time for guys to stand around and watch other players practice. McDaniels runs a lot of individual drills, and those bleed into unit drills, and those bleed into team drills. Every single rep has a specific meaning as evidenced by some players taking 10 minutes practicing how to get off the line of scrimmage in kick coverage. Technique is the name of the game for McDaniels and company this year. Shanahan worked a lot of team drills, and when special teams was practicing players who weren’t on ST were standing around. Former Broncos receiver Ashley Lelie would HATE these Broncos practices, guy used to take a break after every play and get gatorade.

Lots of guidance under McDaniels. Players (specifically quarterbacks) were getting explanations after plays, while their teammates continued to get reps. From the music, to the tempo, to the coaching the key to McDaniels practice seems to be comfort. Players were working, learning, and having fun all at the same time.

Quarterbacks

Kyle Orton looked good today. He showed good timing with his receivers, which is essential to this system. His footwork was the best out of any of the QBs, he got into his drop quickly, read the defense, and more often than not made the correct read. He even threaded the needle on a pass to Jabar Gaffney – twice! Orton also showed good chemistry with former Bears teammate Brandon Lloyd when the two connected on a sideline pass where Lloyd had to get both feet in quickly.

Chris Simms has a great arm. His arm strength has never been a question but seeing it in person was awesome! Orton doesn’t have great zip, but Simms has a ton of velocity every time he throws. This is great for deep passes (he did overthrow Brandon Marshall on a “go” route) but not so good for screen passes where more touch is needed. Receivers must feel like night and day when catching passes from Orton and Simms. Simms also seems to be very coachable and was listening intently every time he was getting guidance.

Tom Brandstater is a rookie, and he played like one on his first day. He would drop back nicely (first step needs a little work) go through his reads, but he would hold on to the ball just a second or so too long. This meant his throws were late, and thus contested. When he tried to rocket a pass into a tight space it came out of his hand wobbling. Having seen Brandstater at the 2009 Shrine Game I know there’s something to work with, but Brandstater is a project.

Running Backs

LaMont Jordan ran with the first team and looked decent. He is very familiar with this system from his days in New England and it showed. He was even taking time to discuss things with teammates after plays.

Correll Buckhalter was getting a lot of receptions out of the backfield, and he looked swift when running the football. The Broncos even did a little Wildcat with Buckhalter taking a direct snap while Kyle Orton shifted outside in motion.

Ryan Torain, wow, what can I say? Everyone knows that I am not (and have never been) a believer in Torain, but today he was flashing some big play ability. He was running with his trademark power, blasting through outstretched arms and charging hard between the tackles. What really shocked me was his initial burst, and his speed once he was in the second level of the defense. He had a couple of big runs today which drew cheers from the crowd. Still running WAY too upright, which will lead to more injuries. He definitely had the best day of any of the RBs.

Peyton Hillis had a decent day. I didn’t see him break off any big runs, but he was running hard and catching passes naturally. He missed Andra Davis in backers v backs, but redeemed himself by protecting the QB from D.J. Williams on the next play.

Darius Walker didn’t really stand out. I will keep a closer eye on him today to see if he’s working hard.

Knowshon Moreno is no-show and no word how close the two sides are. Some in the Denver media are blaming the Raiders for giving DHB such an increase from last year's slot. It will be interesting to see how Moreno's deal stacks up to last year’s #12 pick Ryan Clady.

Spencer Larsen is playing both fullback and linebacker.

Wide Receivers

Brandon Marshall not showing the ill effects from hip surgery, running smooth, making crisp cuts. The Denver fans on hand at Dove Valley showed him lots of love. They went out of their way to cheer for Brandon every time he caught a pass. Perhaps it was intending to show Marshall how much he’s wanted in Denver? Big one-handed catch from Marshall was the play of the day.

Eddie Royal was looking good as always. So sharp, so precise on every route. He’s got the best hands of any receiver at Broncos training camp.

Jabar Gaffney catching a lot of passes, bubble screens, crossing routes. He could be a big time contributor in this offense, knows where to be all the time, nice catches arms extended away from his body.

Kenny McKinley could develop into a fine receiver in this system. Great afternoon practice, making catches all over the field including a deep touchdown pass from Chris Simms. McKinley has sick quicks, and good run after the catch ability. If he can stay healthy the Broncos could have a key receiver for their future.

Brandon Lloyd showed great chemistry with Kyle Orton and caught a sideline catch that he had to tiptoe to keep in bounds. The crowd liked that one.

Didn’t see much from any of the other receivers, but will catalogue their work today and see if anyone stands out.

Tight Ends

Tony Scheffler sporting a new, almost shaved head look and he made some nice catches over the middle. He creates mismatches every time he’s on the field and it seems like McDaniels is going to use him more than originally thought.

Daniel Graham in blocking drills against Richard Quinn was a “passing of the torch” moment. Both are known to be great blockers and it was cool to see them go head to head.

Defensively you can tell that Brian Dawkins makes the players around him better. How the Eagles let this guy walk I’ll never know. The Broncos should be able to get a couple of good years out of him if he can stay healthy.

I didn’t see it, but according to my good friends from The Orange Mane DE/OLB Tim Crowder was looking good. Charlie Casserly was out at Dove Valley taking notes and apparently he had some nice things to say about Crowder.

Champ Bailey was put on the PUP because he didn’t pass his conditioning test, but Josh McDaniels would not comment on it after practice.

Only one practice Saturday (2:30 my time) so I’ll have my report posted later this evening.

 
thecardiackid said:
Don't forget the sunblock Cec - unless you can manage to snuggle up to the tree line on the W side.Maybe I'll meet you out there for a day in the next couple of weeks. Enjoy, and thanks for the effort.
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I'll either be at the FM 104.3 The Fan tent, or standing in the endzone watching practice. They've limited where the media can stand this year! I would love to talk football, so holler at me if you see me!on the air Sunday from 9-noon BTW, live from Dove Valley.
 
Cecil Lammey said:
Defensively you can tell that Brian Dawkins makes the players around him better. How the Eagles let this guy walk I’ll never know. The Broncos should be able to get a couple of good years out of him if he can stay healthy.
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Sadly he only helps in the run game. He is a major liability in the pass game at this point in his career. Here in Philly they showed quite a bit of the Denver first day and showed a ton of BD and did an interview with him. He said he was thrilled to be out there but was disappointed that he did not get much work. Oh and he looks horrible in that uniform :goodposting:
 
Thanks C :goodposting:

Would be interested in hearing about how you think Brandon Stokely fits into the McD system. Any sightings from him?

 
Cecil Lammey said:
Running Backs

LaMont Jordan ran with the first team and looked decent. He is very familiar with this system from his days in New England and it showed. He was even taking time to discuss things with teammates after plays.

Ryan Torain, wow, what can I say? Everyone knows that I am not (and have never been) a believer in Torain, but today he was flashing some big play ability. He was running with his trademark power, blasting through outstretched arms and charging hard between the tackles. What really shocked me was his initial burst, and his speed once he was in the second level of the defense. He had a couple of big runs today which drew cheers from the crowd. Still running WAY too upright, which will lead to more injuries. He definitely had the best day of any of the RBs.
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As a Moreno owner - with every passing TC day, blurbs like this are going to make me increasingly unhappy. Somebody needs to send these to the Moreno camp asap.
 
The closer we get to the season the more intrigued I am with Orton.

Would love to get him as my backup. If he ends up starting the season hot he could be a huge

"sell high" guy-

Denver opens the season @ Cin, Clv, @ Oak, Dallas - there are plenty of offensive points to be had these weeks

after Dallas Denver plays New England, @ SD, bye, @ Balt, Pitt, @ Wash ...

maybe keep him for New England- McDaniels will be pumped playing his old team- Denver most likely doesn't

win but could score in the upper 20's in a loss.... then sell him before the teams with great defenses face him-

 
Simms has a beautiful deep ball, but his short passes aren't there. He has everything needed to be a a good QB, but he always had consistency problems. I wouldn't be surprised if he took the starting job, but I don't think he will ever be an elite QB. For every beautiful deep pass he completes, you will have another time where you cringe. That being said, I am pulling for the guy. What he did in that Carolina game when he ruptured his appendix was one of the most impressive things I have witnessed.

 
Cecil Lammey said:
Running Backs

LaMont Jordan ran with the first team and looked decent. He is very familiar with this system from his days in New England and it showed. He was even taking time to discuss things with teammates after plays.

Ryan Torain, wow, what can I say? Everyone knows that I am not (and have never been) a believer in Torain, but today he was flashing some big play ability. He was running with his trademark power, blasting through outstretched arms and charging hard between the tackles. What really shocked me was his initial burst, and his speed once he was in the second level of the defense. He had a couple of big runs today which drew cheers from the crowd. Still running WAY too upright, which will lead to more injuries. He definitely had the best day of any of the RBs.
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Big Torain fan. Saw him here @ ASU. I think he can be the thunder to Moreno's lightning.Do you think the Broncos will keep 4 backs (Moreno/Jordan/Buck/Torain)? I thought maybe they'd place Ryan on PUP, but if he's already looking the part of best RB in camp this soon (minus Moreno there), will they even keep 2 old guys that do practically the same thing (Buck/Jordan)? Not to mention, you've got Hillis again if need be.

 
Yea, I'm with you Moreno owner...each passing day makes me more and more nervous about having Moreno on my team. First rounders seem to be getting signed the last couple days pretty frequently, hopefully he'll join them before the weekend is out...I can only hope :P

 
Day Two of 2009 Broncos Training camp turned out to be a day with some hitting, some injuries, and some hurt feelings. The weather was great, and the fan turnout was strong once again as people lined up to see the only Saturday practice of training camp this year.

Quarterbacks

Kyle Orton did a nice job throwing to most of the veteran receivers (even though he threw behind Stokley on one play) but had a problem connecting with some of the younger receivers. The route depth and timing is off for the young guys as they try and digest this complex offense. After watching him for two days it’s apparent that his nickname will change from Capt. Neckbeard to Capt. Checkdown. I like the way he reads a defense, but he is playing it safe and is very careful with the football so far in practice. I also must point this out – Kyle Orton throws a very catchable ball. He puts a good spin on it, and does have good touch.

Chris Simms is back with amazing zip. The ball comes out of his hands cleanly and his release point is high. I am really excited watching this guy throw because of how fast it comes out of his hand, and how quick it gets to the target. However, he lacked touch again today.



Tom Brandstater threw a few good passes, but sometimes had receivers open and he would just throw it in the dirt. He did show nice touch on a 15-yard wheel route to running back Darius Walker. He fumbled at least one snap today and you can tell the kid is nervous.

Running Backs

LaMont Jordan I didn’t take many notes on him today.

Correll Buckhalter is set to catch a lot of passes in this offense. He was splitting out wide and lining up in the slot, in addition to catching the ball out of the backfield from the traditional running back spot. He caught a few designed screen passes, and also was a reliable checkdown receiver for Kyle Orton. After watching Orton for two days it’s apparent that he’s making good decisions, but he hesitates to challenge a defense deep. Most of the time he’ll go through his reads and then dump it off to be safe. This is great news for whichever back in the designated pass catcher. Right now that appears to be Buckhalter.

Ryan Torain went back to the Ryan Torain I had seen before. He was caught in the backfield way too often in 7-on-7 drills. Once his momentum was taken away he failed to keep his feet moving. Torain needs to cue up the tape of Napoleon McCallum, the Raiders back who failed to keep his feet moving and suffered one of the most horrific leg injuries in pro football history. He did have a nice hole off right tackle and he scampered into the endzone untouched. Where was the power? Yesterday he was busting through guys, and today he went back to the plodder I saw last year. He did have a good catch on a wheel route.

Peyton Hillis knocked Tim Crowder on his ### in 1-on-1 drills today. Hillis lowered his head and delivered a hit so hard it had Crowder laying on the turf for almost 2 minutes. Remember the “I think I broke his #######’ neck” part in The Longest Yard? That’s how hard Hillis hit him. Besides punishing his own teammates, Hillis looked great – yet again – catching the football.

Darius Walker was the running back of the day today. He made several nice runs in 7-on-7 drills today, most of which he bounced outside. I liked his shake and bake moves in the backfield because they weren’t unnecessary. He was creating space by freezing defenders in their tracks and then speeding past them. I was surprised by the way he was running in between the tackles though. He’d put his head down and keep his feet moving. He even broke and arm tackle in the middle and scampered into the endzone. He scored a couple of times in that drill today. He also caught the ball nicely.

Knowshon Moreno is still nowhere to be found. Broncos fans and fantasy owners are getting nervous.

Wide Receivers

Brandon Marshall looked good catching the passes and running today, but that’s not the story. Josh Barrett basically hip tossed him in 1-on-1 drills and Marshall did not appreciate it. He was kind of jogging towards Barrett, and the safety just came up and planted him in the turf almost head first. The second time they met Marshall ran with a little more oomph, but Barrett won the battle again and popped him with his shoulder pads. The third time they met Marshall was hesitant, but put up a little fight. Barrett lost grip of him, but held on to Marshall’s jersey and stretched it out as he fell to the ground. Both Marshall and Barrett got up and started jawing at each other and a couple of little shoves were exchanged.

Eddie Royal only had a couple of drops (and those were bad throws IMHO). It seemed today that he was more comfortable catching passes from Chris Simms than Kyle Orton. Simms would zip passes in, on time with Eddie where he could turn upfield immediately. Orton was getting him the ball, but it took a little bit longer to find him and thus the pursuit was usually on top of him. This is a timing issue between Orton and Royal but at the end of practice they seemed to be on the same page. The quarterback needs to realize that Eddie needs the ball as quickly as possible so he can do damage with his run after the catch ability. Eddie used nice juke moves to elude his defender in 1-on-1 drills.

Jabar Gaffney made several nice catches once again, including another sideline catch where he dotted the in-bounds line with both feet. Not all of Gaffney’s catches were short, he hauled in a deep sideline catch that wowed the crowd. Several of my notes today were about Gaffney’s hands. I didn’t see him drop a pass today.

Kenny McKinley is so quick and so fast that in 1-on-1 drills guys could barely get a hand on him, and some guys like Darcel McBath he left grasping for air. He would use several moves (juke, spin) to get by his defender and he naturally knows how to set up guys and place them exactly where he wants them. That is very savvy for a rookie wide receiver. If he can only stay healthy I think the Broncos have a special one here.

Brandon Lloyd ran a good sideline route and Chris Simms zipped it into him. However, he got lazy running a route against Josh Bell and the pass was swatted away.

Brandon Stokley was running crisp routes, but Orton was late delivering the ball and was behind him on a slant route. He ran a nice hook and go route where Orton floated it up to him and he came down with it.

Chad Jackson ran a nice out route and I liked the way he caught the ball today.

Matthew Willis was not synced up with Kyle Orton early today. The quarterback was off target to Willis on a sideline route. Later in practice the two connected on another out route.

C.J. Jones – unlike other young receivers today – did a good job of getting proper depth on his routes. Orton did overthrow him one time today.

Nate Swift showed great hands time after time today. He’s a long shot to make the final roster, but if he keeps playing like this he could find a home on the practice squad.

Tight Ends

Tony Scheffler was being used on deeper routes today as the Broncos worked out of the shotgun. He ran a nice hook route and Simms did a great job of zipping him the ball, placing it on the outside shoulder – away from the defender.

Daniel Graham caught a couple of dump off passes today, most of them from Kyle Orton.

Richard Quinn was targeted deep when the Broncos were running the shotgun.

I love watching Brian Dawkins. He forced a fumble today in 1-on-1 drills and got nice depth in coverage. He read a play nicely, and should have picked Kyle Orton when he was trying to go deep to Richard Quinn. Instead he dropped what would’ve been an amazing interception.

Josh Bell did a nice job of swatting away any pass that came close to him, including one intended for Brandon Lloyd on the sideline. He had nice closing speed to get to the football.

 
millertyme1 said:
Cecil Lammey said:
Running Backs

LaMont Jordan ran with the first team and looked decent. He is very familiar with this system from his days in New England and it showed. He was even taking time to discuss things with teammates after plays.

Ryan Torain, wow, what can I say? Everyone knows that I am not (and have never been) a believer in Torain, but today he was flashing some big play ability. He was running with his trademark power, blasting through outstretched arms and charging hard between the tackles. What really shocked me was his initial burst, and his speed once he was in the second level of the defense. He had a couple of big runs today which drew cheers from the crowd. Still running WAY too upright, which will lead to more injuries. He definitely had the best day of any of the RBs.
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Big Torain fan. Saw him here @ ASU. I think he can be the thunder to Moreno's lightning.Do you think the Broncos will keep 4 backs (Moreno/Jordan/Buck/Torain)? I thought maybe they'd place Ryan on PUP, but if he's already looking the part of best RB in camp this soon (minus Moreno there), will they even keep 2 old guys that do practically the same thing (Buck/Jordan)? Not to mention, you've got Hillis again if need be.
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Torain is on the roster bubble IMO, and needs to be more consistent in order to secure that roster spot. 1st day was amazing, today he was plodding.
 
:thumbup:

Cecil...Does McKinley have a chance to contribute this year based on anything you've seen/heard? Seems to me Hillis is also too good to keep off the field. He seems to me like a more athletic (and better runner) Keith Byars. They need to find a role for this guy.

 
QUEZILLA said:
Simms has a beautiful deep ball, but his short passes aren't there. He has everything needed to be a a good QB, but he always had consistency problems. I wouldn't be surprised if he took the starting job, but I don't think he will ever be an elite QB. For every beautiful deep pass he completes, you will have another time where you cringe. That being said, I am pulling for the guy. What he did in that Carolina game when he ruptured his appendix was one of the most impressive things I have witnessed.
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Truth. I have never been a fan of Chris Simms and Longhorns fans will tell you that if Major Applewhite had played the entire game against CU in the Big XII championship, they would've beat Colorado - easily!However, what he did in that game against Carolina really impressed me, and I gained a new found respect for him. Love that zip, but ugh, the touch is not even close.

 
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Matt Waldman said:
:kicksrock: Cecil...Does McKinley have a chance to contribute this year based on anything you've seen/heard? Seems to me Hillis is also too good to keep off the field. He seems to me like a more athletic (and better runner) Keith Byars. They need to find a role for this guy.
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If only McKinley can stay healthy - wow, what an athlete! No chance for production this year, maybe a few targets when they go 4 and 5 wide, but his future looks very bright. I could see Marshall walking after this year and McKinley stepping into the starting role opposite Eddie Royal. Gaffney is best used as a slot receiver. McD has been warming up to Hillis, who originally was thought of as an "odd man out" after Shanny was fired. He is such a good receiver, and has a nose for the end zone. I could see a formation in the red zone with Moreno and Hillis in the backfield, and Buckhalter in the slot. Hillis has a chance to be the TD vulture once this team gets close.
 
Cecil Lammey said:
Matt Waldman said:
:kicksrock: Cecil...Does McKinley have a chance to contribute this year based on anything you've seen/heard? Seems to me Hillis is also too good to keep off the field. He seems to me like a more athletic (and better runner) Keith Byars. They need to find a role for this guy.
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If only McKinley can stay healthy - wow, what an athlete! No chance for production this year, maybe a few targets when they go 4 and 5 wide, but his future looks very bright. I could see Marshall walking after this year and McKinley stepping into the starting role opposite Eddie Royal. Gaffney is best used as a slot receiver. McD has been warming up to Hillis, who originally was thought of as an "odd man out" after Shanny was fired. He is such a good receiver, and has a nose for the end zone. I could see a formation in the red zone with Moreno and Hillis in the backfield, and Buckhalter in the slot. Hillis has a chance to be the TD vulture once this team gets close.
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Hillis is such a great receiver that I thought he might get used as a TE or H-back when watching him at Arkansas. He's such a versatile player, I can't imagine them letting him go.
 
Cecil Lammey said:
Quarterbacks

Kyle Orton did a nice job throwing to most of the veteran receivers (even though he threw behind Stokley on one play) but had a problem connecting with some of the younger receivers. The route depth and timing is off for the young guys as they try and digest this complex offense. After watching him for two days it’s apparent that his nickname will change from Capt. Neckbeard to Capt. Checkdown. I like the way he reads a defense, but he is playing it safe and is very careful with the football so far in practice. I also must point this out – Kyle Orton throws a very catchable ball. He puts a good spin on it, and does have good touch.
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Cecil, when Brian Griese was QB of the Broncos he gave the offense almost zero big play capability. As a result, defenses eventually just crowded the line of scrimmage. This gave receivers very little ability to gain yards after the catch following all the short dink and dunk passes. Drives would eventually just sputter and stall. Are the Broncos in danger of seeing this situation replay itself with Kyle Orton under center? Your Capt. Checkdown nickname is definitely causing me concern.
 
millertyme1 said:
Big Torain fan. Saw him here @ ASU. I think he can be the thunder to Moreno's lightning.
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Problem is that, in order for Torain to be the thunder to Moreno's lightning, Moreno would first need a little bit of lightning. I watched him a lot at Georgia, and while he has great vision, balance, and instincts, his speed and power always seemed lacking for a true first-round NFL prospect. IIRC, his speed score wound up being one of the worst in the entire draft.McDaniels didn't draft Moreno to be thunder or lightning, he drafted him to be the whole storm. He went after Moreno because, while he lacked truly elite rushing skills, he apparently was an elite blocker and McDaniels thought he could be an elite receiver. If Moreno is everything McDaniels hoped he was, then I don't think any other RBs are going to be seeing the field much.
 
Awesome info Cecil, too bad I don't have any Broncos on my fantasy team other than Orton as my backup QB haha.

Obviously you're liking what you see from Eddie Royal. From what you've seen so far, who do you think will be hurt more from Cutler leaving, Royal or Marshall? Also is Royal still returning punts and kick offs?

 
If the reports that Jordan is in great shape are true, he might be a sleeper, especially if Moreno's holdout is prolonged.

At worst, he might be Moreno's handcuff. Jordan, IMHO, is much more talented than Buckhalter, has excelled in the ZBS before, has speed and power, and is a weapon in the passing game.

Cecil, is there word on the Broncos changing the blocking system much? I thought I read that they were slowly moving away from the ZBS, but I am not sure what that means.

 
Cecil Lammey said:
QUEZILLA said:
Simms has a beautiful deep ball, but his short passes aren't there. He has everything needed to be a a good QB, but he always had consistency problems. I wouldn't be surprised if he took the starting job, but I don't think he will ever be an elite QB. For every beautiful deep pass he completes, you will have another time where you cringe. That being said, I am pulling for the guy. What he did in that Carolina game when he ruptured his appendix was one of the most impressive things I have witnessed.
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Truth. I have never been a fan of Chris Simms and Longhorns fans will tell you that if Major Applewhite had played the entire game against CU in the Big XII championship, they would've beat Colorado - easily!However, what he did in that game against Carolina really impressed me, and I gained a new found respect for him. Love that zip, but ugh, the touch is not even close.
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Oops, it was his spleen, not his appendix.

 
SSOG said:
millertyme1 said:
Big Torain fan. Saw him here @ ASU. I think he can be the thunder to Moreno's lightning.
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Problem is that, in order for Torain to be the thunder to Moreno's lightning, Moreno would first need a little bit of lightning. I watched him a lot at Georgia, and while he has great vision, balance, and instincts, his speed and power always seemed lacking for a true first-round NFL prospect. IIRC, his speed score wound up being one of the worst in the entire draft.McDaniels didn't draft Moreno to be thunder or lightning, he drafted him to be the whole storm. He went after Moreno because, while he lacked truly elite rushing skills, he apparently was an elite blocker and McDaniels thought he could be an elite receiver. If Moreno is everything McDaniels hoped he was, then I don't think any other RBs are going to be seeing the field much.
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welcome back!
 
RalphMouth said:
The closer we get to the season the more intrigued I am with Orton.Would love to get him as my backup. If he ends up starting the season hot he could be a huge "sell high" guy-Denver opens the season @ Cin, Clv, @ Oak, Dallas - there are plenty of offensive points to be had these weeksafter Dallas Denver plays New England, @ SD, bye, @ Balt, Pitt, @ Wash ...maybe keep him for New England- McDaniels will be pumped playing his old team- Denver most likely doesn'twin but could score in the upper 20's in a loss.... then sell him before the teams with great defenses face him-
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Orton will be starting no doubt ...How many chances did Simms got in his carreer and never did anything good .I would say Simms will end up third on the depth chart .
 
Brandon Marshall limped off the practice field at Broncos training camp Sunday, and appeared to be favoring his surgically repaired hip.

Marshall has barely practiced since reporting to camp. Coach Josh McDaniels repeatedly insisted that it wasn't because Marshall had a setback, but this news makes us skeptical. His surgeon, Dr. Marc Philippon, said at the time of the operation that Marshall wouldn't be 100 percent for 6-12 months, and September 30 would've been the optimistic end of that projection. It's natural to wonder if the Broncos are pushing Marshall too hard too soon.

Source: Denver Post

:shrug:

 
millertyme1 said:
Brandon Marshall limped off the practice field at Broncos training camp Sunday, and appeared to be favoring his surgically repaired hip.Marshall has barely practiced since reporting to camp. Coach Josh McDaniels repeatedly insisted that it wasn't because Marshall had a setback, but this news makes us skeptical. His surgeon, Dr. Marc Philippon, said at the time of the operation that Marshall wouldn't be 100 percent for 6-12 months, and September 30 would've been the optimistic end of that projection. It's natural to wonder if the Broncos are pushing Marshall too hard too soon. Source: Denver Post :shrug:
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ruh-roh :)
 
interested in hearing more about Chad Jackson, you said he was catching the ball well. If Marshall's hip becomes an issue, could Jackson or McKinley step up into that type of role? Not sure Caldwell or Stokley are talented enough to draw any type of coverage from Royal.

 
loose circuits said:
interested in hearing more about Chad Jackson, you said he was catching the ball well. If Marshall's hip becomes an issue, could Jackson or McKinley step up into that type of role? Not sure Caldwell or Stokley are talented enough to draw any type of coverage from Royal.
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just got home and am compiling notes right now. afternoon practice ends at 7:30 and I'll have day 3 report up then.McKinley would have the edge over Jackson right now. I agree about Gaffney, he's a very good slot receiver and should stay that way if/when Marshall moves on/is hurt.
 
moleculo said:
SSOG said:
millertyme1 said:
Big Torain fan. Saw him here @ ASU. I think he can be the thunder to Moreno's lightning.
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Problem is that, in order for Torain to be the thunder to Moreno's lightning, Moreno would first need a little bit of lightning. I watched him a lot at Georgia, and while he has great vision, balance, and instincts, his speed and power always seemed lacking for a true first-round NFL prospect. IIRC, his speed score wound up being one of the worst in the entire draft.McDaniels didn't draft Moreno to be thunder or lightning, he drafted him to be the whole storm. He went after Moreno because, while he lacked truly elite rushing skills, he apparently was an elite blocker and McDaniels thought he could be an elite receiver. If Moreno is everything McDaniels hoped he was, then I don't think any other RBs are going to be seeing the field much.
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welcome back!
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:goodposting:
 
Cecil Lammey said:
moleculo said:
welcome back!
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:popcorn:
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Thanks guys! To be quite honest, I would have been back about a month ago, but I'm finding it pretty hard to get excited about football this year. :(Actually, the reason I came back is because I knew TCs were starting, and I look forward to this thread all offseason. Just don't let it go to your head, Lammey. ;)
Traders2001 said:
Orton will be starting no doubt ...How many chances did Simms got in his carreer and never did anything good .I would say Simms will end up third on the depth chart .
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Simms was actually pretty good with Tampa before he ruptured his spleen. Not top-10 QB good, but good enough to not be a liability, and good enough to be one of the better backups in the league (provided his proprioception has returned to pre-spleen levels). No way Brandstater beats him out for the #2 job.Hell, I question what Kyle Orton has done that's so much better than what Chris Simms has. Simms' best season was his 3rd, when he completed 61% @ 6.5 ypa with an 81.4 rating. Orton's best season was his fourth, when he completed 57% @ 6.4 ypa with a 79.6 rating. Simms had a slight edge in all three categories prior to his spleen injury, and he was younger and had less experience in the league, to boot. I don't know if he's returned to pre-injury form, but pre-injury Simms was definitely better than Kyle Orton.
Cecil Lammey said:
some camp observers from the media are calling this the worst front seven in the NFL. I'll sprinkle a few more defensive tidbits in, but with so much going on I concentrate mainly on the offense.
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Not just the worst front 7 in the league, but the worst front 7 playing in a scheme for which they are comically ill-suited. I honestly believe that there's not a single player on the roster better suited to the 3-4 than the 4-3, except for that backup NT from New England.
 
SSOG said:
Not just the worst front 7 in the league, but the worst front 7 playing in a scheme for which they are comically ill-suited. I honestly believe that there's not a single player on the roster better suited to the 3-4 than the 4-3, except for that backup NT from New England.
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And why I think Larry Johnson is a steal this year. They get to play the Broncos twice, and the Raiders who haven't been able to stop the run for years.
 
Cookiemonster said:
SSOG said:
Not just the worst front 7 in the league, but the worst front 7 playing in a scheme for which they are comically ill-suited. I honestly believe that there's not a single player on the roster better suited to the 3-4 than the 4-3, except for that backup NT from New England.
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And why I think Larry Johnson is a steal this year. They get to play the Broncos twice, and the Raiders who haven't been able to stop the run for years.
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That would be great except they play the Broncos in week 17.
 
SSOG said:
Traders2001 said:
Orton will be starting no doubt ...How many chances did Simms got in his carreer and never did anything good .I would say Simms will end up third on the depth chart .
Click to expand...
Simms was actually pretty good with Tampa before he ruptured his spleen. Not top-10 QB good, but good enough to not be a liability, and good enough to be one of the better backups in the league (provided his proprioception has returned to pre-spleen levels). No way Brandstater beats him out for the #2 job.Hell, I question what Kyle Orton has done that's so much better than what Chris Simms has. Simms' best season was his 3rd, when he completed 61% @ 6.5 ypa with an 81.4 rating. Orton's best season was his fourth, when he completed 57% @ 6.4 ypa with a 79.6 rating. Simms had a slight edge in all three categories prior to his spleen injury, and he was younger and had less experience in the league, to boot. I don't know if he's returned to pre-injury form, but pre-injury Simms was definitely better than Kyle Orton.
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I'm not going to say Simms was a good QB, but in his defense he played with one of the worst O-lines Tampa has had in years. The only current starter that was on that line was Jeremy Trueblood, and I believe he was a rookie. Penn was there too, but he sucked and never played. Since then Tampa made it a priority to draft guards, and acquire the leagues top center. That being said, Simms would be a different QB behind the current Bucs line. And, the running game is better now, and that would have taken pressure off of him.
 
so what's up with Champ? Rumors are he didn't pass a pre-camp conditioning test and that's why he was put on the PUP. Now, he is working out again and is looking slow.

What gives - is he dogging it?

 
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Day Three I spent the entire morning practice on the air from the FM 104.3 The Fan tent, which doesn’t have a very good view of the practice field. Thanks to Frank Schwab from the Colorado Springs Gazette for giving me some of his practice notes. During commercial breaks I would take a look at what the team was doing, and here’s what I saw.

Quarterbacks

Kyle Orton - Orton didn't look good on the deep ball again although he connected on a long one with Royal. Royal made a nice adjustment.

Chris Simms – moved the 2nd team offense well in the 2 minute drill.

Tom Brandstater – no notes

Running Backs

LaMont Jordan – people have been really impressed with his quickness and strength. I have yet to be blown away by this guy, but am keeping a close eye on him.

Correll Buckhalter – same as it ever was. Catching passes looks like his primary responsibility.

Ryan Torain – bounced back after a poor performance Saturday. He was running with more power, and was more decisive in the backfield.

Peyton Hillis – great hands, but we already knew that :thumbup:

Darius Walker – no notes

Knowshon Moreno – The Broncos have moved their attention away from signing Ayers for now, and are trying to get this Moreno deal done. We’ll see if they can do it quickly.

Wide Receivers

Brandon Marshall - Marshall limped off favoring his left leg, turns out to be a hamstring injury. This will limit his training camp reps even more than they already are. Even though Marshall seemed to be dogging it in certain drills, both Champ Bailey and Josh Barrett (who have to cover him) said Marshall is giving full effort.

Eddie Royal – caught a nice deep pass from Orton. Smooth routes as always.



Jabar Gaffney – still not dropping many (if any) passes.



Kenny McKinley – other people are starting to talk about him now as he continually turns heads in camp.

Brandon Lloyd – making a better impression, but still has a lot of work to do to make the final roster.

Brandon Stokley – his feet are looking really good in practice, very quick, very precise

Chad Jackson – no notes

Matthew Willis – no notes

C.J. Jones – no notes

Nate Swift - a couple catches from Simms in the 2 minute with the 2s.

Tight Ends

Tony Scheffler – no notes



Daniel Graham - Graham made a nice catch in 2 minute drill but overall the defense owned the offense.

Richard Quinn – no notes

Marcus Thomas wasn't punished for the conditioning test, still 2nd NT and made a nice tackle penetrating in 2 min drill. At the end of practice the team ran sprints across the field and Thomas was always the last guy to finish. The crowd loved this, and was cheering for the guys who were obviously exhausted. Every time Thomas was running there was one guy from the crowd that would yell, “C’mon Marcus!!” It might have helped him finish, because yesterday when the 2nd string defense was punished for 10 men on the field they had to run a lap (including coaches). Thomas wasn’t able to finish that lap and he had to lie down on the ground.

Nic Clemons might be back in a few days (left knee) - he's 2nd tm DE.



Mario Haggan getting all 2md tm LOLB reps with moss and ayers out.

Elvis Dumervil looked great coming off the edge against the run and pass.

Jack Williams continues to hold off A Smith for the nickel job.

No broadcasting while TC is going on for me today, report will be packed with info tonight! :blackdot:

Make sure to check out Frank's Broncos Blog!

 
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