Denver's 3-4 (1 Viewer)

[Tecmo]

Here's the first glimps at Denver's 3-4. Lots of subpackages as suspected. Jarvis Moss looks buried with only second-team nickel snaps, ouch. Crowder and Ayers are starting OLBs in the base package. But Dumervil and Reid are the OLBs (with Ayers sliding to DE) in the nickel package. Perhaps, no real fantasy winners besides DJ Williams and secondary.

From DenverPost

DOVE VALLEY — Though most of the buzz through the media ranks on Friday morning was about the player who WASN’T at the Broncos’ Dove Valley headquarters, there was plenty of action going on with the players who were there.

Here’s a couple of notes and observations:

- Your first-team base defense throughout Friday’s workout: linemen Ryan McBean, Ronald Fields and Kenny Peterson; OLBs Tim Crowder and Robert Ayers; ILBs D.J. Williams and Andra Davis; DBs Champ Bailey, Andre Goodman, Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill. Second team: linemen Matthias Askew, Marcus Thomas and Nic Clemons; OLBs Darrell Reid and Elvis Dumervil; ILBs Mario Haggan and Louis Green; DBs Jack Williams, Alphonso Smith, Vernon Fox and Darcel McBath.

- The special teams units practiced onside kicks and pooch punts, and “gunners” on punt coverage, like Alphonso Smith and David Bruton, practiced downing the ball just short of the goal line. Kicker Matt Prater also hit two long field goals in a drill simulating the final seconds of a game.

- 2008 draft picks, corner Jack Williams and safety Josh Barrett, continue to practice with the first-team nickel defense. That package also included Dumervil at linebacker with Ayers, and Reid as a down lineman with Peterson. On one snap, Williams got to Kyle Orton on a corner blitz and swatted the ball out of the quarterback’s hand. 2007 draft picks Jarvis Moss and Crowder each played with the second-team nickel, and Crowder — lined up as a down lineman in that package — snagged an interception off Chris Simms.

- The team lined up briefly in a traditional I-formation, with LaMont Jordan at tailback and Peyton Hillis at fullback. Good to know they can do that, though I would be it will be a rare sight come September.

- I heard “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns and Roses coming from the practice field when I got out of my car an hour before practice started. Little did I know then it was a sign of things to come. In a welcome change (for me at least) from the previous regime, a full McDaniels practice includes plenty of music to simulate crowd noise. Friday’s playlist included “Eye of the Tiger”, “Crazy Train”, “Beat It”, “Born to Run”, “Live Your Life” and even the old “Monday Night Football” theme music.

- Right guard Chris Kuper was excused from practice to get married, and rookie Seth Olsen took all the first-team repetitions in his place. Kuper is one of the toughest players on the team (remember last year, when he played all training camp with a broken hand?), so it only made sense that his absence had something to do with his personal life. Kuper, like Brandon Marshall and Jay Cutler, was part of the Broncos’ 2006 draft class, and a television reporter joking asked McDaniels after practice if Kuper, too, was holding out. “He might be nervous, but he’s not holding out,” McDaniels said, laughing.

The team will hold its final two practices of the offseason Saturday and Sunday.

 

[Biabreakable]

The depth is bad at most positions except the DBs who play more.

Ayers is still playing all 3 downs. He just puts his hand down as a linemen on 3rd downs. Some good tackle opportunity here. Not sure how well he will do as a pass rusher.

 

[ebcpastor2004]

Wesley Woodyard?

 

[Hypnotic]

I'm pretty sure MFL is keeping Ayers listed at DE. So why aren't people higher on him considering he'll be playing OLB and DE? His tackle opportunities should be higher than a regular DE, yet the only FBG that has him ranked at all is John Norton (35).

What am I missing?

 

[BearsFan]

MFL doesn't make position designation changes until later into the summer.

I believe they'll still base off of Rotoworld positions which may, or may not, equate to NFL.com depth charts.

% of snaps at a certain position may play into it.

Perhaps someone with more information could chime in?

 

[Tecmo]

MFL doesn't make position designation changes until later into the summer.I believe they'll still base off of Rotoworld positions which may, or may not, equate to NFL.com depth charts.% of snaps at a certain position may play into it.Perhaps someone with more information could chime in?

Last year, I thought MFL hit all official team pages right before the season started and used their listing. The Rotoworld thing is something new I believe and it begs the question how Rotoworld decides?Ayers as a DE

 

[msommer]

Here's the first glimps at Denver's 3-4.

Just wanted to say awesome post, this is the stuff that gets people to keep coming back here!

 

[Buffaloes]

Here are some IDP notes after June Mini camp

Link to Denver Post blog/article

- OLB/DE Robert Ayers: Yes, Knowshon Moreno was impressive and I expect Moreno to make a major impact this season. But Ayers got more work with the first team of any rookie. He also showed tremendous work ethic by staying late after every practice to practicing catching balls from the Jugs machine. He was on the field for a solid 15 minutes, at least, longer than all of his defensive teammates each day.

- ILB D.J. Williams: Williams is still wearing the orange “no contact” jersey as he continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery, but it didn’t look like Williams was limited at all. In fact, he appeared to get more work than just about any defensive player because of his starting spot in the base, nickel and dime packages. He is even on the first-team field goal block unit.

- OLB/DE Tim Crowder: The 2007 second-round pick was basically Mr. Irrelevant last season, but he was in with the first-team base defense at outside linebacker all weekend. He came out on passing downs, though he was on the second-team nickel unit. I talked to Crowder on Friday, and he said that all he can ask for is a chance to compete, and clearly he’s been given a clean slate by the new coaching regime.

- DE/OLB Elvis Dumervil and Darrell Reid: I was hesitant to list these guys here, but the fact is, they were both relegated to the second-team through much of the weekend. Dumervil, did, however take a number of first-team reps on Sunday, swapping in and out with Ayers. This position battle is far from over and is shaping up to be possibly the most interesting competition of training camp.

 

[5Rings]

Any word on Alphonso Smith? I think the spot opposite Champ is going to be a goldmine this year.

 

[Buffaloes]

Any word on Alphonso Smith? I think the spot opposite Champ is going to be a goldmine this year.

I'm pretty sure Andre' Goodman will start opposite Bailey this year. He was signed to a starter-worthy contract. I read a report saying Jack Williams has been practicing in nickel situations, which tells me Smith must be behind him right now. Too early to tell for sure but barring injury I think Goodman will get the start opposite Bailey at least to start the year.