Lonestar
08-17-2010, 01:02 AM
Analysis: Broncos will need immediate contributions from four rookies not named Tebow
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
POSTED: 08/14/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT
Denver Broncos S Brian Dawkins (20) (L) and D.J. Williams (55) wore orange jersey's during practice Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at Dove Valley. Orange jersey's are worn by players who are injured. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)
Though they have arrived on the doorstep of what may be their dream, it's not always fun to be an NFL rookie.
Broncos safety Brian Dawkins joked that "they're rookies, they don't even get a name yet, they have to earn that" — after he identified two of the team's rookies by their uniform numbers.
But when the Broncos take the field Sunday night to formally open their preseason, they will need a few rookies to be on the fast track before they open the real season in Jacksonville.
Some guys who aren't named Tim Tebow.
There's center J.D. Walton, who has already discovered he played against nobody in college like Broncos nose tackle Jamal Williams. The Broncos have placed a lot of their offensive chips on the belief Walton can be ready to make the calls up front when the defenses aren't vanilla-flavored like the ones he will see in the preseason.
He looks up to the task. Walton is a finisher and plays with a salty edge, two characteristics a quality center will need.
There's guard Zane Beadles. Beadles, like Walton, has been in place in the starting offense since the beginning of camp. The Broncos tried him at tackle some in the offseason and that's where he spent his collegiate career, but physically he's built like an NFL guard and that's likely his long-term future.
He will now face weekly battles against interior defensive linemen who may be bigger or stronger than he is. But he's been quick with his hands thus far in camp, keeps them inside, stays low and plays with some smarts.
Side by side, the two figure to be tested plenty by defensive coordinators, which is also why Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said he would play them a little more than the other starters in preseason games.
There's wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. Out at the moment with a foot injury, Thomas simply has to be the Broncos' matchup player in the scoring zone.
Scoring touchdowns in the NFL is basically winning matchups, and Thomas is big enough and strong enough to win those battles. Because of the triple-option offense he played in at Georgia Tech, Thomas will not be proficient out of the gate in all of the routes, but the Broncos can certainly put him in position to help.
Before he hurt his foot, he was starting to become a problem for defensive backs.
And there's cornerback Perrish Cox. It will be a surprise if Cox isn't getting serious consideration for the team's nickel corner — fifth defensive back — before the season gets too far along.
He has played the ball well in team drills, put himself in position for interceptions and played nose to nose with Broncos receivers. He's played with that confident edge corners need to survive in the league.
So, they aren't Tebow and they do not have the national media in tow. But at the moment, they will have a lot more to say about the Broncos' fortunes in the coming season than the team's quarterback prospect.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_15772310
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
POSTED: 08/14/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT
Denver Broncos S Brian Dawkins (20) (L) and D.J. Williams (55) wore orange jersey's during practice Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at Dove Valley. Orange jersey's are worn by players who are injured. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)
Though they have arrived on the doorstep of what may be their dream, it's not always fun to be an NFL rookie.
Broncos safety Brian Dawkins joked that "they're rookies, they don't even get a name yet, they have to earn that" — after he identified two of the team's rookies by their uniform numbers.
But when the Broncos take the field Sunday night to formally open their preseason, they will need a few rookies to be on the fast track before they open the real season in Jacksonville.
Some guys who aren't named Tim Tebow.
There's center J.D. Walton, who has already discovered he played against nobody in college like Broncos nose tackle Jamal Williams. The Broncos have placed a lot of their offensive chips on the belief Walton can be ready to make the calls up front when the defenses aren't vanilla-flavored like the ones he will see in the preseason.
He looks up to the task. Walton is a finisher and plays with a salty edge, two characteristics a quality center will need.
There's guard Zane Beadles. Beadles, like Walton, has been in place in the starting offense since the beginning of camp. The Broncos tried him at tackle some in the offseason and that's where he spent his collegiate career, but physically he's built like an NFL guard and that's likely his long-term future.
He will now face weekly battles against interior defensive linemen who may be bigger or stronger than he is. But he's been quick with his hands thus far in camp, keeps them inside, stays low and plays with some smarts.
Side by side, the two figure to be tested plenty by defensive coordinators, which is also why Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said he would play them a little more than the other starters in preseason games.
There's wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. Out at the moment with a foot injury, Thomas simply has to be the Broncos' matchup player in the scoring zone.
Scoring touchdowns in the NFL is basically winning matchups, and Thomas is big enough and strong enough to win those battles. Because of the triple-option offense he played in at Georgia Tech, Thomas will not be proficient out of the gate in all of the routes, but the Broncos can certainly put him in position to help.
Before he hurt his foot, he was starting to become a problem for defensive backs.
And there's cornerback Perrish Cox. It will be a surprise if Cox isn't getting serious consideration for the team's nickel corner — fifth defensive back — before the season gets too far along.
He has played the ball well in team drills, put himself in position for interceptions and played nose to nose with Broncos receivers. He's played with that confident edge corners need to survive in the league.
So, they aren't Tebow and they do not have the national media in tow. But at the moment, they will have a lot more to say about the Broncos' fortunes in the coming season than the team's quarterback prospect.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_15772310