TXBRONC
08-27-2007, 10:07 PM
Do you think Brian will make the 53 man roster? Here's an article from the Broncos Homepage you might be interested in.
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=7093
Monday, August 27, 2007
Monday Notebook: Clark Traces Smith's Steps
By Christopher Smith
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Brian Clark discovers footprints in the sand.
Looking up from his feet and down NFL beach, his eyes follow a path that disappears beyond the horizon, mixing into a blur of seaweed, saltwater and spray. Although he can't see the destination, he knows those footprints lead to a sand castle, adorned with a conch shell of gaudy statistics and a king crab of two Super Bowl wins.
Rod Smith made those footprints, and Clark has every intention of following them.
Clark may have a long walk ahead, but the undrafted free agent has an informed guide who began his career at a similar spot on the beach.
"Rod Smith is God-sent. In the locker room, I talk to him just about every day. Every play, it seems like I'm asking him a question, making sure that I did the right thing on my route, on my blocking," Clark said.
"When you've got a guy that's gone down the path that you've gone and had the success that he's had, it's good for me to see that. He has the ability to calm you down, make you laugh, and let you know, 'Don't worry about it, it's the same game that you've been playing since you were little.'"
But Clark is no longer a little boy playing on a little field. He's a man playing at the highest level on the planet. Don't expect him to meander to frolic in the waves or chase stray seagulls. He's locked in and ready to progress -- now.
"It is (crunch time). (The Broncos) are trying to find their best 53 and then their best 45," Clark said. "You've got to go out there and show that, hey, we have depth at this position. If somebody goes down or somebody gets hurt, or if you need to rotate a guy, we have solid guys that come back in and keep the ball moving."
Clark led the Broncos in kickoff-return yardage after being promoted from the scout team last October. This preseason, he's showcased his skills as a receiver.
Clark dazzled Broncos fans in Dallas with a 90-yard touchdown burst on a Patrick Ramsey pass, propelling him to the team lead in receptions (seven) and receiving yards (133) this preseason.
Clark doesn't expect to relinquish his advantage against Arizona with Brandon Marshall, his closest pursuer, likely to spend most or all of the game on the sideline with the starters. Expect him to unpack his usual share of anxious enthusiasm during warmups.
"I'm excited about it, just for the simple fact that this is what you want to do. Ever since you were little, you want to go out there and play a full game and get a chance to block, catch and do things that you want to do on special teams," Clark said. "I'm excited about it, just to have the veteran guys see that we do have depth. They're kind of watching you and supporting you as you're out there. I'm ecstatic."
DUMERVIL'S DELIGHT: Clark wasn't the only second-year player strolling off the field with a grin Monday. Elvis Dumervil exuded a joy after starting against Cleveland that lingered into practice.
He lit up when he was asked about grappling with Browns tackle Joe Thomas, the third overall selection in the 2007 NFL draft, and recalled what his mindset was as he labored away with the third team at the beginning of training camp.
"I didn't really hold my head down. I know they went hard in the draft with top ends. (Jarvis) Moss and Tim (Crowder) are good additions to our defense, but I never got off focus," Dumervil said. "I just believed in myself. Man, I'm just blessed. I'm just thankful for the opportunity. I'm excited to go out to Buffalo and show what I can do."
Dumervil started the first game the Broncos played without injured Ebenezer Ekuban. Moss and Alvin McKinley saw time at the right end spot as well, and Moss even shared the field with Dumervil on some passing downs. Whether or not Dumervil has solidified his name in the coaches' minds, he's not going to let anyone wrest the starting spot out of his grasp.
"They could probably (still) finagle, they're probably still doing it, but I know I'm going to play to my best and keep that spot," Dumervil said.
The 5-foot-11-inch Louisville product collected 8 sacks last season and predicts 12-15 more this year after adding a long-arm bull rush to his arsenal in the offseason.
"Last year, I thought I kind of got slowed down a lot after I didn't have any counter moves," said Dumervil. "I just want to keep the tackle guessing. I don't want to be too predictable."
The telling aspect that may determine his longevity as an every-down lineman is his run defense, something he's adamant about.
"People (have) thought I don't know how to play the run, but I did in college," he said. "It's a little different in the league. Guys are a lot stronger and quicker, a lot smarter. That's an area I can improve on."
'BACKS BACK: Travis Henry, Andre Hall and Mike Bell were all in uniform Monday, practicing at varying speeds.
"They just wanted me to feel my way, so I was picking and choosing when I burst," Henry said. "Today was to see where I was, and it worked out great
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=7093
Monday, August 27, 2007
Monday Notebook: Clark Traces Smith's Steps
By Christopher Smith
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Brian Clark discovers footprints in the sand.
Looking up from his feet and down NFL beach, his eyes follow a path that disappears beyond the horizon, mixing into a blur of seaweed, saltwater and spray. Although he can't see the destination, he knows those footprints lead to a sand castle, adorned with a conch shell of gaudy statistics and a king crab of two Super Bowl wins.
Rod Smith made those footprints, and Clark has every intention of following them.
Clark may have a long walk ahead, but the undrafted free agent has an informed guide who began his career at a similar spot on the beach.
"Rod Smith is God-sent. In the locker room, I talk to him just about every day. Every play, it seems like I'm asking him a question, making sure that I did the right thing on my route, on my blocking," Clark said.
"When you've got a guy that's gone down the path that you've gone and had the success that he's had, it's good for me to see that. He has the ability to calm you down, make you laugh, and let you know, 'Don't worry about it, it's the same game that you've been playing since you were little.'"
But Clark is no longer a little boy playing on a little field. He's a man playing at the highest level on the planet. Don't expect him to meander to frolic in the waves or chase stray seagulls. He's locked in and ready to progress -- now.
"It is (crunch time). (The Broncos) are trying to find their best 53 and then their best 45," Clark said. "You've got to go out there and show that, hey, we have depth at this position. If somebody goes down or somebody gets hurt, or if you need to rotate a guy, we have solid guys that come back in and keep the ball moving."
Clark led the Broncos in kickoff-return yardage after being promoted from the scout team last October. This preseason, he's showcased his skills as a receiver.
Clark dazzled Broncos fans in Dallas with a 90-yard touchdown burst on a Patrick Ramsey pass, propelling him to the team lead in receptions (seven) and receiving yards (133) this preseason.
Clark doesn't expect to relinquish his advantage against Arizona with Brandon Marshall, his closest pursuer, likely to spend most or all of the game on the sideline with the starters. Expect him to unpack his usual share of anxious enthusiasm during warmups.
"I'm excited about it, just for the simple fact that this is what you want to do. Ever since you were little, you want to go out there and play a full game and get a chance to block, catch and do things that you want to do on special teams," Clark said. "I'm excited about it, just to have the veteran guys see that we do have depth. They're kind of watching you and supporting you as you're out there. I'm ecstatic."
DUMERVIL'S DELIGHT: Clark wasn't the only second-year player strolling off the field with a grin Monday. Elvis Dumervil exuded a joy after starting against Cleveland that lingered into practice.
He lit up when he was asked about grappling with Browns tackle Joe Thomas, the third overall selection in the 2007 NFL draft, and recalled what his mindset was as he labored away with the third team at the beginning of training camp.
"I didn't really hold my head down. I know they went hard in the draft with top ends. (Jarvis) Moss and Tim (Crowder) are good additions to our defense, but I never got off focus," Dumervil said. "I just believed in myself. Man, I'm just blessed. I'm just thankful for the opportunity. I'm excited to go out to Buffalo and show what I can do."
Dumervil started the first game the Broncos played without injured Ebenezer Ekuban. Moss and Alvin McKinley saw time at the right end spot as well, and Moss even shared the field with Dumervil on some passing downs. Whether or not Dumervil has solidified his name in the coaches' minds, he's not going to let anyone wrest the starting spot out of his grasp.
"They could probably (still) finagle, they're probably still doing it, but I know I'm going to play to my best and keep that spot," Dumervil said.
The 5-foot-11-inch Louisville product collected 8 sacks last season and predicts 12-15 more this year after adding a long-arm bull rush to his arsenal in the offseason.
"Last year, I thought I kind of got slowed down a lot after I didn't have any counter moves," said Dumervil. "I just want to keep the tackle guessing. I don't want to be too predictable."
The telling aspect that may determine his longevity as an every-down lineman is his run defense, something he's adamant about.
"People (have) thought I don't know how to play the run, but I did in college," he said. "It's a little different in the league. Guys are a lot stronger and quicker, a lot smarter. That's an area I can improve on."
'BACKS BACK: Travis Henry, Andre Hall and Mike Bell were all in uniform Monday, practicing at varying speeds.
"They just wanted me to feel my way, so I was picking and choosing when I burst," Henry said. "Today was to see where I was, and it worked out great