Spiritguy
03-18-2009, 08:43 PM
By Gray Caldwell
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- When Broncos fans think back to the 2008 draft, it's all about offense. Ryan Clady (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8653), Peyton Hillis (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8667), Spencer Larsen (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8665), Kory Lichtensteiger (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8660), Eddie Royal (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8656) and Ryan Torain (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8662) all saw the field on the offensive side of the ball last season.
Only three players played on the defensive side from the draft. Josh Barrett (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8666) and Jack Williams (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8661) joined Larsen -- who memorably played linebacker and fullback in one game in Atlanta -- on defense.
That's eight of the nine picks in quite a successful draft class that saw the field in last season.
In 2009, number nine hopes to help make the 2008 draft just as memorable for the defense. Just don't call him a rookie.
"I consider myself a 'super rookie,'" Carlton Powell (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8663) said. "Because I definitely did sit in on all the meetings, I watched all the film and I was out there watching practice. So I've pretty much got a feel for everything as far as the mental aspect, I just wasn't out there physically."
The defensive tackle's rookie season was cut short before it even started. He injured his Achilles' tendon before training camp, and was placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Play list on August 26.
He spent the rest of the season rehabbing, which continued all throughout the offseason with Head Athletic Trainer Steve Antonopulos. He was one of several players that stayed around Dove Valley while the rest of his teammates vacationed with their friends and families.
But Powell said it was worth it, because now he's back on the field running around with his teammates.
"It's great to have everybody back up here -- it's a little bit of added motivation," he said.
He added that while there's a little tightness, his strength and flexibility are back to 100 percent after his injury. Now he's ready to hit the field and carry the success he saw at Virginia Tech into the National Football League.
Powell started for 13 games in both of his final two years at school, posting career highs in tackles and sacks as a senior and leading a defense that led the nation in scoring defense and total defense his junior campaign.
According to NFLDraftScout.com, Powell finished his career as a Hokie as the only Division I-A player who held opponents to negative rushing yards on running plays directed at him -- -13 yards on 106 attempts.
"If the ball is coming in my direction, I'm either going to make the play behind the line of scrimmage or at the line of scrimmage," the 6-foot-3, 300-pound tackle said. "Not much gets past me."
That could be a big key for a Broncos defensive unit that Elvis Dumervil (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=5911) said on Tuesday will be "nasty" in 2009.
"I definitely feel the same way," Powell said, cracking a smile. "Especially now that I'm going to be out there.
"Just with the guys we've got here now I think it's going to be a pretty good fit."
http://http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=8908
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- When Broncos fans think back to the 2008 draft, it's all about offense. Ryan Clady (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8653), Peyton Hillis (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8667), Spencer Larsen (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8665), Kory Lichtensteiger (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8660), Eddie Royal (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8656) and Ryan Torain (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8662) all saw the field on the offensive side of the ball last season.
Only three players played on the defensive side from the draft. Josh Barrett (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8666) and Jack Williams (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8661) joined Larsen -- who memorably played linebacker and fullback in one game in Atlanta -- on defense.
That's eight of the nine picks in quite a successful draft class that saw the field in last season.
In 2009, number nine hopes to help make the 2008 draft just as memorable for the defense. Just don't call him a rookie.
"I consider myself a 'super rookie,'" Carlton Powell (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=8663) said. "Because I definitely did sit in on all the meetings, I watched all the film and I was out there watching practice. So I've pretty much got a feel for everything as far as the mental aspect, I just wasn't out there physically."
The defensive tackle's rookie season was cut short before it even started. He injured his Achilles' tendon before training camp, and was placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Play list on August 26.
He spent the rest of the season rehabbing, which continued all throughout the offseason with Head Athletic Trainer Steve Antonopulos. He was one of several players that stayed around Dove Valley while the rest of his teammates vacationed with their friends and families.
But Powell said it was worth it, because now he's back on the field running around with his teammates.
"It's great to have everybody back up here -- it's a little bit of added motivation," he said.
He added that while there's a little tightness, his strength and flexibility are back to 100 percent after his injury. Now he's ready to hit the field and carry the success he saw at Virginia Tech into the National Football League.
Powell started for 13 games in both of his final two years at school, posting career highs in tackles and sacks as a senior and leading a defense that led the nation in scoring defense and total defense his junior campaign.
According to NFLDraftScout.com, Powell finished his career as a Hokie as the only Division I-A player who held opponents to negative rushing yards on running plays directed at him -- -13 yards on 106 attempts.
"If the ball is coming in my direction, I'm either going to make the play behind the line of scrimmage or at the line of scrimmage," the 6-foot-3, 300-pound tackle said. "Not much gets past me."
That could be a big key for a Broncos defensive unit that Elvis Dumervil (http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=5911) said on Tuesday will be "nasty" in 2009.
"I definitely feel the same way," Powell said, cracking a smile. "Especially now that I'm going to be out there.
"Just with the guys we've got here now I think it's going to be a pretty good fit."
http://http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=8908