Denver Native (Carol)
04-19-2009, 09:34 PM
http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/
DOVE VALLEY — We finally got to see some actual football again.
And after the off-season this team has had, it sure was nice.
The first two days of the Broncos’ first minicamp were closed to the media, but Sunday’s nearly two-hour session was open in its entirety, which gave us reporters our first chance to see many of the Broncos’ new players — and coaches — on the field. (That is was on an indoor field at the practice bubble because the field here at Dove Valley was still too soaked … that’s another story).
A couple of quick hits from what we saw today:
- Mike Shanahan was known around the league for running quick, efficient practice — no standing around, no walking etc. But what Josh McDaniels has instituted here takes that to a whole other level. The fast pace of the practice was unbelievable. It might only be April, but it’s clear these practices are no joke. “He brings an energy to the practice field, and I think guys just feed off it,” new quarterback Kyle Orton said.
- McDaniels is very hands on as a head coach, especially when it comes to his offense. Maybe it’s cause he’s fit and only 32 years old (turning 33 next week), but he’s right up in the huddle, and running around and basically participating in drills. In one drill with wide receivers, McDaniels was acting the part of a defensive back. Never really saw Shanahan throwing his body around much.
- Blame it on the cramped space at the bubble. The biggest collision of the day came midway through the practice when Orton connected with Jabar Gaffney on a long touchdown pass. Problem was, the pass went right to where the offensive linemen were working on their own drills, and Gaffney and the defensive back covering him crashed right into offensive line coach Rick Dennison. Dennison ended up on his back on the turf, though he popped right up, and received a round of applause from his linemen. Dennison, a former linebacker, has surely received much worse.
- Your four starting linebackers? Darrell Reid and Elvis Dumervil on the outside, and Andra Davis and Wesley Woodyard on the inside. Connect the dots to say that D.J. Williams — when he returns from rehabbing his shoulder — starts on the inside with Davis. Also interesting to note that Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder — the No. 1 and 2 picks in the 2007 draft — are practicing with the linebackers now.
- Correll Buckhalter took the first reps at running back in the one-back set.
- No surprise, but the offense spent much of its time lining up with three wide receivers. The top three guys were Eddie Royal, Jabar Gaffney and Brandon Stokley, each lining up as the X, Y or Z for different plays. No sign of Brandon Marshall at the practice bubble (though I heard he was at Dove Valley before practice started).
- Champ Bailey, Peyton Hillis and Brian Dawkins each wore an orange “no contact” jersey. Bailey (elbow) and Hillis (hamstring) are recovering from surgery, while Dawkins, age 35, was sore. The following players did not participate: RBs Selvin Young, J.J. Arrington and Ryan Torain; LBs D.J. Williams and Boss Bailey — all rehabbing injuries. FB Andrew Pinnock was excused for a personal matter.
- The team will hold its next voluntary minicamp the first weekend in May, which should include the new draft picks. And hopefully, it will be outside!
DOVE VALLEY — We finally got to see some actual football again.
And after the off-season this team has had, it sure was nice.
The first two days of the Broncos’ first minicamp were closed to the media, but Sunday’s nearly two-hour session was open in its entirety, which gave us reporters our first chance to see many of the Broncos’ new players — and coaches — on the field. (That is was on an indoor field at the practice bubble because the field here at Dove Valley was still too soaked … that’s another story).
A couple of quick hits from what we saw today:
- Mike Shanahan was known around the league for running quick, efficient practice — no standing around, no walking etc. But what Josh McDaniels has instituted here takes that to a whole other level. The fast pace of the practice was unbelievable. It might only be April, but it’s clear these practices are no joke. “He brings an energy to the practice field, and I think guys just feed off it,” new quarterback Kyle Orton said.
- McDaniels is very hands on as a head coach, especially when it comes to his offense. Maybe it’s cause he’s fit and only 32 years old (turning 33 next week), but he’s right up in the huddle, and running around and basically participating in drills. In one drill with wide receivers, McDaniels was acting the part of a defensive back. Never really saw Shanahan throwing his body around much.
- Blame it on the cramped space at the bubble. The biggest collision of the day came midway through the practice when Orton connected with Jabar Gaffney on a long touchdown pass. Problem was, the pass went right to where the offensive linemen were working on their own drills, and Gaffney and the defensive back covering him crashed right into offensive line coach Rick Dennison. Dennison ended up on his back on the turf, though he popped right up, and received a round of applause from his linemen. Dennison, a former linebacker, has surely received much worse.
- Your four starting linebackers? Darrell Reid and Elvis Dumervil on the outside, and Andra Davis and Wesley Woodyard on the inside. Connect the dots to say that D.J. Williams — when he returns from rehabbing his shoulder — starts on the inside with Davis. Also interesting to note that Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder — the No. 1 and 2 picks in the 2007 draft — are practicing with the linebackers now.
- Correll Buckhalter took the first reps at running back in the one-back set.
- No surprise, but the offense spent much of its time lining up with three wide receivers. The top three guys were Eddie Royal, Jabar Gaffney and Brandon Stokley, each lining up as the X, Y or Z for different plays. No sign of Brandon Marshall at the practice bubble (though I heard he was at Dove Valley before practice started).
- Champ Bailey, Peyton Hillis and Brian Dawkins each wore an orange “no contact” jersey. Bailey (elbow) and Hillis (hamstring) are recovering from surgery, while Dawkins, age 35, was sore. The following players did not participate: RBs Selvin Young, J.J. Arrington and Ryan Torain; LBs D.J. Williams and Boss Bailey — all rehabbing injuries. FB Andrew Pinnock was excused for a personal matter.
- The team will hold its next voluntary minicamp the first weekend in May, which should include the new draft picks. And hopefully, it will be outside!