Denver Native (Carol)
05-28-2009, 07:07 PM
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=9073
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Through each day of offseason camps, the transition to Head Coach Josh McDaniels' philosophy is getting easier.
While grasping the terminology is still a work in progress, McDaniels said players -- veterans and newcomers alike -- are making strides each day.
"This week has been very spirited," said the head coach following the third day of the team's passing camp. "Every day seems to be better than the one before it."
With competitions brewing at nearly every position on the roster, McDaniels has noticed vigorous play across the board -- even if this week's camp is being played without pads.
"Everybody is working hard. We are getting a lot of repetitions and a lot of guys are getting work," McDaniels said. "I think we are really getting the most out of our players."
Eleven-year veteran Brandon Stokley said he believes working in McDaniels' system in passing camp will help the offensive unit be more effective come training camp in July.
"It's always different," Stokley said of initially learning a new system. "You've got different terminology, different ways of doing things. In that aspect, it is a little bit difficult. But once you get the hang of it, it's like any other offense."
When Eddie Royal first began dissecting the system, habits from last year's offense crept into the back of his mind. But, just as he was able to transition from Virginia Tech's offensive system to the Broncos', Royal said he is beginning to find his groove.
Royal's offensive counterpart, Chris Simms, echoed similar sentiments. The seventh-year signal-caller said there is "no doubt" that the team is making strides offensively.
"Take (Thursday) for instance, they are throwing a lot of new stuff on us and we have to learn it on the go and cram it in here and try to do the best we can with it," Simms said. "We make mistakes every now and then, but I think as a whole we've been pretty consistent and offensively we've been putting some good things together."
At the speed in which his team is moving during passing camp, McDaniels said players have no choice but to grasp knowledge on the fly.
"The pace is pretty frantic out there," he said. "(Practices) are going to have a lot of different things included in them and our players are going to be held accountable because if we don't do those things right in a game, we're not going to win. We've got to do a lot of things right in practice to carry them over to games."
BUILDING CHEMISTRY
With nearly half of the roster reloaded from last season's squad, players aren't just getting used to new philosophies. Teammates are getting acquainted to each other as well.
"We've been heading in the right direction as far as that is concerned too," Simms said. "I think we have a lot of good guys; a lot of good guys that come to work every day ready to be disciplined, ready to do what they are supposed to do."
ARRINGTON RELEASED
McDaniels said Thursday that the Broncos have released running back J.J. Arrington due to injury concerns.
"We wouldn't have signed him if we didn't hope we could have had something turn out with the injury. But it just got to the point that we realized and he realized that it wasn't going to work out for him this year with the injury," McDaniels said. "We wish him the best in terms of going through his rehab and whatever he may end up choosing to do. But he was great for us when he was here - he has a great attitude, a great approach. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him as long as we did. Maybe we'll get another opportunity down the road."
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Through each day of offseason camps, the transition to Head Coach Josh McDaniels' philosophy is getting easier.
While grasping the terminology is still a work in progress, McDaniels said players -- veterans and newcomers alike -- are making strides each day.
"This week has been very spirited," said the head coach following the third day of the team's passing camp. "Every day seems to be better than the one before it."
With competitions brewing at nearly every position on the roster, McDaniels has noticed vigorous play across the board -- even if this week's camp is being played without pads.
"Everybody is working hard. We are getting a lot of repetitions and a lot of guys are getting work," McDaniels said. "I think we are really getting the most out of our players."
Eleven-year veteran Brandon Stokley said he believes working in McDaniels' system in passing camp will help the offensive unit be more effective come training camp in July.
"It's always different," Stokley said of initially learning a new system. "You've got different terminology, different ways of doing things. In that aspect, it is a little bit difficult. But once you get the hang of it, it's like any other offense."
When Eddie Royal first began dissecting the system, habits from last year's offense crept into the back of his mind. But, just as he was able to transition from Virginia Tech's offensive system to the Broncos', Royal said he is beginning to find his groove.
Royal's offensive counterpart, Chris Simms, echoed similar sentiments. The seventh-year signal-caller said there is "no doubt" that the team is making strides offensively.
"Take (Thursday) for instance, they are throwing a lot of new stuff on us and we have to learn it on the go and cram it in here and try to do the best we can with it," Simms said. "We make mistakes every now and then, but I think as a whole we've been pretty consistent and offensively we've been putting some good things together."
At the speed in which his team is moving during passing camp, McDaniels said players have no choice but to grasp knowledge on the fly.
"The pace is pretty frantic out there," he said. "(Practices) are going to have a lot of different things included in them and our players are going to be held accountable because if we don't do those things right in a game, we're not going to win. We've got to do a lot of things right in practice to carry them over to games."
BUILDING CHEMISTRY
With nearly half of the roster reloaded from last season's squad, players aren't just getting used to new philosophies. Teammates are getting acquainted to each other as well.
"We've been heading in the right direction as far as that is concerned too," Simms said. "I think we have a lot of good guys; a lot of good guys that come to work every day ready to be disciplined, ready to do what they are supposed to do."
ARRINGTON RELEASED
McDaniels said Thursday that the Broncos have released running back J.J. Arrington due to injury concerns.
"We wouldn't have signed him if we didn't hope we could have had something turn out with the injury. But it just got to the point that we realized and he realized that it wasn't going to work out for him this year with the injury," McDaniels said. "We wish him the best in terms of going through his rehab and whatever he may end up choosing to do. But he was great for us when he was here - he has a great attitude, a great approach. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him as long as we did. Maybe we'll get another opportunity down the road."