Denver Native (Carol)
06-13-2009, 05:18 PM
http://blog.denverbroncos.com/denverbroncos/minicamp-day-two/
On a day when Head Coach Josh McDaniels named Kyle Orton the starter at quarterback, there was plenty to report from practice.
The music continued during Saturday’s session, kicking off with a little U2 when the media arrived as the team stretched. The playlist today ranged from The Roots to Gavin DeGraw to Run DMC. In addition, one of the strangest transitions you’ll ever hear — Kenny Chesney’s “Summertime” was followed immediately by The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight.” Clearly the Broncos have an eclectic taste in music.
Now here are a few snippets from Saturday’s practice.
MAKING PLAYS
Last season, the Broncos defense didn’t cause many turnovers. So the coaching staff has clearly made it a point to work on that statistic this offseason.
During Saturday’s practice, one defensive back would line up five yards behind a receiver while another lined up about 15 yards ahead. Defensive backs coach Ed Donatell blew the whistle and threw the ball to the receiver, who took off. The trailing DB chased down the receiver, who was being held up by the DB who lined up in front, and practiced punching the ball out to cause a fumble.
It’s all about teaching that if you’re not the first man to the tackle, try to strip the ball.
SWARMING DEFENSE
The defense was everywhere today. From Lou Green diving to break up a pass before it reached Brandon Stokley to Andra Davis snagging an interception after a pass bounced of a helmet, most of the breaks in today’s practice went the defense’s way.
That’s not to say the defense wasn’t making its own breaks. Jack Williams also had an interception, Alphonso Smith batted a ball at the line of scrimmage, found it in the air and grabbed the pick, and Robert Ayers had an interception he returned for a touchdown before being mobbed by the defense.
A few breaks fell the way of the offense, however. Josh Barrett had an interception in his hands that slipped through his fingers — and Eddie Royal quickly dove and grabbed the ball before it hit the ground. In another instance, a ball was batted into the air, but rookie Kenny McKinley swooped in to grab it and head upfield before the defense could capitalize.
QUICK HITS
# During a drill in the red zone, Orton asked Jabar Gaffney before a route whether he likes high passes or line drives when he’s running routes into the end zone. Just in case you’re an AFC West defensive back reading this blog, I won’t tell you the answer. Just know that the next play was a touchdown.
# A few days ago, the defensive line used a JUGS machine to practice swatting passes at the line of scrimmage. It seems to be an effective drill, as several balls were knocked down at Saturday’s practice. Jarvis Moss twice made the play.
# Knowshon Moreno, who took some reps with the first group today, caught two touchdowns out of the backfield. On one play, he ran a route out of the backfield and caught the ball over his shoulder before kicking it into gear and sprinting past the defense down the sideline for a long score. On another, he caught it behind the line of scrimmage and simply beat his man to the sideline before diving at the pylon.
# Every day at practice, the quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends and receivers run through a drill where coaches try to strip the ball. Chad Jackson has been the joker of the group — once the players are through the line, he tries to knock the ball out of teammates’ arms from behind. Today he popped the ball away from Peyton Hillis, who snatched it back out of the air. Meanwhile, Ryan Torain — who participated in practice for the second day in a row — tried to smack the ball away from Jackson at the same time.
# Tim Crowder continued to get some work at outside linebacker with the first group, alongside Ryan McBean, Ronald Fields and Kenny Peterson on the line, Andra Davis, D.J. Williams and Robert Ayers at linebacker and Champ Bailey, Andre’ Goodman, Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill in the secondary.
On a day when Head Coach Josh McDaniels named Kyle Orton the starter at quarterback, there was plenty to report from practice.
The music continued during Saturday’s session, kicking off with a little U2 when the media arrived as the team stretched. The playlist today ranged from The Roots to Gavin DeGraw to Run DMC. In addition, one of the strangest transitions you’ll ever hear — Kenny Chesney’s “Summertime” was followed immediately by The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight.” Clearly the Broncos have an eclectic taste in music.
Now here are a few snippets from Saturday’s practice.
MAKING PLAYS
Last season, the Broncos defense didn’t cause many turnovers. So the coaching staff has clearly made it a point to work on that statistic this offseason.
During Saturday’s practice, one defensive back would line up five yards behind a receiver while another lined up about 15 yards ahead. Defensive backs coach Ed Donatell blew the whistle and threw the ball to the receiver, who took off. The trailing DB chased down the receiver, who was being held up by the DB who lined up in front, and practiced punching the ball out to cause a fumble.
It’s all about teaching that if you’re not the first man to the tackle, try to strip the ball.
SWARMING DEFENSE
The defense was everywhere today. From Lou Green diving to break up a pass before it reached Brandon Stokley to Andra Davis snagging an interception after a pass bounced of a helmet, most of the breaks in today’s practice went the defense’s way.
That’s not to say the defense wasn’t making its own breaks. Jack Williams also had an interception, Alphonso Smith batted a ball at the line of scrimmage, found it in the air and grabbed the pick, and Robert Ayers had an interception he returned for a touchdown before being mobbed by the defense.
A few breaks fell the way of the offense, however. Josh Barrett had an interception in his hands that slipped through his fingers — and Eddie Royal quickly dove and grabbed the ball before it hit the ground. In another instance, a ball was batted into the air, but rookie Kenny McKinley swooped in to grab it and head upfield before the defense could capitalize.
QUICK HITS
# During a drill in the red zone, Orton asked Jabar Gaffney before a route whether he likes high passes or line drives when he’s running routes into the end zone. Just in case you’re an AFC West defensive back reading this blog, I won’t tell you the answer. Just know that the next play was a touchdown.
# A few days ago, the defensive line used a JUGS machine to practice swatting passes at the line of scrimmage. It seems to be an effective drill, as several balls were knocked down at Saturday’s practice. Jarvis Moss twice made the play.
# Knowshon Moreno, who took some reps with the first group today, caught two touchdowns out of the backfield. On one play, he ran a route out of the backfield and caught the ball over his shoulder before kicking it into gear and sprinting past the defense down the sideline for a long score. On another, he caught it behind the line of scrimmage and simply beat his man to the sideline before diving at the pylon.
# Every day at practice, the quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends and receivers run through a drill where coaches try to strip the ball. Chad Jackson has been the joker of the group — once the players are through the line, he tries to knock the ball out of teammates’ arms from behind. Today he popped the ball away from Peyton Hillis, who snatched it back out of the air. Meanwhile, Ryan Torain — who participated in practice for the second day in a row — tried to smack the ball away from Jackson at the same time.
# Tim Crowder continued to get some work at outside linebacker with the first group, alongside Ryan McBean, Ronald Fields and Kenny Peterson on the line, Andra Davis, D.J. Williams and Robert Ayers at linebacker and Champ Bailey, Andre’ Goodman, Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill in the secondary.