Denver Native (Carol)
08-09-2009, 09:31 PM
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=9213
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- When the Broncos tabbed Knowshon Moreno as their top pick and the top running back selected in the 2009 NFL Draft, his skill set was cited as one of his greatest strengths.
Signed and in pads at his first pro training camp practice on Sunday, Moreno and his skill set were both in attendance.
In anticipation of that first whistle at Dove Valley, the rookie was admittedly nervous. Once that whistle blew, his feelings were replaced by football.
"I felt sick to my stomach a little bit there before practice," Moreno said. "But after I got the juices flowing, it was just practice."
Head Coach Josh McDaniels wasted little time in incorporating Moreno into the team's scheme, throwing the rookie into reps with running backs Correll Buckhalter and LaMont Jordan. Moreno also got a dose of the speed of a pro defender, squaring off in a 1-on-1 tackling drill with D.J. Williams.
The results were far from disappointing.
"I thought I needed some contact getting out here for the first day," Moreno said. "I got that."
Moreno got to show the coaching staff his full arsenal of skills. In that drill with Williams, McDaniels noted his quickness and ability to catch the ball. The big picture from April's draft was beginning to take shape.
"(The defense) had a hard time tackling him in the tackling drill," McDaniels said. "He can run between the tackles (or) run outside. He is what we thought he was when we drafted him.
Moreno also got the chance to gauge his workload for the forthcoming weeks. He spent most of the first week of training camp working out in Georgia with his college teammates, filling the time with plenty of running, while getting adjusted to the heat.
Now, Moreno is readjusting himself to the heat and the altitude. So far, the process has been a smooth one.
"Missing those days hurt, not being here," Moreno said. "But at the same time, I'm in that playbook. I'm getting here early with the coach and I'm studying again. So it's all going well right now."
After one practice, Moreno already has an idea of what he adds to the offensive equation for the Broncos, citing his energy, passion for the game, and ability to compete. As for anything else, the rookie thinks those elements will begin to take shape when the team faces the 49ers on Friday.
"That's all we can do right now since it's so early," Moreno said. "The rest will fall into place."
That positive attitude is an extension of the confidence McDaniels has in the newest member on his roster. With Moreno's smarts, he has few qualms about his first-year back having to play catchup.
"He knows how far behind the other guys he is and what he doesn't know," McDaniels said. "At this point, that is as important as what he does know, because now, he knows what he has to work harder at."
When asked if he will play in Friday's preseason opener at San Francisco, Moreno stayed focused on the present.
"I'm not sure," Moreno said. "Right now I'm just back at practice."
As did McDaniels. When asked if his top pick in the 2009 NFL draft has a chance to play at the 49ers, he replied: "Absolutely."
CHERISHING HIS CANTON MEMORIES
As a Canton, Ohio native, McDaniels often looks forward to the month of August for a noteworthy football event to circle on his calendar.
With Sunday night's Bills-Titans Hall of Fame game marking the official kickoff of football's preseason, McDaniels took time after practice to reminisce about his experiences attending the festivities.
"I used to go to the parade, the ribs burn off, the enshrinement (and) the game," he said. "Everything that I could get into, I was there."
In the midst of mentally and physically grooming his team for the upcoming season, McDaniels added that the inductees offer some of the best advice out there for aspiring players like those on his roster.
"I think it is just a special night for football in general," he said. "You see how much that induction and to be placed in the Hall means to those people. It gives these young kids that are still playing today a little bit of a different perspective on the fact that this means a lot (and) don't take it for granted.
CHANGES IN MONDAY'S PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Monday's 5:30 p.m. practice at Dove Valley has been canceled. The Broncos will practice in the morning at INVESCO Field at Mile High, but that session is closed to the public.
Three days after performing in front of 13,000-plus fans, McDaniels is looking forward to getting in another stadium session before the preseason opener.
"We are going to walk through stretching, our sideline operation, where we want to sit when we are not on defense, where we want to sit when we are not out there on offense," he said. "Just communication between upstairs and on the field, the coach and the quarterback. Just one more time through that before we actually do it on Friday night for real."
The team will return to Dove Valley on Tuesday for it's regularly scheduled two-a-day sessions. Those start at 8:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and are open to the public.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- When the Broncos tabbed Knowshon Moreno as their top pick and the top running back selected in the 2009 NFL Draft, his skill set was cited as one of his greatest strengths.
Signed and in pads at his first pro training camp practice on Sunday, Moreno and his skill set were both in attendance.
In anticipation of that first whistle at Dove Valley, the rookie was admittedly nervous. Once that whistle blew, his feelings were replaced by football.
"I felt sick to my stomach a little bit there before practice," Moreno said. "But after I got the juices flowing, it was just practice."
Head Coach Josh McDaniels wasted little time in incorporating Moreno into the team's scheme, throwing the rookie into reps with running backs Correll Buckhalter and LaMont Jordan. Moreno also got a dose of the speed of a pro defender, squaring off in a 1-on-1 tackling drill with D.J. Williams.
The results were far from disappointing.
"I thought I needed some contact getting out here for the first day," Moreno said. "I got that."
Moreno got to show the coaching staff his full arsenal of skills. In that drill with Williams, McDaniels noted his quickness and ability to catch the ball. The big picture from April's draft was beginning to take shape.
"(The defense) had a hard time tackling him in the tackling drill," McDaniels said. "He can run between the tackles (or) run outside. He is what we thought he was when we drafted him.
Moreno also got the chance to gauge his workload for the forthcoming weeks. He spent most of the first week of training camp working out in Georgia with his college teammates, filling the time with plenty of running, while getting adjusted to the heat.
Now, Moreno is readjusting himself to the heat and the altitude. So far, the process has been a smooth one.
"Missing those days hurt, not being here," Moreno said. "But at the same time, I'm in that playbook. I'm getting here early with the coach and I'm studying again. So it's all going well right now."
After one practice, Moreno already has an idea of what he adds to the offensive equation for the Broncos, citing his energy, passion for the game, and ability to compete. As for anything else, the rookie thinks those elements will begin to take shape when the team faces the 49ers on Friday.
"That's all we can do right now since it's so early," Moreno said. "The rest will fall into place."
That positive attitude is an extension of the confidence McDaniels has in the newest member on his roster. With Moreno's smarts, he has few qualms about his first-year back having to play catchup.
"He knows how far behind the other guys he is and what he doesn't know," McDaniels said. "At this point, that is as important as what he does know, because now, he knows what he has to work harder at."
When asked if he will play in Friday's preseason opener at San Francisco, Moreno stayed focused on the present.
"I'm not sure," Moreno said. "Right now I'm just back at practice."
As did McDaniels. When asked if his top pick in the 2009 NFL draft has a chance to play at the 49ers, he replied: "Absolutely."
CHERISHING HIS CANTON MEMORIES
As a Canton, Ohio native, McDaniels often looks forward to the month of August for a noteworthy football event to circle on his calendar.
With Sunday night's Bills-Titans Hall of Fame game marking the official kickoff of football's preseason, McDaniels took time after practice to reminisce about his experiences attending the festivities.
"I used to go to the parade, the ribs burn off, the enshrinement (and) the game," he said. "Everything that I could get into, I was there."
In the midst of mentally and physically grooming his team for the upcoming season, McDaniels added that the inductees offer some of the best advice out there for aspiring players like those on his roster.
"I think it is just a special night for football in general," he said. "You see how much that induction and to be placed in the Hall means to those people. It gives these young kids that are still playing today a little bit of a different perspective on the fact that this means a lot (and) don't take it for granted.
CHANGES IN MONDAY'S PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Monday's 5:30 p.m. practice at Dove Valley has been canceled. The Broncos will practice in the morning at INVESCO Field at Mile High, but that session is closed to the public.
Three days after performing in front of 13,000-plus fans, McDaniels is looking forward to getting in another stadium session before the preseason opener.
"We are going to walk through stretching, our sideline operation, where we want to sit when we are not on defense, where we want to sit when we are not out there on offense," he said. "Just communication between upstairs and on the field, the coach and the quarterback. Just one more time through that before we actually do it on Friday night for real."
The team will return to Dove Valley on Tuesday for it's regularly scheduled two-a-day sessions. Those start at 8:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and are open to the public.