Lonestar
08-12-2009, 03:30 AM
Klis:
By Mike Klis
The Denver Post
Posted: 08/12/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT
For something that is widely considered meaningless, a preseason game can consume a young man's livelihood.
"It could be a deciding factor in whether I stay here or wind up having to leave and go to another team," Broncos backup nose tackle Chris Baker said about the game Friday night at San Francisco.
"It's my playoff, my Super Bowl," said Broncos' backup linebacker Lee Robinson. "The preseason is my four-game playoff."
Over the years, the Broncos have been decent at culling quality players from their annual undrafted rookie group. There was Erik Pears in 2005; Mike Bell in 2006; Selvin Young in 2007; Brett Kern and Wesley Woodyard in 2008.
Rod Smith in 1994.
This year, new coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders signed 16 undrafted free agents, or roughly 10 more than usual for the Broncos. From this group of longshots, Baker and Robinson appear to have the best chance of making the season-starting 53-man roster.
Baker is a 329-pound nose tackle by way of Penn State and Hampton (Va.) University. Baker already is the team's second-string nose tackle, behind Ron Fields, an NFL veteran who is 15 pounds lighter.
A nose tackle has considerable value to a 3-4 defense. The Broncos had considered drafting Baker in the middle to late rounds, but character issues forced him to slide past the seventh and final round.
"That's probably a fair assessment," he said.
Baker got kicked off Penn State's team after his sophomore year for his alleged involvement in two off-field brawls. He transferred to Division I-AA Hampton, where after his junior year, he said his draft advisory grade was the third or fourth round.
"I felt like if I had I stayed at Penn State, then I probably would have been drafted," Baker said. "But I also felt like God has a plan for your life. I had to be humbled, and he makes things happen for a reason."
Robinson could fill the Louis Green-type role that became available with Green's offseason release. Like Green, Robinson played his college ball at Alcorn State. Also like Green, Robinson is a backup linebacker who is lining up on the Broncos' No. 1 kickoff return and kickoff coverage teams.
It may be tough work for little reward, but somebody from Alcorn State has to do it.
"I don't look at it that way," Robinson said. "I look at it as helping the team no matter which way I have to. The coaches tell me to run hard and hit somebody, and that's what I do."
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13041200?source=rss
By Mike Klis
The Denver Post
Posted: 08/12/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT
For something that is widely considered meaningless, a preseason game can consume a young man's livelihood.
"It could be a deciding factor in whether I stay here or wind up having to leave and go to another team," Broncos backup nose tackle Chris Baker said about the game Friday night at San Francisco.
"It's my playoff, my Super Bowl," said Broncos' backup linebacker Lee Robinson. "The preseason is my four-game playoff."
Over the years, the Broncos have been decent at culling quality players from their annual undrafted rookie group. There was Erik Pears in 2005; Mike Bell in 2006; Selvin Young in 2007; Brett Kern and Wesley Woodyard in 2008.
Rod Smith in 1994.
This year, new coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders signed 16 undrafted free agents, or roughly 10 more than usual for the Broncos. From this group of longshots, Baker and Robinson appear to have the best chance of making the season-starting 53-man roster.
Baker is a 329-pound nose tackle by way of Penn State and Hampton (Va.) University. Baker already is the team's second-string nose tackle, behind Ron Fields, an NFL veteran who is 15 pounds lighter.
A nose tackle has considerable value to a 3-4 defense. The Broncos had considered drafting Baker in the middle to late rounds, but character issues forced him to slide past the seventh and final round.
"That's probably a fair assessment," he said.
Baker got kicked off Penn State's team after his sophomore year for his alleged involvement in two off-field brawls. He transferred to Division I-AA Hampton, where after his junior year, he said his draft advisory grade was the third or fourth round.
"I felt like if I had I stayed at Penn State, then I probably would have been drafted," Baker said. "But I also felt like God has a plan for your life. I had to be humbled, and he makes things happen for a reason."
Robinson could fill the Louis Green-type role that became available with Green's offseason release. Like Green, Robinson played his college ball at Alcorn State. Also like Green, Robinson is a backup linebacker who is lining up on the Broncos' No. 1 kickoff return and kickoff coverage teams.
It may be tough work for little reward, but somebody from Alcorn State has to do it.
"I don't look at it that way," Robinson said. "I look at it as helping the team no matter which way I have to. The coaches tell me to run hard and hit somebody, and that's what I do."
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13041200?source=rss