Lonestar
08-12-2009, 03:33 AM
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
Posted: 08/12/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT
Broncos rookie safety Darcel McBath said he has taken a rather simple approach to his first NFL training camp.
"I have a lot to learn, I know that," McBath said. "This is my first camp, so I'm just trying to learn something new every day, something I didn't know the day before."
And now it seems McBath has learned enough to at least take some practice reps with the starting defense in Brian Dawkins' absence. Rookie David Bruton had been working in Dawkins' free safety spot since the veteran fractured his hand, but McBath worked there in Tuesday morning's practice.
Bruton is a little bigger — 211 pounds compared to McBath's 198 — and also ran faster in predraft workouts, but scouts considered McBath a more polished tackler on defense.
McBath was a late riser on many teams' draft boards before the Broncos selected him in the second round, 48th overall. He started 39 consecutive games to close out his collegiate career at Texas Tech, but also played on a defense camouflaged by the vapor trail of the Red Raiders' high-flying offense.
"We were hidden some, maybe," McBath said. "But just coming in, watching my film, maybe guys could see I can play."
The Broncos have not said when Dawkins will return to the field, but the expectation is that the veteran safety, currently wearing a heavy wrap on his repaired right hand and shaking hands left-handed, is at least a couple weeks away from returning to practice.
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13041391?source=rss
The Denver Post
Posted: 08/12/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT
Broncos rookie safety Darcel McBath said he has taken a rather simple approach to his first NFL training camp.
"I have a lot to learn, I know that," McBath said. "This is my first camp, so I'm just trying to learn something new every day, something I didn't know the day before."
And now it seems McBath has learned enough to at least take some practice reps with the starting defense in Brian Dawkins' absence. Rookie David Bruton had been working in Dawkins' free safety spot since the veteran fractured his hand, but McBath worked there in Tuesday morning's practice.
Bruton is a little bigger — 211 pounds compared to McBath's 198 — and also ran faster in predraft workouts, but scouts considered McBath a more polished tackler on defense.
McBath was a late riser on many teams' draft boards before the Broncos selected him in the second round, 48th overall. He started 39 consecutive games to close out his collegiate career at Texas Tech, but also played on a defense camouflaged by the vapor trail of the Red Raiders' high-flying offense.
"We were hidden some, maybe," McBath said. "But just coming in, watching my film, maybe guys could see I can play."
The Broncos have not said when Dawkins will return to the field, but the expectation is that the veteran safety, currently wearing a heavy wrap on his repaired right hand and shaking hands left-handed, is at least a couple weeks away from returning to practice.
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13041391?source=rss