Lonestar
09-08-2009, 10:10 PM
By Zach Eisendrath
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- In the midst of trimming down their roster to the NFL-mandated regular season limit of 53 players, the Broncos added a proven veteran to their defensive unit over the weekend.
During a weekend full of transactions, the club signed defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday to a free agent contract.
A twelve-year pro, Holliday brings a host of experience to the Broncos' defensive unit, as he has started 141 games with the Packers, Chiefs and Dolphins over the course of his pro tenure.
"I think he can help improve our depth on the defensive line," Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. "He's obviously played that position. He's got some knowledge about how to play it and I think that's helpful for some of our younger players too."
Although he missed all of training camp while recovering from an injury, Denver hopes Holliday can post similar numbers to his output last season for the AFC East champion Dolphins. He totaled 46 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble, while starting 15 games alongside current Broncos Renaldo Hill and Andre Goodman.
Still in the evaluating process, defensive coordinator Mike Nolan said he is not sure when Holliday will be ready to contribute to his full potential. For now, the coaching staff will take a day-to-day approach in assessing the 6-foot-5, 285 pounder.
Nonetheless, Nolan said he is excited that Holliday is part of his unit because he believes the 33-year-old can eventually make an impact on the club in more ways than one.
"I would hope in the end, whether it's this week, the next or after that, that he gives us not only the ability to play -- which he has proven that over a long career -- but also some leadership and other things that go along with that," Nolan said. "How much he'll contribute early on, we'll have to wait and see."
Broncos brass previously met with Holliday earlier this offseason, and stayed in touch with the veteran as he worked his way back from injury throughout the summer. Now healthy, McDaniels believes Holliday -- familiar with the team's 3-4 scheme -- will work well upfront in the club's system.
McDaniels admits Holliday isn't ready to take on a full workload in the team's season opener at Cincinnati on Sunday. However, the club is quickly integrating him into its defensive rotation. Holliday has only practiced with the team for two days, but he's already been thrown into the fire on the practice field, making it not unthinkable that he could take to the field against the Bengals.
"We're working him hard," McDaniels said. "He's taking reps on the show teams, our defense, trying to make sure that he's in as good a shape that he can possibly get himself in before the weekend."
ORTON TAKES REPS
Quarterback Kyle Orton was on the practice field Tuesday, taking snaps under center after missing the team's preseason finale against Arizona.
Orton sported a glove on his throwing hand throughout practice, but offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mike McCoy said he didn't notice any limitations from his starting quarterback.
"I don't see any right now, to be honest," he said. "He went out there and did a nice job throwing the ball around and did a nice job throughout the entire practice."
"When it is someone's hand who is a quarterback, you look at every little thing just to see what he can do and what he can't do," McCoy continued. "It was obvious today that he could do it all."
Likewise, McDaniels was pleased with how Orton performed -- calling the quarterback's practice session, for the most part, "clean."
McDaniels wouldn't say if Orton will start on Sunday. He'd like more time to evaluate Orton throughout the week, and see if he can handle the team's game plan. But if he fits both criteria, Orton could be the team's signal caller in Week 1.
"It's a combination of the healing process and then how effective he can be," McDaniels said. "If he's able to be the most effective guy we've got, then certainly he'll play."
INTERNS AT DOVE VALLEY
Internships can pay big dividends in the long run. Just ask Raheem Morris, Herm Edwards, Marvin Lewis, Lovie Smith and Mike Tomlin -- graduates of the league's Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship that have went on to become head coaches at the professional level.
Broncos defensive line coach Wayne Nunnely is also a graduate of the acclaimed program, which continues to produce new coaching candidates each year.
This year during training camp, the Broncos welcomed three collegiate coaches to Dove Valley: Former Kentucky State University Head Coach Fred Farrier, University of Hawaii defensive coordinator Dave Aranda and Notre Dame offensive assistant David Hanna.
During their stay at team headquarters, the three coaching interns split up their workload evenly. Farrier, participated in a similar internship role with the Bengals last year, assisted McCoy with the offensive unit. Meanwhile, Aranda -- a former defensive assistant at Texas Tech University -- worked with Nolan on the defensive side of the ball. Hanna, who interned with the Dallas Cowboys last season, assisted special teams coordinator Mike Priefer with his units during the internship.
In total, a record-high 90 coaching interns participated in the program during training camp.
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=9323
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- In the midst of trimming down their roster to the NFL-mandated regular season limit of 53 players, the Broncos added a proven veteran to their defensive unit over the weekend.
During a weekend full of transactions, the club signed defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday to a free agent contract.
A twelve-year pro, Holliday brings a host of experience to the Broncos' defensive unit, as he has started 141 games with the Packers, Chiefs and Dolphins over the course of his pro tenure.
"I think he can help improve our depth on the defensive line," Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. "He's obviously played that position. He's got some knowledge about how to play it and I think that's helpful for some of our younger players too."
Although he missed all of training camp while recovering from an injury, Denver hopes Holliday can post similar numbers to his output last season for the AFC East champion Dolphins. He totaled 46 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble, while starting 15 games alongside current Broncos Renaldo Hill and Andre Goodman.
Still in the evaluating process, defensive coordinator Mike Nolan said he is not sure when Holliday will be ready to contribute to his full potential. For now, the coaching staff will take a day-to-day approach in assessing the 6-foot-5, 285 pounder.
Nonetheless, Nolan said he is excited that Holliday is part of his unit because he believes the 33-year-old can eventually make an impact on the club in more ways than one.
"I would hope in the end, whether it's this week, the next or after that, that he gives us not only the ability to play -- which he has proven that over a long career -- but also some leadership and other things that go along with that," Nolan said. "How much he'll contribute early on, we'll have to wait and see."
Broncos brass previously met with Holliday earlier this offseason, and stayed in touch with the veteran as he worked his way back from injury throughout the summer. Now healthy, McDaniels believes Holliday -- familiar with the team's 3-4 scheme -- will work well upfront in the club's system.
McDaniels admits Holliday isn't ready to take on a full workload in the team's season opener at Cincinnati on Sunday. However, the club is quickly integrating him into its defensive rotation. Holliday has only practiced with the team for two days, but he's already been thrown into the fire on the practice field, making it not unthinkable that he could take to the field against the Bengals.
"We're working him hard," McDaniels said. "He's taking reps on the show teams, our defense, trying to make sure that he's in as good a shape that he can possibly get himself in before the weekend."
ORTON TAKES REPS
Quarterback Kyle Orton was on the practice field Tuesday, taking snaps under center after missing the team's preseason finale against Arizona.
Orton sported a glove on his throwing hand throughout practice, but offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mike McCoy said he didn't notice any limitations from his starting quarterback.
"I don't see any right now, to be honest," he said. "He went out there and did a nice job throwing the ball around and did a nice job throughout the entire practice."
"When it is someone's hand who is a quarterback, you look at every little thing just to see what he can do and what he can't do," McCoy continued. "It was obvious today that he could do it all."
Likewise, McDaniels was pleased with how Orton performed -- calling the quarterback's practice session, for the most part, "clean."
McDaniels wouldn't say if Orton will start on Sunday. He'd like more time to evaluate Orton throughout the week, and see if he can handle the team's game plan. But if he fits both criteria, Orton could be the team's signal caller in Week 1.
"It's a combination of the healing process and then how effective he can be," McDaniels said. "If he's able to be the most effective guy we've got, then certainly he'll play."
INTERNS AT DOVE VALLEY
Internships can pay big dividends in the long run. Just ask Raheem Morris, Herm Edwards, Marvin Lewis, Lovie Smith and Mike Tomlin -- graduates of the league's Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship that have went on to become head coaches at the professional level.
Broncos defensive line coach Wayne Nunnely is also a graduate of the acclaimed program, which continues to produce new coaching candidates each year.
This year during training camp, the Broncos welcomed three collegiate coaches to Dove Valley: Former Kentucky State University Head Coach Fred Farrier, University of Hawaii defensive coordinator Dave Aranda and Notre Dame offensive assistant David Hanna.
During their stay at team headquarters, the three coaching interns split up their workload evenly. Farrier, participated in a similar internship role with the Bengals last year, assisted McCoy with the offensive unit. Meanwhile, Aranda -- a former defensive assistant at Texas Tech University -- worked with Nolan on the defensive side of the ball. Hanna, who interned with the Dallas Cowboys last season, assisted special teams coordinator Mike Priefer with his units during the internship.
In total, a record-high 90 coaching interns participated in the program during training camp.
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=9323