Northman
08-14-2015, 02:09 PM
http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Broncos-Seahawks-Three-things-to-watch-in-the-preseason-opener/d427f4dc-968c-4420-8fcd-fe417ca111a9
SEATTLE -- The scoreboard result of Friday's preseason opener against the Seahawks will be quickly forgotten. But there are a few areas in which this game could provide long-term impact:
1. OFFENSIVE LINE.
It's young, as Head Coach Gary Kubiak promised July 30 at his pre-camp press conference. It might be good. But its composition may change again depending on how the collective unit and each individual player fares.
For rookie left guardMax Garcia (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/max-garcia/3952b7ce-7aaf-4b84-ab0a-bccfbcd43cce/) and 2014 practice-squad center Matt Paradis (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/matt-paradis/89452bd8-fa44-4a29-af03-ad9736b64032/), Friday night's clash at CenturyLink Field represents an opportunity. How will they fare in a hostile environment, and against a defense that is expected to be weakened by injury, but will nevertheless remain ferocious up front? The chemistry Garcia and Paradis developed in their second-team work during the offseason and the first five days of training camp aided their transition to the No. 1 unit, but now they must continue to build cohesion with their new linemates.
Friday also represents a chance for players like Chris Clark (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/chris-clark/bc06a384-5f62-46ac-9c2f-9576eb882db7/), Ben Garland (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/ben-garland/5a313eab-406c-4f4b-8dd3-3971214d7d9f/) andGino Gradkowski (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/gino-gradkowski/4f99c28a-4e7d-4915-b894-66b9319170e5/) to find footing in the race for the starting lineup. Preseason games will have a massive impact on determining the depth chart going into Week 1, and there remains potential for movement up and down.
2. BIG NIGHT FOR THE BACKUP QUARTERBACKS.
It can be argued that no one has more on the line this month in terms of long-term career aspirations thanBrock Osweiler (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/brock-osweiler/4185fe41-eb11-43c8-b812-31a069b07176/). His starting assignment Friday offers him the chance to get timing with the first-team offense while working against a ferocious defense and raucous crowd that represent the most rigorous examination the preseason can provide.
Osweiler had a handful of snaps behind most of the first-team offensive line late in the second quarter of a 2013 preseason loss at Seattle, and struggled under pressure. This will offer an opportunity to see how far he has come, and also to see whether this tweaked offense that melds principles from recent Broncos seasons and concepts from Kubiak and Dennison's offenses is a good fit for the mobile 24-year-old passer.
3. DEFENSIVE POSITION BATTLES.
Much of the starting defense for Week 1 on Sept. 13 appears to be set, barring any further injuries. But with some starters being eased back into work -- both short- and long-term -- Friday represents an opportunity..
Kubiak mentioned Tuesday that there is a competition brewing for the second safety spot between current starter Darian Stewart (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/darian-stewart/cc7abaf4-71f7-4f43-8505-089debc6b670/) and second-teamers David Bruton and Omar Bolden (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/omar-bolden/4ce7c58e-fede-410f-b3cd-db510110aa2f/). Backup cornerback also has some intrigue, with Curtis Marsh (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/curtis-marsh/67ebdac8-3443-4f10-ba3c-c0d265ed3014/), Tony Carter (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/tony-carter/8f24e36f-e753-4790-9265-03f4d2cc9be0/), Lorenzo Doss (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/lorenzo-doss/6e058027-699a-419d-8790-473dc12667e7/),Taurean Nixon (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/taurean-nixon/2a0dc496-5542-4edc-86dd-574b7238da95/) and Tevrin Brandon (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/tevrin-brandon/e3eee5cd-9d0d-4699-bad9-54c4bc6bfcd9/) all having some flashes of brilliance during practices in recent days.
With Chris Harris Jr. (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/chris-harris-jr/6fb07762-c228-4b8e-9a2c-8007c6b1e5e2/) and Kayvon Webster (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/kayvon-webster/01b4eaac-a67e-4484-b952-6a1f8ae6af1b/) missing practice time this week, the ensuing tumble of dominoes should give the young cornerbacks plenty of opportunities. Seattle's ground capability also ensures the coaches will get a good look at what they do against the run, which is how Bradley Roby (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/bradley-roby/d85c2a37-fe3b-4c92-a56b-47e8048cc50a/) made his first impression last year. A cornerback listed on the third, fourth or fifth line of the depth chart could climb the ranks by being effective reading outside runs as they develop and attacking.
SEATTLE -- The scoreboard result of Friday's preseason opener against the Seahawks will be quickly forgotten. But there are a few areas in which this game could provide long-term impact:
1. OFFENSIVE LINE.
It's young, as Head Coach Gary Kubiak promised July 30 at his pre-camp press conference. It might be good. But its composition may change again depending on how the collective unit and each individual player fares.
For rookie left guardMax Garcia (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/max-garcia/3952b7ce-7aaf-4b84-ab0a-bccfbcd43cce/) and 2014 practice-squad center Matt Paradis (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/matt-paradis/89452bd8-fa44-4a29-af03-ad9736b64032/), Friday night's clash at CenturyLink Field represents an opportunity. How will they fare in a hostile environment, and against a defense that is expected to be weakened by injury, but will nevertheless remain ferocious up front? The chemistry Garcia and Paradis developed in their second-team work during the offseason and the first five days of training camp aided their transition to the No. 1 unit, but now they must continue to build cohesion with their new linemates.
Friday also represents a chance for players like Chris Clark (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/chris-clark/bc06a384-5f62-46ac-9c2f-9576eb882db7/), Ben Garland (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/ben-garland/5a313eab-406c-4f4b-8dd3-3971214d7d9f/) andGino Gradkowski (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/gino-gradkowski/4f99c28a-4e7d-4915-b894-66b9319170e5/) to find footing in the race for the starting lineup. Preseason games will have a massive impact on determining the depth chart going into Week 1, and there remains potential for movement up and down.
2. BIG NIGHT FOR THE BACKUP QUARTERBACKS.
It can be argued that no one has more on the line this month in terms of long-term career aspirations thanBrock Osweiler (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/brock-osweiler/4185fe41-eb11-43c8-b812-31a069b07176/). His starting assignment Friday offers him the chance to get timing with the first-team offense while working against a ferocious defense and raucous crowd that represent the most rigorous examination the preseason can provide.
Osweiler had a handful of snaps behind most of the first-team offensive line late in the second quarter of a 2013 preseason loss at Seattle, and struggled under pressure. This will offer an opportunity to see how far he has come, and also to see whether this tweaked offense that melds principles from recent Broncos seasons and concepts from Kubiak and Dennison's offenses is a good fit for the mobile 24-year-old passer.
3. DEFENSIVE POSITION BATTLES.
Much of the starting defense for Week 1 on Sept. 13 appears to be set, barring any further injuries. But with some starters being eased back into work -- both short- and long-term -- Friday represents an opportunity..
Kubiak mentioned Tuesday that there is a competition brewing for the second safety spot between current starter Darian Stewart (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/darian-stewart/cc7abaf4-71f7-4f43-8505-089debc6b670/) and second-teamers David Bruton and Omar Bolden (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/omar-bolden/4ce7c58e-fede-410f-b3cd-db510110aa2f/). Backup cornerback also has some intrigue, with Curtis Marsh (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/curtis-marsh/67ebdac8-3443-4f10-ba3c-c0d265ed3014/), Tony Carter (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/tony-carter/8f24e36f-e753-4790-9265-03f4d2cc9be0/), Lorenzo Doss (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/lorenzo-doss/6e058027-699a-419d-8790-473dc12667e7/),Taurean Nixon (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/taurean-nixon/2a0dc496-5542-4edc-86dd-574b7238da95/) and Tevrin Brandon (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/tevrin-brandon/e3eee5cd-9d0d-4699-bad9-54c4bc6bfcd9/) all having some flashes of brilliance during practices in recent days.
With Chris Harris Jr. (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/chris-harris-jr/6fb07762-c228-4b8e-9a2c-8007c6b1e5e2/) and Kayvon Webster (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/kayvon-webster/01b4eaac-a67e-4484-b952-6a1f8ae6af1b/) missing practice time this week, the ensuing tumble of dominoes should give the young cornerbacks plenty of opportunities. Seattle's ground capability also ensures the coaches will get a good look at what they do against the run, which is how Bradley Roby (http://www.denverbroncos.com/team/roster/bradley-roby/d85c2a37-fe3b-4c92-a56b-47e8048cc50a/) made his first impression last year. A cornerback listed on the third, fourth or fifth line of the depth chart could climb the ranks by being effective reading outside runs as they develop and attacking.