Denver Native (Carol)
10-26-2009, 06:55 PM
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_13644864
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels managed to pry himself away from football over the Broncos' off-weekend long enough to join his wife and two young kids on an excursion to the Denver zoo.
But back at Dove Valley on Monday morning, all of McDaniels' focus was on the Baltimore Ravens, the Broncos' opponent Sunday in Baltimore.
McDaniels said the Ravens (3-3) are among the NFL's most physical teams, especially on defense with linebackers Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs and safety Ed Reed.
"I know that's the way they play, that's their style on all three phases," McDaniels said. "If you're not ready for that style of play, you can get embarrassed by a team like this on the road. They're coming off a bye so I'm sure they'll be ested and ready to go, so we know it's going to be that type of game.
McDaniels and his staff spent plenty of time last week working on their game plan for Baltimore, and started presenting it to players Monday morning after players returned from nearly five full days off.
Players had meetings in the morning and were scheduled for a two-hour practice in the afternoon.
The only two players missing from the start of practice were safety Brian Dawkins and defensive end Le Kevin Smith. Dawkins missed part of the first half of last Monday's game with a hamstring injury but played the entire second half. Smith missed part of the preseason and the first two games of the regular season with a knee injury.
Linebacker Spencer Larsen made his return to practice for the first time since injuring his shoulder shortly before kickoff of the season opener in Cincinnati.
"He's a valuable player," McDaniels said. "He contributes on every phase, and that's unique."
Broncos coach Josh McDaniels managed to pry himself away from football over the Broncos' off-weekend long enough to join his wife and two young kids on an excursion to the Denver zoo.
But back at Dove Valley on Monday morning, all of McDaniels' focus was on the Baltimore Ravens, the Broncos' opponent Sunday in Baltimore.
McDaniels said the Ravens (3-3) are among the NFL's most physical teams, especially on defense with linebackers Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs and safety Ed Reed.
"I know that's the way they play, that's their style on all three phases," McDaniels said. "If you're not ready for that style of play, you can get embarrassed by a team like this on the road. They're coming off a bye so I'm sure they'll be ested and ready to go, so we know it's going to be that type of game.
McDaniels and his staff spent plenty of time last week working on their game plan for Baltimore, and started presenting it to players Monday morning after players returned from nearly five full days off.
Players had meetings in the morning and were scheduled for a two-hour practice in the afternoon.
The only two players missing from the start of practice were safety Brian Dawkins and defensive end Le Kevin Smith. Dawkins missed part of the first half of last Monday's game with a hamstring injury but played the entire second half. Smith missed part of the preseason and the first two games of the regular season with a knee injury.
Linebacker Spencer Larsen made his return to practice for the first time since injuring his shoulder shortly before kickoff of the season opener in Cincinnati.
"He's a valuable player," McDaniels said. "He contributes on every phase, and that's unique."