http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_15708312
Early in Saturday evening's public practice at Invesco Field, Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton dropped back to pass on third-and-4 from his 28.
Second-year linebacker Robert Ayers steamed around left tackle D'Anthony Batiste, reached Orton and pulled up. If he'd had a lawn chair, he would have had time to set it up, have a seat and possibly pour himself a beverage.
Ignoring this unexpected spectator, Orton found Jabar Gaffney on a crossing pattern in front of safety Renaldo Hill for a first down. The crowd of more than 20,000 cheered.
A few moments before, on a goal-line series from the 1 1/2-yard line, the Broncos tried each of their available backs, running behind tight ends lined up as fullbacks. On five running plays to Lance Ball (two), Bruce Hall (two) and Toney Baker (one), none of them sniffed the goal line. Each time I looked at the fallen back to figure out which one it was, Ayers seemed to be standing over him.
When I mentioned to coach Josh McDaniels afterward that it looked as if the former first-round draft pick from Tennessee would have had a couple of sacks if they were permitted, he nodded.
"And he dominated the entire goal-line period," McDan- iels said. "He's a totally different player. We're proud of him, because we told him at the beginning of the offseason it's time for him to take a step from being a rookie to being the type of player we thought he could be.
"He had a great offseason program, and he started training camp well. We keep telling him, 'You started it well, now we've got to finish it. We've got to go into the season playing the same way.' But he's doing the physical things that we thought he could do and really dominating the edge."
Ayers already had been penciled in as the likely starter at outside linebacker opposite Elvis Dumervil, but when last year's NFL sack leader went down with a potentially season-ending injury to a pectoral muscle, Ayers' development became a critical component of the Broncos' defense.
"No matter what I do, I'm not going to be able to replace Elvis," Ayers said when practice was over. "He's a great player, a great leader. And no one can come and replace a great player and a great leader.
"All I'm going to try to do is help this team win and try to make him proud.
"I talked to him and I told him, 'I'm going to do everything I can to make you proud, and the rest of the team is going to do the same thing.' "
On a team in search of playmakers on both sides of the ball, the most encouraging aspect of Saturday night's stadium practice was the play of Ayers on defense and rookie Demaryius Thomas on offense, even if Thomas had to limp off after coming down awkwardly on his left foot following one of two touchdown catches.
But while the quest for offensive playmakers has been going on at least since Brandon Marshall was traded, the attempt to compensate for the loss of Dumervil has just begun.
A big season from Ayers, who was mostly a disappointment as a rookie, would go a long way toward helping fill the hole Dumervil's injury leaves.
"This time a year ago, I wasn't even practicing," Ayers said. "I was still trying to work out my contract. So it's good to be here and start from the beginning with everybody else and build from the first day on. It's a big difference. I'm not a rookie anymore. I feel more comfortable being a pro."
As for holding down the action-edge position Dumervil left open, Ayers considers it his.
"My mind-set after the season, when OTAs (organized team activities) started, I set a goal that I was going to be the starter and I never looked back," he said.
"I've always felt like I was the starter ever since the end of last season. That's not a goal of mine anymore. I know I'm the starter. Even when Elvis was here, I knew I was a starter and I just tried to build and keep getting better. I definitely want to establish myself as a great player. I want to be amongst the elite."
Practice, of course, is only practice. As McDaniels pointed out, Ayers needs to follow through on his strong start. So think of Saturday's showcase as a preview of coming attractions. Before the season is over, the Broncos hope to see him standing over a lot of offensive players.