SB Nation - Nic Clemons

Horse Tracks - 9/6/09 - Broncos trim roster to 53 with more changes to come

John Bena — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:34:49 -0000

Moss surprisingly makes Broncos roster - Frank Schwab(Gazette.com)
The biggest surprise among Saturday’s final cuts by the Denver Broncos might have been one of the players that survived.

Crowder goes, Moss stays for Broncos - Lindsay Jones(DP)
Two years ago, the Broncos used their top two draft picks on Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder, with the hope the defensive ends would energize the team's pass rush.

Kiszla's Mailbag
Feel free to skip over this...Oy Ve!

Broncos roster takes shape - Mike Klis(DP)
Veteran coach, rookie coach. Apparently, it doesn't matter. After the Broncos temporarily set their 53-man roster Saturday, they once again wound up with players at every position.

Roster Limit Reached; Holliday Signed - Chris Gentilviso(DB.com)
Saturday's regular-season roster deadline brought several shuffles by the Broncos to reduce the team to 53 players.

NFL: Broncos in a fix as season looms - Jeff Legwold(Salt Lake Trib)
Now on the doorstep to his first regular season as the Broncos head coach, McDaniels still has decisions to make. It's just a whole different set of problems on offense right now.

Broncos release final 12, add Holliday to get to 53(SeattlePI.com)
Defensive linemen Tim Crowder and Nic Clemons were among the players listed on the Denver Broncos' final list of cuts, while veteran end Vonnie Holliday was added to the roster as the team established its 53-man roster.

Horse Tracks 8/8/09 - Knowshon signed; HOF Edition

Douglas A. Lee — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 14:01:49 -0000

DB - All Aboard: Moreno Agrees to Terms

DP - Moreno signs with Broncos, 8 days late - Mike Klis
Honestly, I'd say the Broncos did quite a job getting Knowshon signed. The four players between DHB and Moreno are still without contracts, and the percentage increase for Knowshon's guarantee is less than that of Robert Ayers.

DB - Break in Action - Zach Eisendrath
Friday saw a lighter practice, while today is a much-welcomed day off. QB coach Mike McCoy says his transition from Carolina has been easy, as his training under Dan Henning years ago was quite similar to McDaniels' under Charlie Weis. Kenny Peterson and Chris Baker fielded punts to earn a curfew-free Friday.

DB - Day 8 Blog - Gray Caldwell
Nic Clemons is apparently recovered from his injury, while Wes Woodyard left practice with a possible injury. The LBs coaches have been working daily on improving the players' interception skills. I'll have to agree; fantastic playlist today - I'd love to know who was responsible for that one...

DB - Day 8: McDaniels - Broncos TV
McDaniels says to expect lots of 3-WR formations this year, meaning more action for Brandon Stokley than we're used to seeing.

NFP - Biggs: Denver's go-to guy
Not sure why we don't learn stuff like this from the local guys (unless I missed it), but Brandon Stokley apparently played a huge role in Eddie Royal's life last year.

DB - Day 8: McCoy - Broncos TV
Mike McCoy called it a "very easy decision" to head back to Denver. He stressed that the offense will be molded to best utilize the players' skills, rather than vice versa.

DB - Day 8: Baker - Broncos TV
Chris Baker discusses his punt-fielding skills and his dreams of catching TD passes. He says he's played NT for a long time and understands it's not a "glory" position.

DB - A Few Minutes With Ryan Torain - Broncos TV
Chris Hall catches up with Ryan Torain, who answers fan questions. Everyday of his offseason was rehab, and he admits to having been a Chefs fan growing up in Kansas. But he said, "That's all over now."

DB - Day 8: Transcripts - McDaniels

IDT - Moreno’s signing gives McDaniels all the game pieces - Hunter Ansley

AP - Denver Broncos (Finally) Ink Top Draft Pick Knowshon Moreno - Arnie Stapleton

CSG - Friday's Broncos training camp at a glance - Frank Schwab

DP - Broncos' new corner the real deal - Lindsay Jones
Folks are just starting to figure out what Ted Bartlett's been writing for months...

DP - Jordan's debts new snag for Broncos RB - Jeff Legwold

DP - Briefs: Broncos sure to find a slot for Stokley - Jeff Legwold

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KCS - Chiefs agree to contract with top draft pick Jackson

SDUT - Chargers' draft move motivates Merriman

SDUT - Despite all the other stuff, 'Lights Out' doesn't take day job lightly

SI - LaDanian Tomlinson, Philip Rivers, Shawnee Merriman want to reach SB - Jim Trotter
Someone should let these guys in on a big problem; their coach is Norv Turner...

FOX - Chargers' Sproles is as tough as they come - Mark Kriegel

SFG - Raiders Silver and Black Blog : Marshall sells his plan

SFG - Raiders Silver and Black Blog : Raiders hit a wall

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PFW - Hall of Fame Class of 2009 profiles

Y! - Thomas was more than just life of party - Mike Silver

KCS - Thomas touched and inspired many people - Jason Whitlock

SI - Derrick Thomas' son Derrion keeps his legacy alive - Peter King

KCS - Thomas was a difference-maker on the field

KCS - Thomas’ death left a void on the field that still hasn’t been filled

KCS - Chiefs knew Thomas was their guy in the 1989 draft

KCS - The saddest chapters of Derrick Thomas’ life are the ones he didn’t write

Y! - Debate over Woodson and Sanders continues - Jason Cole

PFW - Woodson reflects on Hall of Fame career

NFL - Notes from Canton: Bills ready for a big weekend - Vic Carucci

NFL - With signing of T.O., Wilson remains on center stage in Buffalo - Thomas George

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NFP - Diner morning news: Pats load up on defense - Mike Lombardi

NFL - With Singletary at the helm, 49ers ready to return to glory days - Bucky Brooks

SI - First-year Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo has team on right track - Don Banks

SI - Vikings put rookie Percy Harvin to work at training camp - Peter King

ESPN - Palpable buzz surrounds '09 Vikings - John Clayton

ESPN - Camp Confidential: Can the Steelers repeat?

ESPN - Colts comfortable with change - Chris Mortensen

SI - David Garrard, Jack del Rio and Jaguars out to prove themselves - Damon Hack

CBS - Packers camp report: Packers hope defensive hero comes in Cape - Clark Judge

FOX - CAMP SIGHTS: Packers escaped the Favre circus - Alex Marvez

NFP - The misery of training camp - Matt Bowen

NFP - Behind the Eli Manning deal - Andrew Brandt

NYT - Should You Be Allowed to Gamble on the N.F.L.? - Toni Monkovic

NFP - 2009 NFP scouting series: Kansas - Wes Bunting

Horse Tracks 8/3/09 - BMarsh tweaks hip or hamstring; Jarvis hopefully returning today

Douglas A. Lee — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:45:30 -0000

DB - Making Moves - Gray Caldwell
Tim Crowder is down to 258 lbs for his switch to OLB/DE and working hard. Meanwhile, Marcus Thomas spoke to his buddy Jarvis Moss and says he'll be back at practice today. While Josh McDaniels and Brian Dawkins both say Alphonso Smith has much to learn, they are both clearly excited about Smith's playmaking skills.

DB - Day 3: A.M. Blog - Chris Gentilviso
Great news from McDaniels, as he said Nic Clemons did not suffer a serious injury on Saturday. Meanwhile, BMarsh left practice with an apparent hip issue and Vernon Fox is already back practicing. As Mets announcer/former star Keith Hernandez loves to say, the Broncos are focusing on their "fundies," or fundamentals. Good to hear/read.

DB - Day 3: P.M. Blog - Zach Eisendrath
The Broncos worked on some trick plays last night, including fake punts, direct snaps and end arounds.

DP - Broncos WR Marshall sits out because of hip - Mike Klis
Hopefully any soreness will help bring BMarsh to reality; he's not 100%, he's not ready for the season, and he's not ready for a big payday.

ESPN - Outside the Lines with Josh McDaniels
Ed Werder shares plenty of insight on the Broncos' coach, from the senior McDaniels, Bill Belichick, Pat Bowlen and Josh himself. Plus, Jay Cutler says it wasn't just about the trade rumors...$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

NFL - Signing status of 2009 NFL Draft first-round picks
Still 4 unsigned players between DHB and Knowshon (Thanks, Al). Not sure what's holding up Ayers, though...

DB - Day 3: McDaniels - Broncos TV

DB - Day 3: Transcript - Josh McDaniels

DB - Day 3: Hillis - Broncos TV

DB - Day 3: Crowder - Broncos TV

DB - Day 3: Play of the Day - Broncos TV
WR Kenny McKinley tips a pass to himself

DP - Broncos' Moss set to rejoin team - Lindsay Jones

DP - Krieger: Plenty riding on rookie corner

DP - Wiegmann won't get "tired" after offseason routine
Casey Wiegmann added an unconventional exercise to his offseason. Also, he says players were nervous about passing the conditioning test which kicked off camp.

9NEWS - Broncos fullback shows he's still a bone-rattler

DP - Bio: Darcel McBath

DP - Looking for lock down
Legwold says it's all about stopping the run for Denver's D.

CSG - Broncos outside linebackers learning as they go - Frank Schwab

CSG - McDaniels lightens team's load in evening practice
Frank Schwab's notes from Sunday's practices

IDT - Day 3 of Denver Broncos training camp
Hunter Ansley was impressed by Tim Crowder, Peyton Hillis and Kyle Orton.

DP - Long orange line leads to Logan - Dusty Saunders
Apparently, there's still confusion about who will be working with Dave Logan.

SDUT - At 33, Williams knows his career is on borrowed time

SDUT - Safety Gregory makes strong impression on first day in pads

SDUT - Blond ambition

SDUT - Chiseled Gates hit the weights

KCS - Cassel making himself at home with the Chiefs

KCS - Chiefs buzz | Three veterans back on the field

SFG - Ellis not too old to get the QB

SFG - Raiders Silver and Black Blog : Sunday p.m. update

SFG - Raiders Silver and Black Blog : Are we there yet?

NFL - Patriots, Brady looking to bounce back into playoffs in 2009 - Pat Kirwan

CBS - Belichick's play-fake with Vick ingenious - Mike Freeman

Y! - One more shot for Mason, Ravens - Charles Robinson

SI - Joe Flacco is in complete command at Ravens training camp - Ross Tucker

SI - Health key to Seahawks rebounding in Jim Mora Jr.'s first year - Jim Trotter

ESPN - Camp Confidential: All quiet for Vikings ... for now

ESPN - Camp Confidential: Surprise in Cincinnati?

ESPN - Chris Mortensen has observations on the New Orleans Saints during his bus tour

Y! - White holdout could have ripple effects - Jason Cole

NFP - Sunday at the Post - Mike Lombardi

Horse Tracks 8/2/09 - Clemons done for year? Jarvis done for good?

Douglas A. Lee — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:22:40 -0000

DP - Broncos' Moss leaves camp to think about future
Here's hoping that Jarvis is in the right frame of mind to make a good decision for himself.

DB - Day 2 Blog - Gray Caldwell
Lots of details from camp; Caldwell points out that there's now a scoreboard up for the practice field, although it wasn't used yesterday. Plus, any ball which hits the ground is now a fumble in practice; presumably another way to promote ball-hawking skills for everyone.

DB - Day 2 Report and Highlights - Broncos TV
Chris Hall wraps up the day's practices, with some great highlights at the end.

DB - Initial Impressions - Zach Eisendrath
Peyton Hillis is impressing everyone, no great surprise to anyone here. Champ, Hill and Thomas didn't stay on the PUP list for long; they practiced yesterday.

DB - Day 2: McDaniels - Broncos TV
McDaniels praises Peyton and says he doesn't know what Twitter and Facebook are.

DP - Marshall plays a position caught up in controversy - Mike Klis
Chris Simms believes that so many WRs are divas because, as he says, they're the best athletes on a football field. So they've been "the guy" their entire lives, and they expect to be treated as such even as professionals. Ted Sundquist thinks it might be a generational thing.

DP - Kiszla: Working on the Elvis Project
Kiszla says Dumervil's switch to LB and playing in pass coverage for the first time is the biggest risk for Denver in '09.

DP - McDaniels gets tough on tackling - Lindsay Jones

DP - Bailey, Thomas, Hill back at work in better shape
Nic Clemons may have suffered a season-ending knee injury.

DP - Klis: Bell ready to step into breach, again
Tatum is waiting by the phone again; meanwhile, the draft picks around Knowshon and Ayers are starting to sign, so hopefully they're getting closer to a deal.

C - Ex-CSU offensive lineman Oldenburg looks to carve out spot for himself with Broncos

DP - Position battle: Tight end - Jeff Legwold

DP - Torain will make things interesting - Jeff Legwold

CSG - Notes from the sidelines of Broncos training camp - Frank Schwab

AP - Kyle Orton latest QB to try to escape John Elway's shadow in Denver - Arnie Stapleton

DB - Day 2: Transcripts - Josh McDaniels & Champ Bailey

DP - Xanders knows Vick, so Broncos fans won't
Kiszla responds to emails

BG - Another QB still an option for Patriots
Shanny is apparently heading to Pats camp next; no word on whether his lapdog Bob Slowik is coming along.

HSB - Kicking up a storm - Paul Arnett
Here's a great look back at Jason Elam's college career at Hawaii.

CBS42 - Falcons sign LB Winborn

PFW - Chargers' Jackson likely to avoid '09 suspension
PFW is hearing that Kyle Orton's new mates respect him...

Y! - Tomlinson comes to grips with recent turmoil - Jason Cole

SI - Chiefs' Cassel at ease with role as face of franchise - Don Banks

KCS - Finally, Hall of Fame arrives for Derrick Thomas

KCS - Derrick Thomas’ day of days: Nov. 11, 1990

KCS - Chiefs may find turning wrong to right is hard thing to do - Jason Whitlock

KCS - Chiefs trying to condition players for success

KCS - Chiefs camp buzz | Haley wants consistency from receivers

NFL - Ravens WR Mason ends retirement, joins team in training camp

NFL - Falcons' Pro Bowl WR White skips start of camp over contract

NFL - Vikings QB Jackson will miss time with MCL sprain

NFL - Wilfork plans to stay focused through contract dispute

NFP - Weekend notes: good review for Sanchez - Matt Bowen

NFL - Tomlin, Roethlisberger centers of attention on Steelers' 'attitude day' - Thomas George

NFL - Saints attempting to channel their inner intimidator - Steve Wyche

NFL - Camp tour: Cowboys' Williams has high hopes for 2009 season - Vic Carucci

ESPN - Bus stop: Romo, Ware look sharp - Chris Mortensen

ESPN - Camp confidential: Jets forging new bonds

NYT - Lions Looking in Wrong Places for Offensive Linemen - KC Joyner

FOX - Scout.com: Top NFC East prospects

Denver Broncos Training Camp Quotes - 8/1 Practice -- Josh McDaniels and Champ Bailey

John Bena — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:42:04 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

4 months ago: Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey takes part in drills during football training camp at the Broncos headquarters in the Denver suburb of Englewood, Colo., on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Browse more photos »

HEAD COACH JOSH McDANIELS

On evaluating the second day of practice

"(There was) improvement in some areas, and (we) certainly made our share of mistakes this afternoon. (There is) a lot to coach off of and try to fix and get better going forward."

On RB Peyton Hillis’ involvement in the offense

"He will play as much as he deserves to play. He can play as a fullback in a two-back offense. Obviously, he can catch the ball very well out of the backfield. He is getting plenty of opportunity right now to run in our one-back sets, which he will continue to get that opportunity. He has done some really positive things, but like everybody, there are definitely some things that he needs to fix and improve upon. Peyton is a very valuable player, I think. (He is) versatile and creates some matchup problems for defenses if we can use him right."

On CB Champ Bailey’s first practice

"It was exciting to get them all out there. You didn’t really notice Champ, which is pretty typical, because he always does his job really well and you don’t throw much over there. That is a great thing to have out there on the left side of our defense. He challenged the receivers today and was very aggressive. Like I said, you can feel his impact when he is out there on the field."

On why the defense had to run a lap during the 11-on-11 session

"They didn’t have enough guys in the huddle on the show-team card."

On if he is going to run if the Broncos lose at INVESCO Field at Mile High this year

"No, we are not. I hope we don’t lose at home."

On why OLB/DE Jarvis Moss did not practice

"He was excused for a very personal reason. I am going to respect that and I hope everybody else does, too."

On if New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick ever made him run during practice

"I don’t remember if he did or not, but I know I got yelled at plenty."

On S Vernon Fox’s absence during practice

"Vernon Fox has a slight deal where he is a little sore, and he will be out until he can come back. Hopefully, it will be sooner rather than later."

On details regarding DL Nic Clemons’ condition after coming off the field early

"I don’t want to say anything now. You saw him get carried off there or helped off. Until (the trainers) have an opportunity to really look at him and see what is going on, we won’t really know much, but hopefully it is not too serious."

On his Twitter policy for the Broncos’ players

"I don’t really have a Twitter policy. I don’t know what it means. I don’t know what it is. I don’t know that ‘MyFace,’ ‘Spacebook’ or ‘Facebook’ stuff. I don’t really know what that is either. The league talks to (the players) about just trying to protect your career, family and all that stuff, so hopefully, they are doing the right things by what the league asks us to do."

On if social networking will be discussed in meetings

"No, we don’t have any electronics in the meetings other than the clicker that the coaches hold."

On the status of OLB/DE Robert Ayers and RB Knowshon Moreno

"Same thing—keep your fingers crossed. Like I said, I am hoping the next time that I hear about them, it will mean that they are coming in and they are ready to go. That will be exciting when that actually does happen. It is getting into day three here coming up tomorrow. Obviously, we are eager to get them in here, and I am sure they are eager to get here."

On how often he likes to have drills finish by bringing the ball carrier to the ground

"We don’t do them too many times, but I think early in camp it is good to do that because you certainly do not want to go into your first game not having tackled somebody or been tackled. You see people on the ground anyway in drills, whether it be by accident or a guy actually kind of comes free and knocks somebody to the ground. I think it is good for them to feel the contact and then also to start working on their techniques and fundamentals because tackling sounds like a simple thing, but it really is not when you have got big men running with full speed. You have got to wrap your arms and do a lot of little things to get him down.

"You have got to weigh it, you are right. There are pros and cons to doing it too much, but we are going to try to hit the right mix hopefully."

On if he thought QB Kyle Orton struggled with long pass attempts

"No. When you are throwing long balls, you try to make them work and make them go. We had a couple chances there, but some days you are going to come up with them and some days you are not. I certainly would not categorize anybody as struggling with the long-ball."

On when he expect OLB/DE Jarvis Moss to return

"I don’t know that. Like I said, it is a personal reason. He certainly has... He has been excused by myself. Whenever Jarvis is back and gone through that situation, then I am sure he will be here."

CORNERBACK CHAMP BAILEY

On why he missed practice Friday

"Coach (Josh McDaniels) and (Strength and Conditioning Coach) Rich (Tuten) and everybody felt like we weren’t ready to get out there. So, you know, obviously we just used precaution and got ready—used the day to kind of condition a little bit and get in shape a little better and then get out there."

On if missing practice bothered him

"No. No. It bothered me a little, but I’m all for the right thing because in the end, as long as I’m there Sept. 13 (regular-season opener), that’s all that matters."

On if he feels good physically

"Yeah. I feel good. I’ve got to work myself back into it. Obviously, it’s one thing to sit here and run all day, but you’ve got to get in football shape."

On if the hardest part is getting used to bursts of speed

"Definitely. After being out for a little while, not being around football since OTAs, it’s going to take a little while to get back used to it."

On if he baited QB Kyle Orton when he broke up a deep pass intended for WR Brandon Marshall

"Oh yeah, definitely. I saw him looking and looking and waiting for everybody to clear. I don’t think he saw me or he thought he could make it. So I just made him throw that ball, and he did."

On if he is concerned with the age within the secondary

"No. No. That means we’re really smart and really experienced."

On if he likes the secondary additions

"Yeah. We’ve got guys that are smart and make plays. That’s all we need."

On what he thinks of all the new faces in the huddle

"It’s interesting. I haven’t been on a team with this much turnover, so I’m still getting to know everybody. That’s a good thing about being back out here—I can get to know these guys on the field."

On if he expected S Brian Dawkins to come to the team and be a leader right away

"Yeah, I definitely expected it. You know, I’ve been around him before—being at Pro Bowls—and he’s always stepped right into that leadership role. I appreciate that from a guy that’s been around the block a few times. He’s very experienced. We wouldn’t expect anything less from him."

On if, as a leader, it was difficult to sit out Friday

"Yeah, a little. It’s frustrating. One thing I want to do is always practice. I don’t want to just be a guy off to the side. I’ve had my share of days doing that. I want to be out here practicing."

On if he tried to persuade Head Coach Josh McDaniels to let him practice Friday

"A little. But I know where he’s coming from, so I respect that."

On how he can avoid suffering a groin injury like he did last season

"Well, just little things, treatment and exercise, stretching. Just little things like that. You can’t get out here worrying about it. You’ve got to do the things when you walk off the field."

2009 Denver Broncos Training Camp -- 8/1 Update - Hits and hitting keep on coming for Broncos

John Bena — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:28:39 -0000

The Broncos had just one practice scheduled for today, but as has been the case through 3 workouts so far, Josh McDaniels made the most of the nearly 3 hours he had his team on the field. On a day when the temperature seemed much hotter than the 80 degrees being reported, the Broncos were once again in full pads and once again spent time physically getting to know one another.

Of course, the big news of the day, and there seemed to be a lot of it, was the return of Champ Bailey, Renaldo Hill and Marcus Thomas from the PUP list. At the time, the made every Bronco present and accounted for, except for the two rookies, of course. That all ended, both during the workout - Nic Clemons being carted off with an apparent left leg injury - and after when news broke that Jarvis Moss was taking some time to decide his future in football.

As for the work on the field, it is becoming increasingly obvious that Josh McDaniels' football team is going to pay attention to detail, focusing on the little things.

As such, I spent a lot of time watching the D-Line group go through their drills. I told myself I would pay attention until someone stood out to me. Finally, someone did, though my excitement is rather tempered.

Rulon Davis, signed as an undrafted free agent out of California, has shown speed for a man his size (6-5, 283) and has some power and explosion, at least on the sled.

You can also see the talent buried in the 6-2, 329-pound body of Chris Baker. Baker is small, but has a lot of speed and power in that 'tiny' package. He definitely rough around the edges, but I am interested to see what NFL coaching can do for him.

One thing for sure, the Broncos are coaching Ronald Fields hard. Fields is an important piece of the puzzle this season and they need him to play as well as he ever has is the defensive transition is going to be a smooth one.

The main focus of the individual work with D-line centered around "locking out", a term used to describe extending ones arms fully away from your body to keep an offensive lineman from getting his hands on you. Marcus Thomas and Fields struggled at times with it. Kenny Peterson, however, seems to be playing solid football. Perhaps Peterson will be a late bloomer under the watch of his former high school teammate.

As I mentioned earlier, Nic Clemons was carted off the field during the workout and walked gingerly into the locker room. McDaniels wouldn't elaborate on his condition, saying he hoped it wasn't too serious.

Here are some other random thoughts from the practice....

With Champ Bailey and Renaldo Hill back in the fold, the first team defense was complete for the first time. Here is how I saw them, at least during some drills today -

DE - Ryan McBean
DT - Ronald Fields
DE - Kenny Peterson

OLB - Darrell Reid(for Moss)
ILB - Andra Davis
ILB - D.J. Williams
OLB - Elvis Dumervil

CB - Champ Bailey
FS - Brian Dawkins
SS - Renaldo Hill
CB - Andre Goodman

Nickel - Jack Williams

It did seem Dawkins and Hill would switch positions at times, and again, this early in camp, you can take these lineups with a grain of salt.

Perhaps the funnest part of the day was another old-time high school drill. Some one-on-one hitting drills, which included tackling to the ground. DB's took on WR's while RBs and LBs went at it. I was on the side with the WR's and DB's. One solid encounter was between Brandon Marshall and Josh Barrett. It brought a loud reaction from the crowd as both men engaged.

One scary moment involved Tim Crowder, who went helmet-to-helmet with Peyton Hillis. Bad idea. Crowder laid on the ground for a couple minutes before rising to his feet. He return to action.

Have I mentioned how awesome Brian Dawkins is?? I have spoken about his leadership, but I can't say enough. He is constantly talking to the younger guys, and is a perfect complement to Champ in the defensive backfield. Overall, he is a huge ball of intensity, and his energy can't help but rub off on his teammates.

Speaking of the DBs, this might be the most talented group the Broncos have had in some time. Andre Goodman has really impressed me. He had an interception today as well as several pass deflections. As a whole, I really like this group.

Another example of how the Broncos are focusing on the little things - at two different points, the Broncos were forced to run laps because of mistakes. First, it was Tom Brandstater and Blake Schlueter who ran the 'Lap of Shame' for a fumbled snap. Then, it was the entire 2nd-team defense, a coach included, for not having enough players in the huddle. I love it!

Ryan Torain looked good again, which is worth mentioning since it was coming off of two hard workouts yesterday. Coming back from a serious injury like the one Torain had, it is important to see how he will respond on back-to-back days.

The practice ended with some field goals, which it appeared to me had Matt Prater hit 6/8. All were from various distances.

That is all, more to come later. For those who were in attendance, give your thoughts as well.

Educated Guess - 2009 Depth Chart Thoughts

Steve Nichols — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:30:09 -0000

It is still too early to have a good idea of what depth chart Denver will be using. But members of the media and fans at Milehighreport.com will put up depth charts anyway because it is fun to speculate on who will play at what positions. I love depth chart projections because the conversation that ensues serves to educate. Some folks will share information about a player trait that others weren't aware of, and discussions of schemes ensue.

Most longtime members of MHR love the annual depth-chart breakdown that Guru does. It was my favorite feature of MHR before I joined the site a few years ago. If you want accurate predictions, that's your story. If you want some educated guesses and a good discussion, I hope you'll enjoy the following....

As I've written consistently, this is a tough year to guess on our final roster and dept chart. New coaches, new system, a radical change in player-use philosophy, and a major turnover in players makes this year tricky, but very intriguing. We'll know much more when camp is fully underway, but here are some of my thoughts thus far.

DEFENSE

SAFETY

One of my most difficult tasks is to guess whether or not Brian Dawkins plays at his historical free-safety position or moves to strong safety. There are strong arguments both ways. Even at his age, Dawkins had a terrific season again last year. He still has speed and range, and can sack quarterbacks from the deep safety position. He still has the hands to intercept. And when he hits a ball carrier, the stadium hears it. Brian Dawkins remains a terrifying force on the field. I would like to see him stay at FS, but I'm starting to lean towards a move to SS. I have a few reasons for this, but I'm not 100% comfortable with making a firm projection.

First, Dawkins will be getting older, and the eventual slowing will make him a better fit at SS. Second, I'll take Dawkins covering a TE over some of the prospects at LOLB. Third, in most schemes the SS will have more run-support responsibilities, and Dawkins is one of those safeties that can consistently bring down even the biggest of RBs.

Renaldo Hill would then become my guess at FS. Coming off of the good year he had last year, I think he is a definite upgrade at FS. Given his age, he will likely be holding the position for a young up-and-coming player in the near future.

Darcel McBath is my favorite for the backup FS spot. He should do well on STs, but I think he will be the future at FS, and a player to watch. I think he'll see some playing time this year. For the fourth spot on the safety chart, we might see a duel between Vernon Fox and Josh Barrett. Fox could win out because there is talk about Barrett getting some looks for an OLB position.

Where does this leave the "other" rookie (David Bruton)? I think he has a shot at being a special teams ace for now, and a project for a future role at safety.

Cornerback

Superstar Champ Bailey is a lock for the #1 CB position. Andre Goodman was brought in to take over at the #2 position, and should do a great job there. Controversial draft pick Alphonso Smith will be exciting at nickel back, and is likely going to be a #2 CB in the near future.

I love what the team has done at safety and corner. We have two future-Hall of Famers at defensive-back positions, a hot rookie, and two solid veterans. The battle for the final spot will be between Jack Williams, Josh Bell, and Rashod Moulton.

Inside Linebacker

In my last article, I wrote that I was proud of myself for predicting that D.J. Williams would again be moving, this time to RILB. It is his natural spot, and one that he is happy with. He will be the anchor for the LBs. At LILB, Andra Davis will be stopping runs and "ted blocking" the way to sacks for the RILB. Beyond these two, nothing is sure.

I'm guessing that Larsen will be a FB / ILB hybrid. Someone pointed out a fact to me in the last couple of weeks, and I buy the reasoning - Larsen would make a great LILB because (as a FB) he is already capable of blocking the way through the trenches. I buy that, so Larsen becomes my pick for #2 LILB. Woodyard is my pick to back up Williams.

Outside Linebacker

With hybrids, this is a very tough call. Until he gets injured, Boss Bailey has a shot at starting LOLB, and Jarvis Moss is my guess to compete for the spot. The more I think about it, I like Elvis Dumervil at ROLB. He isn't big enough to play RDE in a 3-4, but his rush skills would make him a feared presence in a 3-4 played with a 5-2 look. I'm not sure who backs up Dumervil. With safety Josh Barrett getting looks at LB, I think he could go ROLB or LOLB. For now, let's consider ROLB a possibility.

Nose Tackle

The early favorite is clearly Ronald Fields, who was projected to start for the 49ers this year. Carlton Powell and Marcus Thomas are both bulking up and fighting for a spot, and I think there may be a better competition for the spot than earlier thought.

Defensive End

Let me throw out the names in the mix as I see them (in no special order) - Robert Ayers, Tim Crowder, Ryan McBean, Kenny Peterson, and Nic Clemons.

I think Ayers, McBean, and Crowder compete for the LDE spot. I think Peterson starts RDE, with Clemons or one of the three players competing for LDE backing him up.

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Kyle Orton had a lesser offensive line and lesser receivers in Chicago, but still managed more wins than Denver's previous QB. He may not have the physical tools and potential of a Jay Cutler, but he also lacks the drawbacks (forcing the ball into interceptions, not looking off receivers, decision making in general). Chris Simms is not likely to be the starter, but could be a surprise if called in during an injury to Orton.

Tom Brandstater may be a long-term project, or a desperate emergency player in the event of a catastrophic string of injuries. The only real question is, "Do we carry three QBs on the roster, or keep Brandenstater on the practice squad but suited up under the NFL's emergency 'third QB' rule"? Tom is a very smart kid, and may be a surprise in a couple of years.

Running Backs

Denver is loaded at this position. I was sorry to see Arrington not pass the physical, but Denver didn't lose much in the signing. Still, Denver finally has a workhorse RB in 1st-round draft pick Knowshon Moreno. The next question is, do we go committee or run a prime back? Do we spell or rotate? Peyton Hillis is a proven commodity as a power back, but can also block as FB or gash defensive lines running the ball from the FB position. Correll Buckhalter and LaMont Jordon are solid backs, not castoffs. The running game will not be an issue for Denver this year.

Larsen and Hillis can both play FB. Hillis is good enough to start at RB (with Moreno), and Larsen is good enough to play at LILB (likely rotating behind Davis).

Denver has a lot of options.

Receiver

Brandon Marshall starts at #1, and Eddie Royal starts at #2. Brandon Stokley is probably still going to be our slot receiver, and that's a good thing. This is a great starting group. Competing for the coveted 4th-receiver spot are Jabar Gaffney, rookie Kenny McKinley, and Chad Jackson.

Tight End

Daniel Graham is not only the clear starter, but has played in the NE offensive program before. He is an outstanding blocker, but can cause defenses problems if he goes out to catch. Tony Scheffler is too good of a receiving TE not to be in the mix, and will see the field in a lot of two-TE sets. Jeb Putzier and rookie Richard Quinn will fight for the 3rd TE position. Putzier has the advantage in catching, but Quinn is a heck of a blocker.

Center

Casey Wiegmann will start. Kory Lichtensteiger is being groomed as his replacement. Blake Schlueter (rookie) is either going to back up Kory next year, or might back up one of the guards this year.

Guard

Ben Hamilton starts at LG, and Chris Kuper starts at RG. Seth Olsen and (perhaps) Blake Schlueter are my guesses to back up.

Tackle

Ryan Clady is a lock at LT, and Ryan Harris is a lock at RT. Tyler Polumbus is a likely backup, but Brandon Gorin might give him a run for his money.

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Special teams is settled at K, P, and long snapper. The only question is whether Royal will be relieved of his return responsibilities.

As mentioned earlier, without knowing the systems we'll be running, and with the added complexity of the Amoeba philosophy and the hybrid scheming, this is a tough depth chart to figure out. I'm certain that I'm going to be wrong on a least a few of my early guesses, but my overarching hope is that we as a group can discuss the roster and use the chart as a good base to exchange ideas.

I look forward to hearing from folks on their thoughts!

Poll

Assuming that Marshall, Royal, and Stokley start at the first three WR positions, which of the following players should start at #4 WR?

Jabbar Gaffney

726 votes

Kenny McKinley

83 votes

Chad Jackson

66 votes

875 votes | Poll has closed