SB Nation - Vernon Fox

Darcel McBath to IR, Broncos sign Vernon Fox

John Bena — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:57:23 -0000

More photos » by Ed Andrieski - AP

(AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

The Broncos lost more than a game in Indianapolis yesterday; they lost a promising rookie for the season as well.

Broncos HC Josh McDaniels announced during his weekly Monday Presser that Rookie S Darcel McBath was placed on Injured Reserve with a broken arm suffered in the 2nd half against the Colts. Wasting no time, the team brought back DB Vernon Fox to replace McBath on the 53-man roster.

McBath was playing well - both on Special Teams and on defense whether playing for Brian Dawkins or Renaldo Hill.

On the season, McBath had 2 interceptions to go along with 13 tackles.

Tuesday Notes: Lions Activate Zack Follett, Waive Darnell Bing

Sean Yuille — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:57:12 -0000

The Lions have activated linebacker Zack Follett from the practice squad. Linebacker Darnell Bing was waived to make room on the roster for Follett, who is being added to the active roster mainly for his special teams skills. He flies down the field on special teams, and during the preseason he had quite a few tackles on kickoffs, so the hope is that adding him to the mix will improve a rather lackluster coverage unit.
Adam Jennings was placed on injured reserve yesterday, as the ankle injury he suffered against Chicago is season-ending. To fill the opening created on the roster, the Lions claimed safety Marvin White, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals.
RB Jehuu Caulcrick (of Michigan State fame), OT Isaac Sowells, OG Kurt Quarterman, DE Robert Henderson, LB Vinny Ciurciu, DB Vernon Fox, and S Todd Johnson tried out for the Lions on Tuesday.
Even if Jim Schwartz had challenged Johnny Knox's kick return for a touchdown (it appears Knox threw the ball before he reached the end zone), the Bears still would have ended up with the ball. The original thought was that the play would have been a touchback since the ball ended up in the end zone, but since Knox threw it forward, it would have simply been an illegal forward pass. The penalty would have put the Bears on the 6-yard line at worst, so in hindsight it wasn't quite as big of a deal. Still, it pisses me off that FOX Sports cut off the replay and kept the Lions from seeing if the play was worth challenging. I personally didn't even notice what happened at the time, as I turned away from the TV around the time Knox crossed midfield. I knew it was a touchdown by then and didn't want to see the rest of the play, so I didn't even realize what had happened until someone pointed it out in a FanPost earlier today.
John Clayton thinks the Lions will rest Matthew Stafford for a couple weeks since the bye week isn't too far away.
Don't expect any coaches (I'm looking at you, Stan Kwan) to be fired in the middle of the season, as it doesn't sound like Jim Schwartz rolls like that.
Cliff Avril isn't 100% just yet, but his "hamstring is getting better."
Chuck Darby spent much of the three weeks in between stints with the Lions fishing.
I don't have much to say about the Tigers other than I can't believe they choked that game away. They had so many chances to win the game or pull away, only to blow all of them and let the Twins end it in the 12th inning. I'm also extremely pissed off at the umpire for not realizing Brandon Inge got hit, costing the Tigers a run, but Detroit didn't deserve to win. They choked away the entire season over the last few weeks, and really I think it's time for a change at manager. Sure, there are many problems with this team, from the hitting to the pitchers to the management, but this entire organization needs some changes, starting with replacing Jim Leyland.

Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals; Friday Injury Report

Tim Lynch — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:44:02 -0000

Denver Broncos
Player	Injury	Wed. Participation	Thur. Participation	Fri. Participation	Friday Status
S Josh Barrett	Shoulder	Did Not Participate	Did Not Participate	Did Not Participate	OUT
DL Le Kevin Smith	Knee	Did Not Participate	Did Not Participate	Did Not Participate	OUT
WR Jabar Gaffney	Finger	Limited Participation	Limited Participation	Limited Participation	Questionable
G Chris Kuper	Ankle	Limited Participation	Limited Participation	Limited Participation	Questionable
RB Knowshon Moreno	Knee	Limited Participation	Limited Participation	Limited Participation	Questionable
QB Kyle Orton	Right Finger	Limited Participation	Limited Participation	Limited Participation	Probable
QB Chris Simms	Ankle	Limited Participation	Limited Participation	Limited Participation	Questionable
S Brian Dawkins	Hand	Not Listed	Not Listed	Full Participation	Probable
Cincinnati Bengals
Player	Injury	Wed. Participation	Thur. Participation	Fri. Participation	Friday Status
CB David Jones	Foot	Did Not Participate	Did Not Participate	Did Not Participate	OUT
T Andre Smith	Foot	Did Not Participate	Did Not Participate	Did Not Participate	OUT
T Scott Kooistra	Knee	Limited Participation	Limited Participation	Limited Participation	Questionable
WR Chris Henry	Thigh	Did Not Participate	Did Not Participate	Full Participation	Probable
S Roy Williams	Thigh	Limited Participation	Full Participation	Full Participation	Probable
QB Carson Palmer	Ankle	Full Participation	Full Participation	Full Participation	Probable

The Value of Leadership

Emmett Smith — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:30:09 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

4 months ago: In this photograph taken on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009, Denver Broncos safety Brian Dawkins waves his broken right hand in the air during drills at the team's final day of NFL football training camp at Broncos' headquarters in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Going into the 2009 season, the Denver Broncos are being written off by all but a very few media observers. The reasons for their disdain are not entirely specious - the Broncs have changed their head coach, offensive and defensive coordinators and schemes, replaced the defensive staff, starting quarterbacks, fired players wholesale (some of whom can't even get an audition with other teams, after a dreadful 2008), and turned over all of the position coaches save for offensive standouts Bobby Turner and Rick Dennison. The schedule, if you accept last season's rankings as valid, is nothing short of brutal. Their organization has had more drama than TNT.

But the process of rebuilding, if I can use the R word, is rarely easy. If you remove the statistics from the first few games of last season, the Broncos' offense was simply ordinary. Their ability to put points on the board and wins on their record was mediocre, while the defense was horrible. Head Coach Josh McDaniels has inherited a difficult task, but it's not impossible. He started the process by creating a game plan for the transformation of an organization that was too often laying down and accepting blowout losses as just 'part of the game'. He sold his vision to Pat Bowlen, Joe Ellis and Jim Goodman, and the die was cast.

McDaniels began the process by bringing in some of the best coaches that he could find. Mike Nolan was brought in to turn around a defense that was on life support and fading fast. Mike McCoy came on to work closely with McDaniels and change the offense. Wayne Nunnely, a 35-year veteran of the game, came in to teach the techniques and secrets of the 3-4 defense to the linemen, while other quality position coaches like Don Martindale (linebackers) and Ed Donatell (defensive backs) filled out the positions. On offense, Clancy Barone took over the tight ends and Adam Gase took on the receiving corps, while Turner and Dennison guaranteed some continuity with the running game that has long been a Denver mainstay. The special-teams play that had been missing in action for years was handed to Mike Priefer and supported by longtime Broncos specialist Keith Burns. If it's true that it all starts with the coaching, the Broncos have taken a big step forward.

The next step was to clean house on the players' side of the equation. There were wholesale releases of players who the coaches felt would not fit into the new approach to the game. Bigger, more physical, more cerebral and more versatile became the war cry of the day. Quickly, new pieces came together. Ronald Fields, Brian Dawkins, Andre' Goodman, Renaldo Hill and Andra Davis brought instant upgrades at their various positions. Surprise holdovers included Mario Haggan, who may start at OLB and safety Vernon Fox. While it's inevitable that there will be issues and glitches with the transition, there is also no question that McDaniels believes that he can win, and win quickly. There is a method to the madness.

"It's all very simple what my motive is - winning. That is the only reason I'm here. I'm not interested in talking about anything else but. Every minute of this job is done with winning in mind. That's all I talk to the team about. Winning is always the message."

Next came the NFL Draft, and the basis of Josh McDaniels' approach quickly became apparent. The Denver draft became a parade of players who excelled academically, on the football field, and as leaders of their teams. Even a cursory glance at the current roster reveals a cavalcade of captains and leaders. While the Broncos gave some thought to the issues of character last year as well, the difference between the two rosters is clear. Whenever it's possible, character isn't enough. Leadership is required. The players they have brought in are, with very few exceptions, those who not only are self-starters with excellent work ethics, but those who are able to motivate themselves as well as those around them; who can bring direction as well as enthusiasm to each aspect of the team. Such people also support and give back to the community.

I was contemplating this transformation recently and I began to accumulate some data. The more I investigated this tendency, on the insistence on collecting those who lead as well as those who excel, the more obvious the pattern became. The individual stories quickly became a cohesive whole, a tapestry woven of skill, belief and personal excellence. Leadership, by itself, won't win games. You have to have skills, scheme, ability and quality at all levels of the organization. But you can turn a program around far more quickly if all of the pieces maintain a talent for believing in themselves and the people around them. The process will not be painless. But if the players are able to manifest heir own highest selves and are willing to share that with all of those that surround them, the process will be, I believe, much faster and infinitely more effective. These are men who are giving back to the community as well as giving their best efforts to the team. Here are some of their stories. Whenever possible, I also linked the players' names to additional articles from MHR, for those who want a deeper level of understanding.

Brian Dawkins. I don't think that you can talk about leadership among the players without starting with Brian Dawkins. The former fiery soul of the Philadelphia Eagles was the spark that burns brightest on their defense for many years. Some feel that he's lost a step. Dawkins vocally disagrees. The effect of his passion and the transmission of his knowledge are incalculable. However, Dawkins was also named 'Father of the Year by the American Diabetes Association for his love of family and his dedicated work on the behalf of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. 2005 Eagles Man of the Year. Byron 'Whizzer' White Award winner, 2009. He was the 2009 spokesman for the United Way 'Live United ' campaign. On or off the field, Dawkins defines the role of a vocal, motivating leader.

Andre' Goodman. Those who aren't impressed haven't looked at the direction of his career. Goodman has continued to improve, unlike many players who plateau at whatever level they achieve in a couple of seasons. He brings a skill at interceptions that he can transmit to Alphonso Smith and Jack Williams. He tied for second in the league among cornerbacks with 5 INTs last season. He received Miami's nomination for the Ed Block Courage Award in 2007.

Renaldo Hill. Was twice named to his high school's honor roll. Recipient of the Miami Dolphins' Nat More Community Service award and was part of their All-Community Service team. He has worked with Habitat for Humanity. Has his own charitable foundation. He sponsored 21 foster children last holiday season.

Andra Davis . Former team captain of both his high school football and basketball teams, Davis was also a Butkus Award semifinalist. He came from extreme poverty in Live Oak, Florida to make a name for himself. After injuring his knee and redshirting his senior season, he returned to the Florida Gators and received the Most Inspirational Player award. Davis did something all too rare when he agreed to drop his base salary from $3 million to $1.67 million for 2008, also dropping two seasons off the five-year deal originally signed in 2005. He said, "Me and my wife (Monique, his childhood sweetheart from Live Oak, Fla.), money is the last thing on our minds. We grew up dirt poor. I’m doing way better than 99 percent of the people." He'll make the education of those players like Wesley Woodyard and Spencer Larsen much easier. He doesn't take plays off. He's not fast, but he's a sure tackler.

Mario Haggan. His predraft scouting report said in part, "Good tackler. Team leader with good intangibles. Smart player." He was a tweener when he came to the league, and fits the 3-4 very well. He was a leader on special teams in Buffalo.

Ron Fields. Most people don't know that in college, Fields majored in two things - teaching and coaching. He's an excellent leader. You start building a team by building the lines. Offense is set. Fields is an excellent student of the game.

Champ Bailey. He's a perennial team captain. Isn't always vocal, but you can't mistake his work ethic. A brilliant student of the game. 8 consecutive Pro Bowls and 4 consecutive years on the AP All-Pro team. Still a constant threat.

Vernon Fox. Serves as a motivational speaker for churches and schools.

Daniel Graham. Earned the Randy Brewer Award, given annually by Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver for the most inspirational player. Highest grade point average in his class as a junior in high school. 2008 team captain for the Denver Broncos. Previously was an offensive captain for the New England Patriots, a leader at every level he's encountered. Dedicated, devout Muslim.

Ryan Harris. Member of the National Honor Society and Junior ROTC, high school student council co-president. Part of St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly's Youth Advisory Board.

Peyton Hillis. Josh McDaniels said, "he is kind of an older-school type of guy in terms of being hard-nosed. Everything he does is that way, you are right. Physical fits him. Tough fits him. (He) plays smart. He plays a lot of different positions on our team. He has got very versatile skills. Those are the things we look for in all our players, and Peyton seems to be one of the few that it all comes naturally to him. That is just the way he is. He is a great guy to have on your team, a great teammate. We are fortunate to have him on our team." Casey Wiegmann said that when Peyton went down last year, it took the air out of the Broncos' sails - his enthusiasm is that contagious. Hillis is involved in supporting early reading among grade school students.

Spencer Larsen. Won the inaugural Pac-10 Student-Athlete of the Year Award. Earned a 3.7 GPA at Arizona. Took 2003-4 off for a two-year Mormon mission. A vocal leader and co-captain of his Arizona team. In college he was referred to as the 'Heart and Soul' of his defensive squad. He has a reputation for not being shy about vocally demanding the best from himself and his teammates.

Darcel McBath. Defensive captain, Texas Tech, 2008 Currently playing as Brian Dawkins' understudy.

Kyle Orton. Team captain for the Chicago Bears. Quiet leader, well-liked by his teammates. Works with an environmental organization called Cool Globes in Chicago.

Lonie Paxton. Although eyebrows raised at his signing, Paxton has two things to commend him: He hasn't missed a snap in years, and he serves as vice president of Active Force Foundation, which offers disabled people the opportunity to pursue an active lifestyle

Kenny Peterson. He's never smoked or drank, and speaks to youth groups in the D.A.R.E about staying away from drugs and alcohol.

David Bruton. A captain at Notre Dame, Bruton carries his love for his son, Jarden, on his sleeve and his passion for football out on the field. Another young man with a lot going for him, he achieved a double major in political science and sociology while in college.

Lee Robinson,, CFA. His college coach, Earnest Jones, said, "...having Robinson is like having a coach on the field."

Tony Scheffler. 3.63 GPA in college.

Alphonso Smith. Defensive leader in college for Wake Forest

Brandon Stokley. Brandon served as the spokesman for the Meningitis Foundation of America (MFA) in 2004. A native of Louisiana, Stokley also assisted the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita by donating clothing, food and supplies to people in the Gulf Region.

Casey Wiegmann. Along with being a leader on the Broncos offensive line, here's what denverbroncos.com has to say, "Spearheaded a fundraising effort by the Broncos that assisted in raising more than $50,000 to help rebuild his high school after it was devastated by a tornado on May 25, 2008... Served as an intern for the Legacy Financial Group during the 2005-06 offseasons... Worked as co-chairman for the Chiefs First Downs for Down Syndrome program, which raised $250,000 annually based on the production of the Chiefs’ offensive line, and is involved with the Denver chapter"

There are more, but the list is sufficient. The Broncos have loaded the roster with the smart and talented. The ones who lead are also those who excel, on and off the field. If the Broncos are to be successful in this rebuilding season - and I believe that they can be - they will have to rely on intellect, dedication and leadership as well as physical talent. they have begun to stack the roster with players who can lead on and off the field, those who are dedicated to more than just their own careers. As I did the research here, I found that nearly every player was involved with training camps for underprivileged children. Peyton Hillis and yes, even Brandon Marshall were involved in a child's reading program.

I am not going to suggest that this year will be easy. I don't know that we'll do more than come close to breaking even. I'm open to more, and I hope for better but I've read NFL history. These kinds of turnarounds aren't easy, and they're not usually fast. Yet the road back to prominence often requires sacrifice, and the Broncos are trying to achieve something not easily attained. They want to rebuild back to another Super Bowl while achieving rapid competitiveness. They have no intention of being mired in year after year of changing scheme and overhauling personnel, as many clubs have done. Coach McDaniels has obviously decided that in order to lead the league, you have to have leaders on your team. It makes a great deal of sense.

One of the advantages of bringing together a group of leaders is that leaders tend, by their nature, to be self-starters and self-directed individuals. They usually understand what it takes to be a leader and they try to manifest that in their professional lives. That means extra time in the weight room and the film room. It means listening to the senior leaders on the team. It means a better team and tends to continue to get better - that's what a leader enjoys doing. Leaders tend to take pleasure in personal improvement and a team-supportive environment.

I have to give credit to everyone from Pat Bowlen on down on this one. It's obvious that collecting players who are leaders is a priority. Last season, no one seemed to be willing to take up that role, especially on defense. DJ was being moved yet again and when moved out of the Mike position he became less of a leader. Nate Webster was supposedly leading the charge on the defensive play-calling, and there was no evidence that he was good at it. Champ isn't usually a vocal leader - he has a different style, more centered on example than vocalization. That weakness - that lack of leadership - was only one in a laundry list of issues, but without it the team was missing an essential cog, without which they did not seem capable of driving themselves upward. It obviously started at the top, with Mike Shanahan too long ignoring the needs of the defense and the skill-sets of the special teams. That isn't meant as a dig at Shanahan - just a statement of fact. The players complained about not even knowing what the scheme was, what was required of them. The result was odious.

In any successful organization, the quality of the leadership will determine the quality of the outcome. Leadership means having specific roles, clearly defined, from which the players can take their direction. It means personal accountability, effort, striving and production. It's the glue that creates a cohesive whole. Without it, you only have a mass of individuals, like the fingers on a hand. With it, you have a fist, powerful and daunting.

Leadership is the prow of the ship, slicing through waves of opposition. It can turn a contender into a winner.

Tales from the SunnySide: Darcel McBath

Emmett Smith — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:00:13 -0000

More photos » by Ed Andrieski - AP

7 months ago: Texas Tech safety Darcel McBath talks to the media at the Denver Broncos headquarters in Englewood, Colo., on Sunday, April 26, 2009. McBath was the second pick in the second round by the Denver Broncos in the NFL draft. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

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In Texas, football is a religious experience. There are three states - California, Florida and Texas - that lead the country in candidates for the NFL, but Texas has an energy all its own. The fervor of their passion pounds through the veins of fans and young players like the rush of liquor: hot and furious.

High school football games are held on Friday nights. Small towns swell; big towns are flooded with pickups, station wagons and SUVs pull in, loaded with the faithful. The atmosphere is carnival-like, but the mindset of those in the experience is far more serious than that. For Stephen Darcel McBath, it carried with it an initiation into the mysteries of the game that came to McBath at a very early age. He would soon rise to the top of the Texas football pantheon.

McBath wasn't a name that many of the Broncos fans were familiar with before April's draft. Names like Louis Delmas and Patrick Chung were more commonly known and another player in the defensive secondary wasn't exactly what most of the members were looking for when his name was called. A protesting murmur rippled through the posts. What was Josh McDaniels thinking? On Friday night, with Brian Dawkins sidelined by a hand injury that required a simple surgery, we got to find out that Darcel McBath is a solid young player.

Jeff Cordell was McBath's coach in 2003 when the local Gainesville Leopards went undefeated to win the state Class 3A Division I high school football championship. In Texas, that's much akin to winning the World Series, a match that holds somewhat less interest in that state unless a Texas team is in the Series. McBath was a jack of all trades on his team and even then he was getting noticed. Cordell said of McBath:

"I basically got to watch him grow up when I was in Gainesville. He is a good kid with a great work ethic. We knew back then he had a lot of talent...I was talking with (former GHS defensive coordinator) Patrick Harvell the other day and we were talking about Darcel and how gifted he was even back then," Cordell said. "It’s a pretty proud moment for us."

The win came over rival Burnet, a team that featured Cowboys draftee, quarterback Stephen McGee and Texas Longhorns receiver Jordan Shipley. McBath also played on the Leopards' state championship basketball team. Sports were always his life.

On the day McBath was drafted, he had gone back to his roots, spending the day with family and friends in Gainesville. He had played with many of them at the Boys and Girls Club in Gainesville, a place he would later return to to sign autographs.

We were all thrilled," said Tricia West, the executive director of the facility. "I’ve never listened to the draft before in my life, but I was listening Saturday. He (McBath) has worked so hard to get to this point and he always has that smile."

McBath went on to college and became a Texas Tech Red Raider. He spent one year at cornerback before starting for the past three seasons at free safety, taking over for Chinedum Ndukwe. Darcel finished his college career with 218 tackles and 12 interceptions. McBath went up against WR Michael Crabtree daily in practice and feels that the level of competition sharpened his game. During his senior year he had seven interceptions, which tied for the NCAA lead (with 5 other players) and was an All-Big 12 selection. One of the players he was tied with for the NCAA lead was new Denver Broncos teammate Alphonso Smith. Both of them have reputations as ball-hawks. They will be integral parts of the next generation Denver Broncos.

That's essential to a Broncos defense that was porous, to put it gently, against the pass last year. Whether from lack of rush, pressure or scheme, Denver managed only 9 forced fumbles and 6 interceptions last season. That year, both Smith and McBath caught more than the entire 2008 Denver secondary. It's not a coincidence. The Broncos are looking to get much tougher in the defensive backfield, and Smith fits the mold described by head coach Josh McDaniels.

"He’s a playmaker, and I think that’s what they’re looking for," McBath said of Alphonso Smith. "They’re looking for guys to make plays on the ball and Alphonso is one of those guys." So is McBath. While the Broncos notched 4 sacks in Friday's game, a few of them were referred to as 'coverage sacks'. The secondary has stepped up already. McBath was thrilled to see his first NFL action.

"My mom would probably say that I came out of the womb wanting to be an NFL player," laughed McBath. "It has been a dream of mine since forever. As far back as I can remember I have wanted to play in the NFL." Now he will.

Denver brought in Renaldo Hill from the Miami Dolphins, a player who pulled down 3 INTs of his own in 2008, as did former Philadelphia Eagles mainstay Brian Dawkins. Dawkins added 6 forced fumbles, a fact that can be traced to his hammering style of tackling, his opportunistic style of stripping the ball when coming up to assist on a tackle and his pulse-pounding level of physicality at safety. Both 4th-round pick David Bruton out of Notre Dame and second-year player Josh Barrett are also fighting for a slot at safety, as is veteran holdover Vernon Fox. After the forgettable crews that manned the defensive backfield for Denver in 2008 some veteran leadership matched with talented youth are a welcome change. As is true for most of the Broncos' draft picks in 2009, McBath was a defensive captain for a Texas Tech Red Raiders team that was ranked as high as #2 in the nation last season. McBath is eager to learn from players like Dawkins and All-Everything cornerback Champ Bailey.

"They have some of the best players in the secondary in the league right now in Brian Dawkins and Champ Bailey and I’m just eager to get up there and learn from them," he said. "I feel good, man, real good."

McBath had visited the Broncos in the time before the draft.

"The visit went very well," he said. "They wanted to know my football knowledge and I think I did very well. I think they like me as a person and it kind of showed when they drafted me in the second round. Denver is one of the teams that I really wanted to go to."

Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan has made no bones about how he feels about McBath.

"Anyone faces adversity," Nolan said. "They get through it, and they get through it positively. Obviously, it builds character in everybody. I would suggest the same about (Darcel). He seems to have his head screwed on right. He has got a good work ethic. When you face adversity, it forces you to do that."

How does he feel about the media attention that's been visited on the Broncos and 1st-year head coach McDaniels?

"Every team is under the microscope," McBath said. "If you’re doing the right things it doesn’t matter if you’re under the microscope or not. I just want them to know that I’ll give them 110 percent every time I’m on the field."

Nolan added,

"You have to have a person like Darcel who respects the older player and respects what they stand for, because there are some that don't," the 12th-year NFL defensive coordinator said. "They are just too young to really know what it is supposed to look like. Darcel knows what it looks like.

"We do have some good veteran players. The starting four (in our) secondary is very experienced, and they are all very good pros. They take their jobs seriously and they work at it. If a young guy recognizes that, which not all of them do, they latch on to the right thing, and they could become a better pro themselves, but that is not always the case."

On his part, Head Coach McDaniels said,

"He has started a lot of games. Not only productive in the passing game, but also a tackler, smart kid, very versatile, can play in the kicking game -- which as I've mentioned all spring, we're not trying to just improve one phase or the other."

From what he's shown to the coaches and fans alike in training camp, McBath has every possibility of making the team glad that they took him in the second round. "I think they like me as a person and it kind of showed when they drafted me in the second round," said Darcel, "Denver is one of the teams that I really wanted to go to."

Denver needs a next generation of secondary players who can learn from the likes of Dawkins, Bailey, Andre' Goodman and Hill and hopefully take over as starters in a few years. For many, McBath is an excellent example of that kind of player. A 6'1", 198 lb. true free safety with 9.5 inch hands, solid coverage skills and a 38-inch vertical leap, McBath may be our next starter at the position.

cfn.scout.com had this to say of McBath:

He’s just a nice all-around football player with good size, decent athleticism, and good ball skills. He’s not going to blow anyone up and he’s a competent tackler, if not a great one, but he’s great when the ball is in the air and will find a spot immediately on special teams. A former corner, he moves like one and could put up big-time interception numbers in the right package. A self-starter and a hard worker, he’ll make himself a long-time pro.

Post-Combine Skinny: He's the type of player that everyone wants. He wants to be a top player, he'll work for it, and he ran well with a 4.57. He was quick enough in the drills and did them effortlessly.

Positives: A leader. He took charge of the back seven … A great combination of speed and size … A playmaker both against the run and against the pass.

Rivals.com added:The Good: An aggressive, downhill type of safety who takes good angles in coverage and has the power to create collisions on contact. Is a strong tackler in all areas of the field and breaks down well in space. Reads and reacts quickly to plays and has a nose for the ball down the field. Has an impressive closing burst toward the ball with the physicality to work his way through receivers and break up plays. Possesses good hands in coverage.

The Bad: Struggles when asked to transition out of his back-pedal and run down the field. Gets a bit high

SI.com made an interesting point:

"McBath has been very productive in college, and he would do well in a zone system at the next level that reduces his area responsibilities and puts him in a position where he can consistently face the action." That makes McBath the third defensive back chosen by McDaniels whose scouting reports indicated that their best use would be in zone coverage. That's worth watching in the 2009 season.

McBath's only history of injury was a broken arm suffered in camp in 2005 that cost him part of the season. Since then, his health has been excellent. For those who can access it, The War Room has some interesting perspectives on him. Summed up, they say that he's not a huge hitter and doesn't hammer the run like Dawkins will. He's a safety with cornerback coverage skills. He used to have problems reading the play quickly, and that shows up in some of his scouting reports, but evaluated his senior year, others said,

"Has the top-level footwork, athleticism and speed to cover any tight end well in man coverage. Reads the quarterback fast in deep coverage and consistently reacts quickly. Plants, drives and closes fast on passes in front of him and gets there in time to either make a play on the ball or to hit the receiver right after ball arrives to break up the pass. Flashes the ability to cut in front of the receiver to make the very tough interception."

McDaniels and Brian Xanders have brought in a big, run-stuffing hitter in David Bruton and a coverage safety in Darcel McBath. It could just be me, but it looks like Denver has plans for these young men that don't include sitting on the bench. Said McBath of his situation,

""I'm blessed because I get to come into a system that has two future Hall of Famers -- those guys are great," McBath said. "My eyes are going to be wide open and I'm going to be trying to learn from those two guys. Those two guys alone, if I can pick up anything from them, I'll be a better player.""

It looks like he's a fast learner. Given the good work that he gave us in Friday night's preseason game, it looks like the Denver Broncos have a lot to look forward to in this young man. One thing that's certain is that McBath knows the right things to say.

"My goal is just try to be the best player that I can be, to work on my craft, get better at the little things in my game that I need to get better at and help this team win football games in any way that I need to, whatever it is," McBath said. "We are blessed. You have got to give it all you have got every day. You have got to try to be the best you can be, because there are guys out there busting their tails trying to be the best they can be so they can beat me. I am going to do the same. I am going to approach it like that every day and hopefully get better."

I'd hate to bet against him.

Shallow Thoughts & Nearsighted Observations

Ted Bartlett — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:30:09 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Chiu - AP

4 months ago: Denver Broncos cornerback Alphonso Smith (33) breaks up a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Micheal Spurlock (18) during their NFL preseason football game in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Aug. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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Happy Tuesday, friends, and welcome to another edition of ST&NO, this time with actual football to talk about. We'll start with some thoughts about Friday night's game, we'll reflect briefly on Jay Cutler's Chicago debut, and we'll move into some other topics also. Get excited, because it's going to be a lot of fun. Ready.... BEGIN!!!

1. Friday night thoughts follow, with an effort not to beat the same drums as others have been. (The Tuesday AM time slot doesn't look so great, when the game was played on Friday night.)

a. I was very, very pleased with what I saw of the first-team front 7. To me, that was the best sign of the game. They were active, they tackled well, and they played physically up front. The OLBs did a nice job, and played like standup ends mostly, mirroring the 5-2 look a few of us speculated we'd see.

b. Kyle Orton needs to improve, obviously. He could start by realizing that he has a fantastic O-Line in front of him, and settling his feet down. His arm is strong enough to make every throw, but he needs to have his feet set, like most QBs. There aren't many Jay Cutler's, who can be lazy in their lower half, and still usually power the ball to the general area they're going to. I've come to think of that as a vice, more than a virtue, really. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have to get their feet set EVERY time, so they do it just about EVERY time. Orton's third INT was particularly an example of bad footwork leading to a weak throw.

c. Chris Baker may start at NT by Week 4. He looked like a beast, and got a sack. I think the Broncos are really onto something with him.

d. Alphonso Smith is going to be a top-notch player in the NFL for a long time. His pass breakup when he got his feet tangled on the play was a thing of beauty, and he looked explosive (like always) returning kicks. I've been saying it since before the draft, so I'll keep saying it. The Broncos are never going to regret trading for the pick they used to take him.

e. I thought the offensive play-calling wasn't great, particularly with Orton on the field. I think a little more balance would have helped, and challenging the deep part of the field also would have been useful.

f. I can't figure out why Vernon Fox is on the roster. He was awful last season, and should have been part of the purge. That terrible long TD by the 49ers' Brit Miller was clearly Fox's responsibility.

g. If Orton continues to struggle, I am comfortable with Chris Simms. Truthfully, I could care less which one is the starter. Neither one is my son, you know? I think they can both play well, and help the Broncos win.

h. I did a fair bit of tweeting during the game, @TedBartlett905. I may continue to do so, in future games. Follow me, if you like my work.

i. I generally liked how physical the team looked. They've never been a quote-unquote physical team, for as long as I can remember. This was something I was really watching for, and I was pleased with the results.

j. I thought the TEs were very under-utilized in the passing game. I realize that the offensive coaches have an extensive toolbox to work with, but a lot of matchup problems can be created with those guys. I hope to see Tony Scheffler running deep soon, because he's unstoppable downfield, with his size and speed.

2. I watched the beginning of the Bears-Bills game on Saturday, and Pro Bowl QB Jay Cutler looked like he hasn't improved at all. He still threw flat-footed, he still made bad decisions, and he still made a couple of big-time throws, to remind you that he can, especially one he put ON Desmond Clark down the seam.

It was kind of like seeing an ex-girlfriend at a party, if our members who don't date ladies will momentarily forgive the simile (not metaphor). For a minute, you think she looks hot, and you remember what it was like when you used to date, and she did all those wild things, when it was time for doing wild things. Man, she was a lot of fun. Then she drinks too much, and she's doing keg stands, and then she throws up in a potted plant, and is hanging all over the chump who was just holding her hair back. He evidently doesn't care that she threw up, a little vomit doesn't bother him, because now he's making out with her anyway. You're vividly reminded why you broke up with her, right?

Jay can still fire the ball, but he still locks onto receivers, and he seems to be learning that Devin Hester is no Brandon Marshall. He's not even a Brandon Stokley, actually, and has a long way to go before he can even be called a good receiver. Six of Jay's ten throws went to Hester, which is very problematic, and then he threw Hester under the bus for the interception (You stay classy, Jay). The Bears' O-line struggled against the Bills too, which was a bad sign, and Jay showed happier feet than I have seen since the Seattle game, his rookie year. Jay threw one interception, had another easy one dropped by Reggie Corner, and had a 3rd-down throw into quadruple coverage in the end zone batted down. His passer rating of 30.8 even managed to make Kyle Orton's 32.6 look a little better. I'm not saying, I'm just saying....

3. Thoughts and Observations on other games:

a. Aaron Rodgers looked terrific for the Packers, and the Browns first-team defense looked completely abysmal. The Browns had no pass rush, no coverage, and ill-timed penalties, like a defensive holding on 4th and 6.

b. Due to a preference for soundness and consistency, I am predisposed to prefer Brady Quinn to Derek Anderson, but Quinn looked a lot better, again. He led the Browns to a pretty good early drive, which saw a made field goal get disallowed by a Hank Fraley penalty, and turn into a missed field goal. At the end of the first half, Braylon Edwards dropped a sure TD on him, one play before Quinn threw a pick while getting hit. Quinn, as usual, looked decisive and fundamentally sound. Anderson looked ragged, and threw a bad interception against tight coverage.

c. I like the Bills' use of the no-huddle in mid-game situations. It gave them some matchup advantages against Chicago, and they looked improved with it, over the previous week in Canton.

d. The Bears had Henry Melton as a kickoff returner, which was a sight to behold. Melton is a Defensive End, who wears uniform number 69. He's 6-4 and 269 pounds, and he did play some running back at Texas (132-625-16 in his career, not bad). He actually looked pretty nimble, and had a 20-yard return, which he fielded nicely on a bounce, in the third quarter.

e. The Bears had better hope Cutler doesn't get hurt. Brett Basanez and Caleb Hanie are not good - especially Basanez, a Northwestern grad, who ought to be thinking about where he wants to go to graduate school. Maybe the 5 Commodores on the team can put in a good word for him at Vanderbilt.

f. Ellis Lankster, another CB I really liked in the draft, got 2 interceptions off of Basanez. Lankster played at West Virginia, and I saw a lot of him last fall, when I was dating a big Mountaineers fan. He's a guy who plays a lot better than he times, and he looks like a steal as a 7th rounder. The Bills are very deep at CB, but Lankster is going to make the team, as a seventh-rounder.

g. Matthew Stafford looked pretty good for the Lions, except for a back-foot interception which he got returned for a TD. The guy I really was pretty impressed with was Drew Stanton. He led the Lions to the win at the end of the game. For a guy who was a second-round pick, you have to wonder why he never got a chance to play, especially during an 0-16 season. I wonder if he didn't just get caught up in the Marinelli/Millen shuffle.

h. #36 for the Bears, Josh Bullocks, threw one of the body-rockingest blocks you'll ever see on a punt return. He lit some poor Buffalo Bill up, and got his returner 10 extra yards.

i. Local Philly MSMer Bob Brookover said that Jason Peters looked good against the Patriots, and the NFP reposted the article with the headline Peters Paying Dividends. I beg to differ. I watched him get beat repeatedly, and I thought he looked really fat and slow. Winston Justice, who played on the right side, is a terrible player, and he was also repeatedly abused. It's time to give up on the Justice-has-potential meme.

j. A Browns player who jumped out at me was rookie CB Coye Francies. He looks really active, and smashed a Packers RB on a play where he looked like he had some daylight. He also had an interception of the totally inept-looking Brian Brohm. Remember when Brohm was going to be the #1 pick in the 2007 Draft, after his junior season? Matt Flynn is a lot better than him, and was picked 5 rounds later.

k. For being new to zone blocking, the Seahawks looked pretty good at it. Julius Jones is a good RB for that kind of scheme, because he gets downhill quickly, and he had pretty solid success against the Chargers.

l. I think the Chargers defense still looked vulnerable. The Seahawks were able to throw and run against them. Shawne Merriman mostly stayed blocked, and had no impact on the game, although Shaun Phillips looked active and quick.

m. Matt Cassel struggled mightily for the Chiefs, showing happy feet, inaccurate passing, and a fumbled exchange (though, to be fair, it was raining). Chiefs fans shouldn't panic, though, just like we shouldn't panic.

n. A guy who looked very good for the Chiefs was Tamba Hali. He seems to be making a good transition from DE to 3-4 OLB, and he was very active, playing the whole first half. He had some rushes against Eric Winston, a good RT, where he got good pressure.

o. Matt Schaub looked really sharp for the Texans, completing all 7 of his throws for 70 yards. I've always liked Schaub, and I think if he can stay healthy, he'll have a big year. The Texans offense, as we all know, gets guys open on a lot of crossing stuff, and creates high-percentage opportunities.

p. Old friend Jim Bates' Buccaneers defense looked quick and sound, especially Stylez G. White (formerly Greg White). He had a sack and a really impressive interception of Kerry Collins. Sabby Piscitelli looked like he is putting his game together to match his talent, and he also picked off Collins, in the end zone.

q. Another old friend, John Lynch, did the color commentary for the Bucs, and he seemed very natural at it.

r. Byron Leftwich is the same as ever. He throws the ball really well, but needs to elaborately wind up to do it, and has no pocket mobility. He did make a really nice throw for a TD, to another old friend, Brian Clark. Clark also forced a safety on a punt, by getting himself held in the end zone, with a really impresisve rush.

s. I've been critical of Vince Young, but he played well Saturday. He had a couple of nice throws in the second quarter, especially a deep ball to Kenny Britt, and later hit Britt with a 37-yard TD pass. Britt looked like the real deal, and I was kind of indifferent to him, coming out of Rutgers.

t. Titans backup Center Fernando Velasco did a repeatedly horrible job with the shotgun snap. There was inadequate velocity on his snaps, and he grounded one to Young on a 3rd down near the end of the first half. Young stupidly/wildly lateraled the ball over LenDale White's head, and White smartly kicked the ball out of bounds, once he caught up to it.

u. The Bucs have a lot of quality depth at RB, which people aren't mentioning much. Derrick Ward and Cadillac Williams have both been 1,000-yard rushers, and Earnest Graham got 898 and 10 TDs in 2008. Behind them is Clifton Smith, who made the Pro Bowl as a return man last season, and looked good carrying the ball from scrimmage this weekend.

v. It was mostly assumed that Clint Sintim would be drafted by a 3-4 team, since he played in one of the very few collegiate 3-4's at the University of Virginia. When the Giants took him in the second round, a lot of people were surprised, but I was not one of them. The Giants 4-3 plays like a 5-2, and their SLB tends to be DE-sized, like Mathias Kiwanuka. The Jim Johnson-led Eagles have tended to do something similar, which I am sure is where Steve Spagnuolo picked it up, but the Giants are really heavy on rushing 5 big guys most of the time. Sintim looked really good on Monday night, with a sack and a forced fumble, and a couple more solid rushes.

w. The Giants' first-round pick Hakeem Nicks looks completely lost, and got nothing done on Monday night. The Panthers' top pick, second-rounder Everette Brown, looked pretty good in his opportunities, and Jon Gruden credited him with finishing well on one occasion.

4. Interesting note from Pro Football Weekly's Whispers column:

• The Broncos recently moved Marcus Thomas from nose tackle to defensive end and we hear he will challenge DE Ryan McBean for a starting spot. Sources say Thomas is the team's most talented D-lineman, but it could take him some time to learn his new position in the team's 3-4 scheme after he was used as a tackle in a 4-3 set previously. McBean, who has just one game of experience, has not impressed observers thus far.

When I first heard that Thomas was being tried on the nose, it struck me as a little strange. He's much more a quick-footed guy than a mauler. He did look good at DE in the 30-fronts the Broncos used last season, so I think this is a smart move.

McBean got a coverage sack on Friday, but generally didn't distinguish himself much in the rest of the game. I think Thomas can do very well given this chance, and I expect him to earn the starting job.

5. Fun with Peter "Mr. Light and Breezy" King

e. It won't matter what kind of play the Broncos get out of Orton or Simms if they play defense the way they played against the all-star lineup of Shaun Hill, Alex Smith and Damon Huard. I know, I know. Preseason Week 1. Who cares? Half of these guys will be gone in two weeks. But 14 of 18 passing, for a 143.5 rating? And 30 San Fran carries for a 4.5-yard average? Not good.

This is a lot like saying that the Broncos had the second-best offense in the NFL last season. At the end of the day, the defense held San Francisco to 17 points, and nothing else matters. Remember, one TD was at least partially a gift of great field position by way of Orton's 3rd INT. This team is probably going to get the ball moved on them this season, but if they can hold the opponents to field goals instead of Touchdowns, they can win a lot of games.

This is exactly what Miami did last season, in going 11-5. People remember the Wildcat, and solid play by Chad Pennington, but scoring-area defense was the hallmark of their success. It goes a long, long way. As for Mr. Light and Breezy, I am pretty sure he was in attendance for this game, so it kind of boggles my mind why he is relying on the stat sheet, rather than his own eyes. Allowing 4.5 yards per rush sounds bad, to be sure. Par for the course, I guess, though.

6. I like the Michael Vick-to-the-Eagles move. Low pressure for him, and he can get back into the swing, and probably play in some specialty packages by the end of the year. Expect him to be in high demand next offseason, if he looks good at all, and the Eagles will now have a quality tradeable asset, with one club-option year for 2010.

The dogfighting stigma is already fading, mostly thanks to Tony Dungy and the Eagles. By next year, PETA will still be trying to make hay from Vick, but they'll be the only media force who is, and even Ted the Well-Known Liberal will grant you that nobody outside of PETA really takes PETA very seriously. What they stand for is important, and worthwhile (at a high level), but their shrillness and rigidity puts them outside of the mainstream. (Before I get excoriated, I think that most everybody can generally get behind the ethical treatment of animals, but there's a variance in what that exactly means in people's minds. That's what I mean about a high level.) If Vick can behave and dedicate himself to being a good player, he can redeem his career and his life, which is a great thing for ~~anybody~~ everybody who has ever made a mistake.

7. Retired for John Elway.

8. I will be in New Hampshire visiting family from Wednesday night through Sunday morning, so chances are, I won't get to see the game live on Saturday night, unless I can find a bar with NFL Network, and my brother wants to go, the night before his 5 AM flight back to L.A on Sunday. I may tweet a little from my iPhone, if I can make it work. I'm hopeful, at least.

9. How about Tom Cable apparently breaking his assistant's jaw? That's putting the fun in dysfunctional, there, Raiders-style. I remember when Buddy Ryan socked Kevin Gilbride on the sideline once in the early 90s, when they were the coordinators for the Oilers. That got a lot of notoriety, but this seems worse, considering the nature of the injury, and the fact that it was the HEAD COACH. I actually kind of feel bad for Raiders fans.

As I mentioned, I'll be out of pocket, and out in the woods at the end of the week, but I hope everybody has a great one. Until next Tuesday, I'll be keeping it Shallow and Nearsighted, like always.

Horse Tracks 8/12/09 - Harris to play; McDaniels rips the press

Douglas A. Lee — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:57:09 -0000

DB - Scouting the Opposition - Zach Eisendrath
The Broncos' scout team made its first appearance of the year. Meanwhile, the rooks got some nice new hairdos; all were good sports except David Bruton, who claims he's not getting a cut. Good luck with that, rookie...

DB - Sounds from Day 12 - Broncos TV
Clips from McDaniels and Daniel Graham, along with highlights from practice. Plus, Brandstater and Colquitt show off their new do's.

DB - Day 12: McDaniels - Broncos TV
McDaniels says Ryan Harris will play on Friday and wonders why it was written otherwise. Here's looking at you, Klis and Jones...

DB - Day 12: Barone - Broncos TV
TEs coach Clancy Barone says he had hoped the Falcons would draft Tony Scheffler when he was in Atlanta. He also goes over all the responsibilities Richard Quinn has to pick up as a rookie. He calls Quinn "a natural" catching the ball. Man, this guy seems inTENSE!!

DB - Day 12: A.M. Blog - Gray Caldwell
Great news as Ryan Harris returned to practice today; be sure to check out Tom Brandstater's new hairdo...

DB - Day 12: P.M. Blog - Gray Caldwell
A big afternoon from the defense and Jarvis Moss. Plus, Brandon Lloyd made one of his circus catches (that's for you, Ted).

DP - Broncos' Harris back, will be ready for 49ers - Anica Wong
Hmm. No mention of McDaniels' scolding of the press here...

DP - Dove Valley Days: McDaniels clears up Marshall's standing - Mike Klis

NFP - Is Brandon Marshall hiding out? - Matt Bowen
Bowen says BMarsh can't be happy about Roddy White's contract, although there are big differences between the two guys. Bowen calls Marshall a "time bomb" and says he wouldn't give him a new deal without seeing him play first. Then again, White does have an extra year of experience on BMarsh...

DP - Broncos' front-liners start anew - Jeff Legwold

DP - Klis: Undrafted talent fighting for jobs
Klis counts Chris Baker and Lee Robinson as the UFAs most likely to make the team

DB - More Than Just Another Pre-season Opener
Mike Rice wonders if guys like Moss, Crowder, Barrett and Putzier make the final roster.

DP - Rookie McBath no longer hidden - Jeff Legwold
Darcel McBath played in Brian Dawkins' spot yesterday, where David Bruton had been working.

AP - Other Brandon Stars In New Denver Offense
Arnie Stapleton profile The Slot Machine.

DB - Day 12: Transcripts - Josh McDaniels

LVRJ - Fox sees Broncos making progress
His hometown paper checks in on Vernon Fox, who just became a dad for the second time.

SI - Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith locks for 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame - Peter King
Oh, great. Here we go...PK has Cris Carter ahead of Shannon Sharpe already for his 2010 ballot. Yeah, let's vote for the guy who was considered for much of his career a bad teammate, who never was a part of a conference champion, over the guy who retired with the records at his position and was a huge part of 3 Super Bowl champion teams...

DP - Players clean up; salaries, bonuses up from last year - Mike Klis

AP - Buckhalter takes lead role in first depth chart

RMI - Big men on camp: Which Bronco is heaviest?
Chris Tomasson tries to find out who's tipping the scales the most and how it affects them off the field.

DP - Dumervil making the move - Jeff Legwold

CSG - Fields utilizes size and smarts at nose tackle for Broncos - Frank Schwab

CSG - Broncos camp glance for Tuesday - Frank Schwab

KDVR - What to watch for in the new Denver Broncos 1st preseason game - Chris Tanaka

KRQE - Carter talks Bronco past, Lobo future - Video
An interview with the Orange Crush NT Rubin Carter

SFC - Smith willing to extend hand to Nolan
Alex Smith would like to bury the hatchet with Mike Nolan

*****************************

SDUT - Growing into his role (Jacob Hester)

SDUT - LB Phillips won't face charges

SFG - Raiders Silver and Black Blog : JaMarcus has timing issues

SFC - Blitz packages a hit with Raiders' defense

KCS - Bowe, receivers still catching it from coach Haley

KCS - Chiefs camp buzz: Injury list is shrinking

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NFP - Biggs: Jets may look to trade Jones

NFL - Injured WR Smith hopeful to be ready for Panthers' season opener

NFL - Vick's agent: 'Not a matter of if but when' QB will sign with a team

Y! - Agent: 'No chance' of Vick signing with Redskins

Y! - Death makes Brees blink, but focus remains - Jason Cole

CBS - Saints to look at ex-Bucs great Brooks after Simoneau injury

NFL - Eagles hurting, Packers excited as camps heat up - John Czarnecki

ESPN - Camp Confidential: Eagles limping home - Matt Mosley

NFL - Seahawks setting sights on regaining NFC West crown - Bucky Brooks

NFL - Offseason of change causes some consternation for Colts - Steve Wyche

SI - Daunte Culpepper pushing Matthew Stafford at Detroit Lions camp - Don Banks

ESPN - As Detroit Lions rebuild, change will be a constant - John Clayton

SI - Inside Cleveland Browns training camp - Don Banks

CBS - Ravens camp report: Stoked Rice, health could key next step - Clark Judge

Y! - Bengals' Benson isn't holding back - Mike Silver

NFP - NFL notebook: Brady needs to play - Matt Bowen

NFP - DMN: The curious case of Vince Young - Mike Lombardi

NFP - Tavern talk: a look at blue-chip players
Lombardi checks out the AFC East and North

SI - New Orleans Saints' Reggie Bush has time to turn career around - Phil Taylor
Phil Taylor eats some crow on his Reggie Bush predictions. Sure would be nice to see other national writers do this... actually how about the local ones (COUGH-Ryan Harris story-COUGH)

ESPN - Face of the NFL is gone: An ode to the single-bar - Tim Graham

NFP - 2009 NFP scouting series: Rutgers - Wes Bunting

MHR University - Preseason Depth Chart Analysis and How to Watch Preseason Games

Steve Nichols — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:30:10 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

4 months ago: Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey takes part in drills during a football training camp session conducted in Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver on Monday, Aug. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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One of the most fun ways to prognosticate about a team during the reloading season is to put together and discuss projections for depth chart placement. Then, as always, a team will put out an initial depth chart (preseason) that can have fans scratching their heads.

What is the purpose behind the initial depth chart? Why do teams put them out, and what can be learned from them? What should we watch for as a team heads into the preseason?

Let's take a look at the initial depth chart for the Denver Broncos (released 9-10-09) and start a discussion on what we think the chart indicates. Let's also review what to watch for in preseason games.

(The caption says he is practicing during a drill. But I like to think that Champ is asking forgiveness for the doubters amongst the fan base).

First, I'm going to borrow from a previous article I wrote about how to watch preseason games (edited to update us for this year)...

How to Watch the Preseason Games -

Let's talk about the mysterious and controversial preseason games. Controversial, because coaches have to weigh the value of getting players ready or evaluated versus injured. Controversial, because the League, networks, and even fans can't agree on issues surrounding ticket prices and revenue for games that "don't count". But mysterious, because we as fans have to balance cheering for our team to win knowing that the team isn't going all out for a win. So what do we watch for?

Here's a guide to watching the preseason games in a manner that allows you to learn about the team, evaluate players, and gauge the team's success moving forward, regardless of what the scoreboard says.

Different coaches approach the preseason differently, but all coaches are a little more vanilla than they would be if the game counted. They aren't going to show every wrinkle of a system. They are also going to call plays to test a team in a situation, even if the situation doesn't exist (such as a two-minute drill at the end of a half even though the team leads, or going for it on fourth down, even though the game condition calls for a punt).

Some coaches, like Mike Shanahan, believe in the school of thought that you "Play a preseason game like you would a regular game." In other words, play to win. Denver fans may be used to winning preseason games, but this may not happen under Josh McDaniels. Shanahan took it easy on the players in camp (compared to most teams), but in the PS he generally called the game the way he might in a regular game. For this reason, he also got a lot more PS wins. Did this count against his ability to evaluate? Not at all. Mike is also a coach that has his mind pretty much made up near the start of camp who is going to be on the roster, so he is ahead of the curve. Still, he'll make some calls to try out scenarios that he wouldn't do if the game counted.

We'll have to see if McDaniels is more concerned with evaluating talent and schemes than pumping up the team early with wins that are (to some degree) "meaningless".

So what do we watch for in a Denver PS game? The coaches are still holding back, and the competitions are more settled than most fans might think, right? Well, there's a lot to watch for. Here's what I'll be watching for if I'm lucky enough to catch a game.

The Players

Some position things to watch for:

Denver placed a high emphasis on receivers being able to run block (Pittsburgh is an example of a team that also demands receivers can run block). Will we see that continue this year?
Despite raw talent, which receivers demonstrate chemistry with Kyle Orton? Which TEs?
The safety's first movement is towards an assignment or a zone. His second move indicates how well he's read the play. That's the move to watch.
How well do the halfbacks protect Orton if held back to pass block?
Many teams stress TE coverage from the strong safety or the LOLB (even though both players take a role from time to time). Who will get the emphasis under McDaniels? Whoever gets the assignment, how well do they do? Does the SS play back, or closer to scrimmage?
Will we see the Ted Block scheme in our system? Will our new 3-4 be played more like a traditional 3-4, or more like a 5-2 (with pass-rushing OLBs)?
Are we doing more 1- or 2-gap schemes on the defensive line? Is the NT handling (or demanding) double teams?
It's almost too obvious to write, but who are the first eleven players on the field for the first plays on offense and defense? But here's something else to consider: who plays STs on the kickoff?
How does the OL do in pass protection? Most vanilla calls by the defensive coordinators will be simple slants designed to get to the QB.
Who looks tired at the end of each quarter? When a play is blown, how well does a player shake it off?
Does our starting RB get spelled, rotated, changed for pace, or play every down?
When a pass play for the offense goes for long yardage, was the error made by the CB or the SAF?

The Systems

Here's what to look for in terms of defining the new defensive system. Some of these things are similar to what to watch for in the "position" list above. However, those are tactical evaluations for each player. This list is strategic for the overall system view.

Defense -

How often do we switch between 3-4 and 4-3? In 4-3, is the MLB more man or zone? In 3-4, are most 4th pass rushers (a LB) coming from the inside, outside, or balanced?
In the 3-4, how wide are our DEs playing? Do the OLBs primarily rush (such as 5-2), or play common man, zone, and blitz responsibilities?
CBs in man or zone? (Unlikely we'll see much zone with talents like Champ Bailey and Andre' Goodman available).
Where is the SS positioned?
1- or 2-gap play by the DL?
How often do we blitz?
Do the #2 and nickelback CBs play tight, on, or off in their coverage? (Bailey is allowed to always play off, which fits his personal style). In fact, will Bailey be allowed to continue his own preference?
Is the defense playing "bend, don't break", "hold the line", or aggressively? How much blitzing is there?
Is the 3-4 the base formation? It likely is. Is it a standard 3-4, or a variation (wide, in, over, under, etc.)?
Is the defense trying to force the pass or the run, or playing it even?
Are there certain plays that have more prominence?
Who is covering the TE - the SS or the SAM?
Does the WILL play more "zone and blitz" or "zone and man"?

Offense -

How much misdirection will we use this year? While Orton is more of a pocket passer than previous Denver QBs, is the bootleg really gone? (The bootleg is a great combination with zone blocking, because of the type of misdirection it foists on the defense). More importantly (critical to me), is "How much zone blocking do we keep from previous years"?
How smooth does Orton sell the play-action pass, and how often is it used?
Do we see Orton making audibles on the line? How much leeway is he getting from the coach on the sideline?
When Orton throws an INT (and he should), was it a bad decision on his part, on the part of the receiver, or good defense?
How much does the TE figure into the pass game this year? Does it seem to be planned or a check down?
Does Orton have favorite targets, or does he spread the ball? Do the routes seem more timed, or opportunity driven?
How do the cheerleaders look? Are they as hot as last year? (Yes, this is important).
Is there more run, or pass?
Do we see more formations with 3 or more receivers, or less?
How much do the RBs (RB and FB) get into the game going out for passes? Are they screens, or actual common routes?
Do we see a FB often, or more sets that are single back or 2 RB (no FB).

A lot of fans will watch to see who makes the big plays. My opinion is that this isn't the way to go. The coaches are probably more interested in who plays consistently well, and less on who makes a game-changing play. But that's just my opinion. I think the decision on who starts is made before the preseason with most teams (believe it or not), but when a new coach arrives, this all changes for the first year. The decisions left to be made for most teams are only for a few players on the bubble, or if a player really blows it time after time. This year will be more wide open than the last several years because we have a new HC.

Another thing that I consider is that I don't get excited by how many wins or losses we have. Good play can be indicative of how the other team runs their preseason, and losses might have been wins if the team were going all out. However, if the team loses and played very poorly, that is something to watch for, too. So for what it is worth, try not to get hung up on who wins, and instead focus on "how" each player plays and how the team plays as a whole. McDaniels may try to win a few games to boost the confidence of the players and fans, or he might sacrifice wins to get deeper analysis of what he's working with.

Denver's goal is to get the players up to speed, and to give the players some confidence heading into the season. Let's hope for the best, but let's take the preseason into its proper context and watch it with a studious eye.

What will you be watching for?

The Initial Preseason Depth Chart

I don't put very much into the preseason charts. Neither do most hardcore fans (notably Guru, who mentioned pretty much the same thing in his story on Monday).

That said, is there any worth to a preseason chart for the fans? Sure. Any time that we as fans are writing about, talking about, or reading about the team, we are learning. Here's my take on some of the things in the initial chart to get the conversation rolling.

No surprises on the OL. From left to right, we see Ryan Clady, Ben Hamilton, Casey Wiegmann, Chris Kuper and Ryan Harris. Harris is hurt, and (as of this writing) we don't know how badly. In the worst event, expect Polumbus to take his place. The depth chart says it's Brandon Gorin, but that's because a depth chart won't list a player twice who backs up two positions. Tyler Polumbus is the primary backup for both tackles.

Sometime ago I wrote that it was possible we might not see Brandon Marshall as our #1 starter. Pehaps it was 1 or 2 folks that chimed in that I was out of my mind. Perhaps I wasn't.

On this chart, we have Jabar Gaffney at #1, Eddie Royal as a mismatch for anyone at #2, and Brandon Stokley in the slot. This can happen when folks hold out. Do we take this chart to the bank? Not really. As long as Marshall keeps up a good attitude, plays hard and well, and his next legal case fizzles (a lot of ifs), he can have the position back by the start of the season. But it is NOT a sure thing, either. Gaffney has done everything right so far, and Marshall may need to see that he'll have to be 100% on and off the field to keep "his" spot. Then the question becomes (as I wrote in that other article), who gets the slot - Gaffney or Stokley?

I admit some surprise that Chad Jackson and Kenny McKinley are lower than Lloyd and Swift, but with much of my focus thus far on defense, I may have missed some of the reports on these players.

Exactly what we should expect - Daniel Graham, then Tony Scheffler, then Richard Quinn. The only question now is, how many TEs do we keep beyond that?

We knew Orton, then Chris Simms, then Tom Brandstater. The question is, will Brandstater get a chance to emerge as a future starter, will he displace Simms as the primary backup, or will he be a project that never comes to fruition?

Like Marshall, if you look like you might hold out on the team, you might not make the initial depth chart as a starter. McDaniels already said Knowshon Moreno is good, but behind the rest of the players in conditioning and understanding the systems (meaning not just the offensive system, but team communications, huddle scheme, terminology, etc.).

Our new regime doesn't use the FB term in the depth chart, so we'll have to figure out where this puts us in terms of starters. My assumption is that Peyton Hillis is a starting FB if ever there was one, but he may be too useful as a RB (or should I say "tailback" in this new scheme?).

Correll Buckhalter is extremely versatile, and has looked great. He gets the nod for now. LaMont Jordan is listed second, and ths may be a surprise to folks like it is to me. Not that Jordan isn't good, but because I would expect Hillis to be higher. Hillis is listed third.

This loses meaning beyond the point that preseason charts are "motivators" for players more than being accurate. Why? Because we have to consider that we don't know if we'll have a primary back that gets spelled, or a "backs by committee" approach. In the latter, we might have a rotational scheme or a specialist scheme.

So for fans of Moreno, Ryan Torain, and Hillis, don't put all of your money on Buckhalter or Jordan just yet. Watch the preseason games, and learn.

Early observations had Ryan McBean looking real good, and he gets the early nod to start at LDE where he'll be stopping the run. It makes sense to me that Marcus Thomas (a 4-3 DT) would move to LDE in the 3-4, and he now shows behind McBean.

At RDE, I've heard a lot of good things about Rulon Davis, so I'm a little surprised he's near the bottom right now. (In fact, our own Guru reported from camp that he noticed how well Davis was doing). But Kenny Peterson has done well so far, and has earned the right to go into the preseason as the current RDE.

I'll say this, I'm far more happy about our DE positions than I was before the summer. The four players I've listed so far look solid, and we still have 3 others in contention. For future reference, I hearby bestow the title "PDX" on Everette Pedescleaux. His name takes longer to type than my entire article!

This is the scariest position for those of us worried about the transition to 3-4. It is the anchor of the 3-4 as much as the MLB is to the 4-3. Fortunately, it looks like Ronald Fields (the listed starter) is doing well. I'm a little surprised that Chris Baker is in front of Carlton Powell.

If I am blessed enough to get any preseason games in my area, NT is one of the positions I'll be watching for the sake of pure analysis. (I'll be watching safeties for the love of the game).

SAF

May I brag a little? I had hoped for Brian Dawkins to be the FS, and he lists this way. I knew that the choice to put him at FS or SS would be tricky to guess at, so I wouldn't have bet either way. But I agree with the early chart - Dawkins should be at FS, and Darcel McBath is more of a FS than a SS. McBath should become something special learning under Dawkins.

At SS, I feel good about Renaldo Hill starting. I had written in an earlier article that David Bruton, Vernon Fox, and Josh Barrett are more at risk than the other three, and I was curious to see who would make the team if we only kept four safeties. Many folks chimed in with valid reasons that we might keep five or even six. As of now, Bruton gets the backup at SS, and perhaps Barrett and Fox have to fight for a possible fifth spot.

I felt confident that Bailey and Goodman would start, and they are. My assumption was that Alphonso Smith would come in as a rookie and learn nickel. But as well as Smith has played, Jack Williams seems to have improved his play to the point that he is a contender for that nickel position. Also, given Smith's value at returner on STs, it seems prudent to let Williams play at nickle while Smith learns. Watch the preseason games to see if one player seems to edge the other for the role at nickel.

This gives us four terrific corners, and a good mixture and experience and youth. There are still four more corners to round out the chart, not all of whom will make the team.

OLB

Mario Haggan at LOLB? McDaniels himself said that there was some "loafing" by OLBs, and that Haggan wasn't one of them. This strikes me as a motivational signal. Darrell Reid is likely the starter, and early reports are good on Tim Crowder. If they're loafing, that's a bad sign. But it is more likely (at least in my mind) that the coach is sending a gentle message rather than really worrying about Reid and Crowder. The message this sends to Haggan though is kind of weird ("you're starting because the REAL starters are taking it too easy").

But I'm not worried about Reid and Crowder, or the LOLB position in general. (In fact, a friend of mine who is in tight with the Colts organization tells me that Reid is a steal for us, and we can expect some special things).

At ROLB we have three interesting names. We all know and love Elvis Dumervil (MHRers know him as "Doom"). He's a terrific RDE in a 4-3, and will likely play more of a pass rushing type ROLB in what would appear to be a 5-2 look. I'm glad to see him listed at starter.

Robert Ayers is listed next. He surprises me, because his rookie reports made him out to be more of a run stopper who doesn't always get the penetration needed to get to the QB. I had him pegged at DE (against the tide of most opinions, I know). At OLB, I thought he might not be able to keep up with TEs to play LOLB, but he could be a run stopper at that position. But ROLB seems to make sense. Starting wider than he would at DE, he has a better rush chance against the QB. But he can be schemed in several ways, too. For example, SD goes against the grain of most teams, and prefers to run to the weakside. Ayers would be a specialist in such games. With the Ameoba philosophy in place, Ayers may be used as a specialist depending on down, distance, and opponent.

Last is Jarvis Moss. Moss gets some criticism because he almost quit the team during camp. However, to a careful eye (and mine has experience in counseling as well as coaching) it sounds like a kid who was having problems that needed help. Instead of letting him quit and cashing in on the money he (Moss) would have had to fork over, the coaches encouraged him to take a couple of days away to get things straight or to think things over. I think there is a deeper story here, and one that probably isn't much of our business. Here's what is important. Moss came back, was welcomed back, and has been showing good moves for penetrating the pocket. He may very well have a solid role on this team moving into the regular season. That the coaches helped him out shows me that the kid has worth as a player, and at the very least as a young man. I'm in his corner, whether he makes the team or not.

ILB

Before camps, I listed D.J. Williams being moved inside to RILB and Andra Davis getting LILB. I was pretty proud of myself for getting that one right, as that is how the two players have been lining up throughout the camp season. So imagine my shock at reading the chart and seeing them switched! It makes no sense for several reasons. First, they haven't been playing the way the chart shows; second, it doesn't match their skill set for the Ted block scheme that DC Mike Nolan runs in his defensive systems, and third, Williams is more of a zone- and blitz-LB while Davis is more of a run stopper and big plug kind of guy.

Given that Williams is playing LILB in practice, and Davis is RILB in practice, I'm calling this an error on the chart. But who knows how far the deception could run? It would be a shock, but terribly interesting to see McDaniels and Nolan pull a major switch ala the morphing Patriots defense (which changes looks to match opponents like, well, like an ameoba!)

Another intersting tidbit. Behind these two are Wesley Woodyard and Spencer Larsen, who are excellent ILBs even if they weren't in the backup role. But look at who each player starts behind! Larsen (more of a run stopper or Ted blocker) is behind Davis, as he should be. And Woodyard, who swarms to the ball and gets in on every play, is rightfuly behind WIlliams. So it follows that the chart is likely backwards at the ILB positions. Either way, the bottom line is that we have four solid players for two positions, and still have two more players behind them fighting for a roster spot.

My only remarks on STs (where I have next to no coaching experience) is my surprise that Brett Kern is listed as the holder. It is common for teams to either use a QB or a punter. The reasoning for QB is that he can throw the ball on a fake FG, or cover up for a blown snap by throwing the ball. That is the prevailing school of thought in modern football. But we're going with the punter. The thinking here is that the punter is more in tune with what the kicker needs when placing and timing the hold. I don't buy it, but a few minds that know more about STs than I do believe in it. So there it is. I would have used a QB, but then again you REALLY don't want me coaching your STs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, have at it. What are your thoughts on the presason, and preseason charts in particular? What will you be watching for? As always, any questions about football are welcome. I can handle most questions as they pertain to what happens on the field, but MHR is full of experts on just about every aspect of the game ranging from history to caps, from legal to medical, from current events to other teams.

Let's hear from you! (If you're a longtime reader, but have never joined or posted, why not make this the day?)

Poll

I feel _______ about the roster and depth for the overall team than I did before the preseason camps started.

much better

219 votes

somewhat better

353 votes

the same

224 votes

somewhat worse

76 votes

much worse

12 votes

884 votes | Poll has closed

2009 Denver Broncos Training Camp - 8/6 Scrimmage Quotes - Josh McDaniels

John Bena — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 03:31:34 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

4 months ago: Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels runs with players as drills start during NFL football training camp at the Broncos' headquarters in Englewood, Colo., on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Browse more photos »

On hosting a practice at INVESCO Field at Mile High

"Our team was excited, obviously, to come out here, and the people really turned out well. I don't know how many people were here, but I think it was more than some people anticipated back in Dove Valley. It was great. We needed to do this. We had a lot of kinks we needed to work out here on the sidelines with the communication, and then (we) got a lot of things we wanted to work on out on the field done. (There are) still a lot of things to fix, but we are making progress in a lot of areas. The sidelines and game day communication are just (a few) of them."

On if he was surprised by the crowd's reactions to the Broncos' miscues

"No, that is just football. It is the National Football League and that is what people do. They will cheer you when you should be cheered, and boo you when you should be booed. I have been around for a while, and I understand that it is going to happen. It doesn't surprise me, and it doesn't disappoint me."

On his reaction to QB Kyle Orton's play

"First of all, the defense made some good plays. The good thing about that is-I learned a long time ago that as a head coach, you never have a good practice when you practice offense versus defense, because somebody is always going to make a good play, and then the other side is on the other end of it.

"There were a lot of mistakes made tonight (on) both sides. Kyle, obviously, made a couple. He certainly wasn't alone. We will go back to work tomorrow morning and fix what is wrong."

On Orton's overall performance throughout camp

"He is fine. Kyle is progressing every day. (He has) a great attitude and understands the system. Again, there are a lot of people that have got to improve in what they are doing with their job. When they do, that is how team football works on any side of the ball. We are looking forward to getting better here the next three or four weeks."

On if any individual performance stood out tonight

"No, not really. (CB) André Goodman, obviously, made a couple nice plays in the secondary, but you never really want to comment about standouts here. We will watch the tape tomorrow morning and take a look at who played well and who didn't. Everybody has got things to fix."

On the positives and negatives of the first week of training camp

"Our team knows how we want to play. That is definitely a big positive. (We want to play) physical. Every day we have been in pads, and they understand that, have accepted it and they want it. They want to get better every day.

"(There is) nothing that I am calling negative. At this point in training camp, I don't think anybody is ready to play in the regular season yet. That is what we have the preseason for and training camp. We have got a long way to go in every phase. Hopefully, we will be a much improved football team come September."

On his comfort level with the offensive line

"It is great having those guys back. The communication up front is very good, usually. Yet, they still have work to do to get to the level that they want to be playing at in September and that we want them to be playing at. It is great to have them back. They are a comfort level for the offense, and they make a lot of people's jobs simpler. Again, we are pushing them just as much as we are pushing everybody else."

On K Matt Prater's missed field goal attempts

"I have confidence in Matt Prater. He has made a whole lot of kicks, too. We will see and evaluate every player in the preseason as they go through. If something would be better for the football team at any position, we are certainly going to evaluate the players on this team and make the decisions based on what is best going forward."

On S David Bruton competing with the first-team defense

"He knows what to do and has done a lot of things. He is versatile, smart and fast. He knows our defense to the point where if you put him out there, you don't feel as if the wheels are going to come off. (It is) the same with (S) Darcel McBath and (S) Vernon Fox. There are a lot of guys out there getting reps, some with the first team and some with the second team. We are all getting work now. David has earned those (reps), and he is trying to take advantage on every one of them.

On how the defense is coming together

"I think that we have some disruptive players, certainly. (OLB/DE) Darrell Reid, (OLB/DE) Elvis (Dumervil) and (OLB/DE) Jarvis (Moss), hopefully, that group will be able to create some problems in terms of pass protection and pass rush. They certainly were in the backfield too much for an offensive player's liking tonight, but certainly as the head coach, you like to see that kind of style. Again, we were aggressive tonight on defense. We knew we would (be aggressive) coming into tonight. We wanted to try to go ahead and get into the backfield and pressure, and we did that. We have got to work on it offensively."

On RB Knowshon Moreno's contract situation

"I don't know the difference between close and far away right now. The only thing that I am waiting on is-as soon he signs, you will all know it. That hasn't happened yet, so we will see."

On if Moreno will come to Dove Valley to sign his contract

"As soon as he signs, we will all know at the same time."

On his reaction to the number of fans in attendance

"(It was a) great turnout. This is a football city, and they certainly didn't disappoint us tonight. They had great enthusiasm and energy. They are the kind of people that you want to come out and play well for every week. Hopefully, we will do that. It was exciting. This is something that will want to make us come back and do this every training camp."

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