Training Camp Report - Day 7

 

  My Dad and I got up to Dove Valley a little before 1:00 pm, and knowing we were early, I wandered over to the Broncos Store. I couldn't resist purchasing A  #22 Jersey (Peyton Hillis is going to rumble this season). I also picked up a flag for one of our Danish members and a couple of  8 x 10 color glossies in the hopes of getting a few autographs.

Practice wasn't scheduled to start until 2:30, so I was pleasantly surprised when the team appeared for the  Pre- Practice stretching period at 1:45. We were able to grab a spot at the 30 yard line and had a pretty good view for the most part.

Cue the Pearl Jam Music.....

 

I kept a sharp eye out for a Knowshon sighting to no avail. I DID see Peyton Hillis though. He came out in a sleeveless Jersey. Boydy was right, they must have blown off when he flexed his Biceps! This is a NO-PADS day but Hillis still looks like he's wearing some.

Coach Tuten broke it down during stretches. I was glad to see Nic Clemons out practicing. He was right in front of us and was wearing a brace on his left knee. It looked like he wasn't having  trouble doing any stretches, so that is good. Robert Ayers, Everette Pedescleaux, Marcus Thomas, and Wesley Woodyard were the closest players to us during this interval.....Metallica's, Enter Sandman starts to play as the Defense trots off to the far field and the Offense stays in front of us. The RB's and Receivers run the "Tire" drill a few times forward and then sideways.

As the Music ends, they start ramping up the practice tempo. The Lineman go off to the far end of the field to work on their Blocking technique with the small blocking pads. The QB's are warming up with the short toss. Meanwhile, the RB's are practicing running in the lanes employing the Mat that I told you about in my Day 2 Practice report. The WR's are running the up and back slalom drill while a coach throws passes to them. Kyle Orton throws a few 40 yard passes and they look fine to me. I can't really tell what kind of drills the Defense is doing on the far field. The players break into 4 receiver sets and run play action passes, and then the Horn sounds.

As they break into Segment 3 of Practice, the JUGGs machine makes an appearance on the field. Mini cones are set up across the 30 yard line in front of me. Kickoff Special Teams Practice begins. The cones are lined up to represent where Coach Priefer wants his players covering. He runs the players through a few dry runs and coaches them on their lane responsibilities and strategies, when the Return man makes his choices on which way to run. Priefer stresses discipline and how to cut off the runner. Next, they move the cones to the left side to simulate the coverage disciplines on a Kick or Punt to the corner.(There they go stressing Detail again). Now they line up for Kick Coverage and a "Dummy"  Return Team takes the field as well. Among the players on the coverage team are Andre' Goodman, Jeb Putzier, Lee Robinson, Darius Walker, Marquez Branson, Josh Barrett, David Bruton, Spencer Larsen, Kenny Peterson and Tim Crowder. Josh Bell, CJ Jones, Ryan Torain, #48(Braxton Kelley?), Travis Shelton, Tony Carter, Rashod Moulton, Nate Swift, and Mario Haggan are on the Dummy return team. They are marked with a red "sock" that fits over their helmets. They run a few reps until the Horn sounds off and the 4th segment begins.

The players begin 11 on 11 drills and they run the plays at 3/4 speed. I notice Bruton, Darrell Reid, Doom and Robert Ayers among the defensive personnel, and Ayers is manning the LB position. Stokely, Royal and Gaffney are in formastion with LaMont Jordan in the backfield. The rest of the team is on the sidelines. they run some short passes with a man in motion in the shotgun and with and without play action with Orton under center. Kyle is making throws with enough smoke to have the advantage against the DB's. So far, Nobody is dropping any passes. They are practicing with the yardage chains out today. Reynaldo Hill makes a nice pass break up of an Orton pass. They follow that up with a pass out in the flat to Correll Buckhalter. Simms comes in and fires a sweet pass to Matthew Willis...Segment 5 ends on that note.

More cones, this time they are placed across the farther 40 yard line. The players are lined up next to the cones and take a water break. It is 92+ degrees out here today. It's hard to see around half the team spanning the 40, but it appears that the Offense is running Goal Line Drills. After 10 minutes, the team moves back closer to my vantage point, and begins to work on 3rd and Long situations, 11 on 11 style. the Slot machine grabs a pass, and on a 3rd and 7 play, Royal catches another. Orton is throwing crisp passes and makes Brandon Lloyd go up for a nice catch. McD makes them run the play again, with success. Following that, Kyle hits Eddie Royal to convert a simulated 3rd and 6. A long pass to Putzier, and a few more to Royal and Lloyd. Then, on a 3rd and 14 play, Orton leads Eddie Royal too much(or the wrong break was made, as the pass was 3 yards away). Josh tells them to run it again, and they are successful on the re-try.

They change sides and start the RED ZONE drill next. My view is impeded by the team again, but it appears that they are practicing running plays. Simms hands the ball off to Buckhalter, Darius Walker and Peyton Hillis. They change sides again merely so I can see(yeah right), and Coach McDaniels is having a huddle session with the QB's. The 2nd team Offense runs through some long passes and Coach has the QB's working on audibles. Simms completes a long pass to Chad Jackson. I see a 2 RB set with Hillis and Torain and then Simms throws a pass that Lee Robinson almost picks off, but successfully bats to the ground. Simms then fires one to McKinley. Allphonso Smith is working in Champ's spot. Jack MF Williams and David Bruton play at the Safety spots next to him. Two play action passes to Tony Scheffler and then DJ Johnson rotates into the Phonz's spot. Simms is clutching the ball way too long(an eternity) before making a pass to Royal. I see Ayers dropping into coverage. Orton returns. The Defense shows a blitz look, and then Josh Barrett sprints out to centerfield at the snap. McD stops the play at the get go. Kyle sets up under center and they work on audible signaling. Orton hands the ball off to Buckhalter, and one of the Defensive Coaches has some pointers for the LB's. Peyton Hillis catches one more pass. Then, Coach gives them an Atta boy and says, "that's it."  The Horn blows.

The cones are spread out on the 30 yard line in front of us, and the handoff goes to Buckhalter. The Offense is moving away from us now. Orton throws a long pass to Gaffney that misses him right in the hands. Jordan gets a few reps running the ball and Orton tosses a couple of passes to Stokley and Scheffler. I'm seeing Kenny Peterson, Ronald Fields and Ryan McBean on the D line. Rookie Ayers is lined up at LB, and a coach yells at him that he is lined up on the wrong side. After the correction, the Offense runs a screen pass to Buckhalter. Nic Clemons takes a turn on the Line. The Defense shows what appears to be a 5-2 front, with Ayers lined up on the edge. On the ensuing play, Peyton Hillis runs the ball. Jarvis Moss takes a turn as a stand up rusher. Tim Crowder is getting reps at LB and DL. Correll takes a handoff and Jack MF Williams makes the play from an end position. The DB's substitute and Royal makes a catch on Tony Carter. The 1st team Nickel package takes some reps in coverage. A pass comes to Stokely, and JMF Williams politely allows him to catch it. He would have slaughtered poor Stokes if he didn't, because Jack was in the "Crouching Tiger" position and ready to deliver punishment.

The Team huddles up in the center of the field for a minute, and shortly there is some Jawing back and forth coming from the huddle. As they break ranks and spread out there is laughter going on, and I see Kenny Peterson trotting down to the 20 yard line and Britton Colquitt setting up to punt the ball. Apparently Josh is throwing them a bone as a reward for a good practice. Fun Time. If Kenny catches the ball practice knocks off one half hour early. Peterson makes the catch. Then they have Rookie Chris Baker back to field a punt. He misses the 1st attempt, so they run it again. This time he hilariously signals for a Fair Catch. Everybody gets a kick out of this. The Veterans yell, "DO OVER." The 3rd time's the charm as Baker backs up on a booming punt by Colquitt, signals again, then makes the catch. The team cheers.

As the final team huddle takes place at midfield, I start to make my way over to the Autograph area. Sorry Stuman, Champ did not show for signatures, so I couldn't pick up an autograph for your little dude. I was able to get Autographs from Bruton, Phonz, McKinley, Richard Quinn, Nate Smith, Seth Olsen and Marquez Branson, but as time was running out, I could not get Ayres signature. I got Chris Baker's and told him, "Nice Catch" and he chuckled as he signed my hat. As the Final Horn went off, I was able to secure one last signature from Everette Pedescleaux before he ran off. I thanked the guys for staying out a little longer(to show my respect and appreciation), and then went in search of "Illegal Pete's", on a recommendation from CaliJoefornia. The Chile Verde Burrito was great, so a tip of the hat to you Cali. In fact, I've typed up this report at the restaurant, while waiting for Friday night Denver traffic to die down.

The team got a lot of good work in, and I enjoyed my second time at Training Camp.   
Beam Me Up, I'm Tired.