Roster Carousel Nets Three New Faces

by John Bena on Dec 5, 2007 3:28 PM MST

The Denver Broncos on Wednesday signed defensive tackle Steven Harris and safety Marviel Underwood to their active roster, Head Coach Mike Shanahan announced.

The club also added defensive tackle Michael Bozeman to its practice squad.

Harris (6-foot-5, 285 pounds) is a rookie defensive tackle who spent the first 13 weeks of the season on Denver's practice squad. A member of the University of Florida's BCS national championship team in 2006, Harris entered the league with the Broncos as a college free agent on May 2. He appeared in 47 career games (19 starts) for the Gators, totaling 64 tackles (38 solo), 14.5 tackles for losses, six sacks and four pass breakups. A three-year letterman at Coral Gables High School in Coral Gables, Fla., Harris was born on Aug.14, 1984.

Underwood (5-foot-10, 200 pounds) is a third-year safety who joins the Broncos from Green Bay, which waived him on Dec. 3 after a one-week stint on its active roster. He played in all 16 career games (0 starts) with the Packers as a rookie in 2005, leading the club with 23 special-teams tackles while totaling 14 tackles (10 solo) and one fumble recovery on defense. Underwood was selected by Green Bay in the fourth round (115th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft from San Diego State University and spent the 2006 season on the club's injured reserve list with a knee injury suffered in the preseason. A three-year starter at San Diego State, Underwood earned honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference honors following his junior and senior seasons. He attended San Leandro High School in San Leandro, Calif., and was born on Feb. 17, 1982.

Bozeman (6-foot-2, 290 pounds) is a first-year defensive tackle who spent his rookie season in 2006 on Atlanta's practice squad and competed in its training camp this year before he was waived on Aug. 29. He entered the league with the Falcons as a rookie free agent from the University of Mississippi on May 2, 2006, and played for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europa following the season. As a senior at Mississippi, he recorded 51 tackles (30 solo) along with one sack as an 11-game starter. Bozeman, who attended Hawkinsville High School in Hawkinsville, Ga., was born on Dec. 9, 1982.

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The overhaul continues

this is practically identical to what GB did, just started sooner. That being said, where Denver needs to really look similar is in the fact that GB did the overhaul for one offseason (05-05), and kept all the new faces, which is to say they weren't wrong about any of the new young guys they brought in. THAT is what we need to hope for.

Underwood sounds like a player that GB isn't comfortable keeping on the roster because of injury concerns, and I would suggest that we feel the same way. He was picked up in Bates first year in GB, then couldn't play the following year and in the current year he was an on again off again roster addition like we've seen all year with guys like snell, mustard, etc. Only deep injuries to their reserves would have kept him in GB.

I like the fact that they are picking up young DTs. Right on track, I say. These guys will grow in the system, much like our o-line guys. Good to plant them early.

Additionally Denver worked out a bunch of veteran D-line guys, some I've heard of, some not: Dave Ball, Joe Salavea, Junior Siavi, Nic Clemons, Julian Jenkins and Keyonta Marshall. (from Denver Post)

by Jeremy Bolander on Dec 5, 2007 3:51 PM MST reply actions

Underwood sounds like he has good ST experience

Even if he isn't going to be a starter, if he is a good ST tackler that will really help the team right now.

Intriguing to get Harris, yet another Gator lineman like Moss and Thomas. Earl Everett was a Gators LB who wasn't drafted, I was hoping the Broncos would pick him up. I don't know if he has NFL talent, but he was an Anthropology major like Thomas and myself, so in the interests of solidarity I think he should get a look!

Seriously, playing for championship teams like Florida and Texas (Selvin Young, Tim Crowder) seems to produce young players who know how to win at the next level. Players from NCS champions always deserve an additional look, even if their measureables are just average.

I wonder how the Canes (D.J. Williams, Myers) feel about the locker room getting invaded by Gators?!

"Just say no to melting" Nancy Reagan, Denver's new lead protection coordinator.

by Arctic Bronco on Dec 5, 2007 4:26 PM MST reply actions

I agree

I think the depth on big time programs that make championship and conference title games should be looked at as having a leg up on many of the starters from smaller teams, even if you don't have the background in terms of games played or film study for them. They got a lot of the same training and coaching that the starters got, and that is sure to be of benefit.

by Jeremy Bolander on Dec 5, 2007 4:35 PM MST up reply actions

The critical point

for all new signings is our 2006 53-man active roster. They will come and go before then, but we are looking for who sticks, of course.

My guess on Underwood is training camp injury, or evidence that he is not fully recovered from his IR stint. But he won't have to do much to make this team at S methinks...

by Jeremy Bolander on Dec 5, 2007 4:37 PM MST up reply actions