Broncos training camp recap: Paxton Lynch has a good start, Von Miller tears it up, and Garett Bolles gets first-team reps

Broncos Training Camp is finally here! Day one of Broncos camp included Garett Bolles starting with the ones, Lynch’s momentum carrying over to day one, Siemian calling himself a “slappy”, Von Miller doing what he does best, tweets from camp, news and notes and more!

Rookie Garett Bolles splitting first-team reps with Ty Sambrailo at left tackle

After being selected in the first-round of the 2017 NFL Draft, the Broncos had some big plans for rookie Garett Bolles and so far so good. On day one of the Broncos Training Camp practices, the rookie started with the first team offense at left tackle.

Bolles split first-team reps with former second-round pick Ty Sambrailo during day one, but Bolles was up first which is noteworthy. The highly athletic Bolles should be considered the favorite for the Broncos starting left tackle job and this is just a step in that direction.

Bolles earned this opportunity because of his play, and that showed up today. According to Kaptain Kirk, Bolles handled starter Shane Ray fairly easy during at least one play during practice today. The rookie will continue to be tested all camp but sounds like he was off to a good start.

DenverBroncos.com’s Andrew Mason had this to say about Bolles performance today.

OT Garett Bolles stood up well to the challenge posed by DE Jared Crick during one-on-one work, using his quickness to prevent Ray from beating him to the edge at times during one-on-one and team work. Bolles also showed good balance and footwork during the day, which saw him split first-team work with Ty Sambrailo.

So it was a good first day for the Broncos first-round pick who they need to have a solid rookie season.

Lynch has a strong practice:

It was said that a switch was flipped for Paxton Lynch during the final few weeks of the Broncos offseason practices, well switch continued to be on during the Broncos day one practice apparently.

Lynch had multiple touchdowns today, including a nice wheel route touchdown pass to running back C.J. Anderson while playing with the first team offense. He also had a red zone touchdown to Emmanuel Sanders and a pair of touchdowns in a 7 on 7 drills later in practice.

Lynch says he is much more comfortable than he was last year at this time.

“Honestly, it feels like night and day. I feel way more comfortable out there with those guys. I can kind of be myself a little bit more. Last year, I just felt like I was tip-toeing away trying to learn things and figure everything out at once instead of sitting back and getting a plan and sticking to it. But now, I think I’ve gotten a little bit more comfortable. I found a regime to stick to and a plan to stick to, and it’s worked pretty well. I feel like through OTAs and even through the first day, I’ve continuously gotten better every day.”

Lynch will need to continue to carry this momentum throughout Camp and the Preseason if he wants to win the job.

Siemian hopes to improve after an inconsistent day

There weren’t too many tweets out there about Siemian today, but the noteworthy one came from Siemian himself.

The 2016 starter didn’t have his best day and was off the mark according to onlookers. This was a day that featured an up-tempo pace and more short passes, so it was a day that Siemian was supposed to thrive. So it was a disappointing day one for Siemian who called himself a “slappy” after practice today.

“I try to take it day by day and make the big things small. For me, it’s pretty easy. I just want to be better than I was yesterday. Hopefully the number 13 that rolls out of the locker room tomorrow is better than the ‘slappy’ that rolled out here today. That’s really all I’m trying to do and if I can make the big things small, which I’ve tried to do really since I got drafted, hopefully things will work out.”

Not a great start for Siemian who got the nod to play with the first team first today. Also, not good considering how Lynch finished the offseason and how his day one went. Lynch didn’t blow the doors off the competition, but he reportedly was the better quarterback today.

Siemian will need to come back and have a better day two practice to create so momentum. He has done this in the past, so I expect to see a sharper Siemian tomorrow.

Barbre is there to compete

The Broncos acquired former Philadelphia Eagles guard Allen Barbre yesterday, and the veteran guard was at practice today already competing for a starting gig. Denver Broncos Head Coach Vance Joseph confirmed this after the practice when he told reporters that Barbre is competing for the left guard spot.

Vance Joseph called Barbre a nice addition to the Broncos offensive line.

“Alan Barbre is a veteran guy who’s played offense guard and some tackle. He’s had 28 starts in two years. Watching the film, he’s a smart, steady guy. Adding depth there was important for us, a guy that’s played some football. He’s an older guy, coming to that room, he’s the elder spokesman now. He’s a nice addition.

Barbre is coming an impressive season where he was ranked as the 16th best guard in the NFL last season and thrived in the run game. If he continues this throughout Broncos Camp he seems like the favorite for the Broncos left guard spot. Pairing him with Ronald Leary and the Broncos have a damn good run blocking duo at guard.

“He’s competing for a guard spot, so he’s going to be in the mix. He practiced today, being a veteran guy and playing guard his entire career, he knows what to do. Concepts are different, the communications different, but he knows who we are. It’s an under front and we run power, he knows who to block. He did a fine job today.”

There were whispers about the Broncos new coaching staff not being too thrilled about Max Garcia’s play, so this will be something to watch going forward.

Von Miller wreaks havoc on Broncos quarterbacks:

This should come as no surprise, but Super Bowl MVP Von Miller looked like his elite self once again today.

The explosive pass rusher had sacks on both Paxton Lynch and Trevor Siemian today. Von got around right tackle Menelik Watson on both plays and would have had a sack on Lynch if he could hit him and caused Siemian to have a panic attack and threw an errant pass in the air.

This pressure will continue throughout camp and hopefully, make our right and left tackles better because of this. It’s discouraging to see this happen to Watson, but keep in mind that Von does this to just about every blocker who lines up across of him.

News and notes:

• Juwan Thompson was the next back up after C.J. Anderson during today’s practice. They are easing Jamaal Charles in.
• Broncos are reportedly working out veteran running back Stevan Ridley after practice today.
• Every Broncos player passed their conditioning test and are set for Camp.
• Joseph also indicated that Sunday will be the Broncos first padded practice.
• Undrafted rookie quarterback Kyle Sloter had a few good moments today including a touchdown pass to rookie receiver Anthony Nash.
• Veteran running back Juwan Thompson received a bunch of reps today with Booker out, Charles being eased in, and rookie DeAngelo Henderson having to earn his snaps.
• Rookie linebacker Ken Ekanem had some good moments against Ty Sambrailo today.
• Rookie cornerback Marcus Rios had the only interception today off Kyle Sloter

Injury report:

• Defensive end Derek Wolfe was sent home with a stomach bug this morning.
• Running back Devontae Booker will miss 6 to 8 weeks with a wrist injury and is expected to be placed on the PUP.
• Rookie defensive end DeMarcus Walker went to the locker room with an undisclosed injury during the early portions of practice. Thankfully it ended up only being a heat issue and that he could have returned to practice if needed.
• Center Matt Paradis and running back Jamaal Charles just did individual work today.
• Rookie returner Isaiah McKenzie looks to be the early favorite at punt returner.

Tweets from practice:

Notable quotes:

Vance Joseph on his first Training Camp practice as a Head Coach in the NFL.

“It’s training camp and it’s my 16th training camp as a coach. Obviously being a head coach is a little different and I’m trying to find my way around the field. Everyone breaks and goes to their spots and I’m like ‘OK, where should I go?’ I don’t want to take over anyone’s drill, but that’s the hard part, I want to coach more. I have coaches that do that but I want to get involved a little bit more and I will as we go along.”

Vance Joseph on putting pads on Sunday

“The pads are critical and that’s why camp is so important. You put on pads and obviously playing football is done in pads. The true evaluation starts with the pads on, even for the quarterback guys. Having real pressure around you and having a full speed rush around you is important for at the quarterback. Who can fill in and not see it, that’s important for a quarterback.”

Paxton Lynch on the quarterback battle between him and Trevor Siemian

“It definitely feels like you’re getting closer to the season. Getting into training camp, you start making your roster cuts, and start actually playing preseason games. You get a chance to run around a little bit. You get a chance to see how you perform against actual defense. I think [QB] Trevor [Siemian] and I have competed the whole way. It’s always been a competition between us; pushing each other up until this point. I think that we just have to do it the same way. You just have to worry about yourself to make the team better. You worry about yourself and make yourself better, and the guys around you better. That’s how I’m viewing it.”

Trevor Siemian on learning from quarterback coach Bill Musgrave

“I think he’s just been around for so long and he’s coached so many different guys that he’s got such a great perspective on things and he’s played too. For me, it’s just being around another coach with a lot of experience and a lot of good experience. It’s just good getting different perspectives from different coaches and seeing what works for you. I think he does a good job of that and kind of figuring out the player and what they need. We’re lucky to have him.”