2019 Denver Broncos Training Camp: Day 9 news and notes

Day 9 of Broncos camp is in the books and it was the much anticipated stadium practice at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Over 20,000 fans filled up the seats at the Stadium to get their first look of their 2019 Denver Broncos .

Today we have the Broncos reacting to the stadium practice, Joe Flacco getting more comfortable in the offense, Drew Lock’s good day, an injury report, news and notes, quotes, and more

Broncos react to the stadium practice

The Broncos spent their 9th Training Camp practice at Broncos Stadium at Mile High infront of over 20,000 fans. It wasn’t the 50,000 Head Coach Vic Fangio joked about, but it was still a solid turnout for the Broncos.

Head Coach Vic Fangio was asked about his impression about practicing in front of the fans and he told reporters that he thought this was a good move for everyone.

“It was good. I think it was good for everybody. I hope the fans enjoyed it. I think we had a pretty good crowd here. I don’t know what you’ve gotten in the past, but it was good. I think it was good for the players, good for the coaches, good for everybody. It was all positive.”

First round pick, tight end Noah Fant called his first experience in Broncos Stadium “amazing” and that it was a great atmosphere. He continued by saying he did not expect the amount of fans who did how to actually show up.

“I didn’t expect there would be this many fans here today. They came out and showed great support. I was hearing on the intercom there was upwards of 15,000 here. It’s something that’s pretty special and shows how much support they have.”

Starting quarterback Joe Flacco who has some memorable moments here at Mile High Stadium said that “it is a lot of fun here” and that his previous stops here he noted the energy this place has. So this was nothing new to the veteran quarterback.

“It’s a lot of fun in here. I think the first time I ever stepped in here you could tell the energy this place has. To come out here on a hot summer afternoon and have these many people show up for what is most likely a boring practice is pretty cool. It’s a lot of support for us.”

So overall, it sounds like it was a productive and eventful Training Cam practice in front of the fans.

Joe Flacco is starting to feel more comfortable

It took a little while, but veteran quarterback Joe Flacco has started to get into a groove and the results are showing.

Head Coach Vic Fangio told reporters after practice that he believes that quarterback Joe Flacco is starting to get comfortable in the Broncos offense.

“I think Joe’s getting more comfortable. It’s a new team, new system. We all know he can throw well. I think he’s just got to get a little bit more efficient. Efficiency means a lot of things: throwing it to the right guy a little bit quicker; throwing it a little bit more accurate; getting more work with these routes and these receivers. We’re not there yet, but we’re getting better.”

Like Fangio, Flacco noted the progress the offense has made during the past three practices. He told reporters that it has been a struggle at times, but that they are beginning to get things to “pop” on that side of the ball.

“I honestly think over the last three days, we’re starting to see some of the progress and some of the hard work that we’ve been putting in. Vic’s (Head Coach Vic Fangio) defense does a really good job. They’ve seen a lot of the routes we’ve run all spring and all summer. I really think that the last few days we’ve starting to put it together. It’s been a struggle at times, but we’re starting to get some things to pop and guys being pretty consistent.”

The offense has been a concern for many during the first week or so of practices, but it really seems like they have turned the corner. As Fangio stated, this is a new offense, with a new quarterback, new offensive coordinator, and with a lot of youth on that side of the ball. It was going to take sometime before they started clicking on a cylinders. It is good sign that they have showed improvement and hopefully something we see continue to improve as the days and weeks go on.

Drew Lock has himself a day

Rookie quarterback Drew Lock had himself a solid practice today according to reports and he made some notable throws.

Head Coach Vic Fangio was asked about Lock’s play and he told reporters that Lock had himself a few good periods in 7-on-7. However, in typical Vic Fangio fashion, he downplayed that by saying that 7-on-7’s isn’t real football.

“He’s doing well. He had some good periods here today. I think he did his best work in the 7-on-7, which isn’t football, but it’s progress. You need to see that progress in 11-on-11 and then ultimately in games, but he’s getting better.”

Lock is fighting for the Broncos backup job and by most accounts is having himself a solid all around camp thus far. The rookie mistakes are happening and it’s still a learning process, but all in all, it’s going well.

He was asked if he felt that his game has progressed since the start of camp, and he told reporters that he does feel himself progressing.

“I do. I do feel myself progressing. I feel like at the beginning I definitely had some things I needed on work on. I went back home and worked on them. Came back out for training camp a lot more confident, a lot more progressed in what it takes to be a quarterback. I still have a lot to work on.”

As Fangio stated, Lock’s best period was during 7-on-7’s and Lock was asked about this after practice. When asked how he felt about his performance during that period, he told reporters that it felt really good.

“I felt really good. I felt alright all day today. It was obviously different in front of all of these people, but I’ve played in front of 100,000 people before. It’s just going out there, making plays and doing what you’ve done in training camp.”

It’s great to see that Lock has been playing well and progressing throughout camp. His play on 7-on-7’s is promising to see and hopefully he can carry that success over to real football as Fangio would put it.

News and notes

• Rookie linebacker Justin Hollins took over Von Miller’s first team reps at edge rusher.
• UDFA linebacker Josh Watson continues to get first-team reps at inside linebacker for the Broncos.
• Fangio was upset with the amount of penalties and drops that the team had during today’s practice.
• Linebacker Jeff Holland saw plenty of first-team action in place of Von Miller as well.

Injury report

• Von MIller and Emmanuel Sanders were excused from today’s practice to attend a friends funeral.
• River Cracraft continues to sit out practice with a muscle injury.
• Todd Davis continues to sit out practice with a calf injury.
• Wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton continues to sit out practice with a hamstring injury.
• Linebacker Dekoda Watson is sitting out practice as well.
• Offensive tackle Ja’Wuan James is sitting out practice as well with a minor injury.
• Tight end Bug Howard is out for about a week with a sprained ankle.
• Cornerback Bryce Callahan left practice early and went to the locker room. His foot was stepped on per reports. X-Rays were negative so he should be fine.

Tweets from camp

Quotes

Head Coach Vic Fangio on if he feels that the team has made strides wrapping this week of training camp practices.

“We definitely have made some strides. Where we haven’t is in the penalties. We had 12 penalties today. This is half of an NFL officiating crew out here. Eight of them on offense. Four of them on defense. Way too many. This team last year was 31st in the NFL in penalties called. That’s got to stop. We’ve got to improve that. We’ve emphasized it. Obviously, I haven’t done a good enough job of doing that and obviously they haven’t done a good enough job of listening. That’s got to be a main focus. It has been and has to continue.”

Quarterback Drew Lock on getting a standing ovation today when he came out.

“That is something special. I have a lot to prove and a lot to do with my time here in Denver, but hopefully keep on getting the standing ovation when you walk in. But no, it warmed my heart a little bit to know this place is accepting me like that.”

Offensive lineman Dalton Risner on what it was like coming out on the field for the first time at Broncos Stadium at Mile High.

“Honestly, it was surreal. I walked out, I’m in a stadium a part of the Denver Broncos. The fans welcomed me. It was an unreal experience. I can’t help but smile thinking about it.”