Camp Questions - 2013 Edition

[MileHigh64]

Well, with all the crap about Von Miller today, I'm choosing to focus on the TEAM. We're just a few days away from camp with pads, competitive battles, media coverage and some halfway decent real football news. There are so many things to have interest in at this year's camp, but here's my current list. Chime in with the areas of camp that might interest you:

1. Is it true that Peyton Manning is throwing the ball with more zip this year than last year?
2. Has Derek Wolfe really become a vocal defensive leader as has been reported? Will that translate into Wolfie's production on the field?
3. Are we going to have to hear about the whole Von Miller thing every day?
4. Can Montee Ball win the starting job by the start of the regular season? Is Elway taking it too far when comparing him to Terrell Davis?
   
5. Is the trio of Thomas, Decker and Welker going to gel quickly?
6. Is Fox going to let Adam Gase get a little more creative and less conservative?
7. Is Rahim Moore over the Baltimore game?
8. Who rises into the fourth wideout spot? Caldwell, King, bring back Stokley, other?
9. Will Robert Ayers ever live up to his draft spot?
10. Does Brock Osweiller really look as improved as was reported at OTA's? Can he show it in a pre-season game?
11. Is Vasquez a starter on the O-line?
12. Who will be the surprise rookie standout at this camp? Quanterus Smith? Tavarres King?
    
13. Is Sly Williams ready to contribute right out of the gates? How about Shaun Phillips?
    
14. Is Gase's faster tempo offense going to make our Broncos tough for other defenses to keep up with?
15. Can Nate Irving live up to the mike linebacker expectations that Elway has placed on him?
16. How will the Broncos handle the cut-downs without their suspended personnel executives?
17. Clady's shoulder? 100%?
18. Who do we lose to injury? (Sorry, it always happens!)
19. Biggest surprise cut at the end of camp?
20. HOW IN THE HELL WILL I MAKE IT THROUGH THE REST OF THE SUMMER WITHOUT ANY REAL LIVE BRONCOS FOOTBALL GAMES?

Go Broncos!


MH64

 

[TDs3nOut]

Those are some important, detailed questions. The answers to those will help determine the answer to one less detailed question that I'm thinking about: by the end of the season will we have a team that both can't be defended by the best defenses and defends even the best offenses in the league? Obviously answering that question "yes" is the ideal goal of any team. Lofty as that goal is, I think that we have a chance to do that. If so, then this should be a very special season.

 

[Orange-and-Blue]

No idea whats wrong with my comp...I gave each a thumbs up but it showing a thumbs down. Sportshoopla doesnt like you guys...LOL

 

[WalkerBoh]

No idea whats wrong with my comp...I gave each a thumbs up but it showing a thumbs down. Sportshoopla doesnt like you guys...LOL

If this board works similar to others I've seen, it shows right. The number could just show positive for "thumbs-up" and negative for "thumbs-down".

 

[WalkerBoh]

I was right. Just hover the mouse over the number, and it shows how the votes are cast.

 

[Broncosr0k]

I cannot wait for camps to start to get some answers to these questions as well. It also means the season is just around the corner.

Anyone in the Denver area going to some of the open days at camp? I would be interested to hear your take on the state of the team.

 

[MileHigh64]

Morph usually goes to training camp and few times and he's typically reported on what he saw. It's tough for me to get out to Dove Valley with my work schedule, but I might try to give it a go this year. Players report tomorrow!!

Go Broncos!!

MH64

 

[randymon]

Man! I don`t think you left much out MH64. I also am going to be interested in the db battles and also how a bigger Hillman is going to look. Does Anderson, rookie rb from Cal make team? Always excited to see which rookies will impress. Dysert will also be fun to watch. Elway reportedly likes him alot. Will he surprise and take Brocks #2 spot? I doubt it but stranger things have happened ya know. Most of all I hope everyone makes it through training camp relatively unscathed.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Man! I don`t think you left much out MH64. I also am going to be interested in the db battles and also how a bigger Hillman is going to look. Does Anderson, rookie rb from Cal make team? Always excited to see which rookies will impress. Dysert will also be fun to watch. Elway reportedly likes him alot. Will he surprise and take Brocks #2 spot? I doubt it but stranger things have happened ya know. Most of all I hope everyone makes it through training camp relatively unscathed.

Speaking of which rookies will impress, I am interested in whether undrafted FA WR Lamaar Thomas can earn a roster spot or at least make the practice squad. This piece by Mike Klis kind of piqued my interest in him, though he is admittedly a long shot: Possible Broncos sleeper: Lamaar Thomas | First-and-Orange ? The Denver Post

 

[cdumler7]

This off season has felt like one of the longest yet. Actual football on the field cannot get here soon enough. Ready to finally read something that actually involves the game of football. I'm really hoping that this whole Von Miller situation doesn't take over the headlines and we can actually get some good reports out of Dove Valley. Unfortunately I cannot make it out there this year but have a big trip planned for it next year. My wife even said she might be interested in going for once!

Great list by the way. All very good questions and hopefully most of them are answered with a big time YES.

 

[WalkerBoh]

Some questions that got missed:

1) How will the O-Line and RB's adapt to the switch back to ZBS? Will the change improve the running game?

2) Will a "go-to" TE emerge this season in camp? Last year we had a mix of Dreesen, Tamme, and Thomas, but none seemed to really dominate.

3) Will Jammer give our secondary the promised improvement, especially against opposing TE's?

4) Will the new conditioning techniques continue to reduce injuries to key players, now that it's in it's second year?

5) Will fans ever get used to the sight of #18 playing in Orange and Blue? Will the press finally stop talking about his neck?

 

[MileHigh64]

Great additions to the list, Walker, Randy and TD's!! I can't wait to see all this stuff!

 

[cdumler7]

Some questions that got missed:

1) How will the O-Line and RB's adapt to the switch back to ZBS? Will the change improve the running game?

2) Will a "go-to" TE emerge this season in camp? Last year we had a mix of Dreesen, Tamme, and Thomas, but none seemed to really dominate.

3) Will Jammer give our secondary the promised improvement, especially against opposing TE's?

4) Will the new conditioning techniques continue to reduce injuries to key players, now that it's in it's second year?

5) Will fans ever get used to the sight of #18 playing in Orange and Blue? Will the press finally stop talking about his neck?

How much more do you actually expect we are going to run the Zone compared to years past? I know we brought back one of the main guys that helped bring about the Zone Blocking but from what I understand his focus is on working with the young guys on fundamentals since the Broncos have brought in so many young and athletic OL players but not very polished. Honestly I don't see us running all that much more than we have in the past. Vasquez and Franklin are both built for the power running scheme and for the most part last year the Broncos ran more of a hybrid power/zone-blocking scheme anyway.

 

[BroncoInCALI]

My addition to the list: Will Knowshon Moreno make the squad? (LOL......The cbs'ers know why I threw that one in there.)

Seriously though, great post MH64....You covered a bunch of great topics. I am interested to see how much better the young Corners on our squad can get. Chris Harris and Tony Carter were impressive last year and I have high hopes for both of them. With the addition of DRC our nickel and dime packages should be pretty darn good. Bolden is another guy I will be interested to see develop.

Derek Wolfe could end up having a break out season, in my opinion. He has a motor that doesn't quit and I love the idea of him becoming one of our leaders.

The offense: It's a Peyton Manning lead offense, so I have very little concern over there....aside from inju.......uhhh, nevermind, not going to complete that word.

Go Broncos!

 

[WalkerBoh]

How much more do you actually expect we are going to run the Zone compared to years past? I know we brought back one of the main guys that helped bring about the Zone Blocking but from what I understand his focus is on working with the young guys on fundamentals since the Broncos have brought in so many young and athletic OL players but not very polished. Honestly I don't see us running all that much more than we have in the past. Vasquez and Franklin are both built for the power running scheme and for the most part last year the Broncos ran more of a hybrid power/zone-blocking scheme anyway.

My thought on this relates more to the RB personnel more than who we have on the line. Specifically, Montee Ball is considered a one-cut back which is what the ZBS utilizes most effectively. And I see some significance in bringing in Alex Gibbs. To me it signals a shift more in favor of ZBS. Otherwise, why bring him in if the current staff was already running some form of the scheme? I could be wrong, but I sense a shift more in favor of the ZBS, with less emphasis on power scheme.

 

[cdumler7]

My thought on this relates more to the RB personnel more than who we have on the line. Specifically, Montee Ball is considered a one-cut back which is what the ZBS utilizes most effectively. And I see some significance in bringing in Alex Gibbs. To me it signals a shift more in favor of ZBS. Otherwise, why bring him in if the current staff was already running some form of the scheme? I could be wrong, but I sense a shift more in favor of the ZBS, with less emphasis on power scheme.

That makes sense. I just know from reports Alex Gibbs is actually doing very little with the starting OL. He was more brought in for the young guys like Painter and a few others to help coach up technique especially hand placement as that is one thing he was known for was for being a technician.

I do agree that Ball is more geared towards the ZBS and I am sure the Broncos thought that out before drafting him. I do know though that the Broncos ran the ZBS more than people realize. I don't have the numbers in front of me right now but they did run it quite a bit especially compared to the year before. You are right though maybe they will run it even more. My guess is the Broncos when running to the left side of the line will use more of a ZBS as Clady and Beadles are both very good at the ZBS. When running to the right they will favor the PBS as Vasquez and Franklin both seem to prefer it. Running straight up the middle they will probably mix it up to keep the defense guessing.

 

[MrDoc420]

I was right. Just hover the mouse over the number, and it shows how the votes are cast.

I'm glad somebody pointed that out. I was looking at that for like 5 minutes going WTF?

 

[xBxtxDx]

Awesome post and awesome follow up, along what has already been posted my biggest watches are the battle for the 4th and 5th CB spots between Webster, Carter, and Bolden, with Jammer possibly in that mix and the battle at S with Burton emerging, Moore coming back from the flub, Adams being an ok player, Carter coming back from injury, and Jammer's designation as just a DB (matchup against TE's).

For another source on training camp watchers, Kaptain Kirk and some of the crew over at MHR are pretty decent. Mile High Report, a Denver Broncos community

 

[FFSparky]

Great thread MH64 and all for your comments too.

I want to see how the all defensive changes work out.

I really liked Wolfe early on last year but as the season progressed it seemed to me he was not involved. I sure hope it was a fluke and the real Wolfe will be howling allot the entire season!

And it’s going to be interesting to see how Welker contributes, I am rather glad we have him on our side for a change!


Go Broncos !

 

[TheDrive]

I am wondering which version of DRC steps on to the field for the Broncos. The player from ARZ or Philly? I know which version I am hoping for!