Training Camp Coming

[Broncosr0k]

From what I understand Fowler has been the most consistent receiver behind Sanders and DT and is looking in line to be that 3rd WR this year.

That is not encouraging.

 

[cdumler7]

That is not encouraging.

Not sure why you think that. Fowler has shown up very well all off season. He showed glimpses last year of being a good WR. Throw in from what I understand everybody that has been watching practice has said this is the best WR group they have ever seen play for the Denver Broncos. Guys are making diving catches left and right. So the fact that Fowler has risen to the top should show the growth this kid has had. Also this doesn't mean others haven't performed well. Latimer has really exploded especially the last few practices. Sunshine has made incredible catches and has very sneaky speed. A guy that could be a huge big play type guy for them this year is Kalif Raymond who is getting rave reviews as a returner and WR.

 

[Broncosr0k]

Not sure why you think that. Fowler has shown up very well all off season. He showed glimpses last year of being a good WR. Throw in from what I understand everybody that has been watching practice has said this is the best WR group they have ever seen play for the Denver Broncos. Guys are making diving catches left and right. So the fact that Fowler has risen to the top should show the growth this kid has had. Also this doesn't mean others haven't performed well. Latimer has really exploded especially the last few practices. Sunshine has made incredible catches and has very sneaky speed. A guy that could be a huge big play type guy for them this year is Kalif Raymond who is getting rave reviews as a returner and WR.

DT making big WR money being 3rd in line. That is discouraging. Unless I completely misunderstood what you said. Which would be par for the course today.

 

[cdumler7]

DT making big WR money being 3rd in line. That is discouraging. Unless I completely misunderstood what you said. Which would be par for the course today.

Haha yeah sorry I might not have written that very clear. DT has been outstanding at camp. He has really made some great catches. He looks in much better shape and has his speed back. Then Sanders of course has been just his consistent self making play after play. So then it is Fowler after those two guys making plays. He hasn't made the wow plays of Latimer and Jordan Taylor but he has been the more consistent day in and day out of the next 3. So all depends on what you like for that 3rd WR. Do you want the guy who can make the "Wow!" play or the guy you can trust that if the ball hits his hands most likely he is going to catch it. Throw in know will run the right route.

I guess maybe I should break it down for those next 3

Fowler--Consistent hands, good route runner, and probably our best WR running routes over the middle not being afraid to take a hit.

Latimer--Has shown to be our best run blocking WR (very underrated skill), has great speed, incredible leaping ability, and definitely makes the wow catch. Inconsistent route running sometimes and isn't always on the same page as the QB.

Jordan Taylor--Probably our best WR at the Go Route. Has made some incredible plays down the field on balls that you wouldn't expect him to catch up to our adjust his body the way he does. Every day seems to make that one play that just has everybody talking. Inconsistent hands as has dropped some easy ones. Worst route runner of the 3 as has trouble changing direction. Limited route tree because of that. Probably worst of the 3 blocking wise and special teams wise.

So far that is how I have heard it broke down of the 3.

 

[cdumler7]

Couple of other notes from practice...

1) DeMarcus Ware said that his back is actually healed up enough that he can play. Said no reason to waste his health though on games that don't matter. I do expect Ray and Barrett to play a much larger role this year and Ware to be pretty much a 3rd down specialist but good to hear his back is coming along.

2) Sambrailo has a giant cast around his elbow that he hyper extended but Kubiak said the injury isn't that bad just that they are being cautious.

3) When camp first started media folks kept commenting on how bad crowd attendance has been at camp. Well that notion is now gone as the Broncos have had 2 of their 3 biggest crowds ever at camp the last 2 days with 5200 yesterday and a camp record 5587 today. No more thought that people were only coming to see Manning.

 

[SpringStein]

No doubt the most boring practice I have been to - no pads, therefore not much hitting and lots of walk throughs. Some individual impressions - take them with a grain or tablespoon of salt due to the type of activity. I watched skill players almost exclusively, as at this type of practice I have no idea who is winning in the trenches. As Scott said, almost the entire starting D didn't practice today. In addition Manny and DT took the day off.

QB - I thought Siemian probably was the most consistent QB today. We've been spoiled at camp the past four years with Manning here. Both Sanchez and Lynch had some good throws, but I thought were less consistent.

RB - in my mind it appears that CJ and Booker have the clear lead at RB. Booker looks natural in ZBS cut backs.

WR - Fowler was the most impressive WR on the field today. Norwood also had several nice catches, including a long reception from Siemian during the 11 on 11 drill. I was going to say that Mose Frazier was pretty invisible and then he caught a beautiful corner fade pattern from Lynch.

DBs - Simmons had the best play of the day when covering Garrett Graham caught a pass and while the ball was in Graham's hands at its peak, Simmons stripped it from him and took off with what could have been a pick 6. DC wanted me to watch Lowery - he got a lot of reps today but there wasn't much good or bad to report, other than one time when Addison beat him in the one on one drill. (Bad and good news, right Scott?)

Misc - Kilgo had a knockdown of a pass, not sure if that was vs. Siemian or Sanchez. Weeks is one very large human being. It was a good crowd and the weather was cool and cloudy. I wore a light jacket and there were a few sprinkles close to the end of practice. I went with CEH and my grandson. Chris can add to - or correct - anything I have said here.

I didn't come out of today being terribly comfortable where we are at QB. Hopefully that improves as the year wears on...

 

[Orange Crush77]

Good stuff George!

 

[cdumler7]

Appreciate the 1st hand account from practice George. Sounds pretty consistent with everything I have read today about the practice.

Also just so you know you were a part of the largest crowd in the history of the Denver Broncos at a training camp practice today! So congrats.

 

[Draft Crazy]

That is not encouraging.

I think it is very encouraging... Bennie Fowler always has the tools in college he was just stuck with some really good college WR's and was still very raw coming out. I think it is wonderful news. Obviously not encouraging for Latimer, but if I feel it is more on Fowler's plan then the other guys looking poor.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Good work Geo. We may have to go dink and dunk to start the season on offense. More soup for Booker. Booker being perfect for the system and being a good receiver might be our most important rookie early in the year assuming Paxton doesn't end up starting off the bat.

 

[SpiritOf77]

I love hearing this good stuff about Fowler

He's my favorite current Bronco - well, him and Norwood ....

We will be loaded at WR this season

You look at the Bronco Super Bowl teams from the 90s, and aside from Rod Smith and Eddie Mac, not sure if any of those other WRs even make this team ..

 

[Draft Crazy]

Not sure about "loaded" I will use that phrase if these guys prove themselves on reliable/consistent bases. .

 

[CEH]

No doubt the most boring practice I have been to - no pads, therefore not much hitting and lots of walk throughs. Some individual impressions - take them with a grain or tablespoon of salt due to the type of activity. I watched skill players almost exclusively, as at this type of practice I have no idea who is winning in the trenches. As Scott said, almost the entire starting D didn't practice today. In addition Manny and DT took the day off.

....


I didn't come out of today being terribly comfortable where we are at QB. Hopefully that improves as the year wears on...

This is a good write up. The WR battle is the talk of camp right now. Simmons made the play of the day ripping a completion to Garret Graham out of his hands for a INT.

Feel real good seeing him roaming back there and then letting Ward come up and play closer on pasing down. I could see one of the two safeties leaving next year because of the play of Simmions.


Sieman with the ball on his own 1 yard line found Fowler down the sidelines for a 40 yard completion.

At the end of practice, they ran a drill starting at the 50 and had to get into FG range with 45 seconds left , 1 timeout and down 24-26. Sanchez did not participate. Sieman drove the team down to about the 15 , they killed the clock with 4 seconds to go and McManus nailed the FG.

Lynch drove the team to about the 35 but McManus missed the 53 yard FG but made his mulligan .

IIRC, McManus missed ~3 FGs though they were using a narrower goal post for him to practice against.

Saw zero punting but have seen Dixon before and he has outrageous hang time.

Janovich will be interesting to watch in preseason to see how they use him at FB. You will how to account for his pass catching ability down close to the goal line.

No QB has taken the reigns so the games cannot get here fast enough. Surprised that a veteran like Sanchez cannot distance himself from Siemian even in a new offense because Seiman is not doing anything but being average to below average. Having seen Manning, Jake and Cutler, these QBs look like backup quality with Lynch still learning the ropes and flashes occasionally when not asked to make a read.

Cutler his first year flashed immediately in camp and in the first game showed off his talent.

Kubiak did say it takes about 8 practices to install the offense so I expect the next couple days of practice to be where one QB might pull away. (My guess Sanchez)

Talk now is the missing intangibles Manning brought to the team.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Thanks Chris. At this point I just want a QB who won't put us in a bad position by turning the ball over. Siemien has never done anything for me but at least he seems smart with the football, whereas Mark Sanchez is basically the exact opposite of what we need at QB until Lynch is ready.

 

[CEH]

Couple of other notes from practice...


3) When camp first started media folks kept commenting on how bad crowd attendance has been at camp. Well that notion is now gone as the Broncos have had 2 of their 3 biggest crowds ever at camp the last 2 days with 5200 yesterday and a camp record 5587 today. No more thought that people were only coming to see Manning.

Actually 5584 on Friday as us 3 came in and then went back out to the team store then came back in. LOL

 

[Draft Crazy]

Sounds like the Lions have most likely lost Eric Ebron with a torn achilles

 

[SpiritOf77]

Not sure about "loaded" I will use that phrase if these guys prove themselves on reliable/consistent bases. .

You must be referring to DT, right ??

 

[CEH]

Whole team greeting fans and signing autographs for fans. Cool to see.

 

[cdumler7]

Awesome to hear about the whole team signing autographs today. Heard we had another crowd over 5000 today and we are on pace to have the most fans ever at training camp for the overall. Great to hear the fan support is large still even without Manning.

Alright so notes from today I decided to start off with an apology. I apologize to those who said that Siemian had a real shot at starting as I thought it was a laughable idea. The more days go by though the more I keep hearing this kid has shown probably the best of the 3 and has been the best especially at protecting the football. Obviously preseason games will weigh heavily but I'm starting to think I shouldn't have just thrown this kid to the side thinking he didn't have a shot. Good for him showing up so well and starting to correct some of the issues he had earlier in camp such as always checking the ball down. Heard he has made some very nice deep passes the last few days of practice. Also hearing he is getting just a bit more touch on his passes. He still needs to work on speeding up a bit, throwing on the run, and adding just a bit more touch but he is fighting for this job and can't wait to see him in our first preseason game.

We did have another scare at practice today as Paradis went down hard during a fight between the OL and DL. Sounds like he just had the wind knocked out of him though as he practiced a bit later.

Sambrailo and Stephenson sat out today with injuries but sounds like at least with Stephenson more of just a precaution.
Great thing I am hearing is that Stephenson and Okung have shown very well at camp so far. Okung also has stepped up huge as a leader showing up to practice early to work with one of the young players on technique. Love hearing those kind of stories.

Few other notes

Latimer was the first one to start doing Kick Off Returns today. The team is definitely trying to find more ways to get the ball in his hands.
Fowler again had another great day as well.

 

[SpringStein]

Oh, and the Broncos gift shop must be run by Nordstroms. I liked a polo shirt, but not for $95.