I figure if the players can endure two-a-days in full pads then the least I can do is show up for both practices to open the 2009 Bronco training camp. Cut me, Mick I am going back in.
On to my comments from the afternoon session of Day One:
- Just as I am feeling bad about my place in the hierarchy of the football world – you know, the very bottom – as I am sitting on the berm waiting for the afternoon session, Charlie Casserly comes walking by looking for a place to sit. You know Casserly best as the former Texans GM who drafted Mario Williams over Reggie Bush and then resigned shortly after. You would think now that the decision looks pretty smart he would get a better spot than next to me. At least he didn’t draft Maurice Clarett. The guy who did that probably wouldn’t even be allowed to attend Bronco training camp.
- The borderline cool weather is not the only thing that is different from last year’s afternoon session that I attended. The players are still in full pads and the slow walk-throughs and special teams that dominated the Shanahan era two-a-days are long gone; replaced by full pad workouts that replicate the morning sessions in intensity, length and activities.
- Another change is that no longer are the veterans given a pass for the afternoon. Outside of the players that are injured and haven’t been seen all day (Champ Bailey being the biggest name in that group), Brandon Marshall is the only player that doesn’t suit up for the afternoon, instead focusing on recuperating his hip.
- The Broncos do start the day with some special teams, working on kick-off returns. This is unfortunate for free agent Matthew Willis who seems to draw the short straw and repeatedly struggles with reaching kick-offs that come up short, sending balls skittering all over the field. Not exactly the way to break out of a crowded group of receivers and make the team. Though to be fair he is the total package – he dropped several passes during receiving drills as well.
- The guys continue breaking into small groups for more drills. The quarterbacks are in front of us and work on taking a drop while the coaches and other QBs take a swipe at the ball, trying to force a fumble.
- While it is hard to say any one quarterback stood out, I can’t be the only one holding his breath every time Simms drops back, kind of afraid he would take a shot to where his spleen used to be and be out for the season.
- Outside of the Tuck Rule drill as I call it. Orton continues to impress. Throwing solid deep passes (unfortunately some of those were to Matthew Willis – see above) and lots of screen passes.
- If there were ever a team with the personnel for loving the short screen pass approach, with players like Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley, Knowshon Moreno (hopefully) and quick, mobile linemen, the Broncos are it.
- One of the more shocking moments of the afternoon session was seeing Tyler Polumbus do a lap around the field. Yes, he was sent to do a lap – which happened to me on the freshman team once. I don’t know what he did to get punished but I can guarantee no player ever did a lap under Shanahan’s leadership. Seeing a 6’8”, 300-lb guy running a lap is not a pretty sight. You are amazed by all of the different jiggling parts while also worrying a little about him making it all the way around.
- It should also be noted that, in addition to Tyler’s apparent punishment I have already seen the Broncos do more conditioning in two practices than every Shanahan practice I ever attended.
So, what have we learned from day one? Probably not much. Very little is decided in the first two practices. But I think there is one thing I can guarantee. This team is going to be more disciplined, have better fundamentals and better conditioned than any Bronco team of recent memory.
A team that doesn’t lose fourth quarter leads and a quarterback not gift-wrapping interceptions inside the red-zone?
That right there might be worth a win or two.
I am taking Saturday off, but will hopefully be back with one more training camp update on Sunday.
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Question SuperDave: it was mentioned on a radio talk show that J-Mac may be more free with, shall we say, “colorful metaphors”* than his predecessor. Did you see any of that play out?
*For those of you who aren’t huge fans of Star Trek, the term “colorful metaphors” was how Spock described profanity in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
No, actually I heard JMac say very little – least of all unleashing his inner-Tiger Woods.
I did however neglect to mention probably my favorite moment of the afternoon session. They were running some receiver drills and JMac got out and played defensive back on the receivers, backpedaling a bit, giving direction and making sure they ran sharp routes. It was fascinating, least of all because the crowd was obviously trying to remain quiet to hear his coaching. Like I said, he knows how to carry himself. Can you imagine Shanahan getting out and playing some corner on Eddie Royal and then coaching him about which of the corner’s shoulders to drive toward? I don’t think so.
Oh, and there is nothing wrong with Bob Seger, unless your goal is to get a bunch of 24 and 25 year olds pumped up to play football. Asia, on the other hand…