This morning Broncos training camp kicked off in Dove Valley south of Denver. For the first time in years I have no plans to attend. Of course were the Broncos interested in giving me a media credential I am sure I could find the time to attend a practice or two. Broncos, your move.

I am not planning to go for two reasons.

First, I already used a big chunk of vacation for the World Cup Europe extravaganza back in June. You are welcome.

Second, I can’t imagine a worse hell than sitting in 95 degree heat surrounded by morons that do their shopping at broncogator.com.

I don’t call these people names (strictly) because they shop at broncogator.com. I also assume they will spend the entire practice making arguments why their messiah Tebow should be the Broncos starting quarterback. I imagine every completed Tebow pass will be greeted with cheers to match Mark Jackson’s touchdown catch to finish off The Drive (a play 98% of them will not be familiar with). Each poor Orton pass will result in a rain of boos not seen since Jay Cutler’s return to Mile High last pre-season.

While these idiots look on each move by OLASTT (refresher: Our Lord And Savior Tim Tebow) as validation of his righteousness, I think they are missing the key point and something they can never see in a practice.

I am not sure Tebow is smart enough to be an NFL QB.

In the months before and after the NFL draft much was made of Tebow’s throwing mechanics. He spent many videotaped hours shortening his wind-up and working on dropping back to prove to NFL teams that he could make the transition to becoming a more traditional NFL drop back passer.

I have little doubt that Tebow can succeed in this. Let’s face it, you can say many things about him but OLASTT is a physical freak and an incredibly hard worker. If his problem were solely teaching his muscles to do something different, I have no doubt he can be successful.

But that isn’t his main problem. Even with perfect mechanics OLASTT needs to learn how to read defenses, find the open receiver and complete the pass, all while the defense tries to kill him. These are the things I worry about. I am not sure that underneath that spiky, greasy hair Tebow has the brain for the NFL.

I am not talking about his Wonderlic score or anything like that (though apparently that isn’t going to help his cause), I am talking about what I saw watching the guy for three plus years in college.

Urban Meyer’s system doesn’t require much from a quarterback’s head. A read option running game that is so simple it has become the default offense of most high schools in the country. A simple passing game where UF’s faster wide receivers beat the defense and Tebow has his choice of wide open receivers.

To succeed in that system doesn’t require intelligence. Yet the NFL requires a ton. Look at Alex Smith, another quarterback who succeeded in Meyer’s system. All indications is that he is smarter than OLASTT (higher Wonderlic, graduated with a 3.7 GPA in two years in Economics) and he certainly seemed nearly equally athletic coming out of college yet it has taken him 6 years just to become a mediocre NFL quarterback.

The part that concerns me is OLASTT’s ability to react when things break down – and after last season I think we can expect that a lot with this offensive line. A successful QB in the pros is able to maintain poise under pressure, continue his reads and find the open receiver. Look at OLASTT’s highlight reel. His ‘greatest’ plays were when he gave up on a pass play under pressure and just took off. When he did try and stick with the pass his senior year to improve his draft prospects, his decision making wasn’t always the best. And he didn’t seem to learn from his mistakes. Yes, that is the same game.

In the NFL with bigger, stronger defenses looking for any chance to rip the head off a rookie getting Favre-esque treatment by the media that is a recipe for disaster.

NFL game speed intelligence isn’t the same as normal intelligence. Josh McDaniels may have been impressed by OLASTT being able to regurgitate plays to him when talking at UF before the draft but going from that to being able to read defenses on the run is like going from a multiple-choice test of a chapter in a history book to a debate with the top student in Harvard Law School.

Unfortunately, all of the glowing coverage and worshipers descending on Dove Valley that will inevitably make the argument OLASTT should start will not be able to see any of this. The only time he can demonstrate that he has the head to play in the NFL is during a game. A real game. Not the fourth quarter of a pre-season game where the competition is probably less talented than most of the teams he played in the SEC.

Hell, even Bradlee Van Pelt, the worst joke of the Shanahan era not named Maurice Clarett, was good in the 4^th quarter of a pre-season game.

Kyle Orton will never inspire legions of children to wear jorts and look up passages from scripture but he succeeds in the NFL not because of his athletic abilities but his brain. He balances limited athletic gifts by not making mistakes.

Jay Cutler, for all the scorn I have heaped on him was capable of making the right decision. His problem is that his arrogance tends to override what he knows is the right decision. He should dump it off to the back in the flat but is absolutely sure his great arm can fire the ball past the defender to his receiver down field.

The prevailing wisdom is that the Broncos will use Tebow on short yardage and goal line situations. Despite the brain-dead argument of a local writer who should probably spend less time in the tanning booth and more time thinking through his columns before turning them in, this is exactly how he should be used. Not only are these plays geared to his run-option strengths but they also limit his decision making. There is no sitting back and reading the defense while the play develops – it is make one quick decision and go, which is exactly how OLASTT plays.

This is the logical step for him. Let OLASTT learn what the speed of the pro game is like, while running plays he is comfortable with. Adjusting to the NFL while also trying to learn how to essentially play a new position is just too much. If OLASTT actually does have the brain to succeed in the pros, it will be in baby steps. Let him read the compressed defense and limited passing options of a 3^rd down and 3 before asking him to drop back on a 1^st and 15 from his own twenty with the entire field in front of him and any of hundreds of defenses opposing him.

I have never looked in his eyes, so I can’t speak to the power of his gaze turning me into a teenage girl like The Wiz from Seinfeld; but I have watched a ton of his games and nothing I have seen says there is the sharp, quick decision making going behind those inspirational eye-blacks that will be necessary to be great with the Broncos.

So, when OLASTT does get on the field this pre-season don’t focus on his passing and don’t cheer his running. Every time he scraps a pass play in favor of taking off down the field should actually cause you to cringe if you are a Bronco fan. Focus on whether he sits in the pocket, makes his reads and hits the open receivers.

Sometimes the easiest looking play is the most difficult.

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.

Well it is official here in the Rocky Mountains, football season has begun again. This morning the Broncos took the field for their first public day of training camp. As your indentured servant for all things Broncos, I set my alarm on my final day of vacation and headed south to see for myself how the new Broncos look.

So, let’s jump right in. Your first outside-the-ropes, back row look at the 2009 Broncos:

• Before the Broncos had even taken the field, the tone was set that this was no longer Mike Shanahan’s Broncos. As the Broncos began to slowly trickle on to the field, Let’s Go by Trick Daddy was blasted out some speakers set up on the sideline. That was followed by the White Stripes. Needless to say, I loved it. I was ready to get out there and take on Brian Dawkins one-on-one myself.

• While it is easy to say that Shanahan would have never blasted music at the start of a practice, I actually think that was a good thing. I can’t imagine Shanahan playing Trick Daddy or the White Stripes. I am guessing he is more of a Bob Seger or Asia kind of guy.

• Speaking of the Shanahan era, a week after declaring we are a Nation Divided, I am now not so sure. Yes, these may have been the devoutest of the devout but I didn’t see or hear any pining for Whiny Jay or Mike. In fact there was even a guy wearing a Cry Baby Jay t-shirt (and, shockingly, he had them for sale out in the parking lot as well). The crowd was excited about Kyle Orton and Josh McDaniels and the direction of this team. There was a lot more optimism and enthusiasm in the crowd than I frankly expected.

• Oh and by the way – if there was ever any concern that the team may not respect McDaniels given his age and youthful appearance, well that was dispelled the first time he blew his whistle to stop an offense on defense drill. Every single person on the field stopped and got quiet to hear what he had to say. Even the crowd stopped talking for a moment. Give him this; the man knows how to carry himself. Maybe the local sportswriters will finally get over that he looks young.

• No, nevermind – that is crazy talk. I got a little carried away there. Must be the sun.

• One of the big questions coming into training camp this year was – whither Brandon Marshall. Would he show? Would he practice? Would he get arrested on the flight to Denver? Would he still be hobbled by a bad hip? Well, every Bronco fan can breathe a sigh of relief because the answers to those questions are: Yes, Yes, No and No.

• Marshall looked great. Quick and strong, making good cuts and even running over some DB in a one-on-one open field tackling drill (which actually also points out how B-Marsh has zero moves, other than the one where he gives up three yards trying to run around a corner after catching a curl route).

• Marshall also made a couple really nice grabs – one high above his head along the sideline and a one-handed grab well behind him on a crossing route. Those catches are great news for B-Marsh. Not so good for the QB who threw the off-target throws (Chris Simms on both occasions if I am not mistaken).

• The other star of the morning session was Ryan Torain. The 2^nd year running back that spent all but one half of one game on the injured list lat year looked the best among the 4 different running backs that saw the ball with the first and second teams (Correl Buckhalter, Lamont Jordan, Torain and Peyton Hillis). Torain was sort of the forgotten man with the drafting of Knowshon Moreno and the free agent signings of Buckhalter and Jordan but he served notice this morning – hitting the hole with confidence and making players miss in the open field. Just enough to dream of him trading off carries with Moreno in a game this fall. If it worked for the Panthers and Titans, why not the Broncos?

• While obviously Marshall and Torain stuck out, it wasn’t any individual plays or players that made the greatest impression on me. More it was more the tone and focus of the practice compared to the Shanahan era.

• There was a focus on the little things that I don’t remember seeing before. A couple examples:

• During a punt team drill, newly signed rookie Alphonso Smith and Eddie Royal were deep shagging the punts. On a short, sideways punt, Smith came charging up but was unable to reach the ball and sort of booted it off the field. McDaniels yelled down from the line of scrimmage to ‘play like it were a game’ – meaning get away and yell ‘PETER’ so that everyone else knows to get away. Remember this was a drill for the punt team – not punt return team – yet the coach reminded the guys shagging punts to act like the professionals they are. That is the little stuff that instills discipline in a team and can’t be anything but a positive in the fourth quarter of a game in November.

• At one point early in the session, each position broke off and did footwork drills. Just working on the agility of moving laterally and front and back while making football plays. This is a little thing but makes such a big difference – no slips in the open field, a quarterback able to shuffle around in the pocket to avoid pressure, etc.

• Speaking of quarterbacks, this drill also really drove home why Orton has been named the starter. Not only are his passes as crisp but his footwork was quicker and more precise than either of the other two QBs (Simms and 6th round draft pick Tom Brandstater)

• That didn’t stop some from in the crowd from focusing on Brandstater. Let’s just say it was noted more than once that the Broncos now have the offensive coordinator from the Patriots and a talented, but unproven QB named Tom B. drafted in the late rounds. Dare to dream to kids, dare to dream.

• While some were excited about Brandstater, there was another rookie I was more excited to see. Former Seminole cornerback Tony Carter, a man who practically single-handedly kept the Seminoles in games a couple years ago during the really dark times in Tallahassee, is an undrafted free agent trying to make the Broncos.

• Poor Tony has a tough hill to climb. With several other corners drafted (Smith) or picked up in free agency (Andre Goodman) or left over from last year (Jack Williams), cornerback is a crowded position in Dove Valley.

• Not sure if it was a positive or negative but Tony was also victimized on two tough luck passes completed in front of him. On both, he was just inches late in breaking up the pass thrown in front of him. On the positive, he was in position and nearly made the play. On the negative, he nearly made the play.

• There is one thing working in Tony’s favor though. It can’t be forgotten that the new Broncos GM, Brian Xanders is a Seminole as well. Seminole nation looks out for its own.

• If the music started out the practice reminding you that this is a new team and organization, then a post-practice autograph session (including the head coach!) for young and old alike, reminded you one last time before heading to the parking lot.

• I am not much for autographs so I didn’t fight any kids to get a ball signed by Chris Simms but I can pretty much guarantee I was the only one scanning the faces to shake hands and speak with Xanders and Carter. Unfortunately I didn’t see them this time.

• Oh well, maybe when I return this evening for session #2.