Highlights from John Fox’s Combine Press Conference

Denver Broncos head coach John Fox responds to a question during a news conference during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Many of the Denver Broncos coaching staff and scouts are in Indianapolis this week for the NFL’s annual Scouting Combine, and head coach John Fox has been in high demand among the press.

Below are some notes of what he’s had to say:

Fox’s first topic was the upcoming NFL Draft, “You’re obviously gonna get a heck of a football player with the second pick,” said Fox on Thursday in a press conference.  “It’s very excited (to have the 2nd pick) and very similar to my first year in Carolina when we had the 2nd pick in the draft.”

Fox was then asked about the Broncos quarterbacks, to which he responded; “I don’t think we’ll really figure that out until we start competing.  It’s a group of three (quarterbacks) that I think are very capable,  and right now Kyle Orton is our starter.  I can’t predict (who will be the starter) week one, you know what I mean?  But that’s where we are today.”

He was very high on all three quarterbacks and said he is looking forward to getting to see them all play and compete for the starting job, which is exactly what he should be saying in February.  It doesn’t matter who the starter is now, it matters who will be the starter when the season starts.

Denver Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno (27) runs with the football during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/ Chris Schneider )

The focus was then shifted to running backs, on which Fox said more than one capable back is needed to be able to run the ball throughout the season.  Fox then added, “[The starting running back] takes a lot of shots, so in my opinion, you need more than one guy to make a commitment to run the ball.  So, we’re in the process of finding more than one guy.”

There will be plenty of backs to choice from in later rounds this April if they decide to draft one, and if the CBA gets worked out, free agent-to-be running back DeAngelo Williams would provide another option.  It definitely sounds like Fox wants to get another back to pair up with Knowshon Moreno and having coached Williams, the addition would make sense.

The discussion was then shifted to defense, Fox’s expertise.  Fox talked a little about the transition from a 3-4 to a 4-3 before saying he was excited about the defense, but there’s a lot of work to done.  He went on to say outside linebacker Robert Ayers will be moved to defensive end, along with Elvis Dumervil.  “I have the utmost confidence that he (Ayers) will be a productive player for us this coming year.

Next Fox talked about the signing of cornerback Champ Bailey.  “I think (signing Bailey) was huge, he’s a great football player, that’s why we re-signed him — he’s a great cornerback.  As far as leadership, in the locker room, in the community, and representing the organization, I’m not sure anybody is like him.  He’ll help our case.”

Fox then talked about getting to the Super Bowl.  “I go into every season hoping to win a World Championship, that’s the only reason I’ve gone every place I’ve been.  Our goal is to win a World Championship.  Right now there’s 32 teams and they’re all 0-and-0 and time will tell, (getting to the Super Bowl) is our goal.”

Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and Vice President John Elway were his final topics, “I’m very familiar with McCoy’s offense, from Carolina.  I have great confidence in him and his play calling ability,” said Fox on McCoy before moving on to Elway.  “John is all in, this isn’t a PR move, he’s been burning the midnight oil and working hard, he’s very willing to learn, and he understands what a football player looks like and he knows football.”

You can watch Coach John Fox’s full press conference at DenverBroncos.com.