Denver Broncos Training Camp Report: Days 4-5

The Denver Broncos kicked off the traditional work week in the middle of their own, holding a total of four training camp practices on Monday and Tuesday. The offense is beginning to come along, with a few surprises, while the defense (particularly the defensive line) continues to sort itself out.

The talk of Denver Broncos training camp thus far in 2008 has to be Domonique Foxworth, who is playing extremely well in coverage and making several big plays. With the promise from Head Coach Mike Shanahan that the best 11 players will see the field on defense, Foxworth is aiming straight at Dre Bly‘s #2 corner back starting job.

Meanwhile, Niko Koutouvides and Nate Webster continue to bounce back and forth on the first and second team middle linebacker duties. The latest buzz is that Kouts might edge Webster out for the starting job.

Offensively, the Broncos had their best day yet on Tuesday, finishing 3 of 4 practice-ending 11 on 11 drills with touchdowns. The pass protection stepped it up, showing improvement as the practices continue. The running game had its best day as well by all accounts, with several decent size 10-15 yard chunks being eaten by the combination of Selvin Young and Andre Hall, who both looked impressive.

Quick Hits: Montrae Holland is still struggling to lose the weight; he was seen pushing the sled again on Tuesday. … TE Nate Jackson has been seeing snaps with the first unit’s two tight end set with Daniel Graham, instead of Tony Scheffler. … The Broncos continue to rotate players in and out of the defensive line starting unit at both end and tackle, with only DT Dewayne Robertson consistently seeing starting snaps. We’ll have more on these stories later…

Injury Report: Chad Mustard has been placed on the PUP list with an injured right hammy, and it’s rumored he’ll miss several weeks. Tom Nalen was sidelined today to give his knee a rest, and Peyton Hillis missed a second straight day of practice with his sore left hamstring. D-Rob is also seeing scheduled days off for health concerns.

Quotes from Shanahan and Michael Pittman after the jump…

Monday

HEAD COACH MIKE SHANAHAN

On T Ryan Harris:
“He is looking good. So far, so good. Ryan is very mature, and he feels very comfortable at the position and he is making big strides.”

On 11-on-11 drills:
“Well at the end what we have is a situation where we move the ball and all the coaches are off the field. We just like to see how people perform on their own. We try to put them in a gameday situation. They have down and distance and are actually moving the ball. You can see penalties and dropped balls, you can see big plays and when you try to end practice that way every morning you try to get a situation where the coaches are obviously away. We like to see which guys step up.”

On CB Domonique Foxworth:
“He had a big play (interception) today. Foxy has had a great camp and great OTAs, and that is what we are looking for—Guys that step up and get better… and Foxy has done that and helped himself.”

On WR Brandon Marshall:
“Brandon’s hand is fine, but he has to get into football shape. But this is what this (training camp) is for. He has been working out for a month, but there is nothing like working out when you have the pads on in football-related drills. You can run forever, but until you put those shoulder pads on it is going to take some time. He has made some big time strides and you can see the number of plays that he has made in practice.”

On the defensive communication system in the helmets:
“It is pretty easy here. Everything is working. You get a chance to communicate. We are doing the same thing on the offensive side of the ball. We will do some blitzes, so you still have to be able to signal offensive plays as well as defensive plays. Its good out here, but sometimes it doesn’t relate to gameday.”

Tuesday

BRONCOS HEAD COACH MIKE SHANAHAN

On the Broncos’ running backs
“I feel good. Like I said before, the running back position and the safety position I usually save the evaluations for the preseason games. Thus far, I am very happy with both.”

On RB Ryan Torain’s quickness
“We talked about him in the draft and I thought he was a first round talent. He hasn’t disappointed me yet. We’ll get a chance to see if he can hold onto the football, if he can remember his plays when the lights are on. So far he has worked extremely hard, and he’s impressed most of the coaches.”

On C Tom Nalen’s health
“He’s fine. I wanted to go a couple days with Tom (and then) give him a day off. He is such a hard-nose tough guy that he wants to go four or five days in a row, but it is rest well needed. We’ll do that every few days, so we don’t overwork him (and) get him back in football shape with his knee. Knowing Tom, he won’t skip a beat. ”

On Nalen’s offseason recovery
“He’s rebounded very good. One of the reasons we want to give him that day off is so he doesn’t overdo it. He’s come back from the surgery and worked extremely hard and is in good football shape. Any time you put on the pads and go through this grind it does take its toll, especially when you are a little bit older. Try and be smart with it and still get him in football shape and get him ready for this season.”

On turnovers during the morning practice
“We’ve had that every day. We try to limit that and that’s part of camp. We’ve had five good days, players have been a little more fresh than in the past because we are not actually doing two-a-days like normal practices. W e are in pretty good shape. Ninety-nine percent attendance in the offseason really helps us in camp because we don’t have to overwork them by running them too much. I have been pleased with what they have done. We area just keep working on eliminating those mistakes. That’s what camp is for, especially in the first week.”

BRONCOS RUNNING BACK MICHAEL PITTMAN

On Coach Shanahan’s approach to camp
“This is my first camp here, but this has been my easiest camp. Last year I was at Tampa, the past six years I was at Tampa. I think Coach is doing an excellent job keeping us fresh. Having one practice in the morning, and we come out here and hustle really hard and he rewards us with a walk-through in the afternoon. As a veteran, an 11-year guy, I can tell that my body feels much fresher. I’m taking more reps now because one of our fullbacks is hurt, but I feel a whole lot better now in this part of camp.”

On the competition at running back
“We are friends. It’s a great competition right now. Selvin Young, he’s the lead guy. Andre (Hall) is another good guy. Ryan (Torain), a rookie draft pick, myself. It’s going to be great competition. Last year, I believe at this time Selvin was fourth on the depth chart. Look at him now—He is number one. With this offense, and with the coaching staff, I believe they will play the best player.”

On his impressions of QB Jay Cutler
“I like Jay. He is a laid back, mellow type of guy. I’m used to Jeff Garcia, the fiery type. Jay is a great quarterback. He is a young guy, but he shows great leadership. I think he has a bright future for him.”

On lining up as a fullback
“I’ll do it, I’m not a fullback, but I will do whatever my coach asks me to do. I’m a tailback, and that is what I have been drafted to be coming out of college. If my coach asks me to go in there and feel some blocks, I’ll feel some blocks. I’m 220 pounds, I’m strong, but I am not as big as some of these linebackers in league, but I’ll do whatever they ask of me.”

On his durability
“I bring a lot to the table with myself, being a veteran, being smart of course. I bring a lot. I can catch the ball well out of the backfield, and I can run the football. Just being around the league and seeing defenses, I try and figure out what they try and bring to the table. I bring a lot to this offense.”

On advice he has given to rookie RB Ryan Torain
“I have just been trying to keep these young guys motivated. And really the odds are so wide open, so big, the coaches are coming down on them. I have just been telling them the things I learned as a rookie. I had it a whole lot worse. I came out in ‘98, and everybody was on me. I was carrying everybody’s pads off the field. I have been trying to keep them motivated because sometimes the confidence falls. Being a veteran and being around for so long, I just try and pick them up. Ryan and the other guys are going to be the future of this team. I myself only have about two or three years left in me. Those young guys are going to be around for a long time. ”

On playing fullback this season
“I am just going to playing there until Peyton (Hillis) gets back. I am just filling in and doing the best I can. I am running in there full speed and lowering the shoulder. All the blocks are not great, but I’m not a natural fullback. There are sometimes where they have me block as a halfback. I’m not complaining about it. I’m happy to be here, and I’ll do whatever they ask of me.”

On if he has ever played fullback before
“No I have never played fullback in my life. I was always halfback, receiver, strong safety. In my career since high school, I have always played halfback. But fullback, I am fine with it. If coach asks me to do it, I’ll do it and do the best I can.”