Denver Broncos Training Camp – 8/3 AM Practice Report

Rulon Davis (65) and Kenny Peterson (90) participate in defensive line drills during Denver Broncos training camp on August 3, 2009. (BroncoTalk/Kyle Montgomery)

Denver Broncos training camp… news and notes from the Monday morning practice.

Attendance Report

Jarvis Moss was the most noticeable absence after teammate Marcus Thomas told reporters to expect him back today. Brandon Marshall, Brian Dawkins, Brandon Stokley, Correll Buckhalter, and Wesley Woodyards were also missing. It appears these veterans got the morning off, although Head Coach Josh McDaniels wouldn’t clarify the reasons for any particular player after practice beyond a “coach’s decision.” Linebacker Nick Greisen left the field with what looked like a knee injury.

Note: I’m giving offensive and defensive MVP awards each practice from now on.

Offense

MVP: Eddie Royal.  He is just unstoppable. At one point during eleven-on-eleven drills it felt like he was our entire offense, catching several consecutive passes (he did drop one in the red zone, however). He even got the better of Champ Bailey in one-on-one’s (although not by much). Coach McD gave the second-year player high praise, particularly mentioning his smarts. Royal also looks good in punt returns; a bit more natural than fellow returner Alphonso Smith. Great to see 19 continuing to flourish in his second year.

• The quarterback situation is still iffy, although they weren’t as sloppy as yesterday.  They ran some bootleg/play-action drills in individual work today on top of the usual WR/DB work.
• Chris Simms has the strongest arm and made some good plays today.  He was flushed out of the pocket a few times in eleven-on-elevens and made something happen, once running for about 7-8 yards and another time making a last second toss that resulted in a solid 10 yard run by Lamont Jordan.  Kyle Orton still throws the most accurate passes and is still our best quarterback, but his pocket presence really concerns me.  Tom Brandstater bounced back a bit today.
• Peyton Hillis has the best hands of any of the backs – big surprise, right?  Ryan Torain also looked good running routes, but you can tell Hillis is just special when it comes to catching the football.  Phenomenal hands.
• Tony Scheffler might be hiding a special gravitational force for footballs.  Some wildly inaccurate passes were thrown his way, but #88 repeatedly found a way to pull them in.  Not always mind you, but the big target looks to be a red zone threat once again this year.

Defense

MVP: Alphonso Smith.  Dominated in one-on-ones and did some good things in punt return work too.

While it’s clear McDaniels watches the offense most closely (he’ll be calling plays after all), he still pays attention to detail. Even as the defensive linemen hit the sled – probably the most monotonous and least interesting drill any group of players do at camp – McDaniels watched and coached up the d-line. He is a very “hands on” coach.

My favorite drill has become the WR/DB one-on-ones. It’s a simple exercise that tests a quarterback’s accuracy and mechanics, a receiver’s route running and hands, and a defensive back’s skills all at once. I watched and took notes on every throw this morning. Here are a bunch of highlights (midway through the drill, Simms and Orton switched to and from another drill):

• Simms throws to Royal, who runs a nice dig route that catches Bailey. Bailey quickly makes the tackle.
• Brandstater throws a nice ball to WR Nate Swift, who is smothered by Jack Williams. Incomplete.
• Simms throws another dig route, this time to Jabar Gaffney, who is quickly tackled by Andre Goodman.
• Alphonso Smith is all over Kenny McKinley when Simms throws for the corner of the endzone.  He gets a hand on the ball but didn’t get a good enough piece of it; McKinley catches it for the touchdown.  Smith yelps in disbelief.  My favorite play of the morning workout.
• Brandstater throws a nice completion to Travis Shelton over Josh Barrett.
• Simms’ throw to Chad Jackson was on target, and Jackson beat Josh Bell cleanly, but Jackson wasn’t looking for the football yet.  Incomplete.
• Brandstater’s throw to Brandon Lloyd is easily caught after Lloyd burned Rashod Moulton.
• Swift couldn’t get past Smith, and the rookie CB got high praise for his coverage on this one.
• Kyle Orton joins the fun, but can’t get the ball past C.J. Johnson to Royal.  CJ was physical, good job there.
• Brandstater to Shelton over Jack Williams.
• Orton and Gaffney connect for a touchdown over Vernon Fox.
• Orton put some real zip on this ball to WR Matthew Willis over the middle, complete before Darcel McBath came up for the tackle.
• McKinley got an Orton completion off Champ too; he ran a nice route but it was another short gain, quickly tackled.
• Smith had solid, tight coverage again, this time against Swift and Brandstater, whose throw was way off-target.  Smith got praised again; it’s not too hard to imagine this guy being left on an island and being okay.

On top of this one-on-one success, Smith looked good in punt returns, repeatedly making the first guy miss.

In eleven-on-elevens, Orton tried for the endzone over Bailey.  Bad idea.  Bailey’s still got it, and lept up for the juggling interception in the corner of the field.

Elvis Dumervil made a few mistakes this morning, but that’s to be expected as he learns the position.  One play stood out where he was assigned to cover Tony Scheffler in the flat.  He had the opportunity to bat the ball but second-guessed his position as the quarterback rolled toward him.  Scheff caught the pass and gained five yards before Doom tackled him.  He just looked a little indecisive, but I have hope for the guy and think he will get it.

I’m still not seeing the defensive line wreaking enough havoc.

Another late afternoon practice, scheduled to end at 7:30pm.  Check back tonight for the full report!