SoCalBronco
08-18-2005, 12:24 AM
There's yell to pay from Shanahan
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News
August 18, 2005
ENGLEWOOD - Linebacker Keith Burns didn't have to witness the play that incensed Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan to know one of his teammates was in big trouble.
"You just hear him yelling," Burns said Wednesday afternoon. "And if he calls you by your whole name, your first name and your last name, obviously, you did something bad."
Advertisement
The name Brandon Browner crossed Shanahan's lips during a punt-return drill. Browner, a rookie safety, was on the scout punt team and Shanahan was angry the player wasn't hustling like the coach thought he should.
"Get the (expletive) off the field! Go take a shower!" Shanahan told Browner.
After pleading his case, the rookie was allowed to continue. The next chance he got, Browner sprinted like he was running the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine.
"We're trying to get the first punt team ready and they get a false impression of what it's about," a calmer Shanahan said afterward. "That's young guys, though."
Shanahan has been keeping a close eye on a special-teams unit that last season was among the NFL's worst. The Broncos tried to rebuild many of the deficient areas by making several personnel moves, but there have been bumps the past week.
During Denver's workouts in Houston last week, a punt-protection drill included a blocked punt and two no-punts because of pressure.
It appears Shanahan's patience has expired. Tuesday, he singled out D.J. Williams' effort, saying it was "a damn joke" and that "it only takes one to ruin the drill." Long snapper Mike Leach also was scolded Tuesday, with Shanahan telling him to "get your (expletive) downfield."
Coaches have had players repeat several coverage drills during training camp.
"We're doing things a little more up-tempo than guys are used to," said Burns, a special- teams captain in his previous stint with Denver and likely again. "At the same time, it's work that's needed. It's good repetitions for the young guys, to light a fire under them and let them know that's the way we do things around here.
"I don't know how things happened last year, but whatever it was, it was. Now, we're just trying to rectify the situation, and it's better to nip it in the bud now before you get into the season and things go bad."
Burns, who returned to Denver after spending last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, said that in his nine-plus years with the Broncos, he has seen Shanahan tell players to leave practice only a handful of times.
HAPPY ENDING? If the pressure of possibly getting cut after 12 seasons is getting to Raylee Johnson, he isn't showing it.
He was the final defensive lineman involved in a blocking drill against the offensive linemen, and just as he finished his pass-rush move, the horn blew, ending the period. Johnson never missed a beat, sashaying past the lineman facing him and high-stepping onto the next field, a move that cracked up his teammates.
"I love football. I've been playing it ever since I've been a kid. So why get stressed out now?" said Johnson, who signed with the Broncos before the 2004 season after spending his entire career with the San Diego Chargers. "It's almost the end of camp. It's the best part of the week."
Johnson is coming off a season in which he made minimal impact, having recorded one sack in 14 games. His spot on the roster is tenuous, though, as he consistently has been with the third team.
But he is taking the same carefree approach regarding his future as his on-field antics.
"I feel fine where I'm at," he said. "I'm giving them the best I can do. . . . I think it could work out. In the NFL, you never know. One week you're hot, the next week you're not. We'll find out in 2 1/2 weeks."
No matter what happens, Johnson maintained, he would like to continue playing this season. He is in shape, and his level of play this summer, he believes, has been consistent after a year he called "not good enough" and below his expectations.
"I feel like I have some ball left in me, and I'm having fun," he said.
INJURY REPORT: The left hamstring injury that kept defensive tackle Gerard Warren out of three practices and the preseason opener last week has resurfaced, and he missed the afternoon workout. Warren said the move to sit is "more precautionary than it was about the injury."
He maintained that he's not worried about the discomfort lingering.
"It's early in camp. It's Week 2, we've got two more weeks," he said. "We'll get this thing under control and I'll try to get on the field Saturday and get some game-time action."
Warren participated in the first four practices this week.
By the regular-season opener in Miami, Warren said, "I'm dropping the bomb on somebody, and that's all I'm concerned about."
Cornerback Champ Bailey (left hamstring tightness) also missed the afternoon workout.
OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND: Shanahan said directly for the first time that running back Maurice Clarett's ongoing right groin problem could affect his roster status. Clarett, a third-round pick, has missed 14 practices since Aug. 5.
"Everyone that is here should be concerned about making this football team, and if you are not, then you are not a realist," Shanahan said. "If you are not practicing, that does not help your chances."
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News
August 18, 2005
ENGLEWOOD - Linebacker Keith Burns didn't have to witness the play that incensed Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan to know one of his teammates was in big trouble.
"You just hear him yelling," Burns said Wednesday afternoon. "And if he calls you by your whole name, your first name and your last name, obviously, you did something bad."
Advertisement
The name Brandon Browner crossed Shanahan's lips during a punt-return drill. Browner, a rookie safety, was on the scout punt team and Shanahan was angry the player wasn't hustling like the coach thought he should.
"Get the (expletive) off the field! Go take a shower!" Shanahan told Browner.
After pleading his case, the rookie was allowed to continue. The next chance he got, Browner sprinted like he was running the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine.
"We're trying to get the first punt team ready and they get a false impression of what it's about," a calmer Shanahan said afterward. "That's young guys, though."
Shanahan has been keeping a close eye on a special-teams unit that last season was among the NFL's worst. The Broncos tried to rebuild many of the deficient areas by making several personnel moves, but there have been bumps the past week.
During Denver's workouts in Houston last week, a punt-protection drill included a blocked punt and two no-punts because of pressure.
It appears Shanahan's patience has expired. Tuesday, he singled out D.J. Williams' effort, saying it was "a damn joke" and that "it only takes one to ruin the drill." Long snapper Mike Leach also was scolded Tuesday, with Shanahan telling him to "get your (expletive) downfield."
Coaches have had players repeat several coverage drills during training camp.
"We're doing things a little more up-tempo than guys are used to," said Burns, a special- teams captain in his previous stint with Denver and likely again. "At the same time, it's work that's needed. It's good repetitions for the young guys, to light a fire under them and let them know that's the way we do things around here.
"I don't know how things happened last year, but whatever it was, it was. Now, we're just trying to rectify the situation, and it's better to nip it in the bud now before you get into the season and things go bad."
Burns, who returned to Denver after spending last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, said that in his nine-plus years with the Broncos, he has seen Shanahan tell players to leave practice only a handful of times.
HAPPY ENDING? If the pressure of possibly getting cut after 12 seasons is getting to Raylee Johnson, he isn't showing it.
He was the final defensive lineman involved in a blocking drill against the offensive linemen, and just as he finished his pass-rush move, the horn blew, ending the period. Johnson never missed a beat, sashaying past the lineman facing him and high-stepping onto the next field, a move that cracked up his teammates.
"I love football. I've been playing it ever since I've been a kid. So why get stressed out now?" said Johnson, who signed with the Broncos before the 2004 season after spending his entire career with the San Diego Chargers. "It's almost the end of camp. It's the best part of the week."
Johnson is coming off a season in which he made minimal impact, having recorded one sack in 14 games. His spot on the roster is tenuous, though, as he consistently has been with the third team.
But he is taking the same carefree approach regarding his future as his on-field antics.
"I feel fine where I'm at," he said. "I'm giving them the best I can do. . . . I think it could work out. In the NFL, you never know. One week you're hot, the next week you're not. We'll find out in 2 1/2 weeks."
No matter what happens, Johnson maintained, he would like to continue playing this season. He is in shape, and his level of play this summer, he believes, has been consistent after a year he called "not good enough" and below his expectations.
"I feel like I have some ball left in me, and I'm having fun," he said.
INJURY REPORT: The left hamstring injury that kept defensive tackle Gerard Warren out of three practices and the preseason opener last week has resurfaced, and he missed the afternoon workout. Warren said the move to sit is "more precautionary than it was about the injury."
He maintained that he's not worried about the discomfort lingering.
"It's early in camp. It's Week 2, we've got two more weeks," he said. "We'll get this thing under control and I'll try to get on the field Saturday and get some game-time action."
Warren participated in the first four practices this week.
By the regular-season opener in Miami, Warren said, "I'm dropping the bomb on somebody, and that's all I'm concerned about."
Cornerback Champ Bailey (left hamstring tightness) also missed the afternoon workout.
OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND: Shanahan said directly for the first time that running back Maurice Clarett's ongoing right groin problem could affect his roster status. Clarett, a third-round pick, has missed 14 practices since Aug. 5.
"Everyone that is here should be concerned about making this football team, and if you are not, then you are not a realist," Shanahan said. "If you are not practicing, that does not help your chances."