Atlas
08-01-2006, 01:15 PM
Too early to say of course but this draft looks great. Count Walker in as a second rounder and it even looks better.
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Offensive Rookies Shine
Filed under: General— Haven Marceau @ 4:27 am
If day two of Denver Broncos’ training camp is any indication of what’s to come, the 2006 draft class will go down in history as one of the best ever for the Denver Broncos. After some wobbly starts and mixed results during day 1 practices, this years crop of fledglings looks like they’re ready to fly sooner than normal.
During day 1 practices you could almost hear Jay Cutler’s brain working as he went through drills, trying to remember the plays, what his progressions are, and then maybe get a peak at the defense before getting rid of the ball. He was telegraphing passes and allowed the defense to get an early read on where he was going with the ball. During the second day of practices in Dove Valley Jay Cutler flashed the type of talent that got him selected 11th overall in the draft. He hit his receivers in stride and on time on shorter routes and was on the money on some intermediate length passes where he was also able to show off his arm strength. The football has a distinct sound to it when it’s caught; either a slightly louder slap when hitting the receiver’s hands, or a distinct crack if it gets into a receivers chest. It’s a sound that people in Denver used to hear quite often; music to the ears.
Second round selection Javon Walker (if you catch my drift) looked sharp in drills throughout the morning practice. His routes are crisp, and he doesn’t seem to be favoring his surgically repaired right knee at all. If he continues at his current pace of recovery, Walker will give the Broncos a weapon in the passing game that they haven’t had in a long time, if ever. That’s right, if ever.
The other second round pick Tony Scheffler has come flying out of the gates into his first training camp. Scheffler has showed tremendous hands during both days of practice so far, catching everything that comes at him. During team drills Scheffler also showed that he can find the holes in zone defense and that he has the ability to beat a linebacker in man coverage. His route running will have to improve if he wants to be a great Tight End in the NFL, but from the early performances he looks like he could be very good very early. The knock on Scheffler coming out was his poor blocking, but it looks better than advertised. He seems more than willing to stick his nose in there and work at it, which is half the battle when it comes to blocking.
Fourth round pick Brandon Marshall seems determined to live up to the early praise that he received during mini-camp from All World cornerback Champ Bailey. Marshall’s size is head-turning. When he lines up outside he looks like he’s going to catch the ball, and he has not belied that impression as of yet. His size allows him to get off the line without much trouble, and he uses his large frame to wall of defenders when the ball is in the air. When he catches the ball it doesn’t look like there is any way the ball will escape his giant hands; they’re like a black hole that the ball disappears into. Like Scheffler, Marshall will need to improve his routes, but they’re pretty good already and he seems more agile than a man of that size should be.
I’ll leave assessment on the remaining rookies for another day. Fourth round pick Domenik Hixon is still sitting out while his injured foot continues to heal, and it’s hard to get a read on linemen this early in camp. Even if the rest of this year’s draftees turn out to be total duds, unlikely given that Dumervil is already seeing a lot of time on the first team, this draft is shaping up as the future of the Broncos franchise. And the future may not be too far away.
Comments (0)
Offensive Rookies Shine
Filed under: General— Haven Marceau @ 4:27 am
If day two of Denver Broncos’ training camp is any indication of what’s to come, the 2006 draft class will go down in history as one of the best ever for the Denver Broncos. After some wobbly starts and mixed results during day 1 practices, this years crop of fledglings looks like they’re ready to fly sooner than normal.
During day 1 practices you could almost hear Jay Cutler’s brain working as he went through drills, trying to remember the plays, what his progressions are, and then maybe get a peak at the defense before getting rid of the ball. He was telegraphing passes and allowed the defense to get an early read on where he was going with the ball. During the second day of practices in Dove Valley Jay Cutler flashed the type of talent that got him selected 11th overall in the draft. He hit his receivers in stride and on time on shorter routes and was on the money on some intermediate length passes where he was also able to show off his arm strength. The football has a distinct sound to it when it’s caught; either a slightly louder slap when hitting the receiver’s hands, or a distinct crack if it gets into a receivers chest. It’s a sound that people in Denver used to hear quite often; music to the ears.
Second round selection Javon Walker (if you catch my drift) looked sharp in drills throughout the morning practice. His routes are crisp, and he doesn’t seem to be favoring his surgically repaired right knee at all. If he continues at his current pace of recovery, Walker will give the Broncos a weapon in the passing game that they haven’t had in a long time, if ever. That’s right, if ever.
The other second round pick Tony Scheffler has come flying out of the gates into his first training camp. Scheffler has showed tremendous hands during both days of practice so far, catching everything that comes at him. During team drills Scheffler also showed that he can find the holes in zone defense and that he has the ability to beat a linebacker in man coverage. His route running will have to improve if he wants to be a great Tight End in the NFL, but from the early performances he looks like he could be very good very early. The knock on Scheffler coming out was his poor blocking, but it looks better than advertised. He seems more than willing to stick his nose in there and work at it, which is half the battle when it comes to blocking.
Fourth round pick Brandon Marshall seems determined to live up to the early praise that he received during mini-camp from All World cornerback Champ Bailey. Marshall’s size is head-turning. When he lines up outside he looks like he’s going to catch the ball, and he has not belied that impression as of yet. His size allows him to get off the line without much trouble, and he uses his large frame to wall of defenders when the ball is in the air. When he catches the ball it doesn’t look like there is any way the ball will escape his giant hands; they’re like a black hole that the ball disappears into. Like Scheffler, Marshall will need to improve his routes, but they’re pretty good already and he seems more agile than a man of that size should be.
I’ll leave assessment on the remaining rookies for another day. Fourth round pick Domenik Hixon is still sitting out while his injured foot continues to heal, and it’s hard to get a read on linemen this early in camp. Even if the rest of this year’s draftees turn out to be total duds, unlikely given that Dumervil is already seeing a lot of time on the first team, this draft is shaping up as the future of the Broncos franchise. And the future may not be too far away.