dragondawg
08-08-2007, 11:53 PM
ENGLEWOOD (AP) - Sam Adams is listed at 6-3, 350 pounds. A lot of his opponents over his 13-year career would tell you he's probably much bigger.
Adams, signed in May to add depth and a big body for the defensive tackle spot, forms part of a solid, if not flashy, three-man combination in the middle of the Broncos' defensive line.
He's listed as a starter on the depth chart, next to Gerard Warren, who revitalized his career with the Broncos in 2005. Jimmy Kennedy, a former starter for the St. Louis Rams, completes the trio.
Still, it's Adams who has the most name recognition of the bunch. And rightfully so.
"There's a lot of big guys that can't play," said coach Mike Shanahan. "He's got great quickness. The main thing (is) that we have to make sure that he's healthy. We've got to get him in football shape because we know he can play the game."
Adams underwent minor offseason surgery on his right knee and was released shortly thereafter by the Cincinnati Bengals.
In Denver, he has two former coaches to guide him. Adams played for new Broncos defensive coordinator Jim Bates in the NFL, and defensive line coach Bill Johnson at Texas A&M.
Shanahan said he is still taking it slow with his big man.
"I think if we do that, then we've got a chance, once we start the season, he's feeling pretty good," Shanahan said.
HOME, SWEET HOME: Daniel Graham is glad to be back home.
The tight end signed with the Denver Broncos as a free agent in the offseason and is listed as No. 1 on the depth chart in the city where he grew up.
Graham played high school football at Jefferson High School. He went up the road to the University of Colorado, then was drafted in the first round in 2002 by the New England Patriots. The Broncos snagged him from New England in March. Graham's father, Tom, played for the Broncos from 1972 to 1974.
"I'm glad to be back," Graham said. "I'm glad everybody who got to see me play in high school and college can watch again."
He joins the Broncos with Cecil Sapp, who has his own Colorado roots. Sapp played his college ball at Colorado State.
The rival schools will play their opening game of the season in three weeks at Invesco Field in Denver.
"That first game, CSU-CU, you already know, CSU is going to win," Sapp said. "We're going to win by four."
WHAT MONOTONY?: Only three days remain at Denver Broncos training camp, and yet some of the veterans are getting that monotonous feeling.
"It seems like it's (the second week) a lot longer than the first week," tight end Daniel Graham said. "It seems like we've been out here forever already. The first game can't come quick enough."
That first game is Monday at the San Francisco 49ers.
Veterans like Graham and John Lynch, who is in his 15th training camp, grind out the dog days of summer.
"Some people kind of fade right now and the professionals get stronger and understand that, yeah, it's tough, but this is the time when you've got to be on your detail more than ever," Lynch said.
Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan said that monotony is synonymous with training camp.
"The next three days we'll be trying to put all those things in we put in the last two days and try to get a little bit better," Shanahan said. "There's a lot of things to cover in a couple weeks' time frame."
SLOWLY BUT SURELY: With six tight ends on the Broncos depth chart, coach Mike Shanahan says he has a good kind of problem.
The Broncos carried four tight ends last season and return all of them: Stephen Alexander, Chad Mustard, Nate Jackson and Tony Scheffler. Newcomers Daniel Graham and Teyo Johnson are attempting to crack the lineup.
Alexander and Scheffler were splitting most duties at the end of last season. Both caught 18 passes; Alexander had two touchdowns while Scheffler hauled in four.
But Graham may be the most intriguing option.
The former first-round draft choice had 21 catches and two touchdowns in New England last season. He presents perhaps the best combination of blocking and receiving of the bunch.
Even Jackson, a converted wide receiver who had only five catches last year, has shown flashes. He has the best hands and best speed in the crew.
"It's always good (to have so many at the position)," Shanahan said. "Tony is the guy who really didn't practice the whole practice. Chad came back. We got a lot of reps in today."
Scheffler is still a little bothered by a left foot injury that has kept him out of contact drills since he hurt it during team passing drills in May. Mustard was aching from a right hamstring.
EXTRA POINTS: WR Brian Clark ended Wednesday morning practice with the finest play. He caught a jump ball touchdown pass on a fade route in the corner over two Broncos defenders. ... LB Nate Webster didn't practice Wednesday morning because of an unspecified injury but returned in the afternoon. Coach Mike Shanahan said Webster was "just a little banged up." ... LB T.J. Hollowell gave the crowd a reason to cheer on the morning's final goal-line stand. Hollowell intercepted QB Jay Cutler in the end zone and would have returned it for a score had the play not been whistled dead.
http://www.9news.com/sports/article.aspx?storyid=75129
Adams, signed in May to add depth and a big body for the defensive tackle spot, forms part of a solid, if not flashy, three-man combination in the middle of the Broncos' defensive line.
He's listed as a starter on the depth chart, next to Gerard Warren, who revitalized his career with the Broncos in 2005. Jimmy Kennedy, a former starter for the St. Louis Rams, completes the trio.
Still, it's Adams who has the most name recognition of the bunch. And rightfully so.
"There's a lot of big guys that can't play," said coach Mike Shanahan. "He's got great quickness. The main thing (is) that we have to make sure that he's healthy. We've got to get him in football shape because we know he can play the game."
Adams underwent minor offseason surgery on his right knee and was released shortly thereafter by the Cincinnati Bengals.
In Denver, he has two former coaches to guide him. Adams played for new Broncos defensive coordinator Jim Bates in the NFL, and defensive line coach Bill Johnson at Texas A&M.
Shanahan said he is still taking it slow with his big man.
"I think if we do that, then we've got a chance, once we start the season, he's feeling pretty good," Shanahan said.
HOME, SWEET HOME: Daniel Graham is glad to be back home.
The tight end signed with the Denver Broncos as a free agent in the offseason and is listed as No. 1 on the depth chart in the city where he grew up.
Graham played high school football at Jefferson High School. He went up the road to the University of Colorado, then was drafted in the first round in 2002 by the New England Patriots. The Broncos snagged him from New England in March. Graham's father, Tom, played for the Broncos from 1972 to 1974.
"I'm glad to be back," Graham said. "I'm glad everybody who got to see me play in high school and college can watch again."
He joins the Broncos with Cecil Sapp, who has his own Colorado roots. Sapp played his college ball at Colorado State.
The rival schools will play their opening game of the season in three weeks at Invesco Field in Denver.
"That first game, CSU-CU, you already know, CSU is going to win," Sapp said. "We're going to win by four."
WHAT MONOTONY?: Only three days remain at Denver Broncos training camp, and yet some of the veterans are getting that monotonous feeling.
"It seems like it's (the second week) a lot longer than the first week," tight end Daniel Graham said. "It seems like we've been out here forever already. The first game can't come quick enough."
That first game is Monday at the San Francisco 49ers.
Veterans like Graham and John Lynch, who is in his 15th training camp, grind out the dog days of summer.
"Some people kind of fade right now and the professionals get stronger and understand that, yeah, it's tough, but this is the time when you've got to be on your detail more than ever," Lynch said.
Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan said that monotony is synonymous with training camp.
"The next three days we'll be trying to put all those things in we put in the last two days and try to get a little bit better," Shanahan said. "There's a lot of things to cover in a couple weeks' time frame."
SLOWLY BUT SURELY: With six tight ends on the Broncos depth chart, coach Mike Shanahan says he has a good kind of problem.
The Broncos carried four tight ends last season and return all of them: Stephen Alexander, Chad Mustard, Nate Jackson and Tony Scheffler. Newcomers Daniel Graham and Teyo Johnson are attempting to crack the lineup.
Alexander and Scheffler were splitting most duties at the end of last season. Both caught 18 passes; Alexander had two touchdowns while Scheffler hauled in four.
But Graham may be the most intriguing option.
The former first-round draft choice had 21 catches and two touchdowns in New England last season. He presents perhaps the best combination of blocking and receiving of the bunch.
Even Jackson, a converted wide receiver who had only five catches last year, has shown flashes. He has the best hands and best speed in the crew.
"It's always good (to have so many at the position)," Shanahan said. "Tony is the guy who really didn't practice the whole practice. Chad came back. We got a lot of reps in today."
Scheffler is still a little bothered by a left foot injury that has kept him out of contact drills since he hurt it during team passing drills in May. Mustard was aching from a right hamstring.
EXTRA POINTS: WR Brian Clark ended Wednesday morning practice with the finest play. He caught a jump ball touchdown pass on a fade route in the corner over two Broncos defenders. ... LB Nate Webster didn't practice Wednesday morning because of an unspecified injury but returned in the afternoon. Coach Mike Shanahan said Webster was "just a little banged up." ... LB T.J. Hollowell gave the crowd a reason to cheer on the morning's final goal-line stand. Hollowell intercepted QB Jay Cutler in the end zone and would have returned it for a score had the play not been whistled dead.
http://www.9news.com/sports/article.aspx?storyid=75129