dragondawg
08-15-2007, 01:54 PM
Texas Trek Day 1: Morning Session
The Valley Ranch practice fields were finely manicured as dawn broke over north Texas; the playing surface looked more like a putting green or a pool table than a place where 160 players were about to wallop each other for over an hour.
But it didn’t take long for the Broncos and Dallas Cowboys to dig in, get to work and begin chewing up the field during a 90-minute session in conditions that became more stifling with each passing second.
“I think I lost 10 pounds today, it’s that hot,” defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban said, “but we’ll get used to it. By Saturday we’ll be ready.”
Defensive end Tim Crowder — who saw action throughout the practice after suffering a shoulder stinger Monday night — was equally prepared after growing up in the state and attending the University of Texas the past four years.
“I told (teammates) it was going to be bad,” he said. “I watched the news last night and they said it was going to be 103 degrees and I said, ‘Man, get ready for it.’ Luckily I’m used to it so it really didn’t bother me that bad.”
But as a whole, the Broncos seemed a little raw in their return to on-field work. Tuesday represented a respite from the practice field, but in the course of that day, the Broncos returned to Denver on a late-night flight, convened at Dove Valley for meetings and review of Monday night’s game footage and then flew to Dallas — although the team plane sat on the tarmac at Denver International Airport with mechanical issues.
The result? One tired team, whose morning effort Ekuban summarized in three words:
“Not too good.”
Tuesday’s trek explained some of the high tosses, bobbled passes that dotted the morning session, although the offense did have a turnover-free morning in seven-on-seven and full-team work.
“Hopefully this afternoon will be better, but I don’t think we did too well,” Ekuban said. “It’s not what we’re accustomed to.”
ATTENDANCE REPORT: Matt Lepsis returned to practice, lining up at left tackle throughout the team session … Guard Ben Hamilton remained sidelined, as did backup tackle Jacob Rogers and third-round tackle Ryan Harris … Wide receivers Glenn Martinez and Marquay McDaniel practiced for the first time in two weeks, but Brandon Stokley remained out of uniform with a thigh injury, although he did casually catch some footballs at the end of the session … Crowder, Jarvis Moss and Kenny Peterson all practiced after being treated on the field Monday night for various injuries; Crowder returned from his shoulder stinger not long after suffering it in the second quarter of the game … Running back Andre Hall was in uniform for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury last Friday, but did not work in the team period against the Cowboys.
WHO’S WHERE: Wide receiver Brandon Marshall worked with the first team and expects to make his game debut Saturday night. “I’ll play this week,” he said. He added that while the physical portion of his recovery was complete, he still had some work to do in order to make it back to 100 percent, but that “it’s mental now. It’s all mental.” …
… Nate Webster lined up with the first team at strongside linebacker …
… Amon Gordon remained with the first team at defensive tackle alongside Sam Adams. Ebenezer Ekuban and John Engelberger rounded out the first-team defensive line …
… Moss saw time in the first-team long-yardage defense at end opposite Elvis Dumervil …
… Chris Myers filled in for Ben Hamilton at left guard with the first team.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS: Following individual and group drills, the teams faced off in nine-on-seven, seven-on-seven and team work … On special teams, the Broncos worked on their punt and field-goal rush against Dallas’ punt and field-goal units … The teams also worked extensively in one-on-one work, with Javon Walker, Brandon Marshall and Quincy Morgan among those who made solid receptions.
STANDOUT PLAYS: Domenik Hixon and David Kircus each logged leaping grabs near the sidelines … Travis Henry picked up where he left off Monday night, burrowing through the Dallas front for extra yardage in team work … After allowing some big plays, the defense began to stiffen as practice progressed, with Jim Bates’ exhortations audible from 100 yards away as his defenders recorded a series of stops in third-down situations.
http://blog.denverbroncos.com/mason
The Valley Ranch practice fields were finely manicured as dawn broke over north Texas; the playing surface looked more like a putting green or a pool table than a place where 160 players were about to wallop each other for over an hour.
But it didn’t take long for the Broncos and Dallas Cowboys to dig in, get to work and begin chewing up the field during a 90-minute session in conditions that became more stifling with each passing second.
“I think I lost 10 pounds today, it’s that hot,” defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban said, “but we’ll get used to it. By Saturday we’ll be ready.”
Defensive end Tim Crowder — who saw action throughout the practice after suffering a shoulder stinger Monday night — was equally prepared after growing up in the state and attending the University of Texas the past four years.
“I told (teammates) it was going to be bad,” he said. “I watched the news last night and they said it was going to be 103 degrees and I said, ‘Man, get ready for it.’ Luckily I’m used to it so it really didn’t bother me that bad.”
But as a whole, the Broncos seemed a little raw in their return to on-field work. Tuesday represented a respite from the practice field, but in the course of that day, the Broncos returned to Denver on a late-night flight, convened at Dove Valley for meetings and review of Monday night’s game footage and then flew to Dallas — although the team plane sat on the tarmac at Denver International Airport with mechanical issues.
The result? One tired team, whose morning effort Ekuban summarized in three words:
“Not too good.”
Tuesday’s trek explained some of the high tosses, bobbled passes that dotted the morning session, although the offense did have a turnover-free morning in seven-on-seven and full-team work.
“Hopefully this afternoon will be better, but I don’t think we did too well,” Ekuban said. “It’s not what we’re accustomed to.”
ATTENDANCE REPORT: Matt Lepsis returned to practice, lining up at left tackle throughout the team session … Guard Ben Hamilton remained sidelined, as did backup tackle Jacob Rogers and third-round tackle Ryan Harris … Wide receivers Glenn Martinez and Marquay McDaniel practiced for the first time in two weeks, but Brandon Stokley remained out of uniform with a thigh injury, although he did casually catch some footballs at the end of the session … Crowder, Jarvis Moss and Kenny Peterson all practiced after being treated on the field Monday night for various injuries; Crowder returned from his shoulder stinger not long after suffering it in the second quarter of the game … Running back Andre Hall was in uniform for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury last Friday, but did not work in the team period against the Cowboys.
WHO’S WHERE: Wide receiver Brandon Marshall worked with the first team and expects to make his game debut Saturday night. “I’ll play this week,” he said. He added that while the physical portion of his recovery was complete, he still had some work to do in order to make it back to 100 percent, but that “it’s mental now. It’s all mental.” …
… Nate Webster lined up with the first team at strongside linebacker …
… Amon Gordon remained with the first team at defensive tackle alongside Sam Adams. Ebenezer Ekuban and John Engelberger rounded out the first-team defensive line …
… Moss saw time in the first-team long-yardage defense at end opposite Elvis Dumervil …
… Chris Myers filled in for Ben Hamilton at left guard with the first team.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS: Following individual and group drills, the teams faced off in nine-on-seven, seven-on-seven and team work … On special teams, the Broncos worked on their punt and field-goal rush against Dallas’ punt and field-goal units … The teams also worked extensively in one-on-one work, with Javon Walker, Brandon Marshall and Quincy Morgan among those who made solid receptions.
STANDOUT PLAYS: Domenik Hixon and David Kircus each logged leaping grabs near the sidelines … Travis Henry picked up where he left off Monday night, burrowing through the Dallas front for extra yardage in team work … After allowing some big plays, the defense began to stiffen as practice progressed, with Jim Bates’ exhortations audible from 100 yards away as his defenders recorded a series of stops in third-down situations.
http://blog.denverbroncos.com/mason