kmonty
08-01-2008, 02:39 PM
http://www.timescall.com/sports_story.asp?id=10293
Publish Date: 8/1/2008
Crowder aiming higher
By Brian Howell
Longmont Times-Call
ENGLEWOOD — In a lot of ways, Tim Crowder’s rookie season was a success.
The defensive end had four sacks for the Denver Broncos. He also scored a touchdown and recovered two fumbles.
Heading into his second season, however, Crowder is hardly satisfied.
“I wasn’t pleased with it,” he said. “I always expect more of myself. That’s what keeps me going. I could have 16 sacks, and I’m still going to be pushing for 20.”
The 6-foot-4, 275-pounder from the University of Texas may not get to 20 sacks, or even 16, this season, but he said he’s already ahead of where he was last year.
“I won’t necessarily say it’s easy, but I’m just better prepared for this year,” said Crowder, who was selected in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. “I’m used to the altitude and used to the coaches and used to the way practice is.”
He’s also healthy. Leading up to the second preseason game last year, against Dallas, Crowder suffered a high ankle sprain. The injury led to him being inactive for the first three regular-season games.
“When I hurt my ankle last year, I wasn’t ever the same after that,” he said. “When the weather changed, it got worse. Everything is good now, and I’m ready to go.”
Crowder has been pleased with his work so far in camp.
“I’m a lot stronger at the point of attack, and I’m doing the stuff they brought me here to do,” he said.
He’s even making the coaches take notice.
“(Defensive coordinator Bob Slowik) was telling me (Tuesday), ‘You look a whole lot better than last year,’” Crowder said. “It let’s me know I’m going in the right direction.”
QUITE A DIFFERENCE: Rookie safety Josh Barrett came to the Broncos with a reputation for being a hard hitter.
At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, he’s certainly got the physical tools to succeed. Sill, the seventh-round draft choice from Arizona State, already is noticing a difference from college to the NFL.
“You hear a lot from everyone about the talent (in the NFL), and it’s no joke,” Barrett said. “Everybody can play, everybody can go, everybody is fast, everybody is strong. That’s probably the biggest thing I’m getting adjusted to. You can’t take any plays off. There are opportunities for you to make plays, and those opportunities come few and far between.”
Barrett believes he can play well in the NFL, but he also knows he can’t relax.
“You want to be confident in your skills, but at the same time, you’re aware of the fact that you can’t be overconfident,” he said. “Guys out here at any given moment can make you look like you don’t know what you’re doing.”
SITTING OUT: The Broncos want to get an MRI on center Tom Nalen’s sore left knee to see if everything checks out all right. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said that trainer Steve Antonopulos thought the irritation was in the bursa sac beneath the knee.
“(Antonopulos) doesn’t think it’s anything serious,” Shanahan said.
The Broncos also held out defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban on Thursday morning as he comes back from a torn Achilles’ tendon.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Publish Date: 8/1/2008
Crowder aiming higher
By Brian Howell
Longmont Times-Call
ENGLEWOOD — In a lot of ways, Tim Crowder’s rookie season was a success.
The defensive end had four sacks for the Denver Broncos. He also scored a touchdown and recovered two fumbles.
Heading into his second season, however, Crowder is hardly satisfied.
“I wasn’t pleased with it,” he said. “I always expect more of myself. That’s what keeps me going. I could have 16 sacks, and I’m still going to be pushing for 20.”
The 6-foot-4, 275-pounder from the University of Texas may not get to 20 sacks, or even 16, this season, but he said he’s already ahead of where he was last year.
“I won’t necessarily say it’s easy, but I’m just better prepared for this year,” said Crowder, who was selected in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. “I’m used to the altitude and used to the coaches and used to the way practice is.”
He’s also healthy. Leading up to the second preseason game last year, against Dallas, Crowder suffered a high ankle sprain. The injury led to him being inactive for the first three regular-season games.
“When I hurt my ankle last year, I wasn’t ever the same after that,” he said. “When the weather changed, it got worse. Everything is good now, and I’m ready to go.”
Crowder has been pleased with his work so far in camp.
“I’m a lot stronger at the point of attack, and I’m doing the stuff they brought me here to do,” he said.
He’s even making the coaches take notice.
“(Defensive coordinator Bob Slowik) was telling me (Tuesday), ‘You look a whole lot better than last year,’” Crowder said. “It let’s me know I’m going in the right direction.”
QUITE A DIFFERENCE: Rookie safety Josh Barrett came to the Broncos with a reputation for being a hard hitter.
At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, he’s certainly got the physical tools to succeed. Sill, the seventh-round draft choice from Arizona State, already is noticing a difference from college to the NFL.
“You hear a lot from everyone about the talent (in the NFL), and it’s no joke,” Barrett said. “Everybody can play, everybody can go, everybody is fast, everybody is strong. That’s probably the biggest thing I’m getting adjusted to. You can’t take any plays off. There are opportunities for you to make plays, and those opportunities come few and far between.”
Barrett believes he can play well in the NFL, but he also knows he can’t relax.
“You want to be confident in your skills, but at the same time, you’re aware of the fact that you can’t be overconfident,” he said. “Guys out here at any given moment can make you look like you don’t know what you’re doing.”
SITTING OUT: The Broncos want to get an MRI on center Tom Nalen’s sore left knee to see if everything checks out all right. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said that trainer Steve Antonopulos thought the irritation was in the bursa sac beneath the knee.
“(Antonopulos) doesn’t think it’s anything serious,” Shanahan said.
The Broncos also held out defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban on Thursday morning as he comes back from a torn Achilles’ tendon.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.