Lelie cops get-tough attitude
 

Lelie cops get-tough attitude
Mr. Nice Guy might be a thing of the past

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News
August 2, 2005

ENGLEWOOD - It has become glaringly obvious to Ashley Lelie that he has anger-management issues.

The issue isn't one of controlling his emotions but, instead, conjuring up some.


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In other words, it's time to stop being Mr. Nice Guy on the field and start busting some heads - or, at least, carry that kind of attitude into every practice and game.

The personality profile doesn't quite mesh with Lelie's normally laid-back demeanor. The dark side of his psyche in the past has surfaced only when he has been victim of a perceived cheap shot, inspiring his rage.

But playing with a chip on his shoulder might ultimately be the key to transforming Lelie from one of the NFL's best deep targets to an all-around threat and among the elite at his position.

Taking that step has just as much to do with Lelie improving his production on short and intermediate routes and becoming a factor in the red zone.

Actually, those issues are intertwined.

Upon his arrival in March for the Broncos' off-season conditioning program, Lelie requested a video breaking down all of his underneath routes last season.

The video did not include any of his seven touchdown receptions of 30 or more yards, which helped him lead the league in average per catch (20.1). Instead, Lelie got shots of him doing the dirty work of a receiver - the short slants, shallow crosses, 10-yard comebacks and red-zone snaps.

A pattern emerged.

"I wasn't as physical as I needed to be with contact and fighting for the ball with the underneath stuff," Lelie said.

It was worse than that, truth be told.

"Most of it was watching myself getting beat up," he said.

Defensive backs began to show respect only for Lelie's deep speed, particularly as the season progressed.

"Either they backed up all the way off or really tried to get in my face and be super, super physical," he noted.

Watching himself getting thrown around at times was hard.

And it made Lelie simmer.

He began to think about all the problems he had with technique or not reading the coverage correctly that perhaps shaved maybe 600 yards in potential yards after the catch, making his first 1,000-yard season seem like less of an accomplishment. It made him even more annoyed.

The transformation in personality the receiver now hopes for officially had taken root, with the video serving as a motivational tool behind Lelie's entire preparation for training camp.

"It made me hungrier to want to get out here to show everybody I can do everything," he said.

First stop, weight room

Just as important, it convinced him he would have to get stronger to face that challenge.

The decision to hit the weight room hard coincided with the natural development of Lelie's 25-year- old body.

It yielded significant results, too, even if he never will mold himself into a hulking figure at a lanky 6-foot-3.

An example of the gains he made could be seen in the bench press. Whereas he previously could do a single repetition, or maybe two, lifting 225 pounds, this off-season he was doing three sets of 225 seven or eight times.

"He's worked his (expletive) off," Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer said.

Lelie also gained 5 pounds, bringing his weight to about 205.

"Honestly, this year he's grown up," fellow receiver Rod Smith said. "He just grew up as far as this business and as far as understanding what we expect and what he can get out of himself. And he knows he can get a little more."

More catches. More yardage.

More fired up.

Gaining strength is fine, but it's how Lelie applies it that counts.

During the Broncos' morning practice Monday, he was aligned in the slot during red-zone drills. His assignment was to take an angle to strong-side linebacker D.J. Williams and cut him off on a running play.

At the snap, Williams bolted toward the line of scrimmage with an aggressive charge. Lelie met him, got his pads low . . .

And was sent off-kilter into the direction of the backfield.

The result wasn't the point. More important was Lelie's attitude to get his nose in the action and fight, manufactured or not.

'Out of character'

"That's probably the hardest thing," Lelie said. "Everything on the field kind of comes easy for me except being cocky and super-aggressive and that's something I've got to work on because it's out of my character. . . . But it's an aggressive, violent game and you can't be in the game just cool, calm and relaxed; you have to be aggressive and violent, so I've got to get that in me."

Something else Lelie needs is a dose of confidence from Plummer and the coaching staff to get the shorter and intermediate routes sent his way more often.

"We've asked him to do it but definitely not as much as we've asked a guy like Rod to do it," offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak said. "Everybody has their strengths. But it's our fault as coaches, too. We've got to get him in there making those tough plays underneath."

That lack of trust to look for Lelie anywhere but downfield has perhaps manifested itself most near the goal line.

Lelie made only one red-zone catch among his career-best 54 receptions last season, but, as he explained after watching the breakdown tape, there were only about five opportunities in that area for him to catch passes all season.

That was the embarrassing part. Not the lack of catches but the lack of confidence to go his way in money time.

"It's Rod or a running back or a tight end and the other guys are a decoy," Lelie said. "And that's not cool."

The skills are there

So far in training camp, Lelie has been called upon to run a slew of 5-yard slants, 7-yard outs and the like. The Broncos have been pleased by his progress, particularly in the mechanics of running those kinds of routes, and have noticed the intense focus Lelie has shown.

"He's so talented," receivers coach Steve Watson said. "Obviously, you don't change people's personalities, but with somebody as talented as he is, he can be as good as there is."

Back off Lelie now and "eventually teams are going to get sick of him catching the 5-, 6-yarders," Plummer said.

Get in Lelie's face and his improved strength could allow him a smoother release off the line in bump coverage and create more opportunities for receptions.

"He can play the inside game," Smith said. "He's a basketball player. So he's used to posting up and body positioning and all that. And I think now with him putting on a little bit of weight and being a lot stronger, he's going to be able to have that physical presence in the middle."

Not that the Broncos want to remove the long bomb from the equation because Lelie is one of the league's best at that facet.

Not only that, Lelie's ability to get deep helps stretch defenses and clear many of the underneath routes for Smith and the tight ends. Or he can burn the blitz in man coverage.

Lelie had such a chance Monday with cornerback Domonique Foxworth covering man-to-man, but the ball was overthrown.

"The one thing that's kind of starting to scare me is I haven't caught one long ball yet this whole camp," Lelie said with a laugh. "I haven't had too many opportunities, but I have had some. But a lot of the underneath stuff is really coming along. And I'm really liking how I'm reading defenses and stuff like that."

Perhaps somebody needs to get kicked in the shin or blindsided to get that ire up again.



rasizerl@RockyMountainNews.com

great job, Ash. :thumbsup:

We all know Ash is a nice guy. It's nice to hear he is going to put some war paint on.

Boo-yah!

Great story SoCal. Good to hear him get stronger.

Suddenly, Broncos receivers could be on par with Oaklands...interesting...

I might be way off in homersville, but I think this team is going to be pretty good.

I think the team moved very efficatiously in many aspects. That's mockese for WE ARE GOING TO KICK SOME BUTT!

I like these moves. Sounds like MoC is a turd, but we can work past that...they will get him cooking eventually...
I like the Browncos...if a couple of these guys get into the rotation, it's all cool. The media thinks we have swapped lines. We have not. We brought in contenders. Our LB corp looks solid with Sykes, Predator and Pierce backing of an outstaning unit, very fast. I think Big Al has at least two or three years left, his legs are sound, and his shoulders repaired. I'm sorry, but they are like stock cars to me....Big Al should be fine for a few more years easy.

The secondary is iffy to say the least, but if we don't lose Champ, we can improvise till a real playa comes to the bank. That little squirt Williams reminds me alot of Darrell Green. He's quick and has a nose for the ball, something the D needs. He's undersized, but is very athletic. Payme and Foxy I dunno anything. I'm scared of the secondary early...they might make it, might not....

Deep Secondary won't be great but not bad with Fergy and the old man holding the fort. Can we just kidnap Ed Reed now?

If Ashley learns to block and go over the middle (maybe even aka. Eddie Mac), we’re set for the next couple of years. But I’m a little disturbed by a conflicting pre-season report out there. Someone said that he’s taking the # 2 spot as a given, not really putting up a fight and making sloppy plays.
However, something tells me this story will win out, especially with Rod lined up across from him and being such a full-on team leader.
He had the sack to call Deltha ONeal out, so whipping a talented young WR into shape shouldn’t be too hard.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to SoCalBronco again.

Let's see you do it now Ashley! This is year FOUR not TWO. This should have been your attitude two years ago. So you are a light frail WR, GET AFTER SOMEONE. This is football not the NBA!

Didn't someone post a camp update in the last day or two that said he was dogging it? If true it doesn't sound like a meaner nastier Lelie on the field.

yeah we are getting conflicting reports from the national guys versus our guys in regards to Ashley

It seems Darius, as long as his hand stays good, is our best hope for WR when Rod retires

Someone did post something about Lelie doggin it on the first day, then came back and said that he was much more energetic the second, so I don't think it is anything to worry about.

You think Shanahan is going to put up with someone going through the motions? Remember Bubby?

I'm glad to hear he's a lot stronger. One rep at 225 lbs isn't pretty weak for an NFL player. 3 sets of 8 is a lot stronger.

If he can be a threat underneath, he's going to be a Pro Bowler. We haven't seen too many plays where he can run after the catch. I remember one play in the Sants game. It was on that TD where he caught a 20 yard pass and just out ran everybody to the endzone. Getting him the ball in a position where he can run with it is key.

From the reports I've read Williams has sucked in camp at CB. I don't think he'll be much of a DB, but he looks like he'll be a great return man.

Lelie needs to get into the pro bowl.

I bet he will once he gets a good QB.

Who was last Chef WR in Pro-bowl? Just Curious

Probably Norman Einstein.

Kennison would have been last season if he got to play against Champ every week.


On a serious note I would guess Carlos Carson or possibly S.Paige. That probably won't change as long as Gonzo is healthy as he is too busy leading the NFL in receptions.

Just looked it up and it was actually that thug Brock Middlebrook in 1997.

Lets see 50 yards of his 101 yards came on one play that was a fumble. Also he WAS'T BEING COVERED BY CHAMP!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess with your logic Q would have rushed for 2500 yards if he played KC every week.