Andrew Mason's Day 15 Report - The Orange Mane

SoCalBronco · 08-15-2005, 09:39 PM

Camp Day 15 Notebook: Rice Works as Third Receiver
By Andrew Mason
DenverBroncos.com

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Jerry Rice greeted the news of his ascension to the No. 3 spot among the Broncos' corps of wide receivers with a shrug.

BRONCOS TV: DAY 15 HIGHLIGHTS | RICE AT THE NO. 3 SPOT
BRONCOS TV: MIKE SHANAHAN | DARRENT WILLIAMS

"I'm running No. 3 and I'm just trying to do the best job that I can do, so that's it," Rice said after stepping off the practice field late Monday afternoon, having just completed two-plus hours of work that saw him line up with the first team when it went into three-wideout formations.

Rice's rise meant that he -- for the moment, at least -- usurped Darius Watts, who'd held that distinction through camp and into Saturday's preseason win over the Houston Texans.

When asked whether he thought the demotion was a temporary setback, Watts replied, "Definitely."

"I thought I'd been doing pretty good," Watts added. "I just had a bad game."

Which is why Rice sought out the second-year wide receiver, offering him counsel.

"I'm really trying to work with him," Rice said. "He had a few drops and I just told him, 'Hey, you've got to let it go and you've got to focus on the next play.'"

Added Watts: "I talk to him a little bit ... During the game he told me, 'Just keep attacking the ball,' stuff like that."

Rice joined the Broncos in May with the caveat that a roster spot would not be guaranteed; Head Coach Mike Shanahan made that clear, and Rice agreed to the terms. This represents Rice's first shift up the pecking order, but even if he hadn't made that move, he wouldn't have been downcast.

"To be honest with you, I'm just happy to be out on the football field," Rice said. "I told them, 'If I have to run scout team, it doesn't matter to me; as long as I'm working, being productive and helping the team, I'm fine with it.' Like I said, it's not set in stone. I've got to prove to them that I'm capable of doing the job."

Watts feels the same way.

"I've got to earn it," he said. "Coming in, I knew I had to earn it. It doesn't change anything."

Added Rice: "Overall he's a hard worker. I think he wants success, but he's just got to be patient. When the opportunity is there, that's when you've got to take advantage of it."

For the moment, Rice wants to take advantage of his opportunity.

"I think I've got to show them I can handle what they're going to throw at me -- all the terminology," Rice said. "If I can, I think it might happen."

HAPPY RETURNS: As Rice took his paces with the first team when it went into three-wideout sets, the defense welcomed back first-teamers Gerard Warren and Champ Bailey; both missed the balance of last week's practice and Saturday's game with left hamstring injuries.

“Champ amd Gerard are full speed," Shanahan said. "We thought that they probably could have played in the preseason game against the Texans."

Bailey wanted to return when he felt he wouldn't have to hold back and compensate for the tender hamstring.

"It's natural for most people (to hold back), but when I'm out there, I'm all or nothing," Bailey said. "I don't take my time with anything. I'm going to give 100 percent whether I'm limping or not."

Bailey doesn't see anything that will keep him from playing Saturday against the San Francisco 49ers.

"I expect to," Bailey said. "If I'm practicing, I'm playing."

TRAINER'S ROOM: While Bailey and Warren returned, injuries kept a number of other Broncos sidelined, including cornerback Roc Alexander (right hamstring), tight end Nate Jackson (right hamstring), offensive tackle Matt Lepsis (right hamstring), cornerback Jeff Shoate (left knee) and safety Chris Young (right keee). Safety Jeremy LeSueur, who was involved in a third-quarter collision with Young, practiced.

CAMP BYTES: The Broncos worked on some specific late-game situations to close practice, placing as little as 12 and 17 seconds on the clock at various times. The highlight of the plays came when Jake Plummer found Jeb Putzier amidst a crowd of defenders on a "Hail Mary" touchdown pass ...

... While Lenny Walls picked off a Jake Plummer pass, Ian Gold and John Lynch each could not reel in potential interceptions during team drills Tuesday afternoon ...

... Plummer and Kyle Johnson worked a rollout play to perfection, as Plummer veered right to find the fullback, who scampered 20 yards upfield before being pushed out of bounds by safety Nick Ferguson ...

... Another short pass that became a big gain saw Plummer find tight end Stephen Alexander on a crossing route several yards past defenders and with wide open space to the end zone ...

... During seven-on-seven work, cornerback Domonique Foxworth snatched a pass away from Stephen Alexander for an interception at the sideline. Foxworth also made a solid play in red-zone work by closing on Watts to break up a pass from Bradlee Van Pelt ...

... The loudest cheer of the day came when Plummer found Ashley Lelie on a fade route in the back left corner of the end zone during red-zone work. Lelie had worked his way past Walls to get in position for the catch.

WEATHER REPORT: Pleasant 79-degree conditions greeted the Broncos for the afternoon practice, a far sight from the mid-90s, high-humidity mugginess in which the Broncos bathed last week at Houston.

RELATED LINKS

Cito Pelon · 08-15-2005, 10:40 PM

The team is nowhere near Championship form. I'm happy they have some cooler weather to work in. Nice to hear Rice is being a team player. I'm curious to see how pissed off the first teamers are they had to play into the second quarter in the first preseason game. I'd be pretty pissed off, myself.

I'm also curious to see if this coaching staff can elevate the team to elite status. IMO, if the first teamers can't execute in the first preseason game, then the coaching staff doesn't have the team ready for the reg season yet.

DBroncos4life · 08-15-2005, 10:43 PM

The loudest cheer of the day came when Plummer found Ashley Lelie on a fade route in the back left corner of the end zone during red-zone work. Lelie had worked his way past Walls to get in position for the catch.

Oh boy we need that play!!!!

Cito Pelon · 08-15-2005, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBroncos4life

The loudest cheer of the day came when Plummer found Ashley Lelie on a fade route in the back left corner of the end zone during red-zone work. Lelie had worked his way past Walls to get in position for the catch.

Oh boy we need that play!!!!

Agreed.

Kaylore · 08-15-2005, 10:59 PM

Lelie will finish the season number 1.

DBroncos4life · 08-15-2005, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaylore

Lelie will finish the season number 1.

In the NFL

DivineLegion · 08-15-2005, 11:05 PM

After watching our Preseason game and the Steelers our offense is in for a long season...our D on the other hand has some good depth but unless we play alot of oppnants second teamers we could see our boys struggling at times. Our secondary is typicly for me, the biggest concern...but after watching the replay of the game I have determined if it were D.Foxworth instead of Roc Alexander covering Reggie Wayne we wouldent have given up 50+ points. Foxworth man2man is a freaking blanket and hes all over the field. The big knock ive heard on Fox an Paymuh are they arnt great zone backs but we run alot of man so we sould be ok. Brandon Browner impressed me and I hope he gets more PT cause he realy made a nice play to break up a pass in the fourth that ended the Texans last hope at a scoring drive.

ludo21 · 08-15-2005, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBroncos4life

In the NFL

thatd be sweet!

ii doubt he will finish number 1 tho. Rod has a strangle hold on it and i think next year leli will get it. But it dont matter anyway caz 1 and 2 are always on the field anyways. so its more lke 1a. and 1b. lol

baja · 08-15-2005, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaylore

Lelie will finish the season number 1.

I said that two months ago and got slamed. I still think that will happen though.

Watts will be #3 maybe even two.

Cito Pelon · 08-15-2005, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baja fan

I said that two months ago and got slamed. I still think that will happen though.

Watts will be #3 maybe even two.

Get your ass out of our face, Baja.

08-15-2005, 09:39 PM	#1
SoCalBronco Nixonite Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Arcadia, CA Posts: 33,319 Adopt-a-Bronco: D.J. Williams	Andrew Mason's Day 15 Report Camp Day 15 Notebook: Rice Works as Third Receiver By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Jerry Rice greeted the news of his ascension to the No. 3 spot among the Broncos' corps of wide receivers with a shrug. BRONCOS TV: DAY 15 HIGHLIGHTS \| RICE AT THE NO. 3 SPOT BRONCOS TV: MIKE SHANAHAN \| DARRENT WILLIAMS "I'm running No. 3 and I'm just trying to do the best job that I can do, so that's it," Rice said after stepping off the practice field late Monday afternoon, having just completed two-plus hours of work that saw him line up with the first team when it went into three-wideout formations. Rice's rise meant that he -- for the moment, at least -- usurped Darius Watts, who'd held that distinction through camp and into Saturday's preseason win over the Houston Texans. When asked whether he thought the demotion was a temporary setback, Watts replied, "Definitely." "I thought I'd been doing pretty good," Watts added. "I just had a bad game." Which is why Rice sought out the second-year wide receiver, offering him counsel. "I'm really trying to work with him," Rice said. "He had a few drops and I just told him, 'Hey, you've got to let it go and you've got to focus on the next play.'" Added Watts: "I talk to him a little bit ... During the game he told me, 'Just keep attacking the ball,' stuff like that." Rice joined the Broncos in May with the caveat that a roster spot would not be guaranteed; Head Coach Mike Shanahan made that clear, and Rice agreed to the terms. This represents Rice's first shift up the pecking order, but even if he hadn't made that move, he wouldn't have been downcast. "To be honest with you, I'm just happy to be out on the football field," Rice said. "I told them, 'If I have to run scout team, it doesn't matter to me; as long as I'm working, being productive and helping the team, I'm fine with it.' Like I said, it's not set in stone. I've got to prove to them that I'm capable of doing the job." Watts feels the same way. "I've got to earn it," he said. "Coming in, I knew I had to earn it. It doesn't change anything." Added Rice: "Overall he's a hard worker. I think he wants success, but he's just got to be patient. When the opportunity is there, that's when you've got to take advantage of it." For the moment, Rice wants to take advantage of his opportunity. "I think I've got to show them I can handle what they're going to throw at me -- all the terminology," Rice said. "If I can, I think it might happen." HAPPY RETURNS: As Rice took his paces with the first team when it went into three-wideout sets, the defense welcomed back first-teamers Gerard Warren and Champ Bailey; both missed the balance of last week's practice and Saturday's game with left hamstring injuries. “Champ amd Gerard are full speed," Shanahan said. "We thought that they probably could have played in the preseason game against the Texans." Bailey wanted to return when he felt he wouldn't have to hold back and compensate for the tender hamstring. "It's natural for most people (to hold back), but when I'm out there, I'm all or nothing," Bailey said. "I don't take my time with anything. I'm going to give 100 percent whether I'm limping or not." Bailey doesn't see anything that will keep him from playing Saturday against the San Francisco 49ers. "I expect to," Bailey said. "If I'm practicing, I'm playing." TRAINER'S ROOM: While Bailey and Warren returned, injuries kept a number of other Broncos sidelined, including cornerback Roc Alexander (right hamstring), tight end Nate Jackson (right hamstring), offensive tackle Matt Lepsis (right hamstring), cornerback Jeff Shoate (left knee) and safety Chris Young (right keee). Safety Jeremy LeSueur, who was involved in a third-quarter collision with Young, practiced. CAMP BYTES: The Broncos worked on some specific late-game situations to close practice, placing as little as 12 and 17 seconds on the clock at various times. The highlight of the plays came when Jake Plummer found Jeb Putzier amidst a crowd of defenders on a "Hail Mary" touchdown pass ... ... While Lenny Walls picked off a Jake Plummer pass, Ian Gold and John Lynch each could not reel in potential interceptions during team drills Tuesday afternoon ... ... Plummer and Kyle Johnson worked a rollout play to perfection, as Plummer veered right to find the fullback, who scampered 20 yards upfield before being pushed out of bounds by safety Nick Ferguson ... ... Another short pass that became a big gain saw Plummer find tight end Stephen Alexander on a crossing route several yards past defenders and with wide open space to the end zone ... ... During seven-on-seven work, cornerback Domonique Foxworth snatched a pass away from Stephen Alexander for an interception at the sideline. Foxworth also made a solid play in red-zone work by closing on Watts to break up a pass from Bradlee Van Pelt ... ... The loudest cheer of the day came when Plummer found Ashley Lelie on a fade route in the back left corner of the end zone during red-zone work. Lelie had worked his way past Walls to get in position for the catch. WEATHER REPORT: Pleasant 79-degree conditions greeted the Broncos for the afternoon practice, a far sight from the mid-90s, high-humidity mugginess in which the Broncos bathed last week at Houston. RELATED LINKS __________________ ITS A PLAYOFF HOCKEY NIGHT IN PITTSBURGH!

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08-15-2005, 10:40 PM	#2
Cito Pelon Attack at all times . . . Happy dog at the Divide Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: AFC West Championshipville Posts: 15,209 Adopt-a-Bronco: Elvis	The team is nowhere near Championship form. I'm happy they have some cooler weather to work in. Nice to hear Rice is being a team player. I'm curious to see how pissed off the first teamers are they had to play into the second quarter in the first preseason game. I'd be pretty pissed off, myself. I'm also curious to see if this coaching staff can elevate the team to elite status. IMO, if the first teamers can't execute in the first preseason game, then the coaching staff doesn't have the team ready for the reg season yet.

08-15-2005, 10:43 PM	#3
DBroncos4life Hey pic Mod!?!?! FU Why yes, that is Bacon Bacon. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: The wrong side of right. Posts: 26,591	The loudest cheer of the day came when Plummer found Ashley Lelie on a fade route in the back left corner of the end zone during red-zone work. Lelie had worked his way past Walls to get in position for the catch. Oh boy we need that play!!!!

08-15-2005, 10:59 PM	#5
Kaylore 6-37, Raider fans. Yummy birds and snow! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ceti Alpha V Posts: 41,074 Adopt-a-Bronco: Wesley Duke	Lelie will finish the season number 1.

08-15-2005, 11:05 PM	#7
DivineLegion There can only be one... G.O.A.T Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Peak of Good Living Posts: 4,128 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	After watching our Preseason game and the Steelers our offense is in for a long season...our D on the other hand has some good depth but unless we play alot of oppnants second teamers we could see our boys struggling at times. Our secondary is typicly for me, the biggest concern...but after watching the replay of the game I have determined if it were D.Foxworth instead of Roc Alexander covering Reggie Wayne we wouldent have given up 50+ points. Foxworth man2man is a freaking blanket and hes all over the field. The big knock ive heard on Fox an Paymuh are they arnt great zone backs but we run alot of man so we sould be ok. Brandon Browner impressed me and I hope he gets more PT cause he realy made a nice play to break up a pass in the fourth that ended the Texans last hope at a scoring drive.