Hamilton close to return

[dragondawg]

ENGLEWOOD – Noting that he's "feeling way better," Broncos starting left guard Ben Hamilton likely will return to the practice field this week after missing more than two weeks with a concussion.

"I'm just going to do what they tell me to do day-to-day," Hamilton said after sitting out Monday's practice.

But he added, it's his understanding he'll be back in the next few days.

"I'm ready to go," he said.

Coach Mike Shanahan seconded that notion and stated that Hamilton's timetable should allow the lineman to play in the preseason finale Aug. 30 vs. the Arizona Cardinals.

"He did a lot better over the weekend, according to the doctors," Shanahan explained.

Hamilton was hurt during an Aug. 3 practice when he bumped helmets with a teammate. He attempted to return five days later but only lasted a few snaps and since hasn't practiced.

The guard, who continues to label his concussion as "minor," stayed behind in Denver while the rest of the team went on its two-city trek through San Francisco and Dallas and worked on his strength and cardiovascular shape.

Hamilton indicated he could have returned sooner.

"I've done great on all the tests. The whole time I've done great," he said. "It's just them being cautious."

The NFL recently adopted new concussion guidelines that stress a conservative approach to managing such injuries, stemming from a conference in June between the league, doctors and team trainers.

Chris Myers likely will start Saturday in Hamilton's place vs. the Cleveland Browns.

Mr. Fix-It

Jim Bates has his concerns about his defense's execution currently but believes there's "ample time" to get everything fixed before Week 1.

"That's what preseason's all about – players getting used to one another and gap responsibility and eliminating big plays," the Broncos assistant head coach/defense said.

Denver's first team so far has allowed 34 points in three quarters.

But right now, the biggest issue is getting the fundamentals down and being more accountable, particularly against the run.

"It's not tackling," he said, alluding to rushing totals of 144 and 190 yards vs. Denver the first two preseason games. "Outside of a couple misses it's been fairly clean. It hasn't been as swarming as we'd like. We'd like to get more people to the football. It's just breakdowns as far as where we're fitting, playing with power, staying square and getting off blocks."

There have been some "excellent" practices during training camp where it appears the players have adapted, according to Bates.

In a workout last Thursday with the Cowboys, for example, Denver's defense got Dallas off the field seven straight times. On game day, when the speed and intensity increased with players needing to think quicker on the move, that percentage rose to a 10-of-16 conversion rate.

Bates put that issue on the coaches as much as on the players for failing to communicate better how to clean things up.

But he also stressed Denver's defense hasn't played a complete game, nor game-planned an opponent, like it will this week, when the group will play about three full quarters. So there's no time to panic.

"We can game plan to take things away," he said, listing an eight-man front to slow down the rush among them. "But we want to do it within the basic scheme."

Running ragged

The beads of sweat dripping off the forehead of fullback Paul Smith said it all following Monday's practice.

"I haven't run this much in a while," he said while gasping for breath.

Injuries have decimated the running back position to the point where only four players joined running backs coach Bobby Turner during position drills. The situation prompted Smith and fellow fullback Troy Fleming to pull double duty as halfbacks for the scout team.

Travis Henry (sprained left knee) will be held out of Saturday's third preseason game, meaning he won't suit up again until the regular-season opener in Buffalo on Sept. 9. Mike Bell (sprained shoulder) is out two weeks, giving Cecil Sapp an edge in their battle for the primary backup role. And Andre Hall (hamstring, groin) also remains out.

Fullback Kyle Johnson received stitches over his eye suffered against Dallas and also may have sustained a minor ankle sprain but should return to practice Tuesday.

Sapp will almost certainly start Saturday night against the Browns at tailback, with undrafted Selvin Young in reserve.

"Are you in shape?" Shanahan kiddingly asked a reporter when asked about the thin backfield.

Numbers game

8 Picks the Broncos currently own in the 2008 draft. Denver lost its third-round selection to move up and obtain defensive tackle Marcus Thomas in April's draft and dealt its sixth-rounder to obtain Jimmy Kennedy from the Rams. Denver has an extra pick in the fourth round from the Ashley Lelie trade and likely a No. 7 from Tampa Bay in the Jake Plummer deal. Should Gerard Warren make Oakland's roster this season, it will have an extra pick in the fifth. The Broncos still have their own selections in the first, second, fourth, fifth and seventh rounds.

Quote

"I remember when I was playing in Tampa, they used to call him 'Baby Sapp.' It's a pretty good tandem. But they've got a lot of good players on that D-line."

Broncos safety John Lynch on the new pairing of two Warrens in Oakland, with Gerard Warren being sent to the Raiders, where the DT will join another ex-Lynch teammate, Warren Sapp.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...678072,00.html

[Kaylore]

There have been some "excellent" practices during training camp where it appears the players have adapted, according to Bates.

Golly, SoCal. What the coach said jives with our reports. But Alec watches two preseason games and says we're making it all up!

[ludo21]

cant wait for cleveland baby. 1 game aint nothing, this team still has plenty of talent, and although the trading of Warren confuses me, it just means we have plenty of guys in the back ready to go.

[SoCalBronco]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

Golly, SoCal. What the coach said jives with our reports. But Alec watches two preseason games and says we're making it all up!

No way, dude.

We are just homers who intentionally colored our reports.

Clearly, Bates is lying.

[Bob's your Information Minister]

I'm sure Bates would say "they sucked. awful. Bob was right."

[crazyhorse]

_envers _efense has given up 34 points in 3 quarters!!!

Is that some sort of record?

[crazyhorse]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

No way, dude.

We are just homers who intentionally colored our reports.

Clearly, Bates is lying.

Clearly

[Bob's your Information Minister]

Originally Posted by crazyhorse

_envers _efense has given up 34 points in 3 quarters!!!

Is that some sort of record?

I swear...the Chiefs need to start running the bootleg extensively...it would be too funny if we ended up killing them with it the way they used to kill us.

[SoCalBronco]

Originally Posted by Bob's your Information Minister

I'm sure Bates would say "they sucked. awful. Bob was right."

Oh yes...how could I forgot...Bob the wise sage of football.....the great prophet. I love how you were beating your chest in that other thread saying "See, I told you this would be a transition year for Denver's defense" as if it was some kind of insight from on high. The fact of the matter is that it was merely the product of homerism and constant attacking of this team on your part. You say **** like this every year and are almost always horribly wrong. Denver got out of the gate slowly on defense in the preseason games and now somehow Bob is a great prophet.

If Denver had 11 bonafide all pro's on defense, you would say that the defense would be destroyed due to a lack of chemistry from all the big stars.

Bob, please refrain from predicting things. You end up getting embarassed.

"The Chiefs will have no trouble stopping Quentin Griffin"

[Bob's your Information Minister]

DJ Williams sucks.

[SoCalBronco]

Originally Posted by Bob's your Information Minister

DJ Williams sucks.

This will fit in nicely alongside "The Chiefs will have no trouble stopping Quentin Griffin" and "I will never again ridicule a Bronco injury".

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

This will fit in nicely alongside "The Chiefs will have no trouble stopping Quentin Griffin" and "I will never again ridicule a Bronco injury".

And "I'll leave the Mane forever if LJ holds out" and "The Chiefs secondary will make more plays than the Broncos" and "Gunther will fix everything".

[Rock Chalk]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

Golly, SoCal. What the coach said jives with our reports. But Alec watches two preseason games and says we're making it all up!

Blow it up your ass you big p***Y. I didnt say you were making it up, I didnt even say you were wrong. What I said was you were both homers and despite your best efforts cannot help but give a homersitic view of the reports. I also alluded that I enjoyed those reports as much as the next ones.

Jesus Christ I didnt think your ****ing mangina would be hurt so badly with a little criticism. p***Y.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by Alec

Blow it up your ass you big p***Y. I didnt say you were making it up, I didnt even say you were wrong. What I said was you were both homers and despite your best efforts cannot help but give a homersitic view of the reports. I also alluded that I enjoyed those reports as much as the next ones.

Jesus Christ I didnt think your ****ing mangina would be hurt so badly with a little criticism. p***Y.

You did say those things, and you're wrong.

You're the only one in this thread that's acting like they have a sandy mangina, Alec.

[Rock Chalk]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

You're the only one in this thread that's acting like they have a sandy mangina, Alec.

You and SoCal are the biggest pussies ever. You get criticized one little bit about your reports from camp and all of a sudden I said you are wrong, that you are making it up.

[Rock Chalk]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

You did say those things, and you're wrong.

You're the only one in this thread that's acting like they have a sandy mangina, Alec.

Really? Go point out where I said you were wrong. Go point out where I said you are making everything up.

You cant because you are a ****ing liar.

[Rock Chalk]

This from the guy that said Darius Watts was going to be a star.

ANd that Kuper was a stud.

And that Adrian Madise was the next Rod Smith.

Yeah, you are infallible arent you Kaylore?

[RunSilentRunDeep]

Originally Posted by crazyhorse

_envers _efense has given up 34 points in 3 quarters!!!

Is that some sort of record?

No, see Super Bowls 22 & 24.

[SoCalBronco]

Originally Posted by Alec

You and SoCal are the biggest pussies ever. You get criticized one little bit about your reports from camp and all of a sudden I said you are wrong, that you are making it up.

No, Alec that is not the reason. It is not that we cannot take criticism. We acknowledge that people can see things differently and that sometimes the (preseason) game performance will not necessarily always reflect what happens in practice. The thing is not that. That is fine. Criticism is fine and accepted and welcomed, but when you say we are just homers and it has a way of affecting our reports....well that isn't true. If I let my personal biases affect my reports, tell me then why did I in a couple of my reports say that Ian had a great practice? I don't enjoy saying that. In fact, I hate saying it and I hated every single moment when I saw him, but on the occasions when he had a good practice in my view, after I observed him, I gave him his due credit. If we were homers, would we be constantly saying on morning practices that Jay Cutler had uneven performances? We have criticized a number of players during the reports. Give me a break, dude. It isnt about criticism, its about implying that our reports are being colored, when we honestly did not do that.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by Alec

This from the guy that said Darius Watts was going to be a star.

I didn't say that.

ANd that Kuper was a stud.

He is. He's starting again, by the way.

And that Adrian Madise was the next Rod Smith.

I NEVER said anything like that about Adrian Madise EVER. Not even to my friends. I didn't particularly care for Madise.

Yeah, you are infallible arent you Kaylore?

I didn't say that, either.

[Broncosfreak_56]

Originally Posted by Alec

Blow it up your ass you big p***Y. I didnt say you were making it up, I didnt even say you were wrong. What I said was you were both homers and despite your best efforts cannot help but give a homersitic view of the reports. I also alluded that I enjoyed those reports as much as the next ones.

Jesus Christ I didnt think your ****ing mangina would be hurt so badly with a little criticism. p***Y.

Wow. Sounds like its someones time of month.

[Broncoman13]

This thread is funny!!! Bobo the internet nerd that can't get right. Alec the bully throwing insults. And Khan the "good kid" throwing a bit of touche into Alec's smack. I bet TJ is sitting back laughing or trolling himself over at CP. Bobo and TJ are one and the same. Sad but true.

[Rock Chalk]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

No, Alec that is not the reason. It is not that we cannot take criticism. We acknowledge that people can see things differently and that sometimes the (preseason) game performance will not necessarily always reflect what happens in practice. The thing is not that. That is fine. Criticism is fine and accepted and welcomed, but when you say we are just homers and it has a way of affecting our reports....well that isn't true. If I let my personal biases affect my reports, tell me then why did I in a couple of my reports say that Ian had a great practice? I don't enjoy saying that. In fact, I hate saying it and I hated every single moment when I saw him, but on the occasions when he had a good practice in my view, after I observed him, I gave him his due credit. If we were homers, would be constantly say on afternoons that Jay Cutler had uneven performances? We have criticized a number of players during the reports. Give me a break, dude. It isnt about criticism, its about implying that our reports are being colored, when we honestly did not do that.

Are you a Bronco fan SoCal?

If the answer is yes: You are a homer.

If the answer is no: You are a loser for going to Bronco camp.

Period. Journalism is about bias, end of discussion. You are going to see things in an overall manner as mostly positive and skim over the negatives, even though you will mention them. Just because you said Ian had a good practice and you hate him doesnt mean your reports, like Kaylores' arent clean from bias, in fact in means you are attempting on the micro scale to prevent bias but you cannot on the macro scale.

And as I said before, there is nothing wrong with that. Id rather have a biased report, that is mostly the good stuff with only a light skimming of the bad stuff, than one that tells me all the bad **** and only a light skimming of the good stuff.

All things being equal, if both of your reports were unbiased completely there would have been about equal positive and negative descriptions of events because quite frankly, Ive seen about equal positive and negative outcomes of the games. Lots of stuff that looks good, lots that looks bad, very little of the bad we got from either of your reports.

Dont take the bias thing to heart, everyone is bias. If you had any education at all, you would know this.

[Broncoman13]

Originally Posted by Alec

This from the guy that said Darius Watts was going to be a star.

ANd that Kuper was a stud.

And that Adrian Madise was the next Rod Smith.

Yeah, you are infallible arent you Kaylore?

Hey pink puppy bellinut, we's friends and all... bring up Darrius Watts' name again and I'll be on you like Bob on a midnight release of Star Wars newest inflatable doll! He was my adopt a player last year. Thanks for rubbing it in you douche pump!

[Rock Chalk]

Originally Posted by OSKIE!!!

This thread is funny!!! Bobo the internet nerd that can't get right. Alec the bully throwing insults. And Khan the "good kid" throwing a bit of touche into Alec's smack. I bet TJ is sitting back laughing or trolling himself over at CP. Bobo and TJ are one and the same. Sad but true.

Kahns actually just full of himself. SoCal's reports were about ten times better. Kahn tried to throw creative writing into his and he's a ****ty writer.