Broncos Team Report 5/4/07

[dragondawg]

Lee Rasizer
For Sporting News

The predraft signing of LBs Warrick Holdman and D.D. Lewis received little attention, but in the grand scheme it allowed Denver to bypass the position in the draft. The team believes it has found a starter in Holdman. The team is confident SLB D.J. Williams can slide over to middle linebacker and replace Al Wilson. Holdman can play multiple positions and is the favorite to fill in at Williams' old position. If the Williams move fails, Nate Webster is a possibility in the middle. . . .

Denver ignored a kickoff/punt returner in the draft in large part because of the continued progress of Domenik Hixon, who missed all of last season with a foot problem. He's fine now and participating in all strength and conditioning activities. Hixon handled both roles at Akron. Denver may also give a look to Brandon Marshall, but Marshall has little experience in the role and at 6-4 he represents a particularly big target for players covering punts.

SCOUTING REPORT: CB Champ Bailey doesn't concentrate on specific skill sets but instead hones his entire game in the offseason. But this spring he may need to take a refresher course in press coverage. Bailey has gotten accustomed to playing off the ball about 10 yards. It allows him to focus on the quarterback and he quickly reacts to the run or adjust to underneath passes. With Dre Bly also in tow, though, Denver likely will attempt to take advantage of the pair's top-end man coverage skills.

HONING THEIR GAMES: QB Jay Cutler has the arm strength to make all the downfield throws, but the team would like to see him improve at checking down to the safe decisions or getting rid of the ball quicker rather than taking a big shot. Cutler has been working with the coaches on that aspect of that game and will put his instruction to use a quarterback camp later this month.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: C+ Denver filled a gaping void by drafting Florida's Marcus Thomas. His character questions are well-documented, but he has the strength, size and quickness of a top 10 pick. He has a significant chance to start immediately if he picks up Jim Bates' gap-control scheme. The team is anticipating a bounceback season from Gerard Warren, who was hampered by a pair of dislocated toes, which hindered his ability to push off and sustain leverage. If Thomas is slow to develop, free-agent acquisition Alvin McKinley likely will start.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn...c.php?t=203379

[Cito Pelon]

I sure hope the LB situation works out. I guess it's not imperative the team has 3 superb LB's but it would be nice to have one, and I'm not sure they have even one.

For KR's, I hope Hixon contributes well in both return roles.

And I sure hope Cutler gets rid of the ball faster this year. It's a fine line I guess between panicking and throwing the ball up for grabs, taking the hit rather than throwing the ball up for grabs, and making a quick decision to dump the ball short before getting hammered. Something I'd like to see from the Broncos is let Cutler take some contact during TC. Not necessarily taking the Red Jersey off him, but participate in some contact drills. I think a player has to have contact to get his body used to it, getting in 'football shape'. Qb's are not used to contact, and all the weightlifting and stretching does not prepare the body for contact and the odd angles the body gets twisted into when contact finally happens. Hell, some judo or Aikido on the mats would be a good thing for a QB.

[chrisp]

Didn't he 'get used to contact' in the last five games of last season thanks to Foster? Personally I think that it was great that he was prepared to take the hits last year and not shy away, but now he needs to learn how to avoid contact more. Last year was about playing with heart, this year its about using the head more.

[Steve Sewell]

re: Cito's comments and not directed toward him in anyway...but people seem to forget how inconsistent, indecisive, and downright horrible John Elway was at times during his rookie season. We need to keep in perspective that Cutler might have all the talent in the world, but he's still a rookie. We have got to stop holding our QB's up to the level of perhaps the greatest NFL QB ever in his prime if we're ever going to move forward and appreciate another one.

[BroncsRule]

Originally Posted by Cito Pelon

"..let Cutler take some contact during TC.."

"some judo or Aikido on the mats would be a good thing for a QB."

Cutler got plenty of contact in college. He's a tough kid & knows what it feels like. No need to take the risk in camp. Cutler has nothing to prove to anybody in terms of toughness or durability.

Aikido and/or Judo are good for everybody. Quarterbacks included.

[BroncsRule]

Originally Posted by Steve Sewell

re: Cito's comments and not directed toward him in anyway...but people seem to forget how inconsistent, indecisive, and downright horrible John Elway was at times during his rookie season. We need to keep in perspective that Cutler might have all the talent in the world, but he's still a rookie. We have got to stop holding our QB's up to the level of perhaps the greatest NFL QB ever in his prime if we're ever going to move forward and appreciate another one.

Rep.

Post of the week.

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by chrisp

Didn't he 'get used to contact' in the last five games of last season thanks to Foster? Personally I think that it was great that he was prepared to take the hits last year and not shy away, but now he needs to learn how to avoid contact more. Last year was about playing with heart, this year its about using the head more.

The point I was trying to make is that in order for anybody's body to get used to contact is contact itself. Anybody like me that lifts and stretches, then happens to fall down a hill while hiking understands how all the conditioning does not in any way prepare them for taking a pounding. I've played football a lot, and there is no substitute for getting hit in a game. Getting hit in a game play after play, sure you learn a lot. Better to get used to in TC, that way the learning curve is one hell of a lot shorter.

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by Steve Sewell

re: Cito's comments and not directed toward him in anyway...but people seem to forget how inconsistent, indecisive, and downright horrible John Elway was at times during his rookie season. We need to keep in perspective that Cutler might have all the talent in the world, but he's still a rookie. We have got to stop holding our QB's up to the level of perhaps the greatest NFL QB ever in his prime if we're ever going to move forward and appreciate another one.

That's not I was getting at. I'm simply interested in Cut being able to deal with the hits. I know from experience that all the weightlifting and stretching in no way equals getting hit hard from all the angles a QB will get hit. What I was trying to get at is an NFL QB is protected from even the slightest hits in TC, and I don't think that's so good. For instance, an RB takes shots from elbows and shoulders from day one in TC to get them used to the harder contact that will come. It's called getting in game shape.

An RB, a TE, a WR and a QB, they lift, stretch and train the same way, but only the QB is exempt from 'football conditioning'. I think that makes the QB susceptible to more injuries on the field. The RB, TE, WR deals with 20 hits in one game, where a QB takes two of the same hits and is out for 2 games. To me that shows the QB may be in shape, but his body is not used to getting hit.

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by BroncsRule

Cutler got plenty of contact in college. He's a tough kid & knows what it feels like. No need to take the risk in camp. Cutler has nothing to prove to anybody in terms of toughness or durability.

Aikido and/or Judo are good for everybody. Quarterbacks included.

I disagree. Cut does have to prove his durability. Durability is a big deal in the pro's. The team has a big investment in the dude. Mamby-pambying him in TC I don't think is good management of the investment, seeings how he'll be getting pounded by guys that hit to hurt for a living.

[Odysseus]

Wrenches! If he can dodge wrenches he should be able to dodge blitzing LB! We need Coach Patches O'Hoolihan!

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by quiettiger

Wrenches! If he can dodge wrenches he should be able to dodge blitzing LB! We need Coach Patches O'Hoolihan!

Haha, very humorous.

[dragondawg]

wonder how champ trains in the offseason and how hard

[Odysseus]

Originally Posted by dragondawg

wonder how champ trains in the offseason and how hard

I am wondering how Champ is going to look doing all that man coverage. I wonder where most of our DB rate at man coverage. They have been playing zone for so long.

[chrisp]

Originally Posted by Cito Pelon

The point I was trying to make is that in order for anybody's body to get used to contact is contact itself.

I got your point, and I'm not doubting what you say one little bit, what I was suggesting is that Cutler has taken more/harder hits than the average QB has at this point due to a college career with a sucky line and a revolving door called Foster last year, so i think he's probably learned about as much as he's going to learn about that. Added to which there's a certain amount of violence that even the most well-protected QB has to endure so he's going to take more hits regardless.

I just think that toughness and ability to deal with hits is an area of Cutler's game where he is currently ahead of the average 2nd-year QB, not behind

[Mediator12]

Originally Posted by quiettiger

I am wondering how Champ is going to look doing all that man coverage. I wonder where most of our DB rate at man coverage. They have been playing zone for so long.

Champ is an outstanding man coverage CB, but he is not very solid at press man coverage. In fact, that is one of his least developed skills. However, he is a great pro and I believe he will respond to the challenge with good coaching. He is just not Physical at the Press and that was one of the reasons they played off man coverage the last few years in order for Champ to see the ball and make plays instead of playing with his back to the QB in press man coverage.

I think the pass defense is going to take a huge step forward this year with an improved pass rush and solid press man coverage. However, the INT's will be very minimal as the defenders play with their backs to the ball more than in the past.

As for the CB's left on the roster, all of them except Champ come from a press man coverage backround. Paymah is an exceptional press CB, Foxworth is good with his back to the QB, and Dre Bly is much better as a press man coverage CB than in the cover two zone he played the last two years in DET. His value is increased playing him in press man as that is his best skill set in coverage. It also means the CB's will not be making as many tackles as they had in the past in the running game. I really hope the front seven plays better than in the last two years or the rush defense is going to struggle.

[fontaine]

I REALLY, REALLY hope they don't adjust Champ's game. If it ain't broke don't fix it!

Is there any real reason why Champ can't play as he does and the rest of the guys play press?

Hell Champ is the exception to the rule, let's make the most of his play rather than tinker with it.

[Traveler]

Back to Cutler for a moment. While he finally seems to be the type of QB that Shanahan feels best suits this offense, please be reminded that his next game will only be the 6th of his career.

We've all seen glimpses of immense potential. But we are still going to experience his growing pains this season.

[Traveler]

Originally Posted by fontaine

I REALLY, REALLY hope they don't adjust Champ's game. If it ain't broke don't fix it!

Is there any real reason why Champ can't play as he does and the rest of the guys play press?

Hell Champ is the exception to the rule, let's make the most of his play rather than tinker with it.

Great question! I read somewhere in a Bates interview that he was going let Champ continue playing off the way he has been.

[Steve Sewell]

Originally Posted by Cito Pelon

That's not I was getting at. I'm simply interested in Cut being able to deal with the hits. I know from experience that all the weightlifting and stretching in no way equals getting hit hard from all the angles a QB will get hit. What I was trying to get at is an NFL QB is protected from even the slightest hits in TC, and I don't think that's so good. For instance, an RB takes shots from elbows and shoulders from day one in TC to get them used to the harder contact that will come. It's called getting in game shape.

An RB, a TE, a WR and a QB, they lift, stretch and train the same way, but only the QB is exempt from 'football conditioning'. I think that makes the QB susceptible to more injuries on the field. The RB, TE, WR deals with 20 hits in one game, where a QB takes two of the same hits and is out for 2 games. To me that shows the QB may be in shape, but his body is not used to getting hit.

That's why I said in my post that my comment wasn't directed toward you. I fully understood what you were saying.

[ZONA]

Receiving continous blows to your body doesn't affect how your body muscles, ligaments or bones react to further hits. That is an insane statement if I ever heard one. What you can do is lift weights to strengthen your muscles and skeletal system to better absorb the punishement. You can even learn how to try and fall or twist or turn and all that stuff to try and lessen the impact to the body. But putting the body through continous impact doesn't make it react better to futher impact. Translation: Slamming your QB into the turf isn't going to make your QB used to getting slammed into the turf or lessen the damage or pain your QB will endure while getting slammed into the turf. There is a reason why the top trainers in the world that belong to these teams do what they do. QB's probably get pushed and bumped with pads to get them used to minor contact in the pocket and to keep them focused on throwing. But there is nothing true about getting used to having the $hit knocked out of you. That is why they don't have QB
s do that in camp and the risks far exceed any benefit, if there was one.

[BlaK-Argentina]

Originally Posted by Traveler

Great question! I read somewhere in a Bates interview that he was going let Champ continue playing off the way he has been.

That's a relief. Messing with Champ's playing style would be a STUPID, STUPID move in my opinion. He's coming off one of the best seasons EVER by a CB for God's sake! Bates better not mess with that!!

[Beantown Bronco]

After reading this thread, I've come to the conclusion that David Carr is now invincible.

[maher_tyler]

Originally Posted by quiettiger

I am wondering how Champ is going to look doing all that man coverage. I wonder where most of our DB rate at man coverage. They have been playing zone for so long.

it's ****ing Champ Bailey...is/was there ever a question??

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by ZONA

Receiving continous blows to your body doesn't affect how your body muscles, ligaments or bones react to further hits. That is an insane statement if I ever heard one. What you can do is lift weights to strengthen your muscles and skeletal system to better absorb the punishement. You can even learn how to try and fall or twist or turn and all that stuff to try and lessen the impact to the body. But putting the body through continous impact doesn't make it react better to futher impact. Translation: Slamming your QB into the turf isn't going to make your QB used to getting slammed into the turf or lessen the damage or pain your QB will endure while getting slammed into the turf. There is a reason why the top trainers in the world that belong to these teams do what they do. QB's probably get pushed and bumped with pads to get them used to minor contact in the pocket and to keep them focused on throwing. But there is nothing true about getting used to having the $hit knocked out of you. That is why they don't have QB
s do that in camp and the risks far exceed any benefit, if there was one.

Who was saying anything like that? You're exaggerating. It's necessary for QB's to get used to not only contact, but the odd angles the body is put through from even a knockdown. Which is why I thought some judo or Aikido drills on the mats would be a good exercise. It's a good compromise.

An athlete can be in superb physical condition from lifting/stretching, but that does not prepare him for the odd contortions that comes from say wrestling for a fumble. No way.