Broncos Team Report 6/12/07 - The Orange Mane

dragondawg · 06-13-2007, 03:49 AM

Broncos Team Report
Lee Rasizer
For Sporting News

The free-agent signing of DT Sam Adams gives defensive boss Jim Bates the massive interior force to consume blockers he first sought with the trade of Dan Wilkinson before that deal went awry and likely represents an upgrade talent-wise over that previous acquisition. Paired with Gerard Warren, Denver believes it has the bulk in the middle to keep trash off new MLB D.J. Williams and the ability to align its defensive ends wide to use its speed off the edge. It also gives rookie DT Marcus Thomas some time to develop at his own pace, while providing Denver with a balanced mix of youth and veteran talent. The question now is how much Adams can give defensive line coach Bill Johnson, with whom he's worked previously, given the player's 345-pound frame and a right knee that required offseason repair. In early workouts at team camp, Adams demonstrated a quick first step in limited snaps but needs to get immersed in the off-season program throughout the next two months to get in cardiovascular shape to handle at least a 30-play workload and perhaps slim down slightly, about 10 pounds, even though he's played in excess of 350 pounds in the past. Adams didn't participate in team drills last year with the Bengals at training camp but ended up starting 16 games. ...

One player to watch during training camp is LB Eddie Moore, who took more than his share of snaps with the first unit in team camp. Moore has experience in Bates' system in Miami in 2003-04. The main problem is that he's never been able to stay healthy, primarily suffering from knee problems. Moore was completely out of the league last season coming off mircrofracture surgery. The former second-round pick has been moving well throughout the offseason and has 24 games of starting NFL experience.

SCOUTING REPORT: It appears the Broncos are intent on living up to their promise to involve TE Daniel Graham more in the passing game. Graham's frustration as primarily a blocker was one of the chief reasons he left New England and came back to where he starred both in high school and college. He remains a devastating blocker, complemented by a nasty streak when locking on an opposing lineman. But his hands and route-running appear to be underrated parts of his game based on early workouts. Denver has a history of using its tight ends extensively through the air, and with sure-handed Tony Scheffler at the position and a young quarterback in Jay Cutler, the Broncos figure to use this safety valve often, perhaps at a level not seen since the Shannon Sharpe days.

REHAB UPDATE: S Sam Brandon did some position drills and worked overtime after team-camp practices as he works his way back from a serious right knee injury sustained last November. But Denver is holding Brandon out from team workouts until the July minicamp to allow the veteran to build up strength in his surgically-repaired leg. Brandon plays a reserve role for Denver, but it's an important one in the AFC West. His main contribution, other than serving as a special teams force, is aligning over the opposing tight end in the Broncos' big nickel package. He has the speed and size to bother the likes of Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates without every-down double-team help but is more limited in the run game as a consistent physical force as a tackler.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn...c.php?t=221202

dragondawg · 06-13-2007, 04:09 AM

no mention of kennedy?

Drek · 06-13-2007, 07:55 AM

Quote:

But his hands and route-running appear to be underrated parts of his game based on early workouts.

Try based on his career. Graham's first few years were marked with some key cases of the dropsies, but he's always been a solid receiver and he's only gotten better each season. He was hands down the most reliable target Brady had last season.

Inkana7 · 06-13-2007, 11:03 AM

Brandon traditionally owns Tony Gonzalez. He does a good job against Gates too, but look at the past three games he's played against Gonzo:

8 Receptions, 54 yards, 1 TD

That's over three games, mind you. He shut him down Week 2 of the 2006 season. 2 Receptions, 7 yards.

Mediator12 · 06-13-2007, 11:34 AM

Brandon also owns Gates, as Gates breakout against DEN happened after Sam was down with a season ending injury. It was one of the main reasons DEN struggled to contain SD's offense last year like it has in the past. In fact, it was one of the main reasons the pass and scoring defense went to hell after the first six games. The others of course were the DL and pass rush....

dragondawg · 06-13-2007, 08:02 PM

if champ only made that grab and took it away from Gates

Broncoman13 · 06-13-2007, 10:23 PM

You know what, I'm thinking that our DLine struggles are a thing of the past. Think about this... Sam Adams and Jimmy Kennedy will probably rotate. G-Money and Thomas will probably rotate. That's 2 relatively fresh DT's at any given point. On 3rd and short you could even see a front 4 featuring all three of them. Imagine that clog. I think Champ and Dre are going to be happy men this season. I have faith that any combination featuring Adams, Kennedy, G-money and Thomas can not only take pressure off of DJ but allow our DE's to line up wide enough to use their speed. It's also important to note that Kennedy, G-Money, and Marcus Thomas are all very capable of applying pressure up the middle on passing downs.

Perhaps a bit of a stretch (not imo) but our DLine has quickly become a strength of this team. Certainly a better unit than our LB's and talent wise second only to our CB's.

06-13-2007, 03:49 AM	#1
dragondawg All Pro Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,009	Broncos Team Report 6/12/07 Broncos Team Report Lee Rasizer For Sporting News The free-agent signing of DT Sam Adams gives defensive boss Jim Bates the massive interior force to consume blockers he first sought with the trade of Dan Wilkinson before that deal went awry and likely represents an upgrade talent-wise over that previous acquisition. Paired with Gerard Warren, Denver believes it has the bulk in the middle to keep trash off new MLB D.J. Williams and the ability to align its defensive ends wide to use its speed off the edge. It also gives rookie DT Marcus Thomas some time to develop at his own pace, while providing Denver with a balanced mix of youth and veteran talent. The question now is how much Adams can give defensive line coach Bill Johnson, with whom he's worked previously, given the player's 345-pound frame and a right knee that required offseason repair. In early workouts at team camp, Adams demonstrated a quick first step in limited snaps but needs to get immersed in the off-season program throughout the next two months to get in cardiovascular shape to handle at least a 30-play workload and perhaps slim down slightly, about 10 pounds, even though he's played in excess of 350 pounds in the past. Adams didn't participate in team drills last year with the Bengals at training camp but ended up starting 16 games. ... One player to watch during training camp is LB Eddie Moore, who took more than his share of snaps with the first unit in team camp. Moore has experience in Bates' system in Miami in 2003-04. The main problem is that he's never been able to stay healthy, primarily suffering from knee problems. Moore was completely out of the league last season coming off mircrofracture surgery. The former second-round pick has been moving well throughout the offseason and has 24 games of starting NFL experience. SCOUTING REPORT: It appears the Broncos are intent on living up to their promise to involve TE Daniel Graham more in the passing game. Graham's frustration as primarily a blocker was one of the chief reasons he left New England and came back to where he starred both in high school and college. He remains a devastating blocker, complemented by a nasty streak when locking on an opposing lineman. But his hands and route-running appear to be underrated parts of his game based on early workouts. Denver has a history of using its tight ends extensively through the air, and with sure-handed Tony Scheffler at the position and a young quarterback in Jay Cutler, the Broncos figure to use this safety valve often, perhaps at a level not seen since the Shannon Sharpe days. REHAB UPDATE: S Sam Brandon did some position drills and worked overtime after team-camp practices as he works his way back from a serious right knee injury sustained last November. But Denver is holding Brandon out from team workouts until the July minicamp to allow the veteran to build up strength in his surgically-repaired leg. Brandon plays a reserve role for Denver, but it's an important one in the AFC West. His main contribution, other than serving as a special teams force, is aligning over the opposing tight end in the Broncos' big nickel package. He has the speed and size to bother the likes of Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates without every-down double-team help but is more limited in the run game as a consistent physical force as a tackler. http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn...c.php?t=221202

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06-13-2007, 04:09 AM	#2
dragondawg All Pro Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,009	no mention of kennedy?

06-13-2007, 11:03 AM	#4
Inkana7 Ring of Famer Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 8,232 Adopt-a-Bronco: Derek Wolfe	Brandon traditionally owns Tony Gonzalez. He does a good job against Gates too, but look at the past three games he's played against Gonzo: 8 Receptions, 54 yards, 1 TD That's over three games, mind you. He shut him down Week 2 of the 2006 season. 2 Receptions, 7 yards.

06-13-2007, 11:34 AM	#5
Mediator12 OM analyst REAL Front Seven Bandwagon !!! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: INDY Posts: 9,701 Adopt-a-Bronco: Malik Jackson	Brandon also owns Gates, as Gates breakout against DEN happened after Sam was down with a season ending injury. It was one of the main reasons DEN struggled to contain SD's offense last year like it has in the past. In fact, it was one of the main reasons the pass and scoring defense went to hell after the first six games. The others of course were the DL and pass rush....

06-13-2007, 08:02 PM	#6
dragondawg All Pro Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,009	if champ only made that grab and took it away from Gates

06-13-2007, 10:23 PM	#7
Broncoman13 Broncoholic JT #80 Join Date: May 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 16,961 Adopt-a-Bronco: Orange Julius	You know what, I'm thinking that our DLine struggles are a thing of the past. Think about this... Sam Adams and Jimmy Kennedy will probably rotate. G-Money and Thomas will probably rotate. That's 2 relatively fresh DT's at any given point. On 3rd and short you could even see a front 4 featuring all three of them. Imagine that clog. I think Champ and Dre are going to be happy men this season. I have faith that any combination featuring Adams, Kennedy, G-money and Thomas can not only take pressure off of DJ but allow our DE's to line up wide enough to use their speed. It's also important to note that Kennedy, G-Money, and Marcus Thomas are all very capable of applying pressure up the middle on passing downs. Perhaps a bit of a stretch (not imo) but our DLine has quickly become a strength of this team. Certainly a better unit than our LB's and talent wise second only to our CB's.