Crowder is standing out at camps

[Kaylore]

http://www.denverpost.com/preps/ci_6134135

Broncos assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates on the team's D line: "There's nothing like competition going into the preseason. It's great to have this young blood and some real good veterans. It's going to be an interesting camp." For the record, he said that before Sam Adams and Jimmy Kennedy arrived. ...

The Bronx traded up to draft Jarvis Moss, then packaged three picks to get Marcus Thomas. So which one looks more ready to contribute as a rookie? At the moment, neither of the above. Their most impressive young lineman has been second-rounder Tim Crowder. Said Bates, "He's showing good technique and he's very intense. He's done a real good job." ...

Sure, Adams and Kennedy figure to be impact players. Then again, I give you Daryl Gardener, Luther Elliss, Raylee Johnson and Marco Coleman, big names one and all whose tanks proved empty after arriving at 5280.

Mike Heimerdinger, Mike Shanahan's right-hand man on offense, on bringing in a new starting tailback (Travis Henry) and tight end (Daniel Graham): "A quarterback has to make plays, but you've also got to do some things around him. If not, it doesn't matter how good they are. John (Elway) was pretty darn good, but when T.D. (Terrell Davis) got in there, it took the pressure off him. ... The surrounding cast has to fall into place, too." ...

[CBF1]

I guess the impact that Hixon is making needs no mention

[Los Broncos]

Sounds like he doing well. Keep up the good work, it will pay off.

[Requiem]

Hate to say I told you so awwwight. That's my BOY!

[bendog]

Hixon will have 13 sacks this year.

Seriously, what's up with Moss' conditioning? I think it'll be a roation of Thomas mainly for Big Fat and Kennedy rotating in both slots. Tough for a rook DT. Moss should have some impact. Crowder always figured to be the most complete package, initially.

[epicSocialism4tw]

I think that we all should have known that Crowder would show the most early signs. Crowder comes in a more complete player with the most experience.

Let's hope Crowder is able to master the technique in time to be a real contributor this season.

[Requiem]

Tim Crowder dribbles the football.

[Drek]

Originally Posted by bendog

Hixon will have 13 sacks this year.

Seriously, what's up with Moss' conditioning? I think it'll be a roation of Thomas mainly for Big Fat and Kennedy rotating in both slots. Tough for a rook DT. Moss should have some impact. Crowder always figured to be the most complete package, initially.

Its probably less a conditioning issue and more a strength/fundamentals thing. Moss had limited time on the field in college and needs to add weight before he's going to be an every down type.

Crowder on the other hand contributed all four years at Texas and is a bigger, stronger player. I've been saying since the draft that I expect him to take a starting DE role. He'll obviously get subbed out on passing downs but outside of Ekuban and McKinley he's about the only guy we have big enough to hold up in the running game.

[Rascal]

Doesn't really surprise me as I've stated I thought he and Thomas would contribute the most this year. I always thought Moss would take another year to develop.

[Popps]

Fantastic news.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by Requiem

Hate to say I told you so awwwight. That's my BOY!

I'm on record as not being a big Crowder fan. This is mostly because he doesn't fit our defense and he isn't very quick. I will say that he is themost physically ready to go of any of our picks and so that will help him get more playing time faster. It is only mini-camp and when the pads come on, things change.

[cutthemdown]

We all know these tidbits of information are carefully thought out before delivery. Training camp hasn't even started yet so I doubt Bates really knows who will be ready to contribute this year. I for one feel it's more realisitic to hope Dumerville improves on his 8 sacks. Hopefully the big DT can have an impact this yr. Warren stays healthy. Ekuban stays healthy. Lang stays healthy. Then maybe we can get some contribution from the rookies. But to expect rookies to play a significant role this year is a reach. Even if just one of the rookie dlineman play well this year and start we would be doing really good.

[(Jae)]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

http://www.denverpost.com/preps/ci_6134135

Luther Elliss, Raylee Johnson and Marco Coleman, big names one and all whose tanks proved empty after arriving at 5280.

lol, I remember you guys hyping him up so much when he first came here.
I think he was "Hixon" before Darius Watts.
No more retreads!

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

I'm on record as not being a big Crowder fan. This is mostly because he doesn't fit our defense and he isn't very quick. I will say that he is themost physically ready to go of any of our picks and so that will help him get more playing time faster. It is only mini-camp and when the pads come on, things change.

I think he showed the quickness he has in his workouts, and if he didn't fit our defense - we wouldn't have drafted him. He has good lateral movement, and he's a good athlete, well - he was better than advertised. From what I've seen, I thought he closed and attacked the pocket quite well.

Maybe on your "quck" comment, are you saying he isn't quick coming off the ball? He has had trouble judging snap counts in college, but overall I guess I disagree with you.

Crowder will be a Greg Ellis type player. A solid defensive end who can be strong against the run and be a solid, but not spectacular player against the pass. I think Moss and Dumervil will be fine as our pass-rushing ends. However, Crowder does offer that ability, and he also offers the ability to anchor down for the first two downs, and perhaps in time - be a three down player.

[ZONA]

I liked the Crowder pick. I loved the fact that we took 3 DL in the 1st 4 picks. Many of us here kept expressing that was our wish and it happened. Thank god.

[cmhargrove]

If I remember correctly, Ekuban's contract is up next year. Meet Tim Crowder, our new Ebeneezer Ekuban.

Maybe not a league leader, but hopefully a very good all around contributor.

[SonOfLe-loLang]

I agree with Kaylore, lets all relax. This is all conjecture. It's not two hand touch football. The only reason this is being picked apart is because of the 24/7/365 media coverage of football nowadays.

[Requiem]

I'm just glad we got Crowder. He's a versatile guy, and he'll be a nice compliment to Jarvis Moss - we have our ends of the future on the right and left sides set, and we have a specialist in Elvis Dumervil - and a hopeful anchor on the inside in Marcus Thomas, the only other spot that's missing - is the other defensive tackle, but maybe Warren or Kennedy if a fire gets lit under their butts can be those guys, since they still have quite a bit of football left in them.

After we picked Crowder, a run of defensive ends came off the board, and I'm certainly glad we chose him at #56 over those who followed. . .

#57 - Abiamiri
#58 - Alma-Francis
#62 - Bazuin
#65 - Moses
#83 - Johnson
#97 - McDonald

In my final mock I had Crowder/Abiamiri as interchangeable. We got sound value with our selection on Crowder. He'll be a solid contributor for a long time.

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by SonOfLe-loLang

I agree with Kaylore, lets all relax. This is all conjecture. It's not two hand touch football. The only reason this is being picked apart is because of the 24/7/365 media coverage of football nowadays.

Although this isn't the down and dirty camp action, it's nice to actually hear that Tim is playing with some intensity, or is acting intense. As Mediator had stated throughout the process of the draft, through Indianapolis and Mobile - that Crowder lacked that mental edge. I think it's a good sign, even if it's just "easy camp" that Crowder is showing intensity.

That was his biggest knock, leaving things on the field and not mastering the mental aspect of the game. Hopefully he can, and if he does - there is no reason that he shouldn't improve.

It makes a lot more sense to be excited about a kid with real talent, instead of say, feel good Corey Jackson types, who got the **** talked up about them before camp and ended up sucking the big one.

Crowder will be a good player, and I don't think anyone ever question he's the most ready. If he improves upon the critiques that he has (which Mediator has talked about in depth) he could be a very good player.

[stoxman]

Originally Posted by Requiem

I'm just glad we got Crowder. He's a versatile guy, and he'll be a nice compliment to Jarvis Moss - we have our ends of the future on the right and left sides set, and we have a specialist in Elvis Dumervil - and a hopeful anchor on the inside in Marcus Thomas, the only other spot that's missing - is the other defensive tackle, but maybe Warren or Kennedy if a fire gets lit under their butts can be those guys, since they still have quite a bit of football left in them.

After we picked Crowder, a run of defensive ends came off the board, and I'm certainly glad we chose him at #56 over those who followed. . .

#57 - Abiamiri
#58 - Alma-Francis
#62 - Bazuin
#65 - Moses
#83 - Johnson
#97 - McDonald

In my final mock I had Crowder/Abiamiri as interchangeable. We got sound value with our selection on Crowder. He'll be a solid contributor for a long time.

Keep an eye on Alama Francis...I would have gone him over Crowder but hard to argue either way--we needed the upgrade at this spot and I think we got it.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by stoxman

Keep an eye on Alama Francis...I would have gone him over Crowder but hard to argue either way--we needed the upgrade at this spot and I think we got it.

I'm with you. He's going to be a beast. And props to cmhargrove. I really see Ekuban and Crowder as almost the same player.

[Paladin]

Outstanding!

[OrangeShadow]

that hixon crap is getting old

[skpac1001]

For those who like Crowder, was there any particular games he played up to his potential in? I watched a couple of Texas games this week and I was pretty underwhelmed. Granted, I have no skills as a scout (I thought we should move up for Branch...) but I still expected a little more impact against college olines.

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

I'm with you. He's going to be a beast. And props to cmhargrove. I really see Ekuban and Crowder as almost the same player.

Francis on upside maybe, but Crowder was and is the better player right now. Far more NFL ready.

Ekuban now with the Broncos, or Ekuban back when he sucked with the Cowboys? If Crowder played like Ekuban did for 10 years like Ekuban played this year for the Broncos, then that's a pretty good deal. I think he'll be much more like Ekuban's former college teammate, Greg Ellis. Just my opinion.

You still didn't answer my question though, maybe I missed - a little exhausted from gardening and a two-mile bike ride.