http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...cos/index.html
Here's the Drill
1. It's been billed as a competition but the talk is that Darrent Williams should beat out Dominique Foxworth for the starting right cornerback spot opposite Champ Bailey. Williams is a more physical player (even though he's three inches smaller than the 5-11 Foxworth) and he also has the explosiveness to cover ground when the ball is in the air. That said, Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan says both will be playing plenty. "I see them both as starting cornerbacks," says Shanahan, who drafted both players in the 2005 Draft. "We see so many multiple-receiver sets that they could both be on the field when the games begin."
2. The Broncos are expecting offensive tackle Adam Meadows to arrive in camp by Tuesday. Shoulder problems forced him into retirement the last two years but now he's feeling healthy enough to return to the game. Meadows had been preparing to play with Carolina before the start of 2004 before he decided to quit. Prior to signing a free-agent deal with the Panthers, he started 61 games for Indianapolis during his seven years with the Colts. Look for him to eventually push starting right tackle George Foster for a job.
3. Rookie running back Mike Bell has been a pleasant surprise in training camp so far. He's shown toughness, a strong burst through the line of scrimmage and he's comfortable in Denver's zone-blocking scheme (Bell played in a similar system at Arizona). An undrafted free agent who played in a lousy offense in college, Bell is already practicing as the team's third running back behind Ron Dayne and Tatum Bell.
4. Another rookie, fourth-round pick Brandon Marshall, is also moving up the depth chart. The 6-foot-4, 222-pound receiver from Central Florida has so much size, speed and play-making ability that he carries the nickname "Baby-T.O." He struggled with leg cramps midway through one-on-one drills Monday but coaches aren't concerned with short-term ailments. They envisioned him as an H-back when they drafted him. Now he looks like a good bet to be their fourth receiver.
5. Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith spoke with camp holdout Ashley Lelie a couple days ago. Lelie didn't participate in the Broncos' offseason workouts and he hasn't shown up at training camp as he tries to force the team into trading him. Smith said he didn't talk about the holdout during their conversation -- they mostly discussed how each other's families were doing -- and he told Lelie that he's still supported in the locker room. "Nobody on this team is against Ashley," Smith said. "Some people might be confused about why he's taking such a drastic stance but nobody dislikes the guy. I've also told him that I wouldn't do what he's doing. I like working."
Factoid
Denver ranked 22nd in the league in third-down conversions (36.2 percent).
Fantasy Geek Note
Dayne is the front-runner to be Denver's number one back this season. He's run with more authority in camp than his competition, Tatum Bell, and he has the size to handle a heavier load. Unless Bell really impresses during the preseason games, he'll be looking at another year as a change-of-pace back.
Camp Confidential
A movie crew that has been filming in Denver attended Monday's morning session. One of the stars of the film, Josh Hartnett, is playing a sports reporter and he actually interviewed quarterback Jake Plummer for a scene after the Broncos finished that first practice.
Here's the Drill
1. It's been billed as a competition but the talk is that Darrent Williams should beat out Dominique Foxworth for the starting right cornerback spot opposite Champ Bailey. Williams is a more physical player (even though he's three inches smaller than the 5-11 Foxworth) and he also has the explosiveness to cover ground when the ball is in the air. That said, Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan says both will be playing plenty. "I see them both as starting cornerbacks," says Shanahan, who drafted both players in the 2005 Draft. "We see so many multiple-receiver sets that they could both be on the field when the games begin."
2. The Broncos are expecting offensive tackle Adam Meadows to arrive in camp by Tuesday. Shoulder problems forced him into retirement the last two years but now he's feeling healthy enough to return to the game. Meadows had been preparing to play with Carolina before the start of 2004 before he decided to quit. Prior to signing a free-agent deal with the Panthers, he started 61 games for Indianapolis during his seven years with the Colts. Look for him to eventually push starting right tackle George Foster for a job.
3. Rookie running back Mike Bell has been a pleasant surprise in training camp so far. He's shown toughness, a strong burst through the line of scrimmage and he's comfortable in Denver's zone-blocking scheme (Bell played in a similar system at Arizona). An undrafted free agent who played in a lousy offense in college, Bell is already practicing as the team's third running back behind Ron Dayne and Tatum Bell.
4. Another rookie, fourth-round pick Brandon Marshall, is also moving up the depth chart. The 6-foot-4, 222-pound receiver from Central Florida has so much size, speed and play-making ability that he carries the nickname "Baby-T.O." He struggled with leg cramps midway through one-on-one drills Monday but coaches aren't concerned with short-term ailments. They envisioned him as an H-back when they drafted him. Now he looks like a good bet to be their fourth receiver.
5. Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith spoke with camp holdout Ashley Lelie a couple days ago. Lelie didn't participate in the Broncos' offseason workouts and he hasn't shown up at training camp as he tries to force the team into trading him. Smith said he didn't talk about the holdout during their conversation -- they mostly discussed how each other's families were doing -- and he told Lelie that he's still supported in the locker room. "Nobody on this team is against Ashley," Smith said. "Some people might be confused about why he's taking such a drastic stance but nobody dislikes the guy. I've also told him that I wouldn't do what he's doing. I like working."
Factoid
Denver ranked 22nd in the league in third-down conversions (36.2 percent).
Fantasy Geek Note
Dayne is the front-runner to be Denver's number one back this season. He's run with more authority in camp than his competition, Tatum Bell, and he has the size to handle a heavier load. Unless Bell really impresses during the preseason games, he'll be looking at another year as a change-of-pace back.
Camp Confidential
A movie crew that has been filming in Denver attended Monday's morning session. One of the stars of the film, Josh Hartnett, is playing a sports reporter and he actually interviewed quarterback Jake Plummer for a scene after the Broncos finished that first practice.
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