Denver Broncos Who've Turned Heads in Offseason Workouts
The Denver Broncos are continuing OTAs this week. They’re working hard this offseason as a staff to build what it takes to become a Super Bowl champion.
It’s all part of the process. Denver has been to the top of the mountain with John Elway as the quarterback. Now as the general manager, Elway is trying to get the Broncos back to the pinnacle of the NFL.
Gary Kubiak worked with Elway as the team's offensive coordinator during the Super Bowls of the late '90s. Today, Kubiak works under Elway as the Broncos head coach. They've gone "old school" with the idea of building similar results.
Dove Valley has been a flurry of activity in recent weeks with players practicing as they hone their craft. Some players are impressing, some players are struggling while still other players have gotten hurt.
Here are five Broncos who’ve turned heads in offseason workouts.
5. Peyton Manning
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The Broncos have been Super Bowl contenders ever since Peyton Manning joined the team in 2012. At OTAs, Manning has shown good arm strength, accuracy and touch. He doesn’t have a rocket arm (and never has), but Manning is throwing with proper velocity and can hit targets in stride 40-50 yards down the field.
After a quad injury suffered late last season, Manning struggled as a passer in the final two weeks of the regular season and into the postseason.
He’s moving around more than ever in the Kubiak system. Manning looks good when dropping back, but working from under center is a work in progress.
Manning talked about some of the differences between working under center and out of the shotgun.
“Obviously under center you can keep your eyes on the defense a little bit longer to tell you the truth," Manning said. "When it’s the shotgun, you’ve got to keep your eyes on the ball at some point. It’s always a little bit easier under center because you can be looking to the left and at a weak safety when the ball is being snapped.”
Manning continued, “Whereas in shotgun, your eyes have to be on the ball a little bit more. Probably some things that are easier about under center as far as seeing late rotations and seeing certain key players.”
Now at full strength, Manning will work to improve his game from under center. Everyone knows that Manning can operate at the highest level possible in the shotgun. So far in OTAs, Manning is looking good.
4. Ben Garland
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The offensive line has multiple question marks at this time. In fact, four of the five spots on the offensive line should feature different starters from what we saw at the end of last season. Left guard is a position up for grabs in training camp, and Ben Garland is competing with free-agent addition Shelley Smith for that spot.
So far in OTAs, Garland has shown good snap anticipation and quickness off the line of scrimmage. Functional strength has never been a problem for him, and he does a good job of standing his ground as a run-blocker. Garland also looks good in the zone-blocking system because of improved lateral agility.
Garland’s mindset in practice hasn’t changed since he’s gotten the opportunity to start this year.
“Not at all. I’m going to bring my lunch pail and I’m going to work," he said. "Every single day I’m going to work as hard as I can to get better, and hopefully I can make this team better because of it.”
Working with the first team, Garland is in the lead to start at left guard. The Broncos will continue to see if Smith can outplay Garland in training camp, but at this current pace, we could see Garland as a starter in Week 1.
3. Cody Latimer
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In the 2014 NFL draft, the Broncos moved up in the second round so they could select wide receiver Cody Latimer out of Indiana University. He didn’t do much as a rookie in 2014, but Latimer is showcasing his considerable talent filling in for Demaryius Thomas as a starter on the outside opposite Emmanuel Sanders.
Latimer has a large wingspan which allows him to play “above the rim” in the NFL. He has shown improved route-running ability at OTAs in addition to incredible ball-tracking skills on deep passes. Latimer can make difficult catches seem routine, and he has been incredibly reliable for the quarterbacks at Dove Valley this offseason.
Sanders is a big believer in Latimer’s ability.
“I think Cody is ready. You talk about a guy that came out with a rookie class last year, which is one of the best rookie classes of all time and they’re not even mentioning his name. I think that he is just feeding off that energy alone. I think that he has all the capabilities of the rest of the rookies he came out with.” Sanders concluded, “I think that he’s ready for his opportunity and I think he’s going to make the most of it.”
The nature of the Kubiak offense isn’t going to feature the third wide receiver that often. Latimer is clearly showing starter’s talent at OTAs, but Broncos fans will likely have to be patient when waiting to see this budding prospect produce up to his potential in the NFL.
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2. Brock Osweiler
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The quarterback of the future for the Broncos is currently unknown. The Broncos drafted Brock Osweiler in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft with the idea that one day he would take over for Manning. Entering the final year of his contract in 2015, there has been no indication that Osweiler will be extended by the Broncos.
However, Osweiler is getting plenty of extra work at offseason workouts as he learns Kubiak’s system. While Manning has received a bit of time off (like all proven veterans for the Broncos), Osweiler is shining with the first-team offense.
Osweiler is appreciative of the extra work he’s getting at OTAs.
“First of all, I absolutely love it. I’m getting twice what I usually get. It’s very valuable to a new player, and especially in a new offense." He continued, "You can only study so much in the classroom. You need to get out to the grass and you need to go out there and run those plays. The more reps you can get, the better you’re going to be.”
Osweiler has the skill set to make him a perfect fit for this offense. He can bootleg with the best of them because of his natural athleticism and ability to throw accurately on the run. Osweiler looks good when executing play-action fakes, and he has a rocket arm to fire passes deep downfield. When the play breaks down, Osweiler has the escapability to turn a potential negative into a positive.
While there’s no current indication that Osweiler is going to be extended, he could force the Broncos' hand if his outstanding play continues into training camp and the preseason.
1. C.J. Anderson
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Denver has a superstar in the making with running back C.J. Anderson. He started the last seven regular-season games for the Broncos last year, and Anderson led the NFL in rushing over the final six weeks. In addition to running the rock, Anderson showed well as a receiver and ranked third in all-purpose yards over those six weeks.
At OTAs, Anderson is splitting first-team reps with Montee Ball—and even Ronnie Hillman gets a little work with the top unit. This split doesn’t bother Anderson. Instead, he looks incredibly motivated during offseason workouts.
Anderson understands he’s in a competition for the starting job even though he can be considered the lead back at this time.
“Of course it’s always competition," Anderson said. "It doesn’t feel different. It’s the same reps I was getting last year being in with Peyton. If you’re in with Peyton, you’re getting No. 1 reps.”
Anderson explained, “That’s how I felt last year. Just when the opportunity came last year, I took full advantage of it. It’s definitely a competition back there between all of us.”
The zone-blocking system is perfect for Anderson. He’s got the power to run through arm tackles, and Anderson uses his lower body to push the pile when needed.
What stands out at OTAs is Anderson’s patience. He’ll wait until just the right time to cut back (or continue outside) as the blocks fully develop in front of him. Anderson is far from indecisive, and he has a great feel for working behind his offensive linemen. More than Ball or Hillman, Anderson plays with a proper balance between patience and decisiveness.
With continued outstanding play in training camp and the preseason, Anderson should be the starter for the Broncos in Week 1. This system and his skill set could put him into position to be the leading rusher in the NFL.
All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted.
Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions.
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