Rounding Up Denver Broncos' Offseason Buzz, Post-Minicamps
The Denver Broncos have wrapped up minicamp at Dove Valley. The team will now take a break until the start of training camp later this summer.
According to Mike Klis of 9News.com, the Broncos rookies will report to Dove Valley on July 27. Veterans are set to report on July 30 with training camp to begin soon after that.
It’s been a wild offseason for the Broncos filled with both good news and bad. The team faces hurdles that it wasn’t anticipating before OTAs and minicamp began. The news wire has been churning this offseason while the Broncos have gone through practice.
In this article, we round up the latest offseason post-minicamp buzz about the Broncos.
Brandon Marshall Will Run Soon
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At this time, strong-side inside linebacker Brandon Marshall is still recovering from offseason foot surgery. He missed two games in December last year with what the Broncos called a mild foot sprain. He returned to play in the playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts but didn’t look the same.
It was later diagnosed that Marshall had a Lisfranc injury. This required surgery to repair, so he went under the knife back in March. The initial anticipated recovery time had him ready to return by Week 1 of the regular season.
Andrew Mason of DenverBroncos.com reports via Twitter that Marshall will begin running the week after minicamp is over.
Marshall could be ready for the start of training camp, but the team might consider putting him on the PUP list at the beginning of August. If Marshall is ready, then expect the Broncos to be careful with him as he returns to the field. He could be a limited practice participant when training camp opens up.
Last season, Marshall had a breakout season with 113 tackles and 12 tackles for a loss. He’s a disruptive player who should put up better numbers in the team’s new 3-4 defense.
He should see plays funneled to him on the inside, and he’ll be tasked with stopping plays at or near the line of scrimmage. If healthy, Marshall can be a reliable playmaker for the Broncos in 2015.
Broncos Want Peyton Manning Fresh and Healthy
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The Broncos gave Peyton Manning some time off during OTAs and minicamp so he could be fresh and healthy for training camp later this year, according to Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today.
Manning seems re-energized this offseason under new head coach Gary Kubiak. The quarterback is learning a new offense and will be asked to do things this year (like operating from under center) that he didn’t do that much in Denver since he arrived in 2012. Last year, an injured Manning looked like a shell of himself over the last few weeks of the regular season and in the playoff loss to the Colts.
The future Hall of Fame quarterback doesn’t need every first-team rep at this point of the offseason—even when learning a new system. The Broncos believe in his world-class study habits, and Manning should be ready to rock in training camp.
This move to rest him during the offseason has also given the coaching staff a longer look at fourth-year quarterback Brock Osweiler.
Entering the final year of his contract, Osweiler could be extended by the Broncos at some point this year. Denver drafted him in the second round of the 2012 draft with the idea that he would be the heir apparent to Manning. Osweiler has looked good at running Kubiak’s system (he’s a natural fit), and if he has an impressive preseason, we might see the Broncos make a move to sign him to a new long-term deal.
Manning needs to be fresh and healthy not only for training camp but for the postseason as well. The Broncos will need him at or near full strength entering the playoffs if they want to make their best push for the Super Bowl.
Shane Ray Still Dealing with Injury
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The team’s pass rush is going to get a shot in the arm when rookie outside linebacker Shane Ray steps on the field. The Broncos moved up in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft so they could acquire Ray. It was the first time general manager John Elway had the team move up in the opening round under his watch.
The reason was simple—Ray has the potential to be an elite-level player in the NFL.
He hasn’t been much of a factor on the practice field this offseason, though, as he continues to recover from the turf toe injury that plagued him in the predraft process. The rookie pass-rusher also suffered a quad injury in limited reps with the Broncos at minicamp, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post.
If healthy, Ray can make an immediate impact as a part-time player for the Broncos. With Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware starting at outside linebacker, Ray will have to make his name as a reserve player as a rookie. He could rotate in and give Miller or Ware a breather when necessary. Ray could help keep Ware fresh after the veteran pass-rusher wore down in his first season with the Broncos last year.
Ray is an alpha male who plays every snap with a chip on his shoulder. He gets off the snap quickly and has the speed to bend around the edge to get to the quarterback. He has a nose for the passer, and his closing burst gets him to the target with ferocious intent.
As a part-time player, Ray should be able to stay fresh as well. New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is likely to be much more aggressive when it comes to calling the blitz. A key to the Broncos' season is going to be the play they get from their dangerous defense. Ray is a playmaker who only needs to be healthy to make an impact.
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Demaryius Thomas to Skip Camp?
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If franchise-tagged Demaryius Thomas does not get a new long-term contract before the July 15 deadline, then he could sit out at least part of training camp. At least that’s what NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has reported on NFL Total Access.
Thomas has a one-year franchise tender on the table that would fully guarantee him a salary of $12.8 million. He’s looking for long-term security, but his price tag—both annually and guaranteed money—might be too rich for the Broncos.
At this time, Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson is the highest-paid receiver in the NFL. He has an average annual salary of just over $16.2 million, but that was on a contract put together back in 2012.
The new level for wide receiver contracts could be set in the near future, but Thomas may not be the player who surpasses Johnson’s numbers.
If Thomas is expecting more money than Johnson on an annual basis, the Broncos may not want to (or be able to) pay that price. It might be cheaper in the long run to franchise-tag him not once but twice. The team has two years left on Peyton Manning’s contract, and Thomas is his favorite receiver.
A big question surrounding Thomas that doesn’t come up with other wide receivers in similar contract situations (Dez Bryant) is the quarterback factor. Thomas is talented, but what is the expected production level when Manning is gone? It might not be wise for the Broncos to get locked into a big-money deal if the passing game falls apart without the future Hall of Fame quarterback.
Thomas is one of the best receivers in the game, and he deserves to be compensated as such. He just may not get that huge payday from the Broncos.
C.J. Anderson Starts as Top RB
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The Broncos have a great problem at the running back position. C.J. Anderson looks like he could become a superstar for the Broncos, and Montee Ball has the ability to be a quality starter as well.
According to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com, Anderson is going to enter training camp as the top back on the depth chart.
Last year, Anderson had to wait for his opportunity to shine. When Ball and Ronnie Hillman both were injured, Anderson made his move. As the Broncos starter, he produced at a level we haven’t seen with the Broncos since arguably the days of Clinton Portis or Mike Anderson.
Anderson is a power runner, but there’s more nuance to his game than some realize. He can make defenders miss in the hole or run over would-be tacklers at the point of attack. His low center of gravity helps him change direction without losing much speed or power.
Not only can Anderson be reliable as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, but he can also split out wide as a receiver. This makes him a productive three-down player with the potential to be the best running back in the NFL.
Ball is trying to prove that he should at least be a part of the mix at running back. If he doesn’t overtake Anderson for the starting job, then Ball might work in a “1A-1B” running back by committee.
An appendectomy in training camp and a groin injury early in the regular season made Ball’s sophomore season a bust. Now he’s healthy and trying to prove his worth.
This is going to be one of the best training camp battles to watch in the entire league. Any way this ends up, the Broncos will have one of the best rushing attacks in 2015.
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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