Denver Broncos: Notes and Quotes from Week 1 of Training Camp
The Denver Broncos have completed the first four days of training camp at the team's revamped training facility in Englewood, Colorado. Fans who have attended have been able to get a first glance at how the team looks under the new coaching regime.
For those who haven't been able to attend training camp, we're here to help.
We will detail some of the happenings from training camp up to this point, including a look at several individual players.
With that said, here are some news and notes from the first four days of training camp.
Offensive Line Updates
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The offensive line is one of the biggest questions facing the Broncos going into the 2015 season. Due to the lack of experience and a season-ending injury to star left tackle Ryan Clady, some fans would even call it a concern.
Andrew Mason of the team's official website noted that the team opened camp with a starting lineup that consisted of Ty Sambrailo, Ben Garland, Gino Gradkowski, Louis Vasquez and Chris Clark.
Gary Kubiak and his staff will spend much of camp looking for the best combination of five players within the unit. It is worth mentioning that by Day 4 of camp, Mason reported that Ryan Harris has been the starting right tackle for most of practice, despite Clark getting the first opportunity.
Whether that means anything for Clark remains to be seen, but the team did push him to the back burner early last season.
"@TroyRenck: Some impressions for practice: Ryan Harris is getting more time at right tackle Max Garcia continues to look good at left guard.
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) August 3, 2015"
According to Mason, rookie fourth-round draft choice Max Garcia is standing out at camp. This shouldn't come as a surprise, because Garcia was a great choice for this offense. He will push Garland for a starting role in this offense.
Peyton Manning Getting Some Time off
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Lindsay Jones of USA Today reported that Peyton Manning would get some rest in training camp, and the Broncos held true to that on Monday.
It was reported by Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com that Manning needed nothing more than a visor on Day 4, the team's first practice in full pads.
Manning probably isn't entirely thrilled with this, but at 39 years old, it benefits him and the team. The star quarterback will get a chance to rest up and remain fresh heading into the season while Brock Osweiler gets time to work with the first unit on offense.
This is a good move by the coaching staff for not only 2015 but beyond.
Brandon McManus vs. Connor Barth
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Brandon McManus will have a chance to get back the kicking job he lost last season, but he'll need to beat out Connor Barth to do so. He also must realize that the chances of Denver keeping him around only for kickoffs are slim.
Mason noted that on Day 3 of camp, McManus was given all of the field-goal kicking attempts. He went 2-for-4, missing kicks from 37 and 51 yards out. Those numbers are about what he averaged with the team last season when he made 69 percent of his kicks.
Barth came in and was much more accurate. That was again the case Monday, per Mason, as Barth went 4-for-5 on his kicks when the chance was his.
"Connor Barth made 4 of 5 field goals from long distance. 48-52 range. #Broncos
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) August 3, 2015"
This trend likely won't change in camp. McManus has the stronger leg, but he's nowhere near as accurate as Barth. The Broncos will be right to trade accuracy for leg strength when the time comes, and McManus will likely be sent packing.
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Kyle Williams Lost for the Season; Solomon Patton Emerges
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In just the team's second day of training camp practice, reserve wide receiver Kyle Williams was lost for the season after injuring his Achilles' tendon, as reported by Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post. The injury occurred while the team was doing punt return drills.
Though Williams was a long shot to make the roster, there is a wide-open competition to be the team's punt returner. Williams could have earned that role.
On the bright side, another player has stepped up in that role.
Solomon Patton, who the Broncos claimed off waivers during the offseason, has made an impact on the field, but not in the area many would expect. Patton has made plays as a receiver, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post.
"Solomon Patton number 84 is one to watch for sure. Mad a spectacular back shoulder catch from Siemian. He's got some Brandon Lloyd in him
— Darren McKee (@dmac1043) August 3, 2015"
Patton, who returned punts and kickoffs for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, has increased his chances of making the team quite a bit during the first four days of camp.
Britton Colquitt Takes a Pay Cut
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Britton Colquitt may have seen the handwriting on the wall.
The punter, who is coming off arguably his worst season as a pro, almost certainly would not have made the team carrying a $3 million salary for the 2015 season. Instead, he took a pay cut of $1.4 million—nearly half what he was due—for 2015, according to the Associated Press.
This gives Colquitt a much better chance of retaining the job he's held since 2010. It also hurts the hopes of Karl Schmitz, who may have won the job by default prior to the cut in Colquitt's salary.
"Confirming report #Broncos have reduced base salary of punter Britton Colquitt to $1.6 million Creating $1.4M in cap space
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) August 3, 2015"
We now have a good old fashioned competition at the punting position in training camp, one in which Schmitz will have his work cut out for him if he is going to unseat the veteran Colquitt.
Team Needs to Finish Practices Stronger
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During the first four days of camp, the team seems to be lagging by the end of each practice. At least, that is the way Kubiak sees it.
According to Mason, Kubiak has seen a drop in performance at the end of practice more than once already.
"Two days in a row, I felt like the majority of our mistakes are coming at the end of practice. That's when you're wore out. If you don't make those plays when you're (worn) out in the fourth quarter, in this league, it's going to be tougher. It's a focus. I just told them that I want them to feel it, not just me.
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This may not be a concern now, but it could turn into one if it continues as camp progresses.
During the years when John Fox was the team's head coach, the Broncos seemed to lack a finishing mentality, often playing down to inferior opponents and letting big leads slip away. Kubiak wants the team to shake that.
It will be interesting to see how the team handles this toward the end of future practice sessions. You can bet it will become a focal point for Kubiak and his staff.
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