Denver Broncos Training Camp: Week 2 Stock Report
The Denver Broncos are nearing their first preseason game of the year. The team started camp at the end of July, and the players have been giving it their all on the practice field for almost two weeks now. Jobs are on the line at UC Health Training Center as the Broncos have a stacked roster with plenty of talent on both sides of the ball.
The Broncos have their first preseason game Friday as they travel to play the Seattle Seahawks. Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak has been working through training camp, and he feels good about this team’s direction as they look to begin the preseason schedule.
“Well, the good thing now is we get to go play and check where we're at and where everybody's at against somebody else other than ourselves. You get tired of beating on each other.” Kubiak explained, “I'm just trying to stay after them to continue to push each other when they sense a little slack. It shouldn't come from me all the time. It needs to come from them, as well.”
With almost two weeks of training camp in the books, let’s take a look at the Broncos' stock report.
Stock Down: OT Michael Schofield
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It’s impossible to make a positive impression during training camp if you’re injured and not participating in practice. Second-year offensive tackle Michael Schofield has been bothered by a back injury for most of camp.
A third-round pick in the 2014 NFL draft, Schofield made the 53-man roster last year, but he was inactive for every game as a rookie. He struggled to maintain his weight, and Schofield suffered from pass-protection issues. During the offseason, Schofield did a good job of putting on more weight with the idea he could compete for a larger role in 2015.
Before the injury, Schofield was working as a swing tackle, and he made a positive impression on Kubiak.
"“First off, I think the best answer I can give you right now is that [T] Michael [Schofield] is doing a really good job on the right. We want to continue to get him reps over there and looking at him. The other guys we feel like are pretty interchangeable. Michael has to be, too. But we're trying to settle him down a little bit and look at him a little bit more. Other than that, they're going to continue rotating.
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Schofield returned from his back injury Tuesday, but his status for the first preseason game is unknown at this time. He’s an intriguing prospect, but Schofield will have to stay healthy in order to prove his worth.
Stock Up: TE Dominique Jones
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The new offense is tight end friendly, and the team needs quality depth at the position. The Broncos are set with Owen Daniels and Virgil Green as their top two tight ends. Behind those two is an intriguing prospect in Dominique Jones.
Coming out of Shepherd University as an undrafted free agent in 2011, Jones had to stop in both the United Football League (Sacramento Mountain Lions) and Indoor Football League (Reading Express) before getting a shot with the Indianapolis Colts in 2012. He bounced around to a few different NFL teams before finding a home with the Broncos in 2014.
Jones is a large target even though he’s not the tallest player on the field. Measuring in at 6’3” and 280 pounds, Jones is an imposing figure when running across the field. The Broncos wanted him to get into better shape, and Jones did make the proper changes to his physique this offseason.
Reshaping his body did not go unnoticed by Kubiak, who said:
"I came in here and he was 286 pounds, so we had a little meeting and he’s now 265. I’m really proud of him; he’s worked hard, and I think he’s got a good chance to be a fine football player if he keeps his weight down, and he’s done that. He’s responded.
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Looking at Jones, it’s easy to conclude he’s a blocker only because of his size. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jones has a basketball background, and he uses that skill set to box out defenders.
It seems like every day in training camp, Jones is making big catches. He’s imposing after the catch, and Jones does a good job of providing his quarterback with a reliable receiver. It’s looking more and more like Jones could make the 53-man roster.
Stock Down: C Gino Gradkowski
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The Broncos had a day off last Wednesday, and when they returned to the field, a few positions were shuffled around. Gino Gradkowski was acquired via trade earlier this year, and he spent the offseason program as the first-team center. He started training camp in the same position, but after the break last week, he returned to the field as a second-team player.
Gradkowski started every game for the Baltimore Ravens in 2013; however, in 2014 he was replaced by Jeremy Zuttah and barely played for the Kubiak-led offense.
Earlier this year, Kubiak explained why the team traded for Gradkowski.
"We liked him as a player, we thought he had a lot of reps under his belt and we felt like he would play good for us. He just didn't get an opportunity there [Baltimore] last year. When we were looking around last year, I brought the name up. [Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager] John [Elway] and [Director of Player Personnel] Matt [Russell] went and did the work, spent time and studied him. I'm just happy to have him. I think that he has a chance to help us out.
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Gradkowski struggled to handle nose tackle Sylvester Williams in practice. While pressure from the outside may not be able to get to Peyton Manning as he throws the ball quickly, interior pressure can disrupt the offense. Gradkowski’s inability to hold his ground in drills and scrimmages at training camp could have cost him the top spot in Denver.
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Stock Up: C Matt Paradis
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The player to replace Gradkowski in the starting lineup is second-year pro Matt Paradis. The Broncos added Paradis in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL draft with the idea that he would be a developmental player. Paradis did not make the 53-man roster as a rookie, but the Broncos did keep him around on the practice squad.
The former Boise State center is country strong, and he’s got the lateral agility necessary to play in the zone-blocking system. The second-year center likes his fit in this scheme—and with his teammates.
“Just the O-line we have on the roster—none of us are the huge maulers, power-scheme guys. We’re more athletic," he said. "This is perfect for us.”
He’s using his strength and athleticism to protect Manning. Paradis is also nasty as a run-blocker, and he’s been showing well when asked to execute a combo block at the second level of the defense.
Paradis sits atop the depth chart right now. If he continues to impress, then he might be able to hold on to the job for the start of the regular season.
Stock Down: OG Ben Garland
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The Broncos lost last year’s starting left guard Orlando Franklin in free agency to the San Diego Chargers. To replace him, the Broncos put converted defensive tackle Ben Garland in that spot for the offseason workouts. Through minicamp and OTAs, Garland was the player lining up with the first-team offense.
Earlier this year, Kubiak complimented Garland—but with the caveat that the team needed to see more from him when the pads came on in training camp.
"I see Ben this way: work habits, effort and all those things, there is no question about Ben. Everyone is very impressed with Ben and how he’s handled himself here. It’s time for Ben to become a player, but we’ve got to find out when the lights come on. The fact that he has not played a lot of offensive football, too, that was a big change for him. So you see some of that along the way. But everything is in place. It’s just a matter of reps and we’ll see how he does.
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Training camp opened on the last day of July, and Garland continued as the team’s starter. However, when the team came back from its midweek break last week, Garland was out of the starting lineup.
With so much talent on the offensive line, it may be difficult for Garland to make the final roster if he’s not the starter. The team might decide to go with rookie Max Garica or free agent Shelley Smith as the starter at the position that Garland manned all offseason.
Stock Up: ILB Todd Davis
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Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. That could be the mantra for inside linebacker Todd Davis. He came into the league as an undrafted free agent out of Sacramento State in 2014. Davis was able to make the Saints practice squad, but the Broncos scooped him up late last year and put him on the active roster.
In the Wade Phillips 3-4 defense, the inside linebackers are going to get a lot of action funneled their way. The middle of the defense cannot be weak, and good thing for the Broncos they have a ton of linebacker talent.
Starting nose tackle Williams has a great appreciation for inside linebackers Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan, but he feels good about the guys behind them (like Davis).
"Both of those guys are definitely, in my eyes, Pro-Bowl type players, but we have guys [ILB] Todd Davis and [ILB] Steven Johnson. Those guys are definitely ready to step up if anything were to happen, but we have a great group of linebackers especially with Danny [Trevathan] and B-Marsh [Marshall].
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The initial depth chart came out for the Broncos earlier this week, and Davis was listed as the backup behind Marshall at strong-side (SAM) inside linebacker.
What’s worth noting is that Davis can play strong-side or weak-side inside linebacker. He’s got the nose for the ball, and he arrives at the ball-carrier with natural violence. Davis is athletic enough to stay with tight ends in coverage, and he gives the Broncos fantastic depth at the position.
Out at camp, Davis has done a good job showing off his athleticism and diagnostic ability. He understands where plays are heading before they develop, and Davis does not take false steps on his way to the ball.
He may not be a starter, but Davis can be counted on as an important part of the necessary depth at the linebacker position.
All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted. Advanced stats via ESPN's employees-only database.
Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions.
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