Denver Broncos Training Camp: Week 3 Stock Report
The Denver Broncos have their first preseason game in the rearview mirror. The team started camp at the end of July, and the players have been giving it their all on the practice field for almost three weeks now. Spots on the roster are precious, and at UCHealth Training Center, the team is analyzing quite a bit of talent on both sides of the ball.
The second preseason game is coming up on Saturday as they travel to face the Houston Texans. The coaches are watching closely in practice and in preseason games to help decipher the best players for the 53-man roster.
Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is constantly monitoring his players.
“Every play, every step and every movement they make, we analyze," Phillips said. "We can help them do better, what we need to do better or what they need to do better. That is part of coaching, trying to get the guys better. It's a technique involved in all of that.”
With almost three weeks of training camp in the books, let’s take a look at the Broncos' stock report.
Stock Down: RB Kapri Bibbs
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There is a logjam of talent at the running back position in Denver. C.J. Anderson is the lead back, and he’s got the ability and opportunity to lead the league in rushing. Montee Ball is healthy and competing with Ronnie Hillman for the backup job. Juwan Thompson is arguably the most powerful back on the roster, and he’s a fantastic receiver out of the backfield.
These four backs are all ahead of second-year pro Kapri Bibbs on the depth chart.
Bibbs is trying to show that he’s a well-rounded back.
“[I’m] just trying my best to be all around and [be] able to catch the ball out of the backfield," Bibbs said. "I know there are a lot of people who said I couldn’t catch. I just think that is absolute false, so I just go out proving to everybody that I can catch the ball. I want to be the best option that we have coming out of the backfield catching on the depth chart or roster.”
Bibbs is a balanced runner who can make defenders miss in the open field. He’s a good fit for the zone-blocking system, and Bibbs does a good job of patiently waiting for rushing lanes to open up. He has proven over the last two offseasons with the Broncos that he’s a better receiver than some thought when he came out of college with only eight receptions for the Colorado State Rams.
However, Bibbs is not adept in pass blocking. He needs to prove himself in pass protection if he wants to make the team. Bibbs’ talent as a runner and receiver is good enough to make it in the NFL. If he doesn’t improve his pass blocking, then perhaps Bibbs will find a spot on the practice squad again.
He did not get any carries in the opening preseason game against the Seahawks, and he may be bringing up the rear in the competition at running back.
Stock Up: WR Bennie Fowler
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The Broncos have a Big Three at wide receiver. Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and Cody Latimer are all locks to make the final roster. Behind that talented trio, there is a solid group of quality reserves vying to earn a spot on the team.
Out of that group, Bennie Fowler is standing out. He’s arguably the most consistent reserve receiver the Broncos have on the roster. It seems like every day in practice, Fowler is making difficult grabs and helping to move the chains.
Head coach Gary Kubiak likes what he’s seen from Fowler so far in camp and the preseason.
“I think that you guys see it just like me. He's had a good camp," Kubiak said. "The strength of his camp has probably been the last two weeks. In the game, he played really well. He played well on special teams, and you saw him practice today.”
Kubiak continued: “Bennie [Fowler] is doing a good job right now and needs to keep coming, but is doing a very good job.”
Fowler has good strength after the catch. He’s big enough to block out defenders on contested catches, and he’s fearless running routes over the middle. Fowler’s soft hands and consistency make him a favorite target for Peyton Manning or Brock Osweiler.
In the first preseason game against the Seahawks, Fowler wowed Broncos fans with a 41-yard catch from rookie quarterback Trevor Siemian. Fowler ran under the ball and hauled it in near the sideline. On the day, he finished with 67 receiving yards on only three catches.
His roster spot is not locked up, but Fowler is putting together a great case for keeping him around.
Stock Down: WR Solomon Patton
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Earlier in camp, wide receiver/kick returner Solomon Patton splashed onto the scene at UCHealth Training Center. A free-agent addition by the Broncos this offseason, Patton made his presence felt early in camp. His speed, explosion and quickness were on full display as a reserve receiver and return man.
Patton wants to be this team’s returner.
“Yeah, it's a definite job [that I want], and kickoff return," Patton said. "That's why I say anything I can do to help this team, I will do whatever.”
He didn’t help himself with a bad performance in the first preseason game against the Seahawks. Patton had a fumble and only registered one kick return for 19 yards.
Kubiak commented on Patton’s performance as a returner after the Seahawks game.
“I think it's just first-game jitters," Kubiak said. "Solo [WR Solomon Patton], it was his first game out there [for the Broncos], and [WR] Jordan [Norwood] had a year off. It was just getting back into the groove with things. I know those guys will bounce back.”
After the Seahawks game, the Broncos have been spending a lot of time in practice working on special teams. During that time, Patton has continued to struggle. He’s still dropping punts and not doing as much as a return man as he did earlier this month.
Things change pretty quickly in the NFL. Patton has gone from early-camp darling to a player who looks like he may not make it past the first round of cuts.
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Stock Up: QB Brock Osweiler
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There is arguably no player with more on the line in the preseason than quarterback Brock Osweiler. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Osweiler’s future with the team is up in the air. If he performs well in training camp and the preseason, there’s a chance the Broncos could extend Osweiler’s contract to ensure that he’s the quarterback of the future.
With Peyton Manning out of the lineup for the first preseason game, Osweiler got to start—and he certainly impressed.
Kubiak was pleased with Osweiler’s performance against the Seahawks.
“To come in here tonight and run this football team the way he did in the first half is very impressive," Kubiak said. "They [the Seahawks] came after him in the second quarter, and he made some big plays. I just liked his decisions. They were quick. I thought that Brock Osweiler got better.”
Osweiler praised his offensive line for protecting him so well.
“I was feeling very comfortable in the pocket—credit, once again, goes to the offensive line. To get some solid game reps over the last three seasons allowed me to come in here tonight and feel comfortable.”
Osweiler finished the game with 151 passing yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He looked comfortable under pressure, and he did a good job throwing with proper velocity and touch. Osweiler showed the ability to sit in the pocket and read the defense. He also showed off his athleticism on play-action passes, bootlegs and rollouts.
If he continues to show well, then Osweiler may cement himself as the “next man up” at quarterback in the Mile High City.
Stock Down: QB Zac Dysert
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The Broncos have been developing quarterback Zac Dysert for a few years now. A seventh-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft, Dysert has spent one year on the active roster and one year on the practice squad for the Broncos.
Entering his third season, Dysert is competing for a spot on the roster or practice squad with 2015 seventh-round pick Trevor Siemian.
When asked about both of the young quarterbacks, offensive coordinator Rick Dennison talked more about Siemian than he did Dysert.
“Trevor lost so much time in the spring. He just wasn't able to go out there with his knee. He's progressing as you would think, just being out there and playing. Zac is a natural thrower.”
Dennison continued: “The problem with some of those reps, there are not as many as the ones and twos, but we're trying to prep everybody. The opportunities they get, they got to take advantage of.”
Dysert has a big arm, and he’s got the mobility to work well on bootleg and play-action passes. However, Dysert lacks accuracy and consistency to his game. That’s the story of his game from his playing days in college. Nothing much has changed with Dysert over the last few camps.
In the opening preseason game against the Seahawks, Dysert threw for only 14 yards on 2-of-5 passing. Siemian had 90 yards on 5-of-6 passing. The rookie looked more comfortable than Dysert, and it looks like Siemian could move ahead of Dysert in this backup quarterback competition.
Stock Up: Ronnie Hillman
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At the start of camp, there was a feeling that running back Ronnie Hillman could be on the roster bubble. He’s completely eliminated those forecasts after rushing for 66 yards on only eight carries in the first preseason game against the Seahawks.
Kubiak appreciates Hillman’s skill set.
“Ronnie’s got that gear, maybe that the other guys in this group don’t have," Kubiak said. "In some of the zones we had, the ball needed to get to the edge, and he got it there. He has been impressive in camp, and, lo and behold, you usually show up and play well. It’s good to see it carry over for him.”
Hillman has been more decisive over the last two weeks of camp. During minicamp, he seemed to dance too much behind the line of scrimmage. Now, he’s planting his foot in the ground and exploding to the second level of the defense.
He’s not a pile-pusher as a runner—never has been, never will be. However, Hillman could work well as a change-of-pace back for the Broncos behind C.J. Anderson.
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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