Ten things about the Broncos, one for each of their training camp practices:
1. Maybe Saturday was the start of consistent good things for the offense. “We just finished our installs up; there’s no new stuff,” coach Nathaniel Hackett said. “Now, they just to go out there and play football.” The foundation of the defensive system is familiar to the returning players, so it made sense they would be ahead early. The offense is learning a whole new playbook.
2. Besides cornerback Pat Surtain II (the Broncos’ best player), the common question is about who has looked good in camp?
Defense: Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto is getting second-team reps and his athleticism is off the charts when he bends to get around the edge. … DL DeShawn Williams deserves to start in Week 1 — he has flashed dominance in wedging his way between the guard and center to create pressure. … Rookie cornerback Damarri Mathis has been around the football while in man coverage.
Offense: I like the way the Broncos are using tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, who is catching passes on all kinds of routes. … Running backs Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon will continue to be an effective 1-2 punch. … Fullback/tight end Andrew Beck has been involved during 11-on-11 work.
3. Receiver Tim Patrick’s ACL injury means Jerry Jeudy has no excuses. Jeudy moved up from No. 3 to No. 2 on the depth chart behind Courtland Sutton.
I’ll withhold any and all judgment on Jeudy (no touchdowns last year) until the regular season starts and how Hackett and quarterback Russell Wilson deploy him around the formation. Jeudy has caught more shorter-route passes than downfield passes in camp.
The other focus is in the red zone, where Patrick thrived. To me, that should be a place Okwuegbunam and Greg Dulcich should produce, especially if they line up in the slot.
4. Coaching staffs don’t usually discuss preseason playing time until 2-3 days before the game, so it wasn’t surprising when Hackett said the Broncos have not decided who plays and how much they play in Saturday’s exhibition opener against Dallas.
Keep in mind, the Broncos and Cowboys practice together Thursday. One approach for Hackett would be to give the starters heavy work in the practice and then sit them out of the game.
It’s not a case-by-case deal, though. If Wilson plays, the Broncos would obviously play their first-team offensive line.
5. It has not been a banner training camp for the Broncos’ veteran free-agent additions. Outside linebacker Randy Gregory (shoulder), right tackle Billy Turner (knee) and guard/tackle Tom Compton (knee) are on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and have yet to practice. Defensive lineman D.J. Jones has missed time with a back injury. That is three projected starters (Gregory, Turner and Jones) and for Gregory and Turner, the race is on to show they’re capable of playing in Week 1.
The PUP players count toward the 90-man limit and will count toward next week’s 85-man limit (first cut-down). But when the roster is trimmed to 80 on Aug. 23, the PUP players can be shifted to reserve/PUP and not count. The key date for Gregory, Turner and Compton is Aug. 30. If they are on the initial 53-man roster, they can play when cleared. If they stay on the PUP list, they are out Weeks 1-4.
6. Veteran offensive lineman Graham Glasgow has yet to run a play with the first-team offense in 11-on-11 and has worked at right guard and center with the second unit. Glasgow could be an ideal guard/center swing player because it would create another active game-day roster spot. Glasgow re-worked his contract in January and his $3.1 million base salary is already guaranteed. He can earn money based on playing at least 50% of the offensive snaps ($250,000 for 50% up to $1.4 million for 90%).
7. Hackett talked all spring about competition at the offensive line position. “We’re going to put the best five out there,” was a common comment. But the Broncos’ coaches have made the smart move to prioritize having the same group of five playing together. Left tackle Garett Bolles, left guard Dalton Risner, center Lloyd Cushenberry, right guard Quinn Meinerz and right tackle Calvin Anderson have been the first-team unit save for Netane Muti (right and left guard) and Luke Wattenberg (center) getting a few snaps.
8. Essang Bassey continues to take the first-team nickel snaps in place of K’Waun Williams, who sustained a knee injury July 30. That is good news for Bassey’s roster status because he can also play the outside spot. Is there room for six cornerbacks? If so, the lean would be Surtain, Ronald Darby and Williams as the top three, followed by Bassey, Mathis and Michael Ojemudia.
9. The top three safeties are Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson and Caden Sterns (who has played the dime back role with the starters). P.J. Locke brings special teams value so I have slotted him No. 4. That leaves one spot for Jamar Johnson, Delarrin Turner-Yell and J.R. Reed.
10. What to make of Hackett’s practice schedule and format? The schedule: “jog-through” days before putting on the pads. Interesting and probably productive so long as the players are getting their mostly mental/partly physical reps. The format: almost all 11-on-11. Through 10 days, the Broncos haven’t run one 7-on-7 period and only one period of 1-on-1s (Saturday). This is more interesting to me because I’ve had rookies and veterans explain to me in the past that 1-on-1s allow them to experiment with moves without disrupting the rest of the play.
