Training Camp Primer

As training camp draws ever near I wanted to take a look at what has been making news for the Broncos. There has not been much noise coming out of Dove Valley the last few weeks but it has really heated up in the last few days leading up to Training Camp. Mainly three news stories that we will continue to follow as they develop.

News Headlines

Ryan Clady Extension

If the DenverPost is to be believed the Broncos have offered Clady a contract in the range of a 5-year deal worth $50 Million, with $28 Million guaranteed. This is close to Top-5 money for the left tackle position. But there are reports out Clady is looking for 'Joe Thomas' type money (Thomas signed an 8-year, $92 million contract last August, with $44 Million guaranteed.) The two sides will continue to negotiate the terms in a hope to extend Clady soon but it is doubtful that would happen before Training Camp starts.

Elvis Dumervil Arrest

Elvis joins a long list of other players that were arrested over the offseason. The list can be found here.

Dumervil was charged by Miami Beach police with a charge of aggravated assault after he was accused of lifting his shirt and showing a handgun in his waistband during a road rage incident last Saturday on Collins Ave. in Miami's South Beach area.

Sources close to Dumervil say he was not wearing a gun. Further, the sources say the Land Rover Elvis was driving and the gun are not registered to him.

One of Dumervil's friends, Andy Auguste, was also arrested on an aggravated assault charge. The incident was reported on a 911 call by an employee at a nearby Victoria's Secret store. During the 911 call, the employee mentioned people screaming from a white Chevy Impala and a person brandinshing a gun from a Mercedes, but never mentioned the Land Rover or anyone it. The police report from the incident said Auguste was a passenger in the Mercedes.

According to the Miami-Dade County Court website, Elvis Dumervil has a preliminary hearing on his aggravated assault charge set for Aug. 16. Judge Darrin Gayles has been assigned to the case.

Dumervil will report along with his teammates to Broncos training camp Wednesday for meetings and conditioning. The team's first training camp practice will commence at 8:50 a.m. Thursday.

Elvis has stated the truth will come out and that he has nothing to hide. For his sake I hope that is the case but the Ginger Hammer may still come down on him with a suspension.

Colorado Aurora Shooting

As Colorado continues to mourn and try to understand the massacre at Aurora, the Broncos are trying to do their part and bring the community together. Broncos players visited victims in hospital to show support and hopefully put a smile on their faces. More info and pictures can be found here, here and here.

Peyton Manning also called hospital rooms to talk to some of the victims and listen to their stories, for more go here.

Champ Files with Thunderbirds

There is a nice gallery here of Champ's day with the Air Force but all I was thinking about was this video.

Training Camp Primer

With Training Camp only days away there are a number of key positional battles occurring. Almost every position has some form of battle or a point of interest that we the fan should watch closely. Below are my thoughts entering Training Camp on a position by position bases.

Offense

With new players and the integration of a new scheme/plays it is hard to know what to expect from the Broncos Offense. This will make it interesting viewing as we may see a few things the Broncos haven't done before or in quite a while.

Quarterback

This will be the first chance fans get to take a look at new starting QB Peyton Manning. It will give the fans a chance to gauge where they believe Manning is at compared to what has been reported. It will also be another chance for him to test his health.

The interesting battle happening at quarterback is for the No 2 job. Adam Weber twittered that he is in a competition with Hanie and Osweiler for that position. You would think Osweiler and Hanie are the favorites for the position with Weber a distant third but anything can happen.

Running Back

Who will perform and who will stay healthy is the question. It is almost every year the Broncos lose a running back in camp to some injury and the same will probably happen this year. Every RB position is open for competition but Willis McGahee should keep the number one job. The question lies in who will make up the remainder of the running back corps. From Knowshon Moreno, rookie Ronnie Hillman, returning from injury Mario Fannin and holdovers Jeremiah Johnson and Lance Ball. Plus a few other young backs that may be able to upstage the others. Ronnie Hillman is a lock to make the team. Moreno on the other hand should be a little worried. It is easy to say now that he is the second best or third best back on the roster. But if Fannin or JJ can set up their game it may move Moreno down into cuttable territory. Ball should not make the the team *fingers crossed*

Fullback

We have two, Gronk and Sylvester. Only one will be kept but I do not see a big role for this position going forward.

Wide Receiver

Once again WR looks packed for the Broncos. Demaryius Thomas should have the No 1 spot locked down and Decker No 2. It gets interesting from there. It looks like the next three spots are between newcomer Andre Caldwell, the returning Brandon Stokley and the training camp destroyer Matthew 'Ninja' Willis. What order they are on the depth chart and the role they play will be decided in training camp. That makes 5 wide receivers but don't be surprised if someone else ends up in that 5. Mark Dell, D'Andre Goodwin and Greg Orton have been with the Broncos awhile and may push their claim for a starting role. Both Jason Hill and Gerell Robinson have the size, Hill also has the athleticism, to push for a spot in the top 5. Willis and Stokley beware. If reports are to be believed Eric Page may be the shoe in for return duties but this is not a certainty. This raises another question whether the Broncos will carry 6 WRs or 5 with the 4 TEs. Will the return duties and that roster spot be used on another DB?

Tight End

There will be four tight ends barring injury. Joel Dreessen, Virgil Green, Jacob Tamme and Julius Thomas. There are a number of others but I doubt they dislodge these four. Dreessen and Tamme are the starters now. Thomas needs to come in and have a good camp to figure in some playing time and leap frog the other two. Green needs to improve also but I think he still makes the 53. If the Broncos need a roster spot for other players Green's may be in doubt if he doesn't perform.

Offensive Line.

I envision the offensive line to be the same as it was last year. Clady, Beadles, Walton, Kuper and Franklin should be the starters. There are only two other players that may dislodge the starters and cause a reshuffling of the line. They are Phillip Blake and Ryan Harris. Either one has the talent and potential to possibility leap frog their counterpart but at the moment it is a long shot.

We also will not carry two long snappers.

Defense

Another year, another Defense Coach. I do not know what Coach Del Rio plans to run but I believe it will be based on a 4-3 alignment and a one gap system. What I think he does plan to do is use his players to create matchup problems based on downs with his players. It will be interesting to see how different the defense looks and feels compared to the aggressive style of D-Allen.

Defensive Tackle

The guys I have playing inside are Justin Bannan, Sealver Siliga, Kevin Vickerson, Ty Warren, Mitch Unrein, Derek Wolfe and maybe a little Malik Johnson. From all the reports I have seen Bannan and Warren are the starters. But Siliga has been setting the world on fire, he would need to keep that performance going through training camp if he wants to stay in the rotation. Wolfe may not be the starter but he will see plenty of time on the field this year. One player I am interested to see is the return of Big Vick (or Biggerer Vick if the reports of his muscle growth are correct). If he can dominate and perform through TC and preseason he should hold onto his stop and push Siliga down the depth chart. I included Johnson here as I expect to see him inside a little as well. That leaves Unrein for me as the odd man out. My prediction Bannan, Warren, Wolfe, Vickerson and Siliga stay and in that order, Unrein is cut.

Defensive End

There are a number of players verifying for position at DE. Dumervil and Ayers should be the starters but Dumervil may be facing a suspension and Ayers may be facing some stiff competition from Wolfe depending on how he is to be used. But Ayers should make the roster easily. The guys on the bubble are Jeremy Beal, Jason Hunter and Ben Garland. Hunter should make the team leaving Beal and Garland fighting for a spot. Both of which may be over taken by guys like Blatnick and Obiozor. Malik Jackson has a spot no matter what I believe because he adds much needed 'versatility' to the line.

Outside Linebacker

With DJ suspension and pending DUI trial Woodyard will get the first chance to play that WLB spot. His main competition for the starting spot is coming from Danny Trevathan. The two will battle for the spot in Williams absence. The Strong Side Linebacker (SLB) is locked down by Von Miller. Mike Mohamed is his likely back up but the Broncos may try Nate Irving on that side. There is also the hope that one of the extra rookie linebackers steps up. This may mean that Mohamed could be facing the axe.

Inside Linebacker

It looks like the Inside Linebacker spot has all but been handed to Joe Mays. But I am holding out hope that Nate Irving can show some improvement and nab this position. I also have Trevathan as a dark horse for MLB.

Cornerback

I don't think we have ever had this much talent at Cornerback. The list includes Champ Bailey, Omar Bolden, Drayton Florence, Chris Harris, Coryell Judie, Tracey Porter and Syd'Quan Thompson plus a few others. This position I think will be based on how many corners we can actually keep on the roster. The plan is to have Bailey and Porter playing on the outside. Florence, Bolden and Harris playing Nickel and Dime as well as spelling the others on the outside. Harris will need to continue to display his amazing form from last year to keep his spot. That is 5 corners already. I believe the Broncos will carry at most 6 with 4 safeties. The other two players I listed for me are favorites. Squid I really think is one of the better Nickel or Dime players and a ballhawk in small spaces. Judie is all about potential and I have a big belief in him. For me Squid is the pick if he plays well but if Judie can take those kick return duties as his own Squid will be cut. This is how I see it going down but there another 4 or 5 corners trying to make this team.

Safeties

I think there will be only 4 positions available for Safeties. Those spots belong to Mike Adams, David Bruton, Quinton Carter and Rahim Moore. Rafael Bush I doubt makes the team. There is some question about whether Duke Ihenacho makes the team as there is a special role that he could fill but would the Broncos trade his spot for that of a Corner? I do not know.

As for how the starters line up I would love it to be Moore and Carter but I doubt Moore can beat out Adams. Therefore starters being Adams and Carter with Moore rotating in mostly on passing downs I would think.

Kicker - Matt Prater

Punter - Britton Colquitt.

That is it from me, we will have more as Training Camp unfolds ~ Aussie.