Finally, live bullets as training camp gets up to full speed. Head coach Vic Fangio’s defense looks fearsome, and the offense has enough skill talent to produce if they see any improvement in quarterback play.

Denver drafted DL McTelvin Agim to be a pocket collapsing presence on the defensive line, and he will be expected to take a big step forward in 2021. They also are looking to OLB Derrek Tuszka to break through in year two. LB Baron Browning will initially get a shot at the inside linebacker position, but he’s entirely capable of coming off the edge as a pass rusher.

The best-case scenario for the future of the team is that QB Drew Lock wins the quarterback battle and becomes the team’s franchise quarterback. His mistakes are back-breaking but if he can scale them back even a little bit, his ceiling as a passer is sky-high. QB Terry Bridgewater is just about the league average of NFL quarterbacks. With QB Aaron Rodgers staying in Green Bay and Denver’s reticence to trade for QB Deshaun Watson’s (legal issues), the pressure is upped on Drew Lock.

The Broncos will go exactly as far as their quarterback(s) can take them.

Denver will lean on the running game as heavily as they need to this year with #1 RB Melvin Gordon, #2 RB Javonte Williams, and #3RB Mike Boone in the backfield. How often RB Javonte Williams is involved with the number one offense will give us a clue to his role.

They should also plan on leaning heavily on the YAC monsters they have in the passing game, which means OC Pat Shurmur will have to adjust his game plan accordingly so the depth of every passing target is not 10 yards or deeper. If WR Jerry Jeudy gets his catch percentage up to 60-65 percent, then look out! WR K J Hamler will be out on the field as much as his health allows. TE Albert Okwuegbunam is working his way back to full health (torn ACL). TE Noah Fant is looking to breakout in 2021. The Broncos are facing some serious question marks at the quarterback position, but the offensive line and running game are good enough to complement a top defense and make a run at the postseason. This is a playoff roster waiting to happen.

 

Who will be the Broncos starting five offensive linemen? Will the secondary develop their needed chemistry? There are 14 WRs on the roster, who stays and who goes? Will edge rushers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb finally play a season together? Who will win the quarterback competition?

 

Fangio called out rookie C Quinn Meinerz to become competition for C Lloyd Cushenberry III. QB Drew Lock showed he is attempting to master the small details of quarterbacking by focusing on his footwork and changing up his pre-snap cadence. Lock has a rocket arm and showed solid accuracy at times. QB Teddy Bridgewater was more deliberate and comfortable in his reads and showed improved ball placement accuracy. Neither quarterback threw an interception nor had a complete mental breakdown. OT Calvin Anderson worked with the starting offensive line for the first practice. Nothing else was unexpected.

 

Day Two

 

The Broncos began working on the red zone. No one has been better defensively inside the 20-yard line, but Denver's 53.3 percent red-zone scoring rate in 2020 ranked 27th in the league. Things change in the red zone, so the defense has to understand the coverage principles. The offense has to change, so the quarterback’s placement of the ball has to change; whether the quarterback is throwing in front of the end zone or the back of the end zone. That makes a difference (the little coaching points), so Denver will spend a lot of time on them almost every day. The defense excelled most of the day. The team's secondary was active all day, forcing incompletions and breaking up passes. The front-seven worked with the secondary, as the pass-rushers consistently put pressure on the quarterbacks. Edge Bradley Chubb worked on the side during team drills getting back into shape following off season ankle surgery. WR Courtland Sutton appeared fluid as he ran with a knee brace, but hasn’t reached full speed. Fangio says, "I see a little hesitancy. I don't want to [sound] the alarm, it's not. He's progressing. He's going to keep getting better and better." Sutton will wear his knee brace at least through the end of training camp. WR KJ Hamler was one of several players to catch punts during practice.

 

Melvin Gordon III showed good burst and vision on several runs out of the backfield. No one has a lead in the quarterback competition. Jeudy was all over the field and caught four passes on five targets. Lock showed off his mobility on several occasions. CB Ronald Darby showed his ability. C Lloyd Cushenberry III showed off his physicality. WR Trinity Benson continued to make his case for a roster spot.

 

Denver's defense forced incompletions and recorded three interceptions. In the red-zone period, the first-team defense did not allow a completion (6 attempts). DT McTelvin Agim continues to prove he deserves a roster spot on a competitive defensive line. Fangio stresses situational football every day in practice. WR KJ Hamler continued to make an impact. NT Mike Purcell will miss at least a week (ankle sprain) while his immediate backup, DT McTelvin Agim, has been one of the early camp standouts. August 3-First Pads!

Transactions Released WR Damion Willis. Signed rookies: RB Javonte Williams and OL Quinn Meierz. Sign S Tedric Thompson and C/G Brett Jones. Waived OL Patrick Morris. Signed DB Rojesterman Farris.

 

Orangeman’s Take

 

Terry Bridgewater brings a survival mentality to the quarterback battle. Drew Lock brings an enthusiastic fervor. For lock to be successful, he must become decision oriented not results oriented: take what the defense gives you underneath to stay on-schedule while effectively exploiting match ups downfield. Both quarterbacks hurt their fantasy skill players. Neither quarterback is considered highly around the league.

 

QB: neither is worth drafting. RB Melvin Gordon could have value with a falling ADP (66). RB Javonte Williams ADP (64) may be overly inflated if Gordon holds on throughout the summer, However, Williams is a back who could win win your league with an injury to Gordon. WR Courtland Sutton: pause before taking WR Courtland Sutton at his current ADP. WR Jerry Jeudy: give Jerry Jeudy a longer look at his current ADP. WR Tim Patrick's waiver wire for injury to wide receivers above him on the roster. WR KJ Hamler waiver wire for injury to wide receivers above him on the roster. TE Noah Fant: pause before taking at his current ADP. PK Brandon McManus is border line starter because of Mile High Stadium. DST Strong secondary and pass needs the offense to hold up its end to be top tier defense

 

End.