Every team tries to avoid getting hurt in tranining camp and that is even more important for the Broncos whose team depth is not a stong point. Already the team has lost two players for the season: DT Carlton Powell (torn Achilles tendon) and WR Edell Sheppard (knee). Add to that Jay Cutler’s diabetes and a couple of starters who are out of shape (WR Brandon Marshall and G Montrae Holland) and it is an inauspicious begining for the Broncos. Marshall is "gassed" after every pass route. He was cleared to run in April so there is no excuse for him to come to camp out of shape. Holland missed his reporting weight because he took too much time off to recuperate from the 2007 season. Holland could be out of practice as long as a month which is not good news for an offensive line which is one of the big questions for the Broncos this season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH DURING CAMP

1. QB Jay Cutler. How Cutler and the Broncos manage his diabeties will be key to the season. He has re-gained the weight he lost last season and should be stronger. The Broncos are looking for more patience in the pocket from Cutler. They feel that if he will work the underneath passes more then the big plays from his exceptional arm will come. Cutler is healthy, his throws are electric and he can put them anywhere he wants. The coaches are working on his internal clock (4 seconds and get rid of the ball) and his touch in the short passing game.

2. WR Brandon Marshall. Marshall is the playmaker at wide receiver and his injured arm is healthy. The defenses will be ready for him this year but not even Champ Bailey can stop him. His 2-3 game suspension will seriously hurt the Broncos offense and his production. He will miss playing division rivals Oakland and San Diego.

3. DT Dewayne Robertson. Robertson is a game changing talent who brings improvement to the interior line against the run. The Broncos will rest him during training camp and try to keep him fresh and healthy during the season (less than 65% of the plays).

4. G Ben Hamilton. Hamilton missed the 2007 season due to a training camp concussion. He appears 100% recovered and the veterans aren’t taking it easy on him.

5. TE Tony Scheffler. Scheffler has superior talent and looks healthy. He and Cutler are simpatico and he will be looked at to ease the blow of Marshall’s suspension.

6. LOT Ryan Clady. Clady is the second piece of Denver’s offensive foundation (Cutler is the first) for the present and the future. He already has enough skills and technique to stop anyone but will be challenged by the stunts and sophisticated blitzes.

7. SLB Boss Bailey. Boss is one of the NFL’s best strong-side linebackers and is highly motivated playing with his brother. He needs to stay healthy.

8. WR Darrell Jackson. Jackson, at 29, should have some gas left in his tank if the nagging injuries don’t follow him to Denver. He can still get open and is especially important because of Marshall’s suspension. He is currently the #2 wide receiver.

9. WR/R Eddie Royal. Royal is the bona fide returner Denver hasn’t had for the last 25 years. He is also turning heads as a receiver. He has good hands and is catching everything (passes and punts). He is listed as Marshall’s backup and could be used as a deep threat during Marshall’s suspension.

10. MLB Niko Kououvides. He doesn’t have Al Wilson’s range but he is a natural "mike" – a punishing tackler and a leader with moxie. However, Nate Webster won’t go away. Webster is healthy and his athletic ability shows. While Webster still over pursues and gets fooled by misdirection he has the speed to recover. Webster is currently #1 on the depth chart.

11. ROT Ryan Harris. If Harris’ back holds up, he has a better tackle body type than G/T Chris Kuper. Kuper is presently playing right guard in place of the overweight Holland. If Holland truly ends up in Mike Shanahan’s doghouse, Kuper and Harris could be the right side of the offensive line. Kuper has a broken hand but that has not stopped him from practicing. Harris isn’t impressive in 1 on 1 drills but works well in tandem with his line mates.

12. DE Jarvis Moss. Moss essentially lost his rookie year, struggling in the first half of the season and missing the second half with an injury. He is among the last to leave the field each session and it looks like he needs the extra work. While he is improving, he may never be a round one talent.

13. RB Selvin Young. Young isn’t likely to average more than 15 carries a game but should be looking at a1,000 yard rushing season. He has bulked up and is running harder inside the 10 than he was able to do in 2007. The Broncos will work in Ryan Torain and Michael Pittman will get 4-5 short yardage carries a game. Young’s performance in camp so far makes him the clear starter as he is displaying more confidence, seeing the field well and making decisive cuts. He is catching the ball out of the backfield and the Broncos are working on that a lot.

14. RB Ryan Torain. Torain is a long strider who looks bigger than his reported 6’1" 225lbs. Although he does run a little upright, he runs with power and seldom fails to fall forward. He needs to work on his timing to the hole and making his move at the line of scrimmage not in the backfield. The veterans are hitting him a little harder than the other backs and he is holding up well.

15. FB Peyton Hillis. Hillis plays with a mean streak and he is a perfect fit for the West Coast scheme the Broncos use. There are some injury concerns with Hollis who is out with a strained hamstring. However, his ability to run and catch the ball should add a Howard Griffith dimension to the offense. A knock on Hillis is his ability to block inside but he won’t have to do much of that in the Broncos zone blocking scheme. He also excels on special teams.

16. RB Anthony "Quick Six" Alridge. Alridge is practice team material this year but could become an asset in the return game during the season if Eddie Royal becomes a fixture at wide receiver. He is impossible to keep from turning the corner when he wants to get to the edge. His speed is hard for a defense to cope with.

17. Tom Nalen. Nalen doesn’t seem healthy. The MRI on his knee came back negative but he seems to be in a lot of discomfort. Casey Wiegmann looks like a huge off-season acqusition as Nalen tries to come back one more time.

18 RB Andre Hall. Hall is stating his case for a roster spot displaying good field vision and being a load to bring down. He is currently the #2 tailback.

19. K Matt Prater hit a 68 yard field goal and has been very good. It remains to be seen if he can transfer his success to the real games, but has a cannon for a leg. He’s high risk/high reward for a fantasy team.

THE DEFENSE

CB Champ Bailey, LB DJ Williams and DE Elvis Dumervil will have to lead the defensive unit if it is to be successful. The Broncos are looking for the young defensive ends-Moss, Crowder, Dumervil-to supply the pass rush. Ebenezer Ekuban has been moved to defensive tackle to get more speed inside. With John Lynch getting his wish to be released, Hamza Abdullah and Marlon MaCree will man the safety positions. Niko Kououvides and Nate Webster are locked in a tight duel at middle linebacker. Dominique Foxworth is pushing Dre Bly at cornerback opposite Champ Bailey and rookie CB Jack Williams has been impressive. Rookie S Josh Barrett, like Torain, seems a lot bigger than he really is and can close space fast, breaking up passes that look like sure completions. The Broncos will play Bronco defense in 2008 with eight-in-the-box and a lot more blitzing.

THE RUNNING GAME

Seven running backs have lead the Broncos in rushing the last nine years and only Clinton Portis did it in back-to-back seasons.　 In five of those years, the leading rusher had fewer than 10 TDs. Other than Portis and Mike Anderson, the running back getting the majority of the carries could not consistently get into the end zone. Running back has always been an important part of the Shanahan/Broncos offense.　While the National media likes to say the Broncos can plug anyone into the backfield and get 1000 yards, the truth is 1000 yards isn't good enough.　Shanahan wants 2,000 yards from his combined backs. Selvin Young has talked the talk all winter but he will have to nearly double his per game production; and, the Broncos are not completely convinced he will be able to get it done in the red zone or short yardage situations. Consequently, they added tough, hard nosed veteran RB Michael Pittman and rookie RB Ryan Torain who is the same type runner that Pittman was early in his career. Pittman isn’t a featured back but consistently provides 700-1500 yards of combined offense. If the Broncos can keep Pittman fresh and get him into space in the passing game, he will provide Denver with the toughness, intangibles and veteran leadership that it needs with its young backfield.

ORANGEMAN’S TAKE

There is a full fledged youth movement afoot in Denver-acknowledged or not. There is a lot of youth and the season will be characterized by the ups and downs of growing pains. Shanahan doesn’t want to miss the playoffs for the third straight year so expect him to have one of his best coaching years. He will expect his coaching staff to rise to the occasion and turn the youngsters into solid proffessionals. Marshall’s suspension will hurt the Broncos offense early against two division opponents and sets up the possibility of losing their opening game (Oakland) which should be in the win column. Cutler will miss his "monster" receiver but he will still have a lot of weapons at his disposal. Selvin Young has done nothing to lose the starting tailback spot. However, Andre Hall isn’t making it easy for him. Michael Pittman is officially a fullback-a position he has never played. Cecil Sapp is the incumbent and only NFL experienced fullback on the roster. He is a team/fan favorite but could lose his roster spot if Peyton Hillis and Pittman prove they can handle the position. Ryan Torain will be in the mix and Anthony Alridge could make the final squad as the sixth running back. I expect Selvin Young to get the most carries and to be spelled by either Hall or Torain depending on field position and down/distance. Pittman will get 5-6 short yardage carries and figure in the passing game. Eddie Royal, Darrell Jackson, Brandon Stokley and Tony Scheffler will carring the receiving load until Marshall returns.The defense will live by the blitz and hopefully won’t die by the blitz. Special teams will be better and more exciting than the last several years with the speed of Royal. Hall and Alridge. Kicker Matt Prater is having a great camp as expected but it remains to be seen if he can transfer that success to actual games. The punting job remains up for grabs.

GO BRONCOS!! @ Houston Aug. 9^th.