Hall of Famer Terrell Davis discusses a myriad of topics with BK. (Photo: Brandon Krisztal)
Day 5 of Broncos Training Camp was highlighted by a man who gave Broncos Country as many highlights as just about anyone not wearing No. 7 or No. 18, Terrell Davis.
TD was in town to cover camp for NFL Network, but following practice, he was nice enough to come over and spend some time with me breaking down this year’s Broncos. He also talked about his special relationship with Phillip Lindsay, as well as how big Hall of Fame weekend will be next week in Canton, Ohio as both Pat Bowlen and Champ Bailey are enshrined. The chat wrapped up with TD discussing his new venture, Defy—CBD Performance Drink, and his quest to get all of the major sports leagues on board with CBD
Practice Observations:
The first thing that stood out was how in need of a day off everyone is from players, to coaches, to media!
The other thing that stood out was that any gap the offense closed on the defense Sunday was erased in Monday’s practice.
Head Coach Vic Fangio did point out that the the refs on hand threw their flags a little bit less. "Today was actually a little bit better than it was yesterday from that standpoint,” he said. “Pre-snap penalties I’m alluding to—but not really, yes, but not panic yet. Talk to me in a couple weeks and see."
On Sunday Noah Fant drew criticism or was at least questioned a bit, because of his "rookie-ness" for lack of a better term. Apparently he didn’t like folks in the media pointing out that Courtland Sutton had jumped on him Sunday, as well as Emmanuel Sanders chewing his rear-end a bit on Friday, and responded with his best practice as a Bronco.
"Every day I am getting a little more comfortable," Fant said. "Getting out there and not even have to think about things, just knowing what I am doing. It helps me out a lot. Just staying in the playbook. Obviously meeting with [Tight Ends] Coach [Wade] Harman and [Offensive Coordinator] Coach [Rich] Scangarello and guys like that, they're definitely pushing me to get better. It's been a good time."
Maybe what the Broncos 1st round pick needed was just more work with the 1st-team. "It feels like that is where I want to be," Fant added. "I definitely want to be a 'First-Team Guy.' Run with the ones and get some good work in, just be successful there. I have been able to do that here in camp for the start of camp. Hopefully I can continue to do that and continue to get better."
The Broncos success on offense will certainly be linked to the play of the offensive line, and even though it seems like the Defense is having its way at times, especially in the pass game, there is plenty of positive signs in the running game, which of course this offense is predicated on.
Defensive End Adam Gotsis has seen noticeable improvement from his teammates in the trenches on the other side of the line of scrimmage from him.
"They’re playing well," Gotsis said. "They’re playing together as a unit. Good communication and pretty solid, I think [T ] [Garrett] Bolles has made a big jump. [G] Dalton’s [Risner] really good. He’s come in and he’s playing hard. [C] Connor’s [McGovern] made another big jump. Those guys are just playing hard. I think they understand that a lot’s going to be on them this year on the success of the team. They take the same pride that the D-line takes. If they can win their battles upfront, that makes the game a lot easier for the offense. Same as the defensive line. If we can win our battles upfront, makes the game a lot easier for our coverage. They’re taking a lot of pride in what they’re doing this year and it’s good to see them out there working."
Despite the compliments to the offense, Gotsis acknowledges that the defensive line is clicking early in training camp. "Yeah, I think we’re playing really well," he said. "I think we’re starting to click, we’re starting to get moving fast and get to the ball. Everyone’s on their assignments, on their techniques, playing hard and playing well. It’s going to be exciting once we get a couple more scrimmage-type scenarios where you’re really going full speed. It’s an exciting year what we have in store."
The players will certainly welcome a day off, but for the coaching staff there's no rest for the weary.
"We’ll work a normal day tomorrow," Fangio said. "We’ll work the rest of today obviously. We still have meetings with the players this afternoon and we’ll work a normal day tomorrow, come in early and work up until dinner."