Broncos Training Camp Observations: The Chronicles of Riddick

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Ah, Sunday football in the Mile High City.

The Broncos returned to the practice field for the first time following Thursday’s preseason game on Sunday morning for their 12th training camp practice.

There was a new intriguing face on the field, too.

As always, BSN Denver was on hand for the practice. Here’s what went down.

THEO’S CHOICE

Moments after the Detroit Lions cut Theo Riddick, the only team he ever knew since entering the league in 2013, on July 27, 2019, the veteran running back quickly realized he was a hot commodity.

At least 10 teams showed interest in the 5-foot-9, 201-pound back once he hit the open market. He narrowed that to two teams—the Broncos and the New Orleans Saints.

Days after meeting with both teams, Riddick chose the Broncos because it was the “right fit.”

“They are going to utilize my talents and my strengths,” he said after his first practice with his new squad on Sunday. “I’ve got a lot of experience—been in the game for six years—we’ve got a young room, very talented. Hopefully, I can help them out in terms of things they can see before it happens. You only can get that from experience. Hopefully, it comes in handy.”

That experience and teaching already were paying dividends on Sunday. During his first practice, Riddick was coaching up Phillip Lindsay on intricacies of defenses.

Along with his strengths being utilized and his ability to be a leader of a talented young room, Riddick also was excited to team back up with Denver’s running back coach, Curtis Modkins, who was his position coach with the Lions from 2013-15.

“He’s pretty blunt and he’s pretty honest,” Riddick said with a smile, admitting he loves that trait about his coach. “He’s going to tell you when you’re doing something well and he’s going to tell you when something’s a little messed up.”

Theo doesn’t need the additional motivation, however. The surprise cut from the Lions “sparked that fire in me,” he said.

“It’s lit.”

RIDDICK’S ROLE

It only took one rep to get a preview of what Riddick’s role will be in Denver.

During his first-team rep, No. 27 split out wide right—as a receiver, not a running back—and his route followed suit—looking like a polished receiver.

“Right now he’s going to be thrown into the mix. He’s had a good history in his career of being a good receiver out of the backfield and a good threat in that way,” head coach Vic Fangio stated after practice. “Obviously we’ll see if we can fit him in that way and if he still has that going for him. He’s been a good receiver. I’ve seen him play the last four years in the same division. He had a couple of good routes here today.”

As Vic saw during the near-three-hour practice, Theo’s still got it with his receiving abilities.

His first catch of the day came from Joe Flacco on a quick slant in the middle of the field—meaning Riddick was lined up in the slot.

“He looked real smooth today. He looked real smooth,” Chris Harris Jr. said after practice. “I didn’t see him run the ball, more like catching the rock out of the backfield and running routes. He’s definitely going to be another threat—another receiving threat at running back that we need.”

It’s clear Riddick is going to be a threat all over the field, including in the backfield, too.

But, as the Pro Bowl cornerback noticed, he’s not going to be much of a runner, just as he’s been throughout his entire career.

“I played receiver quite some time,” Riddick said, reflecting on his time in college. “It’s kind of natural for me, to be honest with you. I was always able to read coverages on the fly, so that helps as well. I’ve just been very talented in terms of catching the ball. I just took it and ran with it.”

Lined up in the backfield, the Notre Dame product not only caught a pass from Flacco in the red zone, Rich Scangarello drew up a screen specifically for him when Drew Lock was in at quarterback.

In his first day with the team, plays were being designed for him and only him and his veteran Super Bowl-winning quarterback trusted him in the red zone. Not too shabby for a first day on the job.

“If there’s a threat coming out of the backfield, that adds another dimension to an offense,” Fangio said, explaining what Riddick brings to the team. “Usually you’re just worried about the receivers and a good tight end if the other team has one. Now you add a back in there, it’s another dimension.”

Sure, Riddick’s listed as a running back, but he’s being used as an offensive weapon, not limited to one spot on the field. When he was lined up as a receiver running routes on Sunday, it was impossible to tell he wasn’t a true receiver as his routes were just as crisp as Denver’s receiving corps.

Since John Elway’s shown interest, and signed, Riddick, many have stated how it’s only bad news for the previous veteran of the group Devontae Booker since the fourth-year back profiles similar to the team’s new weapon.

“I don’t know if it puts any more pressure on any one guy,” Fangio said, responding to this belief. “Obviously when you add a quality player to a group, it’s to be noticed.”

But on the field Sunday, what was noticed would paint a different picture than what the masses believe. In fact, Riddick’s presence didn’t seem to hinder Booker’s role at all.

With Riddick in the backfield, Booker was lined up in the slot and caught a pass in the right flat from Kevin Hogan. Nearly this exact scenario happened again, except Booker’s catch came on a slant, again with Riddick on the field.

Booker continued to get in on the action, being targeted by Flacco on back-to-back passes. One was complete, the other was overthrown.

If Sunday was any indication, Riddick’s role with his new team will be significant. He’s currently wearing No. 27, the same number as cornerback Horace Richardson, but doesn’t care what number he ends up with.

“I just want to play ball.”

SANDERS’ RISE

For the first half of practice, it was impossible to tell Emmanuel Sanders was on a plan to slowly be worked back into practice following his Achilles surgery in December.

No. 10 started team period with the first team and quickly made his impact felt, hauling in a pass from Flacco. The next period, Sanders was in again, this time smoothly bringing in a 20-yard out on the right sideline from Joe Cool.

The Sanders train continued to roll.

Flacco looked to Mr. Automatic in the right flat for a quick gain and found him yet again on a 10-yard hook. De’Vante Bausby had smothering coverage, but Sanders secured the ball for what would have been a first down.

The ball never hit the ground every time Flacco put it in Sanders’ vicinity.

Despite very limited reps, Sanders is quickly becoming Flacco’s go-to guy.

ADDITIONAL TIDBITS

• Bradley Chubb had a beautiful inside-pass-rush move to get in Flacco’s face in a hurry. Faking outside, and throwing Garett Bolles off, Chubb cut inside and powered his was through Bolles and Dalton Risner for what would have been a sack.
• Malik Reed was very good in an individual period, drawing significant praise from coaches, including from Fangio after practice.
  • “He’s been doing well all camp,” Fangio said, after singling him out as a player that stood out to him in the first preseason game. “In fact, on the play he got his sack on, I said to the coaches on the phone, ‘Well, that’s what he’s been doing all camp.’ So I’m not surprised that it happened in the game.”
• Justin Simmons hauled in his team-best fifth interception of camp. The ball-hawking safety caught the pass after it tipped off Jeff Heuerman’s fingers in the middle of the field.
• Austin Fort had an incredible one-handed grab from Kevin Hogan during 7-on-7s.
• River Cracraft ended practice with a touchdown grab in the back of end zone from a nicely-placed ball from Flacco. In a game, the ball likely would have never left Flacco’s hands, however, as Von Miller was deep in the pocket.
• There was great news on the injury front on Sunday as Bryce Callahan, DaeSean Hamilton, Ja’Wuan James, Ron Leary and Jake Rodgers all returned to practice.
• Joe Jones will “definitely” be out a few weeks, according to Fangio, with a tricep injury he suffered in the Hall of Fame game.
• Todd Davis, Jake Butt, Bug Howard, Aaron Wallace, and Jamarius Way also did not practice.