The National Football League has expanded over the years and quite frankly they have made the season (not technically speaking) a year-round endeavor. The Denver Broncos just began a five-week break between minicamp and training camp. That break is the only real chance for many players to briefly unwind and relax.
Three Broncos, though, might want to skip the vacation and stick to their work if they want to remain in or improve on their current position on the depth chart.
Many changes have come since the Broncos emerged victoriously in Super Bowl 50. The roster is quite different and due to that; several competitions will emerge the second training camp begins in late July. From veterans to players moving into their third season, these players better come ready to show improvement day one on the 2016-17 season.
Russell Okung was likely the biggest signing this offseason. However, he is coming off of an injury, playing alongside young and now experienced offensive lineman and has a contract that gives the Broncos an out if he underperforms this summer.
Before he arrived in Denver March 17, Okung has been a model of consistency since he was drafted sixth overall by the Seahawks in 2010, starting all 72 regular season games and 12 playoff contests. But his last game, a divisional-round loss to the Carolina Panthers, Okung suffered a dislocated left shoulder that required surgery. He was a partial participant in minicamp but due to his contract, he must hurry back to form in order to give the coaches enough confidence to play him, come Week 1.
The contract he signed and negotiated on his own, states that if he is on the roster week one, he is due a $2 million roster bonus. If the team deems that his injury or age have made him replaceable with the likes of Michael Schofield or Ty Sambrailo (the pair combined for every start in 2015, including playoffs) they only have a dead cap total of $200,000.
Although the Broncos are certainly hoping Okung can return to his 2012 Pro-Bowl self, they do have options. Sambrailo seems to be transitioning to guard while Schofield appears to be the likely backup and “swing” tackle behind Okung and Donald Stephenson. If last year proved anything, though, it is that the coaching staff will move anyone around along the offensive line to get the most out of the unit, that would include cutting ties with a player, no matter his past success.
Cody Latimer also finds himself in a “perform now” situation, the 2014 rookie training camp standout is now entering his third training camp and has little to show for it in the way of career receptions. Although he contributed heavily on special teams in the postseason, he has yet to show the coaching staff why he was drafted 56th overall in 2014.
In only one career start and 25 games played, both regular and postseason, he has just 10 career receptions for 100 yards and one touchdown. Head Coach Gary Kubiak and General Manager John Elway continually talk about second and third-year players either turning the corner and becoming reliable professionals or falling by the wayside and out of the NFL. Latimer’s draft status may have kept him on the roster the first two years, but this summer will be different. As the competition mounts and his expectations nearly expire, Latimer must have a great camp.
Currently, the Broncos have 11 wide receivers on the roster, including four rookies that can be stashed on the practice squad. When training camp concludes, and the team cuts the roster down to 53, there will be likely only five on the list and two of those names will be Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.
Undrafted college free agent in 2014, Bennie Fowler also leap-frogged Latimer in the 2015 season, getting more playing time as the third wide receiver, including in Super Bowl 50. Jordan Taylor, in his second season, will also push Latimer to the limit. In 2015, Taylor impressed onlookers in training camp, found favor with Peyton Manning and certainly caught the eye of coaches. This season it may come down to a choice between the two.
The third candidate for a shortened summer break would be Todd Davis. He came on late to the Broncos in 2014 after being signed as a college free agent by the New Orleans Saints the same year. He was quickly thrown into the fire after arriving one day after the Saints waived him Nov. 12, 2014.
In 2015, with Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall both back healthy, Davis returned to a backup role. He did appear in every game but had only two starts at inside linebacker. With the departure of Trevathan, Davis has a great shot at winning the job, but he needs to be sharp from the start of camp.
The competition for the inside linebacker job will be something to watch, and three players will push Davis immediately. Zaire Anderson, Corey Nelson and Dekoda Watson have experience and the skill to make the decision difficult for the coaching staff. Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips admitted recently that he could use two players to replace Trevathan but would prefer it if one would emerge to take the starting role.
The Broncos are in the only quiet portion of an otherwise intense calendar year. Each player certainly will be handling their break differently, but several players would be wise to keep studying and training rather than resting on any accomplishments they may have. The competition will immediately be upon them when they return and getting a step ahead of their teammates may mean resting is not on option, break or no break.
