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Training Camp Takeaways: Draped in a Roby

Ryan Koenigsberg Avatar
July 30, 2018

Editor’s note: Welcome into one of many, many BSN Denver observation pieces to come this offseason. A fan favorite in the past, these stories will be posted after each and every training camp practice. Who is standing out, who is lagging behind and who is looking like the favorite in each of the position battles? Those questions and many more will be answered right here.

ENGLEWOOD — Case of the Mondays?

Not at the UC Health Training Center on day three of Broncos training camp.

On the last day before the team transitions into fully-padded practices, it would have been understandable if the energy level lacked a bit. It was almost like a trap game—a trap practice.

The Broncos didn’t get trapped, though. In fact, they took the energy up a level and with the music blaring at full blast and had an all-around strong practice.

BSN Denver was on hand for the entirety of the practice. Here’s what we saw.

Roby rising

Through two practices leading up to Monday, you may not have even noticed that new second corner Bradley Roby was on the field—in a good way. Interestingly enough, receivers covered by No. 29 had been essentially ignored.

That changed, though, on Monday, and the player the Broncos are counting on big time rose to the occasion.

By our count, the ball went towards Roby on five occasions during the team and 7-on-7 periods on the practice. Of those five attempts, Roby earned a pass breakup on three, forced a throw out of bounds on one and allowed a completion in the flat for no gain after he closed down on DaeSean Hamilton.

For Broncos fans, the performance on the day is an extremely encouraging sign. For Denver’s defense to get where they want to go this year, Roby needs to be the first-round talent they drafted him as.

“Roby put in work this offseason. He grew up this offseason,” Chris Harris Jr. said last week. “He kind of took that next step. You all have to kind of take that next step, come into your own. That’s what I call it. He came into his own this offseason. Now it’s time for him to prove it on the field in training camp and be consistent. It’s always about being consistent. When you haven’t started all 16 games, it’s totally different than just coming in on third downs. It’s totally different, so he just has to be consistent every day, continue to work hard and just play with confidence.”

As for the corner position behind Harris, things are still in flux. One source described the position to BSN Denver on Monday as “a work in progress,” noting that it was going to take some time to get things right there. As of now, though, it still appears that Tramaine Brock is in the driver’s seat to get the job.

H & H

The day got off to an entertaining start in the drill portion of practice as the offensive line and defensive line got together for a one-on-one pass-rushing drill.

Of note, this drill happened to be part of the about 25 percent of the time that Von Miller is working with the defensive line, and also of note was that Jeff Holland joined him.

The drill started off as it often does when Von Miller is involved, with the Super Bowl 50 MVP showing off and cruising by Jared Veldheer twice—don’t freak out, he does that to everyone.

As the drill went on, a couple of other players on the defensive side got their chance to shine and drew oohs and ahhs in the process. First, it was Jeff Holland put a bull rush on tackle Elijah Wilkinson that left Wilkinson looking like the Mr. Crabs meme. Holland leveled No. 68 with a head full of steam and left the young tackle on his rump, giving Holland the easy “sack.”

Next, it was defensive end Shelby Harris who turned heads. Working against roster hopeful J.J. Dielman, who has earned praise from teammates and coaches this offseason, Harris threw a left-handed stab (a pass rusher’s version of a stiff arm) that knocked Dielman completely off balance, giving Harris and easy path to the backfield and sending his defensive teammates into a roar that you’d normally hear on an AND1 mixtape.

Also of note from the drill:

  • Cyrus Kouandjio had some really nice sets, stopping his man every time.
  • Zach Kerr had a very nice showing, beating his man three out of four times.
  • Matt Paradis stopped Domata Peko twice in a row.
  • Von Miller spent a lot of time with Jeff Holland when the two weren’t active in the drill.

Quarterbacks shine as a unit

For the first time this camp, all three quarterbacks had a nice performance on the day.

Working in the red zone—give or take 10 yards—for most of the day, all three often had proper ball placement and made smart decisions, with no interceptions getting hauled in on the day.

As has been the deal for all of camp, Case Keenum had the best day of the group, showing off his touch on fade routes and also his ability to make plays in tight areas when flushed from the pocket. The starting QB continues to impress, showing apparent contrast against what we’ve seen from Denver’s quarterbacks over the last two years.

Three practices in, Keenum has yet to throw an interception.

As for Kelly and Lynch, both players made really nice throws on the day. Lynch, in particular, showed great touch on multiple touchdown passes including a perfectly-thrown fade ball that Courtland Sutton brought in with ease along with a toss to the back of the endzone that allowed Jake Butt to leverage his size advantage on Keishawn Bierria for another TD.

Each day, Kelly has looked to be playing with more confidence than the day before, and Monday was no different. In what is his first training camp on the field, progression every day is all you can really hope for.

Injury and availability notes

  • The scary moment of camp so far happened when Garett Bolles was carted off the field.
    • Vance Joseph shared after practice that Bolles “took a shot to the chin” and was “being evaluated for a head injury,” but he was present at the team’s afternoon walkthrough, a great sign for the Broncos,
      • Cyrus Koandjio filled in for Bolles in the wake of the injury.
  • Brandon Marshall also left practice with an apparent injury.
    • Joseph called it a “minor wrist injury and added, “He’s okay.”
    • Marshall was also present at the team’s walkthrough with a brace on his wrist.
  • For the third practice in a row, both Kenny Bell and Josey Jewell were sidelined with hamstring issues.
  • Philly Brown is in the concussion protocol after suffering a head injury in the weight room this weekend.
  • Jeff Heuerman missed practice with a sore knee,
    • “We’re just being smart there,” Joseph said.
  • Marcus Rios is listed as day-to-day with a sore hip.

Other notes

  • Case Keenum made multiple precise throws on bootlegs and roll outs.
  • Isaiah McKenzie has been first out on punt return every day.
  • Marquette King hit a perfectly-placed-on-the-sideline, 70-yard punt during the live punting period.
  • River Cracraft had a nice day, and even got work in with the first team.
  • Courtland Sutton continued to look like a serious threat. Keep an eye out for a story on what I’m calling “The Legend of Courtland Sutton,” which continues to grow.

Play of the day

There was this one play when a wide receiver who we are pretty sure was Courtland Sutton elevated in the back of the end zone, and high pointed the ball over an unidentifiable corner on a great throw from an unidentifiable quarterback.

Honestly… It was really far away… And I couldn’t see… But the crowd was really loud… And there were many chest-bumps… So I’m positive that it was dope.

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