Broncos Training Camp Observations: The Joe Flacco we expected

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — And just like that, that massive number of Broncos training camp practices open to fans have come and gone.

The Orange & Blue faithful—highlighted by a large group from Dalton Risner’s hometown of Wiggins—filled the grassy berm on the west side of the practice field for the last time this year on Tuesday. And those who did were treated with head coach Vic Fangio, along with Von Miller and Bradley Chubb, firing them up with a slow clap to get things started.

After that, the Broncos were off and running for their 17th practice of camp.

Here’s what went down.

FLACCO ON FIRE

It may have mostly come against the scout-team defense, but Joe Flacco had his best practice of camp on Tuesday, starting from the opening horn of the day.

On his very first throw, Flacco hit his back foot on a five-step drop, surveyed the secondary and unleashed a 50-yard bomb to Courtland Sutton, who had come all the way over from the right hash to the left sideline and hauled in the long touchdown pass.

On the very next play, Flacco hit Noah Fant on a rollout with a perfect ball 10 yards downfield.

Shortly after that, the QB hit Emmanuel Sanders on back-to-back long touchdowns, including a deep post that could not have been thrown any better.

It prompted one player on the sidelines to whisper, “Man, Flacco can sling it.”

After practice, Sanders echoed that sentiment.

“Yesterday, he threw some domes,” he said. “Today he threw some dimes. He’s been throwing dimes… The chemistry is coming. Everything is looking good.”

He hasn’t been as impressive as we expected coming into camp, but the Flacco we saw on Tuesday will keep defenses on their heels.

FANT COMING ALONG

After Sunday’s practice, we wrote about how Rich Scangarello is working hard to make sure Noah Fant is involved in the offense, and in that, we included that the easy receptions could help to boost the confidence of the rookie.

Interestingly enough, over the last two practices, it seems that confidence has begun to manifest, as Fant has taken a step forward in his comfortability in the offense.

Sometimes, especially with rookies, you can see when they’re thinking more than they’re playing. The old “drinking from a firehose” phrase has guys trying to remember exactly what they are supposed to do on a play rather than just playing.

That, among other things, seemed to be holding the first-rounder back in the early going of camp, but over the last few days, it seems that’s he’s reached the “just play” phase.

On top of the nice catch on the sideline mentioned above, during a red-zone period, Fant caught back-to-back touchdowns from Flacco. On one of the TDs, Fant lined up on the left side of the line, and as Flacco faked a handoff and began his boot to the right, Fant found the back boundary and took off toward the back right pylon.

By the time Flacco saw him, Fant was hauling as fast as I’ve seen him run all camp, giving the coverage no chance. As Flacco let the ball go, he slid to the ground and snagged the pass to keep it off the ground and stay in bounds.

While he started slow, the 20th-overall pick is progressing nicely.

BYE BYE ROOKIE HAIRCUTS

As we had reported on the BSN Broncos Podcast earlier during camp, Vic Fangio made it official on Tuesday that he has put the kibosh on rookie haircuts, a tradition that has spanned many years in the Broncos locker room.

“I just don’t think it’s right,” he said after practice. “I just don’t believe in hazing. There are traditions that stay put. Guys are getting up in front of the team and doing a little skit every night. Maybe a rookie’s carrying somebody’s pads off the field and so on—bringing in the donuts or the breakfast, but nothing physical.”

While the veterans don’t like it, it’s a perfect example of how Vic Fangio, while he doesn’t like the term, is changing the culture inside of Broncos HQ. And even though the vets don’t love it, they respect it.

“If that’s how he wants it to go, that’s how it is,” Sanders said after practice. “I respect Vic. I love that guy.”

I understand the whole “rite of passage” idea of rookie haircuts or other such traditions, but if you want these guys to act like professionals, they need to be treated like professionals as well.

Playtime is over.

OTHER NOTES

• Drew Lock had a solid practice, including two absolute dimes in a row to Courtland Sutton on back-shoulder throws in the end zone, and a long TD to Emmanuel Sanders.
  • Those receivers catching passes from Drew Lock is also notable.
• Courtland Sutton also had a nice practice.
• During a special-teams period, the quarterbacks decided to have a pooch-punt competition, and Drew Lock put one within a centimeter of the goal line from 40 yards out.
  • The ball was so close to the goal line that Brett Rypien got down on the ground to see if any part of the ball crossed the line before finally conceding the win to Lock.
• One day after Vic Fangio said of Tim Patrick, “He needs to [catch everything]. He’s a bigger receiver. Bigger receivers that don’t run fast better catch everything,” Patrick had a drop. He was jinxed by the reporter who sparked that answer out of Fangio by saying Patrick catches everything.
• Fangio said that he is “not close” to finding a punt returner.
• Troy Fumagalli got work in the H-back/fullback position on the day.
  • The head coach said that is one possible plan for spelling Andy Janovich as he recovers from a strained pectoral muscle.
• After Kareem Jackson missed his third-straight practice, Fangio said he “thinks” Jackson will be back for joint practices.