Day 8 News And Notes From Broncos Camp

Scrimmage Day!

While Head Coach Sean Payton is out at the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, for QB Drew Brees’ induction, defensive coordinator and former Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph is running today’s practice.

In today’s camp report, we have Pat Bryant really establishing himself as the Broncos WR and a trusted target for QB Bo Nix, rookie running back Jonah Coleman impressing between the tackles, Uwazurike praised by DC Vance Joseph, news and notes, injury updates, tweets from camp, quotes and more!

Pat Bryant’s time is now

One constant throughout the first week or so of Broncos Camp has been the play of second-year wide receiver Pat Bryant. He showed flashes of his talent late last season before injuries derailed his rookie year, but he has carried that momentum into the early portions of training camp.

Today, with Jaylen Waddle and Marvin Mims sidelined, Bryant stepped up and was the Broncos’ top playmaker and Bo Nix’s most trusted target throughout practice, including what some are calling the best play of camp thus far. During a team drill, Bo Nix was under heavy pressure and threw an absolute dime to Pat Bryant, who was in double coverage for a touchdown.

When Nix needed a play today, Bryant was his go-to guy, much like how Courtland Sutton has been in the past. He had 5 or 6 catches in practice today according to reports, so he was heavily involved.

After practice, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was asked about Pat Bryant, and he told reporters that Bryant is the “Complete package”. He added that Bryant “blocks and catches the ball in traffic,” goes up and gets the ball vertically, is great in the red zone, has great size, and has just been playing well all camp. He noted it has been a challenge for him and the defense to cover Bryant, but this is good for the team as a whole.

From the start, Bryant was my favorite to win the WR3 role, and so far, he has not disappointed. Every practice, he is making plays, and as Joseph noted, he is the complete package. One of the more reliable pass catchers on the team, a great blocker, he gets open, and while he doesn’t have Jaylen Waddle or Mims-like speed, he plays faster than his 40-time.

If he can stay healthy, I believe he is going to have an excellent season for the Broncos and potentially even push veteran Courtland Sutton for snaps as the season progresses. I am high on Bryant, and I am excited to see what he can do moving forward.

Remember the name, Pat Bryant.

Jonah Coleman continues to turn heads

Jonah Coleman will be a playmaker for the Broncos this year.

The Broncos rookie back had an excellent practice today and showcased why the team drafted him early in the 4th round. Outside of veteran JK Dobbins, Coleman has become the Broncos’ best between-the-tackles runner on the team during camp, and could see himself having a large role in this offense this upcoming season.

As DNVR’s Zac Stevens notes, Coleman had several good runs between the tackles, including a high-effort touchdown during a tight red zone period. This is where Coleman thrived in college, and where he will likely thrive again in the NFL.

Add in his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and pass block, and you can see a larger-than-expected role for Coleman this season. He thrives in areas that second-year back RJ Harvey struggled last season (between the tackles) and could push for the RB2 role. Now, this isn’t a knock on Harvey, who has thrived as a pass catcher, but the two have different strengths and weaknesses.

All three backs will contribute this season, but it will be interesting to see how they make it work. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dobbins and Coleman rotate a bit as ball carriers, while Harvey is your 3rd-down/pass-catching back who fills in as a change-of-pace guy. That’s just my guess right now on August 8th, but certainly something to watch moving forward.

Coleman is going to push his way into this backfield conversation one way or another.

Uwazurike impressing

One of the more surprising and exciting bright spots of camp has been the play of large defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike. He turned himself into an important rotational run defender last season, but after working on his body some this offseason, he has become “a pass rusher” according to defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

Joseph told reporters that Uwazurike has “changed his body” and “leaned out” and mentioned how he plays all over the defensive line. He added Enyi has “fixed his body” and that has changed the player. He said Uwazurike has always been a run stopper, but now he is a pass rusher. He added Uwazurike has been “dominant the past two days” and has been fun to watch.

Later in the presser, he noted Enyi, including Tyler Onyedim and Sai’vion Jones, will factor in replacing John Franklin-Myers, but it sure sounds like Uwazurike might be that guy right now. He has the excellent size and length you look for, plus elite strength. If he can add some pass-rush to that, which it sounds like he has, he could have a Chris Jones-like impact on this defense. That’s a high mark, but at 6-6 and 320 pounds with athleticism and pass rush potential, good luck blocking that. On top of that, he will likely be getting a lot of one-on-one blocks with Zach Allen, Malcolm Roach, Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Ellis, Que Robinson, and others playing alongside him.

I am excited about the potential and can’t wait to see how Enyi looks this upcoming season.

Injury Report

• OL Nick Gargiulo did not practice and remains on the PUP
• LB Jordan Turner did not practice and remains on the NFI
• Starting center Luke Wattenberg continued to miss practice
• Star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle sat out another practice but is showing signs of improvement
• TE/FB Nate Adkins did not practice today after leaving yesterday’s practice
• UDFA edge rusher Dasan McCullough continued to miss practice
• CB Sam Fresch Jr. did not practice today
• TE Caleb Lohner continued to miss practice
• WR/KR Marvin Mims Jr. did not participate today after leaving yesterday’s practice – He was present for practice, so hopefully a good sign that he’s only dealing with a minor injury
• S/STer Devon Key was working on the side field today and will not practice
• DL Matt Henningsen did not practice after suffering a torn Achilles during yesterday’s practice
• K Wil Lutz did not practice and is attending QB Drew Brees’ induction into the Hall of Fame
• DL Eyioma Uwazurike left practice early with a trainer – He walked off under his own power and was not seen limping

News and Notes

• HC Sean Payton, select other coaches, and kicker Wil Lutz were not at practice today due to being at the NFL Hall of Fame for Drew Brees’ induction ceremony – DC Vance Joseph ran today’s practice
• Today the Broncos had a “Controlled Scrimmage”
• CB Pat Surtain II, DL Zach Allen, TE Evan Engram, S Talanoa Hufanga and RT Mike McGlinchey had veteran rest days and did not participate in today’s practice
• Uwazurike replaced Allen, Kris Abrams-Draine replaced Surtain II, Frank Crum replaced McGlinchey, and JL Skinner replaced Hufanga
• Multiple veterans had light practices today
• According to 9NEWS Denver’s Mike Klis, the Broncos waived CB Sam Webb and signed DB Ricardo Hallman – Source
• Defense dominated most of the practice, including the final move-the-ball period
• Que Robinson blew by Frank Crum for a would-be sack of Bo Nix
• Alex Palczewski and Frank Crum split time at RT while McGlinchey had a vet day
• P Jeremy Crawshaw has been booming balls all practice
• Rookie DL Tyler Onyedim had a sack
• DL Malcolm Roach was in the backfield for pressure/sacks throughout today’s practice
• Safety…or kicker? Brandon Jones went 3 for 4 in a field goal drill while kicker Wil Lutz was at the Hall of Fame
• OC Davis Webb told reporters he would like to call plays from the sidelines

Tweets from Camp

Quotes

DC Vance Joseph on if the defense’s continuity can help the team take the next step

“It helps because there are certain things that we don’t have to teach in our fourth season together, as far as scheme stuff. Obviously with football, the technique stuff, fundamental stuff, you teach every single day, every year, but it’s been fun to watch them coach themselves and to correct themselves. That’s a sign of a good unit. [ILB] Alex [Singleton] has been with me now four years. He can correct before I get to it, and most players can. It’s a great unit, but they’re motivated and they’re not satisfied with what we did last year. Our talks and meetings are always about, ‘It might not look like it did last year as far as all the numbers, but the play style should be the same and the end result can be the same.’ It can be different as far as where we ranked. That’s not important for us. It’s about winning games, and getting back to where we were. It may look different and that’s OK, but the goal’s the same.”

DC Vance Joseph on how the defense can create more takeaways this season

“That’s a great question. We’re always focusing on that, but before we do that, it’s about playing good football. Stopping the run, winning third downs, winning red zone, but also being intentional. When you have a chance to get the ball off the quarterback, you have to do it. It can’t be, ‘Well, I forgot’ or ‘I hope.’ It has to be intentional. I think that’s going to be a non-issue in my opinion. If we play to our play style, I should say, it won’t be an issue, in my opinion.”

ST Coach Darren Rizzi on S Brandon Jones kicking field goals at practice today

“The thing I found out as a young coach in this league is after spending 16 years in college, you had three kickers, three punters, all that. Obviously with the restrictions on gameday rosters, you have to have a contingency. We’ve seen it happen in other games across the league. I remember Houston’s the one that sticks out a couple of years ago. They had a running back kick a field goal in a game. So you have to have a contingency for anything. So obviously with [K] Wil [Lutz] being in Canton, it was a perfect opportunity to get [S] Brandon [Jones] a couple of kicks, and he did a great job.”

ST Coach Darren Rizzi on P Jeremy Crawshaw’s development

“I don’t know how much you guys noticed today. He had a great day today I thought. We worked some of the corner kicks going to the right and obviously some of the going ins. I thought his last two times out here in practice, he’s been real good. I think those are his two best days he’s put together. Started off a little bit inconsistent, but these last two days. So hopefully that carries over next Friday. It’s crazy. We only have two punting sessions and two kicking sessions before the game next week. So, it’s coming. We’re leaving on Thursday. So again, for the specialists, I think the preseason’s a little bit different than a position player. I think you get more out of  it at the specialist position, meaning the game-like atmosphere. So those three games for those guys, for [K] Wil [Lutz], and for him and for the snappers will be a good deal.”

ST Coach Darren Rizzi on how much he stresses to young players that they can make the 53-man roster or practice squad by performing on special teams

“I think you look at our roster, making our 53-man roster for the majority for these younger guys, they’re going to have to show something here in these games on special teams as core players. I don’t think that’s a big secret. Obviously you see we’re top heavy with our roster, but these bottom spots are going to be big time, these battles that are going on at certain positions are going to come down to—and I know [Head Coach] Sean [Payton] has said it—are going to come down to how these guys perform. These three games are big for a lot of these guys.”

OC Davis Webb on what he hopes to see in the first preseason game

“I think I’m looking forward to everyone getting the rhythm. Our staff, our players and now the huddle. We’ll learn something every game, every drive. Then we’ll kind of review it as the game goes and especially postgame and try to get three good opportunities before Kansas City on Monday Night [Football]. It will be rocking, and I know they’ll be a good team. So it’ll be a good opportunity for us to kind of feel that out because most of these practices are scripted, and we kind of know what we’re going to run and they kind of know what they’re going to run. We’ll see what happens in a few weeks.”

OC Davis Webb on the strides QB Bo Nix has made entering his third year

“I think he’s right on par with the other guys I’ve been around going into Year 3. I’m really satisfied where he’s at, both getting in and out of plays, getting to the huddle, getting in and out of the huddle fast, checking plays when it’s appropriate, not overthinking, getting completions underneath and using his feet. I think the injury last year, it was important for him to kind of move around a little bit early here and I think he’s done a really good job. I’m really satisfied with where he is.”

OC Davis Webb on how continuity along the offensive line benefits the offense

“I think it’s a blessing, especially when we’re trying to adjust a few plays here and there, but knowing that that’s the group that has been here the most, all five starters for the most part. I know we had [Bills C] Lloyd [Cushenberry III] my first year here, but then here comes [C] Luke [Wattenberg] into the fold. So it’s very, very comforting to have a left tackle like [T] Garett [Bolles], a right tackle like [T] Mike [McGlinchey] and our two guards are awesome. Then Luke’s probably the smartest center I’ve been around.”

S/K Brandon Jones on his background as a kicker

“I didn’t kick in high school or college. I just have some history in playing soccer. I don’t know how I even got to kick. Me and I guess, I can’t remember… I think I just was joking with ‘Riz’ (Special Teams Coordinator Darren Rizzi) like, ‘Yo, I can kick if you ever need an emergency-kicker-type of situation.’ Then he called my bluff and put me to the test one day, I think it was some time last year. I made an extra point. Apparently there are a lot of guys on the team that can also kick, but I guess I just got the opportunity today. [I] went three-for-four, so not too bad.”