FIELDWORK
Showing no fear
The Broncos should have no fear throwing slant patterns to their No. 2 receiver this year. Ashley Lelie wasn’t much of a short-yardage receiver the past four seasons, but his replacement, Javon Walker, caught several slants in the Saturday morning no-tackle scrimmage. With Lelie holding out, backup receivers Darius Watts and rookie Brandon Marshall each made nice catches with no drops Saturday. Then there’s Charlie Adams. Like last year, Adams is starting camp far down the depth chart. But when camp ended in 2005, Adams beat out none other than Jerry Rice for the No. 3 spot and became a trusted return specialist. “Being in the position I’m in, you can’t look at who’s in front of you on the depth chart because it will kill you,” Adams said. “It’s tough to deal with, but if you want to stay in this game, you have to fight through all that stuff and do the job when you’re in there.”
CUTLER WATCH
Power arm
QB Jake Plummer is far more advanced than backups Bradlee Van Pelt and rookie Jay Cutler in intangibles such as pocket presence and secondary receivers. Neither Plummer nor Van Pelt, however, can match Cutler’s downfield throwing range. On back-to-back plays during a touch scrimmage, Cutler drilled medium-deep completions to David Kircus and David Terrell.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
One step ahead
“His head is so deep into mine. He knows when I’m hitting my fifth step and when he needs to be open on five when I’m taking a seven, when he needs to be breaking open, when he’s the first receiver, when he’s the third guy. His timing is so into what I’m doing.” – Plummer, on veteran receiver Rod Smith
SHANAHAN BAROMETER
Sapp with first unit
Perhaps feeling the jitters, knowing this is his first legitimate chance to become an NFL starter, fullback Cecil Sapp had a bad case of the drops Friday, but was lined up ahead of Kyle Johnson with the first unit Saturday. “The way Cecil played last year, it gives both of them an opportunity to go head-to-head,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “It’s once you get to the preseason games that you can evaluate that position because you get to see them block.”
CAMP FACTS
Sunday
First workout at 8:30 a.m., second workout at 3:50 p.m. Each workout lasts approximately two hours. Admission and parking are free.
