ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP—After just two preseason games, Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said he is satisfied with how well his players have progressed in learning the scheme of their offense.
“We have picked it up very quickly,” Shanahan said. “We’ve thrown a lot at them and they have picked up the concept very quickly.”
The first unit looked particularly sharp last Saturday against Dallas. Quarterback Jay Cutler was 16-of-20 passing for 178 yards and a touchdown in two quarters of work.
Shanahan said the good results are due to having a lot of fast-learning younger players and the team’s offseason training and conditioning programs.
“We have 16 or 17 offseason workouts and an offseason conditioning program, so this is like your second training camp,” Shanahan said. “This is the third time you are installing your offense and defense.”
Cutler, in contrast, was surprised.
“Just the volume of plays and the formations we’re throwing at them, it’s been incredible how well everybody has picked it up,” Cutler said.
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NALEN TAKING SNAPS: Center Tom Nalen took a handful of snaps Tuesday. It was the first time the 15-year veteran participated in live drills since July 28.
Nalen had been held out with soreness in his left knee. He had arthroscopic surgery on the knee on June 6 and had an MRI taken two weeks ago that revealed no damage to the knee.
“I would say no right now,” said Shanahan when asked if Nalen would play Friday against Green Bay. “I’m hoping he can go and maybe get some snaps in against Arizona.”
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ME AND MY COACH: Cutler said his relationship with quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates hasn’t always been rosy.
“We bump heads a little bit. That’s to be expected,” said Cutler. “But a couple hours later or the next day we are back in the grind.”
Cutler said there were two sides to Bates. On one side he sees an intense, fiery coach that displays a passion for football in the meeting room and on the field.
“He’s flexible,” Cutler said of the other side of Bates. “If I’ve got an idea, I ask him about it, I talk to him about it and if he likes it and if we can agree upon it, we put it in.
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FIRST DOWNS: “That is a long time ago,” said defensive coordinator Bob Slowik when asked to compare his Bronco talent to the talent he had while he was in Green Bay. Slowik spent five seasons on the Packers coaching staff (2000-04), the last year as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator. … CB Dre’ Bly had an interception when Darrell Hackney’s pass bounced off a wide receiver’s face mask and into his hands. …OG Ben Hamilton continues to impress Shanahan. “He hasn’t had any bumps or bruises or side affects (from last year’s concussion) and has had good work from the first day of camp,” Shanahan said.
