A look at the happenings at Broncos training camp practice today:
Highlight: Kyle Orton and Brandon Lloyd might not have connected on any passes in Thursday’s preseason opener, but there is no doubt that Lloyd remains Orton’s favorite target. The pair had one of their better days of practice this morning, with Orton hitting Lloyd for several first-down conversions early in team drills, and later for several touchdowns – hitting on multiple fade routes that didn’t work in the game at Dallas.
Lowlight: Two days after the Broncos defense at times showed some sloppy tackling, the team spent a large part of practice working on running game drills in which the offense appeared to have the upper hand. Broncos defensive assistant coaches seemed particularly unhappy with the second-team defense after back-to-back, up-the-gut runs by Lance Ball.
Quarterback watch:
— Orton: Threw two touchdowns to Lloyd in red zone drills, hitting Lloyd on fades to each corner of the end zone. He also had at least one pass batted down.
— Tim Tebow: Tebow continued to split the second-team snaps with Brady Quinn. Tebow’s best play came late in practice when he threw a touchdown pass to tight end Virgil Green in a red zone drill.
— Brady Quinn: Quinn took a couple of red zone snaps behind the first-team offensive line. One of his passes was deflected in a crowd of players in the end zone and then intercepted by Champ Bailey.
— Adam Weber: He was limited to snaps during team work, but when he was in, he seemed comfortable with the check-down throws to the running back.
Position battle: Turns out, Joe Mays’ biggest competition to be the starting middle linebacker isn’t the kid. It’s veteran Mario Haggan.
Mays has taken all of the first-team snaps throughout the preseason, but Haggan jumped in front of rookie third-round draft pick Nate Irving on the depth chart as soon as coaches moved Haggan from defensive end to linebacker earlier in camp. Haggan started every game in the last two seasons for the Broncos. Irving sprained his ankle last week and missed the preseason opener at Dallas.
Mays said that having Haggan beside him in meetings and behind him at practice has helped push him through camp.
“I know what type of guy he is, I know what type of player he is and how he prepares himself,” Mays said.
Quotable: “With the preparation I had this offseason, I feel so comfortable. I know the offense, I know my body and I know that I prepared hard,” second-year wide receiver Eric Decker, who has solidified a spot among the team’s top 3 receivers. He had a key third-down conversion in the preseason opener.
Lindsay H. Jones: 303-954-1262 or ljones@denverpost.com
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