With a sellout crowd at full throat in Cincinnati on Dec. 22, with an enormous Monday night national audience watching, Todd Davis began to feel nervous. Plucked from the New Orleans Saints on a waiver claim for special teams depth six weeks earlier, Davis stared across the line of scrimmage at unruly Bengals as the Broncos’ starting weakside linebacker.
“I was that kid at home watching Monday Night Football from the couch saying, ‘It would be so great if I did that someday. Now all of a sudden I was like, ‘I am really out here!’^” Davis recalled after practice this week. “I never had been in a situation like that.”
His inexperience showed in mistakes. Then something unpredictable happened. Davis settled down, showing the same poise and ability that have him pushing for playing time at inside linebacker this offseason. Failure became a great teacher.
“I learned that you have to just relax. Definitely, just relax,” Davis said. “My goal now is to show I can compete with anybody.”
Davis, 23, represents the crack in the system. He wasn’t drafted out of Sacramento State, hurt by slow speed times from overtraining. He showed enough in the New Orleans Saints’ organized team activities a year ago to cling to a roster spot. Denver claimed him, needing better athletes for special teams coverage. When Brandon Marshall injured his right foot in San Diego, Davis impressed in 28 snaps, showing range in nickel packages.
“Well, he flashed with his time playing last year. Our guys inside right now have played really well, and it’s because they kind of got forced into a tough situation with two injuries, with Danny (Trevathan) and (Brandon) Marshall. But those guys have responded, and it’s just going to help them,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “That may be as competitive a spot as we’ll have probably going into camp.”
After arriving in Denver three weeks early for practices to acclimate to the altitude, Davis continues to receive first-team reps as Trevathan (left knee) and Marshall ease back into the fold. Both are hopeful they will be ready when training camp practice begins July 30.
Davis provides an intriguing option if they are not. He played last season at 228 pounds, but weighs 235 with plans to reach 240. The additional bulk should help him make the adjustment to Wade Phillips’ 3-4 scheme responsibilities.
“It is definitely different because you have to take on big guys more on the offensive line. The biggest thing for me is getting in my playbook, knowing the defense so I can play fast and confident,” Davis said. “I am grateful for the added reps. It just means I can get better.”
Part of his progression is seeing the game through a wider lens. Davis believes knowing what the defensive line and safeties are doing every play will “just allow me to know exactly where I fit in.”
Davis stuck out in his hometown of Palmdale, Calif. this spring. From his high school mentors to people on the street, Davis received recognition. It motivated Davis to provide more starry-eyed kids — just like he was — an opportunity. He will hold the Todd Davis Football Camp on July 11 at Highland High School in Palmdale.
“I remember (former Bronco) Marlon McCree had a camp that I went to, and I just know how much it meant to me to meet some players and learn some things I wasn’t getting before,” Davis said. “I want to give back.”
The story figures to resonate because of Davis’ resume. He was an afterthought, considered too slow, too small for the NFL. Now, he is candidate to start, to see meaningful snaps, better equipped after his first experience on that Monday night.
“That game, it was like ‘aaahhh… man.’ But after the first half, I realized I can do this,” Davis said. “I realized I am made for this and that I just have to trust that and go out there and play.”
Troy E. Renck: trenck@denverpost.com or
Inside look at inside linebacker
Todd Davis took a strange path up the Broncos’ depth chart, claimed off waivers from the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 13and thrust into a starting role after Brandon Marshall’s foot injury. NFL reporter Troy E. Renck analyzes his highlights:
— Made career-high seven tackles vs. Cincinnati after difficult first half.
— Played 61 snaps in regular-season finale victory over Oakland.
— Graded out strong in run defense on 37 plays during Broncos’ playoff loss to the Colts.
— Appeared in 45 games for Sacramento State, finishing second in school history with 351 tackles.
