Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello everybody, and welcome back to some more late night
post Rockies Broncos Country. Tonight, yet again had a great
padded practice down at Denver Broncos training camp today. In
the last segment, looked at some of the amazing interviews
Ryan Edwards has gotten to share with us over on
(00:20):
the KOA podcast feed. Find that over at Koacarauto dot
com wherever you listen to podcasts, or the iHeartRadio app.
Great interviews, exclusive interviews with Justin sternad JK. Dobbins we
listened to last segment. He's also got interviews with Nick
Benito and a whole lot of other critical Broncos. Nick
Benito speaking of and that pass rush had a tremendous
(00:44):
day today. They were all over the quarterback and the
run game, multiple tackles for loss, multiple sack opportunities that,
of course they can't take because you don't want to
hit the quarterback in this stage of the offseason, but
really really great stuff from the pass rush. To be
hard to know which unit ends up being better this
year for the Broncos, of the pass rush or the secondary.
(01:05):
I think both have looked tremendous in practice, giving us
a little insight on that and what to expect from
this special Broncos defense in twenty twenty five. Here is
that aforementioned interview between our ow and Ryan Edwards end
star pass rusher Nick Bonito.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
All Right, man, another training camp. How are you feeling, uh,
feeling good? Just being I heard the first couple.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Of days getting back out, everybody's been good, so I
can't complain too much.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Well, you guys have a lot of really good at
rushers this year.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Man.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
You brought in Q. He's looked really good out there.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
Dondra seems like he's taking a sort of step forward.
Tell me a little bit about that room and how
close you guys are.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Yeah, Man, I feel like we all just kind of
like are real close. It's probably one of the tightest
groups I've been in.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
You know.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Everybody's just always rooting for each other, always trying to
get each other better. We're always trying to just give
each other little things to just get better at off
the field, We're always.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Hanging out, So it's been really good between all of us.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
What were some things for you coming into this year
that you were hoping as far as technique or maybe
even whatever it is, But What are some things that
you had some goals for yourself.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Yeah, I'm kind of just doing the good things that
I did good good at last year, even better, and
then just doing working on things that I wasn't really
good at, whether it's my hands, whether it's different things
in the past, res game, running game, stuff like that.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
When it came to last year, which was a breakout
season for you, I mean certainly you built to that.
I mean you had a i think eight sacks the
year before than thirteen and a half and the touchdowns
and all that.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
What do you think you did in.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
The off season to put yourself in position to have
that kind of season you did?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Yeah? Man, it was kind of tough.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I mean obviously this time last year, I wasn't really practicing,
So just watching the guys in front of me, seeing
what they're doing, and also watching other guys around the
league from their tape and seeing where I can get
implement their game in the mind and just being better
that way and just getting those mental reps and that way.
When I was ready to come back on the field,
I was ready.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
You seem like you're seeing the field faster.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
Is that because you guys have had some continuity with
the coaching staff or is that just a lot of Hey,
you've been in the league, now this is your fourth year.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Yeah, that's a part of it.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
I mean, when you can retain the same coaches for
spending on a year three now, I believe that's always
a plus. And now on top of that, just with
the snaps that you know, not just me, but everybody
in the room is getting it's just going to keep
getting on more comfortable in games, and it's going to
be even faster and faster for everybody.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
There's been a lot of discussion and debate. I don't
know if you've been plugged into it. You seem like
you're on Twitter quite a bit so about the contract
possibility stuff with you and me. Again, you're focused on
the season. I understand that, but uh, there's a little
bit I'm sure of, like, Hey, I want I want
to prove the people you were a second round pick,
You've obviously elevated into that echelon of edge rushers.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Imagine there's something prow there for you.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
I mean, it's just at the end of the day,
I just want to keep getting better every year. Obviously
last year I had a great year, but I'm trying
to build upon that. I know I could have even
been even better last year. So knowing just that and
it's taking it into the offseason, continuing to get better
at everything is kind of, you know, my motivation to
be even better this year.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
You're a pretty humble guy, But do you see yourself
in that echelon of edge rushers out there?
Speaker 3 (03:56):
But that was saying I feel like I'm one of
the top ones up there for sure, not just in
pass rush, but you know, every part of the game,
whether it's being disruptive in the run game, dropping back
in coverage, and I feel like, you know, that's kind
of where I make my money, is just being a
versatile guy your front seven for just a moment, man,
I mean, you got you You brought back a lot
of the D line.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
How much does that really help you?
Speaker 5 (04:15):
Guys, you and Coop out there on the edge, having
the D line continuity.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
That you have percent I mean, it just makes our
job easier knowing that we can have guys that are selfless,
selfless rushers and you know, just being comfortable rushing with
them day in and day out here and just continuing
to build that continuity when we're rushing, it's only gonna
make everybody better.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
Listening to Coop yesterday, he was asked like, what's the
next level for this defense?
Speaker 2 (04:37):
And he says, just to be more dominant. What does
that mean to you?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yeah, I mean more dominant. And I think that just
starts with the little things.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
Man.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
I think when we take a look back at a
lot of the games, it wasn't really nothing.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
A lot of the teams were doing against us.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
I feel like it was more on us, whether it's
we're busting calls, not being in the right gaps, letting
guys go up and down the field, and stuff like that.
So you can see the difference not in day. You know,
when we're on our stuff, we're running the ball. Man,
there's not many guys that can, you know, mess with
us when it comes to playing defense.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Do you guys think at all about that Buffalo Bills game?
Speaker 5 (05:08):
How much does that motivate you, especially on the defensive
side of the ball.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
It motivates me a lot, man, just I'm pretty sure
everybody too. I Mean, we know we're going into that
game that was a very wonnerable game for us, and.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
We're just gonna try to build upon day.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
I know a lot of guys have been having that
game in their mind the whole offseason because we know
where we want to be at.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
The end of the day.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
So absolutely love what Nick Mindido had to say at
the end there with his interview with our very own
Ryan Edwards, just talking about how, hey, we know where
we want to be at the end of this and
that echoes something that Diana Rossini was talking about with
Rich Eisen on The Rich Eisen Show today. She was
just in Denver yesterday for training camp, and she talked
(05:47):
about how not only has she seen a different version
of bo Nicks, but also that, you know, this team
is incredibly confident and not afraid to talk Super Bowl
or about their extremely high opirations for themselves, which she
was saying was fairly atypical relative to the organization she's
used to interacting with at this time in the offseason.
(06:09):
And I think that confidence is well placed and well learned,
well deserved. I mean, this defense projects to be elite
at least as good as it was last year, maybe
even better unless it gets decimated by injuries. I think
it could be a truly special unit. And then the offense,
you know, it was a slightly above average offense last
year with a rookie quarterback. If bo Nicks really has
(06:29):
taken a leap and they can be more of a
top ten attack, then why can't they be one of
the top competitors in the AFC. And you know, if
you're one of the top contenders in the AFC, which
is the stronger of the two conferences right now, super
Bowl should absolutely be part of the discussion. And personally,
I love that Sean Payton is building that confidence in
(06:49):
the team and trying to set expectations high early and
by doing so, setting this standard very high for this team.
And they should have a high standard and high expectations.
They're been a loaded division. But and even if maybe
twenty twenty six or twenty twenty seven or the real
push heres, with this defense and offense, they can absolutely
compete now. And a big part of that defense is
the pass rush we were just talking about ahead of
(07:12):
that Nick Benito interview. They had another great day today
Andrea Tilman continues to be one of the very best
players out there. Jonah Ellis is looking healthier and healthier
ever since the Pads came on. Ryan Edwards did a
great job of highlighting this on Twitter already, but ever
since the pads have come on, Ellis was amazing. I
think he had a couple sacks today. I mean, the
(07:34):
Broncos pass rush group really looks like it can send
you three waves of guys at opponents. And I'd be
remiss if I didn't mention Johnny Walker, who really hasn't
gotten talked about enough because he's buried in that loaded room.
But he stepped up today with Keke Robinson out of
the lineup, and he had a number of really nice
plays and pressures. I don't think he got a sack,
(07:55):
but he was really really close a couple times. And
then another training camp cake. I have to discuss, even
though it's a little bit of old hat now, a
bit of a tired point, that man Troy Franklin continues
to be wildly impressive. Devon Valet missed practice today and
Troy Franklin was the guy getting those opportunities in his place.
(08:17):
I think that's really meaningful and validates that this isn't
just a media or fans seeing this at training camp.
The coaching staff has seen it too. Troy Franklin was
in the doghouse buried on the depth chart all of
last training camp and really throughout the season. Now you're
seeing him as that next man up, getting a lot
of reps, and I think he might keep climbing yet
(08:39):
again today like every target that comes his way is
a reception. He's not dropping anything. The only two today
was actually the first time all training camp I've seen
incompletions on balls thrown his way. One Riley Moss just
made a great break on the ball, beat Troy Franklin
to the ball, deflected it in complete, not really on
(09:01):
Troy Franklin there. And then the other in completion came
on a target where he was eventually out of bounds,
but it was incredibly impressive and I thought, honestly highlighted
the growth he's made since we last saw Troy Franklin.
It was him and Jae Kwon, McMillan and Jaquon had
great coverage on the play, honestly, and it didn't matter.
(09:25):
He kind of broke up the pass, even Troy Franklin bobbled.
It's some and Troy Franklin made the catch. Now I
don't think he got both feed and bounds, but still
tracking the ball like that through contact maintaining possession of it.
It just demonstrates won his more sure hands than he
had last season, and also his greatly improved physicality, which
(09:47):
I think was the biggest gap in his game last year,
and inability to consistently win at the catch point, and
also inability to you know, not be knocked off his route.
He was far too often easy knocked off his route
last season, and that's just part of him being a
smaller receiver. This year, you're seeing that have been way
less and he's not being disrupted when he runs down
(10:09):
the field. He's also running a more diverse route tree,
which I think also shows development and some greater maturity
on his part. But don't just take my word for it.
We had Riley Moss talk to the media today at
the podium and he echoed these points about Troy Franklin's
improved maturity and how much more nuanced of a player
(10:33):
he is now and how the game's coming to him
so much slower, and how that's also forcing the cornerbacks
to be better.
Speaker 6 (10:40):
Yeah, you know, his releases from last year this year
are have improved a lot, and you could see it
in one on ones and it's been good work for
us because there's a lot of guys like that in
the league who are twitching off the line and then
can get out and run. So it's helped us a
lot as a defense being able to see that.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
Between Troy Franklin, you know, having an expanded rule and
Marvin Mims having a rule he just didn't have in
the front half of last year or earth. I think
it'll be even expanded past what we saw down the
stretch last season. The Bronco should have a whole lot
more speed on the field. Rj RV two being a factor.
They should have a lot more speed on the field
than they had last season. And I think that's important
(11:18):
because one area the offense did fall short last year
was it did feel a little slow and it didn't
feel like they had that explosive capability that great offenses need.
Last thing I want to get into here before we'll
hit a little bit of a break and play some
of Ryan Edwards's incredible exclusive interviews is we're starting to
(11:43):
get some of the early Madden ratings news. And this
is never that important, but I do think there's a
couple of interesting Broncos tidbits in there. First, Patzertan left
out of the seven man ninety nine overall club surprising
just because you know, we've seen Richard Sherman and Patrick
Peterson and Jalen Ramsey and consistently the best cornerback in
(12:07):
the league I think Stefan Gilmour was in it. You know,
whoever the best cornerback in the league is at a
given time, has earned that. You know, ninety nine club
mantle Patrick Surtan earned Defensive Player of the Year honors
last year.
Speaker 4 (12:20):
Just that.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Again, I quote the stat a lot, but it is amazing,
just the third cornerback to do so in the past
three decades. If ever there was a cornerback worthy of
a ninety nine overall rating, you think it'd be right
then I'm almost certain Stefan Gilmore had a ninety nine
overall coming off of his Defensive Player of the Year
season and deservedly so. So it just that's puzzling to me. Again,
(12:45):
is it all that meaningful? No? Now certain did at
Ocho Cinco on Twitter about this? Chied O Chosinco for
those that don't know, is does have some I think
kind of more honorary but still some sort of role
in the Madden ratings process, and he said he'd take
care of it, so maybe that changes between now and
the game's launch in August. Also on the Madden front,
(13:09):
we found out that Jade Baron is one of the
ten highest rated rookies in the game, at a seventy
eight overall. I don't think that should be much of
a surprise, considering he was widely viewed as one of
the ten best players in this draft class, and not
only an incredible prospect, but a very pro ready prospect.
(13:30):
And again, this isn't overly meaningful, but the rating does
reflect that, so you know, it doesn't matter all that much.
But I'm excited to play with Jade Baron in Madden
this season. I think that secondary and that defense in
general will make the Denver Broncos a very fun Madden play.
Another guy excited to play with Jade Baron this season
(13:50):
Riley Moss. He also talked about that today at the podium.
Speaker 6 (13:54):
I mean, he's smart. He's came in, you know, in
the training room in terms of like recovery stuff. He
knows what to do. He's gotten a routine, which is
kind of the biggest learning curve. Obviously when you come
into the NFL. Is you have so much time, how
are you gonna spend that time? And he's he spent
that time well, I think rehabbing and stuff like that,
and also just picking up the defense. I think, you know,
he's smart and he understands you know where his help
(14:14):
is at, and you know that's that's nice to having
them out there. You know you can trust them, and
you know it.
Speaker 7 (14:20):
Helps all of us.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
I think that trust point is such a valuable one
and one that often gets overlooked with rookies from the
outside looking in. You know, why wasn't all last season?
Why is an estimate any more snaps? Why isn't Franklin
any more snaps? Because the coaching staff frankly didn't trust
them at that point in the season. And now that
picture is different. But with the rookies this year, they're
(14:42):
going our J. Harvey will overtake JK. Dobbins. Once the
coaching staff trusts him in pass protection. That's going to
probably be the big hurdle for him there trust him
to consistently make the right read on his running lane.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Right.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Hugh Robinson is going to get more plaining time once
the coaching staff trusts him goes for every single rookie
Pat Bryant right, same situation, jah Da Baron. If he's
going to start day one, he's going to have to
earn the trust of Jim Leonard and Vance Joseph and
Sean Payton of the defensive coaching staff and the headman.
(15:18):
And I think understandably everyone expects him to do that,
but he still has to prove it, and I think
we're seeing early signs of that. He was really strong
again at training camp practice today. It seems like he's
getting better every single day. Even during the special teams drills.
He's one of the most impactful special teamers. He was
beating up on Pat Bryant in a gunner drill where
(15:41):
Pat Bryant wasn't able to gain an inch on him.
It was really impressive to see from Zadae on that front.
He's always making plays in the run game today, you know,
all the running back drills, he was right there getting dirty,
you know, laying some big hits and again maybe some
one of the violence in the ferocity is the one
(16:01):
thing that was maybe lacking from this defense last year
with Dray Greenlaw, Telenohu Funga and Jade Barn coming in
that is no longer going to be a problem. After
the break, We're going to look at some of Ryan
Edwards' awesome interviews, exclusive interviews with Justin Sternaud and JK. Dobbins,
(16:23):
talking about probably two of the biggest flash points at
Broncos training camp right now, that linebacker room and that
running back room. Coming up on Broncos Country tonight on Kawa. Hello,
Broncos Country, and welcome to some more late night Broncos
(16:46):
Country tonight. So glad to be joining you here yet again.
Your host for the night, Zach Segers covering for Benjamin
Albright and Nick Ferguson. After another tremendous padded of Bronco's
training camp, I was surprised and excited to see that
there were pads on today, And not only were there
(17:07):
pads on today, it was probably the most contact heavy
practice we've had to date, which I think was really
exciting because it allowed us to get more takes on
the front seven, on the offensive line, on the running
backs than we've really been able to get up until now.
So definitely going to dive in on that a lot. Unfortunately,
(17:27):
one thing I think everyone wanted to see was how
does ke Robinson hold up to greater contact. He unfortunately
missed practice today. Hope to see him back soon. Definitely
want to see him against greater contact. You know, is
he able to continue dominating like he has for so
much of training camp and OTAs And I guess thoughts
(17:48):
season in general as for who he did see and
who did perform well and who was out there today.
I think RJ. Harvey really stole the show today and JK. Dobbinson,
and we'll get more into him in a little bit here,
but I think it was really a great day for R. J.
Harvey and Blake Watson. You know, Blake Watson just has
(18:11):
a lot of juice, very shifty, great vision, and you know,
I think he had probably two or three or four
of the best handful of runs of the day. He
really stood out consistently. Was on a day when the
defense really was dominating and bottling up runs on a
pretty consistent basis Watson, and granted he's going up against
(18:33):
you know, the guys on the back end of the roster,
but still he was the only running back that seemed
to be consistently tearing off big gains. I think he
also looks like an extremely natural receiver. I think he's
one of the most polished receivers of the bunch in
the running back group, maybe even the most you know,
I think, I don't know who you would like better
(18:56):
as a receiver in that room. Honestly, maybe Lele, but
I mean I think Julie's leaves a lot to be
desired in that passet. It probably is Watson. And then
again we're we're just seeing more and more of him
thriving as a runner, So great day for him. Harvey,
I think is the other standout in that running back
room from today. The burst was really apparent. He's able
(19:20):
to beat the defense to the edge fairly consistently, and
he has runs with some good pop. You know, he's
so low to the ground and muscular that he's not
fun to bring down. He's, you know, maybe the second
best receiver out of the group. I think he very
natural hands and the ability to transition from you know,
pass catcher to ball carrier is very natural for him.
(19:42):
I think that stands out. I think it was a
rougher day in that running back room for Audric Estimate
and JK. Dobbins now estimate did have a pretty nice
highlight where he ran over Broncos defender, but relative to
the rest of the his lack of juice I think
(20:02):
is noticeable. He has power, but it's just I think
he might wind up being the odd man out just
when you see what the other backs can bring to
the offense, I has to make, you know, can kind
of charge for it. He probably has the most power
of the bunch, but I just Dobbins has a good
bit of pop to his you know, he runs with
(20:24):
some heft, and he's got good vision, like really great
vision where he's finding the cutback lanes, he's finding whatever
yards are there for him and keeping the offense on pace,
and I just with with him providing that. I just
don't know how much this roster needs estimate anymore, which
is really a shame because when he was first selected
by the Broncos I had very high expectations for him.
(20:46):
Thought he was my favorite draft pick of theirs from
last year's class, and you know, just hasn't quite lived
up to expectations, and I think he's maybe facing an
uphill battle to make the roster.
Speaker 7 (20:58):
JK.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
Dobbins, I think also had a rough He was John
Back and forth with the defense a good bit. You know,
I do think he had a few great reps where
you know, it seems all bottled up. He finds the
cutback lane and instead of being a tackle for a
loss or for a short gain or nothing, he ends
up popping it for you know, five six yards, and
(21:20):
the difference between second and five or second and four
and second and ten is night and day. So that
type of which also, I just don't think the Broncos
had that type of floor raising presence in the backfield
last year. And adding that is going to be very
valuable that said, Harvey was able to get one over
on the defense, pop some big carries and just not
(21:43):
get bottled up quite as frequently as Dobbins. The defense
was flying around today. I think the Broncos have a
very fast defense, a very disciplined defense, and as a result,
Dobbins isn't going to create a ton, right, He's not
going to create a lane that otherwise isn't there. He's
going to kind of take what's blocked for him. And
because defense was lights out today, I don't think there
was a lot blocked for him, and I think that
(22:04):
just kind of highlighted the differences between him and R. J.
Harvey as a runner. Speaking of JK Dobbins, though, our
very own Ryan Edwards got to speak with JK in
a one on one interview yesterday. Here's that conversation. Now.
I found it very interesting to hear Jk's perspective. I
think he's quickly going to become a Broncos fan favorite.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
Are JK?
Speaker 7 (22:24):
How's training camp going for you? So far? Man is
going fantastic? Yeah?
Speaker 8 (22:28):
Yeah, playbook is good. Love my teammate, love the coaches,
love everything about this organization.
Speaker 5 (22:34):
You guys got a second day in Pad's pretty physical
practice out there, got a lot of runs and you
like those kinds of practices, Yeah, I do.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
I love him.
Speaker 8 (22:40):
That's the only way you can get better at football
is to play.
Speaker 7 (22:42):
Football well, and especially for your position.
Speaker 5 (22:44):
It always seems like the running game specifically doesn't get
a chance to get on track until preseason.
Speaker 7 (22:48):
Is that fair?
Speaker 4 (22:50):
Yeah? Yeah, I think.
Speaker 8 (22:51):
But this this old line is really really good, so
I think we'll be from what I see.
Speaker 7 (22:56):
I see a.
Speaker 8 (22:56):
Really good old line and we're gonna have a really
good running.
Speaker 5 (22:59):
It seems to be a little bit of an emphasis
on going wide zone, which really fits your skill set.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Agree with that sentiment, all.
Speaker 8 (23:05):
Run, you know, but yeah, we're working on all different
types of runs, you know, not just outside zone but
duo inside zone, power counter, you know, so we're working
on it all.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
What's that relationship like with a running back in the
offensive line, you know, get them getting to know how
you want to see things and vice versa.
Speaker 7 (23:23):
What's up right?
Speaker 8 (23:24):
Oh, that's that's one of the most important things, because
if we're all on the same track, if we're all
on the same page, it's beautiful.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
It's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 8 (23:32):
And I've played with band powers, so we kind of
get that connection. But everyone else, like Garrett Quinn, you know, Mike,
all those guys, you know, we I feel like we
jail together very well already.
Speaker 7 (23:47):
It certainly seems like that.
Speaker 5 (23:48):
And certainly I think for you getting a chance to
early on camp to catch passes out of the backfield,
and it feels like you and r J really all
the running backs in that room have a nice proclivity
bill due to that.
Speaker 8 (23:58):
Yeah, you know, a lot of peop we don't know
that I that I can really catch a wall in
the backfield really well, you know, I think Coach Sean
Payton and the opposite coordinator and my running bass coaches
are gonna put me in a position to maybe do that,
and just they're just gonna give me in the right place.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
It was part of the vision that Sean sold you
coming here. Was that one of the biggest things that
ultimately decided or pushed you here versus maybe some other teams.
Speaker 8 (24:25):
I mean, yeah, I knew, I know coach Sean is
going to put his guys in the right position. So
that played a part. But just just everything about this place,
they played a part in my decision to come in here,
and so far I feel like I made the right decision.
Speaker 5 (24:40):
Was it a bit nerve wracking there with free agency
and having to wait through the draft and wait through that.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
I mean, how nerve wracking was that for you?
Speaker 4 (24:46):
It really was nerve workings?
Speaker 8 (24:47):
Okay, because the year prior I was coming off with
Achilles too, So that was nerve wrecked because I'm like,
are people gonna, you know, want to take a chance
on me? But last year I had a thousand total
yards thirteen games. I knew guy will take care of that,
you know, the whole tag thing that was kind of
but but it.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
All worked out.
Speaker 7 (25:10):
No, it certainly did.
Speaker 5 (25:11):
Yeah, that was a surprise, the tag thing with the Chargers,
especially after they took Camps in the first round.
Speaker 7 (25:15):
I think all of us and side nag good point. Yeah,
it was a little the business football.
Speaker 8 (25:21):
Right, yeah, yeah, every single time.
Speaker 7 (25:25):
All right, Well, last couple here for you.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
All Right, So you guys got this season coming up,
certainly a lot of excitement about especially what the offense
can do. You guys have added a couple of receivers
bonicks into his second year.
Speaker 7 (25:36):
Where's your optimism level.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
At right now?
Speaker 4 (25:38):
All the way?
Speaker 8 (25:38):
One hundred level, one hundred. But I'm the type of
guy like I've been around a little bit, played some
really good football, winning football, So I'm not really too high,
you know, I'm not too high, not too low, taking
it day by day because there's a lot of teams
that are talented they just can't put together, and teams.
Speaker 4 (26:00):
Where we're super talented but we could finish the job.
Speaker 8 (26:03):
So yeah, right now, it's an exciting, uh part of
the year for everyone, but for me, and I think
all of my teammates think the same way, Like we
got to tell him, but let's put it together. Let's
take a day by day. Let's get better each and
every day and then we'll we'll see where we're ad
at the end of the year. But for right now,
we're day by day, you know, and we got to
make this talent work.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
I love that.
Speaker 5 (26:23):
Just one quick question on r J. Harvey in that
running back room, a lot of versu talent there. But
if you noticed with RJ so far, and is it
sort of nice in some ways? You guys know you're
gonna be kind of running back by committee. There isn't
this like head to head, I'm competing against you kind
of deal.
Speaker 7 (26:37):
Is that does that help things?
Speaker 8 (26:42):
I mean I wouldn't. I wouldn't call it a running
back with committee? Okay, but it like r J is
really good, Like I think he's willing to learn, he
wants to be really good, and he has a good talent.
Speaker 6 (26:54):
You know.
Speaker 8 (26:54):
I think it's gonna be a good year for the
for the running back room. As far as the running
back by the committee, I don't know how that goes, Okay,
I think, yeah, I don't know how that goes well.
Speaker 5 (27:03):
I guess as a starting running back and you've been
at starting running back, Hey, I want the ball, right
is that the mindset.
Speaker 7 (27:08):
Yeah, I mean every time.
Speaker 8 (27:11):
Yeah, I think I'll run it back on the.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Ball like twenty five times the game.
Speaker 7 (27:15):
All right, well, let's give you the ball twenty five
times a game. Let's do that.
Speaker 8 (27:17):
If I stay healthy, you'll see it would be nice.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
I loved hearing that interview. Ryan Edwards, by the way,
has been getting great one on one interviews all training
camp long. We'll play another one of those here in
a second, but getting to speak with Justine or not, JK.
Dobbs and Nick Benito and Moore. I make sure you
are following the KOA Sports podcast feed checking that out
on koclorader dot com or Thyheart Radio app. He's got
a bunch of great interviews up for you over there.
(27:43):
Ryan Edwards also got to speak with Justinster not two
days ago, which I think is also fascinating because he's
now seemingly in line for a big role in the defense.
He's going to be challenged though by Lavell Bailey, who
had a great day of practice today. We'll have to
talk about that more in a bit here, but now
those two are in a very heated battle to see,
(28:05):
you know, who's the next man up with Drew Sanders
sideline for you know, a month plus. Who is the
next man up at linebacker behind Greenlawn and Singleton. Justin
Surnad probably as thin side track as the veteran, but
Lavelle Bailey is nipping at his heels. He's had a
great training camp so far. Justin Surnad talked with Ryan
(28:28):
Edwards about that competitive linebacker room and his massive special
teams roll the other day. Here's that interview.
Speaker 7 (28:36):
Now, all right, man, we're what of a day five
training camp? Has it goes?
Speaker 4 (28:39):
So far? It's going good?
Speaker 3 (28:40):
Man.
Speaker 9 (28:40):
It's always good to get back here and get to
work with the guys. You know, it's a new season.
We had new challenges and a new team, so looking
forward to getting better each and every day.
Speaker 5 (28:48):
He shows to come back here once again as a
free agent. What is it about the Broncos that keeps
bringing you back here?
Speaker 7 (28:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (28:54):
I mean, I just like what we're building here.
Speaker 9 (28:55):
Coach Nayton's done a great job since he came in,
and I love the guys and the sea and we
had last year. You know, I think we could build
off that and obviously we're trying to win a Super Bowl.
Speaker 5 (29:04):
You've got a chance now to work with Vance Joseph system.
Speaker 7 (29:07):
What is it about that, first say inside the linebackers.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
Specifically that that makes it so fun to work with?
Speaker 9 (29:12):
Yeah, I mean Vance's defense is there's a lot I
talked to some of my friends who play on other teams,
and it's crazy.
Speaker 4 (29:18):
They'll tell me we play, you know, between a couple of.
Speaker 9 (29:21):
Calls, and I'm like, oh, Advance has every call in
the book and a lot of different blitzes. But you know,
it was fun playing in this defense last year and
he does a great.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
Job of putting us in a good position.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
Yeah, and you got thrust into a much bigger role
last year, certainly with the injury to Alex. So tell
me a little bit about last year and sort of like, Hey,
you came back. You knew you're gonna play some special teams.
You knew her to be a guy that's gonna be
kind of maybe worked into the defense, but then all
of a sudden, you're playing some starter snaps.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
What was that season like for you?
Speaker 9 (29:44):
Yeah, it was a great opportunity and I just had
to make the most of it.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
It's funny.
Speaker 9 (29:49):
I was telling my dad this offseason that it took
me back to my first year. My first year playing
Josie Jewel went down and it was funny. I remember
the night before that game my first year of being like,
do I really need look at the playbook like Joey,
Like these guys are this is the honest truth. With
my first year, I'm like, oh, these guys probably aren't
going down, and boom, I get thrust it into that game,
and I just didn't feel like I was as prepared
as I should have been at that point in my career.
(30:10):
But last year it felt ready to go and just
made the most the opportunity.
Speaker 5 (30:14):
It feels like a good lesson maybe that you, as
a now season vet can pass on to.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
Some of the younger players have always been ready.
Speaker 9 (30:19):
Right, absolutely, Yeah, I think with some of the guys
coming in now that are a little older from that
extra year of college and stuff, I feel like some
of these guys are more have more under their belt
and a little more experience than some of us coming in.
You know, I came in during the COVID year, so
it wasn't really ideal, but yeah, some of these guys
are doing a great job, and yeah, we're just gonna
continue to get better.
Speaker 5 (30:37):
You obviously to continue to have a role on special
teams as well. What's it like we're going with Darren Rizzy.
Speaker 9 (30:40):
Yeah, it's been good so far. Coach Rizzy, he puts
us to work, for sure, but I just see everybody
getting better under him. He's a he's a blue collar worker.
It looks like we're gonna work our tail off all
canvas if you saw today. But yeah, I really look
forward to working with Coach Rizzy and being the best
special teams unit in the league.
Speaker 5 (30:56):
It seems like a theme with Coach Payton's staffs. I
don't know, now you've been around for a couple of years.
There's they really work you guys. The good news on
the other side, it feels like you guys are ready
to go for the season when it happens.
Speaker 9 (31:06):
Yeah, absolutely. Coach Payton does a great job of getting us.
He calls it callus for the season, and it might
be the hardest camp there is, but uh, you know,
with that comes reward and just you take it one
day at a time and grind and grind and grind,
and before you know it will be a week one.
Speaker 7 (31:19):
All our last couple here for you.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
So tough news and Drew Yester, I've found it on Saturday,
he's going to be out for a little while. What
did you notice about him is sort of his development.
I mean you were working right next to him out
there at inside linebacker.
Speaker 7 (31:30):
How was he doing out there?
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Yeahrew's been doing great.
Speaker 9 (31:32):
You know, he's he's switched back and forth from outside
and inside linebacker, but you know, this year he's been
at inside and he's doing a great job. Like he's,
like you said it, taking that coaching and getting better
every day. And hopefully he gets the healthy as soon
as possible and we get him back out here.
Speaker 5 (31:45):
There's been a lot especially especially by Alex for saying
that you guys could push to be one of the
better defenses in Bronco's history. Of course, it's been a
lot of good history with this defense. Is that optimism
built off of last year? Is that optimism is built
on what you guys have here and what you brought
in the offseason. What do you feel that that optimism
was surrounded.
Speaker 9 (32:03):
From Yeah, coaches to talk about you know, last year
is last year.
Speaker 7 (32:05):
That's done.
Speaker 9 (32:06):
You know, we were one of the best defenses in
the league. But that is done with We have a
new team, new players, new coaches, and I just think
that comes from the roster we have and the work
that we're putting in. We realize that we have a
little bit more death at every spot than last year,
and we're just if we gel together and put in
the work, we think we can be one of the
best teams in the league.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
Rays stuff there from Ryan talking with Broncos linebacker Justin Surnat,
who finds himself in a very heated competition with Lavell Bailey,
fellow Broncos linebacker, the second year undrafted free agent, as
they try and figure out who is that new third
linebacker in the room with Drew Sanders injured and you know,
with Singleton out for the next week, who's going to
be getting starter reps next to Drake Greenlaw And you know,
(32:49):
I think Justin Sternat has the leg up right now.
But Lavell Bailey, if he keeps putting together days like
he had today, he's going to be getting as some
of those opportunities himself. He had in a very very
impressive hit on Audric estimate today. Estimate you know, freight train.
He hasn't maybe popped the way many in Broncos Country wanted,
(33:12):
but Lavel Bailey was right there to stuff him in
the backfield on one carry. Showed what he can do
against the run there, and then I think you also
saw some of his past coverage ability, where again you're
not really tackling or laying full hits, but he was
right there to deliver a shot on Michael Bandy I
believe coming across the middle. Bandy made the reception and
(33:33):
Bailey was right there to you know, pop him in
the shoulder pads. Not a real hit, but if this
was an actual game, he would have laid Bandy out
and I doubt that pass would have been completed. So
seeing that he's able to impact the game, not just
as you know, some downhill run stuff or blitzing linebacker,
but also make some plays and coverage potentially two I
think is huge. And Justine sir Nutt I think deserves
(33:55):
the leg up right now. He was solid filling in
for Alex Singleton for much of last season. It was
really only down the stretch when he was a little
beat up that things started to fall apart for that
linebacker group. Now that you have Lavell Bailey a little
more solidified and he again, he's just been making plays
every single day of training camp. I do wonder if
(34:17):
you try and mix them in a little more, And
I think this preseason is going to be massive for
Lavell Bailey to show that he's earned some of those
opportunities and deserves a look. Coming up after this break,
we'll continue to take a closer look at what is
going on at Bronco's training camp and what are the
biggest takeaways and who are the biggest stars at today's practice.
You're listening to a Broncos country tonight on KOA
Hello everybody, and welcome back to some more late night
post Rockies Broncos Country. Tonight, yet again had a great
padded practice down at Denver Broncos training camp today. In
the last segment, looked at some of the amazing interviews
Ryan Edwards has gotten to share with us over on
(00:20):
the KOA podcast feed. Find that over at Koacarauto dot
com wherever you listen to podcasts, or the iHeartRadio app.
Great interviews, exclusive interviews with Justin sternad JK. Dobbins we
listened to last segment. He's also got interviews with Nick
Benito and a whole lot of other critical Broncos. Nick
Benito speaking of and that pass rush had a tremendous
(00:44):
day today. They were all over the quarterback and the
run game, multiple tackles for loss, multiple sack opportunities that,
of course they can't take because you don't want to
hit the quarterback in this stage of the offseason, but
really really great stuff from the pass rush. To be
hard to know which unit ends up being better this
year for the Broncos, of the pass rush or the secondary.
(01:05):
I think both have looked tremendous in practice, giving us
a little insight on that and what to expect from
this special Broncos defense in twenty twenty five. Here is
that aforementioned interview between our ow and Ryan Edwards end
star pass rusher Nick Bonito.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
All Right, man, another training camp. How are you feeling, uh,
feeling good? Just being I heard the first couple.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Of days getting back out, everybody's been good, so I
can't complain too much.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Well, you guys have a lot of really good at
rushers this year.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Man.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
You brought in Q. He's looked really good out there.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
Dondra seems like he's taking a sort of step forward.
Tell me a little bit about that room and how
close you guys are.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Yeah, Man, I feel like we all just kind of
like are real close. It's probably one of the tightest
groups I've been in.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
You know.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Everybody's just always rooting for each other, always trying to
get each other better. We're always trying to just give
each other little things to just get better at off
the field, We're always.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Hanging out, So it's been really good between all of us.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
What were some things for you coming into this year
that you were hoping as far as technique or maybe
even whatever it is, But What are some things that
you had some goals for yourself.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Yeah, I'm kind of just doing the good things that
I did good good at last year, even better, and
then just doing working on things that I wasn't really
good at, whether it's my hands, whether it's different things
in the past, res game, running game, stuff like that.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
When it came to last year, which was a breakout
season for you, I mean certainly you built to that.
I mean you had a i think eight sacks the
year before than thirteen and a half and the touchdowns
and all that.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
What do you think you did in.
Speaker 5 (02:25):
The off season to put yourself in position to have
that kind of season you did?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Yeah? Man, it was kind of tough.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I mean obviously this time last year, I wasn't really practicing,
So just watching the guys in front of me, seeing
what they're doing, and also watching other guys around the
league from their tape and seeing where I can get
implement their game in the mind and just being better
that way and just getting those mental reps and that way.
When I was ready to come back on the field,
I was ready.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
You seem like you're seeing the field faster.
Speaker 5 (02:52):
Is that because you guys have had some continuity with
the coaching staff or is that just a lot of Hey,
you've been in the league, now this is your fourth year.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Yeah, that's a part of it.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
I mean, when you can retain the same coaches for
spending on a year three now, I believe that's always
a plus. And now on top of that, just with
the snaps that you know, not just me, but everybody
in the room is getting it's just going to keep
getting on more comfortable in games, and it's going to
be even faster and faster for everybody.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
There's been a lot of discussion and debate. I don't
know if you've been plugged into it. You seem like
you're on Twitter quite a bit so about the contract
possibility stuff with you and me. Again, you're focused on
the season. I understand that, but uh, there's a little
bit I'm sure of, like, Hey, I want I want
to prove the people you were a second round pick,
You've obviously elevated into that echelon of edge rushers.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Imagine there's something prow there for you.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
I mean, it's just at the end of the day,
I just want to keep getting better every year. Obviously
last year I had a great year, but I'm trying
to build upon that. I know I could have even
been even better last year. So knowing just that and
it's taking it into the offseason, continuing to get better
at everything is kind of, you know, my motivation to
be even better this year.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
You're a pretty humble guy, But do you see yourself
in that echelon of edge rushers out there?
Speaker 3 (03:56):
But that was saying I feel like I'm one of
the top ones up there for sure, not just in
pass rush, but you know, every part of the game,
whether it's being disruptive in the run game, dropping back
in coverage, and I feel like, you know, that's kind
of where I make my money, is just being a
versatile guy your front seven for just a moment, man,
I mean, you got you You brought back a lot
of the D line.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
How much does that really help you?
Speaker 5 (04:15):
Guys, you and Coop out there on the edge, having
the D line continuity.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
That you have percent I mean, it just makes our
job easier knowing that we can have guys that are selfless,
selfless rushers and you know, just being comfortable rushing with
them day in and day out here and just continuing
to build that continuity when we're rushing, it's only gonna
make everybody better.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
Listening to Coop yesterday, he was asked like, what's the
next level for this defense?
Speaker 2 (04:37):
And he says, just to be more dominant. What does
that mean to you?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yeah, I mean more dominant. And I think that just
starts with the little things.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
Man.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
I think when we take a look back at a
lot of the games, it wasn't really nothing.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
A lot of the teams were doing against us.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
I feel like it was more on us, whether it's
we're busting calls, not being in the right gaps, letting
guys go up and down the field, and stuff like that.
So you can see the difference not in day. You know,
when we're on our stuff, we're running the ball. Man,
there's not many guys that can, you know, mess with
us when it comes to playing defense.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Do you guys think at all about that Buffalo Bills game?
Speaker 5 (05:08):
How much does that motivate you, especially on the defensive
side of the ball.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
It motivates me a lot, man, just I'm pretty sure
everybody too. I Mean, we know we're going into that
game that was a very wonnerable game for us, and.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
We're just gonna try to build upon day.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
I know a lot of guys have been having that
game in their mind the whole offseason because we know
where we want to be at.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
The end of the day.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
So absolutely love what Nick Mindido had to say at
the end there with his interview with our very own
Ryan Edwards, just talking about how, hey, we know where
we want to be at the end of this and
that echoes something that Diana Rossini was talking about with
Rich Eisen on The Rich Eisen Show today. She was
just in Denver yesterday for training camp, and she talked
(05:47):
about how not only has she seen a different version
of bo Nicks, but also that, you know, this team
is incredibly confident and not afraid to talk Super Bowl
or about their extremely high opirations for themselves, which she
was saying was fairly atypical relative to the organization she's
used to interacting with at this time in the offseason.
(06:09):
And I think that confidence is well placed and well learned,
well deserved. I mean, this defense projects to be elite
at least as good as it was last year, maybe
even better unless it gets decimated by injuries. I think
it could be a truly special unit. And then the offense,
you know, it was a slightly above average offense last
year with a rookie quarterback. If bo Nicks really has
(06:29):
taken a leap and they can be more of a
top ten attack, then why can't they be one of
the top competitors in the AFC. And you know, if
you're one of the top contenders in the AFC, which
is the stronger of the two conferences right now, super
Bowl should absolutely be part of the discussion. And personally,
I love that Sean Payton is building that confidence in
(06:49):
the team and trying to set expectations high early and
by doing so, setting this standard very high for this team.
And they should have a high standard and high expectations.
They're been a loaded division. But and even if maybe
twenty twenty six or twenty twenty seven or the real
push heres, with this defense and offense, they can absolutely
compete now. And a big part of that defense is
the pass rush we were just talking about ahead of
(07:12):
that Nick Benito interview. They had another great day today
Andrea Tilman continues to be one of the very best
players out there. Jonah Ellis is looking healthier and healthier
ever since the Pads came on. Ryan Edwards did a
great job of highlighting this on Twitter already, but ever
since the pads have come on, Ellis was amazing. I
think he had a couple sacks today. I mean, the
(07:34):
Broncos pass rush group really looks like it can send
you three waves of guys at opponents. And I'd be
remiss if I didn't mention Johnny Walker, who really hasn't
gotten talked about enough because he's buried in that loaded room.
But he stepped up today with Keke Robinson out of
the lineup, and he had a number of really nice
plays and pressures. I don't think he got a sack,
(07:55):
but he was really really close a couple times. And
then another training camp cake. I have to discuss, even
though it's a little bit of old hat now, a
bit of a tired point, that man Troy Franklin continues
to be wildly impressive. Devon Valet missed practice today and
Troy Franklin was the guy getting those opportunities in his place.
(08:17):
I think that's really meaningful and validates that this isn't
just a media or fans seeing this at training camp.
The coaching staff has seen it too. Troy Franklin was
in the doghouse buried on the depth chart all of
last training camp and really throughout the season. Now you're
seeing him as that next man up, getting a lot
of reps, and I think he might keep climbing yet
(08:39):
again today like every target that comes his way is
a reception. He's not dropping anything. The only two today
was actually the first time all training camp I've seen
incompletions on balls thrown his way. One Riley Moss just
made a great break on the ball, beat Troy Franklin
to the ball, deflected it in complete, not really on
(09:01):
Troy Franklin there. And then the other in completion came
on a target where he was eventually out of bounds,
but it was incredibly impressive and I thought, honestly highlighted
the growth he's made since we last saw Troy Franklin.
It was him and Jae Kwon, McMillan and Jaquon had
great coverage on the play, honestly, and it didn't matter.
(09:25):
He kind of broke up the pass, even Troy Franklin bobbled.
It's some and Troy Franklin made the catch. Now I
don't think he got both feed and bounds, but still
tracking the ball like that through contact maintaining possession of it.
It just demonstrates won his more sure hands than he
had last season, and also his greatly improved physicality, which
(09:47):
I think was the biggest gap in his game last year,
and inability to consistently win at the catch point, and
also inability to you know, not be knocked off his route.
He was far too often easy knocked off his route
last season, and that's just part of him being a
smaller receiver. This year, you're seeing that have been way
less and he's not being disrupted when he runs down
(10:09):
the field. He's also running a more diverse route tree,
which I think also shows development and some greater maturity
on his part. But don't just take my word for it.
We had Riley Moss talk to the media today at
the podium and he echoed these points about Troy Franklin's
improved maturity and how much more nuanced of a player
(10:33):
he is now and how the game's coming to him
so much slower, and how that's also forcing the cornerbacks
to be better.
Speaker 6 (10:40):
Yeah, you know, his releases from last year this year
are have improved a lot, and you could see it
in one on ones and it's been good work for
us because there's a lot of guys like that in
the league who are twitching off the line and then
can get out and run. So it's helped us a
lot as a defense being able to see that.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
Between Troy Franklin, you know, having an expanded rule and
Marvin Mims having a rule he just didn't have in
the front half of last year or earth. I think
it'll be even expanded past what we saw down the
stretch last season. The Bronco should have a whole lot
more speed on the field. Rj RV two being a factor.
They should have a lot more speed on the field
than they had last season. And I think that's important
(11:18):
because one area the offense did fall short last year
was it did feel a little slow and it didn't
feel like they had that explosive capability that great offenses need.
Last thing I want to get into here before we'll
hit a little bit of a break and play some
of Ryan Edwards's incredible exclusive interviews is we're starting to
(11:43):
get some of the early Madden ratings news. And this
is never that important, but I do think there's a
couple of interesting Broncos tidbits in there. First, Patzertan left
out of the seven man ninety nine overall club surprising
just because you know, we've seen Richard Sherman and Patrick
Peterson and Jalen Ramsey and consistently the best cornerback in
(12:07):
the league I think Stefan Gilmour was in it. You know,
whoever the best cornerback in the league is at a
given time, has earned that. You know, ninety nine club
mantle Patrick Surtan earned Defensive Player of the Year honors
last year.
Speaker 4 (12:20):
Just that.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Again, I quote the stat a lot, but it is amazing,
just the third cornerback to do so in the past
three decades. If ever there was a cornerback worthy of
a ninety nine overall rating, you think it'd be right
then I'm almost certain Stefan Gilmore had a ninety nine
overall coming off of his Defensive Player of the Year
season and deservedly so. So it just that's puzzling to me. Again,
(12:45):
is it all that meaningful? No? Now certain did at
Ocho Cinco on Twitter about this? Chied O Chosinco for
those that don't know, is does have some I think
kind of more honorary but still some sort of role
in the Madden ratings process, and he said he'd take
care of it, so maybe that changes between now and
the game's launch in August. Also on the Madden front,
(13:09):
we found out that Jade Baron is one of the
ten highest rated rookies in the game, at a seventy
eight overall. I don't think that should be much of
a surprise, considering he was widely viewed as one of
the ten best players in this draft class, and not
only an incredible prospect, but a very pro ready prospect.
(13:30):
And again, this isn't overly meaningful, but the rating does
reflect that, so you know, it doesn't matter all that much.
But I'm excited to play with Jade Baron in Madden
this season. I think that secondary and that defense in
general will make the Denver Broncos a very fun Madden play.
Another guy excited to play with Jade Baron this season
(13:50):
Riley Moss. He also talked about that today at the podium.
Speaker 6 (13:54):
I mean, he's smart. He's came in, you know, in
the training room in terms of like recovery stuff. He
knows what to do. He's gotten a routine, which is
kind of the biggest learning curve. Obviously when you come
into the NFL. Is you have so much time, how
are you gonna spend that time? And he's he spent
that time well, I think rehabbing and stuff like that,
and also just picking up the defense. I think, you know,
he's smart and he understands you know where his help
(14:14):
is at, and you know that's that's nice to having
them out there. You know you can trust them, and
you know it.
Speaker 7 (14:20):
Helps all of us.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
I think that trust point is such a valuable one
and one that often gets overlooked with rookies from the
outside looking in. You know, why wasn't all last season?
Why is an estimate any more snaps? Why isn't Franklin
any more snaps? Because the coaching staff frankly didn't trust
them at that point in the season. And now that
picture is different. But with the rookies this year, they're
(14:42):
going our J. Harvey will overtake JK. Dobbins. Once the
coaching staff trusts him in pass protection. That's going to
probably be the big hurdle for him there trust him
to consistently make the right read on his running lane.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Right.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Hugh Robinson is going to get more plaining time once
the coaching staff trusts him goes for every single rookie
Pat Bryant right, same situation, jah Da Baron. If he's
going to start day one, he's going to have to
earn the trust of Jim Leonard and Vance Joseph and
Sean Payton of the defensive coaching staff and the headman.
(15:18):
And I think understandably everyone expects him to do that,
but he still has to prove it, and I think
we're seeing early signs of that. He was really strong
again at training camp practice today. It seems like he's
getting better every single day. Even during the special teams drills.
He's one of the most impactful special teamers. He was
beating up on Pat Bryant in a gunner drill where
(15:41):
Pat Bryant wasn't able to gain an inch on him.
It was really impressive to see from Zadae on that front.
He's always making plays in the run game today, you know,
all the running back drills, he was right there getting dirty,
you know, laying some big hits and again maybe some
one of the violence in the ferocity is the one
(16:01):
thing that was maybe lacking from this defense last year
with Dray Greenlaw, Telenohu Funga and Jade Barn coming in
that is no longer going to be a problem. After
the break, We're going to look at some of Ryan
Edwards' awesome interviews, exclusive interviews with Justin Sternaud and JK. Dobbins,
(16:23):
talking about probably two of the biggest flash points at
Broncos training camp right now, that linebacker room and that
running back room. Coming up on Broncos Country tonight on Kawa. Hello,
Broncos Country, and welcome to some more late night Broncos
(16:46):
Country tonight. So glad to be joining you here yet again.
Your host for the night, Zach Segers covering for Benjamin
Albright and Nick Ferguson. After another tremendous padded of Bronco's
training camp, I was surprised and excited to see that
there were pads on today, And not only were there
(17:07):
pads on today, it was probably the most contact heavy
practice we've had to date, which I think was really
exciting because it allowed us to get more takes on
the front seven, on the offensive line, on the running
backs than we've really been able to get up until now.
So definitely going to dive in on that a lot. Unfortunately,
(17:27):
one thing I think everyone wanted to see was how
does ke Robinson hold up to greater contact. He unfortunately
missed practice today. Hope to see him back soon. Definitely
want to see him against greater contact. You know, is
he able to continue dominating like he has for so
much of training camp and OTAs And I guess thoughts
(17:48):
season in general as for who he did see and
who did perform well and who was out there today.
I think RJ. Harvey really stole the show today and JK. Dobbinson,
and we'll get more into him in a little bit here,
but I think it was really a great day for R. J.
Harvey and Blake Watson. You know, Blake Watson just has
(18:11):
a lot of juice, very shifty, great vision, and you know,
I think he had probably two or three or four
of the best handful of runs of the day. He
really stood out consistently. Was on a day when the
defense really was dominating and bottling up runs on a
pretty consistent basis Watson, and granted he's going up against
(18:33):
you know, the guys on the back end of the roster,
but still he was the only running back that seemed
to be consistently tearing off big gains. I think he
also looks like an extremely natural receiver. I think he's
one of the most polished receivers of the bunch in
the running back group, maybe even the most you know,
I think, I don't know who you would like better
(18:56):
as a receiver in that room. Honestly, maybe Lele, but
I mean I think Julie's leaves a lot to be
desired in that passet. It probably is Watson. And then
again we're we're just seeing more and more of him
thriving as a runner, So great day for him. Harvey,
I think is the other standout in that running back
room from today. The burst was really apparent. He's able
(19:20):
to beat the defense to the edge fairly consistently, and
he has runs with some good pop. You know, he's
so low to the ground and muscular that he's not
fun to bring down. He's, you know, maybe the second
best receiver out of the group. I think he very
natural hands and the ability to transition from you know,
pass catcher to ball carrier is very natural for him.
(19:42):
I think that stands out. I think it was a
rougher day in that running back room for Audric Estimate
and JK. Dobbins now estimate did have a pretty nice
highlight where he ran over Broncos defender, but relative to
the rest of the his lack of juice I think
(20:02):
is noticeable. He has power, but it's just I think
he might wind up being the odd man out just
when you see what the other backs can bring to
the offense, I has to make, you know, can kind
of charge for it. He probably has the most power
of the bunch, but I just Dobbins has a good
bit of pop to his you know, he runs with
(20:24):
some heft, and he's got good vision, like really great
vision where he's finding the cutback lanes, he's finding whatever
yards are there for him and keeping the offense on pace,
and I just with with him providing that. I just
don't know how much this roster needs estimate anymore, which
is really a shame because when he was first selected
by the Broncos I had very high expectations for him.
(20:46):
Thought he was my favorite draft pick of theirs from
last year's class, and you know, just hasn't quite lived
up to expectations, and I think he's maybe facing an
uphill battle to make the roster.
Speaker 7 (20:58):
JK.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
Dobbins, I think also had a rough He was John
Back and forth with the defense a good bit. You know,
I do think he had a few great reps where
you know, it seems all bottled up. He finds the
cutback lane and instead of being a tackle for a
loss or for a short gain or nothing, he ends
up popping it for you know, five six yards, and
(21:20):
the difference between second and five or second and four
and second and ten is night and day. So that
type of which also, I just don't think the Broncos
had that type of floor raising presence in the backfield
last year. And adding that is going to be very
valuable that said, Harvey was able to get one over
on the defense, pop some big carries and just not
(21:43):
get bottled up quite as frequently as Dobbins. The defense
was flying around today. I think the Broncos have a
very fast defense, a very disciplined defense, and as a result,
Dobbins isn't going to create a ton, right, He's not
going to create a lane that otherwise isn't there. He's
going to kind of take what's blocked for him. And
because defense was lights out today, I don't think there
was a lot blocked for him, and I think that
(22:04):
just kind of highlighted the differences between him and R. J.
Harvey as a runner. Speaking of JK Dobbins, though, our
very own Ryan Edwards got to speak with JK in
a one on one interview yesterday. Here's that conversation. Now.
I found it very interesting to hear Jk's perspective. I
think he's quickly going to become a Broncos fan favorite.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
Are JK?
Speaker 7 (22:24):
How's training camp going for you? So far? Man is
going fantastic? Yeah?
Speaker 8 (22:28):
Yeah, playbook is good. Love my teammate, love the coaches,
love everything about this organization.
Speaker 5 (22:34):
You guys got a second day in Pad's pretty physical
practice out there, got a lot of runs and you
like those kinds of practices, Yeah, I do.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
I love him.
Speaker 8 (22:40):
That's the only way you can get better at football
is to play.
Speaker 7 (22:42):
Football well, and especially for your position.
Speaker 5 (22:44):
It always seems like the running game specifically doesn't get
a chance to get on track until preseason.
Speaker 7 (22:48):
Is that fair?
Speaker 4 (22:50):
Yeah? Yeah, I think.
Speaker 8 (22:51):
But this this old line is really really good, so
I think we'll be from what I see.
Speaker 7 (22:56):
I see a.
Speaker 8 (22:56):
Really good old line and we're gonna have a really
good running.
Speaker 5 (22:59):
It seems to be a little bit of an emphasis
on going wide zone, which really fits your skill set.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Agree with that sentiment, all.
Speaker 8 (23:05):
Run, you know, but yeah, we're working on all different
types of runs, you know, not just outside zone but
duo inside zone, power counter, you know, so we're working
on it all.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
What's that relationship like with a running back in the
offensive line, you know, get them getting to know how
you want to see things and vice versa.
Speaker 7 (23:23):
What's up right?
Speaker 8 (23:24):
Oh, that's that's one of the most important things, because
if we're all on the same track, if we're all
on the same page, it's beautiful.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
It's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 8 (23:32):
And I've played with band powers, so we kind of
get that connection. But everyone else, like Garrett Quinn, you know, Mike,
all those guys, you know, we I feel like we
jail together very well already.
Speaker 7 (23:47):
It certainly seems like that.
Speaker 5 (23:48):
And certainly I think for you getting a chance to
early on camp to catch passes out of the backfield,
and it feels like you and r J really all
the running backs in that room have a nice proclivity
bill due to that.
Speaker 8 (23:58):
Yeah, you know, a lot of peop we don't know
that I that I can really catch a wall in
the backfield really well, you know, I think Coach Sean
Payton and the opposite coordinator and my running bass coaches
are gonna put me in a position to maybe do that,
and just they're just gonna give me in the right place.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
It was part of the vision that Sean sold you
coming here. Was that one of the biggest things that
ultimately decided or pushed you here versus maybe some other teams.
Speaker 8 (24:25):
I mean, yeah, I knew, I know coach Sean is
going to put his guys in the right position. So
that played a part. But just just everything about this place,
they played a part in my decision to come in here,
and so far I feel like I made the right decision.
Speaker 5 (24:40):
Was it a bit nerve wracking there with free agency
and having to wait through the draft and wait through that.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
I mean, how nerve wracking was that for you?
Speaker 4 (24:46):
It really was nerve workings?
Speaker 8 (24:47):
Okay, because the year prior I was coming off with
Achilles too, So that was nerve wrecked because I'm like,
are people gonna, you know, want to take a chance
on me? But last year I had a thousand total
yards thirteen games. I knew guy will take care of that,
you know, the whole tag thing that was kind of
but but it.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
All worked out.
Speaker 7 (25:10):
No, it certainly did.
Speaker 5 (25:11):
Yeah, that was a surprise, the tag thing with the Chargers,
especially after they took Camps in the first round.
Speaker 7 (25:15):
I think all of us and side nag good point. Yeah,
it was a little the business football.
Speaker 8 (25:21):
Right, yeah, yeah, every single time.
Speaker 7 (25:25):
All right, Well, last couple here for you.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
All Right, So you guys got this season coming up,
certainly a lot of excitement about especially what the offense
can do. You guys have added a couple of receivers
bonicks into his second year.
Speaker 7 (25:36):
Where's your optimism level.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
At right now?
Speaker 4 (25:38):
All the way?
Speaker 8 (25:38):
One hundred level, one hundred. But I'm the type of
guy like I've been around a little bit, played some
really good football, winning football, So I'm not really too high,
you know, I'm not too high, not too low, taking
it day by day because there's a lot of teams
that are talented they just can't put together, and teams.
Speaker 4 (26:00):
Where we're super talented but we could finish the job.
Speaker 8 (26:03):
So yeah, right now, it's an exciting, uh part of
the year for everyone, but for me, and I think
all of my teammates think the same way, Like we
got to tell him, but let's put it together. Let's
take a day by day. Let's get better each and
every day and then we'll we'll see where we're ad
at the end of the year. But for right now,
we're day by day, you know, and we got to
make this talent work.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
I love that.
Speaker 5 (26:23):
Just one quick question on r J. Harvey in that
running back room, a lot of versu talent there. But
if you noticed with RJ so far, and is it
sort of nice in some ways? You guys know you're
gonna be kind of running back by committee. There isn't
this like head to head, I'm competing against you kind
of deal.
Speaker 7 (26:37):
Is that does that help things?
Speaker 8 (26:42):
I mean I wouldn't. I wouldn't call it a running
back with committee? Okay, but it like r J is
really good, Like I think he's willing to learn, he
wants to be really good, and he has a good talent.
Speaker 6 (26:54):
You know.
Speaker 8 (26:54):
I think it's gonna be a good year for the
for the running back room. As far as the running
back by the committee, I don't know how that goes, Okay,
I think, yeah, I don't know how that goes well.
Speaker 5 (27:03):
I guess as a starting running back and you've been
at starting running back, Hey, I want the ball, right
is that the mindset.
Speaker 7 (27:08):
Yeah, I mean every time.
Speaker 8 (27:11):
Yeah, I think I'll run it back on the.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Ball like twenty five times the game.
Speaker 7 (27:15):
All right, well, let's give you the ball twenty five
times a game. Let's do that.
Speaker 8 (27:17):
If I stay healthy, you'll see it would be nice.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
I loved hearing that interview. Ryan Edwards, by the way,
has been getting great one on one interviews all training
camp long. We'll play another one of those here in
a second, but getting to speak with Justine or not, JK.
Dobbs and Nick Benito and Moore. I make sure you
are following the KOA Sports podcast feed checking that out
on koclorader dot com or Thyheart Radio app. He's got
a bunch of great interviews up for you over there.
(27:43):
Ryan Edwards also got to speak with Justinster not two
days ago, which I think is also fascinating because he's
now seemingly in line for a big role in the defense.
He's going to be challenged though by Lavell Bailey, who
had a great day of practice today. We'll have to
talk about that more in a bit here, but now
those two are in a very heated battle to see,
(28:05):
you know, who's the next man up with Drew Sanders
sideline for you know, a month plus. Who is the
next man up at linebacker behind Greenlawn and Singleton. Justin
Surnad probably as thin side track as the veteran, but
Lavelle Bailey is nipping at his heels. He's had a
great training camp so far. Justin Surnad talked with Ryan
(28:28):
Edwards about that competitive linebacker room and his massive special
teams roll the other day. Here's that interview.
Speaker 7 (28:36):
Now, all right, man, we're what of a day five
training camp? Has it goes?
Speaker 4 (28:39):
So far? It's going good?
Speaker 3 (28:40):
Man.
Speaker 9 (28:40):
It's always good to get back here and get to
work with the guys. You know, it's a new season.
We had new challenges and a new team, so looking
forward to getting better each and every day.
Speaker 5 (28:48):
He shows to come back here once again as a
free agent. What is it about the Broncos that keeps
bringing you back here?
Speaker 7 (28:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (28:54):
I mean, I just like what we're building here.
Speaker 9 (28:55):
Coach Nayton's done a great job since he came in,
and I love the guys and the sea and we
had last year. You know, I think we could build
off that and obviously we're trying to win a Super Bowl.
Speaker 5 (29:04):
You've got a chance now to work with Vance Joseph system.
Speaker 7 (29:07):
What is it about that, first say inside the linebackers.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
Specifically that that makes it so fun to work with?
Speaker 9 (29:12):
Yeah, I mean Vance's defense is there's a lot I
talked to some of my friends who play on other teams,
and it's crazy.
Speaker 4 (29:18):
They'll tell me we play, you know, between a couple of.
Speaker 9 (29:21):
Calls, and I'm like, oh, Advance has every call in
the book and a lot of different blitzes. But you know,
it was fun playing in this defense last year and
he does a great.
Speaker 4 (29:28):
Job of putting us in a good position.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
Yeah, and you got thrust into a much bigger role
last year, certainly with the injury to Alex. So tell
me a little bit about last year and sort of like, Hey,
you came back. You knew you're gonna play some special teams.
You knew her to be a guy that's gonna be
kind of maybe worked into the defense, but then all
of a sudden, you're playing some starter snaps.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
What was that season like for you?
Speaker 9 (29:44):
Yeah, it was a great opportunity and I just had
to make the most of it.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
It's funny.
Speaker 9 (29:49):
I was telling my dad this offseason that it took
me back to my first year. My first year playing
Josie Jewel went down and it was funny. I remember
the night before that game my first year of being like,
do I really need look at the playbook like Joey,
Like these guys are this is the honest truth. With
my first year, I'm like, oh, these guys probably aren't
going down, and boom, I get thrust it into that game,
and I just didn't feel like I was as prepared
as I should have been at that point in my career.
(30:10):
But last year it felt ready to go and just
made the most the opportunity.
Speaker 5 (30:14):
It feels like a good lesson maybe that you, as
a now season vet can pass on to.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
Some of the younger players have always been ready.
Speaker 9 (30:19):
Right, absolutely, Yeah, I think with some of the guys
coming in now that are a little older from that
extra year of college and stuff, I feel like some
of these guys are more have more under their belt
and a little more experience than some of us coming in.
You know, I came in during the COVID year, so
it wasn't really ideal, but yeah, some of these guys
are doing a great job, and yeah, we're just gonna
continue to get better.
Speaker 5 (30:37):
You obviously to continue to have a role on special
teams as well. What's it like we're going with Darren Rizzy.
Speaker 9 (30:40):
Yeah, it's been good so far. Coach Rizzy, he puts
us to work, for sure, but I just see everybody
getting better under him. He's a he's a blue collar worker.
It looks like we're gonna work our tail off all
canvas if you saw today. But yeah, I really look
forward to working with Coach Rizzy and being the best
special teams unit in the league.
Speaker 5 (30:56):
It seems like a theme with Coach Payton's staffs. I
don't know, now you've been around for a couple of years.
There's they really work you guys. The good news on
the other side, it feels like you guys are ready
to go for the season when it happens.
Speaker 9 (31:06):
Yeah, absolutely. Coach Payton does a great job of getting us.
He calls it callus for the season, and it might
be the hardest camp there is, but uh, you know,
with that comes reward and just you take it one
day at a time and grind and grind and grind,
and before you know it will be a week one.
Speaker 7 (31:19):
All our last couple here for you.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
So tough news and Drew Yester, I've found it on Saturday,
he's going to be out for a little while. What
did you notice about him is sort of his development.
I mean you were working right next to him out
there at inside linebacker.
Speaker 7 (31:30):
How was he doing out there?
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Yeahrew's been doing great.
Speaker 9 (31:32):
You know, he's he's switched back and forth from outside
and inside linebacker, but you know, this year he's been
at inside and he's doing a great job. Like he's,
like you said it, taking that coaching and getting better
every day. And hopefully he gets the healthy as soon
as possible and we get him back out here.
Speaker 5 (31:45):
There's been a lot especially especially by Alex for saying
that you guys could push to be one of the
better defenses in Bronco's history. Of course, it's been a
lot of good history with this defense. Is that optimism
built off of last year? Is that optimism is built
on what you guys have here and what you brought
in the offseason. What do you feel that that optimism
was surrounded.
Speaker 9 (32:03):
From Yeah, coaches to talk about you know, last year
is last year.
Speaker 7 (32:05):
That's done.
Speaker 9 (32:06):
You know, we were one of the best defenses in
the league. But that is done with We have a
new team, new players, new coaches, and I just think
that comes from the roster we have and the work
that we're putting in. We realize that we have a
little bit more death at every spot than last year,
and we're just if we gel together and put in
the work, we think we can be one of the
best teams in the league.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
Rays stuff there from Ryan talking with Broncos linebacker Justin Surnat,
who finds himself in a very heated competition with Lavell Bailey,
fellow Broncos linebacker, the second year undrafted free agent, as
they try and figure out who is that new third
linebacker in the room with Drew Sanders injured and you know,
with Singleton out for the next week, who's going to
be getting starter reps next to Drake Greenlaw And you know,
(32:49):
I think Justin Sternat has the leg up right now.
But Lavell Bailey, if he keeps putting together days like
he had today, he's going to be getting as some
of those opportunities himself. He had in a very very
impressive hit on Audric estimate today. Estimate you know, freight train.
He hasn't maybe popped the way many in Broncos Country wanted,
(33:12):
but Lavel Bailey was right there to stuff him in
the backfield on one carry. Showed what he can do
against the run there, and then I think you also
saw some of his past coverage ability, where again you're
not really tackling or laying full hits, but he was
right there to deliver a shot on Michael Bandy I
believe coming across the middle. Bandy made the reception and
(33:33):
Bailey was right there to you know, pop him in
the shoulder pads. Not a real hit, but if this
was an actual game, he would have laid Bandy out
and I doubt that pass would have been completed. So
seeing that he's able to impact the game, not just
as you know, some downhill run stuff or blitzing linebacker,
but also make some plays and coverage potentially two I
think is huge. And Justine sir Nutt I think deserves
(33:55):
the leg up right now. He was solid filling in
for Alex Singleton for much of last season. It was
really only down the stretch when he was a little
beat up that things started to fall apart for that
linebacker group. Now that you have Lavell Bailey a little
more solidified and he again, he's just been making plays
every single day of training camp. I do wonder if
(34:17):
you try and mix them in a little more, And
I think this preseason is going to be massive for
Lavell Bailey to show that he's earned some of those
opportunities and deserves a look. Coming up after this break,
we'll continue to take a closer look at what is
going on at Bronco's training camp and what are the
biggest takeaways and who are the biggest stars at today's practice.
You're listening to a Broncos country tonight on KOA
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