August 7, 2026 • 34 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to a Broncos Country Tonight short show, post Rockies edition.
(00:03):
Benjamin Bright, Nick Ferguson here with you and only off
the show by shouting out our guy Grant Smith joining
the ranks of fatherhood. I'm not going to get too
deep in the weeds on on the specifics there. That's
his story to tell. But you guys noticed that Grant's
been out a little bit. He's gonna be out for
roughly the next six weeks. Well, he's doing his thing,
(00:27):
doing his thing, welcoming his newborn into the not giving
any any information away there, welcoming his newborn into the
into the world. And and that was this morning, happy
and healthy, and we're all excited for Grant. Congratulations to
Grant on that. With that, it was back to pads
for the Denver Broncos today. You know, so topic you
(00:48):
wanted to get into a week, and we can get
to that first, about referees at at at practice. Is
that is that helpful? I mean, it feels to me
like that would be helpful, especially if there's focal points
from the league that they want disseminated. But I don't know,
having not been in those shoes before, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Well, I mean I would like as a player to
have the referees there all the time, right, and that
that would be essential way for the league to have
somewhat of a stock pile of officials because now each
one of those guys are there every single day, their
local guys in the area wherever the given team is,
(01:27):
and they're essentially helping both the offense and defense improve
on penalties. Because let's not forget I mean the Broncos
were up there in the league as far as drop catches.
They were also high in the league as far as
penalties were concerned. And when we look at a lot
of the games that you know, some of the games
that they lost, it was because of those penalties that
(01:50):
were either drive killers or drive extenders for their posing
offense and the defense. So being able to have officials
at practice it helps with knowing the rules. And I
know that sounds crazy, Ben that you say, Okay, well,
shouldn't all the NFL players know all the rules?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
No they don't.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
I know, I know the coaches some coaches don't know
the rules.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah they don't.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
And sometimes there's a little pushback, like earlier in the
week there was a play where the Broncos were called
for somewhat of a pick like a movie pick in basketball,
and there was a lot of conversation and dialogue with
defensive players Sean Payton working the referees. But once again,
just like a pick in basketball, you cannot move and
there's certain aspects that you can, so having officials there
(02:39):
it helps with the preparation of what is to come.
When the Broncos favor faced their first preseason opponent, which
is the Atlanta Falcons next week.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Yeah, the Broncos finished fourth in total flags last year,
but number one in penalty yardage accumulated. So definitely a problem,
definitely a thing of concern. However, I will say three
of the top five teams did make the playoffs. You
had the Jags, the Houston Texans, and the Broncos finishing
three four five in flags. Now, the Titans and Cowboys
were one and two, but you know, so it just
(03:12):
because you get penalties doesn't mean you can't overcome it,
but it is you know, it is sort of fascinating
to me that one division had the Titans, Jags, and Texans.
Also Dallas and New York were in another. Those divisions
wound up with high number of penalties. And then the
Broncos who finished fourth in flags but number one in
penalty yardage accumulated and it was actually by a lot too.
They had over one hundred. They had one penalty fewer
(03:35):
than the Jags, but still had like a one hundred
and was it like one hundred and seventy yards more
or something like that. I think it was.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
I don't remember, well, Ben, It all depends on what
the penalty is.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Like you can have you get a downfield PI versus
a bunch of false starts.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
It's a wildly different, entirely different, right, And we know
that that's one of the things that they had with
Roley Moss because it led to explosive plays for the
posing offense but also gave them rate field position. So yeah,
there were some false starts, maybe some holding, some things
like that, But you want to make sure that you
keep your penalties down man, because once again, if you
(04:11):
find yourself in a situation offensively, could you imagine you're
in a two minute offense, you're moving the ball down
the field, you have to get a score, whether there's
three points or there's seven points. But then on exposive play,
that you think that you move right in a position
for the game winning field goal. Guess what it is
now called back because of holding or the one that
(04:32):
drops coaches crazy is formation. Yeah, it's like, how the
hell do you not know how to line up? Should
we practiced this? But this is why officials are so key.
And I wish that the officials were more involved with
some of the one on one activity because we know
that that's an offensive drill and I hate that drill.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Yeah, I think there are there are some penalties you
just can't you can't control, Right, there's some things. It's
it's it's free motion of the game. You know, there's
there's just two much movement motion happening at high speed. Kid,
lining up is the easiest thing on earth to control.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Well, right, we know that's easy.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
But it was a point of emphasis going back but
two years ago, and it really hurts, specially.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
With the tackles, those tackles in Kansas City lining up
already in the back.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Yeah, yeah, so you don't.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
You don't want to be in a situation like that,
But it's important that players know the rule. But once again,
I will reiterate this, and I know it sounds crazy
for professional athletes not to know all the specifics of
the rules. It's like, you know the rules from a
surface level, right, but you don't know it in the detail,
(05:41):
from the wording standpoint. To have the league classifies it,
which actually changed some of the things that you see,
because I think Romeo Dobbs last year when the Packers
came here, it was Roley Mussels called for pass interference
and everyone was so upset, like, no, that's agreedious. He
just you guys just picking on him because he's white corner.
I'm like, no, No, this particular call was legit because
(06:04):
he reached out, he grabbed Romeo dobs hand trying to
pull himself back in phase, and that violates the rule
within it.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Helf can't do that, right, So that's yeah, I think
that's that's good. It's also interesting to see which coaches
have an incredible grasp of the rule book versus which
ones do not. Yeah, him, like Rabel is very, very
cognizant of the rule book. Maybe not in his personal life,
but it's certainly on the field that I can make
(06:34):
that choke the the harball Jim Harbaugh, remember the free
kick at halftime. You know, his right, his grasp of
the rule book. There are there are some coaches out
there that you really really have a meticulous nature with
that when it comes to that rule book, and it's
certainly fascinating to see who has a better grasp of
it than others. Like when when a coach is sitting
over there on the sidelines having a referee explain something
(06:55):
to them versus the guy who's dictating to the referee,
he's like, hey, wait a minute, now you know X,
Y and Z rule. And so it's it's always kind
of fun for me to see that that sort of
thing may may not be fun forbody else, but it's
fun for me to see which coaches are really like
rules nerds and know this kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Well, some of that could be a good thing and
it could be a bad thing at the same time.
Good thing because you know the rules, you can explain
it to the referees, you can explain it to your team.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
It can be a bad.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Thing because you know the rules so well. Then you're
very antagonistic towards official, which now makes him look at
you in a very different way because now you're yelling,
you're screaming at the fishus I don't know.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
People sit at home and.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
They yell about calls being blown and not the right call,
and I saw that. Listen, I'm gonna tell you it's
really difficult to be a referee. But remember, just like players,
referees are human, right, and just think about it. Then
if you were offishal and you're getting the earfull from
the head coach, he's yelling, he's screaming, you know, spit's
(07:56):
coming out of his mouth. You're trying to explain to
him he doesn't want to hear it. Then next thing
you know, you're running on that coach's sideline and you
run into it.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Now it makes it worse now the next couple of calls.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
I'm not saying that referees are doing this in a
very malicious way purposely, but I understand if they do.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Yeah, I'll I'll lean into this with my own experience. Okay,
you know there was I think I've told the story
about refereend high school football games. You know that at
ourself state playoffs, and uh, there was a coach that
was given me the business on the sideline, I mean,
just giving me the in my ear all. It didn't
matter what it was. He was just every complained about something.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Was it your coach?
Speaker 1 (08:39):
No, I'm refing, Oh oh, you're official, said you know,
I'm I'm on the sideline there, you know, and in
my spot and blue did you not see the blue?
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Did you not see they?
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Did?
Speaker 3 (08:48):
You know?
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Just in my ear every play ask if and it
didn't matter, like because we had We ended up going
back and look at the table on this game and
this guy was wrong about eighty percent of the things
he was trying to point out, but he was. And
I got to the point where there was a marginal
call that could have gone either way, and I was like,
bleep to this mother bleeper, and oh so it was
a very subjective. It was a subjective call that I,
(09:10):
in my head went against the guy. And now I
didn't determine the game, but you know, it's like I
went against the guy just because I was like, I
was tired of him in my ear all game. This
is deep into the third quarter and he just been
giving me the business all game and I was I
was sick of it. And so it was a margin
call could have gone either way, and I was like,
you know what.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
I'm going to on the shy side of caution, and
I'm gonna.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Statute of limitations over on this one. I mean it's
been you know, this has been like twenty years.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
But but listen, I don't I don't blame referees for
you know, being very emotionals. Like a coach is yelling
at you, he's berating you, he's calling you everything but
the child of God, and you. By professional standards, you're
supposed to sit there and you're supposed to take it.
You're supposed to be as professional as possible. Yes, coach,
(09:56):
I got that. I understand that, but this guy is
constantly yelled and screaming, and it's hard not to be
human and go, you know what, this is a very
subjective call. And here's what I saw the coach. Probably
anyone else saw something else. But I'm gonna settle this
coach down by making this particular call. Hopefully it would
(10:18):
kind of get him to chill the hell out. So
that is really interesting. But I'm glad the Broncos had officials,
but I wish the officials were there all the time.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
I think it would make it better for everybody, more
equitable for everybody. Anyway, there was the notes out of
camp today. I think everybody saw Henderson. Henderson got carted
off that. I think that one's out there. It's just
certainly better around the the internet. No word yet from
the team on the nature as of you know, us
recording this, but it was a pretty I say, look
(10:53):
like a pretty grim thing. Now we're not allowed to
speculate on the nature of injuries because that's part of
the media rules, but I will say that he went
down during a drill. Everybody took me around him. He
was helped to the cart by medical personnel. Henderson's a
guy who tore his achilles if you remember that joint
practice with the Niners last August, and wound up missing
the entire season. So you know that that's we're all
(11:15):
root from. I think Hennerson is a smart guy. I
think he's a good guy. I think just bad injury. Luck.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Man.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
It sucks, and it didn't it didn't look too too
good for him, you know there on that one. We
did get Courtland back in the pads and everything today,
so all the conspiracy theories there can stop.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
I've wait, wait, you had a little conspiracy ten to
four ahead theory.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
See, because you're the conspiracy guy and the one time
I break it up, You're like, oh, no, that's that's
a stupid.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
But you brought it up, right, because he's a lot more.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Than one day in a row that he was missing.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
I'm just saying you brought it up. She brought it up.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
I had to listen to it and I had to
give you my response. So there's there's nothing ill going on.
Cortland came back. He's an injurcate part of what le
Broncos want to do. And oh, by the way, when
a guy is out, whether it's getting a VET day
or guy's injured injured, God forbid, it gives all the
(12:14):
other guys in the room an opportunity to get valuable
reps with a first team or second team that they
wouldn't ordinillly received.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Yeah, and that if we saw Pat Bryant kind of
step up into that, it's one of those things. I
think Pat is kind of kind of pushing himself into
that wide receiver three roll in terms of next man up.
And I will say that if you are somebody it's
interesting that Courtland was the one that was out because
if you are somebody that's looking ahead of season here,
Pat Brian might be the next might be the next guy.
Cortland might be on his way after this year.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
See, I don't like to look at it that way,
but because I know, I know, it's part of the business.
So you have to, uh, the team will eventually have
to move on from Courtland Sutton. But the part that
I disagree with is automatically inserting Pat Bryant into the
that role as wide receiver three with the potential to
(13:04):
replace Courtland. Because I've said this before, and you and
I have gone back and forth on this, and you know,
people getting into the.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Wide receiver one, wide receiver two.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
But it's like when I hear these things about Troy
Franklin and Pat Bryant and like we e leap frogging
over Marvin Mimmes, And Marvin is having an excellent camp himself,
and he's aggressively aggressively I say again, letting people know
because anytime he has an explosive and is near the
(13:34):
old team building, guess what he does. He throws the
ball at the building.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Well, I mean we've seen that because just spiking the
ball off the building and all that kind of stuff. Yeah,
I don't want to take away from the camp Marvin
Mims is having I just I'm not holding my breath.
You've had Marvin Mims here for three seasons now and
you just have it done bleep with him. No, but
that when he gets out there, he balls, but you
don't use it.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
It's not his fault.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
I'm not saying it is his fault. I'm very pointedly
saying it's not his fault. I just I don't have
any faith in this coaching staff to use him.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Okay, but then if that's that's the case, and we
both agree, how do you how do some automatically leap
frog and put Bryant and Troy Franklin ahead of him?
Now there are they are? They're all having great camps
in their own run right right. But all Marvin is
doing is showing, man, this is what I've been doing
the entire time.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
I'm with you. We've talked about a NonStop on this show.
Like I'm I'm with you on that, Like I Marvin
Mims is criminally underutilized by this coaching staff. This this
this head coach who specifically points out that he's the
one that's the shot caller, the decision maker, and then
forgets about his run game. And forgets about his most
explosive weapon. And now they went out and paid a
bunch to acquire Jalen Wattle, So they better use Jalen Wattle.
(14:50):
Because if you paid all that to not use your
most explosive weapons, I'm asking, what are we doing here?
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Well, because they gave up the draft camp, what they
gave up for Jaalen Waddle, of course they're gonna make it,
make a conservative effort, and they're going to be intentional
about trying to get Jayleen Waddle the ball. Like when
we look at Johnny Barron, right, he's got a tough
hell because you got Rolly Mosson, you have passer ten.
(15:17):
So getting him on the field, they got to pick
and choose their spots. With Jalen Waddle, they don't really
have to do that. They know what the spots they
can actually put him in and he can sell right away.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
And for me, all that's going to say is that
you could.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Have done the same thing with other players, including Marvin Mams,
but you didn't do it. But because you gave up
the draft capital, you pounded at the table. You know,
you didn't go after you know, just one year, but
you went after them two years and you finally got him.
You got to make yourself right. Yeah, and making yourself right,
there's a potential to make yourself wrong about another player.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Yeah, there's that. Mims did pull up a little bit today,
left earlier, Mims and Adkins, but they both left under
their own power. That wasn't like Hennison where he got
carted off. So I imagine they had a little cramp or
something like that. We'll see, we'll see it again. Not
really allowed to speculate on that kind of stuff as
as that's part of the media rules for covering the team.
As far as that goes, we did get an interesting uh.
(16:11):
Like I said, Sutton and Benito, we're back today. So
for those that have been worried about those two, they
were back. I will say that Red Murdoch got a
force fumble. Now I was in seven on sevens, but
still uh. To Torrian york he is everywhere. Seventy of
the earth is covered by water and the rest is
(16:32):
by torrit knos kidding.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
No that that would be Dion San's pastor right right right.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
No, Tory york Man is an inside backer. He's the
he's the UDFA and everybody's on the Red Murdoch thing.
But he I'm telling you, I want to talk about
that when we come back. We had to break here.
Torrian York's making a name for himself. Looks like to me,
I will see, We'll see how that continues to go,
especially in these preseason games. We got to break Broncos
country and night back after this, Welcome back to a
(16:58):
Broncos Country tonight, Ben all Bright, Nick Ferguson short show
post Rockies addition, and we were talking a little bit
about camp today back in pads for the Broncos. Interesting day,
Red Murdoch got of forced fumble off Jolee in sevens Uh,
Tory and York is the undrafted linebacker. They drafted Murdoch
(17:19):
and they undrafted was it was Tory and York. And
I gotta be honest with the man. York has put
together a string of decent practice. Is when he gets reps,
doesn't get a lot of them. You know, he's down
there on the depth chart, he's you know, he's in
that third string tier, not get a lot of them.
But when he gets opportunity, it's popping. And I know
a young Nick Ferguson can always appreciate somebody making the
most of the reps.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Yeah, I mean the reps are valuable, they're they're important,
and as camp moves on, they're they're The reps are
going to be reduced as the team starts to prepare
for the week one matchup, and you hope that at
this particular point you've stacked the deck, you've added as
many positive plays as you can. Now, the reps are
(18:00):
not gonna be equal, right, because the rule in the NFL,
we're gonna treat everyone fair fair, right, So you may say, well,
at the end of the camp, you look at it
and say, well, I had thirty five forty reps. Someone
else may have had seventy five. But it goes back
to quality reps. What did you do when you were
(18:22):
in And it goes far beyond just just the responsibility
at your position, Right, did you set someone else up?
And even though it may be in uh seven on
seven drill team run, whatever it is, even those special
teams pushing a punch it push it, punching the ball up,
ripping the ball out. Because Red and Murdoch, that was
(18:43):
one of the reasons that the team added in because
the number of forms force fumbles and turnovers during this
time in college. But you got to maximize your your reps. Man,
You got you have to stack days because there're gonna
be moments when you come out you're not gonna really
want to be out there. Yeah, it's a game you love,
but you're mentally you're not into it because guess what,
(19:06):
your body is sore, right, And I'm sure that's what
a lot of guys are fighting through right now, because tomorrow,
if I'm not mistaken, I guess they sort of have
somewhat of a simulated scrimmage, but I don't think it's
gonna be you know what it used to be or whatever.
But my point of saying that, Ben, is that your
(19:26):
body is sore. That scrimmage is going to be an
opportunity for you to set yourself aside from someone else,
because guess what, everyone is sore.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Your here flexes are sore, your shoulders are sore.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
So if you can come out and excel and take
advantage of someone who's just kind of.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Lunching right, they're just trying to get through the day.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Now, when the coaches go back in the meeting room,
they're gonna go you know what that young Benjamin all right, man,
you know he started to making some plays, but man,
he really stood out today. That's how you want individuals
to speak about you. That's why you have to continue
to stack you days. You have to still continue to
build those bricks because at the end of the day,
no matter what happens, if you a guy on a bubble,
(20:06):
you want to say you gave yourself the best opportunity
to make this team.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
It gives me a chance to talk about tomorrow. As
a matter of fact, Saturday, I will be out there
KOA nine a m. On the air myself Ryan at
Worse nine to noon. But I want to tell you guys,
if you're a fan that's attending Broncos training camp, you
can stop by our KOA promo tant in the fan
area and register to win a pair of tickets to
both Broncos home preseason games. One winner each day will
(20:30):
go home with tickets to both games. That's from the
official home of the Broncos here at k oh Hey.
It little bumps and bruises, but so far other than
the Matt henningson thing. Man, it's it's looking like it's
been Okay. I was talking with somebody earlier today about
the health. You know, String and the Broncos have been
incredibly lucky with the health stuff. Obviously the bow Knicks thing,
(20:52):
it hurt at the end of the year, and the
question kind of got banned around. Everybody knows, you know,
as bo goes, this team goes absolutely, But who's the
next person that you absolutely cannot afford to have go
down with injury? And oh that's easy. We went back
and forth as well I would. I mean a lot
of people are saying, certain I wound up settling for
(21:12):
Zach Allen.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Well, I was gonna go with one A, one B.
Both of those guys are our key. Now one can
argue and say, okay, well, if PS two goes down,
you have either Chris Abrams drain or Johnny Baron who
can step into that role. Obviously, know that the level
(21:34):
of production is not gonna be the same as having
PS two out there, and it's gonna change a little
what vance Joseph can and wants to do his defense
Zach Allen losing him that is going to be pivotal. Now,
Jack Allen is not a Warren Sap, He's not an
Aaron Donald. But what he is is still a disruptive
(21:55):
in his own right because we've seen that all the
training camp, whether it's on the path, whether it was
on run plays, there was penetration by Zach Allen. And
I know he doesn't look that part as a men
is saying disruptive type of defensive lineman. But hey man,
he walks in those shoes. Well and if he's not
(22:15):
up front, you say, okay, well, well Savey and Jones
step into that role. Wazer Rique or Tyler Odam, We
don't know, because to me, if you don't have a
Zach Allen, it puts more pressure on the team because
there's no JFM.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
And this is why.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
Everyone was like, oh man, yeah, the team can get
passed with JFM.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
You know why, because you got freaking Zach Allen.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Right, then you're gonna have Malcolm Roach and Jaza Rique
rotating through that, you know, through that that other JFM role.
But he's a talent, not Zach Allen, Titans not well JFM.
I'm saying there's a reason that Titans paid him. Yeah,
he's he's a good player and Zach all Yeah, you
can't afford to lose that up because it's the injury
that makes everything go like the engine up front that
gets that pressure that allows things on the back end
(23:00):
to happen in this defense. And you know, I'm sure
is a dB you can you can understand and appreciate,
you know, having those guys up front tied up, those
blockers getting that pressure forces quarterbacks to speed up the clock,
they make a bad decision and then it allows those
those dbs to feast, you know, and trying to get turnovers.
And that is in the point of emphasis for the
Broncos this year. But I think if there's a player
(23:20):
that is as valuable, and I'd say as valuable as
Bo but you know, at the end of the day,
if there's a player you absolutely can't have go down,
it's Zach Allen Well.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
I mean, speaking of which, you know, the pass rush
and the coverage are married together, right, and one helps
the other. If you hold up coverage in the back
end allows those guys to get home.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
If they're able to get.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Penetration either one on one or even get pressured on
the double team, it forces the ball come out early.
You're able to make plays on the back end. So
when you talk about feasting and you look at these
two position groups.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
Hey man, you're trying to.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Feast like it's the Renaissance Festival, right and eat on
those big turkey legs. And that's where the Broncos want
to be. We've seen a little of bit last year.
We've seen what Zach Allen has done thus far in practice,
and I believe the total turnovers can increase from what
they were last year based on the pressure that you're
(24:19):
able to generate up front. And we know Nick Bonito,
John Nan Cooper, Jona Ellis, H. Robinson, we know what
those guys can do. But to even make those guys'
lives easier, someone's got to command the double team, which
is gonna.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
Mean one on one for someone. You know when you
won on WANs, we can't put you on the field, coach, right,
I can't do it.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Yeah, And that's that's pretty straightforward. I just I thought
that was an interesting, you know, sort of mini debate
that kind of sprung out of a conversation and it
kind of got me thinking, like, you know, this team
has got enough depth that it can survive most of this,
you know, most an injury or here or there to
most of this stuff, and not those two guys. I
think I think that changes the dimensions of idemic, uh
(25:00):
of this team. We did have football on the TV
last night, the Hall of Fame game, Carolina Panthers taking
on the Arizona gonna suck this year's And.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Yeah, I mean speed of which I mean. There was
a little crow that I mean. I know it's only
the first preseason game, but there's a little crow that
you have.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
The refuse refuse the plate set out for me as
I walked in here, I threw it directly the trash.
And here's why. You know, Carson Beck was up against
a third stringer. Doesn't actually count. So we're gonna we're
just gonna pretend that didn't happen.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
You're gonna do that.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
This is the same thing that people said when Shadora
Sanders started against shell line of Panthers starting defense on
the road.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Oh you know, third team. No, it wasn't. It was
the first thing. But for Carson Back, no.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Matter who he played against, here's what I was looking for.
What was his pocket presence.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Like he looked He looked in command of the offense.
As much as much crap as I've talked about the kids,
he looked in command of the offense on that on
those earlier.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
He threw don to the tight end in the corner,
throwing right to the pile, just like you practice it. Right,
he dropped it right in in the bucket. And the
biggest thing is he didn't turn the ball over. Yeah right,
He could have easily turned the ball over whether he
was with the starters or the third team.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
And so he looked great.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
And look, I know it's on the price preseason game,
but I love seeing both of the young quarterbacks compete,
Carson Back.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
And Haines King.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
It just took me back to that game but about
two years ago in Athens, where it came down to
like who had the ball last and who was going
to Yes, that's exactly, but this time, this time Haines
King ended up on the right side of things, opposed
to crossing back beating him when he was a quarterback
(26:50):
for the University of Georgia.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Well, that's what I was gonna ask, like, because you
know this is another Georgia Georgia Tech deal. Yeah, I know,
you know it's so it was certainly fun to sort
of see that play itself back out. He's King finished
twenty one to thirty four. Hundred and eighty yards, two touchdowns,
no intercessions. He also ran it three times for thirty
nine yards excuse me, and a touchdown. On the flip
(27:13):
side of that, the Arizona Carlos Carson Beck fifteen nineteen
hundred and eight yards, one touchdown. He did take a sack, though.
Beck had two carries for three yards before he gave
way to Keaton Slovas, who went nine of ten one
hundred and six passing yards and a touchdown himself. Not
a lot of defense in that game, but it was
funny to me because there were some tweets about the
(27:35):
Hall of Fame game and it was like, you know,
people are like, yeah, football's back, and in twenty minutes,
you're gonna turn it off, you know that kind of stuff.
I don't think anybody turned that one off last night.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
That felt.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
I mean, that game was fun to watch.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
It was and like for look for football fans and
fantasy lovers, hey, they love those types of big score
types of games. Me, as a former defensive player, I
don't I.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Want to see there was no defense happened in that game.
But it was fun to watch them punch and counter punch. Yes,
even though there's no defense happened.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Yeah, see that was fun, like for me, a great
game that I'm like, Oh, that game was awesome. The
score is six to three, right right, I love Everyone
hates that, but the defensive player in me, I love
that type of game because I want to see the
defense show up because listen, we know this all the
(28:26):
regular season stats therefore for the offense for just that
the regular season, but when it comes to whether the
rubber meets the road and you're trying to advance in
the playoffs, this is where you need your defense to
show up and show out. And that's why I like
the low scoring game. But for the first game of
(28:46):
the NFL twenty twenty six campaign, that was great, showing
the great outing for both of those teams.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
Yeah, the Carolina Panthers did not run the ball as
much as Arizona date. Arizona Bam Knight ran at twelve
times sixty yards, Kinder fourteen times for free efty seven yards,
even have a Hale six times for twenty three yards.
Cardinals were committed to running the ball, which is going
to be the crux of what they.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
Do on off their hallmark.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
Right on the other side of things, Carolina spread around.
I mean Mike David's got a few carries, highest had
eight carries. The interesting ones to me, I mean at ten,
little brother Hetchins, little brother got four carries or twelveies.
But Aj Dillon, the former Green Bay Packers running back
who ate himself out of the league, came back last
year with Philly and had like, you know, had like
twelve carries last year, trying to make a comeback. And
(29:29):
he got a few carries for the Panthers in that
We got three carries for eighteen yards, did score a
did score a touchdown in that one. He also caught
a ball for eighteen yards as well. Dylan might as
far as that big back like, he might be carving
a little bit of roll there in Carolina.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
Man.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
The end of the day, man, it's finding ways to
extend your career, whatever the team needs or wants from you,
being able to step into that role and own it.
So I'm hoping that Dylan is able to kind of
find a home for himself. He's a you know, big
body back, and even if they asked him, hey, look man,
we need you to play a little fullback, You're like,
(30:10):
hell yeah. So that means that's one less fullback in
eh back and keep on the roster. And now you
still have a young young runner back to kind of
carry that low and just being somewhat of a bruise.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
And so yeah, man, why not a.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Couple of players with connections here in Colorado? Xavier Weaver
the wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals three catches for
thirty one yards on five targets. On the Panthers side
of things, Jimmy Horn junior former Seve buff led the
lad the Panthers in receiving four catches for forty four
(30:45):
yards on seven targets in that one long, long reception
of seventeen for him. Yeah, I mean, anyway, it was
to me, it was. It was a fun way to
start the season. You definitely don't want to see a
games games that don't have defense like that at all,
you know, most of the time. But for a first
game back Hall of Fame game, which by the way,
(31:07):
is you noted when we're watching last night they really
updated that stadium in that field. That was kind of fun.
It was kind of fun to have the punch counter
punch and watched Carolina come all the way back there,
you know, at the end, and you know, and and
and win it with Haines King runs in for that
that five yard touchdown with two seconds left in the game.
So I just, you know, I thought there are there
(31:29):
were worse ways to start the season. That felt like
a good win to start.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
Yeah, that was a great one to start.
Speaker 2 (31:34):
And I don't know if that play was called by design,
but it was quite familiar to me watching Haines King
play as a member the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets, especially when
you play here in bold against to see you buffs,
how they open up.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
The formation right, spread everyone out, at everyone.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
Running down in the low red zone and it just
open up to see his part of the Haines King
was like, I'm gonna do what I do best and
able to get the ball.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
In the end zone.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
And I'm happy for him because here's a guy who was,
you know, early on in the season last year college
football season, who was mentioned as possibly being in the
Heisman race. Yeah, right, and then to go undrafted, un
freaking drafted. But to make a play like that when
(32:26):
everyone's watching, right, everyone's watching. It's the start of football.
It may not mean anything in the grand scheme of
you know, wins and losses. But I can tell you
what that means a lot for Haines King. And if
you're Dave kanellis, you're thinking about keeping three quarterbacks on
your roster because Bryce Young cannot do those types of things.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Yeah, I wanted I wanted Haines King here. I thought,
you know, if if anybody, if anybody could get you know,
a little bit out of Haynes's a guy who got
Taysom Hill, you know that. Lets Sean Payton, you know,
get ahold of Hayines King. I thought he'd be a
perfect little understudy for bow Knicks. But ultimately not the
not the case, and not how that worked out. Andy
Reid came out today and said that he's not gonna
play Pat Mahomes in the preseason. Now we know Mahomes
(33:09):
is slated to be the guy to start against the
Denver Broncos the season opener September fourteenth at Arrowhead Stadium
Monday Night Football, but it does not look like at
this point that he's gonna play in the preseason. Read
when asked today, said quote, I mean there's a pretty
good chance I don't play him, and percentages are leading
that way. I don't know if I'll play him in
(33:29):
the second or third game. I don't know that, but
percentages probably lead against doing that. And let of the
other guys. We've got new people in those positions behind him,
get who need some work. Get that the more reps
they get, the better.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
Well.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
Look, I'll say this, before they're gonna run Patrick Mahomes
out there against the Denver broncos Man, I don't wish
that for him, even though we live he in broncos Country,
and you know, we go against chief Kingdom all the
time because basically what you're doing, you have a guy
(34:03):
who look at it from an animal kingdom standpoint. He's
a wounded wilderbe right, and he's running around with meat
draws on, and he's facing a bunch of wolves and
they're not gonna I mean, I don't see Nick Benito,
Johnny Cooper, Jona Ellis or Q Robinson looking to take
it easy on Patrick Mahomes being as though he's a
Super Bowl MVP and he may be laboring a little no, no, no.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
That's when you go in for the kill. Right. Isn't
that the whole thing with sharks.
Speaker 2 (34:30):
When they smell blood in the water, Right, they go
to kill, Yeah, and that's what you have to do.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
So hey man, no sympathy here in this game, right.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
Nope, we gotta punch out on this one. Appreciate you
guys being along for the ride. Tuning Tomorrow Saturday, nine
am here on Kowa we'll be carrying practice live. Appreciate
you guys. We had to break BCT back of this
Welcome to a Broncos Country Tonight short show, post Rockies edition.
(00:03):
Benjamin Bright, Nick Ferguson here with you and only off
the show by shouting out our guy Grant Smith joining
the ranks of fatherhood. I'm not going to get too
deep in the weeds on on the specifics there. That's
his story to tell. But you guys noticed that Grant's
been out a little bit. He's gonna be out for
roughly the next six weeks. Well, he's doing his thing,
(00:27):
doing his thing, welcoming his newborn into the not giving
any any information away there, welcoming his newborn into the
into the world. And and that was this morning, happy
and healthy, and we're all excited for Grant. Congratulations to
Grant on that. With that, it was back to pads
for the Denver Broncos today. You know, so topic you
(00:48):
wanted to get into a week, and we can get
to that first, about referees at at at practice. Is
that is that helpful? I mean, it feels to me
like that would be helpful, especially if there's focal points
from the league that they want disseminated. But I don't know,
having not been in those shoes before, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Well, I mean I would like as a player to
have the referees there all the time, right, and that
that would be essential way for the league to have
somewhat of a stock pile of officials because now each
one of those guys are there every single day, their
local guys in the area wherever the given team is,
(01:27):
and they're essentially helping both the offense and defense improve
on penalties. Because let's not forget I mean the Broncos
were up there in the league as far as drop catches.
They were also high in the league as far as
penalties were concerned. And when we look at a lot
of the games that you know, some of the games
that they lost, it was because of those penalties that
(01:50):
were either drive killers or drive extenders for their posing
offense and the defense. So being able to have officials
at practice it helps with knowing the rules. And I
know that sounds crazy, Ben that you say, Okay, well,
shouldn't all the NFL players know all the rules?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
No they don't.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
I know, I know the coaches some coaches don't know
the rules.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah they don't.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
And sometimes there's a little pushback, like earlier in the
week there was a play where the Broncos were called
for somewhat of a pick like a movie pick in basketball,
and there was a lot of conversation and dialogue with
defensive players Sean Payton working the referees. But once again,
just like a pick in basketball, you cannot move and
there's certain aspects that you can, so having officials there
(02:39):
it helps with the preparation of what is to come.
When the Broncos favor faced their first preseason opponent, which
is the Atlanta Falcons next week.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Yeah, the Broncos finished fourth in total flags last year,
but number one in penalty yardage accumulated. So definitely a problem,
definitely a thing of concern. However, I will say three
of the top five teams did make the playoffs. You
had the Jags, the Houston Texans, and the Broncos finishing
three four five in flags. Now, the Titans and Cowboys
were one and two, but you know, so it just
(03:12):
because you get penalties doesn't mean you can't overcome it,
but it is you know, it is sort of fascinating
to me that one division had the Titans, Jags, and Texans.
Also Dallas and New York were in another. Those divisions
wound up with high number of penalties. And then the
Broncos who finished fourth in flags but number one in
penalty yardage accumulated and it was actually by a lot too.
They had over one hundred. They had one penalty fewer
(03:35):
than the Jags, but still had like a one hundred
and was it like one hundred and seventy yards more
or something like that. I think it was.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
I don't remember, well, Ben, It all depends on what
the penalty is.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Like you can have you get a downfield PI versus
a bunch of false starts.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
It's a wildly different, entirely different, right, And we know
that that's one of the things that they had with
Roley Moss because it led to explosive plays for the
posing offense but also gave them rate field position. So yeah,
there were some false starts, maybe some holding, some things
like that, But you want to make sure that you
keep your penalties down man, because once again, if you
(04:11):
find yourself in a situation offensively, could you imagine you're
in a two minute offense, you're moving the ball down
the field, you have to get a score, whether there's
three points or there's seven points. But then on exposive play,
that you think that you move right in a position
for the game winning field goal. Guess what it is
now called back because of holding or the one that
(04:32):
drops coaches crazy is formation. Yeah, it's like, how the
hell do you not know how to line up? Should
we practiced this? But this is why officials are so key.
And I wish that the officials were more involved with
some of the one on one activity because we know
that that's an offensive drill and I hate that drill.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Yeah, I think there are there are some penalties you
just can't you can't control, Right, there's some things. It's
it's it's free motion of the game. You know, there's
there's just two much movement motion happening at high speed. Kid,
lining up is the easiest thing on earth to control.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Well, right, we know that's easy.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
But it was a point of emphasis going back but
two years ago, and it really hurts, specially.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
With the tackles, those tackles in Kansas City lining up
already in the back.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Yeah, yeah, so you don't.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
You don't want to be in a situation like that,
But it's important that players know the rule. But once again,
I will reiterate this, and I know it sounds crazy
for professional athletes not to know all the specifics of
the rules. It's like, you know the rules from a
surface level, right, but you don't know it in the detail,
(05:41):
from the wording standpoint. To have the league classifies it,
which actually changed some of the things that you see,
because I think Romeo Dobbs last year when the Packers
came here, it was Roley Mussels called for pass interference
and everyone was so upset, like, no, that's agreedious. He
just you guys just picking on him because he's white corner.
I'm like, no, No, this particular call was legit because
(06:04):
he reached out, he grabbed Romeo dobs hand trying to
pull himself back in phase, and that violates the rule
within it.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Helf can't do that, right, So that's yeah, I think
that's that's good. It's also interesting to see which coaches
have an incredible grasp of the rule book versus which
ones do not. Yeah, him, like Rabel is very, very
cognizant of the rule book. Maybe not in his personal life,
but it's certainly on the field that I can make
(06:34):
that choke the the harball Jim Harbaugh, remember the free
kick at halftime. You know, his right, his grasp of
the rule book. There are there are some coaches out
there that you really really have a meticulous nature with
that when it comes to that rule book, and it's
certainly fascinating to see who has a better grasp of
it than others. Like when when a coach is sitting
over there on the sidelines having a referee explain something
(06:55):
to them versus the guy who's dictating to the referee,
he's like, hey, wait a minute, now you know X,
Y and Z rule. And so it's it's always kind
of fun for me to see that that sort of
thing may may not be fun forbody else, but it's
fun for me to see which coaches are really like
rules nerds and know this kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Well, some of that could be a good thing and
it could be a bad thing at the same time.
Good thing because you know the rules, you can explain
it to the referees, you can explain it to your team.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
It can be a bad.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Thing because you know the rules so well. Then you're
very antagonistic towards official, which now makes him look at
you in a very different way because now you're yelling,
you're screaming at the fishus I don't know.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
People sit at home and.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
They yell about calls being blown and not the right call,
and I saw that. Listen, I'm gonna tell you it's
really difficult to be a referee. But remember, just like players,
referees are human, right, and just think about it. Then
if you were offishal and you're getting the earfull from
the head coach, he's yelling, he's screaming, you know, spit's
(07:56):
coming out of his mouth. You're trying to explain to
him he doesn't want to hear it. Then next thing
you know, you're running on that coach's sideline and you
run into it.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Now it makes it worse now the next couple of calls.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
I'm not saying that referees are doing this in a
very malicious way purposely, but I understand if they do.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Yeah, I'll I'll lean into this with my own experience. Okay,
you know there was I think I've told the story
about refereend high school football games. You know that at
ourself state playoffs, and uh, there was a coach that
was given me the business on the sideline, I mean,
just giving me the in my ear all. It didn't
matter what it was. He was just every complained about something.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Was it your coach?
Speaker 1 (08:39):
No, I'm refing, Oh oh, you're official, said you know,
I'm I'm on the sideline there, you know, and in
my spot and blue did you not see the blue?
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Did you not see they?
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Did?
Speaker 3 (08:48):
You know?
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Just in my ear every play ask if and it
didn't matter, like because we had We ended up going
back and look at the table on this game and
this guy was wrong about eighty percent of the things
he was trying to point out, but he was. And
I got to the point where there was a marginal
call that could have gone either way, and I was like,
bleep to this mother bleeper, and oh so it was
a very subjective. It was a subjective call that I,
(09:10):
in my head went against the guy. And now I
didn't determine the game, but you know, it's like I
went against the guy just because I was like, I
was tired of him in my ear all game. This
is deep into the third quarter and he just been
giving me the business all game and I was I
was sick of it. And so it was a margin
call could have gone either way, and I was like,
you know what.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
I'm going to on the shy side of caution, and
I'm gonna.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Statute of limitations over on this one. I mean it's
been you know, this has been like twenty years.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
But but listen, I don't I don't blame referees for
you know, being very emotionals. Like a coach is yelling
at you, he's berating you, he's calling you everything but
the child of God, and you. By professional standards, you're
supposed to sit there and you're supposed to take it.
You're supposed to be as professional as possible. Yes, coach,
(09:56):
I got that. I understand that, but this guy is
constantly yelled and screaming, and it's hard not to be
human and go, you know what, this is a very
subjective call. And here's what I saw the coach. Probably
anyone else saw something else. But I'm gonna settle this
coach down by making this particular call. Hopefully it would
(10:18):
kind of get him to chill the hell out. So
that is really interesting. But I'm glad the Broncos had officials,
but I wish the officials were there all the time.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
I think it would make it better for everybody, more
equitable for everybody. Anyway, there was the notes out of
camp today. I think everybody saw Henderson. Henderson got carted
off that. I think that one's out there. It's just
certainly better around the the internet. No word yet from
the team on the nature as of you know, us
recording this, but it was a pretty I say, look
(10:53):
like a pretty grim thing. Now we're not allowed to
speculate on the nature of injuries because that's part of
the media rules, but I will say that he went
down during a drill. Everybody took me around him. He
was helped to the cart by medical personnel. Henderson's a
guy who tore his achilles if you remember that joint
practice with the Niners last August, and wound up missing
the entire season. So you know that that's we're all
(11:15):
root from. I think Hennerson is a smart guy. I
think he's a good guy. I think just bad injury. Luck.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Man.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
It sucks, and it didn't it didn't look too too
good for him, you know there on that one. We
did get Courtland back in the pads and everything today,
so all the conspiracy theories there can stop.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
I've wait, wait, you had a little conspiracy ten to
four ahead theory.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
See, because you're the conspiracy guy and the one time
I break it up, You're like, oh, no, that's that's
a stupid.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
But you brought it up, right, because he's a lot more.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Than one day in a row that he was missing.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
I'm just saying you brought it up. She brought it up.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
I had to listen to it and I had to
give you my response. So there's there's nothing ill going on.
Cortland came back. He's an injurcate part of what le
Broncos want to do. And oh, by the way, when
a guy is out, whether it's getting a VET day
or guy's injured injured, God forbid, it gives all the
(12:14):
other guys in the room an opportunity to get valuable
reps with a first team or second team that they
wouldn't ordinillly received.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Yeah, and that if we saw Pat Bryant kind of
step up into that, it's one of those things. I
think Pat is kind of kind of pushing himself into
that wide receiver three roll in terms of next man up.
And I will say that if you are somebody it's
interesting that Courtland was the one that was out because
if you are somebody that's looking ahead of season here,
Pat Brian might be the next might be the next guy.
Cortland might be on his way after this year.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
See, I don't like to look at it that way,
but because I know, I know, it's part of the business.
So you have to, uh, the team will eventually have
to move on from Courtland Sutton. But the part that
I disagree with is automatically inserting Pat Bryant into the
that role as wide receiver three with the potential to
(13:04):
replace Courtland. Because I've said this before, and you and
I have gone back and forth on this, and you know,
people getting into the.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Wide receiver one, wide receiver two.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
But it's like when I hear these things about Troy
Franklin and Pat Bryant and like we e leap frogging
over Marvin Mimmes, And Marvin is having an excellent camp himself,
and he's aggressively aggressively I say again, letting people know
because anytime he has an explosive and is near the
(13:34):
old team building, guess what he does. He throws the
ball at the building.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Well, I mean we've seen that because just spiking the
ball off the building and all that kind of stuff. Yeah,
I don't want to take away from the camp Marvin
Mims is having I just I'm not holding my breath.
You've had Marvin Mims here for three seasons now and
you just have it done bleep with him. No, but
that when he gets out there, he balls, but you
don't use it.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
It's not his fault.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
I'm not saying it is his fault. I'm very pointedly
saying it's not his fault. I just I don't have
any faith in this coaching staff to use him.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Okay, but then if that's that's the case, and we
both agree, how do you how do some automatically leap
frog and put Bryant and Troy Franklin ahead of him?
Now there are they are? They're all having great camps
in their own run right right. But all Marvin is
doing is showing, man, this is what I've been doing
the entire time.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
I'm with you. We've talked about a NonStop on this show.
Like I'm I'm with you on that, Like I Marvin
Mims is criminally underutilized by this coaching staff. This this
this head coach who specifically points out that he's the
one that's the shot caller, the decision maker, and then
forgets about his run game. And forgets about his most
explosive weapon. And now they went out and paid a
bunch to acquire Jalen Wattle, So they better use Jalen Wattle.
(14:50):
Because if you paid all that to not use your
most explosive weapons, I'm asking, what are we doing here?
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Well, because they gave up the draft camp, what they
gave up for Jaalen Waddle, of course they're gonna make it,
make a conservative effort, and they're going to be intentional
about trying to get Jayleen Waddle the ball. Like when
we look at Johnny Barron, right, he's got a tough
hell because you got Rolly Mosson, you have passer ten.
(15:17):
So getting him on the field, they got to pick
and choose their spots. With Jalen Waddle, they don't really
have to do that. They know what the spots they
can actually put him in and he can sell right away.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
And for me, all that's going to say is that
you could.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Have done the same thing with other players, including Marvin Mams,
but you didn't do it. But because you gave up
the draft capital, you pounded at the table. You know,
you didn't go after you know, just one year, but
you went after them two years and you finally got him.
You got to make yourself right. Yeah, and making yourself right,
there's a potential to make yourself wrong about another player.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Yeah, there's that. Mims did pull up a little bit today,
left earlier, Mims and Adkins, but they both left under
their own power. That wasn't like Hennison where he got
carted off. So I imagine they had a little cramp or
something like that. We'll see, we'll see it again. Not
really allowed to speculate on that kind of stuff as
as that's part of the media rules for covering the team.
As far as that goes, we did get an interesting uh.
(16:11):
Like I said, Sutton and Benito, we're back today. So
for those that have been worried about those two, they
were back. I will say that Red Murdoch got a
force fumble. Now I was in seven on sevens, but
still uh. To Torrian york he is everywhere. Seventy of
the earth is covered by water and the rest is
(16:32):
by torrit knos kidding.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
No that that would be Dion San's pastor right right right.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
No, Tory york Man is an inside backer. He's the
he's the UDFA and everybody's on the Red Murdoch thing.
But he I'm telling you, I want to talk about
that when we come back. We had to break here.
Torrian York's making a name for himself. Looks like to me,
I will see, We'll see how that continues to go,
especially in these preseason games. We got to break Broncos
country and night back after this, Welcome back to a
(16:58):
Broncos Country tonight, Ben all Bright, Nick Ferguson short show
post Rockies addition, and we were talking a little bit
about camp today back in pads for the Broncos. Interesting day,
Red Murdoch got of forced fumble off Jolee in sevens Uh,
Tory and York is the undrafted linebacker. They drafted Murdoch
(17:19):
and they undrafted was it was Tory and York. And
I gotta be honest with the man. York has put
together a string of decent practice. Is when he gets reps,
doesn't get a lot of them. You know, he's down
there on the depth chart, he's you know, he's in
that third string tier, not get a lot of them.
But when he gets opportunity, it's popping. And I know
a young Nick Ferguson can always appreciate somebody making the
most of the reps.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Yeah, I mean the reps are valuable, they're they're important,
and as camp moves on, they're they're The reps are
going to be reduced as the team starts to prepare
for the week one matchup, and you hope that at
this particular point you've stacked the deck, you've added as
many positive plays as you can. Now, the reps are
(18:00):
not gonna be equal, right, because the rule in the NFL,
we're gonna treat everyone fair fair, right, So you may say, well,
at the end of the camp, you look at it
and say, well, I had thirty five forty reps. Someone
else may have had seventy five. But it goes back
to quality reps. What did you do when you were
(18:22):
in And it goes far beyond just just the responsibility
at your position, Right, did you set someone else up?
And even though it may be in uh seven on
seven drill team run, whatever it is, even those special
teams pushing a punch it push it, punching the ball up,
ripping the ball out. Because Red and Murdoch, that was
(18:43):
one of the reasons that the team added in because
the number of forms force fumbles and turnovers during this
time in college. But you got to maximize your your reps. Man,
You got you have to stack days because there're gonna
be moments when you come out you're not gonna really
want to be out there. Yeah, it's a game you love,
but you're mentally you're not into it because guess what,
(19:06):
your body is sore, right, And I'm sure that's what
a lot of guys are fighting through right now, because tomorrow,
if I'm not mistaken, I guess they sort of have
somewhat of a simulated scrimmage, but I don't think it's
gonna be you know what it used to be or whatever.
But my point of saying that, Ben, is that your
(19:26):
body is sore. That scrimmage is going to be an
opportunity for you to set yourself aside from someone else,
because guess what, everyone is sore.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Your here flexes are sore, your shoulders are sore.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
So if you can come out and excel and take
advantage of someone who's just kind of.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Lunching right, they're just trying to get through the day.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Now, when the coaches go back in the meeting room,
they're gonna go you know what that young Benjamin all right, man,
you know he started to making some plays, but man,
he really stood out today. That's how you want individuals
to speak about you. That's why you have to continue
to stack you days. You have to still continue to
build those bricks because at the end of the day,
no matter what happens, if you a guy on a bubble,
(20:06):
you want to say you gave yourself the best opportunity
to make this team.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
It gives me a chance to talk about tomorrow. As
a matter of fact, Saturday, I will be out there
KOA nine a m. On the air myself Ryan at
Worse nine to noon. But I want to tell you guys,
if you're a fan that's attending Broncos training camp, you
can stop by our KOA promo tant in the fan
area and register to win a pair of tickets to
both Broncos home preseason games. One winner each day will
(20:30):
go home with tickets to both games. That's from the
official home of the Broncos here at k oh Hey.
It little bumps and bruises, but so far other than
the Matt henningson thing. Man, it's it's looking like it's
been Okay. I was talking with somebody earlier today about
the health. You know, String and the Broncos have been
incredibly lucky with the health stuff. Obviously the bow Knicks thing,
(20:52):
it hurt at the end of the year, and the
question kind of got banned around. Everybody knows, you know,
as bo goes, this team goes absolutely, But who's the
next person that you absolutely cannot afford to have go
down with injury? And oh that's easy. We went back
and forth as well I would. I mean a lot
of people are saying, certain I wound up settling for
(21:12):
Zach Allen.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Well, I was gonna go with one A, one B.
Both of those guys are our key. Now one can
argue and say, okay, well, if PS two goes down,
you have either Chris Abrams drain or Johnny Baron who
can step into that role. Obviously, know that the level
(21:34):
of production is not gonna be the same as having
PS two out there, and it's gonna change a little
what vance Joseph can and wants to do his defense
Zach Allen losing him that is going to be pivotal. Now,
Jack Allen is not a Warren Sap, He's not an
Aaron Donald. But what he is is still a disruptive
(21:55):
in his own right because we've seen that all the
training camp, whether it's on the path, whether it was
on run plays, there was penetration by Zach Allen. And
I know he doesn't look that part as a men
is saying disruptive type of defensive lineman. But hey man,
he walks in those shoes. Well and if he's not
(22:15):
up front, you say, okay, well, well Savey and Jones
step into that role. Wazer Rique or Tyler Odam, We
don't know, because to me, if you don't have a
Zach Allen, it puts more pressure on the team because
there's no JFM.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
And this is why.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
Everyone was like, oh man, yeah, the team can get
passed with JFM.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
You know why, because you got freaking Zach Allen.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Right, then you're gonna have Malcolm Roach and Jaza Rique
rotating through that, you know, through that that other JFM role.
But he's a talent, not Zach Allen, Titans not well JFM.
I'm saying there's a reason that Titans paid him. Yeah,
he's he's a good player and Zach all Yeah, you
can't afford to lose that up because it's the injury
that makes everything go like the engine up front that
gets that pressure that allows things on the back end
(23:00):
to happen in this defense. And you know, I'm sure
is a dB you can you can understand and appreciate,
you know, having those guys up front tied up, those
blockers getting that pressure forces quarterbacks to speed up the clock,
they make a bad decision and then it allows those
those dbs to feast, you know, and trying to get turnovers.
And that is in the point of emphasis for the
Broncos this year. But I think if there's a player
(23:20):
that is as valuable, and I'd say as valuable as
Bo but you know, at the end of the day,
if there's a player you absolutely can't have go down,
it's Zach Allen Well.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
I mean, speaking of which, you know, the pass rush
and the coverage are married together, right, and one helps
the other. If you hold up coverage in the back
end allows those guys to get home.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
If they're able to get.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Penetration either one on one or even get pressured on
the double team, it forces the ball come out early.
You're able to make plays on the back end. So
when you talk about feasting and you look at these
two position groups.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
Hey man, you're trying to.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Feast like it's the Renaissance Festival, right and eat on
those big turkey legs. And that's where the Broncos want
to be. We've seen a little of bit last year.
We've seen what Zach Allen has done thus far in practice,
and I believe the total turnovers can increase from what
they were last year based on the pressure that you're
(24:19):
able to generate up front. And we know Nick Bonito,
John Nan Cooper, Jona Ellis, H. Robinson, we know what
those guys can do. But to even make those guys'
lives easier, someone's got to command the double team, which
is gonna.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
Mean one on one for someone. You know when you
won on WANs, we can't put you on the field, coach, right,
I can't do it.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Yeah, And that's that's pretty straightforward. I just I thought
that was an interesting, you know, sort of mini debate
that kind of sprung out of a conversation and it
kind of got me thinking, like, you know, this team
has got enough depth that it can survive most of this,
you know, most an injury or here or there to
most of this stuff, and not those two guys. I
think I think that changes the dimensions of idemic, uh
(25:00):
of this team. We did have football on the TV
last night, the Hall of Fame game, Carolina Panthers taking
on the Arizona gonna suck this year's And.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
Yeah, I mean speed of which I mean. There was
a little crow that I mean. I know it's only
the first preseason game, but there's a little crow that
you have.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
The refuse refuse the plate set out for me as
I walked in here, I threw it directly the trash.
And here's why. You know, Carson Beck was up against
a third stringer. Doesn't actually count. So we're gonna we're
just gonna pretend that didn't happen.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
You're gonna do that.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
This is the same thing that people said when Shadora
Sanders started against shell line of Panthers starting defense on
the road.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Oh you know, third team. No, it wasn't. It was
the first thing. But for Carson Back, no.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Matter who he played against, here's what I was looking for.
What was his pocket presence.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Like he looked He looked in command of the offense.
As much as much crap as I've talked about the kids,
he looked in command of the offense on that on
those earlier.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
He threw don to the tight end in the corner,
throwing right to the pile, just like you practice it. Right,
he dropped it right in in the bucket. And the
biggest thing is he didn't turn the ball over. Yeah right,
He could have easily turned the ball over whether he
was with the starters or the third team.
Speaker 3 (26:16):
And so he looked great.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
And look, I know it's on the price preseason game,
but I love seeing both of the young quarterbacks compete,
Carson Back.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
And Haines King.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
It just took me back to that game but about
two years ago in Athens, where it came down to
like who had the ball last and who was going
to Yes, that's exactly, but this time, this time Haines
King ended up on the right side of things, opposed
to crossing back beating him when he was a quarterback
(26:50):
for the University of Georgia.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Well, that's what I was gonna ask, like, because you
know this is another Georgia Georgia Tech deal. Yeah, I know,
you know it's so it was certainly fun to sort
of see that play itself back out. He's King finished
twenty one to thirty four. Hundred and eighty yards, two touchdowns,
no intercessions. He also ran it three times for thirty
nine yards excuse me, and a touchdown. On the flip
(27:13):
side of that, the Arizona Carlos Carson Beck fifteen nineteen
hundred and eight yards, one touchdown. He did take a sack, though.
Beck had two carries for three yards before he gave
way to Keaton Slovas, who went nine of ten one
hundred and six passing yards and a touchdown himself. Not
a lot of defense in that game, but it was
funny to me because there were some tweets about the
(27:35):
Hall of Fame game and it was like, you know,
people are like, yeah, football's back, and in twenty minutes,
you're gonna turn it off, you know that kind of stuff.
I don't think anybody turned that one off last night.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
That felt.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
I mean, that game was fun to watch.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
It was and like for look for football fans and
fantasy lovers, hey, they love those types of big score
types of games. Me, as a former defensive player, I
don't I.
Speaker 1 (27:58):
Want to see there was no defense happened in that game.
But it was fun to watch them punch and counter punch. Yes,
even though there's no defense happened.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Yeah, see that was fun, like for me, a great
game that I'm like, Oh, that game was awesome. The
score is six to three, right right, I love Everyone
hates that, but the defensive player in me, I love
that type of game because I want to see the
defense show up because listen, we know this all the
(28:26):
regular season stats therefore for the offense for just that
the regular season, but when it comes to whether the
rubber meets the road and you're trying to advance in
the playoffs, this is where you need your defense to
show up and show out. And that's why I like
the low scoring game. But for the first game of
(28:46):
the NFL twenty twenty six campaign, that was great, showing
the great outing for both of those teams.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
Yeah, the Carolina Panthers did not run the ball as
much as Arizona date. Arizona Bam Knight ran at twelve
times sixty yards, Kinder fourteen times for free efty seven yards,
even have a Hale six times for twenty three yards.
Cardinals were committed to running the ball, which is going
to be the crux of what they.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
Do on off their hallmark.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
Right on the other side of things, Carolina spread around.
I mean Mike David's got a few carries, highest had
eight carries. The interesting ones to me, I mean at ten,
little brother Hetchins, little brother got four carries or twelveies.
But Aj Dillon, the former Green Bay Packers running back
who ate himself out of the league, came back last
year with Philly and had like, you know, had like
twelve carries last year, trying to make a comeback. And
(29:29):
he got a few carries for the Panthers in that
We got three carries for eighteen yards, did score a
did score a touchdown in that one. He also caught
a ball for eighteen yards as well. Dylan might as
far as that big back like, he might be carving
a little bit of roll there in Carolina.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
Man.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
The end of the day, man, it's finding ways to
extend your career, whatever the team needs or wants from you,
being able to step into that role and own it.
So I'm hoping that Dylan is able to kind of
find a home for himself. He's a you know, big
body back, and even if they asked him, hey, look man,
we need you to play a little fullback, You're like,
(30:10):
hell yeah. So that means that's one less fullback in
eh back and keep on the roster. And now you
still have a young young runner back to kind of
carry that low and just being somewhat of a bruise.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
And so yeah, man, why not a.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Couple of players with connections here in Colorado? Xavier Weaver
the wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals three catches for
thirty one yards on five targets. On the Panthers side
of things, Jimmy Horn junior former Seve buff led the
lad the Panthers in receiving four catches for forty four
(30:45):
yards on seven targets in that one long, long reception
of seventeen for him. Yeah, I mean, anyway, it was
to me, it was. It was a fun way to
start the season. You definitely don't want to see a
games games that don't have defense like that at all,
you know, most of the time. But for a first
game back Hall of Fame game, which by the way,
(31:07):
is you noted when we're watching last night they really
updated that stadium in that field. That was kind of fun.
It was kind of fun to have the punch counter
punch and watched Carolina come all the way back there,
you know, at the end, and you know, and and
and win it with Haines King runs in for that
that five yard touchdown with two seconds left in the game.
So I just, you know, I thought there are there
(31:29):
were worse ways to start the season. That felt like
a good win to start.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
Yeah, that was a great one to start.
Speaker 2 (31:34):
And I don't know if that play was called by design,
but it was quite familiar to me watching Haines King
play as a member the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets, especially when
you play here in bold against to see you buffs,
how they open up.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
The formation right, spread everyone out, at everyone.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
Running down in the low red zone and it just
open up to see his part of the Haines King
was like, I'm gonna do what I do best and
able to get the ball.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
In the end zone.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
And I'm happy for him because here's a guy who was,
you know, early on in the season last year college
football season, who was mentioned as possibly being in the
Heisman race. Yeah, right, and then to go undrafted, un
freaking drafted. But to make a play like that when
(32:26):
everyone's watching, right, everyone's watching. It's the start of football.
It may not mean anything in the grand scheme of
you know, wins and losses. But I can tell you
what that means a lot for Haines King. And if
you're Dave kanellis, you're thinking about keeping three quarterbacks on
your roster because Bryce Young cannot do those types of things.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Yeah, I wanted I wanted Haines King here. I thought,
you know, if if anybody, if anybody could get you know,
a little bit out of Haynes's a guy who got
Taysom Hill, you know that. Lets Sean Payton, you know,
get ahold of Hayines King. I thought he'd be a
perfect little understudy for bow Knicks. But ultimately not the
not the case, and not how that worked out. Andy
Reid came out today and said that he's not gonna
play Pat Mahomes in the preseason. Now we know Mahomes
(33:09):
is slated to be the guy to start against the
Denver Broncos the season opener September fourteenth at Arrowhead Stadium
Monday Night Football, but it does not look like at
this point that he's gonna play in the preseason. Read
when asked today, said quote, I mean there's a pretty
good chance I don't play him, and percentages are leading
that way. I don't know if I'll play him in
(33:29):
the second or third game. I don't know that, but
percentages probably lead against doing that. And let of the
other guys. We've got new people in those positions behind him,
get who need some work. Get that the more reps
they get, the better.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
Well.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
Look, I'll say this, before they're gonna run Patrick Mahomes
out there against the Denver broncos Man, I don't wish
that for him, even though we live he in broncos Country,
and you know, we go against chief Kingdom all the
time because basically what you're doing, you have a guy
(34:03):
who look at it from an animal kingdom standpoint. He's
a wounded wilderbe right, and he's running around with meat
draws on, and he's facing a bunch of wolves and
they're not gonna I mean, I don't see Nick Benito,
Johnny Cooper, Jona Ellis or Q Robinson looking to take
it easy on Patrick Mahomes being as though he's a
Super Bowl MVP and he may be laboring a little no, no, no.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
That's when you go in for the kill. Right. Isn't
that the whole thing with sharks.
Speaker 2 (34:30):
When they smell blood in the water, Right, they go
to kill, Yeah, and that's what you have to do.
Speaker 3 (34:35):
So hey man, no sympathy here in this game, right.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
Nope, we gotta punch out on this one. Appreciate you
guys being along for the ride. Tuning Tomorrow Saturday, nine
am here on Kowa we'll be carrying practice live. Appreciate
you guys. We had to break BCT back of this
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