August 4, 2025 • 53 mins
#Broncos #TrainingCamp #DenverBroncos
We've now finished Week 2 of Denver Broncos Training Camp so it's time to look at the biggest winners and losers from camp so far. • Who's standing out? • How has Bo Nix performed? • Which rookie is having the best camp so far? • How are the biggest position battles shaping up? We’ve got all the winners, losers, and surprises from the second week of camp. 👇 Who’s impressed you the most so far? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
We've now finished Week 2 of Denver Broncos Training Camp so it's time to look at the biggest winners and losers from camp so far. • Who's standing out? • How has Bo Nix performed? • Which rookie is having the best camp so far? • How are the biggest position battles shaping up? We’ve got all the winners, losers, and surprises from the second week of camp. 👇 Who’s impressed you the most so far? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
It wouldn't be an episode of Let'stok Broncos if we
weren't twelve minutes late, and that was an honor of
the Goat's birthday today. Tom Brady obviously celebrating a birthday today, and.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Birthday I wasn't.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
My little nephew is also turning one today, So shout
out to everybody who has a birthday today and not any.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Other day in August.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Looking at you, Zack Singers, welcome Leftstok Broncos, very a Macee,
Just Joey R. Richard, Zach Seegers. We're fully in the
depths of training camp, y'all. Like it is is full throttle.
We've been witnessing some really fun action. I just want
to start off by saying, my goodness, what an event
it has been. Simply and exactly I talked about this
(01:00):
most recently, is that we're seeing the defense live up
to that paper expectation right, the additions to the roster,
the vibes that are going around. I think vibes is
an overused word, but I have no better way of
putting just the general atmosphere that is happening when you're
out there at Bronco's training camp. So if you're lucky
enough to have a front row seat like Zack Seegers is,
we'll be asking and leaning into him about all news
(01:23):
and coverage coming out of Dove Valley, the new foundation
being set for the new training camp facilities, etc.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Etc.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
But we got some good news to talk about tonight.
If you have questions, please drop them in the chat
over there. If you're watching on Twitter, it's not going
to work. You need to go on over to YouTube
and you can search for Let's Talk Broncos. The chat
loves your hat, Joey. I have to ask you, though,
what and how can you possibly support the Colorado Rockies go?
Speaker 2 (01:55):
This is a great question, right This is a question
that I was even asking myself before we hopped on
the show. But you know, it makes us even funnier.
The conversation I brought up was, man, do I love baseball?
And even more, do I love the baseball teams that suck?
Because the Rockies? Oh my god. Yeah, I don't know
why I'm wearing this is just it's kind of what
I have right now.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Hey, they might not be the worst team ever, They're
they're They're right there with the the twenty twenty four
white socks. But they're not running away with it anymore.
And that is progress, my friends.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
That's not progress. That's disappointing.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
So you not only do you suck, but you don't
suck the worst, Like you couldn't just possibly go for
the record here. You had to somehow eat it just
enough so that you weren't the worst ever baseball franchise.
To me, that's more disappointing because they suck it sucking too.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Listen. I was telling Broncos Country this a few op
seasons ago, and they hate it when I'm talking about
like you're gonna suck just be the worst.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
Okay, but here's the thing. They've been so bad they
can't even benefit with the draft pick. Your whole case
was say, hope the Broncos are and you get a
great draft pick. The Rockies are frozen out of the
top ten picks this year because they've had a top
draft pick too many years in a row. That's how
bad they suck.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
That is.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Leave it to muse coming in with the Rockies would
be better off with Hackett as their head coach or manager, as.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
He I wouldn't heard any.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Suck it sucking must suck. Yes, Paul, I like saying
that word. Though It's been fun, all right, guess I
keep clicking everything.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Hey, there's three games. There are three games better than
the White Sox twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Just say it, oh, Zak, It's okay, Like you don't
have to possibly keep finding a way to Still, I'm
getting distracted because my cat is rick Achane off of.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Windows right now. We're just gonna hope she doesn't hurt herself.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
We're throwing your cat.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
I thought if I just launched her, everything would be okay,
and she's now up somewhere she's not supposed to be
so guys, really fun news outside of training campus. We've
got some extensions. Some money is being thrown around here
for or current Denver Broncos. Obviously Courtland's suton getting extended.
Is zach Allllen the next one up? We talked about
(04:06):
that being a high priority for the Denver Broncos heading
into this twenty twenty five season. But also there's a
couple of pending contracts out there, and so I want
to know in addition to and we'll talk about the
breakdowns as it relates to Courtland and Zach Allen but
I need to know what does this mean for current
pending contracts or contract negotiations, because we know right now
(04:28):
there's some that are under consideration, like Nick Benito. But
with the edge market exploding across the league and question
surrounding some individuals being unhappy with their current teams, A
La Mica persons, what does that mean for who's the
next contract up? When it comes to the Denver broncos Zach,
I'm going to start with you. Where does the conversation
kind of go next step?
Speaker 4 (04:49):
You know, I think it should go to Nick Benito.
I've seen a lot of fans and I mentioned saying
John Franklin Myers has to be next step, and I
I'm not buying it. I get that there's some hesitancy
about the Benino situation, uh you know, it being maybe
a one year wonder, his his lack of great success
(05:10):
against the run game. You know, there's there's a lot
of great edge rushers that aren't like the most impactful
run stuffers. I just had one on the tip of
my tongue and I'm totally blanking it right now. There's
plenty asan reddick, but I feel like there's one that's
really good. That's like, ah, he's not really focus on
the right. It'll come back to me. But you know,
(05:33):
I think that can be okay. I guess in the
modern NFL, no one's letting players walk as good as
Nick Benito. Like, look at the best available free agency
these past few seasons. You're probably going to keep him around.
It's very unlikely that a player that good, even with
his his potential flaws at a high value position like
(05:54):
edge rusher, walks for nothing. That just like it doesn't
really happen in the NFL anymore unless it's like a
headache case like Hasan Reddick. But like, I just why
can't you sign him for a little more than the
Josh Sweat deal? Lock him up now? And I think
that contract will age just fine, you know, like I
don't think you. I'm just not that worried about signing
(06:18):
Nick Benito and at aging poorly, then the salary cap
is just shooting up like crazy. He's established himself as
a great edge rusher, I think multiple seasons now. Two
years ago you didn't have the sack production, but he was,
you know, by pass rush win rate, by pressure rate,
by pass rush productivity per snap, like by any of
(06:38):
those metrics, he was already one of the better pass
rushers in the league. So we've seen it for two
years now. Just the sample size was bigger this past season,
and I just I wouldn't be hung up on paying him.
I think it's far more likely that if you don't
pay him ahead of this season, that that costs you money.
I think like the two downsides are paying him he
(06:58):
ends up being great and you cost your self money
that way, or you pay him now he ends up
being bad and you cost yourself money that way. Looking
at Benito's NFL career up until this point, and just
I think it's far more likely you cost yourself by
not signing him than you do by signing him. They
should knock it out. That's where their eyes should turn.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Now. I don't disagree in a lot of facets, I
do think there is more risk to the Benitas. I think.
I want to say that though, I think to this
one there's a lot more risk than the other players
we just talked about, especially when you're just looking at
the style and play or how Benito wins, right, I
(07:36):
don't know how much versatility there is in how he
wins as far as pass rush, and then you start
even looking past that and they're like, Okay, well, as
a run guy, not that great. I think if you're
talking about versatility, he's probably better at dropping back and
being a space player than he is a run defender,
so which is something we all knew coming out of
(07:58):
Oklahoma for him. But I do think there's more risk
there because of it. With that being said, though, I
think Zach brings up a good point with the cap raising,
but Nino could have a worse year and still demand
the same amount of money next year just with the
cap going up, right, Zachul, Yeah, you agree with that,
Like he could have a worse year this next year
(08:19):
and still get the same amount as this offseason just
because the CAP's going up and stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
I think just and other players.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Are getting signed and so on and so on. So
I agree with you in that facet. I think it's interesting,
but I would be wrong not to bring up that
this one is I think more concerning than the other extensions,
or riskier than the other extensions we've made so far.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
And it was reported by the Denver Gazette earlier this
offseason that his requests were in excess of twenty million dollars, right,
If it was twenty seven million dollars, that probably gets
reported as in excess of twenty five. You know, if
it's thirty three, it probably gets reported as in excess
of thirty million. So if he's in that twenty to
twenty five million dollar range, which I think is likely
(09:05):
based on what we have reported in terms of per
year compensation, like that slots him as like the twentieth
some highest page edge rusher in the game. Like, especially
if you adjust for cap inflation, you're talking about a
guy in the twenties or the thirties. So that's a
team's best edge rusher, and not every team is Max
Crosby out there, Like you can afford to have the
(09:28):
twenty second highest page edge be a guy who is
a little lackluster on rundowns. And I just like I
agreed with Joey, this is more risky than a Zach
Allen than in Courtland Sutton because he has demonstrated it less.
But if he does have one more good season, I guess, like,
is it more likely that he looks like he did
the last two years or that he looks like he
(09:48):
looks like looks like how he played his rookie season,
because if he looks more like he did these last
two years, it's gonna be forty million dollars a year.
It is gonna be thirty five million, because the arg
against paying him at that level of production right now.
Trey Hendrickson, by the way, that's the guy I was
trying to think of. He's gonna make north of thirty
million whenever that situation gets resolved. He doesn't really play
(10:10):
the run. So you can absolutely survive that way if
it's a productive enough pass rusher. I just it's far
more likely in my opinion, that you're sitting here, you
know what, eight months from now, or not even six
months from now, going, oh my god, we have to
pay Nick Benito thirty five forty million dollars because he
had another ten sax season. Then you're going, oh, man,
(10:32):
he fell flat on his face. We can get away
with paying him fifteen to twenty million. I don't know.
I think, yes, there's more risk involved. I still think
the risk your avenue is not paying him.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Yeah, I would have to agree, simply because the market.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Has tended to blow up and the momentum has been
a little bit egregious when you start looking at those
contracts that are coming through. But there's two different conversations
that are happening now right with the availability you have
other talent outside of Benito, you know, have a conversation
of whether or not you would a one trade for
the player and a pick and kind of absorb an
even greater contract, or would you give up that developing
(11:12):
talent that you already work so hard to kind of
get that production outside of So, I guess where I'm
stuck on it. And there's a question up here that
I wanted to get to as well from d Bronks
my concern with Benito's if Dvance gets a head coaching job, Joey,
I know you've been kind of on that pathway right now.
I'm not sure the next defensive coordinator would be able
to use him as well.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Do you see that as.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Being a probability, Joey, for Benito to take a step
back if he were not to have the continuity with
the current defensive coaching staff.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Yeah, but I also think that could be said for
a lot of players on this defense. I even think
like Zach Allen's a phenomenal football player. But if you want.
All of a sudden, you changed defensive coordinators, and now
the philosophy is our three technique needs to be like
a gap eater guy. He needs to sit there and
be able to take doubles and be really staff out
at the point of attack. Guy Zach Allen wouldn't be
(12:03):
nearly as good in that role. Zach Allen is get
the hell up, field, mister, like, fuck up the play guy.
That's who Zach Allen is, right, So I think you
are paying these guys in mind thinking we're coaches, like
and as the GMO, hiring these coaches to get the
best out of my players.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
So I don't know.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
If you can even go into a contract extension with
that mindset. I don't know if you could do that.
You're on me, Zach, It's beautiful, We're back.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
Hey, I haven't done it in too long. I want
to echo what Andy saying here. I think he's pretty
dead on if it goes to Jim Leonard route, which
I think would be the most likely option at this juncture.
Of course, Leonard and Vance could both get hired away
who knows, But Leonard kind of comes off that that
(12:55):
Rex Ryan Mike McDonald philosophy tree that's you know, spreading
across the NFL right now, all all sorts of defensive
coordinators Tennessee, Miami, Seattle. Of course, Baltimore still has one.
I think there's a few other locations. And a large
part of that defensive philosophy is like the SIM pressures
(13:15):
the SIM rushers, and to pull that off, you need
pass rushers who are comfortable dropping back in coverage, which
I think is Joey demonstrated, is something that Nick Benito's
good at, like you know, Kyle van Noy in Baltimore,
like I think China Nu also can be at times
in Seattle. You know, Benito's I think a better player
than either of those two guys right now, but kind
(13:38):
of can fill that role well. And we've also seen
George Payton value that skill set in an edge rusher
even before Vance Joseph was installed. With the drafting of
Nick Benito, frankly, so, I I wonder if I'm a
little less concerned about it, because I think the likely
avenues they'd go for the next DC would align with
(13:58):
Nick Benito, and the fact that the GM clearly values
this type of edge rusher makes me think it's even
more likely they go with that style of DC.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
I almost made it myself too, so we were all
back on it.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
Zach.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Thank you for that.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Joey, appreciate your thoughts on that one. I guess I'm
just mixed on it. I don't understand the idea of
waiting for Nick Benito to have another productive season in
order to justify paying him the standard set of what
a contract would entail in this current season, heading into
(14:37):
a year where the Broncos camp presently afford to loosen
at that position, at least not right now. I don't
think there's the proven depth yet. So I guess that
opens myself up to this next question that can tie
into some of the training camp conversations that we're going
to have, Zach. As you're out there, what are you
seeing from the depth perspective as it comes to that
(14:59):
edge group, you know, linebackers in general. We have to
get into some injury conversation on the inside, but the
outside is We're I'm curious right now.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Yeah, I think that makes it a little easier to
potentially move off Benito, just because the early returns on Ellis,
Joan Ellis and Hugh Robinson also guys who kind of
fit that can drop back into coverage Mold when you
need him to. You know, that makes it potentially a
(15:31):
little easier to move off Benito feeling like you have
some solid options in place. I think we need to
see a lot more out of both those guys before
you feel comfortable with them replacing Benito.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Potential though, that's one thing brought country.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
Yes, yeah, it's very exciting.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
He was good last year and that went under the radar,
like just because of how good other players were at
the same position he played. There's a rookie j Ellis
was really really look really really promising. Just throw that
out there.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
And also know, one last thing I wanted to say
about the Benito financials. When you look at Jonathan Cooper, Cortland,
Sutton Patrick's, Artan Quinn, Minors, Zach Allen, any of these
recent extensions for the Broncos, all of those players were
more established than Nick Benito, and in many cases a
lot of those players were better than Nick Benito. Yet
in I believe every single case, the Broncos can get
(16:27):
out of those contracts two years after signing with like
minimal dead cat pain. So I just struggle to believe that,
Like the Broncos have negotiated a way for them to
be able to get out of the Patrick's Ertan deal,
But once they sign Nick Benito, they're stuck for years,
you know what I mean, Like they can sign him now,
(16:48):
it cannot work out, and they can still probably get
out of it. That like okay, I'd say the more
damaging scenario would be because you know, that's a one
year cap hit of like fifteen twenty million when you
cut him. That's not fun. But that's when you're whereas
you wait, you signed him at that forty million dollar
a year number, that might as well be a fifteen
(17:09):
million dollar dead cap hit every single season he's on
the roster because you missed out signing him at twenty
five mil per So I just that's lasting there now.
Hugh Robinson and Jonea Ellis looking so good might give
you the thought to get it back to the original point.
And Joe Ellis has been dominating this camp, especially now
that he's a little healthier. Early on he was still
dealing with a shoulder thing. I think dominating these last
(17:31):
few practices. Kean Robinson, before he got on his knee brace,
was dominating, exciting to see what he does back in practice.
I believe he'll be back on Monday. You know, if
those guys are good, then maybe you just decide, hey,
let's let Benito lock get a third round comp pick
and I kind of go with these waves of rushers
(17:53):
and draft another guy to hopefully replace Benito there. I
just I don't think you're replacing Nick Benito with that
third round on compick you'd be getting in return. If
they're there with it, I would be like calling up
the Bengals to see if they wanted to trade for
him or you know, someone else, because he even if
you don't think he's worth the really lucrative extension, I
(18:14):
think everyone in Broncos country would agree that he's worth
more than a like third round pick, the potential, not
even a guaranteed third round pick. Like if Team X
called up the Broncos right now and made a trade
for Nick Benito for a conditional third round pick, everyone
in Broncos Country would be livid. And so I think,
just with that in mind, if you're already in the
place of like, we don't want this guy long term.
(18:36):
We like Hugh Robinson, we like Joan Ellis trade Nick
Benito for something more valuable.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
I think it's a fun conversation to have, specifically because
we're at a part in a place as we're watching
the Broncos and getting ready for this season. The teams
at a really good position that you can start having
these conversations. The gritty in the minutia of the circums
dances are is that there are going to be individuals
that can take those places. We can be gritty about
(19:05):
positional depth and what is at stake here. So I
like the conversation, but it also brings me to the
more negative part of this is as we move to
the inside, you've got some injuries that are racking up,
so let's go through them one by one, and they
all just happen to play the same position. Sorry, Drew Sanders,
Alex Singleton, Dre green Law. By no way is that
(19:26):
an order of severity, but the entire position has been
kind of wiped out in a little bit of a
weak span that was already a question mark heading into
the season, with Alex Singleton returning from his injury to
then break the other part of his body with a
broken thumb, already back practicing, we'll be able to club.
It not going to be as difficult as anticipated, but
(19:46):
I think it does add a little bit of a
flag on top of what was already a question mark
surrounding his return and ability to get back up to pace.
Drew Sanders' foot ligament injury out four to six weeks,
and then Dre green Law having a little bit of
a lower body in expected to be back. It's not
noted as anything serious, but it does create a little
bit of pause. How are you guys feeling enjoy I'm
(20:06):
going to start with you, what's the option moving forward?
If let's say this puts a little bit of a
bruise on how you were already looking at that group,
do you see them going after someone else to help
kind of shore that up?
Speaker 2 (20:20):
I mean I would. I would be looking at the
free agents and thinking, hey, is there anybody here I
can sign relatively cheap or like really cheap, honestly guys available,
maybe a vetesque player like I think that's how a
lot of us are looking at Alex Ingleton to begin with. Like,
if Alex Singleton hit free agency right now, I don't
think he's like getting a massive bag from another team.
(20:42):
I think you can go out there and get the
comparable talent, Like did Josie Jules sign anywhere for example.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
No, he's his things complicated because he's dealing with concussion
symptoms and isn't able to play, and so we kind
of like stepped away from the Panthers while he deals
with that. Hopefully he's an option on the table, but
it probably won't be for a few months until we
know for sure.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Fair enough, fair enough, but the point is the point, Like,
I think there are serviceable or not?
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Jay Mosley, Jawan Bentley, two guys I've been circling for a.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
While exactly exactly. There are guys veteran linebackers who have
done good things in the league available and you could
get relatively cheap. I don't think it's a necessity to
sign him now. I don't think that's the thing. The
Broncos have been able to bring in and linebackers mid season.
I remember who is it who they brought into Times
(21:35):
what Kenny Young? Kenny Young yup and came in and
played solid for us right when we needed him to.
Speaker 4 (21:41):
So everyone wanted to extend him to a big money deal.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Yeah that's true, yep, And so I don't think it's
a necessity that they need to do it now. I'm
fine with the Broncos looking and seeing how their linebacker
room looks at the moment. Let's see him on the
field first and then making a move like that. So
I don't think it's necessity right now, but I could
see that happening. I would keep my eyes open for
(22:05):
a guy that I think could fit this defense well.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
Even a guy like Eric Kendricks. He's way up there
and hasn't been great for a while, you know, like
last year. I think he was pretty rough for the Cowboys.
Year before, he wasn't great for the Chargers. But if
the Broncos find themselves in a place in case of emergency,
that's an incredibly intelligent veteran that you feel like you
could plug in and trust to do his job pretty regularly,
(22:29):
and rather than turning to Kareene Reid or JB. Brown
or whatever UDFA options they have at the very bottom
of the depth chart.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
I was typing on me to make sure I didn't
screw up there.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
But yeah, I mean I was trying to look at
everyone keeps mentioning Kawan Alexander.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
I think he had pretty recent surgery.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
No, he's not currently on the Lions any any longer,
So potentially, I don't know. I don't know if you
have to dip back necessarily that deep, but it does
open up the room a little bit to see who
else is going to step up. But then you also
have Laville Bailey, which has been a hot topic of
conversation all throughout camp. Who is creating those moments, those
splash plays during training camp, which is going to lead
(23:17):
now with the ability to step up and take additional
snaps as we get some real NFL speed football in preseason.
Who's to say that a young individual currently on the
team doesn't end up making a name for themselves when
it comes to this position.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Very possible. I don't think I think we should be
rolling that type of stuff out either. I mean, the
training camp it gives you a picture, kind of an
idea of things. But until these guys, especially at the
linebacker position, get to go hit in an actual football game,
that's when we're really going to be able to tell.
So it's been pick some of these linebackers apart from
each other. This is more just running and hitting. You're
(23:54):
going to see a lot of guys look good based
off of like the athleticism. I never heard anybody be
like Josie Toole's killing this training camp right now. You
never heard life.
Speaker 4 (24:07):
And I will say I think Lavelle Bailey flashing and
training camp when this is a time when the athletes dominate,
to Joey's point, is such a promising sign he has.
I was just curious, looped it up quick a three
point two seven rass. His composite size grade is poor.
His composite explosion grade is poor. His composite speed grade
(24:29):
guess what, it's poor. His composite agility grade just okay.
A very unimpressive rafts card, probably just seeing how Peyton
has invested in athletes, one of the least impressive rass
cards of anybody on the Broncos right now. And I'm
telling you guys, he is constantly in there, like in
the mix every play, making a lot of tackles. I
(24:49):
think he's been plenty respectable in coverage, even covering options
like Lucas Kroll, who like isn't you know, the best
overall tight end but is a pretty dang good athlete.
I've seen Leavell baileyang with him, and I think it
just demonstrates like the problem with drafting linebackers is so
(25:11):
many of the highly drafted ones of the favorite prospects
are just the best athletes because they can clean things
up at the college level. But it's such a mental position,
and you see the Fred Warners and these mid round
picks end up, uh, the Dione Henley's another mid round pick,
end up being the best guys at the position. It's
not crazy that a UDFA like level Bailey, as I
(25:33):
finished buying time for Joey, a UDFA like level Bailey
ends up being one of the better options in the
room for this team.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Yeah, you think I have this podcast lighting thing down now.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
Joe refuses to front light himself. It's always like he's
in witness protection.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
I do.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
I've got the two face lighting going on, going on.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
It is geated, dang ringlight. Let's get it together. This
is like year four, year five.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
I don't know, I don't know what we're doing anymore.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
All right, guys, we'll let's tie it in a little
bit here, right, we're talking about the potential, I don't know,
like shaking up the hive a little bit with injuries
and extensions and conversations and negotiations that aren't happening, etc.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Etc.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
But there's also some fun and exciting things happening as
this new season is approaching, and I really wanted to
get the sense of there's a noticeable difference. You're going
into Sean Payton's third year. The tone of camp has changed,
I think from the outside and even in the small
amount that I've been able to participate in the group
of peers, I want to say more unified. I think
the players are celebrating each other and themselves more, and
(26:45):
I think they're responding to coaching and a little bit differently,
and they're finishing reps a little bit more intentionally. The
vibe feels ending. Intentional is the word that I want
to use.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Here, Zach.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
Since you've been out there and that you're at field level,
I want to know what are you seeing when it
comes to culture inside this team right now? And I'm
not looking for the raw ros side of things. I
want to know just from a level of seeing it
every single day, does it feel different as it does
kind of just from seeing the general conversation surrounding it.
Speaker 4 (27:14):
Yeah, I think this is the best culture I've seen
on a Broncos team. And I'm thrilled to say it
because I remember all the concern about, oh my god,
is Sean Payton Joseph Stalin, Is he going to just
have everyone on a miserable death march to their graves,
withering and cold and No, it turns out these guys
(27:37):
are like Jamis Winston on the torn acl having a
grand old time dancing and and partying in the locker.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Room, hopefully not on a to.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
Ac, not on a ton acl. I think that's the
mental image that always comes to mind when I think
of a Sean Payton locker room, Like, Damn, those guys
are having a lot of fun for you know, Sean
Payton being such a such a miserable guy. I think
Sean Payton should frankly a lot nastier to media and
in like his outward facing stuff than he is to
his team. Seems like his players throughout the years have
(28:08):
generally really liked him, and the culture right now in
Denver is incredibly strong. I think you see guys like
Marvin Mims and Malcolm Roach chirping back and forth all
practice long in like a very friendly but also very
competitive way, and it's bleeding over into the press conferences
and they're both talking trash to Malcolm Roach called him
(28:30):
a mosquito, or Marvin started with Marvin Mims calling Malcolm
Roach a fat boy, and Malcolm Roach said, Hey, I
can change how I look, I can get in shape,
I can lose some weight. He always is going to
look like a mosquito and have them talking some trash
back and forth in a way that's playful but also
like that practice. It was Wednesday, when all the trash
(28:51):
talk was going back and forth, you and Adam Trautman
in a series of other Broncos saying, that's the best
practice we've had either in my life or since I've
been in the NFL, definitely since I've been with the
Denver Broncos. And it's because it's getting injected with like
a little extra competitiveness. It's a really fun atmosphere out there.
Everyone's very business like though like people are. I think
(29:14):
they recognize the talent on this team relative to past teams,
and I think everyone's taken shit pretty seriously in terms
of like, hey, we have a relatively special opportunity here,
let's take care of business. But it also was just
a great bunch of dudes, like atmosphere wise, it reminds
me of the fun the twenty twenty two defense was
(29:34):
having in like the first four weeks of that season.
Like I remember coming into the locker room after that
Week three. It was like eleven to ten victory over
the forty nine ers or ten to nine, something like that,
and the Russ was sucking ass like nobody's business. And
you go into the locker room and the entire defense
(29:55):
is celebrating. I've never seen a happier locker room. They're
just losing their mind. Everyone's young, We're the best defense
in the league. Like just it was a party. It
was like they had just clinched the division or something.
And the atmosphere of this, the energy, the vibe that
this defense gives off is closest to that that I've seen.
And then the talent just jumps off the field. I think, Yeah,
(30:18):
I love where this team is at right now. I'm
feeling too confident about the Broncos. I don't like I
feel like I'm about to get the rug pulled out
from under me because I'm feeling too damn good about
this team.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
I feel like this is the best culture I've seen
in quite a while. For the Broncos too, just outsiders
looking at I remember like the Hacket off season and
everyone was like, we really need to have a guy
in here who's going to lighten the mood. And you know,
I think people did enjoy their training camp and stuff
(30:50):
like that with Hackett, but it was in a different way.
Right that was like we're like that was like goofy happy, Like.
Speaker 4 (30:58):
It's when you have the substitute teacher and they're playing
a movie or whatever.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Yes, meanwhile, this one is like it's that, but we're
mixing it. Like there's a good amount of competitiveness involved
in this whole thing. You can feel the competitiveness in
the air when these guys are talking, right. Meanwhile, when
you go back to other ones, I think during the
Fangio time, it was like what people are talking about
and I'm Fangio's biggest guy on here. Ever, But I
(31:26):
do think that was more of the iron fist field
players were feeling. I think this is a good mix.
You're keeping it competitive. The coach can crack down on
players when it's time to do that, right, Like he
can still do that. He's done it. I saw the
reports about him going a little crazy on Juluil McLaughlin right,
pulling him aside and yelling at the entire team for
(31:46):
a little bit. So he's able to do that. But
meanwhile the players are still having fun and still competitive
about it, So it's all good. I think a lot
of the times teams I know this this set, a
lot of teams take on the personality of their head
coach or quarterback. What did we expect from the Ruzzell
Wilson Nathaniel Hacket day? So who's ball?
Speaker 4 (32:09):
Sorry, one little anecdote I wanted to add. I was
listening to an interview today with Devon Valet and he
was talking about at credit to DMVR for the interview
with Benny Fowler. He was talking about the leaps bo
Nix has made in his second year, and he was
talking about how much more confident he is in the
offense and just knowing the different calls or whatever, and
(32:29):
talked about how yesterday during the scrimmage, Sean Payton made
a call and bo Nix was like, yeah, bet, I
got you. I got you, coach, and then called it
completely different play in the battle. He was like, I
like this one better, and they ran with it. And
I think that you know that shows maybe some of
the fairest viewer that Sean Payton's talked about. But also,
like I think these players are empowered to an extent
(32:50):
and there's a good good feel with everything right now.
I just wanted to jam that story in there because
I heard it today and thought it was pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
Love. Yeah, I think expanding on all of this is.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
Super important to the overall I guess uh emphasis that
we're placing on don't listen to account Oh yeah, good
one time, I wish you were ridiculous. Joey mentioned the
secret word of the day. Uh, well the phrase he said,
(33:23):
you can feel it in the air tonight. So the
question uh to everyone is now best hype song and
please don't go into elaborate detail as to why. I
just want to know we'll get you pumped up to go,
I don't know, crash some pools.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
Like this, joe Joey Taylor account.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
No, No, that's not what I said.
Speaker 4 (33:50):
Like what you said sounded a lot like what you said. Gosh, man,
right now, it's it's been uh what some on my tongue,
some ring ring, man, that's that's That's where I'm at.
Joey what's your pump up song to smash some foods?
Like Joy Taylor?
Speaker 2 (34:09):
No, listen, we did the move topics right. This is
a PC show. This is what people, This is.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
Not a PC.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
Joey's thrown around the f bomber earlier.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Now I was calling this show. I don't even get.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
People want to call me down all of a sudden,
we're family friendly and then we get the Joey Taylor
comments and everyone goes off the rails like, okay.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
Well, my next question is going to be post everyone,
because you're already wanted to. I feel like everything I
say now has to be in a way which nobody
can call freezing out on me.
Speaker 3 (34:46):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
So, bon Nicks is in a relative headspace where he's
been doing all the off season work right, He's been
channeling his inner Drew Brees. He's been thrown onto the
NFL Top one hundred list by his peers.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
His team can't shut up about him.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
Sean Payton will not stop emphasizing how important it is
that he's taking this next step. Now, are we crowning
bo Nicks a little bit too early? Or are you
guys just as excited as I am? Because Zach you
absolutely are right. I think a lot of us are
in this very optimistic vein of you can't be down
on the Broncos right now. But I think there are
(35:23):
some very important tangible variables when it comes to discussing
bo Nix and his development. Just through the offseason, right
he had a battle back from the back injury. He's
now been able to rehab and gain strength. He's looking
the part out there, but also his movements are just
that much more fluid. You see a lot of smoothness
in his release. You see a lot of confidence in
his decision making, and that obviously is just in camp,
(35:45):
but he is going against the defense that is really
trying to throw a spur in everything that this offense
is trying to do. You can relate it now that
he's got his weapon back in Courtland soon that extension
that's not going anywhere, that target's not going anywhere. You've
also seen the development start to happen for a Troy Franklin.
You're seeing a Marvin Mimes, You're seeing a Devon Vley.
(36:07):
So my initial question is going to be how important
is it that bo Nicks kind of I wouldn't even
say takes the lead takes the next step just leans
into that because it's really important not only a cultural perspective,
but when it comes to a quick start, when it
comes to the first half the season. So Zach to you,
(36:28):
what are you seeing out of bon Nix and what
gives you the optimism there? Hopefully that's not a lead.
You could say you're pessimistic if you want to.
Speaker 4 (36:36):
I'm feeling very optimistic. I think the best way to
describe it to someone that hasn't been there is it
looks like he has some of the answers to the
test now. I think last year he was, you know,
like me in high school, just rolling up. I have
not studied a lick for this. Let's see how this goes.
I'm going to bank on, you know, not to say
he wasn't studying. I'm sure he was studying, but kind
(36:57):
of just going off of raw ability and like what
he had kind of baked into him already as a
quarterback and living by the seam of his pants and
trying to make plays as they arose and just try
and find the like you know, oh my god, there's
a past rusher in my face. I turned right. Oh
my god, there's another I got to turn another way.
Oh five years on the field, I'm scramled. I got
(37:17):
a fifty yard gain? Oh my god. Like that was
kind of his quarterbacking style last year. This year, he
knows the answers to the test. He doesn't have all
the answers. I wouldn't say he's mastered the offense or anything,
but you're seeing him work through his reads quicker more regularly.
He's not as fast to I think, drop his eyes
and look to scramble. I think he still does too
(37:38):
much of that in terms of like, oh there's rather
than just like kind of navigating the pocket more like
going into runner mode, like how can I run and
find some green grass and then throw from there. I
think he still does that a little too much. But
overall it is just a lot more calm controlled. It's
someone who, you know, oh, I got this pressure, look,
(38:00):
I know. The diagnosis for that, as opposed to last
year was I know this pressure. Look, Oh my god,
how can I make this play playwork? Anyways, And he
did a fine job with that last year. I think
he'll do that much better having the answers to the test.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
Yeah, I think, okay, so I'll be the one that
I well, all start with it with us, Yes, brite,
I'm very excited about Bonnicks. I think, uh, last year
during training camp, I started to build my excitement up
for Bonnix. The more I like, the more I heard
people hate the pick. Honestly, I was like, wait, I
think people are a little prejudging this early, right, which
(38:36):
naturally put me on the more positive of the Bonnick
side last offseason and this year. Yes, I am very excited,
but I do think there is a little hesitation where
it should to everything. Zach said, can he slow it down?
And really it's just like letting the play develop. I
(38:58):
think a lot of people are like, he needs to
fit to fix his footwork, and yes, that's true, but
I think to more of an extent, the reason you're
seeing the footwork not there is because he's not even
trying to work it. He's trying to run to open field.
Like Zach said, that's a lot what we saw last
year and it worked. Why Because for all the reasons
(39:18):
that people said he was a bust of a pick
when the Broncos drafted, he ended up actually being really
good and he's a hell of an athlete and he
can get it done and do that type of stuff,
make a bad play good with his feet. So I
just think the next progression in his arc is letting
the play develop, going from one to two instead of one.
(39:38):
Oh that's not there. Let me run and try to
make this out of a broken play. So I just
need to see that one extra piece there. I'm excited.
I'm not seeing in that hot sun at training camp.
I'm not doing that with you guys. Shout out to
both of you, not doing it. I'm gonna come here
every single year and say that I'm not doing.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
I'm the only one who's in the hot son Zackson
a tent to live in the like they're serving lime
water to him and he's fine, Like he doesn't breath.
Speaker 4 (40:07):
In one of these days, I've got I'll we'll get
you down.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
There training camp nowadays, breeze over there with this, the
fucking the sunscreen dispenser, the ninety SPF sunscreen.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
I don't even wear sunscreen.
Speaker 1 (40:22):
I just I just sprits myself with an accelerant hope
for the best.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
No, there's no SPF that'll keep you if you're sitting
on that damn hill. It could be ninety outside. Really,
in reality, it feels one hundred and eighty is crazy.
Speaker 3 (40:36):
One hundred and eighty.
Speaker 2 (40:41):
Steps off that hill all of a sudden, it's nice
out here, don't.
Speaker 1 (40:45):
We don't even got we don't even have a Uh,
that's ridiculous.
Speaker 3 (40:51):
This broncos p l TV.
Speaker 1 (40:54):
We uh, we really wish we could pay our public
relations team a little bit better so they could do
more work and less heckling.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
But that's fine. It's just this is the burden that
we must bear.
Speaker 2 (41:07):
Zach, did you see Bree trying to relieve herself of
the pr duties that we ever.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
How do you know it's not me?
Speaker 1 (41:16):
Like, how do you know that's not what I'm doing
over here on another screen?
Speaker 4 (41:19):
I have yet to see a single spelling flaw.
Speaker 1 (41:22):
Yeah, I'm sorry, Wow.
Speaker 3 (41:27):
I spell good.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
It wasn't even easy. It wasn't it wasn't low hanging fruit.
It was just pure and wrong. And my lawyer will
be in contact, uh in case. Yeah, it's complete, complete
and utter libel. Just so that everyone knows L to
B is no longer on the path of friendship. You know,
we actually just put on faces for the show now,
(41:48):
so it's entering into it is absolutely just business. It
is a pleasure doing business with you all.
Speaker 3 (41:56):
All right.
Speaker 1 (41:57):
We talked about often I don't know what your mumbled about,
but we talked about optimism, and I want to kind
of lean into it a little bit on maybe some
questions that we may have still pending out there. We
talked about the injuries, we talked about the depth in
some positions, but we did talk about we didn't talk
about maybe some lingering things. So Zach, I wanted to
(42:19):
know from camp. We've seen a lot of great things,
and I'm not even saying they necessarily have to be negatives,
but what questions do you have remaining that you hope
get answered prior to preseason?
Speaker 3 (42:32):
We know that's coming up really quick.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
In the first preseason game is right around the corner,
but I feel like.
Speaker 3 (42:38):
There's still.
Speaker 1 (42:40):
An air of we have questions still unanswered. Mine center,
I think there's a little bit of like what's going
to happen at the offensive line? Right I was talking
to a friend end of the program, Mario A. Tansey,
at training camp last week, and my question was centered
around who's going to be the next guy up, Who's
going to be that depth piece where you know they
can plug and play where their versatility is going to
(43:00):
come into a lot of important conversations when you have
a injury at garter tackle and you need to put
somebody in there, like who's had the rotational availability to
be able to step in there? And I think that's
what Sean Payton's game plan has been right from drafting
from pre agencies.
Speaker 3 (43:18):
Who can play multiple roles?
Speaker 1 (43:20):
Who's going to be able to make sure there's not
an appreciable decrease in production if someone were to go down.
But the question that hasn't been answered is who is
that on the offensive line? So my question to you
guys is what are your remaining questions what needs to
be answered this week before preseason starts.
Speaker 4 (43:37):
Zach, I'll start with you man. For me, I guess
what I am really curious to see. I guess how
how large of a role can Jade Baron earn in
the defense? I guess It's hard to come up with
things that I feel like I'll get an answer from
training camp over the next few practices that I don't
have yet, And I think that's one of them, like
(44:00):
how how will he continue to slot into this defense?
We're seeing a lot of him. He seems to keep
getting better every single practice. I think he's gonna have
a really strong rookie year. I don't know if he'll
be the outside corner or not when they're in based defense,
but I do think whenever he's on the field, I
think he's gonna have a really strong rookie year, just
because he's so pro ready. Like the instincts his feel
(44:24):
for the game really flash on the practice field. He's
always around the ball, He's incredibly physical. I've seen him
set the edge in like run defense multiple times in
a way that's been pretty inspiring. And I'm just curious,
like how large of a role will he have earned himself.
I guess when that first preseason game starts, is he
(44:45):
ahead of j Quan at that point in time? Right now,
I'll tell you he's not. That said, we were saying
these exact same things about bo Nicks last year, Sean
Payton's gonna make these young guys earn their role, and yeah,
excited to see what happens with the Jade baron and
earning his role over these coming days.
Speaker 2 (45:02):
I think mindfall has kind of been well, it's the
same as Zach and that it's a dB, but same
in the Berie as I'm looking at the depth of
the unit and that's the safeties for me. Like, I know,
Hfunga right is awesome when he's on the field. I mean,
we're talking about an All Pro caliber player when he's
(45:22):
been healthy, when he was with the forty nine ers.
But with that, I mean, yeah, a lot of injuries.
What do we have behind that that makes sense for
the Broncos. There's names on here that have made its
circles in Broncos Country throughout the last few years. Right,
I'm thinking of a jail Skinner. I'm thinking of dt Y,
I'm thinking of even like Devon Key last year, PJ Lock,
(45:44):
all of these names, but especially with PJ Lock coming
off of injury, Like, it just seems that it's a
lot more name recognition in Broncos country than it is
actual on field talent that we've seen for most of
those guys. So that's a little scary for me. It's
a a little spooky. I just I mean, I think
we saw it, like when Devon Key had to go
(46:06):
play last year, the safeties fell off a cliff. It
was not good. So I just don't want to be
in that same situation.
Speaker 4 (46:15):
I love that call, and I will say Pj's looked
really good to me in training camp. Looks like they're
still treating him like that third safety. Our national nightmare
of Devon Key is not over yet. I hate to
say that I think he's the the other Maybe they
carry five safeties, but assuming they don't, I'd say he's
(46:36):
the last man in that room. I would love to
see J. L. Skinner or d Larain Turner yell pass
him by. I'm sure Jaie Skinner will make it. Actually,
now that I'm talking out loud, I'm sure Skinner makes
it as at least the fifth man because of his
special team's ability. But I would be very very happy if. Like,
I don't know nothing against Devon Key, but last year
(46:58):
was rough man. I'm hoping they have a higher ceiling
option than what we saw.
Speaker 2 (47:02):
Hey before we say, nowt here, Zach, this is a
little off of our list here, but I wanted to
get your question on this because I don't know. I,
like I said, I'm not sitting on that hill than
you guys. Have you What have you guys seen out
of RJ. Harvey at training camp? That's a player I
was super excited about when Lebronc has got him. I
was high on RJ. Harvey this whole thing, and I
(47:24):
feel like his skill set would translate well to a
training camp setting.
Speaker 4 (47:28):
Has it, Yeah, I I don't. I don't know. He
hasn't looked unreal. I guess, like I don't know. I
could have seen him having like a Montro Washington esque
camp where it's like, this guy's so explosive and quick
(47:50):
that during these non contact periods he just looks unstoppable.
And I don't think you've seen that. I also wouldn't
say I'm worried about it at all. I think he's
had a strong training camp. I don't think it's been
exceptional by any means.
Speaker 2 (48:05):
Then have you seen him catching pass?
Speaker 4 (48:08):
The hands look good? I think. Now I'll get into
the guy who I think has been most impressive as
a receiver in a second, But I think R J.
Harvey has probably been the second best pass catcher out there.
I think his and you know, contacts lessened here so
we can't get a true read, but at least his
(48:28):
mental understanding of the past protection responsibilities has looked solid
to me when he's been out there. I think he's
he's you know, he hasn't looked lost. He looks like
he knows what he's doing. And you know it hasn't
been Montreal, Washington, ESK or whatever, but he has looked
very fast. There's been multiple times where he's you know,
turned the corner on the edge in a way that
(48:49):
you know other Broncos running backs weren't last year. I
think what you do see from him, he's very explosive,
but unlike Julia McLoughlin, you'll see him bounce off some
guy or someone will try and trip him off and
he's trip him up and he's able to spin off
it and carry that momentum downfield for five six yards
or so. You see some of that. The guy who's
(49:09):
really been standing out to me, and I want to
see it in the preseason, but I might start banging
the drum for this guy to be running back three.
Blake Watson.
Speaker 2 (49:19):
He was.
Speaker 4 (49:20):
He's the best pass catching back of the bunch. He
transitions from pass catcher to ball carrier so naturally, so easily.
And he's the guy whose speed and like short area
quickness has looked especially slippery out there on Wednesday when
it was that more physical practice, but he was there
for that one. Blake Watson had the best runs of
(49:42):
the day. He tore off multiple, you know, fifteen twenty
yard carries and he's going up against lesser competition. He's
going up against third teamers, but you know, you've got
estimated going up against third teamers and the day going
up against third teamers at times, and I don't think
they've looked as impressive as Watson was a little good
(50:05):
about Harvey, but Dobbins, by the way, is gonna, I think,
hold down that starting job into R J. Harvey, takes
it away from him. I think Peyton just likes the
trusty veteran who's going to get the yards that are
blocked for him. And I definitely would prefer the ceiling
raising back as opposed to the floor raising back to
get more carries. But I think he's going to have
(50:26):
to wrench those carries out of Dobbin's hands.
Speaker 1 (50:30):
Well, that feels like that was already kind of the
plan with bringing in a JK. I don't think it
really necessarily takes away from the idea that the Broncos
liked their pick and RJ.
Speaker 3 (50:39):
Harvey.
Speaker 1 (50:39):
But I think no matter what every player that comes
into the NFL has that transitional period where they need
to get up to the NFL speed because it truly
is different. But Zachie touched on a really important word.
They're explosive. I think that's what stood out the most,
especially when the defense has been gunning to blow up
every single run opportunity the Bronco has been throwing out there.
He's still having those types of plays all even though
(51:01):
they're kind of less contact than you would hope.
Speaker 3 (51:03):
So in a live.
Speaker 1 (51:04):
Action game, you're still seeing a lot of explosive myths
that I think is important just from an idea of
where we're going with this run game, and so I
wanted to highlight that. And yes, I think that the
hands game is there, but I think there's a lot
of optimism going into this. And Joey, I want to
thank you because every time I go into a conversation
as it relates to running backs during training camp is
(51:25):
not to mention or think twice about speed being a
factor out there, because it simply is hard to tell
it apart when you've got players out there. But yeah,
I think the addition, I think the running back room
in itself looks really good. Zach has touched on it
multiple times that there's a little bit of chaos there
when it comes to who's going to get that kind
of third nod. But I do like the conversation that JK.
(51:47):
Dobbins had had very recently.
Speaker 3 (51:49):
I can't remember with who.
Speaker 1 (51:50):
I want to say, maybe Ryan, but the idea was
is this running back by committee thing could all be
sort of wasted air and wasted energy because he really
does see him off as being that lead back there.
So I guess we will see how that plays out
specifically as we see how the line is able to
manage all of that, but also last and but not
(52:10):
very least, before we get out of here, I did
want to mention to everyone that the Broncos mail Bag,
that Let's Talk Broncos mail Bag is still a thing
that'll be going live Thursday this week, So if you'd
like to leave your questions in the comics section below,
please do. If you didn't have your question answered live,
this is a great opportunity in order to do so.
(52:31):
And then we're going to debut. We're going to be
debuting preseason recap shows here on the Let's Stop Broncos Network.
What are we I don't even know anyways, it's nice
to see everybody. I'm going to get out of here
before I flail around anymore.
Speaker 3 (52:46):
Go Broncos, thanks for voting the show. We'll see you
next time.
It wouldn't be an episode of Let'stok Broncos if we
weren't twelve minutes late, and that was an honor of
the Goat's birthday today. Tom Brady obviously celebrating a birthday today, and.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Birthday I wasn't.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
My little nephew is also turning one today, So shout
out to everybody who has a birthday today and not any.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Other day in August.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Looking at you, Zack Singers, welcome Leftstok Broncos, very a Macee,
Just Joey R. Richard, Zach Seegers. We're fully in the
depths of training camp, y'all. Like it is is full throttle.
We've been witnessing some really fun action. I just want
to start off by saying, my goodness, what an event
it has been. Simply and exactly I talked about this
(01:00):
most recently, is that we're seeing the defense live up
to that paper expectation right, the additions to the roster,
the vibes that are going around. I think vibes is
an overused word, but I have no better way of
putting just the general atmosphere that is happening when you're
out there at Bronco's training camp. So if you're lucky
enough to have a front row seat like Zack Seegers is,
we'll be asking and leaning into him about all news
(01:23):
and coverage coming out of Dove Valley, the new foundation
being set for the new training camp facilities, etc.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Etc.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
But we got some good news to talk about tonight.
If you have questions, please drop them in the chat
over there. If you're watching on Twitter, it's not going
to work. You need to go on over to YouTube
and you can search for Let's Talk Broncos. The chat
loves your hat, Joey. I have to ask you, though,
what and how can you possibly support the Colorado Rockies go?
Speaker 2 (01:55):
This is a great question, right This is a question
that I was even asking myself before we hopped on
the show. But you know, it makes us even funnier.
The conversation I brought up was, man, do I love baseball?
And even more, do I love the baseball teams that suck?
Because the Rockies? Oh my god. Yeah, I don't know
why I'm wearing this is just it's kind of what
I have right now.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Hey, they might not be the worst team ever, They're
they're They're right there with the the twenty twenty four
white socks. But they're not running away with it anymore.
And that is progress, my friends.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
That's not progress. That's disappointing.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
So you not only do you suck, but you don't
suck the worst, Like you couldn't just possibly go for
the record here. You had to somehow eat it just
enough so that you weren't the worst ever baseball franchise.
To me, that's more disappointing because they suck it sucking too.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Listen. I was telling Broncos Country this a few op
seasons ago, and they hate it when I'm talking about
like you're gonna suck just be the worst.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
Okay, but here's the thing. They've been so bad they
can't even benefit with the draft pick. Your whole case
was say, hope the Broncos are and you get a
great draft pick. The Rockies are frozen out of the
top ten picks this year because they've had a top
draft pick too many years in a row. That's how
bad they suck.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
That is.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Leave it to muse coming in with the Rockies would
be better off with Hackett as their head coach or manager, as.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
He I wouldn't heard any.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Suck it sucking must suck. Yes, Paul, I like saying
that word. Though It's been fun, all right, guess I
keep clicking everything.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Hey, there's three games. There are three games better than
the White Sox twenty twenty four.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Just say it, oh, Zak, It's okay, Like you don't
have to possibly keep finding a way to Still, I'm
getting distracted because my cat is rick Achane off of.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Windows right now. We're just gonna hope she doesn't hurt herself.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
We're throwing your cat.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
I thought if I just launched her, everything would be okay,
and she's now up somewhere she's not supposed to be
so guys, really fun news outside of training campus. We've
got some extensions. Some money is being thrown around here
for or current Denver Broncos. Obviously Courtland's suton getting extended.
Is zach Allllen the next one up? We talked about
(04:06):
that being a high priority for the Denver Broncos heading
into this twenty twenty five season. But also there's a
couple of pending contracts out there, and so I want
to know in addition to and we'll talk about the
breakdowns as it relates to Courtland and Zach Allen but
I need to know what does this mean for current
pending contracts or contract negotiations, because we know right now
(04:28):
there's some that are under consideration, like Nick Benito. But
with the edge market exploding across the league and question
surrounding some individuals being unhappy with their current teams, A
La Mica persons, what does that mean for who's the
next contract up? When it comes to the Denver broncos Zach,
I'm going to start with you. Where does the conversation
kind of go next step?
Speaker 4 (04:49):
You know, I think it should go to Nick Benito.
I've seen a lot of fans and I mentioned saying
John Franklin Myers has to be next step, and I
I'm not buying it. I get that there's some hesitancy
about the Benino situation, uh you know, it being maybe
a one year wonder, his his lack of great success
(05:10):
against the run game. You know, there's there's a lot
of great edge rushers that aren't like the most impactful
run stuffers. I just had one on the tip of
my tongue and I'm totally blanking it right now. There's
plenty asan reddick, but I feel like there's one that's
really good. That's like, ah, he's not really focus on
the right. It'll come back to me. But you know,
(05:33):
I think that can be okay. I guess in the
modern NFL, no one's letting players walk as good as
Nick Benito. Like, look at the best available free agency
these past few seasons. You're probably going to keep him around.
It's very unlikely that a player that good, even with
his his potential flaws at a high value position like
(05:54):
edge rusher, walks for nothing. That just like it doesn't
really happen in the NFL anymore unless it's like a
headache case like Hasan Reddick. But like, I just why
can't you sign him for a little more than the
Josh Sweat deal? Lock him up now? And I think
that contract will age just fine, you know, like I
don't think you. I'm just not that worried about signing
(06:18):
Nick Benito and at aging poorly, then the salary cap
is just shooting up like crazy. He's established himself as
a great edge rusher, I think multiple seasons now. Two
years ago you didn't have the sack production, but he was,
you know, by pass rush win rate, by pressure rate,
by pass rush productivity per snap, like by any of
(06:38):
those metrics, he was already one of the better pass
rushers in the league. So we've seen it for two
years now. Just the sample size was bigger this past season,
and I just I wouldn't be hung up on paying him.
I think it's far more likely that if you don't
pay him ahead of this season, that that costs you money.
I think like the two downsides are paying him he
(06:58):
ends up being great and you cost your self money
that way, or you pay him now he ends up
being bad and you cost yourself money that way. Looking
at Benito's NFL career up until this point, and just
I think it's far more likely you cost yourself by
not signing him than you do by signing him. They
should knock it out. That's where their eyes should turn.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Now. I don't disagree in a lot of facets, I
do think there is more risk to the Benitas. I think.
I want to say that though, I think to this
one there's a lot more risk than the other players
we just talked about, especially when you're just looking at
the style and play or how Benito wins, right, I
(07:36):
don't know how much versatility there is in how he
wins as far as pass rush, and then you start
even looking past that and they're like, Okay, well, as
a run guy, not that great. I think if you're
talking about versatility, he's probably better at dropping back and
being a space player than he is a run defender,
so which is something we all knew coming out of
(07:58):
Oklahoma for him. But I do think there's more risk
there because of it. With that being said, though, I
think Zach brings up a good point with the cap raising,
but Nino could have a worse year and still demand
the same amount of money next year just with the
cap going up, right, Zachul, Yeah, you agree with that,
Like he could have a worse year this next year
(08:19):
and still get the same amount as this offseason just
because the CAP's going up and stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
I think just and other players.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Are getting signed and so on and so on. So
I agree with you in that facet. I think it's interesting,
but I would be wrong not to bring up that
this one is I think more concerning than the other extensions,
or riskier than the other extensions we've made so far.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
And it was reported by the Denver Gazette earlier this
offseason that his requests were in excess of twenty million dollars, right,
If it was twenty seven million dollars, that probably gets
reported as in excess of twenty five. You know, if
it's thirty three, it probably gets reported as in excess
of thirty million. So if he's in that twenty to
twenty five million dollar range, which I think is likely
(09:05):
based on what we have reported in terms of per
year compensation, like that slots him as like the twentieth
some highest page edge rusher in the game. Like, especially
if you adjust for cap inflation, you're talking about a
guy in the twenties or the thirties. So that's a
team's best edge rusher, and not every team is Max
Crosby out there, Like you can afford to have the
(09:28):
twenty second highest page edge be a guy who is
a little lackluster on rundowns. And I just like I
agreed with Joey, this is more risky than a Zach
Allen than in Courtland Sutton because he has demonstrated it less.
But if he does have one more good season, I guess, like,
is it more likely that he looks like he did
the last two years or that he looks like he
(09:48):
looks like looks like how he played his rookie season,
because if he looks more like he did these last
two years, it's gonna be forty million dollars a year.
It is gonna be thirty five million, because the arg
against paying him at that level of production right now.
Trey Hendrickson, by the way, that's the guy I was
trying to think of. He's gonna make north of thirty
million whenever that situation gets resolved. He doesn't really play
(10:10):
the run. So you can absolutely survive that way if
it's a productive enough pass rusher. I just it's far
more likely in my opinion, that you're sitting here, you
know what, eight months from now, or not even six
months from now, going, oh my god, we have to
pay Nick Benito thirty five forty million dollars because he
had another ten sax season. Then you're going, oh, man,
(10:32):
he fell flat on his face. We can get away
with paying him fifteen to twenty million. I don't know.
I think, yes, there's more risk involved. I still think
the risk your avenue is not paying him.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Yeah, I would have to agree, simply because the market.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Has tended to blow up and the momentum has been
a little bit egregious when you start looking at those
contracts that are coming through. But there's two different conversations
that are happening now right with the availability you have
other talent outside of Benito, you know, have a conversation
of whether or not you would a one trade for
the player and a pick and kind of absorb an
even greater contract, or would you give up that developing
(11:12):
talent that you already work so hard to kind of
get that production outside of So, I guess where I'm
stuck on it. And there's a question up here that
I wanted to get to as well from d Bronks
my concern with Benito's if Dvance gets a head coaching job, Joey,
I know you've been kind of on that pathway right now.
I'm not sure the next defensive coordinator would be able
to use him as well.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Do you see that as.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Being a probability, Joey, for Benito to take a step
back if he were not to have the continuity with
the current defensive coaching staff.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Yeah, but I also think that could be said for
a lot of players on this defense. I even think
like Zach Allen's a phenomenal football player. But if you want.
All of a sudden, you changed defensive coordinators, and now
the philosophy is our three technique needs to be like
a gap eater guy. He needs to sit there and
be able to take doubles and be really staff out
at the point of attack. Guy Zach Allen wouldn't be
(12:03):
nearly as good in that role. Zach Allen is get
the hell up, field, mister, like, fuck up the play guy.
That's who Zach Allen is, right, So I think you
are paying these guys in mind thinking we're coaches, like
and as the GMO, hiring these coaches to get the
best out of my players.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
So I don't know.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
If you can even go into a contract extension with
that mindset. I don't know if you could do that.
You're on me, Zach, It's beautiful, We're back.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
Hey, I haven't done it in too long. I want
to echo what Andy saying here. I think he's pretty
dead on if it goes to Jim Leonard route, which
I think would be the most likely option at this juncture.
Of course, Leonard and Vance could both get hired away
who knows, But Leonard kind of comes off that that
(12:55):
Rex Ryan Mike McDonald philosophy tree that's you know, spreading
across the NFL right now, all all sorts of defensive
coordinators Tennessee, Miami, Seattle. Of course, Baltimore still has one.
I think there's a few other locations. And a large
part of that defensive philosophy is like the SIM pressures
(13:15):
the SIM rushers, and to pull that off, you need
pass rushers who are comfortable dropping back in coverage, which
I think is Joey demonstrated, is something that Nick Benito's
good at, like you know, Kyle van Noy in Baltimore,
like I think China Nu also can be at times
in Seattle. You know, Benito's I think a better player
than either of those two guys right now, but kind
(13:38):
of can fill that role well. And we've also seen
George Payton value that skill set in an edge rusher
even before Vance Joseph was installed. With the drafting of
Nick Benito, frankly, so, I I wonder if I'm a
little less concerned about it, because I think the likely
avenues they'd go for the next DC would align with
(13:58):
Nick Benito, and the fact that the GM clearly values
this type of edge rusher makes me think it's even
more likely they go with that style of DC.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
I almost made it myself too, so we were all
back on it.
Speaker 4 (14:15):
Zach.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
Thank you for that.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Joey, appreciate your thoughts on that one. I guess I'm
just mixed on it. I don't understand the idea of
waiting for Nick Benito to have another productive season in
order to justify paying him the standard set of what
a contract would entail in this current season, heading into
(14:37):
a year where the Broncos camp presently afford to loosen
at that position, at least not right now. I don't
think there's the proven depth yet. So I guess that
opens myself up to this next question that can tie
into some of the training camp conversations that we're going
to have, Zach. As you're out there, what are you
seeing from the depth perspective as it comes to that
(14:59):
edge group, you know, linebackers in general. We have to
get into some injury conversation on the inside, but the
outside is We're I'm curious right now.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Yeah, I think that makes it a little easier to
potentially move off Benito, just because the early returns on Ellis,
Joan Ellis and Hugh Robinson also guys who kind of
fit that can drop back into coverage Mold when you
need him to. You know, that makes it potentially a
(15:31):
little easier to move off Benito feeling like you have
some solid options in place. I think we need to
see a lot more out of both those guys before
you feel comfortable with them replacing Benito.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Potential though, that's one thing brought country.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
Yes, yeah, it's very exciting.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
He was good last year and that went under the radar,
like just because of how good other players were at
the same position he played. There's a rookie j Ellis
was really really look really really promising. Just throw that
out there.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
And also know, one last thing I wanted to say
about the Benito financials. When you look at Jonathan Cooper, Cortland,
Sutton Patrick's, Artan Quinn, Minors, Zach Allen, any of these
recent extensions for the Broncos, all of those players were
more established than Nick Benito, and in many cases a
lot of those players were better than Nick Benito. Yet
in I believe every single case, the Broncos can get
(16:27):
out of those contracts two years after signing with like
minimal dead cat pain. So I just struggle to believe that,
Like the Broncos have negotiated a way for them to
be able to get out of the Patrick's Ertan deal,
But once they sign Nick Benito, they're stuck for years,
you know what I mean, Like they can sign him now,
(16:48):
it cannot work out, and they can still probably get
out of it. That like okay, I'd say the more
damaging scenario would be because you know, that's a one
year cap hit of like fifteen twenty million when you
cut him. That's not fun. But that's when you're whereas
you wait, you signed him at that forty million dollar
a year number, that might as well be a fifteen
(17:09):
million dollar dead cap hit every single season he's on
the roster because you missed out signing him at twenty
five mil per So I just that's lasting there now.
Hugh Robinson and Jonea Ellis looking so good might give
you the thought to get it back to the original point.
And Joe Ellis has been dominating this camp, especially now
that he's a little healthier. Early on he was still
dealing with a shoulder thing. I think dominating these last
(17:31):
few practices. Kean Robinson, before he got on his knee brace,
was dominating, exciting to see what he does back in practice.
I believe he'll be back on Monday. You know, if
those guys are good, then maybe you just decide, hey,
let's let Benito lock get a third round comp pick
and I kind of go with these waves of rushers
(17:53):
and draft another guy to hopefully replace Benito there. I
just I don't think you're replacing Nick Benito with that
third round on compick you'd be getting in return. If
they're there with it, I would be like calling up
the Bengals to see if they wanted to trade for
him or you know, someone else, because he even if
you don't think he's worth the really lucrative extension, I
(18:14):
think everyone in Broncos country would agree that he's worth
more than a like third round pick, the potential, not
even a guaranteed third round pick. Like if Team X
called up the Broncos right now and made a trade
for Nick Benito for a conditional third round pick, everyone
in Broncos Country would be livid. And so I think,
just with that in mind, if you're already in the
place of like, we don't want this guy long term.
(18:36):
We like Hugh Robinson, we like Joan Ellis trade Nick
Benito for something more valuable.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
I think it's a fun conversation to have, specifically because
we're at a part in a place as we're watching
the Broncos and getting ready for this season. The teams
at a really good position that you can start having
these conversations. The gritty in the minutia of the circums
dances are is that there are going to be individuals
that can take those places. We can be gritty about
(19:05):
positional depth and what is at stake here. So I
like the conversation, but it also brings me to the
more negative part of this is as we move to
the inside, you've got some injuries that are racking up,
so let's go through them one by one, and they
all just happen to play the same position. Sorry, Drew Sanders,
Alex Singleton, Dre green Law. By no way is that
(19:26):
an order of severity, but the entire position has been
kind of wiped out in a little bit of a
weak span that was already a question mark heading into
the season, with Alex Singleton returning from his injury to
then break the other part of his body with a
broken thumb, already back practicing, we'll be able to club.
It not going to be as difficult as anticipated, but
(19:46):
I think it does add a little bit of a
flag on top of what was already a question mark
surrounding his return and ability to get back up to pace.
Drew Sanders' foot ligament injury out four to six weeks,
and then Dre green Law having a little bit of
a lower body in expected to be back. It's not
noted as anything serious, but it does create a little
bit of pause. How are you guys feeling enjoy I'm
(20:06):
going to start with you, what's the option moving forward?
If let's say this puts a little bit of a
bruise on how you were already looking at that group,
do you see them going after someone else to help
kind of shore that up?
Speaker 2 (20:20):
I mean I would. I would be looking at the
free agents and thinking, hey, is there anybody here I
can sign relatively cheap or like really cheap, honestly guys available,
maybe a vetesque player like I think that's how a
lot of us are looking at Alex Ingleton to begin with. Like,
if Alex Singleton hit free agency right now, I don't
think he's like getting a massive bag from another team.
(20:42):
I think you can go out there and get the
comparable talent, Like did Josie Jules sign anywhere for example.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
No, he's his things complicated because he's dealing with concussion
symptoms and isn't able to play, and so we kind
of like stepped away from the Panthers while he deals
with that. Hopefully he's an option on the table, but
it probably won't be for a few months until we
know for sure.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Fair enough, fair enough, but the point is the point, Like,
I think there are serviceable or not?
Speaker 4 (21:10):
Jay Mosley, Jawan Bentley, two guys I've been circling for a.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
While exactly exactly. There are guys veteran linebackers who have
done good things in the league available and you could
get relatively cheap. I don't think it's a necessity to
sign him now. I don't think that's the thing. The
Broncos have been able to bring in and linebackers mid season.
I remember who is it who they brought into Times
(21:35):
what Kenny Young? Kenny Young yup and came in and
played solid for us right when we needed him to.
Speaker 4 (21:41):
So everyone wanted to extend him to a big money deal.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Yeah that's true, yep, And so I don't think it's
a necessity that they need to do it now. I'm
fine with the Broncos looking and seeing how their linebacker
room looks at the moment. Let's see him on the
field first and then making a move like that. So
I don't think it's necessity right now, but I could
see that happening. I would keep my eyes open for
(22:05):
a guy that I think could fit this defense well.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
Even a guy like Eric Kendricks. He's way up there
and hasn't been great for a while, you know, like
last year. I think he was pretty rough for the Cowboys.
Year before, he wasn't great for the Chargers. But if
the Broncos find themselves in a place in case of emergency,
that's an incredibly intelligent veteran that you feel like you
could plug in and trust to do his job pretty regularly,
(22:29):
and rather than turning to Kareene Reid or JB. Brown
or whatever UDFA options they have at the very bottom
of the depth chart.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
I was typing on me to make sure I didn't
screw up there.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
But yeah, I mean I was trying to look at
everyone keeps mentioning Kawan Alexander.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
I think he had pretty recent surgery.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
No, he's not currently on the Lions any any longer,
So potentially, I don't know. I don't know if you
have to dip back necessarily that deep, but it does
open up the room a little bit to see who
else is going to step up. But then you also
have Laville Bailey, which has been a hot topic of
conversation all throughout camp. Who is creating those moments, those
splash plays during training camp, which is going to lead
(23:17):
now with the ability to step up and take additional
snaps as we get some real NFL speed football in preseason.
Who's to say that a young individual currently on the
team doesn't end up making a name for themselves when
it comes to this position.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Very possible. I don't think I think we should be
rolling that type of stuff out either. I mean, the
training camp it gives you a picture, kind of an
idea of things. But until these guys, especially at the
linebacker position, get to go hit in an actual football game,
that's when we're really going to be able to tell.
So it's been pick some of these linebackers apart from
each other. This is more just running and hitting. You're
(23:54):
going to see a lot of guys look good based
off of like the athleticism. I never heard anybody be
like Josie Toole's killing this training camp right now. You
never heard life.
Speaker 4 (24:07):
And I will say I think Lavelle Bailey flashing and
training camp when this is a time when the athletes dominate,
to Joey's point, is such a promising sign he has.
I was just curious, looped it up quick a three
point two seven rass. His composite size grade is poor.
His composite explosion grade is poor. His composite speed grade
(24:29):
guess what, it's poor. His composite agility grade just okay.
A very unimpressive rafts card, probably just seeing how Peyton
has invested in athletes, one of the least impressive rass
cards of anybody on the Broncos right now. And I'm
telling you guys, he is constantly in there, like in
the mix every play, making a lot of tackles. I
(24:49):
think he's been plenty respectable in coverage, even covering options
like Lucas Kroll, who like isn't you know, the best
overall tight end but is a pretty dang good athlete.
I've seen Leavell baileyang with him, and I think it
just demonstrates like the problem with drafting linebackers is so
(25:11):
many of the highly drafted ones of the favorite prospects
are just the best athletes because they can clean things
up at the college level. But it's such a mental position,
and you see the Fred Warners and these mid round
picks end up, uh, the Dione Henley's another mid round pick,
end up being the best guys at the position. It's
not crazy that a UDFA like level Bailey, as I
(25:33):
finished buying time for Joey, a UDFA like level Bailey
ends up being one of the better options in the
room for this team.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Yeah, you think I have this podcast lighting thing down now.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
Joe refuses to front light himself. It's always like he's
in witness protection.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
I do.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
I've got the two face lighting going on, going on.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
It is geated, dang ringlight. Let's get it together. This
is like year four, year five.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
I don't know, I don't know what we're doing anymore.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
All right, guys, we'll let's tie it in a little
bit here, right, we're talking about the potential, I don't know,
like shaking up the hive a little bit with injuries
and extensions and conversations and negotiations that aren't happening, etc.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Etc.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
But there's also some fun and exciting things happening as
this new season is approaching, and I really wanted to
get the sense of there's a noticeable difference. You're going
into Sean Payton's third year. The tone of camp has changed,
I think from the outside and even in the small
amount that I've been able to participate in the group
of peers, I want to say more unified. I think
the players are celebrating each other and themselves more, and
(26:45):
I think they're responding to coaching and a little bit differently,
and they're finishing reps a little bit more intentionally. The
vibe feels ending. Intentional is the word that I want
to use.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
Here, Zach.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
Since you've been out there and that you're at field level,
I want to know what are you seeing when it
comes to culture inside this team right now? And I'm
not looking for the raw ros side of things. I
want to know just from a level of seeing it
every single day, does it feel different as it does
kind of just from seeing the general conversation surrounding it.
Speaker 4 (27:14):
Yeah, I think this is the best culture I've seen
on a Broncos team. And I'm thrilled to say it
because I remember all the concern about, oh my god,
is Sean Payton Joseph Stalin, Is he going to just
have everyone on a miserable death march to their graves,
withering and cold and No, it turns out these guys
(27:37):
are like Jamis Winston on the torn acl having a
grand old time dancing and and partying in the locker.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Room, hopefully not on a to.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
Ac, not on a ton acl. I think that's the
mental image that always comes to mind when I think
of a Sean Payton locker room, Like, Damn, those guys
are having a lot of fun for you know, Sean
Payton being such a such a miserable guy. I think
Sean Payton should frankly a lot nastier to media and
in like his outward facing stuff than he is to
his team. Seems like his players throughout the years have
(28:08):
generally really liked him, and the culture right now in
Denver is incredibly strong. I think you see guys like
Marvin Mims and Malcolm Roach chirping back and forth all
practice long in like a very friendly but also very
competitive way, and it's bleeding over into the press conferences
and they're both talking trash to Malcolm Roach called him
(28:30):
a mosquito, or Marvin started with Marvin Mims calling Malcolm
Roach a fat boy, and Malcolm Roach said, Hey, I
can change how I look, I can get in shape,
I can lose some weight. He always is going to
look like a mosquito and have them talking some trash
back and forth in a way that's playful but also
like that practice. It was Wednesday, when all the trash
(28:51):
talk was going back and forth, you and Adam Trautman
in a series of other Broncos saying, that's the best
practice we've had either in my life or since I've
been in the NFL, definitely since I've been with the
Denver Broncos. And it's because it's getting injected with like
a little extra competitiveness. It's a really fun atmosphere out there.
Everyone's very business like though like people are. I think
(29:14):
they recognize the talent on this team relative to past teams,
and I think everyone's taken shit pretty seriously in terms
of like, hey, we have a relatively special opportunity here,
let's take care of business. But it also was just
a great bunch of dudes, like atmosphere wise, it reminds
me of the fun the twenty twenty two defense was
(29:34):
having in like the first four weeks of that season.
Like I remember coming into the locker room after that
Week three. It was like eleven to ten victory over
the forty nine ers or ten to nine, something like that,
and the Russ was sucking ass like nobody's business. And
you go into the locker room and the entire defense
(29:55):
is celebrating. I've never seen a happier locker room. They're
just losing their mind. Everyone's young, We're the best defense
in the league. Like just it was a party. It
was like they had just clinched the division or something.
And the atmosphere of this, the energy, the vibe that
this defense gives off is closest to that that I've seen.
And then the talent just jumps off the field. I think, Yeah,
(30:18):
I love where this team is at right now. I'm
feeling too confident about the Broncos. I don't like I
feel like I'm about to get the rug pulled out
from under me because I'm feeling too damn good about
this team.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
I feel like this is the best culture I've seen
in quite a while. For the Broncos too, just outsiders
looking at I remember like the Hacket off season and
everyone was like, we really need to have a guy
in here who's going to lighten the mood. And you know,
I think people did enjoy their training camp and stuff
(30:50):
like that with Hackett, but it was in a different way.
Right that was like we're like that was like goofy happy, Like.
Speaker 4 (30:58):
It's when you have the substitute teacher and they're playing
a movie or whatever.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
Yes, meanwhile, this one is like it's that, but we're
mixing it. Like there's a good amount of competitiveness involved
in this whole thing. You can feel the competitiveness in
the air when these guys are talking, right. Meanwhile, when
you go back to other ones, I think during the
Fangio time, it was like what people are talking about
and I'm Fangio's biggest guy on here. Ever, But I
(31:26):
do think that was more of the iron fist field
players were feeling. I think this is a good mix.
You're keeping it competitive. The coach can crack down on
players when it's time to do that, right, Like he
can still do that. He's done it. I saw the
reports about him going a little crazy on Juluil McLaughlin right,
pulling him aside and yelling at the entire team for
(31:46):
a little bit. So he's able to do that. But
meanwhile the players are still having fun and still competitive
about it, So it's all good. I think a lot
of the times teams I know this this set, a
lot of teams take on the personality of their head
coach or quarterback. What did we expect from the Ruzzell
Wilson Nathaniel Hacket day? So who's ball?
Speaker 4 (32:09):
Sorry, one little anecdote I wanted to add. I was
listening to an interview today with Devon Valet and he
was talking about at credit to DMVR for the interview
with Benny Fowler. He was talking about the leaps bo
Nix has made in his second year, and he was
talking about how much more confident he is in the
offense and just knowing the different calls or whatever, and
(32:29):
talked about how yesterday during the scrimmage, Sean Payton made
a call and bo Nix was like, yeah, bet, I
got you. I got you, coach, and then called it
completely different play in the battle. He was like, I
like this one better, and they ran with it. And
I think that you know that shows maybe some of
the fairest viewer that Sean Payton's talked about. But also,
like I think these players are empowered to an extent
(32:50):
and there's a good good feel with everything right now.
I just wanted to jam that story in there because
I heard it today and thought it was pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
Love. Yeah, I think expanding on all of this is.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
Super important to the overall I guess uh emphasis that
we're placing on don't listen to account Oh yeah, good
one time, I wish you were ridiculous. Joey mentioned the
secret word of the day. Uh, well the phrase he said,
(33:23):
you can feel it in the air tonight. So the
question uh to everyone is now best hype song and
please don't go into elaborate detail as to why. I
just want to know we'll get you pumped up to go,
I don't know, crash some pools.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
Like this, joe Joey Taylor account.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
No, No, that's not what I said.
Speaker 4 (33:50):
Like what you said sounded a lot like what you said. Gosh, man,
right now, it's it's been uh what some on my tongue,
some ring ring, man, that's that's That's where I'm at.
Joey what's your pump up song to smash some foods?
Like Joy Taylor?
Speaker 2 (34:09):
No, listen, we did the move topics right. This is
a PC show. This is what people, This is.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
Not a PC.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
Joey's thrown around the f bomber earlier.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Now I was calling this show. I don't even get.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
People want to call me down all of a sudden,
we're family friendly and then we get the Joey Taylor
comments and everyone goes off the rails like, okay.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
Well, my next question is going to be post everyone,
because you're already wanted to. I feel like everything I
say now has to be in a way which nobody
can call freezing out on me.
Speaker 3 (34:46):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
So, bon Nicks is in a relative headspace where he's
been doing all the off season work right, He's been
channeling his inner Drew Brees. He's been thrown onto the
NFL Top one hundred list by his peers.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
His team can't shut up about him.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
Sean Payton will not stop emphasizing how important it is
that he's taking this next step. Now, are we crowning
bo Nicks a little bit too early? Or are you
guys just as excited as I am? Because Zach you
absolutely are right. I think a lot of us are
in this very optimistic vein of you can't be down
on the Broncos right now. But I think there are
(35:23):
some very important tangible variables when it comes to discussing
bo Nix and his development. Just through the offseason, right
he had a battle back from the back injury. He's
now been able to rehab and gain strength. He's looking
the part out there, but also his movements are just
that much more fluid. You see a lot of smoothness
in his release. You see a lot of confidence in
his decision making, and that obviously is just in camp,
(35:45):
but he is going against the defense that is really
trying to throw a spur in everything that this offense
is trying to do. You can relate it now that
he's got his weapon back in Courtland soon that extension
that's not going anywhere, that target's not going anywhere. You've
also seen the development start to happen for a Troy Franklin.
You're seeing a Marvin Mimes, You're seeing a Devon Vley.
(36:07):
So my initial question is going to be how important
is it that bo Nicks kind of I wouldn't even
say takes the lead takes the next step just leans
into that because it's really important not only a cultural perspective,
but when it comes to a quick start, when it
comes to the first half the season. So Zach to you,
(36:28):
what are you seeing out of bon Nix and what
gives you the optimism there? Hopefully that's not a lead.
You could say you're pessimistic if you want to.
Speaker 4 (36:36):
I'm feeling very optimistic. I think the best way to
describe it to someone that hasn't been there is it
looks like he has some of the answers to the
test now. I think last year he was, you know,
like me in high school, just rolling up. I have
not studied a lick for this. Let's see how this goes.
I'm going to bank on, you know, not to say
he wasn't studying. I'm sure he was studying, but kind
(36:57):
of just going off of raw ability and like what
he had kind of baked into him already as a
quarterback and living by the seam of his pants and
trying to make plays as they arose and just try
and find the like you know, oh my god, there's
a past rusher in my face. I turned right. Oh
my god, there's another I got to turn another way.
Oh five years on the field, I'm scramled. I got
(37:17):
a fifty yard gain? Oh my god. Like that was
kind of his quarterbacking style last year. This year, he
knows the answers to the test. He doesn't have all
the answers. I wouldn't say he's mastered the offense or anything,
but you're seeing him work through his reads quicker more regularly.
He's not as fast to I think, drop his eyes
and look to scramble. I think he still does too
(37:38):
much of that in terms of like, oh there's rather
than just like kind of navigating the pocket more like
going into runner mode, like how can I run and
find some green grass and then throw from there. I
think he still does that a little too much. But
overall it is just a lot more calm controlled. It's
someone who, you know, oh, I got this pressure, look,
(38:00):
I know. The diagnosis for that, as opposed to last
year was I know this pressure. Look, Oh my god,
how can I make this play playwork? Anyways, And he
did a fine job with that last year. I think
he'll do that much better having the answers to the test.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
Yeah, I think, okay, so I'll be the one that
I well, all start with it with us, Yes, brite,
I'm very excited about Bonnicks. I think, uh, last year
during training camp, I started to build my excitement up
for Bonnix. The more I like, the more I heard
people hate the pick. Honestly, I was like, wait, I
think people are a little prejudging this early, right, which
(38:36):
naturally put me on the more positive of the Bonnick
side last offseason and this year. Yes, I am very excited,
but I do think there is a little hesitation where
it should to everything. Zach said, can he slow it down?
And really it's just like letting the play develop. I
(38:58):
think a lot of people are like, he needs to
fit to fix his footwork, and yes, that's true, but
I think to more of an extent, the reason you're
seeing the footwork not there is because he's not even
trying to work it. He's trying to run to open field.
Like Zach said, that's a lot what we saw last
year and it worked. Why Because for all the reasons
(39:18):
that people said he was a bust of a pick
when the Broncos drafted, he ended up actually being really
good and he's a hell of an athlete and he
can get it done and do that type of stuff,
make a bad play good with his feet. So I
just think the next progression in his arc is letting
the play develop, going from one to two instead of one.
(39:38):
Oh that's not there. Let me run and try to
make this out of a broken play. So I just
need to see that one extra piece there. I'm excited.
I'm not seeing in that hot sun at training camp.
I'm not doing that with you guys. Shout out to
both of you, not doing it. I'm gonna come here
every single year and say that I'm not doing.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
I'm the only one who's in the hot son Zackson
a tent to live in the like they're serving lime
water to him and he's fine, Like he doesn't breath.
Speaker 4 (40:07):
In one of these days, I've got I'll we'll get
you down.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
There training camp nowadays, breeze over there with this, the
fucking the sunscreen dispenser, the ninety SPF sunscreen.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
I don't even wear sunscreen.
Speaker 1 (40:22):
I just I just sprits myself with an accelerant hope
for the best.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
No, there's no SPF that'll keep you if you're sitting
on that damn hill. It could be ninety outside. Really,
in reality, it feels one hundred and eighty is crazy.
Speaker 3 (40:36):
One hundred and eighty.
Speaker 2 (40:41):
Steps off that hill all of a sudden, it's nice
out here, don't.
Speaker 1 (40:45):
We don't even got we don't even have a Uh,
that's ridiculous.
Speaker 3 (40:51):
This broncos p l TV.
Speaker 1 (40:54):
We uh, we really wish we could pay our public
relations team a little bit better so they could do
more work and less heckling.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
But that's fine. It's just this is the burden that
we must bear.
Speaker 2 (41:07):
Zach, did you see Bree trying to relieve herself of
the pr duties that we ever.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
How do you know it's not me?
Speaker 1 (41:16):
Like, how do you know that's not what I'm doing
over here on another screen?
Speaker 4 (41:19):
I have yet to see a single spelling flaw.
Speaker 1 (41:22):
Yeah, I'm sorry, Wow.
Speaker 3 (41:27):
I spell good.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
It wasn't even easy. It wasn't it wasn't low hanging fruit.
It was just pure and wrong. And my lawyer will
be in contact, uh in case. Yeah, it's complete, complete
and utter libel. Just so that everyone knows L to
B is no longer on the path of friendship. You know,
we actually just put on faces for the show now,
(41:48):
so it's entering into it is absolutely just business. It
is a pleasure doing business with you all.
Speaker 3 (41:56):
All right.
Speaker 1 (41:57):
We talked about often I don't know what your mumbled about,
but we talked about optimism, and I want to kind
of lean into it a little bit on maybe some
questions that we may have still pending out there. We
talked about the injuries, we talked about the depth in
some positions, but we did talk about we didn't talk
about maybe some lingering things. So Zach, I wanted to
(42:19):
know from camp. We've seen a lot of great things,
and I'm not even saying they necessarily have to be negatives,
but what questions do you have remaining that you hope
get answered prior to preseason?
Speaker 3 (42:32):
We know that's coming up really quick.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
In the first preseason game is right around the corner,
but I feel like.
Speaker 3 (42:38):
There's still.
Speaker 1 (42:40):
An air of we have questions still unanswered. Mine center,
I think there's a little bit of like what's going
to happen at the offensive line? Right I was talking
to a friend end of the program, Mario A. Tansey,
at training camp last week, and my question was centered
around who's going to be the next guy up, Who's
going to be that depth piece where you know they
can plug and play where their versatility is going to
(43:00):
come into a lot of important conversations when you have
a injury at garter tackle and you need to put
somebody in there, like who's had the rotational availability to
be able to step in there? And I think that's
what Sean Payton's game plan has been right from drafting
from pre agencies.
Speaker 3 (43:18):
Who can play multiple roles?
Speaker 1 (43:20):
Who's going to be able to make sure there's not
an appreciable decrease in production if someone were to go down.
But the question that hasn't been answered is who is
that on the offensive line? So my question to you
guys is what are your remaining questions what needs to
be answered this week before preseason starts.
Speaker 4 (43:37):
Zach, I'll start with you man. For me, I guess
what I am really curious to see. I guess how
how large of a role can Jade Baron earn in
the defense? I guess It's hard to come up with
things that I feel like I'll get an answer from
training camp over the next few practices that I don't
have yet, And I think that's one of them, like
(44:00):
how how will he continue to slot into this defense?
We're seeing a lot of him. He seems to keep
getting better every single practice. I think he's gonna have
a really strong rookie year. I don't know if he'll
be the outside corner or not when they're in based defense,
but I do think whenever he's on the field, I
think he's gonna have a really strong rookie year, just
because he's so pro ready. Like the instincts his feel
(44:24):
for the game really flash on the practice field. He's
always around the ball, He's incredibly physical. I've seen him
set the edge in like run defense multiple times in
a way that's been pretty inspiring. And I'm just curious,
like how large of a role will he have earned himself.
I guess when that first preseason game starts, is he
(44:45):
ahead of j Quan at that point in time? Right now,
I'll tell you he's not. That said, we were saying
these exact same things about bo Nicks last year, Sean
Payton's gonna make these young guys earn their role, and yeah,
excited to see what happens with the Jade baron and
earning his role over these coming days.
Speaker 2 (45:02):
I think mindfall has kind of been well, it's the
same as Zach and that it's a dB, but same
in the Berie as I'm looking at the depth of
the unit and that's the safeties for me. Like, I know,
Hfunga right is awesome when he's on the field. I mean,
we're talking about an All Pro caliber player when he's
(45:22):
been healthy, when he was with the forty nine ers.
But with that, I mean, yeah, a lot of injuries.
What do we have behind that that makes sense for
the Broncos. There's names on here that have made its
circles in Broncos Country throughout the last few years. Right,
I'm thinking of a jail Skinner. I'm thinking of dt Y,
I'm thinking of even like Devon Key last year, PJ Lock,
(45:44):
all of these names, but especially with PJ Lock coming
off of injury, Like, it just seems that it's a
lot more name recognition in Broncos country than it is
actual on field talent that we've seen for most of
those guys. So that's a little scary for me. It's
a a little spooky. I just I mean, I think
we saw it, like when Devon Key had to go
(46:06):
play last year, the safeties fell off a cliff. It
was not good. So I just don't want to be
in that same situation.
Speaker 4 (46:15):
I love that call, and I will say Pj's looked
really good to me in training camp. Looks like they're
still treating him like that third safety. Our national nightmare
of Devon Key is not over yet. I hate to
say that I think he's the the other Maybe they
carry five safeties, but assuming they don't, I'd say he's
(46:36):
the last man in that room. I would love to
see J. L. Skinner or d Larain Turner yell pass
him by. I'm sure Jaie Skinner will make it. Actually,
now that I'm talking out loud, I'm sure Skinner makes
it as at least the fifth man because of his
special team's ability. But I would be very very happy if. Like,
I don't know nothing against Devon Key, but last year
(46:58):
was rough man. I'm hoping they have a higher ceiling
option than what we saw.
Speaker 2 (47:02):
Hey before we say, nowt here, Zach, this is a
little off of our list here, but I wanted to
get your question on this because I don't know. I,
like I said, I'm not sitting on that hill than
you guys. Have you What have you guys seen out
of RJ. Harvey at training camp? That's a player I
was super excited about when Lebronc has got him. I
was high on RJ. Harvey this whole thing, and I
(47:24):
feel like his skill set would translate well to a
training camp setting.
Speaker 4 (47:28):
Has it, Yeah, I I don't. I don't know. He
hasn't looked unreal. I guess, like I don't know. I
could have seen him having like a Montro Washington esque
camp where it's like, this guy's so explosive and quick
(47:50):
that during these non contact periods he just looks unstoppable.
And I don't think you've seen that. I also wouldn't
say I'm worried about it at all. I think he's
had a strong training camp. I don't think it's been
exceptional by any means.
Speaker 2 (48:05):
Then have you seen him catching pass?
Speaker 4 (48:08):
The hands look good? I think. Now I'll get into
the guy who I think has been most impressive as
a receiver in a second, But I think R J.
Harvey has probably been the second best pass catcher out there.
I think his and you know, contacts lessened here so
we can't get a true read, but at least his
(48:28):
mental understanding of the past protection responsibilities has looked solid
to me when he's been out there. I think he's
he's you know, he hasn't looked lost. He looks like
he knows what he's doing. And you know it hasn't
been Montreal, Washington, ESK or whatever, but he has looked
very fast. There's been multiple times where he's you know,
turned the corner on the edge in a way that
(48:49):
you know other Broncos running backs weren't last year. I
think what you do see from him, he's very explosive,
but unlike Julia McLoughlin, you'll see him bounce off some
guy or someone will try and trip him off and
he's trip him up and he's able to spin off
it and carry that momentum downfield for five six yards
or so. You see some of that. The guy who's
(49:09):
really been standing out to me, and I want to
see it in the preseason, but I might start banging
the drum for this guy to be running back three.
Blake Watson.
Speaker 2 (49:19):
He was.
Speaker 4 (49:20):
He's the best pass catching back of the bunch. He
transitions from pass catcher to ball carrier so naturally, so easily.
And he's the guy whose speed and like short area
quickness has looked especially slippery out there on Wednesday when
it was that more physical practice, but he was there
for that one. Blake Watson had the best runs of
(49:42):
the day. He tore off multiple, you know, fifteen twenty
yard carries and he's going up against lesser competition. He's
going up against third teamers, but you know, you've got
estimated going up against third teamers and the day going
up against third teamers at times, and I don't think
they've looked as impressive as Watson was a little good
(50:05):
about Harvey, but Dobbins, by the way, is gonna, I think,
hold down that starting job into R J. Harvey, takes
it away from him. I think Peyton just likes the
trusty veteran who's going to get the yards that are
blocked for him. And I definitely would prefer the ceiling
raising back as opposed to the floor raising back to
get more carries. But I think he's going to have
(50:26):
to wrench those carries out of Dobbin's hands.
Speaker 1 (50:30):
Well, that feels like that was already kind of the
plan with bringing in a JK. I don't think it
really necessarily takes away from the idea that the Broncos
liked their pick and RJ.
Speaker 3 (50:39):
Harvey.
Speaker 1 (50:39):
But I think no matter what every player that comes
into the NFL has that transitional period where they need
to get up to the NFL speed because it truly
is different. But Zachie touched on a really important word.
They're explosive. I think that's what stood out the most,
especially when the defense has been gunning to blow up
every single run opportunity the Bronco has been throwing out there.
He's still having those types of plays all even though
(51:01):
they're kind of less contact than you would hope.
Speaker 3 (51:03):
So in a live.
Speaker 1 (51:04):
Action game, you're still seeing a lot of explosive myths
that I think is important just from an idea of
where we're going with this run game, and so I
wanted to highlight that. And yes, I think that the
hands game is there, but I think there's a lot
of optimism going into this. And Joey, I want to
thank you because every time I go into a conversation
as it relates to running backs during training camp is
(51:25):
not to mention or think twice about speed being a
factor out there, because it simply is hard to tell
it apart when you've got players out there. But yeah,
I think the addition, I think the running back room
in itself looks really good. Zach has touched on it
multiple times that there's a little bit of chaos there
when it comes to who's going to get that kind
of third nod. But I do like the conversation that JK.
(51:47):
Dobbins had had very recently.
Speaker 3 (51:49):
I can't remember with who.
Speaker 1 (51:50):
I want to say, maybe Ryan, but the idea was
is this running back by committee thing could all be
sort of wasted air and wasted energy because he really
does see him off as being that lead back there.
So I guess we will see how that plays out
specifically as we see how the line is able to
manage all of that, but also last and but not
(52:10):
very least, before we get out of here, I did
want to mention to everyone that the Broncos mail Bag,
that Let's Talk Broncos mail Bag is still a thing
that'll be going live Thursday this week, So if you'd
like to leave your questions in the comics section below,
please do. If you didn't have your question answered live,
this is a great opportunity in order to do so.
(52:31):
And then we're going to debut. We're going to be
debuting preseason recap shows here on the Let's Stop Broncos Network.
What are we I don't even know anyways, it's nice
to see everybody. I'm going to get out of here
before I flail around anymore.
Speaker 3 (52:46):
Go Broncos, thanks for voting the show. We'll see you
next time.
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