Training Camp Observations: First day in pads more dud than thud

The Broncos put their shoulder pads on for the first time in training camp on Tuesday. It was supposed to be an exciting day – one where we got to see more physicality from the team. That didn’t happen.

Instead, the Broncos turned in one of the most boring days of practice I’ve ever seen. There were a few things to take away from Tuesday’s performance, but needless to say it was a down day for the Broncos.

Here are my five biggest observations from day six of training camp.

***

1-on-1s Return

We haven’t seen the Broncos do 1-on-1 drills in at least a couple of years. It’s a favorite drill for offensive players and it’s one of the least favorite drills for defenders who are left on an island.

While Teddy Bridgewater won the day as a passer, things weren’t that exciting when the ball was in the air. Drew Lock did a good job of hitting receivers in 1-on-1 drills, but there’s no timer on when to get rid of the ball so he could wait, and wait, and wait before firing off a pass. This is much different from the red zone drill where Lock almost threw an interception to Justin Simmons at the end of practice.

The 1-on-1 drills really show a players desire as a pass-catcher. It also shows the recovery speed and nuance a cornerback works with. Rookie first-round pick Patrick Surtain was not fooled, even against Tim Patrick in 1-on-1 drills. Patrick faked like he was going deep only to cut off his route for a short pass, and Surtain was there to make the tackle.

Even though there’s no live tackling to the ground, you can see how players can get in position to make a play – both on offense and defense. It’s a fun drill to watch, and I’m glad the Broncos brought it back today.

***

Turn Around

I think Jerry Jeudy is turning around the feelings some in Broncos Country have about him. As a rookie in 2020, Jeudy had a disappointing rookie season with too many drops. During the offseason, many Broncos fans let it be known that trading Jeudy would be part of their plans.

Good thing the fans don’t run the team. I think Jeudy is in for a breakout season in 2021, especially if Bridgewater wins the job. His precision is evident on every play, and Jeudy is one of the best route runners in the entire league.

On Tuesday, Jeudy was the one making big plays and getting the crowd excited. More than once, Jeudy would run down after a big catch (or end up in the end zone because of the catch) and fire up the crowd by raising his arms. Fans really seemed to respond to Jeudy in a positive way.

If you didn’t know about his rookie season, you’d think that Jeudy was one of the favorites of Broncos Country. I think he will be, and I think he’s changing the minds of some fans who may have doubted him based off his 2020 performance.

***

Exchange Rate

One thing that was consistent on Tuesday was the number of bad snaps. There was one fumbled snap by Lock in an exchange with rookie Quinn Meinerz. However, as practice went on you saw more and more snaps that were just a bit off the mark.

I don’t think the Broncos offense is going to be in the shotgun formation that much this season. They want to run the ball early and run the ball often in 2021. That means the quarterback will be mostly operating from under center.

However, when they do go to the shotgun they need better snaps. I saw too many times that Lock or Bridgewater had to reach off to the side to snare a snap that was just a bit off the mark. Things are swarming around the quarterback anyway and having a bad snap just gets the play off to a bad start.

As practice goes on, I expect to see better snaps for starter Lloyd Cushenberry and his backup Meinerz. Until then, we’ll just hope the quarterbacks can get a grip on a snap that might not be perfect.

***

No Energizer Bunny

The Broncos were missing energy on Tuesday. I think part of that energy was missing because Kareem Jackson had a vet day. If there’s one player who can energize things for the Broncos defense it’s Jackson.

I’m surprised that he’s getting another rest day because he also took the day off last Friday. That makes two rest days in six days of practice total (seven if you count their day off).

When Jackson gets back on the field, I believe there will be an energy that comes with him. He’s one of the most intimidating players in the league and getting the pads on is certainly something he looks forward to.

The Broncos defense has to lead the way for the team in 2021. The offense isn’t going to be a high-powered unit even though they do have quite a bit of talent on that side. The defense is going to define the season for the Broncos, and that energy will come from a leader like Jackson.

***

So Many Activities

Bridgewater is more engaging with his teammates than some would think a new player added via trade this offseason would be. After drills and between reps, you can find Bridgewater talking to teammates on both sides of the ball.

Bridgewater is a leader on the team at this early juncture. It seems like defenders love him, and they seem to be sharing notes and not just joking around between reps. Even though they’re going up against each other, Bridgewater isn’t hesitant to share some ideas.

Offensive players seem to love Bridgewater as well. Bridgewater has a certain charisma on the field and on the sidelines that teammates respond to. The guys on offense must like him because he generally knows where to go with the ball and how to get it there on time.

Follow @CecilLammey