Clough: Expectations unchanged 2 weeks into Broncos ‘Champ Camp’

Mark Sanchez the Denver Broncos starter (sort of)? Check. The defense dominant? Check.

Many of the expectations heading into “Champ Camp” have seemed to fallen into line, which 104.3 The Fan’s Sandy Clough said is his big takeaway a fortnight into Broncos training camp.

“I don’t think there have been any big, surprise storylines that have left us completely taken aback or taken off guard,” Clough said.

Specifically, the defense, which did lose a handful of players (Malik Jackson, Danny Trevathan, David Bruton, etc.) during the offseason, seems like it’s not skipped a beat after being the top-ranked unit in 2015.

“The defense is at least as strong and as deep as you would have expected it be –– and as stable on all three levels as you would have expected it to be –– and has dominated, if not annihilated, the offense most every day on the practice field.”

However, the offense continues to transition from future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning taking snaps to either Sanchez or second-year gunslinger Trevor Siemian, who’ve been mired in a quarterback battle throughout camp, which has yet to yield a full-time starter (though Sanchez will start Thursday against the Chicago Bears).

But some may see the unit’s struggle in practice as a result of battling one of the best defensive units day in and day out, Clough said, and others may find it a more concerning preview of things to come.

“To some, that is comforting,” Clough said of the defense’s dominance thus far in camp. “To some, of a more cynical persuasion, that says some things about the offense that we had perhaps feared going into camp but did not necessarily expect it.”

Follow 104.3 The Fan digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.