Three biggest observations from the first day of Broncos minicamp

On Monday, the Denver Broncos opened the gates to the practice field for the media so we could watch about 20 minutes of the first day of voluntary veteran minicamp. It was great to get back out to UC Health Training Center and you could feel how the energy was different with this new regime.

Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett is full of energy. And after the first day, he was elated with what he saw from his team.

“(It’s) great. I just think being able to get out on the grass with the guys (and) watch them run around. I mean, this is why we do this, to be able to get out there and practice football and have some fun together and slowly learn the system. So it was a good day,” Hackett said.

Here are the three biggest observations from the first day of Broncos veteran minicamp.

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Workaholic

There is no doubt that Russell Wilson likes to work. It was immediately evident when watching him at practice – the guy never stops working. Wilson looked like he was chomping at the bit when it wasn’t his turn during drills. He was charged up and ready to go when it was his turn, and he made the most of all his opportunities.

Wilson went to other players when it wasn’t his rep to teach them things or give them insight. Whether it was wide receivers or other quarterbacks, Wilson was always giving pointers when it wasn’t his turn. All players on this team will listen to Wilson because he’s got the hardware and championship history. It was fun to see him give guidance to players that never experienced that during their time with the Broncos.

In addition to guidance, Wilson was seen asking questions during practice to the coaches around him. This shows the signs of a good leader. Not only will Wilson give his opinion, but he will also ask for pointers himself. Even though he’s a Super Bowl champion and has been in the league for a decade, Wilson is coachable and willing to listen to new ideas.

A few observations from day 1 of #Broncos voluntary veteran minicamp @1043TheFan

Russell Wilson doesn't stop working. Even when it's not his rep, he's in there coaching up his receivers or the other QBs.

— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) April 25, 2022

It was fun to watch Wilson do his thing on Monday. His work ethic is going to be infectious for these players – on both sides of the ball. Everyone on that roster knows Wilson will do everything in his power to prepare as much as possible. Because of that, teammates will not want to let their quarterback down. In essence, the Broncos are all becoming workaholics.

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Fancy Footwork

Anyone who knows football knows that quarterback play starts with footwork. The arm strength of a quarterback gets the most attention, but power as a passer starts with your feet. Wilson’s footwork is some of the best I’ve seen in all the NFL. That was a hallmark of his game coming out of college, and he’s honed his skill even further as a pro.

Wilson did a great job running through the bags while keeping his eyes downfield. The pocket is never going to be completely clean in the NFL, so a quarterback needs to be able to look for targets while not worrying about what’s going on with his legs. Wilson keeps his feet active and stays light on his feet while keeping the ball tucked by his ear waiting to uncork a throw.

When on the move, Wilson can throw with great pass placement. Wilson changes direction quickly and shows no problem when it comes to throwing on the run. Some quarterbacks use “all arm” to get throws away while running, but Wilson does something better – he uses his momentum to complement or replace the base he doesn’t have because his feet aren’t set. He can throw on the run, zipping the ball to his target and using his footwork to help increase his velocity as a passer.

"Love your drop. Trust your feet." words of encouragement for Russell Wilson by #Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett.

After years of watching bad footwork (and all the problems that come with that), it was great to see RW's perfection in that dept. @1043TheFan

— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) April 25, 2022

I was so happy to see Wilson’s footwork after watching Drew Lock struggle for years to have proper technique as a passer. The Broncos have a quarterback who can make plays on the run. This is the modern NFL and gone are the days of the pocket passer. Having a quarterback like Wilson who can throw on the run effectively will make the Broncos one of the most dangerous offenses in the league.

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Early Favorite?

I’m almost nervous about reporting this, but I think Jerry Jeudy might be the favorite for Wilson. At least early on that’s how it seems. Again, super early (and don’t @ me, bro), but it was good to see Jeudy performing with such confidence.

Wilson seems to believe in Jeudy. After most every play they had together, Wilson was seen clapping his hands and praising Jeudy for his work as a route-runner or because of his hands. Wilson wasn’t the only one doing that, as I heard some of the offensive coaches praising Jeudy for his timing as a receiver.

Timing with his quarterback and drops have plagued Jeudy during his pro career. Jeudy can get open, but with a few juke moves it takes more time than a quarterback like Teddy Bridgewater would give him. The bad pass placement he got from Lock didn’t help his drops and concentration problems. Wilson already shows the ability to give Jeudy time to make his break before coming off him and going to a different target.

it's super early, I know – TRUST ME – I know.

However, it looks like Russell Wilson really likes Jerry Jeudy. The two looked good together, and Wilson would regularly praise Jeudy for his route or his hands (looked sticky today). #Broncos @1043TheFan

— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) April 25, 2022

Jeudy has done this before, so I won’t be truly on board with him having a bounce-back season until we get to the regular season. We’ve seen Jeudy look like a Pro Bowl receiver in practice, but with Wilson perhaps he could showcase that skill set regularly on the field when the games count.

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