2024 Denver Broncos Final Training Camp Session/Green Bay Packers Joint Practice
The heat and an unabating sun returned to Dove Valley for the final 2024 training camp practice open to the fans, as well as a joint session with the Green Bay Packers. The Denver Broncos brought their own intense energy and fire to yesterday's practice that even Mr. Sun could admire. I missed applying sunscreen on two small spots yesterday, and I am paying for it now.
The berm was packed to the brim with Broncos fans, along with a solid showing of cheeseheads, who as a fanbase always travel well or are Wisconsin/Midwest transplants now living in Colorado or other parts of the Western United States. I sat next to some very pleasant Packers fans, including one who moved to Colorado in 1982 from eastern Wisconsin. I also met a diehard Bronco fan, who shares a name with Billy Thompson and had some incredible stories involving some incredible Mile High Moments, including a bus he bought that he turned into a tailgating shrine on wheels for the Orange and Blue and the team's Ring of Fame members. One of the stories, and photos that he shared, were of recent Hall of Fame inductee Randy Gradishar signing his name right under where it appears on the bus's ROF facade. This fan is a season ticket holder and operates Wild Bill's Tailgating from his bus before each Broncos' home game in the stadium's parking lot E.
The biggest takeaway from yesterday's session, all of training camp, and one preseason game played thus far: It is inconceivable that the Broncos have the worst roster in the entire league, or that they will have the worst record in the NFL, as Pro Football Focus and Pro Football Network have, respectively, ventured to say this offseason.
Heading into yesterday's joint practice with the Packers, I thought that Green Bay would pose both a challenge and a useful test for where this Broncos team currently finds itself. The Packers are an ascending contender, as evidenced by their late season surge and playoff performance last season. Green Bay has a quarterback potentially on the verge of greatness, one of the best wide receiver rooms in the league, and a solid head coach and staff. By joint practice's end, I felt that the Broncos met the challenge and passed the test with a higher grade than I expected.
My takeaways are mostly based off observations made from practice work performed on the west field, which is closest to the berm, where fans are seated. For details about what transpired on the east field closest to where much of the media is situated during training camp practices, please see Aric DiLalla's and Cody Roark's respective reports.
SPECIAL TEAMS WORK
After positional group work, the teams moved to special teams on the field closest to the berm. Green Bay began by kicking to Denver. Tremon Smith had a big return up the middle of the field after fielding a kick two yards deep in the end zone. Jaleel McLaughlin fielded a kick at the front corner of the end zone, returning the kick 22 yards before the play was blown dead.
By large, from kickoff and punt returns and coverage, I thought the Broncos looked better prepared, disciplined, decisive, and physical than the Packers today. This is no small feat considering that Green Bay's special teams coordinator the very well-regarded Rich Bisaccia. It cannot be said enough how much Mike Westhoff and Ben Kotwica improved Denver's special teams in 2023—going from dreadful to delightful. Bill Parcells, one of Sean Payton's biggest mentors, believes that one of the easiest ways to improve a team immediate upon taking over is to improve special teams, which the Broncos did in Payton's first year with the team. There is evidence that the team is continuing to build on that improvement in Payton's second year.
DEFENSIVE PLAYS OF THE DAY ON THE PLAYING FIELD CLOSEST TO THE BERM
1. In the first 11-on-11 set between Green Bay's offense and Denver's defense, Alex Singleton absolutely blew up Josh Jacobs on a middle run. The sound of the collision reverberated loudly for being in such an open space.
2. Love unwisely tested Patrick Surtain II, who nearly had an interception
3. The defensive line showed impressive stoutness and gap integrity on an outside run that was easily funneled to the sideline for the inside linebackers and cornerbacks to contain and corral.
4. On one concerning pass play, Green Bay tight end Ben Sims shook Bronco inside linebacker Cody Barton pretty well on a drag route that would have gone for 20 to 30 yards in game.
5. Inside linebackers Andre Smith and Levelle Bailey did a great job converging in the hole to blow up a middle run play.
6. On what was the best play of the day, Nik Bonitto strip-sacked Jordan Love or tipped a Love pass that was caught out of the air by Alex Singleton for a pick-six. This led to displeasure by the Green Bay offensive line and the teams eventually converging in an altercation on the field of play. From my vantage point, it didn't look like Bonitto made contact with Love's arm or hand, but rather swiped the ball that was still in Love's hand or tipped the ball just as it left Love's hand. The Broncos are going to need plays like that in 2024 to turn what will probably be many closely contested games they will be a part of into victories.
7. Singleton shot a gap with great earnestness to stop an outside run play to Josh Jacobs.
OFFENSIVE PLAYS OF THE DAY ON THE PLAYING FIELD CLOSEST TO THE BERM
1. With Bo Nix under center, the Broncos ran a toss play to Jaleel McLaughlin, who was briefly touched by a Green Bay defender, before McLaughlin sidestepped him for what would have been a big gain in game action.
2. From the shotgun, and three wide receiver set, Nix hit Tim Patrick for a 15-yard gain.
3. From the shotgun, Zach Wilson threaded the needle to Troy Franklin on a crossing pattern.
4. From under center, Jarrett Stidham handed the ball off to Javonte Williams on an inside zone play, where a big alley opened up for a sizeable gain.
5. Stidham threw a perfect pass to Courtland Sutton on a slant for a five-yard touchdown.
6. From the 11-yard line, and out of the shotgun, Nix connected with Phillip Dorsett on a slant for a Bo-tiful touchdown.
TWO-MINUTE DRILL WORK ON THE PLAYING FIELD CLOSEST TO THE BERM
I thought that both Nix and Stidham did great work in the two-minute drill to put a bow on training camp. Both quarterbacks had an opportunity to start a drive at the team's 40-yard line, down three points, with 1:10 remaining on the game clock, to get into field goal range.
Nix
1. From the shotgun, Nix connected with Patrick on an in-breaking route to around the Denver 45-yard line.
2. From the shotgun, Nix completed a pass to Sutton on an out route to the Green Bay 39-yard line.
3. From the shotgun, and a three-by-one set, Nix found Samaje Perine for 22 yards down to the Packers' 17-yard line and comfortable field goal range.
4. Nix got the offense set from under center and spiked the ball.
Stidham
1. From the shotgun, and a three-by-one set, Stidham rolled out to his right and completed a 14-yard pass to Lil'Jordan Humphrey.
2. From the shotgun, completed a pass to David Sills for 14 yards on a button hook pattern.
3. From the shotgun, Stidham rolled out and threw the ball away. It would have been close to a sack under game conditions.
4. From the Green Bay 30-yard line, the shotgun, and a 5-WR set, Frank Crum false started.
5. On 2nd-and-15, from the Green Bay 35-yard line, a 5-WR set, and Adam Trautman lined up in the slot, Stidham connected with Dorsett for a gain of five yards on a crossing pattern.
6. On 3rd-and-10, from the Green Bay 30-yard line, a 4-WR set out of the shotgun, Stidham found a streaking Trautman down the seam for a gain of 25 yards, placing the Broncos comfortably in field goal range.
7. Stidham lined the team up to spike the ball. The Packers were called for offsides on the play.
FINAL THOUGHTS
As training camp has now concluded, I think that like most, unless Bo Nix completely regresses against Green Bay on Sunday, he should and will be the Week 1 starter at quarterback for the Denver Broncos. . . . I am of the opinion that Riley Moss should be the starting boundary cornerback opposite Surtain. Sunday's preseason game, and possibly the last preseason game a week later against Arizona, will be important, but besides cleaning up some of his penchant to grab receivers, Moss has made major strides this offseason, particularly for getting little defensive work his rookie season due to injury. . . . My expectations still remain tempered for this year's team based on having such a young roster, a rookie quarterback, and so many unknowns, but there are many reasons to have cautious optimism for your Denver Broncos. Could unexpectedly brighter days be on the horizon, or are here already, for this team? Payton may have given us the answer after practice, "I've said this before: Young and hungry can be dangerous. I'm encouraged."
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