ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The pads came on, and the Broncos' starting front seven was ready.
Denver donned full pads for the first time during training camp, and the defense was up to task on Monday as the physicality and intensity increased.
"We'll continue to see that," Head Coach Sean Payton said of the increased physicality.
The Broncos' practice — which was limited in length because of CBA regulations — featured a heavy dose of the run game. And while Javonte Williams posted a solid outside run and Tyler Badie broke free for a gain of his own, the teeth of Denver's defense was difficult to run against.
On the first play of 11-on-11 action, outside linebacker Baron Browning darted into the backfield for a would-be tackle for loss, and D.J. Jones added another tackle for loss on the same series of plays. Zach Allen would have recorded a tackle for loss of his own, were it not for a false start that negated the play. In the same period, defensive end Matt Henningsen and inside linebacker Levelle Bailey also posted would-be tackles for loss.
"I think a lot more," said Payton when asked how much more he can learn from a padded practice. "There's been so many cases that I can recall where the pads defined a player positively and sometimes negatively. What you typically see early on with pads — and we're going to watch it on tape — today our pad level I'm sure is going to be higher than we want it to be, both offensively and defensively. And I'm talking about the interior lines. It's significantly different."
Payton did acknowledge that it "can be true early on with pads" that the defense typically holds the advantage, but he said his goal is to prioritize growth on both sides of the football.
At least on Monday, the Broncos' defensive front made its presence felt.
MAKING PLAYS ON OFFENSE
While the Broncos' defense seemingly held an advantage in the first team period, Denver's offense found more success in the second and final 11-on-11 work of the day.
Working with the second-team unit, Jarrett Stidham pushed the ball down the field and recorded a series of intermediate completions. In Zach Wilson's snaps, he layered a throw to Greg Dulcich for a gain of about 15 yards that dropped just over the outstretched hand of a defender.
Nix, in his turn leading the first-team offense, saw his biggest impact come on the ground. On the first snap of the team period, Nix evaded pressure and took off down the field for what appeared to be a sizable gain.
After practice, Payton said there are times when it is the right decision for a quarterback to take off from the pocket and try to gain ground with their legs.
"We can tell on film, there's times where the quarterbacks' going to get out," Payton said. "There's a play where Nix steps up and I think he's going to have a pretty good gain."
Payton said the ability to move around in the pocket — and to know when to scramble for yardage — is a trait that all three of the team's quarterbacks possess.
"We're looking to throw in the pocket, but we're also looking to make smart decisions with the football," Payton said. "I said this a few days ago, all three of these guys have good mobility. Look, the pocket in our league is not always clean. When it gets dirty at times, then you have to be reactionary, and your teammates have to as well. [Nix has] been smart with the football, and it's a strength of his."
QUICK HITS
… Rookie cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine recorded one of the highlights of practice, as he nearly recorded an interception while in coverage on Courtland Sutton during a downfield passing attempt. Abrams-Draine provided close coverage and knocked the ball away, and Payton said after practice that the Broncos have been impressed with the Missouri product's progress.
"He's a player that we've seen a noticeable jump from the spring to when he returned," Payton said. "He's playing a little bit more decisively with more confidence, and that's probably because he's getting to know the system. It's hard to play that way if you're thinking and you don't know exactly the assignment as well as you need to. He's noticeably been more comfortable in his role right now."
… After practice, Payton noted a few snap count issues that led to false starts or required the team to re-huddle, but he said he did not think the issue was significant.
"I think it's something that is easily cleaned up," Payton said.
