ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — No matter which player wins the Broncos' ongoing quarterback competition, Head Coach Sean Payton knows there are a pair of additional factors that will determine the Broncos' success in 2024.
"The single best thing we can do to help the quarterback is play good defense and be able to run the football," Payton said Tuesday. "Those are the two best allies for good quarterback play. And it's tough to play that position if you're struggling on defense and you can't run the ball."
As the Broncos donned full pads for the second consecutive practice, Denver seemed to show promising flashes in both areas.
In the run game, the Broncos' offense posted a slew of strong gains. In the first-team offense's first 11-on-11 reps, Mike McGlinchey and Quinn Meinerz executed a double team to spring Javonte Williams for what would have been a strong gain. A few plays later, rookie Audric Estime broke free for another positive run — and Samaje Perine also added another chunk carry.
The run game also took center stage during an early nine-on-seven period, and Estime delivered a highlight as he lowered his shoulder into a safety that came up to make a stop.
"There's different drills," Payton said of the run game performance. "When we're in a nine-on-seven, you see an offensive line, tight end and then the runners. Obviously the safeties are extra, so you're not really blocking the perimeter. It's much easier to really watch the film and see how the initial front does. But I thought there was some positives. I thought the runners did a good job as well setting up some of the runs."
Denver's defense also made its mark. The unit had its share of strong pass rushes, and the group would have recorded multiple sacks in game conditions. Across Denver's 11-on-11 action, second-year player Thomas Incoom and rookie Jaylon Allen were among the players who would have recorded quarterback takedowns.
When the Broncos' front seven couldn't get to the quarterback, though, the play was just as impressive. Denver's defense recorded four noticeable batted passes, as Zach Allen and Matt Henningsen were among the players to disrupt the passing game. Incoom nearly hauled in an interception after one of the batted passes.
While Payton said batted passes can fall on both the quarterback and the offensive line, he said he viewed the batted passes as a positive for the defense more than a negative for Denver's offense.
"Sometimes it's quarterback driven, and I don't want to say it's height driven, because there's been some bigger quarterbacks that were more prone — maybe a longer release," Payton said. "Sometimes … if you're blocking someone and winning on a pass protection, then all of a sudden you feel his eyes now [move] through to the QB to anticipate, and so there's some techniques you can work on to try to keep him from getting in the air. But I was more encouraged, not discouraged. Encouraged in that there's some savviness that's involved there to do it defensively, and that's encouraging."
ONE-ON-ONES BEGIN
For the first time in training camp, the Broncos held one-on-one drills between wide receivers and cornerbacks — and there were several highlight plays.
Among the top moments: A deep sideline pass from Bo Nix that Courtland Sutton hauled in while Pat Surtain II provided close coverage; a sideline back-shoulder throw from Jarrett Stidham that Josh Reynolds high-pointed out of the air; and a deep pass breakup by Damarri Mathis as he worked against rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin.
"You can see leverage, you can see technique," Payton said of the benefit of one-on-one drills. "I think that obviously it's a little slanted to the offense because there's no pass rush, but it allows the corner to play bump [and] it allows them to play off. It allows the receiver to work on his releases. … Ultimately in this league, you're going to get press-man [coverage] or you're going to get off-man [coverage]. We're going to get man-to-man coverage, and we're going to have to play man-to-man [defense]. I think it's really good relative to the technique of both those players.
QUICK HITS
… Payton announced Jarrett Stidham took first-team reps on Tuesday after Bo Nix took first-team reps on Monday. The Broncos' head coach said Denver has a plan at the quarterback position and that there was "no news to announce" about the rotation.
… Defensive end John Franklin-Myers and outside linebacker Nik Bonitto did not practice on Tuesday, but both could soon return to the practice field.
"JFM had a personal [absence] — death in the family," Payton said. "He'll be back soon. And Bonitto is just getting through some back issues that kind of hampered him the last day and a half. I think we'll see him sooner — probably tomorrow."
