ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Another interception for Pat Surtain II. A side-arm sling for a first down for Bo Nix. A perfect end-zone jump-ball grab for Courtland Sutton.
On Day 8 of Broncos training camp, Denver changed the practice format — and saw its big-time players record a number of highlights.
Unlike previous practices, Saturday’s session more closely resembled a scrimmage, as the Broncos focused on situational football, competed in move-the-ball action and mixed in the kicking game.
“I always think it’s good when you get out of your normal routine,” Head Coach Sean Payton said. “Ten, 15 years ago, the Hall of Fame weekend Saturday was a live scrimmage for most teams. I think we can get the same work done. It’s full-go, but we’re keeping them up [and not tackling]. Much like a game, we’re integrating the special teams throughout. I just think that’s more realistic to what happens in a game than just segmented periods. Overall, I was pleased, most importantly with the operation, in-and-out [of the huddle], on time, [the] right amount of guys on the field. There will be a number of things we’ve got to clean up, and the good news is, we’ve got a month still before we get going. I was pleased overall.”
Payton said a normal practice period allows the team to have “a very narrow focus” on the current scenario. But when a move-the-ball situation is introduced, it requires an additional level of mental focus.
“Mentally, our game is played from first down to third-and-2 back to first-and-10, second-and-15,” Payton said. “In each of those situations, we’ve got to be thinking more. It’s kind of like starting off with a small focus and then beginning to expand it. It’s much easier if you say, ‘Hey, here’s goal line, and we’re going to run eight plays’ and everyone’s in that goal-line mode. But it forces everyone [to think] — coaches included. Look, I’ve got my call sheet at the 50 and just after I gave that call, I go to my call sheet for a second down in the same area. Not as a pessimist, but it’s incomplete, it’s second-and-10 at the 50. And then we complete a ball … down to the 20-something, now I’ve got to fly to that section, hashmark, get the next call in. The players have to do the same thing. What they’re defending on one down can dramatically change. They’re in the fringe right away. So, [we’re] trying to give them that. And look, we’re building up to what’s going to be a joint practice and then the first preseason game where they’re truly going to have all of it.”
As mentioned, several of the Broncos’ biggest stars stood out in that Saturday action. Nix strung together multiple early completions, including the side-arm throw to Devaughn Vele and a 20-yard gain to Troy Franklin. Nix delivered the end-zone pass to Sutton, and he also pushed a ball downfield to Trent Sherfield Sr. On the day he signed a four-year extension, Zach Allen recorded a tackle for loss and would have notched a red-zone sack in game action. Riley Moss, meanwhile, provided multiple passes defensed — including a near interception on one pass attempt.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Surtain posted his second consecutive practice with an interception, and he’s coming off a season in which he tied his career high with four interceptions.
“Sometimes they come,” Payton said of Surtain’s ability to create turnovers. “I would say one of the challenges with Pat — and I talked to him about it — I said, ‘Man, any time we get one of these elite receivers, man, you’re out there and it’s clinic film.’ And then periodically, there will be a guy we don’t even know catch a deep ball on him. It’s that mental focus of each week, if it’s not an elite receiver, it’s still a capable receiver. I think you began to see that discipline regardless of who he was lined up over. And then he’s one of those players, the ball kind of finds him. And part of that is his length and his ability to deflect a pass. He’s a rare athlete.”
Payton said Surtain was also motivated by meeting Ring of Famer Steve Foley and learning of his franchise-record 44 interceptions.
“I asked Pat, ‘How many do you have?'” Payton said. “And well, if you’re Pat, when you finish here, you want to have the most interceptions. But when he heard those numbers, he saw that it was a journey. It was beyond the horizon to get to those numbers. He’s also someone who’ll respond to a challenge for me, I can turn to him and say, ‘Hey, look, how great are we wanting to be?’ I pulled up a clip of a Raider receiver catching, and I don’t even know who the receiver is. And he’s extremely coachable. He wants to please. That’s a great trait. And I think you become Defensive Player of the Year, and you’re in his echelon. Then there’s, not pressure, but that added expectation to, this is the club I’m in, and it’s a difficult club, and this is what everyone expects.”
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