AFCW Training camp news and notes:
Broncos:
- Through two weeks of training camp practice, neither Drew Lock nor Teddy Bridgewater has elevated himself into an obvious leader in the race to become the Broncos’ starting quarterback in 2021. “Once we settle on a quarterback as the starter, obviously we’ll do the things that he does well and feels comfortable executing, and the rest of the team feels that too,” Fangio said.
- 3 RB’s getting carries? FA RB Mike Boone has had a good camp and could make his way into the RB rotation. “Mike is a good running back; he’s got juice, he’s explosive, he’s decisive and he runs hard for a guy that’s maybe on the small side, but he doesn’t play small,” Fangio said. “Mike is not a guy to fall asleep on.”
- 2021 3rd round pick, Quinn Meinerz, working with the 2nd Though the Broncos suggested there would be an open competition for the starting job at that position during training camp, Fangio said when it opened that Meinerz “first has to show that it needs to be a competition.” Meinerz has had a few fumbled exchanges during the first two weeks of camp and has often worked on snaps with Lock during team periods. All of this is a to-be-expected progression for a player making the leap in competition Meinerz is making.
Chargers:
- The Chargers held their 10th training camp practice Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium with a select number of fans in attendance.
- Linsley left practice after the first-team offense’s third possession because of a foot injury. He walked off with trainers and did not return to the field until practice was over. But he was out playing with his family after practice and did not have noticeable brace or wrap on his foot. Staley said Linsley likely would have kept playing if it was a real game. “Just making sure that we’re careful,” Staley said.
- Michael Badgley went 3-6 during the scrimmage and was booed off the field. LOL
CHIEFS:
- Mahomes is still really good.
- Chris Jones dominating the LOS. He continued his impressive camp with powerful repetitions. In the team period, Jones, as the defensive end, used his bull rush against rookie right tackle Lucas Niang to pressure Mahomes into a short pass to wide receiver Gehrig Dieter that gained just a few yards. Later in the period, Jones used his 6-foot-6 frame to deflect Mahomes’ pass at the line of scrimmage. Mahomes responded a few seconds later by patting Jones’s helmet.
- No fighting on Andy’s watch. As one of the league’s oldest coaches, Reid, 63, who is entering his 23rd season as a head coach, has never wanted his camps to be highlighted by teammates fighting. Reid explained Thursday why the Chiefs should never let their competition on the field lead to players punching one another. “We try to go at a fast pace and try to get as many plays in,” Reid said. “You get in a fight and it kind of drains the system. You’re not going to be doing very good the next play — and that’s what you’re putting on tape. We try to keep the tempo up. “I’m not big on fighting. This isn’t ultimate fighting. This is football.”
RAIDERS:
- Raiders seem set with 6 WR’s. The trio of Henry Ruggs III, Bryan Edwards and Hunter Renfrow has consistently run with the first-team offense, and their backup lineup has been stable as well: John Brown, Zay Jones and Willie Snead IV. Brown and Jones have been interchangeable at the “X” and “Z” positions, while Snead has been a mainstay at slot receiver behind Renfrow.
- Morrow and Littleton leading the way at LB. Morrow and Littleton are in position to take the most snaps at the second level of the defense. Nick Kwiatkoski has been the third linebacker in the rotation when Bradley has gone to a traditional 4-3 base, so he’s technically still a starter, but his inconsistencies in pass coverage are likely contributing to him being used less frequently in the nickel package. “I really like (Morrow),” Bradley said last week. “It’s very important for him to take charge of the defense and he’s in that position where he’s able to do that. So far so good with him. I really, really enjoy him, like his leadership and like his attention to detail playing that position.”
- 2021 #17 overall pick, Alex Leatherwood, looking the part. “I think it’s probably exceeding what we were hoping for this early in camp,” offensive line coach Tom Cable said Saturday. “Just getting Alex settled and learning what the pro game’s about and getting him as many reps as we can against a guy like Yannick has been really good. But in terms of the camaraderie and the jelling of the group, it’s been outstanding. Those guys, really if you think about it, most of them have been together for a year or two already. So, it was a matter of just plugging Alex in and getting Andre ready to go. And so far, so good.”
TL:DR Fuck your teams.
Your pal,
Nori