Broncos reporter Bill Williamson provides news, notes and anecdotes from the team’s training camp today:
Bio: Wesly Mallard, LB
When Wesly Mallard walked on at the University of Oregon, he didn’t know if he belonged.
As the son of an American military man, Mallard went to high school in Korea, where he played football with other American children whose families were stationed there. His team played other base schools in Korea and even traveled to Japan for the occasional game.
Mallard described the league as more of an activity for American kids to enjoy rather than a competitive situation.
“There were some good kids, one or two, out there,” Mallard said. “But it was a lot like a rec league. It’s just fun. I would be breaking off 80-yard runs. I don’t know if I would have done that in the States.”
Mallard may be selling himself short. He earned a scholarship with the Ducks after one year and is now is in his sixth season in the NFL. He spent three years with the N.Y. Giants and the past two in Tampa Bay. Denver signed him on the eve of training camp.
Fieldwork
In addition to Mike Bell getting time at tailback with the No. 2 offense ahead of Cecil Sapp, it appears cornerback Jeff Shoate is moving up the depth chart. He is the nickel cornerback ahead of Karl Paymah.
With John Lynch at Bill Walsh’s funeral in the Bay Area and Hamza Abdullah nursing an injury, Domonique Foxworth, the team’s starting nickel, was playing safety. Shoate may be far from being the nickelback, but at least for Thursday, he moved ahead of Paymah, and that could mean something when the final roster is formulized.
Backup linebacker Cameron Vaughn, who’s fighting for a roster spot, made two nice plays, intercepting one Jay Cutler pass and knocking down another while covering tight end Stephen Alexander.
The best pass play of the day was a 60-plus yard pass from Cutler to Domenik Hixon.
Point after
Javon Walker catches, he runs, he scores and he is also a member of the chain gang. At least, the Broncos receiver was Thursday morning. At the conclusion of practice, Walker was holding a yardage stick as some of the offensive players were working on drills. Walker playfully went along with the act, cruising down the sideline for a few plays.
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan joked that Walker was making himself invaluable to the franchise by talking on the extra role.
“The more he can do,” Shanahan laughed. “Just like coaches, you never know for sure how long you’re going to be here, the more you can do the better off you are.”
Quote of the day
“About the third week of camp, you get tired of hitting against each other and you want to see players go against people that they don’t know, so you can evaluate some of the younger guys and get a little more spirited practice.”
— Coach Mike Shanahan, on the benefit of the Broncos going to work with the Dallas Cowboys next week before their Aug. 18 game in Dallas.
Friday camp facts
Practice begins at 9 a.m. and will run approximately two hours. The afternoon practice begins at 3:10 p.m. and will run up to about two hours. Gates open an hour before each practice. Admission is free. Parking at the Broncos headquarters is located on the west side of the practice fields, and is open on a first-come, first-served basis. Camp schedules can change without notice. Non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase at training camp.
