Broncos begin OTA's

Monday at Dove Valley, over 80 players, vets and rookies alike, all practiced together for the first time. Denver's Organized Team Activities (OTA's) that run from the 17th to the 19th are officially called "Passing Camp". All positions are participating though, and it's a time for coaches to start evaluating players, and for the players to start adapting to the playbook and speed of the game.

J.J. Arrington, D.J. Williams, Ruch Hochstein, Ryan Harris, Jamal Williams, Ryan Clady, Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas, and Darrell Reid are among the players not participating, most are nursing injuries. Williams was "excused" from practice, and is expected to report later today.

The most notable player participating was Pro Bowl outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil. It was expected he would show, but not practice. He did show, and practiced. Dumervil led the NFL in sacks last season, and is looking for a new contact. The restricted free agent has skipped the team's offseason conditioning program, choosing to rather work out on his own in Miami. The Broncos had Dumervil sign an injury waiver to allow him to practice.

Head Coach Josh McDaniels had this to say on Dumervil practicing: "It says a lot about Elvis and what kind of professional he is." Dumervil added, “It’s the business side of football, we all know that. For the most part I’m just happy to be out here and be with the team. At the end of the day, I’m going to be a Bronco in 2010."

The real show of the day was QB Tim Tebow. Much like Rookie Mini Camp, a large crowd of media were present, keeping a close eye on Tebow. Kyle Orton took the first team snaps, followed by Quinn, and Brandstater. Tebow at first handled the handoffs, then threw short goal-line passes to the running backs. Second-year QB Tom Brandstater was the only one to threw an interception, compliments of Renaldo Hill. Overall all four Quarterbacks looked good.

Rookie Wide Recievers Thomas and Decker didn't practice, they are both still healing from foot surgeries. Head Coach Josh McDaniels said while Thomas is closer to being able to practice than Decker, the team doesn't want to rush it. Twenty-three year-old WR Eddie Royal, who is entering his 3rd season, looking very good in practice, sporting a new dark visor for the first half of practice. He also had some nice catches in heavy coverage. Royal also handled the Kick Return duties.

Dog House Alert: After a false start during a drill, Zane Beadles ran a lap around the practice fields.

At the end of practice the team did 5 sprints across the field and back, Tebow finished first in each one. Another interesting note, I recall Tebow saying he'd be "The first one in, and the last one out", he may have been just referring to meetings and workouts but I was expected practice as well. Today, he wasn't the last one off the field, rather, QB Brady Quinn.

The club has finished up day one, only the morning session was open to the media, Tuesday practice will not be open to the media. Overall things looked good, a concern continues to be the offensive line. The starting O-line was, Tyler Polumbus, Seth Olsen, Dustin Fry, Chris Kuper, and Zane Beadles. The Broncos are hoping Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris recovery quickly, as the line is the biggest erea of need.

View more photos from OTA's on our Facebook page, and a Video of Head Coach Josh McDaniels talking about the team's first practice during passing camp.