Horse Tracks: ‘Prove-it’ season begins for Broncos’ rookies

In their first chance to put on a Broncos’ helmet, Denver’s rookies begin their quest to make the team.

Good morning, Broncos Country!

Denver’s rookies just got their first taste of donning the Orange and Blue, but head coach Sean Payton noted that the weekend’s two minicamp practices were more than just football.

They were about the process.

“This is like the first exposure to the training room, the weight room, the schedule, the nutrition, the practice,” Payton said. “There’s a lot more than just, ‘Hey, we’re going to run these plays.’”

Que Robinson, edge rusher out of Alabama, said he definitely took away a lot from the weekend.

“I’ve learned a lot. Football is football, but ultimately you can learn anything and everything from anybody. I’ve learned a lot for sure,” Robinson said. “It’s a lot different from college and high school, I can tell you that much.”

Broncos’ first-round pick Jahdae Barron agreed there was — and is — an adjustment to the new level of play.

“I’m just adjusting. I’m trying to learn the play schemes, the concepts that the offense is running now at this level — a lot of different motions, [and] a lot of different shifts,” he said, adding that he tries to focus on the process too. “It’s fun just to be out here. Last time I put on a helmet was a long time ago, so I’m just enjoying the process. It’s good—just learning, taking information in from all the coaches.”

Defensive end Sai’vion Jones praised the coaches as well.

“They are phenomenal,” Jones said. “They are here to make us better.”

But nothing does that more than studying guys who did it better than anyone last year – Denver’s No. 1 defense.

“Just being able to study their game and be in a room with the team that produced the most sacks in the league, it makes you want to study them,” Jones said. “Having that chance to be in that room for a young guy like me is like being a sponge, soaking up all of the experience.”

Running back RJ Harvey feels the same way about the other side of the ball.

Working with Bo Nix was his desire.

“Bo Nix. I love how he plays,” Harvey said about why he wanted to be drafted by Denver. “I feel like this is a great team, had a great year last year, a young team, great defense…I’m just ready to get to work with all the vets.”

Whether it’s a high-round draft pick or an undrafted free agent, Payton is all about his own process for all of them.

“I give them the same message each year, ‘Once you arrive…how you arrived here isn’t important to us. You’re here,’” he said.

What’s most important to Payton is that his coaching staff doesn’t miss seeing talent in a player that another team could discover.

“That’s from the last tryout player we signed to the first-round draft pick,” he said. “[It’s] important that we do a close job looking closely at them.”

And it’s important because Payton has big aspirations for this team — and after the season he helped the Broncos pull off last year, the fans do too.

“No, we embrace them,” Payton said of the higher expectations. “It’s part of the deal, and you get comfortable doing it. It’s a lot better than the alternative. That’s what you want. …I think if you’re a competitor, that drives you.”

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