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Scheffler now getting used to catching grief

Broncos rookie tight end receives hands-on training from Brewster

Pat Rooney, Special to the News

Published August 17, 2006 at midnight

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ENGLEWOOD - Tim Brewster never stops hounding Tony Scheffler, practically becoming his second shadow.

Broncos practice Wednesday typified life as an NFL rookie, an experience Scheffler finds draining and exhilarating.

Scheffler, a prolific pass catcher in college, quickly is learning that playing tight end in the NFL means a lot more than running down the middle of the field hoping your quarterback will lay the ball perfectly in the seam.

In the NFL, playing tight end also means blocking and preserving your team's possession of the ball. Every time Scheffler wanes in these areas, Brewster, the Broncos tight ends coach, is right there to reiterate those points in that raging- but-reaffirming style only a coach can perfect.

"It's all part of his maturation process," Brewster said. "What rookies don't understand is what's acceptable and what's unacceptable. We're trying to make him understand what is unacceptable. Ball insecurity is unacceptable. Not giving great effort in the running game . . . is unacceptable. Young guys don't know that until you teach them, until you ingrain it in their heads."

The end of Scheffler's practice Wednesday morning was harsh enough to unnerve most rookies. The rookie from Western Michigan heard it from Brewster when he missed a block on a short-yardage situation. He then received an earful from coach Mike Shanahan when, at the end of a run on a tight end screen, the Broncos defense stripped the ball.

Finally, an anxious Scheffler lunged at his blocking assignment on a sweep play, drawing another verbal barrage from Brewster.

To his credit, Scheffler has taken the often negative extra attention in stride, realizing his new bosses are only trying to get the best out of him. The fact those bosses are calling tight end screens specifically for him is a reminder that Scheffler is squarely in the team's offensive plans.

"It's tough - you have to be confident and mentally prepared for what (Brewster) brings to the table as a coach," said Scheffler, the Broncos' second-round pick in the April draft. "He expects a lot out of his tight ends, and if you're not giving it to him, if you're not making the right plays and getting to the right places, you're going to hear about it. It wears on you a little bit, but it comes to a point where you have to focus on what you're doing and keep firing away. I know (Brewster) wouldn't be so intense and so in my face if he didn't know I had potential to be a good player."

Scheffler's potential could add a dynamic to the Broncos offense not seen since the retirement of Shannon Sharpe.

Scheffler caught at least 53 passes in each of his final two seasons at Western Michigan, and his availability helped make the Broncos comfortable enough to part ways with Jeb Putzier, the team's third-leading receiver last season.

Scheffler turned in a solid preseason debut Friday against the Detroit Lions, catching four passes for 54 yards. His receiving skills already are superlative. Now the Broncos are prodding Scheffler to get the rest of his game in order before the season opener.

"Preseason is huge for me to kind of get my feet wet," Scheffler said. "I'm prepared to make the adjustments as the preseason wears on, but once the season starts, I have to hit the ground running."