Broncos report: Bring on the Cowboys, Marshall says

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 12, 2008 at 11:04 a.m.

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Photo by Chris Schneider © The Rocky

Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey may be limited after missing several days of practice with a hamstring injury.

Video: Broncos coach Mike Shanahan and Cowboys coach Wade Philips discuss their teams' practice. Watch »

Video: Broncos players talk about the Dallas Cowboys, who come to town for two practices and a preseason game this week. Watch »

ENGLEWOOD — The Dallas Cowboys are this year's subjects of HBO's Hard Knocks series this summer, which chronicles a team on the field and behind the scenes in training camp.

An episode that already has aired this month showed Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones jumping out to cover wide receiver Terrell Owens in drills.

Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall said he expected Jones to be equally as aggressive with him.

"I would hope so," Marshall said. "That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to jump in with him. He's a great corner. I'm always trying to go against the best player I can out there."

Rookie lineman showing versatility

Training camp can be a lot of things for a player.

Fair is not always one of them, because necessity often is the mother of unfair.

"And anytime you practice a guy all the way through (the offseason) at one position, practice him the first two weeks of training camp at a position and then put him in a game somewhere else, you know it's pretty unfair to put a guy in that situation," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "But sometimes those things do happen."

And it has happened to rookie guard Mitch Erickson, who because of injuries in the offensive line, also has become rookie tackle Mitch Erickson.

Erickson, who signed as an undrafted rookie this past April, spent all the offseason workouts at guard, as well as during the bulk of his work in training camp so far. But when Erik Pears' back started to act up last week, Erickson got tossed into practice at tackle for one day and then found himself there in a game Saturday night in Houston.

"It's not too bad," Erickson said. "You try to learn guard the best you can so maybe you're not paying attention to what everybody else is doing, you're just trying to focus on what you're doing, trying to do every play just right."

After Pears played only one series against the Texans, Erickson went in, and for the most part acquitted himself well.

"He's a competitor, a tough kid," Shanahan said. "I've been impressed how he battles. Just a tough, mean kid when he plays, he doesn't take anything from anybody, and that's what you like to see."

Erickson started 44 games at South Dakota State - two years at tackle, two years at guard - and the soft-spoken 23-year-old routinely earned the "nasty" label from scouts for his play. The Broncos liked his movement skills in South Dakota State's offense and thought they could translate it to theirs.

"Some people always say playing O-line is boring, that when you play defense you get to tackle people to the ground," Erickson said. "But in college, the guy who had the most knockdowns in a game got the best grade . . . it's a hard game, that's the way you have to play it."

Crank it up

It's easy to locate safety Marquand Manuel during practice. Listen for the head slaps - he applies them himself - look for the guy pacing back and forth as he waits for his turn.

"I play it like it's my last time," Manuel said. "I pace, I know I pace, just waiting to go in. I want to go 100 miles an hour because any day in this league you could get the phone call saying this is it."

With the groin injury to Hamza Abdullah and John Lynch's release, Manuel has been found in the Broncos starting defense as well of late. It's a far cry from last season when the Packers released him in the days leading up to the regular-season opener and he was signed by Carolina just five days before the Panthers' first game.

After the late start he finished with only 14 tackles on the year for the Panthers.

"It was a crazy situation, (the Packers) tried to trade me, didn't happen, they released me late and Carolina picked me up, and I didn't have a chance to get in and learn the system," Manuel said. "You always want the opportunity to come back and play somewhere.

"I thought that could be here."

Etc.

* For the Cowboys, Pro Bowl cornerback Terence Newman (groin) is not expected to practice against the Broncos, and linebacker Anthony Spencer (knee) is expected to be limited as well.

* For the Broncos, linebacker Boss Bailey (ankle), center Tom Nalen (knee), and linebacker Louis Green (neck) will not practice against the Cowboys or play in Saturday's preseason game.

* Cornerback Champ Bailey (hamstring) may be limited after missing several days of practice - he said Tuesday he's "day-to-day" - and tackle Erik Pears is experiencing back pain. All were kept out of Tuesday's practices.

* Safety Marlon McCree and linebacker Nate Webster had interceptions in team drills Tuesday morning, while cornerback Domonique Foxworth knocked down two passes in coverage.

* The Broncos released cornerback Lamont Reid and signed cornerback Wale Dada, who has spent time with the Jets, Seahawks and Saints since entering the league in 2006. "We just want to take a look at some guys," Shanahan said.

• August 12, 2008

  7:52 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Brain writes:

  I think McCree is a solid player; he will do as well as Lynch and give us better coverage, sorry John.

• August 13, 2008

  9:23 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  sbhchawk writes:

  Besides Moss, I'm really liking how our team is shaping up this year. The Oline is young but alot of good reports are coming out about the guys. Alot of short passes so Jay doesn't put to much pressure on those guys early in the year why they get the growing pains out and a strong running game which the whole league expects us to have and the O should be solid, not great, yet. And the Dline is coming along. We looked good against the Texans and the only knock on that team is they play in the toughtest division in football. The LB look to have depth and guys are getting used to the game speed and assignments and the competition will bring out the best. I bet Niko rebounds big time and is an aggressive beast after watching film of him being hesitant.

• August 13, 2008

  12:15 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  oklighthouse writes:

  Has everyone on the Denver team went crazy.... Com'on coach pull your head out and let's play ball the way only Denver knows how to play. I watched the first pre-season game and thought man I have been a Bronco's fan all my life and sure don't want to change now but give me a break.... Trading for an old trouble player and letting go of a young one willing to learn I think the thin air is getting to everyone of you guys!!!

• August 13, 2008

  2:13 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  LingLingfor_prez writes:

  Go Chargers! And yes, I think McCree will be solid as well.

• August 13, 2008

  5:12 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  LingLingfor_prez, now be truthful LingLing, that wouldn't be because McCree "just so happened" to play for the Chargers, before, now did it? Ha, ha. It's all good.

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