SEATTLE — Throughout training camp and the first preseason game, Andrew Beck, the Broncos’ occasional fullback the last two years, has lined up exclusively at tight end. What’s the rationale?
“Tight end has been a lot of my focus after not doing it much at all my rookie year (2019) and none last year,” Beck said. “I feel really comfortable with the fullback stuff so the more I can add to my repertoire as a tight end and do both during the season, it will be extremely helpful to the whole offense.”
Acquired via waivers from New England after the ’19 preseason, Beck has filled the fullback role because the Broncos haven’t carried a true blocking back. Beck’s focus at tight end entering Saturday night’s game against Seattle was multi-fold.
“Everything,” he said. “My route-running, I think, is drastically improved and I think I’ve finally learned how to block on the line a little bit. I have plenty more to work on. Coming out of the backfield exclusively to now having my hand on the ground at tight end has been a big learning curve.”
Asked if his route-running is ahead of his blocking, Beck said: “Actually, no. You look back at my college tape, I blocked a lot and didn’t run a lot of routes.”
Beck, 25, caught nine passes (one touchdown) as a rookie playing 16 games (six starts), but didn’t have a catch or a start in his 10 games last year.
The Broncos appear set with their three top tight ends (Noah Fant, Albert Okwuegbunam and Eric Saubert) and Beck’s positional versatility should make him a fit to remain on the roster.
Beck’s secondary calling card is special teams.
“Four-core (special teamer), absolutely,” he said. “That’s how it is for a fullback in the NFL.”
Sutton, Miller sit. Receiver Courtland Sutton and outside linebacker Von Miller sat out the Seattle game.
Sutton is being managed in his return from last September’s torn ACL, but is on track to play against the New York Giants on Sept. 12. Miller, who missed all of last year with an ankle injury, expressed his preference on Thursday of not playing his first game on artificial turf. The Broncos host the Los Angeles Rams next Saturday (grass surface).
Also sitting out the game were running back Melvin Gordon and wide receiver Tim Patrick.
The only three players not to participate in pre-game warmups were safety Trey Marshall (ankle), running back Mike Boone (quad) and outside linebacker Andre Mintze (concussion).
Another Modkins coaching. The Modkins family is once again being represented on the Detroit Lions coaching staff.
Curtis Modkins, the Broncos’ running backs coach, was with the Lions from 2013-15. His son, Jeff, is in his first year as Detroit’s assistant special teams coach.
“First full-time job and it’s awesome,” Curtis said, adding with a laugh: “The coolest thing is he’s off my payroll. The scholarship is over. He’s on his own.”
Jeff, who played junior college football in Arizona, was a volunteer assistant at Akron in 2019 and the Broncos’ full-season diversity coaching intern last year, working every day with his father.
“It was good for him to get a chance to see the day-to-day ins and outs of how it’s done and during a very difficult year with all the things we went through,” Curtis said. “It was really fun (to work with him).”
Curtis Modkins enters his fourth year with the Broncos, his seventh NFL team. During the offseason, he interviewed for Philadelphia’s vacant offensive coordinator job.
“It was a great interview,” he said. “It was on Zoom; I wish it was in person, but I enjoyed it. I’ve been fortunate to be a coordinator twice (Buffalo and San Francisco). This is my 27th year in coaching and I’ve been preparing the last 26 years so when you get a chance (to interview), you go in and do your deal.”
The Eagles hired Shane Steichen, who previously worked with coach Nick Siranni for two years with the Chargers.
Preparing for Jets, Raiders. The Broncos’ preseason game at Seattle could benefit the offense because they face Pete Carroll Defensive Coaching Tree play-callers in Week 3 (the New York Jets’ Robert Saleh) and Weeks 6 and 16 (Las Vegas’ Gus Bradley). The Seahawks run a base 4-3 front.
“I think it’s great,” offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said after practice Thursday. “There are about four or five or maybe six real different styles of defense that you face and this is one that’s been tested over the course of time. A lot of one-high safety, a lot of man (coverage), a lot of three-deep (coverage), a lot of guys down close to the ball trying to stop the run.
“The good thing for us is it’s different than the style that we face here in practice. That’s the unintended advantage of getting ready to play against (Seattle).”
"help" - Google News
August 22, 2021 at 08:52AM
https://ift.tt/3y6TnQs
Broncos Briefs: Andrew Beck spending training camp focusing on tight end work, but expects to help at fullback, too - The Denver Post
"help" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2SmRddm
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Broncos Briefs: Andrew Beck spending training camp focusing on tight end work, but expects to help at fullback, too - The Denver Post"
Post a Comment