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Post by HC92 on Aug 13, 2016 20:39:09 GMT -5
Note from today's practice:
... Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis worked on having rookie returners Kalif Raymond and Bralon Addison field punts under pressure. Each had to catch the football and begin their returns with two men in coverage bearing down on them during the special-teams period.
Also, Bennie Fowler has a fracture in his elbow and will miss some time so the other receivers, including Kalif, all move up a spot.
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Post by HC92 on Aug 15, 2016 18:16:06 GMT -5
Today's camp note of interest:
Durron Neal was added to the group of kick returners Monday, joining Jordan Norwood, Kalif Raymond and Bralon Addison.
The race for the No. 1 return job has started to heat up, with Norwood and Raymond leading. But Addison fared well in the preseason opener at Chicago last week.
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Post by HC92 on Aug 16, 2016 19:19:19 GMT -5
Bad news if you believe this writer from the Mile High Report:
The battle for returner may not be a battle at all
Through more than 14 days of actual camp it would appear to this writer that there was a full-on brawl for the job of punt and kick returner on the Broncos between Kalif Raymond and Bralon Addison. After witnessing today it would seem that the job is Jordan Norwood's to lose. Lost in the hype of Raymond vs. Addison is the fact that Norwood held the job last season and while college free agents Raymond and Addison have been brought on to compete it hasn't been much of a competition. Norwood is clearly the leader in limited reps, he also seems to have solidified himself as the starting slot receiver.
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Post by HC92 on Aug 18, 2016 17:06:45 GMT -5
Bad news from the Denver Post following a joint practice with the 49ers:
Punt returns. In a special teams try-out when every little thing counts for or against a bubble player’s chance to make the roster, rookie Kalif Raymond from Holy Cross dropped a deep punt from the Niners’ Bradley Pinion.
Raymond, who is listed No. 2 on the Broncos depth chart at punt and kick returner, has been rotating practice repetitions with No. 1 Jordan Norwood. It’s Raymond’s only chance to make the roster, his chances are less than slim to crack a crowded wide receiver corps.
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Post by HC92 on Aug 19, 2016 8:09:57 GMT -5
From ESPN:
7:36 PM ET Jeff Legwold ESPN Staff Writer ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- It certainly isn’t the most-talked-about job opening on the Denver Broncos' roster, but the defending Super Bowl champion is still looking for a returner, or returners, who can give the Broncos’ special teams some big-play pop.
While the quarterback question has overshadowed everything in and around the Broncos so far in the preseason, even that issue may be far closer to a resolution than the dilemma they have on special teams.
Rookies Kalif Raymond and Bralon Addison got the first looks as the punt and kickoff returners in the preseason opener last week in Chicago. Both flashed a little more in their limited work in punt returns than they did in two combined kickoff returns, but the Broncos saw enough to keep looking at them.
“I think it was solid," said Broncos special-teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis. The word I would say is ‘solid.’ I thought both of them had shown good returning mechanics. I thought they both caught it well, made good decisions. I also thought that they both showed some juice, so hopefully we can get some more holes for them Saturday night.”
As of Thursday afternoon, DeCamillis said he hadn’t formally decided how the return duties would be divided against the San Francisco 49ers Saturday night, but Raymond and Addison are expected to get another look.
It has been an issue for some time given the Broncos have not had a player finish among the top 10 in the league in punt returns in the same year they’ve made the playoffs dating back to 1999. They have had three players finish in the top 10 in kickoff-return average in a season they’ve also made the playoffs, but only once (Trindon Holliday in 2013) in over a decade.
“You just want to make the team any way you can," Raymond said. "I’ll do whatever they need me to do."
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Post by HC92 on Aug 20, 2016 9:15:36 GMT -5
From ESPN:
Special teams: The Broncos are still in the hunt for a kickoff returner and a punt returner. Rookies Kalif Raymond and Bralon Addison got all of the returns in the preseason opener and are expected to get some additional work Saturday. For either of them to make the roster, the team would have to determine that he could function in the offense, if needed, at wide receiver. Also, running back Ronnie Hillman is expected to play on some special-teams units. Although he led the team in rushing last season, Hillman is fighting for a roster spot he likely wouldn't have right now if the cut was made to 53 players.
From the Mile High Report:
5. Kick/punt return job remains wide open
Jordan Norwood, Kalif Raymond, and Bralon Addison are all fighting for the return job and a spot on the Broncos 53-man roster.
Last week, Raymond was the first to get return kicks and punts for the Broncos so it will be interesting to see if that changes at all this week. Likely we'll see Addison get the first shot this week while Raymond gets second half reps.
It looks like both are currently behind veteran Jordan Norwood. He can produce as a wide receiver and at returner, so that versatility should earn him the roster spot ahead of the two young explosive rookies.
However, a big kick or punt return for a touchdown could push Raymond and Addison on to the Broncos roster. This battle will be a fun one to watch between two electric players.
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Post by hchoops on Aug 20, 2016 9:44:47 GMT -5
Maybe this indicates that if Kalif does not make the 53, he has a good shot at the taxi squad
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Post by HC92 on Aug 20, 2016 10:24:42 GMT -5
Reading between the tea leaves, it does seem he'll make the practice squad. The consensus seems to be that Norwood will win the return job unless Kalif or Addison does something special in the next couple of games/practices. Both have impressed in camp and should either make the Broncos practice squad or get a look from another team.
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Post by HC92 on Aug 20, 2016 20:46:45 GMT -5
Kalif returned the opening kick for 23 yards. He also returned a punt for -2 yards. Not sure what happened as I didn't see the play.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Aug 21, 2016 6:09:07 GMT -5
Raymond had four kickoff returns for an average of 20.8 yards. two pint returns for an average of -1.0 yard (sounds as if one was a fair catch), one reception (targeted twice) for no gain. Addison had two punt returns for an average of 4.5 yards, no kickoff returns, two receptions (targeted 4x) for 13 yards.
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Post by sarasota on Aug 21, 2016 8:14:44 GMT -5
I have to think some other NFL team would pick up Kalif if not the Broncos.
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Post by HC92 on Aug 23, 2016 7:01:26 GMT -5
The Mile High Report's projections for who will stick at WR for the Broncos:
Wide Receiver(6)
Who makes it: Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Bennie Fowler, Cody Latimer, Jordan Taylor, and Jordan Norwood
Who gets cut: Durron Neal, Kalif Raymond, Bralon Addison, DeVier Posey, and Mose Frazier
Thoughts:
This battle seems all but settled right now.
DT and Sanders are the obvious locks, and Fowler and Latimer all but locked up spots with their performances during Training Camp and the Preseason. I also do not see how the Broncos leave Jordan Taylor off the 53 man roster either, so there's five total receivers.
The final decision comes down to Jordan Norwood, Kalif Raymond, and Bralon Addison and well, it ended up being a very easy one. Norwood continued to get first-team reps at receiver and neither Raymond or Addison did enough to take his roster spot.
The real battle here is which of these guys land on the Broncos Practice Squad. Durron Neal, Kalif Raymond, Bralon Addison, or Mose Frazier? I think we see two of them on the Practice Squad.
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Post by hchoops on Aug 27, 2016 22:04:21 GMT -5
tonight he had two punt returns for 11 yards with one of 8 yds Norwood has two for a total of two yds Norwood had one pass thrown to him, no reception in fourth quarter, Kalif had one pass thrown to him, no reception i believe that was his first opportunity as a Receiver neither fumbled
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Post by sarasota on Aug 28, 2016 2:53:04 GMT -5
From Friday's Denver Post:
Look, if we’re going to talk about special teams, then let’s talk about returners. Kalif Raymond jumped into the spotlight early in training camp with his raw speed. And he’s a great longshot story. The undrafted wide receiver out of Holy Cross is generously listed at 5-foot-9. But receiver is a tough spot to break through on this Broncos roster. And Jordan Norwood is still listed No. 1 at both punt returner and kickoff returner. The Broncos are not likely to have a kickoff return specialist. Too bad. Raymond would be fun. Maybe later.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Aug 28, 2016 7:50:52 GMT -5
From the stats, I don't think Addison played.
My guess is he gets signed to the taxi squad, but I believe Denver has to release him, then bring him back.
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Post by sader1970 on Aug 28, 2016 8:53:02 GMT -5
Is Denver really the only team that would need a good speedy returner? I am hoping he catches the eye of another team if the Broncos don't want/need him? But they have been giving him a chance.
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Post by rgs318 on Aug 28, 2016 9:04:57 GMT -5
His time at Denver (if he does not earn a spot there) has surely given other teams a chance to have a good look at his ability. His physical numbers might not get him a serious look, but IMHO his on-the-field performance certainly can.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Aug 28, 2016 10:28:52 GMT -5
His time at Denver (if he does not earn a spot there) has surely given other teams a chance to have a good look at his ability. His physical numbers might not get him a serious look, but IMHO his on-the-field performance certainly can. Don't forget that his numbers also include that blazing time in the 40--I think that's a key consideration for many teams
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Post by HC92 on Aug 28, 2016 10:46:02 GMT -5
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Post by sarasota on Aug 28, 2016 12:10:06 GMT -5
taxi squad probably
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Post by purplehaze on Aug 29, 2016 17:37:42 GMT -5
just saw broncos transactions for today and it included 11 waived (incl one wr) and so far kalif has survived.
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Post by purplehaze on Aug 31, 2016 6:36:41 GMT -5
4 other cuts yday included bralon addison, one of kalif's competitors for a spot on the roster or practice squad. sure kalif will get another long look in the final preseason game
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Post by rgs318 on Aug 31, 2016 7:18:00 GMT -5
I wish him very success and hope his last pre-season game is impressive.
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Post by HC92 on Aug 31, 2016 10:58:44 GMT -5
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Post by HC92 on Aug 31, 2016 11:02:11 GMT -5
From Mile High Huddle on Scout:
As for Addison, he projects as slot receiver in the NFL. But to make a roster as a UDFA, he needed to show a propensity in the return game.
The Broncos liked what they saw from Addison in that department initially, but fellow UDFA Kalif Raymond has out-shined him overall. It should be noted, however, that neither player has impressed of late.
Obviously, the Broncos like Raymond's upside more.
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