The Roundup: Latest Denver Broncos offseason buzz – June 30
Jun 30, 2017, 11:59 AM | Updated: 12:01 pm
The Denver Broncos and the rest of the NFL have hit the offseason break, but there’s only a month left before training camp kicks off at UCHealth Training Center on July 27.
Things are changing out at Dove Valley, as the team tries to get back to the postseason in 2017 after missing the playoffs last year. Players are getting healthier while others are recovering from injuries suffered during the offseason.
So, let’s round up the latest Broncos offseason buzz.
Jamaal Charles ‘back to normal’
Denver 7 Broncos Insider Troy Renck reports that Broncos running back Jamaal Charles has resumed cutting on his surgically repaired knees and is getting closer to full strength.
“I am doing everything,” Charles said. “I have been cutting the last couple of days with the guys during the offseason workouts. I feel like the way I am cutting that I am back to the normal me, man. It feels good to be moving around again.”
Charles feels like he can still be “the man,” but his future role with the Broncos remains undefined.
If Charles is back to full strength, he could push C.J. Anderson for the starting job. If Charles isn’t quite what he used to be, he could still play an important role as a Danny Woodhead-like player in offensive coordinator Mike McCoy’s offense.
We saw Charles cut in minicamp, but it wasn’t at full speed. During training camp, we’ll get to see if he can cut at full speed and take some hits on that surgically repaired knee.
Andy Janovich may receive a lot of work
ESPN.com Broncos reporter Jeff Legwold reports that second-year fullback Andy Janovich could receive plenty of snaps in offensive coordinator McCoy’s offensive scheme because of his ability as a receiver.
McCoy did use a fullback last year with the San Diego Chargers. Derek Watt was a rookie, just like Janovich, last season, but he played 100 fewer snaps than the Broncos fullback despite playing in more games.
Watt played only 135 snaps in 15 games while Janovich played 235 snaps in 11 games last year as a rookie under Gary Kubiak.
Janovich is arguably more versatile as a runner or receiver than Watt, but it will be difficult to manufacture touches for the battering ram in 2017.
Paxton Lynch surged late in the offseason
Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch “played with greater fearlessness” and made significant strides over the final two weeks of the team’s offseason program, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.
Lynch has a rocket arm and the athleticism to be a threat as a runner. He looks much more comfortable in the McCoy system, which could feature the quarterback in the shotgun formation on 70 percent (or more) of the snaps in 2017.
He’s competing with last season’s starter Trevor Siemian for the top job this year, and the competition officially begins in training camp.
Lynch has the willingness to challenge a defense vertically and showed improved chemistry with wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. In order to win the job, Lynch needs to make good decisions with the football and show the ability to accurately and consistently work the underneath routes in order to set up the deep shots and move the chains.