DENVER BRONCOS QUOTES (8/26/14)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR JACK DEL RIO
On the tough cuts coming
“Yeah, I mean usually things sort themselves out. I think we’ve got a good group on defense and so right now we just want to make sure to do all we can to prepare for the season and get ourselves in position to select the best guys who can help us.”
On how tough it is to cut guys
“Yeah, that’s the toughest part of our business really is having to tell somebody whose dream it is to play that they can’t be with you. In cases where you have a really strong roster, there’s a good chance some of the guys who won’t be able to make it here will end up playing other places.”
On if it was different cutting people when he had to do it when the Jacksonville Jaguars were on “Hard Knocks”
“No different. It just happened to be documented with a camera. It still is uncomfortable to tell somebody that, give them that news. But it is part of the business and it’s part of what we have to do. You come out here, you start camp with upwards of 90 guys, and at the end of the day you know you’re going to keep 53 on the active roster and now 10 extra guys on the developmental squad. So you make the decisions you have to and move on.”
On how much he’ll advocate for defensive players
“Of course. Yeah, I’ll lobby for my guys. But I think they understand—[Head] Coach [John] Fox makes it very clear from day one, special teams is a way to make it here. You have guys like [Ring of Fame RB] Terrell Davis come speak to the team who made it here first with a great coverage of a kick and that’s how he opened eyes and went on from there. So it’s definitely part of what we do. Special teams is a big part of it and that will factor in.”
On how many guys can change their standing on Thursday
“I don’t know. There is a number there but I don’t care to get into specific numbers. We’ll have some decisions to make. [Executive Vice President of Football Operations/General Manager] John Elway, Coach Fox—they listen to all the staff input and they make the call and then we move from there.”
On if there’s still time to change the coaches’ minds
“Sure, absolutely yeah. I think there are still decisions to be made. I don’t think they’re set in stone by any means.”
On if anything about S T.J. Ward has surprised him
“Not really surprised. He’s a good player. We thought we were getting a good player. He’s able to handle multiple roles, which is important. We’ve got designs on doing a lot of different things with him, so I think he’s fit right in.”
On if Ward is doing more here than he did in Cleveland
“He did quite a bit there. But we’ll plug him in our system and utilize him where we can. But I think he’s got the ability to do some different things and we’ll try to take advantage of it.”
On rookie CB Bradley Roby
“I love the fact that—there are a lot of young guys that have developed, but I think he’s the one that—obviously as a first-round pick—is going to garner most of the attention. He’s just worked at his trade every day, he’s competed every day, he’s gone up against really talented players and I think it’s helped him. I think he’s responded in a good way. I think he’s a much better football player right now and he’s poised to be able to help where needed this year. We’ll see where that role goes. That’s not set in stone at this point, but I do like the way he’s progressed and come on as a player.”
On what he’s seen from Roby since the Broncos drafted him
“He’s learned how to practice better. I think some of those things pre-draft—that’s a snapshot from various scouts on the kid at that time. And then you get him and then you see what you can do with him. What I know is he’s bright, he’s a good communicator, he’s a big strong kid, he can really run, he’s got great feet, got good hips. I think he’s going to be a real good player and so the biggest thing for him was to come in here and go to work. We’ve got a good group and you’re going to have to earn your way. So he’s busy at work doing just that.”
On if Roby was like that from his first days with the Broncos
“Right away, first day. First day I met with him I let him know that I don’t want you to be frustrated come November or October if you spent first part of the season not playing much, because that could happen because we’ve got a good group. So if you want to play, earn your way and you’re going to have to come out here and fight every day and you’re behind because these guys have been here and they know what it takes. But I don’t think he was phased by it, I think he appreciated that and he went about his work and continues to go about his work and my message to him is you still have a long way to go so keep grinding but we’re happy with the progress you’ve made.”
On if he expects CB Chris Harris Jr. to play tomorrow
“That’ll be a decision we’ll make. Coach Fox will help with that decision, the trainers, everything. We’ll look at it but he is repping as though he’ll be prepared and able and we will just see where we are with it.”
On if CB Kayvon Webster will be ready
“Oh, yeah.”
On what LB Brandon Marshall needs to keep improving on
“Well everybody—for us it’s a constant process. You want to continue to get better in the fundamentals of what we do. How you understand where you belong, how you communicate with people, how you leverage and tackle, how you strike blockers and get off them and make plays. He’s done a nice job, he’s excited about the opportunity in front of him and looking to make the most of it.”
On if there is a particular position he is excited to watch in last preseason game
“No, I mean really just evaluate the tape. [We] want to get through healthy as possible and cleanup whatever battles that we have to make decisions on. Those will be the areas of the most focus.”
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