The Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers practiced together Wednesday for the first of two days of joint practices at UCHealth Training Center. The two teams play one another at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Saturday.
The practice gave coaches an opportunity to evaluate the team head-to-head against another opponent without the pressure of play calling and other gameday decisions. It gave players a chance to line up opposite someone in another uniform.
Here’s what the coaches and players had to say after practice about the first day squaring off with the Niners, courtesy of Broncos PR.
Head Coach Gary Kubiak
On the offensive line practicing against another team
“It’s really important. You go against each other all of the time, but you have to see yourself against different looks. You have to watch guys think and watch guys battle when they’re tired at the end of the day. [T] Kyle Roberts went to our starting right tackle about half way through practice. He goes in there and does some good stuff, so that’s what you’re looking for. How do guys adjust? How do they adjust to chaos? That is real football what you saw today—a lot of things going on and a lot of competition.”
On the physical nature of joint practices
“There are a couple situations. You always adjust to how each team practices. I thought it was pretty good. Usually when they start talking too much, that’s what causes things, not so much the football. I thought we held up pretty good on both sides.”
Quarterback Mark Sanchez
On practicing with the San Francisco 49ers today
“It was different looks, different color jerseys. I thought it was a good test for us. I thought we responded well, but it’s only the first day. We have them tomorrow and Saturday. This is a marathon, not a sprint. We have to keep building on the positives and fixing some of those negatives.”
On the opportunity to face a different opponent
“There are always new opportunities when you face another team. I didn’t get to see how the defense did, but it sounded like they did well, too. That’s exactly what we wanted today, to go out, compete and put our best foot forward.”
Quarterback Trevor Siemian
On having the 49ers at camp
“I think it’s good for all of us. It’s a competitive environment. At this point in camp, you’re so used to banging on each other for these last couple of weeks. It’s good to get some fresh faces in here and go against some bad guys and see what you got.”
Wide Receiver Demaryius Thomas
On balancing the joint practices with the game plan
“The coaches are going to put you in the best situations to win, but you have to show your best as a receiver most of the time. You don’t want to go out there, not show your best and get locked down. You go out, work hard and try to get open every time. Once game-time comes, the game plan changes some things around.”
On the emotions of a joint practice
“You’re trying to compete against guys that are not on your team. You’re trying to look good on film for the coaches. You’re trying to fight for your brother. It’s both ways. I can’t say there isn’t a point for what the fights are. You will never see me fighting. I just do my talking on the field.”
Running Back C.J. Anderson
On expectations from the offense in the join practices with San Francisco
“Just do what we do, make completions, make our runs and do what we do best. We just need to play Broncos football.”
On today’s practice with 49ers
“I just think it’s good for us. It keeps us on our Ps and Qs. You have to communicate a lot better compared to coming out here and facing [Defensive Coordinator] Wade [Phillips] defense that’s going to be the same. It’s been the same since he started coaching and that’s not going to change. It’s a good thing that you go through different runs and we’re going to change a bunch of different things, so that’s a good thing.”
On the rewards of a joint practice
“If we were playing an entire game it would probably be a lot more interesting. Who knows how many plays we’re going to play. It’s definitely like getting the answers to the test. A lot of things that they’re doing out here, they’re not going to change. That’s tendencies and characteristics. If a person blitzes a certain way, that’s the way that he is going to blitz.”
Linebacker Shane Ray
On his goals for the joint practices
“I just want to dominate. That’s my goal every game. That’s the mindset that I go in with. I’m having a lot of fun practicing against these guys and going against the all-pro (49ers T Joe Staley). That’s what’s going to make me better. Coming out today, I was so excited for the opportunity. I just want to build on the type of practice I had today and for the rest of the season.”
On scuffles that happen in joint practices
“I don’t particularly like it. I learned my lesson. I was probably a young guy that was quick to jump in stuff like that. I have to conserve my energy for the next play. It’s football though; things are going to happen. You have grown men out here battling for their families and their pride. Things get kind of heated, but at the end of the day, as long as we can get the work that we need and have a good, physical, and aggressive practice, that’s the part I enjoy. I want their O-Line to try to bury me every play because that’s how I’m going to get better. That’s what is going to prepare me for tough situations. I don’t take it personally, I just take it as work.”
Quarterback Paxton Lynch
On practicing against San Francisco
“It felt good to come out here and practice against another team. It was a little different for me, being the first time that I’ve practiced against another team out here, but it felt good and the crowd was really into it so I was excited.”
On the dynamic of the practice
“It was good. The competition was good out there. I know we kind of got into a couple of brawls, but it got split up. That’s what happens when you put two teams together out here and there are not any refs, but I thought both teams handled it well. It was a well-executed practice.”
On the opportunity to show what he can do in a joint practice
“There’s definitely an opportunity to do that. You get the reps in the game and then you have an opportunity to come out here and practice as well. You’re still getting those reps, just not in a game format, so you definitely have to take these reps how you get them and show the importance of them.”
Safety Justin Simmons
On the joint practice with San Francisco
“[S] Will [Parks] and I were talking about it leading up to today, how fun it would be to go against another color jersey during practice. There’s a lot of stuff you can work on and it just brings the excitement back. You get kind of tired going up against your guys, so it’s nice to see a different color of jersey in front of you.”
On his goals for the practices with San Francisco
“I just want to put on good tape, flying to the football, making plays, doing my job and hoping to get a W.”
Cornerback Lorenzo Doss
On the joint practice
“It definitely helps. Just watching film, seeing what they do, their tendencies, their splits, the way they line up, inside the numbers or outside the numbers. It’s great to see a new face. We just out here to compete with those guys and give it our all.”
On his feelings about joint practice
“It’s definitely energizing. A lot of trash-talking and just banging on each other. It’s a good feeling.”