MUSGRAVE A GO-TO GUY FOR INSIDE INFO ABOUT THE RAIDERS
The Broncos have three assistant coaches who occupied key roles on the staffs of AFC West opponents last season. Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy was the Chargers’ head coach the previous four seasons. Special-teams coach Brock Olivo filled a similar role with the Kansas City Chiefs the past three seasons.
Then there’s quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave, who was the offensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders the past two seasons. He was let go by Raiders coach Jack Del Rio in January despite guiding an offense in 2016 that ranked sixth in the NFL with an average of 373.3 yards per game.
Musgrave was hired by the Broncos three days later, and McCoy said he has leaned on Musgrave this week for insight on the Raiders, his former team.
“With his knowledge of their organization and the players on their team, I think that always helps,” McCoy said. “You turn on the film and see what they do, and we do that every week, but it’s always nice when you have someone coming from a team that knows a little bit more about their personnel than you do — practicing against them every day, the offseason program, training camp and being around them year-round. You learn a lot from those types of coaches who have been places.”
Said defensive coordinator Joe Woods: “The thing I try to get from Bill is just the strengths and weaknesses of different guys on (Oakland’s) offense. They’re talented at all three levels — the O-line, the backs, the receivers, the quarterback — but it’s really the strengths and weaknesses of how they operate. As far as the scheme, they’re different. So we’re going to rely on what we see on film and get the strengths and weaknesses from Bill.”
Talking turnovers. Opponents of the Broncos this season have enjoyed the best starting field position in the NFL, beginning drives on average at the 37-yard line.
Much of that has to do with six giveaways through three games, including four interceptions thrown by Trevor Siemian.
Securing the ball has been a major focus for the Broncos heading into Sunday’s home game against Oakland, and coaches are eager to see how smoothly their offense can run if those mistakes are eradicated.
“That’s discussed every day with Trevor,” head coach Vance Joseph said. “That’s simply going through his progression and making good reads and having great ball placement. It’s just being smart with the football.” McCoy praises wide receivers. There is an underrated aspect of the Broncos’ success running the ball through three games this season, McCoy said Thursday. Denver ranks third in the 32-team NFL, averaging 143 yards rushing per game.
“You don’t just mention the line and the running back. The big asterisk is how our receivers block,” McCoy said. “They do a phenomenal job. They are the best in the league at it. We take a lot of pride in that.”
Injury report. Wide receiver Cody Latimer missed Thursday’s practice with a knee injury and is listed as day to day, Joseph said.
Rookie cornerback Brendan Langley was a full participant in practice for the first time since suffering a knee injury in the season opener against the Chargers. Cornerback Bradley Roby (foot) was limited.