The chant has permeated Dove Valley, ringing out after every team-period breakdown into special-teams drill in minicamp, ringing out within every meeting room for Darren Rizzi’s new-look Broncos group.
1-11!
It is a cry of accountability. One of 11. Everyone, presumably, with a job. It is Rizzi’s flag, planted to the turf down at Broncos Parkway, since he assumed the reins as Denver’s special-teams coordinator in February.
It’s also an allusion to the exact reason head coach Sean Payton hired Rizzi, a coordinator he knew firsthand for three years in New Orleans and an assistant head coach he knew he didn’t have to worry about.
“He’s a pro,” Payton said of Rizzi on Wednesday. “I would say one of the things — and these guys know it from me — I value compatibility. It’s as important as coaching ability.
“I don’t want problems. I don’t want headaches. We manage a team. I don’t want to manage a coaching staff.”
Payton hinted the 52-year-old Rizzi could soon be an NFL head coach himself — in the same mold as former Saints staffers Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn. But there’s plenty for the 16-year NFL veteran to manage in Denver, now in command of a unit that’s seen more overall turnover than any Broncos group this offseason.
“We’re going to change the scheme around a little bit … it goes back to accountability,” Rizzi said in his first media availability in Denver on Wednesday. “We’re probably a little bit behind in terms of install in relation to the offense and defense, naturally, so we have to get caught up a little bit.”
It’s a necessary cause behind a bevy of new faces. At OTAs, Payton said improving special-teams play was an organizational emphasis after he arrived in 2023. And the Broncos have dedicated substantial resources this offseason to giving Rizzi plenty of talent in all special-teams phases.
The team has identified rookies with upside, drafting punter Jeremy Crawshaw in the sixth round and former Alabama special-teams ace Que Robinson in the fourth, and signed gunners Trent Sherfield and Sam Franklin Jr. in free agency.
“We have great, great leadership in the group,” Rizzi said, “and I really like the core that we have coming back.”
Other observations from the Broncos’ second day of minicamp:
• Third-round receiver Pat Bryant continues to look poised beyond his years, perhaps the largest WR standout of Denver’s offseason beyond Courtland Sutton and Devaughn Vele, the latter of whom missed another day of minicamp Wednesday. Beyond looking crisp in route-running in drills, he’s made a heap of plays during team periods, including one beautiful back-shoulder end-zone fade from quarterback Bo Nix on Wednesday.
Payton has repeatedly stayed on Bryant, visibly getting into his ear after most any play, good or bad. It’s the process of “good to great,” as Payton said.
“I like what I see,” Payton said. “He’s tough.
“There are things where he’s catching one like this,” Payton mimed, catching an invisible ball over his head.
• Beyond Bryant and Denver’s core group, there’ll be a bitter fight come training camp for roster and practice-squad spots in the Broncos’ receiver room. Reserve Michael Bandy, 27, made a terrific diving grab in 7-on-7 action Wednesday. Undrafted Arkansas State product Courtney Jackson had another touchdown grab in team action after one on Tuesday. And Utah State undrafted rookie Kyrese White has handled a consistently large dosage of reps since signing after a rookie-minicamp tryout in March.
“There have been some flashes,” Payton said of White.
Minicamp invites Will Sheppard and Jaden Smith have also acquitted themselves well the past two days.
“We’ll meet today. We’re really managing 91 with the international player (exception),” Payton said of the Broncos’ offseason roster limit. “So if one comes in, someone has to go out.”
• It’s difficult, as Payton has acknowledged, to evaluate pass-rushers without officially suiting up in pads. But fourth-round pick Que Robinson is popping relentlessly, consistently displaying great get-off on pass-rushing reps and earning praise for his positioning on a run play in team reps Wednesday.
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