Success on the Horizon? Denver Broncos Change Training Approach under Sean Payton

Before the midpoint of Sean Payton's first season as the head coach of the Denver Broncos, the team enjoyed a remarkable surge. Five consecutive wins, the longest winning streak in eight years, propelled the Broncos into playoff contention. Strong defensive play and magical moments on offense contributed to this success. However, despite their improved performances following a challenging season start, the team ultimately missed out on the playoffs. To avoid the mistakes at the beginning of the previous season, Payton is meticulously planning his second training camp. Instead of vaguely talking about a fast start, he has developed a program addressing the issues that plagued the Broncos in the first weeks of last season. "When we look at the playoff teams from last year, we see that almost all of them won in the first five games," explains Payton. "A fast start might sound vague, but we have spent considerable time on it, not just a little." This influences how the team prepares for the regular season. On Saturday, Payton's approach became clear: a more than two-hour practice session simulated game conditions in all areas of the field, including regular special teams drills. Payton's approach emphasizes mental focus by treating every day like a game day. "We've set up a completely different training to test various scenarios," Payton said later. Players meticulously analyzed footage after each session, thus improving specifically. With the benefits of the changed plan, the Broncos are playing all three preseason games on Sundays, allowing them full weeks to prepare. "This gives us a complete week for preparation," Payton stated. The change in joint practice arrangements, where the Broncos will face off against the Packers before their second preseason game, could also have a positive effect. However, the central objective remains a strong start in September, with three out of four games being away games. Mike McGlinchey, the experienced right tackle of the Broncos, emphasizes the importance of a quick start: "Avoiding the early setbacks of last year is crucial." Yet not everything has changed: Players still complete sprints after practice and are in full gear as often as possible. Payton remains convinced that this helps with injury prevention. "We have further developed the mentally focused training," notes tight end Adam Trautman. Payton's rigorous training approach prepares the team for the regular season – "mentally resilient and focused." On Tuesday, the Broncos announced their first unofficial roster, which, according to Payton, is only due to league requirements. Jarrett Stidham was listed as the starting quarterback, although Payton emphasized that this should not be seen as final. Bo Nix, who had more first-team reps than Zach Wilson, was listed as the third quarterback. Payton reiterated the non-binding nature of this roster. Despite some mental lapses on Tuesday, there was a bright spot: DeVaughn Vele. The rookie from Utah impressed with a 22-yard touchdown pass and strong performances in training camp. Payton praised his size and his ability to catch the ball under pressure – best conditions for successful play in the season.