[Quesadilla Joe]

Orange Crush part 2?

For now, here's five thoughts from Saturday's practice:

1. Ward brings something new to the defense -- a safety who can discombobulate the run game, but also drop into coverage effectively on the next play.

On this play, Hillman had a bit of room running to his left after being forced outside, but Ward arrived so quickly that the speedy third-year back had no chance of getting to the outside in time. Ward's hit rattled throughout the practice field.

With Ward, Lerentee McCray and others in the back seven consistently filling gaps, there is scant room for the running backs to roam.

"The running lanes are a lot smaller, and that’s great," said running back Montee Ball. "It’s great going against this type of defense, it will make us better for the games."

2. DeMarcus Ware is still wreaking havoc:

It was a classic Ware pass rush. He sprinted around the edge, and did not hesitate when Peyton Manning executed a play-action fake, perfectly reading the intent of the play. One play earlier, Ware got the first 11-on-11, full-contact team period off to a thunderous start by blowing up a handoff to Montee Ball. Ball took the handoff up the middle.

Ware has been one of the most dominant players without pads, using his speed. When the pads came on on Saturday, he added power and an array of upper-body pass rush moves to keep the offensive tackles off-balance. It was vintage Ware, as though he'd turned back the calendar two or three years.

3. A camp standout:

Marvin Austin is consistently getting penetration. Repeatedly outclassing the backup interior OLs.

— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) July 26, 2014

Austin is the X-factor of the defensive tackle corps, a high-ceiling, low-risk offseason pickup. If he's healthy and consistent, he could make the group one of the deepest in the league. He could also provide insurance while Vickerson eases his way back into full-speed work following his hip injury of last November.

Austin was dominant in line drills, but most important was how he carried that into the 11-on-11 periods.

http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-an...3-3ce29f18b08c