ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --Speed.
That's been the catchphrase around Dove Valley during OTAs as the offense looks to pick up the pace in 2013.
"Our challenge for ourselves is to raise the speed of play, especially being at home and having the altitude as our advantage," wide receiver Eric Decker said. "We have to play and get more plays in offensively. When you can do that, you wear defenses down. That also takes a lot of practice, though, too, because you get tired as well. You've got to be mentally sharp with routes, what the signals are and whatever the game plan is going to be. That's something that we're working on right now."
Offensive Coordinator Adam Gase said how fast the team goes all depends on how quickly the position players can keep up with the quarterback.
That's one reason guard Zane Beadles is so excited to step up to that challenge.
"I love it," he said. "I think it could be a huge advantage for us. And it's a lot of fun. I think we have a lot of smart guys on our side of the ball and on the offensive line. It is a challenge for us, but at the same time, it's fun for us to be able to take on that challenge. I think it is going to be a big advantage for us."
Obviously much of the talk of speeding up the tempo has revolved around the offense. But on Wednesday, defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson said he expects the changes to positively impact the defense as well.
"This league has turned into a no-huddle, fast-paced league right now," he said. "Everybody wants to go hurry-up, with the (Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach) Chip Kellys and the RGIIIs (Redskins QB Robert Griffin III) of the world that we're playing against this year. Everybody has an up-tempo offense. So, with that being said, we've got altitude to our advantage. I think we play those two teams here, so it will be an advantage and a good help for us just to get used to it all year long, playing at that type of pace. I think it will benefit us."
As the offense builds its chemistry and timing, the defense knows it needs to keep up.
"Those guys are getting their camaraderie down, and we've got to get ours, too, because they're going super fast," Vickerson said. "It's a plus-plus, I think."
