Roche: High Energy Feel At Broncos Final Practice Before AFC Championship
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (CBS) - The Broncos held their final full practice Friday here at their Training Facility in Englewood, Colorado. Here are some thoughts, quotes, and observations on the Broncos:
--Head Coach Gary Kubiak expects everyone to be a go for Sunday's game. He said CB Chris Harris, Jr.(shoulder) had a "good week" and that he is "fine to go". Kubiak did say back-up CB Bradley Roby(hip) was limited Friday in practice with a sore hip but that he should also be fine to go Sunday......
--I asked Kubiak if the feel of the team in practice during the week matters to him and he said, "when we're loud we're pretty good. We've got a lot of characters on this football team, but they're very focused. They like to talk in practice. A lot of personalities. They've had it this week. They've worked hard. They've done the work. I told them today after practice, 'All I can ask you to do is do the work to get ready to play', and they've done that."....
--The mood at practice did seem to have a high energy feel. Who knows what that translates into on Sunday, but the HC feels it may bode well.....
--Defensive end Derek Wolfe on the Pats: "I hate everything about them. They are always in my way(laughs). They are always in my way to get what I want so it is naturally going to create hate." - and he went on to add: "I have a ton of respect for the whole organization. They have great players. Tom Brady is a great player. Bill Belichick is a great coach. They have a great staff over there. I have a ton of respect for them." Easy to see that the Patriots are the Yankees, Canadiens, Lakers, Celtics, etc....all of the great teams that were hated because of how consistently great they were during a stretch of time.....
--The forecast calls for temps in lower 40's at game time Sunday and then falling into the 30's with a chance for rain/snow showers near the end. I guess TE Owen Daniels is a weather nut because he gives the game day forecast each week on camera to our CBS affiliate here in Denver. Never hurts to start prepping for the career after you're done playing, right?....
--Lastly, in listening to the Broncos this week......and I know it's always important...but have to figure the first quarter will be huge for the Broncos. They are a run-first team now with Manning at QB and if they fall behind....it could make for a tough day. If they jump on top, they can afford to run and also keep Brady and the offense off the field...
----Just a reminder, we have a live edition of Patriots All-Access from here in Denver Saturday night at 7pm on WBZ TV Ch 4....and on Sunday, we have a two hour Patriots Gameday a Special from Noon-2pm followed by The NFL Today from 2-3pm...the AFC Championship Game at 3pm....all on WBZ TV Ch 4....and then our Patriots 5th Quarter Postgame Show right after the game over on MyTV38......
