June 11, 2013; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos defensive back Champ Bailey (24) during mini camp drills at the Broncos training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos have opened up their mandatory minicamp and some interesting storylines are already starting to develop.

The running back situation may be one of the most watched battles prior to the start of the regular season. Willis McGahee made his first appearance at Dove Valley yesterday after skipping voluntary workouts.

According to reports McGahee didn’t see much action with the first team yesterday, and he may be in for an uphill battle to regain his starting position.

“It feels good being around my teammates. Everybody is happy to see me and I’m happy to see them. I can’t complain,” McGahee said. “It is always going to be a heated competition because every year they are going to bring in a running back whether it’s a high draft [pick] or a low draft [pick]. Any given day, anybody can make plays at running back and you always have to stay on your toes.”

On why he skipped OTA’s, McGahee didn’t have much to say.

“I didn’t choose not to. I had a reason: family reasons,” he said.

Maybe so, but it probably put him behind the eight ball. The Broncos didn’t draft Montee Ball to hold a clipboard, and it might be his starting job to lose come training camp. Not to mention Knowshon Moreno is showing significant progress coming off his knee injury from last year.

Another interesting spot to keep an eye on is the secondary. There are a lot of new faces and moving pieces. Ex-Charger Quentin Jammer and special teams ace David Bruton are in the mix at safety. Youngsters Omar Bolden and Kayvon Webster are trying to earn some playing time, and newly acquired Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is trying to get comfortable opposite of Champ Bailey.

When asked about Rodgers-Cromartie, Bailey gave a glowing endorsement.

“Well, we’re both good cover guys. I think we know when it’s all said and done, what we hung our hat on was covering everybody. I love having that on the opposite side of me. He prides himself on not getting beat. I just want to be able to work with him and help him as much as I can. He’s a guy—he knows what to do, but like I said, you don’t want to ever get complacent in this game,” Bailey said.

And of course, there is the progress of Peyton Manning. As hard as it is to believe, Manning could be even better in 2013 than he was during his inaugural season in Denver. He’s shown more strength on his throws and he’s much more comfortable than he was a year ago at this time.

“I feel better. I’ve certainly made strides when you talk about in comparison to this time in 2012. I feel better, I’ve made some improvements. I still have some improvements that I want to make. I think every player would probably tell you that and they have things that they want to improve on. I think this is the time that you certainly try to keep your strengths strong, but you work on your weaknesses as well and then try to improve those. There’s no question, because of the comfort in the offense, the more familiarity with the receivers. I just feel like after a year of the strength training with Luke and the work with [Head Athletic Trainer Steve Antonopulos], I certainly do feel better. It’s a better feeling than it was last year,” Manning said.

The holdout of tackle Ryan Clady will definitely be a story to follow. He was a no show yesterday but there were reports that he and the Broncos have begun talking about a long term contract.

Manning has a vested interest in Clady since he is protects his blind side, and he chimed in on the Clady contract situation.

“I think he will be here. We certainly hope that he’ll be here. I know there’s the business side of it. I’ve certainly kept in touch with Ryan [and know] that he wants to be here. I think that he wants to get that business part of it taken care of and there’s a process there that we’ll let occur, but there’s no question that we want Ryan to be here,” Manning said.

Make sure to follow @MileHighMonday on Twitter and Predominantly Orange on Facebook.

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Quentin Jammer is not Charles Woodson. He’s just not even close! He has never made a Pro Bowl, has never been part of a statistically elite defensive back field and has legions of fans in San Diego divided as to his place in Charger history. He was drafted fifth overall in the 2002 draft (Woodson was selected fourth in 1998 by the way) but made very little impact early prompting Charger fans to heckle him with shouts of “Lito, Lito”. They were apparently referring to Lito Sheppard whom the Eagles drafted sixth overall in the same draft.

However, Jammer managed to stay a part of the organization and even earned his way on to the San Diego Chargers’ 50^th Anniversary team. How? Well, from 2006 until recently he established himself as a legitimate shut down corner. He never had the flashy numbers but over time quarterbacks learned not to throw in his direction. Bronco fans probably remember what happened last year when Peyton Manning did! Additionally, no one disputes his physicality. From his days as an All American at Texas he was always regarded as a highly physical player. So, it makes sense that on the eve of his 34^th birthday and in need of a new contract, Jammer has decided to join a contender… even if he may have to move to safety in order to see significant playing time.

Interestingly, this is something he has in common with Charles Woodson. As the more publicized of the two players, even casual watchers of the NFL may have heard abut Woodson’s switch to safety and seamless domination of the position. Now it looks to be Quenton Jammer’s turn. So, how will he fair?

The Denver Bronco defensive backfield is a crowded one. Champ Bailey and Chris Harris were certainly the stand outs last season. Harris seemed to come from nowhere but had a magnificent campaign. The team went out and signed Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie who will most likely work the opposite side of the field from Champ. He has a lot to prove but all of the talent necessary to do it.

In the third round of the NFL draft the Broncos continued to add depth with the addition of Kayvon Webster, the hard hitting corner from USF. Webster will probably see action as both corner and safety in his first season. Tony Carter had a respectable season at cornerback but also had every bit as much to do with the Jacoby Jones debacle as much maligned safety, Rahim Moore. The Broncos also have the very solide Mike Adams at safety as well. Both Adams and Moore were tackling machines last year but they have to improve in coverage.

Enter one of the best shut down corners of the last decade, Quenton Jammer. With Bailey, Rodgers-Cromartie and Harris as the top men on the board at the corner position, Carter, Adams, Moore, Webster and now Jammer can help with run support and tight end coverage. Yes, tight end coverage!

Eight tight ends caught touchdowns against the Broncos last season which accounted for 35% of the total number of touchdowns the Broncos surrendered. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! For a defense that ranked fifth overall last year to have allowed that kind of tight production is truly puzzeling. The signing of Jammer shows that the Bronco brass got the message. They have added another hard hitting player who also knows how to cover.

He’s not the glamorous pick that many in Denver probably wanted to see but he is the right man for a job the Broncos seemed ill-equipped to do last year. If the Broncos only allow four touchdowns to opposing tight ends last year all of these moves have been a success. That’s exactly what this signing is all about…

Make sure to follow Predominantly Orange on Facebook and on Twitter.

cornerback Quentin Jammer (23) and linebacker Takeo Spikes (51) in the tunnel before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Qualcomm Stadium. (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

The big acquisition last week was the Denver Broncos signing defensive back Quentin Jammer. Being a 12-year veteran, the Broncos didn’t sign Jammer to lead from the sidelines.

“I’m glad to add him,” defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said. “[He’s] a veteran football player who’s been a good player in the league for a long time. Physical corner. We know he’s played corner at a high level for a long time.”

The Broncos obviously have Champ Bailey and new addition Dominique Rodgers-Cromarie starting at the corners, so the Broncos are going to “cross train” Jammer to play all over the secondary.

“We’re going to train him a little bit at safety as well—cross train him and be able to utilize him where ever he fits in,” Del Rio said. “We’ll just see where that goes. He’ll learn safety and corner, be involved in our sub packages and let him come in here and compete like we do with everybody that we bring in.”

The Broncos will be playing plenty of teams this year that use multiple receiver sets, such as the New England Patriots, who use four, five, or even six receiver sets better than anyone.

When a team like the Patriots play that fast, experience in the secondary beats out youthful legs when it comes to reading defenses quickly. That’s exactly where Jammer will come into play.

Make sure to follow Predominantly Orange on Facebook and on Twitter.