Broncos players with plenty to prove in training camp

The Denver Broncos are well underway with 2016 training camp. Which Broncos players have the most to prove in 2016?

Which Denver Broncos have the most to prove at training camp? With camp now almost a week underway, we take a look at some players to monitor as camp progresses onward…

Shane Ray, OLB (Steven Kriz)

Shane Ray is a player that I cannot wait to see in action, and am going to have a close eye on in Broncos camp this season.  As a  rookie just a year ago, Ray got to transition to the NFL the way most first round picks probably hope they would get to–playing behind two All-Pro outside linebackers, but still getting plenty of reps along the way.

Gary Kubiak’s philosophy of giving his veteran players plenty of time to rest really allowed for Ray to learn the game, without having to shoulder the load of being the guy in the defense the way many first round picks are.  In just week one a season ago, in a critical fourth quarter stand, Kubiak and Phillips showed the confidence in Ray and left him out there in place of Von Miller, and the Broncos defense responded with a huge stop.

His time behind Von Miller and Demarcus Ware, and his time competing with fellow OLB Shaq Barrett showed Ray how to be an NFL player, and more specifically, an NFL superstar.

Now, in year two, it is time for Shane Ray to show the Denver Broncos why they moved up in the 2015 draft to go get him.  After a change in diet this year, probably at the advice of Miller and Ware (who just a season ago battled it out for who could come in with the least amount of body fat,) Ray seems to have his body in better shape than ever.

Clearly Ray is feeling good about himself after having a full offseason.  Last year Ray was nursing an injury, while still trying to prepare himself for the NFL draft so he really didn’t have a whole lot of time to put the work into his game that he would have liked, as he entered training camp a year ago with basically no time off from football activities and rehabbing his injury following his senior year at Missouri.

This training camp, feeling as fresh as ever and in the best shape of his life, look for huge strides from the man tabbed to replace Demarcus Ware.  Ware figures to have a far smaller role this season while dealing with back problems, and fighting father time, and this means far more first team reps for Ray to take advantage of, especially early in camp.  Ware is going to get a lot of time off, and be brought on very slowly this season as the Broncos coaching staff plan to be extremely careful with him.  All of this lines up for Shane Ray to emerge as a guy that gets a lot of hype as camp rolls on, and will garner a lot of eyes looking at him.  Shane should be in for a huge season on a defense that is looking to get even better after being one of the top-10 defenses of all time just a season ago.

It should be fun to watch–Stay tuned.

Next: Kapri Bibbs