The chant has permeated Dove Valley, ringing out after every team-period breakdown into special-teams drill in minicamp, ringing out within every meeting room for Darren Rizzi\u2019s new-look Broncos group.<\/p>\n
1-11!<\/p>\n
It is a cry of accountability. One of 11. Everyone, presumably, with a job. It is Rizzi\u2019s flag, planted to the turf down at Broncos Parkway, since he assumed the reins as Denver\u2019s special-teams coordinator in February<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also an allusion to the exact reason head coach Sean Payton hired Rizzi, a coordinator he knew firsthand for three years in New Orleans and an assistant head coach he knew he didn\u2019t have to worry about.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a pro,\u201d Payton said of Rizzi on Wednesday. \u201cI would say one of the things \u2014 and these guys know it from me \u2014 I value compatibility. It\u2019s as important as coaching ability.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want problems. I don\u2019t want headaches. We manage a team. I don\u2019t want to manage a coaching staff.\u201d<\/p>\n Payton hinted the 52-year-old Rizzi could soon be an NFL head coach himself \u2014 in the same mold as former Saints staffers Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn. But there\u2019s plenty for the 16-year NFL veteran\u00a0to manage in Denver, now in command of a unit that\u2019s seen more overall turnover than any Broncos group this offseason.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to change the scheme around a little bit \u2026 it goes back to accountability,\u201d Rizzi said in his first media availability in Denver on Wednesday. \u201cWe\u2019re probably a little bit behind in terms of install in relation to the offense and defense, naturally, so we have to get caught up a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a necessary cause behind a bevy of new faces. At OTAs, Payton said improving special-teams play was an organizational emphasis after he arrived in 2023. And the Broncos have dedicated substantial resources this offseason to giving Rizzi plenty of talent in all special-teams phases.<\/p>\n The team has identified rookies with upside, drafting punter Jeremy Crawshaw in the sixth round<\/a> and former Alabama special-teams ace Que Robinson in the fourth, and signed gunners Trent Sherfield and Sam Franklin Jr. in free agency.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have great, great leadership in the group,\u201d Rizzi said, \u201cand I really like the core that we have coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n Other observations from the Broncos\u2019 second day of minicamp:<\/p>\n \u2022 Third-round receiver Pat Bryant continues to look poised beyond his years, perhaps the largest WR standout of Denver\u2019s offseason beyond Courtland Sutton and Devaughn Vele<\/a>, the latter of whom missed another day of minicamp Wednesday. Beyond looking crisp in route-running in drills, he\u2019s made a heap of plays during team periods, including one beautiful back-shoulder end-zone fade from quarterback Bo Nix on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Payton has repeatedly stayed on Bryant, visibly getting into his ear after most any play, good or bad. It\u2019s the process of \u201cgood to great,\u201d as Payton said.<\/p>\n \u201cI like what I see,\u201d Payton said. \u201cHe\u2019s tough.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are things where he\u2019s catching one like this,\u201d Payton mimed, catching an invisible ball over his head.<\/p>\n \u2022 Beyond Bryant and Denver\u2019s core group, there\u2019ll be a bitter fight come training camp for roster and practice-squad spots in the Broncos\u2019 receiver room. Reserve Michael Bandy, 27, made a terrific diving grab in 7-on-7 action Wednesday. Undrafted Arkansas State product Courtney Jackson had another touchdown grab in team action after one on Tuesday. And Utah State undrafted rookie Kyrese White has handled a consistently large dosage of reps\u00a0since signing after a rookie-minicamp tryout in March<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThere have been some flashes,\u201d Payton said of White.<\/p>\n