Eric Studesville Introduces Himself to Broncos in First Post-McDaniels Practice

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos got back to the business of football Wednesday with their first practice since Josh McDaniels was fired as coach and Eric Studesville was promoted from running backs coach to replace him on an interim basis.

Studesville met with the players to outline his expectations and fill them in on the regimen for the last four weeks of the season before the team took the field to begin preparations for Sunday's game at Arizona.

It was the first time the team had reconvened at its Dove Valley practice facility since the coaching change was made Monday.

"We kind of had a day to let it soak in a little bit," linebacker Robert Ayers said. "I feel like a lot of the guys came in ready to work. We know it's part of the business. You still have to continue (working) and it's the same with coaches. You hate to see people go, but it's part of the business. We wish Josh the best and we're going to keep fighting."

McDaniels was fired and Studesville named to take his place the day after a 10-6 loss at Kansas City dropped the Broncos to 3-9 and eliminated them from playoff contention.

Studesville, who as a position coach spent almost all of his time with the running backs, said he devoted part of his team address to letting the players know what he was about because not everyone on the team knows him well. He also told them that he would have an open-door policy and urged the players to re-discover the joy they had in just playing the game.

Studesville did get the feeling that he had their attention.

"It was quiet. There were a lot of eyes staring at me," Studesville said. "I think they listened. I think they were interested to see what I was going to say and I hope they took to heart that I don't come with any pretenses. I told them exactly what I feel, exactly what I think."

Running back Correll Buckhalter said the players bought into Studesville's message.

"Even though it's a rough season, we have four games left and we can have fun with this thing. That's the approach he brought this morning and every guy respected it. We're going to go out there, get our work together and get ready to win," Buckhalter said.

Wide receiver Eddie Royal said Studesville's passion for the game came through loud and clear, along with his hopes that the team puts its best foot forward Sunday.

"He was very excited and you could tell that it was a great honor for him to be standing in front of us being our head coach at the moment," Royal said. "We're happy for him. We're going to go out and play hard for him and try to get him a win."

That would be a change from their recent fortunes. The Broncos have lost seven of eight and 17 of their last 22 dating to last season, a big reason why Studesville was thrust into his first head coaching position and McDaniels found himself out of job.

Quarterback Kyle Orton, who was close to McDaniels, said a strong finish would help take out some of the sting from what has been a disappointing season.

"If you want to feel better as a player, you want to feel better as an organization, and if you want to feel better as fans, you have to win," Orton said. "That falls on the players to go out and execute, play better and whatever plans we are given, to go out and execute it. It starts this week in practice."