AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders

Broncos

The Broncos spent the spring installing both new offensive and defensive playbooks. New HC Vic Fangio says he called about 90 percent of his defensive plays to see what his defense could handle.

New OC Rich Scangarello explains that he did something similar, but when training camp rolls around he’ll dial it back to find what new QB Joe Flacco does best. 

“(The second) year, it’s always a little bit easier, but there was a lot of volume (in the off-season program) just because we wanted to find out what guys could do in our offense and what their best strengths are,” Scangarello said via Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post. “When we come back for fall camp, we can hone in on the plays and schemes that are best-tailored to the personnel we have and (Flacco’s) strengths and everyone’s strengths. I’m excited about that. Now we have a bit of direction so we can tighten it up.”

Chiefs

It’s hard to improve on 50-touchdown passes and an MVP season, but that’s the task facing Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes this offseason. One area he’s focusing on tweaking is his body fat percentage. He got as low as 12 percent in 2018 and wants to drop that number into the single digits. 

“I’ve gotten more muscular and [have] less baby fat, I guess you would say,” Mahomes said via Yahoo!’s Terez Paylor. “So that’s been the big thing for me — sculpting my body in the best way possible so I can go through the season and feel just as fresh at the end as I did at the beginning.”

Raiders

• NBC Sports’ Scott Bair says the Raiders’ front seven is still a major question mark on paper, as it didn’t receive the attention in free agency and the draft that the offense did. 
• Bair adds Keith Smith and Alec Ingold will be competing for likely one fullback spot. 
• Among the undrafted free agents and under-the-radar players, Bair says to keep an eye on Ingold, WR Keelan Doss and DT Ronald Ollie as candidates to make the team. 
• Bair mentions OL coach Tom Cable is likely safe this year, but if the Raiders offensive line doesn’t improve, he likely enters 2020 on the hot seat. 
• Raiders TE Darren Waller has both a four-game and year-long suspension in his past, but has been impressing the team during the spring with his work ethic and presence in the locker room, along with his natural talent as a former wide receiver: “He’s an athletic freak—phenomenal speed for his size.” (Albert Breer)
• The Raiders will let second-round CB Trayvon Mullen compete for a starting job, but there’s no pressure if he isn’t ready since Oakland has CBs Daryl Worley and Nevin Lawson as starting options. (Bair)