ASSOCIATED PRESS
Denver Broncos wide reciever Ashley Lelie ran downfield after catching the ball from quarterback Jake Plummer during minicamp at the indoor practice field inside the Family Center in Denver.
Lelie growing
into role
DENVER >> A year has made a huge difference for Denver Broncos receiver Ashley Lelie.
A year ago, Lelie was a first-round draft pick out of Hawaii trying to make an impression on a team loaded with offensive players.
As the Broncos wind down a six-day minicamp this week, Lelie is more confident with the offense, his role on the team and his place in the league.
"Definitely because I have already been there, been through it and know what to expect," Lelie said yesterday. "I am more confident. I've been through all the hard hits and all of the plays. I don't really have to learn the offense. I can work to play at the next level."
The Broncos drafted Lelie with the hopes he could become the team's next star receiver. He showed signs of that in his first season with his speed and big-play ability.
As Denver's third receiver last season, he finished with 35 catches for 525 yards and two touchdowns.
Lelie is expected to be the third receiver behind Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey again in 2003, but he has worked mostly with the first group over the past two minicamps with McCaffrey still out after groin surgery in March.
Lelie has been steady in both minicamps and hasn't given up hope of landing a starting spot.
"There is nothing set in stone yet," Lelie said. "I have to keep working in the training camp and in the season."
Regardless of whether Lelie starts, the Broncos are expected to have a strong receiving corps.
Smith is 33 and going on his 10th year in the league, but he is coming off his sixth consecutive 1,000-yard season and is still one of the best route-runners in the league.
McCaffrey bounced back from missing the 2001 season with a broken leg to finish second on the team with 69 catches for 903 yards. He has tested his groin during drills in the minicamps and is expected to be healthy when training camp begins on July 25.
The Broncos also have tight end Shannon Sharpe back, the league's all-time leader in receptions and yards at his position, and have met with former San Francisco receiver J.J. Stokes about playing in Denver.
"We have a great group of receivers," Lelie said. "Hopefully, we can step up like that during the season and make the same plays that we have made here and we will all be interchangeable."
