HOUSTON, Texas -- Observations on the 2003 Denver Broncos from a training camp scrimmage with the Houston Texans:

	Lelie

1. Ashley Lelie should have a breakout season at wide receiver. He's the team's best downfield threat and he seems to catch everything Jake Plummer throws to him. Mike Shanahan is using him at flanker along with Ed McCaffrey. They form a dangerous combo along the strong side of the field. McCaffrey's speed is deceptive and his routes are precise. Lelie should average more than 15 yards a catch.

2. It's a good thing that Shanahan talked Steve Beuerlein out of retiring. At 38, Beuerlein is still good. He has a great ability to run the offense and the fact he hasn't played much in the past couple of years has helped his body to feel good again. If anything happens to Plummer, Beuerlein should be able to run the offense at a high level.

3. Dorsett Davis is an interesting player at defensive tackle. With Daryl Gardener out eight weeks following wrist surgery because of his I-HOP flight, Davis is starting at defensive tackle next to Lional Dalton. Davis has some movement and might provide a little bit of a pass rush from the inside, but they will need him to play well early to get the defense going early in the season.

4. Clinton Portis is 18 pounds heavier than last season and still has all of his quickness. The Broncos are excited about Quentin Griffin as a backup running back, but he's sidelined with a broken leg. For a change, the Broncos are a little thinner at running back than normal. Remember when they had three 1,000-yard backs? They still have Mike Anderson at fullback, but he's been bothered by swelling in a knee. The backup halfback for now is Cecil Sapp, an undrafted free agent from Colorado State.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.