The Broncos for the last month have been tinkering with their defensive personnel to shore up shortcomings in the linebacker corps with Elvis Dumervil out for the year.

The experimenting may continue into the season, but for now, it appears Denver has settled on a rotation.

Jason Hunter, a converted 4-3 defensive end still learning on the fly, is the likely starter opposite Robert Ayers at OLB. Hunter still is trying to learn the nuances of playing in space in a 3-4 alignment and likely will play on obvious running downs only. He'll be asked to set the edge at 271 pounds.

Jarvis Moss takes over the pass-rushing role in which Dumervil was so deadly as the NFL's sack leader last season. Moss has a lot to prove, as he comes back to the area where he became a No. 1 pick at the University of Florida. But he has shown more quickness off the ball this off-season.

Mario Haggan has settled back into his role as the middle linebacker after shifting outside for a large portion of camp.

On offense, the offensive line continues to be the chief concern. But the Broncos are also trying to get newcomer Dan Gronkowski integrated into the offense.

The team acquired Gronkowski via trade from Detroit last weekend and he could be active on game day. The team needs a reliable pass-catching option from that position and settled on Gronkowski, who is trying to assimilate the game plan and then work his way through the entire Denver playbook over time.

The Jaguars have had difficulty settling on their personnel at safety and Denver may ask Gronkowski to help exploit that matchup.

PLAYER NOTES

--There still has been no public pronouncement as to whether Tim Tebow or Brady Quinn will serve as QB Kyle Orton's backup. But McDaniels reiterated Thursday that he will not keep three active QBs on gameday because it will remove a potential contributor on special teams.

--OL Ryan Harris (sprained left ankle) didn't practice for a third straight day and all signs point to rookie Zane Beadles getting the start at right tackle.

--WR Demaryius Thomas has been a full practice participant since preparations began for the Jaguars. The main issue for Thomas appears to regaining full confidence cutting off his foot, which was surgically repaired this offseason and reinjured twice in August. Thomas in the open media periods has looked fairly sharp in his movements but Denver has five other viable WRs, and those on the bottom of the list contribute on special teams.

--LT Ryan Clady, coming off knee surgery, did extra conditioning work over the weekend after making his debut in the final preseason game. He then practiced in pads fully this week and isn't even listed on the injury report. Clady may need an occasional breather given his total lack of training-camp repetitions to restore game shape.

--There probably won't be a honeymoon period for newly acquired Kevin Vickerson, who was signed off the waiver wire Tuesday from Seattle. Denver - which plays a three-man front -- has six active defensive linemen on the 53-man roster. Ronald Fields is the backup nose tackle, and it seems unlikely Denver would have only Marcus Thomas a swing end in reserve. Vickerson can play both end and the nose but has been working at left end since his arrival and has some experience in a 3-4 front.

--Backup safety Darcel McBath hasn't made an appearance since injuring his forearm in the preseason opener. A special-teams fixture, McBath won't play this week.

--RB Andre Brown, acquired off waivers from the Giants last weekend, practiced for the first time Wednesday. It's highly doubtful Brown plays Sunday, given he's been battling a turf-toe injury and he's still learning the playbook.

GAME PLAN
The No. 1 priority for the Broncos undoubtedly will be stopping the Jaguars run game. Jacksonville QB David Garrard has some weapons in Mike Sims-Walker, Mercedes Lewis and Mike Thomas, but Denver feels good about matching up with its strong secondary.

Opponents essentially tried to ram the ball at Denver via the rush late last season and succeeded, with three teams crossing the 200-yard mark in the last seven games.

The Broncos have improved their bulk and quality up the middle with NT Jamal Williams and DE Justin Bannan but quick backs that can bounce plays to the outside was again a concern in the preseason.

Part of that had to do with the shifting personnel in the games that didn't count, but with Jason Hunter still learning his body positioning and technique as a 3-4 end, the Jags may try to pound Maurice Jones-Drew to his side.

Offensively, the Broncos will continue to spread the ball to a variety of receiving options. They may especially try to work the middle of the field, where Jacksonville has had issues on defense.

But it's imperative that Denver at least provide the threat of the running game after going light on carries, and yards, in the preseason. Having Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter in the lineup will help. Both are decent pass-catching options out of the backfield, with the screen game a possible weapon to help slow down an aggressive Jags rush an option.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH
Jaguars OLB Aaron Kampman, who has at least 9.5 sacks in three of the last four seasons vs. Broncos LT Ryan Clady, who didn't allow a sack his first 20 NFL starts and is a first-time All Pro -- This will be a gauge not only of talent but of medical technology. Both players are coming off knee problems: Kampman a torn ACL; Clady a torn patellar tendon. Both played sparingly in the preseason. Denver usually lets Clady go one-on-one with an opponent's best pass rusher, but if he's rusty, he may get tight end help from Richard Quinn and Daniel Graham. Clady will have to play to the whistle, since Kampman's motor is among his best traits.

Broncos vs. the heat -- There is no simulating the kinds of conditions Denver will face when it hits Jacksonville. The talk this week is about proper hydration in anticipation of steamy conditions but the real discussion should be about depth, because, no matter how you slice it, Denver's reserves -- particularly in the trenches -- will have to spell the starters to avoid wilting in the second half. The Broncos feel they are stronger top to bottom on the depth chart. It will be tested Sunday after practicing this summer in relatively mild training-camp conditions in Denver.

Broncos NT Jamal Williams, playing his first regular-season game since last September, vs. Jacksonville C Brad Meester -- If there's a key to Denver's defense, it's Williams. His entire body could recover after landing on injured reserve last year with San Diego with a torn biceps. He's looked spry to date. Meester will get help guards Justin Smiley and Uche Nwaneri and is looking to improve upon what he himself called an off year in 2009. He dropped 20 pounds, now weighing in at 300 -- the same weight he carried when he broke into the league 11 years ago. But Williams has a huge weight advantage and has to control the leverage battle to allow D.J. Williams to flow to the ball carrier and make tackles in space.

INJURY IMPACT
RB Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) said he felt good after getting through Tuesday's practice unscathed and returning to work out Wednesday. Moreno will play but he won't get a full workload.

--RT Ryan Harris (ankle) has missed the last two days of practice and likely will be listed as questionable on the official injury report. But he isn't wearing a walking boot and appeared to do some on-field activity Wednesday, so Thursday will be key to his availability.

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