But tasks change with a shift in jobs. When he became the team's general manager three years ago, Sundquist's focus broadened by necessity. So as Jim Goodman -- his successor in the college scouting slot -- now directs the efforts of the Broncos' cadre of college scouts, Sundquist's reach and sight encompassed the professional ranks.

So much so, in fact, that as the 2004 regular season progressed, he had to focus on this year's upcoming unrestricted and restricted free agents. For Sundquist, the week of practices in Mobile, Ala. became less about confirming what he already knew about the year's draft class, and more about getting to know them in the first place.

"It's kind of catch-up because I have spent the majority of the season grading the free agents," Sundquist said between practices at Mobile this week. "I spent a lot of time with Rick Smith, our director of pro personnel, and Chris Trulove, one of our pro scouts, in getting that information gathered together."

But beginning with what he saw in person this week at the practices, this year's college prospects come into focus.

"I've had the opportunity to see a number of these guys play on television," Sundquist said. "I have begun my evaluation process on a few of the teams, but this is an opportunity to see some of the best and brightest young guys coming out this year, and I always get excited coming down here to Mobile to get that opportunity."

It's the four days of practice which often prove more telling and revealing than the game itself (ESPN2, Saturday, 2 p.m. MST). But the week isn't a tell-all week -- and to believe in it as such is to commit a fallacy of drafting. It's important, but it must remain only a portion of the large whole of evaluating a player.

"I think it's true throughout the scouting process -- it's possible to get too excited one way or the other," Sundquist said. "You've got to take it in the big, broad perspective."

Doing so entails several aspects.

"You've got to look at how he played as a junior, and what his jump was from his junior to his senior season," Sundquist said. "You've got to look at how he played in his games throughout that senior season. You've got to take into account how -- when he was elevated in competition level surrounded by the top all-stars -- he practiced during the week (of the Senior Bowl or other all-star game), and then how did he perform during the game. You've got to take a look at how he handled the Combine process, how he handled the interview process, and then the actual workout and how he came out of it health-wise from the medicals.

"Then you go through your entire process as a club as you evaluate these guys and try to put your board together, that's a big, broad picture that you've got to paint, and if you focus too much on any one of those areas, you're more apt to make a mistake."

That being said, Sundquist believes that turning down the chance to play in the Senior Bowl is a mistake -- just as he feels that bypassing a Scouting Combine workout next month in Indianapolis is the wrong thing to do.

"I feel that any time that you have an opportunity to show your wares in front of the head coaches, general managers, player personnel directors and the college scouts, you should take advantage of that opportunity," Sundquist said. "It can't hurt you."

After all, one can't bypass a challenging task in the NFL.

"If you feel like you have what it takes to play in the National Football League, then you should be willing to step up to that challenge, because for 16 weeks, there is going to be a major challenge on Sundays," Sundquist said. "There's not a (time) there where (you'll think), 'This week I'm afraid I might get hurt,' or 'I don't want to come out and look bad against the Raiders this week, so I think I'm just going to take it off.' You've got to step up to the plate and be ready to compete.

"These are opportunities that we're giving you, and we expect you to (compete)."

It is an opportunity that represents something far different than just playing a college regular-season game. The practices -- particularly those of Tuesday and Wednesday, which took place in full pads -- were characteristically intense, including some jarring hits from Auburn safety Junior Rosegreen, Louisville linebacker Robert McCune and even a forearm shiver from West Virginia running back Kay-Jay Harris, who ran over a defensive back on a long carry.

The difference was immediately evident to the players.

"It's a lot more physical," said UCLA wide receiver Craig Bragg, who played two seasons in Westwood under former Broncos receivers coach Karl Dorrell. "You can tell by the people that are here. Everybody seems to be a little bigger and faster than in a typical college game. So I'm sure it's going to be a step up from that in the NFL."

And a chance for players like Stanford tight end and Denver native Alex Smith to commensurately step up their game.

"You see a lot of great players out here," said Smith, whose father, Ed, played defensive end for the Broncos from 1973-75. "It just makes you want to compete that much more -- to see how you stack up to the best. There's really no time to be in awe because these are going to be guys you have to go up against in the pros."

COLORADO CONNECTIONS: Smith isn't the only Coloradoan in the contest. Tight end Joel Dreessen, a native of Fort Morgan, will play following a stellar four years at Colorado State. Wide receiver and Colorado Springs resident Vincent Jackson also spent the week practicing with the North Squad following four years at Northern Colorado and made a series of solid catches as the week progressed.

"There's not very many people that come out of Colorado year-in and year-out," Smith said. "Colorado's not really known as a football powerhouse. To be able to be on the stage right now and know that I'm from Colorado -- that means a lot to me."

Grand Junction resident and former Arizona State quarterback Andrew Walter was invited to the game but could not play because of a shoulder injury incurred last season, but still spent part of the week in Mobile.