The NFL devours its young, using former college stars as dental floss. Running back Kapri Bibbs spends hours digesting his playbook, aware of the long odds he faces to make the Broncos’ roster after his record-setting season at Colorado State.

“Even over dinner, I am looking at it. Me and my roommate, (wide receiver) Bennie Fowler, joke around with it. We will be watching the NBA (Finals), and every time a team scores five points, we call out a play or do a hand signal to quiz each other,” Bibbs said Monday. “It helps.”

No detail is too small for an undrafted rookie, even one who turned the Mountain West into his diary of havoc. Bibbs continues to capitalize on opportunities. He received repetitions with second-team quarterback Brock Osweiler on Monday. With Montee Ball entrenched as the starting running back, offensive coordinator Adam Gase rotates snaps for Ronnie Hillman, Bibbs, C.J. Anderson and Brennan Clay.

“Of course we know that Montee’s the guy. As for the whole depth chart issue, everybody is getting a chance to show what they are about,” said Bibbs, who called signing with the Broncos “a dream come true” after considering an offer from the Baltimore Ravens. “Sometimes you see a guy go with the ones, then the threes.”

Knowledge slows the NFL game. In a good way. Meetings and downtime are for learning. Coach John Fox said Monday the running backs, Bibbs included, showed more of their athletic ability at practice.

Bibbs sees this week as a final primer before training camp starts in late July. He relishes the opportunity to go full throttle, to give the Broncos a better read beyond his ability to translate the playbook.

“I definitely have a lot more to offer. Shorts are all fine and dandy, but running backs show their true colors with the pads on,” said Bibbs, who is using former CSU star Joey Porter as a mentor to aid his transition into the pros. “I am ready to go out there and bruise and show what I’ve got.”

Safety first. T.J. Ward was a partial participant in 11-on-11 drills as a concession to a tight hamstring. The safety continues to impress the coaching staff with how quickly he has picked up the defensive terminology. “He brings an edge,” Fox said.

Tickets on sale. The Broncos announced that tickets for individual games this season will go on sale beginning Monday, June 30, at 11 a.m. Fans can purchase tickets via the Ticketmaster charge-by-phone system (800-745-3000), through the Internet at Ticketmaster.com or at local Ticketmaster outlets. For best results, the Broncos recommend the online and charge- by-phone capabilities.

Footnotes. Safety David Burton missed practice with an excused absence. Rookie defensive end Greg Latta sat out with a throat injury. … Fox reflected on the death of Chuck Noll, the Steelers’ Hall of Fame coach. Noll hired Fox for his first NFL job in the late 1980s. “He was a man who was always trying to acquire knowledge,” Fox said. “He never wanted the spotlight. He made it about the players.” … Osweiler recovered from a shaky start Monday — multiple wobbly passes — with a pair of touchdown tosses. … Rookie cornerback Bradley Roby picked off a Peyton Manning pass intended for wideout Emmanuel Sanders. … Defensive end Quanterus Smith, on falling off the radar while on injured reserve last season: “It’s my job to make them remember me.”

Troy E. Renck: trenck@ denverpost.com or twitter.com/ troyrenck