Ever wanted to ask a sports personality a question? Now’s your chance. They will answer readers’ questions in The Denver Post’s “Fan Mail” feature.

In this edition, Broncos veteran wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, the NFL’s leading receiver in passing yards, speaks out about coach Josh McDaniels’ personality, catching passes from Kyle Orton and his feelings about getting booed on his home field.

Keep an eye out for next week’s installment. Send your Qs in an email to fanmail@denverpost.com.

I’m sure you know that Broncos fans have been unhappy this season. How does it make you feel when they boo the team or leave games early?



— Cindy, Englewood

Brandon Lloyd: I think the Broncos fans have been getting a lot of flack for the way they have treated the team this year, but I think they are justified for their position.

Because when we show up to that stadium, it’s not empty, it’s sold out. They are giving us an opportunity to perform. It would be different if it was halfway full to start the game. Then it would be like, “Oh, the people here aren’t supporting us, they aren’t cheering or us.” But they are showing up for us, so as players we need to perform and give them something to cheer about give them something to be excited about. So I don’t blame the fans at all.

What kind of cardio training do you do the most?



— Joseph, Boulder

BL: The most effective way to get in — quote-unquote – football shape is by doing sprints. Short sprints and a lot of reps get you there. Doing 40-yard sprints 20-40 yard sprints. And do four sets of those.

As a huge Broncos fan, I wanted to ask you, what can we do to jumpstart the running game to help our offense? Between you and the other receivers the pass game is awesome, but what are you all doing that is not getting the running game going each week?



— Ryan, Charlotte, N.C

BL: The key is blocking at the second level; the second level meaning the cornerbacks and the safeties. A lot of times we have the responsibilities of going down and blocking the safeties. If the run pops through the line, a lot of times it’s a safety or cornerback trying to make the tackle, and they aren’t the best tacklers on the team. But if one of those guys is free, and our running back has to make that one extra move, he sometimes gets tripped up by that.

Terrell Owens took care of guys downfield really well. When I was in San Francisco with him, he took a lot of pride in his blocking.

Hola Brandon, from Mexico! This weekend I’m traveling to watch you guys at Mile High. I’m so excited! What can we, the fans, expect from you after this bye week? Gracias Amigo!



— Carlos, Monterrey, Mexico

BL: I think the team is going to be fresh physically and fresh mentally. I know that’s what four full days off did from me. I came back and I felt rejuvenated and felt like I did maybe four weeks ago.

Mentally, it’s like the reset button was pushed, and it’s like, ‘All right, let’s go.’ We have a lot to do as far as getting back into the division race and I think that’s clear to us. We understand that and now we need to go out and not overdo it. We need to go out and play relaxed and not stress and strain. If we do that, that wins should come.

Can you tell me the difference in catching Kyle Orton’s passes vs. Tim Tebow’s? Do Orton’s passes get to you faster or can Tebow sling the ball around with the same, or more, velocity?



— Mike, Portland

BL: I think Tebow throws with more velocity. But more velocity isn’t the key to being a successful quarterback. The key is to know when to throw with velocity and when not to. A lot of times people think that on short passes you want to throw with more velocity, but it’s really more than a timing throw. If a guy is 6 or 8 yards away, you don’t really need to zip it in there, you need to throw it on time so that when the guys turns around to catch it, it’s there, nice and easy to catch.

Kyle throws the most-catchable pass I’ve ever caught, from any quarterback. Catching a pass is muscle memory, and every single catch I’ve made in a game, I’ve seen 1,000 times. So I’m not really looking at the ball all the way. So if the ball moves funny or it’s a really windy day, you’ll see a lot of drops. That’s not because the guys aren’t focused, it’s because catching the ball is muscle memory. That’s why having a consistent ball and knowing where it’s going to be is so important. That’s why Kyle is so good. The ball comes in natural and you don’t have to put a lot of effort into watching it into your hands.

Be honest, did you draft yourself in your fantasy league?



— Eric, Fort Collins

BL: I don’t play fantasy football I don’t believe in fantasy football. I think it takes away from the team element of the game.

I always knew you could be a No. 1 receiver and definitely was aware of your big-play potential. Now I’m just glad it’s for the Broncos and not the Bears. Anyway, as a receiver entering his first year of college play, what workout/drill would you suggest in order to be successful at the next level?



— Mike, New York

BL: It’s not a workout or a drill, it’s a mindset. That mindset is to steal from every receiver in the room. Steal two or three of the best moves other receivers do, and then use them. Add them to your game.

Brandon: We all know that Tim Tebow is a winner and great competitor. How is he taking all this losing? How are his spirits?



— Joe, Vancouver

BL: I think he’s focused on just getting on the field. Part of being a winner is being a good loser. I think he is doing a good job of staying upbeat, not complaining about his playing time. I think he is taking everything in stride and understands that when his time comes, it will come.

Brandon, what’s up the hand thing? First I saw (Jabar) Gaffney doing it after a catch, now it seems that you are also doing it. Being 2-6, I really don’t see how you and Gaffney think you are in anyone’s face? Great you made a catch, put the ball down and get back to the huddle.



— Evan, Arvada

BL: We tend not to do it when we are down by a lot of points. It’s a mindset and motivation. What the hand motion means is that the people guarding us can’t see us. We feel we can get open and make the plays and make the catches.

It’s not meant to be derogatory or offensive or showboating. That’s just how we get motivated for the game none of these guys out here can see us, none of these guys can compete with us.

Hi Brandon, would you say your success this season is due in-large part because of better off-season training or just because of a different attitude and your competitive nature?



— Vic, British Columbia

BL: I haven’t done anything different this year that I didn’t do the last seven years. My competitive nature is still the same. I still play with the same amount of passion and intensity, and the same attention to detail.

I think – no, make that I know – that I am getting more opportunities to catch the football. That’s about Coach McDaniels calling the plays and Kyle Orton throwing me the ball. It’s the team, the play-caller and the quarterback. It’s made a world of difference and I’m getting opportunities to catch the ball. And I’m staying healthy, so it’s a combination of everything.

I’m curious about Coach McDaniels’ personality. How is he around you guys? How is it different than what we see on TV or what we read about in the papers?



— Joe, Greeley

BL: Coach McDaniels is a player. He’s a player. And I think that’s what may rub fans the wrong way. It’s that he has so much intensity and so much passion and so much confidence, that he wears it on his sleeve just like a player. That’s what we love about him, because it’s intense, it’s fun and it’s emotional. It’s all happening at the same time.

It’s refreshing for me as a player who’s been around older coaches, and being around the league for a while, to have this. It’s refreshing.

I think some of the catches you have made this year have been awesome! Do you have a favorite catch in your career?



— Becca, Colorado Springs

BL: Hmm I had one against Seattle in the 2005 season (while playing for San Francisco). I was running a skinny post and the cornerback had outside leverage. I was maybe 25 or 30 yards down the field and the ball was thrown kind of flat, and it was thrown a couple of yards ahead of me. I dove and stretched out horizontal and pretty much made the catch one-handed. I brought the ball into my body and rolled over. I was probably a foot off the ground, going horizontal.

I got up and I was moving my hands to the crowd like, “Calm down, calm down, don’t lose your pants over the catch!” It was such a close call that our coaches were trying to do no-huddle (to beat replay), and I was like, “Relax, I caught it.”

Broncos wide receiver Brandon Lloyd is in his eighth season in the NFL. The 6-foot, 194-pound speedster out of Illinois signed with the Broncos in June 2009.

At age 29, Lloyd is becoming a star. He leads the NFL with 878 receiving yards, has 42 catches and four touchdowns. He’s averaging an amazing 20.4 yards per catch.

His previous best season was in 2005 when he had 48 catches for 733 yards for San Francisco.

Sunday, Lloyd will attempt to help lead the Broncos to a much-needed victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Invesco Field at Mile High.