ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — For the first time, receiver Ashley Lelie isn't a big focus of Denver Broncos training camp. He's not a rookie first-round pick, like he was in 2002. He's not battling a local favorite for a starting spot, like he did with Ed McCaffrey two years ago. And nobody's wondering if he'll ever be an impact receiver, like plenty of people were last year.

This year Lelie, a Radford High School and University of Hawai'i alum, has been keeping the pressure on himself in camp, because he's not content with what he did in 2004.

Lelie caught 54 passes for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He led the league in yards per catch, and his 20.1 yards per catch was the best by a Broncos receiver in 17 years.

Many receivers would be pleased with that season.

"Most of us underachievers would," said Lelie with a smile, using a term that was associated with him a few times early in his career. "But I'm not an underachiever.

"It was a step to get to that top. And it was probably one of the bottom steps. I have to keep taking steps to get up there."

There is still room for Lelie to grow, and he knows it.

"I did it (gained 1,000 yards) without even making 100 percent of the plays," Lelie said. "It lets me know I can do so much better, so much more."

Lelie's biggest improvement could come inside the 20-yard line. Lelie had seven touchdowns last season, but all were 30 yards or longer. He had one catch — it was an 8-yard gain that wasn't a touchdown — all season inside the 20-yard line. The Broncos often settled for field goals instead of touchdowns near the goal line last season.

Lelie has been doing well in drills inside the 20-yard line during training camp. He should be an enticing target in the end zone because of his height (6 feet 3) and jumping ability. Lelie said that he didn't view his lack of production inside the 20 last year as a personal failure.

"The thing is I got to get the confidence of coaches to go to me in the red zone and call my number so I can be that guy in the red zone," he said. "The thing is I got to get the confidence of coaches to go to me in the red zone and call my number so I can be that guy in the red zone."

Lelie could also improve his production on underneath routes. He has proved himself to be one of the best deep threats in the league. But to become one of the NFL's best receivers, he will need to improve upon last year's total of 54 catches, which was tied for 46th in the NFL.

Lelie said he "definitely" could be a player who gets 70 or 80 catches in a season if he was asked to be more of a possession receiver. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said even though Lelie had a good year last year, he's much more impressed with his all-around play in this year's camp.

"Usually the hard thing to teach is the deep routes because it's hard for guys to go up and make those types of plays," Shanahan said. "He's been able to do that. He's gotten tougher, mentally and physically."