My Final Denver Broncos Mock Draft

The NFL Draft is only nine days away, and for the Denver Broncos, it is becoming clearer what could possibly go down when it is time for them to make their picks.  Pending any big time trades, this will be my official Denver Broncos mock draft.

 

First Round, 12th overall:  Tyson Jackson; Defensive End, LSU

6’4″ 295 lbs.  4.94

Switching to the 3-4 defense could be made much easier by adding Jackson, the best five-technique defensive end in the draft. 

Jackson is extremely athletic for his size, and would be a great start to rebuilding this defense.

 

First Round, 18th overall:  Brian Cushing; Outside Linebacker, USC

6’3″ 243 lbs.  4.64

With this pick, Denver could look to Knowshon Moreno, but passing on Cushing may be too hard for them.

Honestly, I wouldn’t mind any of the USC linebackers here, but Cushing is great value and would start immediately at outside linebacker.

 

Second Round, 48th overall:  Shonn Greene; Running Back, Iowa

5’11” 227 lbs.  4.54

He’s baaaaack!  Now that Knowshon is not in the mix for the first round, I think the Broncos should seriously consider Shonn Greene.

He has some work that he needs to do as far as developing his receiving skills, but watch his highlight reel on YouTube and you will see why I want this guy on the Broncos.

 

Third Round, 79th overall:  Kevin Barnes; Cornerback, Maryland

6’0″ 187 lbs.  4.37

A hard-hitting, instinctive, extremely speedy, great sized cornerback.  Any questions here?  Barnes has the potential to be a steal at this pick.

 

Third Round, 84th overall:  Stephen McGee; Quarterback, Texas A&M

6’3″ 225 lbs.  4.61

There is no question that Denver is going to be in the mix for a quarterback at some point in this draft, and I think the third round is the perfect spot. 

McGee is highly rated on Denver’s board, and he would be a great developmental project at the quarterback position for QB guru Josh McDaniels.

 

Fourth Round, 114th overall: Sammie Lee Hill; Defensive Tackle, Stillman

6’4″  329 lbs.  5.12

One of my favorite prospects in this draft, Hill has the size, quickness, and athleticism to become a dominant nose tackle at the next level.  He will go this late due to the fact that he didn’t go to a major school.

 

Fifth Round, 149th overall:  De’Von Hall; Safety, Utah State

6’3″ 212 lbs.  4.45

Hall is a physical marvel and an athletic specimen.  In his senior year at Utah State, he had over 70 tackles and four interceptions.  He is the complete package at the safety position.

 

Sixth Round, 185th overall:  Vaughn Martin; Defensive Tackle, Western Ontario

6’4″ 335 lbs.  4.98

Martin is another guy I really love for the Broncos to look at as a nose tackle.  He is extremely raw, having only two years of college experience, but he is a freak athletically.

His measurables are off the chart, and he would be a great value here in the sixth round.

 

Seventh Round, 225th overall:  Marko Mitchell; Wide Receiver, Nevada

6’4″ 217 lbs.  4.43

Despite their already solid core of receivers and tight ends, the Broncos may need to plan on playing without Brandon Marshall for a few games.  Mitchell has the ideal size and speed, and was very productive for Nevada.

 

Seventh Round, 235th overall:  Pierre Walters; Rush Linebacker, Eastern Illinois

6’4″ 269 lbs.  4.78

Walters is another sleeper prospect that I really like as a rush linebacker.  He has ideal size, and could be one of the steals of the draft.

Why The Denver Broncos Should Select Mark Sanchez

There are many holes the Denver Broncos should try to fill on draft day.  Even though most people believe the Broncos should fill out their defensive line, I think the Broncos should go for a quarterback with their 12th overall pick.

Why do I think this?  The city of Denver is blood thirsty for a quarterback who can win playoff games.  Since the end of the John Elway era, the Broncos have only made the playoffs four times, three of those being wildcard births.  Of those four playoff births, the Broncos have only won a single game, versus the Patriots in 2005.

Fans thought Jay Cutler would be the answer.  After a promising start to a career, the city icon wanted out, and the Broncos traded him and a fifth- round pick for the 18th overall pick in this year’s draft, a third-round draft pick, and Kyle Orton.

Now I really don’t think Orton will be the answer to our quarterback woes.  He’s thrown 30 touchdowns versus 27 interceptions, which really isn’t bad when you play in the Windy City.   But in 2005, after starting the year 1-3 with the Bears, and having a quarterback rating of 59.7, lowest in the NFL, Orton got benched.

Since then, Orton had been struggling to stay a consistent starter in Chicago. Competing with Rex Grossman for a starting position really doesn’t leave me convinced that Orton is ready to play under center for the Broncos.

So, when April 25 comes around, I think that the Denver Broncos should take Mark Sanchez, a junior quarterback out of USC with their 12th overall pick.

Sanchez, one of the most highly anticipated quarterbacks coming out of Mission Viejo High School in California, has only played one full season as a starter at USC.

However, in that season, and only 16 games overall, Sanchez has dazzled.  Sanchez has thrown for just under 4,000 yards, has 41 touchdowns at USC, and has only lost two games.

He’s also shown he can play in the clutch.  Sanchez, in his first Bowl game starting opportunity, showed how good he was in the Rose Bowl against Penn State, as he threw for 413 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Penn State cornerback Lydell Sargeant said after the game, “I think that a 4-foot-10 guy could catch some of the passes that Mark was throwing.”

Sanchez played under one of the best college coaches in the game, Pete Carroll.  Carroll once said, “Mark [Sanchez] really has the eyes for getting the ball down the field.”

Sanchez is used to playing under pressure, too.  Something that he’ll have to play with when playing with Denver.  Playing college football in the City of Angels is tough, but when you have the pressure of leading a team to a National Championship and undefeated season on your shoulders, it gets even tougher.

I think Sanchez is a great prospect for Denver.  Even though Carroll thought he should play one more year of college football, he seems ready for the job at hand.  He already has an NFL-ready arm, and can pick up blitzes very well.  For his size, 6-foot-3, 227 pounds, Sanchez is very mobile, which will help when Denver runs their play action.

Even though Sanchez has played just six games out of the state of California, posting a record of 4-2, Sanchez appears to be NFL-ready.

Sanchez has the competitive blood that Denver fans want.  He also has the attitude, but not cockiness, that Jay Cutler possessed.  When asked if Sanchez thinks he should go before Stafford in the draft, Sanchez shook his head and said, “Absolutely. I’d better think that. And I think he should think that, too. That’s what we’ve got to think. As a competitor, that’s all I want to do is be the best that I can be. And the best you can do in this draft is be No. 1.”

Sanchez seems like the guy knows the limit between being confident, and being arrogant.  Maybe he could teach Jay Cutler a thing or two?

J.J. Arrington Is Denver Bronco’s Sleeper Running Back

Quick. In the history of the Pac-10, who are the only two running backs to have gained over 2000 yards in a single season?

Answer: Marcus Allen and J.J. Arrington.

J.J. Who? In 2004 J.J. Arrington gained 2,018 rushing yards with the Cal Bears, putting in at least a 100 yard effort for each game that season.

In the NFL, with the Arizona Cardinals, Arrington had an intriguing career. During his stint with AZ in 2008 he was handed the rock 31 times, rushed for 187 yards, averaged 6.0 yards per carry, and got into the end zone once.

The ball was caught by him 29 times, for 255 yards, and an additional TD. He fumbled the ball only one time last year.

On Mar. 5, 2009, Arrington left his Cardinals perch, and signed with the Denver Broncos.

J.J. is but a mere 5’9″, and tips the scale at just over 200 lbs.

He’s scrappy, allusive, and speedy. He can get around the outside. Though he’s too small to be a true feature back, he does bring an awful lot to the table. There’s reason to believe that he will thrive in the Denver Broncos new system.

He’ll be plugged in as the Bronco’s punt and kick returner. This will be a needed reprieve of those duties for the rising star that is Eddie Royal. Arrington, although not spectacular as a return man, will be solid and smart in fulfilling this role.

Still it will be interesting to see him as a punt returner (in Arizona he only returned kick offs). With his speedy cuts and dancing, he seems especially suited for this role.

He will make some appearances in the backfield, but often as a passing option. His hands are exceptional, and he’s quick to adjust after the catch.

When the ball is dumped off to him on short passes, the slashing and juking starts, and he becomes a real threat for some big chunks of yardage, especially if he’s out on the edge. He’s very exciting to watch in this situation.

He developed into a reasonable blocker in Arizona. His size limits him, but he’s not afraid to get his body in there and scrap.

He’s the perfect match for a quarterback like Kyle Orton and a coach like McDaniels. Opposing defenses will have to have an eye on him whenever he’s on the field, because he brings an unpredictable element to the game.

Because he can do anything, he’s tough to defend against.

There’s a good chance that Arrington will emerge as a major and heavily utilized force in this newly rebuilt Broncos club. Think: Darren Sproles.

Broncos fans should expect to fall in love with this guy. He accepts his role, he’s humble, soft spoken, and he’s very smart.

On the field, he will get fans up out of their seats every time he touches the ball, bringing a dynamic energy to an otherwise standard back field.

Going into his fifth year as a pro, this could prove to be Arrington’s break through season. He’s certainly in the right system to make it happen.

 

 

NFL Schedule Release: Broncos Set to Take on a Tough Slate of Opponents

The biggest offseason event in the NFL community that falls between the scouting combine and the draft is undoubtedly the release of the full regular season schedules.

For months, fans wait eagerly to see their team’s “road map” for the upcoming season, and almost immediately begin to predict potential records and wins/losses.

For the 2009 schedules, today was that day. The schedules are public, so let the predictions begin.

The Denver Broncos’ 2009 schedule looks like this:

The season opens at Cincinnati, then versus Cleveland, at Oakland, home against Dallas, home against the Patriots, and at San Diego.

Week seven is the Broncos bye week.

The marathon then begins. Week eight is at Baltimore, followed by the Super Bowl champion Steelers at home, then to D.C. to play the Redskins.

The Broncos are home for the Chargers, then the Giants on Thanksgiving night at Invesco. A two-game road trip ensues to play the Chiefs then the Colts.

The season closes with a game at home against Oakland, to Philadelphia for one, then back to Denver to close out the season against the Chiefs on January 3, 2010.

Three games will be shown in primetime, the Thanksgiving night game on NFL Network, along with week six in San Diego and week nine against the Steelers, both on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.

Taken at face value, this schedule is a challenging one.

On the bright side, the Broncos will get a relatively easy start, and the first three games against the Bengals, Browns, and Raiders (none of whom eclipsed the five-win mark in 2008).

The team must use this time to jell in their new lineups (especially on defense) and Josh McDaniels must use the first three games to get his playbook finalized and game-tested.

Do not be surprised if the Broncos emerge the first three games with a 3-0 record. After that, it will get harder.

The first major challenge will likely come when Tony Romo and the Cowboys fly in for the week four matchup. The Broncos’ improved rush defense will be tested by Marion Barber and Felix Jones.

Then, week five will bring the moment many people have been waiting for. Josh McDaniels against his mentor, Bill Belichick. A straight up battle between teacher and pupil. McDaniels will be looking to perform better than his fellow former New England coordinators. Mangini and Crennel are a combined 1-7 against their former boss.

The Broncos will then get their first look at the Chargers before taking a much needed week off.

I think 4-2 is a good goal for the team going into the bye week, and 5-1 would be an accomplishment. They must take advantage of the easy beginning and start 3-0. If they are able to go 1-2 against the Cowboys, Patriots, and Chargers, it should be considered a success.

As was mentioned before, week four on will be a marathon. Week four begins a nine-week stretch during which the Broncos will play teams who finished 2008 with a record at or above .500.

The team will finally get their respite after their short-week Thanksgiving game against the Giants. I think the best the team could do up to week 12 is 7-4. If they hope to be 10-6 by the season’s end, they must find a way to beat the Ravens, Redskins, and Chargers.

McDaniels will finally get a look at his former project, Matt Cassel, when the Broncos play in Kansas City in week 13. After the Giants and before the Colts, that game will be a must-win.

After the Colts, the team comes home to play the Raiders in another game they must have. Then Brian Dawkins will return to the City of Brotherly Love for a much- anticipated encore in Philly.

The season will end in Denver against the Chiefs. The Broncos could very well be locked in a playoff battle with the Chargers, and that game could be a win-and-in situation.

Looking at the “dark side,” that is the schedule of the Chargers, a Bronco fan should feel good about the season’s final “sprint”.

While the Broncos have the Eagles and then the Chiefs to end the season, the Chargers will finish with two tough games, at Tennessee and home against Washington. They must also play the entire AFC North and NFC East.

Based on their schedule, I see the Denver Broncos finishing 2009 with a 9-7 or 10-6 record. Look for the team to use their difficult schedule to their own advantage to build chemistry and strength, and hopefully to be well prepared for their first playoff appearance in three years.

 

 

 

 

How the Denver Broncos Can Return to the Playoffs in 2009

The Broncos are going to win games this year and make it to the playoffs for the first time in four years.

Here are five reasons why, in order of significance and impact:

 

1) Defense

McDaniels and Nolan will do the right thing and draft defense through the first 3 rounds come draft day.

Picking up a big nose tackle to anchor down the 3-4 is crucial. If B.J. Raji is still available at 12, jump for joy Bronco fans. His 6’4″ 340 lb frame and athleticism will enable him to step immediately in as a starter and demand doubling up from opposing team players.

If Raji is gone by 12, the Broncos will go for the highest DE or LB familiar with 3-4 still available. They should easily land a ready-to-start player here.

18 should go to a lineman or LB. Maybe a run stuffing hard hitting safety?

Finding defensive role players beyond the second round will be key.

So…A group of enthusiastic younger defensive players coupled with the veteran leadership picked up in free agency, under the guidance of Mike Nolan… should equal a much improved defense. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say the defensive will rank in the top 12 this year, a nice climb out of the basement of last season.

 

2) The “System”

McD is a “system” coach, and the system he brings is top notch.

The system is this: no single player is above the team. Each player fills a very specific and somewhat narrow role. The trick is for the coaching staff to find those players who are A) coachable, and B) willing to play a specific role.

If players buy in (or can be motivated to buy in), it WILL work.

Bottom line, if the team can come out and win four of its first six games, McD will have gained the trust of the players, putting McJaygate behind him. Players having confidence in the system is what it’s all about. McDaniels will have to prove that he can implement it.

I believe that he will, and once that ball is rolling, he’ll gain momentum and take the Broncos to the playoffs.

A few other notes: The system is extremely effective in the Red Zone. The system is not static and predictable (though it sounds like it would be). It’s very good at adapting and modifying. Expect blistering first half’s and ball control second half’s if things go right.

 

3) Kyle Orton

He’s underrated. The defense he had to deal with in Chicago was nearly as bad as Denver’s. Orton never had a single stellar receiver to throw to. Now he’s got Marshall and Royal and Scheffler, etc.

He had a “meh” offensive line. His running back (rookie Forte), though good, was over-rated.

The thing about Orton is that his team wins games when he’s at QB.

He is accurate, and doesn’t turn over the ball a lot.

He can dink and plink accurately all day with his passes, making him an excellent McD fit. He was extremely well liked and respected in the Chicago locker room. A leader.
He knows his place, and is eager to learn.

He’s no Jay Cutler, but he’s not a Jake Plummer either. He’s somewhere in between, with a much better attitude than either.

And by the way…
Orton will be the first Broncos quarterback to NOT be compared to John Elway. He’s going to be compared to Jay Cutler. The pressure of Saint Elway is gone. At least with Cutler comparisons, Orton has the ability to get that particular monkey off his back.

He could do it as early as the first season, if he can effectively lead the Broncos and perhaps even finish with a better record than the Bears. It would take him 16 years and two Super Bowl rings to get Elway off his back.

 

4) Offensive Line

Kyle Orton has never played behind a line like this.

Neither has Tom Brady for that matter.

The Broncos have a top-five offensive line. These guys will keep Orton standing, and will bust open some holes for the running backs. McD will use running backs and tight ends as blockers more often than Shanahan did.

So, Orton should be well protected this coming year. With his spectacular receiver core dashing around out there, it could potentially be a lot of fun to watch this team.

The Broncos should pick up a center or LG later in the draft, as those positions, though solid now, are getting up there in years.

 

5) Running back by committee

When you think New England Patriots, you don’t initially think running game. But last year they ranked in the top 10 or above in almost every critical running back stat on the books.

It’s also interesting to note that the Pats were essentially a 50/ 50 offensive team (running 50 percent of the time, passing 50 percent of the time). Expect a more balanced offensive attack this year in Denver.

There will not be a star back. Backs will be rotated in and out quickly and often. The backs who are most able to get with this system in training camp (and do it with a smile) will be the ones still on the roster come the regular season.

Under McD, each running back will have a very specific and fairly narrow role. Backs will be asked to block more than under Shanahan. They’ll also account for a lot of receptions underneath, and lot’s of little screens. Arrington (picked up from Arizona) is particularity well suited for this role, by the way.

We’ll be seeing a lot of running backs getting into the end zone, and it won’t all be rushing scores. The running backs will come alive in the red zone under McDaniels.

I think overall, the Broncos will still have a bit of a “rebuilding” feel to them, and that there will be some tumultuous moments in training camp and even into the preseason, but I think that by the time the regular season starts, there’s going to be one heck of a team on the field.

Meanwhile, over in Chicago I think things might be a little rough. Cutler was kept upright thanks to a tough offensive line. He’s going to be eating dirt a bunch in Chicago behind a below average O-line with only an average (at best) receiving core to toss to.

If running back Forte goes down, it’s all over: Forte will be the only thing keeping pressure off Cutler, and if he’s out, teams are going to line up and run over Jay all day long.

It’s interesting to note that Forte averaged only 3.9 yards a carry last year.
EVERY SINGLE Bronco’s running back individually averaged more than that last year. It’s fair to say that Denver had a better running game than Chicago last season.

Chicago’s defense is better than what Denver put on the field in 2008, but not remarkably so. The Bear’s defense ranked 30th in passing yards allowed and 21st in total yards allowed.

The fans in Chicago aren’t going to give Cutler much of a honey moon either. They lost two first-round picks and a winning, well liked quarterback. If things begin to get a little ugly, like maybe the Bears stumble out of the gates and Cutler starts sulking or being moody…it’s going to be a long year in the Windy City.

 

Broncos History Of Draft Day Hits and Misses

Draft day.  Some say it separates the GM men from the boys.  As far as The Denver Broncos history is concerned, it has proven to be the marker of mediocrity and Superbowl greatness. 

Rather then analyzing the stats of every player, multiplying their draft number times pi, and then referring to the current BCS schedule,  I’m going to use Superbowl Rosters to quantify whether the team was worthy and how the draft played into their success. 

Let me begin by analyzing the 1977 Superbowl Roster.  All remaining Superbowl seasons will be covered in future articles.

 

The Infamous 1977 Year 

Craig Morton and the “Orange Crush” defense.  It put Denver on the map.  It also showed the nation how good the “Donkeys” are at choking in the big game. 

Of the starters in that game the following were all drafted by the Broncos in the ’69-’76 draft years:  Barney Chavous, Billy Thompson*,Claudie Minor, Louis Wright*, Lyle Alzado, Otis Armstrong, Paul Howard, Randy Gradishar*,Riley Odoms, Rubin Carter, Steve Foley*, Tom Glassic, Rick Upchurch, Tom Jackson*.

Of these draftees, The five players with (*) following their names have been honored in The Ring of Fame.  The 1973 and ’75 draft classes were quite possibly the best in Broncos history.  Below I compiled a list of the draft years breakdown:

 

1973 – Denver Broncos
Rd     Sel #     Player         Position         School
1     9     Otis Armstrong         RB            Purdue
2     36     Barney Chavous     DE            South Carolina State
3      54      Paul Howard         G              Brigham Young
4     88     Tom Jackson           LB             Louisville

1975 – Denver Broncos
Rd     Sel #     Player        Position       School
1     17          Louis Wright     DB       San Jose State
4      95         Rick Upchurch   WR      Minnesota
5     107        Stan Rogers      T         Maryland
5     121        Rubin Carter     NT       Miami (Fla.)
8     199        Steve Foley      DB       Tulane

For a team to draft almost all of their starters is incredible.  Especially in the 90s and on, when FA’s gets quite expensive.  Something to realize with these drafts, is that only three were considered “high” draft picks.  Which shows that with good scouting and luck, a team can make out like bandits in the draft.

The memorable 1987 Superbowl XXI (not that we want to remember)

The Orange Crush Defense was back!  The potent Offense lead by QB John Elway and the 3 amigos (Mark Jackson, Vance Johnson, and Ricky Natiel) was smoking hot.  The broncos had just come off of one of the greatest offensive feats in NFL history “The Drive”.   In an overtime AFC championship game VS the Cleavand Browns John Elway engineered a 98-yard drive to tie the game on Jan. 11, 1987.  They won 23-20.  Who could stop them now???  The Donkeys went on to Choke big time VS the NY Giants 39-20.  I can see Mark Bavarro crossing his heart in the end zone right now.

Regardless, this team was a great team and the past drafts made a huge impact on their prosperity.  The following is the starting roster for Superbowl XXI :  Vance Johnson*,Dave Studdard, Keith Bishop*,Billy Bryan*, Mark Cooper*, Ken Lanier*, Clarence Kay*, Steve Watson, John Elway, Sammy Winder*, Gerald Willhite*, Andre Townsend*, Greg Kragen, Rulon Jones *, Jim Ryan,  Karl Mecklenburg*, Ricky Hunley,   Tom Jackson *,  Louis Wright*, Mike Harden*, Steve Foley*, Dennis Smith *.  The players with (*) following their names were drafted from 1973-1987.  A lot of the Broncos Veteran Defense was present at their 1st Superbowl appearance in 1977, so once again the ’73 and ’75 drafts were paramount in the Broncos ascension to greatness. 

The draft didn’t prove to be a treasure trove that the early 70’s drafts proved to be, but perhaps the greatest draft in Bronco history was 1983.  Not only did this draft produce 3 starters in Super bowl XXI, it was also the draft that the Broncos traded for a disgruntled young QB from Stanford.  Dan Marino……NOT.  John Elway was originally drafted by the Colts, but didn’t want to play there stating that he believed the team could not allow him to be successful and threatened to play baseball.  Possible Cy Young?  We’ll never know, because he decided to be a HOF Q for the Denver Broncos.  The Colts traded him to the Denver Broncos for QB Mark Hermann, rights to OL Chris Hinton and a first-round pick (OG Ron Solt) in the 1984 NFL Draft on May 2, 1983.  Hinton was a major part of this deal, making the ’83 draft the most famous in Broncos History.  This draft also has 2 major draft steals in Gary Kubiak, and Karl Mecklenburg.

1983 – Denver Broncos
Rd     Sel #     Player     Position     School
1     4     Chris Hinton     G     Northwestern
2     31     Mark Cooper     T     Miami (Fla.)
3     60     Clint Sampson     WR     San Diego State
5     116     Weedy Harris     —     Houston
5     125     Bruce Baldwin     —     Harding
6     143     Victor Heflin     DB     Delaware State
7     172     Myron Dupree     DB     North Carolina Central
8     197     Gary Kubiak     QB     Texas A&M
9     228     Brian Hawkins     —     San Jose State
10     254     Walt Bowyer     DE     Arizona State
11     283     Don Bailey     C     Miami (Fla.)
12     310     Karl Mecklenburg     LB     Minnesota

Other note worthy draft steals that lead to the ’87 Superbowl squad are the following:

1980 – Denver Broncos
Rd     Sel #     Player     Position     School
2     42     Rulon Jones     DE     Utah State
5     131     Mike Harden     DB     Michigan
6     157     Keith Bishop     G     Baylor

1982 – Denver Broncos
Rd     Sel #     Player     Position     School
5     131     Sammy Winder     RB     Southern Mississippi

1984 – Denver Broncos
Rd     Sel #     Player     Position     School
2     46     Andre Townsend     DE     Mississippi
7     186     Clarence Kay     TE     Georgia

1985 – Denver Broncos
Rd     Sel #     Player     Position     School
2     31     Vance Johnson     WR     Arizona
2     54     Simon Fletcher     LB     Houston

1986 – Denver Broncos
Rd     Sel #     Player     Position     School
6     161     Mark Jackson     WR     Purdue

1987 – Denver Broncos
Rd     Sel #     Player     Position     School
12     334     Tyrone Braxton     DB     North Dakota State

Who would have thought that Tyrone “Chick” Braxton would have been as great as he was??  These drafts would prove to be essential to the next 2 Superbowl’s as well.  These debacles will be covered in my next additions.

Three Reasons for Broncos Fans to Be Optimistic About Next Season

For a team that normally kept its head down relative to many other headline-stealing NFL franchises, the Denver Broncos stole this NFL offseason with the Josh McDaniels-Jay Cutler shenanigans that lasted for way longer than anyone other than lazy media types wanted them to.

Now that all that big stuff is out of the way, the sports media world can go back to reporting on how, yet again, T.O. is going to show up late for camp. Snore. Ooh, I know, let’s have another highly irrelevant Michael Vick prison update!

Grumblings aside, I am going to indulge myself (and my newly discovered Broncos comrades here at B/R) with a couple of major reasons why we can be optimistic about the upcoming season.

Four months still feels like way too long to have to wait for football season, so I will take this briefest of moments to plug your local semi-pro team, who is more likely than not in the middle of their season.

Now then, without further ado…

 

1. The defense can only get better

As someone that watched the Broncos when John Elway had no defense behind him, on through the Super Bowl teams whose defenses made the difference, I have seen this unit fluctuate.

Last year’s was just about the worst that I can remember. It was almost as bad as the time no one tagged Marvin Harrison down, and he got back up and ran for a touchdown with three Broncos players right next to him. 

By the numbers, the Broncos allowed 28 points per game (that’s 448 on the season, put the calculator away), placing them just barely ahead of the hapless Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams squads.

Their 374.6 yards-allowed-per-game ranked them 29th among the 32 NFL franchises. Tragically, this was in just 990 plays from scrimmage, meaning that the Broncos allowed 6.1 yards per play on defense, a tie for 30th in the NFL with the Rams. 

The secondary only snagged six interceptions all season (31st in the league, ahead of only the Lions) and allowed 228.5 yards passing per game, ranking them 26th. The most egregious offender was the consistently ineffective defensive line, where Denver finished 26th in the league in sacks and 27th in total run defense. 

While all the numbers are bad, its fair to extrapolate that the pass defense numbers might’ve been better if opposing quarterbacks hadn’t had 10 seconds on every pass play to find an open target.

The good news begins with the healthy return of Champ Bailey and D.J. Williams, who were lost to injuries for a combined 14 games last season. Superstars count on defense—just ask the Chargers about missing Shawne Merriman.

Brian Dawkins, like John Lynch a few years ago, brings some hard-hitting credibility back to the safety position after the revolving door of second-rate talent that got the starts last year.

It wouldn’t matter if Dawkins was 50, you don’t want to be the slot guy going across the middle when Dawkins is on the prowl. Free agent acquisitions Andra Davis (LB) and Renaldo Hill (S) should be considered at least minimal upgrades over their 2008 predecessors. 

The largest question, and most important answer, though, will be how McDaniels addresses the situation at defensive line. No player stood out more to me than Elvis Dumervil, who tied for first on the team with five sacks despite being more of a situational DE than an every down player.

With the team’s switch to the 3-4, which calls for larger D-linemen, the smallish 5’11” Dumervil will likely become an OLB, and he actually has the speed to compete at this new role. 

Ebenezer Ekuban, the team’s other sack leader, is gone, so Denver will undoubtedly take a good look at the defensive line talent in the early rounds of the 2009 Draft. One or two impact picks on defense and healthier seasons for the remaining starters should move Denver’s defensive numbers back towards the middle of the NFL pack.

2. Peyton Hillis and Ryan Clady

I’m not ashamed to admit that I have a totally hetero man-crush on Peyton Hillis. He is everything that I think an NFL running back should be.

After being under-utilized at Arkansas during his entire career, playing third fiddle to Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, he showed in glimpses last season that he can do it all. Hillis averaged five yards per carry last season as a rookie and led all Bronco rushers with five TDs.

With outstanding speed for his size (6’1″, 250 lbs), he is a near unstoppable short-yardage back that also displayed good hands and playmaking ability after the initial catch.

Tack on the fact that he joined the team as a fullback (read: blocker) and still had the skills to fill in at tailback up until his season-ending injury, and you have a multi-faceted threat that coach Josh McDaniels would be a fool not to utilize next year. Sign this guy to a long-term deal because I see him becoming the next Mike Alstott.

I’m almost equally as jubilant about the early success of Boise State product Ryan Clady. Despite the questions about his size or level of competition in college, Clady silenced the critics with an outstanding rookie outing. 

The Broncos have had a tradition of quality offensive linemen (or at least a great blocking scheme) since their Super Bowl runs in the late 1990s, and Clady should be a mainstay in Denver for years to come. 

I still wouldn’t mind seeing the Broncos pick up at least one or two linemen in the draft for the sake of depth, and McDaniels may look at centers as well if veteran Casey Weigmann decides to take the route of Tom Nalen and hang ’em up after a fine career.

 

3. A young, talented receiving unit

Brandon Marshall’s 104 receptions speak for themselves, but rookie Eddie Royal did a better-than-expected job working as the No. 2 man and return specialist.

His 91 receptions and 980 yards are a great season by NFL standards, and with Marshall garnering more attention than ever, Royal should easily surpass 1,000 yards receiving this upcoming season in McDaniel’s system. 

Tight end Tony Scheffler has yet to reach his full potential, and that’s saying something considering he caught 40 passes for 645 yards and three scores last year. A big target at 6’5″, and with plenty of speed for the position, I expect him to continue to post good numbers while the ever-reliable Daniel Graham specializes in blocking.

Aside from the youthful trio of Marshall, Royal, and Scheffler, the Broncos also return one of the best slot receivers in recent years, Brandon Stokley.

While he isn’t getting any younger at 32 years of age, McDaniels’ three and four wide receiver sets should still give him plenty of opportunities to catch underneath routes and work the ball up the field.

One exciting possibility is that the Broncos draft another big WR (6’3″+) in the mold of Brandon Marshall to put opposite of him, with Royal and Stokley in slot positions working the underneath.

While critics have harshly attacked Kyle Orton as not being nearly as good as Jay Cutler, it’s hard to imagine even an average quarterback not having success with so many good targets all over the field.

 

Reasons for worry…?

Aside from the obvious fact that no one is going to mistake Kyle Orton or Chris Simms for Jay Cutler, a better defensive showing and a healthier backfield are the only major obstacles to a successful 2009. 

Elway made the QB position a glamorous one in Denver, and everyone up to (and possibly even including) Cutler has fallen short of the mark. Denver fans should realize that Orton or Simms, whomever the 2009 starter may be, will not be asked to do things outside of their ability in McDaniels’ scheme.

It’s tough to digest that we might not have a true gunslinger taking the snaps, but you’ll be thanking the decisions when one of these guys doesn’t force a fourth quarter red zone interception that costs the Broncos a game.

Mentioned earlier is the fact that defensive line will be the Broncos’ greatest draft need, but with the 12th and 18th picks in the first round, one would think that Denver will still have their choice among a number of great defensive prospects that could play and contribute immediately.

As for the running game, a number of hyped but somewhat unproven options populate the backfield.

It is inconceivable to think that Denver will experience a repeat of last year, with almost the entire backfield ending up on the injured reserve, so one or two of these guys should emerge, and combined should challenge Denver’s cumulative total of 1,862 yards rushing last year.

While the loss of Cutler undoubtedly hurts passing production, even a moderately upgraded defense, better run production, and the advantage of playing the Raiders and Chiefs twice a year should mean that Denver has a great chance at 8-8, if not much better.

Denver Broncos’ Seven Round Mock Draft

12th pick: Defensive end—Tyson Jackson

Denver’s newly re-signed Kenny Peterson and recently signed Darrell Ried will most likely be starting at defensive ends along with back up players like Carlton Powell, Ryan McBean, Nic Clemons, and possibly Tim Crowder.This is not much of a defensive end tandem, and McDaniels has said that Darrell Ried will be playing some outside linebacker as well.

In this situation, Denver must draft a defensive end, and that will be Tyson Jackson. He is very much like Richard Seymour with the explosive power and ability to search and destroy the ball carrier.

 

18th pick: Middle linebacker—Rey Maualuga

Denver is without a doubt in need of a linebacker. D.J. Williams and Andre Davis will be starting, while backing up are Spencer Larson and Mario Haggan. Having Maualuga will add that extra spark to the defense.

He is a defensive shield that will run over anyone at any given moment. He reminds me of Ray Lewis when I watch him.

I believe that if Denver grabs Maualuga, they will leave Boss Bailey and Wesley Woodyard alone at outside linebacker, and release Louis Green and Mario Haggan.

 

48th pick Cornerback—Darius Butler

Champ Bailey and recent addition Andre Goodwin are 31 years old and are now entering the downside of their careers. As seen last year, Champ Bailey has become very quiet during the past two seasons and has allowed a lot more passes to come his way than most expected.

Darius Butler will have the ability to learn from Goodwin and Bailey on how to become one of the NFL’s fiercest cornerback’s.

 

79th pick: Defensive end—Jarron Gilbert

The defensive end position in a three-four scheme is responsible for stopping an off-tackle or counter hand off. Tyson Jackson is a fierce run-stopper and can help out a bit as a pass-rusher. But if the other side can’t put out the fire, then someone else will step in.

Jarron Gilbert, a player who once played the defensive tackle position, will most likely be drafted into a three-four scheme playing the defensive end position.

Darrell Ried and Kenny Peterson are most likely to start at the position, but if they can’t get the job done, Jarron Gilbert will.

 

84th pick: Strong safety—David Bruton

Signing Renaldo Hill and Brian Dawkins was a boost to the Broncos’ defense, but just a little. What I mean is they are getting older, especially Brian Dawkins (35).

David Bruton’s hard hitting skills can be related to a player like Dawkins. If David Bruton can learn from the future hall-of-famer Dawkins, he can become a fierce weapon behind the defense.

 

114th pick: Outside linebacker—Matt Shaughnessy

I will tell you what, I am very surprised that most people are putting this guy around the fourth and fifth round.

This guy reminds me of Mike Vrabel. He’s big and powerful and someone that can stop the run along with rushing the passer.

If Dumervil, Moss, Ried, Crowder, Bailey, or Woodyard don’t step it up in the new three-four defense, I know that Matt Shaughnessy is ready at any moment.

 

140th pick: Defensive Tackle—Chris Baker

Marcus Thomas and Ronald Fields will be competing for the defensive tackle position, which is basically the main key to victory. Other competitors are J’Vonne Parker and Matthias Askew.

Chris Baker, at 6’2″ 330 pounds, can fill up that competition and may even win the starting job, this guy can plug up any hole if he wants to.

 

185th pick: Quarterback—Graham Harrell

Kyle Orton and Chris Simms are in a battle for the starting job, which Kyle Orton will most likely win because Chris Simms hasn’t started a game in two or three years. Orton already knows how to play the game and almost led a struggling offense to a playoff berth last year.

However, Denver is probably still in need of a quarterback.

Graham Harrell, coming into the draft, was supposed to be in the top three rounds after coming off an outstanding year at Texas Tech. But his lack of throwing power and poor combine showing dropped him down to the last couple of rounds.

Graham, however, is a very accurate quarterback and has a very high IQ. His decision making is excellent, and he is calm in the pocket.

McDaniels’ offense requires a very accurate quarterback that sits in the pocket all day. The quarterback does not need to throw hard or far. I believe that Graham can be the next Tom Brady.

 

225th pick: Wide reciever—Brooks Foster

With Brandon Marshall possibly going on an eight-game suspension, the Broncos are possibly looking at a wide receiver that can replace Marshall in a way.

Brooks played opposite of Hakeem Nicks, can catch the ball very well,  and has been compared to Rod Smith. He would be an excellent addition to the wide receiver corps in Denver.

235th pick: Wide Reciever—Deon Butler

I know Denver is filled with wide receivers, having Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Stokley, Chad Jackson, and possibly Brooks Foster. But Deon Butler had an impressive 40-yard-dash time, running a 4.38.

Eddie Royal didn’t do well in the return game last season, but having Royal to focus just on the offense can impact a lot. Having a guy like Deon Butler as a return man will improve the return game.

Top 10: Draft Picks That Define the Broncos Franchise

Ten Draft picks that have defined the Denver Broncos franchise. From elite players that remind us of the winning tradition that we proudly cherish, to the players who we wish we could forget, and make us scratch our heads asking “what were they thinking?”

These players both good and bad remind us of just how important it is to draft well, of how calculated risks can pay off, and how hoping a player to be who you want them to be will burn you every time.

 

No. 10 – Jay Cutler – QB

In the 2006 NFL Draft the Denver Broncos held the 15th overall pick. In a surprise move the Broncos traded their 15th and 68th overall picks to the St. Louis Rams to move up four spots to the 11th pick in order to draft their next franchise QB Jay Cutler.  

After a lackluster year from Jake Plummer in 2005, Mike Shanahan knew that Plummer was not the quarterback of the future for the Broncos. He saw an elite talent that had the potential to transfer to the NFL with a lot of success and he went for it.  

Cutler showed that he is an amazing player who is a top 10 quarterback in the NFL right now and he is only 26. He made his first pro-bowl in just his third year in the league. 

Jay Cutler is no longer a Denver Bronco, but the way everything played out on draft day was very well done, and he was an amazing talent, that made the team better.

 

No. 9 – Willie Middlebrooks – CB

Willie Middlebrooks was selected with the 24th pick of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos in the first round.

Middlebrooks is considered to be a draft bust, playing only four seasons with the Denver Broncos, and making just two starts.  Though cornerback was a need the team needed to address Middlebrooks turned out to be a huge dud.  

When you consider the depth of elite players who were drafted after Middlebrooks (Reggie Wayne 30 , Drew Brees 32, Kyle Vanden-Bosch 34, Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson 36, Ken Lucas 40, Kris Jenkins 44, Fred Smoot 45, Aaron Schobel 46, Matt Light 48) , it almost makes you want to cry.

 

No. 8 – Tom Nalen -C

Nalen was drafted by the Denver Broncos with the 218th overall pick in the seventh round of the 1994 NFL Draft and played primarily at center.

He won two Super Bowls as a member of the Broncos and played in five Pro Bowls.

Six different running backs have had 1,000-yard rushing seasons behind Nalen and the Broncos’ offensive line.

Seventh round is where you pick up guys for the practice squad, many of these guys never make the team, but Nalen was a consistent and dominant player who may have a trip to Canton in his future. Seventh round pick who becomes a starter, plays consistently, and plays at an elite level for over ten years, you can’t ask for more.

No. 7 – Ashley Lelie – WR

In 2002 the Broncos selected Ashley Lelie with their first round pick (19th overall).

Ashley Lelie is and was a serviceable receiver, he just was never  turner into a great receiver.  You want your first round picks to transfer to lite talent in the NFL. Lelie had flashes but dropped a lot of balls and was inconsistent.

He had one good year in 2004, but followed it up with a flop. Then decided he wanted out, held himself out of camp and was traded, and has only put up worse numbers since leaving the Broncos.

2002	DEN		35	525			2
2003	DEN		37	628			2
2004	DEN		54	1084			7
2005	DEN		42	770			1

 

What really makes this pick appear on this list is that the Denver Broncos could have selected Ed Reed who came off the board five picks later (24th overall). Ed Reed is a perennial pro-bowler, and probably the best safety in the NFL. 

If only….

 

No. 6 – Jarvis Moss – DE

In the 2007 NFL Draft the Denver Broncos traded up in the draft with the Jacksonville Jaguars to select Moss 17th overall. The Jaguars used the pick from the Broncos to select Reggie Nelson, a college teammate of Moss.’

During the 2007 season, Moss played in six games for the Denver Broncos. He recorded 12 tackles and one sack. Moss broke his shin in practice in early November, and was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.

Last year Moss played in 12 games only recording 12 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Moss, unless he has an amazing breakout season this year, is widely considered a bust. If you trade up to get a guy, especially in the first round, you expect that guy to make an impact right away, to be a starter. 

Moss has not proven himself to be a starter, and has not had a significant impact. He has on more year I think to prove us all wrong, but right now this pick looks terrible, so terrible in fact that it probably was a factor in the decision to fire the Coach that drafted him, Mike Shanahan.

When you look at the guys Denver could have had instead of Moss, it makes the call look even more questionable: Michael Griffin 19, Reggie Nelson 21, Brandon Meriweather 24, Jon Beason 25, Lamar Woodley 46

Having a 100+ tackle guy like Beason would really have been nice these past two years, or how about a guy like Woodley who has 15.5 sacks in two seasons (that’s 12 sacks more than Moss and he was competing with Harrison). Not a good pick.

 

No. 5 – Shannon Sharpe – TE

Shannon Sharpe was drafted in the seventh round (192 overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft.

Two years later, after having a mediocre rookie season as a wide receiver, he switched to the tight end position and was selected to the first of what would be eight Pro Bowl appearances.

Shannon helped revolutionize the tight end position which had largely been resigned to blocking 90 percent of the time. Shannon excelled both as a blocker and a receiver, and made the defense have to change their approach in order to account for him.

Shannon was a key weapon in the Broncos back-to back Super Bowl wins, and has a future as a Hall of Famer with career totals of 815 receptions, 10,060 yards, and 62 touchdowns.

The acquisition of a future hall of famer at any position in any round is a great pick, but a three-time (once with the Ravens) Super Bowl champion in the seventh round, that is something special.

 

No. 4 – Maurice Clarett – RB

In a pick that was the talk of the draft in 2005, the Denver Broncos selected Maurice Clarett with the last pick in the third round (101 overall). This was a shock because Clarett was considered by many to be a sixth or seventh round pick, having not played a game in two years or practiced in over a year.

Clarett went on to never even play a preseason game. He was released on waivers only a month after signing his contract and before playing even a single down in the NFL. No other NFL team claimed him off waivers or even expressed interest in him.

What is so disappointing about this pick is, look who Denver could have drafted instead: Marion Barber (109), Brandon Jacobs (110), Kerry Rhodes (123), Darren Sproles (130), Chris Canty (132). 

 

No. 3 – Rod Smith – WR

In the 1994 NFL Draft there was a player who undrafted, Rod Smith.  First the New England Patriots signed him, but then released him. Soon after his release the Denver Broncos signed him, and they are sure glad they did.

Rod was the Broncos’ starting wide receiver during their back-to-back Superbowl championships in1997 and 1998. In the Broncos’ 34-19 win in Super Bowl XXXIII, Smith had five receptions for 152 yards (the fourth highest total in Super Bowl history), including an 80-yard touchdown reception.

Smith is the only undrafted free agent to have ever surpassed the 10,000-receiving-yard plateau. He is ranked 15th in NFL history in career receptions and 16th all time in receiving yards. 

Production speaks for itself, he technically wasn’t a draft pick, but that makes his story even more amazing.

 

No. 2 – Terrel Davis – RB

Davis was selected by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round (196 overall) of the 1995 NFL Draft. Little did anyone know, that the Broncos were getting an absolute steal.

Fighting his way through the depth chart, proving his worth in preseason, T.D. became the lowest drafted player to ever gain over 1,000 yards rushing in his rookie season.

In his first Super Bowl appearance (1997), Davis rushed for 157 yards, caught two passes for eight yards, and became the first player in Super Bowl history ever to score three rushing touchdowns. This performance earned him MVP honors.

T.D. would help lead his team another Super Bowl win the following year (1998) with 2,008 yards rushing, in addition to becoming the league MVP and offensive player of the year. 

Davis would become the Denver Broncos all-time leading rusher, with 7,607 rushing yards. 

As a sixth round draft choice, T.D. was truly a Diamond in the rough.

 

No. 1 – John Elway – QB

In the 1983 NFL Draft, Elway was selected as the first overall pick by the Baltimore Colts. Elway publicly stated that he refused to join the Colts organization, feeling the team could not allow him to be successful.

He demanded that if the Colts did not trade him he said he was going to play baseball with the New York Yankees, for whom he had already played two years in the minor league. 

On May 2, 1983, Colts owner Robert Irsay gave in, and the Colts traded Elway to the Denver Broncos for QB Mark Herrmann, rights to OL Chris Hinton and a first-round pick in the 1984 Nfl Draft (OG Ron Solt).

The rest is History…Elway led the Denver Broncos to five Super Bowls, winning two back-to-back in 1997 and 1998, and in 2004 Elway was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Elway is widely regarded as one of the top quarterbacks ever to grace the game. He has one of the best winning percentages in league history (148–82–1), and is tied for second most Pro Bowl selections for a quarterback (nine). He is ranked third in career passing attempts, passing yards and completions.

Can you imagine if the Broncos never had Elway as their Quarterback?

The Great Debate: Who Wins the AFC West?

There has been a lot of talk on who will be wearing the “AFC West Champions” t-shirts.

I’ve heard that the Chargers have the best chance because they are the deepest.

I’ve heard that the Raiders will win the AFC West because they have a lot of young talent with incredible potential.

I’ve heard the Chiefs will win because they, well, because there are Chiefs homers everywhere.

I’ve heard that the Denver Broncos are going to win because they have a talented offense, as well as a lot of draft picks.

I wish that there was a clear-cut favorite in one of the worst divisions in the NFL.

Unfortunately, there is not.

The San Diego Chargers won the AFC West last year with an 8-8 record, same as the Denver Broncos, who had a three-game lead with only three games to play.

San Diego defeated the Colts in the opening round, and then was crushed by the Steelers in the divisional round.

Since then, a lot has happened.

Jay Cutler was traded to the Chicago Bears for quarterback Kyle Orton and multiple draft picks.

LaDainian Tomlinson was on the brink of being released if he didn’t renegotiate his contract.

The Chiefs acquired Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel from the Patriots for only a second-round pick.

Oakland released Gibril Wilson and virtually signed nobody that will make a major difference on their team.

I’m going to give my top reasons why each team will win, and also why they won’t win.

Kansas City Chiefs

Why They WILL win:

The Kansas City Chiefs will win the AFC West because of their weapons on offense. Matt Cassel has finally become a good quarterback in the NFL. Dwayne Bowe and Tony Gonzalez are great targets for Cassel, as well as Bobby Engram.

Larry Johnson is also still a Kansas City Chief. He could be on his way out if he doesn’t learn how to become a “team first” kind of player.

The Chiefs also improved on defense. They traded for Mike Vrabel, and signed Zach Thomas to play at linebacker.

They also have a very good, young secondary. Brandon Flowers had an impressive rookie campaign. The other Brandon, Brandon Carr, had 73 tackles, along with two interceptions. Bernard Pollard has become one of the best safeties in the entire league.

Why They WON’T Win

The Chiefs offensive line is average at best. They signed Mike Goff to potentially start at guard. Kansas City likely won’t spend a first-round pick on an offensive lineman.

They lack chemistry on the offensive side of the ball. Two of their top players, Tony Gonzalez and Larry Johnson, want to be traded as soon as possible. Matt Cassel might have a tough time in his first season in Kansas City.

Kansas City’s defensive line needs a true pass rusher. Glenn Dorsey and Tamba Hali are good, but the other two positions need serious help.

Predicted 2009 record: 5-11

Oakland Raiders

Why They WILL Win

Oakland’s offense is full of young talent. Jamarcus Russel went 3-3 in his last six games during the 2008 season.

The Raiders running game should also get better with Darren McFadden getting more carries than he did in ’08. Justin Fargas is also a good change-of-pace back.

Oakland has a young secondary with a surprise player named Chris Johnson. I’ve heard from many Raiders fans that they are very intrigued by how well he’s played.

Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard are good linebackers whose best years are ahead of them.

Why They WON’T Win

Jamarcus Russel is a very inconsistent quarterback. They signed Jeff Garcia because they don’t have faith in Russel as a star QB.

Oakland has no real star at wide receiver. Yes, they have potential in Johnnie Lee Higgens and Chaz Schilens, but they can’t be trusted as real threats to a defense.

Their offensive line has needs at both tackle spots. Kwame Harris failed miserably, and he was cut due to his crappy-blocking ability.

The Raiders front office is also a cause for concern. Tom Cable hasn’t proven whether he is a good coach or not. Also, the walking dead-man, Al Davis, makes all the wrong draft decisions. Don’t be surprised if Oakland messes up and drafts a linebacker in the first round.

Predicted 2009 record: 6-10

San Diego Chargers

Why They WILL Win

The Chargers have one of the better quarterbacks in the league, his name is Philip Rivers. He made the Pro Bowl last season, his first ever.

San Diego has several good targets that Rivers can throw to. Antonio Gates, when healthy, is one of the best tight end’s in the league.

Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson are good targets. Vincent Jackson needs to stay out of legal trouble if he wants to remain on the team, though.

San Diego’s defense is normally good. They suffered last year when Shawne Merriman went out for the season. When he is on the field, the Chargers have a defense to be reckoned with.

Why They WON’T Win

LaDainian Tomlinson is in his 30s now. Most running backs hit their decline at this age. He should still be a force for defenses, though.

San Diego’s offensive line is inconsistent. They often let up easy sacks that most lines wouldn’t give up. Mike Goff is also no longer on the team.

The Chargers secondary is one of the worst in the league. Antonio Cromartie had a very disappointing season compared to 2007. Clinton Hart was also off his game all year long.

Can Norv Turner actually lead this team? He’s been known as a coach that fails when the game is in the clutch. If the Chargers don’t succeed this year, he will be fired.

Predicted 2009 record: 9-7

Denver Broncos

Why They Will Win

Josh McDaniels is a great offensive-minded coach. He obviously has faith in Kyle Orton to start, because he traded Jay Cutler.

The Broncos have six running backs on the roster. None of them have great starting potential, but they have good potential to be superstars in the future.

Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal are one of the best wide receiver duo’s in the entire league. Both receivers had great seasons last year. I expect Royal to be a 100-catch receiver next year.

They have 10 picks in this year’s draft, including two first round picks at No’s. 12 and 18. Denver has the chance to fix the defense with these early picks.

Why They WON’T Win

Kyle Orton and Chris Simms have had limited starting opportunities. Neither one are near as good as former Bronco Jay Cutler.

Who will start at running back? Denver needs to find that one true starter. Will it be Correll Buckhalter? How about second-year player Ryan Torain? Or will it be a rookie like Knowshon Moreno?

Will the defense actually improve? The Broncos signed Andre’ Goodman, Renaldo Hill, and Brian Dawkins for the secondary.

Denver also signed Andra Davis to start at middle linebacker. The Broncos will have mostly new starters on their defense. How will the chemistry be between them all?

Predicted 2009 record: 9-7

I see Denver winning the division, despite tying with the Chargers. They will be a much  improved team compared to last year.

The defense will be able to stop the opposing running backs from running all over them. The secondary is also going to be able to control the passing game. Champ Bailey hardly ever lets up a catch to the receiver he is covering.

Do you agree or disagree? Feel free to let me know! Thanks!

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