Five Reasons Why Denver Should Pass on Michael Vick

Lately, there has been a lot of speculation on Michael Vick.  What will he be doing this year?  Will he play football?  Where will he play football?  Should teams take a gamble on him?  I have gathered five of the major reasons, in my opinion, why Vick should not be a Bronco…ever.

 

He is unpredictable

Vick is unpredictable on the field and in his personal life.  For me, all of this dog fighting stuff took me by surprise. Throughout his NFL career, Vick managed to stay out of big trouble.  Other than a lame drug charge, in which the drugs probably belonged to one of his many “friends,”  I thought Vick would stay out of trouble his whole career and annoy defensive coordinators, until he was too old to run. 

But then all of the problems surfaced.  How long was he involved in dog fighting?  What else was he doing that we don’t know about? Who are these “friends” he’s running around with?  Vick would really have to change his way of life  to gain trust from any organization.

On the Field, Vick is a run-first quarterback with a huge upside, but most coordinators aren’t going to want a quarterback on the field that they can’t control.  The Atlanta coordinators basically let Vick run free.  They give him a formation and he does what he thinks is right.  This is not efficient and will not win your club championships. 

Vick reminds me of a compulsive gambler. They lose 70 percent of the time, but that 30 percent of wins are so sweet, they keep gambling until they are out of money.

Vick Is Not a Good Quarterback 

Sure he can run, but what about the passing game?  NFL defenses are just to good to let a one-trick pony own them over and over again. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Vick has a career quarterback rating of 75.7.  That’s way below they rating average of starting quarterbacks in the NFL. 

What happens when defenses start loading the box?  The quarterback has to throw, right?  That sounds to me like a fourth down waiting to happen.  I would just not feel comfortable letting a quarterback of Vick’s caliber lead my team.

 

He Is a Fumbler

Rushing is his strength, but it isn’t a good idea to drop the ball.  Vick coughed up the ball 55 times in 74 games.  Yes, he only lost 27, but geez.  Turnovers negate any good play that you execute.  Much like we saw in the Broncos offense of last year, it makes no difference if you run 80 yards down the field, if you fumble at the goal line.  A playmaker’s job is to take care of the rock.  The statistics don’t lie: Vick has butter fingers. 

 

He is passed his prime.

At 29 years old, Vick should have dropped his rushing attack for a more comfortable pocket passing attack.  John Elway, known for his ability to take off on the run, only had about three rushing attempts per game. If he, a star player, had rushed seven times per game like Vick, he would not have lasted 16 seasons. 

Scrambling quarterbacks rely on their athleticism early on in their careers, to save themselves on third down.  As a quarterback matures, they get slower and are more prone to injury.  At almost 30 years old, Vick’s passing game should be efficient enough, so that he doesn’t have to run to make plays.  If Vick comes back to play football, he won’t last very long rushing seven to eight times a game. 

 

PETA, the Boulder Chapter

I’m a dog lover, but PETA takes animal-loving very seriously.  Atlanta may have a strong PETA following, but Boulder, Colorado proudly houses the militant wing of PETA.  Concerning Vick’s legal troubles, I could see the picketing and the call for boycotts quite menacing.  Broncos fans don’t need politics involved in football.  Like church and state, keep the two separate.

Vick is a great athlete, but as far as becoming a Denver Bronco, I really see no reason to take the gamble on him.  The Broncos have enough good athletes on their team, that they don’t need a specialist player like Vick on their roster.  If they wanted a specialist player, they should have kept fan favorite Bradlee Van Pelt.

 

Three Reasons the Denver Broncos Should Sign Michael Vick

Michael Vick was released from prison Wednesday, after being locked up for being “the key figure” in a grotesque dogfighting ring. He was sentenced in December 2007 to a 23-month stay in federal prison.

Vick, once one of the most electrifying players of all the NFL, was knocked off his pedestal of fame and fortune when found guilty.

A few major question marks hang over Vick, as two years is a long time to be away from the complex game of NFL football.

First, he has to be cleared by the iron fist of Roger Goodell to play again, and soon. If Vick has to wait out another year, he would be 30 when the season started, three years removed from a game of perfectionist quarterbacks.

Vick was drafted in 2001 and 2009 would be his seventh season, at the age of 29.

IF Vick was cleared soon, before camps, teams should jump at the opportunity of the former Pro Bowl quarterback being eligible.

Second, Vick has to accept that he may not ever be a starting quarterback again in the NFL, and if he wants to be one, he must really listen to coaching and play the way plays are drawn up.

Also, Vick has much to learn, especially if he wants to play for McDaniels’ highly complex offense, after being out of the NFL for two years.

IF all come to fruition, the Denver Broncos should definitely pick up Michael Vick.

Three reasons immediately come to mind about why the Broncos should snag Vick to compete for their starting quarterback job.

 

Reason One: With Jay Cutler gone, there is no defined starter…yet.

Sure, the Broncos acquired Kyle Orton in the trade with Chicago for Cutler, but he is not entitled to the starting job. McDaniels said so himself, stating that Orton and Chris Simms are in competition with each other.

Orton, a three year veteran, had his best season in 2008 with 2,972 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Not awe-inspiring when compared to Cutler’s record-setting 2008 season.

Like Vick, Simms has been out of the NFL for two seasons, after rupturing his spleen in 2006. Not many expect him to win the job, making the “competition” almost nonexistent.

Vick could come in and truly compete with Orton, if not for his smarts, but for his athleticism.

 

Reason Two: Vick is a veteran of the NFL.

Even though Vick has been out of the league for two seasons, he was a six-year veteran when he was placed in prison. He understands offenses and could possibly pick up McDaniels’ offense better than the others due to his experience.

Vick went through many coaching/play-calling changes throughout his career with Atlanta, so he knows how to quickly adapt to new plays.

Also, with Vick’s experience comes the knowledge of defenses and their tendencies.

 

Reason Three: Vick is exciting.

Michael Vick was a player that “puts butts in the seats;” he’s a fan favorite, exciting for even the most casual NFL fan.

He has the third most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history with 3,859, with 21 touchdowns to boot. Vick could drop back only to tuck and run on any defense, even if they planned for it. Late in games, Vick was known to take over and run for game-winning touchdowns.

As a passer, Vick has 11,505 yards, for 71 touchdowns. His best season included 2,474 yards, 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Quite comparable to Orton’s 2008 campaign. Add in Vick’s over 1,000 yards rushing and two TDs and Vick’s best season was much better than Orton’s.

Plus, imagine what McDaniels could do with Vick, Marshall, Royal, Stokley, Graham, and Moreno to name a few. There could be the Mile High-Octane offense, a wildcat-like style running and passing, innovating along the way.

That is what McDaniels is heralded for, right? Being innovative?

That really makes my point overall. Vick could come into Dove Valley and compete with Orton, and Simms to a lesser degree, which would push all players to their top level, and would prove the starter would be the best Denver could put out in 2009.

Competition should lead to better players and better play when all is said and done.

Vick could, and most likely would, make the Denver Broncos a better team in 2009 as far as the quarterback position is concerned.

From Josh McDaniels To Mike Nolan: The Denver Broncos’ 2009 Coaches

One is an assistant turned head coach, the other a head coach demoted to assistant.

Josh McDaniels and Mike Nolan have many differences, but are similar as well.

McDaniels is the unsung, young, bright-eyed head coach that has taken control from the beginning of his campaign.

McDaniels spent the past eight seasons with the New England Patriots, and the previous three as the team’s offensive coordinator/quarterback coach. He led the Patriots to their NFL-best offense in 2007, scoring 589 points on 75 touchdowns with over 6,500 yards.

With Denver, he has grabbed the reigns and told owner Pat Bowlen to hold on.

McDaniels, only 33 years old, hired Brian Xanders as GM, and fired many of the ’08 Broncos’ horrible defensive players, including Dre’ Bly and Dwayne Robertson. In all, only Champ Bailey, D.J. Williams, Elvis Dumervil, and Marcus Thomas are still on the team looking to play in 2009.

Mike Nolan has been brought in to reshape a Broncos defense that was 30th overall, 30th in points, and 29th in total yards allowed. For Nolan, at least one thing is for sure; there is no where to go but up.

Broncos fans should be excited for the coming of Nolan, an ex-49ers head coach, as their defensive coordinator. At least this year, Denver fans will know who the coordinator is, as he will be their fourth in as many years.

Mike Nolan has 11 years of defensive coordinator experience and was the 49ers head coach for the past four seasons. In all, Noan is very experienced. With 22 years in the NFL, he can possibly lend some advice to McDaniels.

As of now, Nolan is almost old enough to be McDaniels’ dad, but he must work together well with his new boss. So far, the two have agreed that Denver must have a complete overhaul, switching over to the 3-4 defense.

While only a few months from preseason, Denver still has many question marks on the defensive end, including how well the new alignment will work.

Dumervil should be moving to outside linebacker from defensive end, and newly acquired players from trades, free agency, and the draft all have to step in to start this year.

While it must have been hard for Bowlen to fire Shanahan after a disappointing 2008 season, the changes should prove prosperous with McDaniels’ brain and Nolan’s defensive brawn.

Plus, with almost no one in Denver even knowing McDaniels’ name until his hiring, at the very least Nolan provides a recognizable face on the sidelines. Not to mention that Nolan is the best dressed coach in the NFL, wearing a suit every game.

One major aspect of both coaches is that they are winners and highly competitive.

For the Broncos and Bowlen, it is hoped that McDaniels and Nolan can not only get along but prosper as coaches for the Mile High city’s orange and blue warriors.

Can Brandon Marshall Produce without Jay Cutler?

Despite being less than four months away from opening night in the NFL it’s never to early to start your preparation for the upcoming fantasy football season.

With the NFL Draft in the books and the majority of the free-agent’s having signed contracts it’s safe to start taking a deeper look into teams depth charts and projecting just how valuable specific players will be.

In fact, our staff has already started our 2009 positional rankings and stat projections for our yearly Online Magazine that will release towards the end of June.

Since we started doing the Bruno Boys Mailbag three weeks ago we have seen a huge increase in fantasy football owners sending in legitimate questions pertaining to the 2009 season.

If we have failed to feature your question in the weekly mailbag, our apologies but remember to check your email as we still address every questions. With that being said. lets get started on the May 21st, 2009 edition of Bruno Boys Mailbag: Fantasy Football Q & A. 

As always, if you have a question about a player or draft strategy send an email to contact@brunoboys.net and we will give you all the advice needed to make you successful.

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QUESTION: What is Brandon Marshall’s current ranking now that the draft and most of FA is over?  At the end of last season, he was seemingly top 5 WR and a definite keeper.  Now I’m not so sure.  We can keep three and I’ve got two good ones: Aaron Rogers (for 9th round draft choice this year) and Chris Johnson (14th).  For the third, would you rather keep Pierre Thomas (16th round pick this year) or Brandon Marshall (4th)?  I pick 9 of 10 and a lot of WR’s are being kept (however you can’t keep a round 1-2 pick, so all of last year’s top choices will be available).  I’m leaning toward keeping Thomas and going WR-RB-WR.  Thanks. – Eric (Bluffton, Ohio)

ANSWER: Eric…  Thanks for the question and before I even get into detail I would like to tell you that this is a good problem to have. Regardless of the route you go, the caliber of players you are going to keep heading into 2009 is a great core to build off of.

When looking at Brandon Marshall for this season you have to automatically downgrade his value due to the fact that Jay Cutler is no longer in Denver, but this shouldn’t scare you off of him. However, what should scare you off is the way he finished down the stretch in 2008.

After scoring 54 fantasy football points over his first three games, Marshall could manage just 98 fantasy points in the final 12 contests and the third year wide receiver scored only three touchdowns during that span.

A large part of this had to do with the Broncos inconsistency at the running back position and defenders focusing on the passing game, but this is still a cause for concern in my opinion. 

It might be a bit early to forecast Marshall’s overall value, since we don’t know who will be the top RB option in Denver, but you can peg him as a low-end WR1 or high-end WR2 heading into 2009. Currently, I have him as my 14th best wide receiver nestled in between Terrell Owens and Wes Welker.

As for who to keep, Chris Johnson is a no-brainer. He is a top 10 running back and a 1st round fantasy option that you have to forfeit a 14th rounder for. Great work! Also, I would keep Aaron Rodgers, without even knowing your scoring format. The fact that it’s a ninth rounder that you lose is enough to sell me.

Rodgers finished as the No. 2 overall quarterback in standard leagues last year and I rank him as my fourth QB heading into 2009, just a shade behind Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

The choice behind Pierre Thomas and Marshall is a tough one, as they both have plenty of upside and you can make a case for either, but I am a firm believer of building off running back depth and Thomas will give you just that.

Plus the last that you lose a 16th round pick by keeping him heavily outweighs the fact that you probably would lose one of your top picks by keeping Marshall. In my opinion Thomas will pick up where he left off in 2009 and put together a solid campaign that makes him a RB2 in all scoring formats.

Plus, the odds of Marshall falling to you with the 9th pick are better than Thomas getting to your draft spot. From there, you can target snagging Marshall or a comparable wide receiver with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the non-keeper draft. All the Best this year and keep the questions coming!

CHECK OUT THE FULL ARTICLE AT WWW.BRUNOBOYS.NET

San Francisco 49ers Sign CB Dre’ Bly

With the injury to Walt Harris this week, it was only a matter of time before the 49ers brought in another veteran to fill out the roster spot and the today the team signed cornerback Dre’ Bly accordingly.

Bly, who according to Matt Maiocco of the The Press Democrat signed a one-year contract today, has been around the league a few times. Most recently he played with the Denver Broncos after working for the Lions and Rams previously.

He has been unemployed since he was cut by the Broncos this offseason. While with Denver, he compiled 62 tackles (54 solo, 8 assisted) over 16 games. He also had a pair of interceptions.

While Bly’s best days might be behind him, he is still a producer and helps give the 49ers some veteran depth. With Shawntae Spencer coming off an injury and players like Tarrell Brown and Marcus Hudson who have yet to prove themselves, a little extra proven support could be a big deal.

Bly will likely line up across from Nate Clements this season and get his hands dirty supporting the run defense—something he can defintely do.

You Can’t Make a Good Offense Sandwich, Without the SPREAD!

The cat is out of the bag.  It’s pretty obvious that McDaniels is going to be bringing a new defense and offense to the Denver Broncos.  Instead of the 4-3 defensive set, the Broncos will be moving to the 3-4.  Forget about the West Coast offense, because the new offensive scheme in Denver is the spread. 

Mostly popularized in the NFL by the highly successful New England Patriots and in college by Urban Myer, using the spread option when he was the head coach of at Bowling Green in 2001. The spread offense philosophy is very efficient, if executed correctly.  The philosophy behind the spread, is in it’s name; spread.  The offense’s job is to spread the defense and use all of the field, giving your players the ability to work in space after the catch and tacking the linebackers out of the run stuff and pass rush positions.  In most cases the Quarterback is in a shotgun formation, but this doesn’t always have to be the case.

There isn’t really a basic set of plays, since the spread isn’t a formation, but a philosophy.  The idea behind the spread, is to out number the defense in certain scenarios.  For example, if the defense brings the safety into the box, the quarterback should pass the ball deep and take advantage of the one on one coverage.  Also, the offense can set up with 3-4 wide receivers to take the linebackers outs of position to stop the run.  This makes it easier to run draw plays and screen plays with the halfbacks and fullbacks.  In these types of situations, the wide receiver’s primary function is to run bloke down field.  To be able to efficiently execute the spread offense, the players need to be very versatile.  Running, Blocking, and receiving is everyone’s job.

So, how will this offense look in Denver?  The formations are going to different each game, to attack the weaknesses of the opposing defenses. 

The Broncos have all of the personnel needed to be heavy run team, heavy pass team, and a balanced team.

Heavy Passing Attack

This offense will mostly be used against teams that are weak in the backfield and tend to use more 3-4 linebacker formations.  The Broncos will be able to put out three, four, or even five receivers.  Most of the time, using four wide receivers with a speed back, or half back to line up in the slot, set the play up for the screen pass.  In this set, the offense can take advantage of mismatches with linebackers or safeties on speedy receivers.  Once the defense starts to fall back and overcompensate for the amount of receivers on the field, the offense can start attacking the middle of the line with draw plays and hit the corners with screen plays.  The Players most likely to be used in this situation are the following:

WR1       Brandon Marshall           
WR2       Eddie Royal
WR3,Slot Brandon Stokley
WR4       Jabar Gaffney
WR5       Chad Jackson
RB          Knowshonn Moreno
TB          J.J. Arrington
TE          Daniel Graham, Richard Quinn, Tony Sheffler

Heavy Rushing Attack

This offensive scheme will be used again’s teams that are weak against the run or tend to use nickel formations and do not bring the safeties into the box as often.  The receivers need to block more than receive, but will run deep routes to keep the defense honest.  The offense can setup in many formations to get the job done here.  two Tight end sets, three tight end sets, two halfbacks and a fullback, etc.  The whole idea is to take advantage of the mismatches.  Run on the defense when the try to stop the pass and pass on the defense when they load the box.  This formations will setup with two wide receivers, two to three tight ends, a fullback, one to two running backs.  For this scheme to be executed, the tight ends, fullbacks, and running backs have to be exceptional athletes.  They will be asked to pass, catch, run, and block.  The players that will be used in the formation are the following:

WR1       Brandon Marshall           
WR2       Eddie Royal
TE1        Daniel Graham
TE2        Richard Quinn
TE3        Tony Sheffler
RB          Knowshonn Moreno
RB          Correll Buckhalter
FB          Peyton Hillis

One of the biggest questions in this off season is, how will Kyle Orton operate in the spread offense?  Kyle Orton spent four years in a spread offense at Purdue.  He’s quite acquainted to it’s uses.  Orton will probably be in a lot of shotgun formations and look to pass, as he is not a strong runner and because the spread option scheme hasn’t really been able to catch on in the NFL.  The spread offense takes a game manager with patience and accuracy.  A lot of analysts say that the spread hinges mostly on the strength of the play calling, rather then the talent of the quarterback.  Kyle Orton will need to be very adept in reading the defense to see mismatches on the field and check down to his third and fourth receivers.  The idea is to increase time possession and decrease turnovers.  This will require a lot of patience.  80 percent of the passing game will be short yardage passes, with slants and screens as the bulk of the receptions.  The deep ball is used like an uppercut would be in a boxing match; sparingly, but deadly.  I for one, believe that Orton will be a perfect match in this scheme and he will welcome the bounty of new offensive play-makers that Denver has to offer him.  

All of the players in the above schemes will come together to form a balanced attack that will strike fear into opposing defenses. This is going to be an exciting year to watch the Denver offense!  The Broncos offense has the ability to be in the top five in all categories this year. 

Darrent Williams Trial: No Cameras or Blogging Allowed

Twenty-five-year-old Willie D. Clark, who is charged with the murder of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams on New Year’s Day 2007, is scheduled to appear in court this summer.

The high-profile case, however, has forced the judge to implement several bans concerning the media.

Denver District Court Judge Christina Habas has banned cameras from her courtroom, along with blogging, Tweeting, and other online updates concerning the case.

“There is a significant risk that those communications would be utilized in order to place witnesses, parties, attorneys, jurors or Court staff in physical jeopardy,” the judge said in her statement.

Audio recordings will be allowed.

“In the Court’s view,” wrote Judge Habas, “this microphone serves a legitimate purpose of allowing contemporaneous reporting to the public of the proceedings in the Courtroom, with little or no potential of creating a dangerous situation to any witness, juror or staff.”

Two rows in the courtroom will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis to media members, and interviews will be permitted.

Clark, a member of the Crips gang, faces “first-degree murder, sixteen counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree assault, illegal discharge of a firearm , sixteen crime of violence counts (sentence enhancer), and two counts of possession of a weapon by a previous offender”, according to Broncomadness.com, along with several drug charges.

He was arrested shortly after Williams’ murder, but wasn’t charged until October 8, 2008.

The trial is scheduled to start July 6.

Thanks to NBC 9 News out of Denver, Examiner.com (out of St. Louis), and The Associated Press for the information and quotes used in this piece.

What Will The 2011 Broncos Look LIke?

It’s the end of an era and the beginning of a new one for the Denver Broncos, as the team and the fans prepare for the 2009 season. 

There is plenty of uncertainty surrounding the team with a deluge of free agents, college free agents, draft picks, released players, and of course “traded players.” 

So while it is impossible to predict exactly what this team will resemble in 2009, the head coach and the owner have left clues as to what the team will look like in 2011 when the effects of their decisions come into fruition.

The first tenet the Broncos of the future will be expected to practice, play, and live by is accountability.

This was made crystal clear by Pat Bowlen when he called Mike Shanahan into his office and handed him his walking papers. While this was hard for the fans and players alike, it got the point across that everyone is accountable and mediocrity will not be tolerated indefinitely. 

Coach Josh McDaniels reaffirmed the message of accountability when he made it known that no player, not even a Pro-Bowl quarterback, was above being traded if it would make the team better. 

Every player, coach, assistant, and towel boy on the previous roster shared a role in the Denver collapse of 2008, and every phase of the organization would be retooled and improved upon without tip-toeing around feelings. McDaniels made these decisions knowing ultimately he will be the one held accountable if the team fails. 

Accountability will also be shouldered by the players when they leave the football field. 

 The NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell have taken a hard stance on conduct deemed detrimental to the NFL brand, regardless of official charges and courtroom verdicts.  Broncos fans have seen first-hand how distractions and suspensions affect the team’s ability to prepare and practice with their hearts and minds on football.

The second tenet the organization is striving to instill in the Denver Broncos is character. This actually became apparent during the 2008 draft when Shanahan was composing his fifth symphony in the form of drafting Ryan Clady, Eddie Royal, Spencer Larsen, and Peyton Hillis, to name a few. 

It was clear that both Bowlen and Shanahan were tired of being burned by selfish hooligans and project players, and they had a hunch that a stronger locker room might translate to a better product for the fans. Trouble-makers were sent packing and strong character rookies were given a legitimate chance to earn substantial roles on offense, defense, and special teams. 

The trend continued through free agency and the draft this year with new players arriving in Denver with strong convictions and commitments to country, family, and faith.

The third and final tenet the Broncos are counting on for the successful transformation into a championship caliber team is leadership. Attitude reflects leadership, work ethic reflects leadership. Without leadership, a young team with all the talent in the world will struggle to maximize its potential. 

McDaniels injected a heavy dose of leadership into the defense at the start of free agency by signing Brian Dawkins from the Philadelphia Eagles. Dawkins is a great player, but he is an even better leader in the locker room and in the community. 

Dawkins’ value on the field in 2009 and 2010 will pale in comparison to the mark he leaves on the young class of defensive backs that will lead the defense in 2011. He will teach technique, he will teach strategy, he will foster a nasty attitude on the field and he will lead by example. 

For young players seeing a leader on and off the field performing the right way is more valuable than anything a coach can scribble on a grease board or dissect in the film room.

So where does that leave us as a fan base wondering what the future holds for our team? 

It leaves us with more than just a light at the end of a tunnel. It leaves us waiting eagerly in anticipation to watch our team come together as a tight-knit group of players willing to do everything it takes and anything that is asked of them. 

It leaves us knowing we won’t be shamed by the headlines surrounding our players.

It leaves us knowing that while the road to the 2011 season will be bumpy, the team, the organization, and the fans will be proud to be a part of the Denver Broncos.

Holes That Need Some Plaster In Seattle

 

Breaking Down the 2009 Denver Broncos (Part 2)

 

Part I of this series looked at the Denver Broncos offense for the 2009 season.  Part II of this series will turn it’s focus to the defensive side of the ball.

The best part about the 2009 season for the Denver Broncos is that they have a chance to improve from their 2008 performance. 

Realists and cynics alike will say that it’s a tall task at hand for the team to improve from their 8-8 record. However the Broncos should be better in some regard on both sides of the ball, save the quarterback position.

Last season the Broncos finished 26th out of 32 teams with a total of 26 sacks. Kansas City finished dead last with 10 and the Cowboys lead the league with 59. Against the rush, a usual strong point for the Denver defense, opponents gashed them for an average of 146 yards a game. 

Additionally the Broncos finished 30th in scoring defense allowing an average of 28 points per game. 

Needless to say there is much in the way of improvement in the way the Broncos apply pressure to the opposition. Ironically enough however Coach McDaniels chose to forego a number of talented defensive linemen and linebackers through much of the draft. 

They chose instead to draft cornerbacks and safeties with the exception of Robert Ayers a DE/LB out of Tennessee with the 18th overall pick.

 

On Defense

Defensive Tackle

Since the Broncos appear to be moving to the 3-4, and it being in the first phase, it’s hard to know for sure who will land where given the number of “tweeners” on the defensive side of the ball.

This group is a mixed bag. In part this is why the Denver Broncos defense has fallen under intense scrutiny. It’s not that the Broncos don’t have some size and some talent at the position; it’s more an issue of not having enough of it. 

Additionally to date, no one at the position has taken the bull by the horns. So that gap in leadership on the D-Line needs to be addressed. Whoever steps into the role has to bring the sense of leadership.   

Ronald Fields has begun to build a decent resume with the San Francisco 49ers over the last four seasons.  He is getting a solid look at becoming the starting nose tackle in the 3-4.

Marcus Thomas has shown signs of greatness from time to time. The problem is the defense against the run and against the pass has lacked greatly. Thomas came to Denver from the Florida Gators in the 2007 draft. 

He has always shown promise, but has fallen short of the high expectations, possibly in part due to the desperate need to fill the needs up front. Marcus Thomas has been a developmental project, but he could be on the verge of competing to become the starter at nose tackle. 

Given the amount of pressure he has played under, he has held up relatively well.  Thomas still has much to prove so look for him to make a move this season.

J’Vonne Parker, Nic Clemons, Carlton Powell, Matthias Askew, are all journeymen with varying levels of experience in the NFL.  None of them have started and all are aiming to make an impression.

Chris Baker played at Penn State and was later dismissed because of legal trouble.  Baker wound up at Hampton to finish his collegiate career.  He is seen as having definite NFL talent; the questions about him are mostly related to his off the field character.

 

Defensive End

The woes along the D-line have been a story with a one word title: Disappointment.  The Broncos defensive ends are undersized to say the least. Consider the following unique deviation for defensive linemen. 

The New York Giants (generally considered one of the bigger D-lines in the league and recent Super Bowl Champion) rate as a team at a +102.  This means their D-Line total weight is +102lbs above the mean of 300lbs. 

The San Diego Chargers are a +37 and the Broncos are a -91.  The group listing of D-linemen follows:

 

New York Giants +102 above 300lbs

San Diego Chargers +37 above 300lbs

Denver Broncos -91 lbs below 300lbs

Oakland Raiders -145lbs below 300lbs

Kansas City Chiefs -217lbs below 300lbs

 

There is a quasi-relationship between the deviation number and the number of points defenses allow. Consider the Giants rated number five in average points allowed, San Diego 25th, Oakland 27th, Denver 29th, and Kansas City 31st. 

There are other factors such as how well your secondary is on coverage etc… What this point emphasizes is that teams that are successful up front generally have size across the board as a team.

So given that it’s generally understood the Broncos are undersized up front and how they fix that is not an easy fix. Consider the fact the Broncos signed Sam Adams to basically plug a hole in the middle in 2007. 

Sam wound up with a total of 5 solo tackles and 4 assist through 11 starts prior to being waived.  So while you have to be big up front you need athletes at the top of their game.  Adams abruptly retired.

Kenny Peterson has cross-over skills that make him more of a “tweener” than a true defensive end or an ideal defensive tackle. Kenny is the eldest statesman on the D-line reaching his seventh year in the NFL. 

He has the smarts to take a lead role at this point in his career; however he does not have a definite inside track to any position considering his physical makeup.  He will however be given an opportunity to be a starter at DE.

Darrell Reid also has crossover skills at DL / LB.  He comes to Denver by way of Indianapolis.  Reid may find himself in the starting role at DE or OLB since early indications are the Broncos like him on the field in tandem with Robert Ayers starting at OLB or DE. 

It is a bit of a pickle with DJ Williams in the mix. How the Broncos find the right mix on defense under the new scheme is a definite challenge that coaches like to have on their plate. 

While Reid has appeared in a large number of games over his four years with the Colts he only had two starts.  He has been a staple on special teams and has occasionally filled the role as a fullback in goal line situations as well.

Tim Crowder and Jarvis Moss were the Broncos first and second round investments in the 2007 drafts and they have yet to pay dividends. They are talented but undersized at their position. 

Crowder has shown the most promise of the two when healthy. There is also some discussion of moving Moss to linebacker permanently to free him up to better utilize his speed and rangy later strength. 

Ryan McBean has good size but is still a question mark. Elvis Dumerville is severely undersized but has great speed and has made a mark in applying pressure but he needs a supporting cast. 

Elvis will most likely remain a starter since he is the Broncos best pass rusher at this stage. Elvis is being looked at outside linebacker as well. 

The Broncos Drafted Robert Ayers out of Tennessee and he should see a significant amount of time at D-end as the starter or at linebacker.  The Broncos also signed undrafted free agents Rulon Davis out of Cal and Everette Pedescleaux from Northern Iowa, both have good size but are rookies that need to make an impression.

 

Middle Linebacker

Ever since Al Wilson was more or less forced into retirement, the Broncos middle linebacker situation has never been the same. It did improve in 2008 and was a major upgrade to the 2007 DJ Williams experiment gone awry. 

The middle of the Broncos defense has been a key to beating the team over the last few seasons.  With that in mind the Broncos brass went in search of the type of talent that could plug the holes in a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme.

Andra Davis and Boss Bailey are likely candidates to control the middle in the 3-4 schemes. Davis comes to Denver from Cleveland where he amassed 83 starts over seven seasons and some pretty impressive numbers at the position. 

He will definitely be a force in the middle of the field. Bailey is bouncing back from an early end to his 2007 campaign and may be a much better fit on the inside with his size.

Backup fullback Spencer Larsen should get some relief time in the middle as well with his skill set being a true asset for the Broncos. Nic Griesen a journeyman from the Ravens, Jags, and Giants should get some time in the middle as well.

Mario Hagan and Louis Green will fight to move up and make a dent in the middle position.

 

Outside Linebacker

With all of the new talent at the outside backer position, this is a group of athletes that can truly define this team going forward. The Pittsburgh Steelers current defense may be the fastest defense of all-time. 

What makes them so affective is the overall team speed that is primarily reinforced by the outside linebackers and safeties. Part of the model is being implemented into the Broncos 3-4 scheme. 

In order for the concept to work you have to have fast athletes that will fly around. The Broncos have focused intently on making certain they are stronger at outside linebacker and the safety position.

There is a mild log jam developing at the outside position and there may be an odd man out from time to time depending on the situation. 

Currently DJ Williams should be a given at the outside backer spot. The only problem to that thinking is this years first rounder Robert Ayers is getting serious consideration at outside linebacker and possibly Darrell Reid. 

At the other outside position, a pair of defensive ends will also be given serious consideration at outside linebacker. Both Elvis Dummerville and Jarvis Moss could both improve the defense and their careers from the outside.

One of last years pleasant surprises Wesley Woodyard will have to work hard to get some time at the position.

 

Cornerback

Champ Bailey is the only remnant of the defensive backfield from the 2005 team that hosted the AFC Championship game.  Fortunately for the Broncos he is still among the best in the league. 

Without a doubt, this group along with the Safety position has been the most upgraded positions on the team as well they should be.  Dre Bly fell short of the hopes Denver fans had of him complementing Champ Bailey as another coverage corner. 

The Broncos may have found a solution in Andre Goodman who comes to Denver from the Miami Dolphins. Last season he had five interceptions and a staggering 19 deflections at the corner position. 

For a cornerback, that is a lot of touches that eventually translates to more team turnovers.

Alphonso Smith was the first third round pick this season and seemingly has all the tools. Most immediately Alphonso is known as the guy Josh McDaniels traded a number one pick to get in the second round this year. 

Given the state of the corner position this may have been a near essential pick-up for the Broncos. They probably could have gotten Smith for less and still retained the first rounder. 

He is seen as a cover corner that is most ideal to a nickel or dime package DB to start.  He could also become the kick and punt returner or split time with Eddie Royal on special teams.

Following Smith are a slew of youthful corners that will take time to evaluate how they match up. Rashod Moulton, Jack Williams, and Joshua Bell are all entering their second season. 

The Broncos also picked up Tony Carter from Florida State and DJ Johnson from Jackson State as undrafted free agents. 

The numbers are there and the talent should be on board at this point, it’s probably a matter of who will take charge to become a force on the field.

 

Safety

Brian Dawkins.

It’s almost all that should be said.  B-Dawk as he’s otherwise known has a way about him that is more infectious than the swine flu. The Broncos biggest free-agent signee works hard to pump up his teammates and get inside the head of the opposing quarterbacks. 

Brian Dawkins is a leader by example and by speech. He’s not quiet when he’s on the field. He wants people to know he’s there to wreak havoc. Better than that, he’s among the smartest football players in the entire NFL. 

With the tone being set at the safety position expect this group to be among the toughest on the field at any given moment.

Renaldo Hill comes to the Denver Broncos from the Miami Dolphins. Heading into his ninth season in the NFL out of Michigan State he has also played for Arizona and Oakland. He is seemingly the perfect complement at free safety to Brian Dawkins strong safety. 

Hill signed a four year deal worth $10 million dollars when he came to Denver.

This tandem is the real deal and provided they stay healthy will become a reliable source for attitude and strength in the defense.

The Broncos also have youth that won’t be viewed immediately as great depth but could become that way by the end of this season or next.

Vernon Fox is also a journeyman who has came to Denver last season by way of Washington having previously played for Detroit and San Diego. 

Fox spent about half of last season on the inactive list he was also out with a concussion late in the season.  His tackling must improve if he is going to hang around.

Josh Barrett was the Broncos seventh round selection in the 2008 draft out of Arizona State. He spent most of the season on the practice squad. 

Barrett later saw action in six games and started three games after the safety position was riddled with injuries late last season.

Herana-Daze Jones saw spot action in two games late last season for the Broncos. He was with the Bengals in 2006-08 before being released during the season.  He has never been a starter but could be a serviceable backup at the position.

Darcel McBath is viewed to be a “tweener” between safety and cornerback, while not the strongest; he is viewed as a very good athlete. He’s a good cover guy who can tackle. He’s not the typical big safety, but will add versatility to the position. 

He is most likely projected to be a free safety in the NFL. 

David Bruton was the Broncos 2009 fourth rounder out of Notre Dame. He is 6’ 2” 219lbs and no doubt packs a wallop. 

This is part of the long range projection to have youth behind the immediate veteran needs. He has an infectious smile, was one of three team captains for the Irish in 2008 and was the teams leading tackler. 

He appears to have all the goods in the make of becoming a top notch talent in the league. 

He’ll benefit from being brought along slowly behind some solid veteran talent.  Bruton also impressed at the combine by running the second fastest time among the safeties at 4.46.

 

Punter

Britton Colquitt from Tennessee has signed on to compete at punter with Brett Kern. 

Kern may have out kicked his coverage under the Broncos poor special teams’ coverage. He averaged 46.7 yards per punt, good for seventh overall. The net average however dropped him to 16th with an average of 37.8 yards once the dust settled. 

Colquitt arrives in Denver with some baggage having been stripped of his scholarship his senior season following a DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. That incident was actually his second alcohol related offense while he was at Tennessee. 

Physically he has all the tools to compete and win the punter position.  For Colquitt it’s more of an issue of character and if he can bounce back from a difficult senior season in 2008.

 

Special Teams

The area of special teams has been a clear weakness of the Broncos the last decade. The new regime must emphasize the importance of this often forgotten phase of the game. 

Eddie Royal will probably start as the return specialist; however he may eventually split time with the likes of Alphonso Smith.

 

Team Philosophy

While the Broncos haven’t shown their hand on how they plan to scheme offensively or defensively this coming season, fans should expect imitation and implementation. 

The imitation fans do expect fits the mold of the New England Patriots concept of “team”. Imitation not entirely expected will most likely resemble the Pittsburgh Steelers bruising offensive attack and swarming defensive schemes.

The defense overall will have to utilize the depth of speed to overcome its lack of size.  The best part of being in a 3-4 with the type of talent the Broncos possess, it will be easier to confuse opponents. 

There will be a wide variety of defensive fronts that will make this defense more flexible in problem solving attacking offense. 

The old Orange Crush was a 3-4 that was known as a “bend but don’t break” defense.  Historically their numbers are still among the best ever. 

These Broncos have a long way to go and much to prove, however by being a more flexible, physical football team that is the positive step they needed to take.

The offense won’t entirely lure the fans to sleep due to the exceptional talent on the outside. However, it will most likely not be as explosive at it has been in the past.

There are still a number of questions still to be answered but the Denver Broncos do have good talent on board on both sides of the ball. How well that talent gels and rises to the occasion will determine the outcome of Coach Josh McDaniels rookie campaign.

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