A Confusing Offseason for the Denver Broncos

I have never been a big Jay Cutler fan, as a matter of fact I was puzzled by Mike Shanahan when he made the selection. 

I was dumbfounded and a few moments later completely petrified as I realized what this draft pick meant for my beloved Broncos, it meant that a quarterback who had won over 75 percent of his games while in a Broncos’ uniform, had his days numbered, his incredibly fragile ego had been bruised, he will never be the same and the Broncos were in full rebuilding mode.

Now, please do not misunderstand me, I was no huge fan of Jake Plummer either, but unlike most Bronco fans I had come to the realization and acceptance that old No. 7 was never coming back through the tunnel and give us one more season.

Actually, I had begun to shun away from those fans who were always comparing Jake to John Elway.  I had begun to realize the error of always living in the past and my refusal to let go.

This is why I find myself writing this article.  In light of all the reactions to the Jay Cutler trade and how some fans had labeled him a drunk and a jerk (including myself), I did some digging for information.

What I have found is that most of the people, including myself, had formed our opinion about Jay, strictly based on what some writers had written.  I realized that this so called unbiased reporters had pegged this kid as a person with a poor attitude just because he would not jump through their hoops and play nice to them when he didn’t feel like it.

This, above all, really got me thinking.  I started to look at all the offseason moves the Broncos have made and I tried to make sense of them all, because like a lot of you, I was really confused. 

Like I mentioned before I was not a Cutler fan and I was kind of happy to see him go. I always thought he was too erratic and inaccurate to be an effective QB for my Broncos.

But as I heard the myriad of excuses and reasons of why McDaniels made the trade I realized that he just never wanted to coach Cutler and decided to use him to send the team a very important message: NO ONE IS SAFE.

Then a couple of my friends’ reaction to the trade got me thinking.  One said that he was happy to see Cutler go because even though he threw 22 TDs he threw 18 picks and his record as a starter was 17 and 22 (something like that).

My other friend said that the numbers were misleading, because when the defense played well–and we’re talking middle of the pack here–he was 13 and 3.

I thought about this and went back and watch all of the 18 picks and realized something big.  While Cutler did throw 18 interceptions as I see it, eight of those weren’t his fault. 

Hang in there with me for a little bit as I explain what I mean.

If we had a middle of the pack defense and I mean a defense ranked somewhere between 13th and 17th place, I could see five picks not happening. 

You see, as I watch Cutler make the throws and I tried to decipher the plays the Broncos were running I came to the conclusion that, if we had a good defense we wouldn’t have ran those plays. 

They were high-risk high-reward plays; because our defense could not get a stop, the Broncos had to score on every possession, every drive to stay in the game. If our defense could get a stop every once in a while we probably would’ve run the ball and just played the field position game.

Which brings me to the other three picks.  These were a little harder, for on the remaining three occasions, the ball was thrown on third down and five or less to go. 

Once again we ran high-risk high-reward plays because our backfield situation was so distraught. If we had a decent running game like the Broncos of old we probably would’ve run the ball in those situations.

So, was the Cutler trade justified?  No, and I will tell you why.  Even though I did not  like the guy, as I watched the games for a second time, I saw that him and Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Peyton Hillis and the Ryans were the only bright lights in a otherwise bad team.  The guy made plays when he had to, and unfortunately, he failed 18 times.

I’m still not the biggest Cutler fan, but for now until Kyle Orton or Chris Simms steps up, I must say, we downgraded at that position and it’s time that Denver fans realize that No. 7 is not coming back and that there will never be another like him. 

Stop comparing everyone that comes through town to him, all you are doing is a disservice to yourself, because when that person doesn’t measure up, you’re gonna be disappointed and you are gonna want him outta town, even though they were doing a good job.

I hope all of the offseasonactivity works out for the Broncos, but now, we are back where we were fiveyears ago, trying to revive a defense and find a QB when the truth, as much as I hate to admit it, is that we had one and he was good.

Why Kyle Orton Will Have Success With the Denver Broncos

This offseason has been quite a ride for the Denver Broncos. Mike Shanahan was fired, Josh McDaniels was hired, and Jay Cutler was traded to the Chicago Bears.

On that note, I am disappointed and shocked to hear about so many previous Broncos fans becoming Bears fans because of the Cutler trade.

Though I was uneasy about the trade at first as well, I’ve become confident that Orton will do great for us in Denver, and may even have a better season than Cutler.

My first reasoning is the comparison of the stats. With the loss of seven running backs, Cutler was forced to throw the ball much more often.

With this, he threw for 4,526 yards, 25 touchdowns, and had 18 interceptions, completing 384 of 616 passes. Great numbers for only his third season in the league.

Kyle Orton was also at a loss, except it wasn’t the running game, but the passing game that hurt him the most. Orton’s supporting cast was one of the worst in the NFL. With the passing game down, the Bears took to the ground with star rookie running back, Matt Forte.

When they did pass, Kyle threw for 2,972 yards and 18 touchdowns, completing 272 of 465 passes. He also only threw 12 interceptions, six less than Cutler had. It might not be saying much since Cutler threw more, but it’s fewer than Cutler nonetheless.

My next reason is the supporting cast of the teams.

Even with seven running backs on injured reserve, the Broncos still had the second best offense in the NFL, according to most polls that I have seen. With that, the Broncos have some of the best receivers in the NFL.

Last year, Brandon Marshall had 1,265 yards, 104 receptions, and six touchdowns. Marshall was also named to a Pro-Bowl. This was all accomplished even after he was out for the entire first game.

Eddie Royal also played a huge part in the offense last year. He had 91 receptions for 980 yards, and five touchdowns. Not outstanding numbers, but the guy was a rookie, and for a rookie it’s very impressive.

Brandon Stokley didn’t play a giant part, but he was always there when the Broncos needed him. When they did call on him, he was outstanding.

Stokley had 49 receptions for 528 yards, and three touchdowns. These stats aren’t much to brag about, but then again he wasn’t passed to as often as the other receivers. Cutler gave Brandon some pretty difficult throws, most of which he caught.

As for the Bears’ receivers, their talent wasn’t as appealing. The Chicago Bears have no big name wide-outs on their team. People may say that Devon Hester is, but his main area is in special teams.

I watched a few Bears games last year, and most of what I saw on offense was the wide receivers consistently dropping the ball. Not all of the time, but it was definitely a concern.

With Orton’s previous talent, his new team, and going back to some of the things he did in Purdue, he should do fine for the Broncos.

With Cutler’s previous talent, new players, and a new playbook…well, I guess, I’ll have to see for myself how he does.

Like I said in one of my first articles, I have faith in Kyle Orton, and I believe he’ll do great things for the Broncos. For those of you who jumped on the Cutler bandwagon, good luck, and good riddance!

1998 Denver Broncos: One of the Most Memorable Teams in History

 

1998 was the best season in Denver Broncos history.

 

The Broncos entered the season coming off their first Super Bowl victory, defeating the Green Bay Packers 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII. The majority of that team returned for the following season including Hall of Famer John Elway at quarterback.

 

Mike Shanahan finished his fourth season as the Broncos coach with an 47-17 record, and a 7-1 mark in the playoffs. Gary Kubiak and Greg Robinson returned as offensive and defensive coordinators.

 

In 1998, the Broncos won a franchise-best 14 games. The Broncos went 4-0 in games that Elway was out due to injury. Additionally, Denver was 8-0 against AFC west opponents, winning those games by an average of 14 points.

 

Denver won its first 13 games in a row before losing to the New York Giants 20-16 in Week 15. Out of the Broncos 14 wins, only five were decided by seven points or less. The Broncos had the lead in 52 of 64 quarters that season.

 

In the playoffs, the Broncos beat the Miami Dolphins 38-3 in the divisional round. In the AFC Championship the Broncos defeated the New York Jets 23-10 to advance to their second straight Super Bowl and sixth in franchise history.

 

In Super Bowl XXXIII, the Broncos repeated as champions besting former coach Dan Reeves and the Atlanta Falcons 34-19. In his final game, Elway won Super Bowl MVP, completing 18-of-29 passes for 336 yards and one touchdown.

 

Denver had seven Pro Bowlers in 1998: Elway, Terrell Davis, safety Steve Atwater, linebacker Bill Romanowski, kicker Jason Elam, receiver Ed McCaffrey, and tight end Shannon Sharpe.

 

The Broncos scored the second-most points in the NFL with 501, averaging 31 points per game. Denver ranked third in total yards with 6,092, second in first downs with 347, seventh in passing yards with 3,624, fifth in touchdown passes with 32, second in rushing yards with 2,468, and first in rushing touchdowns with 26.

 

Defensively, the Broncos were eighth in points allowed with 309 (19 per game), third in yards rushing allowed with 1,287, and fourth in rushing touchdowns allowed with eight. Denver ranked in the top half of the league with 30 turnovers, ranked 11th in total yards allowed with 4935, 12th in first downs allowed with 283 and 10th in interceptions with 19.

In his final season, Elway led the Broncos in passing. In 13 games, Elway completed 210-of-356 passes for 2,806 yards, 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

 

In the playoffs, Elway completed 45-of-86 passes for 691 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

 

Elway, who was known for his fourth-quarter heroics throughout his career, led one of his last comebacks against Marty Schottenheimer in Week 14 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Schottenheimer was the same coach that Elway conducted “The Drive” against in the 1987 AFC Championship.

 

Backup quarterback Bubby Brister played in seven games and started four. Brister completed 78 passes for 986 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions.

 

Terrell Davis had the best season of his career with 2,008 yards rushing on 392 attempts and 21 rushing touchdowns. Davis also caught 25 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns receiving.

 

In the playoffs, Davis ran for 468 yards on 78 attempts and scored three rushing touchdowns. Additionally, Davis had 69 yards receiving on four receptions.

 

Rod Smith led the team in receptions with 86 for 1,222 yards. Smith scored six touchdowns, a total that was third on the team.

 

McCaffrey and Sharpe were tied for second on the team in receptions with 64. McCaffrey had 1,053 yards receiving and Sharpe had 768.  Sharpe and McCaffrey tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns, with 10 each.

 

Trevor Pryce and Maa Tanuvasa led the Broncos in sacks with 8.5 each. Romanowski was third on the team with 7.5.

 

Darrien Gordon led the team in interceptions with four. Ray Crockett had three, and Glenn Cadrez, Darrius Johnson, and Romanowski each had two. Gordon and Crockett returned interceptions for touchdowns.

 

Romanowski led the team in fumble recoveries with three. Tanuvasa was second with two. Linebacker John Mobley led the team in tackles with 93. Gordon was second with 58 and Cadrez was third with 56.

 

On special teams, Elam made all 58 extra points and was 27-for-33 on field goals. In Week Eight, Elam tied the NFL record for the longest field goal in a game, hitting from 63 yards at the end of the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

 

Punter Tom Rouen punted 66 times averaging 46 yards per punt. Rouen only had one punt blocked during the season, occurring in Week Five against the Philadelphia Eagles and resulting in a safety.

 

Vaughn Hebron led the Broncos in kickoff returns, gaining 1,216 yards on 46 returns. Hebron returned one kickoff for a touchdown in the Broncos 31-21 loss to the Dolphins in Week 16. Gordon led the Broncos in punt returns with 34 for 379 yards.

 

The 1998-1999 season was one of the most memorable in Denver Broncos history.

 

 

Who Is Running the Show in Denver?

Much has been said about the turnover in the Denver Broncos organization this offseason.  Unless you are living under a rock, you know that owner Pat Bowlen made the decisions to fire head coach Mike Shanahan, replace him with Josh McDaniels, fire Jim and Jeff Goodman, promote Brian Xanders to general manager, and trade Jay Cutler. 

Or did he?

Earlier this month, I read an article by Woody Paige in the Denver Post entitled: “Bowlen unshaken on vision for Broncos”, which can be viewed here. Paige spoke with Bowlen about the recent changes made in the Broncos front office in the off-season.

Among the many quotes from Bowlen in Paige’s article, one garnered significant media attention.

“I have short-term memory loss. I know that some of the memories of the Superbowl Championships are fading.”

This has led many to speculate as to how much Bowlen is in charge of his own faculties and how much his “memory loss” may have contributed to his decision-making.

Bowlen is the owner, president and chief executive of the Denver Broncos, but when it comes down to it, who is really making the decisions?  Is Bowlen his own counsel in his decision-making, or does he have people advising him on such big decisions?

These are important questions to ask when a person starts to forget certain things.  And we are not talking about grandma forgetting to take her pills here—there is an NFL franchise at stake.

Woody’s article provided insight into these questions as well.

“Bowlen said that while he is involved in every facet of the organization, [Joe] Ellis, [the team’s chief operating officer], his confidant, has been given more power in the restructuring since Shanahan was fired. “Joe is handling all the things I’m not particularly interested in, making more major decisions,” he said.

“Ellis, who was director of marketing when Bowlen bought the majority ownership of the Broncos in 1984, has served in several executive capacities. He was named COO last year. Ellis, several sources say, was instrumental in getting Bowlen to agree to fire Shanahan, hire McDaniels (Ellis alone met with the new coach for a second interview) and trade Cutler.”

This portion of Paige’s article did not receive the same media attention as Bowlen’s memory loss, yet it holds the answers as to who may be really making the decisions for the Denver Broncos organization.

Ellis has Bowlen’s ear, and like Jaffar to the Sultan or Wormtongue to King Theodon, the chief adviser holds sway over the old man and may be the power behind the throne.

Woody pretty much said that: Ellis convinced Bowlen to fire Mike Shanahan, Ellis convinced Bowlen to hire Josh McDaniels, and in the end, Ellis convinced Bowlen to trade Jay Cutler.

Working his way up from director of marketing to chief operating officer over the past fifteen years, Ellis is now the man in power.  Ellis is the one who is making the decisions regarding the fate of the Denver Broncos.

Profootballtalk.com’s Mike Florio noticed this as well, saying:

“One thing that has become abundantly clear in the wake of the termination of Mike Shanahan and the hiring of Josh McDaniels is that COO Joe Ellis (who?) has become one of the most powerful figures in the Broncos organization.

“And so Ellis is the latest in a line of (front office executives) who used a mastery of the intricate rules of the salary cap to position themselves to have significant influence over the football operation while having no accountability for on-field failure because, after all, they’re not football guys.”  (full article can be viewed here)

Ellis’ rise to power has been at the expense of many notable people within the Bronocs organization including: Ted Sundquist, Shanahan, Jim Goodman, Jeff Goodman, Cutler, Andrew Mason (denverbroncos.com media guide).

Whether you agree with the changes that have been made or not, it is important to know who makes the calls and who pulls the strings.  As fans who pour their hearts and souls in to their team, we need and deserve to know who is in charge.

And based on my read of what Woody Paige and Mike Florio have reported, Pat Bowlen makes the calls, but it is Joe Ellis pulling the strings.

 

Adding To The Raiders Playbook: The Deep Ball Has Returned

The deepest throw JaMarcus Russell connected on was in October of last year to Chaz Schilens in a 10-29 loss to Baltimore. It was a 60 yard pass that Schilens caught and shook a defender in the process, almost managing a touchdown.

If you count Johnnie Lee Higgins 84 yard receiving touchdown in a 23-24 loss to the Bills Russell’s deepest ball, you’re mistaken because Higgins took it the distance with his speed.

The Raiders haven’t been able to find a steady deep threat since Randy Moss was in Oakland. That was fun for about seven games, until he became injured his first year and we didn’t see him go over the middle anymore for deep balls. Well, we don’t know yet if Schilens can become a deep threat, but at least he isn’t scared of getting hit.

However, I am not suggesting that Schilens will be used as the Raiders deep threat this year, but that is also not to say that we could see him running a go route from time to time or a cross route over the middle, since he has a big frame, decent speed and isn’t afraid to go over the middle.

The Raiders drafted Maryland speedster receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey seventh overall to become the deep threat JaMarcus Russell will reek havoc on opposing NFL teams with for years to come. Well, that’s what they’re hoping for anyways.

The Raiders should be able to go deep this year and make some plays, being that they have a poised tight end who is on the cusp of a pro bowl birth to command the double team, and a backfield that can make opposing teams defenses stay up all night over.

The Raiders will have Javon Walker back at full speed too. Although his first season here was a little disappointing, it was overshadowed with is pre-existing knee injury he decided not to get surgery on after the 2007 season, as well as the Raiders offensive tackles who were giving Russell no help early on in the season (not to mention Lane Kiffin was holding back on letting Russell sling it around during his stay in Oakland).

In no way, shape or form do I think Walker will be great this year and Heyward-Bey will catch umpteen deep balls for scores, but there is too much talent and creativity in front of the Raiders that not saying they’ll be able to throw the deep ball would be ridiculous. It comes down to execution.

The point is, that the Raiders have the personnel to go deep at least a couple times a game. If Walker is and stays healthy, he is usually a top five receiver in this league. He can make some people eat their words this year since he has a big chip on his shoulder with how many people don’t believe he can return to his old form of a physical receiver.

Darrius Heyward-Bey will could his shots maybe twice a game down-field. I expect the Raiders to gradually incorporate him into the offense with Javon Walker and Chaz Schilens being the opening day starters.

Just imagine this scenario: The Raiders have a three receiver formation set with Walker far right, Heyward-Bey inside to the right, and Schilens split out wide to the left. Darren Mcfadden and Zach Miller are in the backfield as the running-backs (with this set, Russell can choose to leave Miller in to block if a blitz is to occur, or motion him or Mcfadden out wide).

Miller goes in motion to the left, Mcfadden remains in the backfield. Russell drops back, fakes the screen to Mcfadden, rolls to his right and finds Heyward-Bey in single coverage down-field for a score as he uses his speed to get under the ball and run in for an easy Raider touchdown.

That is just one scenario. Michael Bush and Darren Mcfadden can also throw the ball, so that brings some much needed mixing up in the playbook as well. The Raiders did have Bush throw twice last year.

The Raiders also have Johnnie Lee Higgins, who can make plays in space and will be very involved in this offense as well. The critics and realists may shut down talk of a Raiders possible deep threat or even a Raiders mediocre passing game, but they refuse to realize the possibilities.

It’s all up to Tom Cable and the Raiders coaching staff to put their players in position to make plays, and to make the Raider Nation jump out of their seats once again to an exhilarating, “Touchdown Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiders!!!” call by none other than the voice of the Raiders, Greg Papa.

Ryan Clady: A Mock Interview

Here are some questions I would ask Broncos offensive lineman Ryan Clady in an interview

1. You had a fantastic rookie season. Why did the transition from college to the pros look so easy for you?

2. You didn’t get much love coming out of Boise State. Some critics said you didn’t face enough high-caliber opponents. How were you able to quiet those who questioned you?

3. You only allowed half a sack last season, no one else did that. You also only committed three penalties, and yet was not selected to the Pro Bowl. Was that disappointing?

4. You were the only offensive lineman to receive a vote for offensive rookie of the year. How did that feel?

5. , you had Jay Cutler’s back all season, he took you to the Pro Bowl when he was selected, you know the situation between him and coach McDaniels. What does it mean to the team and to you that he is gone?

6. What was the teams’ reaction when Jay was traded? Were guys split, some with the coach, some with Jay?

7. Moving on from that. Now that Mike Shanahan is gone, Jay Cutler is gone, what do you expect from the new-look Broncos offense next season?

8. How different is Josh McDaniels’ offensive system from Mike Shanahan’s? What adjustments do you and the rest of the offensive line need to make in terms of your approach to the offense?

9. Critics out there don’t give the Broncos a great chance to be competetive this season. What will it take to prove them wrong and what is your prediction for the season?

10. Going back to your college days, what was it like to kind of be under the radar at Boise State? You guys always had good teams with a big-time offense, but rarely got the love because you were in the WAC. What was that like?

11. Tell me about the 2007 Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma. You were a huge underdog going into the game and yet pulled off the upset 43-42. That’s now recognized as one of the great college football games of all time. What was it like being in the middle of that?

12. Finally, you went from the Broncos in college to the Broncos in the NFL, what does it mean to you to be a Denver Bronco? What do you like most about it and do you see yourself being here for the long haul?

Knowshon Moreno Answers Questions At RB For Denver Broncos

With the 12^th pick in this year’s NFL Draft, the new Denver Broncos’ regime under youngsters Brian Xanders and Josh McDaniels secured the consensus number one pick at running back in the 2009 class, Knowshon Moreno.

More importantly than draft ranking for Denver, Moreno has the tools to fit the new offensive philosophy that McDaniels brings to the Broncos.

Moreno has the size, muscle, and crazy legs to be a dependable between the tackles runner, only lacking home run speed.

But even without that speed, Knowshon’s running characteristics fit well in the prototype New England scheme McDaniels will install this year.

That scheme will try to hold on to the ball, running to secure time of possession while passing, often out of a spread, to secure the lead.

To critics, however, there is a sticking point.

Moreno brings unmatched ability in this year’s draft to catch the ball out of the backfield, an option that was not often used for the No. 1 running back (either Laurence Maroney or Sammy Morris) during McDaniels’ tenure calling plays in New England.

Instead the Patriots chose to use Kevin Faulk as a receiver coming out of the backfield for the past three years while McDaniels was calling plays.

So does Moreno become the receiving option out of the backfield for Denver or the running back that runs on first and second down? Or does he remain a three-down back in that he both catches and runs the ball—which would be a novelty for a McDaniels offense?

For critics of the Broncos’ draft strategy the question isn’t just academic.

Anything short of Moreno seeing the field for all three downs will be considered by the draft know-it-alls to be a blown draft pick.

On a team aching for defensive talent, the Broncos already had a crowded backfield with proven and workman-like, if not spectacular, runners and receivers LaMont Jordan, Correll Buckhalter, and J.J. Arrington on the roster.

Certainly, they’ll argue the team could have selected a higher impact defensive player than Moreno at No. 12.

Perhaps.

Because when one looks more closely at what the Broncos had on the roster at the running back position going into the draft, one starts using words like, “if,” “perhaps,” and “maybe” to describe those backs.

If LaMont Jordan can stay healthy, he might provide 4.5 yards per carry and a cloud of dust.

Perhaps Correll Buckhalter can fight Father Time and injuries to be a good receiving option out of the backfield again. The Eagles didn’t think so.  

Maybe what JJ Arrington needs is a change of environment, where he can beat the too-dumb-to-play rap he had in Arizona.

With two of the three players mentioned above at 30 years old, they can only be considered stop gaps, not answers to long term roster questions.

And the NFL Draft is first about answering roster questions no matter the round a player is taken. 

In Moreno, you certainly have other questions that remain unanswered, but they are the normal questions you have with any youngsters coming into their first NFL camp.

Can he pick up the play book? Can he adjust to life in the NFL? How will being an instant millionaire affect his desire to succeed?   

For Xanders and McDaniels there is no time like this first season to get those and other questions settled about the second most important position on the offensive side of the ball.

Perhaps then, next year, unlike this year, we’ll all have more answers than questions going into the season. 

 

Denver Broncos Primed For a Playoff Run: A Look at The AFC West (Part 3)

(This is the previous edition (part 2) of the following article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/176840-denver-broncos-primed-for-a-playoff-run-a-look-at-the-afc-west-part-2 )

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers ended last year at 8-8, making a comeback at the end of the season to oust the Denver Broncos from the top of the AFC West.

In most cases, Broncos fans can thank or blame the Chargers for all of the Broncos’ changes this year. The bottom line is if the Broncos went 11-6 last year, instead of 8-8, Mike Shanahan and Jay Cutler would still be in Denver.

The Chargers underachieved last year, plain and simple. With key injuries to starters Shawne Merriman and LaDainian Tomlinson, the Chargers were missing their leaders and seemed flat at times. It pains me to say this, but the Chargers should be much better this season. But key offseason losses could possibly derail them again.

The Chargers return with their explosive offense, led by Tomlinson. LT still has a lot of juice left and last year’s “poor performance” shouldn’t have any negative effects on his running this year. If anything, LT will come into 2009 with a chip on his shoulder.

It’s interesting how the league gave him a bad wrap, when he rushed for 1,110 yards and caught 52 passes for 426 yards. I guess if a star player doesn’t get 1,800 yards a year, then he’s on the downside of his career. 

The Chargers have a tough offense to handle with freaky-sized receivers like Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd. Antonio Gates’ production was down last year, but anytime an organization can get 700-plus receiving yards from your tight end, they should be happy.

Phillip Rivers is a great quarterback and should be just as good as he was last year or better.

The loss of veteran guard Mike Goff may effect their running game, as he is a strong run blocker. Someone will need to step up on the offensive line to take his place.

Defensive coordinator Ron Rivera comes back for a second season. Rivera, a former linebacker in the ’80s for the Chicago Bears, saw success with his aggressive style of defense in a three-year stint as the Bears’ defensive coordinator. With Shawne Merriman back in the lineup, the Chargers’ pass rush should be rejuvenated. 

The Chargers also used this year’s first-round choice on a sack specialist in defensive end Larry English, who should add a mean streak to the defensive line. It’s possible that Rivera will switch from the 3-4 to a 4-3 defensive scheme, which he used in Chicago.

In a 4-3, English would be a pass rushing specialist used on passing downs while in a 3-4, English would be used as an outside linebacker. Compare his skills to those of Elvis Dumervil, who has led the Denver Broncos in sacks the last three years.

The loss of Igor Olshansky is a big one and may hurt the Chargers’ run stuffing abilities.  The Chargers added a raw talent in the draft with Vaughn Martin. A physical freak, he can spell Jamal Williams at nose tackle in a 3-4 defense. I’m very interested to see how Martin develops in the NFL.

The Chargers have a decent schedule this year. Assuming they are a better team than they showed last year, they should have a much better record.

They do have some tough away games this year in New York (Giants), Pittsburgh and Tennessee. They also have to play Baltimore, Dallas and Philadelphia this year. I could see the Chargers going 9-7 or 10-6 this year.

The Chargers are definitely going to be a challenge in the AFC West. The Broncos are going to have to be flawless if they want to sweep the Chargers this year. I see them splitting the series, with both teams losing on the road.

Know Your Enemy (Part Three): The San Diego Chargers

In the third and final installment of the “Know Your Enemy” series, we look at the AFC West champion San Diego Chargers.  For more on the AFC West, be sure to read

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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/177033-know-your-enemy-part-2-the-oakland-raiders

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/177007-know-your-enemy-the-kansas-city-chiefs

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The San Diego Chargers took the AFC West crown in 2008 with a regular season record of 8-8.  This year, it may take one or two more wins to repeat as the division champs.

Unfortunately, most Bolts fans will probably remember last season for the controversial officiating rather than the division title.  That being said, there were some bright spots in the Chargers’ season to celebrate. 

LaDainian Tomlinson was playing injured (toe) throughout most of the 2008 campaign and still managed to rack up 1,110 yards rushing.   Darren Sproles (recently tagged as the team’s “franchise player”) also made an impact when given opportunity. 

Sproles was a rock in the backfield with Tomlinson’s nagging condition, and gained 330 yards rushing in 61 carries.  He also gained nearly 350 yards on 29 receptions, proving his value to the team dynamic.

With Sproles’ rise in stock and LT’s worst performance statistically in his eight-year career, it’s likely we’ll see more of a platooning of the two backs this season.  In that possibility, Tomlinson would be fresher longer and he’d only have to be healthy, not spectacular.

Speaking of injury-prone superstars, Antonio Gates struggled in 2008 as well.  And, 2009 is playing that familiar tune already.  Gates did manage over 700 yards on 60-plus catches last season while battling with ankle and toe injuries, but he was not the type of impact player he has been in seasons past.

Keeping Gates and LT pain free in 2009 will be a top task of San Diego trainers.  Good luck with that.

Phillip Rivers made the trip to the upper echelon of quarterbackdom last season.  The often outspoken Rivers cooled his tongue and heated up his arm in 2008, tossing 312 completions on 478 attempts and compiling 34 TDs versus 11 interceptions.  He would finish the regular season with a 105.5 QB rating.

And aside from the injury bug and a weak offensive line (the right side of the ball is porous at best), the Chargers look poised to put up the types of numbers that made them the 11th ranked offense overall in the NFL.

On defense, the not-so Super Chargers looked like any other defense from the AFC West.  Ranked 25th overall in 2008 (ahead of No. 27 Oakland, No. 29 Denver, and No. 31 KC), San Diego selected a defensive end in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft (No. 16 overall).  The team hopes that Larry English (Northern Illinois) will eventually add a third high-octane rusher to the sack duo of Shaun Phillips and Shawne Merriman.

The other bright spots on defense, of course, are DBs Antonio Cromartie and Quentin Jammer.  This cornerback tandem totaled 152 tackles and four interceptions (one for a touchdown) in 2008.

Ron Rivera will transition from the linebackers coach position (2008) into the spot vacated by Ted Cottrell.  His last stint as defensive coordinator was with the Chicago Bears (2004-2006). 

Rivera’s weapon of choice is the 4-3 defense.

A quick study of the San Diego Chargers’ 2009 schedule leads me to believe the team will not have an easy journey back to the top of the AFC West.  Early obstacles come in matchups against AFC North powerhouses Baltimore and Pittsburgh before the bye week (Week Five).  Games against the NY Giants, Eagles, Titans, and Redskins will all be substantial tests out of the division.

All in all, it’s possible the Bolts will finish the regular season with a record slightly higher than 8-8 and a wildcard berth into the playoffs.  The good news for Broncos fans is that prediction is an optimistic one.  With the huge shakeup division wide, the AFC West looks to be a crap shoot.

 

Sources

Retrieved May 17, 2009, from CBSsports.com.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/page/SD.

Retrieved May 17, 2009, from NFL.com

http://www.nfl.com/teams/sandiegochargers/profile?team=SD.

2009 Denver Broncos: A Season of Question Marks

The upcoming 2009 season is one full of question marks for the Denver Broncos.

A new coaching staff and a new quarterback were the big headlines in the offseason for the orange and blue, but revamping the defense remains one of the biggest priorities.

That said, there are just too many of these question marks to have high expectations for the season.

Despite what should be a weak division, the non-divisional schedule is extremely tough with home games against Dallas, Pittsburgh, New England, and the NY Giants, and road games versus Baltimore, Washington, Philadelphia, and Indianapolis.

Would a 6-10 season be a huge disappointment for the Broncos this year? Definitely, especially considering they have only had one season that poor once since 1990, but that may be a realistic goal considering the caliber of opponents they face.

However, that 6-10 could easily turn into 10-6 and a division title, if a few quesions are answered.

Is Kyle Orton is the right man for Josh McDaniels’ offensive system?

Much has been made of the Jay Cuter-Josh McDaniels feud in the offseason that ultimately left the Pro-Bowl quarterback in Chicago and the Broncos with a gaping hole at the position.

McDaniels said Orton was the guy he wanted and was the key to the Broncos dealing Cutler to Chicago. McDaniels seems to think he can take quarterbacks toiling in mediocrity and turn them into something special—Matt Cassel, for example.

If Orton can handle the offense, find Brandon Marshall down the field, and manage the game to keep the suspect defense off of the field, look for the Broncos to win at least eight games, if not more.

Can the defense improve over a disastrous 2008 season?

This is the biggest question heading into the 2009 season. The 2008 Broncos defense was one of the worst in team history and cost the team several games during the season.

The system is new, as are many of the players. Gone are starters Nate Webster, Ebenezer Ekuban, John Engelberger, Dre Bly, Marquand Manuel, and Marlon McCree. In is a host of new faces that the Broncos hope can help them adapt to the 3-4 system.

They are hoping that new arrivals Brian Dawkins, Andra Davis, and Renaldo Hill, along with 2009 draft picks Robert Ayers and Alphonso Smith, can revamp a group that struggled to stop teams in almost every game in 2008.

If these guys can step up, provide leadership and improve the pass rush, the Broncos could be a formidable team in 2009 and the win total could eclipse 10.

Is Knowshon Moreno a stud?

The Broncos came under heavy scrutiny by drafting Moreno No. 12 overall out of Georgia when many were expecting the Broncos to select a defensive player.

If Moreno is the player the Broncos are hoping for, which is a three-down back that can rush on first and second down and catch passes and pick up the blitz on third down, then that will shut up the naysayers who slammed the Broncos for not going defense with their first pick.

If Moreno is a stud, then the Broncos have a franchise back that helps control the clock and wears down defenses, as well as makes some big plays in the pass game.

If the answers to all of these questions is yes, or even two of the three, the Broncos could be looking at 8-8, 9-7 or even 11-5.

But if they’re all no, well…6-10 may be optimistic.

 

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