May 2009 News

Can Mike Nolan and D.J. Williams Restore the Orange Crush in Denver?

Published: May 17, 2009

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When thinking of the most consistent defensive units over the last four or five years, teams that come to mind are the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, and the Shawne Merriman-led San Diego Chargers.

What do all of these teams have in common?

If you have not guessed by now, it is that all of these teams use a 3-4 defensive scheme, which is clearly one of the most effective ways to run a defense in today’s NFL.

When the Denver Broncos hired Josh McDaniels, he immediately sought after defensive guru and 3-4 specialist Mike Nolan to run his defense.

This is important because “back in the day”, when Denver’s defense was considered dominant, the Orange Crush was known for its impenetrable 3-4 scheme.

Can the Broncos make a smooth transformation to this particular style of defense?

While one could argue that the cardinal rule for starting a 3-4 defense is to have a stud nose tackle to clog two or three blockers in the middle, I would contend that the most important factor in building this type of defense is the middle linebacker.

For that, the Broncos have one of the best in the business in D.J. Williams, who could be the biggest benefactor of the new transition.

As fellow Broncos writer Punkus pointed out in his article, Williams has already done quite a bit of moving around in his career thus far, playing all three linebacker positions in Denver’s 4-3 scheme and now middle linebacker in the 3-4.

Williams, like the Ray Lewis of old, Patrick Willis, or Tedy Bruschi, is a player Denver can build its young defense around for years to come.

As for the present?

With their second first round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Broncos selected Robert Ayers, a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker out of Tennessee.

While Ayers never had one really standout season at Tennessee statistically, scouts say he is playing the best ball of his football career, and could continue to escalate into his professional career. He is a very good run-stuffer, which is something the Broncos desperately need.

As for the other outside linebacker spot, the Broncos hope that fourth year player Elvis Dumervil can have a James Harrison-type of impact as a pass rusher.

Dumervil has led the Broncos in sacks each of the past three seasons, and could flourish as a rush linebacker at the next level.

One of the main things coach McDaniels has carried over from his days in New England is placing great value on high character and leadership from his players.

To fill a leadership role at linebacker in Denver, he brought in longtime Cleveland Browns middle linebacker Andra Davis.

Over the last seven years, Davis has averaged 103 tackles per season, and was a team captain for Cleveland. He gives the Broncos a much needed vocal leader that they have not had since Al Wilson left the team.

In addition to bolstering their group of linebackers, the Broncos spent a lot of time and money revamping a secondary that needed a major face lift.

All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey will return fully healthy this season, and the Broncos added breakout veteran Andre’ Goodman to start alongside him.

Goodman led the resurgent Miami Dolphins last season with five interceptions.

In addition to Goodman, the Broncos spent a first round pick in 2010 on Wake Forest All-American Alphonso Smith, one of the most dominant collegiate cornerbacks over the last four seasons.

Think the price was too steep? The Broncos gave Seattle their first round pick in next year’s draft in exchange for the 37th overall pick in 2009, and many Denver fans were irate with the decision.

However, it was very necessary given Denver’s inability to create turnovers in 2008, which is something Alphonso Smith did very often in his time at Wake Forest.

At the safety position, Denver significantly upgraded its awful 2008 group by signing future Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins and veteran Renaldo Hill.

Neither player is quite in the form they once were, but they are solid veterans with great leadership qualities. Most importantly, both are very good tacklers.

For passing situations, the Broncos drafted safeties Darcel McBath (second round) and David Bruton (fourth round).

McBath had seven interceptions in 2008, and was named All Big 12 first team. Bruton was known for his special teams play at Notre Dame, but has great speed and ideal size, and could compete for playing time.

He will compete with second year player Josh Barrett, who has a very similar skill set and compares favorably in size and speed.

As far as the big men up front, the Broncos do not have anybody who is going to make opposing offensive linemen cringe, but they do have a young group of guys who want to come in and compete.

Third year player Marcus Thomas will be the anchor of this line, which will feature two new starters for 2009.

The likely candidates to start alongside Thomas up front are Kenny Peterson and undrafted rookie Chris Baker out of Hampton.

It seems as though the days of classic defenses in this league are over due to the salary cap and disloyalty to respective teams.

However, due to their humble, competitive nature, this group of Broncos defenders could come out in 2009 with “chips” on their shoulders.

Maybe, just maybe, the new defensive scheme in Denver can bring back the old shade of orange.

An In-Depth Look At The Three New Denver Broncos’ Coaches

Published: May 17, 2009

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Broncos owner Pat Bowlen went in crazy mode this offseason. He fired head coach Mike Shanahan, and hired former New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to replace the two-time Super Bowl winner.

With Shanahan gone, defensive coordinator Bob Slowik was asked to find another place to coach. Slowik would be replaced by former San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Nolan.

And last but not least, Rick Dennison, the former offensive coordinator, was demoted to the Broncos’ offensive line coach. Mike McCoy was hired in Dennison’s place.

So now we know how they got here, let’s take a look at who they are, and what their strengths and weaknesses are.

Josh McDaniels – Head Coach (33)

McDaniels was at one point the fifth-youngest NFL head coach ever. McDaniels has been called Bill Belichick’s protégé, and will look to lead the Broncos back to the playoffs.

McDaniels spent most of his coaching career with the New England Patriots. At the beginning of his career he was a graduate assistant at Michigan State, but other than that McDaniels has spent the rest of his career under Belichick.

McDaniels spent the 2001 season as a personal assistant for the Patriots. Not much, but he got his name out there. For the next two seasons, he was a defensive coaching assistant. For the next five years, he was the Patriots’ quarterbacks coach. And for the last three years, McDaniels was the offensive coordinator under Belichick.

All of that coaching experience for the world champion Patriots proved to be important in the Broncos’ hiring process, as McDaniels was named the newest Broncos head coach on January 11.

One thing I really like about McDaniels is how good he is with working with quarterbacks. Matt Cassel is who he is today because of McDaniels’ coaching. Without McDaniels, Cassel probably would’ve broken under the insane amount of pressure that was given to him when Tom Brady went out in the first week of the 2008 season.

Now I know a lot of Bronco fans don’t like McDaniels. He is the reason why Jay Cutler is in the Windy City right now. However, I think he was just doing what he thought was best for the team. He knew how good Cassel was, and that’s why he went out and tried to acquire him from New England before the draft. Subsequently, that angered Cutler, and Jay was driven out of Denver.

McDaniels has made a lot of bold moves this offseason. Along with Cutler, McDaniels decided to go with Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno with the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. While most experts thought the Broncos needed to go defense in the first round, McDaniels ignored those expectations and drafted the stud Bulldog.

Mike McCoy – Offensive Coordinator (36)

Mike McCoy was also brought into the Denver Broncos’ youth movement. McCoy, who was formerly the Carolina Panthers’ quarterbacks coach, will look to improve upon the Broncos’ offense this season.

McCoy, like McDaniels, spent all of his coaching career with just one team, the Carolina Panthers. McCoy was an offensive assistant to then Carolina Panthers’ head coach George Seifert in 2000. The next year, McCoy was promoted to the Panthers’ wide receivers coach, the same year Steve Smith came into the league.

The next season, with Seifert out as head coach, John Fox was hired as the new Panthers’ head coach. McCoy was an offensive assistant to the team again. From 2003 through 2008, McCoy jumped around from jobs such as offensive assistant, to quarterbacks coach, to wide receivers coach.

McCoy was hired as the Broncos’ offensive coordinator on January 19, just a little over a week after McDaniels was hired.

I like a few things about McCoy. He was one of Steve Smith’s main lifelines as his coach. Smith is one of the top 10 receivers in the league, and Broncos’ wide receiver Eddie Royal looks like he could be just as successful as Smith. Royal and other Broncos’ receiver Brandon Marshall should thrive with McCoy’s experience with All-Pro receivers.

I also like that, like McDaniels, McCoy came in from just one team, and can take his experience to Denver. He’s still young, so he has a great learning curve, and I really believe McCoy will contribute to the Broncos’ offense.

Mike Nolan – Defensive Coordinator (50)

Unlike the two coaches above him, Nolan has bounced around to pretty much every team imaginable. Nolan has coached everywhere from the west coast (Stanford Cardinals) to the east coast (Baltimore Ravens), and from the north (Oregon Ducks) to the south (LSU Tigers). Simply put, he’s been on the road more than you have.

Nolan has a ton of coaching experience. Starting in 1981, Nolan has more experience than McDaniels and McCoy have combined. Though his most recent job with the 49ers was his first head coaching job at any level, Nolan should be extremely versatile for the Broncos.

Nolan started the most recent season with the 49ers 2-5, before being fired midway though the season. During his time in San Francisco, Nolan went 18-37, and never finished above third in the NFC West standings. It doesn’t seem like head coaching is Mike Nolan’s gig.

Nolan will be making one big change in Denver, and that is implementing the 3-4 defensive scheme. Denver, who usually plays the 4-3, didn’t have much success in 2008, as they allowed 28 points per game, which was 30th in the league. They also finished in the bottom half of most of the key defensive categories, including yards allowed, passing yards allowed and rushing yards allowed.

This will be Nolan’s 10th defensive-related coaching job, and his fifth different NFL team he was a defensive coordinator for. Nolan has coached 10 different teams in his career.

Overall I’m pretty excited for this upcoming season. I think owner Pat Bowlen did a great job hiring great coaches for the Broncos. Only time will tell for the success factor each coach brings to the table.

Wide Open with Denver Broncos Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall: A Mock Interview

Published: May 16, 2009

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Here are some questions that I would ask Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

Q. First, what are some of the expectations that you have coming into the 2009 season?

Q. How do you think that the coaching change will affect your game play?

Q. How will the change of quarter-backs change your style, or will your playing style stay the same?

Q. Do you have to adjust how you catch the ball for the change of quarter backs?

Q. If yes, what are those changes?

Q. You and Jay Cutler seemed to have a great on field connection, how long did it take for you to connect that way?

Q. Besides the coaching change and quarter back change what are the biggest differences for this coming season compared to last year?

Q. Did you pick up any new tricks from starting in the pro bowl last year?

Q. Are you going to try and make the same connection with the new quarter back?

Q. The Broncos, especially in the Shanahan era, were known more for the running game despite having some great receivers like, Shannon Sharpe, Ed McCaffery, and Rod Smith, do you think that the running offense has hurt the passing offense of Denver teams?

Q. What are some of your favorite teams to play against?

Q. Are there any teams that you just hate going up against?

Q. What are some of the games/teams you look forward to playing most this season?

Q. You recently had hip surgery, has the surgery helped, do you feel you can play at 100 percent this season?

Q. What’s been your favorite part about playing with the Broncos?

Q. What is a normal off season routine like for you?

Q. The Broncos made some interesting moves in both the off season and the draft, do you think those moves will hurt or help the team this season?

Q. The AFC west isn’t viewed as tough of a conference as it was 7 years ago; does that help or hurt you as a player?

Q. In baseball, Coors Field in Denver is viewed as a “hitters park” because of the high altitude; does the altitude of Denver make INVESCO Field a “passing field”? Does the altitude play into how the ball moves?

Q. What is a little known hobby that you like to do?

One Of The NFL’s Best Kept Secrets: Genos Derwin Williams, Jr.

Published: May 16, 2009

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Some players gain notoriety for their consistent play on the field, others for their showboating after they make a big play, and some for their off the field “personality” quirks. Some players seek out the spotlight, while others are just coming to work.

Players who work hard and excel at what they do, often get overlooked amongst the attention seekers in the NFL. These players don’t seek out recognition, but they are often the backbone of what makes their team successful.

One such player resides on the Denver Broncos. He is not known for being the best at his position in the NFL, nor is he the poster child for the franchise. He just quietly leads his team with poise, and his superb play.

This players name is, Genos Derwin Williams, Jr., but you may know him as:

D.J. Williams #55 LB

Height: 6-1 Weight: 242 Age: 26

Born: 7/20/1982 Sacramento Co. , CA

College: Miami (Fla.)

Experience: 6th season

High School: De La Salle HS [Concord, CA]

D.J was destined for football greatness from the start. As a Junior in high school D.J. was named 1998 Rivals High School Junior of the Year and ESPN RISE National High School Junior Player of the Year.

D.J.’s Senior season at De La Salle he played both Running back and Linebacker. His senior year he rushed for almost 2,000 yards and 42 touchdowns, and amassed 130 tackles (87 solo). Due to his outstanding play as a senior, D.J. was named the USA Today Defensive Player of the Year and was largely regarded as the top defensive player nationally.

Williams elected to play his college football at the University of Miami, where he was part of a National Championship winning team in 2001. D.J. actually played Fullback his first year at Miami, but with a crowded backfield in Miami that included Clinton Ports, Frank Gore, and Willis McGahee D.J. decided to focus on playing the Linebacker position. D.J. worked hard and his abilities and talents showed as he excelled at the college level, and was named as a semifinalist for the Butkus Award both his junior and senior seasons at The U.

D.J. Williams was then selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round (17th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft.

D.J. started 14 of 16 games his rookie year. He made an immediate impact on the Broncos and led the team with 114 tackles (82 solo). He also recorded two sacks, had one interception and one forced fumble. D.J. came in third in the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

In 2005, Williams was moved from the weak side linebacker position to strong side linebacker position after the Broncos signed Ian Gold for his second tour of duty with the Broncos after spending a year in Tampa. Williams graciously and quietly made the move, showing his versatility and willingness to do whatever was going to be best for the team.

D.J. helped lead the Broncos to the playoffs, finishing the season with 55 tackles (39 solo) while adding three pass deflections and one forced fumble as the Sam linebacker.

Still playing on the strong side in 2006, D.J. amassed 76 tackles (59 solo), a sack, one forced fumble, two pass deflections despite playing outside of his natural position on the weak side.

Near the end of the ’06 season Al Wilson (another great, yet very underrated player) suffered a severe neck injury. Though he was cleared by team doctors to play the very next week and came back to finish the season on the field, he wasn’t quite the same. Wilson’s condition was reassessed during the off-season and it led to his release from the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos coaching staff also experienced turnover in the off-season as Larry Coyer was replaced as defensive coordinator by Jim Bates. And once again the Broncos coaching staff asked D.J. to switch positions for the 2007 season.

Williams stepped up once again to attempt to fill the void left by Wilson, by moving to the inside and playing the Mike or middle linebacker position. D.J. finished the season 2nd in the NFL with 141 tackles (106 solo) along with one sack and one interception.

The Denver Broncos, unsatisfied with the direction the Defense was headed following Denver’s first losing season since 1999, replaced defensive coordinator Jim Bates with Bob Slowik in 2008. And with this change of direction the Broncos decided to move D.J. back to his more natural position, playing the Will or weak side linebacker. D.J. thrived on a lackluster defense and though he only played eleven games, due to injury, he still managed to make 98 tackles (63 solo) along with 2.5 sacks and 2 pass deflections.

D.J. Williams is a great linebacker who has put up great numbers throughout his Career. In his five seasons in the NFL, despite missing 10 games due to injury, D.J. has averaged 96 tackles a year (71 solo).

Williams has not only played at a very high level worthy of respect, but he has stepped up and done whatever the coaches have asked him to do including playing every linebacker position in the 4-3 defense, calling the defensive plays and making the defensive adjustments.

D.J. has done all of this without wining or complaining, without demanding or drawing attention to himself, but through a quiet and sedated leadership by example. D.J.’s fellow teammates respected and recognized his leadership by making a team captain for the 2008 season.

Having fully recovered from the right knee injury (MCL), that sidelined him for five games last year, D.J. is looking forward to the 2009 season where he will once again switch positions as the Broncos move form a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense.

Williams is slotted to start as the weak inside linebacker in the 3-4 and will need to draw on his experiences playing both the middle linebacker position and his weak side linebacker spot while learning a new style of play under his forth defensive coordinator in four years, Mike Nolan.

Look for Williams to quickly adjust to his new position and continue to make an impact for the Broncos in 2009. Coach Nolan is implementing an attack-hybrid style defense which will situationally adapt formation based on what the opposing team’s offense is doing and attack them to achieve success. Nolan does not want his defense to simply read and react, he has designed a defense that will attack the run and pass in the backfield.

Since playing in the NFL, D.J. has not garnered national attention or acclaim. You won’t find his picture on NFL.com or ESPN’s front pages. Williams hasn’t gotten in trouble with the law, no dui’s or domestic disputes or gun charges.

Williams just plays the game, and does it with an understated style and class. He has a confidence which does not require flashbulbs and spotlights to highlight his accolades, he just wants to play and win.

D.J. is easily one of my favorite players in th NFL because of the way he goes about handling his business, on and off the field. Number 55 is an amazing talent who has time and again shown his team first attitude and displayed his versatility as a player on the field. He has shown himself to be a leader of men, and a person of outstanding character. I can’t wait to see him play this year, and continue his quiet dominance in the NFL.

Know Your Enemy (Part Two): The Oakland Raiders

Published: May 16, 2009

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In part two of this three-part series, “Know Your Enemy”, we’re going to take a look at the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders are Denver’s most bitter rival, although in recent years, the Raiders’ record has taken some of the intensity out of the rivalry.

In 2007, the Raiders organization welcomed Lane Kiffin as the 16^th coach of the franchise. In 2008, they handed him his walking papers.

Enter Tom Cable.

The team finished 5-11 and in third place in the AFC West. It was the first time in six years they didn’t finish in last. The Raiders, ranked 29^th in total offense, amassed a paltry 263 points. The defense, ranked 27^th overall, allowing 388 points.

The team hoped to address the offensive line and the wide receiving corp in the draft. Well, with the seventh pick overall, the Raiders selected swift-footed wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey from the University of Maryland. Heyward-Bey will probably have the opportunity to make an impact. The other six rookies selected in the ’09 draft will, more than likely, have to wait their turn.

JaMarcus Russell sort of came into his own this past season with a QB rating around 77, 2423 yards in the air, and 13 touchdowns versus eight interceptions. The Raider Nation hopes Russel to Heyward-Bey will be a phrase repeated many times this season.

With little altered from 2008 to 2009, it would seem the Raiders will be hard pressed to greatly improve upon their situation. Still, a brief look at the 2009 schedule and I could see them winning anywhere from four to seven games this year.

And, that may be enough to keep them out of the basement for a second consecutive season. Only Al Davis knows if it will be enough to give Cable a second season as head coach.

Next up in the assessment, the San Diego Chargers. Be sure to check out:

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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/177486-know-your-enemy-part-3-the-san-diego-chargers

and

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

Sources

Retrieved May 16, 2009, from NFL.com

http://www.raiders.com/Newsroom/Default.aspx?id=132

Retrieved May 16, 2009, from CBSsports.com

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/depth-chart/OAK

Know Your Enemy: The Kansas City Chiefs

Published: May 16, 2009

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In order to accurately predict how well your team will do in the upcoming season, it is not only important to evaluate the steps taken by that team to improve, but also to evaluate the status of the teams they will be competing against.

In this three-part series, “Know Your Enemy”, I will be dissecting the Denver Broncos AFC West opponents.

West Coast Away, McDaniels Brings the Patriot Way

Published: May 16, 2009

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If it aint broke, don’t fix it.

Even upon being fired, former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said he was leaving his successor a plethora of talent that produced the No.2 ranked offense in the NFL. A parting gift after 14 years as the head man in Denver.

Of course, Shanahan was, in fact, fired, so new coach Josh McDaniels had every right to mark that gift, “return to sender.” And he did, with Chicago as a forwarding address.

Jay Cutler bristled at the notion that whomever took over as Broncos coach would want to change anything on the offensive side of the ball. Tweak the defense, and let’s get to work. That was Shanahan’s plan the last few years, and his eventual downfall.

The departure of Shanahan, along with QB coach Jeremy Bates set off a chain of events that would land Cutler and McDaniels in each others doghouses. McDaniels considered the notion of trading for Matt Cassel, who put up big numbers in New England under McDaniels’ tutelage. Cutler was furious.

Several failed meetings and unreturned calls later, Cutler was a Bear, Kyle Orton was a Bronco, and McDaniels could finally get to work installing his offense. His way. The Patriot way, no questions asked.

Well, here’s one: How could the Broncos have finished second in yards, but only 16th in points? It’s a question McDaniels surely has been focused on, and he hopes his answer will show he is the right man in Denver.

He’ll start with trying to live up to his billing as a first rate QB coach. Tom Brady, Cassel, and now Orton. Orton brings a steady, if unspectacular resume from Chicago. He threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 18 TD surrounded by average offensive talent.

The numbers pale in comparison to Cutler’s (over 4,500 yards, 25 TD), but much like the Broncos overall offensive stats, there’s more to the story.

Cutler threw 18 interceptions, occasionally short-circuiting drives in Shanahan’s West Coast offense, which calls for short and intermediate throws to set up the big run or pass later on. McDaniels hopes what Orton lacks in arm strength (and make no mistake, Cutler has a cannon), he can make up for in accuracy, and red zone efficiency.

Further proof the Bronco offense wasn’t all it was cracked up to be? Week 16 vs. Buffalo. Denver outgained the Bills 532-275 in total yards, and won the time of possession battle. And lost, 30-23. The Broncos were only 2 of 6 in the red zone.

Orton amassed a higher completion percentage, TD/INT ratio, and red zone rating than Cutler. McDaniels will gladly trade gaudy offensive numbers from his QB in favor of gaudy numbers in the “TD’s scored” column in the stat book.

McDaniels doesn’t have a name for his offense, though it was sometimes referred to as ‘amoeba,’ adapting to the situation at hand. Receivers in his system are always on the move; spread out, bunched together, you name it.

In New England he had Randy Moss and Wes Welker. There’s little drop off, if any, in Denver. Orton will have Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal starting, backed up by Brandon Stokley and Jabar Gaffney, himself coming over from the Pats.

A major change could be in how the tight ends on the roster are utilized. Used as downfield receivers in the West Coast, they are used more as blockers under McDaniels. Tony Scheffler was a frequent target of Cutler, and McDaniels has said he wants to take advantage of Scheffler’s pass catching skills.

Of course, he also said Cutler was his QB, days before he was traded. The presence of Daniel Graham, who played under McDaniels in New England, and rookie Richard Quinn, considered the best blocking TE in the draft, will continue to raise questions on Scheffler’s long term future in Denver.

Like the offense he runs, McDaniels appears to be willing to adapt to at least some of what he’s been given in Denver. The team will continue to employ a zone blocking scheme to open holes for the run game. RB coach Bobby Turner and line coach Rick Dennison remain from Shanahan’s staff. One cut, and go; that’s what they teach their backs in Denver.

Making those cuts will be Knowshon Moreno. McDaniels surprised everyone by making the Georgia RB his first ever draft pick, and following in the tradition of another Bulldog RB, Terrell Davis, McDaniels is hopeful he’s found his franchise back for years to come.

McDaniels has also found there’s no need to revamp an offensive line which gave up a mere 12 sacks all season, tied for first in the league. All five starters from ’08 remain, led by bookend tackles Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris.

With more weapons than he’s ever been given, and improved protection, Orton has no more excuses if he wishes to be known as a top QB rather than simply “good in the huddle.” His head coach simply wishes to be known as more than a “Bill Belichick disciple.”

Josh McDaniels is going to do things his way. He hopes “The Patriot Way” will soon be known as, “The Bronco Way.” A new offense arrives in Denver. Along with his three Super Bowl rings.

That’s one thing McDaniels hopes will never change.

10 Questions I Would Ask Denver Broncos’ Running Back Knowshon Moreno

Published: May 16, 2009

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Knowshon Moreno, the 12th overall pick in the draft, is likely going to be the starting running back for the Denver Broncos this season. If I had the once in a lifetime chance to sit down with him, I would ask him the following questions:

How do you think playing football in the SEC will help you transit into the NFL?
Was it a surprise to hear your name get called to the Denver Broncos? Was there anything that only you knew that helped you predict this?
What was the first thing you’re going to do with the signing bonus of your contract?
What do you like about new head coach Josh McDaniels?
How much of an impact do you think the team will lack without Jay Cutler?
To fans of the Broncos who haven’t seen you play, how would you describe your running style?
What are your realistic individual goals for this upcoming season?
What do you think the team can do, in terms of record?
How do you think Broncos’ fans will react to you wearing number 27?
What do you think you need to improve upon most, as a running back?

Denver Broncos Primed For a Playoff Run: A Look at The AFC West (Part 2)

Published: May 16, 2009

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(This is part two of the following previous article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/175108-broncos-primed-for-a-playoff-run-a-look-at-the-afc-west-division )

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs went 2-14 last season and did not have a lot of highlights to discuss. In the off season they hired a new coach, Todd Haley, and a new GM, Scott Pioli. On defense, they will attempt to run a 3-4 scheme, which may suit their personnel better than the 4-3.

On offense they had an average rushing attack. The once dominant Larry Johnson, is becoming an injury risk and has missed the majority of the last two seasons.

Rookie speed back Jamaal Charles, showed some promise, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, but he’s better as a No. 2 back. Johnson will need to stay healthy, if the Chiefs want to be any better then last year.

Matt Cassel is their newly acquired quarterback from New England. He showed a lot of talent, in his first year as a starter. I still believe he is a question mark though.

Was it the coaching that made him good? Was it the system?

Cassel is an upgrade over previous quarterbacks, Tyler Thigpen and Brodie Croyle, and their offense should be more efficient this season.

However, with the upgrade in quarterback came the huge downgrade in receiving, in the loss of Tony Gonzalez. Gonzalez led the Chiefs in receiving last season with 1058 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The Chiefs traded him to the Atlanta Falcons for a second round draft pick in 2010. Without Gonzalez, Dwayne Bowe is their only receiving threat. The Chiefs can only hope that someone steps up their game in training camp.

The Chiefs acquired two lineman this off season in Eric Ghiaciuc and Mike Goff. Hopefully, they will be able to add strength to an offensive line that has been lacking, since the loss of Will Shields, Brian Waters, and Casey Wiegmann.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Chiefs didn’t fair well either. Their overall NFL defensive rank was never lower than 28th in all four areas. They needed to make some huge changes from last year to improve upon this.

In the trade for Matt Cassel, Kansas City acquired veteran linebacker Mike Vrabel. They also acquired another veteran linebacker in Zach Thomas. Coupled with the promising right outside linebacker Derrick Johnson, this should be a much improved linebacker corps.

In making the switch to 3-4 defense, pass rushing specialist Tamba Hali will have a chance to make the transition from defensive end to left outside linebacker. If he is successfully in this transition, he should be pretty dangerous off the edge.

The Chiefs addressed their defensive line in the draft, taking LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson and Purdue defensive end Alex Magee.

Jackson was considered the best five technique defensive end in the draft and Magee was considered a very good fit in the 3-4 end spot as well. The Chiefs will have a big nose tackle in Tank Tyler. With their new additions, their defensive line should be better than last year.

One big problem that the Chiefs face is what to do with 2008 first round draft pick Glenn Dorsey. He is not a good fit for the 3-4 defense, as his strengths focused more on attacking the passer rather than holding blocks.

The Chiefs may be able to get another starter for Dorsey, if they trade him soon. Anquan Boldin anyone??

The Chiefs have a young backfield and they should be better this year, if the line is stopping the run and the linebackers are able to create more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

All four players in the Chiefs backfield combine for only six years of experience, but show a lot of promise.

I see this Chiefs team as being better than last year, but not by a whole lot. The Chiefs have to play Pittsburgh, NY Giants, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Dallas this season, with some tough away games in Baltimore and Philadelphia.

I can see the Chiefs winning 5-6 games this year and being last in the AFC West for the second straight year.

The Broncos should not have any problems sweeping the Chiefs this season.

There’s No “Jay” in T.E.A.M: Denver’s New-Look Offense will Flourish

Published: May 15, 2009

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When Josh McDaniels took the reins of the Denver Broncos, it became an expectation and not just a possibility that the second ranked offense in the NFL would vault itself to an elite level.

Coming from the Patriots, McDaniels has a reputation as one of the brilliant young offensive minds in the league. In 2007, he orchestrated arguably the best offense in the history of the game.

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots averaged nearly 37 points per game, 411.2 yards per game, and they were second in the NFL in time of possession per contest at 33:29.

While many are taken aback by the trade of Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, McDaniels’ past indicates that Denver has no reason to worry with Kyle Orton under center.

Denver’s new head coach has coordinated the best season of arguably the top quarterback of all time in Tom Brady, and coached Matt Cassel, who had not started a game since his days in high school, to a Pro Bowl caliber season and an 11-5 record.

So what has Denver fans worried?

Is the prototypical “Patriot” quarterback not one who is extremely unathletic with the “it” factor, and a winning mentality?

McDaniels’ new offense will include a mix of the zone blocking Denver fans know and love, as well as some of that Patriot flavor that has created one of the most dominant dynasties this decade.

If Kyle Orton does not succeed in Denver, it will not be for a lack of playmakers around him.

Orton is inheriting an offensive line that only allowed 11.5 sacks in 620 pass attempts in 2008, best in the NFL. In the New England style of offense, which is extremely pass heavy, Orton is going to need the help of the big men up front.

Coached by Rick Dennison, a former Broncos linebacker, the Broncos’ offensive line has had a reputation over the last eight years of being one of the league’s best, and under his tutelage, that tradition figures to continue on.

Aside from Cutler, the only other big change to Denver’s offense was at the running back position.

For the last decade and a half, the Denver Broncos have dominated the NFL in rushing, and under the tutelage of running backs coach Bobby Turner, they have led the NFL in rushing over that time span with 30,993 yards on the ground.

After a year in which the Broncos finished the season ranked a disappointing but respectable 12th in rushing, Josh McDaniels has brought in a good mix of veterans and youngsters to carry on the great running back tradition in Denver.

Since Turner was retained from Mike Shanahan’s staff, McDaniels figures to implement some of the “one cut and go” style of running into his pass-first scheme, which could prove to be deadly for opponents.

After seven running backs went on Denver’s injured reserve in 2008, McDaniels made it a priority this off-season to overhaul that particular position.

In free agency, he brought in veterans Correll Buckhalter, J.J. Arrington, LaMont Jordan, and Darius Walker. Then, with their first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Denver selected Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno.

Add in the fact that Denver already had two promising 2008 draft picks in Ryan Torain and Peyton Hillis at the running back position, and the Broncos automatically feature one of the most versatile and deep groups of running backs in the National Football League.

In addition to fitting the one-cut-and-go style, each of the backs McDaniels has added is extremely effective in catching the ball out of the backfield, which is essential to the Patriots’ offense.

When one of these runners is not on the field, Kyle Orton will have a great array of weapons to throw the ball to.

Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall leads a group of wide receivers that could rival any pass catching core in the league.

New wide receivers coach Adam Gase has the privilege of coaching a group that, in addition to Marshall, features rookie sensation Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley, Jabar Gaffney, rookie Kenny McKinley, and Chad Jackson.

Gase’s background as an offensive assistant is West-Coast oriented, being a pupil of the great offensive mind Mike Martz in Detroit and San Francisco. In 2008, Gase’s receiving group in San Francisco dropped only 21 passes all season, good for sixth in the NFL.

Along with a strong core of wide receivers, the Broncos feature a very potent trio of tight ends.

Led by former Chargers and Falcons tight ends coach Clancy Barone, the Broncos figure to have one of the more consistent and well-rounded groups of tight ends in the league.

Daniel Graham, Tony Scheffler, and rookie Richard Quinn all will have major roles in the offense this year.

While Graham and Quinn specialize in blocking, neither are slouches in the receiving game. Scheffler is widely regarded as one of the top receiving tight ends in the game, but struggles to stay healthy.

Barone has developed the likes of Antonio Gates and Alge Crumpler at this position, so Denver’s group appears to be in good hands.

Combining the knowledge of each of these coaches could be very beneficial for the Broncos. It seems that each player on the offense was hand picked to fit the specialty of each and every position coach.

Only time will tell, but maybe the loss of Jay Cutler was not such a bad thing for the Broncos.

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