Five Undrafted Free Agents To Watch For The Broncos

While top Bronco rookies battle it out during the preseason with top free agents to see who starts, there another battle raging among players. They are the afterthoughts, the players no one expects anything from.

Undrafted free agents are usually training camp fodder, but every once in a while, one turns out to be a hidden gem.

The list of great players who were undrafted free agents includes such notables as Rod Smith, Wes Welker, Kurt Warner and John Randle. This year the Broncos have a few of UFA’s who will bear watching.

 

Chris Baker

Josh McDaniels was widely criticized for not picking a candidate for the nose tackle position in the draft.

What escaped many people’s notice was that the Broncos quietly acquired a player whom many scouting combines projected as the seventh best defensive tackle in the 2009 rookie class.

Chris Baker is a 6’2”, 326 lb physical marvel with a 35.5 inch vertical leap and a 40 yard dash time of 5.02. Baker is a player who was on the New England Patriots radar for the 2010 draft. and was actually called in by them for a private workout.

Unfortunately for Chris Baker, he was a player at Penn State during a time when sports media was focusing on the 46 players who had been charged with a total of 163 counts of criminal behavior. The resulting sensitivity to any character issues cost Baker his place at Penn State and ultimately his place in the draft.

Now Chris Baker hopes to earn a spot in the rotation in a key defensive position for the Broncos.

 

Everette Pedescleaux

How does a 6’4.5”, 305 pound defensive end not get drafted? The answer is that Everette Pedescleaux was more dedicated to basketball than football for most of his college career.

Throughout prep school and his first two years of college, Pedescleaux was a two sport athlete whose main interest was basketball. When he finally began to focus on football, Pedescleaux began to truly develop as a defensive end.

While his low production over the course of his college career kept him from getting an invite to the scouting combine, his size and speed alone are intriguing. The key for this prospect will be his ability to continue to improve his technique. If he does that, he could well become a solid starting defensive end by the end of preseason.

 

Rulon Davis

The big knock on the Broncos defensive line was size along the defensive line. Rulon Davis, at 6’5″ and 290 pound,s could be one of the solutions. 

Every scout has Davis rated high for his size and athleticism. Davis’ character is of the highest caliber, as he served in the Marines during the Iraq War.

Entering the NFL at the advanced age of 25, Davis’ stock in the draft was brought down by his history of leg injuries. The key to his success as a Bronco will be his ability to stay on the field.

 

Marquez Branson

One of the most intriguing pickups of this year’s undrafted free agent class is Central Arkansas tight end Marquez Branson. His great hands and ability to get down-field quickly made him a big play-maker in college.

Branson probably won’t make it onto the Broncos team as a tight end because he is not a good blocker, and the Broncos are strong in that position. Where Branson will have a big impact will be at the H-back position.

Peyton Hillis is currently the favorite to win the H-back position, but Branson will push him hard. Branson’s receiving skills may win the position for him outright; otherwise he will end up as a primary backup.

 

Lee Robinson

At 6’2.5”, 249 pounds Lee Robinson is considered undersized for his natural position as an outside linebacker in the 3-4 system. His weak coverage skills make a conversion to inside linebacker more of a project, which is why this prospect wasn’t drafted.

What Robinson does have though is great pass rushing ability and explosive speed against the run game. Look for Robinson to initially see situational action as a run stopping inside linebacker while he hones his coverage skills.

 

All five of these players have the potential to play important minutes during the course of this 2009 season.  This preseason may be a chance to watch one of them go from a lowly UFA to star.

 

 

Join Me at Denver Broncos Training Camp: Things Fans Need To Know

For those not in the know, the Denver Broncos begin their summer training camp on Monday morning, where quarterbacks and rookies will participate in lighter practice sessions to begin the week, and the rest of the team is set to show up on Thursday. 

In case anyone cares to know, or would possibly have the means/time to be interested in joining me, I will be making the roughly 10-hour trip from Sioux Falls, SD all the way to Englewood, CO on Thursday morning with my family, which includes fellow B/R writers Bryce Bedinger and Luke Steinborn.

As if that were not star-studded enough for everyone, I am aware that John Bena, aka TheSportsGuru of MileHighReport.com will be attending the Bronco festivities with press credentials as well.

Oh yes, and the CBS Correspondent, whomever he may be, will be there also.

If you plan on joining me for one of the greatest experiences ever (for Bronco fans, of course), there are some critical items of information that are a “must know” before you do.

Here is a list of practice times, rules, and regulations given out by the team, which I learned through MileHighReport.com via The Colorado Springs Gazette.

I have also bolded the practices that I will be attending in my 10-day stay in Colorado.

 

Schedule

• Friday: 8:45-10:30 a.m.; 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Saturday: 2:30-4:30 p.m. (no morning practice)
• Aug. 2: 8:45-10:30 a.m.; 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Aug. 3: 8:45-10:30 a.m.; 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Aug. 4: 2:30-4:30 p.m. (no morning practice)
• Aug. 5: 8:45-10:30 a.m. (not open to public); 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Aug. 6: 8:45-10:30 a.m.; 6:30 p.m. (at Invesco Field at Mile High)
• Aug. 7: 2:30-4:30 p.m. (no morning practice)
• Aug. 8: No practices scheduled
• Aug. 9: 2:30-4:30 p.m. (no morning practice)
• Aug. 10: 8:45 a.m. (not open to public); 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Aug. 11: 8:45-10:30 a.m.; 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Aug. 12: 2:30-4:30 p.m. (no morning practice)
• Aug. 13: No practices scheduled
• Aug. 14: Broncos at 49ers, preseason opener, 8 p.m.
• Aug. 15: No practices scheduled
• Aug. 16: 2:30-4:30 p.m. (no morning practice)
• Aug. 17: 8:45-10:30 a.m.; 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Aug. 18: 2:30-4:30 p.m. (no morning practice)
• Aug. 19: 8:45-10:30 a.m.; 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Aug. 20: 8:45-10:30 a.m.; 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Note: Gates open for fans an hour before practice. Practice times and dates are subject to change.

Directions from Colorado Springs to Dove Valley: Take Interstate 25 North to the Arapahoe Road exit, exit No. 197. Take a right (east) on Arapahoe to Potomac Street. Take a right (south) on Potomac Street, follow it approximately 1.5 miles to the Broncos complex, which is located at the intersection of Broncos Parkway and Potomac.

*****Invesco Field practice: On Aug. 6 the Broncos will practice at Invesco Field at Mile High at 6:30 p.m. The entire team will sign autographs after the practice as part of Fan Fair. Tickets are $20 or $10 for kids ages 2-12; kids 2 and under are free.*****

Parking: There is a parking lot west of the practice fields at the Broncos headquarters, which is free for fans. Space is limited. The lot opens one hour before the start of practice.

Admission: Admission for all practices at the team’s headquarters is free.

Cell phones: Cell phone activity is prohibited inside the ticketed areas during training camp. That includes calls, text messages, live blogging, and transmissions to social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter.

Bags: Fans can bring soft-sided bags no larger than 12 cubic inches.

Seating: There will be no bleacher seats available, and lawn chairs are not allowed. Fans can stand in designated areas to watch practice.

Cameras: Still cameras are permitted, but video cameras are not.  

Autographs: Players from a designated position group will sign autographs after each practice, in the south end zone of the artificial turf field.

Food and beverage: There will be no food concessions, but non-alcoholic beverages will be available for sale. Food and non-alcoholic beverages are permitted in small quantities.

Umbrellas: Umbrellas are not permitted.

 

So, for any of you thinking you could get in to Dove Valley Headquarters with an umbrella, better think again. 

In all seriousness, this is a very generous donation, so to say, by the Broncos to their fans.  For two weeks, every single fan in the nation is allowed to come watch this team in whatever action for absolutely no fee.  Unless, of course, you are attending the Invesco Field practice, which is apparently $20.

If you have access to Facebook, I would encourage you to add me as a friend and view my pictures from last year’s experience.  Champ Bailey himself posed for a picture for my dad.

I caught a pass from Darrell Hackney, had a conversation before and after practice with Brett Kern, took pictures on my cell phone with Tony Scheffler and Brandon Marshall, and followed Jay Cutler out of the facility in his white Hummer.

It is almost as if you are part of the squad.

This season, unlike most, I do not care which players I run into, meet, or get pictures and autographs from.  I do not care because I have learned that if you care, you end up a disappointed person.

Last season at the Denver Broncos Fan Fair, three men opted to leave an autograph line because the two players that were signing were unknowns.

Their names were Peyton Hillis and Wesley Woodyard.

You just never know who will be a gem, and who is going to be a jerk (Javon Walker, Jay Cutler).

This is also a very kid-friendly event.  In fact, If you hold a kid in your arms you are probably more likely to get some autographs and pictures than anybody.

Players cannot resist the honest and pure heart of a child, for they cannot sell autographs on E-Bay.

I could go into so much more detail, but I will finish by saying I look forward to seeing at least some of Bleacher Report other than myself represented at Denver Broncos training camp.

If you plan on going, and would like to get in touch with me, e-mail me and we will make plans for it.  If you are of the spontaneous type, you can find me near the front of the waiting line to get inside Dove Valley around an hour and a half before practice starts.

I’ll be the one with all the Broncos gear on.

In case there are any baseball fans out there, I will also be attending two Rockies games on the seventh and eighth.

Why?

They are hosting my beloved Chicago Cubs.  It does not get any better than a baseball game at Coors Field, folks.  I will tell you what.

See you in the Rocky Mountains Bronco fans.

The Big On Field Battle in Denver

Finally the long hot summer is beginning to end.

The boys of summer will soon give way to the warriors of winter. The crack of the bat will be replaced by the crash of body armor against body armor.

Denver fans have been waiting since January for some glimpse of the post-Shanahan era and what it really means. The first big battle won’t be Denver versus some other team though.

An era has changed; there is a new attitude in Denver.  One clash remains, the last vestige of the excesses that doomed Mike Shanahan still remains to be washed away. The big pre-season battle to watch will be Royal versus Marshall.

Marshall was the coddled star, whose poor off-field decisions were tolerated because on the field he could make great plays. The last year of Shanahan’s tenure was marked by a reliance on two young talents with great potential, but great flaws. 

While Marshall enters his third season Royal comes in as a second year player who has quietly gone about his business well enough to have an excellent rookie campaign. The new attitude in Denver is hard working, no fuss type players.

Over the last couple of years McDaniels’ offense has featured precise disciplined routes run by receivers like Moss and Welker with the quarterback throwing to spots. A player like Royal fits that concept like a glove, but Marshall has never been a disciplined route runner.

Marshall and Cutler worked well together, with Cutler buying time with his feet while Marshall used his size to ward off smaller defenders.  Cutler was looking for him anyway so it didn’t really matter if Marshall was in exactly the right place.

Marshall caught 57 percent of the passes thrown to him, Royal caught 71 percent.

There will be a battle.

Marshall has to prove to the league that it is worth putting up with his poor off-field decisions. A bad season by Marshall could mean little to no interest in him as a free agent.

This battle is a microcosm of the Denver Bronco offseason.

Can Marshall show the kind of discipline the new system will require? He will get his chances but if he can’t stay with Royal in the preseason he may end up somewhere else before his trading value drops too far.

 

Brandon Marshall’s No. 15 Should Be Replaced by Tim Tebow

There is still another football season to be played before any of us fans begin to think about the NFL Draft, but the news of a three day extension of the greatest event of the NFL season (unless of course your team competes for the Lombardi Trophy in February) got me thinking.

Brandon Marshall, the Denver Broncos’ star wide receiver, has requested a trade.  He has gone public via Twitter and his “official” website as saying “change is best”. 

While this act is cute and all, the Broncos fully expect Marshall to show up for training camp next Friday, and he plans on doing so also, much to his chagrin.

When asked whether or not Marshall would be wearing number 15 for the Denver Broncos in 2009, Marshall responded with a smile, “I’ll be wearing number 15.”

Truth be told, those five words were enough to set off many, if not all Denver Bronco fans. 

The gloves are off.

On multiple occasions, I have met Marshall, and I can say first hand that he is a class act to the fans of the Denver Broncos.  He is always willing to sign extra autographs, take pictures, and despite his off-field issues, I feel Marshall is a good person at heart, or at least wants to be.

The fact remains that Marshall has yet to prove that he can be a reliable citizen, much less a dependable employee and superstar athlete.

So why do the Broncos not unload him?

The first answer that comes to mind is because they do not have any desire to.

Marshall is undoubtedly a top-10 receiver in this league.  He is an absolute beast with the ball in his hands, and no player has been thrown to more times over the last two seasons. 

Another reason?

Marshall has only one year left on his rookie contract, and in 2009, he is going to come at an outstandingly reasonable price.  That being said, how diminished will his trade value be since the team potentially getting him will not be guaranteed more than a one year rental?

Yet another road bump in any potential Marshall trade is his recent hip injury, which he has yet to fully recover from. 

Do not forget about Marshall’s legal history, as well as pending case in mid-August.

So what can the Broncos really get in return for an injured, legally troubled rental of a wide receiver who claimed he was “nowhere near” as fast as the great Larry Fitzgerald at a recent workout session?

The answer to that, my friends, is “not a whole heck of a lot”, which is why I have a proposition for Broncos fans and critics alike.

As you can see by simply viewing the article’s photo, the crux of this rant is Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, arguably the greatest player to ever grace a college football field.

I propose that the Denver Broncos keep Brandon Marshall for 2009, franchise tag him in 2010, trade him, and draft Tebow.

I cannot think of a better player to replace the number 15 jersey in my closet at the current moment.

Tebow has been absolutely hammered by NFL scouts, many saying he is not going to be a good fit for the NFL.  One Todd McShay predicted him as a second day pick at best.

I would like to use this space to say right now that Tim Tebow will be a superb NFL quarterback, just like I think Tyler Hansbrough will be one of the most consistent power forwards in the NBA for the next decade.

Like Hansbrough, Tebow is supposedly not fit to excel at the next level.

Alright, so there is a flaw in that reasoning.  The NBA is not even close to being similar to the NFL, but Tebow and Hansbrough have strikingly similar backgrounds. 

Both are considered to be the best or among the best in their respective sports, both have championship experience, great coaching, and both are hard working, high character student athletes.

If there is one thing I have learned from Josh McDaniels this offseason, it is that he values leadership and the “team” concept more than he does any single player.

Is Tim Tebow not the poster child to represent that description?

Tebow is a Heisman Trophy recipient, and a two-time BCS National Champion.  He has won nearly every accolade or personal achievement any player at the collegiate level could possibly receive.

To boot, he is the ideal size for an NFL quarterback at 6’3″ 240 pounds.

Tebow is the only player in FBS history to throw and rush for 20 touchdowns in the same season, but he is far from being only a “scrambling” quarterback.

Over the last two seasons, Tebow has thrown 62 touchdown passes to only 10 interceptions.  That is better than a six-to-one ratio, for those keeping track at home.

While this is simply a pipe dream, I cannot get the thought out of my head.

Out with the old, and in with the new has been a theme this offseason for the Broncos, and the new management has fans excited about possibly serving delicious crow to the main-stream media.

I could not think of a better way to serve it than ice cold.

Denver’s Patchwork Defensive Line Could Kill The Season

Two years ago, Mike Shannahan hired Jim Bates to apply his two-gap 4-3 defense. The Broncos drafted linemen Jarvis Moss, Tim Crowder, and Marcus Thomas and signed free agents Sam Adams and Simeon Rice.

Unfortunately the changes didn’t live up to the hype, as Denver finished 30th in rushing defense and 19th in overall defense.

Last year, Shannahan fired Bates in favor of Bob Slowik and a more conventional 4-3 defense. The Broncos then acquired defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson in a trade with the Jets and placed linemen Kenny Peterson and Nic Clemons on the main roster. Once again the unit fell apart and Denver finished 27th in rushing defense and 29th in overall defense.

See a pattern yet?

If there is one major factor that led to Shanny’s exit from LoDo, it was that he was a very poor talent evaluator of defensive linemen, especially with players from the draft.

His inability to put together a quality front four took all the potential his past two Broncos’ teams had and squashed it before the season could even begin.

One of the general concepts in football is if your team can stop the run, your chances of success go way up. As much of a boring cliche as that may be, there is truth to it; out of the teams that ranked in the top 10 in defending the run last year, 7 of them made the playoffs. So what does all of this mean for the Broncos this year?

Trouble. Truckloads of it.

The new d-line put together by Josh McDaniels is terrifying, in a bad way. None of the players on the roster have much if any starting experience in a 3-4 scheme (the system that will be used this year by defensive coordinator Mike Nolan) and many of them have been career backups.

Last month during team mini-camps, Ronnie Fields, Ryan McBean, and Kenny Peterson were taking snaps with the first team defense. A root canal without painkillers may hurt less than for those three to be the starters come September.

Marcus Thomas, the 2007 4th round pick with “1st round potential” is also still on the roster and has yet to make an impact that is non-marijuana related. Moss and Crowder have been banished to linebacker in the hope that they might actually show up and play some football.

The rookie d-lineman, led by Chris Baker, Rulon Davis, Carlton Powell, and Everette Pedescleaux (say that three times fast), have fans hoping for a gem. The problem with gems is that you have to pull them out of a pile of rocks and look closely before you can decide if you have one or not.

There is no doubt that many of the guys I mentioned have the potential to be good players, but the Broncos can’t keep placing all their hopes on potential. They need solid contributions from players who will be good, not from ones who could be.

To be fair, it was slim pickings this offseason for d-linemen whose abilities fit the 3-4 system. The asking price for high commodities such as Albert Haynesworth and B.J. Raji was far too high and undeserving.

Guys like Igor Olshansky, Grady Jackson, and Chris Canty were available though, and would’ve brought more proven resumes to Denver’s defensive reboot than the ones McDaniels recruited.

I may sound like a pessimist, but I have viewed this subject from each perspective. Sayre’s excellent training camp preview shined a much more positive light on how these players could turn out, and in a perfect world that’s exactly what would happen.

Unfortunately, these days Dove Valley is anything but a perfect world. The dark clouds that formed at the end of the Mike Shannahan era are not to be parted easily. If anything, the Broncos will win less games before they win more, struggle mightily before they succeed. Before that shift to sunnier skies can proceed, the defense must improve.

Someday we may all have a good laugh over how much I underestimated these players, but I don’t believe that will be this season. It won’t be next season or any season after until the talent at Denver’s defensive line finally gets the upgrade it so sorely needs.

However, I would love to be proven wrong.

Brandon Tate: Another Chad Jackson Project?

Remember the University of Florida standout wide receiver Chad Jackson? A player that the Patriots moved up 16 spots in the 2006 draft by a trade with the Green Bay Packers in order to draft?

Then what happened from there? He couldn’t run routes, he couldn’t catch the ball consistently, and more importantly, he just couldn’t stay healthy. He possesses so much talent, but unfortunately, in the New England’s complex offense, he just couldn’t survive.

In the 2009 NFL Draft, New England selected a wide receiver by the name of Brandon Tate. He was a very speedy, shifty, and versatile receiver out of the University of North Carolina.

Tate had a very successful stint at UNC. He stayed a full four years and in his last two seasons there he received Honorable-Mention All-ACC. Tate is probably most well known for his explosive speed, (a 4.3 40 yard dash), and his ability to make plays happen off of a kick or punt return.

Tate is the NCAA career leader for accumulated kick return yards with 3,523. He is also the all-time ACC leader in kick return yards (2,688) and kick returns (109). While at UNC, he was also a go-to receiver by the Tar Heel quarterbacks, and he used his blazing speed to break away into the open quite frequently. 

Tate is probably the most talented and most physically equipped receiver drafted by New England since Chad Jackson in ’06. But we all know what happened to Jackson, who now plays for former Patriots’ Offensive Coordinator, Josh McDaniels, in Denver.

I believe that Tate has just about as much talent and abilities as Jackson, and he does edge him out in the football IQ area. So hopefully Tate can find himself a nice role in the complex Patriots’ offense in the next for years. But for now, expect Tate to be a Patriots’ return man, and hopefully he can break some loose for a couple touchdowns this year.

Denver Broncos Sign Fifth Round Pick, Wide Receiver Kenny McKinley

The Denver Broncos made their first roster move in quite some time on Wednesday when the signed fifth round draft pick Kenny McKinley.

According to The Denver Post, McKinley’s deal is similar to seventh round pick Blake Schlueter’s, and is four years in length.

McKinley is the second of 10 Broncos draft picks to sign, and most, if not all rookies expect to have deals finalized prior to training camp.

The Broncos traded up in the fifth round to acquire McKinley, so the team really feels he has some skill, possibly as a return man initially.

A former South Carolina star, McKinley was regarded as the “best wide receiver” former head coach Steve Spurrier has ever coached.

In his time with the Gamecocks, McKinley hauled in 207 passes, which is third best in the history of the Southeastern Conference. 

Some close to the Broncos’ camp feel he would be an ideal heir apparent to slot receiver Brandon Stokley, and McKinley certainly fits the bill of a solid route-running receiver with deceptive speed and good hands.

The Post also reported that former SEC rival and first round draft pick Robert Ayers, a hybrid DE/OLB that Mike Klis calls a “defensive tackle” expects to sign his deal well before the start of training camp.

Former Denver Broncos That Are So “Good” Nobody Wants Them

Going into training camp this year, fans of the Denver Broncos find themselves looking at a completely different team than they beheld just one year ago. 

Many players who were household names to the Broncos faithful are either with another team or are still looking for work this offseason.

With all the change that has occurred in the Broncos’ roster, I find it encouraging that Denver has cut the fat that was holding the team back.

Taking a look at the long list of players no longer in Denver, there seems to be a trend. 

Many of them are still unemployed. 

The following is a list of 2008 starters that nobody wants. These players are so “good,” nobody wants them. After starting last year for Mike Shanahan’s poor excuse for a defense (save Selvin), these guys aren’t even good enough to attend OTA’s with another NFL team.

 

Defensive Tackle Dewayne Robertson (Cut)

Robertson was supposed to be the answer to Denver’s problem of stuffing the run. 

Unfortunately, his nagging knee injury never allowed him to be anything more than a rotational player who was far from the force in the middle that Denver fans were expecting.

His 22 total tackles and 1.5 sacks were just not enough for McDaniels and Co. to keep him around. 

And surprise, surprise. Robertson is such a good player, nobody wants him.

 

Linebacker Boss Bailey (Cut)

Champ Bailey’s brother, Boss, has had an unfortunate career. 

When he is on the field, he has played very well. But he has been struck with the injury bug and has not been able to shake it for a number of years now. 

It is hard to know how good a player is if he is never actually able to play. 

Boss’ nagging injuries have kept him off the field for too long, and his reputation precedes him. Injuries have kept Boss from being able to find employment on another NFL team, despite being a season opening starter in 2008.

 

Defensive End John Engelberger (Cut)

I never understood why this guy ever became a starter in the NFL. He played for the 49ers when they were terrible, so maybe that was it. 

Engleberger never put up great numbers and has always been too small (260 pounds) to be an effective defensive end.

He may have had desire and heart, as he was known to play through injury, but his skills have always been second string at best. It just goes to show how terrible Denver’s defense was last year.

 

Running Back Selvin Young (Cut)

Mike Shanahan’s offensive system with Bobby Turner’s and Rich Dennison’s coaching allowed him to plug anyone into Denver’s backfield and have success. This was proved time and again.

Selvin Young went undrafted in 2007, but he proved to be a capable back in the zone blocking one-cut system Denver runs. 

Young probably could not have started on any other NFL team, yet he started for the Denver Broncos in 2008. But he was one of many who got injured early in the season and never recovered. 

His “skills” were not good enough to keep him around Denver in McDaniels’ Offense, and he too is looking for a job.  

 

Linebacker Nate Webster (Free Agent)

Despite being a career backup, Nate Webster got a chance to start in Denver after Al Wilson went down with a career-ending back injury. 

Webster played fairly well in 2008, cleaning up many tackles missed by the anemic defense, but he also got beat quite often and looked out of control on the field. 

He too struggled with injuries and in the end was not worth keeping around. 

 

Linebacker Jamie Winborn (Cut)

Stepping into place after Boss went out with an injury, Winborn started most of the season as the strong side outside linebacker.

In fact, Winborn led the team in tackles for the 2008 season. 

Winborn turned 30 and doesn’t fit the 3-4 system Mike Nolan is implementing in Denver, so he was cut, and he has yet to get an offer to play for another NFL team.

The following are more 2008 players who have yet to sign with another team after being released by the Denver Broncos.

Fullback Andrew Pinnock (cut)

Running back P.J. Pope (cut)

Tight end Nate Jackson (cut)

Linebacker Louis Green (cut)

Safety Herana-Daze Jones (cut)

Cornerback Rashad Moulton (cut)

Tight end Chad Mustard (cut)

Running back Alex Haynes (cut)

Running back Cory Boyd (cut)

Wide receiver Cliff Russell (cut)

Defensive tackle John Shaw (cut)

All of these players were so “good” no other NFL team will have them. 

Maybe they will get picked up as players get injured during camp or the regular season, but it is mind-boggling that so many guys who played for Denver last year are such dead-weights and have failed to attract interest from any of the other 31 NFL teams.

There were only nine players out of the 27 who were released from last year’s roster that have been able to join a team for training camp with a shot at maybe making the team.

Running back Anthony Aldridge (waivers, Washington)

Wide receiver Jayson Foster (cut, Pittsburgh)

Linebacker Niko Koutouvides (cut, Tampa Bay)

Tight end Mike Leach (cut, Arizona)

Safety Marquand Manuel (cut, Detriot)

Safety Marlon McCree (FA, Jacksonville)

Cornerback Karl Paymeh (FA, Minnesota)

Quarterback Patrick Ramsey (FA, Tennessee)

Cornerback Dré Bly (cut, San Francisco)

All of these guys will have a difficult time making their new teams as anything more than a special teams player or a backup. That is just how “good” these players are.

Note the picture I chose for this article. It took Robertson, Engleberger, and Webster to try to tackle Ronnie Brown. You can blame Slowik and his terrible defensive scheme, but it also goes to show the talent these players possess.

McDaniels and Co. wasted no time cleaning house in Denver, and I am glad that they did. It wasn’t as if there was untapped talent among the players that Denver released, but rather, dead weight that needed to be purged.

Everything has changed in Denver this offseason, and the Broncos have shed the players who were substandard, injury-ridden, and didn’t fit the system. 

To these players, I say “thank you for your service and good luck,” but I am glad to see them replaced with promising talents and players who can step in and win.

Denver is a team with new players and a new identity going into the 2009 season. It is streamlined and ready to surprise a lot of people.

Predicting The AFC West: Will Anybody Challenge San Diego In 2009?

As the 2009 NFL season begins, the talk begins. Who will stay on top of the league as true contenders? Who will disappoint? Who will surprise?

As the formal predictions begin, we are taking a look at the AFC West, a division that had an 8-8 team as a representative. Yet, there is promise in the future of this division.

The Denver Broncos begin the post-Cutler era. The Oakland Raiders are still trying to live up to the expectations of their fans, while the Chiefs begin a new plan under a new front office, and head coach Todd Haley.

Who will take the division? Who will slump? Who shall make the most improvement in the AFC West?

 

1. San Diego Chargers—The San Diego Chargers head into the season as the favorite to win the division, with not much surprise. While no major moves were made this off season, every contributor was brought back to the roster in 2009. San Diego’s defense comes at full strength this year, especially with linebacker Shawn Merriman back on the field.

On the offensive sign of the ball, Philip Rivers continues to improve his game, along with returning Antonio Gates at full health.

Not much trouble for San Diego this year, as the Chargers will head back to the playoffs once again.

Prediction: 11-5

2. Denver Broncos—The Denver Broncos begin the 2009 season, known as the post Cutler era, without their franchise quarterback in Jay Cutler. In the offseason, they signed Pro-Bowl safety Brian Dawkins to try and improve the offseason woes. In his first season as head coach, Josh McDaniels will find it difficult.

Kyle Orton could play well in McDaniels’ system, yet he didn’t prove in Chicago he can throw the ball downfield where the receiving corps, led by Brandon Marshall,who loves to make the big grabs.

The addition of Dawkins helps the defense; but there are many holes on the field, particularly the lack of pass-rush.

The Broncos will play well in their home stadium; though a rough season does await in 2009.

Prediction: 7-9

3. Oakland Raiders—The silver and black finished the 2008 season on a winning streak under Tom Cable, despite being six games under .500.

The organization is expecting a progression from JaMarcus Russell, who has underachieved as the number one pick in the draft.

Darren McFadden and Justin Fargas are becoming a forceful running back combo beneath our eyes.

On the defensive side, the brightest spot is Nnamdi Asomugha, whom they signed to a long-term contract as a building piece on defense.

Tom Cable could be the answer in Oakland, that is, if he gets lee-way as coach to help build the roster.

The Raiders do face a tough schedule on the road, which includes; New York, Pittsburgh, and Dallas, along with games against the Eagles, Ravens, and Redskins.

The Raiders will put on a show, but are a few off seasons away from contending again, another losing season is coming for Oakland.

Prediction: 6-10

4. Kansas City Chiefs—The Kansas City Chiefs began their project by hiring new head coach Todd Haley, an offensive mastermind who led the Arizona Cardinals to a Super Bowl appearance.

With that, Kansas City traded for quarterback Matt Cassel, who had his career year with the Patriots. Just a few weeks ago the front office signed him to an extension, making him the quarterback for the forseeable future.

Receiver Dwayne Bowe continues to make strides as an offense threat, however, he is still the only bright spot in a weak team.

One of the worst offenses in the league in 2008, Kansas City shipped Tony Gonzalez out of town, their only productive weapon, statistically the best tight end in the NFL.

This year with the third overall pick, the Chiefs selected Tyson Jackson out of LSU. Along with Glenn Dorsey, Kansas City is building a defensive line for the future. However, with a very young squad, the talent is simply not there to build a winning team at the moment.

Prediction: 4-12

Matt Miselis is a writer for BleacherReport.com

 

Official Denver Broncos Training Camp Preview

Yes NFL fans, the time has finally come—the season is upon us.

For the Denver Broncos, the 2009 season cannot come soon enough. This team has faced more criticism and negative media than many others in recent memory, and it is all because of the loss of one player who shall not be named.

Despite the best efforts of the likes of Jamie Dukes, Solomon Wilcots, and Tim Hasselbeck, Bronco fans are still eager for the upcoming campaign. Whether that eagerness is uneasy or not, fans are sure to be on the edge of their seats.

With this article, I hope to provide readers with the most comprehensive team preview available on the Web or in print. It will be a recap of my “Inside the Denver Broncos’ Roster” series, so prepare yourselves for a mouthful.

 

2009 NFL Draft Recap