Four Questions for the Denver Broncos

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As we prepare for Sunday’s season opener there are questions we need answered. The answer to these questions will have a major impact on how the Broncos season progresses.

 

Run Defense

The Broncos failure to stop the run over the past few seasons raised the ire of Broncos’ fans and ultimately led to the firing of Mike Shanahan. If the Broncos have not resolved this issue it will be very difficult to improve on last season’s 8-8 record.

The preseason results were encouraging. The Broncos’ run defense showed signs of improvement but it was preseason. The Broncos need to show they can shut down a rushing attack.  Cincinnati are not known as a great running team. If Cedric Benson hangs 100 yards on the Broncos’ defense it will be a sign that the Broncos still have problems in this area.

 

Pass Rush

Over the past few years Denver’s pass rush has been suspect at best. The lack of a consistent pass rush led to the Broncos’ performing poorly on third down.  Broncos’ fans watched helplessly as our team forced the opposing team into a third and long, only to see our secondary be exposed by a lack of pass rush. Our secondary looks to be greatly improved, but no secondary can hold up for the amount of time our defensive line gave opposing quarterbacks last year.

This is another area that the Broncos showed great promise of improvement in the preseason. Elvis Dumervil looked like a beast. If this carries over to the regular season the Broncos will be in great shape. We still need Jarvis Moss and rookie Robert Ayers to step up.

 

Kyle Orton

No one expects Kyle Orton to be a great quarterback. He does not need to be.  What he needs to be is serviceable. Manage the game, limit turnovers, and make an occasional great pass. It’s that simple.

The preseason provided mixed results. While showing great promise at times, there were also some very scary moments for Broncos’ fans. It is preseason and we have to remember the purpose of the preseason is to work out these issues. If we see the Orton that makes accurate, crisp passes; the Broncos will be fine. If we see the Orton that locks onto a receiver or throws left handed interceptions; Broncos’ fans could be in for a long season.

 

Josh McDaniels

Over the past 14 years in Denver, quality coaching was never an issue. The Broncos under Shanahan were rarely out-coached and rarely out of any game. A bad first half led to the adjustments that would lead the Broncos back into the game. Shanahan, I believe, is one of the greatest in-game coaches in history.

I have no doubt that the Broncos have not opened the entire play book in the preseason. I also think McDaniels will be a good coach and have his team prepared. Making in-game adjustments is my concern. This is what separates good coaches from great ones. I don’t believe Broncos’ fans appreciate this quality enough.

Many of the above questions will be answered this week. Some answers may take several games to be answered but these are the issues that will ultimately determine the Broncos’ fate.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Gamble Payoff Now or Later: Broncos Versus Bengal Game Plan Insight

Bowlen’s Big Gamble

The biggest social and professional gamble in Denver history takes its first test Sunday against an improved Cincinnati Bengal team. Owner Pat Bowlen rolled the dice hard during the offseason—I will spare everyone the sordid details, we’re tired of them by now—and we all get to see whether or not the benefits will be realized sooner rather than later.

The Broncos have improved themselves this year at every position except QB. Despite a slow start in the preseason, they appear ready to play. Even the Bronco nursery seems to be empty now, with Brandon Marshall finally acting like a professional and not throwing his toys for everyone to see. I’m sure he’s not any happier, but at least he is keeping it to himself now and practiced well enough to play Sunday.

Both Denver and Cincinnati are hard to predict as both teams can be very good or very bad, often within the same game. The early advantage is for the Bengals, as this is a home game for them and that means a three-point advantage (if you listen to the Vegas line setters). Against a visiting team with 26 new players and a new coaching staff, that is probably more like a four to five-point advantage before even looking at the match-ups.

Fortunately for the Broncos, they match up very well against Cincinnati on both offense and defense, and should win the game if they do not turn the ball over and the special teams keep the field position in the Broncos’ favor.

 

Denver Offense vs. Cincinnati Defense

The Cincinnati defense is built to play in the AFC North, with the DL and LBs built to stuff the run. The secondary is above average at the corners, but the safeties are below average against the pass and just serviceable against the run. The lack of good coverage LBs and safeties is in Denver’s favor with their three and four WR sets and agile TEs.

Even though the Cincinnati defense is built to stop the run, they aren’t very good at it. The Broncos running game could see a lot of success, especially between the tackles, if the passing game is successful and the defense starts to play soft.

The game plan on offense will be similar to what we’ve seen in the preseason with a lot of short passes, screens, and formations run to allow Kyle Orton to make quick reads and pick up chunks of yardage without having to throw deep. I will be very surprised to see the run featured in this game in the first half, although we’ll see it a lot if they get a lead.

Advantage: Denver Offense

 

Denver Defense vs. Cincinnati Offense

The Cincinnati offensive line is not very good, and their running game is based around re-tread Cedric Benson, so the improved Denver DL and LBs should have a fairly easy time stopping them jere. The minute I say that, though, I have Corey Dillon flashbacks and start to sweat—but I’ll stick with that viewpoint and say Cincinnati will not run on the Broncos.

The strength of the Cincinnati offense is their passing game, with the hardly mobile—and often brittle-Carson Palmer leading the way with a trio of very good WRs that allow him to use both short possession and deep passes. What Cincinnati doesn’t do a lot of is run screens to their RBs or feature their TEs as often as they should. This could take some of the pressure off of the Denver LBs, and allow them to run nickel and dime packages on most downs.

The secondary is a strength for the Denver defense, and they’ll need many of their new faces including Alphonso Smith, Darcel McBath, and David Bruton to play well with Wesley Woodyard coming in often to take away the underneath stuff.

The key for Denver is to put enough pressure on Palmer and keep the passing game off-balance and out of the end zone.  The Bengals are too good on offense to shut down completely, but they do struggle in the red zone. With a good pass rush and efficient secondary work, they should be held under two touchdowns. The Broncos must tackle well and minimize the YAC damage that the Bengal WRs are capable of bringing.

Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan will be dialing up blitzes from just about every angle in this game to keep Palmer off-balance and allow the secondary to play more aggressively than they have in the past.

Advantage: Denver Defense

 

Game Prediction

 

The Broncos win if…..

…they hold Cincinnati under 20 pts on offense.

…they do not turn the ball over more than once.

…the special teams win the battle of field position.

…the pass rush gets decent pressure, and the secondary plays aggressively and tackles well.

 

The Broncos lose if….

…they do not stop the Bengal running game.

…the blitz doesn’t result in pressure and leaves them short in coverage.

…they do not score TDs in the red zone. They cannot win the game with FGs.

Final Score Prediction: Broncos 24, Bengals 13

A win here brings the team back home next week against a very weak Cleveland Browns team, and gives them hope for a 4-0 or 3-1 start. A loss would be devastating, but hopefully the weak opening day record of years past is with Shanahan playing golf and won’t be anywhere near Ohio tomorrow.

Round one of the “The Gamble” will leave Bowlen and Bronco nation smiling.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Broncos-Bengals Preview: Keys to Victory For Denver

The Denver Broncos will kick off their 2009 season at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Sunday, and the anticipation for Broncos fans is arguably at an all-time high.

Aside from the highly anticipated debut of quarterback John Elway, the season debut of head coach Josh McDaniels and his revamped Broncos squad is going to be one of the most talked about Denver debuts in a long time.

Cincinnati receiver Chad Ochocinco has already made things interesting by Tweeting he would “embarrass” the Broncos and star cornerback Champ Bailey.

The last time Denver played Cincinnati was on a cold day in 2006 when the Bengals bobbled a snap on the potential game-tying extra point, and the Broncos held on to a close 24-23 victory.

Denver has won 10 of its last 12 meetings with the Bengals, and is dominating the overall series between the two teams with a record of 16-8.

With all of the negative publicity surrounding the Broncos heading into this season, how can they make their way to the winner’s circle on Sunday afternoon?

 

Key Matchups

• Broncos front seven vs. Bengals offensive line:  Let’s face it:  The Bengals’ offensive line is horrible, and the Broncos’ defensive front seven has been among the worst in the NFL over the last two years.  The Bengals have not proven to be able to protect their franchise quarterback the last couple of years either, so Denver’s improved front seven should take advantage of this matchup. Outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil has really excelled as a pass rusher in his new role, and the Denver defensive line looks vastly improved.  Cincinnati has really bulked up on their frontline, but first round draft pick Andre Smith is not going to be playing.  This is an area the Broncos need to really take advantage.
• Bengals receivers vs. Broncos defensive backs:  The Bengals suffered a huge loss this offseason when T.J. Houshmandzadeh left for Seattle, but they were able to replace him with veteran Laveranues Coles and some developmental prospects taken in the 2008 draft.  Their trio of Chad Ochocinco, Coles, and Chris Henry is among the best in the NFL, but Denver’s defensive backfield is greatly improved from 2008.  The Broncos added safeties Brian Dawkins, Renaldo Hill, Darcel McBath, and David Bruton, and cornerbacks Andre’ Goodman and Alphonso Smith.  The Broncos have some favorable matchups with Bailey on Ochocinco, Goodman on Coles, and the only question will be who covers the 6’4″ Chris Henry.  The Broncos could choose to match him up with David Bruton, a bigger safety, but the safe bet is on Smith.  This will be a fun matchup to watch, providing the Broncos can put adequate pressure on Carson Palmer.
• Broncos’ run offense vs. Bengals’ run defense:  This could be the absolute biggest and most crucial matchup of this game.  If the Broncos can control the line of scrimmage and run the ball with consistency, they could potentially dominate this contest.  The Bengals’ run defense has not been known to be elite over the last couple of years, and the Broncos’ offensive line is among the best in the NFL.  Rookie tailback Knowshon Moreno is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, but is expected to play.  Correll Buckhalter is set to start anyway, and the Broncos also have Peyton Hillis to take some carries.

This game, unlike most Broncos contests from 2008, does not appear poised to be decided by the big play.  The Broncos are going to have to rely on a steady dose of intermediate passes and a solid running game to beat the Bengals offensively, and they are going to have to be aggressive on defense.

Denver’s cornerbacks are good enough to the point where they can take risks in coverage against Cincinnati’s deep receiving core.

One question surrounding the Broncos was regarding the coverage skills of their linebackers, which will not be tested too much by Cincinnati, who lacks a serious threat at the tight end position.

Even though the Bengals do not appear to pose a serious threat to the AFC in 2009, this is an absolutely huge game for the Broncos.  They need to get off to a good start to the season to take advantage of a relatively weak part of a difficult schedule.

 

Injury Report

Cincinnati

OUT:  CB David Jones, OT Andre Smith

QST:  OT Scott Kooistra

PRB:  WR Chris Henry, S Roy Williams, QB Carson Palmer

 

Denver

OUT:  S Josh Barrett, DL Le Kevin Smith

QST:  WR Jabar Gaffney, QB Chris Simms, G Chris Kuper, RB Knowshon Moreno

PRB:  S Brian Dawkins, QB Kyle Orton

 

Line:  Cincinnati by five

 

Team Comparisons

QB:  Bengals

RB:  Broncos

WR:  Broncos

TE:  Broncos

OL:  Broncos

DL:  Push

LB:  Broncos

DB:  Broncos

ST:  Broncos

Coaching:  Bengals

Advantage:  Broncos

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Week One Gameplan: Broncos Vs. Bengals

Even though this week’s game is in a city that is on the complete opposite end of the state and a four hour drive away from his hometown of Canton, Coach McDaniels gets to open up the season in his home state of Ohio.

They are pretty much known more for the television show “WKRP in Cincinnati” than for good football over the years.  The only notable player to ever wear a Bengals Uniform was Boomer Esiason who led Cincinnati to two Super Bowl losses to the 49ers in the 80’s.

The Bengals have gotten better over the past few years under the tutelage of Coach Marvin Lewis, yet they remain consistently inconsistent from year to year.

The Bengals followed up their 7-9 2007 record by finishing third in the AFC North in 2008 with a record of 4-11-1.  Nonetheless Cincinnati is not a team that you want to look past on your schedule. 

They are using the sting of their embarrassing showing last season to fuel their intensity this year.  The Bengals are a team of bad intentions who are much better than last year’s record shows and they need to be taken seriously.

 

The Bengals Offense

The Bengals are loaded at the offensive skilled positions. 

 

Quarterback  No. 9 Carson Palmer

He has a great arm and is a seasoned quarterback in the NFL.  He can be very dangerous if he has time to throw the football. 

 

Wide Receivers

No. 85 Chad OchoCinco 6’1” 192lbs

No. 85 is very talented.  Unfortunately his play has dropped off the past few years.   Whether it is double teams, chemistry, age or maybe he is just not that good, Mr. eight–five is known more for his antics on and off the field than for his play on it. 

 

No. 11 Laveranues Coles 5’11” 200lbs

Coles chose to sign with Cinci in the offseason and will fill the position opposite OchoCinco left vacant by T.J. Who’syourmama?’s departure. 

Coles has also had an inconsistent career in the NFL as a No. 1 receiver, but now that he is playing second fiddle to “the Chad” (who was once considered elite), he may see the kind of touches that Houshmandzadeh built his career on the past few years.

 

No. 15 Chris Henry 6’4” 200lbs

Henry has had a troubled career in the NFL.  He has shown flashes of great ability but has gotten in his own way by getting in trouble with the law.  Bengals fans are hoping he has turned over a new leaf this season. 

Henry turned it on in the preseason, racking up 14 catches for 224 yards and four touchdowns in four games.  This could mean he is poised to have an amazing year coming out of the slot.

 

Running Back

No. 32 Cedric Benson

Benson was supposed to be the reincarnation of Ricky Williams (the Ricky before he decided to retire from football at the height of his career so he could go smoke pot full-time). 

Unfortunately for Benson, he struggled more than he succeeded thus far in his career.  He may be finally putting things together in Cinci, but still, no one is expecting anything spectacular from him.

 

Denver’s Defensive Strategy

Cincinnati has a potent aerial arsenal at their disposal, with a capable running complement, but the Bengals do not have a very good offensive line.  Andre Smith was supposed to help make them better, but a holdout followed by a foot fracture has kept him from making any impact on the Bengals line.

Therefore the key for Denver to be successful against this passing attack will be putting pressure on the quarterback.

All three of Cinci’s receivers are known for their speed, not their route running.  So the trick is not to get beat deep.  The best way to do this is with pressure.  It takes time for receivers to get down the field no matter how fast they are. 

Palmer is a pocket passer with limited mobility and is fresh off an elbow injury last year.  If Denver can stay in Palmer’s face all day long the Bengals won’t have time to throw the deep ball. 

The beautiful thing about the 3-4 defense is that you can bring pressure from anywhere.

I look for the Denver’s front seven all to get involved in creating pressure.  D-line, outside, and inside backers should all keep the pressure coming from different places all day long. 

Champ, Goodman, Smith, Hill, and Dawkins should be able to keep OchoCinco, Coles, and Henry from getting open down field and snatch up any errant throws that come their way.

Denver’s front seven will also need to keep Cinci honest in the running game, but again Cinci’s weak O-line creates the opportunity for Denver to shut Benson down as well. 

The Bengals really don’t get too creative in their running plays and Denver will mostly see them try to pound the ball up the middle more than attempting to finesse run to the outside.

Denver has a chance to come out and make a statement defensively in this first game.  Not giving Palmer anytime to set up, make his reads, and throw the ball will go a long way to Denver getting a W this Sunday.  (Forcing a couple turnovers wouldn’t hurt either.)

 

The Bengals Defense

Cincinnati has quietly been putting together a very solid defense under Marvin Lewis.  They have yet to become one of the most feared in the league but they have been consistently getting better under his guidance. 

The Bengals run a 4-3 defense starting up front with Robert Geathers, Domata Peko, Tank Johnson, and Antwaan Odom.  These guys are big and tough will make plays on you if you’re not careful.  They also drafted rush specialist Michael Johnson out of Georgia Tech who could cause some trouble of his own on passing downs.

Dhani Jones, Rey Mauluga, and Keith Rivers make up a young but talented line-backing core for Cincinnati.  Mauluga may not start, but should at least see some time.  A top prospect who fell to Cinci in the second round, Maualuga is known to be a devastating hitter. 

Keith Rivers was a top prospect last year who would have challenged Jerod Mayo for defensive rookie of the year had he not broken his jaw in week seven. 

Cinci’s secondary got stronger with the addition of Roy Williams in the offseason.  If he can return to the form he once played with in Dallas a few years ago, this move could be huge for the Bengals. 

Leon Hall and Jonathon Joseph have developed into a pair of very good corners as well.  They will keep most offenses honest all over the field, but could be susceptible to the deep ball at times.  The Bengals do not have any notable depth to speak of beyond these two starters in the secondary.  

 

Denver’s Offensive Strategy

Denver should just play their game against Cincinnati.  McDaniel’s offense should work against anybody, with screen passes to receivers and running backs, and short passes with a healthy portion of run set up by the pass. 

Hopefully Knowshon Moreno will be mostly-to-fully ready for the game.  He only had a few runs in preseason, but they were enough to show everyone that he will be a force to be reckoned with this year.   I don’t believe the Bronco’s depth chart; I think we will see him out there on the field quite often. 

Denver also may have their full complement of receivers including perhaps Brandon Marshall.

McDaniels’ system is all about game management.  If Orton is careful with the football and does not take any chances then the Broncos should be able to systematically move the ball down the field very well. 

Denver’s offensive line is one of the best in the NFL, and seldom gives up a sack.  I saw Orton having happy feat in the pocket too many times in the preseason.  Orton needs to learn to trust in his offensive line and be comfortable in the pocket knowing he has time, then just make the smart throw with the football.

If Marshall does indeed take the field then all bets are off.  Cincinnati’s biggest weakness is in their secondary, and Marshall should draw a double team.  That should leave things open for Royal, Gaffney, and Stokley to get open. 

McDaniels needs a win to satiate the critics out there who are already calling for his job, and the Bengals are looking to set the tone for the rest of their season.

As long as Denver protects the football and doesn’t give the game away with penalties and turnovers I think Denver has a very good shot at taking down the Bengals in week one.  Both teams will be hungry, and both teams will be looking to make a statement in this first game. 

Call me a homer if you want but I give Denver the edge in this game because of Cincinnati’s weak offensive line. 

My prediction: Denver wins 23- 17.

 

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Here Come Hard Knocks: HBO Series Reveals Challenges for Broncos’ Opener

I love HBO. Year after year, their shows remain just a bit juicier than the stuff found on network television. Maybe it’s because they can get away with more. Maybe the swear words, violence, and adult situations are the key to superior entertainment in America today.

That is certainly the case with Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals. One thing’s for sure, if the Denver Broncos aren’t using this show as a means to study their first regular season opponent, they definitely should be.

Now, I realize Hard Knocks doesn’t give away everything. The Bengals’ leadership is smart enough to keep all their real secrets to themselves. However, there’s no denying that teams who participate in this series year after year also reveal their mentality, their attitude, and most importantly, the frustrations with which they are dealing.

Similar to the way that some investment analysts look past fundamentals (the “numbers” behind a stock), much, if not more, can be predicted by things other than systems, playbooks and former stats. Hard Knocks is a great examination of the humanistic, emotional side of the team.

The first thing to look at is the way the Bengals are attempting to soothe the sting of last year’s dismal 4-11-1 season. “Everybody knows how excited we are. We can’t wait to get to work and get that bad taste out of our mouth from last season,” stated head coach Marvin Lewis during the team’s training camp kickoff party.

The slogans “Fight Back!!” and “Sacrifice!!” are constantly repeated and even printed on t-shirts handed out to the players at the start of camp. The point is to never underestimate the recently humiliated, which can be said for both the Bengals and Broncos.

The personalities of the players and the relationships they’ve created with each other can also be very telling. Let’s look at two of the most important players, Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco.

You’ll notice there’s a world of difference between their effect on the franchise and that of wide receiver Brandon Marshall and ex-Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler. While the petulance, selfishness and greed of Marshall and Cutler have dominated Denver headlines this offseason, Palmer and Ochocinco have brought more positive attributes to their preseason environment.

Both are extremely funny, which helps a great deal in keeping the team relaxed and unified. Although Ochocinco’s antics have been a little distracting in the past, there’s no denying his work ethic. The show does a good job of showing how he is, for the most part, able to balance both lightheartedness and seriousness. The things that come out of Palmer’s mouth are hilarious.

At the same time, his skills as a mentor and communicator, even while injured, are helping him manage an offense that is anything but a circus. Numerous other coaches and veteran players are doing their part to create a relatively healthy locker room atmosphere. Anyone with a decent amount of football knowledge can tell you the huge importance of this.

Like any other team, things aren’t perfect for the Bengals. As I said before, players like Ochocinco are a double edged sword. As much as a talented player’s high energy, celebrations and all around mojo can make a team gel, too much of the same can create interruption and overconfidence. Cincinnati’s time in the spotlight on HBO has shown several possible deterrents to a successful opener against the Broncos.

With the likely possibility of Brandon Marshall playing in the opener, an interesting matchup of big headed wide receivers is in the cards. The balance between good showmanship and a good old fashion sideshow could very well wind up tipping in the direction of the bearded woman.

The only difference is that this bearded woman is an NFL receiver who likes to twitter, run his mouth, and pout when the chips are down. If Ochocinco gets in a groove, Broncos beware; but if Denver’s eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey comes out strong like he should, 85’s energy, in the form of frustration, will work just as effectively against the Bengals.

If you think Ochocinco is Cincinnati’s biggest bad boy, then I would have to say “Child Please!” Enter Chris Henry. This guy makes B-Marsh look like an upstanding young gentleman.

His rap sheet includes marijuana possession, driving without a valid driver’s license or insurance (2005), concealment and aggravated assault with a firearm, reported connection to an alleged sex crime, a DUI in Ohio (2006), providing alcohol to minors, allegedly failing a court-mandated drug test, allegedly assaulting a 16-year-old boy with teammate Reggie McNeal, allegedly assaulting a valet attendant, violating his probation (2007), and finally, allegedly punching a man and throwing a beer bottle through the window of his car (2008).

On the show, Henry is less than convincing while explaining how he’s going to stay out of trouble. In a preseason game, Coach Lewis has to scold him for celebrating in front of the opposing team’s sideline. Needless to say, Henry might just be a source of negativity for a team that is trying to “fight back.”

While he won’t directly affect Denver in the upcoming matchup, Andre Smith is yet another piece of evidence that points towards the Bengals tendency towards a chaotic franchise and locker room. Smith was suspended from the Sugar Bowl for allegedly dealing with an agent other than his own.

He then proceeded to show up to the NFL Combine and Alabama Pro Day overweight and otherwise out of shape. After holding out through the first three preseason games, Smith fractured his foot just two days after reporting to practice. This whole situation reflects badly on both parties.

Shame on the Bengals for once again drafting a player with a checkered past. Shame on Smith for being more focused on money than on the actual game of football.

Vegas bookies are keeping a close line on this one, with the favor slightly on the side of Cincinnati. My guess is that those same professional score predictors have used HBO’s Hard Knocks as at least one piece of evidence.

That said, when the word “allegedly” shows up too many times in the bios of your players, it’s safe to say that the season will be a gamble. Denver has shown slow but constant improvement. Will it be enough to eclipse the tacky, yet unrefined talent amassed on the Bengal’s sideline?

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Here We Go: A Final Look at The Denver Broncos Running Backs

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The Mile High backfield is deep, but lacks a proven star. It also remains to be seen how coach Josh McDaniels’ stable of running backs will function behind an offensive line that will employ far less zone blocking than during the Mike Shanahan era.

 

Knowshon Moreno

A plethora of injuries/soap operas hit the Broncos this preseason, but no player’s absence hurt Denver’s development more than that of rookie running back Knowshon Moreno. While he may not be the key to this offense’s success, he has the most breakout potential and his absence due to an MCL sprain surely hindered his maturation process.

He looked solid in short action during the team’s first preseason game, but has barely even taken the practice field since the knee injury.

Moreno could very well be Pro Bowl caliber running back by this time next year, especially considering he already possesses the blocking and receiving skills necessary to succeed in the NFL.

He has ideal size and speed with a knack for hitting the correct hole and hitting it hard. He will be used often as a receiving back, but will get plenty of carries as the year progresses.

Moreno’s fellow backs are capable veterans, but he will need to succeed if the Denver running game expects to.

 

Correll Buckhalter

With Moreno missing much of the preseason, Buckhalter looks to be the starter for week one.  However, he will only hold the spot as long as Moreno allows it.

An extremely diverse back with excellent receiving skills, Buckhalter seems to be a perfect fit in the Broncos offense and would have fit right in during McDaniels’ days in New England.

Even if Moreno does take Buckhalter’s role atop the depth chart, he will serve as a quality back all season as a Kevin Faulk type.

 

Peyton Hillis

Well, he’s not going to lead the team in rushing as he did in 2008 for an injury-ravaged Denver backfield, however, Peyton Hillis will serve an integral role in Denver’s new system due to his ability to line up all over the field.

Expect McDaniels to use him in much the same way he used Heath Evans with the Patriots. Hillis will serve as a fullback/halfback combo and be given small essential assignments in McDaniels’ complex packages.

His numbers won’t be too impressive, but expect a few juicy goal line carries that could result in some scores.

 

Lamont Jordan

Lamont Jordan struggled with a calf injury for much of his 2008 season with the Patriots, and has continued to spend plenty of time on the sidelines this preseason with injuries.

After McDaniels signed him to a 2-year, $2.5 million deal, Jordan promptly underperformed at camp and nearly lost his roster spot to Notre Dame product Darius Walker (who found a home on the Denver practice squad).

While his experience in the offense makes him a valuable guy to have around for a team still learning the system, don’t expect Jordan to stick around long or get many carries this season.

 

GRADE: B

It all comes down to Moreno.

If he can capitalize on his wealth of potential, then the Denver backs should each find their roles in an offense that calls for RB’s aplenty and the backfield will flourish. If he struggles to adapt to the pro game, then the Broncos are looking at a stable of also-rans that isn’t going to impress anyone.

 

Check out this last look at the QB’s

 

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A Final Look at the Denver Broncos’ Quarterbacks

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The Broncos’ quarterback position has constantly been referred to by pundits as the point guard of Josh McDaniels’ spread offense. While this is a bit of an oversimplification, it does reflect the QB’s role as a distributor who is not asked to be a playmaker on his own.

 

Kyle Orton

Starter Kyle Orton will be expected to serve as the “game manager” (a term used ad nauseum these days) in the Broncos’ new dink-and-dunk offense.

He will rarely be asked to create plays all by himself, but rather will be expected to quickly and efficiently dish the ball out to Denver’s many offensive weapons on a plethora of screens, crossing patters, short hitches and so on.

There are several quality indicators that point to Orton flourishing in the Broncos’ new offensive scheme:

-Dating back to his years at Purdue, Orton has always been considered a safety-first type of quarterback (despite any left-handed goal-line interceptions Denver fans may have seen during the preseason). This is exactly the type of field captain McDaniels is looking for.

-He flourished in a shotgun-based offense while at Purdue and is well-versed in the basic sets of the scheme. While the Broncos’ system is far more intricate and complex than the simple spread he ran with the Boilermakers, Orton’s well ahead of the game considering his college experience with multi-receiver sets and the shotgun.

-Orton has seemingly solved many of the mechanics issues (loose footwork, awkward arm motion on the deep ball) that plagued him early on in his NFL career and his numbers have improved accordingly. He posted career-highs in nearly every category last season (79.6 QB rating) despite struggling mightily with a high ankle sprain for much of the second half.

That said, it remains to be seen how a quarterback with a career 55.3 completion percentage can be the efficient game manager McDaniels needs to run his offense. Orton did complete a career-high 58.5 percent of his passes last season, but that number still ranked 25th in the league.

Many Orton supporters point to his 21-12 record as an NFL starter, but it has always seemed a bit irrational to give much weight to this number in the ultimate team sport (and that’s coming from a hardcore John Elway fan – the ultimate winning record example). While it proves Orton is capable of winning, his record as a starter in no way proves he is a legitimate starting QB in this league.

Denver fans and much of the national media have been awfully critical of Orton thus far, but the already-beleaguered QB may be on a longer leash than one might think. He has been the unquestioned starter since arriving and his position atop the depth chart becomes even stronger after a taking a look at the Broncos opening schedule.

Assuming he is healthy enough to start Week One following his finger injury, Orton will open against Cincinnati, Oakland, and Kansas City before the Broncos enter one of the toughest stretches for any team this season (Cowboys, Patriots, Chargers, Ravens, Steelers). While the schedule as a whole is daunting, a 3-0 record to start the season would only further cement Orton as the Broncos’ starter and secure him at least four or five more starts behind center.

Orton was up-and-down during the preseason before missing the final game-and-a-half with a grotesque dislocated finger injury. He is expected back to start in Week One.

 

Chris Simms

The best possible scenario for this 2009 squad would be if Chris Simms does not take a single meaningful snap.

This is less a knock on Simms’ ability as it is a nod to the situation Denver would have to be in for Simms to take the field. If Simms were to find himself as the team’s starting QB, it means one of two things – either Orton has been seriously injured or he (and most likely the team as a whole) has performed so poorly that he has been pulled in favor of Simms.

The Texas alum has not seen extended action since 2006 while with the Bucs. A high ankle sprain that caused him to miss most of the preseason hasn’t helped his reputation as an injury risk.

Simms has yet to prove he is a legitimate NFL quarterback and may slide into the journeyman backup mold if not given a chance to start this season.

He has solid arm strength and is capable of making most throws on the field, but tended to randomly float throws at times in Tampa. His major weakness is an absolute inability to handle pressure – both in the pocket and in big games.

Regardless of Simms’ capabilities, Orton represents the best option for the Broncos this season if for no other reason than the fact that he has participated in far more reps with the first team offense.

While neither QB is a long-term solution or even an ideal solution at this point, Orton has been pegged as the starter and abandoning him at any point during the season would signal a major failure for both the offense and McDaniels.

 

Tom Brandstater

Before anyone gets carried away following Tom Brandstater’s rather impressive performance to close out the preseason, let’s get one thing straight – he is not the quarterback of the future.

The Fresno State product was 24-of-42 for 297 yards and an interception in Denver’s final two preseason games while leading the team on a 77-yard touchdown drive against the Arizona Cardinals. It was an inspiring bounce-back from his embarrassing performance to finish out the second preseason game in Seattle, when he looked absolutely lost.

The Broncos love his size (6’5”, 220 pounds) and his numbers as a junior and senior were solid at Fresno State (33 TD, 17 INT).

As a WAC quarterback, however, he’s still a second class citizen and he’s got a long, long way to go before he’s anywhere near starting in the NFL.

 

GRADE: C

The quarterback position cannot help but be considered a weakness until Kyle Orton proves he is capable of taking the next step. He showed signs before the ankle injury in 2008 and has way more talent in Denver, but he remains a wildcard.

Regardless, the Broncos are better with him than without him, so he better be back from his preseason finger injury by Week One.

 

Check out this last look at the RB’s.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

2009 Denver Broncos: Team Captains Announced

 

The title of captain is reserved for a person who is at the head of or is in authority over others. A captain is a person of great power and influence who leads or commands others.

A captain is the chief officer in command in a naval vessel, on an airplane, or on the field of battle.

An Army captain is the leader of a company of troops that usually consists of 130-150 soldiers. This field commander is charged with both the safety of his men and the successful execution of the company’s mission.

A captain is a leader of men, a person of good repute and authority whom others look to for direction.

In the realm of sports, much like the field of battle, a captain is a field commander.  A captain provides inspiration to his fellow teammates.  He makes sure they know their jobs and are ready to complete them. A captain leads by example both in preparation and performance on the field.     

As the Denver Broncos prepare to open up the 2009 season this Sunday in Cincinnati there was one order of business needed to be finalized. The players took care of this yesterday as the voted to name their 2009 team captains.

 

Casey Wiegmann

A veteran center in his 14th year playing in the NFL coming off a Pro-Bowl season, Casey knows a thing or two about how to play the game of football. He is an invaluable leader on Denver’s offensive line; communicating with the rest of the lineman and making the changes in protection at the line protect the quarterback.

 

Kyle Orton

A fifth year player in the NFL, this will be the second team that Orton has been voted to captain, having been charged with the duty in Chicago last year as well. The quarterback position lends itself to leadership on the field. The quarterback calls the plays, knows everyone’s job, lines the players up, reads the defense, and makes the necessary adjustments.   

 

Daniel Graham

An eight year veteran tight end, this will be Graham’s second year as a captain for the Denver Broncos. One of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL, Graham leads by example on the field with his play and in the locker room as he promotes a team first attitude.

 

Champ Bailey

Champ is regarded as the best at what he does. Aside from a Raider named Nnamdi, there is not another corner back in the NFL who even enters the conversation. This is the third year Champ will represent the team as a captain as he leads by example with his play and work ethic both in practice and on game day.      

 

Brian Dawkins

B-Dawk has been playing NFL football for fourteen years.  All of them, up until this year, were spent with the Philadelphia Eagles.  Dawkins was the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Eagles for the the past decade leading his team on and off the field with passion and intensity.  He knows no other way to play the game. 

This seven time Pro-Bowler doesn’t know how not to be a leader, it is written in his DNA. B-Dawk was an obvious choice to be a team captain for the Denver Broncos and all gathered in Mile High this year will hear his leadership from the stands as he guides our team to victory.

 

Mario Haggan 

It has taken Haggan  seven years in the NFL to finally find his niche. Playing mostly on special teams in Buffalo for most of his career Haggan finally found a home in Denver after being challenged to switch positions from inside to outside linebacker.  Haggen knows what it means to work hard and fight for your job and this attitude coupled with his years of experience have impressed his teammates so much that he was appointed a captain on defense.

 

Wesley Woodyard 

Second year inside linebacker Wesley Woodyard was no doubt voted special teams captain for his consistent play, nose for the ball, and leadership abilities on a young Broncos team.

Seven captains in all: Three on offense, three on defense and one on special teams, these men were voted to be captains by their fellow teammates because they recognize these individuals as being leaders among them. They are the people they would go to if they needed help, advice or had a concern. These men serve proudly as stewards of the team both on and off the field and Denver’s success will be directly as a result of their ability to lead their team.

Much like their military counterparts these seven captains will be charged with helping to keep their team safe both on and off the field while making sure that they complete their mission of winning football games. They are a fine group and worthy of their positions as 2009 Denver Broncos team captains.

[ Writers Note: I know Sayre beat me to the punch  in posting this article, but I already had it written and I have a little bit of a different angle and style on it I think.  Hopefully you enjoy both articles]

 

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Denver Broncos Name Seven Team Captains For 2009 Season

Seven new players will don the captain’s “C” on their right chest plate for the 2009 Denver Broncos.

Head coach Josh McDaniels announced prior to the team’s practice session on Wednesday afternoon who these players would be, and elected by their teammates were:

Offense

1. QB Kyle Orton
2. C Casey Wiegmann
3. TE Daniel Graham

Defense

1. CB Champ Bailey
2. S Brian Dawkins
3. LB Mario Haggan

Special Teams

1. Wesley Woodyard

This is a very respectable group of players for the Broncos.

Quarterback Kyle Orton is in his first year with the team, and has already won them over enough to warrant the status of captain.  It is not out of the ordinary for Orton to be a captain, though.

In 2008, Orton was an offensive captain for the Bears as well, and veteran linebacker Brian Urlacher, one of the best defensive players this league has ever known, had only great things to say about Orton upon his departure.

“He’s a real solid quarterback,” Urlacher said. “He does what he needs to do to win the game. You look at his career record as a starter—he wins games. It doesn’t matter how you do it, as long as you win.”

Say what you want, Bears fans, but that statement is coming from the best player you have had since Walter Payton.  He must know a little something about the game, and his teammates.

This is also a testament to veteran center Casey Wiegmann, one of three Broncos represented in the Pro Bowl in 2008.

Wiegmann, like fellow Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall, had a dispute over his contract this offseason.  He stated publicly that he would retire if not given more financial security before training camp started, but unlike Marshall, Wiegmann attended every mandatory workout this offseason.

He never missed practice and never put up a fuss.  He proved to management and his teammates that despite the fact that he wanted more money, he was not going to risk getting better over it.

While Wiegmann and Orton are both first time captains for the Broncos, tight end Daniel Graham is on his second go-round with these duties.

Graham has been a force in the locker room since coming to Denver.  He is never afraid to voice his opinion (i.e. Brandon Marshall situation) and his actions on the field speak louder than his words.

Graham is widely considered one of the most complete tight ends in the NFL, although quietly so.  He was signed to a very lucrative deal by Denver in 2007, and has maintained his status as an elite blocking tight end while also improving greatly in his pass receiving skills.

Champ Bailey is the most seasoned of the Denver team captains.  He is in his third year of duty in this role with the Broncos, and the reasons do not need an explanation.

Bailey is not the most vocal leader on the team, but he certainly leads by example.  He is considered an elite cornerback in this league today, and is also projected by many to be in the Hall of Fame someday.  A well deserved recognition for the ten year veteran.

Joining Bailey as a captain in Denver’s defensive backfield is safety Brian Dawkins, whose choice as a captain comes as no surprise whatsoever.

Dawkins is a vocal and spiritual leader who also leads by example with his play on the field.  He has been a captain for the Eagles since many can remember, and his mental and physical toughness make him a prime candidate for this spot in Denver.

The third defensive captain is a first time captain for the Broncos in linebacker Mario Haggan. 

Haggan is beginning his second season in Denver and his first as a starter.  Throughout his career, he has been primarily a special teams star, but the Broncos saw enough in the veteran to offer him a contract extension.  It has to be a huge honor for him to have been voted as captain by his peers.

On special teams, the Broncos voted second year linebacker Wesley Woodyard as the captain.

Woodyard earned a spot on last year’s roster because of his special teams prowess, and continues to be a star contributor in that area for Denver.

A very worthy group of players, indeed will represent the Broncos as captains this season.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Mario Haggan Extended By Broncos, Brandon Marshall Next?

The Denver Broncos made a couple of very surprising moves on Wednesday.

They started by re-signing outside linebacker Mario Haggan to a two year, $3.5 million deal with $1.25 million in guaranteed cash, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Haggan was brought on last year to fill in as an injury replacement, and has been considered one of the better special teams players in the league over the last couple of years.

He won a starting job in Denver this offseason, and has impressed the team to the point where they deemed it necessary to lock him up for the next two seasons.

In addition to re-signing Haggan, the Broncos reportedly are talking new contract with wide receiver Brandon Marshall. 

Marshall has twice requested a trade this offseason, many feeling the reason being his desire for more cash.

After it appeared as though the Broncos were skeptical, they apparently have changed their stance with Marshall’s recent progress.  Apparently his head is back on straight.

Per the report, there is “optimism” a deal could get done to keep Marshall a Bronco for a long time. 

Which is what he initially said he wanted. 

Marshall may get his wish indeed, and maybe a little pro-bono time off was just what this kid needed.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

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