Inside the Denver Broncos’ Roster: The Right Guards

While bookend offensive tackles Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris get much of the publicity (or lack thereof) among the Denver Broncos’ offensive lineman, one man up front has been equally as dominant for an even longer period of time.

That man is fourth-year guard Chris Kuper, a former fifth-round draft choice out of North Dakota.

Kuper has been the starting right guard for the Broncos since Week Seven of the 2007 season, and he has quietly been one of the more consistent  guards in the entire NFL.

Furthermore, the Anchorage, Alaska native has proven to be extremely tough, playing the final two games of the 2008 season with a broken hand. 

The Broncos were extremely fortunate to have nabbed Kuper in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft, as he was a two-time All-American with the Fighting Sioux.

Kuper enters his contract season as one of the elite inside linemen in the league, and league observers and analysts may finally be starting to take notice. Recently, Kuper has received numerous Pro Bowl and All-Pro votes from NFL writers.

He has helped the Broncos become an elite offense over the last two years, and at the young age of 26, he only figures to get better with time.

Still, the Broncos know that the offensive line is an area where much depth is needed, so they used a fourth-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft on another right guard prospect who could eventually make an impact in this league.

That player was Seth Olsen, an extremely versatile lineman from the University of Iowa who has played every position other than center as an All-American for the Hawkeyes.

The All-Big Ten performer was the leader of an offensive line in Iowa City that helped lead the way for the nation’s top runner, newly acquired New York Jet and Doak Walker Award recipient Shonn Greene.

As an Iowa fan, the drafting of Olsen was exciting for me, as I watched this kid in action for four years.  Kirk Ferentz is well-known for developing offensive linemen and turning them into solid professionals, and Olsen figures to be no different.

Olsen also has a chance to contribute immediately at left guard because, from what I am hearing among trusted Broncos’ opinions, Ben Hamilton could be a surprise veteran cut at training camp. 

Another player who will have the chance to compete for a roster spot is Pat Murray, who was signed away from the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad late last season.

Murray is a Division II college prospect out of Truman State, and while he may seem like a longshot to make the final roster, he has a great chance of earning a practice-squad spot.

Chris Kuper appears to be head and shoulders above his peers at the right guard position, but the Broncos do not lack depth.

The Broncos can rely on this unit for years to come.

Inside The Denver Broncos’ Roster: The Centers

Like the majority of the Denver Broncos’ offensive line heading into 2008, the center position was really in question.

Future Broncos’ Ring of Famer and possibly Hall of Fame selection Tom Nalen,  the lone remaining Bronco from the Super Bowl days, had suffered his second consecutive season-ending injury before the year had even started.

Fortunately, Denver had a backup plan.  Late in the 2008 offseason, the team signed veteran Casey Wiegmann to a two year contract.  Wiegmann had played most of his NFL career with the rival Kansas City Chiefs, and had been one of their better players over the course of the decade.

Wiegmann had every intention of backing up Nalen at the outset, but after the injury, he was thrust into the starting role.

To say he relished his role would be an understatement.

Whilst extending his NFL record for consecutive starts among active offensive linemen to 152 games (amassing 7,062 consecutive plays), Wiegmann earned his first career trip to the Pro Bowl as an alternate.

After his stellar 2008 campaign, the 14 year veteran let the Broncos know that if he was not rewarded for his efforts with a new two-year contract worth more money, he would retire prior to training camp.

Unlike diva wide receiver Brandon Marshall, Wiegmann proved to Broncos brass that he was worthy of such an extension. He missed only one session of the team’s offseason activities, voluntary or mandatory.

Wiegmann was honored with a new contract, and heads into the 2009 season as the unquestioned starter and veteran leader of the Bronco offense. 

Right behind him on the depth chart lurks 2008 fourth round pick Kory Lichtensteiger, formerly of Bowling Green.

The knock on Lichtensteiger is that he has short arms. But despite his critics, the second year player fits the theme of “versatility” on Denver’s offensive line.  He can play center and guard equally as well; he even lined up for the Broncos as a third tight end and fullback in goal-line situations last season.

He will be a valuable asset on special teams and could fill in at center, left guard, or right guard if the Broncos need him because of an injury.  He is also said to be the heir apparent to start in place of Ben Hamilton or Wiegmann when one retires.

The reason I mention him as an heir apparent to Hamilton at left guard is because the Broncos drafted another center in 2009 who they really like.

In the seventh round, Denver drafted Blake Schlueter of TCU—a very versatile and athletic lineman.

He proved that by running a sub-4.80 second 40-yard dash at TCU’s pro day, and the Broncos could have more first year plans in mind for him than at the center position.

Much like Lichtensteiger in 2008, Schlueter could be used in goal line situations as a fullback or tight end.  His athleticism and size would make him a nightmare for defenders to take down if he were given the ball inside the five yard-line.

There is also a chance that he could end up being the heir to free agent signee Lonie Paxton, who was the Broncos’ first acquisition of the off-season.

Paxton is a ten year veteran who has played nearly every game over the last decade for the New England Patriots.

He is familiar with coach Josh McDaniels, and is considered one of the NFL’s elite long snappers.

Paxton is a three time Super Bowl champion, and will prove to be a very valuable offseason addition.

I believe the Broncos will keep three centers and a long snapper, as I have projected them to keep only one left guard.  Lichtensteiger could be considered a guard/center hybrid player, allowing the Broncos to use roster spots on other positions.

Center could very well be the position with the most depth on the Broncos’ offensive line for 2009—which is really saying something.

Inside The Denver Broncos’ Roster: The Left Guards

Where in the world is Chris Kuper?

Thankfully for the Broncos, the fourth year guard missing from the photo is not the subject of this article.

However, this article will reveal a statistic that could possibly surprise even the most die-hard of all Bronco fans.

Quickly glancing over the Denver Broncos’ current roster, there is not a single player who has a longer tenure with the team than left guard Ben Hamilton.

Hamilton was drafted out of Minnesota in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft, and has started every game he has participated in at this level, which including the playoffs is a whopping 100 contests.

From 2002-2006 Hamilton did not even miss a single snap, participating in 5,407 consecutive plays in that time frame.  Due to concussion symptoms early in the 2007 offseason, Hamilton was held out of that entire campaign, and his streak was broken.

The former NCAA First Team All-American came back to form in 2008, starting all 16 games and helping lead the Broncos to the second ranked offense in the NFL in terms of yardage.

He also helped the Broncos rank fifth in the NFL in rushing to the left side of the field, where Hamilton and rookie Ryan Clady were arguably the best duo in the league last year in terms of pass protection and run blocking.

Hamilton heads into the 2009 season as the unquestioned starter at left guard, and the Broncos have little depth behind him in terms of players with significant experience at left guard.

Last off-season, the team picked up Mitch Erickson out of South Dakota State as an undrafted free agent, and he ended up making the practice squad. 

There is little information about Erickson, other than the fact that he was completely dominant in his college days at SDSU.  He played both tackle and guard in college, but his best chance to play at this level is to earn a spot at guard.

The Broncos also have third year veteran Matt McChesney competing at guard, but he also appears to be a longshot to make the final roster. 

McChesney got his start in the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent with the St. Louis Rams, then bounced around to the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.  He is a former defensive tackle from Colorado who could be a practice squad addition.

The Broncos have some young players who are primarily right guards who could fill in at left guard if needed, but that is a different story for a different day.

Stay tuned for more Broncos fans.

 

 

Inside the Denver Broncos’ Roster: Left Tackles

Heading into the 2008 offseason, the left tackle position was a huge question mark for the Denver Broncos.

After a dismal 7-9 effort in 2007, they found themselves holding the 12th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. At the time, they were expected to go after one of three players:  Boise State tackle Ryan Clady, Virginia tackle Branden Albert, or Vanderbilt tackle Chris Williams.

Clady was considered by many to be a top-five talent, and some scouts even projected him to go as high as fifth overall to the Kansas City Chiefs.

When he fell to the 12th overall pick, there was no way the Broncos would pass him up.

Professional and collegiate scouts alike raved about Clady’s athleticism and quick feet, thanks largely to the fact that the 6’6″ 325-pound behemoth is a former tight end.

Little did the Broncos or their fans know what kind of player Clady would become and how great an impact he would have in such a short time in the NFL.

After being dubbed the starting left tackle almost immediately after being selected by former head coach Mike Shanahan, Clady went on to have one of the greatest seasons one will ever see from a rookie at any position.

The Boise State product was one of 11 rookies in 2008 to start all 16 games at his position, and one of only three offensive tackles.

Not impressed?

Clady was the only left tackle in the entire NFL to participate in all 16 games and not allow a full sack.

Still not impressed?

The Broncos finished the season second in the NFL in pass attempts with 620, meaning Clady allowed a sack roughly 0.08 percent of the time—best in the NFL. He also participated in 1,019 snaps in all.

If you are not impressed by that, then here are some miscellaneous facts about Clady’s 2008 campaign that will blow your mind.

The rookie allowed only half of a sack, while only committing one holding penalty, and three penalties overall in the 2008 season. He was named Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week for his performance against Kansas City in Week 14, and he was rewarded for his stellar season by being selected as a second-team All-Pro.

Clady was the only rookie on either side of the ball to be selected to either All-Pro team, and was still snubbed of a Pro Bowl appearance.  Jason Peters, formerly of the Buffalo Bills, started the Pro Bowl for the AFC after a season in which he allowed 11.5 sacks.

Why is this significant?

The entire Denver Broncos offensive line allowed 11.5 sacks in 2008. 

Clady also helped pave the way for the NFL’s 12th ranked rushing offense despite going through a total of nine different running backs throughout the course of the season.  The Broncos ranked fifth in the NFL rushing to the left side, where Clady sets up camp.

Clady is a dominant force in this league, and after the statistics provided, there is no question he is the best offensive tackle in the game today. The Broncos have a gem, and he should be a dominant force for the next decade plus, barring injury.

Still, an elite offensive line is only as good as its depth, and the Broncos are hoping they can count on second-year player Tyler Polumbus if any injuries do occur at the left tackle spot. 

Polumbus was acquired shortly after the 2008 NFL Draft as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Colorado, and he ended up making the Broncos’ final roster.

When Clady suffered a minor injury during last season, Polumbus was scheduled to start before Clady decided to play through the pain.

The Broncos’ offensive line will be coached by former offensive coordinator Rick Dennison, a man who has coached Denver’s offensive line for much of this decade.

I fully expect the Broncos to keep Polumbus on their final roster along with Clady, occupying two roster spots from the left tackle position.

Inside the Denver Broncos’ Roster: The Tight Ends

Since the early 1990’s, the tight end position for the Denver Broncos can be described in one word:  stability.

From future Hall of Fame lock Shannon Sharpe to three-time Super Bowl champion Daniel Graham, tight ends have been a huge part of the Bronco offense for nearly two decades.

Nothing will change in 2009.

The Broncos feature two Pro Bowl caliber players at the position in Daniel Graham and Tony Scheffler, and a newly acquired second round pick whom the coaching staff is really high on. 

Can this unit take pressure off of Kyle Orton?

Oftentimes, teams only keep three, maybe four tight ends, so who will make the final roster for the Denver Broncos?

 

1.  Daniel Graham

Graham is a vastly underrated player at his position, mostly because his specialty is blocking.

The former Patriots first round draft pick out of Colorado was signed in 2007 as a big money free agent by the Broncos, and fans were calling for former head coach Mike Shanahan’s head after he paid so much money for a guy who had only 24 receptions in his first season in Denver.

Casual observers of the team are still trying to figure out why this team paid so much money for Graham, but his blocking skills speak for themselves. 

Last season, he earned his money not only as a blocking specialist, but as a pass receiver as well.  Graham nearly eclipsed his single-season high of 38 receptions last season when he hauled in 32 passes for 389 yards and four touchdowns.

History proves that teams are much more successful when Graham catches 30 or more passes in a season.

• 2003:  38 receptions, 408 yards, 4 TD–Patriots win Super Bowl
• 2004:  30 receptions, 364 yards, 7 TD–Patriots win Super Bowl
• 2008:  32 receptions, 389 yards, 4 TD–Broncos 2nd place AFC West, one game away from playoffs

Now, there is no doubt that Graham did not single-handedly bring his team into the winner’s circle, but there is also no denying the correlation between his play and his team’s victories.

Graham should continue to be a safety outlet for new quarterback Kyle Orton, as well as a cog in the running game.

 

2.  Tony Scheffler

Scheffler, when healthy, is arguably the best pass catching tight end in the NFL.  Tony Gonzalez obviously is the clear cut No. 1, and there are players like Jason Witten and Antonio Gates who are also in the mix, but it is hard to argue with Scheffler’s numbers.

In three seasons with the Broncos, Scheffler has caught 107 passes for 1,480 yards and 12 touchdowns while only playing in 40 games over that timeframe.

Scheffler is an athletic specimen at 6’5″ 250 pounds with a 4.55 second 40-yard dash.  This former Western Michigan dual sport star has turned into a big play threat for the Denver Broncos.

Heading into his fourth year in the league, Scheffler has been the subject of quite a few trade rumors throughout the off-season. 

Unlike his former roommate and best friend Jay Cutler, Scheffler handled the trade talks with poise and confidence, stating that the NFL is a business and that his job is to help the Broncos win in any way he can.

In 2008, Scheffler proved he was a threat to score every time he touched the ball, leading the Broncos with an average of 16.1 yards per reception.  He also set a personal single season record with 645 receiving yards.

Combined with the Broncos’ arsenal of running backs and receivers, Scheffler provides the Broncos with yet another big weapon on the outside.

 

3.  Richard Quinn

Quinn was undoubtedly the biggest surprise of the Broncos’ draft class, but looking back the selection makes a lot of sense.

Many feel the Broncos screwed themselves over by trading away two third round picks for Quinn and a fourth round pick, but many forget that Denver acquired that extra fourth round pick in the deal, so they really did not sacrifice a large discrepancy in talent with their two picks.

Here are a few reasons why Quinn was a solid pick by McDaniels and company:

• Daniel Graham is 30 years old, and while he may just now be entering his prime, the Broncos are looking toward the future.
• Tony Scheffler has one year left on his contract.
• Outside of Graham and Scheffler, the only tight end on the Broncos’ roster was late season free agent acquisition Jeb Putzier.

And the number one reason why Quinn was acquired with the 64th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft: Red zone efficiency.

Last season, the Broncos were second in the entire NFL in offense…in terms of yardage.  They ranked a very mediocre 16th in the league in scoring, thanks largely to the fact that they could not punch the ball in when they got inside the opponents’ 20.

Quinn only had 12 receptions in his career at North Carolina, but the former Tar Heel is regarded as the best blocker in his class not named Pettigrew, and scouts felt he showed very soft hands in off-season workouts.

When the Broncos enter their opponents’ red-zone, expect Quinn to make them much more efficient with his blocking and receiving abilities.

 

4.  Jeb Putzier

Putzier was a late season free agent signing in 2008, beginning his second stint with the Broncos.

The veteran tight end is known mostly for his blocking abilities, and not much else.  He has fairly reliable hands for the position, but the Broncos’ group of tight ends is a bit crowded and he could struggle to make the final roster.

 

5.  Marquez Branson

Branson was an undrafted free agent out of Central Arkansas who put together a very solid collegiate career.

Somebody put together a nice YouTube highlight of this kid, and he sort of reminds me of Peyton Hillis in terms of his receiving ability, but he lacks the toughness of Hillis.

He should be a practice squad addition, as his skills are fairly raw and he may need a year or two to develop.

2008 Tight Ends Grade:  B+

Tight End’s Coach:  Clancy Barone

Projected Starter:  Daniel Graham (Acquired via Free Agency in 2007)

Projected Stats:    Rec.     Yds.     Avg.     TD

                          30        360      12.0    2

Projected Backup:  Tony Scheffler (Acquired via 2006 NFL Draft)

Projected Stats     45        630      14.0     4

Projected Third String:  Richard Quinn (Acquired via 2000 NFL Draft)

Projected Stats     15        150      10.0   1

Roster spots filled by TE:  3/54

Roster spots filled overall:  17/54

 

**Marquez Branson waived, added to practice squad; Jeb Putzier cut**

 

Inside the Denver Broncos’ Roster: Wide Receivers

2008 was a great year to be a wide receiver with the Denver Broncos, as former head coach called on his quarterbacks to drop back and pass the ball 620 times, a franchise record and good for second in the NFL.

Still, the Broncos’ group of receivers was very young, and while they were extremely talented, they made their share of mistakes.

Each receiver had his share of key drops, fumbles, or missed blocking assignments, all which cost the Broncos significantly last year, being that their offense had to play near perfect football to win games.

While the Broncos continued to gain yardage through the air (they ranked second in the NFL), they had a very rough time putting the ball in the end zone.

Heading into 2009, the Broncos’ receiving group has high expectations, even though Kyle Orton has taken over at quarterback for Jay Cutler.  Who will be his top targets?

 

1.  Brandon Marshall

Since the start of the 2007 season, no wide receiver in the National Football League has been thrown at more times than the former fourth round pick out of Central Florida.  Also in that timeframe, only one receiver (Wes Welker, Patriots) has more receptions than Marshall’s 206.

Still, Marshall has had his share of off-field issues, and heading into the final year of his rookie contract he finds himself holding out and requesting a trade from the Denver Broncos.

Of everything Marshall has gone through with the Broncos, this is one thing he truly did not think through. 

Is Marshall expendable?  Are his legal issues too much for the Broncos to even consider re-signing him?

If Marshall wants a new contract, the way to do so is very simple:  stay out of trouble for a year, and report to training camp.

So far, Marshall has missed every offseason activity due to a bum hip, and most recently because of his displeasure with the Broncos’ front office.  His injury is supposed to be almost fully recovered by the time training camp starts on July 30th, and head coach Josh McDaniels has said publicly that he expects Marshall to report.

If he opts to hold out and not report to training camp, not only will Marshall lose more than the 2.198 million dollars he will earn in 2009, but he will lose valuable practice time with a new system he has yet to fully come to grips with.

On the field, there is no question Marshall deserves to be paid like the top ten wide receiver he is.  Off the field, Marshall acts like a troubled “thug” and if he was not in the NFL, he would probably be living week to week on his paycheck from White Castle.

There is no question his numbers will take a hit in 2009, but it is not because Kyle Orton is the quarterback.  Last season, the Broncos threw the ball 620 times, and over 15 percent of those passes were thrown Marshall’s way.  The Broncos enter 2009 with far too many playmakers for Marshall to be thrown at so many times, and of course his reception total could take a hit, but that does not mean he has to be less effective.

In the end, Marshall can hold out and request as many trades as he wants, but unless a team like Baltimore offers Haloti Ngata, nobody is getting Brandon Marshall away from the Broncos.  Not until after the 2010 season most likely, seeing as the Broncos can still franchise tag him the next two offseasons.

Oh and by the way, if Marshall decides to not attend any training camp session, he will forfeit a year of free agency eligibility on his contract, and will owe the Broncos yet another year of his services. 

The Broncos hold all of the cards in Marshall’s ridiculous situation, and I fully expect him to not only report to camp, but play for the Broncos in 2009 and beyond.

 

2.  Eddie Royal

Eddie Royal was the exclamation point on the most stellar first day of a draft the Broncos have had this decade.

When he was drafted, Royal was expected to contribute immediately as a kick returner, but little else.  Virginia Tech is not a throwing offense, and thus, his numbers were not very “gawdy” as one can imagine. 

During 2008 Denver Broncos training camp, Royal opened the fans’ eyes completely to the receiver he could potentially become.  I can still remember sitting there and admiring every catch he made while others around me scrambled to figure out “Who is number 19?!” on their media guide.

From that point on, it was clear that Royal was going to make an immediate impact on this team.

He led all rookie receivers with 91 receptions, and finished the season with 980 receiving yards and five touchdowns.  The former Hokie ended up leading the Broncos in all-purpose yardage with his return abilities as well as finishing the season with 109 rushing yards.

In the Broncos’ new offense, Royal appears to be a carbon copy, albeit faster version of New England Patriots’ receiver Wes Welker. 

If Royal can become a more consistent target inside the red zone, he will be one of the most dangerous receivers in the entire NFL. 

Last season, he and Marshall combined for 195 receptions, which was the best in the NFL.

 

3.  Brandon Stokley

When the Broncos signed Stokley in the summer of 2007, he was expected to be a minimal contributor and nothing more because of an Achilles injury he suffered in 2006.

The two-time Super Bowl champion has since re-claimed his title as the NFL’s best slot receiver (behind Welker), and the 10 year veteran has caught 89 passes the last two seasons for Denver.

Perhaps the most important part of Stokley’s game is his route running, which teammates consistently rave about. 

Thanks to his ability to separate from defenders, Stokley has been the Broncos’ most dangerous third down target, catching 69 of his 89 passes over the last two seasons for first downs.

Stokley also averages nearly 14 yards per reception the last two years, giving Orton a safety valve he really needs.

 

4.  Jabar Gaffney

Gaffney was a free agent acquisition this offseason from the New England Patriots, and he figures to bring good veteran leadership to this young unit thanks to the fact that he has been working in McDaniels’ offense the past three years.

Throughout the course of his career, Gaffney has had his share of ups and down’s, but overall he has been a solid, consistent performer in his time with Houston and New England.

He enters his eighth year in the NFL with the Broncos, and figures to give them some much needed help inside the 20, where he did a lot of damage with the Patriots. He also has the ability to take over as the number two receiver if Brandon Marshall decides to hold out.

 

5.  Kenny McKinley

Kenny McKinley was regardled as “the best receiver” legendary football head coach Steve Spurrier has ever had the privilege of coaching.

The former South Carolina product was taken by the Broncos in the fifth round of this year’s draft, and his immediate contributions seem to be coming with the special teams, potentially as a punt or kick return man.

McKinley is a very quick receiver with good route running skills, but how significant will his playing time be with the Broncos’ receiver depth as good as it is?

Is he the heir apparent to Brandon Stokley?  If he is going to replace the best, it helps to learn from the best.  McKinley should see time as the third and fourth receiver this season.

 

6.  Chad Jackson

Jackson is the receiver pictured with Jabar Gaffney on the right in this article’s photo.  At 6’1″ 215 pounds, he undoubtedly looks the part of an NFL receiver.  He also runs the 40-yard dash at a sub 4.40 second time. 

Why has he not been able to find his groove in the NFL?

Coming out of Florida in 2006, I projected Jackson to be picked by the Denver Broncos with the 15th overall pick in the draft, so you can understand why I think the world of this kid. 

He has been derailed by injuries in his career, and when the Patriots’ receiving core became so deep after their stellar 2007 campaign, he was cut loose.

I wrote an article shortly after he was cut how I would love for the Broncos to sign him, and the rest is history.

While many are not familiar with Jackson due to the fact that he had only one reception last season, I truly believe that he could be a star in this league. 

He has big play potential, and he is very familiar with McDaniels’ system coming from New England.

Is he a diamond in the rough?  Can he rebound from his slow start in the NFL?

 

7.  Brandon Lloyd

On the day disgruntled receiver Brandon Marshall requested a trade, the Broncos coincidentally signed former 49ers, Redskins, and most recently Bears receiver Brandon Lloyd. 

Lloyd is the sixth or seventh receiver on the Broncos’ depth chart, which really is an indication of how deep Denver is at the position given he was arguably the best receiver on the Bears in 2008.

The former Fighting Illini star has great big play ability, but is his work ethic going to be his demise in Denver?  Does the fact that he is familiar with Kyle Orton bode well for his potentially making the final roster?

 

8.  C.J. Jones

Jones was recently acquired by the Broncos via waivers from Kansas City, and he figures to eventually end up on Denver’s practice squad. 

Jones has spent the past three seasons in New England, so like a few of the other Denver receivers, he is familiar with the system.

The former Iowa star is a good blocking receiver, and he has great return skills.  He will be a solid competitor in training camp.

 

9.  Nate Swift

Swift has quickly become a fan favorite thanks to the fact that he reminds many fans of former Broncos great Ed McCaffrey.

The undrafted free agent out of Nebraska may have come to the Broncos a year too late, and the receiving group may already be a bit too crowded.

He will make it tough for the coaches to let him go because of his work ethic and versatility as a return man and special teamer. 

 

Projected Starter:  Brandon Marshall (Acquired via 2006 NFL Draft)

Projected Stats:   Rec.   Yds.   Avg.   TD  

                          88    1,100   12.5   8

Projected Starter:  Eddie Royal (Acquired via 2008 NFL Draft)

Projected Stats:    95    1,045   11.0   6

Projected No. Three:  Brandon Stokley (Acquired via Free Agency in 2007)

Projected Stats:    40    520      13.0   3

Projected No. Four:  Jabar Gaffney (Acquired via Free Agency in 2009)

Projected Stats:    35    440      12.5   3

Projected No. Five:  Kenny McKinley (Acquired via 2009 NFL Draft)

Projected Stats:    20    240      12.0   1

Projected No. Six:  Chad Jackson (Acquired via Free Agency in 2008)

Projected Stats:    15    225      15.0   1

 

Practice Squad additions:

Nate Swift

CJ Jones

Wide Receivers Coach:  Adam Gase

2008 receivers grade:  A-

Roster Spots filled by WR:  6/54

Total Roster Spots filled:  14/54

Inside the Denver Broncos’ Roster: The Fullbacks

For all of those who thought Peyton Hillis was forgotten in our running backs segment, fear not—he essentially has his own briefing as the Broncos’ starting fullback.

Hillis broke onto the scene as a rookie in 2008 when he unexpectedly had to fill in at tailback for the Broncos due to a barrage of injuries. 

The seventh-round pick out of Arkansas did not disappoint.

Broncos fans knew he was something special when he converted on a key 4th-and-1 against the Cleveland Browns late in the game to keep the Broncos alive for their eventual victory.

Hillis scored five rushing touchdowns in a mere four starts and averaged five yards per carry on 68 touches, totaling 343 yards. The 6’2″, 250-pound beast also proved to be very valuable as a receiver, catching 14 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown.

In my humble opinion, Hillis is the most versatile player on the Denver Broncos, and I defy anyone to not be impressed by the kid’s YouTube heroics.

Sadly, Hillis’ stellar rookie campaign was cut short by a freak hamstring injury he suffered in a 24-17 victory over the rival Kansas City Chiefs, and many NFL analysts felt the Broncos were a more complete offense—a more dangerous offense—with Hillis behind the quarterback.

Hillis is a rising star in this league, and I fully expect him to be a very valuable weapon on the Broncos’ offense this year thanks to his ability to run, catch, and block with the best of them. He has great size and great speed (runs a reported 4.58 second 40-yard dash) and plays the game with a chip on his shoulder.

As a rookie, Hillis outperformed his two Razorback teammates Darren McFadden (Raiders) and Felix Jones (Cowboys), who were both first-round draft picks.

Behind Hillis on the Broncos’ depth chart is converted linebacker Spencer Larsen, who is also a very versatile player. 

Like Hillis, Larsen does just about everything well, except for the fact that his natural position is middle linebacker instead of fullback. He is a great special teams player, and while he may seem like a teddy bear off the field, he is a ferocious hitter on it. 

With Hillis and Larsen paving the way for the Broncos’ deep crop of running backs, the running game figures to flourish once more for Denver.

 

Projected Starter: Peyton Hillis (Acquired via 2008 NFL Draft)

Projected 2009 Stats:  Car    Yds.    Avg.    TD     Rec.    Yds.     Avg.     TD

                                     80    400      5.0      7       30      300       10.0     3

I fully expect Hillis to get 90 percent of the carries inside the 10-yard line, and quite possibly 80 percent of Denver’s carries from inside the 20. He also figures to have quite a few receptions on play-action fakes and screen plays split out as a wide receiver and as a tight end. 

2008 FB Grade: A

2009 Roster Spots Filled by FB: 1/54 (Larsen will be included as LB)

2009 Roster Spots Filled Total: 8/54

Denver Broncos Awarded WR C.J. Jones off Waivers

The Broncos made yet another roster move today, announcing that they have been awarded wide receiver C.J. Jones off of waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jones entered the league in 2003 as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Browns where he spent time on both their active roster and practice squad. Since his brief stint with the Broncos, Jones has also spent time with the Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, and most notably the New England Patriots.

This move is intriguing to me for a couple of reasons. 

Jones was signed by Kansas City earlier this offseason thanks to his connection with Chiefs’ executive Scott Pioli, who is also formerly of New England.

When the Broncos were awarded his rights, he became reunited with Josh McDaniels, who was his offensive coordinator in his time with the Patriots. 

Jones has yet to record any significant statistics at the NFL level, but he has an impressive college pedigree going for him.

The kick return extraordinaire was a junior college transfer for the Iowa Hawkeyes and proceeded to become one of the team’s elite playmakers.

In two seasons as a starting wide receiver and return specialist, Jones caught 72 passes for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also returned the opening kickoff of the 2003 Rose Bowl against Carson Palmer and the USC Trojans for a touchdown.

Jones is the cousin of fellow NFL wide receiver Anquan Boldin, but he does not figure to be as secure on the Broncos’ roster as his relative is with the Arizona Cardinals.

The Broncos have great depth at wide receiver, and currently have 12 on their roster overall.

The recent signings of Jones and Brandon Lloyd do raise at least a slight bit of curiosity as to whether or not the team has received intriguing offers for disgruntled receiver Brandon Marshall.

I have previously speculated that there is a 99.9 percent chance that Marshall does not get traded, and I stand by that statement unless a team comes in with an offer the Broncos cannot refuse. 

Jones will at the very least provide some intrigue at the receiver position, but his signing almost guarantees that the Broncos are not going to let Marshall control the situation.  By bringing in Lloyd and Jones, Denver has basically said, “You don’t wanna show up?  We will bring in other guys who want to compete, and let you pay us for every day you miss camp.”

Smart move by Josh McDaniels and the Broncos’ front office.

Inside The Denver Broncos’ Roster: The Running Backs

2008 was a rough season to be a running back for the Denver Broncos.  The opening day starter was Selvin Young, and after his hamstring injury, there seemed to be a domino effect for Broncos’ running backs landing on injured reserve.

Joining Young on the Broncos’ injured reserve list were fellow running backs Michael Pittman, Ryan Torain, Andre Hall, Peyton Hillis, and P.J. Pope.  The Broncos also brought in Tatum Bell and Cory Boyd to play the running back position.

After the barrage of injuries, new Head Coach Josh McDaniels was not about to take any chances this season with a similar result.  His first two free agent signings were running backs Correll Buckhalter and J.J. Arrington, both of whom were key backups for the top two teams in the NFC in 2008.

He then proceeded to sign LaMont Jordan, who spent time in McDaniels’ system with the New England Patriots. 

Nearly a month later, the Broncos drafted Knowshon Moreno with the 12th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, and signed undrafted free agent Kestahn Moore of Florida.

After the draft, the Broncos also signed former Houston Texan and St. Louis Ram running back Darius Walker.

With this new crop of running backs, who will make the final cut for the Broncos’ 54-man roster?

Georgia product Knowshon Moreno is a virtual lock to not only make the final roster, but end up as the opening day starter. 

As a redshirt sophomore with the Bulldogs, Moreno rushed for 1,400 yards and finished the season with 16 touchdowns.  He also showed great abilities as a receiver, catching 20 passes for 253 yards.

Moreno is not the fastest back in the world, but he draws very favorable comparisons to Terrell Davis in terms of his quickness and shiftiness. 

Correll Buckhalter has proven over the last eight years to be a great reserve running back, but he has also spent a lot of time on the injured list. 

In five NFL seasons, Buckhalter has rushed for 2,155 yards and 18 touchdowns.  Most importantly, he only has six fumbles on 476 career carries.

Buckhalter is also very valuable as a receiver, and has 85 career receptions for 930 yards and four touchdowns.

LaMont Jordan was selected by the New York Jets in the same 2001 NFL Draft as Correll Buckhalter, and he has proven throughout his career to be a very versatile back as well. 

He has battled through injuries, but in his career, he has carried the ball 872 times for 3,648 yards with 28 touchdowns, including four last season with the Patriots which is a season high since he had nine with Oakland three years ago.

Jordan, like Moreno and Buckhalter, has also proven to be a very reliable receiver when called upon.  The power back has displayed soft hands, catching 158 passes for 1,301 yards and three touchdowns. 

Darius Walker was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame by the Houston Texans in 2007, and had a very solid rookie campaign. 

He rushed for 264 yards on 58 carries and scored a touchdown.

When Walker went undrafted, I was very hopeful that the Broncos would go after him due to his versatility.  He is not the biggest back, but he can run and catch equally as well. 

The only other running back currently listed on Denver’s roster is last year’s fifth round selection out of Arizona State, Ryan Torain.

Torain was compared by former Head Coach Mike Shanahan to former Bronco great Terrell Davis, and one can only imagine the lofty expectations that ensued.

Bronco fans were as eager for Torain’s debut as the starter against the Cleveland Browns as they were for the debut of Jay Cutler back in 2006, and the rookie did not disappoint.

In the first half against the Browns, Torain rushed for 68 yards on 12 carries, and capped off the opening drive with a diving touchdown run.

Overjoyed Bronco fans could not get enough, but sadly it came to an abrupt end as Torain’s season was cut short by a torn ACL suffered midway through the second quarter.

He is rehabbing his injury still today, and is hopeful to be ready by the time training camp rolls around.

It is likely that McDaniels will end up only keeping four running backs on the final roster, so one of the aforementioned players is on the outside looking in.

Projected Starter:  Knowshon Moreno (Acquired via 2009 NFL Draft)

Projected Stats:  Car    Yds    Avg.   TD    Rec.   Yds.   Avg.    TD

                       230    1,104  4.8     8      30     240     8.0     2

Projected Second String:  Correll Buckhalter (Acquired via Free Agency)

Projected Stats:   100    460    4.6     4      25     188     7.5      1

Projected Third String:  LaMont Jordan (Acquired via Free Agency)

Projected Stats:    75    330     4.4     3      20     120     6.0      1

Projected Fourth String:  Ryan Torain (Acquired via 2008 NFL Draft)

Projected Stats:    50    250     5.0     1      10     75       7.5      0

Projected RB Totals:  455    2,144   4.7   16   85    623    7.25    4

 

2008 RB’s Grade:  B

Roster Spots Occupied by RB:  4/54

Total Roster Spots Filled:  7/54

Running Backs Coach:  Bobby Turner

 

Inside the Denver Broncos’ Roster: The Quarterbacks

As somewhat of a response to Punkus’ great article earlier, I will now give you my opinion of who will make the Denver Broncos’ final roster for 2009.

I will start by giving an overview of the Broncos’ quarterback unit, which took a serious hit in terms of pure talent when the team traded away Pro Bowl selection Jay Cutler.

As any casual sports fan knows by now, Cutler was dealt to the Chicago Bears in exchange for Kyle Orton and three draft picks.

Orton has been named the starting quarterback by head coach Josh McDaniels, as expected, and will continue to compete for the job this offseason with free agent signee Chris Simms.

For the Broncos, Orton will be expected to run Josh McDaniels’ complex but effective offense that relies heavily on the pass.  In his time with the New England Patriots, McDaniels was able to orchestrate the unquestioned best offense the NFL has ever seen in 2007, and followed up in 2008 by turning Matt Cassel into a $14 million man.

Bronco fans have good reason to believe he can have repeat success in Denver with Orton, especially with the talent he has around him.

Not only does the change of scenery and upgrade in arsenal help Orton, but the fifth year quarterback will be a free agent at the end of the 2009 season, and he does not want to be looking for a backup job when that time comes.

Here is a look at Orton’s 2008 statistics and a projection of his numbers with the Broncos:

2008 season:  Comp    Att    Yds      Cmp%    YPA    TD   INT    SACK     RAT

                    272     465   2,972     58.5       6.39   18    12      27        79.6

2009 PROJ:     330     550   3,850     60.0       7.00   24    14      14        ~82.0

I fully expect Orton to have the best season of his career with the Broncos.  In Chicago, he was not used properly, and the Bears relied far too much on the run to win games.  In Denver, I fully believe he will throw around 30-35 passes per game and get every receiver involved.

As for Chris Simms, I think Denver is the perfect spot for him to have landed.  He came to Denver expecting to be the backup for Jay Cutler, and now he gets to compete with Orton for the starting job. 

By no means am I taking anything away from Simms’ talent, as he has been productive when given the proper amount of playing time, but I just cannot see him winning the starting job for the Broncos.

Before rupturing his spleen, Simms was playing the best football of his life, posting an 81.4 quarterback rating in 11 games while throwing for 2,035 yards and 10 touchdowns.  Due to the fact that he has lost a significant amount of experience the last couple of years, it is likely his overall production would take a significant hit.

Simms and Orton will likely be accompanied on the Broncos’ roster by Denver’s sixth round draft pick Tom Brandstater.

Brandstater is a 24-year old rookie out of Fresno State who is probably the most hyped sixth round pick to come to Denver in a long time. 

Due to the fact that McDaniels has aided in the development of Tom Brady and Matt Cassel, sixth and seventh round picks respectively, many Bronco fans are hopeful he can do the same with Brandstater.

A scouting report from NFL.com offered that Brandstater’s top two qualities as a quarterback were his leadership abilities and strong arm.  Two or three years learning McDaniels’ system, and this kid could potentially be the “next” Tom Brady or even Matt Cassel.

In 2008, Brandstater was very similar statistically to Kyle Orton, completing nearly 60 percent of his passes for 2,664 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with Fresno State.

Thanks to the quarterback wizardry of Josh McDaniels, many Bronco fans are not too distraught by the loss of Pro Bowl performer Jay Cutler.  If Kyle Orton can produce the type of numbers I have suggested, Cutler’s name will be quickly forgotten in the Mile High City, and Orton just may find himself wearing orange and blue for a long time.

 

Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach:  Mike McCoy (formerly Carolina Panthers passing game coordinator), Josh McDaniels (former New England Patriots quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator)

Projected starting quarterback:  Kyle Orton (Acquired via Trade w/Chicago)

Projected 2nd string quarterback:  Chris Simms (Acquired via Free Agency/Tennessee)

Projected 3rd string quarterback:  Tom Brandstater (Acquired via 2009 NFL Draft)

2008 Quarterback Grade:  B+

Roster spots occupied by QB:  3/54

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