Quarterback Blurb Breakdown: Kyle Orton

For the last set of quarterback rankings, please check this article HERE.

 

At first blush, you have to wonder what Denver was thinking here.

First, the Broncos mishandle trying to trade for Matt Cassel, and then they completely screw up calming Cutler down.

Then they trade a franchise quarterback for a perennial backup.

Or did they?

Sure, Kyle Orton didn’t wow us back in 2005 when he stepped in to cover yet another glorious Rex Grossman setback and played well enough to not lose.

And sure, while he looked incredibly good in the first portion of the 2008 season, he hurt his ankle and then completely fell apart.

But a bad ankle can hurt any quarterback and shouldn’t diminish what he did when healthy.

So the question is: Which Orton is the one coming to Denver?

Certainly you have to credit Orton for stepping in during the 2005 season and holding the fort. It’s a lot to ask of any rookie, especially a guy like Orton who was a fourth round draft pick—expected to have to no more than back up duties to incumbent Rex Grossman in his first year.

He wasn’t perfect, throwing just 9 touchdowns to 13 interceptions. But he was serviceable.

It’s odd, but the perception is often that Orton is very accurate, and that’s not necessarily a fact. On the surface, his TD/INT ratio is almost 50/50 (30/27 actually). Mind you, it’s not much data to go on—he’s only got 33 games to go on.

But he’s not a laser-accurate passer by any means.

The other assumption is that Orton lacks the arm strength to take advantage of his wide receiver corps. But in the same breath, many say that Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal automatically spell big numbers for Orton.

Once again, we don’t have a good measure of what Orton can do based on just two seasons, one of which was filled with a lingering injury.

Certainly Marshall, Royal and—to a lesser but no less important extent—Brandon Stokley and Tony Scheffler, all contributed to Jay Cutler’s success.

But I would make the argument that he made them as much as they made him, if not more.

The fact is, I think Orton will benefit from throwing to the group of targets he has in Denver. He’ll also benefit from having to throw more than in Chicago.

Denver hasn’t yet made enough strides for the defense to avoid struggling again this year and it’s possible the team will find themselves behind often enough to where Orton may have to come from behind.

The question is whether Orton has what it takes to come from behind and succeed. According to stats on footballguys.com, trailing the opposition last season, Orton threw for 1,002 yards but had a TD/INT ratio of 6 TDs to 7 INTs.

Again, some of that surely comes down to his wide receivers. Still, some of that is Orton and he’ll need to be able to be more accurate in Denver.

In the end, I’m not totally sure what we can expect from Orton and that’s a great deal of the problem. He’s been hot and cold, produced well and not at all, had few decent wide receivers, and was in an offense which favored the run because they didn’t trust their quarterbacks.

He’s done a bunch of different things in different situations but what he hasn’t been is around long.

We have very little to go on which is dependable.

In this Denver offense, it’s tempting to just plug Orton in and assume the same numbers Cutler had will emerge. By the same notion—given the not-always-impressive numbers previously put up—it’s easy to dismiss him.

The truth is likely somewhere in the middle. But the doubts I have place him a little further back right now in my rankings.

I can’t get too hot and bothered about Orton, even if he played well half of one season. He’s got the job, so no Training Camp battle. But until camp starts, we won’t see how he clicks with his receivers – the best of which might not even be there.

This gets worse not better if Marshall gets traded or holds out (right now, Marshall says he’ll be in camp and the Broncos say they will not trade him).  Again, nothing I can judge now.

So while I reserve the right to move him up later, in mid July, Orton is where he deserves to be on the list.

Inside the Denver Broncos’ Roster: The Cornerbacks

In 1983, the Denver Broncos traded for arguably the best quarterback in NFL history, some guy named Elway.

21 years later, they traded for the greatest cornerback of all-time, and there is no argument about it.

In 2004, the Denver Broncos unloaded running back Clinton Portis to the Washington Redskins in exchange for cornerback Champ Bailey and a second-round draft pick, which turned out to be the Broncos’ most recent 1,000-yard rusher in Tatum Bell.

That is what they call in the business industry a “steal.”

To begin the preview of the Broncos’ cornerback unit, I would like to offer a disclaimer:

The following statements I am about to make are not to disrespect Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha in any way, shape, or form. He is an excellent player with superb abilities, size, and athleticism, and I would welcome him to the Mile High City any day with open arms.

Despite the picture ESPN or NFL Network may be trying to paint, the title of “NFL’s best cornerback” belongs to Denver’s own Champ Bailey, no doubt about it.

If you do not wish to take my word for it, take a look at the facts.

Since he was drafted seventh overall in 1999 by the Washington Redskins, not a single cornerback in the NFL has as many interceptions as Bailey. He h as picked off 43 passes in that timeframe, 45 if you include the post-season.

As if that were not enough, Bailey has proven in that time period to be one of, if not the very best tackling cornerback in the NFL, recording 696 stops in all.

Thanks to that absolutely superb play, Bailey has all but guaranteed himself a shrine in Canton.  For his efforts, Bailey was selected to eight consecutive Pro Bowls from 2000-2007, and is a six-time All-Pro.

As a comparison, Asomugha has made two Pro Bowl appearances, and is a two-time All-Pro.

So why has he seemingly taken Bailey’s “crown”?

Aside from many national media outlets’ apparent hatred toward the Broncos, one has to imagine that the seven games Bailey missed last season would have to have something to do with it.

Is it fair to remove a player of his title because of injury? 

Should Tom Brady not still be considered the best quarterback in the NFL?

It should be noted that of Nnamdi Asomugha’s 10 career interceptions, eight of them came in one season.

Bailey can completely take over a game defensively.  In fact, I would challenge any doubter to find the last player to record four or more receptions against him in a single game since he has become a Bronco.

Heading into 2009, I firmly believe that the Broncos are blessed with the best cornerback to grace an NFL field, past or present.

Did I mention there are other cornerbacks on the Broncos’ roster as well?

After trading for Dre’ Bly, it was said that the Broncos would feature the best cornerback tandem in the NFL.

Little did we all know that Bly would turn out to be a mediocre acquisition at best, one who did not provide leadership or tackling abilities to go along with his horrendous one-on-one coverage skills.

Acquiring Bly definitely proved how good Champ Bailey really is, because opposing teams picked on Bly worse than any player I have ever seen.

Despite his best efforts, Bly was shown the door by the Broncos, and now resides in San Francisco.

To replace the veteran presence of Bly on the Broncos’ roster, Josh McDaniels recruited and signed former Miami Dolphin and Detroit Lion Andre’ Goodman, who had the best season of his career in 2008 with Miami.

Goodman led the Dolphins with five interceptions, which ranked sixth in the NFL.  He also ranked seventh in the NFL with a very respectable 19 pass break-ups.

Lindy’s NFL preview magazine felt that Goodman’s 2008 performance was good enough to the point that they rate the Broncos’ current duo of cornerbacks as the best in the entire NFL.

While many felt the Broncos failed to address their biggest need of the off-season by reaching for defensive linemen, I would contend that signing Goodman was the beginning to replenishing the Broncos’ “biggest” need.

In 2008, Denver was tied for last in the NFL with a turnover ratio of -17, which makes it even more unbelievable that they were able to win eight games.

Goodman will not only provide the Broncos with a legitimate threat to pick off passes, but he provides much needed veteran leadership.

In addition to Goodman, the Broncos brought in cornerback Alphonso Smith, who has been a controversial topic of this off-season among Denver fans.

Smith was selected by the Broncos with the 37th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, and to obtain that choice, the Broncos traded away their own first round pick in the 2010 draft.

Many feel that was a foolish choice by the Denver front office because Smith stands at only 5’9″, but was it really?

In my “You Make the Call” mock draft series, the fans voted that the Broncos should select Smith with the 12th overall pick in the draft prior to them even having two first-round choices.

Couple that with the fact that if Smith were an inch or two taller, he would have been a lock for a top ten pick in the draft anyway.

In his career at Wake Forest, Smith became one of the better college cornerbacks in NCAA history.

He finished his career with the Demon Deacons with 174 tackles, a Wake Forest-record 21 career interceptions, four forced fumbles, eight sacks, five blocked punts, and four interceptions returned for touchdowns.

Because Smith’s career was so prosperous, he was named first team All-ACC twice in his tenure, numerous All-American honors, and Nagurski Award Semi-Finalist honors.

Smith’s 21 career interceptions are good for 10th All-time in NCAA history at any level, and are an Atlantic Coast Conference record.

Many seem to disregard his talent because of his stature and the fact that the Broncos gave up so much for him, but nearly half of last season’s Pro Bowl selections at cornerback were under six feet tall, so who is to say Smith cannot be the next?

It is likely that Smith will begin his career with the Broncos as a “nickel” cornerback, but this college star will soon find himself in the starting rotation.

Behind Smith on the depth chart is really anyone’s guess.

Second-year player Joshua Bell started five games in 2008 in place of the injured Champ Bailey, and although he did not record any interceptions, he played very well.

Bell was acquired off of waivers from the San Diego Chargers, and in nine games for the Broncos he recorded 43 tackles and four pass break-ups. 

Pushing Bell for a roster spot will be Jack Williams, a fourth-round draft pick in 2008 out of Kent State.

Williams came to Denver in 2008 with high expectations after he showed great play-making ability in the pre-season, and especially after he drew favorable comparisons to the late Darrent Williams.

Williams will undoubtedly be in the mix for the Broncos’ “dime” package cornerback spot as well as a key player on special teams thanks to his exceptional speed.

Another intriguing player who could potentially make the final roster is undrafted free agent D.J. Johnson.

Johnson played college ball at Jackson State, and has prototypical size at 6’1″ 191 pounds.  He was one of the many projected players I had going to the Broncos in my mock drafts, so there is no doubt I would love to see this kid succeed.

Another player who the Broncos added via the college free agent route was former Florida State Seminole Tony Carter, who will be tough to let go of thanks to his great tackling ability, speed, and potential special teams prowess.

This is the best group of cornerbacks the Broncos have had since 2005 when they featured Bailey, Darrent Williams, Domonique Foxwoth, and Karl Paymah. 

Denver has added a veteran ballhawk in Andre Goodman, and arguably the best cornerback in NCAA history statistically in Alphonso Smith.

Whenever your unit is led by a player of the caliber of a Champ Bailey, you have to know you are sitting pretty.

AFC West: Aged to Prime Grade or One Year Away?

Forever it seems, that the division has been among the toughest divisions in football.
Teams new they were in for a fight when they played the West and NOBODY wanted to visit. Arrowhead, Mile High, or the Black Hole…please. Not to slight the Chargers but I don’t know anyone who would hate a trip to San Diego, the Chargers not withstanding.

In past years, nobody wanted to draw the AFC West.

With nobody over .500 last year a good bit of that luster was wiped clean and the fear was no longer there anymore, even at home. This year the teams are stacked with talent, they have made a number of front office and personnel moves throughout the division in an attempt to improve.

So as we stare into the 2009 season I wonder aloud, are they in need of some more time to age…or are the players and coaches set to regain that reputation? To get after it. And to do this damn thing!

Kansas City Chiefs: 2-14 in ’08

The Chiefs really cleaned out the cupboard. Well more like raided the Patriots cupboard but hey, whatever it takes, right. They released Herm Edwards and though I love Herm, it was time to go.

They replaced him with Todd Haley and he wasted no time lighting a fire under his players. (He has rubbed a few players the wrong way though, and it seems there may be a few growing pains as they find some middle ground in K.C.)

The biggest news has to be acquiring Scott Pioli from the Pats. He has proven he can build a winner and his ability to pull the trigger and get Matt Cassel was proof of his abilities. Cassel may or may not be the star many think he is but he has done one critical thing for the Chiefs already.

The QB position is finally settled. The ailing line has improved dramatically with the additions they have made and they are much improved on both sides of the ball. That’s where the fortunes will lie for the Chiefs, down in the mud and the muck with in the big uglies up front.

The Chiefs may have been tough for their fans to watch lately but amidst their slump, they have had a lot of success in one key area. The NFL draft. They are young and talented and that’s a dangerous combination. If the young players can gel and the veterans can lead, things can improve in a hurry in KC.

The success of the season will not be Cassel’s lone burden to bare. If the Chiefs turn a corner it will be the young studs on D…Flowers, Hali, Jackson and Dorsey. If these young guys can light that fire and keep it burning…then the domino’s can start to fall into place.

The long tradition of winning football through a feared defense can once again reign, and return fear to the hearts of anyone traveling to Arrowhead.

Oakland Raiders: 5-11 in ’08

The Raiders have tried numerous ways to regain the luster that is the Silver and Black. Different coaches,
high priced players but nothing has clicked as of yet in Oakland.

Recently however they have tried utilizing the draft, perhaps not so much this year but over the past few years they have put some very good players into place. Heyward-Bey will help the vertical attack while McFadden will have plenty of SportsCenter moments at tailback.

The new head coach Tom Cable is an offensive minded coach and has had a very productive offense everywhere he’s been. The talent and speed is there for him but it all revolves around one man. JaMarcus Russell.

I know that many still wonder if he’ll even be the starter come September, but if they are going to make a serious turn towards bettering themselves…he will be. He’s a massive man, has a cannon for an arm and now has a coach that will gear things to him, but none of that is what really matters.

Entering the draft rumors circled that Russell would sit out a year rather than play for Oakland, true or false…you make the call. He did not seem to embrace the team early on though, and that is the where I see the tuning point.

JaMarcus calls a personal training camp for him and the receivers? How’s that for embracing your team.  That, I believe, is more than a just a story, it’s huge!! He has the talent and Cable is proven as an offensive mind…so look for real fireworks Oakland this season.

As for the defense, well who even knows who the starters will be, do you? If the offense is clicking and scoring the points they’re capable of, then the defense can take chances.

They may not be ready for prime time just yet, but I can tell you that few teams look as exciting. It seems like the Raiders are the proverbial “any given Sunday” kind of team in ’09. However, with the talent they wield on offense, there’s only six words that describe their potential…NaNaNa…NanNaNa

San Diego Chargers: 8-8 in ’08

The Chargers have been the lead dog in the West for a couple of years now and one of the most talented teams in the NFL. They have played their best ball late in the season and have shined at times in the playoffs. Especially their quarterback Phillip Rivers.

They hope to get Merriman back at full strength and if they do, the Chargers will be looking awfully good again in ’09.

L.T. has seen his best days, but may have one more good run in him as he tried to hold off Darren Sproles.

Rivers can hit the open man on call and does not need household names to shine. That said, the offense should be as good as advertised under Rivers. Add to that L.T. having something to prove. Watch out now.

The difference maker for the Chargers though should be it’s defense, it’s where their toast is buttered. Not because it’s better than the offense but because it’s the most solid unit in the division and could have them hosting games in January.

If Ron Rivera can find a way to get after the QB and protect his secondary (ranked 31st last year v. the pass) then the Chargers can finally live up to the hype.

The window of opportunity in the NFL is small and the Chargers need to get it done soon. If Rivers keeps his head straight and leads his team the way he’s capable of, there’s only one reason I can see that could hold them back. Norv…he’s a wild card, and that has not been a strength for his teams in the playoffs.

Everyone expects big things in San Diego this year, as well they should. Rushing attack in order, a great QB, Merriman…a well rounded team like this can send a serious “Charge” up your backside if you’re not ready to play 60 minutes of football.

Denver Broncos: 8-8 in ’08

Last but not least the Broncos. It kind of depends on who you talk to around here as to the answer to the question, are the Broncos better off? Hands down the question is yes, in some areas at least…time will tell on the rest.

Lucky is better than good was the theme in ’08 and Josh McDaniels has been charged with duty of flipping that theme on it’s ear.

No Jay Cutler this year but as I said before when talking about the Chargers, wild cards are rarely helpful in the NFL. (Ahem T.O.) So I think the Broncos are better off in that aspect.

Meanwhile, Denver holds out hope that McDaniels has another QB spell in his bag for Kyle Orton. The offense was good last season but stats are deceptive and all the attention paid this off season to the “O” will pay dividends, especially on the ground.

Knowshon Moreno was a great get for McDaniels as was the veteran Brian Dawkins who can be that difference maker for the Broncos.

The secondary has been a great liability for years and the release of Dre Bly helped in ways that may prove immeasurable. McDaniels REALLY cleaned house on the defense and has brought a new air and a new attitude to the Rocky Mountains.

T.E.A.M. The single most lacking quality of the Broncos for years has been that one word.

They haven’t been balanced on either side of the ball and it’s showed, especially late in the year when it’s harder to produce. They cleaned the cupboards and the attic and are starting fresh in Denver for the first time in a long time.

It’s time to get after it again, to run teams into the ground, gasping for oxygen. It’s time to snort fire and crap thunder again…in two words, Get Nasty.

The West has been too quiet lately and it seems things are about to change. Are they ready to regain their reputation as the toughest division in football…no. They are however ready to make some noise again and
noise is what defines the AFC West.

There’s no question that the Chargers have everyone’s attention, that’s a given, and nobody wants to see them on the schedule. It’s the other three teams that will define the division as a whole in 2009.

The Raiders? The offensive talent alone will give teams pause, and a trip to Oakland, come on. Who in their right mind, wants to see a black hole.

K.C.? Denver? They have been almost mirror images of each other since January. Now with the Cassell trade that involved Cutler, and the Patriot connection on both sides, there will be comparisons drawn for a while between the two clubs. Both teams have started from scratch and will look to their big uglies and their defenses to set the tone.

Qualcomm, Black Hole, Arrowhead, Mile High…the names say it all. The luster may have faded a bit, and the West may not be as lethal as it once was but do yourselves a favor fans…don’t sleep!

Seattle Seahawks Position Breakdown: Linebackers

 

The Starters

Lofa Tatupu, MLB

In 2005, the Seahawks traded two fourth-round picks to move up nine slots to get him. Criticism fell upon the Seahawks’ new GM Tim Ruskell and he was widely bashed for the move. Tatupu was too slow, undersized, could not jump high enough, and was not play-making material.

Four years later, all Tatupu has done is make three Pro Bowls and become the leader of the Seahawks defense. Fellow 2005 draftee LB Leroy Hill aided him in leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl for the first time.

Tatupu can do everything from hard hits to snagging INTs. Just his presence in the middle of the field draws caution for any slot receiver. Even during a mediocre 2008 season, when he was hampered by nagging injuries, he racked up 94 tackles.

In 2009, a healthy Tatupu will lead a revamped defense and serve as a mentor to first round LB Aaron Curry. Expect another Pro Bowl season from the “slow, and undersized” LB.

 

Leroy Hill, Weakside OLB

With a fresh six-year, $38 million contract in hand, Hill is poised for a breakout season as he takes over Julian Peterson’s old pass rushing duties (Peterson is now with Detroit). In his rookie season with the same role, Hill tallied 7.5 sacks; we should see that number rise in 2009.

Hill has often been overlooked because of the presence of Pro Bowlers Tatupu and Peterson, but now he gets his chance to shine. Hill eclipsed his 2007 production by two tackles, despite missing two more games in 2008.

Hill is not a terrific coverage man and has yet to record an NFL interception. Since his job does not entail covering WRs and TEs, his weakness should be masked. He is a great tackler and knows how to fully wrap up the ball-carrier so he cannot slide away. Once in a while you will see him aim too high and a stiff-arm will leave him eating turf.

With a bigger role in the defense, I would not be surprised to see Hill making his first trip to Hawaii.

Aaron Curry, Strongside OLB

Curry completes the Seahawks’ vaunted LB unit. He was heralded by many as the 2009 draft’s top prospect and was overwhelmed with emotion when he found out he was joining the Seattle Seahawks. I have heard nothing but ranting and raving about the former Wake Forest LB.

I am excited to see what he can bring to the table. The only knock on the standout I have been able to find is his rushing abilities. But with Hill manning that responsibility, it is a non-issue.

Curry is extremely quick, posting a 4.52 NFL Combine 40 time. He brings great speed and athleticism to the LB unit, finishing off what may be the best trio in the league.

There are going to be some rookie errors no doubt; he is going to blitz the wrong hole, cover the wrong guy, etc.  But he is a bright kid who will pick up the NFL in a short amount of time. The quicker he learns, the quicker this unit can claim utter dominance over any other.

 

The Best of the Rest

 

D.D Lewis, OLB

Lewis was a starter on the 2005 Super Bowl team. He is a tremendous asset to possess as a backup. He can play all three LB positions and is a solid fundamental tackler. He has never been much of a pass-rusher (one career sack), but can cover WRs and TEs adequately.

He is the type of LB who is not fooled by play action too often and he is great at reading what the ball carrier is doing and where he is going.

With “the big three” at the starting LB spots, Lewis will serve as a mentor to incoming rookie Aaron Curry. He is a great special teams player and that is what his “starting” role on this team appears to be. Lewis would be the first in line as an injury replacement if any of the vaunted crew goes down.

 

David Hawthorne, MLB

This kid oozes with potential and a lot of Seahawks fans are excited to see what he can do in the future.

With all three of Seattle’s superb LB unit locked up for the next six years (depending on Curry’s contract) it does not appear as if he will ever crack the starting lineup here. His nickname at TCU was “The Heater” for his high-intensity play and knack for devastating hits. Hawthorne has been coached up at all three LB spots and his versatility will be a great asset for the Seahawks.

 

Will Herring, OLB

The former fifth-round pick caps off the Seahawks’ promising backup unit. He is a quality special teams player and has nowhere to go but up in terms of polishing his skills. He is an incredibly smart kid and was inducted into the National Football Foundation Honors Society for outstanding achievement in academics.

Like the rest of the backup LBs, he suffers from having such an outstanding trio in the starting capacity. He played safety the majority of his college career, so it is not surprising he is undersized for a LB (235 lbs).

Unlike the other two backups, Herring has a chance to crack the starting lineup if he would make the conversion back to S.

I would not be surprised to see current starting S Brian Russell released or demoted soon. Herring could be a potential replacement if he finds a way to fit the bill.

 

Fantasy Football Predictions: AFC West

Fantasy season is just around the corner, and I have put together my fantasy hits and misses for this 2009 season.

The AFC West may not be particularly good defensively, but I have compiled players from each team that will have a major impact on the fantasy market.

 

Oakland Raiders

First, the Oakland Raiders—this team has the most speed in the AFC and probably in the NFL, but that does not always equate to talent. Let me walk you through the best in Raiders Nation.

 

Zach Miller, TE

This guy is a machine in gaining yards and snagging catches; he will most likely be Oakland’s top receiver again this year. Last year Miller snagged 56 passes for 778 yards and one touchdown. Now, the one touchdown might not be that impressive, but he really does not have a quality quarterback to get passes from.

When it comes to underrated tight ends, Miller is in the top five. He produces on a team that really does not pass the ball much. For the 2009 season, I can easily see Miller getting around the same yardage but increase his touchdowns to the 5-7 range.

 

Darren McFadden, RB

This guy was drafted out of Arkansas and had probably the highest expectations out of any other non-quarterback player coming out of the draft. Although he only had 499 yards for four touchdowns last season, that still does not rule him out as an impact player.

There is a thing called the sophomore slump, but I believe it will be the exact opposite for McFadden as he will gain about 900-1,000 yards on the ground and get eight TDs.

 

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR

I personally do not think this was the best choice by the Raiders, but I do believe that Al Davis will tell the coaching staff to get this guy the ball often. He will be getting many opportunities to get the ball, Oakland does not have any quality receivers, and, next to Miller, Bey will get a great amount of balls thrown his way. I see Bey in the range of 500-600 yards with about four touchdowns.

 

Players to avoid for the Raiders would be their DST (defense and special teams) and pretty much all the receivers, except Bey and Miller.

 

Kansas City Chiefs

Moving on, the Kansas City Chiefs have much young talent waiting for that perfect coach to take them to the next level. They believe Todd Haley is that coach.

 

Matt Cassel, QB

Coming out of Josh McDaniels’ system in New England, Cassel could have never imagined a better situation. He sure got great in a little amount of time thanks to amazing coaching and his ability to create plays with his feet.

Cassel coming into Kansas City does not have the weapons like he had in New England, but he does have stars in Dwayne Bowe and Larry Johnson. He will put up some pretty good numbers and will probably not be a starter in most leagues, but if your player is having a bye week, Cassel is a solid pick. I see Cassel throwing for 3,500 yards with 22 TDs.

 

Dwayne Bowe, WR

A very explosive player, Bowe is your prototypical receiver—he is strong, fast, and can catch. He also is one of the most underrated receivers coming into this year.

Last year Bowe had 86 receptions for 1,022 yards with seven touchdowns, but many people do not really talk about him.

They soon will. He has a solid quarterback to throw to him now and he will only improve on his numbers before eventually making it to the Pro Bowl. I see Bowe having another solid year, with 1,200 yards and nine TDs.

 

Larry Johnson, RB

He has not really been healthy over the past two seasons, but when he is he can run over almost any defense. LJ has a unique combination of speed and size, much like Christian Okoye, formerly of the Chiefs. Johnson will get back to form this season and rush for 1,300 yards with 11 TDs

 

Players to avoid are the Chiefs D/ST because it is too inconsistent—some weeks it does well and some weeks it looks like it couldn’t stop a college team.

 

Denver Broncos

Next we go to the Denver Broncos. This team had the No. 1 offense in the AFC West last season. They had many solid fantasy players that put up some impressive numbers.

 

Kyle Orton, QB

Now before you leave me a nasty message saying how he sucks, listen to this first. Orton is entering his contract year; statistically, players do their best in their contract year. Next, Orton is entering a system in which it is not so much about how athletic you are at quarterback but how you understand the game and how accurate you are—the decision-making being a key point too.

Orton is a better decision-maker than Jay Cutler. He will not throw the ball into triple coverage, and he is a smart player. Also, he never had weapons to work with in Chicago and he still managed to throw for 18 touchdowns in 15 starts.

Coming into Denver, he has probably the top recievers in the AFC in Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Tony Scheffler, Brandon Stokley. I see Orton throwing for 3,700 yards and 24 TDs

 

Brandon Marshall, WR

Over the past two seasons, Marshall has been one of the top receivers in the league at catching balls and creating plays. He will continue to produce as he is entering a contract year. He wants more money, he says; well, he will sure show that on the field, as this will be Marshall’s breakout year. He will have 1,400 yards and 11 TDs if his new QB produces at a good level.

 

Eddie Royal, WR

The surprise rookie player of last year, Royal was statistically the best rookie receiver since Anquan Boldin and he showed why. He was Denver’s most consistent player, only dropping three balls. He was very exciting to watch and he had a coming-out party for the ages when he squared off against Oakland’s secondary. Royal will gain around the same yardage as last season, he might even break 1,000 yards and snag eight TDs.

 

Knowshon Moreno RB

Drafted for one reason only (to start), Moreno was a beast coming out of Georgia—he was a human highlight reel. His production will cross over to the NFL as he becomes Denver’s next great running back. He will have 1,100 yards with 10 TDs.

 

Players to avoid are Tony Scheffler; under Josh McDaniel’s new system, tight ends do not see the ball much. They are generally used for blocking and only used primarily in the red zone. So if Scheffler does see production, it will be mostly in the red zone.

 

San Diego Chargers

Last but not least we have the San Diego Chargers. This team showed great heart in knocking Denver off the top spot for the AFC West championship. They also have great offensive talent to consider in fantasy leagues.

 

Antonio Gates, TE

Well, I do not really have to say much about this one; he is highly regarded as the second best tight end behind Tony Gonzalez. Year in and year out, he scorches defenses for yards and he always produces. He will have another solid year and gain 900 yards and 10 TDs.

 

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB

He has something to prove as he was pretty much pushed to the side for Darren Sproles while dealing with injuries last season. LT has gained over 1,100 yards every year he has been in the league and he has a combined 126 TDs over his career.

Coming into this year’s offseason, it was either take a pay cut or leave for LT. He will prove this year that he is not getting old and he will run over everybody. LT will have another year like 2006 and rush for 1,500 yards and 16 TDs.

 

San Diego D/ST

Whether it’s Darren Sproles taking one to the house on your team or it’s San Diego getting sacks like it is nothing, the Chargers special teams and defense will dominate again this year.

 

Philip Rivers, QB

Many people are saying that this man is the most underrated QB who was in the playoffs; as a Denver fan, I agree on that. There is no way that this guy should have missed the Pro Bowl last season. It is unbelievable to think that a man who has thrown for 4,009 yards and 34 TDs did not make the Pro Bowl.

Oh yeah, and he had the league’s highest QB rating, with 105.5. This man will not slow down at all, even though he does not have the strongest arm or he may not be mobile, he still will put up huge numbers and eventually take his team to the Super Bowl. I see Rivers throwing for 3,900 yards and 35 TDs and possibly winning MVP honors this season.

 

Players to avoid for the Chargers are members of the pass defense in IDP leagues; they were very inconsistent last season and they were saved by the run defense.

AFC West Off To See The Wizard

The Denver Broncos have had one of the most tumultuous off-seasons in history.

They have been swept up by a huge tornado and dropped in a strange land.

All Bronco really wanted is to get back to the Super Bowl, so he heads off to see the Wizard accompanied by his little dog Josh.

While following the path, Bronco comes across a scarecrow named Raider. When the scarecrow finds out that Bronco is going to see a wizard, he asks if he can accompany Bronco. You see, the scarecrow doesn’t have a brain and he wants to see if the wizard can give him one.

Scarecrow’s team has only won 24 games over the past six years and he can’t figure out why everyone is dumping on them. Plus he talks lots of trash every year, only to be let down by his team. If he only had a brain, he could figure out why everyone dumps on his team and learn not to talk trash until his team could back it up.

Of course Bronco is happy to have the company because there is an evil witch named ESPN after him. ESPN has threatened to kill Bronco and his little dog Josh too, because Bronco fired Mike Shanahan.

As they walk down the road, they come across a tin man named Charger. Charger too wants to go see the wizard. You see, Charger has no heart. His team has been the best team in the division for the past few years, but they barely sell out the stadium.

Charger is afraid that home games will be blacked out and his team will move to Los Angeles if he doesn’t get a heart soon.

As Bronco, Raider and Charger follow the path to see the wizard a cowardly lion named Chief jumps out and tries to scare them.

Of course, they aren’t scared and they start beating the lion relentlessly. After they stop beating him, the lion explains to them he can’t scare anyone.

You see Chief’s team only won two games last season and ESPN says they haven’t done enough to improve. The companions invite Chief to join them because, maybe if Chief had some courage, he could scare other teams.

So the four are off to see the wizard. Along the way they continue to be taunted by ESPN and its minions. After a long and scary journey the four, and the little dog Josh, arrive in Miami where the wizard lives.

At first, the wizard doesn’t want to see them but eventually agrees since they have come such a long way. The wizard has something for each of them.

To Raider, the wizard gives a diploma. Don’t be fooled by this Raider. You really need a brain.

The wizard gives Charger heart-shaped clock. This is fitting because time is ticking on your reign of terror Charger.

To Chief, the wizard gives a badge of honor. But it is going to take more than a badge of honor for you to scare anyone.

Oh and you Bronco…what did the wizard give you?

We all know what the wizard gives Bronco…just not this year.

The Top 10 Broncos of last 30 years: Defense

The Denver Broncos were not only known for there offense over the past 20 years. They had a period of defensive dominance.

I compiled a list of my all time Denver Broncos defensive players. This was based on overall skill set, stats over there career or during their career, and what they have accomplished.

When it comes to winning games, remember the key is in the defense, and not just the offense.
Leave your thoughts and comments please.

Inside The Denver Broncos’ Roster: The Middle Linebackers

Because the Broncos’ defense was porous in 2008, it is very difficult for those not close to the organization to see any type of silver lining with the unit. 

Often, every player on the defense is guilty by association, but that would be unfair for the Denver middle linebackers.

For a unit that ranked nearly last in every major category, they surely do not lack talent or experience at this particular position.

For the first time in 2009, many Broncos fans will experience the 3-4 defense led by two captains at middle linebacker, and possibly the best overall leadership since Al Wilson donned the Bronco on his helmet.

Still, with the amount of talent the Broncos boast at this position, it will be tough to find room for many of these players.

How will the coaching staff choose?

Here is an in-depth look at all of the inside linebackers on the Broncos’ roster.

 

1.  D.J. Williams

Williams is one of the most underrated players not only on the Denver Broncos, but in the entire NFL.

According to the team’s official Web site, there is no player in the AFC and only one player in the rest of the league who has averaged more tackles per contest than Williams, who averages 8.7.

The Broncos selected Williams in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft out of the University of Miami, and the former Hurricane superstar has quietly become one of the better linebackers in the league.

For Denver, he has played the “Mike,” “Will,” and “Sam” linebacker positions, and now will take on the role of “Jack” linebacker, as one of two inside starters for the Broncos.

In 2008, Williams only played 11 games because of an injury, but he was on a record-setting pace.

He led the NFL in tackles through Week Nine with 75, and he finished the year with 93 total stops. Normally I am not one for hypotheticals, but had Williams kept that pace through the entire season, he would have finished the year with 133 tackles.

Williams was signed early last season to a five-year, $30 million extension, and for good reason.  If not for some guy named Champ, Williams would be the best player on the Broncos’ defense, and may be the most physically gifted anyway.

One thing Williams brings to the Broncos is durability. Until this past season, he had not missed a start from 2004-2007.

Williams is a captain who leads by example, and Bronco fans can expect a big season from him under the tutelage of defensive genius Mike Nolan.

 

2.  Andra Davis

Davis was brought to Denver early on in the offseason as an unrestricted free agent who had spent the last seven seasons with Cleveland.

In the last six seasons, you would be hard-pressed to find a more consistent tackler than Davis. Since 2003, he has averaged 103 tackles per season.

Did I mention he has only started all 16 games three times in his career?

Perhaps he has some injury concern attached to his price tag, but there is no doubt that when healthy Davis is a run-stuffing force at middle linebacker. 

Listening to the offseason interviews with the defensive players of the Broncos, it sounds as though Davis is well on his way to becoming a captain of this young Broncos’ defense.

A great leader on and off the gridiron, Denver seems to have a bargain on their hands in Davis, the former fifth round draft pick out of Florida.

The knock on Davis is that he is not great in pass coverage, a statement that seems a bit odd considering he has eight career interceptions—a very respectable total for a 3-4 linebacker.

Davis will pair with D.J. Williams to form one of the NFL’s better 3-4 inside linebacker duos.

 

3.  Wesley Woodyard

Not much needs to be said to Bronco fans about this kid.

Woodyard was signed out of Kentucky as an undrafted free agent in 2008, and many figured since the Broncos were already fairly deep at the linebacker position, he would get his opportunity for playing time as a safety or on special teams.

Little did they know they would get a taste of all three.

Because of injuries to Boss Bailey and D.J. Williams, the Broncos were forced to thrust Woodyard into the starting outside linebacker role, and he did not disappoint.

Woodyard started six games for the Broncos and finished eighth on the team with 55 tackles, and first on the team with 11 special teams tackles.

He quickly became a fan favorite for his passion and versatility, and figures to be an even more important part of the Broncos’ defense for 2009.

Because of his great speed and athleticism, it is not out of the question that the Broncos could use Woodyard as a middle linebacker, outside linebacker on passing downs, special teams gunner, and “rover” or safety in goal line situations.

 

4.  Spencer Larsen

Speaking of versatility, have you ever heard of Spencer Larsen?

If not, he is the first player in Broncos’ history and the fourth in NFL since 1990 to start a game on both offense and defense, when he opened the game as the starting fullback and linebacker.

It should also be noted that he also began the game on kick coverage.

Larsen was picked by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft out of Arizona, and instantly became one of the key players on the Broncos’ special teams unit.

Some feel he has the potential and the intelligence to eventually be a starter at middle linebacker, but with Wesley Woodyard and D.J. Williams in the mix long-term, it could be hard for him to be anything more than a rotational player.

Larsen’s duties on offense did not go anywhere beyond throwing blocks as the fullback, but he did finish third on the team with nine special teams tackles and 22 tackles overall.

 

5.  Nick Greisen

Greisen joins the Broncos after seven seasons playing for some pretty notable defenses that included Baltimore, Jacksonville, and the New York Giants.

He is a career special teams player and backup, but he has been solid in whatever role he has played.

For his career, he has 255 total tackles and hopes to potentially provide the Broncos with a big-hitter on special teams, where he has 63 total career stops.

He always seems to find his way to an NFL roster, but he may have a tough time cracking the final list here in Denver with so much depth at this position.

 

6.  Mario Haggan

Haggan is not a well-known player in this league, but for what it’s worth, he made the most significant contribution of his NFL career in 2008 with the Broncos.

In only half a season in 2008, he set a career high with 20 total tackles and over the last five years he has established himself as a top special teams player at this level.

From 2004-2006, he recorded 49 special teams stops, which was good for seventh in the NFL over that time period.

 

7.  Lee Robinson

Robinson is a rookie linebacker prospect who went undrafted in 2009 and was signed by the Broncos as a college free agent out of Alcorn State.

Many Bronco fans are really pulling for Robinson to make the final roster, but that seems like a pipe dream at this point. He has a very good chance at making the practice squad and possibly as a special teams player down the road.

He was absolutely dominant for Alcorn State, recording 334 tackles, 18.5 sacks, three interceptions, and seven forced fumbles in his collegiate career.

The middle linebacker position is one that Bronco fans can head into the season knowing exactly what they are going to get: consistency. This group of linebackers will be coached by Don Martindale, who has been coaching the stellar group out West with the Oakland Raiders for the last five seasons.

He will be assisted by three-time Super Bowl champion and former New England Patriot Roman Phifer.

The Deadly Duo: Drug Charges and Child Support

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What once looked like a promising running back in the NFL is now a disastrous ending of the down fall that is known as Travis Henry. 

Drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round (58th overall) in 2001, Travis Henry seemed to be a promising rookie coming out of U. of Tennessee and being named SEC first team All-American.  And as expected, Henry was a Pro-Bowl candidate in his 02’ season with the Bills’ after a 1’438 yard and 13 touchdown performance.

Henry was doing well with the Bills’ and became the franchises fourth-leading rusher in history with 3’849 yards and 27 touchdowns in 3 seasons, he lost his starting job to Willis McGahee in 2004 and was traded to the Tennessee Titans in 2005 due to Henry not wanting to be a backup.

Although Henry did not want to be a backup, he became exactly that to Titans RB Chris Brown and still had some success with the team but was later released by the franchise in 2007 and signed by the Denver Bronco’s.

While Travis Henry was on the rise in the NFL as a top running back in 2007 in the early stages of the season, his personal issues became too much for him and the NFL to handle.

Henry was injured early in the 2007 season and also was in the hot seat for reportedly failing a drug test due to marijuana use. Although Henry was accused of going against the NFL’s drug testing policy he was still able to play during the 2007 season until proven guilty.  Henry later passed a lie detector test and hair test suggesting he was a victim of second-hand smoke.

With all of Henry’s off-field issues in 2007, he proclaimed wanting to have a new start with the franchise and giving the city of Denver false promises of “making right with the Bronco’s, Denver fans, and myself”, he was released by the Bronco’s in June of 2008 due to his lack of commitment and possibly knowledge of marijuana use before him failing a drug test a month later.

In September 2008 the DEA arrested Henry on accusations of being involved in a large cocaine affair and faced up to 10 years in prison on federal drug trafficking charges.

Henry pleaded guilty to a single count of cocaine trafficking in April 2009, and on July 15, 2009 he was sentenced to three years in prison and five years probation after his releasing, and a drug treatment program attached with an ample amount of hours.

With all of Henry’s troubles, he also has to worry about his 11 kids after his prison sentence is over. He was reportedly “too broke” to take care his children’s child support payments of 170K per year  while spending over 200K on jewelry during the 2007-2008 season.

Brandon Marshall Will Be in Camp

It is a topic that has been circulating in the back of every Broncos player’s and fan’s mind since Brandon Marshall left Dove Valley a month ago with a bunch of boxes after meeting with Pat Bowlen: Will Brandon Marshall remain a Bronco in 2009?

Since Marshall asked to be traded the Denver Broncos have held up a strong front.  From the team’s standpoint, he is under contract and they have no intention of trading him or re-signing him to a larger contract with all his legal problems looming.  

Marshall’s attempt to get a larger contract by demanding a trade has not worked on the Broncos, and with training camp just around the corner, you have to wonder how far Marshall is willing to take this.

The Denver Post’s Mike Klis reported earlier this week that the Broncos informed Brandon Marshall that as an injured player he will be expected to show up for training camp with the team’s rookies on July 27.

Yahoo! Sports’ Sean Jensen caught up with Brandon Marshall at the University of Minnesota while he was working out with fellow Pro Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

When asked if he plans to report to training camp on time, Marshall said, “Well, I’m under contract with the Broncos.”

This looks like a good sign. Despite Marshall’s desire for a new contract and his issues with the Broncos medical staff, he still understands that he needs to honor his contract and report to camp.

When Marshall was asked about his situation possibly being a distraction to his teammates, he responded, “You don’t ever want to be that.”

So we can all hope that Marshall comes into camp and is able to talk with the organization and work things out, while training and working hard to learn the new offensive system Coach McDaniels has instituted in Denver.

Despite being away from Denver, Marshall has still been rehabbing from his injury and working out to try to get better at his craft. 

Marshall said, “At the end of the day, I’m going to be playing football, and, if I’m going to be out there, I got to be in the best shape I can be in.  All I can do is get up everyday and beat my body up, and that’s the truth.”

Marshall has even been challenging himself by working out with other NFL wide receivers, including Larry Fitzgerald, who many consider to be the NFL’s best wide receiver right now.

“The main thing I’m taking back to Orlando with me is that I’m 20 yards behind Fitzgerald.  [Working out here] showed me how far behind I am from the best.”

Marshall said he enjoyed sharing insights with receivers like Fitzgerald and the Green Bay Packers’ Greg Jennings.

(Hopefully he learned a little something about how to handle your business from Jennings, who is an elite receiver himself and was able to get a huge contract extension just by playing well, and not by causing a scene or involving the media.)

The highlight of Brandon’s week in Minnesota, though, was when he worked out with Jerry Rice. “I had never gotten the chance to meet the G.O.A.T. [Greatest of All Time] before,” Marshall said. “It’s inspiring, to see how old he is, and how he’s still got it.”

If Marshall got some insight from these great players about how to handle his business from here on out, then maybe Marshall will shut up, report to camp, do what he is paid to do, and let the contract take care of itself. 

If it weren’t for Brandon’s off-the-field legal issues, I’m sure he would have a long-term contract already.  Hard work pays off, and that is what he needs to do: work hard, keep his nose clean, and the money will come.

I know we haven’t heard the last of this situation, but one thing we can rest assured about is that Marshall will not try to holdout. He will report to camp.  After all, he is still under contract with the Broncos.

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