With New Perspective, I Bid Bleacher Report…Hello, Again

The rising of the sun each morning is undoubtedly a beautiful sight. Each new day brings new chance and new hope for some, and for others a new perspective or new inspiration.

I will save you from the entirety of my metaphor. As I make my return to writing somewhat regularly in the Denver Broncos community here on Bleacher Report, I do feel that I have gained some perspective on the value of this community.

Sports are undoubtedly a major part of my life. Besides school, family, and other relationships, playing, watching, and talking about sports is one of the main things that keeps me “going.”

Before my “sabbatical” from B/R, I was one of the more active writers in the Broncos community, which I believe is the best in the NFL and here on the site. However, eventually life began to get in the way, and I “burned out” much of my inspiration to write.

I took some time off, and after awhile I began to really miss it.

Bleacher Report provides a place where true sports fans can talk about the teams they love, with both their fellow fanatics and with members of rival communities.

Without B/R, it was more and more difficult to stay current and up to date on the news and transactions that I had been right in the middle of while writing.

Without anyone to really talk to about the Broncos—I have many friends who are NFL fans, but none who follow the Orange and Blue as passionately as myself—I began to lose touch with “my” team.

So, I have decided it is time for me to end my time away and return to the community.

Training camps will soon be starting, and the Broncos have a drastically different team. There will be a lot to talk about and a lot to cover.

And then September will come, and we will be launched into yet another season of NFL football, where anything can happen.

Not to mention the New York Mets, my MLB team, is in action. That is all I can say on them at the moment.

With a new appreciation for the culture of the site, I am happy to return to Bleacher Report. I’ll resume writing about them within the next week.

Inside The Denver Broncos’ Roster: The Hybrid Linebackers

As the Broncos transition to the 3-4 defensive scheme, one of the major differences is going to be the switch for some players from defensive end to a hybrid defensive end/rush linebacker.

One of the great debates of this offseason was who the Broncos would recruit to play such positions, and which players already on the roster would make the switch.

When dissecting Denver’s previous group of defensive ends, it seemed that many, if not all of them, were qualified and perhaps better fit to play as rush linebackers in a 3-4 scheme.

The only problem is, these players will not only have to develop their craft as pass rushers standing up; they will have to learn how to excel in pass coverage.

For what the Broncos may lack in some other areas on defense, they definitely do not have a shortage of high-profile players who will transition to rush linebackers.

Among this group are the players who have led the Broncos in sacks over the last three seasons, two top-20 draft picks, a second-round pick, and a YouTube legend.

One starting spot at this new position will be filled undoubtedly by former fourth-round draft pick Elvis Dumervil.

Dumervil was taken in the 2006 NFL Draft out of Louisville following a stellar collegiate career where he was named first team All-American, Bronko Nagurski Award recipient, and finished his senior season with 20 sacks—second all-time for a single-season NCAA total.

Why was he picked in the fourth round?

Despite Dumervil’s superior skill as a pass rusher, he stands at only 5’11” and 248 pounds.

In three seasons with the Broncos, Dumervil has 26 sacks, which are the 13th highest total in the NFL during that time frame. He has started every game for the Broncos over the last two seasons, and is an impact player on this defense.

Despite Dumervil’s career success, many vastly underrate his abilities, especially the people at Madden NFL ’10, who gave the Broncos’ pass rusher a sub-70 overall rating. 

In case one is not in the know—that is horrible.

Even though Dumervil was not carrying a large enough chip on his shoulder for being passed on for over three and a half rounds of the 2006 NFL Draft because of his size, he now has this to use as motivation.

Dumervil was quoted earlier this offseason as saying this year’s Denver defense will be “nasty.” He needs to get a lot of pressure on the opposing quarterback in order for that prediction to hold true.

The biggest asset to Dumervil’s game is his long arms. In fact, the length of his arms can often off-set his shorter stature to get separation from bigger offensive tackles.

Lining up on the opposite side of Dumervil could be rookie Robert Ayers, a first-round draft pick out of Tennessee who was one of the pieces in the Jay Cutler trade.

The 6’3″ 274 pound Ayers has drawn comparisons to fellow AFC West hybrid linebacker Shawne Merriman. The Broncos hope to get Merriman-like production out of the second team All-SEC selection.

Ayers has an excellent combination of size and speed, and although he was not a superstar for the Volunteers, he led the conference with 15.5 tackles for loss, which will help the Broncos tremendously.

Many scouts believe Ayers is in the beginning stages of showing what he is capable of doing, and the Volunteers’ Most Improved Defensive player from 2008 needs to make great strides in the Mile High City to help this porous defense.

There were some in NFL circles who felt Ayers improved his draft stock dramatically with one of the best performances at the Senior Bowl. Too be honest, there were too many red flags for this Bronco enthusiast to get excited about the prospect of Ayers joining this team.

I felt he was a better fit for a 4-3 defensive end, but what did I know?

An NFL.com top-five list ranked Ayers as the top impact rookie in the entire NFL, and he was called the “best defensive prospect in the draft” by NFL and NCAA football analyst Mike Mayock.

Ayers has worked on his game, especially standing up and improving in pass coverage over the last few months. He has also spent a ton of extra time in Denver doing so this offseason.

In addition to Ayers, Broncos fans will be able to look forward to another new face at this position: former Indianapolis Colts special teams ace Darrell Reid.

Reid is the biggest hybrid linebacker on the Broncos’ roster, where they list him at 6’2″ 288 pounds.

I stated in the opening that Reid is a YouTube legend, and you can view that clip here.

Reid has been the leader of the Colts’ special teams over the last four seasons, ranking first on the team with 45 special teams tackles over that time span.

The former undrafted free agent out of Minnesota provides the Broncos with an extremely athletic option at this position, especially for his size.

Reid started the offseason as one of the first team rush linebackers with Denver, and could be a dark-horse to start the season in that role.

One player who surprisingly is seemingly on the bubble heading into training camp is former first-round draft pick Jarvis Moss.

Moss is entering his third season out of Florida, and it was rumored that the Broncos were attempting to deal him for a seventh-round pick in April’s draft. However, those reports were never confirmed by the Broncos.

If one thing is for sure, it is that Moss absolutely looks the part of a pass rushing phenomenon. He stands at 6’7″ and checked in to minicamps at 257 pounds. Moss compares very favorably in size to the great Jason Taylor, but he has yet to live up to his lofty potential.

One thing Broncos fans learned about Moss is that he does not fit into a conservative defense, which the team has run for as long as I can remember.

Now, the fans are expecting a more aggressive approach to the defense, especially via the pass rush.

Many feel and have felt since Moss entered the league in 2007 that he was best fit for an aggressive defense where he can utilize his quickness. He is not a run-stuffer by any means, and the Broncos would love to have six, seven, maybe eight sacks out of him as a third down specialist.

In two seasons with Denver, Moss has recorded only 3.5 sacks, but he has only played in a total of 18 games over that time frame. However, the jury is still out on him. He is not yet a “bust”, but he is flirting with the fine line between prospect and failed project.

Another player who is in the same boat with Jarvis Moss is former Texas Longhorn product and 2007 second-round draft pick Tim Crowder.

Crowder had high expectations for his sophomore campaign after a rookie season where he recorded four sacks.

Instead of bringing hope to the Broncos’ pass rush, Crowder was only penciled in for six games in 2008. 

Still, head coach Josh McDaniels has seen enough from him that the third year player has seen time in mini-camps as the first string outside linebacker.

Because he has played in only 19 career games, the jury is still out on this kid.  He has great potential with his combination of size, speed, and strength, and perhaps like many of the other Broncos’ defensive linemen, he could just be a better fit for the 3-4 scheme.

The biggest part of the defensive transition for the Broncos, these linebackers in particular, will be the challenge of standing up and defending the pass.  

If these young kids can bring some “heat”, shades of defenses past will re-surface in the Mile High City.

The Top 10 Broncos of All Time: Offense

The Denver Broncos over the past 25 years have created many great offensive players. There have been many records set and there have been 6 super bowl appearances with the Broncos winning two of them. Year in and year out the Broncos improve on offense and have also been one of the best offensive producing teams in the NFL. So i decided to break down a list of my all time best Broncos players. I ranked the top ten Broncos based on overall skill set, wins, and what they have accomplished in their careers whether it be a short career or a long career.

Inside the Denver Broncos’ Roster: The Nose Tackles

In 2008, the Denver Broncos ranked 27th against the rush, allowing 146.1 yards per game on the ground.

The only teams who were worse (Cleveland, St. Louis, Kansas City, Oakland, and Detroit) all ended up with selections in the top seven of the 2009 NFL Draft.

In this league, success usually goes hand-in-hand with two things: effective running, and stopping the run effectively. The Denver Broncos have struggled mightily with the latter over the past two seasons.

For what it’s worth, the lack of success stopping the run cannot be attributed to lack of personnel and coaching change, as the Broncos have had three different defensive coordinators in the past three seasons, and thus, three new defensive schemes.

The newest defense will be coordinated by former San Francisco 49ers head coach and longtime defensive guru Mike Nolan, who will implement the first 3-4 system the Broncos will have had in over two decades.

For this particular scheme, it’s well-documented that arguably the most important position is the nose tackle.

Having one of the top six worst run defenses in the NFL, one would imagine the Broncos’ new management would go after an “elite” nose tackle talent to help rectify the problem, but Josh McDaniels and company had another plan.

Instead of spending unnecessary amounts of money on Colin Cole, Albert Haynesworth, or trading too many draft picks in order to move up and select B.J. Raji, the Broncos went out and acquired what they hope is a gem.

To hopefully start at nose tackle, the Broncos brought in free agent defensive tackle Ronald Fields, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers.

Fields signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the Broncos early in the off-season, and he may have been a steal at that price. 

Don’t believe me?

Greg Rosenthal of ProFootballTalk.com points out that at his low price, Fields already knows Nolan’s scheme from his days with the ‘Niners, he is the ideal size at 6’2″-321 pounds, and he can hold the line of scrimmage.

In five seasons, Fields has 97 tackles, one sack, and has participated in 49 games, starting nine.

Obviously, his statistics are not unbelievable, but if he can be efficient for the Broncos and take on double teams, he will be the best acquisition of an off-season that has seen many new faces come to the Mile High City.

Another player who hopes to make the final roster with the chance to play nose tackle is undrafted free agent Chris Baker.

Baker started his collegiate career with Penn State, and later transferred to Hampton after some off-field issues arose.

At 6’2″, 326 pounds, Baker has played both defensive tackle and, quite surprisingly defensive end in his collegiate days, and many fans are hoping the Broncos can use the versatile big man in multiple roles.

I was lurking around the comments on an article written at Mile High Report, and I saw a comment that intrigued me very much. I do not have the exact link, so I will paraphrase what it said: “Like the center in basketball, many people feel the nose tackle in football has to automatically be the biggest guy, which is not true.”

I could not agree more.

The Broncos have several players who were mentioned in my previous Defensive Ends article such as Carlton Powell and Marcus Thomas, who both have the chance to play nose tackle because of their abilities to take on double teams.

While Thomas and Powell could be nose tackles playing in defensive ends’ bodies, Baker could very well be a defensive end playing in a nose tackle’s body.

Surely the Broncos will appreciate the versatility and athleticism, something they have severely lacked for a very long time.

In addition to Fields and Baker, the Broncos brought in former Carolina Panthers nose guard J’Vonne Parker, who is the biggest of the bunch at 6’4″, 325 pounds.

Parker seems like a long shot to make the team with the amount of youth the Broncos have brought in on the defensive line, but if he can put it together in training camp, he definitely looks the part.

Many felt the Broncos made a huge mistake by not using more/higher draft picks on this position, and I will disagree with that statement completely.

Why should Denver have reached for a mediocre talent in B.J. Raji, who would have cost far more than any of the three players who were brought in for similar production?

Should the Broncos have pursued the $100 million man in Albert Haynesworth instead of filling more pressing needs on the defensive side of the ball?

To me, it’s a myth that the Broncos’ No. 1 off-season task was to upgrade their defensive line.

In 2008, the Broncos were one of the very worst teams in the NFL in turnover ratio at -17, which was clearly the main focus of McDaniels and company this off-season.

The Broncos’ defensive line is nothing to write home about—yet.

They have much to prove as a young unit with minimal experience, but this group is already shaping up to be much more formidable than the one thrown together in 2008, and Broncos fans and critics alike could be silenced for their harsh evaluations of the Denver “bigs.”

Comparing Offseasons: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos

Typically you can’t write an article like this. NFL teams do so many different things in an off-season that trying to find similarities between them is like comparing an i-phone to cave paintings.

Not so in this case.

Kansas City and Denver, though unique in their personnel and approaches to this off-season, have nonetheless striking similarities which should not go unnoticed, and are worth a little investigation.

What Josh McDaniels Was Thinking

When Mike Shanahan was fired at the beginning of 2009 he was quoted as saying that he thought any new coach coming in would be a fool to substantially change the offense. The eventual trade of Jay Cutler and revamping of the Denver Broncos has been a bone of contention for many Denver Bronco fans ever since.

The end of 2008 saw the Denver offense compared to the best offenses in the league. Jay Cutler was being widely touted as a future star, his record an aberration blamed on a very poor Denver defense. Why then, did new coach Josh McDaniels change the offense?

Comparing the offenses of the 2007 New England Patriots and 2008 Denver Broncos one striking thing is that they both averaged close to the same yardage per play. This is what most pundits point to when they tout the 2008 statistics of Jay Cutler. What they don’t point out is that the 16-0 Patriots scored 589 points while the 8-8 Broncos scored only 370. 

Just three years before that Denver scored 395 points with far fewer turnovers and went 13-3. In fact a comparison of the 2008 Scoreability Index and the 2005 Scoreability Index suggests that the Broncos were less efficient and 2007’s Scoreability Index was worse than 2008’s.  Notice the team at the top of the 2008 Scoreability Index?

Of course everyone in Denver remembers the big falloff in 2006, when Denver recorded an 8-8 record. The end of that season saw Shanahan firing defensive coordinator Larry Coyer and trade starting quarterback Jake Plummer away. 

Since 2006 the defense has been poor and is popularly blamed for Denver’s woes.  Plummer was replaced by Jay Cutler, a young player with an impressive arm. The Broncos were 7-9 in 2007 and 8-8 in 2008.

Denver’s defense certainly never recovered its efficiency. Relatively unnoticed is the fact that while Denver’s yardage soared with Jay Cutler Denver’s scoring was going down.

Cutler’s gaudy yardage statistics, impressive as they were, were accompanied by more attempts and less scoring. Hidden in the stats was a growing problem for Denver’s offense, an inability to score touchdowns.

Denver’s rushing offense was a big factor in its two Super Bowl wins. Elway may never have won a championship without TD. Over the years Denver’s rushing game was a big key because it set up play-action passing and it forced defenses to choose whether to take a chance on whether to cover a Bronco receiver one-on-one.

2005 was a fairly typical year with Denver gaining 2539 yards rushing.  Denver’s rushing yardage dropped steadily every year, Denver only had 1862 yards rushing last year even though Denver’s yards per carry was almost identical between the two years. 

In fact last years yards per carry compares favorably to the yards per carry of Denver’s last championship team in 1998 when they still had Terrell Davis.

The Broncos had never really replaced Terrell Davis with a single back. Instead Shanahan had adopted the attitude that he could always find a back to be successful in Denver’s system and he was more or less proven right.

Why didn’t Denver rush more?  The popular reason given is that Cutler was a better passer than Plummer but their yards per attempt when one compares 2005 and 2008 is identical. The only real difference between the quarterbacks statistically is that Cutler threw 620 times to Plummer’s 465.

Shanahan, like many others, had fallen in love with Cutler’s arm and abandoned the offensive balance that had been a major part of his success. The result was worse offense to go along with worse defense.

When Shanahan was fired many Denver fans assumed that nothing was wrong with the offense; that Shanahan’s failings were only on the defense. Many people expected a defensive head coach to replace Shanahan.

When Denver Broncos’ owner Pat Bowlen hired a former New England Patriots offensive coordinator to be head coach it came as a shock to many who saw Denver as having no offensive problems. Before McDaniels had any chance to do anything Cutler made it evident he wanted out and forced a trade.

McDaniels was immediately faced with a team loaded with offensive talent that had been abandoned by its quarterback and a defense that had lost confidence. One of McDaniels’ first moves was to bring in defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.

Mike Nolan has made a career as defensive coordinator of some of the best defenses in the NFL. His success on defense led to a brief stint as the head coach of the San Fransisco 49ers.

McDaniels then made some smart free agent pickups of veterans like Brian Dawkins, Andra Davis, J’Vonne Parker and Ronald Fields. Quiet acquisitions like Darryl Reid will address Denver’s questions along the defensive line while letting Bronco linemen like Elvis Dumervil and Jarvis Moss assume more natural positions.

On offense he traded disgruntled quarterback Jay Cutler and a fifth round draft pick for a more enthusiastic Kyle Orton, two first round draft picks and a third round draft pick. If we go back to the 2008 Scoreability Index the team with the best scoreability index was the Kyle Orton led Chicago Bears.

Essentially McDaniels pulled off a coup, swapping starters and getting two first round picks and a third for a fifth round pick. This is possibly the area in which McDaniels made his soundest move.

In the draft McDaniels was able to add a great running back prospect, a solid pass rusher, several good young defensive backs, depth along the offensive line and a good young quarterback prospect. Between the draft and free agency McDaniels has quietly added depth, youth and experience while simultaneously shoring up several Denver weak spots.

Critics of McDaniels focus on the Jay Cutler fiasco but McDaniels really had little he could have done with that situation. As things stand he may well have improved Denver greatly.

Why Jay Cutler Will Fall Flat on His Face in Chicago

The petulant child—Jay Cutler—finally got his wish, and the blockbuster trade to the Chicago Bears commenced. Chicago now has their first “franchise” QB since Jim McMahon was taking them to the Super Bowl once upon a 1985.

I still don’t understand the reasoning behind labeling Cutler a franchise QB when he has a losing record as a starter (17-20) and has exactly zero playoff appearances. What makes me smirk is that the Broncos not only made out with three high draft choices, they also get a QB who is 21-12 as a starter, who proved he can win, in Kyle Orton.

Cutler, say goodbye to your young, stud offensive line who only gave up 11 sacks in 2008. Say goodbye to that magical running game they brewed up there in the Mile High City, now headlined by rookie RB Knowshon Moreno.

As you enter Bears training camp later this month, absent will be WR’s Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, perhaps the top young duo of WR’s in the league. Along with slot WR Brandon Stokely, makes a very formidable trio you no longer have.

Say goodbye to the offense ranked second in yards, third in passing, and 12th in rushing in 2008.

At least Cutler is leaving the 30th-ranked defense in points allowed, and 26th in passing yards per game right? Well, not exactly.

Say “Hello” to the 21st-ranked passing attack, 24th-ranked rushing attack, and a team who ranked in the bottom quarter of scoring.

Say “Hello” to the 30th-ranked pass defense, and to a unit who gave up 334.4 yards per game, ranking in the bottom third.

Cutler should help raise that offensive passing number higher; that was what he was brought into do. The only problem is, who is going to catch his passes?

The Bears’ Devin Hester is the No. 1 WR, in 2008 he brought in 51 passes for 665 yards, and three TD’s, compared to Broncos No. 1 WR Brandon Marshall who had 104 catches for 1265 yards, six TD’s. Marshall at least doubles Hester in each category.

The Bears’ No. 2 WR is Rashied Davis. He hauled in 35 catches for 445 yards and two TD’s, compared to Broncos No. 2 WR Eddie Royal, who grabbed 91 balls for 980 yards and five TD’s, almost tripling Davis’ output.

The Bears’ No. 3 WR is Earl Bennett, who has yet to catch an NFL pass, compared to Broncos No. 3 WR Brandon Stokely who had 49 catches for 528 yards three TD’s. I think there’s a pattern emerging.

The Bears did do themselves justice by grabbing Juaquin Iglesias in the bottom of the third round. I would not bank on a third-round WR to jump start an entire unimpressive WR unit.

It’s not like the Bears had an incompetent QB leading their team either; Kyle Orton can win games. It’s not like this team was rushing more then Denver, they were ranked 12 slots lower in running the ball.

Cutler will have two reliable TE’s in Desmond Clark and Greg Olson though. They combined for 95 catches, 941 yards, and six TD’s, fairly similar to the output he got in Denver.

I am sorry to break the news, but you probably wont be successful in attempting to lineup your TE’s as the WR’s the entire game.

The Bears made a bold move, a move that has taken Chicago by storm, and has the entire city saying the words “Jay Cutler.”

They sacrificed a lot to obtain their franchise QB; in many eyes, too much.

They even went out and got Pro Bowl T Orlando Pace the same day to protect his blind side for the next three years.

That’s all great except when you have no one to throw to. When teams start doubling Hester and blitzing every single play, Cutler is not going to have the luxurious security blankets he had in Denver.

The first time Rashied Davis drops a 30-yard TD pass, or a five-yard slant pattern, he is going to truly miss that guy named Brandon Marshall, and that team called the Denver Broncos.

Champ Bailey “Something To Prove”

Hot Georgia nights are typical in the southern state. People want to stay indoors on those balmy nights. Not in Folkston, Georgia, however.

The families would gather together on Friday nights and watch their High School football team play.

Charlton County High School turned out some great athletes, almost 50 Division 1 gridiron stars. Names like Larry Smith, Joe Hagins.

But none have made a mark as much as one special player.

His name is Champ Bailey.

Roland Bailey Jr. was born June 22, 1978 and raised in the small town of Folkston (3 stoplight town) throughout his life before college. In 1989, I drove through Folkston. Who would have known that there was an 11 year old football star in the making?

Champ was born of Elaine and Roland Sr.. He was also the 2nd oldest brother of 3. Ronald and Rodney and one sister, Danielle.

His younger brother was Rodney. Mom nicknamed them, though. Roland was called “Champ” while his little brother was named “Boss.”

When Champ was still in his teens, his mother separated from Roland Sr. and gained custody and raised the 4 kids on her own. They were great students and athletes which made her job much easier, even though she still was forced to work 2 jobs and raise her children at the same time.

Champ was a gifted athlete in High School. But even at an earlier age, 7th grade to be exact, fans were already dropping word to the University of Georgia about this future prodigy.

Champ went to High School in 1992 and started as the teams quarterback and also as a free safety. He dominated both sides of the ball. He also played basketball in High School for the Indians. He had a 43″ vertical leap. He also ran track in the spring. When he was a junior at Charlton, he became Georgia’s high jump champion. 

When Champ became a senior at Charlton, his coach, Rich McWorter moved Champ to tailback and his little brother Boss, to quarterback.

It didn’t take Champ long to gain notice.

In his 1st game as a tailback, Champ ran for over 300 yards and scored 5 touchdowns. Next game, more then 400 yards and 6 touchdowns. He finished the year with 1,858 yards and an incredible 28 touchdowns.

Champ and Boss led the Charlton Indians to an 11-1 record and a regional championship but lost in the state quarterfinals.

Champ went on to play at the University of Georgia with his older brother Ronald in 1996. They played together for the Bulldogs for one year.

Champ played sparingly during his freshman year, mainly on special teams and at the defensive back position. He started his 1st game against Ole Miss (Georgia lost). They finished the season 5-6.

Georgia had players like Terry Hoage and Scott Woerner. They were the names spoken of. Champ was going to make his own mark.

In 1997 he won the starting cornerback spot and never looked back.

Champ was spectacular. He was known for making great open field tackles and had 3 interceptions in 11 games. 1 of those was for a touchdown. He also played wide receiver, catching 12 passes for close to a 20 yard average. He also had kickoff return duties.

Georgia finished the year 9-2, a great improvement over the the previous season. It helped that they had other big names to play for the team. Names like Hines Ward, Orlandis Gary and Matt Stinchcomb.

In 1998 Champ finished the year with 100-yard receiving games against Wyoming, LSU, and Vanderbilt, all victories. He also caught eight passes for 99 yards in a loss to Florida. He ended up with 47 catches, 744 yards and five TDs on offense and three interceptions on defense. He was voted 1st-team all-SEC and was a unanimous All-American. He also won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

Bailey also set a school indoor long jump record in 1998 of 25-10 3/4 feet to finish 3rd at the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships.

At his combine, he ran a 4.28 in the 40. That, my friends, is fast. He also had a 44″ vertical jump.

He went on to to get drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1999 in the 1st round (7th overall). He was the 1st player to ever be drafted out of Folkston. Nice job, Champ.

He signed a 5 year, $9.64 million deal with the Redskins, including a $5.2 million signing bonus. Champ had a chance to learn from the best, Deion Sanders and Darrell Green.

In 2004 Champ was traded to the Denver Broncos, along with a 2nd round draft pick (turned out to be Tatum Bell) for Clinton Portis. After the trade he was signed to a $63 million, 7 year contract.

In 2006, Champ and the Broncos played the New England Patriots. Bailey broke the record for the longest non-scoring play in NFL history. With the Patriots ready to score, Bailey intercepted a pass thrown by Tom Brady and ran it back 100 yards to the 1 yard line where he was tackled by TE Ben Watson and fumbled out of bounds. Denver went on to score and knock the vaunted Patriots out of the playoffs.

In December of 2006, Denver played the Seahawks and Hasselback never threw to Champ’s side, not once during the 1st half. In the 2nd half, Matt tried his luck and paid for it by way of an interception. Nice job again, Champ. 

In 2007 he went to the  Pro Bowl again, the 8th time in his career. He went from 2000-2007.

In 2008 he was injured with a groin pull that cost him the majority of the season. When he did come back, he made some devastating hits on opposing quarterbacks. Before the injury he was still playing like the shutdown corner we all know. He was shutting down Randy Moss till the injury.

Now everyone is heralding Nnamdi Asomugha as the best corner in football? The guy is great, no doubt. I mean no disrespect though, when I state that you shouldn’t lose a spot to injury.

Champ would have made the Pro Bowl again, I am confident, if not for the injury. Suddenly he is no longer considered the best at his position because he got hurt? I think not.

I say he still has what it takes. I say that he will make the Pro Bowl again. I say that he will play at the high caliber play that we expect from him. Play with that chip on his shoulder.

I say he has something to prove.

Inside the Denver Broncos’ Roster: The Defensive Ends

At long last, this series has finally reached the defensive side of the ball, where we will begin by dissecting the Denver Broncos’ defensive line.

The defensive lines Denver has put out in recent years have been absolutely horrendous, and have been a real Achille’s Heel for the defensive unit.

The Broncos were constantly changing personnel, coaches, and alignments to rectify their problems up front, but absolutely nothing was working.

The team even devoted 75 percent of its 2007 draft class to the defensive line, and the results have been less than impressive, to say the least.

New head coach Josh McDaniels has been absolutely hammered by fans, media, and critics alike for seemingly avoiding upgrading the Broncos’ defensive line via free agency and the NFL Draft, but I would contend that the new regime in Denver has significantly upgraded this area of the team, particularly at defensive end.

In 2008, the average size for a Broncos’ defensive end was 6’3″ and 268 pounds, which includes the 6’6″, 298-pound Nic Clemons.

For 2009, the average size for a defensive end in Denver heading to training camp is 6’4″ and a whopping 298 pounds. That is a difference of 30 pounds for those keeping track at home. 

I know, it does not necessarily mean that the talent has been significantly upgraded, but it cannot get much worse than the 2008 unit, and the Broncos have beefed up their frontline significantly. The run defense will be improved, and this crop of defensive ends will be a huge reason why.

According to McDaniels, there are no clear cut starters along the defensive line, which would explain why the Broncos will likely go into camp with eight players vying for a job.

One has to imagine that third year player Marcus Thomas will have a roster spot locked in thanks to his consistent play over the last two seasons.

Thomas has been one of the very few bright spots along the Denver defensive line, and may be the most versatile lineman the Broncos currently boast. 

He started five games in his rookie campaign of 2007, and was penciled in as the starter for all 16 regular season contests in 2008. In that time frame, Thomas has 53 tackles and two interceptions.

Coming out of Florida three years ago, Thomas had his share of off-field issues, but scouts felt that the Broncos had nabbed a first round talent with their fourth round pick acquired from the Minnesota Vikings.

Thomas has yet to live up to that lofty potential, but he is steadily growing as a player, both figuratively and literally.

He had been checking in at around 290 pounds over the last couple of seasons before growing to 300 at the end of the 2008 campaign, and now he is all the way up to 305 pounds.  Some feel the reason for this is that the Broncos would like to use his versatility at nose tackle, which is definitely a possibility if he can get up to 310 or 315 pounds by the time training camp begins.

Thomas will compete for a starting spot with Ryan McBean, a fourth round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft who was taken 11 picks after the Broncos selected Thomas.

McBean began his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers who were absolutely loaded at the defensive end position, and he was placed on their practice squad.

He had a couple of stints on Pittsburgh’s active roster, but has only seen game action once in his short career. The Broncos feel he has potential to make an impact at defensive end, but the jury is still out.

One of the more intriguing players at the defensive end position for the Broncos is 26 year old undrafted rookie free agent and Iraq veteran Rulon Davis.

Davis, formerly of the Cal Golden Bears, joins the Broncos with a decorated background, one that includes being named after former Denver defensive lineman Rulon Jones.

Many fans are pushing hard for Davis to make the final roster, and for good reason. He has displayed great athleticism and versatility in his days at Cal, and the Broncos feel he can play at defensive end or possibly even outside linebacker in their new 3-4 defensive scheme.

Another rookie defensive lineman fans are excited about is former Northern Iowa star Everette Pedescleaux.

Pedescleaux is a giant of a man at 6’6″ 305 pounds, and he has proven to be a very valuable asset throughout his football career in college, racking up 112 tackles, 11 sacks and six blocked kicks. He was also a part of the UNI basketball team early in his college days.

One familiar face along the defensive line and at defensive end will be seven year veteran Kenny Peterson, the eldest of the Broncos’ defensive bigs.

Peterson, often referred to as “Patterson”, was the only notable defensive free agent retained by the Broncos’ new staff, and he appears to be an ideal fit for a 3-4 defensive end.

He has played both end and tackle in his three seasons with the Broncos, and last season played in all 16 games while recording 24 tackles, three sacks, and one fumble forced. 

Peterson could very easily be one of the opening day starters at defensive end for Denver.

One player Broncos fans are most excited to get the chance to see play is second year pro Carlton Powell, a fifth round pick last season out of Virginia Tech.

Powell stands at 6’3″ 300 pounds, and the former Hokie is regarded as a run-stopping specialist by scouts, so one can imagine why Broncos fans are eager to get this kid on the field.

He was placed last season on the physically unable to perform list, and never made it to the Broncos’ active roster.

Another former mid-round draft pick that will compete for a defensive line spot is Matthias Askew, a fourth round pick of the Bengals in 2004. 

Askew has spent two seasons out of football, and seems like a long-shot to make the Broncos’ final roster.

Rounding out the list of defensive ends is the third-year pro Clemons, who saw his most significant playing time last season for the Broncos, recording 13 total tackles.

The enormous Clemons was signed to a future contract in 2008 by the Broncos after spending 2006 and 2007 out of football altogether.

He played in a career-high 10 games last season, and hopes to make the Broncos’ final roster for the second straight year.

The defensive end position for the Denver Broncos is by no means flashy, but there is no doubt this unit is a significant upgrade over last season, especially when considering the hiring of former San Diego Chargers defensive line coach Wayne Nunnely, which cannot be overlooked.

State Of The Denver Broncos

The NFL is a place where teams are judged on whether or not they can win games, and make a run in the playoffs. There are teams in the NFL who can do this every year and there are teams who have simply just fallen off the radar.

The Denver Broncos was a franchise that began in 1960 as an original American Football League team (AFL). They started off abysmal, losing games in embarrassing fashions getting blown out every game, and overall not being a good organization. The Broncos went 13 seasons until having a winning record, and they are the only original AFL team to have never played in a title game. It took this team until the late 70s to make their mark in the NFL. However this team did end up winning a Superbowl in the 1997 and 1998 seasons with John Elway under center.

Now the Broncos find themselves facing what they did in their losing seasons. They face too many changes, new quarterback, new coaches, new playbooks, it seems like absolutely everything is changing, and not for the better is appears. Not too many things are shaping up to be positive for this team. From the negative attitudes of certain players, to all the skepticism over Jay Cutler leaving to Chicago.

This team appears to be heading in the wrong direction to many people. Most NFL experts and analyst have this team winning less than eight games. One of the only positives of this team is the explosive offense, but as said before, Jay Cutler is gone, and Brandon Marshall wants out of Denver. If Marshall leaves then you can not possibly imagine this team making the playoffs for the next couple of years. He really is that important to the Broncos overall establishment. From the double coverage that frees up others, to the big play making ability.

Just to think that only three season ago this team was one game away from the superbowl. Ha there was even a great chance they would have won the superbowl that year against the Seattle Seahawks. Many things have changed since then. A quarterback has came and left, all defensive positions besides Champ Bailey have changed, the Broncos cant find that next face at running back. The Broncos have been a big box of confusion since that game against the Steelers in the 2005 season.

Coming back to the present, I believe that the Broncos have done some positive things in the off-season free agent period, losing Jay Cutler was not one of them, but the addition of many players will immediately make the Broncos better.

Brian Dawkins will have a couple good seasons in Denver before he retires. Andre Goodman will help the secondary and will not get beat as much as Dre Bly did. Kyle Orton will step in and do what he has to do to win games, remember he has Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley, and Tony Scheffler.

This foursome of players have very good hands and have a ability to create plays. If there was a situation where a team could run Quarterback by committee, it would be the Denver Broncos, because the surrounding offensive talent is great. Also picking up Renaldo Hill will add some much needed depth to the Broncos secondary.

The 2009 draft class was great too, not nearly as close as last years but i see some major things from specifically three players from that class. The total list of 2009 draft class includes:

Round 1:

(12) Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia

(18) Robert Ayers DE/LB Tennessee
Round 2: 

(37) Alphonso Smith CB Wake Forest
(48) Darcel McBath S Texas Tech

(64) Richard Quinn TE North Carolina
Round 4:

(114) David Bruton FS Notre Dame

(132) Seth Olsen OG Iowa
Round 5:
(141) Kenny McKinley WR South Carolina
Round 6:

(174) Tom Brandstater QB Fresno State
Round 7:
(225) Blake Schleuter C Texas Christian

The three players that impress me from this draft class is Knowshon Moreno, Robert Ayers, and my personal favorite Alphonso Smith. When it comes to picking up the best running back in the draft you have to give the edge of Moreno. He rushed for over 2,700 yards and 30 T.D.’s in two seasons. He also managed to grab 53 balls for 3 scores.

Knowshon Moreno is most know for his ability to make cuts and direction better than anyone in college football. He may not be super fast, but come game day he is most likely and able to shake a defender out of his boots. i can easily see Moreno having 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns in Denver in his rookie season.

Robert Ayers coming from Tennessee, he already played the best of the best, and that included Georgia’s running back Moreno. This guy is a physical beast. He can stand up and play linebacker, and he can bull-rush to the Quarterback to get a sack. He reminds me of Shawn Merriman of the Chargers.

Just because they both are athletic enough to play linebackers but they are defensive ends at heart. Even though Ayers did not have a bunch of sacks and he had limited playing experience in college he still has the ability to become one of, if not the best Denver linebacker next to DJ Williams. Ayers has even been getting a lot of buzz from coaches and players, he is most likely going to start in this Denver defense whether it be with his fingers in the ground or lined up over the tight end playing outside linebacker.

Alphonso Smith out of Wake Forrest is a first rounder in my opinion if he was 5’11 or 6’0. Smith has been called the best cover corner in the draft and some even call him the best overall corner in the draft. This guy can play, he has 21 interceptions in his college career. He is going to be the next great Defensive back in Denver when Bailey leaves.

The Denver Broncos are a team still in the rebulding stage, and do not be surprised if this team is not in playoff talks until the next two years. I believe it will take one more draft class to make this team better for the next ten years. Since the Broncos are already within the top five for youngest team in the NFL they should be set for young talent for some time. If the Broncos do keep Brandon Marshall, then i see no excuses for Kyle Orton to not put of decent numbers.

The state of the Denver Broncos is not entirely good, but at the same time it is not that bad because you get a new face at Quarterback with a better attitude then Jay Cutler, you get a coach who has been around winning players and knows how to win, you get Brian Dawkins who will immediately make Denver’s secondary better. And you get three first round talents in the first two round of the NFL draft.

At the best i see the Broncos with an 9-7 record, at the worst i see the Broncos with an 6-10 record.

PS. Please comment and give me all your insight on what you guys think about where this team is headed and just give me your overall thoughts.
Thanks

 

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