Denver Coaching In 2009: A Mile High Change

The 2009 Denver Broncos will have a long road ahead of them as they have to deal with a mostly new coaching staff.

After the 2008 season the old era of Mike Shanahan came to an end and Josh McDaniels became a household name in Bronco nation.

McDaniels, has had a successful career before his arrival in Denver, however not as a head coach. McDaniels served as the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots from 2005 to 2008.

During that time the Patriots won a Super Bowl. Then two years later they went undefeated. In the undefeated season of 2007, McDaniels offense had an NFL record 75 touchdowns.

In 2008, when star quarterback of the Patriots, Tom Brady, went down McDaniels helped Matt Cassel come into the league and start games after not starting a single game in previous years or even in college.

The 2008 Patriots missed the playoffs but still had an impressive record of 11-5.

Now McDaniels will make another step up as he moves from offensive coordinator to head coach. The reason why Pat Bowlen promoted McDaniels to a head coach position is probably a big thanks to the success that he had experienced at New England.

The offensive is going to be rebuilt indeed. Not only at the helm with McDaniels, but also offensive coordinator, Mike McCoy.

McCoy comes from a team that knows a little something about the Patriots, or at least what it is like to lose to the Patriots. Carolina was a kick return away from winning the Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Patriots before time ran out.

Passing in Denver has never been a big part of the offense, but in 2009 that could all change as McCoy comes from the Panthers, and together with McDaniels’ history with helping out quarterbacks, McCoy helped a start-up quarter back himself, as he helped Jake Delhomme make a Super Bowl, a pro-bowl selection, and four 3,000-yard passing seasons.

Under McCoy’s guidance the Panthers went on to a 12-4 record last season, and the Panthers were able to receive a first-round bye.

In 2007, McCoy did not have a fun year. He was the passing game coordinator/ quarterbacks coach. The Panthers were torn apart by injuries. In 2007, not a single quarterback would start more than three games in a row for the Panthers.

Despite numerous injuries to the Carolina offense in 2007 the Panthers did not finish last in their division, and finished the season at 7-9. Proving that McCoy can teach the quarterbacks and offense several key things they need to know to continue to win, despite who might be throwing the ball. Which is good news for the Broncos which still have a question mark for quarterback.

McCoy is no stranger to the Broncos, Denver signed him as a free-agent quarterback in 1995, but released him. He went on to play practice squad for the Green Bay Packers.

While the offense is sure to get a big change in coaching and playing in 2009 for the Broncos, the defense is going under a big change as well.

Denver is going to try the 3-4 defense, and to that some key players will have to change position.

Somebody that will be able to help in that transition is new linebackers coach, Don Martindale.

Martindale comes from one of the biggest rivals of Denver: The Oakland Raiders. From 2004 to 2008 Martindale served as the Raiders’ linebacker coach.

In that time Martindale helped make some Oakland linebackers rack up some impressive numbers. Which means that Denver’s new defense might be very tough in 2009.

One player that starred for Martinsdale is Kirk Morrison. Morrison was a third-round pick in 2005 and in four years with Oakland and under Martindale, he was able to gobble up almost 500 tackles. That ranked him first in the AFC and second in the NFL.

Before entering the NFL Martindale was the defensive coordinator at Western Kentucky University. In that time the Western Kentucky defense allowed the sixth fewest yards for division 1-AA.

As linebackers coach for the Broncos, Martindale is going to have to switch players around and turn linebackers into a duo threat, both stopping the run but also helping out on the pass.

So as a new season looms a lot of changes for the Denver Broncos. These changes are going to make the 2009 Denver Broncos a new threat in some ways.

The offensive is being held up with mostly first year coach’s for the Broncos, after racking up big numbers elsewhere while the defense plans to change schemes.

McDaniels brought in a bunch of new faces with him, sometimes change can be good, sometimes all change does is make people look for other changes to fix the changes that happened.

For the Broncos there is going to be a big change and hopefully, if everything works out, then the new change might just be OK.

The members of the new coaching staff have plenty of past successes. Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy received his position after proving in Carolina that he can help out starting quarterbacks.

Linebackers coach, Don Martinsdale, has made a tough line backing core in Oakland and helped several rookies over there record several tackles and interceptions, which fits right into the Broncos new defensive scheme.

And of course, there is Josh McDaniels who proved to be a great offensive leader in New England, and now hopes to lead an entire team of Denver.

It’s going to be a year of change in Denver, and at the end of the season, another change maybe adding another Super Bowl victory.

It may not happen in 2009, but it might happen soon.

AFC West: Breaking Down the Division by Team, Part Two

Hello ladies and gents, welcome to part two of this AFC West breakdown.  Today I will rating the second place team in the division, the Denver Broncos.

I will be using the same system as before, I will break the Broncos down as follows, HC, QB, RB, WR, OL, DL, LB, DBs, ST and rating them in a scale of 1-10.  1 being terrible and 10 being perfect.  Once again I will try to be completely un-biased and show no favoritism.  I sincerely hope that once again you enjoy this article.

Let’s begin.

 

HC:  Josh McDaniels is an unknown, unproven and so far confusing (although some might say lying) young coach.  So far Josh has made some great off season acquisitions, and gotten rid of part of the reason why, according to him, he took the job.

When you take into consideration, that in the eyes of many, he had a sub-par draft and did not adequately fill the team needs through such medium as expected, Josh is off to a rocky start.

Not so fast.

While it is true that Josh has made some head scratching moves, he has also, in my humble opinion, made the team better all around.  While at the same time he sent his newly acquired team, a strong message.  Scoring him at this point, is both hard and compromising. 

There is no way of knowing at this point, if anything he has done, has truly made the team better, albeit on paper some might argue that it is better, we have to wait until at least, the half-way season mark to truly measure some of the moves.

I will admit, I have liked most of the moves he has made.  That said, I also have to admit, that he has left me scratching my head as well.  When you take into consideration all of the above, plus the fact that no coach from the Belichick tree, has had any substantial success in the NFL, it does not bode well for the Broncos.

Taking all this into consideration I have given the HC the following grade.

HC: 4

 

QB: This position was fairly easy for me to grade. While I have stated in the past, that I never was a big Cutler fan, his talent is undeniable. At this time, I feel that the Broncos have downgraded at this position by, sending Cutler away and having Orton and Sims compete for the position. 

Orton’s recor as a starter cannot be ignored, neither is Sims promising start for the Buccaneers, but, that aside, neither have the talent or ceiling that Cutler had. Both Sims  and Orton played in lack luster offenses’ with their previous teams. 

Sims was in a constant state of looking over his shoulder, do, to coach Gruden’s, small patience in developing QBs. Orton lacked major talent at the WR position while in Chicago. 

Whoever wins this battle is moot point in my opinion. Both are a major downgrade at the position in terms of, arm strength and athleticism.

QB: 6

 

RB: Talent is abound in this position for the Broncos, especially after the team drafted Knowshon Moreno during the draft.  Moreno has the build, quickness, vision and toughness to be a three down back in the NFL.

While the Broncos have stockpiled at this position during the off season, not all of them will make it onto the final roster.  I believe that the RBs that make the team are, Moreno, Buckhalter, Torain and Hillis. 

Hillis will be at FB, while Moreno and Buckhalter share backfield duties. Torain, I believe, is too talented not to make the team, the only problem for him is to stay healthy.

With all this talent at the RB position and a new starting QB, the Broncos look to be a running team, at least until the QB and WRs build some chemistry and learn the system well.

RB: 7

 

WR: This group is actually pretty solid for the Broncos. It looks like the league has taken a wait and see attitude towards Marshall, which is good news for both Marshall and the Broncos. Marshall had off season hip surgery and the reports are excellent coming from both the Broncos and the doctors. 

Eddie Royal was, in my opinion the best rookie receiver last year, ahead of the Eagles’ Jackson.  He should take another step forward, this coming season, specially when it looks like the team will take some of the return duties away from him.

Stokley, is solid at the slot, but don’t overlook Gaffney or McKinley. Overall the starting WRs for the Broncos is among the best young WR combination in the league.

WR: 8

 

OL: In this area, the Broncos have gotten bigger and better. The Ryans, are lock down tackles, Kuper and Hamilton are big athletic bodies and Wiegman is the veteran leadership for the line. That said there is not much depth behind them.

A couple of rookies and a third-year player round out the depth for the Broncos. If this line can remain healthy, it is one of the best in all of football, at both, running and pass protection.

OL: 9

 

DL: This is where the Broncos, according to the experts, did not do enough. I disagree.  The addition of Baker at NT and Fields as a mentor to said young man, coupled with the rumors that Marcus Thomas, a promising DT out of Florida, is putting on weight, per coachs’ instructions, leads me to believe that the Broncos will have a very nice rotation at NT. 

Peterson will kick out to DE in the 3-4, and the acquisitions of some prototypical 3-4 DE as RFA, points to the Broncos upgrading at the DL. Now, at this point, all of the players mentioned or acquired by the team ar either unproven, career backups or rookies.

It is up to Nolan and McDaniels to coach all this young talent and prove that the Broncos’ DL has been upgraded, until then, this is all speculation. For this reasons I have given the DL of the Broncos the following score.

DL: 4 (unproven players and a new system brings down the score)

 

LB: I will take the advise of a reader, that suggested I separate scores for ILB and OLB since they play in a 3-4.  I did not do this for part one, but will correct that.

The ILB for the Broncos look to be Andra Davis and DJ Williams. They are both more than capable to be really solid LBs.  DJ has the chance to truly be special. It looks like Woodyard and Greisen will push Davis for playing time. 

Davis is solid against the run but lacks in the coverage department. Williams is solid (with a chance to be special) at both. Woodyard proved last season that he belonged at LB and not at SS like some people believe. 

If he can add bulk to his frame, which he can handle, and not loose that speed and quickness, Woodyard can eventually be the future for the Broncos along with Williams.

ILB: 7

 

Now to the outside. Dumervil, Ayers (R) and Moss are all trying to make the transition from DE to OLB. Rumor has it that they are all making the transition effortlessly, but, the prove is in the pudding, and until we can see them drop back and cover, at least at pre-season, I will hold my score for this unit.

OLB: N/A (I would give them a 5 if you push me)

 

DB: Champ.  Need I say more.  While he was hurt last season, and therefore missed a few games (seven), this might have been a blessing in disguise. This gave Champ a chance to heal multiple nicks he had acquired through out  the last few seasons, and gives him a chance to truly come back healthy. 

The additions of, Smith and Goodman, round out a solid, if not excellent group of cover corners for the Broncos.

At safety, the Broncos also Upgraded with the additions of, Dawkins and Hill.  More than their play on the field, these veterans were brought in to mentor a couple of young men, Barrett and McBath. 

Barrett showed flashes last season, but was highly inconsistent, enter Hill, one of the most consistent FS in the NFL. Dawkins will mentor a young man very much in his image, at least physically, McBath. Bruton was drafted to push Barrett but he will be mainly a special teams ace.

DBs: 7 (8 if Champ can stay healthy and, Smith, Burrett and McBath develop into their potential)

 

ST: At punter the Broncos uncovered a gem last season with Brett Kern, he was in the top three in almost all punter categories, he will have another solid season, barring injury. At PK is a different story, Prater has a gifted leg no question, the problem with Prater is accuracy.

Rumor has it, he has spent all of the offseason working with a private instructor to better his accuracy. Still this is a wait and see affair, even with his accuracy problems, he did not miss an EP and was a beast in kickoffs, putting him as a prospect but a good one.

Returner is the real issue here.  Royal proved to be a dangerous returner last season, but was unable to as effective as he would of liked, due to his increased roll in the offense. 

Arrington was signed during the offseason to alleviate the return duties from Royal, but was released, due to a failed physical.  McKinley does have return skills and experience he could take over for Royal.

PK: 7

P: 7

RT:6

Well, hope you enjoyed the second edition of this series.

Short Passing Game, Defensive Personnel Add Wrinkles To Broncos

Looking at the 2009 Denver Broncos, one thing is evidently clear—change is on the way. Lots of change.

With a new head coach in Josh McDaniels, a new defensive coordinator in Mike Nolan, new starting quarterback and running back, and mostly an entirely new defense, this year’s team will be nothing like the 2008 squad.

Whether that’s a good thing or not depends on whether you’re talking about the team’s offense or defense.

Offensively, Denver ranked as one of the best in the league in 2008, finishing second only to New Orleans in total yardage. But, with Jay Cutler gone to Chicago, the team’s offensive focus will center around new signal-caller Kyle Orton, rookie running back Knowshon Moreno, and a corps of wide receivers that rank second to none.

More than that, the offense will have head coach Josh McDaniels playing a key part in running the show. McDaniels’ track record stands for itself. Even though the 33-year-old head coach lacks experience, there’s no denying the numbers his New England teams have put up since he started calling the offensive plays in 2005.

In 2007, with the Patriots on their way to an undefeated regular season, only to be stymied by the New York Giants in the Super Bowl, New England put up 75 touchdowns, including 67 on offense.

That was with Tom Brady, Randy Mos,s and Wes Welker leading the charge. In 2008, with Brady injured in the season opener against Kansas City and Matt Cassel playing QB, New England still managed to win 11 games and just miss the playoffs.

Now in Denver, McDaniels will bring that short, effective passing game to the table with Kyle Orton throwing the ball to the likes of Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall. Orton may not have the arm strength that Cutler has, but, then again, Brady wasn’t considered the strongest thrower either when he left Michigan for the pros earlier this decade.

It’s that short passing game and the presence of Moreno in the backfield that will give Denver more than a one-dimensional look on offense, something that was almost necessary after seven Bronco running backs went down to injury in 2008.

But more than offense, the team’s defense will take on an entirely different look—and that’s a good thing.

A year after finishing as one of the worst teams in the league in yards allowed, Denver brings in former San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Nolan to lead the defense.

Prior to coaching in San Francisco, Nolan served as defensive coordinator for the N.Y. Giants, Washington, N.Y. Jets, and Baltimore. In each stop, the team’s defense had its best season in his first year at the helm.

With the Giants in 1993, New York gave up a league-low 205 points en route to a second-place finish to Dallas in the NFC East—a division that wasn’t won until the final game of the regular-season.

In 2001 with Baltimore, Nolan inherited a defense that was coming off a Super Bowl title. The talent was there that led to a No. 1 ranking in yards and points allowed, but the Ravens never repeated that effort, despite a pair of Top-10 finishes in 2003 and ’04.

That begs to ask whether Nolan’s defensive success in the 3-4 alignment has more to do with the personnel he had at his disposal or the scheme. It’s kind of hard not to think that it was the aforementioned players, something that Denver lacked in 2008.

With Brian Dawkins on board after coming over from Philadelphia as a free agent, rookies Robert Ayers, Darcel McBath, Alphonso Smith, and holdover Champ Bailey, the team has, hopefully, addressed its biggest weakness. Only time will tell.

I’m willing to bet that, while Denver’s offense will be the product of the new coaching staff in place, the defense, should it be successful, will have more to do with Dawkins’ leadership skills and the personnel around him then it will with Nolan’s 3-4 scheme.

History will prove that.

The 2009 Denver Broncos Envisioning a Change In the Backfield

For the Denver Broncos of 2009 with the coaching change I envision the backfield of both sides off the ball may see most of the play changes.

Of course after the 2008 season, the Denver Broncos released Mike Shanahan who was the head coach of the Broncos from 1995-2008. Shanahan in his tenure in Denver established the team as a running dominant team.

In that era such running backs such as Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis, Tatum Bell and others all became great running backs in the National Football League.

Now, however, a wave of change has come with the name of Josh McDaniels. Already McDaniels has started his quest to find a new Quarterback after the trade of Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears.

Next, looking at the draft picks that McDaniel’s and crew made it appears that the running game in Denver may not be what it was in years past. McDaniels in his previous job as offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots, has shown that he may be more of a pass coordinated coach than run coordinated.

After all as the offensive coordinator for New England, the Patriots of 2007 had an undefeated season, and a record setting 75 touchdowns.

Then as the 2008 season started, and Tom Brady went down, Matt Cassel, who never started an NFL or even college game before took the starting quarterback position. With McDaniels calling the plays Cassel and the Patriots went on to an 11-5.

During his tenure at New England, McDaniels and the Patriots were not known for their running game, suggesting that the ball may fly high this year in the mile high city. Looking at the draft picks however, the Broncos may not be so eager to abandon the running game that they have been known for in the past.

Off season moves and draft picks have shown that Denver could still run the ball in 2009 as the Broncos picked up running backs, J.J. Arrington, Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordon, and drafting running back, Knowshon Moreno.

Developing a quarterback will also be a key point that Denver and McDaniels is going to have to make in the upcoming 2009 season. Luckily for the Denver Broncos McDaniels does have experience in training new quarterbacks, as previously mentioned Matt Cassel was helped along by McDaniels in his transition into a NFL quarterback.

Even though a quarterback for the 2009 Denver Broncos, there are several rookies that have time to grow and may serve that time under McDaniels. In addition to offensive moves the defense of Denver may be on the course for change as well.

Although McDaniels may be known mostly for his offensive past (including playing wide receiver) it may come as a surprise that McDaniels also has a history in defense as well.

From 2002 to 2003 McDaniels was the defensive backs coach for the New England Patriots. And it may be the defensive backs that will change for Denver.

Draft picks indicate that a big change in defensive schemes and it could very well start for the defensive backs. Denver still has corner back Champ Bailey. Notable additions to the Denver Broncos defensive back field include safety Brian Dawkins.

Also in a bold trade for the first round pick of 2010, the Broncos also received CB Alphonso Smith from the Seahawks. Smith might fit right in as he holds the ACC record for most career interceptions, taking the record away from former Broncos corner, Dre Bly.

The Broncos also drafted two more defensive backs a safety and a free safety in the second and fourth round respectively.

As the 2009 season and training camp roll closer, it appears that under the new coach Josh McDaniels that the backfield of both sides of the ball may be where the biggest changes could come from last year to this year.    

What Will The 2011 Broncos Look LIke?

It’s the end of an era and the beginning of a new one for the Denver Broncos, as the team and the fans prepare for the 2009 season. 

There is plenty of uncertainty surrounding the team with a deluge of free agents, college free agents, draft picks, released players, and of course “traded players.” 

So while it is impossible to predict exactly what this team will resemble in 2009, the head coach and the owner have left clues as to what the team will look like in 2011 when the effects of their decisions come into fruition.

The first tenet the Broncos of the future will be expected to practice, play, and live by is accountability.

This was made crystal clear by Pat Bowlen when he called Mike Shanahan into his office and handed him his walking papers. While this was hard for the fans and players alike, it got the point across that everyone is accountable and mediocrity will not be tolerated indefinitely. 

Coach Josh McDaniels reaffirmed the message of accountability when he made it known that no player, not even a Pro-Bowl quarterback, was above being traded if it would make the team better. 

Every player, coach, assistant, and towel boy on the previous roster shared a role in the Denver collapse of 2008, and every phase of the organization would be retooled and improved upon without tip-toeing around feelings. McDaniels made these decisions knowing ultimately he will be the one held accountable if the team fails. 

Accountability will also be shouldered by the players when they leave the football field. 

 The NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell have taken a hard stance on conduct deemed detrimental to the NFL brand, regardless of official charges and courtroom verdicts.  Broncos fans have seen first-hand how distractions and suspensions affect the team’s ability to prepare and practice with their hearts and minds on football.

The second tenet the organization is striving to instill in the Denver Broncos is character. This actually became apparent during the 2008 draft when Shanahan was composing his fifth symphony in the form of drafting Ryan Clady, Eddie Royal, Spencer Larsen, and Peyton Hillis, to name a few. 

It was clear that both Bowlen and Shanahan were tired of being burned by selfish hooligans and project players, and they had a hunch that a stronger locker room might translate to a better product for the fans. Trouble-makers were sent packing and strong character rookies were given a legitimate chance to earn substantial roles on offense, defense, and special teams. 

The trend continued through free agency and the draft this year with new players arriving in Denver with strong convictions and commitments to country, family, and faith.

The third and final tenet the Broncos are counting on for the successful transformation into a championship caliber team is leadership. Attitude reflects leadership, work ethic reflects leadership. Without leadership, a young team with all the talent in the world will struggle to maximize its potential. 

McDaniels injected a heavy dose of leadership into the defense at the start of free agency by signing Brian Dawkins from the Philadelphia Eagles. Dawkins is a great player, but he is an even better leader in the locker room and in the community. 

Dawkins’ value on the field in 2009 and 2010 will pale in comparison to the mark he leaves on the young class of defensive backs that will lead the defense in 2011. He will teach technique, he will teach strategy, he will foster a nasty attitude on the field and he will lead by example. 

For young players seeing a leader on and off the field performing the right way is more valuable than anything a coach can scribble on a grease board or dissect in the film room.

So where does that leave us as a fan base wondering what the future holds for our team? 

It leaves us with more than just a light at the end of a tunnel. It leaves us waiting eagerly in anticipation to watch our team come together as a tight-knit group of players willing to do everything it takes and anything that is asked of them. 

It leaves us knowing we won’t be shamed by the headlines surrounding our players.

It leaves us knowing that while the road to the 2011 season will be bumpy, the team, the organization, and the fans will be proud to be a part of the Denver Broncos.

Breaking Down the 2009 Denver Broncos (Part 2)

 

Part I of this series looked at the Denver Broncos offense for the 2009 season.  Part II of this series will turn it’s focus to the defensive side of the ball.

The best part about the 2009 season for the Denver Broncos is that they have a chance to improve from their 2008 performance. 

Realists and cynics alike will say that it’s a tall task at hand for the team to improve from their 8-8 record. However the Broncos should be better in some regard on both sides of the ball, save the quarterback position.

Last season the Broncos finished 26th out of 32 teams with a total of 26 sacks. Kansas City finished dead last with 10 and the Cowboys lead the league with 59. Against the rush, a usual strong point for the Denver defense, opponents gashed them for an average of 146 yards a game. 

Additionally the Broncos finished 30th in scoring defense allowing an average of 28 points per game. 

Needless to say there is much in the way of improvement in the way the Broncos apply pressure to the opposition. Ironically enough however Coach McDaniels chose to forego a number of talented defensive linemen and linebackers through much of the draft. 

They chose instead to draft cornerbacks and safeties with the exception of Robert Ayers a DE/LB out of Tennessee with the 18th overall pick.

 

On Defense

Defensive Tackle

Since the Broncos appear to be moving to the 3-4, and it being in the first phase, it’s hard to know for sure who will land where given the number of “tweeners” on the defensive side of the ball.

This group is a mixed bag. In part this is why the Denver Broncos defense has fallen under intense scrutiny. It’s not that the Broncos don’t have some size and some talent at the position; it’s more an issue of not having enough of it. 

Additionally to date, no one at the position has taken the bull by the horns. So that gap in leadership on the D-Line needs to be addressed. Whoever steps into the role has to bring the sense of leadership.   

Ronald Fields has begun to build a decent resume with the San Francisco 49ers over the last four seasons.  He is getting a solid look at becoming the starting nose tackle in the 3-4.

Marcus Thomas has shown signs of greatness from time to time. The problem is the defense against the run and against the pass has lacked greatly. Thomas came to Denver from the Florida Gators in the 2007 draft. 

He has always shown promise, but has fallen short of the high expectations, possibly in part due to the desperate need to fill the needs up front. Marcus Thomas has been a developmental project, but he could be on the verge of competing to become the starter at nose tackle. 

Given the amount of pressure he has played under, he has held up relatively well.  Thomas still has much to prove so look for him to make a move this season.

J’Vonne Parker, Nic Clemons, Carlton Powell, Matthias Askew, are all journeymen with varying levels of experience in the NFL.  None of them have started and all are aiming to make an impression.

Chris Baker played at Penn State and was later dismissed because of legal trouble.  Baker wound up at Hampton to finish his collegiate career.  He is seen as having definite NFL talent; the questions about him are mostly related to his off the field character.

 

Defensive End

The woes along the D-line have been a story with a one word title: Disappointment.  The Broncos defensive ends are undersized to say the least. Consider the following unique deviation for defensive linemen. 

The New York Giants (generally considered one of the bigger D-lines in the league and recent Super Bowl Champion) rate as a team at a +102.  This means their D-Line total weight is +102lbs above the mean of 300lbs. 

The San Diego Chargers are a +37 and the Broncos are a -91.  The group listing of D-linemen follows:

 

New York Giants +102 above 300lbs

San Diego Chargers +37 above 300lbs

Denver Broncos -91 lbs below 300lbs

Oakland Raiders -145lbs below 300lbs

Kansas City Chiefs -217lbs below 300lbs

 

There is a quasi-relationship between the deviation number and the number of points defenses allow. Consider the Giants rated number five in average points allowed, San Diego 25th, Oakland 27th, Denver 29th, and Kansas City 31st. 

There are other factors such as how well your secondary is on coverage etc… What this point emphasizes is that teams that are successful up front generally have size across the board as a team.

So given that it’s generally understood the Broncos are undersized up front and how they fix that is not an easy fix. Consider the fact the Broncos signed Sam Adams to basically plug a hole in the middle in 2007. 

Sam wound up with a total of 5 solo tackles and 4 assist through 11 starts prior to being waived.  So while you have to be big up front you need athletes at the top of their game.  Adams abruptly retired.

Kenny Peterson has cross-over skills that make him more of a “tweener” than a true defensive end or an ideal defensive tackle. Kenny is the eldest statesman on the D-line reaching his seventh year in the NFL. 

He has the smarts to take a lead role at this point in his career; however he does not have a definite inside track to any position considering his physical makeup.  He will however be given an opportunity to be a starter at DE.

Darrell Reid also has crossover skills at DL / LB.  He comes to Denver by way of Indianapolis.  Reid may find himself in the starting role at DE or OLB since early indications are the Broncos like him on the field in tandem with Robert Ayers starting at OLB or DE. 

It is a bit of a pickle with DJ Williams in the mix. How the Broncos find the right mix on defense under the new scheme is a definite challenge that coaches like to have on their plate. 

While Reid has appeared in a large number of games over his four years with the Colts he only had two starts.  He has been a staple on special teams and has occasionally filled the role as a fullback in goal line situations as well.

Tim Crowder and Jarvis Moss were the Broncos first and second round investments in the 2007 drafts and they have yet to pay dividends. They are talented but undersized at their position. 

Crowder has shown the most promise of the two when healthy. There is also some discussion of moving Moss to linebacker permanently to free him up to better utilize his speed and rangy later strength. 

Ryan McBean has good size but is still a question mark. Elvis Dumerville is severely undersized but has great speed and has made a mark in applying pressure but he needs a supporting cast. 

Elvis will most likely remain a starter since he is the Broncos best pass rusher at this stage. Elvis is being looked at outside linebacker as well. 

The Broncos Drafted Robert Ayers out of Tennessee and he should see a significant amount of time at D-end as the starter or at linebacker.  The Broncos also signed undrafted free agents Rulon Davis out of Cal and Everette Pedescleaux from Northern Iowa, both have good size but are rookies that need to make an impression.

 

Middle Linebacker

Ever since Al Wilson was more or less forced into retirement, the Broncos middle linebacker situation has never been the same. It did improve in 2008 and was a major upgrade to the 2007 DJ Williams experiment gone awry. 

The middle of the Broncos defense has been a key to beating the team over the last few seasons.  With that in mind the Broncos brass went in search of the type of talent that could plug the holes in a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme.

Andra Davis and Boss Bailey are likely candidates to control the middle in the 3-4 schemes. Davis comes to Denver from Cleveland where he amassed 83 starts over seven seasons and some pretty impressive numbers at the position. 

He will definitely be a force in the middle of the field. Bailey is bouncing back from an early end to his 2007 campaign and may be a much better fit on the inside with his size.

Backup fullback Spencer Larsen should get some relief time in the middle as well with his skill set being a true asset for the Broncos. Nic Griesen a journeyman from the Ravens, Jags, and Giants should get some time in the middle as well.

Mario Hagan and Louis Green will fight to move up and make a dent in the middle position.

 

Outside Linebacker

With all of the new talent at the outside backer position, this is a group of athletes that can truly define this team going forward. The Pittsburgh Steelers current defense may be the fastest defense of all-time. 

What makes them so affective is the overall team speed that is primarily reinforced by the outside linebackers and safeties. Part of the model is being implemented into the Broncos 3-4 scheme. 

In order for the concept to work you have to have fast athletes that will fly around. The Broncos have focused intently on making certain they are stronger at outside linebacker and the safety position.

There is a mild log jam developing at the outside position and there may be an odd man out from time to time depending on the situation. 

Currently DJ Williams should be a given at the outside backer spot. The only problem to that thinking is this years first rounder Robert Ayers is getting serious consideration at outside linebacker and possibly Darrell Reid. 

At the other outside position, a pair of defensive ends will also be given serious consideration at outside linebacker. Both Elvis Dummerville and Jarvis Moss could both improve the defense and their careers from the outside.

One of last years pleasant surprises Wesley Woodyard will have to work hard to get some time at the position.

 

Cornerback

Champ Bailey is the only remnant of the defensive backfield from the 2005 team that hosted the AFC Championship game.  Fortunately for the Broncos he is still among the best in the league. 

Without a doubt, this group along with the Safety position has been the most upgraded positions on the team as well they should be.  Dre Bly fell short of the hopes Denver fans had of him complementing Champ Bailey as another coverage corner. 

The Broncos may have found a solution in Andre Goodman who comes to Denver from the Miami Dolphins. Last season he had five interceptions and a staggering 19 deflections at the corner position. 

For a cornerback, that is a lot of touches that eventually translates to more team turnovers.

Alphonso Smith was the first third round pick this season and seemingly has all the tools. Most immediately Alphonso is known as the guy Josh McDaniels traded a number one pick to get in the second round this year. 

Given the state of the corner position this may have been a near essential pick-up for the Broncos. They probably could have gotten Smith for less and still retained the first rounder. 

He is seen as a cover corner that is most ideal to a nickel or dime package DB to start.  He could also become the kick and punt returner or split time with Eddie Royal on special teams.

Following Smith are a slew of youthful corners that will take time to evaluate how they match up. Rashod Moulton, Jack Williams, and Joshua Bell are all entering their second season. 

The Broncos also picked up Tony Carter from Florida State and DJ Johnson from Jackson State as undrafted free agents. 

The numbers are there and the talent should be on board at this point, it’s probably a matter of who will take charge to become a force on the field.

 

Safety

Brian Dawkins.

It’s almost all that should be said.  B-Dawk as he’s otherwise known has a way about him that is more infectious than the swine flu. The Broncos biggest free-agent signee works hard to pump up his teammates and get inside the head of the opposing quarterbacks. 

Brian Dawkins is a leader by example and by speech. He’s not quiet when he’s on the field. He wants people to know he’s there to wreak havoc. Better than that, he’s among the smartest football players in the entire NFL. 

With the tone being set at the safety position expect this group to be among the toughest on the field at any given moment.

Renaldo Hill comes to the Denver Broncos from the Miami Dolphins. Heading into his ninth season in the NFL out of Michigan State he has also played for Arizona and Oakland. He is seemingly the perfect complement at free safety to Brian Dawkins strong safety. 

Hill signed a four year deal worth $10 million dollars when he came to Denver.

This tandem is the real deal and provided they stay healthy will become a reliable source for attitude and strength in the defense.

The Broncos also have youth that won’t be viewed immediately as great depth but could become that way by the end of this season or next.

Vernon Fox is also a journeyman who has came to Denver last season by way of Washington having previously played for Detroit and San Diego. 

Fox spent about half of last season on the inactive list he was also out with a concussion late in the season.  His tackling must improve if he is going to hang around.

Josh Barrett was the Broncos seventh round selection in the 2008 draft out of Arizona State. He spent most of the season on the practice squad. 

Barrett later saw action in six games and started three games after the safety position was riddled with injuries late last season.

Herana-Daze Jones saw spot action in two games late last season for the Broncos. He was with the Bengals in 2006-08 before being released during the season.  He has never been a starter but could be a serviceable backup at the position.

Darcel McBath is viewed to be a “tweener” between safety and cornerback, while not the strongest; he is viewed as a very good athlete. He’s a good cover guy who can tackle. He’s not the typical big safety, but will add versatility to the position. 

He is most likely projected to be a free safety in the NFL. 

David Bruton was the Broncos 2009 fourth rounder out of Notre Dame. He is 6’ 2” 219lbs and no doubt packs a wallop. 

This is part of the long range projection to have youth behind the immediate veteran needs. He has an infectious smile, was one of three team captains for the Irish in 2008 and was the teams leading tackler. 

He appears to have all the goods in the make of becoming a top notch talent in the league. 

He’ll benefit from being brought along slowly behind some solid veteran talent.  Bruton also impressed at the combine by running the second fastest time among the safeties at 4.46.

 

Punter

Britton Colquitt from Tennessee has signed on to compete at punter with Brett Kern. 

Kern may have out kicked his coverage under the Broncos poor special teams’ coverage. He averaged 46.7 yards per punt, good for seventh overall. The net average however dropped him to 16th with an average of 37.8 yards once the dust settled. 

Colquitt arrives in Denver with some baggage having been stripped of his scholarship his senior season following a DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. That incident was actually his second alcohol related offense while he was at Tennessee. 

Physically he has all the tools to compete and win the punter position.  For Colquitt it’s more of an issue of character and if he can bounce back from a difficult senior season in 2008.

 

Special Teams

The area of special teams has been a clear weakness of the Broncos the last decade. The new regime must emphasize the importance of this often forgotten phase of the game. 

Eddie Royal will probably start as the return specialist; however he may eventually split time with the likes of Alphonso Smith.

 

Team Philosophy

While the Broncos haven’t shown their hand on how they plan to scheme offensively or defensively this coming season, fans should expect imitation and implementation. 

The imitation fans do expect fits the mold of the New England Patriots concept of “team”. Imitation not entirely expected will most likely resemble the Pittsburgh Steelers bruising offensive attack and swarming defensive schemes.

The defense overall will have to utilize the depth of speed to overcome its lack of size.  The best part of being in a 3-4 with the type of talent the Broncos possess, it will be easier to confuse opponents. 

There will be a wide variety of defensive fronts that will make this defense more flexible in problem solving attacking offense. 

The old Orange Crush was a 3-4 that was known as a “bend but don’t break” defense.  Historically their numbers are still among the best ever. 

These Broncos have a long way to go and much to prove, however by being a more flexible, physical football team that is the positive step they needed to take.

The offense won’t entirely lure the fans to sleep due to the exceptional talent on the outside. However, it will most likely not be as explosive at it has been in the past.

There are still a number of questions still to be answered but the Denver Broncos do have good talent on board on both sides of the ball. How well that talent gels and rises to the occasion will determine the outcome of Coach Josh McDaniels rookie campaign.

Know Your Enemy (Part Two): The Oakland Raiders

In part two of this three-part series, “Know Your Enemy”, we’re going to take a look at the Oakland Raiders.  The Raiders are Denver’s most bitter rival, although in recent years, the Raiders’ record has taken some of the intensity out of the rivalry.

In 2007, the Raiders organization welcomed Lane Kiffin as the 16^th coach of the franchise.  In 2008, they handed him his walking papers.

Enter Tom Cable.

The team finished 5-11 and in third place in the AFC West.  It was the first time in six years they didn’t finish in last.  The Raiders, ranked 29^th in total offense, amassed a paltry 263 points.  The defense, ranked 27^th overall, allowing 388 points.

The team hoped to address the offensive line and the wide receiving corp in the draft.  Well, with the seventh pick overall, the Raiders selected swift-footed wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey from the University of Maryland.  Heyward-Bey will probably have the opportunity to make an impact.  The other six rookies selected in the ’09 draft will, more than likely, have to wait their turn.

JaMarcus Russell sort of came into his own this past season with a QB rating around 77, 2423 yards in the air, and 13 touchdowns versus eight interceptions.  The Raider Nation hopes Russel to Heyward-Bey will be a phrase repeated many times this season.

With little altered from 2008 to 2009, it would seem the Raiders will be hard pressed to greatly improve upon their situation.  Still, a brief look at the 2009 schedule and I could see them winning anywhere from four to seven games this year. 

And, that may be enough to keep them out of the basement for a second consecutive season.  Only Al Davis knows if it will be enough to give Cable a second season as head coach.

Next up in the assessment, the San Diego Chargers.  Be sure to check out:

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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/177486-know-your-enemy-part-3-the-san-diego-chargers

and

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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/177007-know-your-enemy-the-kansas-city-chiefs

Sources

Retrieved May 16, 2009, from NFL.com

http://www.raiders.com/Newsroom/Default.aspx?id=132

Retrieved May 16, 2009, from CBSsports.com

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/depth-chart/OAK

Mock Interview, Real Draftee: Robert Ayers

Josh McDaniels is a controversial guy.  Sure, he got some early offseason help in that category from Jay Cutler, but the “experts” set his inaugural draft solely on his shoulders.  So when he chose a guy that seemingly had no business playing in the new 3-4 defensive scheme, it was almost easier for Broncos fans to shrug their shoulders than to shake their fists.

McDaniels hasn’t offered any excuses for his selection process, and Robert Ayers won’t be offering any for his suspect fit.  That’s because underneath all of the scrutiny, and all of the nay-saying, the Broncos followed a time-tested philosophy:  Draft your guys, screw the rest. 

So why take a prospect whose value projections ran the gamut from early first round to late second?  Because he’s a team-first guy playing a team-first sport.

 

1. Hunter Ansley:  First things first.  Did you have a feeling you’d go in the top 20 of the Draft?
2. HA:  Now that you’re in Denver, where do you fit into the Broncos scheme?
3. HA:  Are you comfortable standing up as an outside linebacker?
4. HA:  Why were you unable to put up great stats at Tennessee?
5. HA:  Everybody asks about the best player a guy faced in college, but I want to know if there was one particular offensive player that really got under your skin?  Any big-time college grudges?
6. HA:  What was the best game you played that no one noticed?
7. HA:  How important is it to have two other rookies (WR Lucas Taylor and P Britton Colquitt) from Tennessee in Denver with you?
8. HA:  When Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams were drafted, they had a wager going on who would be drafted higher.  Any draft bets with any of your friends?
9. HA:  What makes you a good fit for Josh McDaniels’ overall team philosophy?
10. HA:  What’s more important— a great individual statistical performance that leads to a win, or doing the unheralded tasks that make it easier for teammates to have a great game that leads to a win?
11. HA:  How long before the Broncos are back in the playoffs?
12. HA:  What kind of lessons can you learn from veteran players who play a different position than you?
13. HA:  Who’s going to be the toughest guy to outwork on your new team?
14. HA:  So far what’s the biggest difference between John Chavis and Mike Nolan? Do you like either style better?
15. HA:  All right, you just had three sacks in a Broncos’ Super Bowl Victory.  What are you doing that night?
16. HA:  Thanks for your time, Robert.  Have a great season and a great career. 

RA:  Thank you, Hunter.  You were by far the best interviewer I’ve ever talked to.  It was an absolute privilege answering your questions.  Plus, you’re pretty cool.

 

Top Denver Broncos Position Battles for 2009 Offseason

Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels has proclaimed that nobody on his team is guaranteed a starting job. Obviously, there are players like Ryan Clady, Champ Bailey, D.J. Williams, and Brandon Marshall among others who are shoe-in’s for starting positions, but where are the key position battles for the Broncos in 2009?

 

1.  Quarterback

The messy divorce between the Broncos and former quarterback Jay Cutler has left Denver with two viable options at the position for 2009:  Kyle Orton and Chris Simms. 

Orton comes to Denver in the trade for Cutler with mixed expectations from fans and observers of the team.  Many NFL analysts feel the Broncos are much worse off without Cutler, that his superior athleticism and strong arm were the only things keeping the Broncos afloat.

Some feel that with an offensive line that allowed a league low one sack every 57 attempts and a slew of talented skill players that Orton will be able to succeed in Denver.  With the Bears, his top target was a rookie running back, and his offensive line was aging and past its prime.

Then there is Chris Simms, who has not started a game since his days in Tampa Bay.  The lefty seems to have a small outside shot to win the starting job, but if Josh McDaniels feels he gives the team the best chance to win, then he will get the nod opening day.

Still, the fact that he has not played in so long makes it seem likely that McDaniels will opt for the more experienced player in Orton.

In the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft, the Broncos selected Fresno State quarterback Tom Brandstater.  Brandstater has all of the qualities McDaniels looks for in his developmental quarterback prospects, and figures to start a few years down the road if the opportunity arises. 

For now though, he will observe from the sidelines and in the film room.

Projected Starter:  Kyle Orton

 

2.  Nose Tackle

This position battle will not receive as much publicity as the quarterbacks, but it is arguably the most important on the team.

Many were surprised that the Broncos ignored this position in the draft, missing out on both prospects I initially had projected to go to them in picks that sandwiched Denver’s fourth round selection: Western Ontario’s Vaughn Martin and Stillman’s Sammie Lee Hill.

Still, as a college free agent, the Broncos were able to sign the third best nose tackle in the draft: Chris Baker of Hampton.

At 6’2″ 326, Baker is the ideal fit for a nose tackle in the 3-4 defensive scheme.  He has great athleticism, and if not for some off-field issues in college, he likely would have been a third to fourth round draft choice.  Many feel that the Broncos have found a gem with this kid. 

While Baker is raw and inexperienced at this level, the Broncos also brought in Ronald Fields from the San Francisco 49ers to compete for the job. Fields has been an adequate rotation man in his time with San Francisco, but nothing more.

If he wants to start for Denver, he will have to really show the coaching staff something in camp and in the preseason.

Along with Fields, the Broncos added J’Vonne Parker, a journeyman looking to find a niche with some NFL team. He will have to impress to even make the final roster, but since Denver is thin at the position he has a good shot.

It has been rumored that Denver’s defense looks more like a 2-5 than a 3-4, so it will be interesting to see if the Broncos decide to use a player like Carlton Powell or Marcus Thomas at the nose tackle position.

Powell is essentially a rookie, as he spent all of 2008 on the physically unable to perform list after being drafted in the fifth round out of Virginia Tech.  In college, he was known for his run-stuffing abilities. 

As a nose tackle in the 3-4 defensive scheme, it is essential that you are able to stop the run.  If Powell can add 20-25 pounds, he could fill that role very nicely.

Projected Starter:  Chris Baker

 

3.  Outside Linebacker

As the Broncos transition to the 3-4 defensive scheme, they will be looking for their own version of Shawne Merriman, James Harrison, or DeMarcus Ware.

Too fill that role the team plans to convert its top pass rusher over the last three years, Elvis Dumervil, to rush linebacker.  Dumervil is short for a defensive end, but actually compares quite favorably in size to the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison.

If Dumervil is able to hone his skills in pass coverage, he could be a force as a rush linebacker.  He has great quickness off the ball, and due to his short stature, he is able to get great leverage with opposing offensive linemen.

Along with Dumervil, the Broncos plan to give former first round pick Jarvis Moss one more chance to prove that he can produce as he was expected to.  Moss has not even played a full season in his two year NFL career yet, and he needs to impress the coaches in camp enough to just make the team.

In the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft, the Broncos selected defensive end/linebacker Robert Ayers out of Tennessee.  Ayers has the versatility to play either outside linebacker or the five-technique in a 3-4 defense, which is why the Broncos selected him as high as they did.  Many expect Ayers to come in and start right away.

Like Ayers, former second round pick Tim Crowder has the size and versatility to play either the five-technique or stand up and rush the quarterback as an outside linebacker.  He had a disappointing sophomore campaign after a very promising rookie season with the Broncos, and now finds himself in the same boat as fellow 2007 draftee Jarvis Moss.

As free agents, the Broncos signed veteran special teamer Darrell Reid, who also has the versatility to put his hand in the dirt or stand up and put pressure on the quarterback, and Lee Robinson, a college free agent from Alcorn State who is very underrated.

All will compete for playing time, but only two can be named as starters.

Projected Starters:  Elvis Dumervil, Robert Ayers

 

4.  Running Back

Rookie Knowshon Moreno seems to have the starting job locked up as of now, but the Broncos have a great quantity of backs that will be competing for playing time in addition.

Through free agency, the Broncos added Correll Buckhalter, J.J. Arrington, LaMont Jordan, and Darius Walker.  The Broncos also signed college free agent Kestahn Moore from Florida to compete with second year player Ryan Torain for the chance to carry the ball for Denver.

It is unknown at this point, but my best guess is that the Broncos are not impressed with the progress of Torain and Arrington with their injuries, and have signed Walker and Moore as insurance in case of emergencies.

Buckhalter is held in high regard by many Philadelphia fans due to his versatility and resiliency.  He is a great receiver out of the backfield, which actually seems to be some sort of a theme among most of Denver’s new running backs.

Jordan followed McDaniels to Denver from Patriots, giving the Broncos a bruiser at the position who can also add another dimension to the offense with his receiving abilities.

Arrington is known as a third down back who is very effective in screens and in space.  He will not do much damage inside the tackles, but can be very effective elsewhere.

Projected Starter:  Knowshon Moreno

 

5.  Kick Returner

Last year, Eddie Royal was a very serviceable kick and punt returner, but he figures to have a more prominent role in the offense this year, and the Broncos can not afford to risk his injury on a return play. 

Two rookies stand out as the top candidates to return kicks for the Broncos, and they are wide receivers Kenny McKinley and Nate Swift. 

McKinley was selected in the fifth round of this year’s draft, and has great speed and vision.  He said in an interview at the team’s first mini-camp that he expects to make an impact on special teams, and this could be his calling.

Swift was signed as an undrafted college free agent from Nebraska, and was very effective as a return man for the Cornhuskers.  He draws comparisons to Wes Welker of the New England Patriots with his quickness.

 

The Broncos will feature many new faces at prominent positions in 2009, and their performances will dictate the immediate future of this franchise.

Who Will Start for the Broncos in 2009? (Part Two)

(This is part two of a two-part article. The first part can be found here.)

In remembering the defenses that the Broncos have put out the last couple of years, I know it’s hard to get really excited about the “new changes” to the Defense. 

However, as a member of Bronco Nation, I can truthfully say that this year’s changes have to get you excited about the upcoming season!

It all starts up front for a defense.  Without solid line play, the Broncos have no chance at stopping opposing offenses.  On the other hand, a dominant defensive line will send the Broncos to the playoffs this year.

 

Defensive Tackle

The Broncos have eight defensive tackles on their roster as of now: Matthias Askew, Chris Baker, Nic Clemons, Ronald Fields, J’Vonne Parker, Kenny Peterson, Carlton Powell, and Marcus Thomas.

For a 3-4 defense to be successful, the Broncos need three big bodies on the defensive line, which turns large defensive tackles (310-plus lbs.) into nose tackles and regular-size defensive tackles (290-plus lbs.) into defensive ends. 

Weighing in at 315, 325, and 326, respectively, Fields, Parker, and Baker are the only defense tackles that can be viewed as true nose tackles. 

Fields is a five-year veteran, and has the best chance at winning the starting nose tackle spot at this time. He has the size and strength to be a stout nose tackle in the NFL, but one has to wonder why San Fransisco let him go so easily. 

Parker has ideal size and strength, but has little experience in the NFL. He’s a journeyman defensive tackle, and will be a good backup in the nose tackle rotation for Denver.

Baker will be the talk of camp this year.  The Broncos signed him out of college as an unrestricted free agent, which will turn out to be a very good value as the season progresses.  

Baker was severed from the Penn State football program for accepting money for work he didn’t do. Regardless of his past indiscretions, the kid has talent—enough talent that he could be the starting nose tackle when September rolls around. 

The nose tackle position is pretty much in the air, because there are so many unknowns trying out this summer.

Out of the other five defensive tackle prospects, Peterson and Thomas should be the starting defensive ends for the 3-4 defense.  All of the other tackles are unproven players that have a chance to make the squad. 

Again, the defensive end position is up in the air, especially since this would be a position change for these players, and because there are five more defensive end prospects on the roster.

 

Defensive Ends

Like the defensive tackles, the defensive end prospects are career backups, or rookies with limited playing experience on the line. The defensive end prospects are as follows:  Tim Crowder, Rulon Davis, Ryan McBean, and Everette Pedescleaux. 

Crowder has the most experience and upside, but at 275 lbs, he lacks the size to be a 3-4 line player.  If Crowder comes to training camp at 285, then he would be a great rotation player on the line.

McBean has ideal size for a defensive end in the 3-4, but not a lot of experience.  It will be interesting to see what he brings to the table at camp.

The last two prospects were just signed as rookie free agents and have no experience in the NFL. However, they are intriguing players with possible upside.

Pedescleaux is my favorite of the two to start.  At 6’6″ inches and 305 lbs, he could be a beast on the end.  With his height, he can stand to gain 20-30 lbs in a professional training program. This could be our next starting nose tackle!

Davis is a Marine. Enough said. These guys are considered tough at 200 lbs.  At 281 lbs, I’d drop my gun and pray this man didn’t eat me.  Davis is also, 6’5″ inches tall, so like  Pedescleaux, he could stand to gain 20 lbs.

These two rookies could find themselves starting in the middle of this season.

 

Defensive End/Linebackers Hybrids

Now this is the exciting part of the off-season! The hybrid players are guys that were originally slotted as pass rushing ends in a 4-3 defensive scheme, but have the ability to play the outside linebacker position in a 3-4 defensive scheme. 

Starting a hybrid instead of a linebacker gives a defense a stout pass-rushing end and better run support off of the edges. The problem these players run into is that they don’t have the coverage skills it takes to defend against the pass. 

The hybrid ends on the Broncos roster are as follows: Robert Ayers, Elvis Dumervil, Jarvis Moss, Darrell Reid.

Ayers is a stand out 3-4 lineman from the University of Tennessee.  He was the No. 18 overall draft choice in the 2009 draft, and looks to start at outside linebacker for the Broncos this year.

This guy is a gamer. He’s quick, strong, and intelligent. He has all of the ability to be a star in this league. Hopefully he pans out.

Dumervil is the Broncos resident sack master.  If you need someone to hit the quarterback, he’s your man. I envision Dumervil as starting opposite of Ayers at outside linebacker. 

As long as his coverage skills improve, Dunmervil should be a Pro Bowler at this position.

Moss could easily fight for a starting position as an outside linebacker. However, to this point in his career, he hasn’t shown the talent that got him drafted out of Florida three years ago.  This could possibly be scenario that Moss has been waiting for. If Moss comes to camp swinging, there is going to be a heck of a lot of competition for the hybrid spot this summer.

Reid is a special teams stand out. I’m not really sold on him being a starter. He’s kind of a tweener at 288 lbs—too big to be an outside linebacker, too small to be a defensive end.  It’s quite possible that he may crack the 53-man roster, but as of now, I’m not holding my breath.

Linebackers

The Broncos have 11 linebackers coming to camp this summer. They are as follows: Boss Bailey, Andra Davis, Louis Green, Nick Greisen, Mario Haggan, Braxton Kelley, Lee Robinson, Jeff Schweiger, D.J. Williams, Wesley Woodyard, and Spencer Larsen. 

A lot of these player’s futures will be based on how strong the hybrid players above come out in training camp. If the hybrids don’t pan out, there will be four starting spots open for these linebacker prospects to compete for.

If the hybrid players do pan out, then the inside linebacker positions are the only starting jobs available. Davis and Williams will be locks at these positions. 

These two players will be a huge force in the middle for this defense. Both are run-stuffers, and both can blitz the quarterback with agility and speed. However, if the right outside linebacker spot is open, then I will expect Williams to play in that spot, since it is his natural position.

The other veteran linebackers—Bailey, Green, Greisen, Haggan, Woodyard, and Larsen—all have the opportunity and ability to start or be considered in the rotation on this defense.  At this point, the linebacker position will be figured out in training camp.  There are no other clear-cut starters.

Schweiger, Kelley, and Robinson are all rookies; therefore, I have nothing really to go on for these players.

Schweiger is an interesting prospect because of his size.  At 6’5″ and 276 lbs., he has the physical attributes to be another hybrid linebacker. He may be a diamond in the rough who could see playing time with the Broncos in the future.

 

Cornerbacks

The Broncos have eight cornerbacks on their roster as of now, but they most likely are only competing for the nickel and backup roles. 

They are as follows: Champ Bailey, Joshua Bell, Tony Carter, Andre’ Goodman, D.J. Johnson, Rashod Moulton, Alphonso Smith, and Jack Williams.

Bailey and Goodman are the veterans and starting cornerbacks for the Broncos at this time.  They should be the starters, barring an incredible camp by Smith, a rookie. 

Smith should be the starting nickel back, due to his tremendous play in a college and the fact that they Broncos traded a future No. 1 draft pick for him in this years draft. I’m fairly confident that he will pan out and become a starter for this team. His highlight reels and interviews were excellent. 

All of the other prospects do have a chance to be starters, but it just isn’t likely. They will most likely end up being depth players, or trying to crack a starting role on special teams. 

 

Safeties

The safety positions are all but taken care of, due to the signing of free agent juggernaut Brian Dawkins and veteran Renaldo Hill. The safety prospects are as follows: Josh Barrett, David Bruton, Brian Dawkins, Vernon Fox, Renaldo Hill, Herana-Daze Jones, Darcel McBath.

I am 100 percent sure that Brian Dawkins will be the starting strong safety.  Renaldo Hill is an above-average free safety, and should be the starter this year. 

I believe that Barrett has the talent to start in this league and should be a solid backup this year.  The Broncos may look at putting him at strong safety as well in the future.

McBath is another safety of the future and may end up at the backup spot to Renaldo Hill at free safety.

Bruton, Jones, and Fox should start on special teams. Bruton could break the starting lineup in the future through his special teams play. 

 

Below are my two starting scenario predictions on defense for the 2009 Denver Broncos:

DLE  Marcus Thomas
NT   Chris baker
DRE  Kenny Peterson
LOLB Robert Ayers, Jarvis Moss
LILB  Andra Davis
RILB  DJ Williams
ROLB Elvis Dumervil, Jarvis Moss
CB1  Champ Bailey
CB2  Andre’ Goodman
CB3  Alphonso Smith
SS   Brian Dawkins, Josh Barrett
FS   Renaldo Hill, Darcel McBath

Or

DLE  Marcus Thomas
NT   Chris baker
DRE  Kenny Peterson
LOLB Robert Ayers, Elvis Dumervil, Jarvis Moss
LILB  Andra Davis, Boss Bailey
RILB  Spencer Larsen, Boss Bailey
ROLB D.J. Williams, Elvis Dumervil, Jarvis Moss
CB1  Champ Bailey
CB2  Andre’ Goodman
CB3  Alphonso Smith
SS   Brian Dawkins, Josh Barrett
FS   Renaldo Hill, Darcel McBath

 

 

 

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