TheReverend
05-30-2005, 09:09 PM
Broncos Team Report
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Patrick Saunders /
Posted: 1 day ago
In the coming months, the Broncos will try to figure out how much Jerry Rice, 42, has left to give. The greatest receiver in NFL history agreed to a one-year deal with the team. He won't be a starter, but he might push second-year receiver Darius Watts for the No. 3 spot -- if Watts doesn't improve and if Rice proves he can still get open and make 30 to 35 receptions. Where Rice will help the most is in the red zone, where the Broncos ranked 28th in touchdown scoring last year. Rice still has great hands and runs excellent routes, but does he still have enough speed to get open and enough upper-body strength to handle press coverage near the goal line? . . .
Already thin on the offensive line, the Broncos suffered a blow when third-year right guard P.J. Alexander suffered a torn ACL in an off-field accident while riding a four-wheeler. He's out for the year. Alexander was expected to battle Cooper Carlisle for the starting job. Carlisle, who has bounced between tackle and guard in his four seasons in Denver, needs to make some improvements during the summer camps. He needs to react quicker and play smarter. Denver replaced Alexander with former Arizona guard Cameron Spikes. He's played both right and left guard and has 30 starts under his belt. If he can pick up Denver's zone-blocking system quickly, he could press Carlisle for the starting job.
SCOUTING REPORT:Strong safety Nick Ferguson has traveled a long road -- through the CFL, NFL Europe and special teams stints with the Jets and Broncos -- before landing a job as a starter. The fifth-year NFL vet replaces Kenoy Kennedy, who signed a free-agent contract with Detroit. Although he's not fast, Ferguson hits hard and is a smart, heady player. His strength is coming up in the box to stop the run. He also has a knack for being around the ball. As a cover safety, he's a step down from Kennedy and needs more seasoning. But as fellow safety John Lynch notes, Ferguson hustles on every play and learns quickly from his mistakes.
INSIDE DISH: Although the Broncos pulled the trigger on a trade that brought punter Todd Sauerbrun in from Carolina, Sauerbrun still wants his contract tweaked. His agent wants the Broncos to convert some of Sauerbrun's base salary over the next three seasons into a signing bonus. Sauerbrun is due $3.895 million over the next three seasons. His base salary is $1.2 million in 2005, $1.295 million in 2006 and $1.4 million in 2007. Also, word is that the punter will not face suspension from the NFL for his alleged involvement with illegal steroids.
CORNERBACKS ANALYSIS: GRADE: B. Champ Bailey remains an elite cover corner and an excellent tackler, and 6-4 Lenny Walls can be a physical corner if he stays healthy. Lack of quality depth is a problem.
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As usual I like this article... as usual, I have to argue about one thing... CB depth... we didn't have it last year (with help from injuries:Walls, Middlebrooks, LeSeuer), but even if all hell breaks loose... we drafted 3 on day one and picked up a top prospect as a UFA... we'll be okay in the secondary.
Reverend Out
Story Tools: Print Email
Patrick Saunders /
Posted: 1 day ago
In the coming months, the Broncos will try to figure out how much Jerry Rice, 42, has left to give. The greatest receiver in NFL history agreed to a one-year deal with the team. He won't be a starter, but he might push second-year receiver Darius Watts for the No. 3 spot -- if Watts doesn't improve and if Rice proves he can still get open and make 30 to 35 receptions. Where Rice will help the most is in the red zone, where the Broncos ranked 28th in touchdown scoring last year. Rice still has great hands and runs excellent routes, but does he still have enough speed to get open and enough upper-body strength to handle press coverage near the goal line? . . .
Already thin on the offensive line, the Broncos suffered a blow when third-year right guard P.J. Alexander suffered a torn ACL in an off-field accident while riding a four-wheeler. He's out for the year. Alexander was expected to battle Cooper Carlisle for the starting job. Carlisle, who has bounced between tackle and guard in his four seasons in Denver, needs to make some improvements during the summer camps. He needs to react quicker and play smarter. Denver replaced Alexander with former Arizona guard Cameron Spikes. He's played both right and left guard and has 30 starts under his belt. If he can pick up Denver's zone-blocking system quickly, he could press Carlisle for the starting job.
SCOUTING REPORT:Strong safety Nick Ferguson has traveled a long road -- through the CFL, NFL Europe and special teams stints with the Jets and Broncos -- before landing a job as a starter. The fifth-year NFL vet replaces Kenoy Kennedy, who signed a free-agent contract with Detroit. Although he's not fast, Ferguson hits hard and is a smart, heady player. His strength is coming up in the box to stop the run. He also has a knack for being around the ball. As a cover safety, he's a step down from Kennedy and needs more seasoning. But as fellow safety John Lynch notes, Ferguson hustles on every play and learns quickly from his mistakes.
INSIDE DISH: Although the Broncos pulled the trigger on a trade that brought punter Todd Sauerbrun in from Carolina, Sauerbrun still wants his contract tweaked. His agent wants the Broncos to convert some of Sauerbrun's base salary over the next three seasons into a signing bonus. Sauerbrun is due $3.895 million over the next three seasons. His base salary is $1.2 million in 2005, $1.295 million in 2006 and $1.4 million in 2007. Also, word is that the punter will not face suspension from the NFL for his alleged involvement with illegal steroids.
CORNERBACKS ANALYSIS: GRADE: B. Champ Bailey remains an elite cover corner and an excellent tackler, and 6-4 Lenny Walls can be a physical corner if he stays healthy. Lack of quality depth is a problem.
___________
As usual I like this article... as usual, I have to argue about one thing... CB depth... we didn't have it last year (with help from injuries:Walls, Middlebrooks, LeSeuer), but even if all hell breaks loose... we drafted 3 on day one and picked up a top prospect as a UFA... we'll be okay in the secondary.
Reverend Out