CNNSI's Broncos preview

[SoCalBronco]

Dont get excited Bosko, or OL homers, CNNSI just has extremely poor editors, we didnt acquire Matt Jones or Khalif Barnes. These idiots cant cut and paste our draft pick names effectively, see below. Their position by position analysis is pretty much what we all knew anyway, but anyway, enjoy:


---------------------------------------------------------------------
Denver Broncos
2005 Schedule |

Special Athlon offer for SI.com readers

Jake Plummer
Peter Read Miller/SI
Projected starting lineups
Offense
No. Player Pos. No. Player Pos.
80 Rod Smith WR 85 Ashley Lelie WR
88 Jeb Putzier TE 78 Matt Lepsis LT
50 Ben Hamilton LG 66 Tom Nalen C
65 Cooper Carlisle RG 72 George Foster RT
16 Jake Plummer QB 38 Mike Anderson FB
26 Tatum Bell RB 1 Jason Elam K

Defense
No. Player Pos. No. Player Pos.
98 Courtney Brown DE 61 Gerard Warren DT
75 Monsanto Pope DT 93 Trevor Pryce DE
52 D.J. Williams SLB 56 Al Wilson MLB
NA Ian Gold WLB 24 Champ Bailey CB
35 Lenny Walls CB 25 Nick Ferguson SS
47 John Lynch FS 6 Jason Baker P

2005 Draft
No. Player Pos. School
1 Matt Jones WR Arkansas
2 Khalif Barnes T Washington
3 Scott Starks CB Wisconsin
2 Darrent Williams CB Oklahoma State
3 Karl Paymah CB Washington State
3 Domonique Foxworth CB Maryland
3 Maurice Clarett RB Ohio State
6 Chris Myers G Miami
7 Paul Ernster P/K Northern Arizona

Outside the Huddle
Long ball
All seven of Ashley Lelie’s touchdown receptions last year were longer than 30 yards.

Cashing in
Opponents scored 31.7 percent of their points off Broncos turnovers (29), whereas only 14.7 percent of Denver’s points came after the Broncos forced a turnover of their own (20 total).

Brick wall
The Broncos converted 37.9 percent of third-down attempts, but were just 20-of-33 on third-and-one and 12-of-21 on third-and-two.

Standing tall
Jake Plummer has been sacked just 29 times in 27 games since joining the Broncos, the fewest among quarterbacks who have started at least 22 games in that time. In 852 pass plays, he averages just one sack for every 29.4 attempts. Peyton Manning is tops at one sack for every 35.3 pass attempts over the past two years.

Ironman
Four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey has started every game of his career (96) since the Redskins drafted him No. 7 overall in 1999 .

Red flag
Mike Shanahan had a 50 percent success rate in replay challenges last year, but his overall success rate since the system was implemented is only 34.8 percent (16-of-46).

[SoCalBronco]

2004 Revisited
The Prophecy: "If the Broncos have a few players step up at running back, wide receiver, and offensive tackle, there’s little doubt this is a playoff team."

The Lie: "The Broncos finished near the bottom of the league last year with only nine interceptions. That may change with the addition of Champ Bailey and the decision to make the defensive backs go through offensive drills."

— Athlon Sports Pro Football 2004


To order your 2005 Athlon Sports annual and receive $1 off plus free shipping courtesy of SI.com, click here.


With the past two postseasons ending almost identically, in a dizzying blur of blue-and-white in Indianapolis, Mike Shanahan is banking that a little brown will go a long way.

His one-stop shopping spree landed four Cleveland Browns -- all defensive linemen -- in an effort to boost a Denver Broncos defense that Peyton Manning ripped apart in successive years. Never mind that three of the players -- Gerard Warren, Courtney Brown and Ebenezer Ekuban -- are former first-round draft picks who failed to meet expectations. Shanahan is hoping a change of address will bring out the best in them and help the coach get his first playoff victory of the post-Elway era.

Quarterbacks
Jake Plummer received a vote of confidence last year from coaches, even if his erratic nature irritated fans. While he threw for a franchise-record 4,089 yards and tied John Elway's club mark of 27 touchdown passes, he also tossed 20 interceptions - some in the most critical situations. Still, coaches love his leadership and his ability to make things happen on the run, which is why they opted to pick up his option (with some minor restructuring) rather than void the final five years of his contract.

The hope is, in his third year under Shanahan, Plummer will finally settle down. How well he plays will go a long way toward determining if the Broncos get in the playoffs. Like last year, he won't be looking over his shoulder, though Matt Mauck or Bradlee Van Pelt could push Danny Kanell for the No. 2 job.

[SoCalBronco]

Running Backs
The excitement rookie Tatum Bell created in 2004 when he was healthy (5.3-yard average and a 58-yard catch-and-run play against Kansas City) was enough to convince Shanahan to trade away Reuben Droughns (1,240 yards in 2004) -- a move that netted two of the Browns' D-linemen. Even with Droughns gone, there will be competition at the position. As if the Broncos didn't have enough players from Ohio, they added another on draft day in the form of former Buckeye Maurice Clarett -- a troubled running back who hasn't played in two years. "What can I say, I'm a gambler," Shanahan said after using an extra third-round pick (No. 101 overall) on Clarett, apparently on the recommendation of position coach Bobby Turner.

Then there's Quentin Griffin, who showed star potential last year until a bout with fumblitis and a torn ACL (Oct. 25 on a kickoff return). Don't forget Mike Anderson, another in a long line of 1,000-yard Bronco backs, who returns from a severe groin injury suffered last preseason. He could return to the fullback position, but at nearly 32 years old, he'll have to show he has something left in the tank. Ditto for the underachieving ex-Giant Ron Dayne, who hopes to resurrect his career in the Mile High City.

Whoever is blocking and carrying the rock, Denver needs to improve its short-yardage situations.

Receivers
Rod Smith, doing his best Jerry Rice impersonation, returns for his 11th NFL season. He is as steady as ever. It helped that Ashley Lelie stepped up last year and became a deep threat (a league-leading 20.1 yards-per-catch and seven TDs). The big question is at the No. 3 wideout spot. Triandos Luke and Darius Watts were spotty at best.

Look for tight end Jeb Putzier to play a bigger role in Denver's offense this year, especially after the Broncos chose to match the Jets' offer sheet (five years, $12.5 million) for the restricted free agent. Putzier has deceptive speed, great hands and a willingness to improve his blocking. If he does the latter, he could grab the starting job from Dwayne Carswell.

Offensive Linemen
Thanks to Plummer's mobility, the offensive line set a franchise record in 2004 by giving up only 15 sacks. It returns pretty much intact for 2005. Though the oft-injured Dan Neil is gone (released in a cap-saving move), he was inactive at the end of last season anyway, and played hurt quite a bit before that.

Though tackles George Foster and Matt Lepsis struggled at times, another year under their belts should improve consistency. Left guard Ben Hamilton and center Tom Nalen are solid at the other positions. Cooper Carlisle, who has started six games in his five-year career, will be the right guard.

Defensive Linemen
Trevor Pryce spent much of the offseason on the trading block; now he must show he's back for real after missing most of 2004 because of surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back. Pryce can be a load to handle up front. But the Broncos lost another top end, with sack leader Reggie Hayward bolting for Jacksonville (five years, $25 million).

It will be up to fourth-year pro Monsanto Pope and troupe of ex-Brownies - Ekuban, Warren, Brown and Michael Myers - to generate the pressure that was missing in last year's AFC Wild Card loss.

[SoCalBronco]

Linebackers
The Broncos struck gold in last year's draft by selecting linebacker D.J. Williams. Now they hope the re-acquisition of Ian Gold, who starred for them in 2002 and 2003, will pay even bigger dividends. Gold excelled at weak-side backer in Denver before he took the money (in Tampa) and ran. But he figures to get his old job back if Williams (a team-leading 114 tackles as a rookie) can make the transition to the strong side.

There's no question that the linebacker position, with emotional leader Al Wilson anchoring the middle, is the strength of the defense. With Terry Pierce also on board and Jashon Sykes making strides, the Broncos have the personnel -- at least at linebacker - to play a 3-4 defense. For now, coaches insist it will only be used on passing downs.

Defensive Backs
The Broncos mortgaged the farm to acquire cornerback Champ Bailey last year, but in the end it didn't matter. Manning still torched Denver's defense for 457 passing yards and four touchdowns in a 49-24 Wild Card blowout.

Now the Broncos have lost two secondary starters, with unrestricted free agent Kenoy Kennedy signing with Detroit and the team deciding not to match Seattle's five-year, $15 million offer to Kelly Herndon, a nickel back who took over for an injured Lenny Walls in 2004. Denver instead is banking that the 6-foot-4 Walls will stay healthy and play even bigger than his size.

For depth, the Broncos turned to the draft; their first three picks were corners with speed to burn. Someone will have to step up, especially with Randy Moss (Oakland) now in the division. Nick Ferguson has the inside track at replacing Kennedy and joining veteran free safety John Lynch in the starting lineup.

Regardless of who lines up, the Broncos' secondary needs to make more plays. Denver ranked 27th in the NFL last year with just 12 interceptions.

Specialists
Jason Elam was steady as ever, making 29-of-34 kicks and all but one inside 40 yards. Otherwise there wasn't much special about Denver's special teams. The Broncos were forced to use two return specialists, and neither Micah Knorr (who was cut) nor Jason Baker (who finished with a 38.8-yard average) was impressive. Shanahan hopes he solved some of the special teams problems in the draft, with second-round pick Darrent Williams, a cornerback who doubles as a return specialist. The Broncos used their last pick on Northern Arizona's Paul Ernster, who will vie for the punting/kickoff job.

Final Analysis
Shanahan, though he has faced mounting criticism, continues to have the backing of owner Pat Bowlen. But this year won't be any easier for the Denver Broncos, who have gone 10-6 the past two seasons only to be embarrassed in the playoffs. They have a tougher schedule -- both Super Bowl teams are on the slate -- and the AFC West, with the improvements made by Oakland and the Chiefs, figures to be a tougher division. A stretch run that starts Thanksgiving Day in Dallas and ends New Year's Eve in San Diego will determine whether the Broncos will return to the postseason.

[Sir Mawn]

YOu pretty much summed the article up. Pretty lame and stupid.

[elsid13]

Boy sure early to do a preview.

[KillerBronco#76]

i wouldnt have minded the 3 extra picks in the draft though

[rbackfactory80]

While reading the article I thought OK, at least they did not have us finishing dead last in the west. Then again a clear cut winner was not stated either. I guess they like San Diego if anybody. But that is what they always do. Pick the team that played the best last year or at least won the division, even though every year in the NFL a suprise team comes up.

[SoCalBronco]

While reading the article I thought OK, at least they did not have us finishing dead last in the west. Then again a clear cut winner was not stated either. I guess they like San Diego if anybody. But that is what they always do. Pick the team that played the best last year or at least won the division, even though every year in the NFL a suprise team comes up.

This is the first year i can remember in a long time where I cant really feel a clear cut favorite in the AFC West in addition to not being able to feel any specific likely order of the teams. I could see any team in any spot 1, 2, 3 or 4. Pretty much any configuration is forseeable, although right now if forced to guess, while its too close to call, id give the Chiefs a razor thin advantage on the rest of the division, although i think SD is still the best team...just barely though over the other 3, its just that their schedule is too difficult.

[baja]

This is the first year i can remember in a long time where I cant really feel a clear cut favorite in the AFC West in addition to not being able to feel any specific likely order of the teams. I could see any team in any spot 1, 2, 3 or 4. Pretty much any configuration is forseeable, although right now if forced to guess, while its too close to call, id give the Chiefs a razor thin advantage on the rest of the division, although i think SD is still the best team...just barely though over the other 3, its just that their schedule is too difficult.

Here's what you are missing So Cal, the magic number THREE as in third year for Jake (the year he puts it all together) The third year for Putz, his break out year and the third year for Coyer, this is the year his DC hat becomes a comfortable fit.

Three key people in thrie key third year this will be the difference maker.

Hide and watch - 12 and 3

[wabbit]

Actually, the article seemed fairly balanced...besides the obvious errors and that's simply poor editing.

I agree with you SoCal; the division is a ball bouncer...that is; whoever gets the best bounces likely wins the division.

Looking around the NFL, there isn't a more power balanced division that the AFC West, although the Raiders lose power points on defense.

Even so, IF that Bronco defense produces at the level it's capable of doing...and it very well could be special...it should be a fun year for our fans

[Bronco9798]

This is the first year i can remember in a long time where I cant really feel a clear cut favorite in the AFC West in addition to not being able to feel any specific likely order of the teams. I could see any team in any spot 1, 2, 3 or 4. Pretty much any configuration is forseeable, although right now if forced to guess, while its too close to call, id give the Chiefs a razor thin advantage on the rest of the division, although i think SD is still the best team...just barely though over the other 3, its just that their schedule is too difficult.


I agree with you. The Chiefs schedule favors them down the stretch with 4 of their last 6 at home. If they happen to get off to a good start they could be tough to catch down the stretch.

The Broncos really need to come out strong and rack the wins up early. Then they can afford a few bumps, not many, down the stretch. Going at least 7-1 at home is going to be the key in my opinion. We cant have any of those let-down games at home like we've had in the past several years. We have to win at home and at least go 4-4 on the road.

The only thing I see helping Oakland is if their offense can score enough points to disguise the faults in that defense. Lamont Jordan is the key. You really can't stack the box against them and he could benefit nicely in that offense. But like the Chargers, they have quite a few EST games that won't play in their favor.

If San Diego wins the division, they will have earned it. The way their schedule is set up is absolutely brutal. It'll be interesting to see how they fare with that schedule.

It's going to be fun to watch to see how thing unfolds this year.....

[SoCalBronco]

Here's what you are missing So Cal, the magic number THREE as in third year for Jake (the year he puts it all together) The third year for Putz, his break out year and the third year for Coyer, this is the year his DC hat becomes a comfortable fit.

I have no problems with Coyer, he is a fine DC and i like the Putz alot. Prolly my third favorite on the team, i think he will be a weapon in the short passing game. I like Jake too, i can take the bad parts, i thought he was okay last year, he had a bad stretch but im fine with Jake for another 4, 5 years.

Im more concerned with Oakland and KC getting better and our schedule. KC pass defense will be appreciably better. Surtain will help them. Johnson at Sam will help shut down opposing TEs although putting him there will severly limit his effectiveness in the run game because he is already a puss taking on blocks. Oakland will score in the high 20s per game. I still think the defense sucks but Anttaj Hawthorne, by himself will help in the run defense area. They are extremely suspect in the back four outside of Woodson (im sure Raider Fan would say the same about us, but i feel much better about our "other three" in the secondary as opposed to theirs).

Our schedule is a tough climb. Yes, we cant see into the future to see who is going to be good and who isnt, but many of the tough games do not really depend on whether the opponent is good. Before blasting me for what appears to be on the surface an absurd statement, consider the following: At Buffalo in December. At Kansas City in December. At Dallas on Thansgiving. At New York in November. Hosting Baltimore. These are difficult games for Denver regardless of how good the other team is. Throw in New England and Philadelphia at home and then road games against the improved Raiders and the division champion Chargers and you've got a steep climb. Realistic math says almost no matter what, your absolute peak is 10-11 wins. Your likely result is 8-10 wins. This result changes only with breakout years from multiple position players. Multiple. Not 1 or 2. That said, everyone in the West has a difficult trek this year. But the talent is really stacked even amongst these teams. We are all literally pretty much the same i think. So just a little harder schedule here or there as opposed to the other is the difference. In addition, we have a rich tradition of dropping 2 games per year to scrubs, every year no questions asked. You do that this year with this schedule and there is no way past 8-8. I like Denver's team and i like most of what we did this offseason, but you cant evaluate things in a vacuum. You must take into account the road we face and what other teams did to improve themselves. Just because we did X,Y, Z doesnt mean we are better. We are better only if the other teams did less and not more than that AND if we can handle a tougher road without the traditional and time tested ****ups.

If you want a key to see where we will end up look at the record at the exact halfway point. Denver MUST and i mean MUST have NO FEWER than 6 wins in 8 games just to COMPETE for a playoff spot by the end of the year, given our murderous December row. If Denver is 5-3 or worse after 8 games, the trek to the playoffs will be almost impossible.

[watermock]

CNNSI has to have the lamest internet reporting I have ever seen. Well, almost.

It shows how far off the mark they are when they called Q a potential star. I guess having a good day against Kansas City makes you a potential star. Of course, those hopes were dashed when he fumbled in critical situations and tore up his knee, bad.

When was Ian Gold a "star" in Denver? He left for "The money in Tampa Bay?" WTF was that. He was crying for too much, and everyone knew it. Everyone but Gold's agent and Gold himself knew that was a one year deal in Tampa.

SI used to be half way decent, well, back in the days of Wild World of Sports anyway. Of course, the print medium has pretty been relegated to dentists offices and prisons.

Even newspapers can't change the presses for a breaking story. With three 24 hour news channels, yet alone the instant internet, I have no idea how magazines even survive, particuliarly news and sports, which is always in flux.

All SI mag can manage is a swimsuit issue (which I don't think I even looked at cover to cover) and dated opinions by poor writers. Probably the most amazing thing about the SI piece is that is reads like it was written two months ago despite being an internet piece. The paper edition is the People Mag edition of Sports.

[baja]

I have no problems with Coyer, he is a fine DC and i like the Putz alot. Prolly my third favorite on the team, i think he will be a weapon in the short passing game. I like Jake too, i can take the bad parts, i thought he was okay last year, he had a bad stretch but im fine with Jake for another 4, 5 years.

Im more concerned with Oakland and KC getting better and our schedule. KC pass defense will be appreciably better. Surtain will help them. Johnson at Sam will help shut down opposing TEs although putting him there will severly limit his effectiveness in the run game because he is already a puss taking on blocks. Oakland will score in the high 20s per game. I still think the defense sucks but Anttaj Hawthorne, by himself will help in the run defense area. They are extremely suspect in the back four outside of Woodson (im sure Raider Fan would say the same about us, but i feel much better about our "other three" in the secondary as opposed to theirs).



Our schedule is a tough climb. Yes, we cant see into the future to see who is going to be good and who isnt, but many of the tough games do not really depend on whether the opponent is good. Before blasting me for what appears to be on the surface an absurd statement, consider the following: At Buffalo in December. At Kansas City in December. At Dallas on Thansgiving. At New York in November. Hosting Baltimore. These are difficult games for Denver regardless of how good the other team is. Throw in New England and Philadelphia at home and then road games against the improved Raiders and the division champion Chargers and you've got a steep climb. Realistic math says almost no matter what, your absolute peak is 10-11 wins. Your likely result is 8-10 wins. This result changes only with breakout years from multiple position players. Multiple. Not 1 or 2. That said, everyone in the West has a difficult trek this year. But the talent is really stacked even amongst these teams. We are all literally pretty much the same i think. So just a little harder schedule here or there as opposed to the other is the difference. In addition, we have a rich tradition of dropping 2 games per year to scrubs, every year no questions asked. You do that this year with this schedule and there is no way past 8-8. I like Denver's team and i like most of what we did this offseason, but you cant evaluate things in a vacuum. You must take into account the road we face and what other teams did to improve themselves. Just because we did X,Y, Z doesnt mean we are better. We are better only if the other teams did less and not more than that AND if we can handle a tougher road without the traditional and time tested ****ups.

If you want a key to see where we will end up look at the record at the exact halfway point. Denver MUST and i mean MUST have NO FEWER than 6 wins in 8 games just to COMPETE for a playoff spot by the end of the year, given our murderous December row. If Denver is 5-3 or worse after 8 games, the trek to the playoffs will be almost impossible.

Your point about the AFC West improving and the December games we drew this season playing a big factor in the games we can hope to win is well taken. Predicting in July is a CRAP SHOOT and I do admit my 13 and 3 is a bit homerish I will say this however if we do not get slamed with the injury bug espasally to Jake and we have less than 10 wins i will be disapointed. I expect to see a very good Broncos team in 05. A team that will be known for it's all around balance, ST, O, AND D. The other big factor is the new coaches, this may be the best off season move of all of them.

AND KEEP IN MIND THE BRONCOS ARE NOT THE ONLY AFC WEST TEAM WITH A TOUGH SCHEDULE

[Bronco9798]

Your point about the AFC West improving and the December games we drew this season playing a big factor in the games we can hope to win is well taken. Predicting in July is a CRAP SHOOT and I do admit my 13 and 3 is a bit homerish I will say this however if we do not get slamed with the injury bug espasally to Jake and we have less than 10 wins i will be disapointed. I expect to see a very good Broncos team in 05. A team that will be known for it's all around balance, ST, O, AND D. The other big factor is the new coaches, this may be the best off season move of all of them.


But playing in the toughest division and looking at the schedules this year, we could end up being a better football team than our record indicates. The AFC is going to be absolutely brutal this year. We could end up 9-7 and be a much better team than that..Who knows.

[SoCalBronco]

But playing in the toughest division and looking at the schedules this year, we could end up being a better football team than our record indicates. The AFC is going to be absolutely brutal this year. We could end up 9-7 and be a much better team than that..Who knows.

Oh sure, i agree. I can easily see us ending up 9-7 but being an 11-5 quality team. The problem is your still at 9-7 which means its going to be hard to get into the playoffs and even if you do squeak in, your the No. 6 seed playing at the toughest team that has to play in the first round, the No. 3 seed. i.e. we will probably be at Baltimore or Indianapolis or some House of Horrors for us.

[watermock]

But playing in the toughest division and looking at the schedules this year, we could end up being a better football team than our record indicates. The AFC is going to be absolutely brutal this year. We could end up 9-7 and be a much better team than that..Who knows.

I have been all over the chart on predicitons, from 8-8 to 11-5. That isn't really like me, because I will stick to my predictions, but this team has made so many moves, good or bad, that making a prediction is like reading tea leaves, sticking voodoo pins in Al Davis or throwing bones in the back alley smoking dope while Predator 2 is lurking overhead ready to pounce.

Denver has had multiple questionable draft picks and free agent signings, many of which I questioned at the time. It seems the media didn't. That alone gives me reason to hope. I didn't like the Dale Carter signing, I didn't like the Middlebrooks pick, I didn't like the Deltha pick. I didn't like the Dorsett Davis pick, or the Sam Brandon pick. I didn't like the Toviessi pick, or certainly the IHOP pick. It's no wonder it's been patchwork. You could even look at the Griese pick, even tho that's several years old. It's hard to say what a Tom Brady would of done here, or if he would of even gotten a shot. Remember, he jumped in the lurch, and if I remember rght, we DID beat him once and should of twice.

Important will be to get at least one of two from the SuperBowl teams at home. Holding home field hasn't been what it once was. Until that changes, our fortunes won't change. Losing to Chicago and Oakland at home the last couple years was rediculous. Denver has stunk in bad weather, something that used to be a forte.

We used to win night games, now we skink at that as well. I have never seen a team so hard to get a feel about, but I wouldn't discount us at all. Unless we can hold our home court against a couple pretty good teams, the season will be a wash, again.

SoCal has fractured my confidence. I'm going to stay with my usual 10-6, altho I think this time, it might win the division in a tiebreaker.

I win the Preseason Waffle Contest.

[NFLBRONCO]

I have been all over the chart on predicitons, from 8-8 to 11-5. That isn't really like me, because I will stick to my predictions, but this team has made so many moves, good or bad, that making a prediction is like reading tea leaves, sticking voodoo pins in Al Davis or throwing bones in the back alley smoking dope while Predator 2 is lurking overhead ready to pounce.

Denver has had multiple questionable draft picks and free agent signings, many of which I questioned at the time. It seems the media didn't. That alone gives me reason to hope. I didn't like the Dale Carter signing, I didn't like the Middlebrooks pick, I didn't like the Deltha pick. I didn't like the Dorsett Davis pick, or the Sam Brandon pick. I didn't like the Toviessi pick, or certainly the IHOP pick. It's no wonder it's been patchwork. You could even look at the Griese pick, even tho that's several years old. It's hard to say what a Tom Brady would of done here, or if he would of even gotten a shot. Remember, he jumped in the lurch, and if I remember rght, we DID beat him once and should of twice.

Important will be to get at least one of two from the SuperBowl teams at home. Holding home field hasn't been what it once was. Until that changes, our fortunes won't change. Losing to Chicago and Oakland at home the last couple years was rediculous. Denver has stunk in bad weather, something that used to be a forte.

We used to win night games, now we skink at that as well. I have never seen a team so hard to get a feel about, but I wouldn't discount us at all. Unless we can hold our home court against a couple pretty good teams, the season will be a wash, again.

SoCal has fractured my confidence. I'm going to stay with my usual 10-6, altho I think this time, it might win the division in a tiebreaker.

I win the Preseason Waffle Contest.



Nice job Mock I understand your waffling about this team. Everyday I get asked my view on the 05 Broncos and I go well we could be good if this guy steps up or stay healthy. With so much unknown makes this season exciting I haven't been this ready for the season since SB years. Do I expect SB honestly not yet we are a few key peices away.
Plus I haven't seen that swagger this team used to have in big games.

Then we have 2 #1's to use next year. Even if we falter this year a Kiwi DE Wright DT Round 1 would please me alot. Use the other picks on offense. We will be ready to roll in 06.

[Cito Pelon]

Going at least 7-1 at home is going to be the key in my opinion. We cant have any of those let-down games at home like we've had in the past several years. We have to win at home and at least go 4-4 on the road.

7-1 at home and 5-1 in the Division, minimum. Less than that and the Broncs may not make the playoffs. The team has their work cut out for them.

If they look strong early and the Invesco crowd gets behind them (that stadium name has to be changed somehow), the Broncs can take the Division title.

[watermock]

I do think it is time for Coyer to sort out treasure from trash on defense. This, for the first time, will be Coyer's defense, let's hope he's up to the pressure and makes the right choices on a DL that looks like Keno.

And Kubiak, you have the Putz for a reason. If we didn't like him, why re-sign him? Why don't we just give him a shot in the redzone. As much as Denver ran the 5-wide, it's absoultely amazing Plummer wasn't killed. Plummer gave up less sacks than any other QB in the NFL the last two years. It doesn't mean he won't, it just means our low sacks were his ability to move. If we keep him, that ability will fade over time, perhaps quickly if he is injured.

Some would say Jake is at his best on the move, and that may be true, but he's also at his worst at times. The idea for me would be to be able to give a half ass decent playfake rather than knowing he's going to cut off half the field. Elway had the ability to throw across the field on a rollout, but he would do it to escape. Just an observation, and I'm not comparing Plummer to Elway, but Jake seems to struggle int he pocket. Now that isn't very good. The real problem this year is you know that Kubiak will have rolling out right with minimal protection once again. Now maybe they knew our OL wasn't up to snuff, or they felt he was better on the run right. Either way, it's not exactly comforting when he doen't have the arm to hit the deep WR to the left streaking, or totally underthrows him.

[fontaine]

The real problem this year is you know that Kubiak will have rolling out right with minimal protection once again. Now maybe they knew our OL wasn't up to snuff, or they felt he was better on the run right. Either way, it's not exactly comforting when he doen't have the arm to hit the deep WR to the left streaking, or totally underthrows him.

Most QBs in the league don't have the arm to hit the leftside while rolling out right. And no our OL last year wasn't able to protect Jake rolling out right because Foster isn't an open space blocker and Dan Neil was on a gimpy knee. Add the fact that Putzier was less than average in sealing off the perimeter and you'll realize why he was taken off the field in those situations.

Also you can't execute play action when our bread and butter play is the cutback when the right side of the OL is moving with Jake to protect him in the roll out. You might as well call out the play to the DL and let them know you're going to do it beforehand.

[RocBronc]

This is going to be an interesting year with no clear cut favorite to win the division but I do think that the Raiders are substantially weaker than the rest. They do have Moss but there defense is bad and I don't think it improved at all this offseason.

[BroncoInferno]

This is going to be an interesting year with no clear cut favorite to win the division but I do think that the Raiders are substantially weaker than the rest. They do have Moss but there defense is bad and I don't think it improved at all this offseason.

I agree. They are getting hyped because of the high profile moves on offense, but that D is going to be absolutely dreadful. I think they will look a lot like the '02 or '04 Chiefs: 7-9 or 8-8. I think San Diego is over rated as well. That roster still isn't a lot different from the dreadful '03 team. Brees will return to earth. They'll be 8-8 or 9-7. The Chiefs will be the most dangerous team, IMHO, though I do think their offense will drop a peg due to age. Still, they'll be good, and the defensive improvements will make them a tougher team. I see them at 10-6.

[Pezman]

This is going to be an interesting year with no clear cut favorite to win the division but I do think that the Raiders are substantially weaker than the rest. They do have Moss but there defense is bad and I don't think it improved at all this offseason.

And yet, I still see those thugs being a painintheass when we play them. I'll be stunned to see any team in the division really breakout with a dominant record and it wouldnt suprise me to see the playoff race be tight all the way into Christmas week (and of course, we get the Raiders at home on X-mas eve)

If there is one team that shows signs of dominance though, I still think whoever it is will have a few losses in the division. I'd be stunned to see any of us win the division with less than two div. losses.