High Hopes for Henry and Graham

[phibacka31]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070313/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_broncos_newcomers


Nice little spoof piece!Booya!

[Dukes]

How much will it take for Henry to get #20 from Bell?

[watermock]

His #20 bling necklace...Ha!

[Odysseus]

You said spoof? I guess you meant poof. Chewing gum for the brains.

[Lestat]

10 grand & a new car would do it for me if i was Bell(of course that new car would be a Dodge Viper :))

[BABronco]

10 grand & a new car would do it for me if i was Bell(of course that new car would be a Dodge Viper :))

I saw one of those on the way to Ponca City bout a month ago. Had to do a double take cause I've never actually seen one on the road.

[Needa Pass Rush]

Giddy up!

[footstepsfrom#27]

How much will it take for Henry to get #20 from Bell?
Henry should wear #29 as a tribute to Nash since Nash gave up his #20 for him in Tennessee.

[phibacka31]

TY Einstien:strong:

[Arkansas Bronco]

Henry should wear #29 as a tribute to Nash since Nash gave up his #20 for him in Tennessee.

Man if that happened I would probably search for a Henry jersey. I mean you are absolutely right it would be a tremendous rep at Nash and if he did it then it means he does think deeper then the snap count.

[Dr.5280]

I saw one of those on the way to Ponca City bout a month ago. Had to do a double take cause I've never actually seen one on the road.

Back in the old days of Mile High John Elway would leave after the game driving a Viper. Back then it was a $65,000 ride.

[ward63]

10 grand & a new car would do it for me if i was Bell(of course that new car would be a Dodge Viper :))

The video clip on denverbroncos.com where they interviewed Graham and Henry, Henry said that he'll try to buy the # from Bell for about 10 grand, b/c it's the # he's always worn throughout college and the pros. We'll really see how much he wants it I guess.

[orange crusher]

"and reportedly agreed to terms with backup quarterback Patrick Ramsey"

reportedly agreed to terms? Did I miss something? I thought he signed last week.

[BroncoFiend]

Mike Bell will give it up, he's not established enough to put up a fight, and he's too humble.

I'm sure he'll take that 10 grand though.

[watermock]

I would love to yank the bling of Henry's neck honestly.

[Clockwork Orange]

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nfl/article/0,2777,DRMN_23918_5414363,00.html

ENGLEWOOD - They had him at hello.

Yes, Travis Henry's agent, Hadley Engelhard, and the Broncos might have done the negotiation dance to a five-year deal that included $12 million in guaranteed money, but Henry was a running back on the open market.

And for a running back, the Broncos are a match made in 1,000-yard heaven.

"It was a no-brainer for me," Henry said Monday. "Once I stepped off that plane and got a chance to meet with the coaches, I just had a good feeling about it. Meeting with coach (Mike) Shanahan, talking, getting a feel for what they've got going on here.

"I knew it was a no-brainer. I knew I wanted to be here, to be a part of something. To run the ball the way they do, to have a chance to win a championship. I believe I can do that here. And maybe the most important thing is, they believe I can do that here."

And while the draft is a team's chance to select the players it wants, free agency is a player's chance to test the laws of supply and demand.

So, though Henry has been picked for the Pro Bowl in his career, rushed for at least 1,000 yards three times and earned a reputation for toughness that included playing with a fractured bone in his lower leg in Buffalo, the Broncos were the ones to tell him what he has wanted to hear:

He is the guy.

Asked if that, indeed, is the message the Broncos gave him, Henry, 29, said with a smile, "I'm hoping I'm the guy."

Then, after a brief pause, he added, "Yeah, that's pretty much the case. Yes."

In many ways, Henry has been one of the league's what-about- me backs. He was on the way to two successive 1,300-yard seasons in Buffalo, yet the Bills still took Willis McGahee in the first round of the 2003 draft.

Then, after a trade to Tennessee, Henry was set to be at the front of the line in the Titans' backfield, but they took Denver native LenDale White in the second round of the 2006 draft.

Henry still pounded out 1,211 yards last season, but the Titans released him instead of paying him a roster bonus in excess of $8 million.

Tennessee wanted him back, and even put an offer on the table - the deal included $8 million in guaranteed money - but by then, Henry had his eyes on another prize.

"I've got to tell you, it felt good, really good, to know they wanted me here," Henry said. "I'm thrilled to be a part of what's going on, excited and ready to get started to go out and do it.

"I mean (Titans running backs coach) Sherman Smith had called me and we talked and he made it clear that he wanted me there, that they wanted me there. But for whatever reason, we didn't get it worked out. I'm a Bronco now. That's life, it's a business."

Within minutes of his release by the Titans, Henry became one of the Broncos' first targets in free agency.

The Broncos got the first visit and Henry never made it anywhere else, though Green Bay and Oakland were hoping to take their swings.

The Broncos didn't let him out of town until the deal was done.

Shanahan said just after the Super Bowl that, despite finishing eighth in the league with 2,152 yards, the Broncos would be looking to upgrade the running game because "we were not nearly as good as we'd like to be, as we're used to."

Shanahan has also relived the Broncos' loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the regular-season finale when Denver failed to power in for a touchdown on three difference first-and-goal chances inside the 49ers 5-yard line.

"Travis is a proven rusher in this league who runs with authority," Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist said. "A guy who can bring that degree of - for lack of a better word - authority back to our running game."

"I run with a lot of authority . . . ," Henry said. "(I want to) go out and do what the other guys have done.

"With my running style, I really think I can put up some big numbers . . . I think I can put up some big, big numbers."

[Clockwork Orange]

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_5421634

During Travis Henry's hastily arranged free-agent visit to Denver, the Broncos made it clear to him what they were looking for in a new primary back. The Broncos want their running backs to close out games. They want their running backs to matter when it counts.

Henry's response? Sign me up.

"That's my forte," he said Monday.

Even though Henry, 28, stands only 5-feet-9, he is a sturdy 215 pounds. The Broncos were missing a big running back last season. They were missing a tailback who ate up the game clock in the fourth quarter, who was able to convert a fourth-and-1 play when the game was on the line.

The Broncos lost fourth-quarter leads in all four home defeats. In the final game of the season, a stunning overtime loss to visiting San Francisco that cost them a playoff berth, the Broncos were stymied in the red zone all game long.

When the Broncos began their off- season search for a running back, the focal point was finding a player capable of getting the tough yards. That's why a visit with Henry was set up only hours after he was released by the Tennessee Titans in a salary cap move.

Of all the free agents, trade and draft possibilities, Henry emerged as the Broncos' top choice at running back, prompting them to give him a five-year contract worth $22 million. The contract has $12 million in guaranteed money.

The Broncos paid for late- game production. Henry promises he can deliver.

"I feel like I get better as my touches go up," Henry said. "I play big. I can take the pounding. Games are won in the fourth quarter when a running back can gain tough yards. That's why I am here. That's what I can do."

Henry has had a reputation as a workhorse since his high school days in tiny Frostproof, Fla. Henry became the University of Tennessee's all-time leading rusher and has averaged 4.1 yards per carry in the NFL with the Titans and Buffalo Bills. He was the primary back for two seasons with the Bills and again last season with the Titans. He ran for 1,211 yards last season.

Hard running and an ability to break tackles have been the hallmarks of Henry's six-season NFL career. He said he can enhance his reputation as a tough, to-the-whistle runner in Denver. And he said the idea of being the next featured running back in Denver's renowned system gives him "chill bumps."

Henry never has been to the NFL playoffs. He said playing in Denver's system should help him break that streak next season.

Henry said he has a goal for his first season with the Broncos, but isn't ready to disclose it. He gave a hint when he said a good NFL season for a running back these days is 1,400 to 1,500 yards rushing. Henry said he wants to have the same impact former Broncos star Terrell Davis had when Davis helped lead the team to Super Bowl titles in the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

"I fit this system," Henry said. "I am a downhill runner. I love that one-cut-and-go style....I can't wait."

Neither can the Broncos.

"He runs with authority," Denver general manager Ted Sund- quist said. "(He is) a guy that can bring authority back to our running game. Travis is a proven rusher in this league."

Henry said he has left off-field issues behind him. He was suspended for four games in 2005, his first season with the Titans, for marijuana use. If he tests positive again in the next six months, he will face a one-year suspension. Henry can rotate out of the NFL's substance abuse program this season by staying clean.

"I've had my problems," he said, "but I'm walking a straight line now."

Henry's arrival has the Broncos excited. Even Mike Bell, who rushed for 677 yards last season, his rookie year, said he is thrilled to have Henry in the backfield.

"That guy is good, man," Bell said. "He is really going to help us. I am not giving up. I will compete with him, but I am excited to learn from him. He's been around awhile and he fits what we do. He's another weapon and we can use him."

The Broncos plan to use him all four quarters.

[Odysseus]

Last year I had posters bashing on me because I wanted the Broncos to put up better than 2,000 yards rushing combined in a season.

They were wrong.

The Broncos are going to pick up a running back this year to compete with Mike Bell. Mr. Bell there will be no sophmore jinx. Sapp will step up or they will find someone in the process of building the team.

The Broncos should get 2,500 to 2,800 rushing yards this season just on converting missed third down opportunities. THIS is the kind of running attack which will open up things for Cutler.

My hope is that Cutler focuses on mastery of the short game. If the Broncos are actually going to run the ball this year then he will have more than enough times to create highlight reels.

[fontaine]

The Broncos should get 2,500 to 2,800 rushing yards this season just on converting missed third down opportunities. THIS is the kind of running attack which will open up things for Cutler.

My hope is that Cutler focuses on mastery of the short game. If the Broncos are actually going to run the ball this year then he will have more than enough times to create highlight reels.

I expect the running game to deliver this year. We've not only upgraded at RB but all across the board in the running game.

I see one of our basic sets as Marshall (or Rod)/Walker on either side, with Graham as the in line blocker and Scheffler motioned over to the slot or as a blocking TE. ALL of these guys are over six feet with a lot of beef so I expect our blocking to be much, much better with Pears at RT and Lepsis back. All that size should go a long way towards blasting out running room against smaller LBers and DBs.

I personally can't wait to see Graham seal the edge against DEs or take out LBers to clear running room. Combine that with our mobile Guards who can get to the 2nd level and the running game should be a lot of fun to watch.

[Odysseus]

I expect the running game to deliver this year. We've not only upgraded at RB but all across the board in the running game.

I see one of our basic sets as Marshall (or Rod)/Walker on either side, with Graham as the in line blocker and Scheffler motioned over to the slot or as a blocking TE. ALL of these guys are over six feet with a lot of beef so I expect our blocking to be much, much better with Pears at RT and Lepsis back. All that size should go a long way towards blasting out running room against smaller LBers and DBs.

I personally can't wait to see Graham seal the edge against DEs or take out LBers to clear running room. Combine that with our mobile Guards who can get to the 2nd level and the running game should be a lot of fun to watch.

Henry is thinking in the back of his head about breaking 2,000 yards. He will have to pound out 125-135 yards per game.

What I am excited about is the run blocking across the board got better. I wonder if that "special teams ace" Fullback can actually FB?

If Chad Mustard has not improved I think the Broncos should consider bringing in an OT and converting him to TE. There are some pretty interesting plays they can disguise with that option.

Mike Bell is going to become a lot better behind a senior RB whose been in the league for awhile. I hope his blocking improves. They could do some exciting things for him and Cecil Sapp if we can get defenses to key on Travis Henry.

[alkemical]

Don't forget, we got montre holland as well - a 322lb G

[fontaine]

Henry is thinking in the back of his head about breaking 2,000 yards. He will have to pound out 125-135 yards per game.

What I am excited about is the run blocking across the board got better. I wonder if that "special teams ace" Fullback can actually FB?

If Chad Mustard has not improved I think the Broncos should consider bringing in an OT and converting him to TE. There are some pretty interesting plays they can disguise with that option.

Mike Bell is going to become a lot better behind a senior RB whose been in the league for awhile. I hope his blocking improves. They could do some exciting things for him and Cecil Sapp if we can get defenses to key on Travis Henry.


Well I think the offense doesn't need trick plays to be effective now. In the last few years all the high octane offenses were effective because they are able to line up in their strongest base set and work a multitude of different plays/routes from the same formation. That's what makes it so hard to defend against because the same formation/set has too many quality high percentage plays.

With a base set of two TEs (Graham/Schef as the slot WR or split out wide), two WRs (Walker/Rod or Marshall), and a lone back we can effectively pass the ball out to a number of different targets depending on the QB's pre-snap reads/progressions or audible to a run play with Graham blocking LBers, and the rest of the wideouts blocking DBs and Walker stretching the field going deep. When the D lines up Cutler can see the formations and determine where the mismatch will be.

All of this ofcourse depends on how Culter can come along in his presnap reads and going through his progressions because the talent among the skill positions players is cleary there. I have my doubts as to how quickly Cutler can adjust because from his Vanderbilt days he kind of had to improvise and wing it a lot instead of working in a formal system with a rhythym passing game. Let's see how he can settle into an offense which is far more structured and requires him to make good presnap reads, adjust his calls, and then finally find the best available option instead of just relying on his arm strength to force passes into tight coverage.

It's a lot to ask for a 2nd year QB but Shanahan will find the best set of plays to suit his strengths. The rest is up to him.

It's a far cry from having to see a watered down offense dependant on rollouts and a QB only reading half the field and forcing passes to Rod on third downs. Hopefully that'll seem like ancient history once the regular season rolls around. I'm sure our on sight "reporters" like Kaylore/Med will keep us updated during training camp!
8')

[Drek]

Henry is thinking in the back of his head about breaking 2,000 yards. He will have to pound out 125-135 yards per game.

What I am excited about is the run blocking across the board got better. I wonder if that "special teams ace" Fullback can actually FB?

If Chad Mustard has not improved I think the Broncos should consider bringing in an OT and converting him to TE. There are some pretty interesting plays they can disguise with that option.

Mike Bell is going to become a lot better behind a senior RB whose been in the league for awhile. I hope his blocking improves. They could do some exciting things for him and Cecil Sapp if we can get defenses to key on Travis Henry.

Mustard is about as good at playing TE as any converted OT we'll find, at least Mustard can catch some.

What I'd like to see is Mustard used as a H-Back in short yardage and goal line situations, get Johnson and Sapp out of there and let Mustard blast open some holes. Baring that have Graham do it, he has experience at it.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Mustard is about as good at playing TE as any converted OT we'll find, at least Mustard can catch some.

What I'd like to see is Mustard used as a H-Back in short yardage and goal line situations, get Johnson and Sapp out of there and let Mustard blast open some holes. Baring that have Graham do it, he has experience at it.

I heard Sundquist saying Broncs were going to do this last year, but it didn't happen. With luck - this year.

[bpc]

The thing I like best about this is that we understand that we have made a major investment in Jay Cutler and we are showing that we are willing to invest money into weapons around him which will help him hit his potential. We added two huge WR's for him last season during the draft(Walker and Marshall) along with a very good young TE in Scheffler, and this year during FA we have found a potential solution to our HB game that we have been searching for since CP left and also signed another TE who can open holes in the running game while getting open in the middle of the field.

I wonder if we follow the same formula during the draft and pick up more offensive linemen and another WR. Wouldn't surprise me at all.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

The thing I like best about this is that we understand that we have made a major investment in Jay Cutler and we are showing that we are willing to invest money into weapons around him which will help him hit his potential. We added two huge WR's for him last season during the draft(Walker and Marshall) along with a very good young TE in Scheffler, and this year during FA we have found a potential solution to our HB game that we have been searching for since CP left and also signed another TE who can open holes in the running game while getting open in the middle of the field.

I wonder if we follow the same formula during the draft and pick up more offensive linemen and another WR. Wouldn't surprise me at all.

I know lots of folk here think the WR position is set, but what's the use of having a QB that can easily throw the ball 50+ yards when the strength of the top 3 WRs and two tight ends is 15 yard routes.

[baja]

I know lots of folk here think the WR position is set, but what's the use of having a QB that can easily throw the ball 50+ yards when the strength of the top 3 WRs and two tight ends is 15 yard routes.


Great point BG. Lelie sure screwed the pooch didn't he.

[Pat Bowlen]

I know lots of folk here think the WR position is set, but what's the use of having a QB that can easily throw the ball 50+ yards when the strength of the top 3 WRs and two tight ends is 15 yard routes.
Just because that's the strength doesn't mean that the rest of the field is out of play, or did you miss the 65+ bomb Javon caught last year? If anything, dominating the first 15 yards while being able to stretch the field at the same time is a huge bonus.

[bpc]

I know lots of folk here think the WR position is set, but what's the use of having a QB that can easily throw the ball 50+ yards when the strength of the top 3 WRs and two tight ends is 15 yard routes.

Couldn't agree with you more. I know most of us are hoping we go all defense in the first three rounds... I say don't hold your breath. We have some depth issues at Tackle and I would say there is a good chance that we will not see the Rod of old after this hip surgery. I expect that our coaches are anticipating this and will be active trying to find some solutions to these problems. It is not gurranteed that Lepsis comes back fully healthy this season or at all. Meadows has shown to be good in spurts but we would be silly to consider him a realistic option to start for a full season. I think there is a good chance we take a tackle early and a WR somewhere in the first three rounds.

This draft is loaded with quality wideouts. I myself have been a huge fan of Jason Hill of WSU and could be had in round 2 or 3 possibly. It will be interesting if we sit at #21 and Ginn is sitting there. I think he is a very good player who hasn't even scratched the potential of how good he possibly could be on offense and special teams. Bringing him in would allow him to work against Champ and learn from Rod. He could make the deep threat in our offense a huge weapon again.

Again BG, great point about the deep ball. I expect Shanahan to keep strengthening the offensive side of the ball. I think he wants to go toe to toe with the Colts in the firepower department and he is using this offseason to prove it.

[Rock Chalk]

I think I will go ahead and take the wait-and-see approach to this next year.

[Odysseus]

Well I think the offense doesn't need trick plays to be effective now. In the last few years all the high octane offenses were effective because they are able to line up in their strongest base set and work a multitude of different plays/routes from the same formation. That's what makes it so hard to defend against because the same formation/set has too many quality high percentage plays.

With a base set of two TEs (Graham/Schef as the slot WR or split out wide), two WRs (Walker/Rod or Marshall), and a lone back we can effectively pass the ball out to a number of different targets depending on the QB's pre-snap reads/progressions or audible to a run play with Graham blocking LBers, and the rest of the wideouts blocking DBs and Walker stretching the field going deep. When the D lines up Cutler can see the formations and determine where the mismatch will be.

All of this ofcourse depends on how Culter can come along in his presnap reads and going through his progressions because the talent among the skill positions players is cleary there. I have my doubts as to how quickly Cutler can adjust because from his Vanderbilt days he kind of had to improvise and wing it a lot instead of working in a formal system with a rhythym passing game. Let's see how he can settle into an offense which is far more structured and requires him to make good presnap reads, adjust his calls, and then finally find the best available option instead of just relying on his arm strength to force passes into tight coverage.

It's a lot to ask for a 2nd year QB but Shanahan will find the best set of plays to suit his strengths. The rest is up to him.

It's a far cry from having to see a watered down offense dependant on rollouts and a QB only reading half the field and forcing passes to Rod on third downs. Hopefully that'll seem like ancient history once the regular season rolls around. I'm sure our on sight "reporters" like Kaylore/Med will keep us updated during training camp!
8')

Our offense has really been dragging it's tail in the dirt the past few years. There were moments when things looked promising but the offense could never stay on the field, convert on third down or be consistent in the red zone. Tatum Bell was such a tease. Plummer was frustrating and frustrated. Our defense was hot and cold. It's looking really good this off season.

I agree with you. Trick plays should not be the heart of your offense however I don't think you should take things away from an offense that work. I would love to see the Broncos use one formation all game and rip a team to shreds with 200 variations on the same formation. The point being not that any of those variations were trick plays but that this team executes.

Cutler has a long way to go towards being the quarterback that I want him to become but there is no excuse for the Broncos not running the ball and keeping defenses throwing up, gassed and choking on the oxygen machine. We have eight games where the air is thin. Keep their defense on the field!

[Odysseus]

Mustard is about as good at playing TE as any converted OT we'll find, at least Mustard can catch some.

What I'd like to see is Mustard used as a H-Back in short yardage and goal line situations, get Johnson and Sapp out of there and let Mustard blast open some holes. Baring that have Graham do it, he has experience at it.

I wonder which one of these guys would be better at this.

[Odysseus]

I know lots of folk here think the WR position is set, but what's the use of having a QB that can easily throw the ball 50+ yards when the strength of the top 3 WRs and two tight ends is 15 yard routes.

A speed burner can often be a one dimensional player. Can he fight for the ball? Can he walk off impact? Can he go underneath if asked to? Can he stay healthy or is he just this fast bean pole? The question comes back to offensive line. Can THOSE guys hold the defense off long enough to put the ball up. A 50 yard strike, no matter how much velocity on the ball, is meaningless if our guy has no ball sense.

I don't think we are set at WR. I think if we can get a serious longterm upgrade we take it. It comes down to money. You cannot afford three top dollar WR on a team without that money coming from somewhere else. Marshall is going to want to get paid.

I still think the Broncos need to draft defense early and often. If we don't draft defense we will end up paying too much for them in the FA.

[Odysseus]

Vocabulary Cage Match

[watermock]

Now that Ms. Lilly has that strong armed Alex Smith and that monster 50..err..5 million dollar contract on a perennial winner I hope he's happy and gay.

Javon can go deep. If Hixon comes back healthy, he can certainly go deep, and Marshall...well...we saw him biatchslap about 15 people on that long RAC. Scheff is pretty fast when some LB is going to covering him too.

The WCO is geared to intermediate routes and ball control. This is why we probably won't see any 70 yard runs from Henry, but what is wrong with a bull nosed carrier similar (I hope) to TD? Moving the chains and demoralizing, wearing down the D is key in this new strategy.

Lelie/Tater out...Javon/Henry in. There is a reason Barry Sanders didn't win in the playoffs. (but it wasn't his fault)...the problem was the hit and miss nature of the game. TD always fell forward. Even a stuff would usually net a couple yards. For every fly pattern thrown to Ms. Lilly, we might complete 1 in 8 or 10. Give me consistent moving of the chains.

With Jay's ability and Favresque balls regarding threading the needle, we don't need the burners...just a catchers mitt ala Elway.

Anyone who can't see this team has made dramatic improvement in it's roster is blind and doesn't know football. Damn...I just thought of DWill...what a senseless death. I had hopes for Nash, but he obviously had a congenital heart defect. It's alot easier to let that go. Anyway...*wipes a tear away*.

IMO, we are only about 4-5 players away now. Yeah, we got to the AFC Championship game but that wasn't a championship caliber team. We were injury free, got the big breaks and fell into a great opportunity. Heartbreaker, but that wasn't a dominant team. Sorry, but we were rather lucky that year.

All this angst about WR's? We just got Javon, Scheff, Marshall, Hixon and Graham in the past year. If Rod heals, he can lead too.

[Phantom]

Good lord, I'm sportin' some wood!!!

[Phantom]

The excitement spewing from Henry's quotes is contagious. Good to hear.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Just because that's the strength doesn't mean that the rest of the field is out of play, or did you miss the 65+ bomb Javon caught last year? If anything, dominating the first 15 yards while being able to stretch the field at the same time is a huge bonus.

I hate to argue with you bossman, but ya gotta give the Chosen One all the tools he needs to succeed.

[SportinOne]

This year proved yet again that you don't need a high octane offense to win the big game. Yes, the Colts had the pieces and in the past have been one of the most explosive teams in history, but this year Peyton dinked and dunked and moved the chains. That's what it's all about, moving the chains especially at crucial times. All those other teams can keep all their "highlight plays". We just want to win a championship and we are definitly building the right way.

[bpc]

Hard to knock a player that can give us a huge boost like Devin Hester did for Chicago.

People can knock Ted Ginn because of this and that... the fact is you can't coach pure speed in the game and that is what he has. He'll run a 4.2 on the track and also in football pads. You can see that on the game film. He is purely a deept threat right now but coaches can develop route running. We need that aspect though and i'm not worried about him being one dimensional. Hell, Rod Smith was a QB coming into the NFL. I'm sure he didn't know the first thing about running a route in the NFL. The point is, Ted Ginn is far from a finished product but his potential is through the roof. His potential impact in the pass and return games cannot be overlooked.

We've made a committment to Cutler... lets give him all the weapons he needs to become an MVP in this league. Walker, Rod, Marshall, Graham, Scheffler, Henry, and Ginn would satisfy all of those needs nicely.

[Triplelefthook]

if you guys dont think javon is a vertical threat then you missed last season

[chanesaw]

I know lots of folk here think the WR position is set, but what's the use of having a QB that can easily throw the ball 50+ yards when the strength of the top 3 WRs and two tight ends is 15 yard routes.


Marshall can really go up for the deep balls, and Javon can blow by most CBs.

[U GOT JACKED UP]

I honestly believe that Henry will rush for 1400 + yards and graham will catch more passes than he did in New England. I think Sheff could benefit the most from these additions because he seemed to be Cutler's go to guy last year. He should get alot more opportunities with the new offensive firepower we added this offseason.

[bpc]

If this offense works just like Shanahan hopes, we will look basically like Indianapolis on offense minus all the frantic gesturing. We will have some WR's that can move and create mismatches, we'll have a couple of TE's like Clark and Utope or whatever his name is for Indy who can work the middle of the field and then a good option at HB who can either make the first guy miss or knock them back a couple yards off initial contact.

We are setting up to look very much like the Colts with this offense. I think it wasn't coincidence that Shanahan went out two years ago and got a QB with pretty much the same pocket confidence that Peyton Manning had, a gunslinger who wants to win and air it up 60 times a game. If we keep adding offense it could prove to be a deadly offense, capable of being the #1 unit in the league.

[Kaylore]

2TEsets, people. :thumbs:

[Cito Pelon]

I know lots of folk here think the WR position is set, but what's the use of having a QB that can easily throw the ball 50+ yards when the strength of the top 3 WRs and two tight ends is 15 yard routes.

If Cutler can stay upright, I don't see problems with getting the ball downfield. If Denver wants to move the ball with the passing game there's a lot of ways to do so without a vertical game being the big deal. I think the object is to keep the drive alive. That was the original intent of this "West Coast" offense.

[Malcontent]

Just because that's the strength doesn't mean that the rest of the field is out of play, or did you miss the 65+ bomb Javon caught last year? If anything, dominating the first 15 yards while being able to stretch the field at the same time is a huge bonus.

I'm just shocked that Mr Bowlen wrote more than 3 words...Practicing up for your new novel???

If Henry avgs. 5 yds/carry, like TD did, then it won't matter whether were in 2 TE sets, 3 WR etc..etc..We will kick azz! All that is lacking IMO is depth at OL, DL, DE. Draft some studs Bowlen!

[Cito Pelon]

This year proved yet again that you don't need a high octane offense to win the big game. Yes, the Colts had the pieces and in the past have been one of the most explosive teams in history, but this year Peyton dinked and dunked and moved the chains. That's what it's all about, moving the chains especially at crucial times. All those other teams can keep all their "highlight plays". We just want to win a championship and we are definitly building the right way.

ST's are also a big deal. It takes three phases to win an Conference or League Title. A team can have a one or two dominant phases of the game and get close, but they always need the 3-phase game to win it all. People may say, "Hey, Baltimore and Tampa won it with D and not much else" but the reality is those teams stepped up their O and ST's in the playoffs to make themselves into a 3 phase team. Look at Indy last year, they were stumbling, then they put together a 3 phase team in the playoffs. They made plays in all three phases. That is what it takes. Denver can do it, the big deal is to get everything together once you make the playoffs. Denver hasn't done that. They've faded down the stretch and got their ass kicked in the playoffs. There's a fine line between the two outcomes, I hope Denver can steamroll that fine line.

[Cito Pelon]

Hard to knock a player that can give us a huge boost like Devin Hester did for Chicago.

People can knock Ted Ginn because of this and that... the fact is you can't coach pure speed in the game and that is what he has. He'll run a 4.2 on the track and also in football pads. You can see that on the game film. He is purely a deept threat right now but coaches can develop route running. We need that aspect though and i'm not worried about him being one dimensional. Hell, Rod Smith was a QB coming into the NFL. I'm sure he didn't know the first thing about running a route in the NFL. The point is, Ted Ginn is far from a finished product but his potential is through the roof. His potential impact in the pass and return games cannot be overlooked.

We've made a committment to Cutler... lets give him all the weapons he needs to become an MVP in this league. Walker, Rod, Marshall, Graham, Scheffler, Henry, and Ginn would satisfy all of those needs nicely.

That's fine with me. Keeping him out of the hospital may work out better. Protect him in the pocket instead of making him rollout and thus cut the field in half.

[Lev Vyvanse]

I think if we can get a serious longterm upgrade we take it.

You said longterm? I think you meant long term. Chewing gum for the brains.


:thumbs:

[bpc]

That's fine with me. Keeping him out of the hospital may work out better. Protect him in the pocket instead of making him rollout and thus cut the field in half.

I'm down for surrounding him with talent in general. I'm okay with a LT if our guy is there.

I would love Levi Brown if he was there at 21.

I want the best players. I think Ginn could be one of those guys. Brown could be one of those guys. I'm good as long as we take the BPA.

A lot of people are high on Marten from Boston College. If he is that good, i hope we jump on him in the 2nd round when he should be available.

I want defense... then again we all are working with an unknown quality right now with Bates defense. We don't know how we are going to look besides that our DT's will be huge and he loves quick LB's... we now have Wilkinson and Warren technically at DT. Wilson,Williams,Gold are three of the fastest LB's in the game. Check and Check. I think we need another DE, DT (the look of them has changed for us... guys like Okoye, Mebane, and a few others are out) and Safety. I think it will be hard to find difference makers at DE with pick #21 versus in round 2 or 3. What are our DE's going to do? Are they going to take up blocks or come after the pass? After Adams and Anderson the group becomes pretty much the same thing. I wouldn't advice reaching for a DE at 21 when we could get a home run with somebody like Ginn. I think we are only really looking at Harrell now at DT in either round 1 or 2. Besides that we will probably be looking at Solai or a couple of other fat body DT's late in the draft. Griffin, Nelson, or Gattis would be the Safety's of choice for me. Griffin and Nelson are first rounders... if we choose to go elsewhere, Gattis would be a great pickup in round 3.

My point is, our pressing needs unless Harrell is sitting there in round 1 or 2, is DE and S and both can be addressed as late as the third round. I wouldn't be surprised if we waiting that long to take a couple of them too. I will not be surprised at all if we take OL and WR with our first couple picks. Personally, I give Shanahan credit for following through with his investment in Jay Cutler. He understands that it takes more than just a great QB in this league... it takes good/great talent around him as well. All the best QB's in the league have tons of targets around them.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Marshall can really go up for the deep balls, and Javon can blow by most CBs.

No - Most CBs in the league are much faster than Javon and Marshall. They are both classic posession receivers.

Kaylore - 2 TE on 2 & short and third and short and red zone.. 3 WR on first down and other long yardage situations.

[bpc]

Well, I don't think Javon has break away speed but more than enough to be a deep threat. The positive about Javon is that he can run every single route. That creates a matchup problem for most CB's but they have to be ready for everything from the slant to the go, curl, the out. He can do it all. On the deep passes, he has exceptional hands and the ability to time his jumps which is why he always successful on deep passes. I see a little bit of that with Marshall as well.

Still, we don't have a pure deep blazer that the defense must always account for running by them. Ginn brings that.

[Odysseus]

You said longterm? I think you meant long term. Chewing gum for the brains.


:thumbs:

I think you are being rediculous! (j/k)

POSTING TIP: Use Firefox Browzer! It have Spelt Cheker!

[Odysseus]

Let's talk about Henry.

He's never been over 1,500 yards and yet he is thinking that he is capable of that in Denver. Does anybody believe that is true?

Are we capable of fielding two 1,000 yard running backs? Bell got 677 yards last year and only started 3 games.