Critical needs for the Broncos [Archive] - The Orange Mane

watermock

04-07-2007, 02:19 AM

Noone can say that we sit on our hands, Denver has made several good to great offseason moves, dumping off dead weight and picking up some talent like Bly, Graham and Henry among others.

We retooled on offense but problems remain.

First, we still are pathetically impotent trying to punch it in on the goal line. Nothing against Nalen and Hamilton, but they just don't have the bulk to move the pile. At the mosh pit called the goal line, they just don't have enough. Great technically, but they are more like bulldogs than a hippo.

The cure? Mustard and Graham as the bookends. We simply can't push it down their throats, Henry or not.

Second: If I see another 5 wide nintendo set near the goal line, I'm going Garcia. The whole idea is to stretch the defense. How do you do that when they have the 12th defender in the back line of the end zone? Pitch and let Graham seal the edge and let Henry muscle his way to paydirt one on one. Trying to pound it in unless we have a Walter Payton to fly over the top.

Third: Here is the shocker...Denver needs a better pass rush on Defense. At times, the QB not only got a manicure, he took his cleats off and his beautician came out during the play. Let the dogs loose. I can't remember the comment but it was something about throwing a biscut at the QB. If we have to resort to throwing dog bones, so be it. Cleveland isn't using them. Big draft priority.

Finally and possibly most important: KILLER INSTINCT...The great teams of the SB runs would take it to the enemy and never let up. People that say that a good offense is a good defense have Patton turning in his grave. I'm not saying we go Mike Martz on them with Jay and co., but that 98 team buried teams to ripped out their beating heart like the Serpent King on Conan.

I can't think of a game in all of sports where momentum is more important, but can turn on a dime.

Last:(I know, I had said finally allready) I'm sick of so called experts talk about how who wins the turnover battle or how when so and so team rushes for 100 yards. This is a given that any moron can figure out, even BoBo. You get to crush the ball down their throats because you have a lead...you get picks because a team is desperate and has taken the ball out of the RB's hands. I alway cringe with the idiocy of that "analysis". A team well ahead will grind the clock, a team well behind will pitch it up.

SureShot

04-07-2007, 02:24 AM

This team needs playmakers. The type that suddenly shift a games momentum.

Last year they only had 2.

watermock

04-07-2007, 02:31 AM

We need playmakers? Shirley you jest! I think we have more than 2 overall but nothing on the front 7.

I would say that Jay, Walker, and certainly Champ are playmakers. Marshall has the chance to be one...I loved that catch and run when he biatchslapped defenders all the way down the field.

SureShot

04-07-2007, 02:32 AM

We need playmakers? Shirley you jest! I think we have more than 2 overall but nothing on the front 7.

I will name my 2, Champ and Walker. Now name yours.

watermock

04-07-2007, 02:35 AM

Jay will be a huge playmaker. *man crush* Walker and Champ.

I'm not saying we don't need more, especially in the front 7. You can include Lynch but I think his days are numbered. Guy is amazing honestly.

SureShot

04-07-2007, 02:36 AM

Jay will be a huge playmaker. *man crush*

I think he will too, but he isn't a true gamebreaker right now.

BroncoBuff

04-07-2007, 03:19 AM

watermock

04-07-2007, 03:23 AM

I think our free agency is done. Briggs would be a luxury we can't afford, and moving up to Detroit would be suicidal even if Calvin is there.

I think we are done, at least till draft day.

SureShot

04-07-2007, 03:27 AM

I think our free agency is done. Briggs would be a luxury we can't afford, and moving up to Detroit would be suicidal even if Calvin is there.

I think we are done, at least till draft day.

Then why all the cap room? High draft pick then?

watermock

04-07-2007, 03:32 AM

I think we made the cap room to sign the free agents we allready did. I seriously doubt there is much left except to sign the draft choices, but I'm not a capologist. That's harder to understand than quantum physics.

SureShot

04-07-2007, 03:34 AM

watermock

04-07-2007, 03:38 AM

Think what you want. I said Denver can always find cap room after the season. We have made alot, and spent alot. Bly and Graham alone were big tickets, yet alone Henry.

Peiole were saying we would only be able to sign one major free agent and I po po'ed it.

Jens1893

04-07-2007, 03:40 AM

If i remember correctly the Broncos have like 7-8m in cap room right now and 3-4m of that will have to be spent on the rookies.

SureShot

04-07-2007, 03:41 AM

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?t=53685

watermock

04-07-2007, 03:46 AM

Depending on how much they deferred into 08 in guaranteed money I seriously doubt it.

SureShot

04-07-2007, 03:49 AM

I can't think of a reason to guarantee those bonuses if they didn't have to.

watermock

04-07-2007, 03:53 AM

What part of guaranteed escapes you?

azbroncfan

04-07-2007, 10:59 AM

I will name my 2, Champ and Walker. Now name yours.

I agree. I think Bly can be a playmaker. Cutler is still unproven despite mock wacking off to him. Hopefully Henry can make a few more plays.

Dos Rios

04-07-2007, 01:06 PM

Strongest Broncos Units, including subs:
1. Tight End
2. Cornerback
3. Quarterback
4. Center/Guard
Weakest Broncos Units:
1. Middle linebacker (Al wont play again in Denver)
2. Defensive Tackle
3. Strong safety (both vets coming off serious injuries)
4. OT (injuries make OT very shaky)
5. DE (actually, we have several decent DEs.)

Wide Receiver is scary too - the starters are solid, but after that:

Rod Smith will be 37 in one month, and he's coming off his first-ever serious injury
Brandon Stokely was on the downside, and is rehabbing a gnarly injury
David Kircus caught just NINE passes all year - six in the first 4 weeks. I wouldda guessed 20-25.
Brian Clark, Domenik Hixon, Quincy Morgan All unproven, and together have less than a dozen combined snaps from scrimmage in Denver.

Pretty solid list. My only quibble is with MLB. While the loss of Wilson makes this position a definite concern, the next three (DT, S, OT) are more pressing both from a starter and depth perspective.

A couple positions you don't mention:
RB/FB: Some decent options and depth at both spots, but nobody in the top 10-15 starters at the position in the league. Pass catching, blocking and short yardage strength now valued.
K/P: Punting unsettled. Kickoffs a nagging issue. Age.
ST: Major concern for years. Burns now gone. Paul Smith may help. Are either Morgan or Hixon a real answer returning?

Odysseus

04-07-2007, 02:24 PM

I agree. I think Bly can be a playmaker. Cutler is still unproven despite mock wacking off to him. Hopefully Henry can make a few more plays.

We used to have a OL that could make a hole for a running back. Reference Azbroncfan's avatar. Henry is going to be no better than Mike Anderson if we don't get him some holes to run through. Sorry. Time, friction, and gravity are laws of the universe.

We need IMPACT players not just more potted meat.

Our whole defensive line can be fixed with one IMPACT DT. They won't be devastating but they will allow our serviceable DE players a chance.

If we sell out to Al Wilson after trying to jettison him we are going to get another Trevor Pryce disappointment. Pryce went on to play better for another team. I think Al can do the same. Keeping Al isn't going to work out.
We need to draft a real MLB high in the first. Take the hit. Make it happen.

WR - If Shanahan finds some guy whose a freak of nature who can start I say get him but if he's just eye candy, depth or speculation pass!

Safety - I would address LB before I address Safety. If one falls to us in the first round than take him but if he's not a starter pass. I don't advocate replacing Lynch.

OT- If a draft pick falls to us take him. Don't move up. Find a practice squad guy or someone that you can develop.

CB - If this guy has starter potential get him. If you can convert him to Safety get him. If he's a killer KR/PR guy get him.

DT - I think we need to bring in two DT and let McKinley do inside and outside. Free Elvis!

FB - Broncos need to keep one eye open for a plowhorse FB who can make Travis Henry's life easy.

mattob14

04-07-2007, 02:46 PM

Pretty solid list. My only quibble is with MLB. While the loss of Wilson makes this position a definite concern, the next three (DT, S, OT) are more pressing both from a starter and depth perspective.

A couple positions you don't mention:
RB/FB: Some decent options and depth at both spots, but nobody in the top 10-15 starters at the position in the league. Pass catching, blocking and short yardage strength now valued.
K/P: Punting unsettled. Kickoffs a nagging issue. Age.
ST: Major concern for years. Burns now gone. Paul Smith may help. Are either Morgan or Hixon a real answer returning?

Personally, I'm not too worried about RB. Henry is going to surprise a lot of people and I think his #'s will be among the top-10 across the board. With the Graham signing, we'll use a lot of 2 TE sets, so FB takes a backseat. We'll still use them in short yardage situations, but the guys we have are adequate.
The Sauerbrun signing solidies the P spot. Age is an issue, but roster spots are too valuable to bring in a young kicker to develop. We'll be fine.
ST is a concern. Both coverage and return units could use some help.

Mediator12

04-07-2007, 04:02 PM

Strongest Broncos Units, including subs:
1. Tight End
2. Cornerback
3. Quarterback
4. Center/Guard
Weakest Broncos Units:
1. Middle linebacker (Al wont play again in Denver)
2. Defensive Tackle
3. Strong safety (both vets coming off serious injuries)
4. OT (injuries make OT very shaky)
5. DE (actually, we have several decent DEs.)

Wide Receiver is scary too - the starters are solid, but after that:

Rod Smith will be 37 in one month, and he's coming off his first-ever serious injury
Brandon Stokely was on the downside, and is rehabbing a gnarly injury
David Kircus caught just NINE passes all year - six in the first 4 weeks. I wouldda guessed 20-25.
Brian Clark, Domenik Hixon, Quincy Morgan All unproven, and together have less than a dozen combined snaps from scrimmage in Denver.

We have one DE that fits the one gap style Bates uses on the outside and that is Dumervil. Outside that, we barely have a starting level two gap DE and that is poor DE unit to the scheme in both Starters and Depth. We do not have the DE's to get upfield and they have proven that over the last two years with no consistent pass rush. Over half of the DL sacks last year were OL mistakes, not because the DL made a play. And even with those gifts, DEN was 26th in sack rate and 16th in total sacks. The year before John Lynch tied for the lead with 4 sacks for the team.

Having guys to play DE does not make them adequate, let alone decent. Every DE on the roster would not Start on 90% of other teams. None of them are anything but Poor NFL starters and their record shows it. They got to play one gap up field style last year and had the lead in almost every game allowing them to pin their ears back and go after the passer in about 50% of their snaps. What did they do? Nothing.

DE and DT are the two glaring Weaknesses on the whole team. The rest have adequate Starters that could use upgrades that would allow for greater overall ability and depth.

BroncoBuff

04-07-2007, 04:11 PM

We have one DE that fits the one gap style Bates uses on the outside and that is Dumervil.
Okay - fair enough. I don't know enough about the scheme. But looking at it, Ekuban and Lang are definitely both decent NFL players, and we paid Engleberger pretty big bucks while Courtney Brown was still healthy, so they must like him.

Looking at my list, I have Strong Safety too high ... sure, they're both coming off major injuries, but apparently their rehabs are right on schedule. IN FACT - that exact same sentence I just wrote applies word-for-word to Offensive Tackle - though Meadows' injury was not major.

Med ... gimme a nutshell on the Bates gap system por favor, senor.

Odysseus

04-07-2007, 04:17 PM

We have one DE that fits the one gap style Bates uses on the outside and that is Dumervil. Outside that, we barely have a starting level two gap DE and that is poor DE unit to the scheme in both Starters and Depth. We do not have the DE's to get upfield and they have proven that over the last two years with no consistent pass rush. Over half of the DL sacks last year were OL mistakes, not because the DL made a play. And even with those gifts, DEN was 26th in sack rate and 16th in total sacks. The year before John Lynch tied for the lead with 4 sacks for the team.

Having guys to play DE does not make them adequate, let alone decent. Every DE on the roster would not Start on 90% of other teams. None of them are anything but Poor NFL starters and their record shows it. They got to play one gap up field style last year and had the lead in almost every game allowing them to pin their ears back and go after the passer in about 50% of their snaps. What did they do? Nothing.

DE and DT are the two glaring Weaknesses on the whole team. The rest have adequate Starters that could use upgrades that would allow for greater overall ability and depth.

I agree with you 100% but I cannot imagine the Broncos actually fixing this in a single season. I have no idea why this is a recurring issue that seem impossible to fix. We can't live off clever blitz packages and running up and down the line. We need guys that go through the line and make the play. Every year we drop this ball.

eddie mac

04-07-2007, 04:22 PM

If i remember correctly the Broncos have like 7-8m in cap room right now and 3-4m of that will have to be spent on the rookies.

Over $9m Jens after the Wilkinson trade voided. He was already on the books via NFLPA. The Bly deal may also have saved a few $$.

IMHO that excessive room is being kept for trading for a veteran who has a sizeable base this year such as Jenkins or KGB either that or the Broncos have changed their philosophy of spending every cent.

Atlas

04-07-2007, 06:21 PM

Strongest Broncos Units, including subs:
1. Tight End
2. Cornerback
3. Quarterback
4. Center/Guard

CB is much strong position than TE.
QB is rated too high.

Weakest Broncos Units:
1. Middle linebacker (Al wont play again in Denver)
2. Defensive Tackle
3. Strong safety (both vets coming off serious injuries)
4. OT (injuries make OT very shaky)
5. DE (actually, we have several decent DEs.)

Wide Receiver is scary too - the starters are solid, but after that:

Rod Smith will be 37 in one month, and he's coming off his first-ever serious injury
Brandon Stokely was on the downside, and is rehabbing a gnarly injury
David Kircus caught just NINE passes all year - six in the first 4 weeks. I wouldda guessed 20-25.
Brian Clark, Domenik Hixon, Quincy Morgan All unproven, and together have less than a dozen combined snaps from scrimmage in Denver.

Q. Mogan is hardly unproven, He had a 1,000 yard season with Cleveland. I don't see the WR as a problem position at all. You are are worried about the # 4 wr???

Either Smith or Stokely will be # 3. I think there is a chance that if Stokely can't displace Smith than he might be cut in order to keep special teamers Hixon and Morgan.

Cito Pelon

04-07-2007, 07:00 PM

Noone can say that we sit on our hands, Denver has made several good to great offseason moves, dumping off dead weight and picking up some talent like Bly, Graham and Henry among others.

We retooled on offense but problems remain. . . . . ..

Critical needs? If it's critical to win the SB then the team has a lot of critical needs. LB, S, DT, DE, OG, OT, WR, ST's. If it's critical to win at least one playoff game then the team has less critcal needs. LB, DT, OT, OG, S, ST's. If it's critical to win the Div then the team has even less critical needs. LB, DT, OT, OG, ST's.

If it's critical to win a playoff spot then the team has even less critical needs. LB, OT, ST's.

So IMO basically the team is fairly sound, but to really challenge for one of the Titles, the team needs better starters in a good range of positions.

But, you never know how things will play out. With heart, chemistry and a killer instinct, good things can happen to average teams. You just have to make the playoffs then turn in your best performances of your career once you make it. Denver has a good roster and coaching staff, they always do, but the team has not been able to get over the various playoff humps and bumps for some time. Maybe this is the year.

broncolife

04-07-2007, 07:28 PM

Over $9m Jens after the Wilkinson trade voided. He was already on the books via NFLPA. The Bly deal may also have saved a few $$.

IMHO that excessive room is being kept for trading for a veteran who has a sizeable base this year such as Jenkins or KGB either that or the Broncos have changed their philosophy of spending every cent.

How much will Al Wilson cost against the cap if he is traded or cut?

Inkana7

04-07-2007, 08:02 PM

Critical needs? If it's critical to win the SB then the team has a lot of critical needs. LB, S, DT, DE, OG, OT, WR, ST's. If it's critical to win at least one playoff game then the team has less critcal needs. LB, DT, OT, OG, S, ST's. If it's critical to win the Div then the team has even less critical needs. LB, DT, OT, OG, ST's.

If it's critical to win a playoff spot then the team has even less critical needs. LB, OT, ST's.

So IMO basically the team is fairly sound, but to really challenge for one of the Titles, the team needs better starters in a good range of positions.

But, you never know how things will play out. With heart, chemistry and a killer instinct, good things can happen to average teams. You just have to make the playoffs then turn in your best performances of your career once you make it. Denver has a good roster and coaching staff, they always do, but the team has not been able to get over the various playoff humps and bumps for some time. Maybe this is the year.

No way we need that many new starters to win a SB. At most, to become legit title contenders, we have critical needs at OT, S, DE, DT, and STs. WR, LB, and OG are just fine for a title run. That is, if Al stays.

watermock

04-07-2007, 10:59 PM

As Jimmay would say: "What a great audience" when it's so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Footsteps said on another thread that he's sick of giving away draft choices. WTF? How else could we get to Cutler, and we still had two second rounders and a pretty full draft. How we managed to trade up without giving up was remarkable. Unfortunately, Washington squeezed a decent year between two lousy ones and I'm sure the FO thought we would get a higher first, but that's out of anyones control. We still parlayed the pick into Walker and Scheff. We got something for Ms. Lilly and she and Duckett hit the street and we got a 3 and 08 4. We have plenty of draft picks this year!

Second we have had a huge free agency. Bly, Graham and Henry alone are huge. Looks like NE would of matched by now for Todd. We picked up some role players and re-signed most all the wanted.

Third, we are getting back several injured players. God willing, they will come back strong. Rod Smith's threshold for pain it unreal. A few years ago he played with stress fractures in BOTH ankles, and I've read a bad hip is brutal. I know. It hasn't bothered me much lately tho. Once in awhile it hurt so bad I was near tears, but not on a football field.

Lepsis most likely won't be quite right for awhile, but he will gut it out. We are getting Cecil back, who was really coming on. Fox and Brandon? are ahead of schedule. We should get Hixon back. Add in the role players, that's a dozen new faces to go with the best draft in a damn damn long time.

That's about 16 players between the draft, free agents and returning wounded. And we have 4 picks in the first three rounds.

The sky is NOT falling. This offseaon exceeded my wildest expectations and I keep hearing everyone is on track in rehab.

Now we get some Mongos for the D and we will have retooled. DL can make immediate impact. We need another good draft. All hail BangBoy who shall lead us to the promised land. (watching Moses)...heh.

listopencil

04-07-2007, 11:51 PM

Critical need?

DT.

BroncoBuff

04-08-2007, 01:29 AM

CB is much strong position than TE.
QB is rated too high.
Well, in all three places, we are two-deep loaded. Remember I was including depth as a criteria... using that criteria, CB QB and TE are all even.

Foxworth, Paymah and Cox = solid depth for the best starting duo in league
Alexander and Jackson/Mustard are Bronco vets behind Graham/Scheffler
And Cutler-Ramsey is set for years to come. The only way to break it up would be if Ramsey gets a starting chance elsewhere

Q. Mogan is hardly unproven, He had a 1,000 yard season with Cleveland. I don't see the WR as a problem position at all. You are are worried about the # 4 wr???

Either Smith or Stokely will be # 3. I think there is a chance that if Stokely can't displace Smith than he might be cut in order to keep special teamers Hixon and Morgan.
I hope Stokley is healthy ... that is one gnarly injury for a guy already on the downside ... both those same points go double for Rod Smith ...

I did not know Q had a 1000 yard season .... so, why isn't he the hands-down #3 guy?

Cito Pelon

04-08-2007, 01:52 AM

No way we need that many new starters to win a SB. At most, to become legit title contenders, we have critical needs at OT, S, DE, DT, and STs. WR, LB, and OG are just fine for a title run. That is, if Al stays.

I've seen the LB and OL disappearing act in the playoffs too many times. Really, it was a total team disappearing act. There's a lot of holes to fill, unless the team can find heart and desire among the current roster. Shanny & Co. made a decision after the good team in 2005 to stick with the core and make few changes for 2006, thereby giving that team from 2005 a chance to excel more in 2006. They failed Shanny's faith in them. They were given their chance, and to Shanny's credit, he gave them their chance. They failed.

Shanny & Co. are looking to rebuild the roster this year. They've made a good start. They'll compete again this year. Maybe they can really challenge this year, we'll see.