AFC West Fillability Index (Denver)

[dragondawg]

The AFC West had all the makings of a power division last year. Denver began the year looking like a true contender, San Diego cruised to the best record in the NFL and the Chiefs muscled their way into the postseason. But the Broncos fell apart at the end of the year, and the division's two playoff representatives were both one-and-done when it counted.

Whether the division can re-establish itself in 2007 remains to be seen, but here's how it's all playing out so far in the off-season

The Broncos don't take to losing very well. You just know Mike Shanahan and his beady little dead-shark eyes spent the offseason with that frozen grimace on his face, wondering how a promising start (5-1), powered by an amazing defensive performance, could have ended so poorly.

And so, they made decisive and prominent moves to solve their problems. The upgrade from Jake Plummer to Jay Cutler already happened, so they've gotten a jump on things there. The Broncos seemed a bit lost without a prime TE last year, and Daniel Graham adds solidity, blocking prowess and underutilized receiving ability at the position. WR Brandon Stokley, if healthy, should help a mediocre passing game as well (19th in yards per pass in 2006).

And although they've been able to plug anyone in at RB and have them succeed, Travis Henry has to be considered an improvement over Tatum Bell. The additions of G Montrae Holland and Graham should make a difference on an O-line that was just slightly below average last year (18th on our Offensive Hog Index). For an organization that has utterly crushed opponents with its ground game over the past decade, finishing 18th feels about as comfortable as a date with the locals on the Cahulawassee River.

The defensive line was a problem as well, and the Broncos used their top two draft picks on DEs (Jarvis Moss, Tim Crowder). They also got Dre Bly to play corner opposite Champ Bailey, giving them the highest paid pair of corners in NFL history. This could certainly pose a problem: in the salary-cap era, too much money devoted to a single position is usually a problem. But we'll see how it plays out on the field first.

Much of Denver's problem in 2006 seemed to stem from the shattered psyche of Plummer, and they've made some efficient upgrades in the offseason to start the Cutler Era for good.

Yet another AFC team pointed in the right direction. Doesn't anybody in that conference want to hire Matt Millen away from Detroit?

Fillability grade: A


Additions:
QB Patrick Ramsey (N.Y. Jets)
RB Travis Henry (Tennessee)
RB Paul Smith (St. Louis)
WR Brandon Stokley (Indianapolis)
TE Daniel Graham (New England)
G Montrae Holland (New Orleans)
DT Dan Wilkinson (Miami)
DT Alvin McKinley (Cleveland)
LB Warrick Holdman (Washington)

CB Dre' Bly (Detroit)
P Todd Sauerbrun (New England)

Subtractions:
QB Jake Plummer (retired/traded)
RB Tatum Bell (traded to Detroit)
T George Foster (traded to Detroit)
G Cooper Carlisle (Oakland)
LB Al Wilson (released)
LB Patrick Chukwura (Tampa Bay)
DT Michael Myers (Cincinnati)

Draft choices:
1 (17) Jarvis Moss, de, Florida
2 (56) Tim Crowder, de, Texas
3 (70) Ryan Harris, ot, Notre Dame
4 (121) Marcus Thomas, dt, Florida

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Article.php?Page=1442

[scorpio]

Good read. Doesn't Cecil Lammey write for that site?

[Broncosfreak_56]

We dont have dan wilkinson.

[Dr. Broncenstein]

Psssstt.... don't tell anyone, but Dan Wilkinson isn't going to be on the roster. Our little secret.

[dragondawg]

he's probably still on his cruise

[Atlas]

That's a good site. Here is the Chiefs write up.

For a team that made the playoffs in a dominant AFC, the Chiefs had a surprising number of holes heading to the 2007 offseason. No receivers, no defensive line, a fading offensive line and a quarterback controversy.

They've filled some of the gaps, probably, but ignored what might be the most important one – the offensive line. The Chiefs have had one of the best lines in the NFL for most of a decade, but losing future Hall of Famer Will Shields and starting T Jordan Black is a killer. They signed journeyman Damion McIntosh, but drafted no one until the sixth round (TCU's Herbert Taylor). That means in the last two seasons they've lost two all-time greats (Willie Roaf and Shields) and two left tackles (Roaf and Black).

The Chiefs went from 4.58 yards per carry in 2005 (with Roaf, Black and Shields) to 4.18 per carry in 2006 (with Black and Shields). It's hard to imagine that downward trend will do anything but continue with two new starters on the line in 2007.

However, the Chiefs have done a nice job of bolstering their defense, something they desperately needed to do when Herm Edwards came on board before the 2006 season (the Chiefs never finished better than 22nd in total defense in the five previous years under Dick Vermeil). The transformation from the Vermeil offensive attack to the Edwards defensive focus continued with the addition of LBs Napoleon Harris and Donnie Edwards – both starters in 2006, both sought-after in free agency. Edwards has consistently been among the most productive tackling machines in the NFL, with over 100 takedowns every single year since 1997. He's also picked off 27 passes and forced 21.5 sacks. Add it all up, and those are Hall of Fame-caliber numbers. Of course, at 34, age for Edwards may soon be an issue.

The Chiefs also drafted DTs in the second- and third-round, Turk McBride and Tank Tyler, to go with free agent Alfonso Boone.

The Chiefs needed the help up front – they were 20th in yards per rush allowed (4.18, identical to their offensive output) and 22nd in negative pass plays forced. Adding a Turk and a Tank can't hurt.

And they did pick up a WR with their No. 1 pick (LSU's Dwayne Bowe), which could add a nice dimension to their respectable passing attack (13th in yards per attempt).

Kansas City never managed to get over the hump with the all-offense, no-defense approach. But now, it seems like they're going to the other extreme. The end result, more than likely, will be the same: mediocrity.

Fillability grade: C

[dragondawg]

its gonna be a good year

[Atlas]

They were pretty hard on the Lions.

Oh, Matt Millen. Sometimes we almost feel bad for you. Surely you can't be this bad at your job – surely it's mostly just bad fortune, like a good poker player who loses every night because he can't catch the cards.

Nah. Millen is the guy who just keeps going all-in with his pair of fours because he thinks he's due this time. This time. This time. This time.

The Lions did one thing pretty well in 2006. They passed the ball – lots of yards (seventh at 238.8 YPG), and a solid 18th in adjusted passing yards per attempt (5.80). But they were absolutely bottom of the barrel at everything else, especially on defense.

So, wisely, they used their first two picks ... ON THE PASSING GAME! The Lions think they'll be explosive with WR Calvin Johnson next to WR Roy Williams, and they might just be right. And becoming truly excellent at one thing is sometimes enough to win a few games, something the Lions don't do much of to begin with.

However, rookie WRs rarely succeed right away, and Millen should know that better than anyone. And, finally, as the Cold, Hard Football Facts have proven time and again, teams that are explosive in one area but suck in several others simply do not win consistently. And, right now, the Lions are set up to be explosive in one area but suck in several others.

For example, they did absolutely nothing to improve their horrible defense and, in fact, lost three of their most capable players (DT Marcus Bell, CB Dre Bly, S Terrence Holt). It's quite possible that the Lions' D can be even worse than it was a year ago, when it turned in a defensive effort reminiscent of Poland in WWII (surrendering 24.9 PPG).

OK, they did do a little something. They added second-rounders Ikaika Alama-Francis (DE) and Gerald Alexander (DB). And veterans DeWayne White (DE) and Travis Fisher (CB). But that's just standing pat, basically, and they needed to move forward.

The Lions had a golden opportunity – with the only appealing draft position atop the first round, they could have traded down, got 4-5 players, and built for the future. But Millen always thinks he's just a heartbeat away from greatness.

He's not.

Fold.

Fillability grade: D

[Bob's your Information Minister]

Jesus, some really ignorant bull**** in that piece.

[nickademus]

pretty good break down on both the chiefs and the broncos. Although they forgot to mention that the chiefs suck!

[footstepsfrom#27]

They still have Big Fatty on the team.

[watermock]

Meck77 said he caught Jake Plummer poaching trout in his pond.

[Kaylore]

its gonna be a good year

Could be. I think a lot will be going on. Whatever happens, it's going to really fun to watch. :)

[Los Broncos]

I just think its going to take Jay another year to really gel.

[Play2win]

its gonna be a good year

It is ALWAYS a good year, if you are a Denver fan... :)

[BroncoBuff]

Oh, Matt Millen. Sometimes we almost feel bad for you. Surely you can't be this bad at your job – surely it's mostly just bad fortune.

Nope. He IS that bad at his job.

Drew Stanton was imo the worst pick of the draft ... he can't throw a spiral, he was benched twice his senior year, he blew a victory over Notre Dame when he threw an Int-Ret-TD with two minutes to play (they lost about 40-37), and that got his coach fired.

And some of the deals he was supposedly offered for Calvin Johnson were just plain sick. Herschel Walker/Vikings-Cowboys type deals that, in the hands of a decent GM, could've set the Lions up for serious playoff runs in '08 and beyond. Five first day picks from some teams ... in fact, rumor was he could've got 3 first day picks - JUST TO MOVE DOWN TO THE BUCS #4 SLOT - #2, #3 this year, and #2 next year.


Millen is a absolute fool .... and underestimating him would be impossible.

[BroncoBuff]

Am I too harsh on Drew Stanton?

Well, I'm no expert ... but Mike Mayock is:

NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock seemed less forgiving in his analysis. "We've seen the tape, and even though I wanted to like him, I'm struggling with the idea," he says. "He's an inconsistent thrower and looked just as inconsistent during his pro day in a pair of shorts as he was in games."


Todd Blackledge - at best.

[RkyMtnThunder]

It's quite possible that the Lions' D can be even worse than it was a year ago, when it turned in a defensive effort reminiscent of Poland in WWII (surrendering 24.9 PPG).


Hilarious!

[RkyMtnThunder]

Jesus, some really ignorant bull**** in that piece.

Yeah, everyone is ignorant if they arent swallowing the Chief's load.


Face it man, no one thinks your team is going to light it up

Get a grip homer

[Inkana7]

Yeah, everyone is ignorant if they arent swallowing the Chief's load.


Face it man, no one thinks your team is going to light it up

Get a grip homer

ZOMG DONT QUOTE BOOB!!!

[Rock Chalk]

Yeah, everyone is ignorant if they arent swallowing the Chief's load.


Face it man, no one thinks your team is going to light it up

Get a grip homer

218 posts over the limit to which quoting BOb is acceptable due to lack of knowledge that you ARENT SUPPOSED TO QUOTE BOB!.
.