crowebomber
04-28-2008, 11:31 AM
Wearing the expected smile of a just-completed draft, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan emerged from the team's war room Sunday to declare the team's roster got the upgrade it needed to break a two-season string of playoff misses.
"We're a better team, there's no question about it," Shanahan said.
The Broncos concluded their draft Sunday, making seven picks - they picked nine players in all during the weekend - as well as agreeing to terms with a handful of undrafted free agents.
And Shanahan was ready to list reasons why the team improved during the weekend, starting with the Broncos' first pick, Boise State offensive tackle Ryan Clady.
"No. 1, Ryan Clady coming in, starting out as our left offensive tackle," Shanahan said. "(Retired left tackle) Matt (Lepsis) didn't have one of his best years last year, coming off injury. He was coming off an injury, and he didn't play at the level he normally played at. So, with Ryan coming in and his type of ability, I think we'll make an improvement there, regardless of him being a rookie or not.
"There's going to be a learning curve there. There's going to be some mistakes, but he has the athletic ability to come in and help our team win."
Shanahan has also announced that second-round pick Eddie Royal will be the team's primary punt and kickoff returner in the upcoming season.
And, in the end, the team's draft leaned slightly toward the offense, with five picks on that side of the ball and four on defense - all four of those coming Sunday, the draft's second day.
"Overall, I felt good about the draft," Shanahan said. "I felt like we were able to get some quality players . . . and also fill some of the needs."
The Broncos, though they did discuss it with several teams, didn't make a trade, so neither moved up nor down in any round in the two-day affair.
They also made it clear they trusted the opinions of their medical staff Sunday, with five of their seven second-day picks having had some kind of significant injury in their college careers.
Two of the picks - Bowling Green guard Kory Lichtensteiger and Arizona State running back Ryan Torain - are recovering from shoulder and foot injuries, respectively.
Torain pronounced himself "100 percent" Sunday from foot surgery that kept him out of the last six games of 2007, but the Broncos might limit his work some leading up to their June minicamps. Meanwhile, Lichtensteiger was still trying to get back to full speed, having his right shoulder repaired after this past season.
"(Torain is a) guy I'm very high on and hoping would be there," Shanahan said. "I think he's got first-round ability, I will say that, so I really put the whammy on him."
Also:
* Arizona State safety Josh Barrett (seventh round) had two shoulder surgeries in his career with the Sun Devils, along with wrist and knee injuries.
* Linebacker Spencer Larsen (sixth round) tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in 2005.
* Fullback Peyton Hillis (seventh round) fractured three transverse process bones in his lower back as a freshman at Arkansas.
Shanahan said taking all of that into account was just part of the draft process.
"But way before you pick them . . . (you) talk to all these doctors months in advance, talk to them before the draft starts and kind of get an idea of when they'll be ready," Shanahan said. "I feel good about everybody - should be ready for June minicamp. Maybe some might not be ready for May, but we've got a lot of time for them."
The Broncos also considered the health history of Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart, whom Carolina selected with the 13th pick in the first round, one pick after the Broncos selected Clady.
Stewart, a 235-pound back who ran a 4.48 40-yard dash at the combine, had toe surgery in March but was on the Broncos board as one of the players they would have considered had they not taken Clady.
"I talked to (Stewart's) doctor on Friday, the night before the draft, and he was very definitive he would be able to practice, able to play," Shanahan said. "You do that with a lot of guys. There were probably 100 guys in that draft who didn't have a passing grade at that time. You've got to figure out who you feel comfortable with."
The Broncos also took no gambles in terms of off-the-field behavior this time, with all nine picks considered low character risks by the league's scouts.
"I'm very happy with our draft class, with the type of character we did draft," Shanahan said. "We got some quality individuals."
The Broncos added a few undrafted rookie free agents Sunday night, receiving commitments from: Cherry Creek High School grad Tyler Polumbus, who started 26 games at tackle in his career at CU; Oklahoma kicker Garrett Hartley; Toledo punter Brett Kern; Houston running back Anthony Alridge, a 170-pounder who was one of the fastest players at the scouting combine with a 4.36 40-yard dash - he ran for 1,597 yards last season and caught 42 passes; Texas-El Paso wide receiver Lorne Sam; and South Dakota State guard Mitch Erickson.
The Broncos were hoping, as of Sunday night, to reach an agreement with Kentucky linebacker Wesley Woodyard.
"We're a better team, there's no question about it," Shanahan said.
The Broncos concluded their draft Sunday, making seven picks - they picked nine players in all during the weekend - as well as agreeing to terms with a handful of undrafted free agents.
And Shanahan was ready to list reasons why the team improved during the weekend, starting with the Broncos' first pick, Boise State offensive tackle Ryan Clady.
"No. 1, Ryan Clady coming in, starting out as our left offensive tackle," Shanahan said. "(Retired left tackle) Matt (Lepsis) didn't have one of his best years last year, coming off injury. He was coming off an injury, and he didn't play at the level he normally played at. So, with Ryan coming in and his type of ability, I think we'll make an improvement there, regardless of him being a rookie or not.
"There's going to be a learning curve there. There's going to be some mistakes, but he has the athletic ability to come in and help our team win."
Shanahan has also announced that second-round pick Eddie Royal will be the team's primary punt and kickoff returner in the upcoming season.
And, in the end, the team's draft leaned slightly toward the offense, with five picks on that side of the ball and four on defense - all four of those coming Sunday, the draft's second day.
"Overall, I felt good about the draft," Shanahan said. "I felt like we were able to get some quality players . . . and also fill some of the needs."
The Broncos, though they did discuss it with several teams, didn't make a trade, so neither moved up nor down in any round in the two-day affair.
They also made it clear they trusted the opinions of their medical staff Sunday, with five of their seven second-day picks having had some kind of significant injury in their college careers.
Two of the picks - Bowling Green guard Kory Lichtensteiger and Arizona State running back Ryan Torain - are recovering from shoulder and foot injuries, respectively.
Torain pronounced himself "100 percent" Sunday from foot surgery that kept him out of the last six games of 2007, but the Broncos might limit his work some leading up to their June minicamps. Meanwhile, Lichtensteiger was still trying to get back to full speed, having his right shoulder repaired after this past season.
"(Torain is a) guy I'm very high on and hoping would be there," Shanahan said. "I think he's got first-round ability, I will say that, so I really put the whammy on him."
Also:
* Arizona State safety Josh Barrett (seventh round) had two shoulder surgeries in his career with the Sun Devils, along with wrist and knee injuries.
* Linebacker Spencer Larsen (sixth round) tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in 2005.
* Fullback Peyton Hillis (seventh round) fractured three transverse process bones in his lower back as a freshman at Arkansas.
Shanahan said taking all of that into account was just part of the draft process.
"But way before you pick them . . . (you) talk to all these doctors months in advance, talk to them before the draft starts and kind of get an idea of when they'll be ready," Shanahan said. "I feel good about everybody - should be ready for June minicamp. Maybe some might not be ready for May, but we've got a lot of time for them."
The Broncos also considered the health history of Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart, whom Carolina selected with the 13th pick in the first round, one pick after the Broncos selected Clady.
Stewart, a 235-pound back who ran a 4.48 40-yard dash at the combine, had toe surgery in March but was on the Broncos board as one of the players they would have considered had they not taken Clady.
"I talked to (Stewart's) doctor on Friday, the night before the draft, and he was very definitive he would be able to practice, able to play," Shanahan said. "You do that with a lot of guys. There were probably 100 guys in that draft who didn't have a passing grade at that time. You've got to figure out who you feel comfortable with."
The Broncos also took no gambles in terms of off-the-field behavior this time, with all nine picks considered low character risks by the league's scouts.
"I'm very happy with our draft class, with the type of character we did draft," Shanahan said. "We got some quality individuals."
The Broncos added a few undrafted rookie free agents Sunday night, receiving commitments from: Cherry Creek High School grad Tyler Polumbus, who started 26 games at tackle in his career at CU; Oklahoma kicker Garrett Hartley; Toledo punter Brett Kern; Houston running back Anthony Alridge, a 170-pounder who was one of the fastest players at the scouting combine with a 4.36 40-yard dash - he ran for 1,597 yards last season and caught 42 passes; Texas-El Paso wide receiver Lorne Sam; and South Dakota State guard Mitch Erickson.
The Broncos were hoping, as of Sunday night, to reach an agreement with Kentucky linebacker Wesley Woodyard.