Elsid13 2009 Roster Make over

[elsid13]

OK got mightly bored today, so went with a mock and FA listing. Yes I know that people will complain and it ain't sexy but I feel that just fits what Denver is trying to do.

Tried to make it real as possible. Used NFL Draft Scout/ESPN/TFI Draft and DraftCount down for the slots of the rookies FA - Signing based upon Rotoworld contract informaton

QB - Kyle Bollier (Bal) replace Ramseys. Remember the Coaching staff was in love with him coming out of CAL
DL (DT/NT)- Ronald Fields (SF) adds bulk (321) to the NT position and allows the team to switch between 4/3 and 3/4. Second tier player but gives Denver a rotation that has some size. Plus he played well this year but has two young players in front of him
DE Chris Canty (Dal) Yes he is bigger then what Denver needs for 4/3 but I think he will be provides flexiblity on the line similiar to Peterson and allows the team to stop the run and switch to the 3/4 when needed.
MLB - Jonathon Vilma. New Orleans is extreme tight cap wise and he fits the mode of the Denver LB. Back-up plan is Peterson from Jax. PLus I expect Larson to get a shot at MLB
SS - Brandon McGowan (CHI). Injuried SS for the Bears allows depth in the secondary and can play both spots
WR - Chad Jackson stays on and D Jackson moves on.
WR - Ronald Curry (OAK) He under contract now, but I expect him to be cut since the Zombie has been forcing him to seat on the beach, even though he is thier best WR. And I think he needs a one to two year deal to prove to the league he can still play.

For the draft Denver ends up between 21 and 25

1. T May, (S) USC. I know folk think he will be in top ten, but safeties usually go later in first and I expect a lot teams before Denver taking OTs, LBs, WRs and QBs before then. This Will allow Denver to move either Barrett or Mays in and out of the box for run support while being incredible fast and punishing in covering deep.
2.Max Unger (OL C or G) OR- Good size and can play all the positions on the line. Flexibility is key on Denver o-line. Getting a lot of movement up the scout's board according to several NFL draft websites
3.LaGarrette Blount (RB) OR. Good JR back with speed and size (230). At 23, I think the JUCO transfer comes out. Another player that similar skills that I also considered in this spot is Charles Scott (LSU). I like Blount speed and wiggle a little better though.
4.Mike Thomas (WR) Arz. Smaller WR, but just a football player dynamic with the ball in his hands. I compare him better version of Royal coming out of school, who can return both punts and kicks. If he was taller, he would be 1st rounder.
5.Derek Walker (DE) ILL. Big DE (270 pounds) that made the Big 10 honorable coach mention. will help stop the run, is a "so-so" pass rusher.
5.Derek Nicholson (LB) FSU. Added for depth and ST might develop into player on strong side in the future.
6.Anthony Hill (NC ST) TE - Bigger blocking TE that decent hands, will allow both Mustard and Jackson to move on.
7.David Johnson (FB) Ark State. Need a FB to replace Larson at 250 pounder is potential goal line/short yard blocker when they move Hillis into the power back mode.
7.Cornelius Lewis (G) Tennessee State development player
From rivals.com Small school draft list (http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=887922)
The Buzz: Lewis, who started his career at Florida State, has a thick, powerful lower half and has good lateral mobility in pass protection. He lacks great length and size, and may be best-suited to play guard. Lewis has good feet and has the power to hold his own in the run and pass game.


Potential starting line up

Offense - 25

QB - Cutler, Bollier
RB - Blount, Torian, Alridge
FB - Hillis* Johnson
WR - Marshall, Curry, Chad Jackson
WR - Royal, Stokley, Thomas
TE - Graham, Scheffer, Hill
LT - Clady, Polumbus, Unger
LG - Hamiliton, Lichtensteiger, Lewis
C - Wiegmann, Unger, Lichtensteiger
RG - Kuper, Lichtensteiger, Lewis
RT - Harris, Polumbus, Pears Unger

* I expect Hillis with also see time at TE, RB

Defense 25

DE - Dumervil, Moss
DT**- Robinson, Thomas, Peterson, Fields
DE - Canty,Crowder, Walker
SLB - Boss Bailey, Winborn, Nicholson
MLB - Vilma, Larson
WLB - Williams, Woodyard
CB - Champ, Bly, Bell, Williams
FS - Mays, Fox
SS - Barrett, McGowan

** Lots of rotation

ST - 3
K - Prater
P - Kern
LS - Leach

PR/KR M Thomas/E Royal

[gyldenlove]

QB - Kyle Bollier (Bal) replace Ramseys. Remember the Coaching staff was in love with him coming out of CAL
DL (DT/NT)- Ronald Fields (SF) adds bulk (321) to the NT position and allows the team to switch between 4/3 and 3/4. Second tier player but gives Denver a rotation that has some size. Plus he played well this year but has two young players in front of him
DE Chris Canty (Dal) Yes he is bigger then what Denver needs for 4/3 but I think he will be provides flexiblity on the line similiar to Peterson and allows the team to stop the run and switch to the 3/4 when needed.
MLB - Jonathon Vilma. New Orleans is extreme tight cap wise and he fits the mode of the Denver LB. Back-up plan is Peterson from Jax. PLus I expect Larson to get a shot at MLB
SS - Brandon McGowan (CHI). Injuried SS for the Bears allows depth in the secondary and can play both spots
WR - Chad Jackson stays on and D Jackson moves on.
WR - Ronald Curry (OAK) He under contract now, but I expect him to be cut since the Zombie has been forcing him to seat on the beach, even though he is thier best WR. And I think he needs a one to two year deal to prove to the league he can still play.


I don't like Boller, he has been ruined just like Ramsey and at least Ramsey knows the terminology. Boller is not going to bring anything Ramsey doesn't.

For backup QB I would like a later round draftpick who is very cerebral, and has decent accuracy, someone who can take on the Kubiak role.

I like Canty, that is a good idea, and we really do need a big run stopping DE who can play with power and make sure Engelberger is gone.

Vilma or Peterson would both be decent pickups, I am scared with their injury history as they both come with significant risk, but they are playmakers.

I don't want Curry at all, he is a malcontent and I know that it is easy to be discontent in Oakland, but with us he would basicly be a 4th stringer and he will want to get paid like a 2nd stringer. I think he is a heap of trouble we will be better off staying clear of.

I don't see Mays as a good fit, he has the same size and athletisism combination that Barrett brings, but is more polished. The problem is we would end up with 2 SS and not enough pass cover skills. If Will Moore is not available in the 1st round we may as well get a guy like Rashad Johnson from Bama in the 2nd.

I think going offense with 3 of the first 4 picks is a bad idea. We have too many needs on DE, LB, S and potentially CB as well not to address at least a few of those early on. I know a lot of people are talking up Unger, but I just don't see it. I wouldn't mind an interior offensive lineman in the 4th or 5th round, but not that early.

[bpc]

I hate knocking peoples drafts because they put a lot of work into it but i'm not sure Blount is going to be great in the NFL. This still leaves a huge question mark at HB which we cannot allow to transpire this offseason. We need to go into next year with some stud buffaloes who are ready to tote the rock.

[lex]

I think if we get a backup QB, he should have some scrambling ability and smart. That way if he has to play in an emergency, he can at least move the sticks by running.

[elsid13]

I hate knocking peoples drafts because they put a lot of work into it but i'm not sure Blount is going to be great in the NFL. This still leaves a huge question mark at HB which we cannot allow to transpire this offseason. We need to go into next year with some stud buffaloes who are ready to tote the rock.

Knock away. Like I said, when first posted that I expect folks not to like the draft, but I tried to play it like the boys in Dove Valley do. Also I think people are going to be surprised how little Denver drafts for defense this year. There aren't going to that many open spots as people believe there are the defense side of the ball, especial if Shanahan feels like a veteran or two will get him over the top. We can expect 3 starters at most and I doubt more then one rookie starting.

[goldengopher1976]

Are you forgetting about Powell in the DT rotation, or do you not think he'll make the team?

[elsid13]

Are you forgetting about Powell in the DT rotation, or do you not think he'll make the team?

I forgot about him. So I would replace Peterson with Powell

[gyldenlove]

Knock away. Like I said, when first posted that I expect folks not to like the draft, but I tried to play it like the boys in Dove Valley do. Also I think people are going to be surprised how little Denver drafts for defense this year. There aren't going to that many open spots as people believe there are the defense side of the ball, especial if Shanahan feels like a veteran or two will get him over the top. We can expect 3 starters at most and I doubt more then one rookie starting.

If we carry the same amount of players on the different positions as we did this year after TC, we will need 4 safeties, 5 cornerbacks, 8 linebackers and 10 defensive linemen.

Sure fire players:

S:
Josh Barrett

CB:
Champ Bailey
Jack Williams
Josh Bell

LB:
DJ Williams
Wesley Woodyard
Jamie Winborn
Spencer Larsen

DE:
Elvis Dumervil
Jarvis Moss

DT:
Dewayne Robertson
Marcus Thomas
Carlton Powell

Probable players:

S:
Marquand Manuel

CB:
Dre Bly

LB:
Louis Green
Boss Bailey

DE:
Tim Crowder

DT:
Kenny Peterson

That leaves: 2 safeties, 1 cornerback, 2 linebackers, 2 defensive ends, 1 defensive tackle to be named later, now some of these may be holdovers, some will be free agents and some will be draft picks. We do need to get depth going into TC though for competition, so I think we will go pretty heavy on defense still.

On offense, we will need 1 OL, at least 1 RB/FB, at least 1 WR, maybe 1 TE and 1 QB. I think we will see a draft like the 2008 draft, except the ratio will be reversed to favor the D, I think we will go heavy on D early and then pick up a mix of offense and defense in the middle and later rounds.

[BroncoMan4ever]

i don't think we will see the 3-4 anymore in Denver unless we bring in a DC who runs a 3-4, and i can't see that happening because it is far to much of a defensive roster overhaul compared to getting a good 4-3 DC and fixing parts in our current alignment.

[gyldenlove]

i don't think we will see the 3-4 anymore in Denver unless we bring in a DC who runs a 3-4, and i can't see that happening because it is far to much of a defensive roster overhaul compared to getting a good 4-3 DC and fixing parts in our current alignment.

There are certainly a number of defensive minded coaches out there looking for work, at seems to be a mix of 4-3, 3-4 and cover 2 guys so if we switch we should be able to find a good one.

I think the most important change to make is still DL coach.

[BroncoMan4ever]

There are certainly a number of defensive minded coaches out there looking for work, at seems to be a mix of 4-3, 3-4 and cover 2 guys so if we switch we should be able to find a good one.

I think the most important change to make is still DL coach.

i don't think that under Shanahan we will ever be a 3-4 defense. he prefers the 4-3 and i imagine would hire to what he likes.

plus the thought of having to find a good NT is a pain in the ass. we are really hit and miss with DL players and finding a good NT is harder than finding just a good 4-3 DT. we would possibly be ok on the LB portion for a 3-4 but i think it is just too much of an unheaval to change for a 4-3 to a 3-4. i think it would be easier, to fix the front 7 and get some more Safety help than it would to have to get Safety help as well as revamp the line. it would keep the defense from being any good for another 2 years at least. at least if we can plug in a few guys and draft youth for the 4-3 we could be an ok defense next year and capable of helping the offense instead of being a work in progress.

[elsid13]

If we carry the same amount of players on the different positions as we did this year after TC, we will need 4 safeties, 5 cornerbacks, 8 linebackers and 10 defensive linemen.

....

That leaves: 2 safeties, 1 cornerback, 2 linebackers, 2 defensive ends, 1 defensive tackle to be named later, now some of these may be holdovers, some will be free agents and some will be draft picks. We do need to get depth going into TC though for competition, so I think we will go pretty heavy on defense still.

On offense, we will need 1 OL, at least 1 RB/FB, at least 1 WR, maybe 1 TE and 1 QB. I think we will see a draft like the 2008 draft, except the ratio will be reversed to favor the D, I think we will go heavy on D early and then pick up a mix of offense and defense in the middle and later rounds.

Neither Boss, or Bly are going anywhere due to the contracts. So remove those two. I also expect Crowder to be on the team next year due to his age and contract is relative cheap. So right now that leave 2 safeties spots, 1 LB, 1 DE and 1 DT. If Denver fills any of those holes with FA, (which I did my draft, then they aren't going to pick them up through the draft). especial if get some like Vilma.

[gyldenlove]

Neither Boss, or Bly are going anywhere due to the contracts. So remove those two. I also expect Crowder to be on the team next year due to his age and contract is relative cheap. So right now that leave 2 safeties spots, 1 LB, 1 DE and 1 DT. If Denver fills any of those holes with FA, (which I did my draft, then they aren't going to pick them up through the draft). especial if get some like Vilma.

Actually both Bly and Boss are quite cuttable.

Bly stands to take up about 7 mill in cap space this coming season, if we cut him and save his 3.25 mill salary, he will take up about 9 million, but then he will be off the books, unless we make him a post june 1st cut, then he will take up about 4.5 in 2009 and 2010 as opposed to 7 million in 2009 and 2010.

Boss Bailey is VERY cuttable, he got 4.3 million signing bonus, of which about 1 mill have already been paid. If we cut him we are on the hook for only about 3.5 million which is very close to his cap hit if he plays.

I do believe Bly will stay, he has played well enough and when used correctly is a good player. Bailey I am not sure about, he would pretty much have to win a starting position in camp since he doesn't play special teams. In the end it could come down to Nate Webster and Boss Bailey fighting for 1 spot.

You are forgetting about Paymah who is right now anyones guess, I don't think he is more than 50/50 to come back next year, that would leave at least a tentative need at CB.

Even with FA signings, we are going to draft some players to over cover anyway, we need to carry 80 guys into TC and Shanahan does like a healthy competition so even with some signings, I think we will still draft defensively.