lostknight
08-11-2010, 11:12 AM
Since we are actually in a game week :yayaya: it's probably time to start breaking down the positional battles that we should be watching for this weekend. Along with that, the depth chart has been releases. Coaches in General, and Josh McDaniels in particular use the depth chart to warn players, make political statements (anyone remember Brandon's position last year?) and incentivize. There were large unmistakable slaps at Alphonso Smith, Jamie Kerlew and others. Zane Beadles and JD Walton are starters, while D.T sure to challange Brandon Llyod and Kevin Alexander penciled in at second behind Ayers are pleasant surprises. Here are the ones I am going to be watching:
QB: 9 (Brady Quinn) vs 15 (Tebow)
Thought I would deal with the obvious one first. Reports from training camp are that Quinn is still struggling with down-field passes. Same reports are that Tebow is still struggling with bubble screens and passes under 5 yards. I honestly don't think this would have been on the docket if it were not for the performance that Tebow put up last saturday, but the question is, can Tebow deal with opposing players who actually are able to get to the QB. No roster spots at stake here, but this will be a key battle in what our team actually looks like this year.
CB: 22 (Alphonso Smith) versus 25 (Tony Carter) versys 41 (Vaughn) and 43 (Thompson)
Alphonso and Cater should be safe - defense backs form the bulk of special teams players, but Alphonso Smith was more or less a first round pick last year, and has severly underperformed. The team may decide to cut it's losers sooner rather then later depending on how he performs in preseason. At the bare minimum, Smith will have to show strong returning potential, since that could pivot Vaughn or Thompson into his roster slot.
CB: 33 (Nate Jones) versus 32 (Perrish Cox) for nickel/dime duties.
Cox's amazing pre-season has put him in position to challenge Jones for third CB duties.
WR: 12 (Matthew Willis) versus 14 (Brandon Stokley)
I really don't want this match up, because I think both of them have a real opportunity to contribute. Last year, we ran with 6 wide receivers. Right now, Brandon Lloyd is X, with D. Thomas in second string. I give no change to 82 (Alric Arnett) or 16 (Patrick Carter). Eddie is at Y, with Brandon Stokley listed as number two (injury concerns may play a big role here. You need a slot receiver), Gaffney and Willis top Z, but Eric Decker is behind him, and I don't see a scenario where Decker doesn't make the team. I still think the most likely outcome is a practice squad sting for Willis here. It's also possible that one of the corner positions get yanked for one more wide receiver on the team.
DE/NT/DE or DE/DL: 79 (Marcus Thomas) versus 75 (Chris Baker) versus 65 (Jeff Stehle)
The broncos are going to have to decide relatively quickly if they are planning to go with a 4-3 or a 3-4 look, since it will affect roster positions. We went with 7 linemen last year, so I picked the third string in each position, assuming a 3-4 alignment, that means one third stringer for the whole line. I would assume two practice squad positions will probably come out of the line.
QB: 9 (Brady Quinn) vs 15 (Tebow)
Thought I would deal with the obvious one first. Reports from training camp are that Quinn is still struggling with down-field passes. Same reports are that Tebow is still struggling with bubble screens and passes under 5 yards. I honestly don't think this would have been on the docket if it were not for the performance that Tebow put up last saturday, but the question is, can Tebow deal with opposing players who actually are able to get to the QB. No roster spots at stake here, but this will be a key battle in what our team actually looks like this year.
CB: 22 (Alphonso Smith) versus 25 (Tony Carter) versys 41 (Vaughn) and 43 (Thompson)
Alphonso and Cater should be safe - defense backs form the bulk of special teams players, but Alphonso Smith was more or less a first round pick last year, and has severly underperformed. The team may decide to cut it's losers sooner rather then later depending on how he performs in preseason. At the bare minimum, Smith will have to show strong returning potential, since that could pivot Vaughn or Thompson into his roster slot.
CB: 33 (Nate Jones) versus 32 (Perrish Cox) for nickel/dime duties.
Cox's amazing pre-season has put him in position to challenge Jones for third CB duties.
WR: 12 (Matthew Willis) versus 14 (Brandon Stokley)
I really don't want this match up, because I think both of them have a real opportunity to contribute. Last year, we ran with 6 wide receivers. Right now, Brandon Lloyd is X, with D. Thomas in second string. I give no change to 82 (Alric Arnett) or 16 (Patrick Carter). Eddie is at Y, with Brandon Stokley listed as number two (injury concerns may play a big role here. You need a slot receiver), Gaffney and Willis top Z, but Eric Decker is behind him, and I don't see a scenario where Decker doesn't make the team. I still think the most likely outcome is a practice squad sting for Willis here. It's also possible that one of the corner positions get yanked for one more wide receiver on the team.
DE/NT/DE or DE/DL: 79 (Marcus Thomas) versus 75 (Chris Baker) versus 65 (Jeff Stehle)
The broncos are going to have to decide relatively quickly if they are planning to go with a 4-3 or a 3-4 look, since it will affect roster positions. We went with 7 linemen last year, so I picked the third string in each position, assuming a 3-4 alignment, that means one third stringer for the whole line. I would assume two practice squad positions will probably come out of the line.