A New Perspective

[labronco]

You know, I was initially kinda down after we picked up all these injury-ridden players from cleveland. but after putting in some thoughts, I don't feel as bad.

I mean, cleveland always has helped our franchise. IMO, john elways' legacy, hence denver's whole fan base, is built on their existence. Perhaps, cleveland still can be of some use to us. Maybe, just maybe, the players we got from them are just enough to push us to another level in this post-elway era. We need a lot of luck with their health and all, but hey, all kinds of miracles happened when we dealt with the browns.

[Odysseus]

Originally Posted by labronco

You know, I was initially kinda down after we picked up all these injury-ridden players from cleveland. but after putting in some thoughts, I don't feel as bad.

I mean, cleveland always has helped our franchise. IMO, john elways' legacy, hence denver's whole fan base, is built on their existence. Perhaps, cleveland still can be of some use to us. Maybe, just maybe, the players we got from them are just enough to push us to another level in this post-elway era. We need a lot of luck with their health and all, but hey, all kinds of miracles happened when we dealt with the browns.

Maybe this is Schottenheimer's revenge. Maybe this dooms the Broncos to having a vapor defense. Maybe this is payback in a big way straight from the Browns to us? Maybe...just maybe we are both wrong.

I guess this is why the Ravens resent us so much. We might be the only team they beat all year but they seem to circle the calender when our number is called. Hmm. Maybe the Superbowl win by the Ravens with OUR HOF TE was the Browns revenge? Hmmm.

I am looking forward to hearing what some the posters who see spring training say.

[easymobee]

I posted at length about it in another thread, but i don't know where all the doom and gloom is coming from.

We picked 3 starters from another teams DL.

In theory, isn't it good that these guys all have played together and their current line coach? ...

All 3 guys are 1st round picks. The presence of Talent isn't an issue.

We now have basically 2 starting D-Lines on our roster. This should evolve into one deep rotation after cuts have been made.

C. Brown is the proud owner of a "Play for your Pay" contract that is completely in the teams favor.

G. Warren cost Cleveland a top 5 overall pick and he cost Denver a 4th rounder + he's in a contract year.

E. Ekuban is coming off an 8 sack season and seems like a real easy replacement for what we lost in Reggie.

Add a 100% improvement in a LB Corps behind these guys from what they got in Cleveland last year and the Run D stats that are being waved around here lose a lot of their sting.

I think too much is being made of the fact that these guys are from the same team (as a negative) ... whats it really matter?

Everyone here wanted DL Help and now that its been delivered 3 times over ... everyone is bummed about it.

What were you expecting? Kris Jenkins and Julius Peppers to be traded over for Droughns?

[easymobee]

Originally Posted by quiettiger

Maybe this dooms the Broncos to having a vapor defense.

I was over at Extremeskins.com a few minutes ago and was reading the Ekuban thread there.

Our recent history with the skins has made us a hated team in DC.


1st the Champ - Portis trade made the word "System Back" one of the dirtiest words you can say if you are a skins fan. It didn't help that Portis had an Eddie George type year for the skins in that regard ( 3 yds and a cloud of dust X 350 with a TD thrown in every 85 carries or so).

Then the whole Skins vs Broncos Courtney Brown chase.

Anyway every skin fan on the thread is talking about the Browns DL like it was populated by Ted Gregory, Aundray Bruce, Paul Toviessi, and Carrot top last year ....

Then someone says " Maybe we shouldn't talk so bad about CLE's run D, after all they held Portis to 58 yards last year".

The minor fallout from that post (from those that didn't ignore it) made me feel just a little bit better about all the time i waste wading through boards like this.

[delany]

Originally Posted by labronco

...I mean, cleveland always has helped our franchise. IMO, john elways' legacy, hence denver's whole fan base, is built on their existence. ...

I hear where your going with this...BUT

..some of us remember life pre-John...(and what a red-headed step child existance THAT was at times!)

I am not trying to looking for the silver lining here like you seem to be....I don't think you need to.

I LOVE the fact that the F/O always makes moves...the Broncos are as active as anyone. Some of these will work out...some won't.

Maybe Denver is going for that 'inside straight' or '3 to a flush' hand a lot these days....but you hit on a few of them....and you are catapulted forward.

Sandy Eggo did what they did last year on just a few 'winning hands'....such as Drew having a Pro Bowl year.

It doesn't take much...but I do believe you have to believe in what you are doing and 'go all in' occasionally.

This is actually a GREAT time to be a Bronco fan. Count your blessings.

....ok, just re-read that and can you tell that I just watched some Texas Hold-Em?

[Odysseus]

I like what the Broncos did last year. I like what they did the year before. I like what they are doing this year.

I thank the Browns for letting us get something of value. Shanahan is focused on getting out there and doing this. I like our chances.

Despite all the optimism I want the Broncos to do better. They are on the right track but the bottom line is they need to win.

Pryce is now a roadblock in the Broncos plans. I think the Broncos are debating whether they can get by with a cheaper flavor or see what Pryce is really willing to be about for this team.

[fontaine]

The entire DL is built like a house of cards. But it would go a long ways towards solidifying the whole thing is Pryce comes back healthy.

He believes he's good as new and if we can keep him on the team then it basically means we'll have two guys in the interior that require double teams in Pryce/Warren. This'll be great for our DEs, because they'll face less double teams and it sounds like the coaches really think Palepoi could be a good starter and we'll have Brown on the other side.

That basically means Ebe-who / Pope / Fatafehi will be backups.

BTW, what a vote of confidence. One week the Broncos ink Courtney Brown to a incentive laden deal and hours later we trade for his backup.

Even the Broncos aren't sold on Brown staying healthy.

[Odysseus]

It seems like all this "potential" players are on basically one year deals or am I not reading this right.

O.K. When do we pony up for a real defense? Did a longterm defensive plan suddenly become irrelevant or are we just shopping the 3-4 this year?

It's kind of like Christmas and getting a G.I. Joe with one arm missing. It's cool and all but DAYUM!

[fontaine]

Originally Posted by quiettiger

It seems like all this "potential" players are on basically one year deals or am I not reading this right.

O.K. When do we pony up for a real defense? Did a longterm defensive plan suddenly become irrelevant or are we just shopping the 3-4 this year?

It's kind of like Christmas and getting a G.I. Joe with one arm missing. It's cool and all but DAYUM!

Yes, one year deals but Denver will be around $14million under the cap next year so the room is there to resign them, it's now depends on the players themselves.

If we keep Pryce then with Warren inside I tend to think both players will benefit from each other. Both are quick disruptive types that can get in the backfield in a hurry and that's what Coyer likes because we've got the LBs lurking behind them to clean up the mess.

I'm not sold on Brown at all. I don't think he makes it past preseason but the last time the Broncos were in a bidding war on a player with questionable health he turned out to be rock solid for us -> John Lynch.

[Odysseus]

Originally Posted by fontaine

Yes, one year deals but Denver will be around $14million under the cap next year so the room is there to resign them, it's now depends on the players themselves.

Having some kind of numbers with this is good news.

I never thought Lynch was done. I thought he would be good but I didn't see pro bowl good for him or Kennedy.

It's a long season. It's going to a trial for fans patiences to see this unit work next year. You cannot deny they will have to take the season one game at a time. No way around it.

Trevor needs to renegotiate.

[TheDave]

Never forget...

Gerrard Warren AKA "Big Money" is in his "Contract Year"

I would Bet my life he has a career year!

[watermock]

Well, Patterson better know what the hell he's doing. Mock is digesting this like a full grown Nutria. Slowly. Lots of question marks regarding these moves, but they ARE moves nontheless. Out of these 4 DogBones, if we can get two that are servicable, it's a success. If Brown can recover to anything close to what he appeared to be out of Penn State, it's a coup. Brown, Warren and Little E were all first rounders, but you have to wonder why Patterson will get more out of them here than he did in Cleveland. And when did we shack up with Cleveland? It's like they are on a Nextel walkie talkie or something.

We did pick up Alexander, kept Putz and Hamilton and Cooper. I'm a little worried about losing Droughns, but he's earned every penny after almost falling out of the league. He really seemed to wear down late last year tho. He's a class act and was a solid player in all respects.

I still am baffled how we could pick up FOUR DL from Cleveland. I doubt that has ever happened in the history of the NFL.

Looks like my boy Cecil the Deisel is going to get a shot. I wouldn't be surprised if we use one of our late 3rds for a back. I'm pretty nervous about or RB corp. I hope TaterTot's shoulder stays together. I wasn't sold on Q before his ACL, and I'm certainly not sold now. Anderson simply hasn't looked full speed for a couple years now.

[bombquixote]

Originally Posted by fontaine

Yes, one year deals but Denver will be around $14million under the cap next year...

i'd like to see where you got that figure. unless of course you pulled it from you ass.

[DBroncos4life]

Originally Posted by bombquixote

i'd like to see where you got that figure. unless of course you pulled it from you ass.

I wish I could pull 14 million dollars in spending money out of my ass....unless its all in pennies.

[Pat Bowlen]

Originally Posted by fontaine

He believes he's good as new and if we can keep him on the team then it basically means we'll have two guys in the interior that require double teams in Pryce/Warren. This'll be great for our DEs, because they'll face less double teams and it sounds like the coaches really think Palepoi could be a good starter and we'll have Brown on the other side.

I don't know where you've been for the past few years, but Pryce doesn't play DT anymore.

[fontaine]

Originally Posted by bombquixote

i'd like to see where you got that figure. unless of course you pulled it from you ass.

I think Herc posted that figure a few weeks ago and I tend to trust him on this.

Pat Bowlen wrote:

I don't know where you've been for the past few years, but Pryce doesn't play DT anymore.

Not officially. But in his last full season Pryce played inside on obvious passing downs while Berry and Hayward started at DE. Pryce is listed as DE but Coyer has used him on stunts to move inside/outside constantly.