RMN article - Clady to start this yr, Royal returner

[crowebomber]

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.

[Northman]

Sounds like to me had Denver gone RB at 12 it would have been Stewart and not Mendenhall.

[Dagmar]

Cue Lex to come in and b**** about the injuries...

[tsiguy96]

wow just think if someone took clady before us how that would have changed the entire draft.

[24champ]

Originally Posted by crowebomber

"(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."

Lots of people had Torain as a first or second round grade before the injury. Hopefully he makes a full recovery and kicks Henry off the team.

[socalorado]

Originally Posted by 24champbailey

Lots of people had Torain as a first or second round grade before the injury. Hopefully he makes a full recovery and kicks Henry off the team.

I would absolutely LOVE if he did this!
Just explode out of the gate in training camp, and take over the #1 spot outright, making THenry a back up and expendable at years end.

[broncosteven]

Am I only one concerned about 1st year guy protecting Jakes backside?

This guy better be as good as Boselli.

[oubronco]

Originally Posted by Rusty Shackleford

Cue Lex to come in and b**** about the injuries...

I thought the same thing but is it something we should be concerned with

[footstepsfrom#27]

I wonder why Shanahan has chosen to annoint Clady the starter before he even steps on the field. First of all, that seems a bit premature given that he's told the vets that all the jobs except Cutler's and Champs are basically up for grabs. I wonder how that's going to be received in the locker room. Second, Clady IS a rookie about to step in to the toughest position in the NFL to play as a rookie next to quarterback. There WILL be mistakes, you can count on it...even though Clady came from a similar system.

And on these injuries...we have a long and torturous record of taking players with problems in this area and often we've been burned. I hope this time around we'll fare better than we have in the past with guys like Middlebrooks for example. I can't believe this FB kid actually played with a broken back. That's just wack. It takes somebody pretty tough and pretty nuts to do that.

[tsiguy96]

Originally Posted by broncosteven

Am I only one concerned about 1st year guy protecting Jakes backside?

This guy better be as good as Boselli.

jake is palying handball.

[gunns]

Originally Posted by broncosteven

Am I only one concerned about 1st year guy protecting Jakes backside?

This guy better be as good as Boselli.

I'd prefer he be as good as Zimmerman

[Drek]

Originally Posted by footstepsfrom#27

I wonder why Shanahan has chosen to annoint Clady the starter before he even steps on the field. First of all, that seems a bit premature given that he's told the vets that all the jobs except Cutler's and Champs are basically up for grabs. I wonder how that's going to be received in the locker room. Second, Clady IS a rookie about to step in to the toughest position in the NFL to play as a rookie next to quarterback. There WILL be mistakes, you can count on it...even though Clady came from a similar system.

And on these injuries...we have a long and torturous record of taking players with problems in this area and often we've been burned. I hope this time around we'll fare better than we have in the past with guys like Middlebrooks for example. I can't believe this FB kid actually played with a broken back. That's just wack. It takes somebody pretty tough and pretty nuts to do that.

The only guy's injury that gives me pause is Josh Barrett. Two surgeries on his shoulder and some other issues for a guy who needs to stay on the practice field to improve. The other guys have had enough time since injury or are just having minor things repaired, not something to worry about.

I can see why he's anointing Clady, he's putting some pressure on him to come into camp quickly and bust hump to be ready. I don't think it means we'll give him the job irregardless, but that he's the favorite coming in. Better for Shanahan to say it outright though than to act like the #12 overall pick wouldn't be given preference in regards to winning a job.

[Inkana7]

Originally Posted by footstepsfrom#27

I wonder why Shanahan has chosen to annoint Clady the starter before he even steps on the field. First of all, that seems a bit premature given that he's told the vets that all the jobs except Cutler's and Champs are basically up for grabs. I wonder how that's going to be received in the locker room. Second, Clady IS a rookie about to step in to the toughest position in the NFL to play as a rookie next to quarterback. There WILL be mistakes, you can count on it...even though Clady came from a similar system.

And on these injuries...we have a long and torturous record of taking players with problems in this area and often we've been burned. I hope this time around we'll fare better than we have in the past with guys like Middlebrooks for example. I can't believe this FB kid actually played with a broken back. That's just wack. It takes somebody pretty tough and pretty nuts to do that.

Because Joe Thomas and Marcus McNeil really blew the past two seasons as Rookie Starting LT, right?

[That One Guy]

If you must go through growing pains with whoever is playing LT next year, why not make it your LT of the future? The only one with current LT experience is Pears and do we really want him starting there over Clady? I can live with Clady's growing pains... long as he doesn't have them more than once or twice...

[Calif. Bronco]

Originally Posted by Drek

I don't think it means we'll give him the job irregardless, but that he's the favorite coming in. Better for Shanahan to say it outright though than to act like the #12 overall pick wouldn't be given preference in regards to winning a job.

^^^^^^^ Exactly! If you watch the entire press conference on the website, this is precisely what Shanny says. He said Clady's the starter, but also said more than once "there will be competition."