Great Lee Rasizer article on Jim Goodman's role as GM

[Kaylore]

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/new...ngly-peaceful/


'War room' surprisingly peaceful
Planning, a little luck take drama out of equation
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Sunday, April 27, 2008


There was no wheeling and dealing, only the usual phone calls.

There was talk but not heated debate.

And the cards were filled out rather quickly on the team's various draft picks.

All things considered, the Broncos' weekend was almost, well, pedestrian.

"We feel like everybody we got, we wanted," Jim Goodman, the team's director of player personnel, said Sunday night.

Nine players in all were added to the roster, with no duplication of position. Five came on offense; four on defense.

And it was the way the weekend unfolded that was perhaps the biggest surprise.

No muss. No fuss.

"It's a lot of work, and our scouting staff and our coaching staff did a great job of putting a plan together and it worked just about to perfection," Goodman said.

Denver was operating in its "war room" for the first time under its new power structure, following the offseason exit of general manager Ted Sundquist. At the time, Goodman and his son, Jeff, the new assistant GM, were given more responsibilities on the football side.

But the essential process stayed the same.

The scouts - nine in all, including the younger Goodman, Eugene Armstrong, Anthony Kelly, Scott DiStefano, Greg Miller, Bobby Beers, Cal McCombs, Cornell Green and Dave Bratten - filed their reports. The coaches gave their input in concert with the scouts, and a blueprint was formed during the past several months.

The senior Goodman, who cut his teeth in college scouting and coaching, served as a direct conduit the past two days to coach Mike Shanahan.

"I try to organize it and keep names in front of Mike to consider at that pick. But the thing about it that made it good was all of it was preplanned. 'This guy goes here, we like this guy - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, at this pick," Goodman said.

And after Denver targeted its first two picks in the opening couple of rounds and got them, there was nearly a repeat performance Sunday.

"Most of them were there the whole day," Shanahan admitted.

On Friday, Shanahan credited the elder Goodman for directing the war-room staff to the point where such a scenario could play out.

He also downplayed the revised role Goodman would play during the weekend, saying Goodman has played a key role in setting up the draft board for several years.

"Jim watched every player and can talk about every guy just like that," Shanahan said. "He's on the road all year round, evaluating the college players. Jim's been doing that for a long time. Jim has a chance now to organize it the way he wants and do things the way he'd like to do. He's done a heck of a job doing it."

Denver's first selection, Boise State's Ryan Clady, has already been designated the starter from Day 1. An adjustment period is expected.

But Goodman sees a potential star in the making.

"He's a very athletic guy. He's got great foot quickness, great length," Goodman said. "He's just what you look for in a left tackle - 36-inch-plus arms, 6-foot-6 or 6-foot-7. The guy has the potential to be an All-Pro player."

Second-round receiver Eddie Royal from Virginia Tech filled a need on returns. The Broncos' consensus was that "he was an A-plus returner and a good receiver."

"We think he's going to be a real weapon," Goodman said.

The second-day draft picks almost all had college medical issues but none were deemed a risk by the training staff of being unavailable this season.

Fourth-round center Kory Lichtensteiger (shoulder), fourth- round cornerback Jack Williams (shoulder), fifth-round running back Ryan Torain (foot), sixth-round linebacker Spencer Larsen (knee), seventh-round safety Josh Barrett (shoulder) and fullback Peyton Hillis (transverse process) all were affected.

Asked if he envisioned a surprise performer among that group, Goodman said, "I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of them are because, the values we had on them, we were surprised we could get them the second day."

Apparently, it was one of the weekend's rare surprises, in the final analysis.

Five to seven college free agents will be signed today. The group will include a kicker, punter and another running back.

"We're looking for good football players we had on our draft board," Goodman said. "It's, 'Golly, he's still there? Let's go get him.' "

[Kaylore]

This is very telling about why we took value and didn't reach. It makes me believe that Shanahan listens more than people think and that Sundquist was at least partly to blame for the prior drafts that had big question marks. Some of it is luck, but most is having a good plan and doing your homework.

Good job, Jim. I like what you've done so far.

[Cito Pelon]

Of course guys with injuries in their prior season fall.

[SnowGoose77]

Originally Posted by Cito Pelon

Of course guys with injuries in their prior season fall.

Even though all the 2nd day picks are growing on me I have to agree with the injuries being a factor on why everyone we picked was still available. I'm pretty excited about some of these guys but you have to wonder if there was a reason why everyone Shanny wanted was still there when it was time to make the picks. Nobody else wanted them at that spot? Kind of risky but hoping most of them pan out.

[cutthemdown]

"Most of them were there the whole day," Shanahan admitted.

this quote sort of worries me. Does that mean the other gms didn't think much of the Broncos draft board. If we had a better history drafting I wouldn't worry but if they were there all day doesn't that mean other teams didn't want them?

[eddie mac]

Originally Posted by SnowGoose77

Even though all the 2nd day picks are growing on me I have to agree with the injuries being a factor on why everyone we picked was still available. I'm pretty excited about some of these guys but you have to wonder if there was a reason why everyone Shanny wanted was still there when it was time to make the picks. Nobody else wanted them at that spot? Kind of risky but hoping most of them pan out.

Thing is though every other GM and major Draft pundit were aware of these injuries prior to the draft but still had some of these guys rated a lot higher like Hillis and Barrett.

[Mediator12]

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

"Most of them were there the whole day," Shanahan admitted.

this quote sort of worries me. Does that mean the other gms didn't think much of the Broncos draft board. If we had a better history drafting I wouldn't worry but if they were there all day doesn't that mean other teams didn't want them?

No, it does not mean that at all. Usually, the top 50 or so guys will be graded very close by all 32 teams. Certain players will be more valuable schematically to specialized teams like 3-4 and Tampa 2 style defenses and WCO offenses within that top 50. However, outside that top 50 the grades start to vary based on what people want in a player philosophically. JAX took Quentin Groves as a DE, but MIA probably did not have them on their board due to his smaller frame even as an OLB! INDY drafted Jacob Tamme as a TE, but he is more a receiver than complete inline TE. Some Teams would not have drafted Tamme at all because of that.

Teams just have very specific requirements for players outside their top 50 or so draftable players. DEN had a real set plan, and did not make one trade in the 34 draft day trades! If the draft played out differently, they may have traded to get what they wanted, but it was more steady for them this year, than last year.

[That One Guy]

On Sirius a week or two ago, someone made a very interesting comment. One of the hosts mentioned how Joe Schmoe off the street can pick 1st round guys... that's the easy part. It's when you teams who can pick and develop 2nd day players, that's when you nod your head at the GM and coaching staff. Oddly, in Denver, it's the early picks that often don't work out but the mid-late rounders that Denver seems to hit on. Maybe they just make assumptions on the 1st rounders and spend too much time on the 2nd dayers? I don't know, but it was a very interesting and telling statement about the scouting staff as I don't know many teams that can develop UDFAs like it seems the Broncos do sometimes.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by Mediator12

Teams just have very specific requirements for players outside their top 50 or so draftable players. DEN had a real set plan, and did not make one trade in the 34 draft day trades!

They had offers too. They had offers at 12 and 42 but their top guy at both positions was there and they felt taking the pick was worth more than what was offered. Shanahan will never say what was offered and who called, but it's interesting to know.

[watermock]

I dont mind risk if the upside is there.

[bronco militia]

The scouts - nine in all, including the younger Goodman, Eugene Armstrong, Anthony Kelly, Scott DiStefano, Greg Miller, Bobby Beers, Cal McCombs, Cornell Green and Dave Bratten - filed their reports. The coaches gave their input in concert with the scouts, and a blueprint was formed during the past several months

wow.....I went to high school with one of his sons (and were teamates).

[Broncos4Life]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

This is very telling about why we took value and didn't reach. It makes me believe that Shanahan listens more than people think and that Sundquist was at least partly to blame for the prior drafts that had big question marks. Some of it is luck, but most is having a good plan and doing your homework.

Good job, Jim. I like what you've done so far.

Denver's post draft reports never sounded like this in previous years with Sundquist. I like that the guys planned it all out. In recent years everything sounded so disorganized. Good article

[footstepsfrom#27]

One thing that did not change in this draft was their willingness to target players with medical problems. Every second day pick had an injury issue, leading to them being available. This tells me that the gambling nature of Shanahan is the reason for this strategy, not anything Sundquist did.

[Mediator12]

Originally Posted by footstepsfrom#27

One thing that did not change in this draft was their willingness to target players with medical problems. Every second day pick had an injury issue, leading to them being available. This tells me that the gambling nature of Shanahan is the reason for this strategy, not anything Sundquist did.

While that is a decent analysis, I think you can go a a little further than gambler with that. DEN has changed the way it handles medical reports, Domenik Hixon notwithstanding It has also changed their own physicians that handle these evaluations more than once due to poor evals.

The very nature of falling due to medical problems, means you can get a higher talented player for less value if they have a known medical problem, but not one that should be persistent. Therefore, finding guys who might not be there without the injury does get you better overall talent theoretically. DEN's biggest problem, was drafting guys whose injuries were not already healed before the draft that lingered into their rookie seasons. Hopefully, all these candidates are truly ready to go at their rookie minicamp this year. Otherwise, they have not learned ENOUGH

[rugbythug]

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

"Most of them were there the whole day," Shanahan admitted.

this quote sort of worries me. Does that mean the other gms didn't think much of the Broncos draft board. If we had a better history drafting I wouldn't worry but if they were there all day doesn't that mean other teams didn't want them?

He is talking about the scouts in the War Room.

[jonny1]

Concerning taking players with an injury history, you know where Shanahan learned it? The 49ers.

The NFLN I think did a special on the 10 best drafts, and in talking about the 49ers class of 81 or 82 (I don't remember for sure, but it was the one where they got Rathman), Walsh says that they took chances on players with injury histories, because you got great value if they stay healthy.

Hard to argue with the success they had, but injuries are always going to be a crapshoot.

Remember, Terrell Davis had an injury history at Georgia.

[bowtown]

Originally Posted by rugbythug

He is talking about the scouts in the War Room.

If he is then they took it out of context for this article. Because the article clearly implies he was talking about the guys they wanted and drafted.

[OABB]

It's funny. When I read this article, I couldn't help but be more than pleased with the way our war room is set up. I have seen many people worried over the approach these last few days, and many have even taken this article kind of negatively.

Nobody can tell me that we aren't drafting better since the goodman's have moved up the ladder.

If they consult a magic 8-ball to picka guy, I don't care. keep doing it. It's working. how can anyone see a negative here?

[Bronco Jamus]

Originally Posted by footstepsfrom#27

Every second day pick had an injury issue, leading to them being available.

Not true.

[JCMElway]

Originally Posted by orangeandblueblooded

It's funny. When I read this article, I couldn't help but be more than pleased with the way our war room is set up. I have seen many people worried over the approach these last few days, and many have even taken this article kind of negatively.

Nobody can tell me that we aren't drafting better since the goodman's have moved up the ladder.

If they consult a magic 8-ball to picka guy, I don't care. keep doing it. It's working. how can anyone see a negative here?

Very true. It seems, thankfully, that the days of picks like Middlebrooks/O'neal/Foster are in the past.

[OABB]

Originally Posted by JCMElway

Very true. It seems, thankfully, that the days of picks like Middlebrooks/O'neal/Foster are in the past.

I'm not a complete shanny homer, although I am dangerously close, but, I can't help but think that sundquist might have been a bigger problem for us than even previously thought.

sundquist always seemed like one of those guys that thinks he smarter than everyone else, a lawyer type with a football gig. I don't know why I feel that way, but I just do. THe goodman's seem like those blue collar -old school football types that eat sleep and **** the game.

I think if anything is apparent now, is how much Shanny DOES listen to his team. you can see it in the last few drafts since the goodman's have moved up. there are more blue color football players coming in, and less cutesy workout warrior types.

What this team has needed for a long time is better player evaluations, and I think we are getting that now.

Looking back over these past few years, maybe shanny made only one crucial evaluation error when he hired sundquist.