The Broncos went to the AFC Championship last year and ought to be in a title-contending mood this season. Thus I think it appropriate to evaluate the Broncos’ current roster and look at needs as we head into the draft:
The depth chart on the Broncos’ official website will be our framework, though it's in dire need of an update.
By position:
Quarterback: Jake Plummer was terrific until the conference championship and any calls to replace him are misguided at best and hopeless at the realistic worst. The primary backup is Bradlee “equals mc squared” van Pelt. I hate him just for going to CSU, but I question his passing skills, too. Considering Plummer’s injury history and the Broncos’ contention intentions, it’d be wise to find a more suitable backup.
However, since we need a quarterbackup for right now, free agency is perhaps a wiser route than the draft. But a late-round prospect gives me someone to have misguided hope in, so I’m happy either way.
Running backs: Ron Dayne is the current starter of record, though he’s half the runner the dingable Tatum Bell is. The Broncos would be wise to find young depth in the draft, and the team has an impressive history with precisely that. Expect the Broncos to draft at least one tailback. Kyle Johnson is fine at fullback, which is a pretty fungible position in our offense at any rate.
Wide receiver: Rod Smith is a franchise great, but aging. (It’s relative: his numbers last year surpassed those of Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward.) Ashley Lelie is requesting a trade, and rumors of a swap for the Packers’ Javon Walker make a lot of sense if he's healthy.
In any event, the Broncos could use more depth at the position. Rookie receivers rarely really arrive with results, though, and the team already has enough “intriguing youngsters” who “turn heads” in camp each year. Free agency is the best way to rebuild the corps.
Tight end: No standouts, but we were fine last year. Jeb Putzier was our best big-man pass catcher, but reserve Nate Jackson, a former wideout if I recall correctly, should help pick up some of the slack. Depth is welcome as it is everywhere, but tight end need not be a priority.
Offensive line: Here I fall into the same trap I ridiculed ESPN for a few weeks ago. Having said that, young linemen are often shuffled between positions and thus through the prism of the draft it makes sense to lump them together. The Broncos’ starting unit is still very good. Tom Nalen is aging, but the team already has plans to replace him with young guard Ben Hamilton. Unfortunately, if I gave you any kind of a report on the quality of our backups I’d be guessing. I’ll defer to the front office; if they think we need to use draft picks here I won’t second-guess that, although a high pick should be out of the question.
Defensive line: A whole lot of okay. While many of last year’s acqusitions held their own, I can’t help but worry for the line in the absence of Trevor Pryce, despite his reduced production last season. A true pass rusher is desperately needed for a team that lost Reggie Hayward and Pryce two years in a row. If no sure thing is available at No. 15, the Broncos may carpet-bomb the D-line in later rounds as they have done in years past.
Linebackers: With Ian Gold, Al Wilson, and D.J. Williams, the Broncos are set. Even a backup like Patrick Chukwurah can make plays when the opportunity is presented. Not a major need position.
Cornerback: Champ Bailey bounced back after a horrible first year in Denver, and the Broncos seem pleased with last year’s corner-heavy draft crop, so any picks here would be surprising.
Safety: Nick Ferguson and John Lynch are the projected starters and should be fine, assuming Lynch can keep his headhunting under control. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to pick up a young safety to replace either one down the line.
Special teams: The kicking game is set with Jason Elam and Todd Sauerbrun, but the return game is often neglected. I’d love to see the Broncos snag Jeremy Bloom with a late-rounder.
Your thoughts?
5 comments:
I would be happy with Lawrence Vickers if we had the top pick of the draft, took him, and gave him a $50 million signing bonus. He's the man.
I'm disappointed I didn't mention him, because he definitely has the goods for the NFL. I believe T.D. and maybe even Olandis Gary played a little fullback in college, so there's precedent. But even if he just stayed at fullback I'd be thrilled.
Man. I don't have any idea who we will take, though I wouldn't be surprised with a receiver. The Broncos make some weird first-round moves, so I never know what to expect.
This Wimbley fellow sounds good, especially after I checked NFL.com, which-you guessed it-gave him the magic M 5.9 grade.
I love it when the knock on a D-lineman is inconsistency. Is it even possible for a D-lineman to be consistent? If you get one sack a game, you go to the Hall of Fame.
mike,
i really liked your comments about "young receivers" "turning heads." i love when hacks like us see right through the obvious PR that they want all of us fans to believe. i would be really pleased to see some legitimate strides made toward locking down a solid wr-core. makes me long for the days of the three amigos. what i wouldn't do to see a 5'8" guy with a rat tail streaking down the sideline...
seriously, i think if we had a mquree guy in the slot, it would do a lot to open up our offense. i don't plan on dayne making any real contribution, and feel like tatum bell will end up having a season like gaston green, or olandis gary.
i have to admit, as much as i loath ft. collins community college (thanks jmg) stand out bvp, i like seeing him take the eric crouch method to qb-ing. he's a nifty little runner in the pocket. with such a narrow skill set as his, he's definitely got two years of avoiding massive LB's before his career is prematurely ended by the likes of a ray lewis.
until then, huzzah to the little white boy & qb draws!
I agree, another receiver could make a big difference in our offense-especially against playoff teams-though under Shanahan the Broncos have been much more successful picking up receivers no one wanted (Rod and Ed) than finding them in the first round (Nash and Lelie).
Brian Calhoun could be a "playa" as they say but second round feels kind of high. If he falls to us, why not take him, though he's certainly less physical than the typical Broncos back (even Portis was a tough blocker when called upon). I don't think Calhoun is soft or anything, though.
I just wonder how we'd do with van Pelt in the lineup for, say, three or four games-but hope I never find out.
First, I question Gary's pick and pay of Mario William--you scout Reggie for 6 months, let everyone know you will take reggie for 6 months, and the night before you chose a Defensive, I hope it works out
second, I finally have some connection to some athlete--#46 taken out of CU Joe Kloppenstein was originally out of Grandview--good pick Stl
Third was trading up in hopes of getting Matt Leinart and ending up with Jay Cutler a disappointment--and further, you don't tend to draft a qb in the first round unless you intend to start him in the near future, is Denver still sold on Plummer?
Okay, I'll obviously get more into this later, but quickly:
I don't have anything against the Texans talking up Bush and not taking him-that's kind of the point of talking before the draft, to mislead people. I don't think Kubiak had much to do with the choice.
Same high school, man? I don't know what to say to that. Except I guess in college you'll be even happier.
I am very surprised by the Cutler pick; however, I don't have high hopes for Leinart in the NFL. I mean, he can be a solid-enough starter (if he wasn't on the Cardinals, at least) but I think Cutler has more potential. If we actually wanted Leinart I'm glad we didn't get him. However, considering we almost hit the Super Bowl this year, taking a quarterback in the first place was odd. More to come...
Post a Comment