SB Nation - Chad Jackson

All Ready! Your 2009 Denver Broncos 53-man Roster(Official)

John Bena — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:14:31 -0000

Quarterback (3)	Kyle Orton	Defensive Ends (5)	Vonnie Holliday
	Chris Simms		Kenny Peterson
	Tom Brandstater		Ryan McBean
			Marcus Thomas
Running back (4)	Knowshon Moreno		Le Kevin Smith
	Peyton Hillis
	Correll Buckhalter	Defensive Tackles (2)	Ronald Fields
	LaMont Jordan		Chris Baker

		Linebackers (9)	D.J. Williams
			Elvis Dumervil
Tight End (3)	Daniel Graham		Mario Haggan
	Tony Scheffler		Darrell Reid
	Richard Quinn		Jarvis Moss
			Wesley Woodyard
Wide Receivers (7)	Brandon Marshall		Andra Davis
	Eddie Royal		Spencer Larsen
	Brandon Stokley		Robert Ayers
	Jabar Gaffney	Cornerbacks (4)	Andre Goodman
	Kenny McKinley		Jack Williams
	Brandon Lloyd		Alphonso Smith
	Chad Jackson		Champ Bailey

Offensive Line (9)	Casey Wiegmann
	Chris Kuper	Safeties (5)	Brian Dawkins
	Russ Hochstein		Darcel McBath
	Seth Olsen		Renaldo Hill
	Ryan Harris		David Bruton
	Ryan Clady		Josh Barrett
	Ben Hamilton
	Brandon Gorin	Special (3)	Matt Prater
	Tyler Polumbus		Brett Kern
			Lonnie Paxton

Immediate Reaction and Notes

There is one too-many because Brandon Marshall is still on the Reserved-Suspended list. One more move will have to be made when he is activated, but this allows the Broncos to get the lay of the Free agent landscape.
On offense, I had predicted that Darius Walker would make it over LaMont Jordan. I was wrong. There are reasons why, more than Jordan's New England past, why this could have happened. Pass protection is one of them. In the end, however, Jordan is the 4th RB behind KnowMo, Buckhalter and Hillis. I can live with it even though I don't agree with it.
I had though the Broncos would go with 6 WR's, IF Jabar Gaffney's thumb was progressing well. The fact the Broncos went with 7 doesn't necessarily mean it is not, but that the coaches value depth at WR more than RB or some other areas.
The addition of Vonnie Holliday mean alot momre than just what the guy can do on the football field. It is another veteran voice in the locker room, a coach on the field. He has alot of experience in all defenses and will help the young guys learn the nuances of the 3-4
Don't get too comfortable with this roster. I fully expect it to change between now and mid-week after the team has the chance to scoru the waiver-wire.

Double Agent Kyle Orton

John Morgan — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:40:15 -0000

More photos » by Ted S. Warren - AP

Double agent Kyle Orton sabotages the Broncos from behind enemy lines.

Browse more photos »

Seattle forced a quick three and out after a solid coffin corner by John Ryan. Seattle did something right, something wrong and then was done a solid by double agent Kyle Orton.

3. Lofa Tatupu knifed through the line and forced Peyton Hill wide. This is what Seattle's run game should be doing. Dominating at the line, allowing its linebackers to read and run and stringing rushes wide. D.D. Lewis stacked and shed Daniel Graham on the offensive left, coming free just as Hill began turning the corner. Tatupu closed from the backside and Lewis wrapped and tackled from the front. No gain.

2. Ken Lucas bit hard that Jabar Gaffney was going deep. That left Gaffney wide open and Lucas too far away to anything but tackle. Reception for seven.

1. Kyle Orton passes the ball across the left sideline. It was ankle breaking fake that had Chad Jackson nearly tumbling backwards. Drive sabotaged.

Horse Tracks 8/21/09 - Training Camp over; Will Marshall or Dawkins play tomorrow?

Douglas A. Lee — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:57:28 -0000

DB - Day 21 Blog - Zach Eisendrath
Matt Prater, Brandon Lloyd and Matt Prater didn't practice yesterday. Chad Jackson saw plenty of reps with the 1st team, while Matthew Willis got into the punt-returning mix. Rod Smith made an appearance, helping Eddie Royal (but not BMarsh) with some pointers. In Prater's absence, Britton Colquitt performed kickoffs in addition to field goals.

DB - Camp Comes to a Close - Chris Gentilviso

DB - Day 21: McDaniels - Broncos TV
Next week the team will commence their regular-season routine; McDaniels says the Broncos won't peak "for a while here" - not sure if that means weeks, months or years...

DB - Day 21: Nunnely - Broncos TV
Our first time hearing from DL coach Wayne Nunnely, who says the line is improving and needs to be physical.

NFP - Diner morning news: Marshall and trust - Mike Lombardi
Lombardi thinks Marshall's value to the Broncos is too great to trade him away.

DP - Broncos' backfield already thin - Jeff Legwold
Remember all those folks who complained about the Broncos' decision to sign three free-agent RBs and then draft Knowshon?

CSG - Broncos notes: Playing status of Marshall and Dawkins for Saturday still up in the air - Frank Schwab

DP - Shanahan holdovers can't get defensive about jobs - Lindsay Jones
A few players who survived the offseason roster turnover probably weren't expected to do so - guys like Haggan, Fox, McBean.

CSG - Ramsey: Marshall doesn't fit well in new Broncos era

CSG - Broncos finish training camp, but with work left to be done - Frank Schwab

DP - Scheffler emerging as favorite of Orton's - Lindsay Jones

LTC - Broncos’ Harris desires to be the best - Brian Howell
Ryan Harris is raising his personal goals

AP - Brandon Marshall May Be A No-Go On Saturday Night - Arnie Stapleton

CSG - Broncos camp glance for Thursday - Frank Schwab

DP - What’s the biggest Marshall issue? - Lindsay Jones

DP - Dove Valley Days: Camp ends with lighter mood

DP - Briefs: Simms grateful to Titans' staff - Jeff Legwold

IDT - Drew Litton: Broncos Baby: Brandon Marshall

RMI - Colorado trivia: Denver Broncos all-time receivers
Quiz yourself on your knowledge of the Broncos' record book - this seems to be a transplant from RMN.com

RMI - Colorado trivia: Denver Broncos all-time rushers

DW - The Karmic Guide to Fantasy Football 2009
Jonathan Shikes thinks Karma will get you for drafting JC or BMarsh in your FF league

Y! - Juggernaut Index No. 14: The Denver Broncos - Roto Arcade
Looking over the Broncos' roster for fantasy football prospects

AFC West News

NFP - Breaking: Hanson will talk to police

SFC - Report: Hanson choked, to talk with police
Wow. The grass is definitely browner in KC and Jokeland...

Y! - Fisticuffs, insubordination not new for Raiders - Mike Silver

CCT - Jaw-breaking news from Raiders camp

CCT - Peterson: JawGate is business as usual

CCT - Raiders' Morrison, Bishop O'Dowd grad, battling to keep starting job

SFG - Raiders Silver and Black Blog : The future starts now

SI - Tom Cable, Randy Hanson have clashed before with Oakland Raiders - Jim Trotter

PFW - Asomugha discusses Cable, Russell's growth

SDUT - Making the best of a second chance

KCS - Cassel needs to step up tonight against Vikings

KCS - Seeds have been planted for a QB controversy - Jason Whitlock
Wow. At least our "controversy" is surrounding a guy who's got a one-year contract, not a guy with almost $30 million in guarantees ala the Chefs...

KCS - Five questions about tonight’s game

NFL Results

NFL - Cincinnati Bengals 7 at New England Patriots 6
Chad Johnson actually kicked what turned out to be the game-winning PAT. Now, imagine what would have happened to Marvin Lewis if Johnson had gotten hurt...

NFL - Philadelphia Eagles 15 at Indianapolis Colts 23

NFL News

NFL - Steelers QB Roethlisberger carted off field after injuring right foot

NFL - Bucs' Talib misses practice after being jailed for incident with taxi driver

NFL Columns

NYT - Ochocinco Kicks and Quips - Toni Monkovic
Perhaps he's back to being the guy we all got a laugh out of over the years...

NYT - In Defense of Delhomme - KC Joyner

ESPN - Bucs' Morris is a student of the game - Chris Mortensen

CBS - Titans camp report: Chuck your preconceived notions about defense - Pete Prisco

CBS - Lions camp report: Kings of the bungle will bag some wins - Mike Freeman

PFW - Elam key to Browns' defensive transition
No, not that Elam...

FOX - 'Flava' Favre is king of new reality TV sports culture - Jason Whitlock

NFL - Falcons' offense must carry load as young defense matures - Steve Wyche

NFL - With a new coach and huge roster turnover, Lions not burdened by 0-16 - Vic Carucci

SI - Joey Porter, Vince Wilfork among AFC players teams can't lose - John P. Lopez
I'd disagree with Lopez - in my book, the Broncos' most indispensable player would be Ryan Clady, not Brandon Marshall.

SI - DeMarcus Ware, Adrian Peterson among NFC players teams can't lose - John P. Lopez

SI - Backup power: Ranking all 32 NFL team's No. 2 quarterbacks - Don Banks

NFP - Tavern talk: summing up our blues - Mike Lombardi

PFW - The sack kids of '78
A couple of young players racked up buckets of sacks in 1978

NFP - 2009 NFP scouting series: Indiana - Wes Bunting

NFL - USC's Mays heads safety class for 2010 draft - Gil Brandt

Plaxico Burress

NFL - Ex-Giant Burress pleads guilty in gun case, accepts two-year prison term

ESPN - Final curtain for the 'diva' receiver? - Jeffri Chadiha

ESPN - Fame and funds didn't help Burress - Lester Munson

FOX - Don't feel bad for Plaxico - Alex Marvez

NFP - Plax: Gone for good - Matt Bowen

Y! - Resisting authority ultimately doomed Burress - Jason Cole

MHR University - Preseason Depth Chart Analysis and How to Watch Preseason Games

Steve Nichols — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:30:10 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

4 months ago: Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey takes part in drills during a football training camp session conducted in Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver on Monday, Aug. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Browse more photos »

One of the most fun ways to prognosticate about a team during the reloading season is to put together and discuss projections for depth chart placement. Then, as always, a team will put out an initial depth chart (preseason) that can have fans scratching their heads.

What is the purpose behind the initial depth chart? Why do teams put them out, and what can be learned from them? What should we watch for as a team heads into the preseason?

Let's take a look at the initial depth chart for the Denver Broncos (released 9-10-09) and start a discussion on what we think the chart indicates. Let's also review what to watch for in preseason games.

(The caption says he is practicing during a drill. But I like to think that Champ is asking forgiveness for the doubters amongst the fan base).

First, I'm going to borrow from a previous article I wrote about how to watch preseason games (edited to update us for this year)...

How to Watch the Preseason Games -

Let's talk about the mysterious and controversial preseason games. Controversial, because coaches have to weigh the value of getting players ready or evaluated versus injured. Controversial, because the League, networks, and even fans can't agree on issues surrounding ticket prices and revenue for games that "don't count". But mysterious, because we as fans have to balance cheering for our team to win knowing that the team isn't going all out for a win. So what do we watch for?

Here's a guide to watching the preseason games in a manner that allows you to learn about the team, evaluate players, and gauge the team's success moving forward, regardless of what the scoreboard says.

Different coaches approach the preseason differently, but all coaches are a little more vanilla than they would be if the game counted. They aren't going to show every wrinkle of a system. They are also going to call plays to test a team in a situation, even if the situation doesn't exist (such as a two-minute drill at the end of a half even though the team leads, or going for it on fourth down, even though the game condition calls for a punt).

Some coaches, like Mike Shanahan, believe in the school of thought that you "Play a preseason game like you would a regular game." In other words, play to win. Denver fans may be used to winning preseason games, but this may not happen under Josh McDaniels. Shanahan took it easy on the players in camp (compared to most teams), but in the PS he generally called the game the way he might in a regular game. For this reason, he also got a lot more PS wins. Did this count against his ability to evaluate? Not at all. Mike is also a coach that has his mind pretty much made up near the start of camp who is going to be on the roster, so he is ahead of the curve. Still, he'll make some calls to try out scenarios that he wouldn't do if the game counted.

We'll have to see if McDaniels is more concerned with evaluating talent and schemes than pumping up the team early with wins that are (to some degree) "meaningless".

So what do we watch for in a Denver PS game? The coaches are still holding back, and the competitions are more settled than most fans might think, right? Well, there's a lot to watch for. Here's what I'll be watching for if I'm lucky enough to catch a game.

The Players

Some position things to watch for:

Denver placed a high emphasis on receivers being able to run block (Pittsburgh is an example of a team that also demands receivers can run block). Will we see that continue this year?
Despite raw talent, which receivers demonstrate chemistry with Kyle Orton? Which TEs?
The safety's first movement is towards an assignment or a zone. His second move indicates how well he's read the play. That's the move to watch.
How well do the halfbacks protect Orton if held back to pass block?
Many teams stress TE coverage from the strong safety or the LOLB (even though both players take a role from time to time). Who will get the emphasis under McDaniels? Whoever gets the assignment, how well do they do? Does the SS play back, or closer to scrimmage?
Will we see the Ted Block scheme in our system? Will our new 3-4 be played more like a traditional 3-4, or more like a 5-2 (with pass-rushing OLBs)?
Are we doing more 1- or 2-gap schemes on the defensive line? Is the NT handling (or demanding) double teams?
It's almost too obvious to write, but who are the first eleven players on the field for the first plays on offense and defense? But here's something else to consider: who plays STs on the kickoff?
How does the OL do in pass protection? Most vanilla calls by the defensive coordinators will be simple slants designed to get to the QB.
Who looks tired at the end of each quarter? When a play is blown, how well does a player shake it off?
Does our starting RB get spelled, rotated, changed for pace, or play every down?
When a pass play for the offense goes for long yardage, was the error made by the CB or the SAF?

The Systems

Here's what to look for in terms of defining the new defensive system. Some of these things are similar to what to watch for in the "position" list above. However, those are tactical evaluations for each player. This list is strategic for the overall system view.

Defense -

How often do we switch between 3-4 and 4-3? In 4-3, is the MLB more man or zone? In 3-4, are most 4th pass rushers (a LB) coming from the inside, outside, or balanced?
In the 3-4, how wide are our DEs playing? Do the OLBs primarily rush (such as 5-2), or play common man, zone, and blitz responsibilities?
CBs in man or zone? (Unlikely we'll see much zone with talents like Champ Bailey and Andre' Goodman available).
Where is the SS positioned?
1- or 2-gap play by the DL?
How often do we blitz?
Do the #2 and nickelback CBs play tight, on, or off in their coverage? (Bailey is allowed to always play off, which fits his personal style). In fact, will Bailey be allowed to continue his own preference?
Is the defense playing "bend, don't break", "hold the line", or aggressively? How much blitzing is there?
Is the 3-4 the base formation? It likely is. Is it a standard 3-4, or a variation (wide, in, over, under, etc.)?
Is the defense trying to force the pass or the run, or playing it even?
Are there certain plays that have more prominence?
Who is covering the TE - the SS or the SAM?
Does the WILL play more "zone and blitz" or "zone and man"?

Offense -

How much misdirection will we use this year? While Orton is more of a pocket passer than previous Denver QBs, is the bootleg really gone? (The bootleg is a great combination with zone blocking, because of the type of misdirection it foists on the defense). More importantly (critical to me), is "How much zone blocking do we keep from previous years"?
How smooth does Orton sell the play-action pass, and how often is it used?
Do we see Orton making audibles on the line? How much leeway is he getting from the coach on the sideline?
When Orton throws an INT (and he should), was it a bad decision on his part, on the part of the receiver, or good defense?
How much does the TE figure into the pass game this year? Does it seem to be planned or a check down?
Does Orton have favorite targets, or does he spread the ball? Do the routes seem more timed, or opportunity driven?
How do the cheerleaders look? Are they as hot as last year? (Yes, this is important).
Is there more run, or pass?
Do we see more formations with 3 or more receivers, or less?
How much do the RBs (RB and FB) get into the game going out for passes? Are they screens, or actual common routes?
Do we see a FB often, or more sets that are single back or 2 RB (no FB).

A lot of fans will watch to see who makes the big plays. My opinion is that this isn't the way to go. The coaches are probably more interested in who plays consistently well, and less on who makes a game-changing play. But that's just my opinion. I think the decision on who starts is made before the preseason with most teams (believe it or not), but when a new coach arrives, this all changes for the first year. The decisions left to be made for most teams are only for a few players on the bubble, or if a player really blows it time after time. This year will be more wide open than the last several years because we have a new HC.

Another thing that I consider is that I don't get excited by how many wins or losses we have. Good play can be indicative of how the other team runs their preseason, and losses might have been wins if the team were going all out. However, if the team loses and played very poorly, that is something to watch for, too. So for what it is worth, try not to get hung up on who wins, and instead focus on "how" each player plays and how the team plays as a whole. McDaniels may try to win a few games to boost the confidence of the players and fans, or he might sacrifice wins to get deeper analysis of what he's working with.

Denver's goal is to get the players up to speed, and to give the players some confidence heading into the season. Let's hope for the best, but let's take the preseason into its proper context and watch it with a studious eye.

What will you be watching for?

The Initial Preseason Depth Chart

I don't put very much into the preseason charts. Neither do most hardcore fans (notably Guru, who mentioned pretty much the same thing in his story on Monday).

That said, is there any worth to a preseason chart for the fans? Sure. Any time that we as fans are writing about, talking about, or reading about the team, we are learning. Here's my take on some of the things in the initial chart to get the conversation rolling.

No surprises on the OL. From left to right, we see Ryan Clady, Ben Hamilton, Casey Wiegmann, Chris Kuper and Ryan Harris. Harris is hurt, and (as of this writing) we don't know how badly. In the worst event, expect Polumbus to take his place. The depth chart says it's Brandon Gorin, but that's because a depth chart won't list a player twice who backs up two positions. Tyler Polumbus is the primary backup for both tackles.

Sometime ago I wrote that it was possible we might not see Brandon Marshall as our #1 starter. Pehaps it was 1 or 2 folks that chimed in that I was out of my mind. Perhaps I wasn't.

On this chart, we have Jabar Gaffney at #1, Eddie Royal as a mismatch for anyone at #2, and Brandon Stokley in the slot. This can happen when folks hold out. Do we take this chart to the bank? Not really. As long as Marshall keeps up a good attitude, plays hard and well, and his next legal case fizzles (a lot of ifs), he can have the position back by the start of the season. But it is NOT a sure thing, either. Gaffney has done everything right so far, and Marshall may need to see that he'll have to be 100% on and off the field to keep "his" spot. Then the question becomes (as I wrote in that other article), who gets the slot - Gaffney or Stokley?

I admit some surprise that Chad Jackson and Kenny McKinley are lower than Lloyd and Swift, but with much of my focus thus far on defense, I may have missed some of the reports on these players.

Exactly what we should expect - Daniel Graham, then Tony Scheffler, then Richard Quinn. The only question now is, how many TEs do we keep beyond that?

We knew Orton, then Chris Simms, then Tom Brandstater. The question is, will Brandstater get a chance to emerge as a future starter, will he displace Simms as the primary backup, or will he be a project that never comes to fruition?

Like Marshall, if you look like you might hold out on the team, you might not make the initial depth chart as a starter. McDaniels already said Knowshon Moreno is good, but behind the rest of the players in conditioning and understanding the systems (meaning not just the offensive system, but team communications, huddle scheme, terminology, etc.).

Our new regime doesn't use the FB term in the depth chart, so we'll have to figure out where this puts us in terms of starters. My assumption is that Peyton Hillis is a starting FB if ever there was one, but he may be too useful as a RB (or should I say "tailback" in this new scheme?).

Correll Buckhalter is extremely versatile, and has looked great. He gets the nod for now. LaMont Jordan is listed second, and ths may be a surprise to folks like it is to me. Not that Jordan isn't good, but because I would expect Hillis to be higher. Hillis is listed third.

This loses meaning beyond the point that preseason charts are "motivators" for players more than being accurate. Why? Because we have to consider that we don't know if we'll have a primary back that gets spelled, or a "backs by committee" approach. In the latter, we might have a rotational scheme or a specialist scheme.

So for fans of Moreno, Ryan Torain, and Hillis, don't put all of your money on Buckhalter or Jordan just yet. Watch the preseason games, and learn.

Early observations had Ryan McBean looking real good, and he gets the early nod to start at LDE where he'll be stopping the run. It makes sense to me that Marcus Thomas (a 4-3 DT) would move to LDE in the 3-4, and he now shows behind McBean.

At RDE, I've heard a lot of good things about Rulon Davis, so I'm a little surprised he's near the bottom right now. (In fact, our own Guru reported from camp that he noticed how well Davis was doing). But Kenny Peterson has done well so far, and has earned the right to go into the preseason as the current RDE.

I'll say this, I'm far more happy about our DE positions than I was before the summer. The four players I've listed so far look solid, and we still have 3 others in contention. For future reference, I hearby bestow the title "PDX" on Everette Pedescleaux. His name takes longer to type than my entire article!

This is the scariest position for those of us worried about the transition to 3-4. It is the anchor of the 3-4 as much as the MLB is to the 4-3. Fortunately, it looks like Ronald Fields (the listed starter) is doing well. I'm a little surprised that Chris Baker is in front of Carlton Powell.

If I am blessed enough to get any preseason games in my area, NT is one of the positions I'll be watching for the sake of pure analysis. (I'll be watching safeties for the love of the game).

SAF

May I brag a little? I had hoped for Brian Dawkins to be the FS, and he lists this way. I knew that the choice to put him at FS or SS would be tricky to guess at, so I wouldn't have bet either way. But I agree with the early chart - Dawkins should be at FS, and Darcel McBath is more of a FS than a SS. McBath should become something special learning under Dawkins.

At SS, I feel good about Renaldo Hill starting. I had written in an earlier article that David Bruton, Vernon Fox, and Josh Barrett are more at risk than the other three, and I was curious to see who would make the team if we only kept four safeties. Many folks chimed in with valid reasons that we might keep five or even six. As of now, Bruton gets the backup at SS, and perhaps Barrett and Fox have to fight for a possible fifth spot.

I felt confident that Bailey and Goodman would start, and they are. My assumption was that Alphonso Smith would come in as a rookie and learn nickel. But as well as Smith has played, Jack Williams seems to have improved his play to the point that he is a contender for that nickel position. Also, given Smith's value at returner on STs, it seems prudent to let Williams play at nickle while Smith learns. Watch the preseason games to see if one player seems to edge the other for the role at nickel.

This gives us four terrific corners, and a good mixture and experience and youth. There are still four more corners to round out the chart, not all of whom will make the team.

OLB

Mario Haggan at LOLB? McDaniels himself said that there was some "loafing" by OLBs, and that Haggan wasn't one of them. This strikes me as a motivational signal. Darrell Reid is likely the starter, and early reports are good on Tim Crowder. If they're loafing, that's a bad sign. But it is more likely (at least in my mind) that the coach is sending a gentle message rather than really worrying about Reid and Crowder. The message this sends to Haggan though is kind of weird ("you're starting because the REAL starters are taking it too easy").

But I'm not worried about Reid and Crowder, or the LOLB position in general. (In fact, a friend of mine who is in tight with the Colts organization tells me that Reid is a steal for us, and we can expect some special things).

At ROLB we have three interesting names. We all know and love Elvis Dumervil (MHRers know him as "Doom"). He's a terrific RDE in a 4-3, and will likely play more of a pass rushing type ROLB in what would appear to be a 5-2 look. I'm glad to see him listed at starter.

Robert Ayers is listed next. He surprises me, because his rookie reports made him out to be more of a run stopper who doesn't always get the penetration needed to get to the QB. I had him pegged at DE (against the tide of most opinions, I know). At OLB, I thought he might not be able to keep up with TEs to play LOLB, but he could be a run stopper at that position. But ROLB seems to make sense. Starting wider than he would at DE, he has a better rush chance against the QB. But he can be schemed in several ways, too. For example, SD goes against the grain of most teams, and prefers to run to the weakside. Ayers would be a specialist in such games. With the Ameoba philosophy in place, Ayers may be used as a specialist depending on down, distance, and opponent.

Last is Jarvis Moss. Moss gets some criticism because he almost quit the team during camp. However, to a careful eye (and mine has experience in counseling as well as coaching) it sounds like a kid who was having problems that needed help. Instead of letting him quit and cashing in on the money he (Moss) would have had to fork over, the coaches encouraged him to take a couple of days away to get things straight or to think things over. I think there is a deeper story here, and one that probably isn't much of our business. Here's what is important. Moss came back, was welcomed back, and has been showing good moves for penetrating the pocket. He may very well have a solid role on this team moving into the regular season. That the coaches helped him out shows me that the kid has worth as a player, and at the very least as a young man. I'm in his corner, whether he makes the team or not.

ILB

Before camps, I listed D.J. Williams being moved inside to RILB and Andra Davis getting LILB. I was pretty proud of myself for getting that one right, as that is how the two players have been lining up throughout the camp season. So imagine my shock at reading the chart and seeing them switched! It makes no sense for several reasons. First, they haven't been playing the way the chart shows; second, it doesn't match their skill set for the Ted block scheme that DC Mike Nolan runs in his defensive systems, and third, Williams is more of a zone- and blitz-LB while Davis is more of a run stopper and big plug kind of guy.

Given that Williams is playing LILB in practice, and Davis is RILB in practice, I'm calling this an error on the chart. But who knows how far the deception could run? It would be a shock, but terribly interesting to see McDaniels and Nolan pull a major switch ala the morphing Patriots defense (which changes looks to match opponents like, well, like an ameoba!)

Another intersting tidbit. Behind these two are Wesley Woodyard and Spencer Larsen, who are excellent ILBs even if they weren't in the backup role. But look at who each player starts behind! Larsen (more of a run stopper or Ted blocker) is behind Davis, as he should be. And Woodyard, who swarms to the ball and gets in on every play, is rightfuly behind WIlliams. So it follows that the chart is likely backwards at the ILB positions. Either way, the bottom line is that we have four solid players for two positions, and still have two more players behind them fighting for a roster spot.

My only remarks on STs (where I have next to no coaching experience) is my surprise that Brett Kern is listed as the holder. It is common for teams to either use a QB or a punter. The reasoning for QB is that he can throw the ball on a fake FG, or cover up for a blown snap by throwing the ball. That is the prevailing school of thought in modern football. But we're going with the punter. The thinking here is that the punter is more in tune with what the kicker needs when placing and timing the hold. I don't buy it, but a few minds that know more about STs than I do believe in it. So there it is. I would have used a QB, but then again you REALLY don't want me coaching your STs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, have at it. What are your thoughts on the presason, and preseason charts in particular? What will you be watching for? As always, any questions about football are welcome. I can handle most questions as they pertain to what happens on the field, but MHR is full of experts on just about every aspect of the game ranging from history to caps, from legal to medical, from current events to other teams.

Let's hear from you! (If you're a longtime reader, but have never joined or posted, why not make this the day?)

Poll

I feel _______ about the roster and depth for the overall team than I did before the preseason camps started.

much better

219 votes

somewhat better

353 votes

the same

224 votes

somewhat worse

76 votes

much worse

12 votes

884 votes | Poll has closed

2009 Denver Broncos - Breaking Down the Roster - The Receivers

Steve Nichols — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:30:09 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

6 months ago: Denver Broncos wide receivers Jabar Gaffney, left, and Chad Jackson confer during drills at football camp at the Broncos' headquarters in the south Denver suburb of Englewood, Colo., on Wednesday, June 3, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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What happens to Denver's passing game relies heavily upon what happens with the Brandon Marshall holdout. The team wouldn't gain or lose much in terms of Marshall's presence or absence respectively, but the receiving corps would be structured very differently.

Denver has a playmaker in Eddie Royal, who has played at the #1 spot before (during a Marshall suspension). Denver also has an excellent slot receiver in veteran Brandon Stokley. Denver brought in Jabar Gaffney this offseason, a vet of the NE system. Denver also has 2009 5th-round draft pick Kenny McKinley to train up. More important than having a star on your receiving corps, it is crucial to have multiple targets who all have a good level of talent. So if Marshall stays, Denver has multiple talents. If he goes, Denver has multiple talents. The only question is how the players line up on the depth chart.

The key is that "good" in depth beats "excellence" at the top at the receiver positions. We'll explore this further while sorting out the receivers Denver has going into camp...

photo courtesy of the NFL

Brandon Marshall - WR #15

Age - 25

Style - Possession; excellent run blocker

Contract highlights - (hat tip to Rotoworld) 2009: $2.198 million, 2010: Free Agent

MHR-U code name - "BM" (The jury is out on if this means "Batman" or "Bowel Movement")

Brandon Marshall is at once both a great and terrible player.

On the plus side:

Can out-muscle any defensive back in the NFL. This means he can run over a DB for yards after a catch, and also that he is an excellent run-blocker.
Is not afraid of physical contact. Will fight for the ball.
Has excellent moves in tight quarters.
While not a speedster, he still has more "football" speed than many possession receivers.
An arm injury may have caused several drops in '08, but he continues to heal.

The negatives are equally impressive:

Legal troubles off the field are always a problem with the potential to face suspensions.
Shows flashes of stupidity (to name one: a TD celebration that was political in nature and was narrowly averted by wiser teammates).
Attitude - "holdout"
Recent hip surgery.

If Marshall is with the team in '09 he can play at the #1 spot and be very productive. But even so, questions would remain. Is he a long-term answer for a team that isn't going to tolerate "me first" attitudes and off-field issues? Between hurting his arm in an embarrassing off-field incident last year, or having hip surgery this year, Marshall may be an injury risk as much as a behavioral issue.

For these reasons, Marshall is hard to gauge. He is capable of playing at #1, but he might really be falling to the #2 spot behind Royal. Such a move by the coaches would be understandable, and yet the demotion of a player to a lesser-depth spot would only reignite existing problems. I seriously question Marshall's long-term potential to play for Denver, and yet his trade value is going to be much lower than his playing potential.

For now, let's place Marshall at #1 if he stays with the team. Given his run-blocking skills and his ability to create yards after receptions, he would be a terrific short- and mid-range target for a QB adapting to the Denver pass system.

Analysis - Marshall would easily make the cut, and would likely make the top WR spot on the team. However, his future with Denver beyond this year is in serious jeopardy. At the time of this writing, I would place Marshall's chances of playing for Denver this year at about 70/30.

photo courtesy of the NFL

Eddie Royal - WR #19

Age - 23

Style - Speed; superhuman agility

Contract highlights - (hat tip to Rotoworld) 7/24/2008: Signed a four-year, $3.955 million contract. The deal contains $2.4 million guaranteed, including a $1.55 million signing bonus. 2009: $385,000, 2010: $470,000, 2011: $555,000, 2012: Free Agent

MHR-U codename: "Royal with Cheese" (With affection, from the movie "Pulp Fiction")

Royal has it all. High talent, great attitude, good character, team focused. I pick him to be the future of the Broncos.

Positives:

Can turn on a dime. Few CBs in the league can stick with him on a route when he changes direction. (May have destroyed CB DeAngelo Hall's career in the first Denver/Oakland matchup in 2008 by making Hall look less-than-average in Royal's rookie debut).
Quickness, speed, and the ability to create distance after making a change of direction.
Reliable hands.
Exhibits great character on and off the field. Plays where he helps the team (dropped from #1 to #2 to make way for Marshall after the latter's suspension).

Negatives:

Royal was considered a prototypical slot receiver coming out of college. When he hit the pros, he may have been labeled a #2 receiver because he played behind Marshall. Fortunately, this stereotyping won't affect professional coaches, who may very well play Royal at #1 down the road.

Royal is rapidly passing Marshall as the fan favorite WR for Denver. While most fans admire Marshall's abilities, his off-field distractions have created a rift amongst fans that preceded even the McDaniels/Cutler debacle. But Royal has played like a Pro Bowler, and done so without drawing attention to himself. Fans appreciate his amazing talent and his quiet professionalism. It would be nice if Marshall stays and allows Royal to chew up opposing #2 CBs, but Royal is already a top-notch talent that can be a dangerous threat at #1.

Royal can give Denver's new QB a deep threat when the defense needs to be stretched vertically. Underneath, Royal can keeps defenses honest by forcing them to divide the assignments of safeties between both sides of the field. Most teams won't have a #2 CB that can consistently cover Royal. Those few teams that either have a strong #2 CB or that play a lot of zones will fare only slighter better.

As Royal gains experience, his route running will improve. Combined with his his agility, it is reasonable to assume that CBs won't be able to cover him effectively as he ages.

Analysis - If Marshall returns, Royal will make the team. He would likely play at the #2 spot. If Marshall does not, Royal again easily makes the team, but starts at #1. In either event, unless Marshall undergoes an epiphany in '09, there is a good chance that Royal will someday become the Rod Smith of Denver's future by playing at #1 full time.

photo courtesy of the NFL

Brandon Stokley - Slot Receiver #14

Age - 33

Style - Possession; tough

Contract highlights - (hat tip to Rotoworld) 12/7/2007: Signed a three-year, $10.1 million contract extension through 2010. The deal included a $5 million signing bonus. 2009: $900,000 (+ $560,000 "signing bonus"), 2010: $1.4 million, 2011: Free Agent

MHR code name - "The Slot Machine"

A veteran that may well be the best slot receiver in football today.

Advantages:

Solid hands.
Is not afraid to take a hit when going for passes over the middle.
Can muscle his way through traffic to fight for the ball.
Runs routes better than most slot receivers.
A veteran who has played the position for years, he knows all of the tactics involved when reading the coverage arrayed against him.

Negatives:

Is a concussion risk.
A threat for other injuries (history - Achilles)
It is unknown when Stokley will start to decline due to age.

Some would call him the top slot receiver in the NFL. He earned his reputation playing alongside Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne in Peyton Manning's amazing Colts passing game. He catches what comes his way, and relies on his strength and power when facing safeties and LBs in the middle of the field. Sacrifices himself (perhaps too much) to make any catch. As a sly veteran, he can fool most nickelbacks (many of whom are younger players trying to work their way up depth charts).

Fans were amazed when a string of injuries forced Stokley to step up to the #1 spot briefly and held his own very well in 2007. The only real knocks on Stokley are his age and injury history. He's stayed healthy for the most part with Denver, but he takes some scary shots to move the ball forward for the team.

Analysis - If Marshall returns, Stokley may have a challenge for the slot with Jabar Gaffney. Without Marshall, Stokley should be a lock for slot.

photo courtesy of NFL.com

Jabar Gaffney - WR #10

Age - 28

Style - Possession; effective run blocker

Contract highlights - (hat tip to Rotoworld) 2/27/2009: Signed a four-year, $10 million contract. The deal includes $3 million guaranteed. 2009-2012: Under Contract, 2013: Free Agent

MHR-U Code name - "Gom Jabbar"

Jabar has been practicing at the #2 WR position opposite Eddie Royal (in Marshall's absence). If Marshall returns, Jabar could play at slot or #4! Where Jabar ends up may be one of the most under-analyzed controversies going into camp.

Advantages:

Good hands
Good run blocker
Can use an initial burst of speed to gain separation on short routes
Has played in the NE system

Negatives:

Denver is his fourth team since 2002
Doesn't sustain speed after his initial burst

Jabar will make the team, so that's out of the way. The fascination with Jabar's situation should be that he may end up as high as #2 or as low as #4 on the depth chart. He's been practicing at #2 in camp, but if Marshall returns he may compete with Stokley for the slot position. In my opinion, Stokley is such a role player at slot that he just shouldn't be moved to #4. On the other hand, Gaffney doesn't have the speed to play at #4 (a spot where sure hands often take a back seat to stretching the field for "better" receivers). Neither Stokley nor Gaffney should be playing #4. Perhaps both players will play at slot, regardless of whom gets the coveted slot position on the official chart.

If Gaffney plays at #2, he'll be the short-to-medium range option while Royal stretches the field north/south. With safeties pulled long strong side and short weak side, TEs and slots would benefit from any holes created short on the strong side (particularly routes that would carry them past a free safety playing too close on Gaffney).

Got that? We might have to throw it all out. Fifth-round pick Kenny McKinley doesn't expect to start at #5 on the depth chart, and neither does Chad Jackson.

Analysis - Gaffney will make the team. The big question is how high or low he ends up being on the depth chart.

photo courtesy of the NFL

Kenny McKinley - WR #11

Age - 22 (ROOKIE)

Style - Well-rounded

Contract highlights - Not yet signed at the time if this writing.

MHR-U Code name - If he works out, perhaps "McDaddy" (as in Mac Daddy). If he bombs, perhaps "They killed Kenny!" (as in South Park).

A few tidbits (gleaned from BroncoBear's definitive work on our receivers): Steve Spurrier calls him the best WR he ever coached. Kenny broke Sterling Sharpe's college records for yards gained and receptions. His number is one of only five retired by USC (South Carolina), and he's caught a pass in each of his last 43 games.

Advantages:

Speed
Route running
Hands
Agility and leaping ability
Elusiveness

Disadvantages:

His frame may dictate that he could be an injury risk at the pro level
Will have a hard time against press coverage
Can be out-muscled fighting in heavy traffic

This kid may be a shock to the NFL. Remember that the so-called "experts" (including me), thought Royal would be relegated to the slot position. Well, Kenny is a prototype slot receiver too, but his abilities are immense. The competition for slot is intense (see Stokley and Gaffney), so once again the presence or absence of Marshall is key.

Kenny is well rounded. Blessed with good hands, speed, agility, and character, he can "do it all". His major drawback is his light frame, which limits his "physicality" in traffic and might make him an injury threat. Trainers will do what they can to put together a routine for him to become limber while building up protective muscle. As with other slight players, Kenny may prove the experts wrong. (USC's opponents are still smarting).

Analysis - How does this kid not make the cut? The only problem may be whether or not he starts. His future looks bright.

photo courtesy of the NFL

Chad Jackson - WR #16

Age - 24

Style - Speedy, but tough.

Contract highlights - 2009: $535,000, 2010: Free Agent

MHR-U code name - If he doesn't make the cut, "Hanging Chad". If he plays well, "Action Jackson"

The first thing that comes to mind is that Jackson just doesn't break the starting roster for teams he tries to play for. And yet, coaches see something in him that makes them keep bringing him back.

Advantages -

Can accelerate past most CBs and stay in high gear.
Catches passes without breaking stride.
Excellent agility, and elusive.
Not afraid to catch in heavy traffic. Will fight for the ball.
Another player with a NE history.

Disadvantages -

Significant injury history
Does not run crisp routes
While he jumps and extends well for balls, he uses poor mechanics to catch balls "on the numbers"
Hasn't played up to his potential yet, and could be a prospect with a limited window to achieve.

Perhaps with good coaching, this kid can break through whatever is holding him back. He has potential to be a scary, deep-field threat. But the prime focus of any WR is to stay on the field and catch balls. Jackson has problems in both areas.

Despite his speed and deep-threat prowess, he plays very well in short ranges (ala NE). While he is agile going for the ball and eluding tacklers, he isn't disciplined on his routes. His toughness is solid, as he fights for the ball by jumping or diving, and will catch a ball that requires some acrobatics. He is agile enough to evade tacklers one-on-one, and tough enough to plow through some tackles in other instances.

Oddly, while his athleticism allows him stretch for catches (vertical and horizontal), he has a tough time catching the passes that most players love; "on the numbers". If he can stay injury free, and work on inside catches, he may have a turnaround in the future. At the rate he's going, he's on the bubble.

Analysis - The first five players on the list will make the roster. Jackson has a good shot, but is not home free. He's in the mix, and will have to bring his best game to make the roster.

The Rest

photo courtesy of the NFL

Brandon Lloyd is a 27-year-old receiver. His agility allows him to out-jump anybody (a great sideline trait), and he has a reputation for sacrificing his body to make great catches in midair. Unfortunately, he isn't fearless in traffic and avoids hits, and gets injured here and there. He has shown some flashes of potential in the past (good years in '04 and '05, as well as a deeper maturity in '06 and '07). He will be in the mix with Jackson and others for the last few spots.

Beyond Lloyd, the names get a little fuzzier.

photo courtesy of the NFL

There's Matt Willis, a 25-year-old signed from and to the Raven's practice squad several times dating back to May 4th of '07 (until Denver picked him up in December).

photo courtesy of Wikimedia

There's also 28-year-old C.J. Jones. Our own Guru has the most current information on Jones here.

Overall Analysis

Let's say Marshall stays. My guess is the following chart:

Marshall (a demotion rocks the boat more than needed)
Royal
Stokley
Gaffney
McKinley
Jackson
Lloyd
Willis
Jones

Take your pick on how many receivers we take. The range is probably a bare minimum of six.

Without Marshall, I would move Gaffney up 2 spots (!):

Royal
Gaffney
Stokley
McKinley
Jackson
Lloyd
Willis
Jones

Without Marshall, Gaffney has been practicing at the #2 position. With Marshall on board, I don't think Gaffney should bump Stokley.

In both charts, McKinley is the lowest player I would call a lock to make the cut. Marshall's presence allows McKinley more time to grow in the system, but Marshall's absence would allow McKinley to get started right away in 4-receiver sets.

In both charts, we have players at the #4 position that are good matchups against #4 CBs, and a great slot. I think Gaffney holds his own at #2, while Royal excels at #2. At #1, Marshall would be solid, while Royal would be just as good. In other words, the presence or absence of Marshall is nothing to fret about.

If Marshall stands with us, things are great at WR. If he isn't with us, we have the depth to absorb the loss; we would remain a solid team at WR. I imagine that our OL will protect our new QB, and I think our running game will be exciting.

Orton will have everything he needs to do well, and his more conservative approach (read "accuracy instead of forcing") should serve him well.

I'll take depth and good players over excellence at one or two spots any day. It works for Brady, it worked for Cassel, and it should work for us.

All the best,

Poll

Does Marshall play for Denver in 2009?

Yes, and ONLY 2009

375 votes

Yes, and beyond 2009

492 votes

No; he's outta here

62 votes

How would I know?

98 votes

1027 votes | Poll has closed

Horse Tracks 7/16/09 - Happy Birthday, Knowshon!

Douglas A. Lee — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:46:23 -0000

DB - 50th Anniversary Team: Offense - Broncos TV
Here's a wonderful video highlighting the offensive candidates for the Broncos' all-time team on that still-tiny player. As usual, this thing could stand to be about 48 hours long...

DB - Reunited in Orange and Blue
Daniel Graham says he hasn't had any trouble adjusting back to Josh McDaniels' offense. He even says it's fun, although keep in mind DG came home to Denver in part to be a bigger part of the passing game. Of course, that hasn't really worked out; gotta wonder how he really feels!

NFP - Supplemental draft preview: Part 2
Wes Bunting thinks the Broncos should consider choosing DE Jeremy Jarmon out of Kentucky today in the Supplemental draft.

NYT - Cutler as a Bronco: It Boiled Down to Bad Decisions
KC Joyner writes more about why he wrote what he wrote. Take a deep breath, Defenders of All Things Cutler.

NFLN - NFL Videos: Top 10 Eagles of all-time
When it's BDawk's turn, of COURSE Jamie Dukes points out that it's going to be tough to watch him in a different uniform, "especially because it's the Denver Broncos." This guy is just some kind of jerk, huh?

NFLN - NFL Videos: Top 10 QBs drafted No. 1
Dukes begrudgingly admits Elway is The Greatest QB picked 1st overall, although he didn't do enough research to figure out whether Elway went to 5 or 6 Super Bowls. He says Elway "maybe deserves to be No. 1 on the list."

DP - Henry gets 3 years in drug charge - Mike Klis
Travis Henry got a light sentence from which he can get a release after 16 months with no fine, after facing a max of 10 years and $4 million.

EUR - HOTLANTA SIZZLED WITH CELEBS: A Weekend Review of Atlanta’s Hot Events
An Atlanta fundraiser attracted several familiar names, including Champ and Boss. Meanwhile, Chad Jackson was in town for his own community work.

NFL - Raiders' Asomugha unsatisfied with individual feats, wants team success - Vic Carucci
Nnamdi, if you had wanted to experience team success then you shouldn't have signed that contract extension!!!!

SDUT - Countdown to Camp - Kevin Acee
Acee covers the Dolts' wideouts.

SDUT - "Video of errant spirals goes viral"
So, Philip Rivers was beat by a HS QB on 3 throws. Big whoop.

NFL - Supplemental draft features some players to watch - Gil Brandt

NFL - Ravens LB Suggs beats deadline, signs six-year, $62.5 million contract

NFL - Panthers, DE Peppers can't strike new deal ahead of contract deadline
Not exactly a stunner here.

NFL - Rams safety Atogwe signs one-year, $6.34 million franchise tender

NFL - Favre says he'll let Vikings know his decision by start of training camp
What's the matter, Bus and Brett? Didn't see your names enough in the headlines lately?

NFL - Niners show Santa Clara officials their plans for new $937 million stadium

PFW - NFC South training-camp previews
These are fairly in-depth, so check out this series if you get a chance!

SI - Brett Favre, Sage Rosenfels, Tarvaris Jackson on NFL coaches film - Ross Tucker

NFP - A close look at the Suggs, Cassel deals
Matt Bowen doesn't like the Cassel deal. I'll have to disagree, as the guy was already guaranteed $14.5 million in '09. Essentially the deal saves KC the trouble/drama/stress of having to go through this again next year. I mean, even if he's terrible this year I can't imagine them wanting to get rid of him. They only guaranteed him an extra year's worth of pay, which they probably would've had to do anyway.

NFP - Strong leverage helps Suggs - Andrew Brandt

NFP - Diner morning news: Snyder's search
Lombardi looks at a few more coaching candidates for Jim Zorn's job.

NFP - Worst week ever
Ray Gustini thinks this is the most boring sports week of the year. Hello??? British Open, Ray!!!!!!!!!

NFLN - NFL Videos: 32 in 32: Philadelphia Eagles

NFLN - NFL Videos: Best fans
Jamie Dukes with more "expert" analysis. He lists the five best fan bases as basically the most popular teams in the NFL, even admitting that the Pats have only become so popular since they've won their Super Bowls.

NFP - Will they play for 35k?
Jack Bechta wonders if UFL salaries are high enough to attract players.

Horse Tracks 7/8/09 - Darrell Reid gives back

Douglas A. Lee — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:46:35 -0000

DB - Jackson Poised to Perform
Despite his limited prior successes as a pro, Chad Jackson believes his pre-existing knowledge of Josh McDaniels' offense will help him excel in 2009.

DB - Following the Blueprint - Zach Eisendrath
UFA linebacker Lee Robinson is looking at Wesley Woodyard's path to the Broncos roster for inspiration. Robinson played OLB at Alcorn State but is working inside for Denver so far.

CSG - Broncos camp preview: the tight ends
Frank Schwab sees a big role for Tony Scheffler in the Denver offense, more production from Daniel Graham with the growth of Ryan's Clady and Harris, and a lot of jumbo-package looks for Richard Quinn.

DB - Training Camp Schedule Released

DP - Broncos to start training camp July 31
LJones points out that McDaniels and Co. are going fan friendly with a public practice at the Big IF and autograph sessions after every practice.

NT - Broncos' Reid brings skills, drills and smiles to youths
LB/DE Darrell Reid recently held a football camp back home in NJ, telling the kids in attendance to work hard in school to earn their way onto the playing field.

KNS - Tennessee football great Al Wilson inspires kids to dream
Al Wilson spoke at a Y in Knoxville, telling the children there to have a plan in life, stay focused, study and make positive choices.

WT - NFL 32 in 32: Denver Broncos
Ryan O'Halloran does some pretty shoddy work, penciling Crowder and Ayres (sic) at the starting end positions, Louis Green (who's been cut) at linebacker, and Josh Bell as a starting corner over Goodman and Pho Smith.

USAT - Broncos couldn't put a sock in 'second-class' days in AFL
Larry Weisman considers how ugly both the Broncos' socks and their play on the field were in the early days.

SDUT - Countdown to Camp - Kevin Acee
Whoops, missed the first several parts of this. Kevin Acee is previewing the Dolts season by looking at sections of their roster; he's halfway through - here are the links.

NFL - NFL gives Giants LB Boley one-game suspension for 2008 battery charge

NFL - Titans opening LP Field to McNair fans on Wednesday, Thursday

NFL - Stallworth details events before DUI crash in recorded police interview

Y! - Teams slow to re-sign '05 draft picks - Jason Cole
Wow, if the '05 guys aren't getting deals, then wait 'til we see how the '06 class plays out, BMarsh.

CBS - Jauron, Phillips among coaches on hot seat
Clark Judge thinks Kubes is on the back burner in Houston. Say it ain't so!

NFP - Diner morning news: the Packers move on - Mike Lombardi

NFP - NFL quick hits: Peppers will pay off - Matt Bowen

CBS - Positional Rankings: Inside Linebackers - Pete Prisco

NFLN - NFL Videos: Top 5: Tight ends - Marshall Faulk

SI - Special MMQB: Tuesday Edition - Matt Light

NFP - In praise of Southern football: part 2 - Robert Boland

NFLN - NFL Videos: Big money, big gamble
Marshall Faulk thinks the addition of Jay Cutler makes the Bears a Super Bowl contender.

NFLN - NFL Videos: 32 in 32: Dallas Cowboys

NFLN - NFL Videos: Top 10: Dance Moves
In honor of Michael Jackson, NFL Network counts down the top ten on-field dance celebrations. I think White Shoes has gotta be the best one...

NFP - 2009 NFP scouting series: Pittsburgh - Wes Bunting

Horse Tracks 7/2/09 - Knowshon is a ham

Douglas A. Lee — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:51:11 -0000

DB - Hosting Camps to Give Back
Gray Caldwell speaks with three Broncos hosting football camps this summer - Darrell Reid, Daniel Graham and Chad Jackson. DG says he was inspired during his childhood by school visits from Alfred Williams and Shannon Sharpe. Many current Broncos helped out at DG's camp, including several rookies.

DB - Graham Teaches More than Football at Free Camp - Broncos TV
Chris Hall reports from DG's camp.

DB - NFL Network: Hardest Hitters - Steve Atwater
Man, do I ever miss the days of Atwater and Smith. We may never see that again in Denver, but at least we've finally got some serious talent back there now. Dawkins, Hill, McBath, Bruton, Barrett. Sounds a lot better than McCree and Manuel, doesn't it?

DB - NFL Network: Hardest Hitters - John Lynch
Wow, what an amazing bunch of John Lynch hits. He actually knocked out his best friend/brother-in-law in a game once. And then just walked away...

SI - Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings both motivated by money - Don Banks
Don Banks speaks with Meshawn Johnson about being a WR diva; Key has some harsh words for BMarsh.

FOX - Schein: Marshall staying put - Video
Adam Schein tells BMarsh he's got chance of going anywhere. He does offer up some misinformation, as Brandon will NOT be a free agent next year. Well, not one who can get a lot of money; Denver could still stick him with a first-round tender which would garner Marshall less than $3 million in 2010.

NFL - Rookie class of 2009 given lessons by 2008 group at symposium - Vic Carucci
Eddie Royal appeared at the symposium, telling the incoming rookies to spend more time working out and preparing for the season. He also stressed the importance of talking to veterans and seeking their guidance.

DB - NFL Network: Moreno at Rookie Symposium - Part 2
Here is the second part of Knowshon's video diary

NYT - Quick Hands From Nicks, and a Bond Between Sanchez and Stafford
YouTube clip from the "NFL Rookies Got Talent" featuring several top draft choices. Knowshon is up last, but it's worth the wait. Kid is a comedian, for sure. He's also got some singing pipes!

CL - Reaching out
Former Broncos WR Willie Green is among a select few African-Americans to own a golf course, and he is helping introduce the game to children who would otherwise find golf inaccessible.

DP - There's only one No. 7 in Colorado — and it's not Chauncey
Chauncey Billups wore #7 for one year in Denver as a tribute to his idol, The Greatest Ever. Now, he's switching to #1 so there will be only one #7 in Denver. That's just awesome.

NFL - Colorful conclusion to NFL’s rookie symposium - Steve Wyche

CBS - NFL teaching rookies how to not be prey to economic predators - Mike Freeman

PFW - A tale of two running backs
Matt Sohn examines second-year RBs Chris Johnson and Steve Slaton.

NFP - Wednesday whys: Listen up, rookies - Andrew Brandt

NFP - Diner morning news: Ravens without Ryan - Mike Lombardi

NFP - The game is more than gettin' paid - Matt Bowen

CBS - Positional Rankings: Tight Ends - Pete Prisco

FOX - Summer two-a-days: AFC South, NFC North
Peter Schrager digs up one of those silly stats; he cites Jay Cutler's record when the Broncos gave up less than 21 points. Hey, Peter - every NFL QB does well when his defense gives up 20 or fewer points. Please.

NYT - 2009 Forecast: Browns Should Be Much Better - KC Joyner

NFLN - NFL Videos: 32 in 32: New Orleans Saints

NFLN - NFL Videos: 2009 Coach Feature: Sean Payton

NFP - 2009 NFP scouting series: Penn State - Wes Bunting

Beyond Brandon Marshall

Emmett Smith — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:45:51 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

6 months ago: Denver Broncos tight end Tony Scheffler takes part in drills during the team's football minicamp at the Broncos headquarters in Englewood, Colo., on Sunday, June 14, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Browse more photos »

The Denver Broncos Receiving Options

With the onset of yet another strange distraction this offseason, as Brandon Marshall ignores the effects of his injury and additional problems this offseason with his personal life (neither of which kept him from demanding a trade), there is a lot of talk about the Broncos and the potential receivers who are out there and might be part of a trade for Marshall. While I wouldn't rule those out, from one perspective it's difficult to imagine how an injured problem-child with more offseason issues on his radar (he's already been suspended once and has more court hearings upcoming) will bring a king's ransom in a trade. It's entirely possible that Marshall will be spending 2009 with the Broncos. Whether or not he is, however, I thought it worthwhile to do a quick rundown of who Denver already has as receiving options. For purposes of organization, I broke them down into wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. How they are used may not be the same as how they are listed, but I wanted to keep it as simple as possible.

Wide Receivers

1. Eddie Royal
Dust off the superlatives and break out the thesaurus - Eddie Royal may be vested with the nickname 'Cheese' but his real name in 2008 turned out to be 'Money'. At 5'10", 182 lbs, this is a young man who shattered the axioms about not counting on wide receivers in their first year. He showed the world that he was the top receiving rookie in the NFL in just his first game, blasting DeAngelo Hall and the rest of the Oakland Raiders backfield for 9 receptions, 146 yards and a TD en route to a Denver destruction of their division rival. He would finish the season with 91 receptions and 980 yards, with 5 TDs and only three drops despite some hand problems caused by Jay Cutler's hard throwing style. Royal showed that he can run tight routes, gain separation, get yards after the catch, adjust to the ball in the air and, oh, yes - be a constant threat as a return guy. In addition to destroying the theory about the struggles of 1st year receivers he also blew up the one about return guys not making the transition to receiver effectively.

With solid character, ceaseless effort and tremendous skill, Royal is one of the many young bright spots for a Denver squad going through major changes. Could he step in as a #1 receiver? Ask Steve Smith. In fact, think of Smith without the 'thuggery' tag that he has allowed to develop around him. Royal is the kind of player that every team dreams of having. It's interesting to reflect on the fact that most of the Broncos faithful blew their collective gasket when we drafted him last year, with many demanding to know why we didn't go with DeSean Jackson, now of the Philadelphia Eagles. Now we know...

2. Brandon Stokley
Last year, the 5'11" 192 lb. Stokley shook off the effects of a concussion that plagued him previously and showed that he is still one of the penultimate 3rd-down slot receivers in the league. He produce 49 receptions, 528 yards and 3 TDs for the Broncos. He's likely to spend this year teaching Kenny McKinley how to play the slot like an All-Pro, and if he can get across just some of the tricks of the trade that he's developed during his 10-year career, McKinley will be much the better for it. Talking about money - over those 10 years he has fumbled just 3 times and only 1 of them came with his previous employer, Indianapolis. None in his two years in Denver and none of them in the last four years shows us that he's still one of the best slot receivers in the NFL.

3. Jabar Gaffney
Coming over from the New England Patriots during this offseason, the 6'1" 200 lb Gaffney has a lot to offer the Broncos. He's familiar with the new system's terminology, used to Head Coach Josh McDaniels and a big supporter of his and has a lot of skill. Over the span of his 7-year career (the past three with New England and Houston before that) he's played in 107 games and caught 256 balls for over 3,000 yards. Gaffney put up 169 first-down receptions and 15 TDs over that stretch of time. Look for him and new quarterback Kyle Orton to spend a lot of time hooking up together.

4. Kenny McKinley
This 5th-round choice for the Broncos was the key to the South Carolina Gamecocks offense for the past three years. Unintimidated by pressure situations, the incredibly productive McKinley was described by Head Coach Steve Spurrier as the "best wide receiver (he's) ever coached". His jersey was retired when he left school, one of only 5 players from USC to ever have been honored that way; he may yet bring a Brandon Stokley-like presence to the slot. His slight frame (5'10", 192 lb.) is perhaps his biggest concern, but there's simply no denying his level of skill. Some receivers are just a lot harder to cover than others. McKinley is like that. He runs good routes, has incredible hands and broke Sterling Sharpe's collegiate school records for receptions and receiving yards as well as catching a pass in each of his last 43 games. He did well in the Combine with a 4.44 40-yard dash, a 37-inch vertical leap, a broad jump of 113 inches and a 20-yard shuttle of 4.1 seconds, but his on-field production was the key to drafting him. He was ranked anywhere from the 2nd round to the middle-5th, so getting him in the 5th round was a good acquisition. He has great vision, solid instincts and is extremely elusive as a receiver. If he can stay healthy he'll fill in for Stokley whenever Brandon eventually falters. I hope that it's a long time. Look for him to struggle at first against press coverage

5. Chad Jackson
Chad Jackson is being gifted with the best opportunity of his short career. A 6'1" 215 lb receiver out of Florida, Jackson was picked by the Patriots with the 4th pick of the 2nd round but hasn't been about to break into the rotation with either New England or Denver. Over the past three years Jackson has only played in 18 games (12 of them in his first season), but he has had an elusive potential that has kept coaches willing to find ways to keep him on the roster. He has a history of kickoff returning that has also played in his favor. Shifty and quick with good acceleration, he often tends to round off his routes and must improve there. He came out of college a year early and that may have also worked against him as the problems with his game have been ones of an immature (professionally) player.

Yahoo's draft profile on him said in part, "He is best when running short area routes, where he shows better crispness in his breaks. He has the size to compete for the ball in traffic and make body adjustments, but does like to jump and body catch a bit. Jackson excels at catching in a crowd and has the courage to combat for the jump balls. He will extend and pluck the ball, but did struggle with his consistency in the past (lacks softness and will juggle the ball). When he catches with his body, he will bobble the ball, but when he extends, he can catch and run without having to gear down." The short routes that Orton is best at and which have predominated in New England over the past 4 years should play to his advantage. This is his best, and perhaps his last chance to show a team that he can be an NFL wide receiver. Elusive with good strength and the leg drive to get the yards after the catch, Jackson could be a fine addition to this year's team if he simply matures as a player.

6. Brandon Lloyd

Recently of the Chicago Bears, Lloyd hasn't found his niche in the 7 years that he's played for San Francisco, Washington and Chicago. Despite a talent for circus catches and athletic contributions, Lloyd has developed a reputation for not enjoying hard contact and having troubles maintaining his focus. It will be interesting to see how he handles the "no-excuses" atmosphere of Josh McDaniels' team. When he's on track with a team he can provide 45 catches a year and 600 yards a season as he did in San Francisco in 2004 and 2005.

Additionally, the Broncos have Matt Willis, a 6'0" 200 lb. 4th-year player out of UCLA who is trying to catch on as well as Lucas Taylor (6'1" 195) and Nate Swift (6'0" 185), two CFAs trying to earn a place on the practice squad.

Tight Ends

1. Daniel Graham

You have to love the Broncos' options at tight end. Daniel Graham, a 6'3", 257 lb. tight end, a former Patriot himself, is equally talented at blocking and receiving and who leads this group. Graham has always wanted to be more of a receiving tight end but his skills at blocking have made that untenable. He's exactly what most teams would like at the position - durable, reliable and effective. He runs good routes and is an equally safe bet on third down or in the red zone and can be counted on for 2-3 receptions per game as well as that many or more key blocks. He is familiar with the Patriots-based terminology which also gives the Broncos an edge going into the new season.

2. Tony Scheffler

At 6'5" and 250 lbs, Tony Scheffler is a wide receiver in a tight end's body. Although his blocking is currently underrated (it improved visibly over the course of 2008), Tony is a receiving tight end, first and foremost. Scheffler redshirted his freshman year at Western Michigan and played slot receiver the following year. Scheffler switched over to tight end in 2004 which explains his less-than-stellar blocking skills in the past. Learning quickly, he achieved All-American status in 2005. He set a school season record for tight ends with 57 receptions for 670 yards (11.8 avg) and nine touchdowns that year. He also garnered Academic All-MAC honors for the third straight year (finishing school with a 3.63 GPA), a fact that lends credence to the belief that he will flourish in Head Coach McDaniels' cerebral approach to football. Drafted with the 29th pick of the 2nd round by the Broncos, Scheffler suffered a foot injury that impeded his progress during his first two season with the Broncos, but was undeterred by it during 2008 when he put up 40 receptions for 645 yards, providing 49 yards per game and a rousing 16.1 average with 28 first downs and 3 TD. If by any chance Brandon Marshall doesn't play for Denver during the 2009 season, some of the catches may well go to this big target with good hands. He's averaging 597 yards per season over the past two years.

Scheffler doesn't have great top-end speed but he's extremely explosive off the line, often catching opposing linebackers, safeties and even cornerbacks unaware. Despite persistent rumors to the contrary, Coach McDaniels shows no interest at all in parting company with this talented receiver who is still mastering the tight end position. He wasn't required to spend much time in the weight room in college, but still managed 32 repetitions on the bench press during a post-Combine public workout and is working diligently to get even stronger now that he's in pro football. His combination of size, quickness, explosion and soft (9.25 inch) hands are rare in a man of his size. Scheffler is still putting on muscle, despite a frame that is both big and ripped. Look for him to enjoy his role in Coach McDaniels' scheme.

3. Richard Quinn

The newcomer to the group, Quinn came by way of the Broncos third pick in the 2nd round (pick #64), creating a small stir among the faithful. His days at the University of North Carolina required him to stay in to block for two reasons - UNC had several NFL-ready players who could play receiver and their offensive line was porous at best. Coach Butch Davis has readily admitted that he under-utilized Quinn's receiving abilities. During the last minicamp, he made a diving catch near the end zone that eliminated for the onlooker's minds any concerns with his receiving talent. He also caught well and ran good routes at his Combine and Pro Day workouts as well as the 12 private workouts that various NFL teams put him through. That total should give you an idea of how much interest there was in Quinn, who used to pretend to be Jerry Rice when he was a kid.

But it's certainly his blocking that got most people's attention. Draft Ace put it this way: "Impressive size and strength. A truly dominant blocker. Acts like a 6th offensive lineman in North Carolina's offense." cfnscout.com said this, "One of the biggest question marks in the draft, he’s big, very strong, and a good blocker with refined technique; he could be thrown on a team right away and produce for a running game. Can he catch? cdsdraft.com just said, "Bigger and stronger than most TEs available this year. A true in-line blocker with better hands than you would think. Was not used that much in the passing game, and thus did not get a chance to really show what he can do in that area. Solid worker. No real downside." That summed it up pretty well.

By the way, Texas was looking to take Quinn in the third round if the Broncos hadn't gotten him with that pick. Comments regarding where he 'should' have gone are kind of like those on the value of a house. A house is worth what folks will pay for it. So is a draft pick - if another team is going to take him before you pick next and you want him, you have to make the move. A few teams had called Quinn's agent Peter Schaffer and told him that they were taking Quinn in the 2nd round, but for various reasons those picks fell through. The Broncos did take him, giving them two excellent blocking tight ends; both of whom can also catch well and a huge pass-catching specialist who can also line up at WR in some packages. Not a bad setup. For those who are interested, there was a good comment that gave some things to think about regarding Quinn.

Running Backs

Coach McDaniels has made it clear to all that running backs in his system (whatever that system may be) are going to do three things well - block, run and catch. He has a fine spread of backs from rookies to veterans and all of them are multi-talented.

1. Peyton Hillis

One of the most versatile players on the Broncos this year, Hillis is currently lining up at RB, FB, WR and TE and it's only June. Add to that his special teams work and you wonder if they won't trot him out on defense in some package just to see what would happen. Hillis has long been known for his soft hands and solid yards after catch numbers: He did it in college and over his rookie season and this year won't be different.

2. Correll Buckhalter

Buckhalter is usually running with the 1st team in OTAs, but he'll have to win out over Hillis and Knowshon Moreno to keep that slot. Given the realities of an NFL season, look for him to have a secure job with the Broncos and to either start or get regular snaps. He's got very good hands and should fit in well with general approach of McDaniels' receiving running backs; although he only started six games last year he had 13 receptions in that time. Buckhalter is interesting because as the game goes on, he gains strength - he averages 6.0 ypc for attempts 11-20, while gaining 4.9 on attempts 1-10.

3. Ryan Torain

Torain is a great unknown, starting with whether he can stay healthy for more than a few plays. If he can, he's said to have big-play talent and good hands as a receiver. He might add yet another dimension to an offense that appears to have all the tools.

4. LaMont Jordan

Jordan has a lot of things going for him. He's familiar with the New England terminology and playbook, he's big and strong, and no one minds knowing that you can go to Jordan in a pinch. The issue might be how to find a slot for him, and the option of going to IR with Torain may occur to some folks. Jordan's biggest downfall might be that he didn't catch a pass at all last year but he does have over 1,300 yards receiving in his career.

5. Knowshon Moreno

Knowshon has great balance, vision and skill, which happily includes the ability to make the catch and make the yards after the catch. He's going to need to in this offense, which should depend on short passes and screens to the running backs. That's right up Moreno's alley. Moreno is also a great unknown; is Josh McDaniels going to use a constant rotation of his backs or use Moreno, as some have suggested, as an every-down primary back? We'll know soon.

Conclusions

All in all, it's hard to argue that the Broncos have a sizable stable of talented and effective receivers, regardless of what position they supposedly play. To conclude, I'll leave you with a quote from Phil Simms' Sunday Morning Quarterback. He was fielding a question regarding the tight ends including Mark Bavaro leading the New York Giants in receiving one year.

"...and because they were our best receivers (Note: the tight ends) we designed plays for them. We moved them. We split them out. We put them at tight end. We ran them down the field. We ran them short. We did just about everything we could do with them in the passing game.

"If the tight end is not of that caliber, then you change formation, you move players around and you get a wide receiver in the tight end position and he runs the tight end routes. That's what all teams do. the plays they run are exactly the same, regardless of who they have running the pass routes. Instead of the fullback running into the flat they send the tight end into the flat. If they put a wide receiver where the tight end would usually go, that's because the wide receiver is better than the tight end."

Innovation is the only constant; change, the only thing that doesn't vary. If one player goes down, another must step up. In the case of the Broncos, you have a team with a young Head Coach who has been a tremendous teacher and innovator at the coordinator level. Now he will have to step up and perform as well as a head coach. As for the players - this short piece should show clearly that the Broncos have no shortage of options at receiver. We have big receivers like Scheffler and Quinn, fast receivers like McKinley, short, quick receivers like Royal. We have a group of running backs who have multiple skills; Jordan and Hillis can work the short-yardage game, Moreno can work the flat, Buckhalter can fill in wherever he is needed. Graham and Quinn can clear the way for other players, but each can also chip and go. The permutations are endless; the possibilities limited only by ingenuity and skill.

Marshall may stay or he may go. In either case, don't look for the Broncos to look back.

Educated Guess - 2009 Depth Chart Thoughts

Steve Nichols — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:30:09 -0000

It is still too early to have a good idea of what depth chart Denver will be using. But members of the media and fans at Milehighreport.com will put up depth charts anyway because it is fun to speculate on who will play at what positions. I love depth chart projections because the conversation that ensues serves to educate. Some folks will share information about a player trait that others weren't aware of, and discussions of schemes ensue.

Most longtime members of MHR love the annual depth-chart breakdown that Guru does. It was my favorite feature of MHR before I joined the site a few years ago. If you want accurate predictions, that's your story. If you want some educated guesses and a good discussion, I hope you'll enjoy the following....

As I've written consistently, this is a tough year to guess on our final roster and dept chart. New coaches, new system, a radical change in player-use philosophy, and a major turnover in players makes this year tricky, but very intriguing. We'll know much more when camp is fully underway, but here are some of my thoughts thus far.

DEFENSE

SAFETY

One of my most difficult tasks is to guess whether or not Brian Dawkins plays at his historical free-safety position or moves to strong safety. There are strong arguments both ways. Even at his age, Dawkins had a terrific season again last year. He still has speed and range, and can sack quarterbacks from the deep safety position. He still has the hands to intercept. And when he hits a ball carrier, the stadium hears it. Brian Dawkins remains a terrifying force on the field. I would like to see him stay at FS, but I'm starting to lean towards a move to SS. I have a few reasons for this, but I'm not 100% comfortable with making a firm projection.

First, Dawkins will be getting older, and the eventual slowing will make him a better fit at SS. Second, I'll take Dawkins covering a TE over some of the prospects at LOLB. Third, in most schemes the SS will have more run-support responsibilities, and Dawkins is one of those safeties that can consistently bring down even the biggest of RBs.

Renaldo Hill would then become my guess at FS. Coming off of the good year he had last year, I think he is a definite upgrade at FS. Given his age, he will likely be holding the position for a young up-and-coming player in the near future.

Darcel McBath is my favorite for the backup FS spot. He should do well on STs, but I think he will be the future at FS, and a player to watch. I think he'll see some playing time this year. For the fourth spot on the safety chart, we might see a duel between Vernon Fox and Josh Barrett. Fox could win out because there is talk about Barrett getting some looks for an OLB position.

Where does this leave the "other" rookie (David Bruton)? I think he has a shot at being a special teams ace for now, and a project for a future role at safety.

Cornerback

Superstar Champ Bailey is a lock for the #1 CB position. Andre Goodman was brought in to take over at the #2 position, and should do a great job there. Controversial draft pick Alphonso Smith will be exciting at nickel back, and is likely going to be a #2 CB in the near future.

I love what the team has done at safety and corner. We have two future-Hall of Famers at defensive-back positions, a hot rookie, and two solid veterans. The battle for the final spot will be between Jack Williams, Josh Bell, and Rashod Moulton.

Inside Linebacker

In my last article, I wrote that I was proud of myself for predicting that D.J. Williams would again be moving, this time to RILB. It is his natural spot, and one that he is happy with. He will be the anchor for the LBs. At LILB, Andra Davis will be stopping runs and "ted blocking" the way to sacks for the RILB. Beyond these two, nothing is sure.

I'm guessing that Larsen will be a FB / ILB hybrid. Someone pointed out a fact to me in the last couple of weeks, and I buy the reasoning - Larsen would make a great LILB because (as a FB) he is already capable of blocking the way through the trenches. I buy that, so Larsen becomes my pick for #2 LILB. Woodyard is my pick to back up Williams.

Outside Linebacker

With hybrids, this is a very tough call. Until he gets injured, Boss Bailey has a shot at starting LOLB, and Jarvis Moss is my guess to compete for the spot. The more I think about it, I like Elvis Dumervil at ROLB. He isn't big enough to play RDE in a 3-4, but his rush skills would make him a feared presence in a 3-4 played with a 5-2 look. I'm not sure who backs up Dumervil. With safety Josh Barrett getting looks at LB, I think he could go ROLB or LOLB. For now, let's consider ROLB a possibility.

Nose Tackle

The early favorite is clearly Ronald Fields, who was projected to start for the 49ers this year. Carlton Powell and Marcus Thomas are both bulking up and fighting for a spot, and I think there may be a better competition for the spot than earlier thought.

Defensive End

Let me throw out the names in the mix as I see them (in no special order) - Robert Ayers, Tim Crowder, Ryan McBean, Kenny Peterson, and Nic Clemons.

I think Ayers, McBean, and Crowder compete for the LDE spot. I think Peterson starts RDE, with Clemons or one of the three players competing for LDE backing him up.

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Kyle Orton had a lesser offensive line and lesser receivers in Chicago, but still managed more wins than Denver's previous QB. He may not have the physical tools and potential of a Jay Cutler, but he also lacks the drawbacks (forcing the ball into interceptions, not looking off receivers, decision making in general). Chris Simms is not likely to be the starter, but could be a surprise if called in during an injury to Orton.

Tom Brandstater may be a long-term project, or a desperate emergency player in the event of a catastrophic string of injuries. The only real question is, "Do we carry three QBs on the roster, or keep Brandenstater on the practice squad but suited up under the NFL's emergency 'third QB' rule"? Tom is a very smart kid, and may be a surprise in a couple of years.

Running Backs

Denver is loaded at this position. I was sorry to see Arrington not pass the physical, but Denver didn't lose much in the signing. Still, Denver finally has a workhorse RB in 1st-round draft pick Knowshon Moreno. The next question is, do we go committee or run a prime back? Do we spell or rotate? Peyton Hillis is a proven commodity as a power back, but can also block as FB or gash defensive lines running the ball from the FB position. Correll Buckhalter and LaMont Jordon are solid backs, not castoffs. The running game will not be an issue for Denver this year.

Larsen and Hillis can both play FB. Hillis is good enough to start at RB (with Moreno), and Larsen is good enough to play at LILB (likely rotating behind Davis).

Denver has a lot of options.

Receiver

Brandon Marshall starts at #1, and Eddie Royal starts at #2. Brandon Stokley is probably still going to be our slot receiver, and that's a good thing. This is a great starting group. Competing for the coveted 4th-receiver spot are Jabar Gaffney, rookie Kenny McKinley, and Chad Jackson.

Tight End

Daniel Graham is not only the clear starter, but has played in the NE offensive program before. He is an outstanding blocker, but can cause defenses problems if he goes out to catch. Tony Scheffler is too good of a receiving TE not to be in the mix, and will see the field in a lot of two-TE sets. Jeb Putzier and rookie Richard Quinn will fight for the 3rd TE position. Putzier has the advantage in catching, but Quinn is a heck of a blocker.

Center

Casey Wiegmann will start. Kory Lichtensteiger is being groomed as his replacement. Blake Schlueter (rookie) is either going to back up Kory next year, or might back up one of the guards this year.

Guard

Ben Hamilton starts at LG, and Chris Kuper starts at RG. Seth Olsen and (perhaps) Blake Schlueter are my guesses to back up.

Tackle

Ryan Clady is a lock at LT, and Ryan Harris is a lock at RT. Tyler Polumbus is a likely backup, but Brandon Gorin might give him a run for his money.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special teams is settled at K, P, and long snapper. The only question is whether Royal will be relieved of his return responsibilities.

As mentioned earlier, without knowing the systems we'll be running, and with the added complexity of the Amoeba philosophy and the hybrid scheming, this is a tough depth chart to figure out. I'm certain that I'm going to be wrong on a least a few of my early guesses, but my overarching hope is that we as a group can discuss the roster and use the chart as a good base to exchange ideas.

I look forward to hearing from folks on their thoughts!

Poll

Assuming that Marshall, Royal, and Stokley start at the first three WR positions, which of the following players should start at #4 WR?

Jabbar Gaffney

726 votes

Kenny McKinley

83 votes

Chad Jackson

66 votes

875 votes | Poll has closed