SB Nation - Jeb Putzier

Looking Back: The Houston Texans

Jess Place — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 15:00:22 -0000

With the Houston Texans looming large on the Denver Broncos schedule this week, we'll be looking at the first time these two teams faced off. While the video above isn't from that meeting, of the three time they have previously played, it's certainly the most memorable and is well worth mentioning.

Coming into the league in 2002 as an expansion team, the Texans aimed to fill the void created in 1996 when the Oilers departed for Nashville and became the Titans. It wouldn't be until 2004 that the Broncos would get their first crack at Houston's new franchise.

Stick with me after the jump to find out how the Denver Broncos fared in that game.

As with most expansion franchises, the Houston Texans have been a perennial doormat in the NFL. On a typically chilly afternoon on November 7, 2004, they entered Invesco Field at Mile High with just 13 total wins from their two and a half season of play. Their poor offensive line and overall lack of talent plagued them, essentially, up until last year. Though, their struggles, at the time, couldn't be attributed to their wide receiver drafted in the 2nd round of their inaugural 2002 draft, #86 Jabar Gaffney (you may recall that MHR designated Gaffney the greatest Denver Bronco to ever wear the #10).

The Texans' offense struggled. Sack prone QB David Carr was put on his back four times by Kelly Herndon, Marco Coleman, Luther Eliss, and Reggie Hayward. Carr was just 21 of 44 passes for 241 yards and no touchdowns. The only scoring plays were touchdown runs by RB Dominick Williams, both from a yard out. Williams had 71 yards on 19 attempts. With numbers like these, credit has to go to the Broncos defense for doing a great job to stymie the Texans offense in this game - they even shut down a two point conversion attempt at the end of the game.

Offensively, the Broncos and QB Jake Plummer absolutely bombed the Texans. Jake the Snake threw for 4 touchdowns, each to a different receiver - TE Jeb Putzier, WR Ashley Lelie (how'd that holdout and trade work out, Ashley?), WR Rod Smith and RB Kyle Johnson (who would switch to FB the following year). RB Ruben Droughns had a great day, amassing 120 yards on 21 attempts. Jason Elam was reliable as always, nailing all four extra points and a 52 yard field goal.

In the end, the Denver Broncos would come out on top in this one, 31-13. Looking forward to this Sunday's matchup, I'm excited that a WR that had three catches for 29 yards and a touchdown in their first meeting, Rod Smith, will be inducted into the Ring-of-Fame. Here's hoping that the Broncos can dominate this time, the way they did the first time.

Go Broncos!

Denver Broncos History: The 2002 Draft

Troy Hufford — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:00:02 -0000

The 2001 Denver Broncos season saw a devastating injury to Ed McCaffrey, week 1 against the New York Giants. The next day, America was attacked by terrorists, which caused the September 16th game to be postponed until January 6th, 2002. The Broncos finished 8-8, missed the playoffs, and lost Ed McCaffrey.

These are the events that led up to the 2002 offseason. Mike Shanahan was on the doorstep of the playoffs, so it was critical that the 2002 Draft would provide some starters to push this team over the edge of the playoff threshold.

Here is how the 2002 draft board fell for the Denver Broncos.

Round	Overall Pick	Player	Position	Shool
1	19	Ashlie Lelie	WR	Hawaii
2	51	Clinton Portis	RB	Miami
3	96	Dorsett Davis	DT	Mississippi St.
4	131	Sam Brandon	S	UNLV
5	144	Herb Haygood	WR	Michigan St.
6	191	Jeb Putzier	TE	Boise St.
7	228	Chris Young	S	Georgia Tech
7	231	Monsanto Pope	DT	Virginia

Ashlie Lelie

After Ed McCaffrey suffered a gruesome injury, his career was in doubt and it came as no surprise that the Broncos drafted a wide receiver with their first round selection. Ashlie Lelie was a pretty good fit with the Broncos, once Jake Plummer allowed the Broncos to bootleg. His ability to go long and track the ball in the air to make acrobatic catches was something that the Broncos offense really benefited from. Unfortunately, when the Broncos acquired Javon Walker in 2006, Ashlie Lelie pitched a fit and demanded a trade. He got his wish and played briefly for the Falcons, 49ers and Raiders over the next few years. He spent a short time with the Kansas City Chiefs but was released before the 2009 season.

Clinton Portis

Drafted in the 2nd round, Clinton Portis quickly became the starting runningback for the Broncos. He rushed for over 1500 yards in both of his 2 seasons in Denver. More impressive than that, he averaged 5.5 yards per carry during that time. He became the youngest player to score 4 touchdowns in a game on December 12, 2002 as the Broncos beat the Chiefs 31-14. After the 2003 season, Clinton Portis was a part of a trade to the Washington Redskins that netted the Broncos a future Hall of Famer Champ Bailey and a 2nd round pick that turned out to be Tatum Bell (who ironically used the number 26, which Portis had used during his time in Denver).

Dorsett Davis

It was a good sentiment, I guess. Dorsett Terrell Davis was drafted just a few years after Terrell Davis helped the Broncos win the Lombardi Trophy. However, Dorsett's impact wasn't quite as big. He was on the inactive list for the entire 2002 season. The year after, he was expected to make a large impact, but he played in only 14 games of the 2003 season where he had 10 tackles and one pass deflection. He never played another regular season game in the NFL. He tore a tendon in his left pinky and missed the entire 2004 season. He was waived at the end of the 2005 training camp on September 3rd. He tried out with the Dolphins in November, but he didn't sign. In 2006, he played a year with the Edmonton Eskimos.

Sam Brandon

This UNLV safety played 127 games for the Broncos from 2002 to 2006. He spent his career mainly lined up against Tight Ends and playing some special teams. Amid assault charges and facing a possible NFL suspension, Sam Brandon suffered a knee injury. The Broncos released him and he never played in the NFL again.

Herb Haygood

As the second wide receiver taken by the Broncos in the 2002 draft, he didn't have nearly as much impact as Ashlie Lelie. He played only 4 games for the Broncos in 2002. He spent 2003 with the Indianapolis Colts and 2004 with the Kansas City Chiefs. He then went to the Great Lakes Indoor Football League, where he played with the Battle Creek Crunch.

Jeb Putzier

Despite having only 4 receptions in his first two years, Putzier broke out in 2004 and 2005, becoming a pretty nice receiving option at the tight end position. After 2005, however, the Broncos released him in a salary cap purge and he was recruited to the Houston Texans with Gary Kubiak, who had taken over the head coaching position. Two years with the Texans and Jeb Putzier had only 19 receptions during that time. He spent a short time with the Seattle Seahawks and again with the Denver Broncos, but didn't record any stats because he was cut again by the Broncos in 2009. He played nowhere in 2009, but came to the UFL for a short stint with the Hartford Colonials and Omaha Nighthawks.

Chris Young

Chris Young played 21 games for the Denver Broncos and recorded 7 tackles, playing mostly on special teams. He suffered a knee injury in 2004 and never played in the NFL again.

Monsanto Pope

Pope played 14 games as a rookie with 1 start. He notched 4 sacks, his best total as a pro. He continued to contribute to the Broncos until 2005, totaling 48 solo tackles and 6 sacks. After 2005, the Broncos did not resign Pope and he was signed by the New York Jets. He was pushing Dewayne Robinson for the starting defensive tackle role, but quit for "person reasons".

Any draft that includes David Carr as the 1st overall pick is surely one that makes you scratch your head. For the Denver Broncos, the first two picks worked out fairly well. We essentially picked Champ Bailey and Tatum Bell with our second round pick in 2002. Can't get much better than that, if you ask me. The rest of this draft is fairly forgettable, though. Is the Clinton Portis pick enough to qualify this draft as an A?

That's for MHR to decide.

Poll

Grade the Draft.

A

16 votes

B

124 votes

C

101 votes

D

33 votes

F

4 votes

278 votes | Poll has closed

Reviewing the Draft - 2002 Edition

Colby — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 20:30:25 -0000

People always argue if a draft class was good or not and grade it. Most people including me think think that it take 2 or 3 years before you can actually grade a class. Leading up to the draft we will take a look at who the Broncos drafted in the past 10 years. These drafts were conducted by Mike Shanahan and Josh McDaniels.

Ashley Lelie - Wide Receiver - Hawaii 19th Overall

Denver needed help at wide receiver. When the offense was healthy, it was pretty strong. Denver was looking at either an offensive lineman for a safe pick since Shanahan was not a strong drafter, or a wide receiver. The receivers in reach were either going to be Donte Stallworth or Ashley Lelie. Since Stallworth went earlier, the Broncos took 6'3 200 pound Lelie. Lelie had a not bad rookie year with 35 receptions and 2 touchdowns but his best year was 2004 where he had 54 receptions, over 1000 yards receiving and 7 touchdowns. Unfortunately, later on Lelie got upset when the Broncos traded for Javon Walker and wanted out eventually being traded to Atlanta in a 3 way deal with the Redskins. Lelie today is a free agent.

Clinton Portis - Running Back - Miami - 51st overall

Boy oh boy did this impact the last decade of the Broncos. Clinton Portis was drafted by the Broncos who was an instant star in Denver, In his rookie season he started 12 games and rushed for 1508 yards and 15 touchdowns winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. The next season Portis rushed for 1591 yards and 14 touchdowns averaging 5.5 YPC both seasons. In his time in Denver he became the youngest player to rush for five touchdowns in one game.However in 2004, the Broncos traded Portis to the Washington Redskins for Champ Bailey and a second round pick. Critics felt Denver got the way bigger end of the deal saying that Portis was just a success of Denver fantastic zone blocking scheme.

Dorsett Davis - Defensive Tackle - Mississippi State - 96th Overall

Davis was a big man at 305 pounds 6'5. Davis was a very inconsistent player in college after the learning of his mother had cancer which really messed with his head. He didnt play in a game in 2002. In 2003 he played 8=14 games with no starts and only 8 tackles. Later he had a small stint in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos.

Sam Brandon - Strong Safety - UNLV - 131st Overall

Brandon had a good few years for the Broncos. Eventually he started in his 2nd year at free safety for 10 games. He was great in coverage especially against tight ends. After a knee injury that required season ending surgery, the Broncos released him along with him having assault charges and possibly being up for suspension.

Herb Haygood - WIde Receiver - Michigan State - 144th overall

Haygood was the 2nd receiver drafted by the Broncos in 2002. Unfortunately for him he played only 4 games for the Broncos in 2003. Today he is a coach for Saginaw Valley State University.

Jeb Putzier - Tight End - Boise State - 191st overall

Putzier was a big tight end at 6'4. He actually wasn't too bad. He only played a few games in his first couple years. The next two years though he played in all 16 games each year. In 2004 and 2005 he had 36 and 37 receptions respectively and about 500 yards each season. After 2005 the Broncos released him. Last year he was with the team in training camp but never made the final team.

Chris Young - Safety - Georgia Tech - 228th overall

Young did not play much with the Broncos. In 2003 he played in 11 games and 2004 12 games mostly on special teams. In 2004 he suffered a season ending knee injury.

Monsanto Pope - Defensive Tackle - Virginia - 231st Overall

For a late round pick, Pope actually had a good time in Denver. In his rookie year he played in 14 games and started 1 and had 4 sacks! In 2003 he started 5 games and in 2004 15 games. After 2005 however Pope wasn't resigned.

This draft had a lot of players that turned into great players. It would be interesting to see where we would be if instead of Lelie we drafted Ed Reed. Just a Thought.

In my 2001 edition, you rated that draft mostly in the area of D or Fail. What do you rate this draft?

Poll

Grade the Draft

A

24 votes

B

139 votes

C

229 votes

D

125 votes

Fail!

102 votes

619 votes | Poll has closed

A Look At Rick Smith's Non-Draft Moves As General Manager Of The Houston Texans

Tim — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:30:31 -0000

A little over a week ago, we looked at the moves made via the NFL draft by your Houston Texans since Rick Smith was named general manager. Now we examine the moves made under Smith's watch that didn't involve drafting players. As discussed in the earlier post, your Houston Texans have maintained a log of all transactions made since Charley Casserly was hired almost precisely eleven (11) years ago, on January 19, 2000, making it rather easy to see precisely what the Texans did and when.

Sidebar: Remember that date the next time anyone tells you that Y2K was a false alarm. While the rest of the world was spared annihilation in January of 2000, the NFL's 32nd franchise was not. We got YCC'd.

Back to Rick Smith, the Teflon General Manager...a list of the most noteworthy non-draft moves of his Texans tenure awaits your review after the jump.

In a failed attempt at brevity, I'm not going to address the Texans' signing their recently drafted players unless it later involved inking a Texans draftee to an extension. I'll just note that Smith has been very successful in getting the players drafted by the Texans signed and into training camp. Additionally, I've deliberately left out some of the "lesser" moves made on Smith's watch where I could; you're free to examine the list in total if you're dying to know when the Texans released Guss Scott or Atlas Herrion. Onward!

2006

Signed restricted free agent Antwan Peek.
Hired Dale Strahm as Director of College Scouting.
Waived Todd Wade.
Signed Earthwind Moreland (not of great significance to the analysis; just wanted to type that name).
Released Mike Brisiel.
Released Tramon Williams (curiously, Tramon's release is not mentioned in the transaction log, but he was in the final round of cuts before the 2006 season).Released Seth Wand.
Released David Anderson.
Released Robaire Smith.
Released Chris Taylor.
Signed Mike Brisiel to the practice squad.
Signed Ron Dayne.
Signed David Anderson, Anthony Maddox, and Chris Taylor to the practice squad.
Promoted Chris Taylor to the active roster.
Released Chris Taylor.
Traded Vernand Morency to Green Bay for Samkon Gado.
Signed Chris Taylor to the practice squad.
Waived Bennie Joppru.
Signed Vonta Leach.
Released Mike Brisiel from the practice squad.
Promoted Anthony Maddox to the active roster.
Signed Tim Bulman to the practice squad.
Promoted David Anderson to the active roster.
Signed Chris White to the practice squad.
Signed Von Hutchins and Cedric Killings.
Signed Bradlee Van Pelt.
Promoted Chris Taylor to the active roster.
Promoted Tim Bulman to the active roster.
Promoted Earl Cochran to the active roster.

2007

Signed Mike Brisiel and Chris White to reserve/future contracts for the upcoming season.
Signed Joel Dreessen to reserve/future contract.
Allocated Mike Brisiel to NFL Europe.
Released Zach Wiegert, Seth Payne and Eric Moulds.
Signed free agent Ahman Green.
Re-signed Ephraim Salaam and N.D. Kalu.
Signed free agent Danny Clark.
Re-signed Chad Stanley.
Signed free agent Jordan Black.
Re-signed Mark Bruener.
Signed free agent Jeff Zgonina.
Signed free agent Shawn Barber.
Completed a trade with the Falcons for Matt Schaub (Atlanta received Houston's second-round draft picks in the 2007 and 2008 NFL Drafts, and the teams also swapped first-round picks in the 2007 draft, with Houston moving down two spots from No. 8 overall to No. 10 overall).
Re-signed Ron Dayne.
Released David Carr and Domanick Davis.
Matched the offer sheet signed by Vonta Leach with the Giants.
Signed exclusive right free agents Bradlee Van Pelt and Chris Taylor.
Signed exclusive rights free agents David Anderson, Tim Bulman, Earl Cochran, and Anthony Maddox.
Re-signed free agent Dexter McCleon.
Signed restricted free agent Von Hutchins.
Signed free agent Jamar Fletcher.
Re-signed Samkon Gado.
Signed free agent Andre Davis.
Re-signed Shantee Orr.
Re-signed Charlie Anderson.
Re-signed Glenn Earl.
Signed undrafted rookie free agent DelJuan Robinson.
Terminated contract of Kailee Wong.
Signed Bethel Johnson.
Signed unrestricted free agent Matt Turk.Released Darius Walker.
Signed Keenan McCardell (I remember being totally jazzed about this move)
Signed Darius Walker.
Released Bradlee Van Pelt.
Released Mike Brisiel, Bethel Johnson, Darius Walker, Brandon Frye, Keenan McCardell (ouch), Wali Lundy, David Anderson, and DelJuan Robinson.
Traded Jason Babin to Seattle for Michael Boulware.
Signed Darius Walker, Mike Brisiel, Brandon Frye, DelJuan Robinson, Tim Bulman, and Brandon Mitchell to the practice squad.
Signed Rashad Butler.
Released Chad Stanley (Ed. Note: Huzzah!).
Signed free agent Will Demps.
Waived Joel Dreessen.
Signed Cedric Killings.
Signed David Anderson and Joel Dreessen.
Waived Samkon Gado.
Signed Adimchinobi Echemandu.
Signed Brandon Frye to the active roster.
Signed Curome Cox.
Signed Darius Walker to the active roster.
Released Shantee Orr.
Signed Mike Brisiel to the active roster.
Signed Tim Bulman to the active roster.
Released Adimchinobi Echemandu. Signed DelJuan Robinson to the active roster.

2008

Released Shawn Barber, Mike Flanagan and Jeb Putzier. Re-signed Chris Taylor. Re-signed unrestricted free agent Andre Davis. Signed unrestricted free agent Jacques Reeves. Signed unrestricted free agent Kevin Bentley. Re-signed Darius Walker. Re-signed unrestricted free agent Will Demps (curiously, this is missing from the team's transaction log). Re-signed Mark Bruener and Glenn Earl. Signed unrestricted free agent Chris Brown, ~~with a player option for a halfback pass~~. Signed unrestricted free agent Chaun Thompson. Traded a sixth-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft to Denver for Chris Myers. Signed unrestricted free agent Quinn Gray. Re-signed Matt Turk. Released Steve McKinney. Re-signed CC Brown and Brandon Frye. Re-signed Anthony Maddox. Re-signed David Anderson. Re-signed Joel Dreessen. Re-signed Fred Weary.

***On June 3, 2008, Rick Smith signed a contract extension of his own that runs through the 2012 season.***

Released Quinn Gray and Jordan Black. Signed Rosevelt Colvin. Released Charles Spencer. Signed free agent Mike Bell. Released Brandon Frye. Signed free agent Eugene Wilson. Signed Eric Winston to a contract extension. Promoted Darius Walker to the active roster. Signed Ryan Moats to the practice squad. Released Fred Weary. Waived Darius Walker and Chris Taylor; promoted Ryan Moats to the active roster. Released N.D. Kalu. Signed Jesse Nading to the active roster.

2009

Announced that head athletic trainer Kevin Bastin and strength and conditioning coach Dan Riley would not have their contracts renewed. Released Ahman Green and Morlon Greenwood (unfortunately, the transaction log does not contain an entry detailing the volume of tears shed by MDC when Morlon's career as a Texan ended). Hired Geoff Kaplan as director of sports medicine/head athletic trainer and promoted Ray Wright to head strength & conditioning coach. Released Will Demps, Anthony Weaver, and Ephraiam Salaam. Extended qualifying offers to five (5) restricted free agents: Owen Daniels, Joel Dreessen, David Anderson, Rashad Butler, and Earl Cochran. Traded Sage Rosenfels to Minnesota for a fourth-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Signed unrestricted free agent Antonio Smith. Re-signed Joel Dreessen and Eugene Wilson. Signed unrestricted free agent Dan Orlovsky. Re-signed David Anderson. Withdrew tender offer to Earl Cochran. Re-signed unrestriced free agent Nick Ferguson. Signed unrestricted free agent Shaun Cody. Signed unrestricted free agent Cato June. Re-signed Rashad Butler. Signed John Busing. Signed unrestricted free agent Rex Grossman. Re-signed restricted free agent Owen Daniels. Re-signed Kris Brown to contract extension. Re-signed Jeff Zgonina. Traded Travis Johnson to San Diego for undisclosed draft pick. Released Cato June. Released Arian Foster. Signed Arian Foster to the practice squad. Franchised Dunta Robinson. Signed unrestricted free agent Bernard Pollard. Promoted Jesse Nading to the active roster. Promoted Arian Foster to the active roster. Demoted Jesse Nading back to the practice squad. Signed Brian Russell. Promoted Chris Henry to the active roster. Released Brian Russell. Signed Ephraim Salaam. Signed Brian Russell.

2010

Signed John David Booty. Hired Cedric Smith as strength and conditioning coach.

***On February 10, 2010, Gary Kubiak signed a contract extension that runs through the 2012 season.***

Agreed to contract extension with DelJuan Robinson. Extended qualifying offers to restricted free agents Tim Bulman, Rashad Butler, Owen Daniels, Ryan Moats, Bernard Pollard, DeMeco Ryans and Chris White. Agreed to contract extension with Mike Brisiel. Re-signed unrestricted free agents Kevin Walter and Matt Turk. Signed unrestricted free agent Wade Smith. Re-signed restricted free agents DeMeco Ryans and Tim Bulman. Re-signed restricted free agent Bernard Pollard. Signed unrestricted free agent Neil Rackers. Re-signed restricted free agent Ryan Moats. Re-signed restricted free agent Rashad Butler. Signed Jon Weeks. Signed Danny Clark. Signed Owen Daniels to his restricted free agent offer sheet. Signed Aaron Glenn to one-day contract so he could retire a Texan. Signed Andre Johnson to contract extension. Released Fred Bennett. Signed Derrick Ward. Placed Kris Brown and Andre Davis on injured/reserve list. Released Jacques Reeves and DelJuan Robinson. Released Danny Clark. Signed Matt Leinart. Signed Adewale Ogunleye. Signed Ephraim Salaam. Signed Karl Paymah. Signed Mark Anderson. Released Ephraim Salaam. Waived Frank Okam. Signed Malcolm Sheppard and Damione Lewis to the active roster. Waived Adewale Ogunleye. Signed Tim Jamison. Claimed Jason Allen off waivers. Waived Malcolm Sheppard. Signed Shelley Smith to the active roster. Signed Malcolm Sheppard to the practice squad.

There it is, people. What do you think about our esteemed general manager's non-draft record?

Horse Tracks - 12/7/09 - Broncos beatdown Chiefs in Historic Fashion

John Bena — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:34:43 -0000

Good Morning Broncos Country! Doug is off enjoying the fruits of his labor...errrr..celebrating his first year of marriage so I will be filling in. I know, Horse Tracks was one of my earliest ideas at MHR but there is no way I can match what Doug brings to the table. I will certainly try, so let's get to it on this 8-4 Monday Morning!

NFL.com - NFL Game Center: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
It was over when ... Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno raced 18 yards for a touchdown to give Denver a 41-13 lead early in the fourth quarter.

DB – Firing on All Cylinders(Zach Eisendrath)
They controlled the line of scrimmage. They made big plays at opportune times. They displayed toughness and intensity from start to finish.

DB - Asserting Their Will(Gary Caldwell)
Football changes when the calendar reaches December. As the weather gets colder, the play gets a little more hard-nosed, a little more physical, and a little more about pounding the ball.

DP - Broncos crunch Kansas City, improve to 8-4(Mike Klis)
Stephen Alexander and Jeb Putzier were the tight ends. Charlie Adams was the No. 3 receiver. Courtney Brown was a defensive end. Kyle Johnson was a frequently used fullback.

DP - McD pick of the litter(Woody Paige)
The Broncos are very lucky. Very lucky they got to play the subterranean Chiefs on Sunday. Very lucky that they get to play the Chiefs again this season in what could be a critical final regular-season game for them — the Broncos, not the mouth-breathers. Very lucky that Haley is in Kansas City, not Denver. And very, very lucky that they chose Josh McDaniels over the myriad other coaches who were available for employment after Mike Shanahan was dumped.

DP - Even cliches fail with awful Chiefs(Dave Krieger)
Arrowhead Stadium ain't what she used to be. The Broncos' December house of horrors has become a wax museum.

DP - Broncos in driver's seat for playoff spot(Jim Armstrong)
True story. Did an article for The Post the other day about a Chiefs fan living in Denver who couldn't take it any more. He was so distraught and disgusted, he e-mailed the paper and asked if we could arrange to have him hypnotized into becoming a Broncos fan.

DP - There's no halt in Buckhalter(Lindsay Jones)
For a moment there, Broncos running back Correll Buckhalter was sure he had broken free. Buckhalter dashed untouched through Kansas City's defensive linemen and linebackers early in the second quarter of Sunday's 44-13 victory at Arrowhead Stadium, but a push from safety Mike Brown knocked Buckhalter off-balance. Buckhalter had gotten past all of the Chiefs' defenders but couldn't stay on his feet and fell near midfield after a gain of 26 yards.

DP - Quinn's deflection on K.C.'s trick play, Royal's returns elevating unit(Jeff Legwold)
There are times when an NFL special-teams coach is like a carnival barker, constantly reminding those who pass by to come inside and see the wild, the weird and all of life's mysteries discovered in the far corners of the world.

DP - Royal's all-purpose show stuns K.C.(Mike Klis)
His commercials call for the Royal Treatment. The Broncos should call him All-Purpose Eddie. Eddie Royal had a busy game during the Broncos' 44-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, totaling 182 all-purpose yards.

DP - Briefs: Orton's odd day: Red-zone pick, fumbles lost, win - The Denver Post
Kyle Orton knows when to pick them. Ordinarily, when a quarterback commits three turnovers in a game, he finishes it on the losing team.

ESPN.com - Cassel tanks in front of mentor(Bill Williamson)
This couldn’t have been the Matt Cassel whom Josh McDaniels tried to trade for, completely changing the complexion of his new organization in the process.

ESPN.com - Rapid Reaction: Broncos 44, Chiefs 13(Bill Williamson)
The Denver Broncos excel at not playing down to the level of their opposition.

Broncos release four as roster cutdowns begin

John Bena — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:57:06 -0000

Teams across the NFL has to pare their rosters from 80 to 75 players as the League prepares for the start of the 2009 Regular Season in 9 days. For the Broncos, that meant saying adios to 4 players, since Brandon Marshall is on the Reserved-Suspended list (currently, anyway).

As such, the team released P Britton Colquitt, WR C.J. Jones, TE Jeb Putzier and C Blake Schlueter.

Schlueter was a 7th-round pick in this past April's draft, and Colquitt seemed to be making a late run at Brett Kern's starting job, with two beautiful punts inside the 5-yard line Sunday Night. Too little, too late, I suppose.

The Broncos now sit at 75 players for Thursday's preseason finale against Arizona. Teams have to be at 53 players by Saturday, 9/5.

2009 Denver Broncos - Breaking Down the Roster - Tight Ends

Doc Bear — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:30:10 -0000

Going into the draft, a lot of folks expected that tight end was one position where the Broncos would stand pat. Before the first pick of the third round, that belief bit the dust. The Broncos shocked many observers by taking on second-round pick Richard Quinn. Having graduated from North Carolina in December of 2008, Quinn has a reputation as a talented blocker whose receiving skills were suspect, due to lack of evidence (12 receptions in his college career, which had several pre-NFL players on the roster). Tony Scheffler was the subject of trade rumors. Was Quinn a replacement? Where were the Broncos going?

That brought a lot of confusion to what had seemed like a simple circumstance. The Broncos had learned to lean on Daniel Graham, steady blocker/receiver and the head of their TE corps and big target Tony Scheffler, one of the players that Jay Cutler looked to in tough situations. Jeb Putzier, a former Bronco returning to the fold, had seemed to be a lock to make the roster this season, but that is currently up in the air. Taking this one player at a time, let's look at why the Broncos may have made this move and what it might mean during the 2009 season.

Daniel Graham

#89 / Tight End / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-3

Weight: 257

Born: Nov 16, 1978

College: Colorado

Contract: 3/6/2007: Signed a five-year, $30 million contract. The deal included a $10 million signing bonus and a first-year roster bonus of $5 million. 2009: $3.2 million, 2010: $3.8 million, 2011: $4.2 million, 2012: Free Agent

After five highly productive seasons with New England, Graham was an unrestricted free agent looking to increase his pass receptions. He decided to join Mike Shanahan's high-powered offense and was soon discouraged by the fact that he was still looked at as a blocker/receiver with equal skills at both. However, as a consummate professional, Graham puts the good of the team in front of personal stats and gratification, providing the Broncos' offense with leadership, skill and consistent effort. He averages 25 receptions per season, but his value is incalculable.

Graham's role is unlikely to change in the coming season. The Broncos will use him extensively in single- and double-tight end sets, as both a blocker and a receiver. It's worth considering that a professional football player's average career is just under 4 years, and Graham is coming into his 8th season. He may contribute at a high level for seasons yet to come, but it was time for the Broncos to look at the future as well.

Tony Scheffler

#88 / Tight End / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-5

Weight: 250

Born: Feb 15, 1983

College: Western Michigan

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

Scheffler's skill set is dominated by his soft hands and talents as a receiver. Scheffler turned down a scholarship to Harvard University to stay close to home and attend Western Michigan. He also turned down situations at Michigan and Michigan State in order to play both baseball and football. WMU wasn't a Division I school; he wasn't used much as a blocker and didn't develop the skill. They also lacked much of a training program and Scheffler had never spent much time in a weight room before training for the Combine. So although he's always been blessed with a tremendous physique, Scheffler lacked both the strength and technique to excel as a blocker. His skills as a receiver have more than made up for that.

Scheffler runs good routes and has good concentration, looking the ball into his hands on most throws. Technically, he's still developing as a receiver as well as a blocker. He was plagued by injuries during his first two years in the league, but stayed generally healthy last season. He's averaged 44.5 receptions for each of the past two seasons and his skill at blocking as well as his strength have continued to improve steadily. To put things in perspective, how many players have caught 107 passes for 1,480 yards and 12 touchdowns while only playing in 40 games over a three-year time frame as a tight end?

Despite vapor-ware rumors of his impending trade, Josh McDaniels met with Scheffler over the late winter and assured him of the role that was waiting in the Broncos' new offense. That began to manifest over the OTAs, and you can look for the Broncos' offense to spend plenty of time making use of a player whose time in the 40-yard dash was only 0.04 seconds off that of Brandon Marshall's, and who is both taller and stronger than the wideout. Marshall may sit out for a while - if Josh McDaniels doesn't look concerned, Tony Scheffler is a big reason why.

Richard Quinn

#81 / Tight End / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-4

Weight: 260

Born: Sep 06, 1986

College: North Carolina

Quinn is a player whose frame is still filling out and stands a good chance of adding 10+ lb. of pure muscle during his first few years of NFL life. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in December of 2008 with a degree in sports science and stunned more than a few observers by becoming the Broncos' third pick in the second round (64th overall) in the 2009 NFL draft. Stuffed into a box as a 'blocking TE', Quinn only pulled in 12 receptions during games in college, but folks sometimes forget that his team had multiple receivers who would go on to NFL careers. Quinn showed off his receiving chops and sometimes surprising athleticism at the Combine and the Broncos saw the future in those 9.5-inch hands.

"Just give me a chance and I'll get it done for you." That's what Quinn told teams at the Combine and the Broncos are counting on it.

Jeb Putzier

#87 / Tight End / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-4

Weight: 256

Born: Jan 20, 1979

College: Boise State

Contract: 3/15/2009: Signed a one-year contract

Originally drafted by the Broncos with a 6th-round pick (191st overall) back in 2002, Jeb has returned to the Broncos on what appears to be the downside of a good career. At 6'4" and 256 lbs., Putzier was never a very strong blocker, but pulled in 36 and 37 passes respectively, in 2004 and 2005. However, over the past 3 seasons he's only garnered 19 total passes and since his blocking skills are not his strongest suit, it's likely that Putzier is only camp fodder this year. Broncos fans will wish him well - he was well liked by fans and teammates alike.

Marquez Branson: An undrafted college free agent who is listed at 6'3" 248 pounds out of Central Arkansas, Branson is slightly undersized for the pro game. But his production, receiving skills and Pro Day times, which included a run timed at 4.55 (his average was 4.71 at Combine but he had little training at running an unequipped 40) had him rated above Richard Quinn by ESPN Insider. SI.com rated Branson at 3.35 and Quinn at 3.55 (higher numbers are better in that system, based on BLESTO's 1-5 rating). Branson caught 18 TD passes in his last two years of college (he transferred from junior college in 2006) which lead his team. He caught 45 balls in his senior season alone. Branson also boasted a 35-inch vertical leap at the Combine, unusual for TEs. His Pro Day numbers are remarkable in that he ran even better at the UCA Pro Day than at the Combine, with times of 4.55, 4.67 and 4.66. He also posted a 36" vertical, a 4.40 short shuttle and a 7.29 3-cone.

He is tenacious, if raw, as a blocker. His ten-inch hands are made for receiving, and with his other abilities, a place on the practice squad, if not the regular team, is likely for the Mississippi native. He's as quick as he is fast and agile. He is still gaining in height and has the frame to fill out and increase his weight if he can find the right situation with an NFL team. Given his receiving production and athletic skills, that seems likely. He could even develop as a pass-catching fullback if he can improve his blocking skills.

Looking Ahead to 2009: One source that wasn't surprised by the Broncos' choice of Richard Quinn was Rivals.com. They considered him to be a second-round pick - third round at the worst, which matched what the Broncos saw in him. This is what they had to say:

"Is big, strong and physical and could turn out to be a better pro than college player. Would be a great fit for a run-first offense such as that of the Dolphins, 49ers or Patriots."

That brought up an interesting question - Will the Broncos be a run-first offense this year? Some observers are starting to think so. While it's probable to me that 'run-first' is an overstatement, with power options like Peyton Hillis, whose receiving skills are inarguable and the power/skill pairing of Knowshon Moreno the Broncos have the players to move the ball with their backs either rushing or receiving. That makes the need for two good tight ends to be ready to take the field even more imperative (especially against the 3-4 defenses fielded by San Diego and Kansas City). Since Scheffler is still proving to be a better receiver than blocker, Quinn's slot is ready-made.

If you simply consider the importance the TE position has in defeating the 3-4 defense, factor in the receiving possibilities with Scheffler and Branson (much less Graham and Quinn) and look at the fact that McDaniels has played with the 3-TE option in the past, it's hard not to see why Xanders and McDaniels wanted an upgrade at the position. Now they have three unusually talented TEs, each with a unique skill set and an interesting project in Marquez Branson. This is a big strength to a team that will need production from the position to be successful in 2009.

Tight end is a position often doomed to being ignored, more interesting to the casual observer in its lack than its predominance. But the Broncos are a team with great depth on offense and their TE corps is an unusually good example. They are looking to the present and the future, filling out the position before the need is desperate and now have the players to play a pass- or run-heavy approach to the position, permitting them great flexibility to their game plans. Those who enjoy the position as much as I do will take pleasure in how the McDaniels offense uses the players that it has amassed. Those who await the beginnings of a 3-TE formation becoming accepted have to be interested in the Broncos due to their rare combination of players and a coach who has experimented with the 3-TE set in the past. Regardless of how the pieces are used, 2009 will be a good year for TEs.

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

MHR University Special Report - A Profoundly Powerful Draft Strategy (2009)

Steve Nichols — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:40:38 -0000

Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts.

The first part is called "The Pledge". The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course... it probably isn't.

The second act is called "The Turn". The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you're looking for the secret... but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn't clap yet.

Because making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back. That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call "The Prestige".

-From the movie "The Prestige"-

Denver scored on this draft in so many ways it would be difficult to make a credible case against it. Denver brought in solid players (indeed, players considered the best at what they do), and brought in youth where Denver is thin (where Denver has aging players). While homemade draft boards are based entirely on who folks want at a given position, Denver followed the successful Patriots strategy of going for best available, a concept that always confounds mock drafts.

Denver not only caused confusion amongst the "my player or it must be a bust" crowd, but doubled down on the type of draft they had last year (where Denver also confused the "need-based" crowd, but scored with solid picks). If Denver had used the drafting style favored by the Patriots like they did this year and last, Denver would be further along by now.

Read further to see the point illuminated.

In fact, midway through this epic, long article I promise to share the "meaning of life" I discovered for this team, and I'll do it in giant, bold, easy-to-find print.

It is worth repeating again (a quote I made before the draft started):

People forget the natural progression of draft day.

1) The team likely makes several picks that few people saw coming.

2) Fans are flabbergasted!

3) On further reflection (about 3 or 4 days after the draft) folks research the new players, and find that they were great picks all along.

4) When camp rolls around, reports on the rookies are stellar (for the most part).

5) Everyone now thinks the draft went great.

One thing to keep in mind: for all of the sleep we have all lost trying to mock and analyze the draft, the pros in the war room have done several hundred more times worth of effort and research. I’m prepared to give my opinions tomorrow, but in the context that I trust the coaching / management staff to know more about what’s going on behind closed doors than I do.

When I coached at the HS level, locals sometimes questioned a decision we made as a staff. We had the advantage of years of coaching, an (always) winning program, up front and personal insights into what was "really" going on in the locker room, at practice, and in the private lives of the players. But there were always folks that seemed to "know better" than we did.

Now I’m on the fan side of things. I’m going to question some decisions, but always with the respect that goes with knowing the team’s coaches really do know more than I do.

This is why I avoid making mock predictions, and why I leave draft boards and college players to others with more skill than I have. I focus on the result of the actual draft, and make my case there.

A Draft is Not What it Seems...

The draft is like a lottery, and it is a grand illusion. Folks think that the purpose of a draft is to build a team through bringing in young talent. That sounds like it makes sense, but it ignores what a draft really is.

The pledge...

The turn...

The prestige...

The draft is a system of probability. For example, if we were using money as the base for discussion, the first round is like buying 500,000 lottery tickets, and hoping one of them pays off. A lower round is like buying less tickets. You can hit in any round (with any batch of tickets), but you have a higher probability of hitting with a bigger batch.

Most folks look at the draft as if a certain player is the winning ticket. In their mind, this player is already worth the million dollar payoff. But this is an error in thinking. Teams spend picks on a system of probable payoff based on a system of odds. Those odds dictate (like a lottery) that a pick of a particular candidate (or ticket) may win or lose. You minimize your odds of winning by picking a ticket based on need, but increase your odds if you pick your ticket based on probable payoff. What does this mean?

Let's say you "need" a nose tackle. Many in the media and the fan base immediately look at the "best" nose tackles in the draft. Each of these nose tackles has a probability of success. But such an approach limits the pool of success to just one player (or slightly better, one position). If none of those players has a high-end chance of success, a wise team will pass on the position.

Here is an extreme example to make a point. Let's say we still have Jay Cutler at QB. Let's also say that we have a terrible NT. Most folks will say, "We need to draft a NT, and the QB position is safe". The illusion comes crashing down with a misdirection. What if the team has scouted and found a young LaDainian Tomlinson at the RB position? NOBODY considered the RB position, because we don't have a need. The QB position is considered safe, the NT position is considered a need. The RB position wasn't even considered - at all! It never entered the discussion!

So folks will take several paths. Many will complain that the need wasn't met. That's okay. Many will complain that the player they penciled in wasn't taken. That's okay, too. Many will declare the draft a failure. That's okay. Some will result to name calling. That's okay, if you are on a low-class message board. It won't fly at MHR. But many will say, "This player is more of a sure thing, even if he wasn't the pick that was expected".

What has really happened in the example? The team has picked up the "best" player based on the probability that the player will succeed (a young LT), regardless of the position he plays. Had the team picked up seven NTs in the draft, though none was scouted as probable for success, would that have done any good? In the line of thinking that "the team needs a NT", the fallacy enters the thinking when the fan (or expert) assumes that one of these "tickets" will pay off. The catch is that it isn't likely to. One "Tomlinson" ticket is more likely to pay off because he is rated as the most likely to succeed regardless of position. Seven NT tickets are not likely to succeed because they aren't rated on a probability to win, but rated on a desire to see a certain player or position (which limits the pool).

Let's look at the '09 Denver draft, and apply this principle.

Denver's Picks - The Pledge

via static.nfl.com

Knowshon Moreno - Your new RB

Use the context I have provided, and drop the mental trap of being in a paradigm based on positional need. This is the best running back in the draft.

This is RB Moreno. He is something Denver has NEVER had (based on probability).

Moreno had only two full campaigns with his college team as the starter. Despite that, he averaged 105 yards gained per game, and nearly broke every RB record with the team.
He is an every-down RB, and a one-cut specialist. This fits Denver's zone-block scheme, but now we are using a high-end talent instead of "just any RB who will gain 1000+ in our system". Imagine what a true franchise RB could do in the system, instead of a sixth- or seventh-round talent as we are used to.
Is considered so strong at receiving, he can be split out wide as a receiver. Think about that for a moment. No, really. Pause and think about that.

Now go read this page at NFL.com. Click on both the "overview" and "analysis" buttons. The first thing you will notice is a storm of positive scouting reports, and a thin, one line negative.

Denver just took the highest-probability RB that they have ever picked since the zone-block system came to Denver.

They also denied that player to the one team that really wanted him - SD (division rival). Denver now has that player for (likely) a decade.

Some will still argue need, and we can point out that the rest of the RB roster (including favorites like Torain and Hillis) spent last season on injured reserve. But forget insurance. This kid is the starter. Also, consider that the shelf life of Denver's RBs just skyrocketed, because despite having an every-down back, we can spell each of the RBs during a game with a dangerous speed threat over several, bruising-style RBs.

This pick helps to provide cover for our new QBs, because the ground game will:

Wear down defenses,
Cause defenders to move to the line to stop the run.

It will aid the defense too, because:

Denver can now control the clock.

And why does this pick aid our new system, instead of just addressing a non-system-based need?

Denver will be using the 3-WR set as its base offensive-formation (like the Patriots and even the Colts do). This means no FB as a lead blocker. This means a need for an elite RB who can catch or run better than most. Hillis (a favorite of mine) will still be a short-yardage specialist, and an excellent spell for Moreno. But on typical downs, Moreno is the type of threat that keeps a defense from being allowed to focus on the idea that three receivers are on the field.

This player is likely the face of the Broncos offense for years to come. Remember the last Georgia Bulldog that played RB with John Elway? That's right. Davis was the help that Elway needed to finally win two Super Bowls.

via static.nfl.com

Robert Ayers - Your new DE

So you want to fix the defense? The front seven in particular? Got it. Denver took the best player available again, and this guy happened to be a LB/DE (I'll be addressing him as a DE, because he is heavily projected to play DE in Denver).

Here's what you need to know. Depending on who you read or listen to, he has been called "the best defensive player in the draft" or just "the best defensive lineman in the draft".

Let's get the major criticism out of the way. He doesn't get a lot of sacks. Fine. I've written on this before. "SACKS ARE FOR FANS, PRESSURE IS FOR COACHES".

Let me put on my defensive-coordinator hat and break this down. Ayers is not intended to be a sack artist, anyway. His job as an outside two-gap DE will be to occupy an offensive tackle and (perhaps) a tight end (sometime an OT and OG). What Ayers does is critical. He creates pressure, which in the 3-4 system that Denver will run (Fairbanks-Bullough) will allow the LBs a lane to the QB. Moreover, Ayers brings something else to the table - the long lost art of stopping the run for the Denver Broncos.

His is a position that won't shine or get credit (with fans). He'll be tying up two opposing players so that someone else gets the glory. Those who are critical of his sack numbers have never coached a down of football.

Pressure leads to turnovers. It leads to offensive errors. It leads to bad throws, and it leads to botched handoffs to the RB. It leads to fumbles and interceptions. Sacks are nice, and big crowd-pleasers. But any coordinator or coach will tell you, "I'll take a pocket pressure over a sack any day". A sack is only the result of good pressure. But it is the least desirable of many other alternatives (such as turnovers).

Ayers is a pressure machine. He instantly upgrades the linebackers by tying up the line, and makes the job of the NT slightly easier.

He's also versatile. The poor guy got moved all over the place at TENN, but can play anywhere on the front 7. Like the other picks, he's a team leader and has good character.

NFL.com gets the probability matrix:

Could be an ascending player who is just beginning to scratch the surface of his vast potential.

Denver's Picks - The Turn

So far, fans were okay with the draft. But when Denver made the next pick, many fans became confused. But this pick was what made me realize what Denver was doing. I closely watched the rest of Denver's picks over the weekend. It became clearer with each pick. I had been fooled. But I was thrilled. I got it. I got it, and I understood completely what Denver was now doing.

via static.nfl.com

Alphonso Smith - Your new CB

What? A CB? some fans were confused. Some became angry. Some became inappropriate. Me? I was shocked too.

A good coach recovers quickly, and tries to find an answer. Sometimes the answer is ugly. Sometimes, it is elusive. Sometimes (as with a couple of picks later in the draft) it is just disappointing. But what I found after my initial shock were two things.

We got a player that you won't believe (once you've read the following), and
We were now fully embarked on a system of drafting that has kept the NE Patriots on top of a league that is built to maintain parity.

Once again, we got a "best". Best RB, best defensive player (or d-lineman, depending on whom you read), and now "best intercepting, ball hawker".

Big deal? Read the following, again from NFL.com:

Smith is just the third player this century to amass 20 or more interceptions in a career, joining Jim Leonhard of Wisconsin (21, 2001-04) and Mitch Meeuwsen of Oregon State (20, 2001-04), and only the second in Atlantic Coast Conference annals to reach that lofty mark (Dre' Bly of North Carolina had 20, 1996-98). Only nine other players in the history of college football (all levels) have produced more interceptions in a career than Smith.

Smith is just the third player this century to amass 20 or more interceptions in a career, joining Jim Leonhard of Wisconsin (21, 2001-04) and Mitch Meeuwsen of Oregon State (20, 2001-04), and only the second in Atlantic Coast Conference annals to reach that lofty mark (Dre' Bly of North Carolina had 20, 1996-98). Only nine other players in the history of college football (all levels) have produced more interceptions in a career than Smith.

That's enough to make a grown defensive coordinator cry. It's also enough to make a grown offensive coordinator throw up on his play chart.

We could stop there and be in awe of this kid. But there's more...

What makes Smith even more valuable at his position is his ability to make big plays in the backfield. Few cornerbacks, much less ones that stand just 5-feet-9 can boast having nine sacks, 23.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and eight forced fumbles on those hits during a career. He also adds to his resume as a capable kickoff returner, averaging 20.7 yards for his career, along with using his superb leaping ability and timing to block five kicks during his time at Wake Forest.

I agree with several other MHR staffers. This kid is the steal of the draft, even if he isn't a "position of need". But there's more.

Read this link at NFL.com. The kid also block punts, is a monster in the return game, and is a sack machine from the CB position.

Do you understand why I laugh when people say, "But he's too short"? Positional need? No. Not on a team with Bailey, Dawkins, Hill, and Goodman. But consider two points -

We can now add an elite, dangerous nickelback to the field. Now, all five DBs on the field in a nickle are monsters.
Those four DBs I mentioned? All of them are over 30, and contracts are coming up.

And one more point. MHR has a soft spot for Darrent Williams, who was gunned down and taken from us and his family. Darrent Williams gave his time and money to children without hope. Darrent Williams was going to be the next Champ Bailey. Darrent Williams had the wit of Shannon Sharpe, the hairstyle of "Pink" (a mohawk), the skills of a young Bailey, and the heart of a gentle lion. Darrent Williams was a man.

So listen closely, because I'm only going to say this once:

Darrent Williams was short. At 5'8" he was an inch shorter than Alphonso Smith. If anyone wants to talk about height when a player clearly performs at an elite level, you'll get little mercy in the arena of debate with MHR members. From me? You'll get a can of whooped tail that you'll never recover from. Don't even step on the field.

Denver's Picks - The Prestige

via static.nfl.com

Darcel McBath - Your New Safety

This proved it. Denver threw "need" out the window and took players with high impact. Dawkins is 36, though still playing at a Hall of Fame-level. All of our DBs (as mentioned earlier) are in their 30s.

But many fans see that safety is not a "need", and will not understand the pick. We already have our starters at safety, right? I agree. We need a NT, right? Yep. I've even written that all needs beyond NT are a distant second. I understand.

But a pick on a NT with a low probability of success is a wasted pick. This isn't MADDEN, where you can increase a player's stat from nothing to legendary overnight (so I'm told. I confined my coaching to real players). Denver proved what I was understanding after the third pick.

It is all about probability, and being a "best" at something. This kid is a ball-hawking safety. What he is best at is something Denver hasn't had in ages. This kid is the best deep-coverage safety in the draft. And anyone who reads my work at MHR (or has read Styg50's thoughts on the safety position) will understand something right away. Denver has ignored the use of the classic "deep coverage" safety for far too long (two years). So strong are his deep-coverage, zone skills that the term "center fielder" comes up in more than one site's analysis of this player.

His weaknesses don't matter if he plays as a deep-cover safety. Height (been there, dispelled that) is an issue that is supposed to move him up close to a box-safety position, where he is unable to play man against anybody well and unable to shed blockers (his two, true weaknesses). But he isn't a box safety now, is he?

His deep cover skills are excellent:

He keeps the play in front of him,
tackles well in open space, and
reads the play

Those are all of the skills I look for in my favorite position on the football field. He also has what I have written many times is the "frosting on the cake" for a safety. He has good hands, and gets interceptions. If you read MHR University, you know that fans want good hands at safety, but defensive coordinators are more concerned with the other three skills I just described. But to have those 3 skills AND good hands?

Jackpot.

From NFL.com:

It's easy to understand how a defensive player can fly under the radar when he plays for a team with one of the most prolific offenses in the nation.

That didn't stop Darcel McBath from being one of the best playmakers in the Big 12. Having to practice against a top offense -- namely sophomore WR Michael Crabtree -- is sure to help any defensive back hone their coverage skills. McBath, a former cornerback, was the Red Raiders' secondary anchor at the demanding free safety position since shifting there as a sophomore, going on to start his final 39 games.

The opposition, often playing from behind and passing on most every day, challenged the middle of Tech's defense last season. McBath more than stood up to the challenge, pulling in seven interceptions that included a school season-record tying two returns for touchdowns. Six of his seven pass deflections came on third-down plays.

A safety that anchors the defense, instead of a left cornerback? 7 interceptions in a season?

That's right, fellow fans. Denver has moved away from the system-less '08 season, and the failed experiment at "contain" football in '07. Enter now the Fairbanks-Bullough at the front seven, and a "ball-hawking, interception-prone" attitude at the defensive positions - for years to come.

>>>>>>No more changing systems from year to year. We have the best players based on a system, not need.......

....and that my friends is The Prestige.<<<<<<<

That is the answer to our draft strategy questions, and the new meaning of life for the Denver Broncos. Do I like all of the picks? No. I'll have some critical comments in a moment. Do I like the strategy? Yes. Hell yes.

via static.nfl.com

Richard "Big Rich" Quinn - Your New Blocking TE

Again, stunned fans. "We have Graham, we have Scheff. In a pinch, we even have Putzier! What gives?"

Okay, set aside Daniel Graham's age and contract. People focused on need over "best" will too. Big Rich (he already comes with an existing nickname, so MHR readers can save a little time) is the best blocking TE in the draft. Why is this "system critical" for a team focused on system over need?

Because our RB will be running out of 3-receiver sets. He won't have a lead blocker. In passing situations, our QB won't have a FB in to pass block. Against 3-4 defenses, our two TE sets will be the only thing between our QB and the OLBs.

The answer is to pass on other players on the board, and even other TEs. Denver saw the best blocking-TE was left, and pulled the trigger. You don't have to like the pick. You don't. You just have to recognize the system that the ~~Patriots~~ Broncos are running, and realize that the best player on the board (that fits the system, offense or defense) is still there.

Folks will be critical of his reception ability. It's the only critical issue of him as a TE. Fine. Big Rich is not supposed to go out there and catch the ball. Like Ayers (who isn't supposed to get sacks) or McBath (who isn't supposed to be a box safety), the criticisms fall away when the player is meant to be part of a team-focused system that eschews individualism. Moreno is going to be a star. Smith is going to be a star. Quinn, McBath, and Ayers are going to make stars out of their teammates.

It doesn't stop with the 5 jewels in the crown Denver got in the first two rounds.

via static.nfl.com

David Bruton - Your New(er) Safety

The first pick that I didn't like. That's right; I can love the draft strategy, and love most of our picks, and still not like them all. And you know what else? I can dislike the pick, but still understand it.

Bear in mind that our starting CBs and SAFs are all in their 30s, and this pick makes sense. MHR points out that Bruton makes sense because, "...Denver will have lots of options when it comes to structuring rosters, and more importantly, contracts."

But I dissent from MHR's comment: "Yet another DB to add to the backfield, and it makes you wonder just how much confidence Denver has in the current crop." I think Denver is very, very happy with the current crop of Bailey, Dawkins, Hill, and Goodman (and nickelback / future #2 Smith). I think Bruton (like McBath) are for future talent.

But McBath can compete right away to start. Bruton won't. Bruton (like every other player we took in this draft) is a character guy and a leader (a team captain, like a few of our other picks). Like McBath, he is a deep-zone coverage guy that would struggle in the box. His athleticism is excellent. But his skills are average. I don't think he was the best player on the board at this point. Again, I'm not focused an any position in particular (everyone, including me, would have liked to have seen a NT, no matter how many better players were available).

I don't think Bruton is a bad player. I think he would be strong on special teams. He has the raw ability (in spades) to turn into a beast of a player. He has a good chance to prove me wrong (and a legendary Dawkins to teach him). He is a ball-hawking safety, which fits the new scheme for DBs in Denver.

NFL.com agree he has a lot of potential, but isn't there yet:

Bruton flashed as a play-maker in his first season as a starter in 2007, when he had 85 tackles, three interceptions and 4.5 tackles for loss. His production increased in some ways during his senior year (91 tackles, four interceptions, two forced fumbles), but his overall play did not result in Notre Dame's defensive improvement. A team captain, he has the size, speed and athleticism to potentially be a good starter and very good special teams player at the next level.

I just don't see the talent on display enough to justify the pick. I don't see that he's a "best". But I understand it. And (perhaps) the coaches saw something they can develop quicker than I give Burton credit for.

via static.nfl.com

Seth Olsen - Your New RG

Another pick I'm not fond of. Does he fill a need? Yes. Denver is thin at the the interior line on offense. Is this guy a great OG? Yes, I really think he is.

From NFL.com:

When you draft an Iowa lineman, you know he's technically sound and has been well-coached. Olsen has great strength and can step in and play guard right away. He's similar to Marshal Yanda, who was drafted by Baltimore a couple years ago. He's got strong hands.

So why don't I like the guy? I've read a lot since the pick. Olsen is a beast. He loves the rough and tumble of fighting at scrimmage. He's strong. He's a good pass blocker. He's a good kid. He knocks the crap out of people. But he doesn't do what I would like for him to do.

He doesn't fit the mold of a zone blocker (in my opinion). Yes, he's a little lighter and very athletic, but he doesn't block well at the second level. He has good lateral speed to pass block, but doesn't have the agility to move in closed space and take on a tackle without losing speed. In other words, he doesn't seem to have "quick feet".

I'm willing to be proven wrong. It is reasonable to assume that OL Coach Dennison had input on this pick, and he knows a heck of a lot more than me about OL measurables. TedBartlett905 is the Xs and Os expert on MHR's staff, and might disagree with me as well.

As a straight-up guard, I love this pick. I just question his zone-blocking skills in the running game. Perhaps Dennison can fix that. The kid IS a natural athlete.

via static.nfl.com

Kenny McKinley - Your New WR

I think this pick is a sleeper. That's right. This is my pick for the late-round player that becomes something special.

MHR's take:

This is a pick Broncos fans will learn to dig, just give it a little time. After seeing the WR board devastated in the third round, Denver waited like a crouching lion to pounce on McKinley. they just had to knock some other teams out of the way to do it, is all.

...and I agree.

From NFL.com:

The former Gamecock is a productive slot receiver with outstanding quickness. McKinley is a polished route-runner with good hands, and he'll give the Broncos another athletic receiver to add to their spread formations.

The Gamecocks struggled mightily without McKinley in the lineup for a three-game stretch in 2008, when he was clearly the team's most indispensable player. Called the best receiver he has ever coached, head coach Steve Spurrier had more than enough evidence to back up that statement.

McKinley's production stands out, especially when the Gamecocks' instability at quarterback is factored into his output. He set school career records for receptions and receiving yards, while also closing out his career second on the school's all-time touchdown catches list.

McKinley placed his name in the Southeastern Conference record books. His 207 receptions placed third in conference annals, becoming just the fifth SEC player to amass more than 200 catches in a career. He also became the 12th player in league history to record more than 2,700 receiving yards (2,781).

The best receiver that Steve Spurrier ever coached. You can get a lot of stats from the films, from the combine, and from the "experts". But there's nothing like the words of a head coach.

Does the kid have some problems? Sure; that's why he was in the fifth round. He isn't tough over the middle, had some hamstring problems, and his top-end speed isn't elite. But he separates well, has excellent hands, and (most importantly, even if other folks always ignore it) runs excellent routes.

He's a solid pick with a decent chance to surprise folks.

via static.nfl.com

Tom Brandstater - Your New QB

I like this pick a lot. This is the perfect QB to learn under McDaniels. He's smart (a rookie who is almost finished with his master's degree?) and looks solid ("According to reports, Brandstater was the most impressive quarterback throwing at the NFL Scouting Combine - SBN's mockingthedraft.com)

Ok, the best QB at the combine, if you will. But allow me to disagree strongly with a point made by mockingthedraft.com, which says "In the pocket, Brandstater is a statue. He lacks any mobility and struggles to avoid sacks".

That clearly flies in the face of this report from NFL.com:

He's got good speed and athleticism for his size...

...Despite his size, his feet are good enough to be effective on the bootleg and moving within the pocket.

I read that he has terrific speed despite his size at several sites, so that's where I'm putting my chips.

Another disagreement with MTD comes with this statement, "...but regressed some as a senior. He threw only 18 touchdowns, compared to 12 interceptions while completing less than 60 percent of his passes."

According to the official numbers found at (again) NFL.com:

Brandstater arrived back on campus for 2007 fall drills having already earned his degree. It was time for him to also earn some national recognition. He finished 23rd in the NCAA with a 140.49 passing efficiency rating and finished sixth in the WAC with an average of 213.23 yards per game. He amassed 2,654 yards on 211 of 337 passes (62.6 percent), connecting for 15 touchdowns against only five interceptions.

The three-time Academic All-WAC choice topped his previous season's numbers as a senior. He ranked fourth in the league in passing efficiency and total offense, as he hit on 221 of 371 tosses (59.6 percent), generating a career-high 2,664 passing yards to go with 18 touchdowns, as he collected 2,614 yards in total offense.

The MTD numbers are correct, but it was an improvement over the previous year. The context is also a poor one. Those are good numbers! (In fact, 4th in the League good!)

More on McDaniel's new project from NFL.com:

Brandstater is a big, strong quarterback. He's a good football player who was productive in college at Fresno State. He's got good speed and athleticism for his size and comes from a good college system. He gives Josh McDaniels a young signal-caller to develop over the years, like he did with Matt Cassel.

Regards as the premier quarterback in the Western Athletic Conference, Brandstater possesses the range and arm strength that National Football League teams look for in a pro style quarterback. The unquestioned leader of the team put up impressive numbers since taking over the starting position as a sophomore, but has also excelled in the classroom, earning conference academic honors the last three seasons. His intelligence on the field is evident, but academically it is even more impressive, having graduated before his junior campaign and is finishing up work on his Master's degree.

Fresno State has boasted some great college quarterbacks in recent years and Brandstater has placed his name right next to the likes of Kevin Sweeney, Trent Dilfer, David Carr and Billy Volek in the school record books. He closed out his career ranking fifth in school annals in pass completions (584) and fourth in pass attempts (989), while ranking sixth all-time with 6,857 yards passing and 7,006 yards in total offense. His 47 touchdown passes placed him seventh in Bulldogs annals.

And an excellent point is made by mockingthedraft that I couldn't find anywhere else (except for some of the reporting on Brandstater, MTD is the best draft site on the web). Imagine how good this guy might really be when you read this:

Brandstater showed intelligence and resolve at Fresno State after playing for four offensive coordinators in four years.

How a guy can put up solid numbers under 4 different coordinators is beyond me. He's obviously smart. He'll learn under McDaniels. He may very well be a surprise starter when someone gets hurt, or in 2 to 3 years.

Blake Schlueter - Your New C

MHR gets it right again.

This is a smart move, even we don't see immediate dividends.

He is a bargain basement fill in at center, with the agility and quicks to make you feel confident in his upside.

An excellent pick. Another diamond in the rough. This kid's only negatives don't apply to him in Denver, where he will zone block (not bulky or big enough). He's fast, he's agile, he's quick, he's ours.

NFL.com:

Schlueter is a football player, plain and simple. He's very mature and has unbelievable quickness and agility as an offensive lineman.

Schlueter opened some eyes and left scouts buzzing at the TCU Pro Day after a solid workout. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds, had a 35-inch vertical jump, a 9-foot, 3-inch long jump, a 4.28-second-short shuttle time and a 7.42-second three-cone drill.

And he fits the pattern. Yet another team captain in college. He's known for his maturity. He's a prototypical OL that no other gap block team wants, but Denver knows they can get him in the 7th and he'll rock. Wiegmann is likely in his last year at center for Denver. This is a home-run pick.

Overview

Every player filled a need, even if it wasn't a glaring need.

RB - We have great running backs already, but none of was able to start and finish the season with us without being on IR. Think about that.

DB - We have legendary DB already, all in their 30s.

OL - Our interior OL is thin and aging.

TE - Age and contracts coming due.

DE - Our current DEs are headed to OLB.

Slot WR - Brandon Stokley is the best slot receiver in the game, and old.

Every player matched the system.

Ball-hawking secondary, one-cut runner, blocking TE, zone-block OL (I might quibble with our OG pick-up).

EVERY SINGLE PLAYER IS A LEADER AND A QUALITY GUY OFF THE FIELD.

Note the number of team captains in this mix. All of these guys have notes at different sites that praise each player's maturity, academic prowess, and leadership. Our top "star" player (Moreno) is not a "me" player. In his interview, when asked how he would contribute and what he would bring to Denver's running game, he replied that he would be only one of several RBs who would serve his team with everything they've got.

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

If you were hoping for certain players or certain positions, this clearly wasn't your draft.

If you wanted very sound players, leaders and playmakers, with every pick...

If you wanted players that match a system and not just a roster spot...

If you wanted hope for a long term dynasty instead of a few quick fixes...

This was your draft.

Yours,

Hoosierteacher

Poll

After reading this article....

I still think we had a good draft

650 votes

I always thought we had a good draft

575 votes

I still think this draft was terrible

209 votes

I always thought this draft was terrible

48 votes

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