SB Nation - Carlton Powell

Horse Tracks 11/5/09 - McBean, J. Williams, Bruton miss practice; Clark unlikely to play for Steelers

Douglas A. Lee — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:01:18 -0000

Thanks for all of your votes and input yesterday, folks! I think it provided enough feedback/encouragement to help make Horse Tracks a tighter ship, and I truly appreciate it. But just to be clear, I'm not looking to make Tracks easier/faster for myself. I'm just trying to cut the fat so I can add back in some commentary/snark where it's called for (ironically, not much today).

DB - Week 9 - Wed: McDaniels - Broncos TV

DPP - Briefs: Broncos a big zero on opening drives this season - Lindsay Jones
OT Ryan Harris (out w/two dislocated toes), DE Ryan McBean (MCL), CB Jack Williams (unkown) and S David Bruton (ankle) missed practice.

CSG - Broncos notes: Altitude likely to sideline Steelers' Clark - Frank Schwab

DB - Déjà Vu All Over Again? - Gray Caldwell

DB - Ecstatic To Enter The Locker Room - Chris Gentilviso
Carlton Powell is thrilled to be back with the Broncos, while Lance Ball found a couple of familiar faces in Denver.

CBS - Rating big trade winners, losers at midseason - Clark Judge
"The move was supposed to say more about McDaniels than Cutler, and maybe it did. Maybe it said he knew what he was doing." My, how things have changed...

DB - Week 9 - Wed: Orton - Broncos TV

DB - Week 9 - Wed: Dawkins - Broncos TV

CSG - Broncos prepare for physical Steelers on Monday night - Frank Schwab

CSG - Nothing wasted on young coaches Tomlin, McDaniels - Frank Schwab

DPP - Krieger: Broncos pit their new physicality against the masters

DPP - Broncos brace for black-and-gold invasion by Steelers fans - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Analysis: Broncos' running game vital against Pittsburgh - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Q&A: Broncos short-sighted in passing game - Jeff Legwold

DP - Orton expects Broncos to rebound against Steelers - Mike Chambers

KDVR - Broncos vs. Steelers Preview: Gadget plays may be a factor

DP - Woody's Mailbag: Can hurry-up help?

AP - Staggered Broncos Out To Avoid Losing Streak - Arnie Stapleton

DB - When Overtime Became Reality - Jim Saccomano
Sacco recalls the NFL's first OT game, which happened to be Broncos/Steelers at Mile High.

CBS4 - Broncos To Honor Vets, Active Duty Military Monday

Steelers News

PPG - On the Steelers: Injured Kirschke unlikely to play - Ed Bouchette
Old friend (barely) Nick Eason will be starting at LDE in place of the injured Aaron Smith and Travis Kirschke.

Y! - Another Clark episode not worth the risk - Charles Robinson

FH - Hines Ward's the NFL's Dirtiest Player? - J.J. Cooper

SI - Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL's dirtiest player, peers say - Richard Deitsch
Troy Polamalu also made the list; BMarsh received one vote from the 296 players polled

SN - Knock on Troy Polamalu: huge hitter but not a textbook tackler - Dennis Dillon

BCT - Steelers' Starks can make 2009 even better - Mike Bires

AFC West News

FH - NFL Oddly Quiet About Larry Johnson, Tom Cable and Personal Conduct - Nancy Gay

ESPN - Dangerous Player: Darren Sproles, Chargers RB - Bill Williamson

SDUT - Rivers, Manning forever linked by draft - Kevin Acee

SDUT - Hardwick practices; Sunday return possible - Chris Jenkins

SDUT - Chambers sought legal help vs. ex-girlfriend - Brent Schrotenboer

SFC - Cable's job appears safe, at least for now - David White

SFC - Gwen Knapp: Davis needs to hear out allegations

SFG - Raiders Silver and Black Blog : Satele wins job - David White

OT - Monte Poole: Oakland Raiders -- Weird is the new normal

KCS - Chiefs believe Chambers can help them - Adam Teicher

KCS - Chiefs notebook: Page placed on injured reserve - Kent Babb

KCS - Messages from team and fans directed at Larry Johnson - Kent Babb

NFL News

NFL - Wednesday Injury Reports

Y! - Thomas shoots down strike talk rumors - Jason Cole

NFL Opinion

SN - Confluence of influence: NFL coaches praise mentors - Dennis Dillon
McD on Belichick, Kubes on Shanny

FOX - Not all injury absences are created equal - Alex Marvez
Marvez thinks the injuries to Nick Hardwick and Jamal Williams (although big) are why the Dolts have had a slow start (NORV). Right (NORV). And why did they have a slow start last year (NORV)? Just as a reminder, Marty was fired after going 14-2. Hmm. What could it be? (NORV)

NFL - Saints and Colts are 7-0, but is quest for perfection realistic? - Pat Kirwan

NFL - It's time to wonder: Are these teams who we thought they were? - Steve Wyche

ESPN - NFL: Division races lack usual sizzle - John Clayton

FH - Zebra Report: 'Instant' Replays No More - Matt Snyder

SI - Dallas Cowboys rising in Week 9 NFL Power Rankings - Don Banks

FOX - Week 9 Cheat Sheet: NFL picks and predictions - Peter Schrager
"The Pick: Steelers 28, Broncos 13"

NYT - Week 9 Game Probabilities, and a Forecast for Giants-Chargers - Brian Burke

NFP - Tavern talk: Giants struggle to solve problems - Mike Lombardi

NFL - Defensive failures at root of Giants' three-game losing streak - Bucky Brooks

NFP - Scheme Session: the big play Eagles - Matt Bowen

NFP - Darren Sharper for MVP? - Matt Bowen

Special "What's Wrong in Cleveland" Section

FH - Dirty Dozen: What Have They Done With The Browns? - Dave Goldberg

PFW - Browns fumbling away another season - Tom Danyluk

NFP - Wednesday whys: Will Kokinis get paid by the Browns? - Andrew Brandt

NFP - The mess in Cleveland gets worse - Robert Boland

NFP - A lesson learned in Cleveland - Jack Bechta
More excellent insight here

Broncos add Lance Ball, Carlton Powell to Practice Squad

Douglas A. Lee — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:01:15 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

In this Aug. 29, 2009 photo, Indianapolis Colts running back Lance Ball rushes for a touchdown as Detroit Lions safety LaMarcus Hicks dives during the fourth quarter of a exhibition NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Browse more photos »

The Broncos made two pairs of moves with their practice squad roster today, as RB Lance Ball and DT Carlton Powell replaced RB Darius Walker and DE Everette Pedescleaux.

Walker was waived, while Pedescleaux was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury.

Ball is a second-year player who appeared in one game in 2008 for Indianapolis. In the Colts' regular-season finale, Ball took 13 carries for 83 yards, adding 5 yards on 1 reception. He fumbled once (recovered by the Colts). During the 2009 preseason (for the Colts), Ball rushed 35 times for 86 yards (2.5 YPA) and caught 3 passes for 32 yards with zero touchdowns and 1 fumble (recovered by Indianapolis). In addition to his time with Indianapolis, the former Maryland Terp has been a practice-squad member of the Rams and Titans.

Powell was originally drafted by Denver in 2008 (5th Round, #148 overall) but missed the entire season due to an injury to his Achilles tendon. A teammate of Eddie Royal's at Virginia Tech, Powell was waived by the Broncos in September before spending two weeks on the Browns' practice squad.

Horse Tracks 10/7/09 - Belichick provided McDaniels with an organizational roadmap last season

Douglas A. Lee — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:08:18 -0000

SN - Broncos' 'clear focus' has Team Turmoil at 4-0 - Albert Breer
"After McDaniels declined interviews for head coach openings in Baltimore and Atlanta in January '08, Belichick took his young assistant's experience to the next level, giving him insight into things (salary cap, draft, contracts, personnel decisions) that coordinators wouldn't normally get. That provided the foundation for the overall structure of his Denver regime, with Brian Xanders his hand-picked GM and ex-Patriots scouts Keith Kidd and Matt Russell trusted to lead the search for system-specific players."

BH - Josh McDaniels good fit - Karen Guregian

BG - Familiar territory for Belichick and McDaniels - Michael Vega

DPP - Broncos' Dumervil has become money as big-time pass rusher - Mike Klis
Doom has now out-sacked Mario Williams, who was selected 1st overall in the same draft as Elvis (#126). Says Dumervil of the big bucks, "When you start thinking about contract stuff, that's when you get off course and lose focus. If you just come out and do your job, those type of things will come. I love the game. This is something I love to do."

DPP - Taylor bringing Patriots-best 202 rushing yards to Denver on Sunday - Jeff Legwold
Russ Hochstein underwent X-rays after Sunday's game for an undisclosed injury. Carlton Powell was signed to Cleveland's PS.

DB - Bailey To Be Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week - Chris Gentilviso

DB - Turning Back The Clock - Patrick Smyth
Notes from the weekly press release

OWH - Football: Q&A with John Elway

DB - Moreno a Finalist for Rookie of the Week - Broncos TV

DB - A Night Full of Activity - Zach Eisendrath
Six Broncos were part of an event at the Big IF that hosted children from Denver's local Boys & Girls Clubs.

DB - Community Correspondent: Josh Barrett - Broncos TV
Video from the Boys & Girls Club event.

CBS4 - LaMont Jordan Ready For His Opportunity To Run - Matthew Buettner

LTC - A new Crush? - Brian Howell

NFP - Tavern talk: Cowboys share the blame - Mike Lombardi
Lombardi breaks down the Cowboys' final drive from Sunday and explains where they erred.

CSG - Jinx or honor: Broncos to be featured on Sports Illustrated cover - Frank Schwab

CSG - NFL's first black kicker has turned life around - Frank Schwab

DP - Digging into the SI vault - Lindsay Jones

DPP - Q&A: Why would Broncos' McDaniels decline that penalty? - Jeff Legwold
I wondered the same thing and would probably have taken the penalty myself.

DPP - Want to throw against star cornerback? Broncos' Bailey says to bring it on - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Analysis: 0 picks, 4-0 start - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Numbers: Defense definitely better

Y! - Coordinators not always worthy of another lead gig - Mike Silver
Silver applauds Mike Nolan's job with the Denver D, but thinks people are forgetting his rocky time in San Fran when talking about him being a head coach again.

ESPN - How I See It: AFC West Stock Watch - Bill Williamson
All Denver, all the time

SI - Peyton Manning MVP, Josh McDaniels best coach through Week 4 - Peter King

FOX - Schein 9: More than Brees, Saints build winning D
"I couldn't be happier for Josh McDaniels, Mike Nolan and the 4-0 Denver Broncos. I know I picked them to win three games. What can I say? I was beyond dead wrong...And don't worry — I'll pick against Denver for the fifth straight week when Tom Brady and the Patriots come to town. But even the biggest McDaniels critic from the offseason has to be impressed by this start."

SI - Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers show up critics - Jerome Bettis
"More apologies: To Josh McDaniels...He was cocky, he was brash, he was young, he looked like a high school kid, and he'd made some boneheaded decisions that broke up a good team...He validated all of those choices. We were all wrong."

DP - Paige: Denver's sports teams are the 1
"The Broncos are 4-0. But, then, four other teams in the NFL are undefeated at this juncture." No crow, here.

Patriots News

BG - Patriots consider signing Seau

BG - Patriots looking more coordinated on offense - Michael Whitmer

BG - Ravens: Brady got preferential treatment - Michael Vega

BG - Harrison: Brady comment was in jest

BH - Joey Galloway on outside - Karen Guregian

AFC West News

OT - NFL commissioner Goodell says Raiders incident is on his radar - Steve Corkran

SDUT - Chargers won't get late-season bailout against Denver again - Kevin Acee
Referring to the schedule, not the Broncos' play.

SDUT - AJ at the bye: 'We better get our act together quickly' - Nick Canepa

SDUT - Developers to test Chargers' interest in move to L.A. - Matthew Hall

KCS - Haley sees Chiefs’ brutal schedule as a learning experience - Kent Babb

KCS - Revisionist history: Did the Jared Allen trade doom the Chiefs? - Kent Babb

NFL News

ESPN - San Francisco 49ers, Michael Crabtree agree to contract

NFL - Limbaugh, Checketts 'continuing the process' in bid for Rams
Personally, I think Limbaugh should only be allowed to own a team with the requirement that his QB be African-American. What a clown.

NFL - Giants linebackers Boley, Kehl sidelined after surgeries

NFL - Polamalu expected to return for first practice since knee injury

NFL - Favre's matchup with Packers draws record television audience

NFL - Redskins hire former assistant Lewis as 'another fresh set of eyes'

NFL - Veteran OT Tauscher works out for Packers

NFL - Bengals’ Smith making progress from fractured foot - Steve Wyche

NFL - Federal agency says Cowboys' practice facility should have held up

NFL - Ravens place LB Ayanbadejo on IR, sign Burgess

NFL Opinion

NFP - Monday night is Pro Bowl night - Jack Bechta
Another reason why the Pro Bowl is dumb.

NFP - Diner morning news: Favre still has it - Mike Lombardi

NFL - Giants' Smith among the new breed of NFL playmakers - Vic Carucci
"Elvis Dumervil, LB, Denver: He has become a fierce pass-rushing force on what, surprisingly, has become as dominant a defense as there is in the league...Josh McDaniels, Denver: Who would have thought the offensive whiz kid would have such a strong defense ... and a 4-0 record?"

CBS - Losses give Ravens, Jets, Packers signs of better times - Clark Judge

NFP - The NFP Power Rankings

CBS - Power Rankings: Improved Broncos still must prove themselves - Pete Prisco
"Josh, as of right now, I owe you an apology." As of right now?!?! Wow, what a backhanded apology that is... "Having said that, I'm still not sure about this team. It won on a fluke play at Cincy, dominated two bad teams in Cleveland and Oakland and beat a Dallas team that might not be near as good as some expected."

ESPN - NFL Power Rankings Week 5

PFW - Week Five power rankings

NFP - Quarter mark: the top 5 corners - Matt Bowen
"One thing about Champ: when he is on, it looks as if he is almost dancing with the wide receiver—mimicking his every move."

PFW - MVP Meter: Manning takes the lead - Dan Parr

PFW - Rookie Meter: Young guys 'making plays' - Matt Sohn

The Journey to 53 - Denver Broncos Cut Day Open Thread

John Bena — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:37:26 -0000

By 2PM mdt today the Denver Broncos, and the other 31 teams in the National Football League, must be at 53 players on the active roster. Use this thread to talk about it as names come across the wires -

The following players are confirmed to be released or placed on I/R -

Released September 4 and 5th, 2009
Player	NFL Exp.	College
DL Matthias Askew*	3	Michigan State
G Kory Lichtensteiger	2	Bowling Green State
QB Ingle Martin	3	Furman
CB Rashod Moulton	1	Fort Valley State
T Clint Oldenburg*	2	Colorado State
DL Carlton Powell	2	Virginia Tech
ILB Lee Robinson*	R	Alcorn State
WR Nate Swift*	R	Nebraska
RB Marcus Thomas	2	Texas-El Paso
WR Matthew Willis*	2	UCLA
DB Joshua Bell	2	Baylor
CB Tony Carter*	R	Florida St.
DT Everette Pedescleaux*	R	N. Iowa
OL Mitch Erickson*	2	S. Dakota St.
DE Tim Crowder	3	Texas
DE Nic Clemons	3	Georgia
RB Darius Walker	3	Notre Dame
OL Matt McChesney**	3	Colorado

*Practice Squad Eligable
**Placed on Injured Reserve

After the jump, the players on the Broncos roster that are Practice Squad eligable.

	53-man roster	Practice Squad	Waived
RB Knowshon Moreno	X
OLB/DE Robert Ayers	X
CB Alphonso Smith	X
DB Darcel McBath	X
TE Richard Quinn	X
DB David Bruton	X
OG Seth Olsen	X
WR Kenny McKinley		X
QB Tom Brandstater		X
DE Mathias Askew		X
OG Mitch Erickson		X
T Clint Oldenburg		X
WR Matthew Willis			X
WR Nate Swift		X
DT/DE Ryan McBean	X
DB DJ Johnson			X
DB Tony Carter			X
SLB Lee Robinson		X
DE Everette Pedescleaux		X
DE/NT Chris Baker	X

Colts cut Dante Hughes, Steve Justice, and Nick Graham

BigBlueShoe — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:32:03 -0000

Dante Hughes, right, never lived up to expectations after a stellar career at Cal. He was cut today as the Colts trim their roster down to 53 active players. Photo: cache.daylife.com

View full size photo »

Special thanks to jumunjis for posting the link to Mike Chappell's Indy Star report. The first cuts towards the 53-man roster have been made, and on the chopping block are 2007 third round pick Dante Hughes, 2008 sixth round pick Steve Justice, and Nick Graham. As jumunjis astutely points out, Hughes is yet another victim of the curse of the third round pick. Former Colts tackle Quinn Pitcock was the other third rounder the Colts took in 2007. Now, both he and Hughes are former-Colts after just two years.

When you look back at the 2007 draft for the Colts, it had so much promise. I even called it "one of the best drafts Bill Polian has ever presided over in Indianapolis." Shows you how much I know.

From that 2007 draft class, only Anthony Gonzalez, Clint Session, and Keyunta Dawson remain (and Dawson is in danger of cutting cut himself). Dante Hughes, Brandon Condren, Michael Coe, and Roy Hall were all drafted by Indy that year, and all of them were cut this off-season. DT Quinn Pitcock quit football last year prior to training camp. That's five picks from just two years ago that are gone. And to top it all off, Indy's second round pick in 2007, Tony Ugoh, was just recently benched. Indy traded a first rounder in 2008 for Ugoh, and now it looks like he is going the way of all the other trash drafted in 2007.

Yikes!

The 2008 Draft for Indy isn't shaping up to be much better. Mike Pollak, a center out of Arizona State who Indy has converted into a guard, isn't setting the world on fire, or anything. Jamey Richard, who played center at Buffalo, is a quality back-up, but that's about all we can ever really expect from Richard. And now, Steve Justice, the third center the Colts drafted last year, has been cut.

Now, before people freak out, it's important to know that many of the players we were hoping Indy would draft from previous years have also recently been cut. The Broncos cut Kory Lichtensteiger and Carlton Powell today, two players we thought the Colts should have drafted in 2008. Kevin O'Connell was also cut recently; another player we wanted Indy to take in 2008.

The draft isn't an exact science, folks. And even future Hall of Fame personnel people, like Bill Polian, are not perfect.

Still, Polian was able to find quality starters like Anthony Gonzalez and Clint Session in 2007, and players like Jacob Tamme and Marcus Howard offer a lot of promise from the 2008 draft. Also, in 2007, Polian found and signed Melvin Bullitt as a rookie free agent. So, it's not like 2007 didn't give the team anything. It just didn't give the team the kind of talent we are used to seeing.

The cutting of Steve Justice likely means free agent Kyle DeVan will remain on the active roster, but we'll see.

Broncos Release Nine Players; Place G McChesney On Injured Reserve

Tim Lynch — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:00:22 -0000

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos on Friday released nine players and placed guard Matt McChesney on their reserve/injured list, it was announced.
The following nine players were released by Denver on Friday:

Released September 4, 2009
Player	NFL Exp.	College
DL Matthias Askew	3	Michigan State
G Kory Lichtensteiger	2	Bowling Green State
QB Ingle Martin	3	Furman
CB Rashod Moulton	1	Fort Valley State
T Clint Oldenburg	2	Colorado State
DL Carlton Powell	2	Virginia Tech
ILB Lee Robinson	R	Alcorn State
WR Nate Swift	R	Nebraska
RB Marcus Thomas	2	Texas-El Paso

Sean Locklear Sacks Matt Hasselbeck for a Loss of Seven

John Morgan — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:20:10 -0000

Seattle couldn't stand up to Denver's stunts. Whenever a Bronco stunted, a Seahawk lapsed on his assignment. Some recovered. Others did not.

At the snap, left defensive end Carlton Powell (97) stunts hard towards center Steve Vallos and right offensive guard Max Unger. Kenny Peterson (90) fades and slides over top of Powell. Robert Ayers (56), attacking from left outside linebacker, blitzes. Elvis Dumervil (92) edge rushes Sean Locklear (75) from right defensive end.

Locklear fades slightly and engages. He's losing the bull rush but he's not beat. Ray Willis (74) fades dramatically, but when Ayers attempts an inside move, Willis stonewalls him. Vallos and Unger are doubling Powell. Their hard motion left opens a pass rush lane to their right. That's where Peterson attacks.

The pocket is collapsing all around Hasselbeck. To his left, Locklear is being twisted and bent back. Dumervil is walking him towards Hasselbeck. Peterson is all but untouched. Rob Sims fades back and attempts to help Locklear, but may in fact provide the block that breaks Locklear's back. Peterson trips and falls at Hasselbeck's feet. Hasselbeck can't move into the pocket and Willis, though containing Ayers, is deep and dangerously close to the center. Hasselbeck holds and bravely looks down field. Sims pushes...somebody...extends his arm, Locklear is walked into Hasselbeck's legs, trips and falls on top of Hasselbeck for the sack.

Peterson is credited with the sack.

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 Training Camp - 8/3 AM - Slowly building a football team

John Bena — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:15:05 -0000

This is bittersweet for me because it is my last report. Once done, I will head to the airport and back home. I miss my girls and am glad to be heading home, but the past 4 days or so have been incredible My thanks to the Denver Broncos for allowing me, and by extension you, access to the inside. A 2-year veteran now, I am already looking forward to next year.

Enough mushy stuff, let's get back to the football. It has been easy to see over the first 4 days of camp that Josh McDaniels is taking the task of rebuilding this football team seriously. Not from a pure aspect of the roster, either. The Broncos had become a team void of fundamentals, with little regard for the details. How many times under Mike Shanahan were mistakes or turnovers accepted as "part of the game". Surely they are, but simply because something is EXPECTED doesn't mean it should be ACCEPTED.

In a sport when one mistake, one mental or physical miscue, can cost a team a win, a playoff spot, or more, the attention to detail, the mastery of the fundamentals is what can separate 10-6 from 8-8 or 8-8 from 6-10. It will be a focus now, and the Broncos should be better for it as the season goes on.

Each practice has been a building block to the next one, and each day has seen an increase in 7x7 and 11x11 work. One can't succeed in a team environment if they can't succeed against another person or blocking sled. It has been that focus that is going to benefit this team in 2009. The physicality of the workouts, practicing in pads, is going to help this team. They may not be the most talented team every Sunday, but they will be as prepared as anyone. That is a step in the right direction.

Now, on to some thoughts from my final practice at Dove Valley...

In the past there were practices dedicated to Special Teams. Usually in the afternoon, these workouts would include only players that were on the Special Teams units and would last 75 minutes or so. While I can't say there won't be a workout like that this year, there has yet to be one and with the work going into special teams during the main practice I'd venture to say there won't be. It is the efficient use like this of the practice time available that impresses me about the way these workouts have been scheduled.

Whether you support McDaniels or not, I'd be interested to hear anyone say they aren't impressed by how this camp is being run from an organizational standpoint. There are very few wasted movements and the team gets in and out of team/individual drills fast.

Each workout is filled with teaching. Specifically the D-Line, getting a ton of one-on-one instruction. Today's focus - spacing and getting low. In a 3-4 defense, it is the job of the defensive line to hold their ground in order to allow the linebackers to make plays in space. How well the Broncos' defense picks up the 3-4 will depend largely on this unit getting it done.

The O-line was working on exploding off the ball, doubling the D-end, sealing the edge, and getting to the next level (LB or S). Of the new guys, Mitch Erickson seemed to be getting the most praise from Rick Dennison while Black Schlueter was struggling just a bit.

LB Nick Greisen was carted off during the workout. While he was favoring his left leg, he was able to walk into the locker room. No update was given by Coach McDaniels after the workout.

The special teams work included punt team - specifically on punts coming from mid-field, both covering them from a punt standpoint and retuning them as well. Eddie Royal, Matthew Willis and Alphonso Smith were all returning punts.

At one point, the QBs were in a pod all by themselves working on play-action/bootleg. Jabar Gaffney and Brandon Lloyd were standing in different spots - flat, the middle, far pylon of the end zone - and each quarterback would practice booting to his right. That, of course, is against the grain for Chris Simms, and he struggled just a bit. Kyle Orton, however, looked pretty good making all the throws. More on Orton later.

At the same time, Linebackers were in a pod with the DBs practicing their footwork dropping in coverage. For Elvis Dumervil and Tim Crowder, two former D-Ends trying to convert to LB, this will be the hardest transition.

One quick note about Josh McDaniels. He is all over the field. He gets heavily involved in all the workouts, all positions. Whether it is going over technique with defensive linemen or dropping in coverage during wide receiver drills, McDaniels is in the middle of all of it. If anyone thought that McDaniels, as a QB Coach/Offensive Coordinator, would only be working with the QBs, you are largely mistaken.

On to 11x11, where during Red Zone work Champ Bailey proved he still has it. Bailey stepped in front of C.J. Jones to juggle, then intercept, a Chris Simms pass in the end zone. Bailey can still go get the football.

Time Crowder is really playing well. With Jarvis Moss in limbo and Robert Ayers still holding out (could change at any minute), Crowder is really taking advantage of the opportunity to play. At one point during the workout, Crowder took Nate Swift down to the ground hard on a completion across the middle. At another point, Eddie Royal got a bit annoyed with Crowder's physicality, leading to screams of "Don't get mad, this is football" from some of the defensive coaches.

Other than Ronald Fields, Chris Baker and Carlton Powell were getting reps at NT

Jack Williams has been getting the reps when the Broncos go to the Nickel.

Tom Brandstater.....Where can I begin. The kid has some tools, no doubt about it. He is raw, however, and really needs to work on his mechanics. I guess what I am saying is not to expect any late-round, Tom Brady-type magic when it comes to Brandstater's progress this season.

As for the other quarterbacks, Kyle Orton is beginning to look more comfortable in the offense. I am going to give all the QBs a bit of a pass, no pun intended, when it comes to their roller-coaster performance this week. It is going to take time, and reps, to learn a new offense and there are going to be bumps in the road. Let's be honest, the final exam isn't until September 13th, over 5 weeks away.

During one play, Marcus Thomas had to cover Daniel Graham after a shift. With the vocal encouragement of his defensive teammates on the sidelines, Thomas did his best to keep up with the TE on his drag route. Graham made the catch, as the ball just squeezed past the arm of a diving Thomas. Solid effort, indeed.

One general observation; the Broncos' defense will be extremely tough to throw against this season, especially down near the goal line.

Eddie Royal catches everything. Everything, I tell you.

LaMont Jordan did drop a sure touchdown during team drills. Jordan was running with the first team with Correll Buckhalter taking the morning off.

Whatever your opinion of Alphonso Smith, he is a natural returning punts and is extremely at ease with the football in his hands.

Some group sprints ended the working part of the practice, but as is the case with the other days, the team goes back to their pods and finishes with what I would describe as a light cool-down. The teaching never stops, however, and there is little time wasted.

One last impression. I have been very impressed with Mike Nolan. He is energetic, is involved with his players and passionate about what he is trying to accomplish. Perhaps it is simply a surprise to me, but I didn't expect that from the guy I saw coach the 49ers.

2009 Denver Broncos - Breaking Down the Roster -- Defensive Tackles

Jeremy Bolander — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:30:09 -0000

Denver Broncos defensive lineman, Marcus Thomas, takes part in drills during the team's football training camp at the Broncos headquarters in Englewood, Colo., on Sunday, Aug 14, 2008. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

View full size photo »

Listen to the pundits, and this position is the ONLY position on the defense (and quite nearly the team sans Cutler) that has any significance.

And Denver COMPLETELY ignored it.

Of course, many of you are here reading this report because those same pundits have confused, mocked and irritated you, and in the process have even unleashed magnificent contradictions onto their readers regarding what matters, what doesn't, and on a very basic level, what is actually going on.

But, folks, there is perception and there is reality.

And the job of the first has been and always will be to grasp the second, not to create it. In that vein, let's provide the antidote to the type of evasion that the media at large (minus a few isolated examples of rationality) engages in, even as they accuse the Broncos of similar evasion. Let's look at Existence and Identity.

As in, let's look at the existence of certain DT/NTs on our roster, and their identity, that which separates one from the other.

Marcus Thomas

#79 / Defensive Tackle / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-3

Weight: 305

Born: Sep 23, 1985

Age:24

College: Florida

Contract: 2009: $460,000, 2010: $550,000, 2011: Free Agent

Acquired:Draft #4 (121st overall), 2007

If you haven't seen Marcus Thomas maturing before your eyes, you haven't been watching Broncos football. With sub-par coaching he has still managed to get steadily better, following a familiar progression for even elite DTs. Going into his third year, the big question is whether this slowly-accelerating talent is for real, or if we are just seeing things.

Where are the stats that show him getting better? The sacks and pressures? An uptick in tackles? They just aren't there. In fact, he has yet to record his first sack in the NFL, quite a drought for a player touted as one of the top rookie interior pass-rushers in 2007.

But Thomas has made significant progress as a Bronco despite the setbacks of the defense around him. To begin with, he was always a one trick pony as a pass rusher. He didn't really have a lot of moves, and he really only rushed at one speed. The secret to his college success was his elite burst and explosive ability out of his stance. Slightly leaner than a typical "heavy" on the inside, 3-technique really seemed to be his ceiling. His off-field persona had issues as well, including a series of terrible decisions, starting with a positive test for marijuana, that ended with his dismissal from the Gators as his team was making a run at a championship.

Fast forward to his rookie season, and he seemed to take an even farther step back. Altitude coupled with being out of football shape robbed him of his explosive ability, making him play like the equivalent of roster fodder. On top of that he had an incident 'back home' in Jacksonville involving cocaine possession which seriously threatened to ruin his career before it even started. Things weren't looking good, but two lights could be seen by the concerned observer; the first was Thomas' on-field ethic. While his play lacked, his effort did not, and it was only after the season did he acknowledge to anyone just how much of an effect conditioning had had on him. With that acknowledgment came a simple promise to come into the next season in better shape. The second light was his apparent understanding of just how close he had come to losing his future with the cocaine incident. Another simple promise: he was done with that old life, his old haunts, his old problems. The only currency backing up either promise was the specter of his ethic and effort as he struggled silently throughout the long 2007 season.

Look ahead to 2009, and the light is getting brighter with Thomas. Nary an incident has cropped up since his promise to end the off-field issues, and he was even awarded the Federal Bureau of Investigation's 'Director's Award,' given to someone who provides excellent service and support to the law enforcement community. His conditioning has been excellent, and he logged his first 16-start season in 2008. What I liked to see most as an evaluator was how he was no longer out of the play if his initial burst was met with a sound block. Early in his career the play would have been over for him at that point., but now he has developed a number of moves, and more importantly speeds, with which he can counter and compensate. He also moved well between lining up at the 3-technique position and the 1-technique. Both positions will be premiums in a "gap-shooting" style of D-Line play, so Thomas' familiarity with both will make him an asset on pass-rushing downs as either a NT or DE. That type of versatility meshes well with the defensive philosophy that is being talked about by the new staff, and with new D-Line coach Wayne Nunnely keeping a careful watch there is a tremendous expectation for Thomas.

The new staff talks about tailoring a defense to fit the skills of its players. To Thomas, this matters more than to almost anyone else. His trending indicates that he is ripe for a breakout, if there can be consistency and coaching around him.

Carlton Powell

#75 / Defensive Tackle / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-3

Weight: 300

Born: Aug 14, 1985

Age:24

College: Virginia Tech

Contract: 2009: $385,000, 2010: $470,000, 2011: $555,000, 2012: Free Agent

Acquired:Draft #5b (148 overall), 2008

An enigma wrapped in a mystery, hidden behind a painting of the Mona Lisa (as if he'd fit), and what little we know about Carlton is limited to reports that he is bulking up, and that his Achilles rehab has gone well. But will he be any good? That isn't really the best question. A better question is, "Will he be any good, again?"

In college Powell was an elite run-stuffer, whose stats in that area are truly stunning ( a career runs-against total measured in negative numbers!), but what is impressive is HOW he got those stats. He made his name going up against double teams, and unlike one-on-one matchups, offensive talent can often be overlooked when evaluating a player's ability to take up space and fight double teams.

This translates well to the 3-4 aspects of Denver's new defense, but it does have a disclaimer. Like Thomas, Powell was primarily a 1- and 3-technique tackle, though his strength was in reestablishing the line of scrimmage and holding his ground, not closing in and pressuring the pocket. What Thomas has in speed, Powell makes up for in brute strength.

One thing to bear in mind, is that again, we are looking at a tackle prospect who is used to lining up in a 1-gap fashion, so we are seeing a need to tailor the defense to attack single gaps in order to draw double teams, whether we run a 3-4 or 4-3.

Which is what Nolan and McDaniels have said they will do. A significant, but often overlooked point.

Ronald Fields

#91 / Defensive Tackle / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-2

Weight: 315

Born: Sep 13, 1981

Age:28

College: Mississippi State

Contract: Signed a two-year, $5 million contract. 2011: Free Agent

Acquired:Unrestricted Free Agent (San Francisco), 2009

At 315 lbs. (and rumored to be bulking back up to 322-330) we are starting to see a more typical version of a 3-4 NT build. But looking beyond just weight, there are a few things that stand out about Fields. The first that jumps out to me is the 34" wingspan, always an asset. I also like that he moved between the 5-, 3-, and 1-technique on the San Francisco line. His bulk is well-distributed with a very strong lower body, so anchoring is definitely within his toolbox.

His power has always been exceptional, and he may be the most powerful defensive lineman on the roster at this point. Unfortunately, that power doesn't always take shape on the field, and now we are starting to get into my concerns over this prospect. There is a reason he was on the fast track to a reserve role in San Francisco, and it wasn't coaching or scheme fit.

Since college, Fields has always been a player that needed that little bit of extra incentive, and who failed to consistently produce at the level he was capable of. But he was worth a chance because when he was 'fired up' it was amazing to watch. His power combined with what can only be described as exceptional quickness led to fits of masochistic destruction in the interior of the line. He plays like a man possessed, and mauls whoever stands in his way. But only sometimes. The rest of the time? Swallowed up in the chaos of defensive line obscurity.

He started to get on the right track when he entered the league, due to coaching changes at his alma mater, and his rise in college production showed how good he might be. But in the NFL, his strong start, even for a rookie, diminished quickly, and soon he was being fitted for a spot on the bench. A short stint where Nolan himself, as head coach, insisted that Fields be put on the field as a 5-technique DE, resulted in a series of good games, only to see him break his arm and miss out on that opportunity.

Fields is essentially without a pass rush move of any significance, and has been since college, but his strength in the running game is excellent, where he reestablishes the line of scrimmage and then holds his ground. He also has a bad record against double teams since entering the pros, though when he is playing well, he seems to perform much, much better in this department.

In the same vein as his ability to intensify and motivate his play, I worry about his ability to focus on the field and in the film room - just one of a number of little things that contributed to his play lacking consistency in San Francisco.

Fields is going to get scrutinized heavily by Broncos fans going forward, so it is important to understand where his lacking may be coming from. One thing that no one should let take them by surprise, is if Fields sees most of his action as a run-stopping, havoc-creating defensive end, part of a very deep rotation. Nolan saw something for Fields there before, a plan derailed by injury and Nolan's own battle to keep the Niners competitive. Now that Nolan can focus solely on the defense again, he may try to finish what he started with Fields, and there is no doubt that 3-4 end was part of that plan.

J'Vonne Parker

#69 / Defensive Tackle / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-4

Weight: 325

Born: Jun 07, 1982

Age:27

College: Rutgers

Contract: Undisclosed

Acquired: Free Agent, 2009

Parker is a space-eater who has spent 4 years drifting from Atlanta's and Baltimore's practice squads to Carolina's reserve, to Cleveland's reserve, to Dallas' reserve, and finally to Arizona's reserve. Arizona saw enough potential to protect Parker as a restricted free agent, but declined to actually tender an offer sheet when push came to shove.

He ran a 5.2 40-yard dash, recorded a 32-inch vertical and pressed 225 lbs 27 times, none of which stand out. For all intents and purposes it looks like we are talking about roster fodder here, with little chance of a surprise. He has trended from being picked up by one of the best defensive-line situations in the league (Baltimore) to being a no-name prospect for the team perceived to be the worst D-Line in the league. Not a good trend.

Matthias Askew

#99 / Defensive Tackle / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-5

Weight: 302

Born: Jul 01, 1982

Age: 27

College: Michigan State

Contract: Reserve/Future Contract

Acquired:Free Agent, 2008

I liked everything about this player's career at Michigan State, and his upside was excellent going into the draft. A player with top potential. So what happened?

Let's start with what Askew can do right. He had excellent athleticism, and good size to man the traditional left-DT role, and had experience lining up as a 5-, 3- and 1-tech, just like many of our other prospects. While not exceptionally fast, he was phone-booth quick, and could rely on pure strength much of the time, though he went into the draft having impressed greatly with his accelerating knowledge of pass rushing. One thing to like in particular was how well he sniffed out the ball, both in play recognition and in stripping the ball-carrier. He frequently came away with a forced fumble or deflected pass if he got anywhere near the QB. Excellent closing speed and terrific handwork had him pegged for the fourth round, where he was selected by the Bengals.

After an injury-plagued rookie season, he came along very slowly, but won the fourth DT spot in 2005 to stay on the roster. But, in the end, he failed to impress on the field. Then early in 2006 he was charged with resisting arrest in a typical Cincinnati drama that involved Askew being tasered by the police, and then suing the city for excessive force, and finally ended with Askew being found not guilty, and having all charges dropped. Through this drama he stayed out of football after being waived by the Bengals 'for being a malcontent,' and was picked up by the Redskins for their practice squad, but was waived before the start of the season. He finally ended up on Denver's practice squad last year at the end of the season, and now he waits for what will likely be his final chance in the NFL, in McDaniels' and Nolan's first Broncos training camp.

If Askew can find a way to tap into his raw athleticism, while listening and learning, then he may still have a chapter or two to write in his NFL story. But if he can't shake the mistakes and problems of his past, they will drag him out of camp in the first cut-down.

Chris Baker

#75 / Defensive Tackle / Denver Broncos

Height: 6-2

Weight: 329

Born: Oct. 8, 1987

Age: 22

College: Hampton

Contract: Undisclosed

Acquired:Rookie Free Agent, 2009

First, do yourself a favor and refresh your memory of BroncoBear's excellent Tales writeup on Chris Baker.

Back? Time to talk about what we have on our hands. I won't say that the character issue is erased, but I will say that we should all have enough data to feel comfortable with what we know, and how it will affect his chances at making the team, good or bad. What is more important at this point is to ask what positives he brings to the position battle.

Let's start with the versatility to man the 5-tech, 1-tech and 0-tech (true NT), the big body (has played at 330 lbs, but could slim down to 320-325 and still be plenty big), the long wingspan (34.5 inch arms), and impressive pro-day numbers (35.5 inch vertical? Are you kidding me?) Versatility has been a hallmark of the front-seven prospects whose services have been sought by McDaniels and Co., and Baker produced at both End and Tackle in a 3-4 alignment, though mostly against lesser competition. His body type is refreshingly typical of a true NT, and even if he slimmed down to help alleviate some playing weight concerns (fatigue mostly) he would still be the largest Tackle on the roster.

His pro-day numbers are quite impressive, and it is this freakish, raw athleticism that Denver is counting on in Baker.

Perhaps the biggest risk is that Baker needed more time to learn the ins and outs of his positons on the DL. The type of trench warfare he saw at Hampton leaves him ill-prepared for what awaits at the NFL level, despite his athleticism. I would expect him to practice and play like what he is: a very young player who is behind the curve both in terms of competition and coaching. It is doubtful that he becomes a major contributor this year, and may spend most of his time learning the basics, learning what it is like to go against NFL-caliber players, and prepping for a stint on the practice squad this season. There will be some who believe that he is our best D-Line prospect, and over the very long haul, that may be true. But in terms of 2009, and even 2010, Baker is very unlikely to be the cure for what ails the Broncos.

Summary

McDaniels and Co. have added only two experienced NT/DT mixes to the roster, in Baker and Fields, and appear to be intending to move forward with much of what was left to them by Shanahan and Goodman. With the group as a whole possessing the skill sets of a penetrating one-gap defense, we are definitely going to spend the majority of our time lining up that way, whether in a 3-4 or 4-3. Unfortunately, none of our guys are true "do it all" tackles yet, and they have only limited time to jell on top of that, so execution will be of the highest importance early on.

We can expect to lose at least two of the above players in the preseason numbers crunch, and may rely on a veritable 'skeleton roster' at the position, rather than hedging our bets too much and impacting the roster math negatively, so I am waiting to see just how intense the DT/NT competition gets. Many of these players are good bets to move out to DE regularly, and Nolan has always used his DTs as ends when calling a 3-4, but the NT/DT position may be their best chance to nail down a spot on the roster. Outside of this group there really aren't any legitimate challengers to the 1- or 0-technique slot, and even within this group itself there is no clear-cut player who is right for the position, let alone a significant amount of competition for the spot.

These line prospects limit our already limited options for running the 3-4, and clearly put us in 5-2 type of territory, covered here by SlowWhiteGuy. There is no doubt that the Broncos will continue to scout, search and scrape to try and bring some talent to their 3-4 scheme; but in the meantime, what they have appears to be a mix of risk and blue-collar ethic, all still quite young and all quite capable of making the kinds of strides needed to make our line a serviceable one in 2009.

And with a little luck, we may just find that we have a gem or two in the group.

Poll

Best surprise at the DT/NT position for 2009?

Marcus Thomas' breakout year.

271 votes

Carlton Powell: 'SuperRookie'

189 votes

Ron Fields, steal of Free Agency.

147 votes

J'Vonne Parker, surprise starter.

7 votes

Mathias Askew, rejuvenated career.

1 votes

Chris Baker, undrafted standout.

174 votes

789 votes | Poll has closed