SBNation.com User Blog: Da1Truth

New Draft Strategy with Manning on Board.

Da1Truth — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:44:35 -0000

Now that the Broncos have signed the biggest Free Agent in NFL history, their entire culture and game management strategy has been flipped upside down. John Fox ball in which running the ball and stopping the run is no longer in play. The Broncos are now going to stretch the field, bring a fast pace no-huddle attack and build a defense around playing with a lead. The good news is the Broncos already have the core on defense to play with a lead. They have 2 dynamic pass rushers in Elvis and Von. They have a HOF CB that can shut down one half of the field and just brought in a Safety (Adams) that is known for his ability in coverage. Having Manning under center changes the direction of the franchise and their draft strategy.

2012 Mock Draft with Manning under Center:

1st Rd: Given to Pitt for Mike Wallace as RFA. You cant tell me the Broncos will find an immediate impact player with the 25th pick. Mike Wallace is a guarantee that you just cant find in the bottom of the first round. Imagine an offense with Wallace and Thomas stretching the filed and Decker working in the slot. Running the no-huddle at altitude with those weapons...the Broncos will have the most prolific offense in the AFC.

2nd Rd: Kendell Reyes, DL UCONN. 6'4" 300lbs and ran a 4.8 40yd dash at the combine. Not aggressive against the run but a difference maker rushing the passer. Playing with the lead will allow Reyes to use his speed off the ball and rush the passer from the interior. He will have a lot of opportunites with Von and Elvis pushing QB's up into the pocket.

3rd Rd: Josh Robinson, CB, Central Florida: Ran a 4.29 40yd dash at the combine. Excels in man coverage and haste speed to take risks jumping underneath routes. Would have 2-3 years to learn under Champ. No Brainer!

4th Rd: Ronnie Hilman, RB SDSU: 5'9" 210 lbs and runs in the high 4.3 range. I splitting image of Ray Rice with more quickness. He is allusive and can be used in the offense the same way Darren Sproles was used in New Orleans. Has good hands and can be used in the return game.

5th Rd (From Rams): Greg Childs, WR Arkansas:' 6'4" and 220 lbs. and ran a 4.4 40 coming off a knee injury. Great value in the 5th round and Manning has a tendency to make stars out of late round WR's. If he can turn Austin Collie into a stud. Imagine what he could do with a 6'4" burner that creates mismatches all over the field.

5th Rd: Chase Ford, TE Miami (FL): 6'6" and runs a 4.6 40yd dash. He looked good in the Shrine Game and can create mismatches with his speed and size comnination

7th Rd: Donte Paige-Moss, 6'3" 270lbs: A first round talent with a undrafted FA attitude. A high reward low risk pick in the 7th round. If he gets his attitude together, he could be an excellent rush DE and could pair with Dumerville on passing situations leaving Ayers in on run downs.

Thoughts?

Why Tebow Must Start...from an Orton Fan

Da1Truth — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 22:36:51 -0000

Okay, Okay, I wont say "Orton Fan" but I understand that Orton, in theory, provides the Broncos with a better chance at winning. Being a Denver Broncos fan...I want to win. By deafult, I am an Orton Fan. There are those that look at the Tebow's limited body of work against the same teams Orton has played (Chargers, Raiders last season) and wonder how Tebow, who averaged 26 pts/game in comparison to Orton's 14 PPG isnt enough proof that Tebow should be given an opportunity. I believe Tebow should be given a chance for one simple reason...the Broncos need to find out if he can play.

As a life long Broncos fan, we are in dark times. Until recently, at the beginning of every year true Broncos fans believed they had a legitimate shot at winning the division and making the playoffs. The realists knew the Broncos weren't a Super Bowl team but believed in a punchers chance. When Shannahan got Jake Plummer, he was the missing piece. When he traded for Champ Bailey, we were almost there. When Travis Henry was acquired our run game was back where it needed to be. The youthful success of Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall and Elvis Dumerville set this team up for annual runs at a title. Then, before we knew it...BOOM we now are considered one of the worst teams in football. How far has it gone? Even the most optimistic Broncos fans don't see this team winning more than 8 games. I am about as optimistic as anyone and I have trouble finding 7 wins on this seasons schedule.

We no longer are one (or two) players away from dominance. Watching the Raiders game on Monday night, we are 5 or 6 players away from just being relative. Offensively we need to get better in the trenches and there is a significant hole at RB. Defensively we could use two or three interior lineman that can stop the run and pressure the QB from the inside. Our linebackers are due for an upgrade and we can use some youth and explosiveness in the secondary. Most importantly, there is a major need to upgrade the most important position on the field...Quarterback. If Tebow doesnt play this year, the Broncos wont know where to start the rebuilding process. If they are good enough to miss out on the Andrew Luck sweepstakes, do they go after Landry Jones or Matt Barkley? If they go after a QB in this years draft, do they risk passing up on the best interior defensive lineman or most explosive cornerback? With a glaring weakness at running back, do the Broncos pass on a chance at Trent Richardson who some say is the best RB to come out since Adrian Peterson?

There are so many holes to fix before this team is a contender, can they afford to waste another 1st round pick on a QB when they have one sitting on the bench? Not starting Tebow this season can set this franchise back another 2-3 years. Playing Tebow at the very least lets the front office and fan base know what is needed to make this team better. If Tebow shows promise and plays well, they can start addressing the running game or rushing defense. If Tebow falters, at the very least the fan base is in agreement that going after a QB is a top priority.

It is going to take, at least, three good drafts and a little bit of luck (not Andrew) before this team can compete with the upper echelon teams in the AFC. EFX and company must find a RB that doesnt dance in the hole and has game-braking ability. The front office must address the glaring weakness in the defensive interior and draft players that can stop the run. It would be worthwhile to find a MLB that wont overun the play and hold up at the point of attack. It is hard to win in todays NFL with a secondary that gets AARP discounts at the local Deny's. Finding fixes for these problems could take 3 or maybe even 4 years worth of quality drafts. Drafting another QB this year means rebuilding the other holes on the roster are all delayed one more year.Not to mention the associated growing pains that come with playing a young QB.

Tebow MUST play this season. If not, the Broncos franchise could be the doormat of the AFC for years to come.

Poll

Should Tebow start this season, regardless of Orton's ability?

Yes

155 votes

No

17 votes

172 votes | Poll has closed

What Could Have Been...If the Rox Could Draft

Da1Truth — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:40:23 -0000

Im a Colorado sports fan thru and thru. The Broncos, Avs and Rockies are my preferred teams in their respective sports (I refuse to watch the NBA until they get rid of the charge/block/flop fouls) but the Rockies are MY TEAM. With all the turmoil in Denver area sports, by far, the Rockies disappointing play the last couple of years has been harder to watch. Why... because they were supposed to be the gem of the Colorado sport franchises.

Both the Avs and Broncos were in the cellar in their respective leagues. With the way they have drafted recently and moves made in free agency, the Avs and Broncos could be back to prominence a lot sooner then we think. The Rockies however are a lot farther away from dominance than any other Denver area sports franchise. Why...because there is no light at the end of the tunnel. At least with the Avs we have one of the best young players in the NHL (Matt Duechene) and promising prospects on the horizon. The Broncos just drafted the best player available in the NFL draft (Von Miller) and have a lot of talent in on their roster (Elvis, Champ, Clady, Royal, Ty Warren, McGahee, Lloyd) that should show up this season if they stay healthy. The Rockies, due to horrible drafting over the last decade, don't have anyone waiting in the wings to provide hope for the future. I know, I know, we have Tulo, CarGo and an aging Helton but the 6 other starters they throw on the field any given day, wouldnt start for 20+ other MLB teams. Do you think Ianetta is a starter with a career .220 BA? Seth Smith is a valued commodity as a corner outfielder with 15HR power potential? Fowler's glove might play but his bat and base running is better suited for the 8 hole not leadoff.

To make things worse, IF the Rockies had a competent player evaluation staff, they could be the BEST team in baseball right now. I know hindsight is 20/20 but the Rockies draft misses are compounded because of the people they DIDNT draft when they had a chance. Draft after draft they surprised every "expert" by drafting for need, not the best available player. Drafting for NEED doesn't work in ANY sport, let alone in baseball when draft misses are significantly more frequent then football, basketball and hockey....combined.

Lets take a look at what could have been if the Rockies drafted the best available player in each of their drafts over the last decade and not for NEED!

2002 MLB Draft

Rockies Select: #9, LHP, Jeff Francis

Best Player Available (BPA): LHP, Cole Hamels. If you are going after a lefty then go after the one with the highest sealing. Most "experts" considered Hamels and lefty Scott Kazmir the two best lefties in the draft.

Need: The Rockies were looking for a left handed, sinker ball pitcher to get ground balls in expansive Coors field. Hoping to draft a lefty to replace the mistake of signing lefties Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle. While Francis gave the Rockies a couple good years, when you are drafting 9th overall, do you spend that pick on a soft tossing lefty?

2003 MLB Draft

Rockies Select: #10, 3B, Ian Stewart

BPA: SS/OF, Adam Jones. Currently the CF for the Baltimore Orioles. Was considered a tough sign out of high school so slipped in the draft. Now is batting .295 with 18 HRs. Imagine Jones and CarGo roaming the outfield for the Rockies right now...could cover a lot of ground and combine for 60+HR

Need: Looking for a left handed bat at a corner position. In 2003 the Rockies had a 3 bagger, hitting .255 with 11 HRs by the name of Chris Stynes. They were obviously looking for an upgrade at that position.

2004 MLB Draft

Rockies Select: #9, SS, Chris Nelson

BPA: RHP, Jered Weaver currently the top pitcher in the American League. Dominated at Long Beach State and has the mound presence and pitching arsenal to play at Coors Field.

Need: Still looking for a middle infielder who can take advantage of hitter friendly Coors Field. Royce Clayton and his 8 HRs was the temporarily SS that season.

2005 MLB Draft

Rockies Select: #7, SS, Troy Tulowitzki

Finally got it right!!!

2006 MLB Draft

Rockies Select: #2 RHP, Greg Reynolds

BPA: The consensus top prospect in the draft was a player named Evan Longoria who happened to be there when the Rox were on the clock with the 2nd overall pick.They didnt draft Longoria because they had Ian Stewart in their system. If the Rox were content on going after pitcher, they had a litany of pitchers that were ranked higher then Greg Reynolds in the "experts" eyes. Most pro personnel had Tim Lincecum, Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw ahead of Reynolds in the draft.

Need: Looking for a projectable sinkerball pitcher to get ground ball outs in Coors field. Thus ignoring the flame throwing arms of Lincecum, Scherzer, Kershaw and Ian Kennedy, all of which are experiencing success at the big league level right now.

2007 MLB Draft

Rockies Select: #8 RHP Casey Weathers

BPA: OF Jason Heyward. A big lefty with legitimate 5 tool potential. Selective at the plate with power to all fields and one of the better outfield arms in the league. The top prospect in baseball during his stint in the minors.If they wanted a pitcher, there was a lefty by the name of Madison Bumgarner still on the board. That of a career 3.33 ERA and 220Ks in 259 IP already in the big leagues.

NEED: Once again the Rockies shock the so called experts and draft Casey Weathers who had a 1st round arm but was projected as a reliever. At that time, the Rockies new they needed to strengthen their pen. They looked around the NL and saw power arms coming from every team. They draft Casey Weathers, who has the power arm they covet. I remember the draft like it was yesterday. I was watching it on TV and when Weathers was drafted, the "experts" were shocked that the Rockies would select a projected reliever with the 8th overall pick....so was I.

2008 MLB Draft

Rockies Select: #25 LHP Christian Friedrich

BPA: RHP, Gerrit Cole. Yes... that Garrit Cole, the number one overall pick in the 2011 draft was selected by the Yankees a few picks after the Rockies. He obviously didnt sign because of a strong commitment to UCLA. If the Rockies didn't sign Cole, they would get a compensation pick in the following years draft. When drafting in the mid 20's you have to draft out of slot if you want value with the pick. That is how the Yankees and Red Sox keep drafting quality players at the bottome of every first round.

NEED: Seeing that Jeff Francis' days were numbered in a Rockies uniform, the Rockies drafted a college lefty to eventually replace Francis. I cant fault the Rockies on the pick. At the time he was the best college arm available in the draft. The knock on Friedrich was he had a stiff, max effort throwing motion, which has a tendency to lead to arm issues...and arm issues is the main reason he is not in Purple and Black right now. His development was delayed a year after battling arm issues at AA ball last year.

2009 MLB Draft

Rockies Select:#11 LHP Tyler Matzek

BPA: RHP, Aaron Crow...who was taken immediately after the Rockies selected Matzek. While Matzek is repeating low A ball this year, Crow is pitching in the All-Star game for the American League. Crow was considered a tough sign but so was Matzek, with a strong commitment to Oregon.There was also a guy named Mike Trout drafted later in the round. The same Mike Trout that was the number one prospect in all of baseball and at 19 is the starting in the OF for the Angels.

Need: Trying to bolster the pitching depth of their minor league systems they draft a projectable HS lefty. While Matzek can touch 97 regularly from the left side, you always inherit risk when drafting a HS pitcher...or any pitcher for that matter. One risk, they forget how to throw strikes. While Matzek is repeating low-A ball, we just traded Ubaldo for a pitcher drafted 4 picks after Matzek in Alex White...who already had his cup of coffee in the bigs and should join the Rox rotation in the next few weeks.

2010 MLB Draft

Rockies Select: #26 OF, Kyle Parker

BPA: OF, Kyle Parker. I do like this pick. When you are picking at #26 its tough to find an impact bat. Kyle Parker, in his first full season already has 18 HRs in the low A ball. He does have some holes in his swing, evident by the 104 Ks in 90 games. But now being fully dedicated to baseball, year round, he should blossom into a pretty darn good power hitter from the right side.

Imagine what the Rockies lineup could look like today if they drafted BPA instead of always reaching for need or signability.

OF-Adam Jones

OF-Carlos Gonzales

OF-Jason Heyward

3B-Evan Longoria

SS-Troy Tulo

2B-Mark Ellis

1B-Todd Helton

C-Ianetta

RHP-Jered Weaver

LHP-Cole Hamels

RHP-Chacin

LHP- DeLaRosa (when he returns)

RHP/LHP- Alex White, Drew Pomeranz (for the Ubaldo Trade)

RHP-Aaron Crow

Now, Im no expert, but looking at what Rockies Management could have done over the last 10 years, especially since they "Committed" to development/drafting, is almost painful. Imagine the line-up and pitching staff they could have assembled. The team above could/would be atop of the NL West, year in, year out for the next 10 years. Imagin a lineup that has Longoria, CarGo, Tulo, Adam Jones, Jason Heyward and Todd Helton...with out a doubt the scariest in the NL. Imagine a staff that had Hamels, Chacin, Weaver and Ubaldo (who wouldnt have been traded because this team would be in contention). That staff would rival that of the current Phillies.

I know, in most any sport you can go back and look at who a team should have drafted if they could. But the fundamental issue at point, is the Rockies repeatedly made the same mistake. In a sport where draft pick success rate is far worse than any other major sport the Rockies continually draft for need and not the best available player. Drafting for need in EVERY sport has been proven to fail because you overvalue a prospect based on need (Greg Reynolds) and miss out on top notch talent (Longoria, Lincecum, Kershaw). What is most puzzling, the Rockies completly ingnore the fact that they are contenders (usually) if they draft BPA they can stockpile their minor league system and use them for trades to bolster the MLB roster.It would have been okay to have both Longoria and Stewart in the minors. During the 2007 run, when the Rockies needed another pitcher, they could have used Stewart as trade bait.

Ahh what could have been....

***This is a blog not an essay. i dont proof read...I just type and publish.

Newton's Rise, Broncos Gain

Da1Truth — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:30:53 -0000

Mel Kiper recently updated his draft rankings and currently has Cam Newton slated as number 3 overall and thinks the Bills are in play for his services. This makes a lot of sense. Chan Gailey loves athletic QBs. He coached Vick in Atlanta and had a lot of success. He also has a serviceable QB in Ryan Fitzpatrick that can buy time while Newton learns the NFL game. Why this helps the Broncos....

This is great news for the Denver Broncos. With the new CBA likely to produce a rookie wage scale, the 2nd overall pick has never been more attractive. The Broncos will be sitting in front of the Bills and any team interested in Newton's services will be forced to make a move to get him. The Broncos have only 6 picks in this years draft and a lot of holes to fix on both sides of the ball. Trading down a few spots will likely secure the Broncos and additional 2nd round pick and possibly more depending on the trade partner. The Vikings (12th pick), Redskins (10th), Niners (7th) and Cardinals (5th) all are in the market for a QB. The further we trade down the more picks we will be able to receive in exchange.

Moving down still gives access to an elite player but secures the Broncos, at the very least, another 2nd round pick. That means 4 players in the top 45 picks in the draft.

Likely trade partners and their respective value:

Arizona Cardinals at #5 : Trading down to the 5th spot still gives the Broncos a shot at drafting DeQuan Bowers, Von Miller, Marcell Dareus and Patrick Peterson. In addition, the Broncos will likely receive the 38th pick in the 2nd round in exchange and possibly a 4th. That gives the Broncos the flexibility to address offense (TE or RT) with one of their 2nd round picks.

San Francisco 49ers at #7: The Broncos will sill have a shot at some elite talent. Either Robert Quinn, Von Miller, Marcell Dareus or Prince Amakumura will still be available with that pick. Not to mention, the pot will be sweetened by not only receiving the 40th overall pick in exchange. We will likely receive their 3rd rounder in addition and possibly a pick in next years draft. There is still good value in the 3rd round and there are a lot of LBs and Safeties that can be had in the 3rd who might turn into good NFL players someday.

Washington Redskins at #10: I would be more than happy to stay in the top 10 and receive a bevy of picks in exchange. If we trade back this far it means we are likely receiving a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and/or a future 1st day pick in 2012. We all know the Broncos have many holes to fill and this scenario will give the Broncos up to 10 picks in this years draft. Drafting at 10 overall still gives the Broncos a shot a Robert Quinn, Aldon Smith, Cameron Jordan and Akeem Ayers. If they have 9 other picks they might even want to take a shot at Nate Soldier and focus on the D in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

Minnesota Vikings at #12: This is a long drop but not unlikely of a scenario. The Broncos could receive their 2nd, (no 3rd because of Moss trade) 4th, 5th and likely a 2nd and 3rd rounder in next years draft. I can see this happening because the Vikings have a team that is ready to win now and don't have many holes to fill. Available at 12 are Cameron Jordon, Aldon Smith, Adrian Claborn, Akeem Ayers and my personal favorite Ryan Kerrigan.

The way the 2011 draft is starting to take shape, I would prefer the Broncos find the best package and trade down. There are a handful of defenders available in the top 10 that can go anywhere from 2-8 overall. There are mocks that have Bowers going 1st overall and some having him fall all the way to 7th. Ive seen Patrick Peterson as high as number one and as low as 6. Von Miller as high as 3rd overall and as low as the 9th pick in the draft. There is still a lot of value staying in the top half of the draft and if the Broncos are able to receive numerous picks in exchange...lets make a deal.

Poll

If the Broncos trade down, which partner would you prefer?

Cardinals at 5 for 2nd and 4th

90 votes

Niners at 7 for 2nd and 3rd

59 votes

Redskins at 10 for 2nd, 3rd, 4th and future pick

21 votes

Vikings at 12 for 2nd, 4th, 5th and high future pick(s)

7 votes

Stay at number 2 and dont trade back

23 votes

200 votes | Poll has closed

Broncos Payroll + Revenue=Big Offseason

Da1Truth — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:41:12 -0000

Ive seen many posts lately where everyone is second guessing the Broncos ability to spend money on key free agents this offseason. Before we start to play "GM for a Day" and assume the Broncos cant afford to sign the likes of Owen Daniels or Mercedes Lewis or think that DeAngelo Williams or Chad Greenway is too expensive, lets first take a look at the Broncos financials.

According to Forbes the Denver Broncos were the 10th most valuable team in the NFL last season. While NFL teams dont publish their finances publicly, Forbes typically does a good job evaluating a franchises net worth.

The Top Ten Teams According to Forbes:

Assuming that Forbes magazine is accurate, the Broncos have plenty of money to spend this offseason. Why? The Broncos were the in the bottom 10 in payroll.

The Bottom Ten Teams in Payroll:

NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers Team Salaries	$ 104,329,311
NFL Seattle Seahawks Team Salaries	$ 102,985,710
NFL Atlanta Falcons Team Salaries	$ 96,391,525
NFL Detroit Lions Team Salaries	$ 95,827,117
NFL Denver Broncos Team Salaries	$ 95,599,778
NFL Green Bay Packers Team Salaries	$ 94,018,300
NFL Indianapolis Colts Team Salaries	$ 93,373,915
NFL New England Patriots Team Salaries	$ 92,734,120
NFL Baltimore Ravens Team Salaries	$ 90,713,965
NFL Kansas City Chiefs Team Salaries	$ 83,623,776

The Broncos Payroll was the 6th lowest in the NFL. This is significant not only because we have money to spend but because this also includes the salaries of Elvis, Champ, two high paid QBs (Tebow and Orton) and DJ Williams (the second highest paid player on the defense). That means the core of the Broncos is already accounted for. In the coming years the Broncos will likely have to open up the checkbook for Ryan Clady and Brandon Lloyd will get a bump in pay but other than that, there is plenty of room to add key free agents.

Pat Bowlen's recent letter to season ticket holders guaranteed the Broncos will return to their winning ways. If he is going to keep his promise, he is going to have to start opening up the bank account. If the Broncos want to return to winning they are going to have to find a balance between finding quality players thru the draft and spend money on quality free agents. If you want to look at teams that made quick turnarounds, look no further to a few teams playing in the Conference Championships this weekend. A few years ago the Chicago Bears the worst team in the NFC North, not named Detroit. After opening up the pocket book for Jay Cutler, Julius Peppers, Chestor Taylor and resigning Lance Briggs, they are now playing for a chance to get into the Super Bowl. Now look over at the AFC Championship. It was only a few years ago the Jets were so bad, they were looking for a new coach. After spending money on Jason Taylor, LT, a pro-bowl O-Line, Bart Scott, Derrell Revis and paying a rookie QB All Pro money, they are now a win away from their ultimate goal.

Lets assume that Bowlen is going to spend like he is a top 10 team. That would put his payroll around $125,000,000 (+/-) or equal to that of the Chicago Bears. With the Broncos currently around $95,000,000 that means they have around $30,000,000 to play with this off-season.

What does this mean? If Bowlen is truly committed to winning. He will do whatever it takes to sign key FA that will help the Broncos win now. Thus, an offseason that includes Chad Greenway at $5-$6MM/yr, DeAngelo WIlliams at $6MM/yr, Owen Daniels at $6-$7MM/yr, Nnamdi Asomugha at $12MM and Charles Johnson at $6MM/yr isnt that far fetched.

If the Cleveland Browns can have a payroll at $132,000,000 and not be in the top 10 in net worth, the Broncos can afford to go after whatever it takes to get back into the playoffs.

Lets hope Bowlen is telling the truth when he says he will return to our winning ways. Going after some instant contributors will go a long way in injecting excitement into the fan-base.

Dream Mock Draft for the Broncos

Da1Truth — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:30:47 -0000

We all know that the Broncos have huge needs on the defensive side of the ball. In this post, I will rank the top draft prospects by position of need. My rankings are based off of Broncos needs at each position. I highlighted just one player and the best player at that respective position. My rankings are based off of video analysis and projected draft position. I will highlight the best prospect in the round the Broncos could/should be targeting the respective player.

Areas of Need:

-Defensive Line

-Secondary (both safety and CB)

-Linebacker

-Tight End

-Fullback

Lets start the show:

Broncos Target in the First Round:

Defensive Line/OLB:

DeQuan Bowers, DE/OLB, 6'3" 280 lbs from Clemson. I put him here because he is athletic enough (reportedly runs a 4.6 in the 40) to play DE in a 4-3 and if we pursue Mike Trgovac (as reported) to run the defense, there is a good chance we stick with the 3-4. He is currently the D-Line coach under Dom Capers who is a 3-4 defensive genius. Bowers is an athletic freak and led the nation in sacks this year. This will put Ayers as a two down player (where he belongs) and having Doom and Bowers coming off the edge will be a QBs nightmare and create turnovers in the secondary.

Da'Quan Bowers Highlights Part 1 (Eminem Version) (via clemson2311)

Secondary:

Patrick Peterson, CB LSU is the top prospect at corner. That being said, assuming we draft Bowers in the first round we have to settle for the best 2nd round prospect. This is a huge area of need, according to Woody Paige, Champ will be resigned and Parish Cox could be sent to the penitentiary or suspended for a significant period of time.

Broncos Target in the 2nd Round:

Aaron Williams, CB Texas at 6'1" 200lbs he is a good sized corner. He is a good asset in the run game and due to Texas' slide this season, he will fall into the second round. he will learn under Champ and could be a fixture in the secondary for years to come.

Aaron Williams vs. Nebraska ('09) (via AloAloysius)

Safety (Additional 2nd round pick from Miami)

Robert Sands, FS West Virginia 6'4" 220lbs. He is an athletic freak. Safety is a position that is very deep with 2nd round prospects. I looked at video of everyone the Broncos should target and Robert Sands is the most impressive. He is not afraid to come up and make the big hit and he covers a lot of ground in the secondary. He is so impressive, I wouldnt mind if the Broncos targeted him with the 1st pick in the 2nd round. If you dont believe me...watch this highlight video. He will be a fixture for the Broncos for the next 10 years....

Predator 2 (Robert Sands Sophomore Highlights) (via dougitydog)

Broncos Target in the 3rd Round:

Linebacker:

Bruce Carter, ILB 6'2" 240 lbs from North Carolina. He is a late 1st or 2nd rd talent that falls because of a knee injury. He is a tackling machine that would instantly (when healthy) upgrade the LB position. He is an athletic ILB...how athletic is he? Watch this video....

Bruce Carter INT - UNC v. Rutgers (via dooksucks24)

Broncos Target in the 6th round:

Wesley Saunders, TE, 6'5" 260lbs South Carolina: He is a stud athlete who falls because of character concerns. He is a legitimate 2nd round talent (maybe 1st if he played this season) and would be an instant upgrade over the current TEs on our roster.

Broncos Target in the 7th Round:

Anthony Shurman, FB Uconn- 6'2" 240lbs. I know this is going out on a ledge, but he reminds me a lot of Peyton Hillis. He has the size and hands of Hillis but lacks in the speed department. He has played in a pro offense and lead the way for some pretty impressive running attacks the last 3 years.

via www.thesunchronicle.com

If the Broncos found a way to get these players, there is a chance they found themselves longtime starters with all 6 picks...lets hope they do. Thoughts?

McCoy is a keeper! With Mock for a 3-4

Da1Truth — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:19:30 -0000

I personally am pleased with the hiring of John Fox as our 14th Head Coach. I think he has a proven track record of installing toughness into a team. He was the best coach on the market. Players love playing for him and he will bring much needed consistency to the defensive side of the ball. I like the idea of keeping McCoy on as our OC for two major reasons.

1) He knows Tebows strengths and weaknesses and averaged 25 ppg while at the helm.

2) With the CBA there is a good chance the season wont begin until August. Thus teams wont have many practices to install plays, schemes etc. Keeping McCoy will allow for the offense to not skip a beat and hit the ground running once the CBA is restructured. He can keep the passing scheme he learned from McDaniels and implement the run game Fox is going to bring with him from Carolina.

If we had to hire a new OC the team would have only a few weeks to learn the scheme and system while the new OC would have limited time learning his players strengths and weaknesses while building a game plan.

Off Season Mock...after the jump...

1) He knows Tebows strengths and weaknesses and averaged 25 ppg while at the helm.

Off Season Mock...after the jump...

I honestly think the Fox will keep the 3-4 intact. Elway would like to stick with that because our personnel is better suited. In addition, we just gave Dumerville $60million and at 248lbs he will be a serious liability in the run game in a base 4-3. In addition, getting pressure in the 3-4 is typically because you are able to get mismatches on the edge. You end up with TE and RBs blocking rush OLBs (Elvis, Ayers). Ayers has proven he cant rush the passer and it would only get worse if we line up in a base 4-3 and he goes against Tackles every time.

Key Free Agents:

1) Re-sign Champ Bailey.

2) DeAngelo Williams- Follows Fox to Denver and Fox is a fan of the two RB system. He teams with Moreno to have one of the better backfields in the AFC. he is still young (27) and is versitile.

3) Re-Sign Ryan Harris- When healthy, he is one of the better RTs in the AFC. Fox is a fan of the zone run scheme and Harris was at his best when the offense was running a lot of zone.

4) Bo Scaife- Cheap TE that comes back to his home town. He is affordable and is great in the run game. He also has proven to be an asset in the Redzone (I think Graham is going to be released)

Off-Season Trades: With the CBA in place, team can make trades with current players on their roster until March 4th.

-Kyle Orton to Minnesota for 2nd round pick (43rd overall)- Orton follows McDaniels and the Vikings dont have a lot of holes (other than QB) to contend right away. They can trade their 1st rd pick (11th overall) and collect more picks and select one of the many O/D Linemen that will be available later in the first round.

-Jabar Gaffney to New England for 5th round pick (160th)- New England knows they dont need top flight WR to compete. They have the highest scoring offense in the NFL and not one receiver is taller than 6'0". They bring back Gaffney who has familiarity in their system and he becomes one of Brady's favorite targets.

-DJ Williams to New Orleans for a 3rd rd pick (72nd)- DJ is better suited to be a WLB in a 4-3. He teams up with his old college teammate (Vilma) to form an athletic 4-3 LB core.

Denver Picks in 2011 Draft

1st Rd-2nd overall

2nd Rd- 36th, 43rd (from Vikings for Orton), 45th (from Miami),

3rd Rd- 67th, 72nd (from New Orleans-from Washington for DJ Williams)

5th- 160th (from New England for Gaffney)

6th-192nd (from New England)

7th- 194th

Mock Draft:

1st Rd- *Trade Alert* Broncos trade back and pick up Dallas' 9th pick in 1st rd and 9th pick in the second.

1st Rd-9th Pick-DE/OLB Robert Quinn-6'6" 270lbs and is a athletic freak. He reportedly runs in the 4.6's and is a spitting image of Julius Peppers. He is athletic enough to play with his hand of the ground in a 3-4 and if the 3-4 experiment doesn't work he can convert to a 4-3 DE. Ayers is a 2 down player PERIOD. He cant rush the QB and Having Quinn and Doom coming off the edge in passing situations would bring an element to the pass rush we havent seen in Bronco Country in some time.

2nd Rd-36th overall- TE, Notre Dame, Kyle Rudolph 6'6" 260lbs. Is the best TE prospect in the draft. He slips because of injury concerns. A solid TE is key in a young QBs development. Two TE sets are key in the zone run scheme. Rudolph and Scaife will be significant threats in the redzone and Rudolph at 6'6" will be a security blanket for Tebow for years to come.

2nd Rd- 41st overall (From Cowboys)- DT/DE, Wisconsin, JJ Watt 6'6" 290lbs. He is a high motor player who came on strong to end the season for Wisconsin. He is a converted TE and has tremendous athletic ability. The only ris is he might not be here in the second round. If he is there with the first pick in the 2nd, we have to jump on him. He is a perfect fit as a 5 tech in a 3-4 and could slide to a 3 tech in a 4-3.

2nd Rd- 43rd overall (From Vikings)- FS, North Carolina, Duenta Williams 6'2" 220lbs. A big, fast, true Center Field safety. A converted receiver and has great hands. He is fast and takes great angles in defending passes. Will instantly start over Ronaldo Hill and be a fixture in the defense for years to come.

2nd Rd- 45th overall (From Miami)- ILB, Illinois, Martez Wilson 6'4" 250lbs.. A true 3-4 ILB. Is great in the run game and is athletic enough to cover a lot of ground.

3rd Rd (From New Orleans)-NT Hampton, Kenrick Ellis 6'5" 340lbs. A true 3-4 NT. A couple of years working under Williams and he can be the true run stuffer we need in the interior.

5th rd (From New England)- FB UConn, Anthony Sherman-5'11" 240lbs. He has great hands and is fast enough to create mismatches out of the backfield. He has been in a pro style offense at UConn and cleared the way for some pretty good running backs in the Big East.

6th rd (from New England)- OT, Auburn, Lee Ziemba 6'8" 310 lbs. After a few years of seasoning can be the RT of the Broncos future.

7th rd- RB Virgina Tech Darren Evans- Can become a practice squad player but has the ability to be an NFL caliber starter with a few years under his belt.

This draft can set the future up for succes for many years and will bring youth into an aging defense.

Go Broncos!

Off Season of our Dreams!

Da1Truth — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 21:43:07 -0000

We are in for a long yet exciting off-season in Bronco Country. We will be announcing John Elway at the VP of Operations the day after the Chargers game and it looks like we are going to keep Xanders and the scouting department intact. Im a fan of that move because we cant afford turnover in the scouting department this late in the process with all of the holes that need to be fixed with the current roster.

GM-Xanders keeps his scouting department intact and they actually focus on team needs now that McDaniels is gone (defense)

Head Coach-Jim Fassell- Six of the last 10 Super Bowls were lead by a coach on their second tour of duty manning a different team (Belichick x3, Gruden, Dungy, Vermeil). Fossil was the coach of the Giants in 2001 when lost in the Super Bowl . He is a great offensive mind and also has great relationships with the two best coordinators on the market.

Offensive Coordinator- Gary Kubiak, Fassell was his QB coach when he played for the Broncos and brings a knowledge of the running game that we need in order to support Tebow in the future.The Texans say they are going to keep Kubiak, we will see how the season ends. I lived in Houston and I know the fan-base is calling for his head.

Defensive Coordinator- Wade Phillips, coached with Fassell when he was with the Broncos and is a master of the 3-4 defense. He is what the Broncos need to get this defense whipped back into shape along with a few good drafts and FA acquisitions.

Free Agent Signings-

Kellen Winslow-TE- Still explosive and a great weapon in the red zone. A TE is a young QBs best friend. We need to bring in someone who can actually catch the ball and help in Tebows development

Barrett Ruud- ILB- A downhill ILB that is great in the run game. Takes great angles and wraps up thus doesnt miss many tackles. Will impact the run defense immediately.

DeAngelo Williams-RB- Knowshon is not an everydown back. He has durability concerns and the addition of Williams (only 27 yrs old) will significantly help us in the redzone and make the Broncos one of the best offenses in the NFL. We are not going to win many games asking Tebow to throw it 50 times a game. Williams paired with Moreno in Kubiaks offense will lead the NFL in rushing, the same blueprint the Chiefs used this year.

Champ Bailey- Resign him already

Brandon Lloyd- His circus catches made Orton and Tebow look good all year long.

Ryan Harris- When healthy, one of the best RT in the AFC

2011 NFL Draft (assuming we lose a close game to the Chargers this weekend thus selecting 2nd overall)

1st Round-Nick Fairley,,DT Auburn - A true 5 technique. Can penetrate in the run game and rush the passer if needed. Youth infused into the D-Line has to be a huge priority this off season.

2nd Rd- Gred Jones- ILB Michigan State- Fast and sure tackler. Can cover TEs and come up and stop the run.

2nd Rd (From Miami)- Kyle Rudolph- TE Notre Dam- 6'6" and sure hands. Can team up with Winlsow to provide a serious threat in the red zone. If we are going back to the zone run scheme 2 TE sets are a must. Winslow and Rudolph can form a tandem that is unrivaled in the NFL.

3rd Rd- Duenta Williams- FS North Carolina- A 6'2" 220lb former receiver that has great ball skills, likes to punish runners and is always around the ball. A first round talent that slips to the 3rd because of a broken bone in his ankle during his bowl game.

With the latter picks we need to address the FB position and a project at OLB that can actually rush the passer (uhumm. Ayers)....

This is a great model to set us up for the future. If Tebow continues his development, we can have a turnaround as quick as the Chiefs or Falcons and compete for a Super Bowl in just a few years.

Thoughts?

Injury helps Broncos Draft

Da1Truth — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 01:31:31 -0000

Watching the Music City Bowl and there are two defensive prospects on the field, both from North Carolina, whom I would like to see the Broncos draft. Quan Sturdivant is likely the top ILB in the upcoming draft and Deunta Williams is the top safety prospect. Unfortunately Williams suffered a serious leg injury and needed to be carted off the field. I truly feel sorry for the kid as the injury might have cost him a million dollars since he was expected by some to be drafted in the latter part of the 1st round.

It appears to be a broken bone, much easier to heal from than a ligament. The injury will likely cost Williams to slide in the draft. Fortunately for Broncos fans we might be in position to draft Williams with one of our 3rd round picks (assuming we can get an additional 3rd by trading Orton).

Williams is a stud. He is a converted receiver (great hands) who stands at 6'2" and weighs 220lbs. He can play in the box, doesnt shy away from contact and is always around the ball.

I hope the best for Williams and would like to see someone take a flier on him in the first round. That being said, if he slips, I hope the Broncos are the team that grabs him.

If we do target a safety in the 3rd, we can address one of our offensive needs in the 2nd. I wouldn't mind going after a stud RB (Micheal Leshour from Illinois) or TE (Kyle Rudolph) if available especially if they feel comfortable getting Williams in the 3rd.

I wish Williams the best...hopefully in blue and orange.

Good Idea to Keep Xanders

Da1Truth — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 02:56:55 -0000

This is going to be a very eventful off-season. For the first time in Broncos history we will likely have a top 3 pick. There are going to be changes both the front office and coaching staff. Considering this season is a waste, I am actually looking forward to the off-season ahead.

It sounds like Bowlen and Co. have already made up their mind regarding the front office. Elway is likely to be announced VP of Football Operations the day the season ends. It seems that they are inclined to keep Xanders as a GM with more decision making responsibility regarding personnel decisions. The more I think about it, the more I like it. Why...after the jump....

Xanders has managed the scouting department for the last 2 years and the '10 draft looks to be one of the best this decade. Of the 9 picks it looks like 7 of them are going to be starters in the NFL for years to come. While everyone (including me) criticized the Bey Bey Thomas pick, when healthy, he was the most gifted WR on the field this season. The Tebow pick has been scrutinized by everyone from NY to LA and after two starts, he seem to be the face of the franchise moving forward. Beadles and Walton are only going to improve on the O-Line and in limited duty Decker looks like he is going to make many big plays for the Broncos in the future. Cox (if he stays out of jail) will likely replace Goodman (or Champ) and Syd"Quan Thompson has locked up the nickle corner position.

Considering that we are likely going to have 3 picks in the top 45 we cant afford to have a wasted draft like we did in '09 when McDaniels took the helm. Hiring a new GM and making him bring in his own staff can hurt us more than help us moving forward. Xanders has been watching the Broncos all season and clearly knows the Broncos areas of need (Defensive interior and secondary). We cant afford a new regime to come in and make assumptions on the needs of this team. We cant afford to have another mistake, like drafting a RB with the 12th pick even though we had a future Pro Bowler at that position (Hillis) and numerous defensive studs still available (Orakpo, Cushing, Clay Mathews.). Everyone in Broncos Country already knew what we had in Hillis and it appeared that the new regime had never even looked at film of the current roster before the draft.

More importantly, with the NFL labor dispute there are going to be limited opportunities for the new regime to hold practices during the off-season to evaluate talent currently on the roster. If a new front office is put in place, it will be difficult for them to evaluate team needs via free agency and the draft without the ability to hold off-season workouts.

Keeping Xander and the current scouting department in place guarantees we focus on the needs of this team based recent performances (or lack there of). If Xanders department can put together another draft like last year, yet focus heavily on the defensive needs, there is a chance this off-season can set the tone for long term success for this franchise for years to come.

The Real Problem on Defense

Da1Truth — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 03:52:03 -0000

Im an avid reader of the MileHighReport.com and it seems everyone has their own views to the Broncos defensive issues. Some want to scrap the 3-4, others want to overhaul the D-Line but nobody wants to point to the real issue. The 3-4 is designed to create mismatches in the pass rush and provide multiple looks for gap integrity (which confuses an offense). If used correctly (see Mike Nolan before McDaniels starting telling him what to do) you have rush linebackers being blocked by RBs and TEs (creating more pressure on the QB) and D-Linemen taking up blockers allowing LBs to flow to the ball.

Injuries to Elvis significantly effected the defense but the two major issues were scheme and horrible tackling and angles by the Broncos LB core. Wink Martinadale goes from a positional coach without ever being a coordinator in the NFL and is then being asked to draw up 3-4 defensive schemes. You wonder why TE's and FBs are running wide open all over the field? The artistry of the 3-4 takes years to master that is why all of the successfull D-Coordinators of the 3-4 have been running the scheme for years (Capers, Labeau, Phillips, Nolan, etc). The 3-4 allows for various fronts and numerous ways to blitz without putting pressure on the secondary. You can draw up pressure with in creative ways that confuse the offense and create mismatches that allow a true rush DE (OLB) to be matched up on a back or TE. Watch the Steelers and see how many QB pressures Harrison provides on a QB because he is being blocked by a TE or Demarcus Ware being blocked by a RB.

To get the Broncos 3-4 to work and bring respectability back to the Orange Crush these 3 simple things need to happen...after the jump...

1) Hire a D-Coordinator that has extensive experience in the 3-4.

Mike Nolan came in an turned a bunch of castoffs into the 7th ranked defense in the NFL. For the first 6 games of the season they were THE top ranked defense. Then after the bye week, McDaniels tried to put his stamp and the defense and it fell apart. If he listed to the wise words of Teddy Roosevelt, "The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good people to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep forom meeddling with them while they do it" ...Mike Nolan would still be coaching a top ranked defense and McDaniels would likely be the coach. Now Mike Nolan (who is doing what HE wants to do) is leading the 6th ranked rushing defense in the NFL down in Miami.

2) Draft or sign good tackling Linebackers

The point of the 3-4 is to have your D-Line eat up blockers and allow your LB to make the tackle. The reason the Broncos have been at the bottom of the league in run defense is because Mario Hagan and DJ Williams are the worse tackling LB tandem in the NFL. If you don't believe me...watch the film of both Raiders games, Cardinals and Ravens. Then count how many bad angles and missed tackles the pair compiled. Then watch Ray Lewis, James Farrior, Brian Urlacher or EJ Henderson and see how they wrap up on every tackle and take away cut back lanes. DJ and Mario love to lead with their shoulders and when you face RBs that can move in space, they sidestep the shoulder (or run thru it) and take advantage of the bad angles and boom...you have the worst rushing defense in the NFL.

3) Get Healthy

If Elvis, Ayers and Vickers were able to stay healthy this defense would be respectable. When the defense was healthy early in the year, they played competitively. Elvis instantly pressures apposing QBs and will add value to our secondary which has been exposed a few times this year. You can also stack more guys in the box with Elvis to stop the run because you dont allow QBs time to get the ball downfield in the passing game.

Changing back to the 4-3 after you gave $60 million to Elvis who is an undersized DE is not a good idea. Using the 2nd overall pick in the 2011 draft on a 5 technique just to eat up blockers...again not a good idea. Following steps 1 through 3 above...would instantly bring the Broncos defense back to respectability.

How to get the Broncos back to the Playoffs Next Year...

Da1Truth — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 01:55:02 -0000

Tunraound in the NFL can be quick. We all remmeber the 2007 Falcons, the laughing stock of the NFL. The 1-15 Dolphins that went to the playoffs one year later and of course the Kansas City Chiefs, who only one year ago was at the bottom of the AFC West. In this post, Im going to be playing John Elway, recently hired as VP of Football Operations (Hopefully) to make a quick turnaround of the Broncos franchise...First order of business...after the jump

GM- Eric DeCosta- The Ravens wrote the book on building through the draft and singing/trading for key veterans. We can use someone to assist.

Head Coach- John Gruden- You know you are good when you win a Super Bowl and get fired from a 9-7 team that wins only 4 games the following season.

O-Coordinater- Gary Kubiak- Brings the zone run game back and we finally are able to run the ball. The run game will thrive and immediately help with Tebows development. Plus he knows how to use, big, tall, fast receivers like Bey Bey Thomas (see: Andre Johnson).

D-Coord-Wade Phillips- Yes, he cant be a head coach...but he knows the 3-4. With $60 mill locked up in Elvis, I dont think we can afford to switch back to the 4-3.

Key Free Agent Signings:

DeAngelo Williams RB- Can split time with Knowhson. Has great hands and is only 27 so there are a few more useful years in his legs. The offense is young and only needs a few upgrades, RB is one of them.

Owen Daniels, TE- We get him on the cheap since he had a down year following an injury. Daniel Graham has brick hands and if we are going back to the zone run game, 2 TE sets are key. Not to mention, a TE is a QBs best friend.

Re-Sign Champ Bailey- He can still shut down number 1 WRs and is good enough in the run game to convert to a safety later in his career.

Chad Greenway LB- Proven run stopper and if you saw both Raiders games, you know that we need upgrades to BOTH inside LB positions. Singing one good tackler in the off-season should help significantly. I cant stand watching our linebackers tackle with their shoulders and miss (repeatedly) in the open field.

2011 NFL Draft:

1st Rd- Patrick Peterson, CB LSU- 6'1" 220 lbs and runs a 4.4...need I say more...but I will, he can return punts and kicks and loves to hit...might actually end up playing safety (another area of need) if we keep Champ we can instantly have one of the best secondaries in the NFL.

2nd Rd- JJ Watts- DE, Wisconsin- 6'6" 295lbs- If you watched the Big 10 you saw that JJ Watt was the best player on the field every time Wisconsin played. He has the size to play the 5 technique and athleticism to rush the passer and stop the run.

2nd Rd- Quan Sturdivant-ILB North Carolina- The best ILB in this years draft. He can run in the 4.5's and is a ferocious hitter. Could be the best ILB on the roster since big Al Wilson. The big reason our defense has been so porous inst the D-Line, it is the horrible angles and missed tackles by our LB core. DJ Williams and Mario Hagan are just plain bad.

3rd Round- Mark Barron, FS Alabama- 6'2" 215 lbs and a hard hitter that might be able to contribute immediately.

With the remaining picks we need to draft depth on the DL and maybe sneak in a late round RB (which has proven to work under Kubiak). I think we all agree that most if not all of the attention needs to be paid to the defensive side of the ball.

If we play our cards right, our turnaround can be quicker than most people think.

Your thoughts?

Tebow, Orton Dilemma

Da1Truth — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 14:02:25 -0000

I will admit, going into the 2010 Draft I wasn't a fan of Tebow. I didnt think his skills would translate into McDaniels spread offense. After watching him during the preseason, my perception has changed. He has mobility and could extend plays. I was extremely impressed by his arm strength. And while his mechanics (and throwing to his right) need some work, he can throw a very good deep ball. I truly believe after spending a couple of seasons on the bench, watching Orton shred opposing defenses through the air, Tebow can be the face of the Broncos for years to come.

Going into this season, I had questioned Ortons skill-set as an NFL QB. I though he didn't have the mobility to extend plays or footwork in the pocket to step up and make a throw. I questioned his ability to put the team on his back and go win a game when needed (see: Elway). I was also concerned about his ability to stretch the field with the deep ball. Well...4 games (I know, small sample size) in to the 2010 season and Orton has answered all of my questions. He has significantly improved his footwork in the pocket, he has now thrown a TD with under 2 minutes left to preserve a victory and is on pace to shatter the NFL passing mark set by Dan Marino in 1984.Right now he is a top 5 or 6 QB in the entire NFL.

These development create quite a dilemma for the Broncos...a good problem to have...but they have too many quarterbacks....what are they to do?

This has to be a question on every Bronco fans mind. What is McX and going to do when Orton's contract expires at the end of the 2011 season? Are they going to say their goodbyes to Orton? When the NFL is a game centered around who is under center (look at the past Super Bowl Winners...Brees, Manning x2, Brady, Big Ben) can you really let a record setting QB walk? Do they trade Tebow to someone desperate for a QB (Bills, Raiders, Vikings, Jacksonville) and collect a bevy of draft picks (or pick) in exchange? Do the Broncos give thanks to Orton for his services and welcome in the Tebow era? Im curious, what are Bronco Country's thoughts on this matter?

Poll

If Orton continues his impressive play at QB, what do the Broncos do after the 2011 season?

Sign Orton to long term deal and trade Tebow

51 votes

Trade Orton prior to contract expiring and get draft picks in exchange

114 votes

Let Orton walk and welcome the Tebow era

12 votes

177 votes | Poll has closed

Broncos 2011 Draft Preview

Da1Truth — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 20:09:20 -0000

http://www.sbnation.com/admin/entries/new?community_id=55&entry_type=FanPost

Now that the first quarter of both the NFL and college season is over, team needs are starting to take shape and college prospects are starting to make a name for themselves. As a Broncos fan, who watches every game and re-watches most of them, their off-season needs are starting to transform. With the mishandling by McX in the '09 draft (Quinn, Alphonso, etc) they made up for it in '10. They maneuvered magnificently throughout the draft and somehow left with 2 first round picks and 9 picks overall. More importantly, the players they drafted are looking like long time NFL contributors. With that in mind, it is time to start thinking about 2011...after the jump.

http://www.sbnation.com/admin/entries/new?community_id=55&entry_type=FanPost

The Broncos head into the 2011 draft with 6 total picks, one in the 1st, two in the 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th rounds. I am going to assume, using our 2-2 record, we are picking in the middle of the round. Here are my early season projections:

1st Rd) Cameron Heyward: DE, Ohio State. 6'6" 290lbs

A true 5 tech defensive end. While our Free Agent class has looked great so far into the season, especially in stopping the run, we need to inject some youth. Heyward has top 5 talent but consistency is an issue. Putting him in a locker room surrounded by veteran leadership (Dawkins, Bailey, WIlliams, Bannon, etc) should maximize his ability.

2nd Rd) Mikel Leshoure: RB, Illinois. 6'1" 230lbs.

Everyone knows the running game is in shambles. After watching the film, the blame doesnt fall entirely on the O-Line. There are holes but our backs have a tendency to dance in the hole and to be quite honest....look slow. Leshoure is big (230lbs) and will immediately help in short yardage. He also is rumored to run a sub 4.5 forty, which will automatically make him faster than Moreno. He also posses great hands and would be a perfect fit for this offense that has a huge need at the RB position.

2nd Rd (From Miami) Jerrell Powe: NT, Ole Miss. 6'2" 330lbs.

As stated earlier, the D-Line needs youth. Powe is a true NT with size and a great ability to collapse the pocket in the run game and the ability to get to the QB on 3rd down. He can spend a season or two learning from one of the best at the position in Jamal Williams.

3rd Rd) DJ Williams: TE, Arkansas, 6'2" 250lbs.

With the departure of Scheffler and the miss on Richard Quinn, the Broncos are in desperate need of a TE that can stretch the field. DJ Williams can create mismatches on the perimeter with his size and route running ability he could be a valuable receiving threat for Tebow for years to come.

6th Rd) Justin Boren: OG, Ohio State, 6'3" 315lbs.

We have a young O-Line but there are still some major holes to fill. Boren can eventually become the LG of our future as Beadles slides out to tackle. O-Line is a position that can be filled later in the draft and with Boren's Big 10 background should translate well into the NFL.

7th Rd) Chris Rucker: S, Michigan State, 6'2", 200lbs

You know McX likes drafting DB's. Rucker has great cover skills for a safety and that could match up well considering we play some very talented TE's in the AFC West. He could be a special teams stand out and eventually help replace Dawkins if he ever ages.

Your thoughts?

And with the 11th pick the Broncos select....

Da1Truth — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:21:20 -0000

The draft is upon us! As free agency takes shape and with the combine in our rear-view mirror, its time to start thinking about the Broncos pick at 11.

The more I read up it appears with the 11th pick the Broncos might be stuck in a quandary. All of the top talent (which also happens to be our biggest needs) will be off the board by the time they pick. The best DL are going in the top 5 and Dan Williams (one year wonder) at 11 is a reach. The Jaguars (pick 10) are looking to trade down while the Giants are looking to trade up for Rolando McClain. There is a need for a center, again a reach with the 11th pick. Dez Bryant seems like a future NFL star but word on the street is he could be another headache for McDaniels. If we cant find a partner to trade down what do the Broncos do?

One would think they would draft the best player available (McDaniels/Xanders draft history withstanding) since drafting talent rather than reaching for need...uhemm...Jarvis Moss...has proven to be successful. With that in mind the top player likely to be left on the board is...drum-roll....CJ Spiller. Yes, I know they drafted a RB last year but there is recent history to suggest this isn't a bad idea. This has turned into a two RB league and everywhere you turn teams are loading up at the position. A few examples:

-Panther draft DeAngelo Williams in the first round and a season later they draft Jonathan Stewart. Now they own the reputation as the best running team in the NFL. More impressively they did this behind a QB that couldn't hit anyone in the same colored jersey.

-The Titans drafted LenDale White in the 2nd and a year later they selected Chris Johnson in the 1st. As a result White led the league in rushing TDs in '08 and Chris Johnson led in yards in '09.

-The Dallas Cowboys had a proven mauler in Marion Barber and what do they do?...they draft Felix Jones in the first round. They have been pounding the ball down teams throats ever since.

All three of these teams have run games Bronco Country would trade for in a heartbeat.

This is even more intriguing because Spiller WILL actually fill a need. He will be a home run threat in the return game allowing Royal to return to his rookie form at WR. He can also be the change of pace back that brings 4.3 speed to the Broncos edge rushing attack and screen game. In addition, their 20th ranked offense was already short on speed and lacked depth in the skill positions (even more so if Brandon Marshall leaves).

I agree that the Broncos have other needs. I would love to see the Broncos find a quality (big body) center, a replacement for Brandon Marshall, a stout ILB and some youth and size on both sides of the line. Reaching for players at these positions with the 11th pick just to fill a need could be a huge mistake. Im hoping the Broncos go with the best player available and it looks like it could be the big play back our offense desperately needed last season.

The draft is upon us! As free agency takes shape and with the combine in our rear-view mirror, its time to start thinking about the Broncos pick at 11.

-The Titans drafted LenDale White in the 2nd and a year later they selected Chris Johnson in the 1st. As a result White led the league in rushing TDs in '08 and Chris Johnson led in yards in '09.

-The Dallas Cowboys had a proven mauler in Marion Barber and what do they do?...they draft Felix Jones in the first round. They have been pounding the ball down teams throats ever since.

All three of these teams have run games Bronco Country would trade for in a heartbeat.

Poll

Should the Broncos select CJ Spiller (assuming McClain is gone)?

yes

74 votes

no

168 votes

242 votes | Poll has closed