I guess this post may become irrelevant in the coming months as none of us have a clue as to what exactly is going on at Dove Valley, made even less clear by the number of unnamed sources flying around (thanks primarily to Mike Florio and Vic Lombardi, those paragons of reliable news). However, contrary to ‘reports’, logically it makes sense to keep Tim Tebow around, whatever happens with the Peyton Manning saga, at the very least for the 2012 season.

Whilst I am generally treating John Elway's statements with slight suspicion these days, I think they’ve been mostly honest with what they’ve said about Tim. Do they want him to be the guy? Of course, they want him to become that person, given that it would cost them nothing if he did. Do they hope he can become a pocket passer? Naturally. However, I doubt they think that now is that time and, whilst they anointed him the TC starter only a few weeks ago, the Manning situation is unique enough for it to be an extenuating circumstance. Whichever way you cut it, TT still needs time, regardless of whether that be on the field or on the sidelines.

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The second part to my "Rebuilding the Roster" post - here is the first part for the offensive side of the ball.  The results from this year imply that the D roster should be fairly ugly.  Here goes:

 

DE

Justin Bannan - Brought in to be a starter, Justin has been a bit of a disappointment.  The guy is currently better than any of our other options, but I'd much rather have him rotate than be a full-time starer.  To be fair to him, he has played much better in recent weeks, but hasn't done much to convince me that he should hold down his spot in the long term.  Rotational/Backup

Kevin Vickerson - a nice surprise, especially considering that he hasn't played in a 3-4 alignment before.  Vick has held up well at the point of attack, taken away Ryan McBean's place and brings a nasty streak which has been missing from our line for a long time.  However, I'm not sure if he brings potential starting talent to the table; in any case though, he'd make an excellent rotational guy and spot starter. Rotational/Backup

Marcus Thomas - I think Thomas has done enough to earn a small extension as he grows into his role as a nickel rusher after being misused for 3 seasons.  He's been disruptive at times and generates a good push up the middle; with more pass rush from the edges with Doom's return, he should have more opportunities to be disruptive up the middle as the OL pays less attention to him - hopefully he can work towards replacing what we lost in Vonnie Holliday.  Rotational/Backup

Ryan McBean - Repeated facemask penalties in front of referees are inexcusable, especially when it keeps opposition drives alive.  He was pretty serviceable in 09 but has done little other than hurt the team this year.  Needs to Go

 

NT

Jamal Williams - not as good as we would have liked, but has been relatively solid in the middle.  I'd keep him next year as a one year stop-gap solution to MENTOR AND SPLIT TIME WITH THE NT WE TAKE IN THE DRAFT.  Cough.  Rotational

Ronald Fields - at the end of a 2-year $6 million contract and hasn't really shown all that much this season, mainly working in nickel situations.  Shame he didn't develop as we'd hoped, but he was the best we could get in FA at the time.  Needs to Go

 

OLB

Robert Ayers - not sure what to classify him as, if it weren't for injury, I'd class him as starter talent now.  When healthy, he's played well against the run and has put pressure on the QB although consistently gets there a few milliseconds too late.  However, I have no doubt that he will develop in to a fine starter, especially with the return of Elvis and IMPROVEMENTS ON THE DL. Cough. Developing Starter Talent

Elvis Dumervil - not much to say here apart from his absence has really hurt this team this year.  Needs to improve against the run, although 17 sacks and relentless pressure on the QB make him worth every penny.  An excellent player and person in the locker room. Elite Talent

Jason Hunter - Playing well in rotation for a guy who is learning 3-4 OLB on the go.  He was known as a pass rush specialist in Detroit, but has been serviceable (most of the time) against the run this season.  I think he'll be used more as a pass rush specialist next year, and hopefully he can help to replace Darrell Reid's production (who, incidentally, I'd love to see come back, although I believe his career is in jeopardy).  Rotational/Backup

David Veikune - former second round pick in 09 who got shuffled between ILB and OLB in Cleveland and ended up fizzling out.  From the scout reports, it seems that he may not be the most talented, but has a relentless motor.  Ability to do spot duty at ILB increases his worth.  Rotational/Backup

Kevin Alexander - saw him a bit in preseason, not really sure what we have here but wouldn't hold my breath over him having a breakout.  Backup/Marginal Talent

 

ILB

D. J. Williams - although never quite breaking into the realms of elite talent (elite athleticism, average instincts), DJ's an excellent starter.  I know he's not the most popular guy in Broncoland at the moment, but he's not the sort of player who needs replacing.  I do feel sorry for him as he's played behind awful defensive lines for 4 seasons now; I really hope that changes next year (as always).  Starter Talent

Mario Haggan - an career ST player (and an excellent one at that), he's proven he can play both the OLB and TED positions.  I was hoping for more of him at ILB this season however, especially considering his size, and lately he's been shuffled to get Mays in the lineup (although he'll be shuffling back this week as Mays goes on IR).  A great team player, but I wouldn't want him as more than a stop-gap starter.  His pass rush skills seem to be improving though. Rotational/Backup

Joe Mays - known in Missouri as "Moeaki's Bane", he's brought some fire to this D.  Well, he did until he IRed himself.  Initially tentative, he's grown into his role quite quickly although maybe needs to be careful with overpursuing.  However, I do question whether he can hold up at the TED position at ~245 lbs. Although there's a chance he may develop into a "true" starter, we've not really seen enough of him yet.  Backup/Rotational

Wesley Woodyard - excellent ST player who brings passion and intensity; our ST units definitely missed him during his injury.  He's not big enough to hold up in a 3-4 full time, although creative coaches will be able to put him to good use as he's a good cover linebacker.  However, matching him up repeatedly on Dallas Clark does not classify as "good use".  Backup/Rotational

 

CB

Champ Bailey - maybe not the game changer that he once was, there's no question that Champ is still elite.  Has been prone to a one-game slip the last couple of seasons, but still shuts down his guy 90% of the time. He'll be happy to have a pass rush back.  Elite Talent

Perrish Cox - people thought he'd come in and dominate and...he hasn't.  Some closer observers think he's hit the rookie wall.  In any case, he has starting talent and has visibly improved this year.  Definitely look for him to challenge for the starting gig next year.  Also can be used on STs. Developing Starter Talent

Andre' Goodman - injured most of this year which has been unfortunate.  The guy's a solid cover guy (despite questionable run defence), hopefully he can make a strong comeback next season, although he probably doesn't have all that much left in the tank (after all, he spent 4 years in Detroit chasing people up and down the field).  Starter Talent

Nate Jones - brought in as a specialist nickel corner who's also played some safety when called on.  Unfortunately, he plays neither position well and has shown a deficiency in covering skills.  Granted, he'd benefit from a pass rush, but he's been torched repeatedly this season.  Needs to Go

Syd'quan Thompson - another good ST guy who's been taking quite a few reps in the dime package.  I think he'll develop into a decent nickel corner and I like the intensity that he plays with.  I'd also like to see him get a shot at punt returns after his preseason performances.  Backup/Rotational

Cassius Vaughn - I believe the only UDFA to stick with the team this season, he's been inactive recently, but played well on special teams.  I've not seen him play much corner (probably a good thing) although he seems to have excellent athleticism.  I don't expect him to be much more than a nickel or dimeback though. Backup/Rotational

 

S

Renaldo Hill - played well in 09 and believe was denoted the QB of the defence.  He's not played badly this season (obviously, lack of pass rush has hurt him), but people remember him for the Santonio Holmes penalty which seemed to completely deflate our season.  He's similar to Nick Ferguson, smart, solid player who doesn't have bags of talent.  I can't quite decide whether he's starter talent or not, but if he is truly on the decline then I hope he gets replaced in the lineup next season.  Backup/Rotational

Brian Dawkins - excellent in 09 but has really been exposed this year.  It might just be me, but he seemed more fired up last year.  I love the guy, but realistically he can't keep playing...the only scenario where he could is if we had a MONSTER pass rush next year.  He's missed a lot of tackles too though, which to me indicates that age is taking its toll.  I'm just sad that we couldn't give him a shot at a ring.  Needs to Retire

Darcel McBath - showed early on that he has bags of talent, but can't stay out of the ice bath which is really frustrating.  I'm hoping for him to a) have an injury-free season next year and b) take one of the safety spots outright.  There's no doubt that he has the potential to be an excellent starter, I just hope that injuries don't curtail his career.  Developing Starter Talent

David Bruton - a team leader at ND and a top ST player, he's been getting more and more reps this season in the absence of Dawkins and McBath.  I've not really been keeping an eye on him, but I think he could develop into a decent player; whether he has true starter potential is another question.  Either way, there's no denying his impact on STs.  Rotational/Backup

Kyle McCarthy - Haven't really seen much of him, although he's been taking some reps lately.  He looked a little lost at times in preseason and I don't expect much from him, but he may stick as an STs guy.  Backup/Marginal Talent

 

Breakdown

Elite - 2, Potential Elite - 0, Starter - 3, Developing Starter - 3, Backup/Rotational - 13, Marginal/Needs to Retire/Needs to be Cut - 5

 

We do have a shortfall of starting talent; however, we may not be as far off as we appear.  Whereas in 2008 we had a long list of players on D who didn't belong in the NFL whatsoever (such as Nate Webster, Marquand Manuel, Calvin Lowry etc.), here we have a lot of players who shouldn't be starting but would still make a lot of NFL rosters.  Unfortunately, our DL is completely made up of stop-gap players, and we NEED to take two linemen in the first 5 picks to give us some talent where we've not had much for several years.  Whilst fixing the DL will not make all the pieces fall into place on their own, it'd go a long way towards shoring up the run D.  Our LBs are pretty solid overall - there are questions at the TED spot (I was an advocate for drafting Brandon Spikes last year), but it's a position that Haggan and Mays can handle for the moment.  Whichever way you cut it, this D needs a talent infusion and I think we need to drafts to completely address this.  However, with the right personnel choices, I think a middle-of-the-pack D would be a very realistic goal for next year.

 

 

Overall - excluding our ST specialists (as there is no reason to tinker with them whatsoever...it's nice to be able to say that for once):

Elite Talent - 3, Potential Elite Talent -  2, Starter - 9, Developing Starter - 7, Backup/Rotational - 20, Marginal/Retire/Cut - 11

I'm still in a bit of shock after hearing the news last night - saw it at 11pm my time and stayed up til 2am reading all the fallout.  Whilst I advocated giving Josh at least until the bye next season, I didn't expect the firing to go down as it did.  Anyway, what's done is done...I read a quote from Adam Schefter which stated that not many coaches will be interested in this job as it is seen around the league as a major rebuilding project.  Going through the roster mentally, I didn't see it that way from a talent perspective, so I thought I'd break down the roster with my player evaluations...I'd like to hear your thoughts afterwards.  I'll do the O first, and the D later (probably when I've had supper).  Unfortunately there is no fancy formatting or nice pictures to make this post look more exciting, but I hope the content's up to snuff for most of you.

 

QB

Kyle Orton - I swear, the guy must be one of the most divisive of this team's fanbase since Jake Plummer.  The polarisation between those who love and hate him is verging on the ridiculous.  What we know about the guy - he's a solid starter, although he has not proven to be clutch this season.  He's suffered from lack of a running game and inconsistent pass pro; however, when the game is on the line he's not been at his best.  Whatever your opinion, I'm sure several teams in the league would see him as an upgrade over their current QB.  I for one would be happy to see the guy starting next season, although I realise that it's becoming more evident that he is not the long term solution. Starter Talent

Tim Tebow - who knows what he's capable of?  At best he could be an elite QB, at worst a serious redzone threat.  Despite the rumblings I'm hearing about him not getting his shot now that McD has gone, you have to say that any offensive coach who doesn't give him a fair shot at the QB position is an idiot. Potential Elite Talent

Brady Quinn - the face of the franchise, he's bringing the clipboard look back into fashion. Backup

 

HB

Knowshon Moreno - another guy who fans like to rag on, the guy's coming on nicely now that the line are finally producing holes for him, coupled with him fully healing from a bunch of nagging injuries.  He's got potential as a workhorse who is a solid pass blocker and safety valve in the passing game.  The guy is a good talent - not a breakaway runner, but give him the holes and he'll hammer you.  Take away the holes and he still rarely gets caught in the backfield. Starter Talent

Correll Buckhalter - useful last season, now at the tail end of his career and, well, not very useful any more, as evidenced by the exponential decrease in his snap numbers this season. Needs to Retire

Laurence Maroney - former first round pick but hasn't looked very decisive or explosive.  It's worth noting that he's only ever played in the NE system in the pros and may undergo a renaissance in, say, a ZBS; however, he's really shown nothing to this point on either team. Marginal/Not NFL Talent

Lance Ball - has been getting quite a few reps in place of Messrs Maroney and Buckhalter.  The guy seems run pretty well and has value on STs. Backup

 

FB

Spencer Larsen - developing into a fine blocker and has also had his number called in both the running and passing game.  Absolutely ferocious player and is a key cog on our STs.  Another player who coaches love - you know you can count on him.  (Developing) Starter Talent

 

WR

Brandon Lloyd - possibly the nicest surprise this season, Lloyd has shown he can do it all - circus catches, catches in traffic over the middle and even the easy ones (which used to be his problem).  Obviously, it remains to be seen whether he can do it again next season with the inevitable scheme changes and he does have some weaknesses (can get roughed up at the line); however, the evidently has the talent. Starter Talent

Jabar Gaffney - solid, consistent veteran. He's not been amazing as a full time starter this year, and he's probably better off as a rotational guy who can start in a pinch. Rotational/Backup Talent

Eddie Royal - has had inconsistent production in McD's system, and hasn't really had a great connection with Kyle.  However, there's no denying that the guy is a playmaker when given some space in addition to his value to STs. Struggles when facing the jam; however, as a Z/slot receiver, he can attack the opponent's weakpoint for massive damage. Starter Talent

Demaryius Thomas - when I first saw him run, my eyes almost popped out of my head.  He's been in the ice bath a little too much this season; however, he has almost limitless potential and looks poised to force his way into the lineup next season. Potential Elite Talent

Eric Decker - has begun to see the field a little more in Thomas' absence and has had some nice, crucial catches. He's tough and has excellent hands and could very well be a starter in a year or two. Potential Starter Talent

Matthew Willis - showed some flashes in camp but has hit IR.  Could carve out a career as a rotational receiver/STs player and evidently has the talent to stick in the league.  Rotational/Backup

 

TE

Daniel Graham - one of the reasons why Jay Cutler made it out of 2007 alive, his blocking and receiving skills have both declined in the last two seasons.  Considering his fat contract, he could be a financial casualty in the offseason.  Still a serviceable blocker, but nothng more. Rotational/Backup

Dan Gronkowski - has made himself pretty useful, although we evidently still got shortchanged in terms of talent in the trade. However, the guy has proved to be versatile and has good blocking skills (although he always appears to be really surprised when he catches the ball). Rotational/Backup

Richard Quinn - one of McD's favourite whipping boys, he also got arrested for domestic violence in the offseason (I think...correct me if I'm wrong).  Either way, has shown that he can block on occasion; hasn't shown that he can line up in the right place. Marginal/Not NFL Talent

 

OT

Ryan Clady - All-Pro talent who's struggled with injury this season, although his recovery has been remarkable.  A basketball-less offseason to heal should see him return to form.  Elite Talent

Ryan Harris - also struggled with injuries but is still a fine tackle.  I know some people are willing to let him walk, and RT is a relatively easy position to replace; however, we know what we have in Harris. Starter Talent

Chris Clark - can't even pretend I know anything about the guy. He likely wouldn't be put in even if a tackle were injured.  Marginal/Not NFL Talent

 

OG

Zane Beadles - growing into his role as an LG, hopefully that is where he will stay for a number of years.  Also valuable in being able to play LG, LT and RT (although I wouldn't want him at the latter for a particularly long time). Developing Starter Talent

Chris Kuper - has proved his worth in both the PBS and ZBS and is one of the leaders on the line.  Potential Bronco for life right here.  Starter Talent

Stanley Daniels - he has a nice story and he's a guy you want to root for; however, he looked pretty lost in his brief outing as starter and is now a gameday scratch. Backup/Marginal Talent

Russ Hochstein - G/C and has been nothing but a liability at either position, even in spot duty.  Needs to Retire

 

C

JD Walton - at times has struggled, at times has excelled.  Learning on the job is immensely difficult for a rookie centre and he's acquitted himself well. Should be a starter for many years.  Developing Starter Talent

Eric Olsen - hopefully can take Hochstein's place and do it better; ultimately, I have no idea how good he is, but he's likely a career backup.  Backup

 

Breakdown:

Elite - 1, Potential Elite - 2, Starter - 6, Developing/Potential Starter - 4, Backup - 7, Marginal/Needs to Retire/Be Cut - 6

 

Overall, our O is in pretty good shape and we have elite/potential elite talent at 3 of the most important positions.  The 5 or 6 marginal players are pretty easy to replace with general roster turnover; obviously the OL seriously lacks depth and this needs to be addressed in the late draft rounds and possibly FA.  The most glaring weakness by far is at TE and I hope this is the only offensive pick we make in the first 5 of the next draft.  Ultimately we have 13 players with the requisite talent to start (yes, I know TT's designation will be a point of contention for many, but he seems to have all the tools physically) which bodes well.  On top of this, the O is very young; second time round, we'd better hope that our new coach doesn't decide to dismantle this lot.

This past season made me realise how spoiled we've been at MLB over the years with Al Wilson and it's clear that it's one of the positions that needs sorting out.  The main question is whether Spencer Larsen could be that guy: there's no question over the season that he was the best available player at MLB this year although he was not rewarded as such (to the detriment of our defence).  Ideally, you want a beast at MLB in every respect.  A top athlete, intelligent, a great leader, adept at shedding blocks, able to read the game and able to channel their aggression and not overpursue on plays.  Al was all of those, and although his fundamentals suffered towards the end of his career, not only was he always in position, but he also raised the play of his fellow OLBs - case in point in 2003 where Donnie Spragan and Jashon Sykes (yes, who indeed) came in for Messrs Mobley and Gold mid-season and kept the Broncos' defence respectable.

From what I saw of Larsen last year, I saw a guy who could go sideline to sideline, shed blocks well and - maybe most importantly - he directed guys on defence.  It was a rare sight last season (especially from DJ who simply isn't cut out for captaincy and I believe his play suffered partially as a result from that responsibility) I only really saw it from Larsen and Winborn (occasionally from the DEs, desperately screaming at people to get in position and failing to get a response).  However, I'm not ready to annoint him as "the answer" to the MLB spot as we've not seen him in extensive action.  We will be bringing in more MLB guys over the offseason, whether that's through the draft or FA; the dilemma is whether we bring in a high draft pick/big-ish name FA or a guy who is probably going to be a backup.  There are questions surrounding Larsen's coverage and if we were to go to a Tampa 2 (which is a possibility), could we count on him to cover the deep middle zone?  I know the idea of getting someone like Karlos Dansby in FA or Rey Maulauga (sp?) or James Laurinitis in the draft is quite popular amongst Broncos fans, and whilst they'd be great pick ups, I think there is a strong possibility of Larsen being something special.

So, if we were to pick up a starting MLB in the offseason, what do we do with Larsen?  I think he deserves more than a career as a backup and whilst he could potentially be used more as an FB, would he fit in as a Sam backer?  He's strong, and can shed his blocks very well. Of course, coverage is a big part of being an SLB, and that's one of Larsen's question marks.  However, if Barrett ends up starting at SS next year, that'd help him out a lot there.  SLB is currently a big question mark with Bailey slowly going the same way as Courtney Brown and Winborn - who I like - mixing in moments of excellence with moments of facepalm (I think playing next to Nate "Kamikaze" Webster didn't help him rein in his aggressiveness this year), it could be a good use of our resources as well removing the position as a need next year.

There are several areas on this team which need fixing, and MLB is a big one.  I'd just be a bit miffed if we wasted what we already had.