SB Nation User Blog: The Heat

Matt Prater AFC Special Teams Player of the Month

The Heat — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 20:32:36 -0000

Matt Prater AFC Special Teams Player of the Month

Prater was named AFC Special Teams player of month. His big boot on kick offs, which we can not over look is what got him the nod.

According to the Twitter account of agent Drew Rosenhaus, running back Darius Walker has signed a...

The Heat — Thu, 07 May 2009 22:29:39 -0000

According to the Twitter account of agent Drew Rosenhaus, running back Darius Walker has signed a two-year deal with the Denver Broncos.

Walker, a former Notre Dame tailback who was undrafted upon leaving school a year early, played for the Texans in 2007, and bounced on and off the team’s roster in 2008.

In Denver, Walker joins a very crowded house at the running back position.

Profootballtalk.com

Free agent DL Kenny Peterson "has decided to remain with the Broncos," according to the Sacramento...

The Heat — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:11:18 -0000

Free agent DL Kenny Peterson "has decided to remain with the Broncos," according to the Sacramento Bee.
The 49ers had given Peterson a look, but it appears he's set to be re-signed. Peterson played for the sixth-year veteran's minimum last season.

Rotoworld

Stokely will be wearing orange and blue in 2009.

The Heat — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:19:16 -0000

After speculation whether Stokley would become a cap causality after the signing of Gaffney and potentially Anderson, he has restructured his deal to maintain his existence as a Bronco. Marshall's latest tangle with the law probably put this to rest anyways.

Brandon Stokley has restructured his contract to ensure that he will be with the Broncos again in 2009.
The deal was agreed to before the start of free agency. Stokley's $500,000 roster bonus will be rolled into his 2009 salary while the Broncos agreed to guarantee a portion of that salary. Denver's wide receiver depth will come in handy with Brandon Marshall's expected suspension.
-Rotoworld

A Penny For My Thoughts: The Broncos Free Agency

The Heat — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:20:32 -0000

After the Broncos make the much anticipated decision on the unusually vacant head coach position, there are many steps needed to overhaul this team (specifically defense) to get back to playing in January. Whoever takes the reigns needs to make the most of this off season. There are options in free agency and hopefully it will be the last time in the near future that the Broncos will be drafting as high as number 12. Looking at Free Agency, there are specific players and positions that need to be targeted.

Albert Haynesworth- Haynesworth should be the most coveted free agent this off season. Unfortunately, Tennessee is already in the process of attempting to lock up Haynesworth before he ever makes the monster splash. Haynesworth seems to have cleaned up his act, and has never really been amidst major controversy despite the atrocious "foot stomp". Haynesworth is the ultimate space eater, and would take immense pressure off a pass rushing DE like Dumervil, and the LB core. Not only does he instantly improve the players around him, he had 51 total tackles and 8.5 sacks from the DT position! An improvement from his tremendous 2007 campaign. Haynesworth will become one of (if not the highest) paid defensive player in the league, and he is one the Broncos should throw the bank towards.

Terrell Suggs- Suggs is an outside LB that has been playing defensive end this year to much success for the Baltimore Ravens. Suggs is a better option then Julius Peppers being that he is two years younger, and will come at a lower price tag. Suggs has 68 total tackles, 8 sacks and two interceptions in his first year playing the position. Suggs being a LB by nature can track the ball above average for a defensive end, something the Broncos desperately need on the outside.

Karlos Dansby- The days of Nate Webster, Jamie Winborn (Played better than expected), and Niko Koutouvides manning the LB core need to end. DJ Williams when healthy, is as good as they get at Weakside Linebacker. Woodyard showed he can play in this league, but do the Broncos move DJ once again to get him on the field? Woodyard will not work at Safety, and has not been tested at the other LB positions. Dansby has been consistent on an anything but consistent Arizona defense the last 4 years. He has recored 80 plus tackes (119 this year), 3 plus sacks, 2 plus forced fumbles, and 8 total interceptions. He has potential to be great with his building track record, age, and size( 6'4, 250).

Mike Brown- This one will send many peoples heads spinning, but Mike Brown is undeniably one of the best Safeties in the league when healthy. The problem is, he never seems to be healthy. Brown has gone on the IR 4 of the last 5 years (albeit it was just the final two games of this year) with various injuries. If the Broncos can land Brown for a low low price tag, the potential reward for 12-14 games healthy out of Brown is well worth it. The last thing anyones eyes need to endure is Manuel and Lowry playing Safety anymore.

Derrick Ward- Derrick Ward is the "wind" portion of the New York Giants RB trio. This off season Ward and Jacobs are set to become free agents. The Giants will most likely sign Jacobs to a high price tag and let Ward get his fair share of carries somewhere else. While Ward is already 28 years old, the mileage on his wheels is not remotely close to the average 28 year old RB. Ward is a fast RB, with a big body. Not only can he break away from people, he can run them over. The last two seasons and the only two where Ward has received significant carries, he has averaged 4.8 and 5.6 YPC respectively. Ward cracked the 1,000 yard mark this last year despite only registering 182 carries. Ward has also proven himself as a threat to catch the football. This last season Ward brought in 41 catches. A reliable check down option for Cutler might limit some of his gunslinger tendencies. Pair Ward with Hillis, and bam! A fantastic combo.

It is very important that the Broncos address the RB position in Free Agency. While Moreno or Beanie Wells would be fabulous additions, the defensive side of the ball needs so much attention on the first day of the draft. To sign Ward or Sproles saves a pick for the defense. If the Broncos must draft a RB in the first three rounds, Green from Iowa, Ringer from MSU, or Spiller from Clemson in the third round would be some of the best options.

Other Free Agent options that I did not write about that I would like to see in Orange and Blue: Darren Sproles (look at ChristianL's Wishlist), Jonathan Vilma, Nnamdi Asomugha, Bertrand Berry...

If Denver can land any sort of combination of these players they will be immensely improved (depending on the success of the head coach hire). The Broncs must get pressure on the quarterback. Adding Haynesworth, and Suggs would really allow the Broncos to get after the QB. They would also take pressure of Dumervil, who can still be an effective DE in this league. Most importantly this helps Champ and Dre. To a successful signing period!

Thoughts?

Dre Bly: The Definition of a Double Edged Sword

The Heat — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:32:32 -0000

After a year and quarter of watching Dre Bly remind me more of rich man's Deltha O'Neal then the shut down corner he is praised to be, is it time to start thinking of replacements? I know Bly had 5 interceptions last year, and a solid 59 tackles for a corner back, but I thought the burns outweighed goodness. More often then not I find Dre Bly whiffing on the play, or simply blowing coverage and not picking up the man in his zone.

I appreciate that he comes to play(Played ALL 16 games in 2007 and every game this year), and seems to be a laid back presence in the locker room but I think he gets much more credit then he deserves on the field.

Am I overreacting do to the lack of pass rush Denver has been able to put on opposing quarterbacks? Or the less then spectacular safeties(also needs to be looked at)? Or do others share the same feeling I do? Dre Bly always leaves me wanting more, and I don't know if I will ever be satisfied.