SB Nation User Blog: YellowStoneBronco

With the 18th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Broncos select Tennessee DE Robert Ayers.

YellowStoneBronco — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:21:31 -0000

With the 18th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Broncos select Tennessee DE Robert Ayers.

If you were like me... Robert Ayers was kind of a unknown. Watch this video of his draft selection and what Mike M. has to say about him. After re-watching this I feel dang good about this pick up.

Bucs clean house - Brooks, Galloway, Dunn, June, Hilliard out!

YellowStoneBronco — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:23:36 -0000

According to reports by Tampa-area media outlets, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released linebacker Derrick Brooks, wide receiver Joey Galloway and three other veteran players.

Also cut were tailback Warrick Dunn, linebacker Cato June and wide receiver Ike Hilliard, according to the reports.

Wow - Now that is a shake up. Free Agency just got more interesting. I expect a lot more guys hitting the streets in the next few days.

See the story here.

Rey Maualuga comes up limping at end of 40 (COMBINE)

YellowStoneBronco — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:44:33 -0000

COMBINE From NFL.com Maualuga comes up limping at end of 40

Posted: Combine | Frank Tadych | Tags: 2009 NFL Scouting Combine, Rey Maualuga

University of Southern California linebacker Rey Maualuga’s scouting combine workouts were cut short by a leg injury near the end of Monday’s 40-yard dash.

Maualuga came up limping on his right leg at the end of his first attempt at the 40 when he took an awkward step after the finish line. He suffered the injury after his run — as he was deccelerating — and immediately took weight off the leg before kneeling down on the turf. Maualuga was able to walk gingerly off the field with a trainer.

“I could feel it for the past two weeks,” Mauluga told the NFL Network’s Scott Hanson in an on-field interview during NFL.com/Live. “I just wanted to come out here and compete with the very best. I wanted to show the coaches and scouts I could do everything. Now I’m just going to go to the trainer and get right and hopefully be able to do the Pro Day (April 1).

“I didn’t want to come out here and use my hamstring as an excuse. Unfortunatley, it’s been bothering me, but I felt I could go. I wasn’t pressured to do it. I thought I could go out and do the 40 and do it in a good time.”

Expectations from the begining... Looking at the Positives

YellowStoneBronco — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:51:51 -0000

With the exceptions of the folks in Laalaa-Land (I visited a few times myself), we all knew at the beginning of the season, that we were not a super bowl team as of yet.

Here are of couple of our goals from the start:

1. Get to the playoffs. Most of us thought this would be through a wild card spot. Who knew the Chargers would collapse like they have.

2. A lofty goal was to win the division. See above. (Reference the paper tiger)

Where are we now?

We are on the cusp of obtaining our high water mark for the season. While we should be smiling from ear to ear, I hear murmurings of folks speaking ill of our beloved Shanny. This post is mainly to provide perspective of our expectation at the begining of the year and seeing how far we come.

Shanny has fielded one of the most powerful offenses in the NFL. The Defense... not so much. However, we don't call Shanny the mastermind for his defensive strategy. Not saying that I always agree with all Shanny does, but there is no other coach in the whole league I would rather have running the Orange and Blue.

We all knew in our hearts at the beginning of the season, that this was a reloading year.

Here is what we know about our team now:

Offense:

1. Jay Cutler is our franchise QB. Jay has played well... and sometimes outstanding. His diabetes is not an issue.

2. We have proven ourselves stout on the O-Line.... who knew it would be so good. We had good expectations, but we are awesome and young. I won't rehash too much about each player and how we should replace or start replacing at center because of age, But we should be a force to deal with on the o-line for years to come. Can I have any more love for Ryan and Ryan?

3. Receiving Core: Marshal has matured emotionally and is settling nicely in his elite status. Eddie Royal was a steal in the draft and will only get better. Together they are one of the top tandems in the league. Add Stokely, the TE's, and the receiving RB's and Jay has lots of options.

4. Running Back. It has been very unfortunate to see our RB situation this year. HT has mentioned conditioning in a few of his latest posts. I could not agree more. However, if it were not for the injuries, we would have never had the opportunity to see Hillis step up. I have never been so excited for preseason for one position. Hillis, Torian, Pitman, Aldridge - Larsen. Power! And who knows what Bobby Turner (thanks to MHR I know his name) will find in the late rounds of the draft. However, I think we are primed for a great backfield at the RB position next year.

Defense

5. D-Line: We knew we needed help on D and that the front seven were a big question mark. That question mark remains. But everyone on the D-line is a year older and that is a good thing for us. We have Powell coming back next year and we have free agency and a draft ahead of us.

6. LB's: Where do I start? There is good and bad. Let's start with the unrealized potential. I was high on Niko. What a disappointment to me personally. Webster's style is not a good fit. Boss played well but went down early like predicted. DJ sat out because of injury. But here is what we know: WW is a player. He doesn't have a spot to play but he is a player. Larsen can play both ways. Do I think he is the most dominate MLB, no; I don't think any of us do. However, we love his sure tackling, hard hitting, and his tenacity to get to the ball. All in all... I think that we are set at weak side and both MLB and strong side upgrades maybe in order. However, Larson is the choice for backup at MLB let Niko and Webster walk. Boss is always a question mark because he can't stay healthy. But focusing on the positive here... we have DJ, WW, Larsen, and Jamie Win. I see lots of movement in the LB core during the next reloading season.

7. DB's: At CB, as I have said before I like Bly when used correctly. Champ is the Champ. We have had some pretty good "rookie" play at CB. What I don't like is our Safety situation. I don't like it at all. Many of our fellow MHR readers have said to fix the front seven before fixing safety. All I can really say about safety play is that I am positively looking at better safety play/support/scheme in the future as this topic is well hashed in other posts.

Special Teams:

8. Special Teams have been a lot more special this year. I see it as a huge improvement over last year. We have missed some "easy" field goals as of late and hopefully we are done with that. But all in all we have been much better.

The Draft:

9. Couldn't be happier. With the play and contribution of our Rookie class. May go down as one of the finest drafts in Bronco history.

Free Agency:

10. Hasn't be a strong point for the Broncos in a long time. But getting Wig from the Chiefs to back up Nails is a highlight. Boss got hurt to early. Niko who? D. Rob is soso. Safeties ... no. WR... Royal made all expendible. Our trade of Colbert for a draft pick (don't know the details) could be seen as a positive for FA.

Summary:

We are not done with this season and may prove to be a force during the playoffs. This is still to be determined. The purpose for this post was not to say the season is over or anything of that nature. If we win it all this year it will not be because we are the best team in the league. However, I won't complain if we pull it off. To prove my point, look at the Giants last year.

What I am saying is that we are a much better team with some outstanding rookie play and some aging of our core younger players. The purpose is to shed light on the healthy expectations we had at the beginning of the year and say we are almost there. We have had some great developmental things happen this year.

It has long been a belief of mine that the Broncos could win the Super Bowl any year we fielded a team. I still believe that. However, with the improvement and development we have seen this year my expectation for such will only increase in the coming years.

Let me know your thoughts …

Who's it going to be... Denver RB vs Falcons

YellowStoneBronco — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:29:16 -0000

With the recent signing and promotions from the practice squad, the question of who the featured RB for the Broncos remains in question.

Leading off in this revolving door postion is Hillis. Can the two big brusiers Larson at full back and Hillis at half back move enough to the Falcons interior linemen and MLB to gain enough yards? Does Hillis have the speed to get around the corner? We know that Hillis can catch, as evident from 2 weeks ago. However, he still has blocking problems and that is why Larson is still a FB instead of a MLB. I ask the MHR faithful, can this be our featured back? I love Hillis and want it to work, but I questions my logic.

Second in line, I believe goes to T.Bell. Does he know our "new" play book? Is he in shape? Does he still have the speed to hit the corner and turn on the juice. We know he will be be winded after a few plays but how many carries do we think he can handle, if any? Maybe a ploy to make the Falcons D game plan for him.

Third in line, P.J. Pope, see BroncoBear's excellent write up. I think Pope sees the field. Said to have excellent hands and be a between the tackles runner. Maybe we see some Hillis and Pope in a double RB set where they both go out for a pass.

Third and one third. Alex Haynes. Don't want to hurt feelings... So I won't say anything here.

Fourth is the option of an empty back field. I see two TE sets maybe even three TE sets. Pass Blocking has been excellent and we have the targets to make it happen.

Let me know what the MHR faithful think... Happy musing.

Poll

Who will carry the banner of Broncos featured RB vs. Falcons?

Hillis and Larson will play smash mouth ball and open up the passing lanes for Jay & company.

21 votes

Tatum has something to prove and prove it he does!

12 votes

Pope brings an early Christmas present to the Broncos season.

3 votes

A big mix of these guys and maybe others - No single back carries the Banner.

22 votes

The Broncos have running backs on the roster still? Who knew?

1 votes

Why do we need to run the ball... We have Jay!

6 votes

65 votes | Poll has closed

At least someone think the Broncos can make the playoffs this year. PFTV - Teams that could...

YellowStoneBronco — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:35:03 -0000

At least someone think the Broncos can make the playoffs this year. PFTV - Teams that could surprise.