Well, I believe I’ve finally waited long enough following the end of the NFL season in order to more objectively evaluate the state of the Denver Broncos roster. I’ve decided to partition the final result into two parts: now the offense and later the defense. Don’t think that I’m ignoring special teams – or the Forgotten Third, as I like to call them – by not including them in this breakdown: I just think it’s fair to say that we’re pretty well set with Matt Prater as our kicker and Britton Colquitt as our punter for many years to come (I’ll address the return game within my discussion of the offense and defense). I think it’s fair to say that the 2011-12 season was a successful one for our beloved Orange and Blue, but I doubt many would disagree with me when I also say that there is much work to be done before we truly return to the level of play we all desire.

I look forward to seeing just how much our evaluations of the current roster differ and how our own plans of action to improve it vary in the comments section below. As always, I thank you all for reading my work and I hope that you take the time to chime in on our conversation in the comments as well. Please follow me below the jump and we’ll get started. Go Broncos!

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This past Saturday, the much-maligned defense of the New England Patriots stepped up to the challenge of the Denver Broncos, and then some. As was to be expected, much the postmortem focused on Tim Tebow and the option elements of the Broncos offense. After all, those are the two things that stand out about this team. Forget the dropped passes, the blown blocking assignments, and whatever other inefficiencies that plagued that unit Saturday night: the NFL punditry and their acolytes in the public are trying to have the last laugh by claiming that the Denver suffered this embarrassing comeuppance because it dared to fly in the face of traditional wisdom. I, obviously, disagree.

Before getting into mock drafts in the past, I’ve always down a roster breakdown of sorts so that we can openly discuss the state of the team and you can all see where I’m coming from when I finally do start publishing mocks. This year that evaluative process begins even further away from the draft board, all the way back in a discussion about more general football theory. I hope you’ll forgive the extended length of this post and contribute to the discussion in the comments below: I come to you with a strong opinion of my own, but open to changing my mind and at least interested in what you all have to say about it. Follow me below the fold, if you please.

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Hello, MHR! It's been a while since we last spoke... far too long, actually. Though you haven't heard from me in a while, I have been keeping an eye on you all this time. After all, this is the premier source for Denver Broncos news and opinion on the Internet, and I've been part of this community since way back when. Some of you know who I am and others yet might vaguely remember me, but this message is not necessarily directed at that (by now) rather limited subgroup of the members. I think that, in explaining my sudden and unfortunately extended hiatus from this site, we might all once again be reminded of what makes this place great to begin with. Follow me below the fold and I'll tell you how!

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This was my first year rooting for the Oklahoma City Thunder from Day 1 and I certainly don't have buyer's remorse with this team.  Despite coming up short this season, they took yet another step towards the ultimate goal and they've now proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are a force to be reckoned with in the NBA for years to come.  Below is a partial list - in no particular order - of my thoughts about the franchise after a year of fandom.  I would like to thank the franchise for their performance both on and off the court, the fans for being so welcoming and this blog for providing such a sound link to both for me.  We'll get it next year!

1) Russell Westbrook is a spectacular two-guard, but he's still learning the point... and he'll get there
2) Kevin Durant can still be a MUCH better scorer; he just needs to round out his game and he will
3) Serge Ibaka has improved dramatically and he's not even close to his ceiling yet
4) Thabo Sefolosha and Kendrick Perkins should never be on the floor together
5) James Harden and Nick Collison should get starter minutes, even if one or both is still coming off the bench
‎6) They should let Harden run the offense and Westbrook work off the ball more often
7) Eric Maynor is an underrated back-up point who could well start elsewhere in the NBA
8) OKC definitely has the best crowd in professional basketball and perhaps the best in all of professional sports
9) I'm not quite sold on Scott Brooks yet, but he's earned another year from me
10) This team could have won the NBA championship this year and they WILL win it sooner rather than later

Go Thunder!

This has been a historically trying year for us fans of the Denver Broncos, capping off the most tumultuous time for the franchise that I can recall. I must admit to being personally beaten down by it - which accounts for my prolonged silence this season - but now that we're onto the next chapter of our shared history, I hope you'll allow me to leave all that in the past as we move on together. What better way to do just that than to set our eyes on the upcoming NFL Draft; remember, even the darkest storm clouds have their silver linings!

It has been a rare instance in which this franchise has had the opportunity to secure as much impact talent as they are currently in position to acquire and it could not have come at a better time. Despite the uncertain nature of our future administration, we can look to the cream of the crop for reinforcements that fit myriad schemes.

I realize that one of my fellow draftniks on staff here at Mile High Report, Sayre Bedinger, has already kicked off the Draftivus festivities - going so far as to produce multiple in-depth mock drafts before the end of either the NFL or NCAA seasons - and we are all greatly appreciative of his efforts. Though I won't match his thoroughness or preciseness just yet, I will be adding my voice to the ongoing conversation as we approach the most important draft for the Broncos in decades.

While the professional and college football seasons wind down, I'll be publishing posts discussing three draft prospects a piece: a consensus top pick, a personal favorite, and a sleeper. As the draft order becomes solidified and the bowl season draws to a close, I'll be adding more definition to this series. Finally, as word comes in on the specific direction of the franchise and the draft class fills out, I'll shift gears into mock drafts and full draft talk. This is my favorite time of the year, my friends, and I hope you'll come along for the ride with us here at MHR!

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It was my intention - from the moment that I first joined the Mile High Report staff - to establish a regularly scheduled feature during the 2010 NFL season that would publish Tuesday's in order to wrap up the week that had just passed, but circumstances beyond my control have delayed me up to this point. A series of factors in my own life prevented me from chiming in after Week 1 and the unfortunate passing of Kenny McKinley temporarily derailed my efforts this time around. With a heavy heart, however, I press on.

FIRST -- Though this section is intended for analysis of the Denver Broncos play on the field in any given week, I would be remiss if I did not dedicate this particular segment to the aforementioned Kenny McKinley. There is not much left to say, after the scores of fitting tributes that have been published about McKinley's life on and off the gridiron. Unfortunately, Broncos Nation has become all too familiar with the stages of grief that accompany the sudden end of such a promising young life. This time, however, there is no villain - neither the sort of thug that deprived us of Darrent Williams nor the hidden flaw in Damien Nash's heart that took him from this world just weeks later - but rather only a poignant reminder of how frail we all are.

In the end, we must remember that these players we often speak about as either heroes or goats are all too often just simple young men trying to make their own way in the unforgiving world of professional sports. We see them - with their prodigious talents, steely determination and refined skills - and we cannot help but imagine them as somehow invincible. It's truly unfortunate that it takes a tragedy like this to remind us all of their humanity. My heart goes out to Kenny's family, friends, teammates and fans.

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Renown sportswriter and television personality Woody Paige is famous for reiterating some variant of the phrase "look at the schedule" whenever he is asked to prognosticate. Though that approach has its critics, it is clear that his maxim is catching on. The release of the NFL schedule, for instance, has become something of an event in recent years. There is a certain appeal to parsing through a team's impending slate of games in an attempt to determine their potential for the upcoming season. Regardless of how accurately we might gauge its true talent, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and adjucate the schemes that they run: all that information is ultimately meaningless without context. And so, in the absence of actual games, we must turn our attention to the schedule in order to hopefully ascertain what it all truly means.

This process will always remain more art than science, but good research can help bridge that gap. Most observers usually rely on their gut for this sort of endeavor and the results of their work can therefore be quite biased or shallow. With so much information at our fingertips today, however, we can now dig deeper and thus arrive at more meaningful conclusions. Follow me below the fold as I attempt to navigate the pratfalls that typically plague these analyses and establish a foundation for its application to the 2010 Denver Broncos.

As always, I'm relying on you to ensure that I am going down the right path; one of the many benefits of writing for Mile High Report is that I can go down a rabbit hole like this and trust that the readership will make sure that I come out on the other side relatively unscathed. And so, without further ado, let us determine if and how we should "look at the schedule".

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ENGLEWOOD, Colorado - The Denver Broncos on Tuesday signed offensive lineman Zane Beadles, whom they selected in the second round (45th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft from the University of Utah. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Beadles (6-foot-4, 305 pounds) was a four-year starter at Utah, where he earned All-Mountain West Conference honors three times and was named a first-team All-American as a senior in 2009. He started 50 games for the Utes during his career, opening 38 contests at left tackle and another 12 at left guard.

In his final two collegiate seasons, he allowed just 3.5 sacks in 819 pass plays while recording 28 touchdown blocks.

A team captain and a three-year starter at Hillcrest High School in Sandy, Utah, Beadles was born on Nov. 19, 1986, in Casper, Wyoming.

The recent trade between the Atlanta Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays, headlined by shortstops Yunel Escobar and Alex Gonzalez, took the baseball world by surprise. For us Braves fans, this meant once again parting ways with a slick-fielding homegrown SS with even greater all-around potential under less than favorable conditions. Escobar was a polarizing figure to begin with, but his exit blew his place within the fanbase into an outright controversy. I’ve largely opted to sit on the sidelines as the debate raged here on Talking Chop, but I can’t do that anymore. This isn’t a great piece of literature or even all that good as far as sports journalism is concerned, but there were a few things that I wanted to get off of my chest sooner rather than later. This is just me, being the fan that I am, not stopping to shape this post into something more complete, balanced or stylish. Follow me below the fold for more, if you wish.

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Hello everyone.  My name is Ernesto J. Ruiz and I am one of the staff writers for Sports Blog Nation's Denver Broncos' blog: Mile High Report.  Over the past few years, I've tried to get into the NBA (as a fan, of course) and I came to the conclusion that the only way to truly accomplish that was to commit to a team.  I'm not bound to my chosen teams by geography or heritage (I'm Puerto Rican, grew up in Costa Rica and spent only a few years in the continental U.S. for school in New Jersey and Florida) so I consider myself a true "free agent" fan.  At this point, I'm leaning towards rooting for the Oklahoma City Thunder and I'm reaching out to you guys for that final push off the proverbial fence. 

What I wanted from my future NBA franchise were three things: solid ownership/management, a lack of championship tradition and a likable young star/core who was committed to staying put. 

Though I dislike the fact that Clay Bennett's ownership group took the Sonics out of Seattle, I like that he moved the team to his home and a relatively small market that was otherwise lacking in professional sports; General Manager Sam Presti has done an amazing job of building an incredibly talented, synergistic young squad with few if any misses in personnel decisions.  I'd say that, in sum total, ownership/management in a plus for this franchise. 

Despite the Sonics winning the 1979 NBA Championship, having other spikes in playoff performance and being generally solid throughout their time there, they certainly don't fit the mold of the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls or any of the other national and international fan-bases built on history.  I don't believe that anyone rooting for the Sonics/Thunder can be seen as a bandwagon jumper, even today with their current rise to playoff contention. 

Finally, the juxtaposition of Kevin Durant's handling of his contract extension with the LeBron James debacle pushed me even further into the camp that believes that KD is the next true great.  He's one of only a handful of legitimate superstars in the Association today and the only one that doesn't have a blotch on his reputation for off-court issues.  Durant alone, however, would not be enough to lure me in.  Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook guarantee that Kevin doesn't have to go it alone.  I liked Westbrook from his Bruins' days and Green, whose Hoyas I've always liked, has grown on me.

Well, as you can see, the OKC Thunder meet my standards just fine.  That said, I'd like to hear from you for that final little nudge I need to try them out as my NBA team.  Fill in the blanks for me.  Let me know more about the other players on the roster (especially the other starters and contributors) and tell me about anything else that I should know.  Heck, tell me all about this site, while you're at it!  Regardless of what I end up doing, I want you guys to know that I like your team and wish them well in the future.  It's a solid franchise, with good people at the helm and solid, likable players on the court.  Good luck and thanks for helping this fan find an NBA home!

As announced previously in this space, Comcast has generously agreed to support the best NFL community around -- us! As part of that effort, between now and the end of the 2010 NFL season Comcast will be sponsoring a variety of special editorial and interactive features on our site.

As opposed to their counterparts on the outside, inside linebackers typically make their impact on games via consistency instead of explosiveness. Rather than making fans jump out of their seats and exclaim "wow", ILBs make opponents wonder just how many of them are actually out there on the field or how they can otherwise be everywhere at the same time. They may not be cornerstones of the 3-4 scheme, but they can certainly become its linchpins. In the case of the Denver Broncos, this position could very well be one of the more underrated parts of any defense in football today. Please follow me below the fold for a closer look at the men battling to hold down the fort at the heart of the Broncos defense.

D.J. Williams

#55 / Linebacker / Denver Broncos

Born: July 20, 1982 (Age 27)

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 242 lb

College: Miami (Florida)

Acquired: 2004 Draft, 17th Overall

Contract: 2010: $3,000,000, 2011: $4,900,000, 2012: $5,000,000, 2013: $6,000,000, 2014: Free Agent

Born and raised in and about Sacramento, California, D.J. Williams amassed one of those highschool football resumes that appears almost comical. During his senior year, Williams racked up 130 tackles, six sacks, forced five fumbles and recovered three; he also ran for nearly 2,000 yards and scored 42 total touchdowns, including five in the air and four in returns. As one of the nation's top prospects, D.J. chose to attend Miami University in the state of Florida.

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There is a case to be made for several positions across the defense as the cornerstones of the 3-4 alignment. Certainly the nose tackle gets much of the credit for its ultimate success or failure, but his efforts would be in vain if not for the performance of the linebackers behind him. In particular, the outside linebackers are called upon to shoulder the lion's share of the pass rushing burden and their ability to speed up the offense or make plays behind the line of scrimmage becomes absolutely essential. The exploits of our very own Elvis Dumervil are an excellent example of the game-changing nature of the OLB. Whereas star cornerbacks are at their best when they force the QB's eyes elsewhere and the stud NT is doing his job when he merely occupies two blockers, the OLB is the variable that determines the tenor and tone of each and every play. Lucky for the Broncos, "Doom" isn't the only weapon at that position on the roster already. Follow me below the fold for a closer look at the depth at outside linebacker currently present in Denver.

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Age may be "just another number", but in a league in which people seem to age in dog years, it has become a significant factor in player evaluations. Swept up in the general obsession with arbitrary benchmarks, the number 30 - as in 30-years-old - has taken on a great deal of importance. Well then, it's no wonder that so many are so concerned about the current state of the Denver Broncos secondary. After all, their four starting defensive backs are a combined 128 years old (i.e. roughly half of Al Davis' estimated age). Besides the fact that they are each over 30, however, they also share a far more important common trait: they're all still very good at what they do.

You can't have a discussion about the greatest corner back or the best safety in the history of pro football with including Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins, respectively. Moreover, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better pair than Andre Goodman and Renaldo Hill with which to round out a defensive backfield in the league today. They may be inching ever closer to retirement with each and every superlative season gone by, but don't let the eventual end of their careers overshadow the continued brilliance of their play. When your prime is as spectacular as Bailey's and Dawkins' or as solid as Goodman's and Hill's, it can take quite a while for the downswing of their careers to manifest itself as a noticeable decline on the field. You need look no further than the 2009 season to see that they each still have plenty left in the tank; if you dig a little deeper, there are reasons to believe that they may be even better as a group in 2010.

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As fans, we all care a great deal about our team. Every time that the Broncos take the field, we put a little of ourselves on the line. The outcomes of their games and seasons color our moods for stretches at a time. Thanks in large part to an extended run of sustained success, the weight of the humble beginnings of our beloved franchise has been lifted and perennially lofty expectations have long since taken flight. Though our recent struggles would represent a vast improvement for a handful of lesser franchises - *cough* Oakland *cough* - it meant the end of Mike Shanahan's highly successful tenure in Dove Valley. Simply put, mediocrity will never be enough for the Denver Broncos and their fans. Nevertheless, we must keep our frustration in check and approach the transition that we are going through without so much resentment or hostility.

Since the hiring of head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders, the fanbase has been constantly and dramatically reminded of this administration's new direction. So, while all change is traumatic, the suddenness and depth of the turnover in Denver has been startling even for the biggest supporters of that process. Though I firmly believe in their leadership, it is not my job nor the aim of this piece to support those who do or convert those who do not. Instead, I simply wish to point out the vast common ground that exists in most of the debates that are borne of that divide, and decry the logical fallacies and cheap tricks that allow them to devolve into hopeless, bitter arguments.  I noticed in the comments on my previous post about our quarterback situation that there was some tension in the discussion and I wanted to get out in front of that.  This is certainly not directed at anyone or any group in particular, but rather to the entire membership in general.  So please, forgive me for foregoing football in this post and join me below the fold for more.

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They say that "when you think you have two quarterbacks, you really have none". There are a lot of people out there who believe that the 2010 Denver Broncos are fatally flawed because of what they perceive to be an unsettled QB position. After all, if thinking that you have two QBs is bad, having four must be terrible! Much like last year, however, the reports of the Broncos' demise have been greatly exaggerated. In this case, perception once again falls far short of reality. It's almost as though the Broncos are written in a language that the general punditry hasn't bothered to learn how to read! Even a cursory review of the main characters involved in this so-called drama in Denver reveals that things are much clearer than the critics may lead you to believe.

Opinions are like belly buttons: everybody has one. Well, when it comes to head coach Josh McDaniels, I'd say that they're more like fingers: everyone seems to have ten and the most prominent ones are usually the bad ones when they stand alone. However, if there's one thing about coach McDaniels that we know, it's that everything on his team is earned. In his short time at the helm, he's already traded away multiple fan favorites and players coming off of trips to the Pro Bowl, elevated journeymen to starting roles and spent his most valuable resources building depth and long term stability rather than targeting needs that were perceived as being more pressing; in other words, there are no sacred cows in Orange and Blue anymore. Why is it, then, that people seem to think that the quarterback position will now be handled so differently?

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Many of you will recognize my chosen titular phrase as being from one of Mark Twain's more popular quotes. You'll likely learn - sooner rather than later - that I am a fan of famous quotations. In fact, the only things that I am more keen of quoting than the words of those wiser or more articulate than I, are statistics. Unfortunately, stats have acquired a bit of a bad reputation in some circles. As the aforementioned Twain quote captures particularly well, they are often accused of being weapons of willful obfuscation at best and outright deception at worst. That perspective, however, is akin to giving the credit for a base hit to the bat rather than to the player swinging it. Statistics are but one set of tools in a fan's tool box, but they are indispensable in our quest for higher knowledge of this game that we all love. In order to persuade those of you who are dubious of statistics and their paramount place in the study of football - and to further support those of you who are already on that bandwagon with me - I would like to share some of my general thoughts on the subject.

Some of my fellow staff writers here at Mile High Report are far more inclined to - and well versed in - statistical studies than I am. The truth is that, while I have a great deal of respect and appreciation for mathematics, I simply do not have the mind for it. At very least, my brain just doesn't think that way. That said, it doesn't take a mathematical mind to embrace statistics. Moreover, the other guys on staff here at MHR do a fantastic job of making that world accessible to us all. Studies like theirs put our perceptions to the test and unearth crucial information that would otherwise remain hidden from us. When wielded properly (i.e. objectively and openly) statistics can cut through the layers of bias and belief that can sometimes keep the truth out of our reach. Since I am not best suited for working through the math with you, I thought I'd chip in on this process by helping you all appreciate the results a bit better.

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Perhaps my greatest claim to fame on this site came before the 2009 NFL Draft, when I championed the candidacy of Georgia Bulldogs running back Knowshon Moreno as a potential first round pick for our Denver Broncos. Not only did I project that possibility in my mock drafts, I advocated for the selection everywhere I could. As a Florida Gators fan, I had seen just about enough of Mr. Moreno to know that it'd be better to have him in the NFL's version of the Orange and Blue than it would be to have him come up against it at yet another level. The newly minted leadership tandem of head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders made a prophet out of me, but only because they thought even more highly of Knowshon than I had.

As a redshirt freshman at the University of Georgia, Moreno was slated to split the carries at running back with the incumbent starter: senior Thomas Brown. Before the third game of the season, however, it was announced that Brown had broken his collarbone and the rest is history. Almost exactly evenly split over two years' worth of playing time, Knowshon racked up 998 498 carries for 2,736 yards and 30 touchdowns, while tacking on 53 catches for 645 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also provided the sizzle to go along with that steak, displaying a flair for the dramatic and a sense of the exceptional. His outstanding production and well-rounded performance was the result of an impressive scouting report worth repeating:

Lacks prototypical size, but plays much bigger... reads defenses well... exceptional vision... can burst through the hole... does not have great top-end speed... tough runner... very elusive... full arsenal to elude tacklers includes stiff arm, spin move, juke and hurdle... extremely competitive and tough... natural receiver who can split out wide... solid pass blocker... can - and wants to - carry his team.

With all that going for him and an obvious effort to revamp the depth chart at that position in Denver, it's really no wonder that the Broncos would select Moreno in the draft. Even though I was never confident enough in my own beliefs to project Knowshon to us at the 12th overall pick, I thought then - and still do now - that he may well end up being a steal for us there. Despite posting a solid rookie line of 247 carries, 947 yards and 7 TD on the ground, plus 28 catches for 213 yards and 2 TD in the air, some will say that he left us wanting for more last season... and I agree! That speaks highly of his true potential, however, and not so much poorly of his 2009 campaign.

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As some of you already know and the rest of you are about to find out, I am a proud Florida Gator and have been since 2007. I had been a fan of their athletic program since the early 90's and was first admitted to the University when I graduated from high school in 2001, but opted not to attend. Life's many twists and turns finally brought me to Gainesville, however, roughly three years ago. As you may have already surmised, that means that my time here at Florida thus far ran concurrently with Tim Tebow's tenure as the Gators starting quarterback. You can only imagine my excitement when, with the 25th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, our Denver Broncos selected the University of Florida's prodigal son! For all of his physical talents and inspiring character, it was the times when the two would meet that truly won me over as his fan and give me the most hope for his Broncos' career.

I can honestly say that I watched every single snap of Tebow's college career. I watched as he: found a niche as the change-of-pace quarterback as a freshman on the 2006 National Championship team, became the first sophomore to ever win the Heisman Trophy in 2007, led the Gators to another National Championship in 2008, and rewrote the record books as a senior in 2009. Along the way, I learned of his mission trips during the breaks from school, his exceptional work in the classroom and the piety of his personal life. Any number of those accolades and accomplishments would be enough to make for an incredibly successful college career; all of it together is almost overwhelming to contemplate. Tim's story would be literally unbelievable to me, had it not unfolded before my very eyes.

There's plenty of fodder there to write volumes of glowing articles about Denver's newest quarterback, but I'm sure we've all come across plenty of those. I could tell you all about his statistics, awards and highlights if I wanted to speak to his prowess between the white lines. I could remind you of his other newsworthy undertakings and deeds if I wanted to harp on his personal character. I know I don't get tired of that stuff and I hope you won't either, because we'll be hearing about those things plenty as he transitions into our particular shades of Orange and Blue. That said, I feel as though there's something lost when people chose to focus on those separate aspects - Tebow the player and Tebow the person - because that gap is bridged in a profound way. For me, that is the "It" that sets him apart. Today I want to share with you all my favorite piece of Tim Tebow lore - The Promise - in my own words.

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With their first pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos selected: Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech. I think you'd all agree that that fact already has all the makings of a difficult trivia question for the average fan out there. Despite all of my preparation for the draft, the Thomas pick surprised me somewhat. Because I viewed him as an early second round prospect, I figured he'd come off the board somewhere between our choices at #11 and #43, so I didn't really bother with getting to know him all that well. That said, I did know a little about him and I liked what I had seen, heard or read. Since the draft, however, I've taken a closer look and I thought I'd share that information with you all now.

I choose to focus on Thomas now, instead of any of our other rookies, because - despite being our top choice in the draft - he seems to have slipped through the cracks of our attention. Tim Tebow remains the lightning rod that he's always been, and the selection of Zane Beadles in the second round was somehow even more controversial than that choice. Eric Decker quickly became a fan favorite and J.D. Walton was perhaps the only truly expected pick out of the four made during the first two days of the draft. The remainder of the bunch has been taken with a grain of salt, as I suppose most late-round picks should be. The silence surrounding Demaryius, however, feels misplaced.

For all the talk of Tim Tebow and what he means to head coach Josh McDaniels, Thomas was the prospect he had to have in this draft. He's the guy they took with their first pick - the only one they had assured in the range where they ultimately expected both of those players to be taken. He's the guy they traded up for first to secure and they paid a premium to do it as well. He really is an impressive prospect and I have very high hopes for what he'll be able to accomplish at the next level, sooner rather than later. Let us therefore get to know him once again, so that maybe he can make a second impression worthy of the status that I believe he should hold in our hearts and minds.

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I just wanted to share a few notes before you get to the lists themselves.  For the draft order, I relied almost exclusively on 2009 point differentials, deviating from that master list only to arrange the playoff slots properly.  I realize that this results in basically the same order as that of the previous draft, but it's a good starting point.  As for the big board, it was mostly distilled from the lists published by our very own Mocking Dan here at Mocking the Draft, Matt Millen of New Era Scouting and Tony Pauline over at SI.  At this point in the process, I think that the wisdom of the masses is a good place to start with this.  

I'm publishing this here now because I want you guys to pick through it for obvious mistakes and oversights, as well as potential errors in judgment and differing opinions.  Let me get you started on all counts with some questions, OK?  I know Andrew Luck is probably underrated at #25, but how high should I move him considering the rest of the list?  Who else is significantly underrated or overrated?  Are any of the names, positions or schools wrong?  Have I left anyone crucial off the list entirely?  What teams do you think are most likely to move into the top ten next year and which ones are most likely to break into the playoff slots?  Everything is fair game, so have at it!

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Yet another potential weakness turned into a strength

So far in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos have invested multiple picks in the interior offensive line and, now, the wide receiver position.  Another commonality: size.  The Broncos are getting bigger everywhere, adding dynamic players that fit the McDaniel's bill: tough, smart, physical and versatile leaders.  At 6'3" and 217 pounds, Eric Decker is a big man, but he's more than that.  He has great hands, spectacular ball skills, polished route-running and very good blocking.  He's so versatile, he's been drafted twice by Major League Baseball teams!  He's another team-first leader brought into the fold in this draft.  He's more of a possession guy than Demaryius Thomas, so they should compliment each other and resident star WR Eddie Royal quite well.  

Meet the newest Bronco!

The Denver Broncos continue to think outside the box in this draft, selecting Zane Beadles with the 13th pick in the second round.  Beadles spent the last two-plus seasons at offensive tackle for Utah, but he'll likely move into a guard spot at the next level.  By most accounts, that transition should be a smooth one for him and it elevates his ceiling considerably.  At 6'5", 310 pounds, Zane is yet another young, talented big body to plug in along the offensive line.  He is known for - surprise! - his toughness, leadership, versatility and work ethic.

UPDATE: It has been brought to my attention that Beadles could slide even further inside and play center in Denver, so it'll be interesting to see how that pans out.  I would also be remiss if I didn't note that Zane is a remarkably smart young man, personifying yet another tenet of the McDaniels' philosophy.  By the way, for those still relying on media rankings and deeming this pick "yet another reach": it's time to throw those out.  In a draft where Tyson Alualu goes 10th overall and Jimmy Clausen lasts until the 48th pick, perhaps we should forget about those publications that had the former projected as a second-rounder and the latter as a lock for the first half of the first round...

Welcome to Denver, young man!

Tim Tebow will get to wear his beloved Orange and Blue for years to come, just our different shades.  Tebow has all the physical tools necessary to succeed at the next level and any coach worth his salt can teach someone with his dedication, willpower and athleticism the skills to go along with those natural gifts.  I know it's become trite, but Tim really is the epitome of character and leadership.  To put it another way: he is the embodiment of McD's ideals.  He's tough, smart, physical, versatile, team-first, leads vocally, etc.  We may not need another quarterback, but you always want guys like this on your football team.  If the goal is to put the best 53-man TEAM together, how could Tebow not be one of those men?

Bay-Bay Thomas is coming to Denver!

After three trades - two moves down and a move up - the Denver Broncos finally made a selection in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft: Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech.  Bay-Bay, as he's called, will immediately remind Broncos fans of the recently departed Brandon Marshall on the field.  At 6'3" and 224 pounds, he's a big target, but he's not just a possession receiver.  Despite playing in the triple option at Georgia Tech, Thomas still proved to be a legitimate deep threat.  As I type this, the Broncos have traded up to the 25th and are about to make a selection...

The Denver Broncos traded the 13th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 24th pick in the First Round and two 3rd Round picks (70th and 87th overall).

Adam Schefter reports that "the Broncos are not done yet"!

1. St. Louis Rams - Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
2. Detroit Lions - Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
4. Washington Redskins - Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
5. Kansas City Chiefs - Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
6. Seattle Seahawks - Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
7. Cleveland Browns - Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
8. Oakland Raiders - Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
9. Buffalo Bills - Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
10. Jacksonville Jaguars - Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
11. Denver Broncos (from Chicago) - Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida
12. Miami Dolphins - Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan
13. San Francisco 49ers - Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
14. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver) - Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
15. New York Giants - Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama
16. Tennessee Titans - Joe Haden, CB, Florida
17. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina) - Earl Thomas, DB, Texas
18. Pittsburgh Steelers - Mike Iupati, G, Idaho
19. Atlanta Falcons - Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
20. Houston Texans - Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
21. Cincinnati Bengals - Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
22. New England Patriots - Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas
23. Green Bay Packers - Charles Brown, OT, Southern California
24. Philadelphia Eagles - Taylor Mays, S, Southern California
25. Baltimore Ravens - Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
26. Arizona Cardinals - Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri
27. Dallas Cowboys - Rodger Saffold, OT, Indiana
28. San Diego Chargers - C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
29. New York Jets - Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB, Texas Christian
30. Minnesota Vikings - Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
31. Indianapolis Colts - Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State
32. New Orleans Saints - Everson Griffen, DE, Southern California

With the start of the 2010 NFL Draft less than eleven hours away, I finally feel secure publishing my projection of the full first round.  Hopefully, I'll be able to do the same for the two other segments of the the draft being held tomorrow and the day after as well.  Draft preparation this offseason has been a long process, but an enjoyable - and, I hope, entertaining - one.  For me, this is a bittersweet moment, but it's certainly heavy on the sweet!

Before we get to the mock itself, I'd like to share a few general notes that will hopefully preempt some of your questions, comments and/or concerns. I did not project any trades, but I accounted for their likelihood by focusing on needs rather than value. In that way, I built in the outcome of potential deals without having to predict any specifics. There are, however, some unexpected predictions in here that are sure to raise a few eyebrows, so hopefully you won't feel as though you're looking at what you've already seen elsewhere around the web. And so, without further ado, here's how I see today's first round breaking down:

1. St. Louis Rams - Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
2. Detroit Lions - Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
4. Washington Redskins - Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
5. Kansas City Chiefs - Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
6. Seattle Seahawks - Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
7. Cleveland Browns - Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
8. Oakland Raiders - Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
9. Buffalo Bills - Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
10. Jacksonville Jaguars - Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

More below the fold!

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