Denver Broncos Discussion

[Rcee]

i agree with everything except that we're ok a WR. i think andre caldwell shouldn't be anything more than a 4th and willis shouldn't see the field anywhere outside of special teams. adding a guy like ty hilton, joe adams, jarius wright would be nice, depending on where they drop to.

we have bigger holes to fill but i'd like to see it addressed.

[njx9]

sorry for chopping this up, it's just easier to respond point-by-point.

Originally Posted by Diehard

Position by position assessment:

QB - need a backup for Manning and someone to develop

i don't think we need it out of this draft, and i don't really like the options out of this draft. i don't want another brian griese, and i'd rather wait if there's a chance we can get another jay cutler.

RB - the #2 spot is open

yup, we need someone with speed and who can catch out of the backfield. lamichaellamichaellamichaeletcetc. =P

WR - ok

i sort of agree with rcee here, but i'm still not sold this is the year to do it. i'm not a big fan of any of the guys after the top tier, and i think peyton's shown he can make mediocre talent look fairly decent in the past. it's not a pressing concern, imo, but i think we do need a better slot.

OL - an upgrade for either Beadles or Walton would be nice

yup, interior OL is, yet again, a need. too bad we can't lure gibbs or dennison back for a couple of seasons. or at least for a draft.

DE - need a backup for Dumervil (working on a deal with Hunter now)

i think, ideally, we need someone who can play two downs. i like doom, but he's just not that strong on the run, although playing with a real DT would probably help that.

DT - both a starter and depth are needed (!)

we need like, 12 DTs, really. maybe 15.

LB - an upgrade here would help, especially if DJ is going to miss time

yes. and regardless of DJ, who is no longer an nfl starter (based on quality of play) imo. i'd kill for kuechly to somehow fall to us.

CB - ok

strong, strong disagreement. we need talent here. we need someone who can potentially replace champ. we don't have that on our roster right now. i'm not even convinced we have a real nickel cb. that said, i'm not sure this draft is the place to find that guy, barring someone catastrophically falling.

KR/PR - loss of Royal leaves a big hole here

oops, deleted S, where i would've just agreed. but at returns, if we pull a ******* shanahan and overdraft some worthless DB just because he can also return kicks, i'll shank someone.

[Diehard]

"ok" was basically saying we can get by with what we have. The QB thing is a little different as I always think you should always have a development guy on the back burner given the time it can take to transition to the NFL. If they feel good about Weber then adding a body isn't necessary... but I don't think that is the case.

WR - Thomas, Decker, Caldwell, Jason Hill, Willis, Dell, Goodwin

We should be able to pull a functional 4-deep from that group. If we add another receiver, it should be a KR/PR guy. Joe Adams would be a very nice choice

CB - Champ, Porter, Goodman, Harris, Syd, Vaughn, T. Carter, other camp bodies

We've got 3 young guys who have each flashed a little. I don't think any of them are necessarily a lockdown #2, though. The problem is the future - what happens when Champ starts to show his age. From a succession planning perspective, yes, I think this is an important position to address in the draft.

I'd like to see a few more FA moves to close most of the immediate holes left in the roster. That would then let us go BPA in the draft. Unfortunately, that isn't going to happen at DT, which probably means our first selection will be used at that position.

[njx9]

ok, fair enough, i misinterpreted the ok's. i think we have good depth at cb, and i think porter is a massive upgrade over goodman, but yeah. we really need the next guy somewhat soon.

[jCut]

Originally Posted by Diehard

Joe Adams would be a very nice choice

Love Joe Adams. He would be a nice fit here.

[pocketaces]

Hey guys, in our mock draft Im drafting for you. Still on the board

Upshaw (DE/OLB), Hill (WR), Jenkins (CB), Hightower (LB), Wright (WR), Perry (OLB). Wilson (RB)

All the OL is gone, first round grades anyway. DL is gone too. Any of these guys interest you?

[Timbathia]

Originally Posted by pocketaces

Hey guys, in our mock draft Im drafting for you. Still on the board

Upshaw (DE/OLB), Hill (WR), Jenkins (CB), Hightower (LB), Wright (WR), Perry (OLB). Wilson (RB)

All the OL is gone, first round grades anyway. DL is gone too. Any of these guys interest you?

Can we trade back?

[pocketaces]

Originally Posted by Timbathia

Can we trade back?

no, seems everybody wants to do that lol

[pocketaces]

Never mind. I drafted you Luke Kuechly instead. Didnt think he would be there but he was. You like?

[njx9]

yes. very much.

[Timbathia]

Originally Posted by pocketaces

Never mind. I drafted you Luke Kuechly instead. Didnt think he would be there but he was. You like?

What a waste of a pick - we just resigned Joe Mays so are set at that position for the forseeable future. LBs are the strength of this team.

[jCut]

Originally Posted by Timbathia

What a waste of a pick - we just resigned Joe Mays so are set at that position for the forseeable future. LBs are the strength of this team.

... Sarcasm?

[Timbathia]

Originally Posted by jCut

... Sarcasm?

yes it sure is.

[Diehard]

Originally Posted by njx9

yes. very much.

Actually get a real MLB? That would be a revelation...

Core defense is key. Little wonder we've been gashed by the run in recent years when the team has tried to get by on the cheap at DT and MLB. Last year they finally took a few steps to improve the situation, but that still isn't enough and we're pretty much going to be forced to address this problem with our first pick this time around.

Anyway, I'm not sure what went on with this mock but there is a 0% chance Luke Kuechly falls to us on draft day.

[njx9]

sadly, agree, i think he'll be long gone, especially after his combine.

but i would kill to bring him in at MLB. last time we had a real MLB was about the same time we had a real defense. oddly, also the last time we won a playoff game (prior to last year).

[Timbathia]

While i agree he is probably gone, mlb's that have been taken early recently have disappointed and they do generally fall more than most positions.

[Diehard]

Originally Posted by Timbathia

While i agree he is probably gone, mlb's that have been taken early recently have disappointed and they do generally fall more than most positions.

No question, LBs who aren't pass rushers tend to slide.

However, after his combine I think the combination of production, intangibles and athletic ability makes him a dead lock to go early. To get to us, he's got to run a gauntlet of teams from about the 10 spot on who could use help at that position. I don't think he gets past the Seahawks.

[Jimmy]

Broncos getting new helmets? You tell me.

Looks to me that the stripe will come to the front of the helmet now.

http://images.footballfanatics.com/F...3_xl.jpg&w=400

[Diehard]

Originally Posted by Jimmy

Broncos getting new helmets? You tell me.

Looks to me that the stripe will come to the front of the helmet now.

http://images.footballfanatics.com/F...3_xl.jpg&w=400

After seeing the Nike stuff, I guess the artist who did the shirt just exercised some creative license. You'd think an assignment like "draw this ******* helmet properly" would be pretty hard to screw up.

[njx9]

i have no idea why, but i think i'm now about 95% sure we won't draft a DT before round 3. i'm just hoping that, if i'm right, it's not so that we can drastically overdraft lamar miller or some crappy wr.

[Diehard]

Originally Posted by njx9

i have no idea why, but i think i'm now about 95% sure we won't draft a DT before round 3. i'm just hoping that, if i'm right, it's not so that we can drastically overdraft lamar miller or some crappy wr.

My guess is that they'll stick to their rankings / board. If 3-4 DT's get grabbed before we pick, I think you can count on them drafting some other position where a top ranked prospect is still available.

[Diehard]

In an interesting coincidence, Cecil Lammey had a lot to say about the Broncos draft yesterday.

https://twitter.com/#!/cecillammey

Synopsis of his comments:

RB - Broncos don't like the 2nd round options (James, Polk) and are looking at Miller at #25 (over Martin and Wilson) - want someone who fits the outside zone play

DT - the team likes some of the 2nd and 3rd round options

WR - the value is in the mid rounds, unlikely earlier than that

CB - if Kirkpatrick falls to #25, he's the pick over any RB / DT

QB - none in first 2 rounds - likely someone in the 4th-6th range.

Of course, a lot of this likely smoke given that we're still two weeks away from draft day. Still, it's eerily similar to njx's comments above.

One thing to keep in mind is that we are in "win now" mode. What picks will be able to contribute right off the bat? RB, LB and KR are the obvious plug-and-play positions and we could use help at all three spots.

EDIT - Miller highlight reel below - I'm not sold on his value at #25 but I'd sure like a back with that kind of burst on the team...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7dxPzUBoi4

[Chris]

Nice post, Diehard. Was going to bring that over here since someone on the Mane spilled the beans. I like Miller, but not at #25. I think there will be better DT value there than the end of the second round. If we end up taking Mike Martin or some 3rd-4th round pick at the end of the second because we screwed the pooch not getting one early, I'll be PISSED.

[Diehard]

Originally Posted by Chris

Nice post, Diehard. Was going to bring that over here since someone on the Mane spilled the beans. I like Miller, but not at #25. I think there will be better DT value there than the end of the second round. If we end up taking Mike Martin or some 3rd-4th round pick at the end of the second because we screwed the pooch not getting one early, I'll be PISSED.

Apparently Del Rio & Co were taking a close look at Kirkpatrick and Josh Chapman at Alabama's pro day. There have been rumors that Del Rio wants to bring more of a 2-gap approach and Chapman would fit the bill. In that case, guys like Ta'amu and Brandon Thompson might also be on their radar. Brockers would be a very nice 2-gap fit, but the assumption is probably that he's gone well before the Broncos get a sniff at him. So that leaves guys in the 2nd and 3rd range as the targets, which would explain some of the buzz we're hearing.

Anyway, it's all conjecture at this point. We've got another two weeks before the real info starts leaking out.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Diehard

Apparently Del Rio & Co were taking a close look at Kirkpatrick and Josh Chapman at Alabama's pro day. There have been rumors that Del Rio wants to bring more of a 2-gap approach and Chapman would fit the bill. In that case, guys like Ta'amu and Brandon Thompson might also be on their radar. Brockers would be a very nice 2-gap fit, but the assumption is probably that he's gone well before the Broncos get a sniff at him. So that leaves guys in the 2nd and 3rd range as the targets, which would explain some of the buzz we're hearing.

Anyway, it's all conjecture at this point. We've got another two weeks before the real info starts leaking out.

I would not be okay with Chapman because of his ACL injury. Was he able to even perform anything at his Pro Day? I read his medical flags were off the charts at the combine and a variety of teams were concerned with his ability to actually play for more than half the season.

Thanks for the info, though. I'm just surprised they aren't considering Worthy @ the 3 Tech for us in round one. They must really like Vickerson or feel Thomas may come back. It would just baffle me if they didn't draft one in the first round. I really think that they will miss out on Thompson in the second, and Ta'amu is a 50/50 pick to be there. I could see the Steelers nabbing him right before us then if they don't address that need in round one.