OKBroncoBoy
12-12-2007, 11:20 AM
Figured I would throw my two cents into the mix along with everyone else. First, let me say that Mat'hir Uth Gan has been the most consistant out of most of the postings for what is really needed in my opinion, but I still differ a little bit from him. For all the crying over our "needs" at LB & S, I have to say this for the 124th time: If we don't get a legitimate DL that can stop the run and force pressure it doesn't matter who we have at LB & S, we WILL be picked apart and endure another long season! This team is not that bad, but the DL & OL has been the main sticking point, along with injuries and distractions. So, having said that let's address the team noting only primary transactions:
Cecil Sapp, RB-resigned for minimum
Nate Jackson, TE-resigned for minimum
Jason Elam, K-resigned
Todd Sauerbrun, P-resigned
Chris Myers, OL-resigned
Ebenezer Ekuban, DL-cut (sorry to see him go)
Dominique Foxworth, CB-trade for 2nd/3rd (love him, but he's gone anyway)
Karl Paymah, CB-resigned
Nick Ferguson, S-resigned at reduced salary
Hamza Abdullah, S-resigned
Stephen Alexander, TE-cut/retired
Jamie Winborn, LB-resigned for minimum
Jordan Beck, LB-resigned for minimum
John Engelberger, DL-cut (although I do like what he brings)
Warrick Holdman, LB-cut
Ben Hamilton, OL-retired (I hope I'm wrong because I like him)
Ian Gold, LB-reworked contract to save money
Travis Henry, RB-reworked contract to save money
Matt Lepsis, OL-reworked contract to save money
Brandon Marshall, WR-extend
Javon Walker, WR-reworked contract to save money
Rod Smith, WR-returns (Shanny said as long as he wants to play)
With the signings/extensions/retirements/re-working of contracts, etc. Denver will probably end up with at least $20-$25 million to use on FA and their own players. In FA this is what they do:
*Sign Alan Faneca for about 3-4 years to solidify the interior of the OL. With our entire OL healthy and Faneca replacing Hamilton this is going to open up our running game even more, which is going to make this offense scary good.
*Sign the best available DT that is NOT overpriced. I'm pulling for Kris Jenkins to get released. I think Albert Haynesworth is not going to happen. We don't know yet who will be available, but I agree with Mat'hir Uth Gan in what he wrote that we really need a true NT type that can take on the double teams. I would not mind going after the Corey Williams types, but prefer the bigger DT like Jenkins.
*Sign Boss Bailey because we'll probably get him at a discount. Try him in Webster's spot and at the least you have a fairly inexpensive upgrade over what we have currently. If any other good LB's become available then Denver should go after them. I think guys like Briggs and Suggs are going to be way to expensive, but some more will probably become available. We really only need to fill one spot and--with upgrading the DL--our LB's are going to be pretty good. Williams stays in the middle and continues to get better.
*Patrol for a safety that is a sleeper type. None of the primary safeties excite me much and I don't view this as much of a need as most others. I think we need to get some youth, but our other needs are much bigger and we will probably use two picks on safeties. It's conceivable that we could swap Foxworth for a top notch safety with a team in need of a cornerback.
The rest of the money that Denver has freed up shouldbe used for their own players. Now we are left with the draft. I really want Denver to end up 6-10 and just play the young guys. Get everyone healthy for next year since there will be no playoffs anyway. Get a good draft position, move around a little to come up with an extra pick or two and you have us picking around 10-12. So this is what Denver does:
Round 1-Calais Campbell, DE-Denver drops down a few spots and swaps with Buffalo for a 3rd rounder they acquired from Baltimore. Buffalo is assured of getting Dan Conner and Denver gets a homegrown kid. They are looking at DL all the way and can't pass this kid.
Round 2-Keith Rivers, LB-Denver drops down again because Okam is gone and swaps with Miami for what was originally San Diego's pick and Miami's 3rd rounder. Miami swaps to get Ryan Clady and gives up a lot to get him. Many had Rivers going in the 1st or early 2nd, but Denver gets him here and picks up a high 3rd round pick.
Round 2-Red Bryant, DT-New England is convinced that Asante Samuel will be to expensive and doesn't like who is currently on the board, but they love Foxworth and give up the last pick in the 2nd round, which Denver uses on Bryant. Denver gets the third rated DT on their board (only guessing). He immediately factors into the rotation.
Round 3-Tony Hills, OT-They were looking for a safety, but couldn't pass up Hills here with the top pick in the third round. He gives Denver another guy to develop along the line along with Ryan Harris, who could also be shifted to guard. Hills turns out to be a steal.
Round 3-Craig Steltz, S-He was getting hard looks in the 2nd round and with the top pick in the third, but he falls to them anyway. He was thought to go higher, but had a nagging injury at the combine that knocked him down to the third.
Round 4-Quentin Demps, S-Another surprise, as they had discussed which one to take in the third round and end up with both. They are convinced that one or both could turn out to be a player and both could contribute on special teams.
Round 4-Terrance Wheatley, CB-If not for health questions and past injuries he would have gone much higher, but Denver takes a chance on him as a replacement for Foxworth. He's the fourth corner going in anyway, behind Paymah, but he turns into a solid nickel back.
Round 5-B. J. Raji, DT-A space eater to groom in the middle who could surprise. He fits the mold of big DT's and has time to sit and learn.
Round 5-Marcus Monk, WR-Another guy who has slipped because of questions about his speed, but he turns out to be a 4.5-4.6 guy and spends a year on the Developmental Squad before taking over for Rod Smith, who goes out his way--playing and producing.
Round 7-Jordan Dizon, LB-They tap CU again for a guy everyone else passes due to his size. Another guy to develop as they try and get him a little bigger and hope he plays like he did at Colorado.
Round 7-John Sullivan, C-A guy with some size and speed and some ability to play that can learn on the Practice Squad. With centers you ever know and with Nalen only around for another year or two Denver starts looking for candidates to replace him.
So after FA and the draft, it's official: The youth movement is on! The good things is Denver gets younger without really going through the normal rebuilding process and ends up with a very good team that can compete. Here's how the depth chart looks now:
WR-Javon Walker, Brandon Stokely, Glenn Martinez
OT-Matt Lepsis, Ryan Harris
OG-Alan Faneca, Chris Myers
C-Tom Nalen, John Sullivan
OG-Montrae Holland, Chris Kuper
OT-Erik Pears, Tony Hills
TE-Dan Graham, Tony Scheffler, Nate Jackson, Mike Leach
WR-Brandon Marshall, Rod Smith, Taylor Jacobs
QB-Jay Cutler, Patrick Ramsey, Darrell Hackney
RB-Travis Henry, Selvin Young, Andre Hall
FB-Cecil Sapp, Paul Smith, Mike Bell
DE-Elvis Dumervil, Jarvis Moss, Larry Birdine
DT-Kris Jenkins, Red Bryant, Kenny Peterson
DT-Marcus Thomas, Alvin McKinley, B.J. Raji
DE-Calais Campbell, Tim Crowder, Josh Mallard
LB-Boss Bailey, Keith Rivers, Jordan Beck
LB-D.J. Williams, Nate Webster, Jamie Winborn
LB-Ian Gold, Louis Green, Jordan Dizon
CB-Champ Bailey, Terrance Wheatley
CB-Dre' Bly, Karl Paymah
S-Hamzah Abdullah, Nick Ferguson, Quentin Demps
S-John Lynch, Craig Steltz, Steve Cargile
K-Jason Elam
P-Todd Sauerbrun
Not a bad looking team! Denver will be much stronger on both sides of the ball and at LB. Offensively the will be very good if they remain healthy. They have the pieces in place on the DL to get pressure and stop the run, which will free up their LB's and create less pressure on the DB's. It could put them in the top 3-5 teams in the AFC.
Cecil Sapp, RB-resigned for minimum
Nate Jackson, TE-resigned for minimum
Jason Elam, K-resigned
Todd Sauerbrun, P-resigned
Chris Myers, OL-resigned
Ebenezer Ekuban, DL-cut (sorry to see him go)
Dominique Foxworth, CB-trade for 2nd/3rd (love him, but he's gone anyway)
Karl Paymah, CB-resigned
Nick Ferguson, S-resigned at reduced salary
Hamza Abdullah, S-resigned
Stephen Alexander, TE-cut/retired
Jamie Winborn, LB-resigned for minimum
Jordan Beck, LB-resigned for minimum
John Engelberger, DL-cut (although I do like what he brings)
Warrick Holdman, LB-cut
Ben Hamilton, OL-retired (I hope I'm wrong because I like him)
Ian Gold, LB-reworked contract to save money
Travis Henry, RB-reworked contract to save money
Matt Lepsis, OL-reworked contract to save money
Brandon Marshall, WR-extend
Javon Walker, WR-reworked contract to save money
Rod Smith, WR-returns (Shanny said as long as he wants to play)
With the signings/extensions/retirements/re-working of contracts, etc. Denver will probably end up with at least $20-$25 million to use on FA and their own players. In FA this is what they do:
*Sign Alan Faneca for about 3-4 years to solidify the interior of the OL. With our entire OL healthy and Faneca replacing Hamilton this is going to open up our running game even more, which is going to make this offense scary good.
*Sign the best available DT that is NOT overpriced. I'm pulling for Kris Jenkins to get released. I think Albert Haynesworth is not going to happen. We don't know yet who will be available, but I agree with Mat'hir Uth Gan in what he wrote that we really need a true NT type that can take on the double teams. I would not mind going after the Corey Williams types, but prefer the bigger DT like Jenkins.
*Sign Boss Bailey because we'll probably get him at a discount. Try him in Webster's spot and at the least you have a fairly inexpensive upgrade over what we have currently. If any other good LB's become available then Denver should go after them. I think guys like Briggs and Suggs are going to be way to expensive, but some more will probably become available. We really only need to fill one spot and--with upgrading the DL--our LB's are going to be pretty good. Williams stays in the middle and continues to get better.
*Patrol for a safety that is a sleeper type. None of the primary safeties excite me much and I don't view this as much of a need as most others. I think we need to get some youth, but our other needs are much bigger and we will probably use two picks on safeties. It's conceivable that we could swap Foxworth for a top notch safety with a team in need of a cornerback.
The rest of the money that Denver has freed up shouldbe used for their own players. Now we are left with the draft. I really want Denver to end up 6-10 and just play the young guys. Get everyone healthy for next year since there will be no playoffs anyway. Get a good draft position, move around a little to come up with an extra pick or two and you have us picking around 10-12. So this is what Denver does:
Round 1-Calais Campbell, DE-Denver drops down a few spots and swaps with Buffalo for a 3rd rounder they acquired from Baltimore. Buffalo is assured of getting Dan Conner and Denver gets a homegrown kid. They are looking at DL all the way and can't pass this kid.
Round 2-Keith Rivers, LB-Denver drops down again because Okam is gone and swaps with Miami for what was originally San Diego's pick and Miami's 3rd rounder. Miami swaps to get Ryan Clady and gives up a lot to get him. Many had Rivers going in the 1st or early 2nd, but Denver gets him here and picks up a high 3rd round pick.
Round 2-Red Bryant, DT-New England is convinced that Asante Samuel will be to expensive and doesn't like who is currently on the board, but they love Foxworth and give up the last pick in the 2nd round, which Denver uses on Bryant. Denver gets the third rated DT on their board (only guessing). He immediately factors into the rotation.
Round 3-Tony Hills, OT-They were looking for a safety, but couldn't pass up Hills here with the top pick in the third round. He gives Denver another guy to develop along the line along with Ryan Harris, who could also be shifted to guard. Hills turns out to be a steal.
Round 3-Craig Steltz, S-He was getting hard looks in the 2nd round and with the top pick in the third, but he falls to them anyway. He was thought to go higher, but had a nagging injury at the combine that knocked him down to the third.
Round 4-Quentin Demps, S-Another surprise, as they had discussed which one to take in the third round and end up with both. They are convinced that one or both could turn out to be a player and both could contribute on special teams.
Round 4-Terrance Wheatley, CB-If not for health questions and past injuries he would have gone much higher, but Denver takes a chance on him as a replacement for Foxworth. He's the fourth corner going in anyway, behind Paymah, but he turns into a solid nickel back.
Round 5-B. J. Raji, DT-A space eater to groom in the middle who could surprise. He fits the mold of big DT's and has time to sit and learn.
Round 5-Marcus Monk, WR-Another guy who has slipped because of questions about his speed, but he turns out to be a 4.5-4.6 guy and spends a year on the Developmental Squad before taking over for Rod Smith, who goes out his way--playing and producing.
Round 7-Jordan Dizon, LB-They tap CU again for a guy everyone else passes due to his size. Another guy to develop as they try and get him a little bigger and hope he plays like he did at Colorado.
Round 7-John Sullivan, C-A guy with some size and speed and some ability to play that can learn on the Practice Squad. With centers you ever know and with Nalen only around for another year or two Denver starts looking for candidates to replace him.
So after FA and the draft, it's official: The youth movement is on! The good things is Denver gets younger without really going through the normal rebuilding process and ends up with a very good team that can compete. Here's how the depth chart looks now:
WR-Javon Walker, Brandon Stokely, Glenn Martinez
OT-Matt Lepsis, Ryan Harris
OG-Alan Faneca, Chris Myers
C-Tom Nalen, John Sullivan
OG-Montrae Holland, Chris Kuper
OT-Erik Pears, Tony Hills
TE-Dan Graham, Tony Scheffler, Nate Jackson, Mike Leach
WR-Brandon Marshall, Rod Smith, Taylor Jacobs
QB-Jay Cutler, Patrick Ramsey, Darrell Hackney
RB-Travis Henry, Selvin Young, Andre Hall
FB-Cecil Sapp, Paul Smith, Mike Bell
DE-Elvis Dumervil, Jarvis Moss, Larry Birdine
DT-Kris Jenkins, Red Bryant, Kenny Peterson
DT-Marcus Thomas, Alvin McKinley, B.J. Raji
DE-Calais Campbell, Tim Crowder, Josh Mallard
LB-Boss Bailey, Keith Rivers, Jordan Beck
LB-D.J. Williams, Nate Webster, Jamie Winborn
LB-Ian Gold, Louis Green, Jordan Dizon
CB-Champ Bailey, Terrance Wheatley
CB-Dre' Bly, Karl Paymah
S-Hamzah Abdullah, Nick Ferguson, Quentin Demps
S-John Lynch, Craig Steltz, Steve Cargile
K-Jason Elam
P-Todd Sauerbrun
Not a bad looking team! Denver will be much stronger on both sides of the ball and at LB. Offensively the will be very good if they remain healthy. They have the pieces in place on the DL to get pressure and stop the run, which will free up their LB's and create less pressure on the DB's. It could put them in the top 3-5 teams in the AFC.