Personal Prospect Workouts by Denver

[Mat'hir Uth Gan]

Lets try and get an accurate and updated list. Teams only can schedule so many pre-draft workouts, making them a very valuable and limited tool for evaluating prospects.

If you see someone you know for a fact we brought in, that is not on this list, post and I'll update the Master List.

I think what is important to note are the positions, if not the prospects, we are spending heavy amounts of time on. It's apparent to me that DE/OLB and RB are the focus of our attention so far.


***Edit***
I'm going to put the prospects projected round into the mix as well, I think that can be valuable for our mock draft purposes.



Prospect Visits (Master List)


OFFENSE


QB
Curtis Painter (Purdue) - 5th-6th Round

RBs
Knowshon Moreno (Georgia) - Early - Mid Round 1
Chris Wells (Ohio State) - Early - Mid Round 1
Donald Brown (Connecticut) - Mid-Late Round 1
Rashad Jennings (Liberty) - Early Round 2

WRs
Mike Thomas (Arizona) - Late Round 2 - Late Round 3, also a dynamic return man
Eron Riley (Duke) - Late Round 3 - Round 6, broad range.
Pat White (West Virginia) - Round 3 - Round 4 (Worked him out as a WR)

TE
Richard Quinn (North Carolina) - Round 6 - Undrafted Free Agent (Badass blocking TE)

OC
Eric Wood (Louisville) - Late Round 1 - Early Round 2



DEFENSE:


DT
BJ Raji (Boston College) - Early Round 1
Roy Miller (Texas) - 5th Round - 7th Round (Pure 2-gap NT)

OLB/DEs
Connor Barwin (Cincinnati) - Early Round 2
Robert Ayers (Tennessee) - Mid-Round 1 - Early Round 2
David Veikune (Hawaii) - Late Round 3 - Early Round 5
Victor Butler (Oregon State) - Round 4 - Round 6
Cody Brown (Connecticut) - Late Round 2 - Round 3

CBs
Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State) - Early - Mid Round 1
Kevin Barnes (Maryland) - Early Round 3 - Round 4

S
Chip Vaughn (Wake Forest) - Late Round 2 - Round 3



Any more that I've missed?

[SheerCold]

I have no idea why we're working out RB's, WR's, and a CENTER. Why do we need a center..?

The defense i'm fine with though..

[broncos SB2010]

I have no idea why we're working out RB's, WR's, and a CENTER. Why do we need a center..?

The defense i'm fine with though..

Because our center is close to retirement and Hamilton may not be re-signed next year. That means we need a guard and center for the future. Currently we have lichtensteiger and other teams cast offs as backups. With a good center like wood, Unger, Mack, or even Caldwell, all of whom could also play guard as can Licht, the Oline can be solidified for years to come. Some of this years top centers can play Tackle as well. The time to get a new center is not the year you need him to start but several years in advance so he can learn the system and get used to NFL. I think taking a center in rounds 2-4 is brilliant.

[Broncos Bassist]

Because our center is close to retirement and Hamilton may not be re-signed next year. That means we need a guard and center for the future. Currently we have lichtensteiger and other teams cast offs as backups. With a good center like wood, Unger, Mack, or even Caldwell, all of whom could also play guard as can Licht, the Oline can be solidified for years to come. Some of this years top centers can play Tackle as well. The time to get a new center is not the year you need him to start but several years in advance so he can learn the system and get used to NFL. I think taking a center in rounds 2-4 is brilliant.

+1, and due to value of the position, I think we can get a good Center to groom for a year or so later, rather than earlier. Some of the better prospects are expected to go after the 3rd or 4th round. OL is one of those subjective areas that you might value one guy more than another if he fits your system, like when the Broncos liked those Kate Moss-type guys in the late 90's and early 00's. We had (I think) the lightest line in the league, but they worked extremely well for the system they played in.

[Broncos Bassist]

Lets try and get an accurate and updated list. Teams only can schedule so many pre-draft workouts, making them a very valuable and limited tool for evaluating prospects.

Hey, MUG (or anybody else), I keep seeing this stated, but haven't heard any hard limits. Is there a rule that restricts the number of personal workouts, or is it a practical limit brought about by time and money? If it's a hard limit, what's the number?

Great thread, by the way. I'll give you CP once I give some love to others.

I agree that we're definitely targeting those positions. I find it interesting that we worked out Ayers, but you don't see a lot of info on him. I haven't seen any bandwagon for him yet. Is he projected to be able to play 3-4 DE, or would he need to convert to OLB?

[Mat'hir Uth Gan]

^^^

That is a good explanation of the need at OC. My problem with Wood is that we'd probably have to trade up in the 2nd to have a shot at him. I think he's moved up past Max Unger to being the 2nd OC being Mack. Mack goes in the Late 1st, I think Wood goes to Cincy or Buffalo in very early Round 2.

Our best bet at OC is probably AQ Shipley in the 5th Round area.



As far as our interest in RB, we need a starter, a bell cow, so to speak. I find if very interesting and telling that we are spending so much time on the absolute top RBs in the draft instead of lesser prospects. This tells me we are very seriously considering drafting a RB in Round 1 or Round 2. All of the above guys we've worked out at RB will be gone by our 2nd Round selection. And it is very likely that the best player available at #12 will be a RB. This also could mean we are interested in trading down and we are evaluating which prospects might be best to target to gauge how far back we can drop.

Buckhalter, Jordan, and Arrington are depth guys. Buckhalter and Jordan are very solid #2 and #3 backups. Arrington is a KR/PR guy, he might never play at RB outside of the occasional screen/draw on 3rd and long. What this interest tells me is that Selvin Young is as good as gone, and that Hillis will be used as a Fullback only.


I also find it interesting that we are spending alot of time with lesser draft prospects at DE/OLB. There's no Larry English, Everette Brown, Brian Orakpo, Aaron Maybin, or Clint Sintim. Though, Robert Ayers could be a 1st Round guy. However, most of the guys we are looking at are 2nd-5th round guys. That tells me we want depth at the position, and do not believe a top prospect, or one worth the #12 selection, will be available. I'm very surprised we haven't worked out Larry English, Aaron Maybin, or Clint Sintim yet personally. Especially if we might trade down. Runningback seems to be more of a priority than DE/OLB at this time. I also find that surprising, but understandable.

[Mat'hir Uth Gan]

Hey, MUG (or anybody else), I keep seeing this stated, but haven't heard any hard limits. Is there a rule that restricts the number of personal workouts, or is it a practical limit brought about by time and money? If it's a hard limit, what's the number?

Great thread, by the way. I'll give you CP once I give some love to others.

I agree that we're definitely targeting those positions. I find it interesting that we worked out Ayers, but you don't see a lot of info on him. I haven't seen any bandwagon for him yet. Is he projected to be able to play 3-4 DE, or would he need to convert to OLB?

I dont know. The media reports these things as if there is only a finite amount a team can use upon prospects. So, I'm rolling with that concept. Like you, I figure if that is not correct, then there is certainly a practical limit due to scheduling (other teams want to work these guys out too), travel, and just overall time investment and resources.

So, I view these private, and often relatively secret, personal workouts as very, very telling in what our team is interested in. I don't put a massive amount of stock in which individual prospect comes because they could always have bombed the workout, and thus be off our board. What I greatly value is the positions we are focusing on, and the draft value of the prospects at those positions, if there is a consensus.

Here, for instance, we are looking at 1st Round RBs in mass. I can promise I will change my SIG mock draft to have Moreno, Wells, or Brown as the pick, unless I determine a stud defensive player slips. Right now, I think with Cushing, Jackson, Maybin, and English all being mediocre at the Combine and at workouts, that they are more of Late 1st round picks, and only options if we trade down. Thus, unless Everette Brown slips (almost impossible), or we decide Malcolm Jenkins or Vontae Davis are worth the #12 selection, I think RB will CLEARLY be the best player available. If Beanie or Knowshon are still there, I think both are steals at that point in terms of talent, and probably ideal in terms of draft value.

The hype is starting to build up again for both players as Top 11 picks. Seattle and Cincy have massive needs at RB, and Jax, GB, SF, and Buffalo could all look at a RB for various reasons (Mo-Jo needs a tandem partner, Ryan Grant looked ordinary last year, SF needs depth behind Gore as he gets worn down, and in Buffalo, Lynch is in trouble again and will be suspended, and Fred Jackson is in his last contract year). So, we might only have Donald Brown as an option at #12, and if so, that's an interesting dilemma because I think its too early for Brown, but he profiles an awful lot like Chris Johnson of Tennessee, and we could use that.

[Broncos Bassist]

I dont know. The media reports these things as if there is only a finite amount a team can use upon prospects. So, I'm rolling with that concept. Like you, I figure if that is not correct, then there is certainly a practical limit due to scheduling (other teams want to work these guys out too), travel, and just overall time investment and resources.

I was kind of suspicious that this was the case, but I was wondering if maybe there was more to it. Thanks.

So, I view these private, and often relatively secret, personal workouts as very, very telling in what our team is interested in. I don't put a massive amount of stock in which individual prospect comes because they could always have bombed the workout, and thus be off our board. What I greatly value is the positions we are focusing on, and the draft value of the prospects at those positions, if there is a consensus.

Excellent point about positional interest. I hadn't thought about the workouts weeding out guys we aren't interested in anymore after they bomb. Duh. Makes sense.

Here, for instance, we are looking at 1st Round RBs in mass. I can promise I will change my SIG mock draft to have Moreno, Wells, or Brown as the pick, unless I determine a stud defensive player slips. Right now, I think with Cushing, Jackson, Maybin, and English all being mediocre at the Combine and at workouts, that they are more of Late 1st round picks, and only options if we trade down. Thus, unless Everette Brown slips (almost impossible), or we decide Malcolm Jenkins or Vontae Davis are worth the #12 selection, I think RB will CLEARLY be the best player available. If Beanie or Knowshon are still there, I think both are steals at that point in terms of talent, and probably ideal in terms of draft value.

That's disappointing about English and Cushing. I was really hoping for an OLB in the first, but the value just might not be there. After that anemic pass rush last year, I really want to see some sacks and hurries. Well, I guess we can hope that Moss can make the transition. I think it's possible, and we do have an upgraded LB coach.

The hype is starting to build up again for both players as Top 11 picks. Seattle and Cincy have massive needs at RB, and Jax, GB, SF, and Buffalo could all look at a RB for various reasons (Mo-Jo needs a tandem partner, Ryan Grant looked ordinary last year, SF needs depth behind Gore as he gets worn down, and in Buffalo, Lynch is in trouble again and will be suspended, and Fred Jackson is in his last contract year). So, we might only have Donald Brown as an option at #12, and if so, that's an interesting dilemma because I think its too early for Brown, but he profiles an awful lot like Chris Johnson of Tennessee, and we could use that.

I guess it's too much to hope that they would push one of the top D players to 12, isn't it? I saw a new mock this morning by Kirwan that has Brown going at #3 to the Chiefs and Orakpo going to Cleveland at #5. Made me throw up a little. Curry fell all the way to GB at 9. He still has us taking Cushing, but he makes me nervous for some reason.

[MindField]

Lets try and get an accurate and updated list. Teams only can schedule so many pre-draft workouts, making them a very valuable and limited tool for evaluating prospects.

If you see someone you know for a fact we brought in, that is not on this list, post and I'll update the Master List.

I think what is important to note are the positions, if not the prospects, we are spending heavy amounts of time on. It's apparent to me that DE/OLB and RB are the focus of our attention so far.


***Edit***
I'm going to put the prospects projected round into the mix as well, I think that can be valuable for our mock draft purposes.



Prospect Visits (Master List)


OFFENSE


RBs
Knowshon Moreno (Georgia) - Early - Mid Round 1
Chris Wells (Ohio State) - Early - Mid Round 1
Donald Brown (Connecticut) - Mid-Late Round 1
Rashad Jennings (Liberty) - Early Round 2

WRs
Mike Thomas (Arizona) - Late Round 2 - Late Round 3, also a dynamic return man
Eron Riley (Duke) - Late Round 3 - Round 6, broad range.

OC
Eric Wood (Louisville) - Late Round 1 - Early Round 2



DEFENSE:


DT
BJ Raji (Boston College) - Early Round 1

OLB/DEs
Connor Barwin (Cincinnati) - Early Round 2
Robert Ayers (Tennessee) - Mid-Round 1 - Early Round 2
David Veikune (Hawaii) - Late Round 3 - Early Round 5
Victor Butler (Oregon State) - Round 4 - Round 6

CBs
Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State) - Early - Mid Round 1
Kevin Barnes (Maryland) - Early Round 3 - Round 4

S
Chip Vaughn (Wake Forest) - Late Round 2 - Round 3



Any more that I've missed?

The real question is will the Broncos actually draft any of the players they bring in...so much of this stuff are smoke screens.

BTW, let me go on record as saying I LOVE Donald Brown, and have all along. To me, he has so many similarities to Emmitt Smith, it's scary. He is tough, extremely durable, smart, a great character kid and is a great cutback runner.

I worry New England is going to make a move for him, because if they get him with everything else they have on Offense, you can go ahead and mail the next Lombardi trophy to Foxborough now.

Donald Brown is that good.

[elevation INC]

Lets try and get an accurate and updated list. Teams only can schedule so many pre-draft workouts, making them a very valuable and limited tool for evaluating prospects.

If you see someone you know for a fact we brought in, that is not on this list, post and I'll update the Master List.

I think what is important to note are the positions, if not the prospects, we are spending heavy amounts of time on. It's apparent to me that DE/OLB and RB are the focus of our attention so far.


***Edit***
I'm going to put the prospects projected round into the mix as well, I think that can be valuable for our mock draft purposes.



Prospect Visits (Master List)


OFFENSE


RBs
Knowshon Moreno (Georgia) - Early - Mid Round 1
Chris Wells (Ohio State) - Early - Mid Round 1
Donald Brown (Connecticut) - Mid-Late Round 1
Rashad Jennings (Liberty) - Early Round 2

WRs
Mike Thomas (Arizona) - Late Round 2 - Late Round 3, also a dynamic return man
Eron Riley (Duke) - Late Round 3 - Round 6, broad range.

OC
Eric Wood (Louisville) - Late Round 1 - Early Round 2



DEFENSE:


DT
BJ Raji (Boston College) - Early Round 1

OLB/DEs
Connor Barwin (Cincinnati) - Early Round 2
Robert Ayers (Tennessee) - Mid-Round 1 - Early Round 2
David Veikune (Hawaii) - Late Round 3 - Early Round 5
Victor Butler (Oregon State) - Round 4 - Round 6

CBs
Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State) - Early - Mid Round 1
Kevin Barnes (Maryland) - Early Round 3 - Round 4

S
Chip Vaughn (Wake Forest) - Late Round 2 - Round 3



Any more that I've missed?

i was so stoke they brought in mike thomas. but i still feel he wont go in the third. this WR class is super deep....i think we could get him with our 4th rd pick.....but ya never know he is elite in my opinion his route running and hands are excellent, and his ability to break from the line and seperate is good as well. plus like you said he is a dynamic return man

[elevation INC]

The real question is will the Broncos actually draft any of the players they bring in...so much of this stuff are smoke screens.

BTW, let me go on record as saying I LOVE Donald Brown, and have all along. To me, he has so many similarities to Emmitt Smith, it's scary. He is tough, extremely durable, smart, a great character kid and is a great cutback runner.

I worry New England is going to make a move for him, because if they get him with everything else they have on Offense, you can go ahead and mail the next Lombardi trophy to Foxborough now.

Donald Brown is that good.

yes he is but in recent mocks he has been shown at our pick. Matt mguire from walter has him going to us in teh second rd.....never know...

[KWHIT97]

Nice thread MUG, guess it's time to start working out QB's as well!

[Mat'hir Uth Gan]

Was looking through KFFL, found visits scheduled/happened for:

DE/LB Cody Brown
QB Curtis Painter
TE Richard Quinn

Added em to the list.

[Flatlander Fan]

I view these private, and often relatively secret, personal workouts as very, very telling in what our team is interested in. I don't put a massive amount of stock in which individual prospect comes because they could always have bombed the workout, and thus be off our board. What I greatly value is the positions we are focusing on, and the draft value of the prospects at those positions, if there is a consensus.

The real question is will the Broncos actually draft any of the players they bring in...so much of this stuff are smoke screens.

I've been wondering whether the approach to draft prospects is significantly different this year than in years under Shanny's tenure. Shanny was so paranoid that his hand would get tipped that he wouldn't even look a player's way if he really wanted them. Is the X-man and McD approaching things from a different perspective, or are these personal workout guys just smokescreens like Mindfield points out?

[Papa-pwn]

Hmm how peculiar...

We might just take a RB at 12...