No blockbuster deals..........

[UltimateSoldier]

What do you mean by that???????

I know it sounded a little scarcastic, but I wasn't.

[Archimedes Owl]

I agree with much of this, but I see 10-6 or 11-5 as more likely than 9-7. Still, the Jets fans were pretty optomistic at this time last year after their playoff win, and look what happened to them (Pennington's injury, their team falling apart, the #4 pick in the draft)!

I thought 11-5 maybe 12-4 was the possible range for the Broncos last year and they exceeded that by a couple of games. Some of it was luck. (Ian Gold sticks out his hand accidentally deflecting a TD pass and the Broncos beat the Redskins, etc.). Some of it was a favorable schedule (playing teams at home rather than on the road) and some was that the Eagles and Patriots whom the Broncos played weren't as good last year as they were in 2004.

Then Jake Plummer managed to stay healthy all season once again. That can't continue forever. QBs eventually get hurt. That's life in the NFL. I would expect Plummer to miss at least a couple of games this year. If it's more than 2 games the Broncos won't make the playoffs. Then 9-7 or 8-8 would be a fair prediction.

You can't expect the same amazing luck (ex: drafting Darrent Williams as a PR/KR and having him unexpectedly turn out to be your starting CB) all year.

The Broncos are going to have to pick some GREAT draft picks and everybody on the team is going to step up if this team is to duplicate the success of last year.

Most likely they will be worse, not better.

TE, DE, a backup QB (Gus Ferrotte doesn't count) and some depth on the OL are the chief needs. Especially DL.

For every Ian Gold deflection at the end of the game, there was a blind Eli touchdown throw.

Denver was not lucky to go 13-3.

Two of three of Denver's losses could have gone either way, so I wouldn't say that Denver was lucky to go 13-3 against their schedule.

It is true that Denver's schedule turned out to be much easier than it first appeared. I mean, the AFC East and Baltimore pretty much fell apart, but the NFC East turned out to be much better than anticipated.

The Broncos did play the Patriots at a good time to make defeating them a bit easier, but the Eagles were a pretty good team when Denver played them.

I mean, after all, they had played the Chargers the week before and had held them to only seven yards rushing. And they still had McNabb, T.O. and Dawkins. They were a good team and will again be a good team next year.

[Broncos86]

we dont need any blockbuster deals.... i think the key to sucess is keepin a good chemistry between players and coachs which is what we have

[JkThSnake #16]

we dont need any blockbuster deals.... i think the key to sucess is keepin a good chemistry between players and coachs which is what we have

You are right good teams build threw the draft. and we will this year i hope we take lawson and marney in the 1rst and the take a TE in the 2nd . well be fine every year people complain every year we make the playoffs

[fisherman2$]

Passrusher

What was missing last year and seems so far this year is getting to the QB. If your front four can do this it leaves your speedy linebackers to cover the backs out of the backfield and to drop into coverage. If you can get the QB to release before he or the receiver is ready you can have more inconpletions and maybe interceptions. If the QB can set up and wait for the play to develope, no DB's can cover forever (as in the Steelers on 3rd down last year.) Last year we had to blitze too often which is a gamble. It all starts with getting to the QB, not just pressures but knocking him on his butt.

[Broncos86]

yeah it would be nice to have our speedy linebackers be able to drop into coverage instead of blitzing them every play