If our offense is west coast playbook based why did we draft Ashley?

[bcbronc]

We drafted Lelie to take after Rod or Eddy, they wanted him to learn to play more balanced. If you read alot of things about Lelie it says that Denver took the chance on him. (the chance) mean that people didnt think he will make it as a NFL WR. He is doing good right now. When we drafted Lelie Rod was 30, Our front office thought he was going to retire soon. Eddy was 32. So our Wr core was getting pretty old. 2001 wasthe year Eddie Kennison abandon us, so we needed another WR. 2002 we drafted Lelie , This is what an article said about us drafting him.

Most likely to improve his team - Ashley Lelie, WR, Hawaii - The Broncos receiving core looks like a bad episode of ER, so the addition of Lelie will give Brian Griese, who struggled last season, a much needed third option. Lelie bulked up to push the scales at around 200lbs and still pushes 4.3 in the 40-yard dash. He's a smart kid too, which bodes well for a rookie trying to understand Mike Shanahan's offense jargon. Look for Lelie to put Denver back on track and in hOakland's face next season.

Lelie help us gain a Deep threat, When he was 3rd string for us. Some people commented that he is the best 3rd in the Shannahan Era.

like this article

Yet the numbers beg otherwise. Lelie, who caught 35 passes for 525 yards and two touchdowns, was arguably te most productive No. 3 receiver for the Broncos since Mike Shanahan became head coach in 1995. Statistically, only Ed McCaffrey, who caught 39 passes for 477 yards and two touchdowns in '95, compares.


Lelie was drafted in a bad draft class.

2002 Wr draft class high lighted ones are Wrs who actually contributed or produced for their teams. Busts or out the league are bold

13. Donte Stallworth
19. Ashley Lelie
20. Javon Walker
33. Jabar Gaffney
36. Josh Reed
46. Tim Carter
47.Andre' Davis
48. Reche Caldwell
62. Antwaan Randle El 49ers
63. Antonio Bryant redskins
64.Deion Branch
86. Marquise Walker
87. Cliff Russell
95. Eric Crouch
123. Ron Johnson
142. Terry Charles
149. Jason McAddley
151. Jake Schifino
162. Freddie Milons
170. Sam Simmons
184. Kahlil Hill
202. Lee Mays
203. Jamin Elliott
206. Javin Hunter
208. Deveren Johnson
217. Michael Coleman
222. Kendall Newson
225. Darrell Hill
226. Daryl Jones
235. Ronald Curry
249. Rodney Wright
253. David Givens
254. Aaron Lockett

24!! of them didn't Do squat for their team. 31 total of Wrs drafted only 7 Produced or blew up with their team. 18 straight Wrs of the draft didn't do anything. But most them where late rounds picks which don't matter.

Just my 2 cents

nice post. seeing that list of other recievers pretty much counters the 'lelie is a bust' claim, imo.

[The Dark Knight]

At the time, we needed a deep threat to back up the saftey's and open up our run.

It's just that simple.

[P-NUT33]

We drafted Lelie to take after Rod or Eddy, they wanted him to learn to play more balanced. If you read alot of things about Lelie it says that Denver took the chance on him. (the chance) mean that people didnt think he will make it as a NFL WR. He is doing good right now. When we drafted Lelie Rod was 30, Our front office thought he was going to retire soon. Eddy was 32. So our Wr core was getting pretty old. 2001 wasthe year Eddie Kennison abandon us, so we needed another WR. 2002 we drafted Lelie , This is what an article said about us drafting him.

Most likely to improve his team - Ashley Lelie, WR, Hawaii - The Broncos receiving core looks like a bad episode of ER, so the addition of Lelie will give Brian Griese, who struggled last season, a much needed third option. Lelie bulked up to push the scales at around 200lbs and still pushes 4.3 in the 40-yard dash. He's a smart kid too, which bodes well for a rookie trying to understand Mike Shanahan's offense jargon. Look for Lelie to put Denver back on track and in hOakland's face next season.

Lelie help us gain a Deep threat, When he was 3rd string for us. Some people commented that he is the best 3rd in the Shannahan Era.

like this article

Yet the numbers beg otherwise. Lelie, who caught 35 passes for 525 yards and two touchdowns, was arguably te most productive No. 3 receiver for the Broncos since Mike Shanahan became head coach in 1995. Statistically, only Ed McCaffrey, who caught 39 passes for 477 yards and two touchdowns in '95, compares.


Lelie was drafted in a bad draft class.

2002 Wr draft class high lighted ones are Wrs who actually contributed or produced for their teams. Busts or out the league are bold

13. Donte Stallworth
19. Ashley Lelie
20. Javon Walker
33. Jabar Gaffney
36. Josh Reed
46. Tim Carter
47.Andre' Davis
48. Reche Caldwell
62. Antwaan Randle El 49ers
63. Antonio Bryant redskins
64.Deion Branch
86. Marquise Walker
87. Cliff Russell
95. Eric Crouch
123. Ron Johnson
142. Terry Charles
149. Jason McAddley
151. Jake Schifino
162. Freddie Milons
170. Sam Simmons
184. Kahlil Hill
202. Lee Mays
203. Jamin Elliott
206. Javin Hunter
208. Deveren Johnson
217. Michael Coleman
222. Kendall Newson
225. Darrell Hill
226. Daryl Jones
235. Ronald Curry
249. Rodney Wright
253. David Givens
254. Aaron Lockett

24!! of them didn't Do squat for their team. 31 total of Wrs drafted only 7 Produced or blew up with their team. 18 straight Wrs of the draft didn't do anything. But most them where late rounds picks which don't matter.

Just my 2 cents

[Dean]

Lelei's speed is a constant threat to the defense. His presence on the field loosens up the alignment of the safeties and corners. This helps the underneath routes by rod an it makes it more difficult for the defense to put 8 men in the box.

[tnedator]

That makes no sense at ALL! Hes a little skiny piece of crap. I thought the west coast was based on YAC like T.O and ROD Produce. Maybe shanny just messed up draft day picking him. I thinki if Lelie played for the Pats he would become Toms go to guy. Even if he Played for the Lions this year. Martz would make him a probowler.

I think a lot of people would say that at best the Shanny offense is loosely based on the west coast offense. Meaning that we don't have a huge vertical passing offense, but at the same time we have never run a lot of throws to receivers at the line of scrimmage and let them do the rest.

When the 49'rs popularized and/or invented the west coast offense, one of their bread and butter plays was a quick throw to a wide receiver who was basically stationary at the line of scrimmage and then the WR basically becomes a RB who just took a 10 yard lateral toss. Their offense was all about the YAC.

The Shanny offense has never been as much about the YAC. This is an offense that is based on running the ball and passing the ball in a very balanced manner. More than YAC, it is pound the ball down their throats, throw short crossing patters and comebacks to move the chains, and when the defense starts to cheat in tight, then hit them for the long bomb.

Whether it is playing calling or Lelie himself, he has never seemed to adapt to routes over the middle, but other than that, he has been a good fit for the Broncos.

[Archimedes Owl]

That makes no sense at ALL! Hes a little skiny piece of crap. I thought the west coast was based on YAC like T.O and ROD Produce. Maybe shanny just messed up draft day picking him. I thinki if Lelie played for the Pats he would become Toms go to guy. Even if he Played for the Lions this year. Martz would make him a probowler.

Well, he IS tall and he's a bit skinny, but he is plenty tall to be a possession receiver. Also, the West Coast Offense is a base offense, but there are a lot of different things that you can do in it. I mean, look at Philly. Both Denver and Philly are west coast offenses, but we threw the ball less than any team but Pittsburgh while Philly was throwing it very often.

Denver probably thought that Lelie was big enough for them to block and go over the middle to a degree, but they probably also liked his ability to go deep.

What I recall reading somewhere was that we had Javon and him rated very close together, but opted on Lelie because the coach down in Hawaii is friends with some people on the Broncos staff. I don't know the specifics of that, but . . .

[Champ>NFL]

That makes no sense at ALL! Hes a little skiny piece of crap. I thought the west coast was based on YAC like T.O and ROD Produce. Maybe shanny just messed up draft day picking him. I thinki if Lelie played for the Pats he would become Toms go to guy. Even if he Played for the Lions this year. Martz would make him a probowler.