We don't need an ILB & could Baker be our RDE?

[johnlimburg]

ILB is a need, but you can get a quality ILB late in the draft, and we already have WW for third down so a big thumper like spikes makes a lot of sense, even if he is a two down guy.

I honestly think they should go Dline, safety, or trade for more picks. The broncos could fill most of their needs pretty well in the second round IMO

Needs being (not counting a HoF QB)
1. OG, need a bulldozer here
2. ILB, need a run stuffer
3. Safety, there is a good amount of safety talent in this draft
4. Dline, need to get younger and SO much talent this year.

About what u said about spikes being a 2 down guy. Thats what we need. Last year davis only played haldf the snaps of what dj did. Spikes would come out on 3rd downs or orbvious passing situations. Safety is not a need this year.

[johnlimburg]

I think chris baker is very similar to Johnny Jolly. They can both can hold up against the run on a 2 down basis. They are both nose tackle size
325+ pounds. However last preseason i remeber chris baker created havock for the sf 49ers starting offensive line and even got a sack.

[crash123go]

I think chris baker is very similar to Johnny Jolly. They can both can hold up against the run on a 2 down basis. They are both nose tackle size
325+ pounds. However last preseason i remeber chris baker created havock for the sf 49ers starting offensive line and even got a sack.

I remember that he has the potential to be a very disruptive force for years to come, the kid is only 21

[johnlimburg]

I remember that he has the potential to be a very disruptive force for years to come, the kid is only 21

he was a projected second round pick before he got into trouble

[JayJack]

he was a projected second round pick before he got into trouble

If he wouldn't have got dismissed from Penn State, it would have been crazy watching him and Jared Odrick on the line. That is Freaky Scary, and now they could have a chance to re-unite if we draft Odrick.

[JDDJDD123]

I don't see the need for an ILB, even after David was released. I am espeically against blowing our #11 on McClain although thankfully, that is very unlikely to happen IMO.

To play the TED next to DJ we have 2 options - Haggan or Larsen. Recently McD indicated that Larsen will be moving to ILB full-time and that he will battle it out in TC with Haggan to start.

Alot of ppl here have mentioned that they would like David Hawthorne from Seattle to play the thumper role at TED but Larsen is plenty big enough as well -

Spencer Larsen - 6-2, 240
David Hawthorne - 6-0, 240

Hawthorne did play well last year but I think Larsen could be a good starter as well if given the chance. He played very well against the Falcons a few years back when they struggled to run on us and he is a very good ST's player.

So with ILB being DJ and either Haggan / Larsen at TED the only need at LB I see, possibly, is someone who plays ILB/OLB as back-up in round 6 or 7.

Now, moving onto Chris Baker..........................

The obvious problem is that we do not know how highly the staff think of him. I still think the fact he was never put onto the PS means that we didn't want to risk losing him.

Our depth chart is...........

LDE - BANNAN
NT - WILLIAMS, FIELDS
RDE - ??????????

With Jarvis Green a 3rd down pass rusher at either DE or NT

I really don't mind if Odrick is selected but the question is, could Baker play RDE?????

I found this scouting report on him from last year befoe the draft -

'Baker played at both nose tackle and end in the Pirates’ 3-4 defense last season. He has good quickness off the snap, gets leverage and pushes his man into the backfield, and has good moves to shed blockers. '

Cmon buddy be realistic, we need players who are starting material. Larsen is definitely not starting material and hes gonna stay our FB anyways. So ILB is a big need no matter if we ran a 3-4 or 4-3. We have Mcbean and Green for the other end spot. So we have people to fill every position on defense except ILB.

[johnlimburg]

Cmon buddy be realistic, we need players who are starting material. Larsen is definitely not starting material and hes gonna stay our FB anyways. So ILB is a big need no matter if we ran a 3-4 or 4-3. We have Mcbean and Green for the other end spot. So we have people to fill every position on defense except ILB.

I disagree that larsen will stay at fullback. Branson will be the fullback and 3rd string tightend or we should draft john connor in the 7th. He is a crazy run blocker who blows peoplke off the ball.

I agree that we still need a ILB. Whether haggan goes across, larsen is backup and dj and wesley woodyard are on the other side, we need a long term solution. Also WW was a joke last year and i wouldnt be suprised to see him cut after training camp.

Also mcbean should not start.

[captainbronco]

Larsen is big enough for ILB IMO but how will he do in pass coverage?

[jojo187]

No way is safety our 3rd biggest need.

We have 3 starting calibur safteys in dawkins, mcbath, and hill

And we have 2 backups who could start in a pinch in Barrett and Bruton.

3 of those 5 are under 25.

Maybe a late round safety would be fine, but its definitely not a pressing need

The reason I through Safety on there is because it is so deep this year, and I think there would be good value there for the Broncos.

Also I think you over estimate what the Broncos have a safety, they have two aging veterans, sooner or later Dawkins is going to break down, and a bunch of unproven young players. Drafting a very good safety should defiantly be an option IMO.

[johnlimburg]

Larsen is big enough for ILB IMO but how will he do in pass coverage?

He wouldnt be dropping into pass coverage that much though. He will fill the spot davis played if he was to start and here is davis and williams stats compared Davis in Bold:

Total snaps: 547 1047

Pass Coverage: 136 470

Run Defense: 337 470

Pass Rush: 74 107

From this i take that majority of snaps taken would be in run defense at the TED linebacker position (which is open to anyone). They rarley rush the passer and sometimes drop into coverage. The main thing is that they are solid against the run. (brandon spikes anyone).

[beastlyskronk]

The reason I through Safety on there is because it is so deep this year, and I think there would be good value there for the Broncos.

Also I think you over estimate what the Broncos have a safety, they have two aging veterans, sooner or later Dawkins is going to break down, and a bunch of unproven young players. Drafting a very good safety should defiantly be an option IMO.

I think Mcbath poved that he can start in this league so I wouldn't call him unproven. When Barrett played SS he shut down Tony Gonzalez, he just needs some refining on the angular part of the position which he'll learn from Dawkins. I don't like Bruton that much but I think he can be about average at either S spot.

I don't like the idea of taking a late round S this year though.

[crash123go]

I disagree that larsen will stay at fullback. Branson will be the fullback and 3rd string tightend or we should draft john connor in the 7th. He is a crazy run blocker who blows peoplke off the ball.

I agree that we still need a ILB. Whether haggan goes across, larsen is backup and dj and wesley woodyard are on the other side, we need a long term solution. Also WW was a joke last year and i wouldnt be suprised to see him cut after training camp.

Also mcbean should not start.

THANK YOU!!!! I have been daying draft john konnor for weeks. this guy is the only pure FB in the draft and he is a straight road plow

[Cyrend]

I disagree that larsen will stay at fullback. Branson will be the fullback and 3rd string tightend or we should draft john connor in the 7th. He is a crazy run blocker who blows peoplke off the ball.

I agree that we still need a ILB. Whether haggan goes across, larsen is backup and dj and wesley woodyard are on the other side, we need a long term solution. Also WW was a joke last year and i wouldnt be suprised to see him cut after training camp.

Also mcbean should not start.

Okay, I'm really curious to know, is there anywhere that McD actually said that Branson is going to be moving to fullback? All I've heard was someone mentioned that Branson could make a good fullback with his good blocking abilities (mind you, lead blocking via fullback is much different than TE line blocking) and good receiving ability.

However, everyone seems to have run with the idea like it is fact...I'm just wondering if this is pure speculation or if there is merit to it?

And i agree to an extent with Woodyard. Im thinking keep him on the roster, but maybe not in a role where he is playing in pass coverage as much as last year. TD's were flying all by him last year haha

[London Bronco]

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Boundaries shift, new players step in, but linebackers always find a place to rest their head.

We fought and bleed alongside the defensive linemman, we should have known they'd hate us for it.

Players change, the rationale, the objective.......

[-Rod-]

^^^ Is it Shakespeare?