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'Hi, it's me, I'm back...'
-The Central Scrutinizer
Frank Zappa, Joe's Garage
Well, since being on hiatus over the last several months, I have had a chance to watch the Broncos offseason develop and not comment on it, at least not publicly.
Time to make up for lost time.
Here is my take on the state of the Broncos nation as it stands right now.
Coaching:
'Josh McDaniels, football genius, or arrogant fool?'
-Woody Paige, Denver Post
Well, we're gonna find out.
McDaniels was smart enough to bring in Mike Nolan to straighten out the mess on defense last season, only to show him the door this offseason.
Now, he has handed off the defense to an unknown in a guy that goes by 'Wink'.
Your guess to what Don Martindale will be as the new DC is as good as mine, but at least they won't be undergoing a complete philosophical change with the system.
Here's hoping Wink can keep the defense headed in the right direction.
QB:
Make no mistake, Josh McDaniels has bought into Tim Tebow hook, line and sinker, and has every intention for him to the the starting QB he collects his Super Bowl rings with.
You don't trade back up into the first round to take Tebow without the intent of him becoming your starting QB, and I believe sooner rather than later.
Kyle Orton is exactly what I thought he was, a two year bail-out guy in the aftermath of the Cutler trade.
I still say if Brady Quinn shows anything in the preseason, Orton could be traded just as Steve DeBerg once was for Elway, and a team like Buffalo may be interested.
As a rookie, Tebow will have his own package of plays, and will see some PT, just as he did as a freshman at the U of F.
Tim Tebow is the ultimate challenge for a QB coach: horrible mechanics and throwing ability that was on full display at the Sr Bowl, but everything else.
He is everything you would want in an NFL QB prospect...excellent size and athletic ability...incredible work ethic and leadership qualities...a Champions pedigree...I mean, EVERYTHING you would want.
...except that nagging visual of him throwing some of the ugliest football's I have ever seen thrown.
I don't know what is going to happen, but it sure is going to be fun to watch, and the truth is, people that have bet against Tim Tebow in the past have come up on the short end of the stick.
A player with his ability that wants to be great is a dangerous thing.
RB:
Well, a year after the selection of Knowshon Moreno, he has made one thing clear: the Broncos should have drafted Brian Orakpo with the #12 pick of the 2009 draft.
Correll Buckhalter proved to be a pro's pro and is a solid contributor, and JJ Arrington could be interesting if he is healthy, but Moreno has to be a lot more than he was if he wants to be a legit threat in the running game.
WR
Well, sadly, it did not work out with Brandon Marshall after all.
I have mixed feelings about that...on the one hand, I think a big, fat contract would have solved alot of the issues with #15, but the truth is, I believe the hour glass was turned over on B Marsh's time here the night of the Darrent Williams shooting.
Marshall knew at least part of the crowd that gunned down Darrent was looking for him that night.
I suspect he has some incredible feelings of guilt, frustration, anger, etc that really probably could never be resolved, so a change was probably inevitable.
That said, I am a HUGE believer in Demaryius Thomas' ability.
I saw the kid do some absolutely freakish things in a game that GT routed the Miami Hurricanes when he was a true freshman.
To me, it's just a matter of time with this kid.
Jabar Gafney and Brandon Lloyd will look alot like the receivers we have grown to be accustomed to with the Patriots over the years. If Eddie Royal can re-gain his footing, add Eric Decker to that, and the receiving corps have some talent and ability.
McKinley seems too frail to become anthing of sustance, and I wonder how long Brandon Stokley can hang on.
The TE's don't seem to have much importance in McDaniels' offense, so unless Brandon Marquez can develop into some sort of H-back role, I don't expect much there.
OL:
The Broncos' O-line was flat out awesome in 2008...and flat out brutal in
2009.
So what happened?
I think McDaniels tried too hard to play the middle of the road in keeping ZBS principles, while trying to introduce a power scheme, and it simply did not work.
So, the departure of Wiegmann at center was a good move, and if the Broncos braintrust hit on JD Walton, he should be the center of the Broncos for the next dozen years or so anyway.
I love the selection of Walton, and I believe he will start from day one.
I was somewhat suprised to see the Broncos step up and sign Kuper long term. I did not think he played particularly well last season, and RG's are the easiest O-linemen to come by, so to me, I am not sure that was a move they needed to make.
Last years draft selection Seth Olsen should be able to compete for playing time, and veteran Russ Hochstein is a warrior, so the battle for the starting OG position opposite of Kuper will be an interesting one to watch.
Could the Broncos consider moving Kuper to LG?
He played there as a rookie, and played very well, particularly against the Williams bros, in the Minnesota game.
When Zane Beadles was drafted, a smile swept across my face.
A Utah fan, I have had a chance to watch him play alot, and I think he is an excellent prospect.
At 6'5"-307, he has the build, smarts and demeanor of another 12 year vet.
I am not sure where he is going to play, but he will eventually start at RT or LG, in my opinion, and more and more, I believe he ultimately will be the replacement at RT for Ryan Harris, who is too much of a finesse player for a power scheme.
Clady is a bit of a question mark, health-wise, so you have to wonder if the Broncos will make Flozell an offer for next season.
Still, I loved the Walton and Beadles selections, and along with Clady, I believe they will be the foundation of an excellent O-line for years to come.
I fully expected McDaniels to overhaul the O-line this offseason, and he did.
Next up, Part II, Defense/ST
-The Central Scrutinizer
Frank Zappa, Joe's Garage
Well, since being on hiatus over the last several months, I have had a chance to watch the Broncos offseason develop and not comment on it, at least not publicly.
Time to make up for lost time.
Here is my take on the state of the Broncos nation as it stands right now.
Coaching:
'Josh McDaniels, football genius, or arrogant fool?'
-Woody Paige, Denver Post
Well, we're gonna find out.
McDaniels was smart enough to bring in Mike Nolan to straighten out the mess on defense last season, only to show him the door this offseason.
Now, he has handed off the defense to an unknown in a guy that goes by 'Wink'.
Your guess to what Don Martindale will be as the new DC is as good as mine, but at least they won't be undergoing a complete philosophical change with the system.
Here's hoping Wink can keep the defense headed in the right direction.
QB:
Make no mistake, Josh McDaniels has bought into Tim Tebow hook, line and sinker, and has every intention for him to the the starting QB he collects his Super Bowl rings with.
You don't trade back up into the first round to take Tebow without the intent of him becoming your starting QB, and I believe sooner rather than later.
Kyle Orton is exactly what I thought he was, a two year bail-out guy in the aftermath of the Cutler trade.
I still say if Brady Quinn shows anything in the preseason, Orton could be traded just as Steve DeBerg once was for Elway, and a team like Buffalo may be interested.
As a rookie, Tebow will have his own package of plays, and will see some PT, just as he did as a freshman at the U of F.
Tim Tebow is the ultimate challenge for a QB coach: horrible mechanics and throwing ability that was on full display at the Sr Bowl, but everything else.
He is everything you would want in an NFL QB prospect...excellent size and athletic ability...incredible work ethic and leadership qualities...a Champions pedigree...I mean, EVERYTHING you would want.
...except that nagging visual of him throwing some of the ugliest football's I have ever seen thrown.
I don't know what is going to happen, but it sure is going to be fun to watch, and the truth is, people that have bet against Tim Tebow in the past have come up on the short end of the stick.
A player with his ability that wants to be great is a dangerous thing.
RB:
Well, a year after the selection of Knowshon Moreno, he has made one thing clear: the Broncos should have drafted Brian Orakpo with the #12 pick of the 2009 draft.
Correll Buckhalter proved to be a pro's pro and is a solid contributor, and JJ Arrington could be interesting if he is healthy, but Moreno has to be a lot more than he was if he wants to be a legit threat in the running game.
WR
Well, sadly, it did not work out with Brandon Marshall after all.
I have mixed feelings about that...on the one hand, I think a big, fat contract would have solved alot of the issues with #15, but the truth is, I believe the hour glass was turned over on B Marsh's time here the night of the Darrent Williams shooting.
Marshall knew at least part of the crowd that gunned down Darrent was looking for him that night.
I suspect he has some incredible feelings of guilt, frustration, anger, etc that really probably could never be resolved, so a change was probably inevitable.
That said, I am a HUGE believer in Demaryius Thomas' ability.
I saw the kid do some absolutely freakish things in a game that GT routed the Miami Hurricanes when he was a true freshman.
To me, it's just a matter of time with this kid.
Jabar Gafney and Brandon Lloyd will look alot like the receivers we have grown to be accustomed to with the Patriots over the years. If Eddie Royal can re-gain his footing, add Eric Decker to that, and the receiving corps have some talent and ability.
McKinley seems too frail to become anthing of sustance, and I wonder how long Brandon Stokley can hang on.
The TE's don't seem to have much importance in McDaniels' offense, so unless Brandon Marquez can develop into some sort of H-back role, I don't expect much there.
OL:
The Broncos' O-line was flat out awesome in 2008...and flat out brutal in
2009.
So what happened?
I think McDaniels tried too hard to play the middle of the road in keeping ZBS principles, while trying to introduce a power scheme, and it simply did not work.
So, the departure of Wiegmann at center was a good move, and if the Broncos braintrust hit on JD Walton, he should be the center of the Broncos for the next dozen years or so anyway.
I love the selection of Walton, and I believe he will start from day one.
I was somewhat suprised to see the Broncos step up and sign Kuper long term. I did not think he played particularly well last season, and RG's are the easiest O-linemen to come by, so to me, I am not sure that was a move they needed to make.
Last years draft selection Seth Olsen should be able to compete for playing time, and veteran Russ Hochstein is a warrior, so the battle for the starting OG position opposite of Kuper will be an interesting one to watch.
Could the Broncos consider moving Kuper to LG?
He played there as a rookie, and played very well, particularly against the Williams bros, in the Minnesota game.
When Zane Beadles was drafted, a smile swept across my face.
A Utah fan, I have had a chance to watch him play alot, and I think he is an excellent prospect.
At 6'5"-307, he has the build, smarts and demeanor of another 12 year vet.
I am not sure where he is going to play, but he will eventually start at RT or LG, in my opinion, and more and more, I believe he ultimately will be the replacement at RT for Ryan Harris, who is too much of a finesse player for a power scheme.
Clady is a bit of a question mark, health-wise, so you have to wonder if the Broncos will make Flozell an offer for next season.
Still, I loved the Walton and Beadles selections, and along with Clady, I believe they will be the foundation of an excellent O-line for years to come.
I fully expected McDaniels to overhaul the O-line this offseason, and he did.
Next up, Part II, Defense/ST
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