Why offense is a bigger priority than defense
I firmly believe that offense is a far bigger need for this team than defense.   This is for a few major reasons, the N.F.L. is an offense oriented league; the Broncos have a better core of players on defense than offense, and this team's strength lies in offense (I am not contradicting myself, I mean in coaching and talent evaluation, which are more long lasting than personnel).

It is pretty the well known that the N.F.L. is an offense oriented league.  Just  look at how ridiculous the pass interference penalties and roughing the QB penalties are.  To truly show that these penalties have such a large effect on the makeup of teams simply watch the playoffs.  The four teams left the Giants, Patriots, Packers, and Chargers are all known (at this point in time) as offensive teams.  Those teams with good defenses that even made it to the playoffs lost early.  The Jaguars, Titans, and Steelers, all lost because of the inability of their offenses to put up enough points, and the fact that their defenses could not make the critical stop.  Every time the Patriots have looked like they are going to lose it is their offense that pulled them through, with a game winning drive.  It is quite obvious the dominant teams in the league are those with great offenses and decent defenses.

Those teams with great offense also make their defenses look better than they are.  A perfect example would be the Patriots, every team feels like they have to pass the ball to beat the Patriots, and this puts the Patriots defense in a perfect position, they don't have to worry about fast HBs and TEs exposing their defense's slow LBs and safeties.  They know what teams are going to do and can dictate the game with complicated blitzes.  Further, teams like the Colts who have a reliably good offense have an easier time at putting together a good defense.   The Colts put together one of the NFLs best defenses with only two star players (I don't consider Mathis a star).   This is because they knew they only had to look for role players.  Whereas defenses like the Ravens and Panthers that have no offense to lean on have to really on many multi-talented defenders.

As for having a better core of players on defense, I always read/hear people say that the Broncos have a great young "nucleus" of players on offense with Sheffler, Marshall, and Cutler.  I would have to disagree, I don't think those players are bad by any means, but they all play skill positions.  The nucleus of any offense or defense is made up in the trenches not by skill players.  Manning's receivers may have been injured, but it was the injury of Tony Ugough that truly hurt that team.

Even if the skill players are considered to make a nucleus, I would rather have Williams, Lynch, Bly, and Bailey than Marshall, Sheffler, Graham, and Cutler.  Bailey is on average (he had an off year due to a change in scheme), the best CB in the league, Bly is a top 15 corner, Lynch is a top 10 safety, and Williams was second in the AFC in tackles.  Marshall is a top 10 Wide Receiver, Sheffler is a top 15 TE, Graham is a great blocking TE, but until the Broncos improve our OL he is nothing more than an OT, and Cutler is a top 15 QB.  The Broncos simply have more talent on defense.

I believe our OL is far worse than our DL.  I believe our DL simply needs one more DT, and some time.

At DL the Broncos currently have three-four good and improving defensive ends.  It often takes two-three years for defensive ends to develop, so there is no need to get more defensive ends as the Broncos have two rookie defensive ends, and a great second year pass rusher specialist.

As for the tackle position, I believe given the time Thomas could develop into a good DT, however he most definitely needs time.  At the second DT spot the Broncos need another DT, it is quite possible after cuts the Broncos won't have more than two DTs on the roster (McKinely, Thomas, Mallard is a DE technically right?).  Hothe Broncosver, I don't think the Broncos need a great DT to line up opposite of Thomas.  Instead the Broncos just need a serviceable DT.  If one looks around the league they realize that very few teams have more than one good DT, in fact only Jacksonville and Minnesota come to mind.  Further, those teams with the "big, space eating, run-stopping" DT that everyone wants can be found on the following teams; Detroit, Carolina, Baltimore, and Tennessee (I excluded Jacksonville and Minnesota because I already addressed them).  Something should jump out at you, none of these teams made the playoffs except Tennessee, and Tennessee did not look like a playoff team.  I believe the Broncos would be fine with a second maybe third round Defensive Tackle, and some depth.  This can be achieved through FA and a draft pick or two.
Now the Broncos look at our OL, I firmly believe that our OL is in far more trouble than our DL.  Unlike the DL there is no position that I can say the Broncos don't need help with, maybe the Broncos have right guard settled, maybe.  Also, unlike the DL those teams that are truly dominant have good OLs, Brady and Peyton would never have the years they have without their OL.  Now, let's look at the OL player by player.

Nalen is our next to ancient center.  He says he will be coming back after his messy bicep injury (his muscle was literally disconnected from the bone).  Hothe Broncosver, the Broncos have to wonder how much he has left.  I mean his play has been declining as it is, I think he will have a year like Lepsis had this year.  His only value will be as a veteran presence.  In fact I am extremely surprised he is returning.

Hamilton is a big question mark for me.  Truly I thought he was done with football period.  He will probably be the best player on our OL, or he could be inactive and call it quits.  However, Shanahan loves him and if Hamilton can play he will start.  If he does come back and plays for the Broncos he will fix the center spot. Yet, he is simply too big of a question mark to count on.

Myers played decently at center, however, if one looks at styg50's post "NPLB End of Season Report: Holding the Lines" it is quite clear the Broncos need some work on the interior of the OL.  As most all 3rd and 4th short runs are from between the Tackles, a place the Broncos particularly struggled.  This really can be placed on Myers shoulders in my mind.

I think the Broncos will be fine at center next year, not great, but fine.  The Broncos should draft a late round center and work on developing him over the next two-three years.   Even if Hamilton comes back to play center he is pretty old, and as I said before that injury really worries me.

Kuper and Holland, played decently, but the Broncos really struggled in the interior running game.  These two players seem pretty similar to me, they are both bigger than the typical Denver OL and a little slower.  I think Kuper has more potential than Holland, and Holland is just a temporary replacement.  I think that with time Kuper will develop into a good guard, and that Holland will be fine.  In a ZBS scheme the guards really need to play together a lot, something our OL has missed for years, I think other than depth guard is fine.

I really hope the Broncos draft maybe a guard, or sign a decent guard from FA.  As long as the Broncos don't sign Faneca I will be fine.

Tackle is where I am really worried.  We did well running off tackle this year, but in my opinion that was due more to the Bronco's guards and Graham than the Bronco's Tackles.

I am not to sure about Ryan Harris, but since the team invested a third round draft pick in him I believe he deserves a chance to start.  I think Pears is nothing more than a backup.  My preferred solution for Tackle would be to draft a LT in the first (Oher would be my favorite, his potential is amazing, and he could spend almost his entire career with Cutler) and put Harris at RT.  The only problem with this is that Shananhan never starts first year players and I think his ego is too big to draft a OL in the first (especially with the Foster incident).  So, I think it is more likely we putt Harris at LT, draft a Guard and maybe a Center, and pick up Gordan Gross in the FA market.

Now after, coming close to the end of this I have had a few realizations.  We really need OL help, probably need another WR, and need a HB.  However, I believe Shanahan will draft a DT in the first and address our other needs with later round draft picks.

I don't believe we will draft a RB because of Shanahan's comments about "thinking of a players first few games" when evaluating a player with an injury.   This is clearly talking about Henry, and to me is a sign we look to keep Henry.  I think a healthy Henry, Selvin Young, and Andre Hall is fine.  I just don't think it will happen.

As for WR, I really hope we keep Javon, but if we don't we need to draft a WR who can spread the defense, and has good hands.  I am all in favor of the WR from Vanderbilt.

Well, that is it for now.

This is my first "diary", so let me know what you think.