I’m willing to endure another year without a franchise running back, but I am not willing to endure another year of un-Bronco like play on defense. We need a defense…and we need it right the hell now!

Nice post Super7

This completely sums up my feelings…

I don’t agree about the RB-situation, though. 6 (or is it 7? I’ve stopped counting) injuries on the same position will kill any unit. I will say, though, that Derrick Ward is a free agent next year.

When it comes to the D, I’m simply lost for word..

Oh, and rec’d ofc.

Only thing I disagree with is the thought that denver is strong on the perimeter. I think we are horrible everywhere. Otherwise, spot on. The game of football is about making plays and the Broncos haven’t made enough when it counted. The inability to force turnovers on defense and offensive turnovers has been frustrating this year. -15 is really the stat of the year. Second from the bottom. It is truly amazing the Broncos have eight wins with that number. Not enough defensive play makers and a lack of a running game is playing with fire.

Agree with your assessment of Dumervil. He is in the top 2 or 3 of Bronco disappointments this year. Hasnt drawn a ton of penalties and consistency has gone out the door. We commented at the game yesterday that he has been a ghost this year.

Your words sting of truth. Average. With hope.

All of these words to describe what we all have been watching for the past few years. The league is designed for that. Average. With hope.

I think the Goodmans have shown to draft well so there is… hope.

I hope for a vocal leader to rise on this team. I hope for someone to dig deep inside and deliver for the team. I hope to be a fan of the AFC West Champion Denver Broncos on monday morning.

My faith in the Orange & Blue will carry my hope through this chasm of poor play calling, abandonment of the run, and losses. I believe, but my spirit is low.

All Ready! Help!

We have nine picks this year, correct? I would like to see us acquire an additional second round pick via trade (for one of our veterans, two of the second day picks, whatever) and select three players on day one— a LB, SAF, and RB. Then either by trade or FA, pick up a beast to put in our front four. Round it all out with another excellent second day in the draft with all picks on the defensive side of the ball.

If we get rid of one of our best players on defense the we will have even more re-building to do. We’ll just be wasting draft picks trying to replace him. We need to build up our line, which will put more pressure on the opposing QB, which will cause him to make a bad throw, which will lead to a pick. That is why we don’t have as many turnovers this year.

We need lots of help on defense, but please save one pick for a RUNNING BACK!

Are we forgetting about Hillis? He was a BEAST when he was on and he hurt on an entirely freak play where he jumped up and over the d-back to snag an under-thrown pass. I don’t think we need any help in the backfield. And what about putting Woodyard on the strong-side, Larsen in the middle (where he was playing better than anyone this season and was there the only time we really bottled up the run against Atlanta) and leaving DJ on the weak-side? We need a killer safety to compliment Barrett and we need more DTs. And finally, the the coaching staff should learn to make adjustments for the second half, something that’s been sorely lacking our last two games.

KEEP THE FAITH

It will be rewarded

Offense:
Needs: RB

FA: Derrick Ward, Ricky Williams
Draft: Javon Ringer MSU

Defense:
Needs: Everything LOL

FA: Albert Haynseworth, Bob Sanders, Nnamdi Asomugha
Draft: Taylor Mays, Laurinitis, And some stud DTS, And some corner backs

All of these wont’ happend let alone one, but it would be awesome

Trades: Trade Dre Bly for a draft pick,

Guys who stay: DJ WIlliams, Champ Bailey, Dumervil, Thomas, Woodyard

Everyone else on D can go LOL

What has he done this year? His intense QB rush ability has been almost utterly stifled and his lack of size hurts in the run defense. I say, as much as I like Doom, trade him to a team that can afford an awesome situational player and give us a draft pick so we can get some base talent.

And the idea of trading Champ seems dumb to me. You think trading your best defensive player for draft picks so you can rebuild works? I suggest you go talk to the chefs about how well that worked out for them when they did that with Allen.

Draft a running back, pair him with Hillis and make our offense the best unit in the NFL.

to having an elite team. The hardest positions to fill are QB, OT, CB, and we have stars at 4 out of 5 of these. The problem this year were some big holes. Losing Al Wilson was bigger than most people realize. I think a leader at MLB (Laurinaitis), and Asomugah (if we could get him) would have us two years out from contending for the big silver trophy. I’d keep Bly, and if needed, have Champ play safety (like Ronnie Lot did in his later years). Haynesworth sounds pretty risky to me – a lot of downside there after he gets paid.

By the way, pro football reference.com did an analysis of the first three years of all the first round QBs since 1970, to show how they can project a career from that, and rating them as “Star, Starter, Uneven, Unclear, Bad and Ugly” (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=999). Outside of Marino and Peyton Manning, who are off the charts, Cutler ranks second (actually, is expected to when he completes this year). Elway was “Uneven”.

They also say, “Elway, Bradshaw, Testaverde, George, Collins and Bledsoe were all famous for their arm strength, and that might help to explain their career curves; they were reckless in their early days [all rated "uneven” in their first 3 years] but were able to wisely use their cannon arms as they matured."

Not sure if that applies to Cutler. ArmchairGM says Elway had “notably one of the strongest arms ever” (http://armchairgm.wikia.com/The_100_Greatest_Quarter) and it took him a long time to develop “touch” on his throws. Jay seems to throw a beautiful ball already.

I’d add DE to the list of hardest-to-fill positions, but I fully agree with you. In the past few years, they’ve lost Al Wilson, Trevor Pryce and Rod Smith — three rocks of the franchise who were among the best in the leage at their positions for a long time. What’s good about this team compared to the Plummer teams is that they have terrific depth — lots of young kids who are playing well. What’s needed is a pass rusher and two impact players on the defensive side of the ball.

The way I see it, they have 19 picks and two drafts to straighten this out. The shotgun approach of the ‘08 draft — in which they selected a lot of contributors — needs to be exchanged for a more selected approach in which they roll up the extra picks and get a few top performers in the early rounds. Let’s say they grab a DT and FS this year, a DE and MLB next. They have the picks, and they seem to have found their way on draft day.

We can quibble about who to draft when — I’d say grab a DT and FS this year, since those positions take longer to devlop; good LBs can play right away — but the bottom line is right. This team is close.

Champ needs to stay. He could be the leader of this team. He just needs to step up. Maybe if Denver could get pressure on the QB, he would be making more plays. Denver needs to concentrate on the d-line and linebackers.

Draft a franchise RB in RD 1 or 2 pick up a MLB in free agency, Andre Davis or Mike Peterson… Safety in FA like Jermaine Philips and draft best players available. Broncs need strong vet leadership at MLB and a heavy hitter at Safety and a stud RB like Andre Brown or whoever from the draft.

Peterson was demoted because he was complaining about his contract and the Jags defense went into the tank without him. I like Andre Davis and Jermaine Philips. I don’t like Ben Hamilton, I’d get a RB and a Left Guard in the first two rounds and address MLB and Safety through FA. Pick a FA MLB I don’t care which one, anyone has to be better than what we have. I’m open to any suggestions other than Nate Webster or Niko. Peterson is a great player but he’s not my first choice.

Denver is at a crossroads on Defense again, but this off season will be more urgent because the offense can dominate for 8 to 10 games a year. The defense needs to give up around 20 points a game on average (the less the better, but lets be reasonable). If the defense can do that, then Denver will win 11-13 games a year.

If Denver’s going to have immediate success on defense, A LOT of things are going to have to go right.

1) We need to have a healthy season (luck)
2) We need a bigtime FA Saftey, Linebacker, or Tackle
3) We need a bigtime, impact 1st round Safety, Tackle, or Linebacker
4) We need depth at Safety, Tackle, and D-Back from the draft
5) We need a second year player or two to start on defense
6) We need to find a way to use Elvis Dumervil’s talent
7) We need to cut our losses with older players that are on the downside (Engelberger, Ekuban
8) We need to cut our losses on guys that aren’t starters for the top 15 defenses in the league (Webster, Niko)
9) We need a scheme that isn’t just about speed, but is more about physicality. The Steelers and Titans are more physical than fast.

My opinion:
Personally, I’d like to see Denver go all in on Haynesworth. It’sll be his 8th year and he’s at the peak of his game. He averages almost 13 games per season, so he’s not a huge injury risk. I’d also like to see Denver try to draft Peria Jerry (Ole Miss), and then our DT situation is an afterthought for the next 4 years. Denver needs to key on the Safety from USC (trade up with later picks) or a guy like him on day 1.

I think Winborn is a starter and I think Woodyard is a starter. I think DJ has to go back to the middle or he has to play for somebody else. Can you imagine the middle of the D if Jerry and Haynesworth were paving the way for DJ on every play? WOW!

Marcus Thomas and Powell (our rookie on IR) rotate at DT. Denver uses Moss and Doom at DE.

Denver keeps Champ and cuts Bly (more on thios later). Denver looks at FA corners (not the top tier) and 2nd day draft picks.

Denver also needs to find a band-aid solution for a RB. Torain could be good, but we need someone established. I’d rather sell out on defense early in the draft and try to get lucky later in the draft and spend some nickel on Ricky Williams or Derrick Ward. They can both catch, block, and are powerhouse backs with straight line speed.

Cut D-Rob. Cut Bly. Cut Boss. Cut Niko. if you have to, Cut Champ if you can’t free up close to $11M in space. We’ll have to ask Champ to renegotaite and backload his existing contract. He may do it if it means a defense like what I am talking about building.

Maybe I’m smoking something, but this is do-able.

that Ekuban is on the downside. I believe he currently leads the team in sacks.

Not bad for someone who is just supposed to be a run stopper.

cutler might be considered really good

too bad he’ll never be as good as philip rivers….till then he can cry about rivers being a big bad bully…..that wins

I know your a fan but you come across as a “glass half empty” I agree about the defense but it is one step at a time and who of us wouldn’t have loved to be guaranteed at least a shot at the division and the play-offs with 1 game to go in a “rebuilding” year, I see this as a “glass half full” year even at 8-8, with the youth on this team the head coach the Broncos have, the owner they have and the draft and $$$’s available I see a pretty good future for this team in the AFC West, Yes the Chargers may win this weekend but these are two teams passing in the night Denver on the way up and the Chargers on the way down (mostly because of the owners) and with the raiders still being run into the ground by A.D. the only challenge the Broncs are going to have for the next few years is KC they look a little scary if they can continue to gel. Besides they are fun to watch every week!!! You never know who is going to be the new hero!!!