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A Royal Suprise

The NFL Draft has always been a holiday for me. I can't remember a time in the past 5 years that I haven't at least watched the first round. (The last two years I've watched the entire day one which was previously 3 rounds.) I was hoping to attempt to watch the entire thing "buzzer to buzzer" for the first time this year until I realized a scheduling conflict would mean I was at the bottom of the Grand Canyon on the day of the draft. I would have backed out but I had already paid the money and was already 5 weeks into my "training hikes". I like to think a little part of me died that day.

Star-divide

But this isn't meant to be a emotional rollercoaster so let me get to the point. At the bottom of the Canyon there is a payphone which I used to call my family to get all the updates. I called around 4:00 pacific time to get the update for the first round. I was very pleased to hear that our blueprint for world domination had gone so far as planned. We got our franchise LT just like we had hoped and to put the cherry on top, all the WRs, which had been our 2nd option in my mind if Clady was gone, had fallen to the 2nd round. I told my father I'd call back in about two hours to get the round.

Immediately I began to fantasize about having both my ideal player at our position, Clady, and my backup plan DeSean Jackson. I thought this pick made perfect sense. We have had probably the worst return game in all the NFL in the last 3-4 seasons and that's what Jackson did best. I also thought he could be the perfect compliment to the big, overly-powerful Brandon Marshall.

                                        

Still in my state of "Orange and Blue Nirvana" I called back two hours later with thoughts of purchising a Jackson Broncos jersey. Skipping the reading of each pick in order, I asked my Dad right away who did we draft. That's when I heard the name Eddie Royal. (Honestly this might have been the first time I even heard of this guy.) Since we were 12 picks in the 2nd, I was just guessing everyone had traded up to get all this big name wideouts who were still on the board. So I asked my dad to read of all the selections.

My Dad: "St. Louis, Donnie Avery. Washington, Devin Thomas..."

Me thinking to myself: "I guess I can see Avery going there. And there goes Thomas. The teams are trading up. The flood gates are open."

My Dad: "...Jordy Nelson to the Packers......"

Me Still Thinking: "Wow the Packers traded up to get Nelson. At least get Sweed or Jackson. Do the Packers even need a WR?....."

My Dad: "....Buffalo got James Hardy, Denver got Royal..."

Finally Me Speaking: " Dad did you skip DeSean Jackson. Look for the name DeSean Jackson."

My Dad: "Are you calling me slow or something? Hold on a second... Let's see... It looks like the Eagles got him with pick number 49."

I got him to read me Royal's scouting report, which I have to admit made me drool a teeny bit, before saying my goodbyes in a state of shock. Why would we pass up on DeSean and ruin my diabolical plot to rule the world?

When I got home late Sunday night, all dusty and dirty from hiking out, I rushed to my computer to read up on my new best friend Eddie Royal. Trying ignore my parents pleas about my foul odor and resemblance to Pigpen, I tried to rationalize this pick through many draft analysists. I still feel, even though Royal was not a bad pick and should turn out to be a good pro for us, that we should have grabbed DeSean. I automatically went from hoping DeSean would be star to hoping he would be nothing more than a failure. I'm the first to admit that this is quite evil but then again, I'm the guy with the Philip Rivers voodoo doll.

Poll
Which wide reciever should we have selected with our 2nd round pick? (#42)
  • DeSean Jackson-Cal
  • Eddie Royal-Va Tech

  329 votes | Results

2 recs | Comment 19 comments

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Comments

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Hey, he's an Eagle

Don’t pick on him unless he plays the Broncos, I still root for Philly myself, although the Broncos are certainly my number one.

Your adventure seems similar to many of those here at MHR…the Jackson to Royal conversion. I’d envisioned Eddie as a good player to get in the later rounds, but unlike you, it helped that I had seen him before in college games. At first I thought…in the second round? The league’s transitioning to speed now, though, and now I’m finding myself leaning back and saying “at least they got him.” It was a wierd draft for receivers to say the least. None were taken in the first round and a lot were left over by draft’s end.

by phantom818 on Apr 29, 2008 6:26 PM MDT   0 recs

My thinking on Royal

According to Shanny, Denver’s two targeted players were Clady and Royal. Maybe that’s not true, but Shanahan goes on to say this is the first time he’s gotten his first two targets in a draft.

I like Royals speed, and his ability to back-up Stokely. I see him as a potential long term solution (say ten years) at slot for the team. He has a reasonable chance to be an immediate upgrade in the punt return game. Let’s hope he’s the key to field position we’ve been looking for!

And great story about the canyon too!

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by hoosierteacher on Apr 29, 2008 8:33 PM MDT   0 recs

If you ask me...

Neither. I hate to be negative…but I think that there are some more important holes that need filling. I can’t stand another year of getting the ball run down our throats. It’s embarassing and unacceptable.

But who knows. Our special teams were terrible last year. Maybe he can help out. On a tangent, I really hope that I never see Champ covering special teams ever again.

by Mr. Irrelevant on Apr 29, 2008 9:58 PM MDT   0 recs

What about our laughable performance with field position last year?

In many ways, that hurt us more than our porous defense. It even cost us a few games(and I am not talking about Devin Hester). I love your name though…I was a big fan of the three amigos back in the day. :)

by Zappa on Apr 29, 2008 10:17 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

My Name

Could we see a new three amigos? Our Three I mean Four Amigos:
1)B. Marshall
2)D. Jackson
3)B. Stockley
4)E. Royal

by Elway4Prez on Apr 29, 2008 10:50 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Field Position...

I think that our field position was a result of our poor special teams as a group and not just the return man. I’m no coach or anything, but I feel as though our lack of depth on the team led to weak special teams coverage and blocking. My thought is that we would be better served with a better special teams group that would consist of depth throughout the team rather than an electric return man.

by Mr. Irrelevant on Apr 29, 2008 10:51 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

More Bodies

I think we stockpiled in the draft with our later picks just for special teams. So with a brand new combo of both let’s see how it turns out.

by Elway4Prez on Apr 29, 2008 11:11 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

I AM a former coach..

..and I agree with you 100%. Our return game could have been better, and our kicking/punting game too. But the horrible coverage was a lack of tackling, and the very fundamental failure of our coverage teams to “keep their lanes”.

I also agree with Elway4Prez, that we got a lot of picks to fix this problem. I’ll even go a step further:

Some of the selection in FA will bump down previous starters to a now elite role in coverage. K2 and Boss have bumped former starters at LB Webster and Winborn to coverage, where they should be monsters. Our SAF pick-ups may also serve a role in STs.

Don’t worry about coaching credentials 4th Amigo. Your thoughts are solid. It doesn’t take a coach to watch the team and have an opinion based on what you see. The fans are the ones paying the team afterall.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by hoosierteacher on Apr 30, 2008 10:14 AM MDT to parent up   0 recs

I wonder....

Would the vote count be completely opposite if this poll had been taken before the draft? ;)

by Zappa on Apr 30, 2008 7:41 AM MDT   0 recs

It would have, sure.

On the other hand, the pick gives room for hindsight. Looking at the importance of character that was put into this draft for Denver, I can see how (in hindsight) Royal was the better pick. I would have voted Jackson before the draft.

This is an example (perhaps) of the Broncos war room experts knowing what they are doing, and letting us fans catch up.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by hoosierteacher on Apr 30, 2008 10:17 AM MDT to parent up   0 recs

If you gave me Jackson in the 2nd and Royal in the 3rd-4th, I may have taken Eddie instead. I liked the guy as a “steal” type player. However, Denver was smart to jump on their target ASAP. I may have gone with D-Jack, but from what I saw of Royal at VT, it’d probably have been a bit close. I was never too high on Jackson, but if you had told me both were going to go in the first round, I probably would’ve figured Jackson would go first as well. I love the pick-up and the fact that we have an INSTANT improvement at the return position.

by phantom818 on Apr 30, 2008 10:21 AM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Amen Brother

I will take character every time. I don’t give a rat’s fanny if I ever see another end zone celebration or sack dance. I’ll be happy to play catch up with this draft class.

Trust Thyself:every heart vibrates to that iron string. - Emerson

by firstfan on Apr 30, 2008 12:17 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

everything I have read

about Jackson is that he was too much a me person. Not really into the team. With that, I think Denver got a great return guy, and someone who I hope can spread the field a bit. Plus is a great Character guy. There is a REASON why Jackson fell to #49.

by broncfanstuckinsd on Apr 30, 2008 1:16 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Jackson Over Royal.

It’s just another Jackson I have in mind. Dexter Jackson of Appalachian State was one of my favorite prospects in this draft, so it bugs me a bit that we went in a different direction even though we valued his skill set this highly. That said, Royal should be good and I look forward to his contributions to our team. Cheers.

Please check out my blog at http://thefulldeck.blogspot.com/ , now redesigned and recommited!

by ejruiz on Apr 30, 2008 10:21 AM MDT   0 recs

He was one of my favorites too, but wasn't Dexter drafted

way early too? Projected in the 4th, but he went long before that..or am I thinking of someone else?

by Zappa on Apr 30, 2008 10:47 AM MDT to parent up   0 recs

He Got Pushed Up.

Last I saw he was a late third rounder and he went late second, so I’d say he was no more of a reach than Royal. Like I said, I’m fine with the Royal pick and I think he’ll be very good for us, but Dexter was my guy.

Please check out my blog at http://thefulldeck.blogspot.com/ , now redesigned and recommited!

by ejruiz on Apr 30, 2008 12:58 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

This Poll Would be Opposite

I have to agree with Zappa. This poll would be entirely opposite if this was before the draft. But I cant blame everyone for sticking with their team.

by Elway4Prez on Apr 30, 2008 3:57 PM MDT   0 recs

Yeah, it would probably be opposite.

But how much of that is just the average Broncos fan not knowing who Eddie Royal was before the draft? DeSean Jackson was highly-touted at the beginning of the season, and his name was used extensively in the pre-draft run-up. Now, obviously, Jackson has talent. But so does Royal, with measurables similar to Jackson. Plus, Royal seems like a great combination of talent AND character, a trend in this draft and a breath of fresh air for Bronco fans.

So, yes, pre-draft I would have said “DeSean Jackson because…I have no idea who Eddie Royal is!” Now…I like the Royal pick. I like that he brings a good work ethic, he takes some pride in blocking, and he’s a bit bigger than Jackson.

~Uffdah

by Disco_Stu on Apr 30, 2008 4:07 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

I like it too

The more I read about him the more I like him. I didn’t know basically anything about him besides the fact I had seen I’m a few mocks going in the 3rd-4th region. There were at least 10 WRS on my radar before him. But I have to admit a really do like this pick, I just think we could have done better.

by Elway4Prez on Apr 30, 2008 6:33 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

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