Grading a depth chart - TSN

The Sporting News has a depth chart up on the Broncos at their site. Let's take a look, and come to our own conclusions. (As always, keep in mind that the terms "right" and "left" refer to the team's own view. So if I write R-DE, that means the DE to the QB's left, and the MLB's right).

QB - Cutler, Ramsey

No surprise here. Maybe Ramsey gets knocked down by a younger competitor in camp, but not likely.

RB - Henry, Young, Torain

Still no surprises. But really, nothing here is a surprise. HBs rotate all over the depth chart. We may see several combinations of runners through the season. Henry will get the lead if he doesn't get hurt and doesn't dissapoint.

FB - Sapp, Hillis

Again, no surprises yet. Either player could emerge. Hillis is closer to a true blocker, and gives us a power running edge. Sapp is a better runner than blocker, with decent hands for short yardage screens.

LT - Clady, Harris

Still nothing shocking. But I'm not comfortable with Harris, who hasn't played a down, backing at the critical LT spot. Camp will figure this out. Still, not a projection that is off the wall.

LG - Hamilton, K-Lich

This one surprised me a little, but not much. Hamilton will start at LG, and K-Lich can play either guard position. It is my hope that K-Lich is being groomed to take the OC position after the departures of Nalen and Wiegmann.

OC - Nalen, Wiegmann

Nalen still has it in him to get it done one more time, and is a master of our OL system. Wiegmann is there in case Nalen goes down. He isn't going to be a long term replacement for Nalen. In my mind he will hold the spot while K-Lich learns.

RG - Holland, Alexander.

Nope. Holland will start if Kuper is bumped out to play RT (as the writers at TSN think he will), but I think Alexander is not going to make the game day team.

RT - Kuper, Pears.

As I wrote in another fanpost, a lot depends on where Kuper plays. If he plays at RT, Holland starts RG. Start Kuper at RG, Pears starts at RT. Kuper at start with Pears at back-up is reasonable.

WR - #1 Colbert, #2 Marshall, Slot - Stokely (Jackson as a back-up)

What? No way. The chart is based on a 4-3, and lists Colbert at #1, with Stokely's name under his. It lists Marshall at #2, with Jackson's name under his. In 4-3 charts, the #1 back-up really means slot. But Colbert at #1? This deserves some more comments!

First, I don't envision Colbert as the starting star for Denver. Perhaps he has a breakout year being in a new environment with a better QB. But starter? I think Coach said that Colbert reminded him of Eddie Mac, so maybe there is something there. Even though I really like Marshall a lot, he excells at the #2 position, and would be great staying there. I just don't see Colbert as the bump.

On the other hand, I'll be surprised, but not shocked if Marshall stays at #2. Not because he isn't the best receiver on the team (he's clearly earned #1), but because he fits #2 so well. He is the best run blocking WR we have, and that means protection for Jay on boot leg runs. He also has great hands and can fight through tackles, perfect for the weakside where less defenders roam (and one is a WILL). I still would heavily project him to start at #1, I'm just saying I won't have a heart attack if we see him at 2. Jackson would start at #1 if such a bizarre scenario unfolds.

But Colbert? I think most members of MHR will agree that Jackson might appear more likely to start at #2, with Marshall at #1. Colbert will compete for the #2 spot in camp with Jackson. The loser will likely back up Marshall at #1. Parker may back up the #2, and Royal should back up slot.

TE - Graham, Scheffler

No surprises here. A lot of folks love Scheff, and they would want him to get the most starts. But Denver remains a run first team, and Graham gives us the blocking skills we need. Scheff will be a monster on several downs by forcing the defense to cover him.

FS - Abdullah, Manuel, Barrett

Hamza has the start if he doesn't get bumped in camp. The player who can demonstrate the best ability to cover over a range and read offenses best will get the gig. Hamza may be disadvantaged against veteran FAs in terms of reading QBs, but his youth and speed may balance for that. This will be a good battle in camp. (Keep in mind that Denver has been calling Lynch a FS. This is more out of respect for Lynch, since FS is seen as the primary SAF. He actualy lines up and plays as a SS). The wildcard will be Barrett. He has the raw skills to be the best SAF on the team, but lacks the experience and needs to fine tune his abilities.

SS - Lynch, McCree

Lynch gets the start. The question is, will he play most downs or will he play situationaly? Lynch is such a competitor, smart, and focused on training, that I have a hard time believing he will only get rare shots at plays. Do I like him if we need to throw out two deep SAFs? No. But Lynch has a brain like a coach and (more impressively) the ability to process the information faster that a coach and under physical pressure. He may lose a step, but his mind puts him a step and a half ahead of the play. We may wait another year before going after a successor.

CBs - Bailey, Bly, Paymah, Foxworth, Williams

Bailey is the best in the business. Bly is darned good, for a guy playing with only one SAF behind him. Paymah passed Foxworth in playing nickel last year, but either CB is more than capable of playing nickel.

Williams gives the team depth if the looming contracts of Bailey and Bly become troublesome. Really, the three youngsters on the team could hold their own in this league if push came to shove. Add in a superstar (to bump Fox, Pay, and Williams down a spot), and we have a great CB group again.

WLB - Williams, Winborn.

It struck me that if D-Will had lived to see this season, we would have had Williams and Williams at RCB and ROLB, and Bailey and Bailey at LCB and LOLB. It's a bittersweet thought.

Williams will dominate at WILL. Winborn gives us the speed needed at the position if DJ goes down. I love the starter and the depth here.

MLB - K2, Beck

A lot of folks are concerned about K2. I am more confident in K2 than any of our other new players. Either way, he will be our starter. The issue is Beck. TSN is right that Beck is the back-up for now, but this doesn't leave me very comfortable. Watch for a battle in camp where another LB knocks him into the practice squad, or off of the team.

SLB - Boss, Webster

As with the other OLB position, we have a good starter and good depth. Boss will be a player to watch this year. Next to our DT situation, Boss could be a make or break factor for a team that faces quality TEs in our division.

R-DE - Moss, Doom

I disagree. Doom has established himself as the starter. Moss was picked to be the superman at this position, but was injured and off of our radar. There is a very decent chance he returns and truly is a master DE. But since Doom was there first, Doom will start. But who cares. If both players are rock stars and put into rotation, do we really care who gets the title, "starter"?

L-DE - Ekuban, Crowder

This is a tough call. Between Ek, Crowder, and Engleberger we have awesome depth. Any of these guys can start and we can rotate to keep guys fresh. TSN's guess is as good as mine.

R-DT - DRob, McKinley, Powell

DRob should start, and Thomas should start next to him. So the only real question is who starts behind each. McKinley is decent, but nothing special. That's ok. His job is to spell DRob in a position that wears down big guys fast. All he has to do is come in and hold the line for a few plays here and there. Whether he is used to spell or to rotate is the question.

If rotation is the scheme, then Powell should be able to compete with McKinley for more plays. From what I'm reading about Powell and his work ethic, I think he may have an edge on McKinley in endurance, though trailing in experience. A battle in camp between Powell and McKinley may determine if the team uses a spell or rotation scheme for the line.

L-DT - Thomas, Harris

Thomas is projected to be something special. A lot of folks really believe in this kid (his biggest endorsement comes from MHR heavyweight and Victor Hugo look-a-like Styg50). He got playing time during the mess that was 2007, when the starters in front of him crumbled. He endured system shifts, and will face another this year. He'll also be playing next to a new face. The chips are stacked against him, but his skills aren't going to be a problem. He has yet to blossom, but shows steady improvement. This may be a break out year for him. With DRob, he carries the weight of Denver's improvement or failure in run defense for 2008.

Harris was brought in late in 2007 as an UFA. He would not appear (at first glance), to be anything comforting to fans concerned about depth.

Based on the names, (and not knowing what kind of DT pairings Denver will need for a new system in 2008), I would like to see DRob and Thomas start, with Mckinley and Powell spelling. I don't know if Mckinley or Powell are good enough to rotate in often, but either is good enough to spell. If Powell proves himself early, perhaps he can be in rotation with DRob and Thomas, with Mckinley as a spell. (Again, with the certainty that we will NOT play a contain system, we have no way of knowing for sure which types of DTs Denver will want on the line yet. Starters will be determined in camp, and preseason will cut away the fat and give us a glimpse, albeit vanilla, of what we will run).

Over all I think TSN did ok. But the goofiness at WR lost me. As we discussed, the other positions have some interesting twists that are open to debate (and I hope that you will).

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this depth chart, someone else's, or even your own. Or thoughts on my thoughts, or each others. You get the idea. And here's a fun one to ponder as well - Do you see any surprising bumps on the depth chart at camp that nobody else sees coming? Perhaps a surprising youngster knocking a vet down a peg?

Camp is coming soon, and with it, the first looks at what the team has really been doing behind the curtain at the drawing board for the last few months. This is an exciting time! It means the season is drawing nearer...