Horse Tracks 4/27/09

by Douglas A. Lee on Apr 27, 2009 5:44 AM MDT in Horse Tracks Comment 8 comments

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The Broncos drafted 5 players on Sunday: 4th Round (114 Overall)S David Bruton from Notre Dame, 4(132) OG Seth Olsen from Iowa, 5(141) WR Kenny McKinley from South Carolina, 6(174) QB Tom Brandstater, Fresno State, and 7(225) C Blake Schlueter, TCU.

Here is a list of the Broncos' 12 undrafted signees, with thanks to Colinski - of course, check out Styg's thread discussing the signees if you haven't yet.

1. DE Everette Pedescleaux (Northern Iowa)
2. CB Domonique Johnson (Jackson State)
3. WR Lucas Taylor (Tennessee)
4. WR Nate Swift (Nebraska)
5. FB Marquez Brandon (Central Arkansas)
6. LB Lee Robinson (Alcorn State)
7. DT Chris Baker (Hampton)
8. CB Tony Carter (FSU)
9. WR Travis Shelton (Temple)
10. WR David Grimes (Notre Dame)
11. DE Rulon Davis (California)
12. P/K Britton Colquitt (Tennessee)

DB - Josh McDaniels met with the press as the 7th Round came to its conclusion.

DB - Gray Caldwell wraps up Day 2, sharing the important fact that Denver still owns a pick in each round of the 2010 Draft.

DB - Here is Knowshon Moreno's introductory presser and NFLN interview. Sure seems like a great kid, for what that's worth.

DB - Robert Ayers, Alphonso Smith, Darcel McBath and Richard Quinn also spoke with the press in Denver.

DB - Here on DB.com is a summary of the Broncos' picks, along with links to pressers, transcripts and more.

DP - As Klis points out, the Broncos' first-day picks are certainly well-spoken and well-mannered.

DP - Krieger is among those who dislike the fact that only 1st-rounder Robert Ayers is a front-7 player. It's a fair point, but the Broncos' '07 Draft is an important reminder of what happens when you draft purely for need.

DP - LJones profiles new Broncos QB Tom Brandstater.

DP - Jones, Klis and Armstrong offer a collection of Broncos' draft notes.

CBS4 - Reggie Rivers and Gary Miller address the Broncos' draft results.

AP - Arnie Stapleton wraps up the Broncos' draft.

NFL - Steve Wyche thinks Denver may have stuck to its board more than any other team, going for quality players rather than filling specific needs. This, and more impressions on first-year GMs and coaches.

KCS - Adam Teicher summarizes the Chefs' draft. Here are Teicher's pick-by-pick analysis.

SDUT - Kevin Acee says the Dolts got plenty of depth and intrigue out of their draft. Here is Acee's pick-by-pick analysis.

SDUT - Nick Canepa offers and ode to A.J. Smith.

SFC - David White looks at the Raiders' typical draft strategy. White also offers a transcript of ~~Figurehead~~ Head Coach Tom Cable's presser.

NFL - Here is a summary and analysis of all the Draft-day trades, including several by Denver.

NFL - Vic Carucci looks at teams he felt got value in the latter stages of the draft.

NFP - Wes Bunting passes along his thoughts about Day 2.

FOX - Peter Schrager thinks Denver may have reached for Alphonso Smith, among his other thoughts about the Second Round and on.

CBS - Clark Judge looks over the draft and is very clearly not a fan of Denver's draft strategy.

SI - Don Banks says the Jets aren't messing around, among a collection of impressions.

SI - Tony Pauline sums up his reaches and steals from the draft. Richard Quinn is among his reaches.

SI - Sam Perloff offers his draft thoughts, including a nod to Mike Mayock and his love for Robert Ayers.

FOX - John Czarnecki gives Denver a "B" in his evaluation, and he seems to be a big fan of Robert Ayers and Kenny McKinley.

CBS - Pete Prisco gives Denver a "C-" for their draft results.

ESPN Insider - Mel Kiper doesn't love the Broncos' draft, giving it a "C". "Knowshon Moreno is a good running back and Robert Ayers has excellent ability. Alphonso Smith was one of my favorite defensive players to watch in college, but I don't agree with trading a future No. 1 pick for the rights to pick him. Richard Quinn was selected a little too high for a one-dimensional blocking tight end. David Bruton is an OK player and so is Seth Olsen."

ESPN Insider - Here's what Todd McShay had to say about Denver's draft: "The biggest issue we have with Denver's draft was the decision to trade next year?s first round pick for CB Alphonso Smith, even though Smith will develop in(to) a quality starter. The Broncos drafted some good players who will fit their system. RB Knowshon Moreno and Ayers will start immediately and Smith could play as a No. 3 corner. Darcel McBath could also develop eventually into a quality No. 3 corner eventually."

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Comments

Morning nyc

Gotta love a guy named Rulon!

"They need a hero to tell them that the impossible can become possible..... WHEN... YOU'RE... AWESOMMMME!" -- Rhino the Hamster

by broncosmontana on Apr 27, 2009 6:24 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Mornin nyc, Looks like many Horse Tracks, You do good work my friend...

Real Power, comes with the realization that One cannot change the Moment;
only ones perception of it: Atitude! JQM

by UB3 on Apr 27, 2009 6:31 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

was just thinking the same thing

How can younot love a Denver DE named Rulon! Gotta root for him.

by underdog on Apr 27, 2009 8:55 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

A beautiful morning, nyc

Even though it’s snowing here in Colorado. Just thought I’d mention that your Steve Wyche link ( stuck to its board ) has a nice interview with Moreno (you can learn the history of his first name, and see that he is a very nice young man who talks about team.

Growing older is not for sissies. Jack Palance

by bradley on Apr 27, 2009 8:20 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

With all these C grades I am trying to remember what our grade was last year. Anyone remember?

Frankly I like C, last few times I remember a team getting an A I remember them going on to have terrible years.

Don't jump off the cliff but if the guys next to you are loud and annoying try to push them off.

by Kfustud on Apr 27, 2009 9:16 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

CFAs

I really like Chris Baker, Rulon Davis, and Lee Robinson as college free agents. I think Baker could eventually become a good rotation guy at DT, and I really like the play of Davis and Robinson. I think Rulon Davis could be a number 2 DE from day one.

by Joshv37 on Apr 27, 2009 9:27 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Not interested in what Kiper thinks

I am not saying the guy doesn’t know a thing or two, but sportswriter/pundit – no matter how well informed – is not even in the same ball park as being the guy who runs the team, knows the system, the players, has eyeballed every kid in the draft and spend hundreds of hours looking at tape to determine what fits your needs and what doesn’t.

The Broncos could have drafted a bunch of average defensive linemen and left better players at positions of need up on the board. And they would simply have ended up cutting those guys halfway through camp and wasting those picks. I am a firm believer in drafting the best available player at your position relative to your needs.

If DT is a glaring need but there’s simply nobody up there, then you move to another position of need. You don’t just draft a guy to make Woody Paige happy. This is what they did and I think long term it is the right move.

Remember, Shanahan is no longer here in part due to one swing and miss after another on ‘need’ players in the draft. Let’s give another school of thought a chance before we convince ourselves this can’t work.

Because last time i checked McJunior has some rings on his hand and the Patriots earned those rings in part using the same draft and team building philosophy.

Just my opinion but let’s give it a chance (as if we have a choice). I see the strategy and I think I like it.

by TheMastermind on Apr 27, 2009 12:09 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs