An Early Look at the 2009 Denver Broncos

In 2009, there has been no shortage of excitement for Denver Bronco fans.  A team that seemingly would be participating in the playoffs as the AFC West Championship took a turn for the worst with three games left to play in the 2008 campaign.  As many of you may know by now, the Broncos capped off the worst collapse perhaps in the history of the National Football League with a 52-21 loss to the division rival San Diego Chargers.

The historic demise of Denver resulted in the subsequent departure of the second-longest tenured head coach in the NFL, Mike Shanahan.  It was an emotional time for Bronco fans all across the country, as well as for some of the players in the locker room.  None was more astounded or appalled by Shanahan's firing than quarterback Jay Cutler, who agreed to remain calm as long as Jeremy Bates, the quarterbacks coach, was retained on the new head coach's staff.

Shortly thereafter, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen hired one of the top head coaching prospects in the country; Josh McDaniels.  McDaniels was best known prior to coming to Denver for his superb ability to develop quarterbacks, as well as to orchestrate potent offensive attacks.  Since McDaniels' specialty was with the quarterbacks, Cutler's wish for the Broncos to retain Bates was not granted, and more harsh words were hashed out by the disgruntled quarterback.

Still, Broncos fans were optimistic that Cutler could settle down and mesh well with McDaniels.  Since McDaniels is an expert on quarterbacks, and Cutler is a rising star at the position, Broncos fans expected it to be a match made in heaven, and one that would vault the Denver offense to a level none had ever seen before.

McDaniels quickly found himself to be a celebrity in the Mile High City, and when the free agent signing period commenced, he was being regarded as the savior of this underachieving football team.  Within the first three days of the free agent frenzy, McDaniels had signed three new projected defensive starters, including former Philadelphia Eagle and future Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins.

Denver fans were ecstatic, but on that same weekend, the impossible became a terrible reality.  Reports from Adam Schefter's blog on NFL.com indicated that the Broncos were approached by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New England Patriots about a trade that would have sent Denver's Pro Bowl quarterback to the Buccaneers, and former McDaniels protege Matt Cassel to the Broncos.  Cutler caught wind of the proposed trade, and became irate.  In fact, he was so irate, that he ended up demanding a trade out of Denver.

Nobody quite knows who was to be blamed for the Cutler situation, which was dubbed "McJaygate", but it can be reasonably assumed that both parties had something to do with the downfall of Cutler in Denver.  The disgruntled quarterback was sent to the Chicago Bears in exchange for quarterback Kyle Orton and a slew of draft picks so that the Broncos could begin to re-build their awful defense.

With the loss of Cutler, the media immediately has thrown Denver out of any discussion for playoff contention, and unfairly so.  Cutler was 17-20 as the starter for his now former tean, and despite the fact that he had no support from his defense, Cutler often kept them on the field by turning the ball over.  In his tenure with the Broncos, which spanned 37 games, the gunslinger turned the ball over a total of 45 times.

This is not to downgrade Cutler as an athlete or as a playmaker, but his strong arm put the Broncos in the loss column just as often as they were in the winner's circle.

With the departure of Cutler, many "experts" seem to have forgotten that the Denver Broncos have significantly improved their team otherwise, hiring defensive guru Mike Nolan to run a defense that will now feature the likes of Brian Dawkins, Renaldo Hill, Andre Goodman, Robert Ayers, Andra Davis, Alphonso Smith, Darcel McBath, and Darrell Reid among others.

Undoubtedly, Josh McDaniels has inserted a group of players that use their intelligence to their advantage on the field, along with many great athletes with superb leadership qualities.

With all of the changes in the front office and on the field, is the loss of Jay Cutler really going to set the Broncos back as much as many believe that it will?  Can the Broncos exeed the expectation of the media?

Offense

Quarterback

Cutler is gone, and many close to the team along with the fan base feel that Kyle Orton will replace him.  Say what you will about Orton, but he was a big winner from the Cutler trade.  Orton inherits an offense that features a stellar group of skill players, and an offensive line that could rival any in the National Football League.  The arrival of Orton instantly makes the Denver Broncos more red-zone friendly, and should improve the league's 16th ranked scoring offense from 2008.  Last season, the Broncos ranked second in the NFL in yards per game, but their minus-17 turnover ratio paralyzed their ability to put teams away. 

With Orton at the helm, I fully expect the Broncos to be a more efficient offense that takes advantage of every opportunity, rather than trying to create opportunities of their own.  If he can minimize turnovers and put the ball in the end zone, Denver's offense will flourish.

As insurance, McDaniels brought in Chris Simms, the veteran southpaw formerly of the Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Simms is expected to compete with Orton for the starting job, but likely will be edged out due to the fact that he has not started a game in roughly two years.

With McDaniels at the helm, it was widely expected that Denver would bring in a young quarterback via the NFL Draft to be groomed similar to Tom Brady and Matt Cassel were for the New England Patriots.  To fill that role, the Broncos traded up in the sixth round to select former Fresno State quarterback Tom Brandstater.  Thanks to McDaniels' reputation for offensive prowess, particularly in developing quarterbacks, Broncos fans are excited about the future of Brandstater, who has a strong arm, is extremely smart, and is a great leader on the field.

Running Back

A position that saw nine different faces for the Broncos in 2008 will have a much clearer identity for 2009.  Denver revamped this position in the off-season, bringing in five new backs in all.

With their first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Denver selected former Georgia superstar running back Knowshon Moreno.  Moreno is fully expected to come in and start for the Broncos, and he has all of the tools to be a great NFL running back.  Since Bobby Turner was retained on the coaching staff, the Broncos figure to continue to implement some form of their zone-running scheme into Josh McDaniels' offensive plans.  Moreno is the quintessential "one cut and go" running back that Turner has made so successful over the past decade plus.  Not only is he a physical runner, but Moreno is a willing blocker, and a very capable receiver. 

Along with the new face of Moreno will come three other running backs with a winning mentality.  Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan, and J.J. Arrington were all signed as unrestricted free agents earlier this off-season.  Buckhalter has been injury prone throughout his career, but last year he proved why he is so valuable as a backup in this league.  He is an excellent receiver out of the backfield, and maybe the most intriguing stat is that Buckhalter has only one fumble in the last three seasons combined, none from 2007-2008.

Jordan is a power back who will likely be used in goal-line situations, but like Moreno and Buckhalter has great hands for a running back.  He has a nose for the end-zone.

Arrington will likely be used as a receiving specialist, as well as a return man if needed.  He was a big part of Arizona's Super Bowl run, and he figures to have a similar impact for Denver in 2009.

Last year's fifth round selection, Ryan Torain, was the only natural running back retained from Mike Shanahan's staff.  At one point, he was compared to Terrell Davis by Mike Shanahan, and in the one game he started against Cleveland gave Broncos fans a bit of a tease of the talent he possesses.  However, he is made of glass, so to speak, and will have to have a fully healthy training camp and pre-season if he wants any shot at making the final roster.

The Broncos also signed third year player Darius Walker, formerly of the Houston Texans.  Walker has a similar repertoire to that of Kevin Faulk from the New England Patriots, and he will compete for a roster spot.  His signing indicates to me that the team is not convinced that Ryan Torain and J.J. Arrington's injuries are progressing as planned.

Fullback

Peyton Hillis will be in serious contention for the title of the league's top fullback/h-back this season.  In the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos used the pick acquired in the Jake Plummer trade to select the former Arkansas Razorback, and it paid huge dividends.

A freak hamstring injury de-railed a promising rookie season for Hillis, who was really coming into his own as a running back late last season due to a slew of injuries to other Denver backs.  The "Rumblin' Redneck", as he has become affectionately known among Denver fans, is a superb receiver, an accomplished runner, and an effective blocker. 

Hillis will be backed up by fellow 2008 draftee Spencer Larsen, a converted middle linebacker who became the first NFL player ever to start a game on kick coverage, offense, and defense.  Larsen's versatility and toughness very valuable to this team.

Wide Receiver

The Broncos' best group of skill position players is led by Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall, who has taken the NFL by storm over the last couple of years.  The former fourth round pick out of Central Florida is one of only two receivers in the NFL (Wes Welker) to amass over 100 catches over the last two seasons. 

At 6'4" 230 pounds, Marshall is a constant mismatch for defenders, and provides Kyle Orton with a consistent deep threat as well as possession receiver.  In 2008, he played through a hand injury resulting in a large quantity of dropped passes, and will look to rectify that phase of his game in 2009.

It is unknown whether the star receiver will be penalized by the NFL for his latest arrest, but many feel the punishment will not be severe as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did not issue a suspension prior to the draft.  Either way, Marshall needs to get his act together and perform like a professional both on and off the field.

Alongside Marshall will be second year pro Eddie Royal, who had an astounding rookie campaign.  Royal led the Broncos in total yardage, and proved to be a very valuable commodity in the return game.  The speedy possession receiver out of Virginia Tech enters his second season with lofty expectations.  Some observers have compared Royal's game to that of Wes Welker, who was very prosperous as a slot receiver in Josh McDaniels' system with New England.  If Royal can stay healthy, he should have his first 100 catch season.

While Royal and Marshall continue to develop as young stars in this league, they will benefit greatly from the tutelage of two-time Super Bowl champion Brandon Stokley.  Stokley has been one of the NFL's better and more consistent slot receivers over the last decade, and should flourish in a pass-heavy offensive scheme.  He will be a safety valve on third down plays for Kyle Orton.  Stokley has great quickness, reliable hands, and he runs sharp routes.

To add reliable veteran depth, the Broncos signed free agent wide receiver Jabar Gaffney, formerly of the Patriots.  Gaffney was extremely effective as a red-zone target in his days with New England, and the Broncos will count on him to play a similar role in their offense which will feature many four wide receiver sets.

In the fifth round of the 2009 draft, the Broncos selected South Carolina wide receiver Kenny McKinley.  McKinley has great speed, hands, and a great football IQ.  He runs good routes, and he knows his role on the team.  Initially, McKinley will be a special teams player and a situational receiver, but he provides the team with excellent depth.

One of the more intriguing players on Denver's roster is former Patriot Chad Jackson, who was signed last season to be an injury replacement.  Jackson had trouble with injuries in New England, but there is no doubt he has talent.  He will compete for the sixth and likely final receiver spot on Denver's 53-man roster.

Tight End

Daniel Graham is quietly one of the best tight ends in the NFL today.  He is an offensive captain who has been regarded by some as an extra offensive tackle in the run game, although he is a huge asset to the passing game as well.  It took him a while to acclimate to Denver, but he finally found a niche in 2008, his first year as a captain.  Graham is a tough player who is willing and able to do anything to help this team win.  He has had some troubles in the past with dropped passes, and that is really his only weakness at times.

To form arguably the top tight end duo in the league, the Broncos have a mismatch waiting to happen in Tony Scheffler.  Scheffler was the subject of many trade rumors this off-season due to the fact that he has only one year left on his rookie contract as well as the brutal truth that as good as he is, he has never played a full season due to injury. 

When healthy, Scheffler, at 6'5" 260 pounds, is a huge mismatch for any defender.  He has great speed and great one-on-one ability, and is basically a wide receiver in a tight end's body.

In addition to Graham and Scheffler, the Broncos have high hopes for second round pick Richard Quinn, whose selection really surprised many Denver fans.  Like Graham, Quinn is a blocking specialist, but scouts were really impressed with his receiving skills during the off-season workouts, and he could be a red-zone threat for Denver.

It is no guarantee he will make the roster, but the Broncos also have veteran Jeb Putzier.  Putzier is in the second year of his second stint with the Broncos, and with the three tight ends mentioned above him, he will have to make a significant impact on special teams in order to make the final squad.

Another intriguing fullback/h-back/tight end prospect that the Broncos are going to take a look at is undrafted college free agent Marquez Branson out of Central Arkansas.  Like Scheffler, Branson is a receiving specialist, and he has a nose for the end-zone.  He would likely start the season on the practice squad unless there are a barrage of injuries, or he could be kept on the team as a fullback.

Offensive Line

While the Broncos may have only ranked 16th in scoring, it was no fault of their astounding offensive line.  Led by second team All-Pro and rookie left tackle Ryan Clady, the Broncos' offensive line anchored an offense that ranked second in total yards, third in passing yards, 12th in rushing yards, and allowed a mere 11 sacks on 620 attempts.

Clady, the first year man out of Boise State, allowed only half a sack while protecting Jay Cutler's blind side, and many feel he was snubbed of a Pro Bowl appearance.  Still, Clady's snub of the Pro Bowl was justified by the fact that he was the one and only rookie in the NFL last year to be included on either All-Pro team. 

Backing up Clady will be fellow 2008 rookie Tyler Polumbus, who was impressive enough in camp last season to earn a roster spot. 

At left guard, the Broncos feature the effective, but oft-injured Ben Hamilton.  Hamilton is fairly undersized, but he uses his quickness to his advantage and is a better run blocker than he is in pass protection. 

Hamilton may have the starting left guard spot locked up for now, but the Broncos looked for his future replacement in last month's NFL Draft in former Iowa offensive lineman Seth Olsen.  Olsen has been one of the top linemen in the country over the last four years, and his versatility appealed to the Broncos.  He should step in very nicely at left guard when called upon.

Last off-season, Denver was able to snag Casey Wiegmann out of the free agent pool very late in the process, and his initial intension was to provide insurance for Tom Nalen.  Nalen went down with an injury very early in the off-season, and Wiegmann filled in very nicely.  The veteran center was selected as a Pro Bowl replacement in 2008, and put together one of the best year's of his impressive career.

Still, Wiegmann not going to be around much longer, and the Broncos have a couple of replacements waiting in the wings.  2008 fourth round pick Kory Lichtensteiger played quite a bit as a rookie, but not as a center.  The Broncos brought him in as a goal-line tight end, and he was very effective in that role.  His versatility gives the Broncos an injury replacement at either guard position, or center.

One of the more intriguing young players up front is 2009 seventh round pick Blake Schlueter, who is also extremely athletic.  Schlueter caught the eyes of scouts when he ran a 40-yard dash in under 4.80 seconds at his pro day at TCU.

Starting at right guard for the Broncos will be fourth year veteran guard Chris Kuper, who really came into his own in 2008.  Kuper was regarded by some experts as a Pro Bowl player last year, and he will only improve for 2009.  The former North Dakota State star is quietly one of the better offensive linemen on the team, and will continue to take care of business up front.

Behind Kuper will be second year player Mitch Erickson, and undrafted player in 2008 out of South Dakota State.

Much like fellow first-year starter Ryan Clady, right tackle Ryan Harris had a dominant season in 2008.  He allowed only 2.5 sacks last season, and showed great athleticism.  Entering his third season in the league, Harris pairs with Clady to form one of the top offensive tackle tandems in the entire NFL.

As a means of insurance, the Broncos signed veteran offensive lineman Brandon Gorin from the St. Louis Rams.  Gorin can play either tackle position, and could fill in at guard if need be.

Defense

Defensive End

While the Broncos transition to the 3-4 defensive scheme, the biggest areas with question marks are up front on defense.  In fact, it is extremely wide open right now as to who will even start on the defensive line for Denver in 2009. 

I believe one starting spot at defensive end will be taken by third year pro Marcus Thomas.  Of the three defensive linemen Denver selected in 2007, Thomas has proven to be the best of the bunch even though he was the last one picked. 

The former Florida Gator is extremely athletic, but he needs to improve his run defense.  There is talk that he could move into the nose tackle position if he adds weight.

During the team's most recent mini-camp, the other defensive end running with the first team was Ryan McBean, a free-agent acquisition who was a fourth round draft pick of Pittsburgh in 2007.  McBean is the ideal size for a defensive end in the 3-4, but he has only started one game in his career.

Another candidate to start at one of the defensive end positions is Kenny Peterson, the only defensive free agent retained from last year's group of players.  Peterson's specialty is stopping the run, and he is a good veteran presence up front for the Broncos.

Denver fans are also really excited to see how Carlton Powell will do in his first year of playing after sitting out 2008 on the PUP list.  Powell's specialty is stopping the run, and he seems like an ideal fit for the nose tackle position, but he would need to add weight to play there.

The Broncos also signed two undrafted college free agents to try out as five-technique defensive linemen in Rulon Davis of California, and Everette Pedescleaux of Northern Iowa. 

Also trying out for the defensive end spots will be Mathias Askew and Nic Clemons.

Nose Tackle

This position is definitely Denver's weakest on paper, and more will only become clear as the Broncos get on the practice field more often.  For now, the nose tackle on Denver's roster with the most experience is free agent acquisition Ronald Fields.

Fields comes to Denver from San Francisco, and will provide the Broncos with a capable run-stuffing nose tackle who can take up blockers.  He is not an elite talent like Shaun Rogers or Vince Wilfork, but he gets the job done.

Denver also added J'Vonne Parker as a free agent, and undrafted college free agent Chris Baker of Hampton.  Baker has great upside and should win a roster spot due to his athleticism, but off-field issues caused him to go undrafted and the Broncos feel that they have found a diamond in the rough.

Rush Linebacker

Former defensive end Elvis Dumervil figures to make the transition to rush linebacker in 2009, and many, including himself, expect him to succeed.  At the Broncos' first mini-camp, Dumervil predicted a 16-sack season.  Such a number is not out of the question, and Dumervil has been the Broncos' top pass rusher over the last three years.

While Dumervil specializes in pass rushing, the Broncos added a rush linebacker in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft who has a little bit more of a complete repertoire in Robert Ayers.  I was initially skeptical of the Ayers selection, as he only had one really great season at the collegiate level, but his ceiling has no limits. 

Ayers has the versatility and strength to also play the five-technique up front if need be, and you can be sure to see him on the field very often in 2009.

Additionally, the Broncos signed former Indianapolis Colts defensive lineman Darrell Reid, who is known best for his production on special teams.  Reid is expected to have his biggest impact on kicks and punts, but he is also athletic enough to play rush linebacker in the 3-4 defensive scheme.

An interesting situation to pay close attention to over the course of the next couple of months will be that of 2007 first day picks Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder.  Moss has yet to play a full season in the NFL, and did not fit well in the 4-3 scheme.  He will be given one last chance to make an impact on this team as a linebacker, but the team will have a low level of patience with him.

Crowder had an impressive rookie season, but was battling a nagging injury in 2008 and rarely saw the field.  He will have to prove himself in camp as well if he wants to make the team.

Denver also signed undrafted rookie free agent Jeff Schweiger from San Jose State, who was once regarded as the top football prospect in the nation.  Schweiger has great athleticism, but never lived up to the hype surrounding him.

Inside Linebacker

The Broncos' middle linebackers will be headlined by D.J. Williams, who has put together a very impressive career so far in his time with Denver.  He signed a five year, $30 million contract on the eve of the 2008 season, and continued to show why he is one of the best defenders in the NFL.

Williams was a team captain for the Broncos last season, but he leads more by example than vocally.  He will benefit greatly from the arrival of former Cleveland Browns linebacker Andra Davis, who will man the other middle linebacker position.

Since 2003, Davis has averaged 103 tackles per season.  He is also a great vocal leader on the field, and could bring back some of the intensity that Al Wilson left when he was released from Denver back in 2007.

As it was mentioned in the fullback segment, the Broncos also feature the versatile Spencer Larsen at middle linebacker.  He does not have great speed, but he knows where he is supposed to be at all times, and he makes the opposition pay for crossing his path.  He is a YouTube legend, so to speak.

To add depth to this position, the Broncos signed veteran Nick Griesen.  Griesen has great experience in the 3-4 defense, and has spent time in the league with the New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Baltimore Ravens.

Outside Linebacker

This is definitely one of the more intriguing spots on Denver's defense.  It seems as though Josh McDaniels is building this team to fit some 3-4 defensive players, as well as some 4-3 players.  Despite the fact that Denver has added numerous hybrid rush linebackers, they still have a slew of natural 4-3 outside linebackers that will be valuable in coverage.

Boss Bailey started last season at outside linebacker, and actually played very well prior to his season-ending injury.  Bailey is a very talented player, but it is very rare for him to play a full season and have a huge impact on a defense.

One of Denver's many 2008 rookie standouts, undrafted Wesley Woodyard, will most definitely find a spot on the 2009 roster.  Woodyard got his first action on special teams, and when D.J. Williams went down with an injury he filled in very well at outside linebacker.

This year, the Broncos feel they have found another gem in undrafted college free agent Lee Robinson of Alcorn State.  Robinson has ideal size and speed for the NFL, but scouts feel he was not dominant enough against lower level college competition. 

Louis Green and Mario Haggan will also compete for roster spots.

Cornerback

When he was injured against the Patriots in the middle of the 2008 season, Champ Bailey was playing some of the best ball of his career.  Teams were avoiding even throwing the ball to his side of the field, causing Dre' Bly to be overexposed and quite frankly overworked. 

However, due to the fact that he was injured for a good portion of the 2008 season, Bailey's title as the NFL's best cornerback has been passed on to Nnamdi Asomugha of the Oakland Raiders.  Bailey will be out to redeem his title as the best corner in the league in 2009.

Opposite Bailey, the Broncos signed former Miami Dolphins cornerback Andre' Goodman, who signed a four year deal this off-season.  In 2008, Goodman led the Dolphins with five interceptions, and is in the prime of his career.  He will definitely see a lot of action with the Broncos playing on the other side of a future Hall of Famer.

The Broncos made a bold move in this year's draft by trading away their first round pick in 2010 to select Alphonso Smith with the 37th overall pick.  Smith has been one of the best cornerbacks in college football over the last four years, garnering All-American honors three out of four years at Wake Forest.  With Denver, Smith will step in right away as the nickel cornerback, and eventually as a starter.

The Broncos obtained a similar style of cornerback in the fourth round of last year's draft in Jack Williams, who got off to a blazing start to his career.  In the pre-season, he had an interception returned for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals, and another that would have went the distance had he not been tripped up against the Dallas Cowboys. 

Still, he struggled in the regular season, and lost a lot of playing time.  He was replaced on the depth chart by undrafted rookie free agent Josh Bell, who was claimed early in the season from the San Diego Chargers.  Bell filled in well for Champ Bailey when he was injured, but he is still very raw and needs more time to develop.

Free Safety

In 2008, the Broncos had undoubtedly the worst duo of safeties in the NFL in Marquand Manuel and Calvin Lowery, and Josh McDaniels made it a priority to upgrade this position for 2009. 

At free safety, the Broncos signed another former Miami Dolphin in Renaldo Hill, who is a great tackler.  Hill, like fellow signee Andre' Goodman, is playing the best football of his career.  He will be pushed in training camp by a couple of youngsters looking to make their mark on the league as well.

2008 seventh round pick Josh Barrett played very well after being called up from the practice squad last season, and will find a niche on special teams and third downs.  He has ideal size and excellent speed.

Barrett will be pushed for playing time by second round pick Darcel McBath, who was a first team All-American in 2008.  McBath has excellent ball skills, and will try and resurrect a defense that has not been able to consistently force turnovers.

Strong Safety

Brian Dawkins is one of the best safeties to have ever played the game.  He signed a big five year deal with the Broncos on the opening weekend of free agency, and "Weapon X" figures to be a fit for opposing offenses for the Broncos this season.

Dawkins is instinctive, aggressive, and is effective against both the run and pass.  He may not have the speed he once did, but he knows where he has to be at all times, and is rarely out of place.  He is a great spiritual leader on the field, and he will help develop some of the young players Denver features in their secondary.

The Broncos retained veteran safety Vernon Fox who had one of the few exciting defensive plays of 2008 when he returned a fumble for a touchdown against the Jets.  Fox will have to make a splash on special teams if he is to make the final roster.

In the draft, the Broncos added Notre Dame safety David Bruton, who has a similar style of play to Josh Barrett.  Bruton is a gunner on special teams, and his excellent speed make him the perfect fit for that role in the short term.  He will benefit greatly from the tutelage of Brian Dawkins.

Special Teams

Kicker

Matt Prater has one of the strongest legs in the NFL, but he was unable to maintain his accuracy late last season.  As the year wore on, Prater's leg became more and more fatigued, and that is largely the reason why he fizzled so late, and part of the reason his confidence was shaken.  His production will be key for the Broncos this season.

Punter

Rookie Brett Kern had an outstanding freshman campaign, and should continue to improve this off-season.  He is not a power punter, but his accuracy and hangtime were extremely effective for the Broncos last year, although Denver did not punt very often. 

Long Snapper

In a surprising move, the Broncos released long time long snapper Mike Leach, and replaced him with former New England Patriot Lonie Paxton.  It is unknown why McDaniels made this move, but Leach was well-liked in the locker room, and his release did not sit well with some of the players.  Still, Paxton is a good player, and he will fit in well with the Broncos.

2009 Premature Prediction

The loss of Jay Cutler was devastating to Bronco fans across the world, but people like Jamie Dukes and Todd McShay are writing the Broncos off way too soon.  Losing Cutler does not negate the fact that Denver has great skill players, a great offensive line, and a revamped defense. 

2009 Predicted finish:  10-6, second place AFC West, fifth seed in AFC

This article was also published on Bleacher Report, NFL Touchdown, and Broncos Banter