During the brief flirtation with the 3-4 in 2008, Thomas looked very good from the RDE slot. Fields has always been kind of in the middle – not quite big enough for most systems of 3-4 NT but with almost the size and strength to carry it off (Denver isn’t running a Phillips 3-4 such as Dallas runs, which would play more to a lighter NT. One thing that Fields has that may work out well at LDE is a very explosive first step. If Baker is coming along well, It’s going to be a great competition in TC this season. Rather than just filling slots, there will be a much higher level of competition for each place in the rotation. the fact that both Bannan and Fields can fill in at NT when required let’s Denver field a versatile group when any individual player goes down to injury.

Let me disagree Ski..

Mike Nolan said "he may be better at 3-4 DE" when discussing Ron Fields. And Marcus Thomas has always been too athletic to be NT. Bannan stated that he has been 3-4 DE but can slide inside. That Leaves Williams and Baker WITH very good options from the outside.

It sounds like we actually agree. I was looking to move Fields around and see time at DE. Baker did play DE as PSU but I don’t think they’re going to try him outside until he’s mastered NT. Jamal Williams has always been at NT (to my knowledge) so I can’t see any logic in moving him, especially since he’s got the size we’ve been looking for.

I also said that I’ve penciled in Thomas at R-DE both this year and last (I was surprised they left him at NT).

As far as Bannan goes, it’s my guess that he’ll see time outside along with some time inside. Mentally, I have him pegged as more of a L-DE, although he’s versatile. My opinion of him dates back to when we recruited him to play at CU.

I think some confusion was created when I disagreed somewhat with Chibronx over why they were moving Thomas, which he attributed to feeling good about Baker. I’m not saying they aren’t feeling good about Baker but the more obvious explanation is that Thomas isn’t needed at a position that’s very crowded and he is needed at R-DE, which isn’t crowded (only one true R-DE, Green) and a position that’s he’s far better suited for.

I was thinking the same thing for days now. I don’t see why anyone should assume that the D-line will be set with the following starters:

LDE: Bannan
NT: Williams
RDE: Green

I believe Jarvis Green is an excellent backfield penetrator and thus most likely utilized when the opponent’s offense is in a 3rd and long situation. Hence, I see him coming in as a situational player on 3rd downs, predominantly. In fact, I see him in a similar role as Vonnie Holliday, and let me get to Vonnie in a second.

The likely starting D-line going into 2010 I believe will be:

LDE: Bannan
NT: Williams
RDE: McBean

I truly believe that McBean is the best option as a starter at RDE due to the release of Kenny Peterson. Perhaps Fields can challenge, especially if Baker has developed well and is ready to be in rotation with Jamal Williams at NT. If that’s the case, then we won’t be as thin at RDE as it would appear on the surface.

Now let me get to something I have given some thought to. 3rd and long situations. Barring another move such as the release of Vonnie Holliday, I believe there is an interesting option that the Broncos would have when facing an opponent caught in 3rd and long. We may have the personnel to run a situational 4-3, where the two defensive tackles are Williams and Baker (or Ron Fields,) and the defensive ends will be manned by pass-rushing specialists Vonnie Holliday and Jarvis Green. Can you imagine 2 pass rushers coming off the edge with Doom also joining in on the action at the OLB position?

Talk about an intriguing scenario. We have the personnel to run this scheme, and run it well.

They may keep him on the PS for another year – you can’t have too many effective DEs once the season starts and folks get injured.

Nolan would move players around on different downs and an example of how he sort of experimented or schemed to confuse the offense was during a game where players played in 9 different formations and positions on one set of downs. It was fascinating to see the different setups and ion one play Ayers actually played in the NT position. I had to stop, rewind, fast forward several times to get the whole picture. That set of downs was successful for the defense btw and the offense was balance with the scheme. I forget which game it was though.

Unless of course the is reason to believe one of the 7 won’t be there. There just isn’t room for one and probably the reason why Thomas is slimming down to DE/DG status. My hunch is that he was told way before the start of free agency by the coaches and has secretly working out for the slide over. I do not foresee the team releasing him because he has been developing quite well and is still young and not yet reached his total potential. That leaves Fields, McBean and Baker. Not knowing how well bakers player growth development has us all in the dark and wondering. The only evidence that he would stay is his size, age and physical appearance. What little film we have on him during pre-season isn’t enough to say one way or the other whether he is NFL paterial or a fit in our system. I won’t give up on him just yet and hope the team doesn’t either. McBean plays the game with intensity in his first full year in a role and new system so, the juries still out on him imo. That leaves Fields who played under the former DC in San Fran as well as in Denver last year with some success, but wasn’t stellar by any means. I would think with 5 years and the same coach his play would be outstanding. That leaves me the only conclusion that I could come up with and that is to release Fields if needs be or stand pat and draft a player late in the draft for the practice squad. Pedesleaux and Powell could be put back on the PS, right? All of this to say that I’m trying to persuade McD/X/Wink not to draft a DL with the first pick…LOL. Seems plausible to me…How about you?

It’s really fast