Injuries and Other Concerns

by atwaterassassin27 on Sep 4, 2010 2:45 PM MDT

As opening day approaches there are ominous signs over the Bronco Nation

1. Alphonso Smith was sent today to the Detroit Lions for Dan Gronkowski, a 7th round pick who caught one pass last year for four yards. Denver will receive a low level draft pick as well. The fact that Denver gave up a first round pick in this years draft for Smith and we have now traded him for an unused tight end from the Lions, offically means that Smith is a bust.

2. The number of injuries that the Broncos have suffered is staggering. Losing Branson at Tight end hurts our passing game quite a bit and leaves us very weak at the position.

3. Cutting Jarvis Green after paying him 3 million dollars for six months is a shocker. One of the supposed gains in from our free agency signings was the rebuilt defensive line. Cutting Green is a worrisome sign.

4. Our preseason defense's run defense has been suspect at best. Hopefully, we can turn it around, because if we can't stop the run we are in for a long season.

5. Our non existent running game is disturbing. Without Buckhalter and Moreno, we have been using reserves all preseason. However, our running game over the last year and half has had issues. Changing our entire blocking scheme away from the Shanahan model to the New England model has not been successful. Hopefully, our line improves and Moreno can take the next step and be a1000+ yard rusher.

6. The loss of Dumervil leaves us thin at linebacker and our pass rush has been weak in the preseason. Without a pass rush, our pass defense will be vulnerable this year.

On the positive side this year's draft picks appear to be largely progressing well. Decker looks good, Cox is a stud, Thompson has shown promise, and Tebow looks good enough to see him as the future of the franchise. Orton looks good, but you have to worry about him having to throw most of the time because of our weak running game.

Lots of question marks, hopefully the bad luck with injuries is over and Denver can gel as a team and be successful this year.

Go Broncos!

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Dumervil will be missed Gronkowski trade may work

The loss of Elvis for the season is problem in the sacks dept, but Ayers may pick up some of the slack. The Gronkowski move had to be made because Scheffler was traded.

I’m really going to miss Stokley—that game winner last year against the Bengals was highlight reel stuff.

Green wasn’t cutting it in preseason so now he’s gone.

Another guy that was looking good before he tore out his Achilles was Lendale White. The Broncos may have to pick up a cut running back from another team if the running back injury issue continues.

by todd7 on Sep 4, 2010 3:08 PM MDT reply actions

The Gronkowski move had to be made because Branson got hurt IMO

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination."
- Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by c_style on Sep 4, 2010 11:54 PM MDT up reply actions

1. We drafted some real special teams studs that could also impact at corner. They appear to be an upgrade over who we traded. Seems like a positive to me.

2. We’ve gotten back most of the key people who were injured in pre-season. Loosing Dumerville is the only real significant long term loss this season. Dan Gronkowski was Detroit’s second highest receiver in preseason and is at least a partial replacement for Branson.

3. That one didn’t work. But I’m hearing McBean was done well in that spot. No?

4. Run Defense has been suspect. But we had a significant injuries that will be back for the 1st game. We’ll have to see. Our secondary looks awesome.

5. Running hasn’t been great, but we were usually playing our 4th stringers or lower behind a constantly changing offensive line as they tried to figure out the positions. Offensive line will be set by the first game and we’ll have back the #1 and #2 backs. It WILL be better. Losing LenDale will hurt goal line, but lets see what happens.

6. Yes, losing Dumerville hurts. However, we look to have more pressure from other positions. It ain’t all bad.

Take a deep breath and remember the Kyle Orton lead us to 52 points in 6 Quarters worth of work this preseason. :-)

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood..."

by Alan_Smithee on Sep 4, 2010 3:09 PM MDT reply actions

OL must gel. Big back must be picked up. LB's must play gap containment.

These are not simple things but very attainable. I do think that pre-season and early injuries have placed the OL in a hole. But everyone is healthy now and ready to roll.
Brian Xanders and Keith Kidd are probably all over the waiver wire tonight. I too think Lendale was doing great, so we a productive big back, not a paycheck player.
If DJ and Mario takecare of the middle then Robert and Jason need to lock up to corners. Will be have as many sacks as last year? Probably not but hopefully the rush defense drops into the low teens.
Kyle Orton has been better than just OK so if he goes down we are screwed.

by DLMyers on Sep 4, 2010 5:52 PM MDT reply actions