A Study of Denver's 2011 Season

but wanted an all option.

I think interior defensive lineman that can pressure the qb by collapsing the pocket is our biggest need. I really think we need to look at the NYG defensive line blueprint. On passing downs they have 4 penetrating DE’s attacking the qb, and 7 in coverage. We really need to find more pressure from our D-line, which will improve our entire D.

A close second is more consistent safety play. If we can accomplish those two, and get some imporovement from Tebow in the passing game I think we will compete for AFC west again next year. If not, we could have some struggles next year.

I would rank the positions of need as:

1. Safety
2. MLB
3. DT
4. CB
5. RB
6. LG (or RT and push Franklin into his natural guard position)

Clearly I feel the middle of the field from the D-line to the Secondary needs improvement. I could be talked into switching some around but I feel that those are the teams 6 biggest needs.

Would love to see a good CB join the team to allow Champ to go to FS . . . not because of Champ’s age, but because I believe his extreme athleticism and leadership is being wasted while he covers one man or one side of the field. At safety, he would cover the entire opposing team and all of the field. I believe the defense would improve dramatically with him back there.

If CB is 1a, then RB has to be 1b, IMO. Even were McGahee young, two good RBs are needed. We have seen first hand what can happen with all the hits a RB endures. It would be great to get one that is a load like McGahee is but with the speed to hit a home run once in a while. If they could do that and then get smart enough to use Royal in a McCluster/Sproles capacity, that would be one dangerous offense, IMO.

After seeing Lance Ball debacle so many runs this past season, we need to upgrade our RB corps in the worst way. We’re getting it done with CFL talents. Imagine how well we’d run the ball with actual RBs that had moves, speed and power?

Liver Eatin Johnson

a good defense is a good offense. Champ “we need to pass the ball”

Every position on or team needs some revamping from the OLine to the DLine on down. Some positions more than others but all the same, the is still a lot of work for EFX to do.

OLine: I thought that signing Ryan Harris at RT for a multi year deal was a good move as we need some solid backups. Out of the backups we have only Chris Clark and Russ Hochstein have shown they possess NFL skills. Right now I hope EFX docus on the Guard position with an acquistion from FA or the draft. I believe Chris Kuper will be healed in time for Training Camp, but we still need depth. A offseason with the OLine all together except for Kuper is a plus and they should show growth in development by the end of TC…

DLine: I thought the acquistion of Broderick Bunkley was a sound move and dividends were rewarded from it. He is a solid contributor but doesn’t possess to much push on the OLine he is mainly a plugger. Kevin Vickerson was a disappointment after coming back to TC 25-35 lbs under his weight. I’m not sure what they will do with him moving forward, and to be frank about it, I don’t care one way or another. Marcus Thomas was a solid contributor as like Bunkley, but has very little pass rushing abilities. I would try to re-sign those two. Ryan McBean has shown some progression this year over the last few years, but slid some in the end and reverted back to commiting terrible penalties. Since he had progression I would keep him around as a backup and imo has shown more pass rushing skills than either Thomas or Bunkley, but nothing to shout about. That’s 3 DTs we should keep. Mitch Unrein is still too young to really assess and maybe he stays to go back to the PS, I wouldn’t hold a active roster spot fpor though, he was a stop gap when Vickerson and Ty Warren went down. Speaking of Ty Warren. When he was healthy he was a beast and that was before his first injury epesode began in ‘09. Whether he will be a contributing factor is unknown, but worth clinging some hope to. Sealiver Siliga is an unkown on the PS. EFX will study this group and let’s hope they feel they need a pass rushing specialist at DT. Jared Crick? Derek Wolfe? That crazy Bosnian that I forget his name? Name one…

DE: Elvis Dumervil is on an island all his own and having Von Miller up at the line severely hurts the physicality of the left end. I think Fox/Allen used Miller alot because basically that’s all we had for pass rushing on that side. Robert Ayers is turning out to be a pretty good football player, but he still lacks in the pass rushing department and always will. I think he would be better suited as an undertackle and an end on run downs. Spend the money on this position and let Von Miller do his job at SOLB. Mario Williams may come available shortly and also there are a few in the draft like Coples, Mercilus, Cam Johnson, Andre Branche, Melvin Ingram and Nick Perry…Harvey and Hunter should be looking for work elsewhere. Jeremy Beal is an unknown at this time, but should be showing vast improvement over the off season or we could put him back on the shelf of PS for awhile.

The LBers position is pretty set on the edges with DJ Williams and Von Miller developing his skills. The MLB is the enigma for us right now because we know nothing but we know so much. Nate Irving may be that guy and need a solid offseason to prove it. Finding a great MLB is like finding a needle in the haystack, there aren’t that many 4/3 MLBs who are great and when a team get’s one, they don’t generally let them go if they can help it. Don’ta Hightower may be one, Vontaze Burfict may be another if Richard Smith can get his attention. After that the draft falls off like a ton of bricks with LBR talent. Forget about Kuechy unless you want to bankrupt the team for him.

Safety: this position is shouting from the rooftops for help. When Brian Dawkins talks about going down on his knees as listening to the Lords advice I really think he is sincere, but father time is a cruel character and always shows up before we want him to. That leaves us without veteran leadership and a solid centerfielder. We can’t count on Quintin Carter to be Dwkins-like over an offseason, that won’t happen, but I see the potential there. Rahim Moore has a lot of potential too, but the limited offseason severely hurt him as it showed. IMO those 2 are keepers though and let them develop into the players we need to start in the future, not now though. EFX have to race to the FA boards and ring the phones off the hooks for a solid veteran of BDawks caliber. Bruton and Bush will never be more than STs and backups. No need wasting another draft pick on this position he has to be a veteran.

CB: Champ and Goodman should be retained as starters along with Chris Harris as the slot/nickle. Draft a couple of pliers wielding boys with a blow torch and let them learn the craft from Goody and Champ…

That a huge to-do list and that is only the defensive side of the ball…Whew, do we have our work cut out.

Look no further than the New York Giants of the past 5 years to see the value of a potent D-Line. Especially with the orange unis coming back next year, gotta grab some crushers in the draft. Second is a beast middle linebacker. That position is the heart of the defense. Next I would go secondary. Finally, they really need to get some weapons on offense for Tebow. Running back, TE, WR, scat back… whatever. Honestly, Tebow didn’t have too many great weapons to work with this past season.