A Shot at a Mock

by prunch on Feb 15, 2012 10:22 AM MST

Mocks .... for the most part useless but love reading all yours MHR so I thought I'd throw in my take.

EFX demonstrated last year that they want to get 4-5 players out of each draft. To do this it takes a discipline of not going after a position of need but instead a boring, safe methodology that will get us players for the future with the least chance of being "boom or bust". We want players who can find a spot on our team out of the first 5 rounds and then go for the "upside" picks later.

I do believe EFX will go Defense heavy this offseason but I expect them to target CB, S, OG and ILB in free agency ... at value of course. I think we will be spending our big cap numbers next year.

Round 1

Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

We need better play from our center position and this player is one of the safest, "leave him there for 10 years" type of players that could be available at our pick (if he slips past Chicago). This solves a couple of issues for the broncos in that we improve our O Line to where 3rd and 4 runs have a better chance of picking up first downs, adds depth and secures us a long term player in one of the most important O-Line positions. This might be a boring pick to some but I'm developing a love for boring drafts.

Round 2

Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

Finally the DT everyone has been screaming for and Thompson is one of those powerful guys who commonly demands 2 blockers. Any amount of extra rush up the middle will do wonders for our line and Thompson is no slouch against the run either.

Round 3

LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

In my opinion, Tebow needs good "outlet" targets for 3rd down and getting a fast guy like James for those screens and outlet passes while having home run capability on runs will do wonders for our offense. We do know that Fox likes 2 backs and he gets his 2nd guy here.

Round 4

Winston Guy Jr., S, Kentucky

Safety is not set and we need to keep plugging away until we get some players. A very constant performer.

Round 5a

Drake Dunsmore, FB/HB/TE, Northwestern

A TE who projects to be a fullback in the NFL. In line with the "outlet receiver", another target on third down for Tebow and an extra weapon in our running game.

Round 5b

Omar Bolden, CB, Arizona State

A former projected 1st rounder but injury reduced his effectiveness last year. High character leader also.

Round 7

Stephen Good, G, Oklahoma

More depth and someone to challenge Beadles.

Ok, thats it ... I went for players with the best chance to contribute but not necessarily become superstars since the goal is "get 4-5 players from each draft".

So, MHR, whatcha think?

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

Tweet Comment 34 comments | 2 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Nice one dude

I love Winston Guy or Danny Trevathan from Kentucky. Both had mad college production (and consistently), both are athletic, both have good size. I even think Trevathan, who played OLB in Kentucky’s 4-3 last year, could be moved to SS or MLB. He has that kind of hit power and athletic ability.

"If you went to the Fair with this guy and you played that game where you have to throw the ball through the hole..... he may never get it through the hole, but he's still gonna be walking away with all the stuffed animals!" Prime's commentary on our very own Tim Tebow!!!

"As iron sharpens iron, so will one man sharpen another." The Bible, by way of Tim Tebow.

"If I had to choose between an abundance of football intelligence, or football wisdom, I'd choose wisdom every single time...... John Fox has enough football wisdom to be carried in a dump truck." Me!

by PaleHorse78 on Feb 15, 2012 11:03 AM MST reply actions

Would be highly pleased to get your first two picks and was intrigued with Drake Dunsmore at FB

"Peace, a journey without distance to a place we have never left."

by BroncoCUbuffs on Feb 15, 2012 11:16 AM MST reply actions

Nice draft.

FAs might change it up though.

"I am not better than anyone else just because I play football."
Tim Tebow

by Digger24 on Feb 15, 2012 11:21 AM MST reply actions

Probably my favorite mock i've seen.

I know Konz wouldn’t be a popular pick but I think it would be a great pickup. And I think Thompson does fall similar to Marvin Austin last year who most though would go late 1st bu instead went late 2nd.

James in the 3rd would be a great pickup and such a good weapon for Tebow and could help take part of the load off of McGahee. Hopefully he would turn into our own Darren Sproles. And I like how you wrap up the draft with getting guys at positions that could all be upgraded.

I don’t rec mocks but I liked yours so much that I feel compelled to give you one. Best mock I’ve seen.

Wooooot! one of my teams made the postseason and won! PLAYOFFS!!!1
Denver Broncos: 2011 AFC WEST Champs!
Come on Toronto teams, one of you make the goddamn playoffs.

by Eddie.Teach on Feb 15, 2012 12:01 PM MST reply actions

This is really good

I love the Konz pick.

by Bronco Rob on Feb 15, 2012 1:00 PM MST reply actions

I really like this except...

Center is probably the most boring position to draft in the first round. How do you sell this to the fans. Hey fans, we spent a 2nd round on a Center 2 years ago and now we are spending a first on another. I like the player at the spot, just now the position.

Playoffs!?!? Playoffs!?!? Don't talk about Playoffs!! Playoffs?!?!

by Mike Agnew on Feb 15, 2012 1:07 PM MST reply actions

he was a 3rd round pick.... 8-)

Whoever said life was short...was stupid!!
Life is the longest thing we will experience!!

by TrainDriverIvan on Feb 15, 2012 2:19 PM MST up reply actions

sorry

my bad, was decker the second that year or was that beadles?

Playoffs!?!? Playoffs!?!? Don't talk about Playoffs!! Playoffs?!?!

by Mike Agnew on Feb 15, 2012 2:45 PM MST up reply actions

beadles was second, decker and walton went in the 3rd.

Wooooot! one of my teams made the postseason and won! PLAYOFFS!!!1
Denver Broncos: 2011 AFC WEST Champs!
Come on Toronto teams, one of you make the goddamn playoffs.

by Eddie.Teach on Feb 15, 2012 2:55 PM MST up reply actions

thanks

man doesn’t that seem like a pretty good draft now?

Playoffs!?!? Playoffs!?!? Don't talk about Playoffs!! Playoffs?!?!

by Mike Agnew on Feb 15, 2012 3:13 PM MST up reply actions

It was a decent draft.

I think there’s a lot of question marks in that class. Demaryius and Decker have looked good out there and should stick around for a long time, but besides those two the draft class is pretty mediocre. Walton and Beadles don’t look like the long term answers, especially Beadles. Walton might pull it together but I’m skeptical. Parrish Cox was a wasted pick, Syd’quan Thompson was a good pick considering where we got him. And I would put Tebow with Walton and Beadles in the unsure category. If Tebow can improve his passing and still do what he did last year than this draft will definitely look good in retrospect. But if Tebow can’t get better and he flames out than it won’t look quite as good. Too early to tell but the draft class right now is doing okay. Not great, not horrible. Just okay.

Wooooot! one of my teams made the postseason and won! PLAYOFFS!!!1
Denver Broncos: 2011 AFC WEST Champs!
Come on Toronto teams, one of you make the goddamn playoffs.

by Eddie.Teach on Feb 15, 2012 3:42 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

Come on Man

Tebow didnt have any real targets this year. Only Decker in the beginning of the year and Damaryus Thomas at the end. And he was set up for failure and still took us to the playoffs and won a game there.

by Bleedorange on Feb 15, 2012 5:45 PM MST up reply actions

You draft him because he is the best player there and can hugely improve the run game and protect the QB better. I dont think the fans will have forgotten how important Tom Nalen was to this team. He has not been replaced and I doubt we find a center like him in the 7th round again.

"The Holy Writ of Gloucester Rugby Club demands: first, that the forwards shall win the ball; second, that the forwards shall keep the ball; and third, the backs shall buy the beer." - Doug Ibbotson

by SteveUK on Feb 16, 2012 1:07 AM MST up reply actions

Good Draft!!! Love it

Kansas Bob

by kansas bob on Feb 15, 2012 1:16 PM MST reply actions

ESPN first draft podcast says that Konz should go around the middle second round

Maybe we can draft at 25, then trade our second and something else to go up and still get this guy. Or trade back and get him and someone else.

Playoffs!?!? Playoffs!?!? Don't talk about Playoffs!! Playoffs?!?!

by Mike Agnew on Feb 15, 2012 2:49 PM MST reply actions

I really like this mock. All your picks IMO would be great additions. Center may be a boring position on draft day, but it also is boring watching our interior O-line get man handled on passing plays.

"If we cannot find a way, we will make one." -Hannibal

by AvalancheRescueDog on Feb 15, 2012 3:40 PM MST reply actions

I actually agree with some of those picks but I would like to see Danny Trevathan on your board instead of Winston Guy Jr.

by Bleedorange on Feb 15, 2012 5:41 PM MST reply actions

I'm a huge NO to pick a C in the 1st

I liked your 2nd and 3rd, but I don’t think James fall to the 3rd late for us to select him there.

This signature was sacked by Von Miller.
I bleed Orange & Blue. GB².

by Fabio Broncos on Feb 15, 2012 5:44 PM MST reply actions

LaMichael James is decent, but hes not trent richardson or a mark ingram, so he will slide to the third. Just watch and wait

by Bleedorange on Feb 15, 2012 5:47 PM MST up reply actions

But don't forget we are a late 3rd this year, Bleed

I think if we want to select him (and he would fit very well our offense because of his spread-option expertise), we must do it with the 2nd pick or he won’t be there likely on the late 3rd.

This signature was sacked by Von Miller.
I bleed Orange & Blue. GB².

by Fabio Broncos on Feb 15, 2012 5:53 PM MST up reply actions

I agree with bleedorange

he should be available; he was a big name during his heisman campaign but was injured often last year.

by Lolly Tran on Feb 15, 2012 8:12 PM MST up reply actions

why against picking a C in the 1st round?

"The Holy Writ of Gloucester Rugby Club demands: first, that the forwards shall win the ball; second, that the forwards shall keep the ball; and third, the backs shall buy the beer." - Doug Ibbotson

by SteveUK on Feb 16, 2012 1:08 AM MST up reply actions

First of all

Because we already drafted JD Walton a couple drafts ago, and he needs (as every OLineman) and deserves time do reach his full potential.

And second, because we have so many needs that I can’t imagine to burn an early pick on a C, since we would just been creating a need where there isn’t for now.

This signature was sacked by Von Miller.
I bleed Orange & Blue. GB².

by Fabio Broncos on Feb 16, 2012 9:16 AM MST up reply actions

I understand the logic of allowing a young pick to develop and ideally would love to see a cover corner or an interior pass rusher. However, the interior of the o line has been very inconsistent outside of Kuper.
As I have mentioned elsewhere this is weak draft for 1st round talent, especially if you have a 4-3 grouping. Konz could well be the only player left at that time worth a 1st round pick. Do you reach? and if trading down is not possible isnt best to get a player with a high floor and pro bowl potential who immediately becomes your 2nd best interior lineman?

"The Holy Writ of Gloucester Rugby Club demands: first, that the forwards shall win the ball; second, that the forwards shall keep the ball; and third, the backs shall buy the beer." - Doug Ibbotson

by SteveUK on Feb 16, 2012 10:23 AM MST up reply actions

I also understand your reasoning

Seems very logic and no doubt it’s something to think about. I’d just go with another path… the path of developping JD and trying an unkiley trade down to grab some CB and pass rushing DT talent, besides a RB.

This signature was sacked by Von Miller.
I bleed Orange & Blue. GB².

by Fabio Broncos on Feb 16, 2012 12:57 PM MST up reply actions

What's with the centers lately?

2nd recent post with us drafting an early center.

JD Walton isn’t Jeff Saturday. He could be upgraded. But you use big resources for big problems – high profile draft picks for high profile problems. I’ll admit that being the best running team in the league last year doesn’t automatically mean that Walton is a stud or even that he isn’t a problem. However, it DOES mean that the offensive line isn’t a major problem. Not one worthy of wasting a first- or second-round pick to solve.

Think of it this way: If Konz turns out to be the next Nick Mangold and Lamar Miller turns out to be the next Terrell Davis and your favorite CB in this year’s draft turns out to be the next Champ Bailey…. which one of them improves our team the least? Spoiler alert…. the answer is Konz.

Adding a center to our team in the early rounds won’t upgrade us as much as a whole as would a DT/CB/RB.

I'm officially an idiot. We didn't need Quinn to win dumbass. (Slap to the face!) Great job Tebow and Team! After years of mediocrity we fans deserve a pat on the back for staying true, too. So I hereby take credit for this win for being such a great fan... even having doubted Him once ;D

by Rodney A on Feb 15, 2012 5:57 PM MST reply actions 1 recs

This is why I did mine.

I was just playin’.

"I am not better than anyone else just because I play football."
Tim Tebow

by Digger24 on Feb 15, 2012 6:25 PM MST up reply actions

while i kind of agree with this

i’d also argue that, if we’re really going all in with tebow, the relative value of the pivot increases exponentially. we’re the team that by god wants to run on third and six. we’re also the team that sucks at short and mid range timing patterns — but we can throw the deep ball. if we own the trenches, esp with timmy, willis and whatever mid round rb we pick up, defenses will have to commit to the run, and dt or decker will consistently get single coverage. you put dt on one side, decker on the other, and timmy behind konz, and defensive coordinators will start losing nights of sleep.

konz, in particular, would be a good fit. he’s a monster that can play all three interior spots, despite his size he wins the leveage battles, and wisconsin plays a similar style to what the broncos are trying to do with tebow.

another point; i agree another bailey would help us more than a mangold. but what percentage of first round dbs pan out, vs first round linemen? dbs are notoriously risky. as are defensive linemen. ol — not so much. this is a safe bet for a long term reward. it’s hitting a grounder and legging it out, rather than swinging for the fences. as for rb — not in the first round.

so, for the right db, dt, fine. if kirkpatrick falls — fine. but if all the first tier guys are gone — konz would be a safe, smart choice.

"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different."
— Kurt Vonnegut

by orange cube on Feb 15, 2012 6:28 PM MST up reply actions

Teams have already gone all-in to stop our run game

They may get better at it by next year after studying tape, but our problem isn’t in getting more push from the center to make the 1st ranked rushing attack better. Our problem is keeping the score in range and maybe that our running backs aren’t long-term greatness.

I understand your point about OL being safer picks and I agree. But unless we’re talking about taking a guy that’s got red flags of some kind, then the difference of boom to busts between centers and CBs is only like ten points I would think… at most. That’s a significant difference, but we can’t draft a center every year. Some day we’ll have to draft a CB and a DT. So it’s not a matter of if, it’s when. I’d rather take a riskier position at a position of need than a safer position at a position we don’t need.

If we fail, we fail. If we succeed, then pretty much every position on the field (except QB, DE and kickers) would give us greater immediate value and upgrade than a center, IMO.

by Rodney A on Feb 15, 2012 6:57 PM MST up reply actions

i don't think we lost to new england twice because our rbs weren't destined for greatness.

we lost because they beat the crap out of the interior of our line.

"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different."
— Kurt Vonnegut

by orange cube on Feb 15, 2012 10:52 PM MST up reply actions

However you dont want to overdraft a player. In my eyes this is not a draft deep with 1st round talent. Peter Konz is a 1st round talent with a high floor and I think potentially a pro bowl player. Also I think you underestimate the impact of a Center for me its up there with Guard in terms of importance.
Yes CB and DT are positions which need to be upgraded but if come the 25th pick there isnt a player with a 1st round grade or they cant trade down what do you do? If Konz is there he upgrades the O line, he is a lot more likely to get that push and get those 3rd/4th and inches than Walton will and will protect Tebow better against the interior rushes.

"The Holy Writ of Gloucester Rugby Club demands: first, that the forwards shall win the ball; second, that the forwards shall keep the ball; and third, the backs shall buy the beer." - Doug Ibbotson

by SteveUK on Feb 16, 2012 1:17 AM MST up reply actions

agree

and it’s not just push, he’s got surprising feet for a big man, sweeps and pulls effectively, gets to the second level very well, smart, team leader, no character issues.

"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different."
— Kurt Vonnegut

by orange cube on Feb 16, 2012 6:55 AM MST up reply actions

I like it

While I’m not dead-set on a center, I definitely love the idea of going reliable and boring at the end of the first round. It’s definitely not a time to get desperate and reach for some college athlete that looked amazing two years ago, or is really awesome aside from those domestic violence arrests, etc. Get the solid prospect that won’t let you down.

by tunesmith on Feb 15, 2012 6:40 PM MST reply actions