Defensive Tackle was a position of need heading into the 2008 NFL Draft for the Broncos.  Just days before Draft Weekend, the Broncos secured DeWayne Robertson from the New York Jets, but still felt the need to inject some youth to the position by selecting DT Carlton Powell from Virginia Tech.

via media3.washingtonpost.com

Recently, Carlton was nice enough to answer some questions from members of MileHighrReport.com.  We thank Carlton again for taking the time to help us get to know him, and thanks to everyone who posted questions here at the site --

Poll

Can Carlton Powell Make An Impact In 2008??

• Yes
• No

  76 votes | Results

Continue reading this post »

THE INTERVIEW!

Members of the MHR community turn to the Mile High Report to get the best, most current news, analysis, opinion, and education on the Denver Broncos.  It is also a great place to talk about the team.  Recently we've also had some incredible interviews.  Some time ago (in fact, a few months ago) I had a thought.  What if I could score an interview with the one figure who personifies what the fans of the Broncos respect and admire?

I thought long and hard about it, and decided to go straight to the top.  I decided to go for a figure that is not only recognized by all of us (and still mentioned daily on MHR), but a figure that even the mighty Guru himself couldn't get an interview with (and he's gotten some pretty amazing ones).

So a few months ago I sent my interview questions away and...

...you guessed it; I didn't get a reply.  Day after day passed by, and I figured the great and powerful figure I had hoped for an interview with was too busy doing whatever it is he does these days when not granting interview requests.  And then, my friends, it happened!  I got the questions and answers back by e-mail!  I rushed to my friend Styg to tell him the news (and to tell him I needed help with color coding the questions and answers to make the article look as good as it deserves to look).  I kept having HTML problems with the text, and Guru told me to just run with what I have.

So here it is folks.

The man...

The myth...

The legend...

The individual behind so much that we love about the Denver Broncos...

I give you...

(Click "read more" to read the interview)

Continue reading this post »

You Can See My Answers To His Questions HERE!!

With our final regular season game against the Vikings approaching, we took the time to ask Gonzo from DailyNorseman.com a few questions about his beloved Vikings.  Thanks to everyone who posted questions!!!

MHR -- What are the major needs the Vikes need to address in the offseason?

DN -- Well, for starters, we're going to need a safety.  After Dwight Smith's recent brush with the law and his pathetic performance last Sunday against Washington, I personally can't be rid of the guy fast enough.  On the offensive side of the ball, we need one more WR, whether we get him in the draft or through free agency.  The two big questions for the Vikings this off-season are --

1. What are they going to do at quarterback? As far as this is concerned, I'm a bit torn.  Jackson has shown a lot of flashes this season of being "the guy" for Minnesota in the future, but he's also had some pretty terrible games.  A lot of rumors have been circling about Donovan McNabb coming to Minnesota, or possibly even a Chad Pennington-type QB.  The former is a pipe dream, I think. . .there's no way the Eagles trade that guy.  Pennington is sort of intriguing, even though he's got no arm strength. . .he does make the quick, smart decisions that are an essential part of the type of offense Brad Childress wants to run.
2. Will they trade Chester Taylor? My answer to this is "I hope not."  We saw what happened to the Bears when they traded away half of their two-headed backfield, and it wasn't pretty.  Granted, Adrian Peterson is approximately 100 times more talented than Cedric Benson, but in the event of an injury to Peterson, I'd rather have Taylor to turn to than a relative unknown.  If the Bears could get a second-round pick for Thomas Jones, I would assume the Vikings could get that for Taylor, but I really hope he's back in Minnesota next year.

MHR -- In Super Bowl XXXIII Denver played Atlanta, but Minnesota should have gone to the game in the opinion of many fans.  How would you handicap a theoretical match-up between Denver and Minnesota that year in the SB?

DN -- It would have been a hell of a lot of fun to watch, that's for sure.  The Vikings had lost a couple of defensive players to injuries late in the game against Atlanta, and I can't remember for sure how serious those injuries were, so I'm not sure what kind of role they would have played.  On the other hand, I'm not sure how the Broncos would have handled what I. . .in my somewhat biased opinion. . .consider to be the greatest offense in NFL history.  I'm not sure who would have won, and I probably can't even really put a point spread on it.  It probably would have come down to which team could limit their own mistakes and capitalize on the mistakes made by the other team.

MHR -- Other than your great HB, who else on the Vikes is an emerging star for us to watch for next year?

DN -- It's not sure whether he'll play today or not, but our other emerging offensive star is WR Sidney Rice, #18.  He was our second-round pick in this last year's draft out of South Carolina.  After Minnesota traded down in Round 2 this past year, they were faced with a decision to take either Rice or USC's Dwayne Jarrett.  Many folks. . .including myself. . .thought that Jarrett was a no-brainer selection.  I wasn't displeased with Rice, but I thought they were going to go with Jarrett.  But, this season, Rice has outproduced Jarrett in terms of catches (31 to 6), yards (396 to 73) and touchdowns (4 to 0).  Heck, Aundrae Allison. . .our fifth-round pick. . .has even outproduced Jarrett thus far (7/113/0 thus far for #14).  With the inconsistency at QB for the Vikings this year, we couldn't ask for much more out of Rice than that.  He's got the size, speed, and hands to be a great WR in the NFL.

MHR -- What does MINN need to do to take over the NFC North?  How much time do you expect this to take?

DN -- I probably sound like a broken record, but they need more consistency from the QB position.  People will say what they will about Tarvaris Jackson, but all 8 of Minnesota's victories this season have come when he took the first snap from center.  Now, he's gotten a lot of help from the ground game, and over the last couple of weeks, teams have shut the ground game down relatively well.  When that happens, it's up to Jackson to make teams pay for putting extra defenders in the box.  If he can continue developing and find a way to do that, it will keep Peterson and Taylor from having to run into 8 and 9-man boxes on every carry.  On Sunday, Jackson will be making his 14th career NFL start, so he doesn't even have an entire season's worth of starting experience yet, but the big key for him is to simply keep progressing.

As far as a time limit, if Jackson continues to develop, there's no reason to think that the Vikings can't take over the NFC North as soon as next season.  All of the other components are there. . .the defense is solid, the O-line is solid, and the running game is the best in the league.  If Jackson can continue improving, then Minnesota will be a force to be reckoned with in 2008.

MHR -- I hear from time to time that the Vikings may try to move to LA or another city.  Is there any truth to that?

DN -- The reason this rumor persists is that the Vikings' lease with the Metrodome expires in 2011.  The efforts to get a new Vikings' stadium in Minnesota has gone on ever since Red McCombs bought the team in 1998.  McCombs presented various proposals, including threatening to move the team to San Antonio, but couldn't get anything through the legislature of the People's Republic of Minnesota.  Since Zygi Wilf bought the team, there have been several other proposals presented, but still nothing successful as of now, and they've pretty much been told to not even try for 2008.

There are a couple of other things that complicate the situation further, the biggest being the I-35W bridge collapse this past year.  It's hard to justify money for a new stadium when there's a big ol' gap in the road not far from where the current stadium stands.  That, obviously, needs to come first.  The other is that during the 2007 legislative session, new stadiums were approved for both the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Golden Gophers.  The Gophers' new stadium is set to open in 2009, while the Twins' stadium is set to open in 2010.

In the end, I have faith that the People's Repbulic of Minnesota will eventually pull its head out far enough to see what the Vikings mean to the state.  When it comes to Minnesota sports teams, people like the Twins, but they LOVE the Vikings.  I think that, eventually, the crisis will be averted and the Vikings will be staying in Minnesota for many, many years to come.

MHR -- Jumping the gun a bit, what is your feelings regarding the NFC playoff picture?  How far can the Vikings go?

DN -- If the Vikings were to make it. . .which, at the moment, looks like a pipe dream. . .I'm not sure if they'd win a game at this point.  They'd have to road trip to Seattle to take on a very tough Seahawks team.  Seattle's strength. . .their pass offense. . .goes directly at Minnesota's defensive weakness, and the Seahawks are a very good defensive team as well.  The Vikings might stand a puncher's chance, but I really think that that would be about it.

As far as the NFC as a whole, Dallas is clearly the best team in the conference, and I don't see a whole lot standing between them and the Super Bowl at this point.  I think we're going to get a Dallas/Seattle NFC Championship game, with the Cowboys earning the right to get their teeth kicked in by New England.

MHR -- If you could have one Broncos player straight up from our current roster, who would you take?

DN -- Given the current composition of the Vikings' roster, I'd say the one Broncos' player that I'd jump on would have to be Brandon Marshall.  Marshall and Rice would make an outstanding young WR combo for the Vikings, and would allow us to open up the offense even further .  Champ Bailey would be a close second, but like I said, with the way the Vikings' roster is built at the moment, a great WR would trump a great CB.

Hey everybody, don't forget to get over to the dailynorseman and check out some fine answers from Guru on the flipside of the is QandA- styg

In the dark of the night I sent Styg and zappa to abduct the guys that run BattleRedBlog so that we could ask him a few questions about the Texans.  Mission Accomplished --

My sincere thanks to BattleRedBlog for taking the time.  Head on over and look for my answers to his questions....

Every now and then I get the opportunity to interview someone unique.  Someone that has a different outlook on the National Football League.  A fresh perspective.  Alvaro Martin definitely fits the bill.  Alvaro is one half of ESPN Deportes' Monday Night Football broadcast team who will be calling the game against the Titans.  According to Martin's bio --

Alvaro was nice enough to answer some questions for us.  Below are his answers, which give an insightful look at how the rest of the world looks at the National Football League...

MHR -- First, about the game, when you look at the two young quarterbacks(Jay Cutler and Vince Young), there is an obvious connection because of their respective placement in the draft.  How do you each feel they have done so far, how do you see each progressing, and if you had to start a franchise right now, which QB would you take?

AM: Jay Cutler has a strong arm, surprising mobility and a very thick skin he developed while trying to beat much more talented teams while at Vanderbilt. Like Young, he has had difficulty going deep into his progressions quickly and seeing his third option on the field on time.

Vince Young is the prototype of the QB every team covets - perhaps the best athlete on the field when he is under center, with charisma and leadership traits to boot. However, I am not convinced he has yet developed the decision-making savvy the position requires. Does he read a defense quickly? Does he make adjustments?  Can he get rid of the ball quickly, to the optimal option and in stride? Not yet, in his second year in the league. Will he?  I think he has a better chance than Michael Vick ever did.

You are asking me a tough question. Perhaps technically Cutler is more polished than Young, but Young can do more on the field, and there is no question his teammates will kick it in gear for him, when they need to score in the clutch. Until Young can show me he can read the field pre- and post-snap, I would go with Cutler, in a close call.

MHR -- Jeff Fisher and Mike Shanahan have been the exception to the NFL coaching rule, guys that have stayed with one team for a long time.  What do attribute their success to and why do you think they have been so successful?

AM: Most coaches tell you they do not believe in rebuilding, but Mike Shanahan is one of the few coaches who has shown that indeed, his teams every year have a chance to make the playoffs and in some cases, advance deeply into the postseason.  His relationship with the owner is unusual in the NFL - it is as if they were business partners, and not just an owner and his top executive.

Jeff has done a wonderful job in a market with limited economic margin for error. He has survived a salary cap mess and some lean years in terms of on-the-field performance because of his coaching ability, his setting down roots in Tennessee, and his forthrightness.

MHR -- The Broncos defense has been struggling to say the least.  When you guys look at the film what do you see?  A lack of talent or a lack of execution?

AM: I thought Jim Bates was the Broncos' best off-season acquisition. He has struggled to install his "match concept" defense with personnel which is new to it, or just inexperienced.  He does not have the linemen that classically fit this scheme, especially against the run.  The Titans rank 19th in rushing average, but no other team in the NFL approaches their 319 rushing attempts so far.  So the key is to ideally have  the Titans face a deficit that removes their most effective weapon, out of the picture altogether. Let's see how many points the Broncos can score in their first two possessions.   If they get 10 or 14 points, they will put the game in Vince Young's and his receivers' hands. That Bronco secondary will be salivating.

MHR -- There is an obvious effort in the League to globalize the sport.  I, for one, feel that the League should tread carefully based on what I have seen as an alienation of American fans by the NBA and MLB.  What is your take on globalization and what pitfalls should the NFL avoid that the other two Leagues seem to have fallen in to?

AM: It is a wonderful concept, provided there is grass-roots support for the sport in that geographic market.  Mexico City made sense, because organized American football has been played there for over a century and it is currently widely played throughout Mexico.  If the NFL were to schedule a regular season game annually, Estadio Azteca would have no less than 100,000 fans year after year. They understand the game, they currently play or played the game in the past.

In the U.K., or Germany or in China, holding regular season games will work insofar the NFL is willing to undertake a concentrated effort to get local kids to play touch football and for high schools, colleges and even soccer clubs like Arsenal or Bayern Munich to establish American football as part of the athletic activities.  In the 15 years NFL Europe existed, the league failed to provide such grass roots support.  Not developing a local taste for this sport risks making these regular-season games a fad - once the novelty wears off, it will be increasingly difficult for local promoters to offer the NFL monetary guarantees for these games.

The Super Bowl today is primarily a television event - as such it can be held anywhere. Holding it overseas requires a properly equipped stadium, a city with a nice climate, excellent security arrangements and an attractive time zone difference from the U.S..  Barcelona is a wonderful city, but where's the stadium? Is the city secure for an event which is such an American cultural touchstone? What time will the game kick off - at 11:30 PM, local time?

I once told a roomful of NFL executives that my number one recommendation to an American league that is considering overseas expansion would be to avoid scheduling most of its games on Sunday, when King Soccer dominates around the globe. I was half-serious and half-joking, of course, but they failed to appreciate the humor. To grow internationally, the NFL will have to hustle and scratch to build its sport, the same way it did in the United States in the 1940's and 1950's, when professional American football took a back seat to baseball, college basketball and college football in the sports landscape.  Will owners invest in projects aimed at developing the game overseas with uncertain return of investment when they are used to having sponsors, distribution partners and other interested parties throw money at them in the domestic market?

MHR -- Americans obviously have a strong opinion on Soccer, which is easily the most popular sport in the world.  What do Latinos think, specifically in Mexico, Central and South America, about American Football?  Do you feel it is gaining in popularity?

AM: Let's break this down by region. Mexico is exceptional - only rivaled by Canada as a natural market for American football. However, even in Mexico, the NFL is perceived to be a sport followed by the elite.  I can tell you anecdotally that immigrants from Puebla and Oaxaca which settle in New York City, where I live, come to the US with pre-existing NFL team allegiances. They arrive here as Rams, Niners, Raiders, Steelers, and yes, Broncos fans, in NYC. Imagine that!

In Central America, American football is less developed, but it is worth noting that there is a Central American full-contact American football league that pits teams from every one of the six nations in that region.

In South America, especially south of the Equator, the NFL's job is more missionary. Explaining the rules is critical to propagating the sport, and if you live in Argentina, getting equipment and proper coaching is truly Quixotic. Once again, the NFL has had many chances to help these burgeoning leagues, but the assistance has not been meaningful.

One final anecdote: I am also ESPN Deportes' lead NBA play-by-play announcer in Spanish and I met Sergio Hernández, head coach of Olympic basketball champion, Argentina. He told me he watches the NFL, and specifically Indianapolis Colts games, because his 12-year old son Lautaro is a rabid Peyton Manning fan.

Our thanks, again, to Alvaro for taking the time to answer the questions.  Based on his insightful, intelligent answers I think I would prefer Alvaro to the three stooges that occupy the booth now.

     @      

Date: Sunday, September 23, 2007

Time: 2:05 p.m. MST

Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) at Denver Broncos (2-0)

Location: Invesco Field @ Mile High -- Denver, CO

Weather Forcast: Partly Cloudy, 74 Degrees, 20% Chance of Rain

       

We are in full preperation mode for Sunday's match-up with the 1-1 Jacksonville Jaguars and River City Rage from BigCatCountry.com.  Much like the Jags themselves, Rage's answers are inconsistent and a bit underachieving.  Just kidding.  Here are his replies --

MHR -- For the past several seasons the Jags were projected by many to make a serious playoff run, only to underachieve and miss out on the post-season.  What do you see as the reason(s) for this, and is Jack Del Rio an effective week-to-week coach in a long NFL season?

BCC -- If I had the answer, I'd be hired in Jacksonville in a heart beat.  I think that the Jaguars suffer from an inferiority complex that leads them to feel slighted when they're not favored against "big time" teams.  It leads us to play hard and fast against teams like the Colts and we come out on top.  That sort of motivation doesn't play well when you're a heavy favorite against teams like the Titans and the Texans, so we end  up coming out flat and end up looking lame.  Is Jack a good week to week coach? Ask me next week...

MHR -- David Garrard has come in a played well so far this season, though the offense has struggled to put up points.  Is Garrard good enough to lead the Jags to the post-season, and can this offense be effective within the Red Zone?

BCC -- Yes, David has played very well so far this season.  He's making good decisions about when to throw, when to throw away, and when to run.  This has been his biggest flaw in previous seasons, i.e. the Titans game.  If he keeps that up and the coaches let the game get into his hands I think he'll be in the top 10-12 quarterbacks in the league (albeit toward the bottom of that list).  Once we get our running game going (which is inevitable), you'll see points go up in the Red Zone.  We just need to get in the sync of our run-blocking.  Hopefully we learn something from the best ones in the Business (your offensive line).

MHR -- What is the long-term viability of the Jags, and football in general, in Jacksonville.  Can the team succeed long-term in what is considered a small-market, college football hotbed?

BCC -- I could talk about this one for hours.  Yes, we're viable over the long haul, provided that we do well this season.  Sadly, it's all come down to the results of one season to determine if Jacksonville is a viable market. Advertisers and investors are waiting to see how we do in ticket sales and marketability before they invest.  We don't have a Stadium sponsor, which is awful considering that there are only 31 NFL stadiums.  We've gone so far as to sell ad space on the tarps covering the seats.  It's a difficult situation, to say the least.

MHR -- Reggie Nelson seems to be the real deal, what about the other new additions in Jacksonville?

BCC -- Reggie is the real deal, I'm very pleased.  Justin Durrant, our second round linebacker looks to have a lot of "game speed" and plays well.  John Broussard (Chicken Legs) looks to be our speed receiver that we've lacked.  I'm most excited about Mike Walker, but he's out for the season on IR to recover from ACL surgery.  DT Derek Landri is really stepping up even though he's a little undersized.

MHR -- Prediction time - Who wins, what is the score?

BCC -- Jacksonville wins 17-13 with a "walk off" field goal.

NOTE -- Don't know about a 4 point field goal, but we get the point.  Rage thinks the Jags will win.  Head on over to BigCatCountry.com and give 'em hell!!! While you are there you can see the answers I gave to his questions as well. GO BRONCOS!

What's better than getting the opinion of a Bills Blogger before the Broncos open the 2007 season against the Bills?  Getting the thoughts of 2!  

Today we get the thoughts of Dan Benton, a Bills Blogger for AOL's FanHouse.  Dan was nice enough to give his thoughts to the same questions I asked Brian G from Buffalo Rumblings.com.  Here are Dan's replies --

MHR - There are a lot of new faces throughout the Bills roster.  Is there any concern that it will take time for the team to gel?

DB -- Absolutely.  I don't think there is any way for the Bills or their fans to shy away from that.  Although they've spent a good amount of time with each other this offseason, it's regular season game experience that matters.  It's going to take a little while for this team to click on all cylinders.

MHR - Everything I have seen and heard from J.P Losman this off-season points to his growth and maturity.  He is saying and doing all the right things and has become an active part of the Buffalo community.  What is the feeling of Bills fans towards their QB, and are you confident that he is the guy to lead the Bills back to prominence.

DB -- Most, if not all Bills fans are extremely confident in J.P. Losman, and rightfully so.  His game has really come a long way, and he shows no signs of slowing down.  Is he the next Peyton Manning?  Probably not, but he's an above-average NFL quarterback.  I have no doubts that this kid can eventually lead Buffalo back to the promise land.

MHR - It was obvious that the Bills felt their offensive line was a problem in '06 and went a long way towards addressing it in '07.  How confident are you in Dockery and Walker and the O-Line as a whole?

DB -- I'm much more confident in them than I was last year.  Then again, as I stated earlier, it takes time for teams to gel.  The unit didn't make me feel all warm and cozy during the preseason, but I still think they'll prove to be a drastic improvement over last years squad.

MHR - Lee Evans seems to be on the cusp of greatness.  After Evans, there are some question marks in the receiving corp.  Who are the #2 and #3 targets?  Can Peerless Price regain the form he showed in his first go round in Buffalo?

DB -- That's hard to say.  Evans is clearly the number one right now, and as you said, on the cusp of greatness.  Because of that, Price will obviously get less passes than he did in 2002.  At the same time, barring injury, he should certainly improve on his 2006 numbers.

Beyond that, it's all about Roscoe Parrish and Josh Reed.  Both of them will see time as a the third wide receiver this year, and how well they perform really remains up to them.  Each have the talent to do well; it's just about putting all the pieces together.

MHR - Nate Clements, Takeo Spikes are gone.  The team was unable to come to terms with Darwin Walker.  What is the current status of the defense, and are you confident the Bills D can play at a high level right from the beginning of the season?

DB -- Bills fans will hate me, but no.  The defense is quite a concern, and while anything is possible, I believe they'll struggle significantly this year.  Most of the players are either young or inexperiences.

However, with time, I think this unit could be something special -- especially with Paul Posluszny leading the way.

MHR -- BONUS - It's Week 1..Go ahead and give me your prediction for the game. And give me your prediction for the Bills record in 2007.

DB -- Denver 27 - Buffalo 17

My prediction for the 2007 Bills, I'll go ... 7-9 and third in the AFC East.

My thanks to Dan for taking the time, as well as for reaching out with his questions for me.  To see how I answered his inquiring mind, head on over to the FanHouse!!!

MHR - There are a lot of new faces throughout the Bills roster.  Is there any concern that it will take time for the team to gel?

BR -- Not only is it a concern, it's the biggest concern - young football teams generally are not very successful, especially when the coaching staff is young and players are still getting used to schemes.  But, thus is the nature of rebuilding - we're in Year Two of Marv Levy's three-year plan of bringing the Bills back to the playoffs, so from a talent perspective we're right on schedule.  I consider Year Two the "Gelling Year" - we might start out slow, but I expect the team to get better and better as the season progresses.

MHR - Everything I have seen and heard from J.P Losman this off-season points to his growth and maturity.  He is saying and doing all the right things and has become an active part of the Buffalo community.  What is the feeling of Bills fans towards their QB, and are you confident that he is the guy to lead the Bills back to prominence.

BR -- The thing about Losman is that while has has many Bills fans convinced he can do what's needed to make this team a consistent winner, he hasn't convinced everyone yet.  It's created a bit of polarization between fans - there's the contingent that think Losman has the potential to have a Pro Bowl-type season in 2007 (myself included amongst this group), and there's the group who is silently warning Losman to watch over his shoulder for rookie Trent Edwards.  I think the general feeling falls somewhere in the middle; Bills fans want to rally behind Losman and think he has the potential to prove he's worth keeping around, but they're curious about Edwards as well.

Personally, I'm a huge fan of Losman.  He's learned how to handle himself on the field and in media settings, and he's becoming a vocal leader in the Buffalo community and clearly wants to establish rapport with the city and the franchise long-term.  As long as his play backs up his off-field efforts, Losman should have a long and luxurious career in Buffalo.

MHR - It was obvious that the Bills felt their offensive line was a problem in '06 and went a long way towards addressing it in '07.  How confident are you in Dockery and Walker and the O-Line as a whole?

BR -- I'm incredibly confident about this group, actually - not because these players are going to comprise the best unit in the league necessarily, but because Buffalo's offense was pretty effective during the second half of last season with an inferior unit.  Last year's starting right tackle, Terrance Pennington, didn't even make the team this year - that in itself shows how much of a talent upgrade has been infused into this line.  The best part?  They're all somewhat experienced, so the gelling period should be much shorter than last year.  The Bills have a week six bye - for the last ten games of this season, my prediction is that this offense will really take off.

MHR - Lee Evans seems to be on the cusp of greatness.  After Evans, there are some question marks in the receiving corp.  Who are the #2 and #3 targets?  Can Peerless Price regain the form he showed in his first go round in Buffalo?

BR -- First of all, I'm not nearly as high on Evans as most Bills fans or national media are.  I think that outside of Chad Johnson he's the elite deep threat in the league; until he proves that he can be a guy who takes over games, I won't ever consider Evans an elite NFL wideout.  A #1, yes, but "greatness" is pushing it for now.
Peerless Price is the #2 wideout, and he's coming off a strong pre-season.  In the team's last two games, Losman looked for Price often - and all over the field to boot.  He hit Price on a 56-yard bomb, then threw a couple of first-down strikes to Price on the sideline.  Peerless has been making plays, and he looks like much more of a factor in this offense in his second go-round with this team.  The #3 spot is a toss-up between Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish - Reed is used on a lot of short/underneath throws as a possession receiver, and Parrish is used on a lot of slants and bubble screens to show off his acceleration.  They complement each other very well, and really diversify Buffalo's passing attack.  These four receivers will cause headaches for opposing defenses, mark my words.

MHR - Nate Clements, Takeo Spikes are gone.  The team was unable to come to terms with Darwin Walker.  What is the current status of the defense, and are you confident the Bills D can play at a high level right from the beginning of the season?

BR -- Current status of the defense?  Question marks.  Lots and lots of question marks.  These question marks have nothing to do with the players that are gone, because let's face it - this defense wasn't very good last year either.  Spikes in particular is just a name - he was our worst linebacker last year.  Yes, that includes being worse than Coy Wire and Keith Ellison.  The guy just couldn't tackle.

There are going to be drawn out and grueling growing pains with this group.  Our DE corps is ravaged by injury and suspension right now, so our pass rush will be very suspect on Sunday - unless we can get to Jay Cutler via the blitz.  Coy Wire, a converted safety, will start at weakside linebacker - right next to rookie Paul Posluszny.  Our top cornerbacks haven't proven they can shut down any receiver, let alone a big, physical one like Javon Walker.  And, as was the case last year, our run defense is giving away chunks of yards like free samples at a grocery store.

With that said, if the Bills can get out in front early by 7-10 points and put the Broncos in catch up mode, this defense will be in the best position to succeed.  They'll be able to send pass rushers/blitzers after Cutler, it will take Henry and the play-action mostly out of the game and make the Broncos somewhat one-dimensional.  That's how the Bills will have to beat every team until the defense gets a few games' worth of experience under their belts.

MHR -- BONUS - It's Week 1....Go ahead and give me your prediction for the game (Yea, I read about the dream you had). And give me your prediction for the Bills' record in 2007.

BR -- Buffalo 24, Denver 21.  I say that not only as a homer, but because I truly believe that the Broncos have more of an uphill climb in this game than the Bills do.  Denver is becoming notorious for slow starts, especially in Week One, and a road trip to a crazed environment with an up-and-coming team is a far more difficult game than most people realize.  Denver has the upper hand right now, but they need to watch out - if their play is subpar, the Bills will steal this game from Denver.  Bank on that.

We're just a few hours from game time, and the bitter annoyance of not being able to watch the game live is beginning to become more than I can bare.  I will have an open-thread up a little later for all of you to talk about it and I will be listening via Sirius Satellite.  For those of you in the same boat as me, the NFL Network will be re-broadcasting the game tomorrow.

To help get you ready, we asked Grizz over at Blogging The Boys to answer a few of our questions about the 'Boys.  He was nice enough to accept.  Here is what he had to say --

1. How long should we expect to see the starters play on Saturday Night.  Anyone not going to play?

BTB -- Wade Phillips said that the starters would play the first half, but he added some qualifications. Certain guys may go longer or be pulled earlier, and he may keep one side of the ball on the field longer than the other. In other words, who knows? But I'd guess somewhere in the 2nd quarter he'll start pulling players. The most notable guy who will not play is WR Terry Glenn, who is recovering from knee surgery. OLB Greg Ellis will also miss the game, along with backup T Doug Free and backup DE Jason Hatcher, both of who look to be promising young players.  

2. What are you looking for from the Cowboys this season?  What areas are you confident about, what areas worry you?  

BTB -- The Cowboys have plenty of skill-position players, with Romo, T.O., Terry Glenn, Julius Jones, Marion Barber and Jason Witten. So we have the potential to build on an offense that was a top 5 offense in many categories last year. But the offensive line was inconsistent last year, and LT Flozell Adams is coming off knee surgery. We replaced Marco Rivera with Leonard Davis, and he's had a great camp at RG. The o-line is the offensive question mark. On defense, we're changing to an attacking 3-4 scheme instead of the two-gap 3-4 scheme under Parcells in hopes of getting more pressure on the QB, something only DeMarcus Ware did consistently last year. We also brought in FS Ken Hamlin to help plug a leaky safety position.  

3. Did Bill Parcells wear out his welcome in Dallas?  What was the feeling after last season?  

BTB -- With some players and fans he did wear out his welcome. Certain players just couldn't deal with his style of coaching, and it might have affected their play. When Parcells is winning big, players love him just like any coach, but when expectations aren't being met, four years of his tough-love coaching style is tough to take. In some ways, Parcells gets a bad rap for last year, because we were one bobbled snap of a FG away from winning a playoff game on the road. Anything could have happened after that. But the Cowboys probably needed a fresh start; when you listen to some of the comments made by some of the players about Parcells after he left, it led me to believe that it was time for a change. Not because I necessarily thought they were right, but if players feel that way, the coach may have lost them. Parcells seemed burnt-out anyway.  

4. Is Tony Romo the guy to lead to Cowboys back to playoff glory?    

BTB -- We'll see, he certainly has all the tools in my eyes. He has a quick release which is so important; he can make all the throws, can read a defense, has good pocket awareness, and can throw on the run. Plus he's got the intangibles of being a leader, the players on offense have embraced him as "the guy", and that kind of confidence can pay off. On the negative side, he gambles sometimes and is always trying to make a play instead of taking the safe way out, which can lead to trouble. He is also a little to loose with handling the ball which leads to fumbles. He needs to tighten up on ball security. But I have high hopes for his future, and for the first time since Aikman, I see a relatively-young QB who can lead the team for a long time.  

5.  When it's all said and done, how far will the Cowboys go?  

BTB -- In the NFC, they can go all the way because the conference really doesn't have any dominant teams, so the field is wide-open. The Cowboys really do have a lot of talent on the roster, good enough to compete with anybody. They are hoping that Wade Phillips' 3-4 defense will create more pressure and negative plays, which is something that didn't happen often enough last year. With Tony Romo back and some experience under his belt, most fans think we could make the Super Bowl. But realistic expectations are winning the NFC East and finally winning a playoff game again. After that, I'll take whatever comes.]

Thanks again to Grizz and if you'd like to see how I answered some of his questions, head on over to Blogging The Boys and find out!!!

Laura Sobon will be entering her 2nd season as a cheerleader for the Denver Broncos.  When she isn't firing up the crowd at Invesco Field, Laura works with a Business Consulting firm.

Laura was kind enough to answer some questions for the MHR.  Here are her replies...

MHR -- How often does being a Broncos cheerleader come up in conversation with people you know?

LS -- That depends.  Obviously, being a Broncos cheerleader is something that I am passionate about and very proud of so it comes up in my conversations dealing with hobbies, what I did over the weekend, etc.  But, it is one part of my life, as my career, my family and friends, and other activities play a large role as well.  

MHR -- How are you able to separate your "day job" from your responsibilities as a Bronco Cheerleader?

LS -- It is easy to separate them because they are very different.  Being a Broncos Cheerleader is a very social job- we are out in the community doing promotions and charities.  It's also very physically demanding as practices are long and require lots of endurance.  It challenges me in an opposite way that my job as a consultant challenges me.

My job as a business consultant is quite the opposite.  I am playing a functional role on a very technical project so I need to understand all the complex, technical things that are going on, as well as to be able to communicate them in an effective manner to my client.  It's an analytical job involving problem solving, working with data, and computer systems.  

I work as a consultant from 8-5 or so and spend my evening and many weekends being a cheerleader.  It's fun to have 2 very different and contrasting roles to balance out my life.

MHR -- What is the best part about being on the squad?  The worst?

LS -- Finding the best part about being a part of this team is very tough for me because I love everything.  I love the rush I feel when I am on the field cheering on my favorite team with the fans.  I feel blessed to get to know and learn from all the wonderful women who make up this team.  I enjoy participating in charities and working with children.  I am excited to be challenged when I dance and to push myself to be better.

There are no "bad" things about being part of this team.  I'd say that it's tough to find enough hours in the day to get everything done, since this is a time consuming activity, but it is worth every moment!!

MHR -- Are you concerned that cheerleaders often fall into certain stereotypes?

LS -- We have an amazing team and I am so happy to be a part of it.  Our image is very classy and we respect ourselves.  I hope that people who see cheerleaders in a negative light will be able to meet one of the girls on our team - each and every girl is genuine and has a lot of integrity - and I would hope that the public would be open to not believing in the negative stereotypes.  

MHR -- What kind of special privileges do you get?  How do you handle ticket requests, etc.

LS -- I receive 2 tickets to each game and they normally go to my mom and dad.  My parents have been a big part of my life and I really enjoy it when they come to the games.  They went to every single dance performance I had as a kid growing up and their support was so great to have.  So, it's not difficult to determine who gets my tickets - my parents definitely have first pick.  

MHR -- Michelle Beisner, a former Bronco Cheerleader, does some work for NFL Network.  Do you see that type of work in your future?  

LS -- I've never thought about it, but I'd be open to learning about any career opportunities that may come up in the future.  I am a cheerleader because I'm passionate about the team and dancing, so it has nothing to do with trying to advance my career.  But, if I were to find something that fell in line with my goals for the future, I'd be open to learning more about it.  

MHR -- Do Broncos cheerleaders hate Raiders cheerleaders as much as the players and fans (and coaches) hate each other?  Are there cheerleader rivalries?

LS -- No, we really don't have rivalries.  Because cheerleaders do not travel to away games, we don't see other teams very often.  

But, there were a few activities last year where some of the girls on our team interacted with other groups of cheerleaders.  These events included the Battle of the NFL Cheerleaders on the NFL Network and the Pro Bowl.  The girls that represented the Broncos came back and had wonderful things to say about the girls from other teams.

MHR -- Are cold weather games as tough to handle for you as the chubby guy in the stands without a shirt on?

LS -- LOL - actually, I am normally pretty warm during cold weather games... or during all games for that matter.  We are constantly moving and we dress appropriately so the weather does not really bother me.  We wear snowsuits, boots, and winter hats for the snowy games so that helps.  Plus, our dances are the equivalent to an intense cardio workout, so my blood is definitely pumping.  We rarely stand still on the sidelines.

Thanks for all your questions!!!  I had a lot of fun answering them and hope to see you all at the games this year!!!!!

Our thanks to Laura for taking the time, and we'll be watching for her next year during Broncos home games!