After breaking down those areas we consider "need" areas, I would like to go into more of a breakdown coming into the draft in the positions we are "set." Mike Shanahan has never been known to leave any area alone if he feels a good player or a need is there. The last part of the Extra Credit Series will look at areas on our roster we could improve and the guys we can possibly bring in to help that. Onto the piece.

Defensive End-

    Here we have very few holes. As with previous articles, I will mention the guys I think make it out of training camp and not the others. With the youth at this position and what I personally believe is one of the greatest current players at the position. We can only go up from here. Elvis Dumervil, Jarvis Moss, Tim Crowder, Ebenezer Ekuban and John Engleberger provide the speed, talent and experience that is needed in one position. So where do we go?

~Elvis Dumervil commands a double team. Who is on the other side that is the same?
~Jarvis Moss was injured last season. There are doubts on his contributions this year.
~Tim Crowder doesn't have the finesse to play the end he is a run stopper.
~John Engleberger is aging but his experience is what Denver is after
~Ebenezer Ekuban is consistently banged up and is just draining money from Denver.

    I am one of those guys who love the nickname DOOM for Elvis. He is a scary pass rusher who is a machine. He comes out and plays and produces game after game. The big question is who can complement him on the other side. If DOOM takes the tight end out of the game because he has to block, great! Who can use that their advantage on the other side and hurt the Quarterback?
    Jarvis Moss was a guy we targeted, traded up, and got the guy we wanted. After a year on the IR list people are calling for our pick to produce this year. I think he will be a contributor this year. He looked like he was going to be good for us until his injury last year. The problem with that is if you are injured your rookie year you carry an injury tag until you lead the league in a category like sacks, and are part of a playoff team.
    Tim Crowder looked good including the fumble return against Pittsburg last year. People have labeled him a bull rusher and not a finesse kind of player. With the speed I have seen at his size I would disagree. He could very well come down to be big and fast and could be the compliment we are looking to pair with DOOM. Crowder took offense to the fact that no one mentioned him with Dumervil. That's motivation in my book. Look for him to be productive.
    Engleberger is a specialist who contributes solidly. His experience at the position is a plus but I do not believe he is here only for that. Engleberger adds depth behind youth. John is a contributor and will be so until he deems it time to throw in the towel.
    Ekuban does pose some injury concerns for me. He was supposed to start opposite Dumervil last year and then injury set him on the IR. I think he will contribute this year but I also think his career in Denver is on the line this year. He is definitely a depth player who adds more to the experience meter.

So who is in the draft this year?

Chris Long
    We could very we get him if we want him but I think we are targeting someone else personally. Long is a solid player who has a decent motor and determination. It is also likely he wants to get out of Daddy's shadow and will play his heart out to do so. Look for him to go in the top five picks

Vernon Gholston
    Another top five player who Guru and I both believe will be the most solid player out of this defensive end class. Fast, agile and hard hitting, this kid will be effective for whichever team he plays for.

Derrick Harvey
    Personally I believer that Ernesto (ejruiz777) was the one to put Harvey on the MHR radar. While representing the Vikings I successfully negotiated a trade to secure him for the Vikings. At that point few people considered him top 15 talent. It was soon after he started going up boards and then not long after that, Guru picked him for Denver in the SB Nation Draft. He has been mentioned for us to do a draft and trade or a target in which we can use to trade back with teams such as Minnesota. I would love him in Denver to complete a scary defensive end rotation. His speed agility tackling and just all out scariness for a quarterback was the main reason Troy Smith couldn't win a championship and he continued to contribute this year.

There are many more guys to look at:
http://walterfootball.com/draft2008DE.php