We all love the Broncos and football, but we do it in our own way.  If you enjoy the personnel and planning part of the game as much as I do, then you know that it is time to start looking at the upcoming draft.

Scouting never stops, but rankings are far too fluid at this point to start talking about who we want to draft where.  We could start looking at players who have played enough to be individually evaluated at this stage, but it would be in the spirit of scouting.

The other part, which is more pertinent at this time, is figuring out our needs, and that’s what I want to discuss in this post. I really think we have seen enough of this team to have a general idea about our future needs. And while a few things will change before the season ends, pigs aren’t going to grow wings.

I am going to look at the O and D separately, and rank our needs by position. Keep in mind that you should consider a 3 year plan when approaching your roster.

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http://sportsonmymind.com/2008/08/10/notes-matt-jones-returns-to-the-field/

Notes: Matt Jones Returns to the Field

August 10, 2008

The Florida Times-Union, newspaper to the Jacksonville Jaguars made no mention of the odd happening on the field during the Jaguars-Atlanta Falcons game. ESPN made no mention of the happening, Additionally, in a feature “Camp Confidential article on ESPN.com, Paul Kuharsky, former Tennessee Titans beat writer for the Tennessean and now ESPN.com writer, never mentioned the name of the man involved in the happening. The NFL Network showed a highlight of the happening.

“The happening” was a 22-yard pass from David Garrard to Matt Jones that led to the Jaguars’ first touchdown of their preseason game against the Falcons. Normally the discussion around a play like that would concern a veteran quarterback in his second season as full-time starter and banal banter using the overused term, “sophomore slump.” Secondarily, there would be talk of the new receivers in the Jags camp and how all the receivers from 2007-08 must watch their backs.

But this play should have spotlighted something entirely different - and would have if the receiver was black.

Matty J. was back. He started the game. Jones played his prescribed starter number of plays and sat down for the remainder of the game.

No biggy, huh?

But this is an NFL player who was busted in an SUV with six grams of coke. This is a first round pick who was busted chopping lines with a credit card while his boys eagerly awaited the result of his “largesse.” This is the guy who was given a HUGE break by a prosecutor by reducing his charge from distribution to possession despite the fact that possessing more than one gram of cocaine carries with it an automatic charge of distribution. This is a player who let his team down mightily late last season and into the playoffs; basically disappeared - and then during the offseason had the nerve to complain that he wanted the ball more.

There was no uproar. No boos when he came onto the field. No sardonic remarks from the local press. No ESPN coverage detailing Jones’ first action since the arrest. No  wondering if Jones needed to bne released. No nothing from the commissioner’s office about the scourge that is drugs.

It sure must be nice to be Matt Jones.

I have been thinking about the OL a lot, and I wanted to share them with you guys and get some feedback.

LT Clady, LG Kuper, C Hamilton, RG Holland, RT ?

* Holland and Kuper were both good guards last year, and continuity will serve this team well.

* Hamilton has been with the team for a long time, and he is going to be the leader on this OL for the next few years. He played center for us before, so we know he has it in him.

* Clady is obvious.

* Which leaves the RT spot. Harris had too many penalties tonight, but he didn't play too bad either. He might still be able to pull it off--note how much he improved  over his first two weeks in camp. Dude is a smart guy and he can adjust. If not, move him to G.

* Our other option is Pears. Pears did really well playing as a rookie LT in 06. He didn't do so well in 07, but I think that was a sophmore slup. San Diego's McNeal went through the same thing after being a pro-bowler in his rookie year. Keeping Pears at RT will also add more continuity to this OL.

I think continuity is very important for an OL. It's about team work and familiarity. With a line consisting of Clady, Kuper, Hamilton, Holland & Pears we will have 3 returning starters at the same spots from last year plus Hamilton. That means Clady will be the only new starter on the OL... it seems like a much better solution to me.

So what do you guys think? Who do you want to see on the OL?

Holland (the starting RG) came into camp overwieght and is being held out of practice until he gets into shape. In his absence, this is our starting lineup.

LT Clady, LG Hamilton, C Nalen, RG Kuper, RT Harris

So ... when short a OG, Shanny moved Kuper back inside and started Harris at RT.  To me, this contradicts all the speculation that the team isn't high on Harris anymore or that he is in danger of being cut. Shanny could have just as easily used Weigmann or Gandy, or he could have even move Harris inside ... but he didn't.

Keep in mind that the battle for the RT possition is much more important than who fills in as RG for a few days until Holland gets back. This is going to set Kuper back (he needs to get used to playing RT) and it gives Harris a chance to secure a spot for himself.

I am much happier with Harris at RT and Kuper at OG. We are going to loose either Nalen or Hamilton in the near future, and having Kuper ready to take over LG is a big plus.

We keep reading how he doesn't really get along with Al and the Faider front office, and how he would be fired if not for the money. He only has one year left on his contract (I think), and the chances of him staying in Oakland are slim.

So, is any one here interested in the guy?

He actually seems like a great coach. He also runs a Broncos type scheme. He installed the ZB scheme and ran it effectively last year. He uses a lot of mis-direction plays.

I want him as our next Offensive Coordinator. By that I mean a real coordinator who can bring something new and fresh to this team, and really help mix things up a bit. That's something we have missed since Kubiac left. Having recent experiance at the college level also means that he will be used to teaching football, which is good for a team with a lot of younger guys.

Personally I would go so far as to say we should let him become the next Head Coach once Shanny's corrent contract runs out in 2011 (Is that when his contract runs out?). I really don't think it is good to keep a head coach for 20 years. But that's just me. 

We got one young coach from Oakland a few years back and worked out alright, why not try the other?

There have been a ton of top 10 DL picks that have turned into busts in the past. There have also been some late round successes. Typical of every position. When I think about it, most of these busts seem to have one thing in common, and that is the quality of their college team. I just wanted to see what you guys think.

An NFL example of what I am trying to say would be the Titan's D-line last year. When fat Albert was playing, they looked like an elite unit. Their DE looked great. But when their top dog got injured, their D-line looked no better than ours.

Extending the analogy, I want to ask, were Dorsey and Ellis really that good? Ellis' fellow DE was taken in the 2nd round this year. His fellow DT is projected as a top 10 pick next year. They were backed by the top LB corp in the nation (Rivers, Maliuga, and Cushing). Would Ellis looked half as good playing on Vandy's D-line? Same goes for Dorsey. There were two other top 10 talent D-linemen playing alongside him. Sims had Groves and Marks on the same line as him.

The only DT who really showed up all on his own was the guy from Notre Dame, Laws.

Perhaps it is important to look at the way these guys play on these all-star teams to really get a better idea about who they are.

* * * * * * *

Something else that has been bothering me for a while is how everyone says Doom is small for a DE. I agree a 100% that at 5'11" he is a good 4" short of the ideal hight, but he is not small. When most people say small, they mean too light and thin to take the pounding in the NFL. Or too light to be effective. But let's take a look around.

Robert Mathis (Colts)--starter-- 6'2" 247

Adewale Ogunleye (Bears)--starter-- 6'4" 260

Strahan (Giants)--star-- 6'5" 255

Osi Umenyiora (giants)--starter-- 6'3" 261

Travis LaBoy (cardinals now)--starter-- 6'3" 260

Gaines Adams (Bucs) --top 10 pick-- 6'5" 258

Our own Elvis Dumervil-------5'11" 260

Just look at the numbers here. Doom is heavier than half these guys and shorter than all of them by a good margin. He has a more solid built than every single guy on this list. How is it that some of you guys think Strahan who 6 inches taller and 5 pounds lighter can be an every down player, but Doom can't?

By the way, I agree 100% with anyone who says that Dumervil would probably be more effective if he only played about half the defensive snaps in a game ... but that is true of every D-lineman. It stops them from getting worn down and gassed.

They had the draft that many of us wanted for Denver:

1. Chris Williams OT ** Some of us wanted him over Clady (risk and all that)

2. Matt Forte RB

3. Earl Bennett WR ** Another guy that many thought was the safest WR pick in this draft; not the best, but the safest. Nelson has more potential--I admit it--but he is also a riskier pick.

3. Marcus Harris DT ** The best DT after the top two guys, but with an injury history. I would have liked Pat Sims better, but Harris was about as NFL ready as a DT can be in the NCAA.

5. Craig Steltz SS ** Not a gifted athlete like Barrett, but he has the brains to play the position.

All guys we wanted. All drafted by the Bears. They also got Marcus Monk in the 7th round. I really wanted that guy. Him and Marshall would have been an awesome pair.

Some other teams got other favorites of the community here, but no one team took as many "MHR" guys as Chicago.

Here are all our O-Line picks from 96 to 06

7th Banks . . D
7th Ratliffe . . D
2nd Neil . . A+
7th Teague . . C
4th Carlisle . . C
4th Hamilton . . A+
1st Foster . . D
6th Meyers . . B
5th Kuper . . B
6th Eslinger . . D

So, as you can see, in the past 10 years our best drafted O-Linemen were between the 2nd and 4th rounds. 5th, 6th and 7th rounds have not been that good to us. (Note: Nalen is from more than 10 years ago).

We have had two College Free Agent O-linemen (un-drafted) who did a good job for us (Pears & Lepsis). We have also had a 100 other ones who failed to make the team. So I won't count it

So basically, the idea that we can draft O-Line left is a myth.

>>> Conclusion?
We want mid-round O-linemen.

It's a bit more than 2 cents (Denver Mock).

I am assuming that we trade down twice (similar to what's going on in the mock Guru is a part of). Go from 12 to late teens for a mid 3rd. Go from there to mid 20's for a late 3rd rounder.

I listed an alternative player just to make it more realistic.

1. FS K Phillis . . . . OR . DT K Balmer
2a DT P Sims  . . . . OR . DT T Laws
2b WR E Bennett . . OR . OT S Baker
3a DT M Harrison  . OR . LB J Goff
3b SS T Zbikowski . OR . WR J Nelson
4a TE J Finley . . . . OR . TE B Cottam
4b DE B Johnston  . OR . RB M Hart
5a OT B Giacomini . OR . OL C Rinehart
5b P D Brooksor . . OR . K T Mehlhaff
6. WR M Monk  . . . OR . WR J Rivers
7a DE/T M Dixon  . OR . DT J Thompson
7b P Dragosavich . OR . K S Longest

More

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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3348671

SAN DIEGO -- Chargers inside linebacker Stephen Cooper was suspended for four games by the NFL on Tuesday for testing positive for a banned stimulant.

Cooper, who moved into the starting lineup last season and led the Chargers with 179 tackles, said in a statement released by the team that he took a stimulant that was recently added to the NFL's list of prohibited substances.

"I regret that I mistakenly took a stimulant that I did not realize at the time was banned by the NFL," Cooper said.

Yah right. Like anyone will believe the guy.