Denver Broncos Training Camp:Top 5 positional battles and depth chart

Offense

Position	Starter	2nd	3rd	Other
QB	18 Manning	17 Osweiler	2 Dysert	9 Renner
RB	28 Ball	22 Anderson	23 Hillman	35 Bibbs 34 Brennan 40 Thompson 33 Williams
WR 1	88 Thomas	12 Caldwell	16 Fowler 15 Wilson	---
WR 2	10 Sanders	14 Latimer	13 Palmer 11 Norwood	---
WR 3	83 Welker	19 Burse	87 Hardin	---
TE 1	80 Thomas	84 Tamme	89 Robinson	---
TE 2	85 Green	86 Morrah	82 Konz	---
LT	78 Clady	(Clark)	---	---
LG	74 Franklin	---	---	---
C	66 Ramirez	64 Montgomery	61 Paradis	---
RG	65 Vasquez	---	---	---
RT	75 Clark	77 Justice	79 Schofield	---
Tackle	77 Justice	70 Painter	71 Cornick	---
Guard	63 Garland	73 Miller	67 Sterling	---

- Ronnie Hillman is your #3 until further notice.  Experience means a lot heading into camp even if his position is tenuous in the minds of Broncos fans.

- Behind the trio of Thomas, Green, and Tamme, there's a whole lot of question marks.  Tamme will stick for a while and right now I'm tempted to say he's a lock to make the team.  People root for Gerrell Robinson each and every year but like always it will be wait and see.

- No surprises at WR.

- The depth pecking order behind the five starters on OL goes Justice, Schofield, Painter, for the tackles and Montgomery, Paradis, Garland at guard/center.  All others are camp bodies and would have to be impressive to make a splash.

Defense

Position	Starter	2nd	3rd	Other
LDE	94 Ware	93 Smith	62 Latta	68 Anunike
RDE	95 Wolfe	97 Jackson	72 Davis	---
UT	92 Williams	96 Unrein	76 Austin	---
NT	98 Knighton	99 Vickerson	91 Fua	---
SAM	58 Miller	55 McCray	48 Barrett	52 Harris 49 Vaughn
MIKE	56 Irving	57 Barrow	53 Johnson	51 Chaney
WILL	59 Trevathan	54 Marshall	47 Nelson	50 Fort
CB 1	21 Talib	36 Webster	39 Young	---
CB 2	29 Roby	32 Carter	45 Murphy	---
CB 3	25 Harris Jr.	---	---	---
FS	26 Moore	30 Bruton	38 Carter	20 Boyett
SS	43 Ward	27 Ihenacho	31 Bolden	42 Sullen 41 Mitchell

- DL total should be 8 with a 4/4 breakdown.  In this case the only battle at DE would be for that backup rush spot between Smith, Latta, and Anunike.  I see both reserve DT spots as being open.  Fua can unseat Vickerson if big Vick is not productive after the injury, Marvin Austin can replace Unrein.

- Holy LB Batman! Everything is open behind the trio of Trevathan, Miller, and Irving.  If we're talking about 7 roster spots, right now my 7 are Trevathan, Miller, Irving, Barrett, McCray, Barrow, Nelson.  Linebacker will be by far feature the most contentious battles in camp.

- How about this for a slight bombshell?  I expect Bradley Roby to start  on the outside along Aqub Talib.  Chris Harris Jr. can hang but he was put into that position last season by the injury to Champ Bailey.  My locks are Talib, Roby, Harris Jr., and Webster.  Tony Carter will be fighting with the other guys for a spot.

With Safety, so long as Quinton Carter is healthy, I see Omar Bolden as your bubble boy in a battle with the other depth.

Top 5 Camp Battles

5. Swing Tackle

The Battle for RT most likely will be between Chris Clark and Winston Justice.  The loser of that battle belongs to the next group of Painter and Schofield.  Though I do not think Schofield will be cut, the loser of that battle very well might be.

Projected roster spots: 9 OL

My picks: Clady, Franklin, Ramirez, Vasquez, Clark, Schofield, Paradis, Painter, one of Montgomery/Garland.

4. Backup Safety

Behind the projected starters, there should be a fierce battle for the last three spots.  Behind Ward, Ihenacho has the inside track.  He has to clean up his tackling and learn to take better angles, but he's still a young player that flashed play-making ability.  We know what we have in David Bruton, but the star special-teamer and seasoned vet is not going anywhere.

My feeling is that it will be Omar Bolden, Quinton Carter, and the rest of the guys battling for that 5th spot.  What happens ahead of them could also bring some surprises as well.

Projected roster spots: 5 S

My picks: Moore, Ward, Ihenacho, Carter, Bruton

3. Backup SAM LB

Both might end up making the roster, but one of the better battles of camp might be between Shaquil Barrett and Lerentee McCray.  Both have explosive qualities to disrupt plays.  Right now Barrett might have the inside track with his versatility--he moved all along the line at CSU.

Projected roster spots: 2 SAM LB

My pick: Shaquil Barrett

2. Coverage LB

Corey Nelson projects more as a WILL as a 3-down starter but as a coverage/sub-package player, he will be fighting it out with fellow rookie Lamin Barrow to see if the Broncos can trust one of them with coverage duties.

Projected roster spots: 1 coverage MLB

My pick: TJ Ward (hehehe, gotcha!)

1. Backup RB

It's Montee Ball and everyone else, even though a clear pecking order exists heading into camp.  We have 6 guys battling for what should amount to 3 spots.  My four would be Ball, Anderson, Hillman, and Bibbs.

Did you notice how each and every important position battle is amongst backup spots on the roster?  Thank you John Elway.

Do you agree with my diagnosis and prognostications fellow Bronco-ites?  Sound off!

GO BRONCOS!!!