The Leading Authority of the NFL Draft

Following the growing trend around the league of hiring thirty-something assistants and making them NFL head coach, Broncos team owner Pat Bowlen has entrusted 33-year-old Josh McDaniels with the grandiose task of guiding the Orange Crush back to the levels of greatness achieved under Mike Shanahan in the late 90's.

Last decade’s back-to-back Super Bowl titles, however, seems like ages ago as Denver has just three postseason appearances since and a whopping zero playoff victories to show for it, being outscored by an overwhelming 111-37 point total.

McDaniels brings a winning pedigree to the Mile High City cultivated under the guidance of Bill Belichick, who has molded the protégé into becoming an equally savvy and rigid leader.

The young coach’s Machiavellian ways caused an immediate rift with 26-year-old franchise quarterback Jay Cutler, which resulted in the canon-armed signal caller being traded to Chicago.

While wholesale changes on both sides of the ball may have set a bit of panic in the hearts of Broncos diehards, McDaniels is confident about achieving immediate success with the middling Kyle Orton at the helm.

The baby-faced coach plans on utilizing a heavy dose of three-and four-receiver sets to spread out his opponents, along with leaning on a power running game that should see rookie back Knowshon Moreno be featured quite often.

Former 49ers head coach Mike Nolan will direct the defensive unit by implementing a 4-3/3-4 hybrid scheme designed to counter the opposition’s play calling and alignments on a down-to-down basis.

But despite the renowned specialist’s past accomplishments, many in the Bay Area were critical of the frequent substitutions that he made during the course of a game.

In fact, some believed that Nolan’s constant mixing and matching made things a bit too complex for his players, who tended to play in more of a reactive way and not being aggressive enough.

Broncos nose tackle Ron Fields, however, has taken a liking to the new approach.

"It's not really the usual 3-4," Fields recently explained on his team’s official Web site. "It's an attack 3-4, it's like an offensive mindset. Some people play the 3-4 different[ly], they're more like sit back and wait. But as far as us, we attack. It's kind of mixed-up with a 4-3. There are a lot of good things in there for linemen instead of just sitting there and catching the blocker and being passive and waiting."

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks: A well-chronicled attempt on the part of McDaniels to move franchise quarterback Jay Cutler to New England for Matt Cassel backfired on the young coach. Sensing that he wasn’t in the new coaching staff’s long-term plans, Cutler forced a trade with the Chicago Bears, which resulted in Kyle Orton becoming the new ring leader in town. The fourth-year quarterback is an intelligent player, who can manage an offense when his running game is working and his defense is doing its job by keeping the other side of the ball under wraps. Orton has the ability to avoid pressure and find his secondary and tertiary options, but his accuracy on deep balls traveling beyond 18 or 19 yards is suspect. Chris Simms has been assigned backup duties following a positive comeback season with Tennessee last year. Although he didn’t receive any playing time, his work in practice proved that he has regained much of the strength he lost from having his spleen removed in 2006. He’s been inconsistent and mistake-prone thus far in his career despite his strong arm. Sixth-round pick Tom Brandstater could be a factor down the line. The team likes his arm, surprising mobility, and velvety touch he can put on his passes.

Running Backs: Denver ignored its pressing need for an impact defender with its first pick by selecting Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno. The New Jersey native’s overall versatility made him an especially attractive option. In addition to being an elusive back, Moreno runs hard in between the tackles and is a natural receiver who can be split out wide. Free agent acquisition Correll Buckhalter is an effective inside runner and willing blocker. The burly 230-pound Lamont Jordan is a punishing downhill power back with surprisingly good hands. The one-time Jet, however, does tend to wear down if asked to carry the load for consecutive weeks. The pick up of J.J. Arrington was an ill-advised move with the Broncos handing over $1.8 million signing bonus before realizing the scatback’s torn meniscus would prevent him from contributing any time soon. Ryan Torain, on the other hand, is a physical backfield weapon who can’t seem to stay healthy. The Broncos also signed Darius Walker, but it’s doubtful whether he’ll end up with much playing time in a crowded backfield. He’ll have to prove his worth on special teams. Fullbacks typically play a minor role in McDaniels’ spread, but second-year man Peyton Hillis isn’t your run-of-the-mill lead blocker. Hillis is a Mike Alstott type of runner with soft hands to boot.

Wide Receivers: A chaotic situation is brewing between a distraught Brandon Marshall in search of a contract extension and the front office, which refuses to give in due to the young wide out’s immaturity, pending legal matters, and inconsistency on the field. All signs seem to point to an impending trade in the works, but the Broncos hold the cards, as number 15 is indebted to the team for at least another year contingent upon the adoption of a new CBA. For all his drops and missed assignments, Marshall is a uniquely gifted pro with size, speed, and running ability reminiscent of a younger Terrell Owens. But while no other receiver on the roster can replicate what Marshall brings to the offense, second-year player Eddie Royal is a special receiver in his own right. As a rookie, Royal wasted no time in emerging as an ultra-quick and fluid route runner with sure hands. The 23-year-old went on to catch 91 balls for 980 yards and five scores. The new coach has brought along Jabar Gaffney with him from New England to serve as the third receiver with hopes to utilize his quick cuts to get open from the slot position. Oft-injured Brandon Stokley is similar to Gaffney as a dependable possession man. The wily veteran is a master at finding openings in coverage. New comer Brandon Lloyd is an acrobatic deep threat who displays amazing body control on deep passes, but can’t seem to stay off the injury report long enough to put together a breakout year. Chad Jackson may be the fastest wide out on the team, but has yet to translate his athleticism into production. Rookie Kenny McKinley is an extremely thin pro (6’0, 182-pounds) with good quickness off the line of scrimmage and a solid grip on anything he lays his hands on. Losing Marshall may wind up being catastrophic for this offense since many of the receivers on the roster have very similar skills and lack the mercurial one’s size.

Tight Ends: Starter Tony Scheffler has the speed to attack the seams, as evidenced by his league-leading 16.1 yards-per-catch among players at his position. The 6’5 tight end, though has proven to be a feast-or-famine type, who was held to two receptions or less six times, along with going catch-less on two other occasions despite his 645 receiving yards. Orton’s reluctance to throw to Greg Olsen in Chicago last year is a concern, as are Scheffler’s lingering foot issues. Daniel Graham will be seen lining up in two-tight-end sets, where he’ll be able to use his blocking skills to help open up holes in the running game. Rookie Richard Quinn was a bit of reach as a second-round pick, but he was arguably the best blocking tight end in the draft.

Offensive Line: Ryan Clady became an instant star at left tackle in his rookie campaign and allowed the grand total of 0.5 sacks all season. Clady has the footwork of a much smaller man and rarely gets caught out of position as a result. Right tackle Ryan Harris is athletic and powerful, but isn’t much of a finisher in the running game. Left guard Ben Hamilton is an undersized, but heady, lineman who plays with leverage and takes the proper angles to keep defenders at bay. Both Hamilton and right guard Chris Kuper may experience some growing pains in transitioning to a power running game, where they’ll be asked to drive a lot more than in years past. Kuper’s versatility may help in that regard. The Broncos recently signed 36-year-old center Casey Wiegmann to a contract extension in recognition of his ability to make the proper line calls. The mobile center has done well in following in the footsteps of the recently-retired Tom Nalen. Youngster Kory Lichtensteiger has to learn how to be more physical. Journeyman Brandon Gorin is familiar with the offensive scheme thanks to his time with the Patriots and provides insurance at both tackle positions. Former Colorado Buffalo Tyler Polumbus is a hulking 6’8 giant who brings a lunch bucket attitude, but not much agility. Rookie Seth Olsen is a brawler with the requisite upper-body strength and impressive quickness off the ball. Seventh-round pick Blake Schlueter is an undersized center with range. He may be groomed to eventually replace Wiegmann.

DEPTH CHART

DEFENSE

Defensive Line: The Broncos surprisingly didn’t go heavy on defensive lineman in the draft considering their woes in against the run. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan hopes that rookie Robert Ayers can help turn things around for a unit that allowed opposing runners to average five yards per carry last season and has ranked 30th and 27th in stopping the run in ’07 and ’08 respectively. Ayer possesses superior hand skills and quickness to split double teams and gain penetration into the backfield at the end position (despite wearing number 56). He will also line up at outside linebacker in passing situations. The underachieving Kenny Peterson is another key component who has bulked up to 300-pounds to primarily be a run stuffer at the other end spot. Peterson will be competing with the likes of Ryan McBean, Nic Clemons, J’Vonne Parker, and Matthias Askew for playing time. The real question is who’ll play nose tackle? So far, Ronald Fields seems to be leading the pack. The 315-pound big man is especially adept at winning one-on-one battles. How he’ll fare versus double teams remains to be seen. Marcus Thomas should see time at both nose tackle and end. He’s more athletic than your typical interior lineman and adds a bit pass-rushing ability to the mix. Carlton Powell sat out his rookie year with a torn Achilles and is currently a work in progress. Expect the line to struggle while Nolan and company try to figure out which players are cut out for their new scheme.

Linebackers: Over at inside linebacker, D.J. Williams is an explosive hitter with amazing range along with the ability to force turnovers. He’ll team up with Andra Davis, who isn’t as athletic, but is physically bigger and capable of shedding blocks to get to the ball carrier. Spencer Larsen is a valuable reserve, who specializes in reading what’s in front of him and aggressively getting to the ball. Mario Haggan and Louis Green are primarily special team performers. The situation at outside linebacker is bit unsettled. Elvis Dumervil is poised to receive ample playing time thanks to his dynamic burst and long arms. The 5’11” pass rusher is out for redemption after an off-year in 2008, which saw his sack total fall from 12 to five. First-round bust Jarvis Moss will look to finally establish himself at outside linebacker after two disappointing seasons at defensive end. Thus far, Moss has been having problems with dropping back into coverage. Tim Crowder isn’t much of a pass rusher, but he’s a better option against the run. Second-year man Wesley Woodyard covers lots of ground and makes plays. The only thing working against the instinctive athlete is his lack of size at 230 pounds.

Secondary: Champ Bailey is still an elite cover corner, but his burst isn’t quite up to par to where it was two or three years ago. To be fair, though, Bailey did fight through elbow, knee, and hamstring injuries in 2008 as quarterbacks finally began testing him. The other projected starter is newly acquired Andre Goodman, who really came on as the season progressed with the Dolphins last season by showcasing his physical style while maintaining solid technique. Rookie Alphonso Smith possesses excellent closing speed and high-level ball skills with 21 career pickoffs to prove it. The 5’9” speedster may be a liability covering tall receivers in the end zone and isn’t much of a factor versus the run. Second-year man Jack Williams is also a physically gifted corner, but his lack of technique figured prominently in plays where he was badly beaten. Josh Bell filled in for Bailey late last year and is still a work in progress. Over at safety, the Broncos made an all-out splash by reeling in one of the top free agents in strong safety Brian Dawkins. The 35-year-old is a natural leader, who will come and smack ball carriers with vicious hits, as well as line up in different positions when defending the pass. After an injury-marred season in 2007, Dawkins played in every game last year. He’ll definitely have a challenge on his hands in trying to replicate last year’s performance playing behind a less-formidable front seven than he did back in Philly. Miami castoff Renaldo Hill will start at the other safety spot. He’s a smart player who gives an honest effort every week. The 6’3, 225-pound Josh Barrett is an intimidating in-the-box type of player in the mold of Roy Williams. Darcel McBath was probably taken a little too early in the second round. While he did a good job at directing traffic at free safety at Texas Tech, he’s neither very good in coverage nor is he much of a hitter. Notre Dame’s David Bruton does well attacking run plays and has a nose for the ball, but has much to learn in the area of diagnosing plays and is a little stiff in the hips. Both McBath and Bruton will be expected to be special teams contributors.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker Matt Prater has an electric leg, but not much in the way of accuracy. He faded badly down the stretch last year with eight missed field goals in second half. Brett Kern was solid throughout at punter, averaging 46.7 yards on his attempts. Royal is a secure ball handler as a punt returner, and can be downright explosive at handling kickoffs. The former Hokie nearly took one to the house last season on a 95-yard runback. McKinely and a host of others will be competing for return duties alongside Royal.

DENVER BRONCOS OFF-SEASON TRACKER

Acquisitions
QB Kyle Orton (trade Bears)
QB Chris Simms: UFA Titans; $6M/2 yrs, $1.5M SB; 2009 cap: $2.71M
RB Correll Buckhalter: UFA Eagles; 4 yrs, terms unknown
RB LaMont Jordan: UFA Patriots; $2.5M/2 yrs, guarantees unknown
RB Darius Walker: FA; terms unknown
WR Jabar Gaffney: UFA Patriots; $10M/4 yrs, $3M guaranteed
OT Brandon Gorin: UFA Rams; terms unknown
OG Matt McChesney: FA Dolphins; terms unknown
OG Scott Young: UFA Browns; terms unknown (subsequently retired)
DT Ronald Fields: UFA 49ers; $5M/2 yrs, SB unknown
DT J'Vonne Parker: Not tendered as ERFA by Panthers; terms unknown
DT Darrell Reid: UFA Colts; $6.8M/3 yrs, SB unknown
LB Andra Davis: UFA Browns; $5M/2 yrs, guarantees unknown
LB Nick Greisen: FA Ravens; terms unknown
CB Andre' Goodman: UFA Dolphins; $25M/5 yrs, $10M guaranteed
SS Brian Dawkins: UFA Eagles; $17M/5 yrs, $7.5M guaranteed; can void to $9.5M/2 yrs
FS Renaldo Hill: UFA Dolphins; $10M/4 yrs, $3M guaranteed
P Dirk Johnson: FA Redskins; terms unknown
LS Lonie Paxton: UFA Patriots; $5.38M/5 yrs, $1M SB
Drafted
QB Tom Brandstater, Fresno State
RB Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
WR Kenny McKinley, South Carolina
TE Richard Quinn, North Carolina
OC Blake Schlueter, TCU
OG Seth Olsen, Iowa
LB Robert Ayers, Tennessee
CB Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest
CB Darcel McBath, Texas Tech
FS David Bruton, Notre Dame
Undrafted Free Agents
RB Kestahn Moore, Florida
WRLucas Taylor, Tennessee
WR David Grimes, Notre Dame
WR Nate Swift, Nebraska
TE Marquez Branson, Central Arkansas
OT Stanley Bryant, East Carolina
OT Marcus Gordon, Kentucky State
DE Everette Pedescleaux, Northern Iowa
DE Rulon Davis, California
DL Chris Baker, Hampton
LB Lee Robinson, Alcorn State
CB Tony Carter, Florida State
CB D.J. Johnson, Jackson State
KR Travis Shelton, Temple
P Britton Colquitt, Tennessee
Re-signed
TE Jeb Putzier: UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown
DL Kenny Peterson: UFA; 3 yrs, terms unknown
Departures
QB Jay Cutler (traded Bears)
QB Darrell Hackney (released)
QB Patrick Ramsey: UFA Titans; 1 yr, terms unknown
RB Anthony Alridge (released)
RB Selvin Young (released/failed physical)
RB Alex Haynes (released)
RB P.J. Pope (released)
FB Andrew Pinnock (released)
WR Cliff Russell (released/failed physical)

PROJECTION

An inexperienced head coach, who’s already made some questionable personnel decisions, will be learning on the job. It’s going to take time for both sides of the ball to truly absorb and prosper in their new schemes. The offense is probably in better shape to move the ball and keep most defenses honest, but a porous and inexperienced defense will force Kyle Orton and friends into compromising situations. If Orton is forced to bring his team back from large deficits, Broncos fans should anticipate quite a few turnovers. As currently constituted, this team is more than one-year away. A schedule which features games versus Philadelphia, New England, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and the N.Y. Giants won’t do this team any favors. The Broncos’ projected record is 5-11.

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media, Brian Westerholt of Sports on Film (Wake Forest)