Once again I thank you for your feedback. There were some outstanding points made and some questions brought up that deserve discussion. What I hope to do over the next few entries is to get you caught up on where we’re at, describe some of the thought processes that brought us to this point and then move forward with where we might take the team in the future. I’d like to set a “baseline” so to speak and I do feel a lot of your inquiries will be answered as we move ahead. So just have a little patience, but keep bringing me your thoughts.
Georgia Bulldog George Foster was selected with our first round pick in ’03. Foster was the perfect combination of size, speed and length (6’5” 330 lbs 5.03 40 yd dash, freakish numbers for the position) and had been a 2-year starter for the Bulldogs in the SEC. We were looking to replace Ephraim Salaam and felt firm that we could do just that with the selection of Foster. However, remember no OL has come into our system as a rookie and started right away (1st round through FA). NFL.com and Street and Smith’s both saw George as a first-round pick and Kiper, ESPN and FOX all projected him in the second prior to our own selection.
There are currently 7 OTs left active in the NFL from the ’03 draft. Kwame Harris, Jon Stinchcomb, David Diehl and Scott Kooistra remain with their original clubs. Harris has been the subject of frequent trade talks, Stinchcomb (Foster’s teammate at Georgia) started for the first time in ’06, Diehl and Kooistra were deemed outside of the parameters for the OT position in Denver. George started 45 games, including the ’05 AFC championship game, and participated on 3 playoff teams.
As stats go for offensive tackles, he was credited with giving up 13.5 sacks and 3 holds over that time period. To put things in perspective, Gary Zimmerman gave up 18.5 sacks and 5 holds his last 3 seasons with the Broncos, which included Super Bowl XXXII. Foster was subsequently traded along with Tatum Bell to Detroit for DC Dre’ Bly and a late draft choice.
The emergence of Erik Pears as a step-in for the injured Matt Lepsis in ‘06 gave us an option to deal George for another player of need (DC Dre’ Bly). With the money invested in Lepsis and the quality of play we received from Pears (along with his emerging upside), it became apparent that we wouldn’t resign Foster for what it would require in ‘08. Why not get something of value rather than eventually let him go through free agency?
Terry Pierce was picked up in the 2nd round the same year. Pierce had helped lead Kansas State to a Holiday Bowl appearance and was a first team All- Big 12 and second team All- American selection. He was considered one of the premier LBs in the nation and projected as a first-round pick by Fox Sports and 2nd round pick by PFW, ESPN and Kiper.
With both Ian Gold and Al Wilson approaching free agency, it was felt that Wilson would be the more difficult player to resign to a contract extension. Pierce was selected with the thought of moving him inside, Gold would be resigned to remain on the outside/weakside. Gold went down that season with an ACL and the decision was then made to retain Wilson. Pierce was tried on the outside, but his more natural play had always come from the inside. He never quite caught on to the perimeter of the defense and was eventually let go. It was more a case of playing out of position and not having the physical tools (specifically speed) to do so. This is a specific case of where production did not outweigh measurables.
Four LBs selected after Pierce remain in the League & only 3 with their original team. Gerald Hayes with Arizona started for the first time in ’06. Bradie James of Dallas has shown to be a productive starter for the Cowboys, while Matt Wilhelm has more of a backup role with the Chargers.
2004’s Darius Watts in the 2nd round was a reach and I admit that. Watts had the kind of measurables and quickness that Coach Shanahan has looked for in past WRs. He was thought to be more of a mid-round selection and probably would have been there had we been a bit more patient. The pressure for him to produce might have been a bit less as a result. The staff felt that the need to upgrade the position out weighed the time necessary to develop Watts and he was subsequently released.
I’m going to finish up with past draft questions on the next entry, so until then.
Tags: Darius Watts, George Foster, NFL Draft, Terry Pierce
Thanks for the read.
Just hopes this means you aren’t looking ahead to the draft, we still have the season to go.
Good Luck tomorrow, hope to see Cutler air it out like the Seahawks.
Observations
1) We don’t select o-line in the first round……ever. Our strength lies in the fact that we can get players that fit our criteria lower in the draft.
2) I have two words for “measurables” Tony Mandarich
Having said that, (knowing how much Shanny loves measurables), it just goes to show the learning curve of this team that has been impressing me of late, the selection of Elvis Dumerville was very un-typical, it was based on production, you measured the heart and hit a home-run.
3) Seems to me that the most difficult position to fill via the draft is the wideout, I would rather pay a known commodity (Walker, Stokely) than throw away a bunch of picks trying to find a needle in the haystack. (point being, who, besides BMarsh and Rod Smith ever became a high tier wideout for us ?)
4) These days we fill team needs and I applaud you for it, but in 2002 we were one of the worst pass rushing teams in the entire league and we did not draft accordingly. (needed corner too as I recall) It does not give me confidence as a fan to see the team draft with blinders on.
Sorry Ted, I guess nobody wants to talk anymore.
1) Don’t forget, you got some “splainin” to do about Clarett.
2) In case it slipped your mind, Bronco land is happy if we get Okam or Phillips.
Thanks for the insight Ted. See you at the SD game.
Another great entry Mr. Sundquist!!!!
Last but not least, the infamous “Grey Goose” Clarett.
Frank Gore and Marion Barber III(who thrived in a zone blocking scheme at Minnesota) were also on the board at the time “Grey Goose” was taken.
Why take a chance on a guy who had not played football in the past two years over a guy like Marion Barber III who not only played in a zone blocking scheme, but could have been like a younger Mike Anderson?
thanks again for another insightful post. i always watch the draft and enjoy seeing teams wheeling and dealing trying to get their man. it’s great getting to see it thru your eyes! i dealt with the general public most of my life and it’s very difficult to read people, even if you’re good at it so i can imagine how difficult it would be to pick out 7 players out of the thousands eligible to play in the nfl. you guys always take a risky pick here and there , sometimes they work out, sometimes they don’t. i commend you for taking those risks, because the guys that do work out become the core of the denver broncos with a loyality that runs deep. in the nfl today with free agency loyality is a tough comodity to find but one that will make or break a franchise. undrafted players also fall into this class, giving a guy a chance who otherwise might not have one is something most of them won’t forget, ever. you guys do a great job and alway first class! you’ve made it easy for me to stay a loyal broncos fan for the last 35+ years. thanks !
Thanks Mr. Sundquist! Bronconation sure can be rough sometimes! I look forward to your future blogs.
I am curious to see this next draft. At times it seems like we need everything and at others it seems like we are a piece or two away. This is the most confusing team I have seen in a while. Elam is old and Sauerbraun is up there too. I know the thought is he could flip the field. I think we saw that a guy like Hester can flip the field back at you.
I know you cant disclose what positions the Broncos plan to address but I would love to hear it.
Do you keep numbers on players drafted and how many are left and play etc. If I recall right we have 5 or 6 players from 1998 to 2004 drafts out of 64. That seems to be a real low percentage. I dont know how it compares to the rest of the league because I didnt go and look at the same drafts for other teams.
I look forward to more.
GO BRONCOS!
Cool thoughts Ted.
I’m just curious on a few things.
When you go to Indianapolis to the annual combine and evaluate players, you see them perform in the drills, you do the medical check-ups and you also get to interview the players. As a general manager and someone with extensive time spent into scouting and evaluating talent - is there a certain percentage that you give to each of those three in order to give a final grade on a player?
How do you weigh their production in college in comparison to their injury history and how they interview?
Jim Goodman is credited with talking about players who have “First-round talent, but free agent heart” but there could be players who have “Mid-round talent, but a first-round heart” - so how do you get a balance and a read on these prospects?
It seems like the Broncos have had a history of going for players who have more potential than anything, and with picks like Paul T., Darius W., George F., Domenik H. and Jarvis M., it seems like the Broncos have an affinity for picking players with enormous upside, but a lot of concerns regarding their health because they were injured during college.
It’s a pretty loaded question. I just wondered how injury history and character of individuals played into the grand scheme of evaluating prospects compared to what they do on the field.
Then you get guys like Elvis and Tim who are the epitome of excellence as far as leadership goes on the field, off the field, etc. I think the team could use more Tim’s and Elvis’s.
Thank you for reading, blogging and I hope to hear an answer.
Also Rovo, Frank Gore was selected early in Round 3, he was not available at the time of our compensatory selection where we took Maurice.
I didnt see this covered in the 2004 draft talk but what was the thought process behind darfting D.J.? Also why did Jeremy LeSueur and Triandos Luke never pan out? Jeff Shoate along with D.J. are the only two players that remain from the 04 draft. Shoate has been injury off and on the past couple years and now is finally get the chance to play. How come the coaching staff kept Shoate around for so long instead of LeSueur who was thought at the time was that he could start at corner or safety and help on special teams?
I am enjoying these posts, but I don’t see this past “busts” or “didn’t work out” stories as having anything to do with this season. I have been extremely pleased with each of our drafts since 2005. The best draft was obviously 06, but 05 was good and 07 looks like it may turn out to be almost as good as the 06 draft. We all liked the sexy picks of Cutler, Sheffler, Marshall, ect…but addressing the linemen this past draft was superb.
For 2008 I hope we address the LBs, S(unless Lynch sticks around), and DT. Throw in an OL or two and we should be looking pretty nice going into next year. By next year Bates’ system should be working and we should be winning the divisional crown. Then a Super Bowl victory in 2009. That’s how I would like to see thing progress from today.
Ted, If WR/ PR Davone Bess from Hawaii comes out this year, Draft him, He would solve our inconsistent play in our return game and would be a great complement to B-Marsh……….
Mr. Sundquist,
Obviously it is easy for a fan to critize the organization for the lack of draft talent that this team has produced since 1998 (potentially 10 picks over that time period). At the same time, I think it is easy for the GM to justify the picks in hindsight. You defend the “reasoning” behind the draft picks, but I do not buy it. Someone needs to be held accountable for the busts over the years. Not sure if you or Shanny has ultimate responsibility, but someone should take ownership for the faults created through the draft.
Whoever that person is should count the blessings that the Broncos have an owner that is willing to spend money in free agency for this organization to make-up for the draft blunders created throughout the years.
Since 1998, the only credible #1 draft picks we have selected are Al Wilson and DJ Williams. Cutler and Moss have 1-3 more years to prove their worth before I put them in the category of successful first round picks, with Moss being the latter (3 years).
Mr. Sundquist,
Let me first day that I think this blog is a credit to you and the Broncos organization. It is endearing that a GM would take the time to explain the reasoning behind some draft picks. With that being said, I would like to know your reasoning behind some recent draft pics.
1) In 2005, did you trade out of round 1 because there was little value or was it because you were looking for someone in particular, in round 2. I found that an interesting decision to trade out of round 1.
2) I loved the Tony Scheffler pick. However, many considered it to be a reach and there were higher rated tight ends on the board. WHat was it about Tony’s game that impressed you over, say, Leonard Pope.
3) Finally, I have got to ask about he Maurice Clarett pick.
One thing that fans have often commented on about our drafts is the so-called “shotgun approach.” Drafting three corners in 05, two 4th-round receivers in 06, and 3 D-linemen in 07. Is this a strategy that you devised and implemented, or is it just a coincidence that comes from drafting the best player available?
D watts releasing was a suprise a disapointed me because he had some upside but now i don’t regret him comp
D watts releasing was a suprise a disapointed me because he had some upside but now i don’t regret him compared to Brandon M . In my opinion , the draft pick that will change this franchise for long is Jay Cuttler , i can’t wait for next year even if our payoffs hope are still alive : the pieces are putting themselves together thanks in large part to our recent draft picks .
I thought the Cutler draft was spot on and very impressive. You get Cutler, Walker, Tony S, Elvis, Marshall. I have been a fan for 30 years and this was the best draft I have seen, so congrats!
Last years draft I was very disappointed with. Why did you move up four spots and give up a 2nd rounder. Last years draft was one of the deeper drafts in recent memory. Infact you could have traded that pick to Cleveland for a number one next year and traded back into the first round like Dallas did and get Spencer. Moss has an injury history and you almost lost him in training camp. If you stay where you were you get Reggie Nelson who runs a 4.4 40 yard dash and makes plays. Crowder
was a sixth rounder according to the Sporting News. He had a great combine workout but his measureables didn’t match his production. Ryan Harris is athletic and Soft. I am a ND fan and I watched every game he played. Justin Hickman from UCLA dominated him from start to finish getting three sacks in a game last year. Hickman wasn’t even drafted. Ryan Looks alot like Kwame harris of the 49ers who I also think you were also high on. Marcus Thomas might be the steal of the Draft but why give so much for him you had other needs to fill.
I wonder if you and Shanahan think you are always one player away from the Superbowl because it shows when you only draft four players. It is not lost on the fans that Shanahan has ties to Texas and Florida.
On a positive note I am really impressed with the progression that Karl Paymah has made in the last month. I hope he has turned the corner no pun intended, Hamza has also played well.
Thank you for answering our questions. Not every GM would face the music like you have and you are to be commended. Thank you for your time.
in light of the news of sean taylors death, i think we need to do more to honor darrent williams and damien nash. I know that we could never do enough but i think we can do more
First, I would like to say its a very positive reflection on this franchise that our GM would take the time to discuss the team with the fans. It shows a considerable amount of respect on the part of the franchise that I appreciate.
As its not my job to draft players, and I have no expertise in such things I dont feel I can criticize prior draft pics. Im sure the coaching staff saw something they liked in every player. Plus, im so satisfied that we drafted Cutler I dont really mind the previous poor drafts.
However, if you do in deed read these reponses, I would love to point out the outstanding play of Colorado MLB Jordan Dizon. I believe he leads the NATION in tackles, he is the definition of a team player, and he has the heart of a lion. I imagine he is a bit to small to play linebacker, however he would make an excellent Free Safety type player much like John Lynch. Hes incredably fast, very strong, aware of the play on the field and is excellent and run stopping and pass coverage. Plays get made when Dizon is around the ball.
Just thoughts, and thank you again for the Blog.
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