The month of March was a big one for Broncos fans. Free agency began, and Peyton Manning became a Bronco along with 10 other free agents.
April is set to possibly top it.
The end of the month brings the 2012 NFL Draft and the full schedule release. But the excitement got started early this month, as on Tuesday, the NFL unveiled all 32 teams’ new Nike uniforms.
On Wednesday, the Broncos’ preseason schedule was announced:
Week 1: at Chicago Bears — Thursday, Aug. 9, 7:30 p.m. CDT (KTVD-TV Ch. 20)
Week 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks — Saturday, Aug. 18, 7 p.m. MDT (KUSA-TV)
Week 3: vs. San Francisco 49ers — Sunday, Aug. 26, 2 p.m. MDT (Nationally televised on FOX)
Week 4: at Arizona Cardinals — Thursday, Aug. 30, 8 p.m. MST (KTVD-TV Ch. 20)
It marks the 15th consecutive season the Broncos have opened the preseason on the road, extending the franchise record.
All four of Denver’s opponents reside in the NFC. And all four are relatively familiar preseason foes.
San Francisco is Denver’s most common preseason opponent, with this year’s matchup representing the 34th between the two clubs. Arizona is Denver’s second-most common preseason opponent, and the Broncos met the Seahawks as well in the 2011 preseason.
Denver matched up with the same four teams in the 2009 preseason.
The Broncos have won at least one preseason game in every year but one — the club’s inaugural 1960 campaign. Denver owns a 125-112 (.527) all-time record in the preseason and has registered at least a .500 record in the preseason during 14 of the last 16 seasons.
For the 43rd consecutive year, 850 KOA will broadcast all Broncos games as the team’s radio-rights holder. KUSA-TV (9News), the club’s partner station, will televise all of Denver’s preseason games locally with the exception of its nationally televised game against San Francisco.
The exact dates and times of each game will be announced later this month along with the team’s complete 2012 regular-season schedule.
-Gray Caldwell
Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Preseason Schedule, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks
Personally, I’m a supporter of selecting the best player available at your position(s) of need, unless it is a player you just absolutely can’t pass up. For instance let’s just say..just say that Luck would slip to #25 we need all sorts of help on defense, but c’mon you can’t not draft Luck. That’s a far exaggerated case of that but you all get my point. Just selecting the best player available even if you don’t necessarily need that position filled can leave you vulnerable at other positions of need especially when you don’t have any security at the DT position..and in my opinion with Bunk gone and Thomas not being re-signed, leaving one DT who hasn’t played since 2009 and one that was out last season, and a couple of backups. I’d say not addressing the DT in the draft would be more of a gamble than selecting one at the #25 spot.
I remember the Giants lost Barry Cofield (their starting DT) last offseason and people thought all was lost.. They drafted Marvin Austin (DT) in the 2nd round to replace Cofield, who was put on the IR in the preseason, and they went on the win the Super Bowl with their PASS RUSH
Analysis on Chandler Jones
Pass rush: Relies on hustle, vision and strength as a pass rusher. Times the snap well and has a good initial burst off the line. Lacks sustained speed around the corner, however, and will have a hard time beating NFL offensive tackles to the outside. Very long arms and an effective swim move, though he doesn’t use this often enough. Good rip move. Good upper body strength and quick hands to knock away the blocker’s attempts to control him. Good leg drive for the bull rush, though Jones struggles with pad level, at times. Very good vision and effort. Plays to the whistle.
Run defense: Good upper body strength and length to lock-out his opponent. Has at least moderate lateral agility to ride the block to the sideline and keep contain, though he’s a bit stiff in changing directions and has only average speed, overall, for the position. Good vision to locate the football on the draw or QB scramble. Quick to break off his pass rush and pursue downfield. Recognizes the cut block but has only average balance overall to avoid it due to his high-cut frame.
Explosion: Possesses a quick burst off the line which is enhanced by his ability to time the snap count. Does not have the speed to turn the corner consistently. Good upper body strength to drive his opponent into the backfield on the bull rush but lacks true explosiveness to rock them back onto their heels. Is a wrap and drag down tackler more than an explosive hitter than ball-carriers need to fear.
Strength: Flashes upper-body strength to rip past blockers and lower-body strength to stand up to double-teams, but will need to get stronger and play with more leverage to succeed at the next level. Controlled on the line too often by strong-handed blockers. Good strength for the pull-down tackle as the ball-carrier is rushing past him.
Tackling: Good hustle and chase tackler. Goes down the line and gets back to help teammates wrap up ballcarriers downfield, though his limited speed means he can be left in the dust quickly. Long arms and good strength for the drag-down tackle from behind, though he will leave his feet and lunge, on occasion. Is not a quick-twitch athlete who can change directions in small spaces and thus, can be eluded. Relies on his long arms to catch the ball-carrier rather than the agility to corral them.
Intangibles: Suffered a knee injury in the 2011 season opener against Wake Forest. The injury caused Jones to miss five games but was not publicly defined. Team doctors will certainly want to take a closer look at the Combine … Took on more of a leadership role in 2011, taking extra time to help coach up teammates from every defensive position on the team’s scheme and expectations. Athletic bloodlines. Has two brothers — Arthur, a former all-conference DT at Syracuse and currently with the Baltimore Ravens and Jon, who has been the UFC light-heavyweight champ.
Thanks AB.. There’s some good and bad in there, much like every other prospect.. What jumped out to me was he “plays to the whistle”, and what concerns me is that knee injury.. Given his pedigree, he is no doubt a freak athlete, and can be coached.. As long as his knee checks out, I’m on board!
OT Yea good and bad. Knee is a big concern. But he has a lot of potential. JPP had some injury ?s about him too if i remember correctly.
I see a lot of similarities to JPP, and let’s face it, there are very rarely any perfect prospects, they’re all risky one way or another.. It looks like he finished the season last year which is good, as I would be more concerned if he got injured and didn’t return to action before the draft
I’m more worried about drafting a big fat lazy DT in round one, which would be devastating.. Especially when we can get almost as good of one in round 2 or 3, given the depth at DT in this draft class
Not much going on here in free agency. The draft needs to get here ASAP.
I like Chandler Jones, had him in my first mock I did on here.
Since it looks like we are done in free agency for now, here is my updated mock (based on signings and such)
Round 1: Michael Brockers DT LSU
Round 2: Alameda Ta’amu DT Washington
Round 3: Isiah Pead RB Cincy
Round 4: Brock Osweiler QB Arizona State
Round 4: Chase Minnifield CB Virginia
Round 5: Tommy Streeter WR Miami
Round 6: Ryan Miller G Colorado
I’d be doing cartwheels if we landed this draft. It’s tough to tell where Brockers is going to fall but if we took Worthy, Still, Cox, or Reyes at the 25th spot I’d be happy with that as well
Why is Streeter so low on the draft board, I thought he had a good season and showed lots of potential. i thought he was going to be taken in the 3rd or 4th round at least. Is it just based on team needs or is he really just a 5th round value?
OT Im with you on that. Thats why i really like Reyes. He doesnt come off as lazy. Still Brockers and Worthy do IMO.
Atwater nice mock. Just an FYI though Osweiler is now considered a 1-2 after an excellent showing at his pro day. And Ta’amu is a late third. I do like the mock. Very good. Jumping on Ta’amu early. I like a RB there but not Pead not a fan of his personally. And Id prefer Foles to Osweiler. Just my thoughts on it. Very nice though.
CB From what i have read and heard there is some character issues with him. I guess his interviews at the combine didnt go so well that may be part of why he is so low.
All depends on who you listen to. Osweiler is anywhere from 2nd to 4th. Most mocks I see have Ta’amu in the 2nd.
I like Pead because he’s a pass catching RB and Manning likes to hit his backs quite a bit. We don’t need an inside runner right now with McGahee. Plus I saw Pead play alot the last 2 years (I’m WVU alum), he’s a stud
Highest i have seen Ta’amu is going to the Steelers in the third….
Well from what OT posted it looks like were going to keep Knowshow so we dont need just a pass catching RB. We need a guy who can replace McCgahee. Cyrus Gray is the guy IMO. Small fast and agile. Plus hes tough, Hes great running inside and outside and also a good pass catcher. Just my opinion. I prefer Gray to Pead.
Also with the reaches on QBs in the past i think Osweiler or Weeden will go in round 1 if not both along with Tannehill Luck adn RG3.
http://www.drafttek.com/CMDRound2_33-48.asp
That’s got Ta’amu in round 2
I disagree on the QB reaches. Teams did it last year, how many teams can afford to reach AGAIN this year. Weeden is almost 30, I’ll laugh histerically if some team takes him in the 1st round.
Pead is an all around back, his pass catching ability is definitely something Manning will take to.
Moreno is coming off injury. He wasn’t exactly productive to begin with. He may be coming back but that doesn’t mean he’ll make it out of camp
I think we need to seriously look at a rb. Knowshow is a bust. Too easily hurt and not tough enough to go inside.
His age is really the only thing against him.
Browns and Dolphins need a QB big time. Eagles Chiefs Seahawks are all looking into QBs. All have met or will meet with Tannehill Weeden and Osweiler.
I never said the teams who did it last year are going to this year. I said teams will reach on QBs which has become a trend.
As for that mock i cant take it seriously when it has Ta’amu before Worthy. Markelle Martin and Juron Criner in the 2nd. Both of whom are considered to be 4th round picks at the highest.
For the most part Manning wont have as much say in who gets drafted as people think. He may say he likes this guy or not. I would much rather have Gray over Pead. IMO Pead isnt a home run hitter like Gray is. Gray busted off 2 70+ yards TDs against a tough Texas D.
Another reason i cant take that mock seriously. Doug Martin going in the third round behind Polk? That right there shoudldve shown how much of a joke it is IMO
If you read the descriptions they justify why Ta’amu is ahead of Worthy.
AB just because someone is projected somewhere doesn’t mean it’s surefire.
We took Richard Quinn in the 2nd round a few years ago when he was supposed to be a 5th-6th rounder. Team needs sometimes trumps talent. So to say a mock isn’t worthy of being taken seriously because it has 4th round guys in the 2nd is a little much
Cyrus Gray is a scatback. The Broncos are looking for someone who can carry the rock and handle the pounding. Gray makes sense if Moreno is being replaced or maybe special Teams player & 3rd down back.
In your opinion… exactly.
For instance in my opinion I think Lamar Miller and Pead are better than Polk and Martin.
It’s a 7round mock, it’s very easy to critique every single pick
Doesnt mean that there going to go 2/3 rounds ahead of it.
McD chose Quinn didnt he?
Also theres so many reasons i cant take that mock seriously. Ta’amu ahead of Worthy being just one of them. Polk over Martin being another. Chandler Jones in the 3rd. Criner and M Martin in the 2nd. Fangupo going in the 3rd. Ben Jones Vinny Curry and Cam Johnson going in the third also.
I’d rather take a big fat DT who can handle playing the 2 tech and 3 tech positions at DT…lol. (Now lazy, that’s a different story – no room for that on any NFL Team.) Looks like Jones is a big question mark with his injury and would be limited to playing DE only. Maybe for depth.
Cyrus Gray is a more complete back than Pead is. Have you not watched his games at all? He is a smaller guy but is very good carrying the rock and handling the pounding.
Can’t take it seriously and disagreeing are 2 different things.
RBF1 If his knee was such a big ? he wouldnt be being talked about as a first round pick. Also he came back from his injury just fine. He is major upgrade over Ayers.
lol ok AB no point in arguing with you since you are the draft guru. Let me see your 7 round mock
lol guys……….it’s fun to see you guys argue over who gets picked when……
I’m not really into the whole draft prediction thing………but I think it’s all just a crapshoot. When a player is picked, it changes everything down the line. Who really knows what teams will pick what players……..Pretty certain that Luck and RG3 go 1-2 though lol
I’m just excited to find out who we pick and go from there.
I cant take that mock seriously to many jokes in it like the ones i pointed out. And i am disagreeing with you.
Who even made that mock?
AB, you seem a little cranky today. Are you sleeping enough?
NFL Trek. It’s a simulator I think based on need and value for each team.
Have you not watched drafts in the past? Every year plenty of guys go earlier and later than “projected” by draft analysts. It’s not a huge stretch for a guy YOU think is going 2nd round to fall to the 3rd…
I’ll take a stab at the contest though……….and pick some random guys just for kicks……..like picking the lottery. lol
lol killerkod I’m not arguing who goes where. Just wanted to present a 7 round mock so everyone can get a rough estimate for which players will be available around our picks. Or you can just ask AB because he knows it all lol just kiddding AB
Before i post it let me say I dont pretend to be a “draft guru” I do follow what the experts say and keep very close track of it because it helps me do my job. Also i have posted many mocks on here.
So with that being said here we go.
#25 Kendall Reyes or Chandler Jones
#57 Billy Winn or Shea McClellin
#87 Cyrus Gray or Alameda Ta’amu
#108 James-Michael Johnson or Marcus Forston
#120 Leonard Johnson or Johnathan Massaquoi
#137 Tank Carder or Jarius Wright
#188 Donta Paige-Moss or Nick Foles
Killer:
No problems here. I have been only posting now and then and I do not know alot of the new posters. It’s Bronco Football here. The Boy can say what he likes. Just as long as its not an attack.
FTR
Atwater I know people go before projected and later. However many teams go after Best available over need. So why take a guy who many have project as a 4th or 5th rounder in the 2nd? Unless your McD it doesnt happen. Cause you can get that guy a round early in the 3 or 4th round. McD is the only person i know to take a player so much higher than projected.
Also it isnt where i think they go. I dont know if you read earlier but i have a paper that a fellow employee put together of around 20 different draft boards many of them by actual experts and i go off that because that has them in the projected round they are most often found in on the experts boards.
The Chandler Jones at 25 would bother me since he’s not a 4-3 DT but I really like him as a player
As for your question Buck no im not sleeping well. Had to speak at a funeral for a good friend yesterday. Have to drive 7 total hours to go to another where im a what you call it? Carry the casket out. Cant think what its called. Plus my girlfriend is hogging the bed and kicks me all night. Plus way behind on work.
More teams go Need over best available that’s a fact
TRB
I missed Bays post on Manning. I would like to read the post! Thanks.
FTR
Ozzie Newsome is one of the few GMs that truly go vaue over need, which this year they have the Ravens projecting to take need over value. We shall see
PUM PUM PUM
What up Chuckleheads… Nothing new or exciting going on except… THREE WEEKS TILL DRAFT DAY!!!!
PUM PUM PUM that is all….
Jones is a DE. 6-5 265. Never said he was a DT. He is another pass rusher which if we plan to play with a lead is all the better IMO.
Also no actual if you watch anything with GMs or HCs they talk about how they have certain players they will take but if there is a better option theyll take it even if its not a need. So many go by best available over need. Especially after the 1st round.
So let me get this straight. According to you, say Luck fell to 27 (Patriots first pick i believe) you dont think they would take him? Or even RG3. If a player falls who has great talent even if its not a need you dont think a team would snatch him up in a heartbeat?
FTR, you can find bays post at:
April 1, 2012 at 6:23 am
ILMSDB!!!!!
AB………..sorry to hear of your loss.
Also, guess what else you get to go through…….TEETHING!
Ugh…….our little girl has had us up at night pretty much all week weening and crying. So tired…………lol
“Bear in mind that the publicly-disclosed information is frequently inaccurate, incomplete or misleading, and often results from an effort of an individual to advance a self-interested goal. What is lost in the pursuit of that goal is concern for the reputation and well-being of the young men who have worked so hard to reach their own goal of becoming an NFL player and concern for the reputation of the NFL and our game.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/09000d5d8281ad7a/article/goodell-certain-draft-information-obtained-is-confidential
So i take it that Claiborne probably didnt score a 4 but was just false info to make him fall or something. Thats my take on it. BTW Its Goodell saying that.
Thanks killer. He was killed a few weeks ago and his body had just returned. Very hard. I wish i had the money to go to Arlington for his funeral there.
I am not looking forward to teething. My niece and nephews were annoying during that time. But its all different when its your kid.
I’m outta here guys and gals……….off on a 4.5 hour drive to my parents place for the Easter weekend. Hope everyone enjoys the long weekend and I’ll catch up with the blog when I get back.
GO BRONCOS!!!