Along with the team’s coaching staff, scouting department and various football operations staff members, DenverBroncos.com is headed to Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine.
Look for coverage all week long, including interviews with Head Coach John Fox, General Manager Brian Xanders and Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway, videos of some of the top prospects that step to the podium, a running blog and top stories recapping each day’s events.
We will post multiple items every day, so keep checking back for new content.
When we return to Denver on Tuesday, we will begin preparing for the 2011 NFL Draft by previewing each position group. We’ll start with the quarterbacks.
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: NFL Scouting Combine
Yea, but Rudolph has definitely been too injury prone. I am with you though, I love his talent, speed, and size for a TE but TE is a very rough and battering position and I just see him having more trouble with injuries in the NFL. It still scares us all too with what just happened to Thomas.
Plus wasn’t Moreno only like 20 the day he was drafted? He may just need a little time to grow into his role as an NFL player. But being a first round pick he better step it up this year or he’ll be a complete bust.
Yea that’s true too Mile.
I think Moreno will eventually be really good, especially in Foxy’s system!
Rudolph had a shoulder injury that kept him out two games in 2009 and a hamstring injury that ended his 2010 season, Moreno has had many more problems, just saying.
I have by no means given up on Moreno. I think he did a pretty good job last year when he was in there. He had some awesome runs. Remember him jumping over some dude? I think it boils down to our O-Line. They were developing and shuffling all around last year. Once they started to gel a little, Moreno did better. Not to mention we constantly played from behind so we were so pass heavy, the run wasn’t effective.
Yea, but I do not think he had any significant injury issues in college. If Rudolph is having these issues in college, it probably wont get any better with the NFL being more physical. But who knows.
I just do not think we should take him with one of our 2nd round picks! We definitely should take Paea with our first 2nd but then again he just got injured but it was minor and he was projected to go high in the 1st round.
That’s why if we could get Shockey in here and get Quinn better and him improve this off season with his catching and blocking then we should be okay with TE until at least next years draft.
I think Joseph Addai is still scheduled to be a free agent, if there is a free agency period, of course. I wouldn’t mind pairing him with Moreno. I’m not a big fan of Addai’s running skills, but he could really help mentor Moreno in all the little things like blitz pickup and reading defenses and stuff like that.
But I kind of view him and Moreno as more 3rd down backs than workhorses. So maybe a workhorse like Benson would actually be better. Just a thought though.
Morning 3rd…
What’s going on Bro?
Yea, some people have talked about trading him, but I think that would be a huge mistake and we would be giving up on him wayy too early!
I was talking about trading him too until Fox got hired. Then I realized we are probably going to be more of a zone blocking team, which I think will utilize Moreno’s skill set better.
Without a cba, trading players is not even an issue anymore. This is the year where there will be less trading done than ever before because if they agree to a new cba it will be way too late in the off season to flip your roster upside down.
This will be the year of status quo, or so I think.
And that’s what is so lame about the whole mess. It seems like this year it will be tough for teams to make a quick turnaround because of the limited offseason. I have a feeling there won’t be much change in the NFL structure. The good teams will be good again and the bad teams will be bad again.
Well except for our team of course, we’ll make a huge turnaround! LOL.
Yep, overall this season will be like a carbon copy of last season, the complete opposite of what it’s been like the last few years. No last place to first place in a divison or vice versa, at least that’s how I see it, like I said a while back, the best I hope for is pass the Raiders.
I know you guys already talked about Kyle Rudoph but here’s a recent scouting report on him.
Height: 6-5 3/4
Weight: 265
40 time: 4.64
Current projection: Second-round pick
Hands
Has soft hands with rare, natural ability to track and adjust to the ball in the air. Is smooth and fluid as he adjusts his body to snare off-target passes. Shows inconsistent concentration on easy throws, resulting in drops. Extends his arms to snatch the ball away from his body. Is a highly productive underneath-to-intermediate receiving threat. Grade: 7.5
Routes
Has outstanding route-running skills. Is quick and smooth on his breaks and doesn’t lose speed making cuts. Was too quick and fast for most linebackers at the college level and too big and strong for most college safeties. Has great body control and balance and does a good job of using his big body to shield defenders from the ball. Grade: 8.0
Run after catch
Has very good run-after-catch ability. Battles for the ball in tight coverage and has a strong stiff arm to break tackles against smaller defensive backs. Lacks the speed to pull away from defenders who have an angle on him. Is more quick and smooth than explosive and elusive after he makes the catch. Is tough for a single defensive back to bring down in the open field. Grade: 7.0
Release
Shows excellent initial quickness in his release off the line. Has the size, strength, athletic ability and lateral agility to defeat jams by the strongside linebackers. Grade: 7.0
Blocking
Has the size and strength to continue to develop as an in-line blocker in the NFL. Shows outstanding effort to finish blocks but lacks a nasty streak. Is more of a position and sustain blocker. Is most effective on the move or out on the perimeter. Does a good job in pass protection on the edge. Grade: 6.5
Bottom line
Rudolph is a big, strong tight end with good speed. However, he missed parts of the past two seasons because of injury issues, including hamstring surgery in 2010. His injury history will affect his draft placement but not greatly. Look for him to be the first tight end selected, probably in the second round.
— Russ Lande, War Room scouts
Hey bay, if it’s a carbon copy season, does that mean you’re admitting Orton will be starting?
I think our team is very capable of a worst to first turnaround. Coaching changes can signify an increase in motivation for the players (a factor that was obviously missing since game 7 of 09). Schemes can make a huge difference too. Especially the 4-3. Impact players returning from injury can be another contributing factor. Doom hands down. But recoveries by Lendale and Mays. A return to 100% from Clady, Larsen, Dawkins (if kept), Goody and McBath can all make instant impacts. Then there is the #2 pick and the possibility of an immediate impact player, like Peterson. Or Fairly. Or Dareus. Or Bowser.
The return of Champ is by far the most telling factor. Obviously he wants to win. His resigning tells me he likes the chances or were not far off.
Moral of the story- Optimism has returned to Mile High
Or at least it has in this fan!
CBA anyone?!?
LOL @ Orton starting, hope not!
Baby steps, baby, I’ll be happy with baby steps this year. There is no magical wand to turn around a team completely around that a man ripped apart for the last two years, specially with no FA and just 6 picks, just being realistic here. I know I take heat for that all the time, LOL, but that’s just the way I roll as you well know.
How can we think about a TE in the second round. Defense Defense Defense.
I think Dareus is the guy I am now picking after initially saying Fairley.
Infact the Sporting News has him as the # 1 pick. I think his body of work is more impressive than Fairley and or Bowers. I also dont think he was a featured player in there defense @ Alabama but he also made plays.
Fairley and Bowers are one year wonders and I think that is the biggest downside to them.
I dont see how we pick Peterson. I am mean how do we win with a line of Dumervil and a bunch of medicore defensive line man. I think you win games in the trenches.
I agree with Baylin that we make baby steps but I think 8-8 is not out of question.
I really hope Fox and Elway are just setting the table for a trade of Orton when they say he is the starter.
Tebow is the man give him a chance.
Here’s a 9-7 scenario. Win all AFC west home games, beat the Bears (out of spite), Lions, and Bengals. On the road, beat the Bills, Vikings, and Raiders.
I would rather beat the Chargers than the Raiders, but other than that it sounds possible.
How does this sound for LB, Boss Bailey? He was fast and made a lot of plays if I remember correctly. In the six games he played before getting hurt in 2008 he had 40 tackles 31 solo which is pretty good.
And about Webster he is kinda old he is like 33 or 34.