Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway, General Manager Brian Xanders and Head Coach John Fox completed their first full season together in 2011, which culminated in an AFC West title and an AFC Wild Card victory in the playoffs. Much of that success can be traced back to last offseason, when the team added 19 newcomers that made the 2011 opening-week roster.
Two of those newcomers — RB Willis McGahee and LB Von Miller — made the Pro Bowl. That made Denver the only team in the NFL in 2011 to have a free agent acquisition and a rookie make the Pro Bowl roster.
Combined, all of Denver’s 19 new players appeared in 213 games this season and started 103 contests. Thirteen of them played in 14 or more games this year and five of them started 10 or more games.
The first group of new players joined the team as rookies: Miller (1st round, 15 GP, 15 GS), S Rahim Moore (2a, 15, 7), T Orlando Franklin (2b, 16, 16), LB Nate Irving (3, 16, 0), S Quinton Carter (4a, 16, 10), TE Julius Thomas (4b, 5, 1), LB Mike Mohamed (6, 2, 0), TE Virgil Green (7, 15, 3) and CB Chris Harris (undrafted, 16, 4).
Denver’s rookie class combined to play in 44.9 percent of the Broncos’ offensive and defensive plays this season, which ranked the group No. 2 in the league. The eight rookies that saw time on offense or defense averaged 14.3 games played, which was third best in the NFL for the 2011 season. The group ranked second in the league with an average of seven starts per player and a combined 3,898 plays.
The rookie class saw three players (Franklin, Harris and Miller) receive All-Rookie honors, and Miller tied the club’s rookie sack record while becoming the second rookie in Broncos history to earn Pro Bowl honors.
The club also added nine new players to the opening-day roster through free agency: McGahee (15 GP, 14 GS), TE Daniel Fells (16 GP, 15 GS), CB Jonathan Wilhite (15, 2), TE Dante Rosario (14, 3) DT Mitch Unrein (14,0), DE Derrick Harvey (5, 0), G Manny Ramirez (2, 0), T Tony Hills (0, 0), DT Ty Warren (0, 0, was placed on IR after Week 1) and one player via trade: Brodrick Bunkley (16, 13).
The free agency/trade class combined to play 97 games with 47 starts. Bunkley, Fells and McGahee became regular starters for the team, and McGahee made his second career pro bowl while turning in the first 1,000 yard season from a Broncos running back since RB Tatum Bell ran for 1,025 yards in 2006.
“I think [RB] Willis McGahee as a free agent acquisition ended up with 1,200 yards in the regular season,” Fox said. “I thought he was a good get. We went into the draft and said we had to find three starters, [T] Orlando [Franklin], obviously, [LB] Von Miller, [he is] probably going to receive Rookie of the Year on defense. [S] Quinton Carter stepped in and did a good job. I didn’t really know what to expect because I didn’t really know the team until there late in July, so I don’t know that it was a great surprise but I thought those guys were all acquisitions that I thought performed well.”
-Stuart Zaas
Tags: Offseason Additions
It’s like Manning is the enemy here or something……….
I don’t think he’ll be a colt come next season.
someone mentioned Jack Del Rio……….that’s interesting. He could be a great fit here.
Jack Del Rio could bring a run stopping D along with Rashean Mathis to pair with Champ
I think we should take worthy the dt out of Michigan state. I live in Lansing and have been following the Spartans all year and this guy could be just what we need. He is a play maker and has a motor, for a big dude. He has a very fast first step and is good against the run. If he is there when we pick we should snag him!
If we lose Allen I think the Del Rio idea is a great one.
killerkod, What is the difference in how the Colts are doing Manning with all he has done for them as to how Penn State did Paterno. They put him in his grave, No difference. The organizations are showing just how much they care for or about you when you are used up.
No, Joe Pa turned his head to a horrible molestation scandal and Manning didn’t.
Joe Pa didn’t turn his head..he turned it over to a higher authority…big difference
Another good prospect would be defensive back coach for the Bengals kevin coyle.
If that took place now it would be fine, but this incident took place over ten years ago. The coach accused retired in 1999, and this all took place a few years prior to that, so when this kid (asst coach) or whatever he was reported this to law enforcement, it was well over ten years prior to being reported.
Its precisely why when I hear people talk about loyalty and blah blah blah … an organization much like a company u work for … will drop u in a hot second … no loyalties … doesn’t matter how long u have worked for them or how loyal you have been. You are just a worker and can easily be replaced or severed to save money. Thats why I have always found it funny. A player outplays his contract trys to make more money or renogotiate … the team franchises them and in other words try to keep them locked. They hold out etc. When a player looks out for him self he is disloyal and not a team player … but when the team does “its just good business” … bull crap … it goes both ways and Organizations have no loyalties. Part of why the whole lock out bruhaha was so long and drawn out … no trust on either side. Thats why during the lockout my philosophy was … if the Owners can by grimy … so can the players. Even the good guys like Manning once they become expendable or replaced without second thought. It doesn’t only happen to the headcases and jerks as people would lead u to believe. Manning is the kind of player that should leave the Colts organization on his own terms if possible. But its all business and Money wins over all. So whether its players going after money or team cutting a player for money … its all business and all fair in my book.
TRB
my bad
Jsizla .. u are aware that paterno who had coached for them for 30yrs was dismissed via phonecall right? To my knowledge he reported what happened … the problem was that he didn’t do enough in the grand scheme of things. Its not like he molested or directly witnessed it and did nothing. He reported what he had heard. We all love to believe that we woulda handled it better but u never know until u are in the situation. He was wrong and coulda done more … sure … but the organization owed him more than a phone call termination.
TRB
NEW BLOG
Yes TRB, I am aware of what went down. But I’m also aware of what parents of the victims said about Joe Paterno knowing about this and not doing more to stop it. He was more interested in football and football practice. Just like when this story broke in November and he was questioned all he talked about was football practice.. Not the time or place. Reality sir, please step up and take responsiblity for one of your coaches and his sick hobbies.
Sandusky ruined the childhood of many boys and Joe knew and never blew the whistle because he cared more about college football and keeping the norm. Knowing and not saying anything is just as bad as doing it yourself!
Dont get me wrong I get it … knowing and not doing .. the same thing. Lil boys getting raped goes down as like the most uncoolest thing in my book and I hope the prison pecking order takes care of sandusky. Kids lives were ruined … i am by no means trying to reduce what happened to them. I am more ashamed of the guy who physically saw the anal rape and kept walking … i mean … saw it in front of you and didn’t beat the crap out of the man. paterno shoulda told the cops not his supervisor. Everyone just kept telling thier supervisor hoping one of the supervisors would tell the cops instead of taking the matters into their own hands. Assistant who witnesses tells perterno, perterno tells supervisor, that guy prolly tells HIS supervisor … and no one does anything. Its sickening … Paternos legacy will forever be tarnished no matter the good he did. Liek they say … hard to earn trust … easy to break it. Its like a man who has been married for many years, never cheating, turning down 999 girls but failing to turn down the 1000th … all it takes is one and its just very sad in general.
Anyway, we digressed, my post wasn’t about the scandal itself, my point was I thought the organization owed him more than they gave him.
TRB
@TRB The assistant never really told Paterno the whole story. He just told Paterno he saw something wrong. He never went into detail, so that why it was takin to his supervisor. He told the higher ups the whole story. It’s in all the reports and the assistant said as much. Paterno never really knew everything. Maybe he should of pushed for the truth.
I know the Broncos Website never has much in the way of real news and tends to be pretty saccharin, but is there some reason why the team photo in late January of 2012 is of the 2010 team with Josh McDaniels. Talk about a lame Website.