When Denver Broncos head coach John Fox met the press at the conclusion of the day on Friday, he repeatedly referenced a couple of things that stood out to me.
The first was that we have lots of holes to fill. Certainly, we have many fine players returning from 2010, but the bottom line is that the team performance yielded a 4-12 record, and when that is the case, it is very reasonable to assume there are multiple positions that could use a little, or a lot of, shoring up.
And when you have multiple holes to fill, no matter how well you draft-and there is no question the Broncos have gotten excellent young prospects-you can only take one player at a time, and in the interlude between your picks others will come off the board. So, you can’t take every player with one pick.
But you cannot eat a cow in one bite, either. You can, however, take one bite of steak at a time, eventually accomplishing the former.
So we can’t be alarmed about not getting every position filled at once. It will take multiple selections and signings.
The second point John Fox made repeatedly was that we also will turn to the next “available talent pool.” The next available talent pool, once determined and clarified by the courts and through collective bargaining, will be the signing of free agent players, and that grouping will include veteran free agents whose contracts have expired, as well as college free agents not selected in this three-day drafting period.
And when all those are put together, you have a lot of bites of steak.
Day three of the draft features five selections for the Broncos, and it is possible that when everything is considered, fans will only have high familiarity with first round choice Von Miller and second round choice Rahim Moore. That’s no sin-most people only know the most famous skill position guys on offense and defense, and then we learn others after they come here and make names for themselves.
Which leads me to a final thought on the selection process. One of our former Rocky Mountain News beat men, Steve Caulk, now in public relations in the Denver area, sent me a Facebook asking who was the “most accomplished, latest selection” in Broncos history.
We have had a lot of great players in our history, but back in 1983 the team took a defensive end from Minnesota in the 12th round-that defensive end, Karl Mecklenburg, went on to become one of the finest linebackers in Denver and National Football League history. But I remember when we took him, and I remember bringing all the draftees in to have a group “meet the press,” and not a single member of the press even approached or acknowledged Meck. And that is in no what a criticism of press behavior. He simply was a nobody, a total, complete unknown taken by Denver with the 310th selection in that year’s draft.
And just for the heck of it, here are a few other candidates for this subjective selection as best latest choice ever made by Denver:
Marlin Briscoe, the modern era’s first black quarterback, who also had a notable career after leaving Denver, was the 14th Bronco and 357th choice in 1968.
Steve Foley is a member of the Broncos’ all-time team at safety and was pick number eight/199 in 1975.
Superb play-making defensive back Tyrone Braxton, was number 12/334 in 1987, just one selection away from being the final pick in the entire draft, “Mr. Irrelevant.” There was nothing irrelevant about Tyrone Braxton. He was a champion and a gamer.
In 1994 the last choice made by the Broncos was 7c/218, an obscure center from Boston College named Tom Nalen. Anybody think he will make the Ring of Fame in time? A great player.
The very next year Denver used pick 7b/222 to take a tight end named Byron Chamberlain, who was a fine player here and in Minnesota. And that selection in 1995 was just two after the Broncos used number 6b/196 to take Terrell Davis, whom I believe is the greatest running back in history NOT in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Long time NFL linebacker Nate Wayne was 7b/219 in 1998, following on the heels of selection 7a/200 that same year, longtime offensive lineman Trey Teague.
In 2000 the Broncos took an ex-Marine with pick number 6/189, and I’ll bet everybody still remembers Mike Anderson. A tough, fine running back.
Chris Kuper is a very fine starting guard for the Broncos right now, and Chris was selection number 5/161 in 2006.
Back in 2008 the Broncos took fullback/linebacker/special teams ace Spencer Larsen with selection number 6/183, then followed that up with pick number 7/227, a running back named Peyton Hillis. Sometimes we let good players get away. It happens to all teams, and with him, it happened to us, in another regime, in another day.
Just last year we added offensive lineman Eric Olsen from Notre Dame with number 6/183, and then with 7/225 added a fine defensive and special teams player from Cal, Syd’Quan Thompson.
Now, remember, some guys never get drafted, but you sign a lot of them, and sometimes they turn out to be a kicker like Rich Karlis or a wide receiver like Steve Watson-or even the greatest undrafted wide receiver in the history of pro football, Rod Smith.
Greg Kragen, a Pro Bowl defensive tackle, was an undrafted free agent who played on our Super Bowl teams in the 1980′s.
Ditto offensive linemen Keith Kartz and Dave Studdard, who were not drafted by Denver yet started on the championship teams in the 1980′s and protected John Elway.
Remember also, it takes a lot of players to make a team. They don’t all make the Pro Bowl, but you need 53, and they all contribute. That’s why they call it a team.
The player acquisition period for 2011 will not end when the draft is over.
where was that TRB? the Adam Schefter one
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thanks TRB…
Good news is TRB is that we are fast on D now too. But I hear you on the fast RB hopefully we won’t get beat to horrible bad from speed backs but I look at how we shut down the Titans last season with that personell and it make me excited now that Fox and Allen are in charge. From an offensive stand point I hope Fox does not have his hand to far in the cookie jar on that. Run the ball maybe important but having a balanced offense is even more important. We now have 2 possibly really talented tight ends and I hope McCoy will take advantage because nothing works better than a tight end in play action, which we learned las year against the Ravens and our division Rivals. Heres to putting our rivals on their backs next year.
Anyone else think Bay should have a contest to see which of our current players we cut to make room for the rookies? I haven’t participated much lately, but I have been reading these blogs most every day. Would be another way to keep us occupied till the lockout is over.
yeah denver0723, its like the wind just got sucked out after the draft ended..”now what?”.. lol
about that competition..I’m all for something that’ll keep us occupied here, no doubt,
but to have a competition out loud at the expense of a player that could be out of a job is pretty hard..especially for our broncos..
Not interested.
I hate to see Mays,Woodyard, or Haggan either one get cut,but I know it’s coming,you gotta get rid of the mediocre players to make room for the great ones.But you gotta have solid backups too!!!
If we cut any Safeties or CBs,I hope it’s Renaldo Hill and Nate Jones.
Champ,Goody,Cox,Dawk,McBath,Thompson,Vaughn,Bruton,and now Moore and Carter.No need for Hill and Jones and maybe a couple more,imo.
Let Fox and Allen weed’em out!!!
Yeah I suppose competition would be more depressing than anything. Players getting cut is all part of the business though. I agree with BFE on Jones and Hill needing to get cut. Woodyard and everyone else I wish could stay though. I think my defensive roster would be:
LE – Hunter, McBean
RE – Ayers, Beal
DT – Vickerson, Thomas, and someone from FA
LOLB – Miller, Haggan, Mohamed
MLB – Williams, Irving, Mays
ROLB – Dumervil, Woodyard
CB – Bailey, Goody, Cox (if not convicted), Thompson, Vaughn
FS- Dawkins, Carter, McBath
SS – Moore, Bruton
Denver0723:
Dum has got to be an end imo. He’s not a LB in a 4-3.
Yeah you are probably right. In that case, put Doom and Hunter at LE, and cut McBean. Miller and Irving take MLB, and kick DJ Williams back outside to pair up with Woodyard.
Dline*****************Ayers-FA-Vickerson-Doom
LBs***********************DJ-Irving-Miller
CBs***************Champ-Goody-Cox-Thompson-Vaughn
S*******************Moore-Carter-Dawk-McBath,Bruton
You got Doom and Miller on one side and Ayers and DJ on the other!
Why would I put Miller and Irving both at MLB? Miller would clearly be outside. I’m stuck in the 3-4 mindset with two inside linebackers. BFE is right on track though haha. Scary pass rush for us next year. In Fox we trust.
thats a sick line up BFE,
I would try putting Dj and Doom on one side..Doom excels in passrush.Dj will pick up the rush defense
on the other side..Ayers is an excellent run stopper for a DE, he’ll allow Miller to focus most of the time on rushing the passer.. coordinators will start worrying about who to double or roll block towards.. QBs will have those two in their heads..with that much pressure… Champ and everyone else will be picking off passes all day..
denver0723,
i now understand your line up now that you mention that 3-4 mindset. we might be bas 43, but Fox could throw in some 3-4 situations to utilize Doom and Miller from the outside.
I like Irving,Mays,and Haggan at MLB
Sorry to say but I believe that Doom will take right end and Williams will take will. Also I see McBean moving inside to DT because we will be a 4-3 again.
Woodyard, Mays and Haggan all may stay. Remember, starting is earned. Not given.
Hill is most likely done. Jones too. McBath needs to remain healthy this season. Bruton is a ST star. If Dawk stays, he’s gonna have to stay healthy too.
DL is safe. Hunter being the question mark there.
Don’t look too good for Quinn or Gronkowski either. Harris go bye bye. Crucial year for Zane. J.D too, but I fully expect him to make significant improvements. QBs are safe (for now). So, RBs are RBs and WRs. Speaking of, Moreno needs to put up. And DMT needs to get and STAY healthy.
Yeah yeah… Prater and Colquitt are sure bets. Lol
Remember I think it was UK talking about Osama Bin Laden and the US not being able to capture him it has now been reported that he may be dead!
HE IS! This is a great day for the United States!
sorry it was Aussie
How ironic that Aussie was just talking about this the other day on this very blog, and now we have vindication for all those soldiers and innocent lives that we lost on 9/11
Sorry I was just seeing if anybody was blogging and the news just had come in. I just had to report it.
BroncoAussie says:
April 29, 2011 at 12:32 am
And when you going to find Bin laden, that is one dude haha.
LMAO!! Goodnight.
-Royalty
Nice, I am actual happy about this, well that is interesting stuff. Took almost a decade but nice job, now fix that economy haha.
Today is a good day.
That is good news BroncoRoyalty. Does anyone know of any FA defensive tackles that a worth anything?
barry cofield and maybe kris jenkins, there is a number of other good ones we can get.
Woah Aussie that’s asking to much we doing baby steps lol like you said it took us a decade to catch Bin Laden lol.
Haha you will get there as will the rest of the world, looks like a bright future.
I hope we get Bannan back as a DT I feel he could do good there. Man I get stoked everytime I think about next season and then I think about the no Cba and I am brought back down. I hope they go for the players in the litigation that way it could just be settled and over with if it even works that way.
What a glorious night!! That murderous bastard is dead!!! Hell Ya!!!!!!
BFE, I`d keep Woodyard out of the three. He is all heart and plays with passion. Woodyard is a keeper.
Bring down the gas prices by a $1.75
Woodyard and Mays will remain. Both good on special teams and we need depth. Hagan is probably gone, he is a leader but we have 2 new guys that we got to be starters. Doesnt mean it will happen tho like sndvl said. Haggan with us for 1 more year max, same goes for Dawk. Just enough time to impart wisdom. I see Rahim starting, dunno about Quinton even tho he is my fave pick. That man hits like a SS but has FS play making skills and plays FS but will play SS for us. Feel bad for McBath. Really like him and thought he could be good if remained healthy. I see Rahim and Dawkins starting. Or Rahim and Quinton with Dawk coming in on 3rd down. Either way, no matte rhow it plays out. Im excited. I see hill and nate gone as well. sad to say. Either way, young or old may the best man win but We seirously need fresh legs out there and thats the only way to truly learn. TRB out…
I like McBath when he`s healthy. I hope he makes the roster. Give him one more year.
unfortunately even if he is good and becomes worthy….too late. 2 people cant start …. to want McBath to be the star i think he can be, will mean i want Rahim or Quinton to fail, which i dont. Like em both. Ahhh well…what will happen will happen no matter what i want or dont want. The question is….what do THEY want.
I personally prefer to have a hard hitting safety makes receivers and anyone coming over the middle peak a little. Makes offensive coordinators contemplate calling crossing patterns. But a ball hawk is good to just look at Ed Reed. But that’s the reason I would perfer Carter to start.
i hear ya mikey but thats what a strong safety is for while a free safety is more ball hawky. Besides, we have been at the bottom of interceptions for toooooo long. With the pressure we will likely be applying, we need guys with great ball skills for those INTs.
Yes I want turn overs I think Dennis Allen will help with that. He comes from a great defensive coordinator.
@mikeyb
i really want to pick up brandon mebane from the seahawks. hes only 26. excellent run stuffer. i would recommend looking him up.
aha,,good one Aussie…the economy is a mess.hopefully this blog lasts 10 more years so we can talk about it again..lol
I agree broncofanak,
Mebane is good.short but powerful..thats leverage.
Thanks for the supreme effort running the Draft Comp Bay!
Tied for 6th?? LOL Awesome Didn’t think I was going to be on the radar
I definitely think we’ll actually have a pass rush this season.
I think we should pick up one these undrafted running backs, RB Noel Devine or RB Derrik Locke
No one can bring in any undrafted guys until the lockout is lifted!
Which is why I’m going AWOL for a while.
Unfortunately there is absolutely nothing further to discuss now that the draft is over and the lockout is on, other than wishful thinking stuff or stuff that will only be worthy of significance weeks or months from now.
This is the reality of life we are faced with in the NFL right now.
A complete standstill and not even a mirage of movement on the horizon.
Wake me if the lockout gets lifted again or a cba negotiation gets going and reaches a compromise.
Until then the NFL is dead, Like Osama Bin Laden, Hallelujah to that!
But you folks go ahead and beat lots of dead horses to your heart’s content, it’s good therapy.
Talking about dead horses:
Brian_schneider!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Glad to see you are alive…. or unbanned? Like a year ban has been lifted???? LOL.
Next step a new CBA.
Thanks, baylinorcrush. Let’s just say I’ve definitely learnd my lesson well!
Bay,
Thanks for your efforts and blogship. All luck here, no special expertise. I appreciate your input always. I’ll be listening to the fan forum today at 3pm MST with John Fox. Enlighten if there is anything worth sharing. Go Broncos!
I bet the recently drafted picks are pissed now….. they have millions at their fingertips but can’t have it. They’re no richer then their days as a poor college student. I wonder if the nflpa is going to pay them something during the lockout.