The draft is nearly upon us. We wrap up our draft preview series with a look at two last position groups.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Undoubtedly, this is the position of greatest need for the Broncos. To say they have been lacking up front defensively is a colossal understatement. I know it may come as a news flash but when a team gives up 471 points (29.4 points per game, most in the NFL) and 154.6 yards rushing per game (second-to-last in the NFL), there are issues.
Major issues.
So the Broncos need a trip to the farm to get some beef. But not just any kind of beef. They need Grade A prime. They need to make the late Clara Peller proud if she were still able to be so.
They need more than one defensive lineman who can come in and contribute. It is that simple.
Let’s face it; the Broncos haven’t exactly had much success drafting defensive linemen. Jarvis Moss, Tim Crowder, Carlton Powell, Nick Eason, Bryant McNeal, Aaron Hunt, Clint Mitchell, Dorsett Davis, Monsanto Pope and Paul Toviessi all came and went…rather quickly, too.
Go back a few more years and the names Dan Williams and Ted Gregory are forever etched in Broncos lore as first-round busts. I’ll stop there.
Going back to 1997 when the Broncos selected Trevor Pryce with the 28th overall pick, the Broncos have drafted one really good defensive lineman: Elvis Dumervil in 2006. And they eventually moved him to linebacker. But I digress.
They have drafted three others who ended up being in the average-to-pretty-good range. Those would be Monte Reagor (1999), Reggie Hayward (2001) and Marcus Thomas (2007). Thomas is hanging in this group by the skin of his chinny chin chin.
The Broncos’ inability to draft quality defensive lineman is borderline staggering. Let’s hope the trend changes this year. If it doesn’t, we could be talking about Andrew Luck wearing orange and blue in 2012.
BOTTOM LINE: If the Broncos keep the second overall pick, they should select a defensive lineman. If they trade the second selection, they should still draft a defensive lineman extremely high. The Broncos need to come out of this draft with two defensive linemen who can make an immediate impact. That’s tough to do but it is where they are right now.
SPECIALISTS
I wish the Broncos’ needs were few enough to where they could think about investing a draft pick on a specialist. But that is not the case.
They don’t need a placekicker. Matt Prater has been really good. Punter? Britton Colquitt is fine and if they really needed a punter, the Broncos would not need to spend a draft pick on one.
One can make a case for a good return man. The Broncos have had trouble finding those over the years. With Eddie Royal’s injury, the return game certainly has some questions. Again, though, the Broncos can’t afford to use a draft pick on a guy they project solely to be a returner.
BOTTOM LINE: No way the Broncos use a draft pick on any of these positions. If they draft a return man, it’s only because he can return kicks in addition to being great at his position.
Feel free to offer your thoughts on defensive line and specialists. Many of you already have and that is terrific. Thanks for the ongoing discussion. It won’t be long before we can talk about the moves the Broncos may have made and the players they actually drafted.
Thanks for reading,
Mike
Thats a big 10 4 buddy.
Wow sorry you missed the concert bro!
that would have been a great one!!!
Next time bro. I can hardly wait until tomorrow dude.
Good luck with your picks BFE.
I hope we hold on to Orton for one more season… Tebow will be better prepared come 2012
It always hurts more when it’s close to home, we left Pensacola Florida only because we got tired of being destroyed by hurricanes, Ivan was the killer storm in 2004 that broke the camel’s back, and maybe all this hurting can help some of us get closer to understand what a country like Japan is still going through with their tsunami now and even worse the tsunami in Indonesia in 2004 that killed 150,000 people.
I hear ya Samoanbronco. Between the two QB`s there`s lots of mula being fork out.
It makes the movie Twister look like a cartoon so to speak.
yea BFE i heard of the alabama thing courtesy of Chad Johnson. Sad stuff. We have made technological strides but its amazing how nature can own us at any moment. Went to work. Didnt return. I cant imagine it. Tough.
I`ve been in some killer Qaukes in California in the 70s and 80s. No joke.
Wow…
Kiper has ALWAYS had us taking Dareus but his final mock has us taking Miller! I like it!
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/insider/news/story?page=KiperMockDraft5.0&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl%2fdraft2011%2finsider%2fnews%2fstory%3fpage%3dKiperMockDraft5.0
It seems that there are more and more analysts going with Miller ever since it got up until the time of the draft. Will be very interesting and fun!
samoan, are u crazy. orton has to go like yesterdays trash. Tebow has never been more ready. and after this draft our d will give him a chance to win. all D in 2011.
Hey guys,
Also great news.
The agent for Denver defensive end Jason Hunter said his stab wounds are minor. Good news. Bill Williamson reports.
Good news Freak30. Cool to know.
Maybe judge Nelson will come into work tomorrow and stab the baliff with a plastic butter knife. LMAO. Kidding!
I think after tomorrow the phrase “It’s Miller Time” is going to be VERY popular for Broncos fans!!
We will hopefully have a D and a running game.
Freak, doesnt matter what people say, no one knows but fox. I think even he hasnt made his mind yet, depends on what the panthers do and based on that if they get interest for the number 2 pick and if not go ahead with what they think is best. Im still holding out for peterson but who knows…
how many people picked miller for us to pick in the first.
sounds like these wives and girlfriends need to get thier stabbing game up. They suck at doing damage lol. Im joking abou this but im glad hunter is ok.
IT`S MILLER TIME!! MGD=MARCELL GENIUNE DAREUS!!!!!
I agree about Hunter being OK. He needs to upgrade on a new girlfriend. She`s dangerous.
Now that were back on that subject this has to be the funnies post of the day:
BeastFromEast92 says:
April 27, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Hell I ain’t no wife beater,but I’ll be damned if I’d let her stab me,a mans gotta defend himself,even if it is a woman,I’d bitch slap her before she stabbed me,LOL.
funniest*
The word of the day. Maybe I`ll frame it on my wall. LMAO!!
BFE had me laughing in tears over here when I read that
@BFE LMAO!
Knee slapper.
Sorry, wasn’t aware of the rules and forgot about our pick at 67.
Contest Entry:
5: Patrick Peterson
36: Stephen Paea
46: Kyle Rudolph
67: Mason Foster
Although I’m probably being a bit optimistic and biased. I was tempted to throw in something crazy like an OL or a RB but then I remembered McD was gone.
By the way, Hillis is going to be on the cover of Madden 12. Wish we still had him. Stupid McD.
Von Miller has made no reservations about who he would like to play for. Word on the street is he said “cowboys, cowboys, cowboys”. No politically correct answer for him lol. I both appreciate it and hate it lol. But he a texas native, so i aint mad at him. If i was going into the NFL … dunno how I would handle playing for any team but the broncos. Im sure the money im making will keep me warm at night tho LOL
Good luck bro.
Yea TRB…
I still want Peterson but Miller is my 2nd choice and they are both the top two players in this draft. I watched the Senior Bowl several times and Miller looks great in the 4-3 and showed that he could cover and they mixed him up greatly with putting him at the SAM LB position and DE. It was hard trying to locate him but just follow where the ball is and sure enough he will be there!
Fox is more likely to draft Peterson, than trade Orton.
haha, didnt see that BFE post. Amen BFE … ive often said that … you can only try to be calm and civil so long, but if you keep trying to be gentle with someone spazzing and doing crazy stuff with no care for your well being … you gotta do something eventually. If she were to kill you no one would say “That theres a real man. No matter what happened he refused to lay his hands on a woman” HA!!! … Im all about survival lol
Just sayin…
Von Miller AND Demarcus Ware…that’d keep quarterbacks up at night
Yeah when your life is being threatened you have to take the action by any means necessary to protect yourself.
sndvl I agree with that statement completely, he loves veteran QB’s
funny enough PP also said, cowboys selecting him would be ‘dream scenario’. Not even Dolphins for the florida native. Interesting … man I hate the cowboys lol.
Hear in the state of Colorado, if a couple is yelling at each other and having a heated arguement and the cops show up at your door. Someone is going to jail, in alot of cases both. It`s automatic. One of you is going to the slammer.
I think getting Miller would be awesome. We could have him at LB and switch him up and put him at DE at some plays too!! Him and Ayers could switch positions on some plays since Ayers got some experience in coverage these past two years!! The sky is the limit for both Peterson and Miller!!!
too bad fox isnt in charge. one issue about coming to work for the new vp in denver. he is in charge. and i think we all know Elway doesnt like orton or tebow. or at least doesnt beleive in them, yet. but the voice of the fans love tebow so that buys him one more year. too much money for orton so he is as good as gone.
***For the record the way BeastFromEast92 worded his statement was funny. I don’t condone domestic violence nor think that its laughable in any way, shape, or form.***
-Royalty
altho i dunno if the one on peterson is true. it based on some journalists tweet but miller made his VERY clear and its all over NFL.com lol. These guys are proffesionals tho, they would be happy to go any where. They love to compete first and foremost.
haha, nice save royalty … we all could tell by that post that it was more about survival than being a wife beater. Even started with “im no wifebeater” lol. but self defense is still self defense no matter the gender. I think thats what BFE was saying and what im saying as
How would you like to grow up a Broncos fan your whole life and play college football and then be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. This happens every year. The realities of life.
Miller never said he wouldn’t play for anyone but the Cowboys he said that was his favorite team and that his new favorite team would be whoever drafted him. Me personally I hate the Cowgirls and all of their fan base and especially their arrogant owner. Living in Arlington, TX near the stadium all I hear about is how the Cowboys bought all these players and how Jerry Jones and Tony Homo is going to take them to the promised land every year.
Well I`ll talk to you all tomorrow. It`s judgement day. HaHa!!
I know Lol I just dont wanna be the next Glax or Vibe I like being able to post here. I wonder if those guys got the boot? Because, remember Glax ended up coming back after we thought he was 86ed and I still haven’t heard anything from vibe
Later strand
Glax crossed the line. He went to far. Night all.