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
lol. glax was the dude who was rude to cooper right? call me a jerk but i dont miss his presence … there are many ways to make your point without being utterly disrespectful and obnoxious. Its funny, even when he was right or should i say I agreed with the meaning in his post, I was just turned off because of the way he conveyed his message. Just me tho. TRB out…
Yeah he did, he desecrated the line!
I don’t miss his presence neither thats on everything. He was outta his mind on some crazy ish
Enjoy the pandemonium of draft day… And to think. I once was optimistic about all this nonsense. GoOosFrabaaaAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!
2Ps for D in 11
I’m still on Peterson, but Miller would be the perfect mix between Dareus and Peterson haha so I guess we could all be happy! Consider him a compromise
Love this excerpt from Klis-
“My visit there was too short,” Peterson said. “It was one of my favorite visits. First of all, I had never been to Colorado before. I loved it.”
Nice sndvl. Dunno if you ever read the one where he said he would love to play from the broncos and learn from guys like Champ and Dawk. Hope we get him. That draft press conference with JE an JF, made me feel they would choose him. Anything is still possible tho. TRB out…
Both talked about how defensive coordinator Dennis Allen had them diagram different defensive line stunts and linebacker blitzes on a board.
“He grilled me pretty good,” said Miller, who shares Texas A&M Roots with Allen. “I thought being an Aggie he would take it easy on me, but he tested me. I think I came out of it pretty well.”
Glad our DC put em too work. I am really optimistic about Dennis Allen.
DA is certainly flying under the radar. Ill bet his input isn’t falling on deaf ears.
Hope not sndvl, he is a former secondary coach … IF you catch my drift
lol
Not sure if you guys know or not, but it looks like they are streaming live from inside the Broncos draft room.
http://www.denverbroncos.com/multimedia/videos/Live-Inside-the-Draft-War-Room/ff1cee7b-aa8f-4473-8793-c2e62b86ad98
Didnt know that. Thx for the info BA. Love the new transparent Broncos.
Yeah is for the first round, I expect a blog up on it before the start of the draft but wasn’t sure everyone knew.
Questions is will it have audio and can we see the draft board?
Damn good question. lol. Cant give ourselves away, or other teams could just be watching lol. However its only for the first round and we have the second pick so not much people can do to out maneuver us but I doubt anything of real value will be shown or said.
well what do you know..Mike Mayock made his final mock and he has us taking Von miller. you Von Miller guys must be extremely happy..:D
jst a few more hours to go.
Bay what happens with when there are multiple winners? I guess I missed the explanation. sorry
did you guys watch Patrick Peterson’s threads for draft weekend? P2 logo.. lol..
broncos20
“Highest number of correct players picked will win with the tie breaker being at what # those players were picked.”
So if multiple guys get the same number of players and at the same pick #s, we will have a tie made of guys who will become the 2011 draft Champions and will be able to brag all year long about how much they are in tune with our new Triumvirate and will be allowed to tell all others who had no clue to get a football education, LOL.
So, a tie wouldn’t hurt the fun of winning at all!
Anyway:
D DAY, as in DRAFT DAY!
And the DEADLINE for the contest entries will be this afternoon at 4 pm mtn/blog time, ABSOLUTELY ZERO EXCEPTION!!!
Once again, the contest rules:
FULL DRAFT CONTEST RULES:
The draft contest is now open and CONTEST ENTRIES will be taken until April 28th at 4pm Mtn time.
For bloggers wishing to enter, we need the name of the first four players the Broncos will pick in this draft and the order in which they will be picked , #2, #36, #46 and #67 picks as of now, and if you expect pick trades to be made, simply enter the first four players you think the Broncos will pick at whatever picks you figure they will have (example: #5, #29, #39 and #46 picks).
IMPORTANT:
YOU MUST SAY “CONTEST ENTRY” when posting your picks TO BE OFFICIALLY ENTERED IN THE CONTEST.
ONLY ONE ENTRY PER BLOGGER, so if in doubt wait until the 28th deadline to post. NO EXCEPTIONS, too much re-work for me.
AND NO MULTIPLE CHOICES FOR EACH PICK!
Highest number of correct players picked will win with the tie breaker being at what # those players were picked.
No prizes of any kind, just PRIDE, the biggest prize of all!
This contest is not affiliated with the Bronco organization, just an in house blogger creation.
And to answer one of the earlier question by a blogger:
Only two contest entries have us picking Von Miller.
CONTEST ENTRY
#2 Von Miller LB
#36 Marvin Austin DT
#46 Mikel Leshore RB
#67 Lance Kendricks TE
Note this is not how i want it to go but it is quite possibly how it will go
I would like that more if the 67 pick was Jarrett but other than that good mock!
Any word on if we can trade Orton? I would love 1 extra
second or even a third.
I was thinking about Jarrett or Jarvis Jenkins DT from Clemson in that spot as well
10 hrs an 21 minutes and counting……………………..can’t wait!!!
I can`t wait also.
What’s the difference between Wyoming cowboy boots and Texas cowboy boots?
The Wyoming cowboy boots have the manure on the outside!
Imready, thats messed up. LOL! Good one.
Lol what the crap imready
I take it no Von Miller for imready….
But a definite yes on Prosinsky.
I had a dream . . . LOL
A weird dream wherein we took Dareus and then Fairley kept slipping down the board and we took him by trading our two 2nd round picks and getting back into the first round! LMAO
Dreams are sooo ran-dumb sometimes!!!
Looks like no trades are going to take place tonight for players. No trading players and no FA as of yet.
What’s that mean for the NFL and the Courts?
Anything else wouldn’t make sense, it would be pure mayhem, a last hour change of plan for every team, crazy that would be, bordering on the legally insane.
I posted about three articles about that early last evening.
THE DAY HAS ARRIVED! After months of speculation, banter, and theories. This will be a great day folks. Who will it be!….I should have taken the day off.
9 hours left . . .
9 hours to choose the player that will define our organization for the next several years!
9 hours to root through all the hear say and rederick!
9 hours to make the best pick we can make and change the culture in denver once and for all!
9 hours to forget who you wanted to pick and except and CHEER the the Broncos #2 pick overall!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!
Bay,
How many Entries do you have now??? Did you fly your picks yet???
34 entries.
And no, still in my back pocket, but completed and ready to go unless something dramatic about FA and players trading in the draft is annouced in the last hours.
Hard to believe they don’t have a new blog on draft day yet to build up the hype!
Maybe they took the day off for some fishing or something. Lol
Maybe they will pull a “Ricky Williams” and pick one guy and then smoke a cigar and not pick any more people the rest of the DRAFT!!! LOL
In case you have lived life in a closet that is a refferance to Mike Dicka (sp)!!! LMAO
Hey, I’m not complaining, the blog administration does a great job of providing us with articles yearround while most other teams’ blogs are turned off during the off season, probably one of the reason Elway says there is a special relationship with the fans in Denver, we’re always here, at least I am, LOL.
Bay,
Let’s see your picks? I think we are in the GLIDE PATH now . . . then again last minute things do happen! LOL
Oh I was in no way complaining just trying to poke fun at an incident that happened here not to long ago.
I think this would be a good draft to get a Safety to groom behind Dawkins! Plus I tend to disagree with the order of most so-called experts with the best Safety Order:
Mine is very different than most:
Amhad Black
Quinton Carter
Moore
And then a drop off after that, but really a deep position for this draft!!! Oh and the other UCLA guy is good too!
***SAFTEY***
Akeem Ayers
***NOT AYERS he’s a LB***
I can’t remember his name (Riley???)