Time for more thoughts about the upcoming draft. This time, I’ll focus on linebackers, running backs and fullbacks.
You can find draft previews highlighting some of the top picks here on DenverBroncos.com.
LINEBACKERS
This is a position the Broncos should bolster. It is pretty clear the Broncos need to beef up the front seven and the linebacker position is part of that group.
As the draft hype cranks up, Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller’s name keeps cropping up. But I’m not sure I see the Broncos taking a linebacker with the number two overall pick. There are plenty of other good linebackers that could be great pros.
Sure, from everything I hear, Miller is tremendously talented. When a team is picking second overall, however, that is special. My belief is it is easier to find an impact linebacker later in the draft than it is to find, say, an impact defensive lineman in a later round.
I also believe the Broncos need less help at linebacker than they do at some other positions. With the switch back to the 4-3, we’ll have to see what position Elvis Dumervil plays but he, we assume, will be back and healthy again.
There are also guys such as D.J. Williams, Mario Haggan, Robert Ayers, Jason Hunter, Joe Mays and Wesley Woodyard on the roster. The Broncos have some options at linebacker. That isn’t to say they couldn’t use a dynamic young one to add to the mix. But I don’t think they need to try to get find that guy second overall.
In addition, the Broncos will likely not need to carry as many linebackers on the roster as they have the past couple of years since they’ll be playing a 4-3 and not a 3-4. The Broncos are currently deeper at linebacker than they are at other positions.
BOTTOM LINE: I would love to see the Broncos draft a linebacker, but not in the first round.
RUNNING BACKS / FULLBACKS
These are interesting positions. We know that new head coach John Fox loves to run the ball. He had two talented backs in Carolina, namely DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stuart. The Broncos running back situation is at least a little clouded.
Yes, Knowshon Moreno is talented. But he has been injury prone and has yet to break out in his first two seasons. Does that mean the Broncos will give up on Moreno? I hardly think so. But I wonder if they’ll be at least a little tempted to pick one.
Correll Buckhalter and Laurence Maroney are a couple other recognizable names on the roster. LenDale White is coming off a torn Achilles tendon. There are some options but several of those options come with legitimate questions.
Fullback is also interesting. We’ll have to see how much Coach Fox wants to use two-back sets. I’d love to somehow see the Broncos find a bruising fullback but I just don’t see them trying to get one in the draft.
BOTTOM LINE: There are some question marks at running back and fullback. Given the Broncos only have six draft picks right now, and given that they have much more pressing needs, I would be at least a little surprised if they drafted a guy at either of these positions.
Thanks for reading. Again, I know many of you have been talking about the draft a lot. If you are so inclined, feel free to post some thoughts on linebackers and running backs/fullbacks.
Best,
Mike
I always get a kick when I see BSU Field Blue. It`s unique.
THE SMURF TURF is a CLASS-SICK place!!! Yeah Kellen Moore is the only thing that keeps my hopes up for next season. That and a change of conference to the Mountain West. BSU should go undefeated this year, but you never know. It’s harder than people think to play a perfect season – and that in any conference.
Honestly you cant blame the players without blaming the owners, like most disputes it takes two to tango. Like the article said, when lawyers are involved its a lack of trust from the beginning, and they talk pretty things and bring offerings in one hand and prepare litigations in the other hand. Both parties are too rich and both are spoiled. Owners don’t own NFL teams for the love of the game either, they do it for the money both sides do it for the money first and the love second. Reason I say this is cuz I hate double standards, can’t blame the players of one thing when the owners are clearly in the wrong as well. NFL has done a good job of painting the players as greedy (altho the players dont do them selves any favor and kinda are greedy) even if we don’t know the full details and thats because players business is out there 100 percent. What isnt out the are owners spendatures which if u looked at the books is probably illegal as all hell, with expenses that shouldnt be on there, heck for all we know they are embezzeling money, wouldnt shock me, I dont trust anyone. They are just like the banks that had a hand in this economic collapse to me.
As far as them getting payed 60 thousand i see nothing wrong with that, isnt that the point of a union, to have your back when hard times come. They are like an insurance agency, and all the money the players are getting back are the dues they payed so i see nothing wrong with it. should the funs just have dissapeared into thin air? Then if it did it would be a nasty move by the NFLPA syphoning funds. Correct me if im wrong or im missing something.
Fans are the only ones I care about in this situation cuz whenever the money isnt enough all theyve gotta say is “well we can increase ticket and consession prices” and both sides will agree cuz it doesnt affect them. It is all BS and like Bay said if i didnt love the broncos so much I would be just fine watching any other form of football. As it stands I only watch the NFL cuz I love the broncos, barely watch college but I might need to start….
I think both parties are too blame, but that the players hold the bigger part/problem of a deal not getting done in a timely manner.
HOWEVER, the way the league has been and is fining players seems to be too extreme! By the way who does get that FINE MONEY??? Seriously, what does the NFL do once they get the fines collected from players???
That was my biggest compliant last season. When it seemed that the players themselve had no malice or intent to hurt another player and that they were being FINED for split second actions/reactions!!!
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM THE LEAGUE NEEDS SOME REPAIRS!!! AND I’M NOT SURE WE WANT TO TRUST LAWYERS AND JUDGES WITH OUR SPORT!!!
T2B
Depends on how u look at it I guess. I personally believe if the Owners earnings and spendings were public like the players our views would be slightly different. As the CBA stood, Owners didnt like it, wanted more money from the players cuz they said cost had increased or something. Fine, as a party asking for the share of another persons pie that was previously agreed to, you would think they would be happy to show thier spending to prove why they need the money but nope. Both Parties cant survive without each other and more importantly both parties cant survive with out us, the fans.
I hear the fines go to charity. Im not sure but I believe thats what I heard. Now whether the money actually makes it there… who knows. Plus im sure they pay tax on fines so the govt prolly gets their share of the pie as well. But to answer your question I believe Fines go to charity.
There is a really simple solution. Pay all the expenses, build stadiums if you need to, take the rest and split it down the middle. Let the NFLPA decide who gets what among the players. That would last about 3 seconds before the fights broke out! Football is one of the few businesses where the employees can demand to see the books on the business and not get shown the door by the boss. When the whole discussion revolves around who is getting the bigger piece of the pie with no regard for the fans who are paying for that pie, both sides should be taken out and publicly flogged!
TRB, I hear you about the there is nothing wrong with using the NFLPA funds to help out the players make it through this no paycheck period, unfortunately that doesn’t do anything for us to watch NFL football, if anything it sets us fans back.
Just like the owners trying to build up the pie with the TV contracts to make it through a work stoppage that is being now disputed, the players are pulling out a similar crap, having made sure to set enough money aside to help themselves through this workless environment which obviously both sides have been planning for a heck of a long time.
Meaning attorney leeches have been laying out this “spread it out as long as you can” tactic on both sides for a long time to rake in as much dough from it as they can giving us fans not the slightest respect we deserve since we pay 100% of all the revenue of both camps.
That’s why this absolutely sux. Players, the League and their respective attorneys are pulling a combined gigantic “screw the fans for now, they will still be there in the end” strategy that should be viewed as absolutely demeaning to us.
But we all know they are right, we idiot fans will embrace this pile of crap as soon as it re-starts. That’s why I call myself a stupid, stupid, stupid man, only because I have enough respect for all of you guys not to call you stupid, well almost everyone…
Bottom line, if this was a matter of survival instead of just a sport, like it was in Egypt and is now in Libya, this is enough ground for a rebellion!
Us little people make the whole NFL thing possible and we don’t even get crumbs from it!
And the rich will get richer.
And we will not see a dime from it, just having to open up our wallets a little wider to please the arrogant demands of all those money hungry NFL moneybags; players, owners and the whole bunch of attorneys that drive this b.s. engine.
Shame on you all.
You are acting no better than pigs!
Hey guys,
I was looking at some luke Stocker highlights on youtube and saw a clutch catch that he got against Alabama in the closing seconds of the last minute of the game. Funny thing is, apparently Bama had their DT’s backed up and trying to cover against the pass. Dareus was one that was covering against Stocker and it is so funny because Dareus throws his hands up in the air a few times to try to deflect it before Stocker makes a catch and I must say Dareus definitely didn’t seem happy!!
Check it out!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpu5RBHoLAA&feature=related
Also check out this play where Stocker dominates two players and runs them over!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUjpS7UV-vQ&feature=related
Everyone must look at the Broncos homepage! We have an article of Owen up, the FB from Standford!!
I definitely want to trade back up into the late 3rd-early 4th round to pick up Owen!! We need a bruiser at FB and he is one of the reasons why Gerhart had such an amazing college career! He would be a great addition to our team for pass blocking and creating holes for our rb’s!
Broncofreak30, Wouldn`t it be a funny thing if we drafted both Marcell Dareus and Luke Stocker. They both will look back at that play and laugh it off. It could very well happen. We need a catching TE big time. Just having fun with ya bro.
Hate to break up the party guys, if you do your research Fox never has cared for a catching TE, he has never had anyone anywhere close to that on his roster, just saying. But yeah, dreaming of a team like you want it to be is feel good nice….
NFL owners are part to blame but the NFL players are mostly to blame. Something like 80/20%. LMAO!! I`M ON THE OWNERS EXPRESS TRAIN MYSELF!!!! Shame on the players!! Their all weissels.
I did not know that.
That’s why I do the research, to keep things level headed…..
Bay, I`m looking forward to seeing your feel good nice during the contest. Everyone has one.
Then Maybe I`ll replace a FB with were I had my TE. It`s something to think about.
Yea..
I believe we will get a TE, either in the draft or FA. I know Fox doesn’t really use pass catching TE’s but you have to have at least one that can do the job and we have nothing right now! I say we go after Stocker in the 3rd round.
I would love Rudolph, but let’s face it, just as Bay said with how Fox doesn’t really use TE’s all that much in his system, we need someone who has really good hands and who can block really well. Stocker definitely looks to be the next Daniels or Witten! He has that type of body to push people back or run them over. It is a desperate need of ours and I do not see any way that we wouldn’t take one in the draft. I am just hoping that it is Stocker!
If thats the case Then we`d be better off with a TE like Luke Stocker. Your right though, we don`t have a reliable TE and should get one to keep teams honost on defense. I`m all for Stocker but in a later round.
Everyone on this blog has a dream team for the up coming draft. We talk about our players everyday of who we want. Some more then others. Dareus and Stocker are fine in my book.
“Meaning attorney leeches have been laying out this “spread it out as long as you can” tactic on both sides for a long time to rake in as much dough from it as they can giving us fans not the slightest respect we deserve since we pay 100% of all the revenue of both camps.”
well said bay, its said really is and im stupid too cuz ill continue to watch … might never buy a jersey or a ticket again but ill watch. The reason they can pull that crap is because fans are so far spread that for us to pull a power play that would hurt them, alot of people will have to be on board, like at least 50 percent. with out best efforts we would be lucky if we could get 10 percent on board because reaching everyone will be tough and even if you do some people will think short term as far as they want their entertainment now, instead of securing a fair future for fans. And even 10 percent if we could reach that many would barely put a dent in thier pocket book. We truly are stupid but like u said, its because its not life or death situation…
It`s because we are good loyal fans and love the game of football, but theres a ugly greedy side. The money and poliitics side that pokes it`s head out every so ofton when CBA`s need to be agreed upon. They can care less about us loyal fans.
I love Stocker vid… wow that would be a nice 3rd pick!!!!
TT and D 2011
Orton hears a BOOOOOO!!!!!!!
John Fox will run the rock as usual, but there`s a chance that he will implement the TE to his play book. John Fox knows the Bronco`s of old with the catching TE through the years. He just might bring it back. Only a guess.
At the same time I like the idea of using a FB to run the rock also.
Peterson/Miller/Dareus
Paea/Austin
Wilson/Jones/Nevis
Stocker
Trade into late 3rd/early 4th to grab Owen
SNDVL (response to 8:24 am posting);
I’m not sure if your response was to me or not, or if it was in defense of the NFLPA or not.
$60k for showing up that was “faught for” by lawyers that were indelibally paid for by the fans because the players have a surplus of funds to contribute to this “Slush”.
As The Professor (from Futurama) has said….”I don’t think I want to live on this planet anymore”.
let’s green some rice and invent cheese straighteners for the liberation of dandy-lion seeds that bloom with way too many eye drums and ear balls.
Well, it looks like you found a new planet to live on pretty darn quick! LOL.
I want to give all the relish from this hotdog to the sourcream on my baked potato in exchange for 7 mothballs that will certainly remove the potato from the the baconbits so that I don’t end up with relish on a baked potato.
Winning.
Latest tweet by Schefter:
After talking to seven personnel men today, it sounds like Georgia WR A.J. Green is top-rated player in draft. We’ll see if he goes #1.
And the pre-draft merry-go-round goes on and on and on.
How long until bloggers here form the Green with envy train….
I told you guys I would go Charlie Sheen over this crap.
Ah-ha!!! “Green” the rice…7 moth”balls”…. Huh…….Huh.
OK seven personnel men would mean 14 mothballs, but I think this is more than coinsidence.
winning
baaahaaahaaahaaaa LMFAO @ bay’s last 2 post
However, it is rumorred, if not accepted, that Hittler was monochistic (born with only one testicle). I’m just sayin’ is all.
So, 7-14 mothballs to free the baked potato.
Mothballs are toxic. Now I’m sad again.
Some say Hitler was ‘nuts’ but one could easily say he was just a ‘nut’.
I was gonna blog but it looks like glaxsnax’s world has taken over…
Blog one, Blog all. I’m just the poor child from Spanish Harlem standing on the corner with news for all.
Seriously, I was checking to see if anyone was awake.
WINNING.
This is the best way to talk to myself I’ve ever seen. I wish we all had synthetic voices like Stephen Hawking though.
{note to self; market synthetic voices for blogs, and insurance for fans, and The Draft drinking game}
I wonder if any one got money out of beer-pong? Those ‘face-book’ guys did allright.
Glaxsnax, This is your voice speaking.
I wonder if John Elway will see this and not take me seriously anymore. Nah, him and I go way back. I remember school closing for a “snow day” when he played on Monday Nights.
You had to say beer, didn`t you?!