The time is drawing close. The several weeks of calm that hits the NFL after the Super Bowl is about to give way to a flurry of activity with free agency, the draft and mini-camps.
While the Broncos gear up, let’s take a look at what has happened to this point and what might come.
First, the Broncos have solidified their coaching staff. The biggest change came at defensive coordinator. Out is Mike Nolan; in is Don Martindale, the team’s linebackers coach a year ago.
On the one hand, I was sorry to see Coach Nolan go. Clearly there were some issues between head coach Josh McDaniels and Nolan. While some people like to read into such a parting, to me this is a merely routine occurrence in the ever-changing world of the NFL. Sometimes two people see things differently. Such seems to be the case here.
Certainly Coach Nolan has proven himself to be a quality defensive coordinator over the years. But I like the fact that McDaniels promoted Coach Martindale. He has a good coaching resume and many of the Broncos’ defensive players gave their endorsement of the selection. That tells me Martindale has the respect of many of the guys on the roster. That is key.
Make no mistake: This is not a charity hire. Josh McDaniels won’t give any coach more opportunity just because that coach has been with the team. McDaniels has to feel that Martindale is ready and able to lead the defense. That’s why I like the hire. Sometimes the good candidates are already working for you.
Second, free agency will begin in the next couple of weeks. No doubt the uncertain labor situation will play a part in what teams do and it makes predicting what teams will do even more difficult.
To me, the Broncos biggest questions surround three players already on the roster: QB Kyle Orton, WR Brandon Marshall and DE/LB Elvis Dumervil. I believe all will be back with the Broncos next year.
I’m not sure how long Orton’s deal will be but from what he has said, he wants to be in Denver. Plus, I still believe that he can be the quarterback of a team that makes a run in the playoffs. He is more than good enough to me. Plus, the list of possible free agent replacements is less than exciting.
Brandon Marshall makes Orton even better. I don’t have any inside information. I don’t know if discussions have or haven’t been going on. But I have to believe Marshall will be back with the Broncos next year. Of course, I also thought the Broncos and Jay Cutler would work things out before the trade with the Bears.
I sure hope Dumervil is back and also expect him to be. He showed he can be a playmaker and seemed to adapt to his new position pretty well. Last I checked, 17-sack performers don’t grow on trees. One of the keys to building a quality team is to identify your core players and sign them. Orton, Marshall and Dumervil are, in my opinion, core players for the Broncos.
Third, I don’t think the Broncos will sign any top-dollar free agents. Nor do I think they will send multiple high draft picks to a team that has already tendered a free agent that the Broncos want to sign. Remember, the free agent landscape will look a little different with the likelihood of an uncapped year looming.
The one possible exception I have to leave room for is New England defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, if he is indeed available. We know Coach McDaniels brought more than one former Patriot to Denver and Wilfork clearly fits a need. Whether or not he fits financially is a completely separate issue. All of this assumes the Patriots don’t sign him to a long-term deal or fail to put the franchise tag on him.
Fourth, I would expect the Broncos to focus on the offensive and defensive lines in free agency. The start of the season was terrific but the Broncos weren’t as tough up front by the end of the season. Injuries played a part but they need to upgrade up front on both sides of the ball.
What do you think the Broncos will do as we move into free agency and the draft? I always enjoy your thoughts.
Best,
Mike
Tags: Brandon Marshall, Don Martindale, Elvis Dumervil, Free Agency, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Kyle Orton
Alexanserg…im sorry but i believe you still pay a man wha the is worth, not that theres a staple caleld “top ten” money and since the other person got it i want it too. Thats BS. What if your draft class was whack and u are the ebst of the whack are u worthy of making the same money of the best of last years draft class that was awesome. Not to mention its based on a teams current needs not just cuz u are th best. Still have a issue with it in my book
Anyway, Glad Jordan is gone.
But McD did what coaches do, signed Jordan when no one else would sign him. Connections. Just like that, Jordan got a job and made alot of money to do nothing because he knows McD and he has connections. Jordan had no bigger purpose. McD did it out of loyalty but can only justify keeping him around for 1 year….Now Jordan has to go out into the big bad world and fend for himself and prove his worth and earn his bread.
Yeah, now Pickett seems like the best bet, but that’s if you count out Detroit reportedly wanting to trade there #2, and if we can get there we have either Suh or Gerald McCoy, look above in the blog we discussed that plenty. If all that fails, I would be totally fine with picking Williams with our first. Agreed about McClain been often out of position, like in the championship game, but he is still the best ILB out there in this year draft.
I believe that Packers are thinking about franchising Pickett as well.
Pickett says he expects to be tagged too i guess we will be looking to the draft for that NT
McClain has problems but they can be fixed…I believe however, his biggest problem is that he is STIFF!! No fluidity in his motion. Partly because of his 6’4 Height. But i think anything else he is lacking he can learn
For all the teams out there who are thinking of franchising players, after tomorrow is the deadline.
I think Suh is more a DE than NT and same for McCoy they are a bit light on for the NT, not 330.
ps: poor westbrook. It was about time tho. Cant remember the last tiem he played a whole season or half of one for that matter. Eagles had alot of injury prone RBs and have shed them both (Bucky and West) I hope westbrook and LT are finally cut down to size in madden….Makes no sense why they are still ridiculously good in madden
It looks like the raiders and cable have a lawsuit on their hands from the staff member cable punched last year. Man those guys suck.
I want to see what McClain can do at the combine before I say we pick him.
i just found out that pickett is expected to be franchised so im thinking that leaves dan williams or trade up but im thinking bowlen wont do that cuz he ain’t got the money. As a last resort we continue using fields. I don’t remember y we wanted a different NT in the first place no more.
I say Cody, he can be a two down NT that can rotate in with Fields.
Ok, since iowa doesn’t address the fact that Detroit is shopping their #2 around, I need to re-post one of my earlier post about how to address the nose:
I’d be willing to think that if we dangle Marshall to them with their need to help Stafford develop, we add a third and a fifth, they would have to be paying attention. I know this is nothing you would be excited about BFE, but it is what it is, if Marshall is not meant to stay and he could help us land a long term NT, I’d have to consider it.
Bay
They won’t take Marshall…They already have Megatron….No need for two Beasts. IF they wanna help stafford they need to get him a Oline, a running game and a safety blanket better known as a TE….IMO
P.S: Sure Marshall is clearly the better and more accomplished reciever and it would be nice to have both for the Lions but its more of a luxury than a necessity. they are both like 6’4 and weigh the same.
Rams for the number 1 pick and a Marshall package deal.
bay i dont think we will get rid of marshall but guess what i am a marshall supporter too and im thinking that if we go for the #2 then y not go for number 1 even if it is probably higher salary but we could probably get a better deal especially since the rams don’t have a good wide reicever.
Suh and McCoy are both 6′ 4′ and about 300 lbs. Even if that is not a solution for the nose, and that’s highly debatable, we still might be able to get Wilkford for 2 firsts. There is so much yet to happen, I’m glad the time has finally come that there is some movement going on with every teams now, very exciting indeed.
I am on the Suh to Denver movement haha.
Wilfork, I don’t know how the k moved and a d popped in there, LOL.
same here bay this is my favorite time of year or at least March 5 is
My fantasy draft:
Marshall Package deal for 1st overall. Pick Suh, DE
Move back into the 15 from 10/11, Pick Dan Williams for NT
A second rounder we pick up for moving back, Pick Pouncey for Center.
Second second rounder use on either Tony Pike, Brandon Spikes, Terrance Cody or Dexter McCluster.
Iowa, you are right, either or, I heard the Rams may also be interested in trading down.
Should we get a center on free agency and draft another one to learn behind him or just draft one and throw him in at the deep end
The thing is, since most people are saying Marshall is on the way out, and Scheffler is definitely on the way out, we have some amunition to work with and I sure would like to make a splash with it this year unlike last year. Let’s make a mark, go all out, last year strategy did not work out. And that mark better be in the trenches, just saying.
marshisboss, we will probably get one in both the draft and FA and have them fight for the position in preseason.
Casey Rabach is an excellent FA possibility at center, if not, like Aussie says, Pouncey in the draft could be good. If you can find the right guy and the right deal in FA, I see no reason to wait for the draft, the draft is a lottery, someone could pick the guy you coveted right in front of your nose.
And you are screwed, LOL.
We have a pretty big guy as a center if i am correct Dustin Fry 6′ 3″ 326 lbs. Don’t know if he will stick.
Yeah I like the Pouncey brothers big and talented. If he is there in the second I say we grab him. Isn’t Rabach from the skins? I think Casey could end up at the skins for a year or two.
I would love to get Casey Rabach in here or like a lot of us are saying then get Pouncey in the draft but like bay says u could get screwed by aiming at one player in the draft.
Do we have a center to replace weigman? Not upset over Jordan
You are right, didn’t even know that, 2010 pick up, on the reserve team, doesn’t have a number yet.
Aussie, correct, Skins.
Why don’t we give Chris Baker or J’Vonne Parker a chance i know they may not be elite but Baker deserves a shot and they are both pretty big.
Dustin Frye, LOL.
Size is good but you need to have talent to make it in the NFL. I hope Baker pans out.
J’Vonne is an undrafted pick who has been on 5 different teams and has hardly ever played a game, dead weight, perfect prospect for cutting, LOL.
Bay i think you are crazy sometimes. Aussie we dont really know yet what Baker can do how many times have we seen big time college players drafted high and do nothing and the 7th round picks and undrafted players do well with a chance. i.e. Tom Nalen
Parker has the size for nose but like I said above, you need to have talent to make it in the NFL.
Makes a good door stop though, LOL.
Yeah but out of the hundreds of 5+ rounders and undrafted free agents make it?
Yeah, 56 years crazy, life experience will do that to you….
the J’Vonne thing was just because he was already here i think he might get cut too as he was hurt all the time we had him here. But i think Baker deserves a chance I think Marcus Thomas might be done too I expected more from him.
Yeah a few of these guys will get cut, we brought in alot of guys last year to see if any would stick.
i gotta go find some supper but im sure ill see you all on the flip side
See what I meant when I said that finding a franchise NT is harder than finding a franchise QB? LOL
If someone has one they lock him up. So it’s impossible to pick one up in FA. You can draft one but the bust 80% of the time.
Regarding Sue: (That sounds like a name for a really cheap romance novel)
If we draft him and he doesn’t make the pro bowl in the first two years, I would consider him a bust.
A first overall going to a good an adequate team should be automatically good. (See john elway)
I figured out a way for NFL teams to save money. Shorten the draft.
Have all the other players get picked up via undrafted. Spend less money on draft picks, pay less and get the same players cheap
Besides
Lets take the 1990 draft for instance. 10 rounds. Only 10 probowlers after the 4th round.
2 HOF in the entire draft:
Emmit Smith taken in the first round
John Randle undrafted.
1991
8 players made the probowl after the fourth round. No HOFers
1992
7 players made the probowl after the fourth round