The building process continues for the 2009 Denver Broncos. This week, Head Coach Josh McDaniels released the first depth chart of training camp. While a part of me believes too much is made of the depth chart, especially the first one, I also find it fun to look it over.
Some impressions:
1) There aren’t any huge surprises. There is no 2009 Mike Bell, the free agent running back who found himself atop the depth chart a few seasons ago. Mario Haggan listed at first team outside linebacker is probably the most unexpected placing.
Don’t read into Brandon Marshall being a second-team wide receiver. Brandon has been injured virtually all of training camp and he won’t play in the pre-season opener Friday night. As of now, Marshall as a second team wide receiver is a non-issue.
2) Even without Marshall most of camp, the Broncos have some quality wide receivers. Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley and Jabar Gaffney are the number ones right now and a team could certainly do worse than that. Plus, Marshall is clearly still a top receiver, with veteran Brandon Lloyd a second-teamer. Young guys like Nate Swift, Kenny McKinley, Matthew Willis and Travis Shelton will be fun to watch in the pre-season. Oh yeah, Chad Jackson is on the roster, too.
3) Several guys stand out as being at a crossroads. Jarvis Moss, Tim Crowder, Josh Barrett, and Jeb Putzier come to mind in this regard. These are familiar names to Broncos’ fans but is there room on the roster for them? They’ll all have the chance to state their cases in the next four weeks.
4) When I see the depth in the secondary, I get excited. I love the mix of experience and youth. Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill are the starting safeties, with draft picks David Bruton and Darcel McBath as the back-ups.
Champ Bailey and Andre Goodman are the top corners. Behind them are Alphonso Smith and Jack Williams. Nice.
I know the young guys haven’t done anything in any kind of game yet. But as the Broncos head into the pre-season opener, I like the defensive backfield.
5) How long will it take for running back Knowshon Moreno to climb the depth chart? We all know he won’t be the fourth-string running back for long.
6) Seeing all the defensive linemen on one sheet of paper makes me realize how many questions there are with this group. I know, that isn’t exactly a news flash. I still believe this unit will be better than many people think it will, but there isn’t one guy who has been a standout player yet in his career.
How good will the starters (Ryan McBean and Kenny Peterson at end and Ronald Fields at nose tackle) be? Fields is getting his first opportunity to be a starter, as is Peterson. McBean, while seemingly talented, has played in one NFL game in his first two years in the league.
Of the second-team defensive linemen, Marcus Thomas (DE), Matthias Askew (DE) and Chris Baker (NT), only Thomas has appreciable NFL experience, if two years qualifies as such.
As mentioned earlier, I am going to wait and see how this group develops. That process begins at the end of the week.
I’m not usually much of a fan of the NFL preseason. But this year is different. There have been so many changes for the Broncos, with a brand new coaching staff and a lot of turnover on the roster. I am both interested and excited to see how this team will come together.
As a personal added bonus, this preseason opener will be extra special since I’ll have the opportunity to work the broadcast from a different perspective. Normally I am in the studio hosting the pregame, halftime and postgame shows. Friday night I’ll be in the booth calling the game as Dave Logan’s color analyst.
Candlestick Park holds many memories for me. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I rooted for the 49ers. And when I was in college at Cal, I worked for CBS (when the network aired NFC games) at many 49ers games.
I hope you enjoy Friday’s game as much as I will. If you have a moment, let me know what you think of the depth chart. I always enjoy reading your comments.
Best,
Mike
Tags: Preseason, San Francisco 49ers
first and let bust some 49ers a$$
I made a mock depth chart a week after the draft, mine was almost insynch with the real one except of course I had Reid starting not Haggan.
Moreno will be at least @ #2 by the Seahawks game. He is the real deal.
:)
on a personal note Ill be at the Seattle Game and I cant wait!
Mike-
Have you had the chance to watch any of the practices?
I’m curious what players on the D-line have gotten your attention. I noticed Powell is 3rd on the depth chart. I know the depth chart at this point in time is some what irrelevant, but I have been looking forward to seeing him play since last year and am hoping he makes the team.
What are your thoughts?
WHAT PLAYERS ON THE ONLINE HAVE GOTTEN YOUR ATTENTION?
Hey mike, great post as usual. And I also agree with the battle on the D line. Should make for a great competition and only good can come from that. I think its also great to get some background from ya. So are you going to be calling the game on NFL network? If so, just better not be biased when hosting. Well its ok if you are biased for the broncs. lol we have enough naysayers as it is.
Just quick question, how to you think Fields will do at NT being the cornerstone of the 3-4? I still dont understand why we didnt go out and get one in FA or draft. I hope the staff knows what they are doing, which I’m sure they do.
Can’t wait till friday. I feel the same way about the preseason this year. I normally don’t care too much, but like you said, with all the changes in the offseason should make for a very interesting one.
Hey Mike,
Congratulations on the game calling! I also appreciate your comments regarding the depth chart. You can see how some national media centers are putting WAY to much into this depth chart. Trying to sprinkle in angles such as motivation, stardum gut check (Marshall), or anything else is completely ridiculous!
Lastly, I am a HUGE! believer in change. Although extremely difficult at times it can foster something very special. I think about the men that will be able to dawn that field on Friday. Yes it’s a preseason game. However, I believe that the greatest opportunity is to receive one!
We all want that one chance. With a new coaching staff brings that opportunity. The opportunity to be a player! Read Daniel Grahm’s quote regarding what this game means and I think we all can agree that this team is different in many facets.
Let’s raise a diet pepsi toast to a healthy and exciting game on Friday. Let us return our boys free of injury and full of confidence!
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
Well put Broncfalls!!!! Change, alot of times, is good. Sometimes when things are stagnant, it helps to shake things up a bit. And yes ALWAYS hope and pray for the health and wellbeing of the players.
Hey, Mike. The only surprise to me really, was Haggan -vs- Reid and the RB roster. As you said, don’t put too much into it but I just don’t understand Torain being so far back? I’ve heard nothing but praise and I would be extremely disappointed in the staff if they were to let him go. I feel he adds the 1-2 punch with Moreno (Hillis too). Hard to imagine Jordan and Bucky being over him or Hillis?
Looking forward to watching the game. We will be critiquing not only the Broncos, but you also, as a color commentator, ha, ha. Don’t let us down.
Mr. Rice, you are my favorite writer on this here website… glad to hear you’re gonna be in the booth for this game.
I think you have the depth dead-on right now… and I agree with the D-line… They’re gonna be better, but how much? Hopefully they all get in synch as the year rolls on and become a dominating force for our D.
Mike I always love your blogs.
I am the same with you this preseason….at this point…I don’t really care what happens this year except it is going to be interesting to watch! If they play well thats great….if not…we all know its a work in progress.
Mike..nice gig with Logan. I met him in his playing days.
5 RB’s, one for Jordan or Torain or Walker.
Kenny Peterson has started but I love the anticipation of youth. And from day one Coach Nunnely has praised McBean and Askew. Quitely Baker has ‘pushed’ into second NT. NICE
Crowder, Moss, Bell and Fox on the bubble. IMO they keep 8 DL. Davis to PS. 8 LB’s with Robinson to PS. 9 DB’s with Johnson to PS.
Neighborhood HI to DD, stay cool.
U guys forget that with this newly installed 3-4 concept this def will be different from week to week. The only names you will hear is from the LB ‘s that getting the most pressure and the secondary who will rep all the benifits of pressure and the safeties with all the blind hits from throwing the ball up from the pressure key word pressure . So it really dont matter who is on the line they wont stand out that much in our eyes in the game just know they are doing there job when other teams stay negative in the running yards and they become predictableand throw the ball on every down so remember you heard it here first Pick the Broncos def’ in all the fantasy leagues
Hey Dan. I’m not going to the broncos bar this Friday. It’s preseason and a Friday night game. The bar will have karaoke starting up in the middle of the game. The big screen will be shut off and the sound turned off. They don’t do that kind of stuff in regular season. I want to watch the game with sound. Staying home. Look to see you during regular season, though. I’ll also let you know when I start writing for Fan Huddle this fall. We’re getting closer and picking a name for our blog.
meant on the O-line and D-line?
broncos are going to candle stick with a chip on thier shoulders so “BIG”. i can’t type want i want to on this site so GO BRONCOS!!!!!
this is the ressurection, death rides on the pale white horse and death to all that come against us.
I like the combination of Andra Davis and D.J. Williams on the inside. I’m skeptical about the progress of the two outside linebacker spots though. Can’t wait to see how it all comes together.
Tear ‘em up D
I can’twait to seeall the pressure we put on san frans quarter backs this friday.
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcwest/0-3-2610/Denver-s-Torain-has-strained-knee-ligament.html
usually dont even care bout preseason but like some of u all said we had a lot of good change and i think our team can get into playoffs tis season but im surprised knowshon moreno is 4th string . im thinking for sure he will get the starting spot by beginning of season. i think we will be shown by alphonso smith that he was worth a first round pick during this year if not this year than the next or the next but im positive alphonso smith was worth a first round pick
Go Broncos
Hey Torain ATV
Too bad the broncos just put Ryan on the waived injured list, I remember last year when Shanny called him the next TD
Crap… that really sucks for Him and us… we needed each other… Sucks that a talent such as his (pretty darn good in college) is brought to an end constatntly because of injuries… Best of luck to you Ryan Torain…
thats sad…i dont beleive he was the BEST, but if buckhalter and hillis are above you, that doesnt mean your in bad shape
That’s too bad about Torain. I was pulling for you kid.
Best wishes to you Ryan Torain…..
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_13046080s.
i like torain but i feel it was best that he went.
Here’s a short video on Marcus Thomas.. from UTEP.
http://www.onnetworks.com/videos/draftguys-tv/profile—marcus-thomas—rb
I’m ready for the game at San Francisco. I can hardly believe we’re at this point, but the NFL will soon see just how good these Broncos are. Things will be excellent this season. GO BRONCOS!!!
Those guys in the begining of the vid are CHEESY… but aside from that, this guy seems like he could help out. Just wish there was game film and not practice (no contact) film…
Thanks for the post Mr. Rice,
Can’t wait to hear you and Mr. Logan call the game.
TIME OF POSSESSION ! ! !
GO BRONCOS ! ! !