For the second straight offseason, the Broncos have made a big trade involving a quarterback. The team’s acquisition of Brady Quinn certainly isn’t as big as the Jay Cutler deal a year ago, but any time a big-name quarterback is involved, it’s news.
As far as the trade itself, the Broncos were in a low-risk, high-reward situation. It was clear that Peyton Hillis was not going to factor in as one of the top two running backs for the Broncos. Head coach Josh McDaniels said on more than one occasion last year that he does not believe in getting three running backs regular reps because he believes that adversely affects the ability for any of these running backs to get into a rhythm.
Even though many fans have clamored for Hillis to get more playing time, it didn’t happen and never was going to happen (barring injury or some unforeseen situation) with Josh McDaniels as the Broncos’ head coach. Whether or not one agrees or disagrees with that makes for a good sports talk show topic or newspaper column, but it doesn’t change the fact that McDaniels did not see Hillis as one of the top couple of running backs. Thus, Hillis was not going to get meaningful playing time on a regular basis.
In making the trade, the Broncos did not take much risk. They packaged a player picked low in the draft (Hillis was a seventh round selection in 2008) and two low future draft picks to get Quinn, who was Cleveland’s first-round selection in 2007.
In Quinn, the Broncos get a player who could have a huge impact. If he turns into the player the Browns thought they were drafting, the Broncos just pulled off one whale of a trade. Of course, if Quinn becomes just another back-up quarterback and Hillis goes crazy in Cleveland, then the Broncos will have made not only a poor trade but also a serious error in evaluating Hillis.
While I believe Hillis is a good player and has ability to offer, I like the trade. There was no reason not to make it. On the surface, they didn’t have to give up a lot. Based on the numbers being reported, the Broncos’ financial risk is low. And at the very least, they increased their talent and depth at the most crucial position on a football team.
This last point is vital. Regardless of how good his team is, NFL head coaches and general managers are always looking to find players who are better than the ones they have. Like it or not, fair or not, that is life in the NFL, period.
Right now, I believe Kyle Orton is the unquestioned starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos. But I also believe that if Brady Quinn shows he is better and convinces the coaching staff that he gives the Broncos a better chance to win than Orton does, then Quinn will be the starting quarterback.
People want to know if the Broncos were sending a message to Orton or making a statement about their confidence in him by trading for another quarterback. I think it is far simpler than that: I believe the Broncos saw an opportunity to acquire a player they believe makes them a better football team and they jumped on that opportunity.
It won’t be long before we start finding out if and how Quinn makes them better.
I know many of you have been weighing in on the deal, but feel free to share your thoughts.
Thanks for reading,
Mike
Tags: Brady Quinn, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Kyle Orton, Trade
Absolutely no doubt in my mind Gerhart would be an upgrade over Hillis. He is a legitimate RB, Hillis just played a little RB in a FB career, no comparaison.
BFE, Where did Andra sign? Buffalo?
I agree, I have nothing bad to say about him. I thought he did a pretty solid job playing the strong side middle LB.
I still believe we are in dire need of some ILB’s. DJ Williams seems like he only plays half the time, other times he is getting pushed back 20 yards cause he don’t get off blocks. This guy racks up tackles but hardly ever at line of scrimmage or behind. We need some studs in the middle like AL W. Havent’ had that since he left and need it to get better on D
I agree Baylin, I’m in my first year teaching at Norco High School. The alma mader (sp?) of Toby Gerhart. His dad is still the head coach. I will be coaching with him next year unless I loose my job because California is broke and can’t affort to pay teachers.
I would be extemely happy if we got Toby. I agree with everything you say about him. He is the real deal. I do not see a down side to him.
As far as Quinn goes,I say give him a chance,I like the kid and think he has great potential,and he won’t start this year because McD will let him sit and learn a year and save 5 mil,but I think he has a good chance to start in 2011,give Quinn or Orton a good line and running game and we are playoff bound.
We as Bronco fans have a lot to look forward to in 2010.GO BRONCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big D 44, hope you keep your job, sounds like a lot of fun, glad to hear from an “insider” who likes Toby.
No dissin DJ he is the best LB we have and I’ve never seen him take plays off,he’s the best all round LB on the team,he can play any position.
DJ is ok, but he is no Al Wilson, I agree we need an upgrade at ILB.
I have to say that when Shanny was the coach it was a little easier for me to pick who we would draft. I was right when we picked Jarvis Moss, DJ Williams, and Al Wilson. The only one that I really did not have any idea about was Jay Cutler.
Now with McD. Well I just have no idea what we will do in the draft. I never expected Moreno last year that is for sure. When I saw Orakpo still there I thought we would take him. As far as this year I would like to see us draft a inside LB first round. That sure is not sayin we will though.
surprisingly I never knew what shanny was drafting but last years all the players I wanted McDaniels drafted.saying that though I realize this year that there are very few players I want we need but there are a couple such as Gerheart ,Golden Tate,or Rolando McClain
I agree 100% DJ is no Al Wilson,who is????????if we are going to upgrade at LB though DJ and Doom would be the last ones to go.Ayers will step up this year,and we will be better at strong side with an upgrade over Davis,and with the emergence of our Dline,our LB’s will be fine,I’m not worried….Anyone know what happened to Kelly Braxton LB??? don’t see him on our roster.
There will be no other Al Wilson…His physical presence and leadership skills were unmatched…but dont u dare doubt DJ….He is a phenomenal LB that has played every position at LB when we needed it (inside, outside, 4-3, 3-4). He is a complete LB, He is the only one i trust in coverage and he is a sure tackler….and no disrespect to Al Wilson but DJs career stats in 6 years even to Al Wilsons in 7. Also Al Wilson played at a time when our DL was respectable with the like sof trevor price on it. We have been saying it. If the line men do thier jobs our LBs will do much better. I actually believe DJ is underated….his stats speak for themselves…look at them. Sure he can get better, but he is still only just 27.
@ TRB…. amen brother! al wilson was one of a kind for sure! and MAN was he a presence! i still remember that game i think it was agains KC like his last season where he jumped over the pile and met the RB in mid air and just crushed him! soooooo cool!! i miss that kinda physicality from our LB’s. DJ is a very good LB but stats can be misleading and he IMO in no where near wilson! just my 2 cents tho
Im love this trade but… I cant understand why people think having Gerhart would be an upgrade over Hillis. The biggest difference is Hillis has showed he can play in the NFL but Im not trying to say Gerhart cant. Hillis played more than just RB and FB I remember him in the TE position back in 08′ againts the Dolphins.
hey guys its possible to change your handle isnt it? ive had this one for years and want to change it! can i do it under the message boards?
Too bad LeGarrette Bloutn is such a character question mark…would like him, tham man is a bruiser.
But i would also like Gehart…so he can be our RB so we can stop the talk about no white running backs and how the NFL is racist towards white running backs since many are suggesting he will be a fullback. Sure there are’nt any but most white guys that try to be running backs are usually bruisers big, tall, 230 plus…..that tends to fall in the FB teritory because they are usually more raw than fluid…No fancy juking, no spins, no crazy speed. just raw power. Kinda puts u in the FB territory. Luckily we dont use FBs so Gehart will undoubtedly be a reciever. And isnt justice fargas white or something?
RayJr
i think the only way to change it is to create a new account but i could be mistaking….a new account will require a new email address and all that….
Hey Cali. Gerhart is from Cali. so you should like him right. haha jk. Actually Gerhart is the all time leading rusher in California at the high school level.
Believe me, I really really really liked Hillis. I wanted to see him utilized as a Bronco. He is good, but Gerhart is either as good or better in all faucets of the game. With the one exception being that Hillis played fullback and that is not Gerharts position.
But really it doesn’t matter because we the draft has not come yet and I have no idea if McD will take him. I man can have his hopes though.
Wow, I must be tired. A lot of errors in my last post. Oh well, you guys/gals get the point. lol
faucets was the funny one, LOL.
not receiver i meant Running Back*
and yes…i found faucet hillarios too lol
@TRB ya man i had to create a new acct! bummer. oh well. from this point on i shall no longer be called rayjr26… i will now be know as wRayBronco79.
Go Broncos
“THE BATTLE IS WON IN THE TRENCHES”
Thanks guys, I’m glad my brain farts entertain you all as well. lmao Faucets, now that is funny. Sounds like a leaky situation.
YES! …. leaky indeed.
Mike Bell signed with the Eagles.
Andra Davis signed with the Bills.
thanks for that article BFE92,
sorry florio for not clearing that up,,i read it from the same place BFE got it….
Toby Gerhart reminds me of a former Stanford bruiser named Brad Muster. I visited one my relatives attending Stanford back in the ’80s and saw Brad Muster run the ball for the Cardinal. (He was TOUGH!)Muster was drafted by the Chicago Bears but spent most of his career blocking for RB – Neal Anderson. Muster and Gerhart are two of five Stanford RB’s to rush over 1,000 yds in one season for the Cardinal.
Muster – 6’3″ 235 lbs. Gerhart – 6’1″ 235 lbs.
Big D im a Bruins fan so I wasnt much of a Toby last year. But its totally different now he’s possibly gona be a Bronco and Im all for it. I just hope he isnt Hillis replacement becuase if he is…. well you know what happend to Hillis
I forgot to add the word fan after Toby
I’m out in Cali and jahvid best got all the hype not gerhart. From some reason the media, radio, etc kept him under the radar. I agree with Cali though. We saw what hillis could do at the NFL level. Gerhart has never stepped on the field for an NFL game. Darren mcfadden looked amazing in college. Bad in NFL. Even Reggie bush. He dominated in college but not pros, although he has turned it up a bit but mike bell played dam good for saints
We need to get more weapons PERIOD. D. Bryant 11th, Toby in the second and go nuts with the rest, just get the “O” some weapons. I love the 3 way battle will have in the off season at the QB position but whomever emerges with the job needs weapons. B. Marsh, E. Royal, Jabar, McKinney, Stokeman, Moreno,Buck. Add (A) C.J.Spiller or D.Bryant, or Toby, the Clemson speedster/returner, WEAPONS, WEAPONS,WEAPONS. What I’m trying to say is whoever is at the helm they are going to need WEAPONS. Go Broncos!!!
Remember we were in 4 wide , one back in most of the offensive sets, WE NEED WEAPONS did I mention thart we need WEAPONS from this draft, I hope someone out there agrees that we need WEAPONS to make Mc Genius’s offense go. WEAPONS,WEAPONS,WEAPONS, Go Broncos!!!
I think Quinn was in a crappy situation with the browns…no big name receivers (minus braylon who was goin downhill)…no running game to speak of and an ok but not great O-line…I think Brady and Kyle should fight it out but if Quinn looks better beyond a reasonable doubt he should get the start…but I dont know that Quinn is good enough to help denver now but if he improves over the next year he will make McD look like the genious he’s SUPPOSED to be.
Lindsay Jones just reported that Bailey said he hasn’t talked to Marshall since the Pro bowl and he was gonna call him to see “where he’s going”.
Just reporting what I read in the DP briefs, not trying to analyze it, you guys make out what you want of it.
I’m not going to bother you with what I’m thinking will happen, but I figured it would give you guys something to talk about tonight, LOL.
royalbroncofan1…excellent analogy regarding Toby Gerhart and Brad Muster. Muster played at Stanford in the years just before I attended Cal. He was a terrific player. He could run, catch, block and do it all. Loved watching him play but hated the fact he played for our rival. He was pretty darn good in the NFL, too.
In addition, Brad played high school football at a school in the same conference as the high school I went to and Brad’s father, Bob, was the football coach at my high school. Small world.
Mike
I like Quinn. I wanted him here when Cutler was traded.
Orton’s great, too.
No matter who gets the starting position, we’ll have a good quarterback this year. Both guys have started in the NFL, and they’re different types of QB’s. Orton’s more conservative, and Quinn is still a young gun. I think Orton starts this year, Quinn learns from him how to be smart with the ball, and in 2010 we’ll see a really good quarterback battle between Orton, Quinn, and, oh yeah, I’ll say it, Brandstater. If Orton makes playoffs and wins a game or two, he’s starting for a while longer. If he makes playoffs and loses, we’ll see the three battle for starter. If we don’t make the playoffs with Orton at QB, Quinn will most likely start in 2011. I could also see this year going like the ’07 season with Plummer and Cutler. If Orton just isn’t getting the job done, Quinn will go in.
The best and most explosive running back in the draft is Jahvid Best. He is also an exceptional receiver. If he stays reasonably healthy in the NFL every team that passes on him will rue the day. The problem is that drafting him would make either Buckhalter or Moreno the odd man out and we still wouldn’t have a short yardage big back. If the Broncos only would have drafted Orakpo last year at 11 instead of Moreno the perfect fit would be available for him. A receiver who flying under the radar is
Donario Alexander from Missouri. Go watch him on youtube. He is 6’5″, fast, strong, athletic and has good hands. He looks like a Brnadon Marshall clone, except faster. He oozes pro potential. Incredibly he is not listed on any of the so called draft experts top ten list of receivers. He could very well be available in the second or even third round, like Marshall was.
The reason Danario Alexander isn’t listed on anyone’s mock drafts is probably due to his being prone to knee injuries. He’s had 3 or 4 surgeries already, I think. The last injury was during practice for the Senior Bowl and he was not even sure how he injured it for sure. He has missed his chance to impress scouts already as he still couldn’t participate in either the combine or MU’s Pro Day due to the latest knee surgery. He will not be an option for us or probably anyone IMO.
Quinn a good quarterback? he has not proven to be a winner. I really hope that he can have a new start and show us something I have’nt seen yet.
Mike,
Wow – small world. Thanks for feedback re: Brad Muster. I believe he was from Novato Ca. Gerhart is built just like Muster and has similiar running style. It would be great to land Gerhart here in Denver. Gerhart is also a California product but he’s from from Southern Cal…. Norco. I also have family in Northern Cal… beautiful area.
Tom Brandstater is also from Northern California as well.. (Turlock Ca).
one things for sure, he can’t play any worse than Simms did and I was one of the few who thought Simms would subplant orton into bacup hood, maybe Quinn can be the talent tha he was in College and thought the Browns goti the draft, but even if he doesnt produce,, Orton can feel more confident that if he gets hurt like last year,( he wont have to play on a severly injured ankle) which I believe cost us the playoffs, if Simms could have won the Oakland game , we would have been in, instead he sucked and Orton was forced to play from behind with avery bad injury. Like I said. Quin cant be any worse thaan Simms and hopefully much better, if he rturns to College form in a system hes familiar with, he could be Great. Go Broncos!
Quinn was not managed well at all. Same as all the previous QB’s in Cleveland. Glad he will have a chance to have support, and proper
coaching. Lets see what he can do.
Lets get off the cannot throw as per Cleveland. He had no line, no one
to throw to, no Offensive coaching, no head coach. Same ole story in
Cleveland. For all these years all QB’s were ditched. Why?
royalbroncofan1…you are correct, Brad Muster is from Novato and he played football at San Marin HS. I went to San Rafael, where Brad’s father coached at the time.
I really do like Gerhart, too. I have no idea how good of a pro he’ll be but he was fun to watch in college, even though it pains me to say that about a Stanford guy!
Mike
guess everyone has forgotten that we drafted a RB last yr…..the one in the draft……how bout we give the guy a chance……..he did lead all rookies in rushin last yr….dont know what u guys see in Hillis….he had a decent yr but is he reallt the answer……..if we draft a back in the first rd ill scream