The Broncos will begin the 2015 season tomorrow as training camp opens in Dove Valley. The Broncos come into the season as the four-time defending AFC West champs, and they are looking for their fifth straight playoff appearance. A lot has changed for the Broncos since last year. A new head coach, new players, and a new focus for a team that still has high hopes and expectations. Let's break down the Broncos as they head into training camp.
Where We Left Off: The last time we saw the Broncos officially in action was a very depressing 24-13 loss at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts in Denver during the AFC Divisional Playoffs. The game featured a wounded and injured Peyton Manning, a poor effort from basically the entire team, and an absolute mail-in performance by the coaching staff including John Fox, Jack Del Rio, and Adam Gase. As Manning was walking off the field that day, his future was in certain, and you could sense the Broncos were going to go through a lot of changes as a result of that loss.
What Happened Since?: John Elway and John Fox decided to mutually part ways the day after the season ended, and Elway went back to find an old friend, Gary Kubiak, to come in and become the Broncos new head coach. Kubiak brought in Broncos alums Wade Phillips to run the defense and Rick Dennison to run the offensive side of the ball. Manning went back and forth on retirement for about a month, but he ultimately decided to come back and play in 2015, albeit with a pay cut in the process. Denver lost some big free agents in Julius Thomas, Orlando Franklin, Terrence Knighton, and Rahim Moore. The Broncos didn't make any real big splashes in free agency like they did in the previous years, but they signed some low-level guys like Darian Stewart, Vance Walker, Antonio Smith (Pending legal issues), Shelley Smith, Gino Gradkowski, and Ryan Harris. Derek Wolfe got suspended for the first four games of the season due to a PED issue. The Broncos traded up and moved Manny Ramirez to the Lions in the process of drafting pass rusher Shane Ray late in the first round of the NFL Draft. The team has certainly turned over some of their key players from the last two years, and it will be interesting to see how well some of these new and younger players develop in a team that is still designed to win now.
Position Battles at Camp: The big position battles will occur on the offensive line. With Ryan Clady out for the season due to an ACL injury suffered in OTAs, the Broncos will need to see some young guys step in on key spots on the offensive front. Chris Clark will fight for the RT spot with veteran Ryan Harris. Ben Garland and Shelley Smith will battle it out for the LG position, and Matt Paradis and Gino Gradkowski will be in competition for the center position.
Surprise Roster Cuts: Maybe if a guy like Clark gets beat out badly or Harris just doesn't have it, then one of them might get cut. Obviously, if Antonio Smith's legal issues are a problem, then he will get the boot as well. If Omar Bolden doesn't continue to make an impression as a kick returner, then I could see him being the odd man out in a loaded secondary.
Out of Nowhere Players: Wide receiver Jordan Norwood was going to make the team last year as a reserve player and as a returner, but he got injured late in the preseason and was put on injured reserve. Now, he has a chance to return from injury and flash the skills that would have earned him a roster spot last year. Look out for Norwood this camp.
Biggest Questions That Need To Be Answered: The Broncos have a lot of questions heading into training camp. The offensive line will be question mark once camp gets underway. Who will step up and start? How will young guys like Ty Sambraillo, Michael Schofield, and Matt Paradis fit into the scheme of things up front? The health of Peyton Manning and how he transitions into a new offense will be a question, but Manning might not be something Bronco fans should really worry about. The Broncos have a lot more questions this year than in previous years. The last two years the questions were if the Broncos were going to win the Super Bowl or not. This year the questions are certainly different and more challenging.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Broncos Sign Demaryius Thomas to Five-Year Deal
The Broncos and Demaryius Thomas agreed on a new five-year contract worth $70 million with $43.5 guaranteed. The Broncos have now locked up one of their top players. If the deal was not made by 4:00pm EST, then Thomas would have played this year under the Franchise tag at just over $12 million, but the Broncos and Thomas would not have been able to negotiate a new deal under next March. It was a win-win for both sides. The Broncos structured it to be guarantee heavy in the first few years of the deal, and they have some relief after a couple of years, and Thomas gets the long-term deal that he was hoping for. The Broncos had to be able to lock Thomas up long term and they were able to do that. Now, Denver doesn't have to worry about DT holding out and missing the preseason and training camp. He will be there, with a fresh new contract, and the Broncos can focus on turning him loose with Peyton Manning for another season and another shot at the Lombardi Trophy.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
10 Facts About….The 1996 Denver Broncos
I continue with our series with 10 Facts About a particular Broncos team in history. Today's team is the 1996 Denver Broncos. Let's take a look at this squad from back in the mid-1990s…
1) The Broncos were 12-1 at one point in the 1996 season. They finished 13-3 and tied for the best record in the NFL that year with Green Bay.
2) Terrell Davis really jumped on the scene during this year. He was the Broncos leading rusher with 1,538 yards and 13 touchdowns. His signature game was a performance over the Ravens in a 45-34 Week 8 win. He rushed for 194 yards on 28 carries and added 2 touchdowns.
3) The Broncos leading receiver in all three major categories in 1996 was none other than Shannon Sharpe. The future Hall of Famer posted big numbers with 80 receptions for 1,062 yards and 10 touchdowns. Rod Smith finished the year with only 16 receptions for 237 yards and 2 touchdowns.
4) At age 32, Tyrone Braxton led the Broncos with 9 interceptions that year. Steve Atwater and Bill Romanowski both finished second on the team with 3 interceptions each.
5) Alfred Williams, who would eventually become a popular sports talk radio host in Denver, led the team with 13 sacks.
6) The Broncos scored 391 points that year for an average of 24.4 points per game. The offense posted six games in which they scored 30 or more points. The defense was stingy in 1996. They allowed 275 points per game which averaged to only 17.2 points allowed. Denver's defense held opposing offenses to under 20 points in a game 11 times during the season.
7) You have to save the number 7 spot for John Elway. Elway was great in 1996. At the age of 36, Elway finished 287-466 for a completion percentage of 61.6%. He threw for 3,328 yards and 26 touchdowns with 14 interceptions. It is pretty obvious that Elway benefitted from the direction of head coach Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak.
8) The Broncos finished 8-0 at home in the old Mile High Stadium. Their closest home games were a pair of wins over NFC Central foes. The Broncos defeated the Buccaneers late in Week 3 27-23, and they held off the Bears in Week 11 17-12 with a goal-line stand at the end of the game.
9) The Broncos raced out to a 7-1 start in their first eight games, but their November was a month to remember in 1996. They beat the Raiders in Oakland in Week 10 on Monday Night Football when John Elway hit Rod Smith for the game-winning 49 yard touchdown pass to win 22-21. They followed that up with the thrilling late game win over the Bears at home. The next game will be remembered for the beatdown of the Patriots up in Foxborough. Denver won easily 34-8 in a matchup of the two best teams in the AFC at the time. Shannon Sharpe's famous "Call the President because we are killing the Patriots" line will always be the defining moment of that game. The following week, Denver stole a win over the Vikings in the Metrodome on a late touchdown pass from Elway to Ed McCaffrey on a play that saw the ball get tipped by two Viking defenders near the goaline and land in McCaffrey's hands for the winning score.
10) Sadly, the 1996 Broncos will be remembered for going 13-3 and losing at home in Mile High to the huge underdog Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Divisional Playoffs by a score of 30-27. Denver led the game 12-0, and then the game turned into the Mark Brunell show. The Broncos late rally fell short, and the game was one of the biggest upsets in NFL Playoff history.
1) The Broncos were 12-1 at one point in the 1996 season. They finished 13-3 and tied for the best record in the NFL that year with Green Bay.
2) Terrell Davis really jumped on the scene during this year. He was the Broncos leading rusher with 1,538 yards and 13 touchdowns. His signature game was a performance over the Ravens in a 45-34 Week 8 win. He rushed for 194 yards on 28 carries and added 2 touchdowns.
3) The Broncos leading receiver in all three major categories in 1996 was none other than Shannon Sharpe. The future Hall of Famer posted big numbers with 80 receptions for 1,062 yards and 10 touchdowns. Rod Smith finished the year with only 16 receptions for 237 yards and 2 touchdowns.
4) At age 32, Tyrone Braxton led the Broncos with 9 interceptions that year. Steve Atwater and Bill Romanowski both finished second on the team with 3 interceptions each.
5) Alfred Williams, who would eventually become a popular sports talk radio host in Denver, led the team with 13 sacks.
6) The Broncos scored 391 points that year for an average of 24.4 points per game. The offense posted six games in which they scored 30 or more points. The defense was stingy in 1996. They allowed 275 points per game which averaged to only 17.2 points allowed. Denver's defense held opposing offenses to under 20 points in a game 11 times during the season.
7) You have to save the number 7 spot for John Elway. Elway was great in 1996. At the age of 36, Elway finished 287-466 for a completion percentage of 61.6%. He threw for 3,328 yards and 26 touchdowns with 14 interceptions. It is pretty obvious that Elway benefitted from the direction of head coach Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak.
8) The Broncos finished 8-0 at home in the old Mile High Stadium. Their closest home games were a pair of wins over NFC Central foes. The Broncos defeated the Buccaneers late in Week 3 27-23, and they held off the Bears in Week 11 17-12 with a goal-line stand at the end of the game.
9) The Broncos raced out to a 7-1 start in their first eight games, but their November was a month to remember in 1996. They beat the Raiders in Oakland in Week 10 on Monday Night Football when John Elway hit Rod Smith for the game-winning 49 yard touchdown pass to win 22-21. They followed that up with the thrilling late game win over the Bears at home. The next game will be remembered for the beatdown of the Patriots up in Foxborough. Denver won easily 34-8 in a matchup of the two best teams in the AFC at the time. Shannon Sharpe's famous "Call the President because we are killing the Patriots" line will always be the defining moment of that game. The following week, Denver stole a win over the Vikings in the Metrodome on a late touchdown pass from Elway to Ed McCaffrey on a play that saw the ball get tipped by two Viking defenders near the goaline and land in McCaffrey's hands for the winning score.
10) Sadly, the 1996 Broncos will be remembered for going 13-3 and losing at home in Mile High to the huge underdog Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Divisional Playoffs by a score of 30-27. Denver led the game 12-0, and then the game turned into the Mark Brunell show. The Broncos late rally fell short, and the game was one of the biggest upsets in NFL Playoff history.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
10 Facts About……The 1988 Denver Broncos
July is the dead month in the NFL calendar. There is a month to go before training camp, and there will be little news to write about, so I figured it would be a good time to try something new. I decided to go back and write a column about a particular team in Broncos history. Each column will feature "10 Facts About" that particular team. I decided to take a different team from the era from which I started rooting for the Broncos (1984 to the present.) I randomly selected a team out of a hat. For the first column, I selected a team from the 1980s. Next time, I pick a team from the 1990s, after that the 2000s and so on and so forth. Today, I start the series off with 10 Facts About the 1988 Denver Broncos. This should be a fun way to kill time before training camp, and it will give Broncos fans something interesting to learn about a Broncos team from the past. Enjoy and maybe you'll learn something along the way.
10 Facts About…….The 1988 Denver Broncos
1) The Broncos finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs after winning back-to-back AFC Championships in 1986 and 1987 and appearing in Super Bowls XXI and XXII. This was the first non-winning season for the Broncos since 1980 (Not counting the 2-7 1982 strike-shortened season.)
2) Denver opened the season at home in Mile High Stadium against then division rival Seattle Seahawks and promptly lost 21-14.
3) The Broncos finished a dismal 2-6 that year on the road. Among those defeats featured some blowout losses in which they gave up 39 points to Pittsburgh, 55 points to Indy, 42 points to the Saints, and 42 points to Seattle.
4) As defending AFC Champions, Denver played two Monday Night Football games in 1988. They lost Week 4 at home to the Raiders in overtime 30-27, and they got crushed 55-23 to the Colts in Indy on Halloween night.
5) The Broncos leading rusher in 1988 was former Cowboy and future Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett. Dorsett ran for 703 yards and scored 5 rushing touchdowns that season. The Broncos leading receiver was Vance Johnson, who caught 68 passes for 896 yards and 5 touchdowns. Mark Jackson finished second on the team in receiving with 46 catches for 852 yards and 6 touchdowns.
6) John Elway started 15 of 16 games in 1988 at quarterback. Gary Kubiak, Elway's longtime backup, started 1 game for the injured Elway. In Week 8 at Pittsburgh, Kubiak went 15-27 for 157 yards with 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. The Broncos lost 39-21 to the eventual 5-11 Steelers.
7) Speaking of #7 himself, Elway didn't have the best year of his career in 1988. Elway finished 274-496 with a completion % of 55.2. He threw for 3,309 yards and 17 touchdowns and 19 interceptions for a QB rating of 71.4 and an 8-7 record as a starter. That was probably one of the main reasons why the Broncos finished 8-8 and out of the playoffs.
8) The Broncos leading sacker for 1988 was old reliable Simon Fletcher. #73 finished with 9 sacks. Mike Harden led the team with 4 interceptions.
9) The Broncos best win for 1988 was when they defeated the eventual Super Bowl Champion 49ers in Week 6 in Candlestick Park 16-13 in overtime. Vance Johnson's 8 yard touchdown catch from John Elway tied the game at 13 in the 4th quarter, and Rich Karlis won the game with a 22 yard field goal. The Broncos worst loss came at the hands of the New Orleans Saints in Week 12. The 6-5 Broncos traveled to the Super Dome and got embarrassed by a score of 42-0.
10) At 7-6, the Broncos still had a chance to win the AFC West and make the playoffs. They had to go to Los Angeles to play the Raiders in Week 14 and Seattle in Week 15 to have a chance to win the division. Denver lost to the Raiders 21-20 in LA in a game in which they were down 21-0 only to rally to make it 21-20 before losing. This was before the NFL adopted the 2-point conversion, so Denver trailed 21-13 when they scored a touchdown in the 4th quarter, but the Broncos had to kick an extra point instead of having the opportunity to go for 2 and tie the game at 21. The Broncos followed up this loss with a resounding defeat at the hands of the Seahawks on ESPN Sunday Night Football the following week in Seattle. The Seahawks jumped out to a 28-7 lead at the half before cruising to an easy 42-14 win over Denver. Seattle won the division at 9-7 after defeated the Raiders in LA in final week of the season.
Broncos Summer Mailbag
OTAs and Minicamps are just about over. The draft is a memory, and the new draft picks are adjusting to life as a Bronco. Free agents are in their new homes with the exception of a few veterans. Now is the time the NFL goes away for a little downtime and the anticipation and preparation begins for training camp at the end of July. Before we get to that, let's look at some of the key questions the Broncos face as they head into summer. These are things that I know I will be thinking about when I am on a beach somewhere this summer about the Broncos and their 2015 campaign.
Will Demaryius Thomas and tbe Broncos agree on a new contract before the July 15th deadline?
From everything you have read it sounds like Demaryius and the Broncos will not get a long term deal done by July 15th, which means he will play 2015 under the Franchise Tag. This will come down to that deadline because that is how it usually works. Both sides will make a push right at the end, but I don't think both sides will get a deal done, and look for DT and Denver to play this year under the cloud of the Franchise agreement.
How will his absence in minicamp and OTAs affect the team and his performance when he comes back?
I don't think that his absence will have a major impact in his ability to pick up the offense, get his timing with Peyton Manning and acclimating himself to the new coaching staff. The one area that will be worth watching is if he stays healthy once he starts practicing. When a player is on his own, the staff has no control over his workout regiment; therefore, Thomas might not be in optimal shape when he returns in training camp which leads to the inevitable hamstring or quad injury that will likely take place at some point.
How devastating was/is the injury to Ryan Clady?
Losing Ryan Clady for the season on the first day of OTAs is a major problem for this team. When you lose one of your best players and the key protector of your QB, then that is a concern. This will have an impact on the Broncos this season for sure. The only good thing about it is that Denver has had all spring and the upcoming summer to find a solution. Rookie Ty Sambrailo is first up to get a chance to replace Clady. Chris Clark, who filled in for Clady after Week 2 in Denver's 2013 Super Bowl season, is another possibility. At least time is on the Broncos side in trying to find an adequate replacement for Clady.
How can the Broncos settle their offensive line for training camp?
It is amazing that the Broncos offensive line is the biggest question mark heading into training camp-and that was before they lost Ryan Clady for the season. Here is how I look at their line heading into camp: LT-Ty Sambrailo LG-Shelley Smith C-Gino Gradkowski RG-Louis Vasquez RT-Chris Clark. That is not exactly the greatest collection of household names. The key will be the young guys: How does Michael Schofield, Matt Paradis, Max Garcia, and Ben Garland develop? If 1 or 2 of those guys step up and get into the starting spot, then the Broncos will be okay. If not, then this line could be a problem all year long.
How will Gary Kubiak handle this team in his first training camp as Broncos coach?
I didn't mind the hiring of Kubiak at all. I thought he did a pretty good job in Houston turning that franchise around. As a former Bronco player and assistant coach, it is nice to see him come back and be the new head coach. I think he does have a lot of pressure taking over a team that won 13, 13, and 12 games the last three years. I think the change from John Fox to Gary Kubiak will energize the players and add some motivation to a group that ended last year in a very disappointing way. One thing I know will be certain: He will be a better in-game decision maker and game manager than John Fox was.
What is the strength of this team heading into July and August?
The Broncos defense is the strength. They have a pass rush, versatile linemen, depth at linebacker, and a secondary with depth and pure skill. Add a veteran defensive coordinator like Wade Phillips and this defense could be pretty scary-especially if they get a lead.
How are the expectations different this summer as opposed to last?
Last year heading into the summer it was "Super Bowl or Bust." There was no way around it, and the Broncos were the favorite in the AFC coming off a Super Bowl appearance and splashy free agent additions like DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward and Emmanuel Sanders. This summer it feels really different. Right now, the Broncos are probably slotted behind New England, Indy, Baltimore and Pittsburgh as contenders in the AFC. Many experts believe that Peyton Manning is on the downside of his career and many believe that the Broncos window for a Super Bowl closed last year. I don't buy it for one bit. The Broncos still have a very talented roster, and DO NOT DOUBT PEYTON MANNING. We saw what he did after coming to Denver after four neck surgeries. The Broncos are kind of like the forgotten team in the AFC. That is a great position for this team to be in. Let everyone pick Indy or the Pats because the Broncos can now actually sneak up on people, and that is something that they haven't experienced since Manning came to the Mile High city in 2012.
Will Demaryius Thomas and tbe Broncos agree on a new contract before the July 15th deadline?
From everything you have read it sounds like Demaryius and the Broncos will not get a long term deal done by July 15th, which means he will play 2015 under the Franchise Tag. This will come down to that deadline because that is how it usually works. Both sides will make a push right at the end, but I don't think both sides will get a deal done, and look for DT and Denver to play this year under the cloud of the Franchise agreement.
How will his absence in minicamp and OTAs affect the team and his performance when he comes back?
I don't think that his absence will have a major impact in his ability to pick up the offense, get his timing with Peyton Manning and acclimating himself to the new coaching staff. The one area that will be worth watching is if he stays healthy once he starts practicing. When a player is on his own, the staff has no control over his workout regiment; therefore, Thomas might not be in optimal shape when he returns in training camp which leads to the inevitable hamstring or quad injury that will likely take place at some point.
How devastating was/is the injury to Ryan Clady?
Losing Ryan Clady for the season on the first day of OTAs is a major problem for this team. When you lose one of your best players and the key protector of your QB, then that is a concern. This will have an impact on the Broncos this season for sure. The only good thing about it is that Denver has had all spring and the upcoming summer to find a solution. Rookie Ty Sambrailo is first up to get a chance to replace Clady. Chris Clark, who filled in for Clady after Week 2 in Denver's 2013 Super Bowl season, is another possibility. At least time is on the Broncos side in trying to find an adequate replacement for Clady.
How can the Broncos settle their offensive line for training camp?
It is amazing that the Broncos offensive line is the biggest question mark heading into training camp-and that was before they lost Ryan Clady for the season. Here is how I look at their line heading into camp: LT-Ty Sambrailo LG-Shelley Smith C-Gino Gradkowski RG-Louis Vasquez RT-Chris Clark. That is not exactly the greatest collection of household names. The key will be the young guys: How does Michael Schofield, Matt Paradis, Max Garcia, and Ben Garland develop? If 1 or 2 of those guys step up and get into the starting spot, then the Broncos will be okay. If not, then this line could be a problem all year long.
How will Gary Kubiak handle this team in his first training camp as Broncos coach?
I didn't mind the hiring of Kubiak at all. I thought he did a pretty good job in Houston turning that franchise around. As a former Bronco player and assistant coach, it is nice to see him come back and be the new head coach. I think he does have a lot of pressure taking over a team that won 13, 13, and 12 games the last three years. I think the change from John Fox to Gary Kubiak will energize the players and add some motivation to a group that ended last year in a very disappointing way. One thing I know will be certain: He will be a better in-game decision maker and game manager than John Fox was.
What is the strength of this team heading into July and August?
The Broncos defense is the strength. They have a pass rush, versatile linemen, depth at linebacker, and a secondary with depth and pure skill. Add a veteran defensive coordinator like Wade Phillips and this defense could be pretty scary-especially if they get a lead.
How are the expectations different this summer as opposed to last?
Last year heading into the summer it was "Super Bowl or Bust." There was no way around it, and the Broncos were the favorite in the AFC coming off a Super Bowl appearance and splashy free agent additions like DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward and Emmanuel Sanders. This summer it feels really different. Right now, the Broncos are probably slotted behind New England, Indy, Baltimore and Pittsburgh as contenders in the AFC. Many experts believe that Peyton Manning is on the downside of his career and many believe that the Broncos window for a Super Bowl closed last year. I don't buy it for one bit. The Broncos still have a very talented roster, and DO NOT DOUBT PEYTON MANNING. We saw what he did after coming to Denver after four neck surgeries. The Broncos are kind of like the forgotten team in the AFC. That is a great position for this team to be in. Let everyone pick Indy or the Pats because the Broncos can now actually sneak up on people, and that is something that they haven't experienced since Manning came to the Mile High city in 2012.
Monday, May 4, 2015
Broncos 2015 NFL Draft Picks
Here is the 2015 Broncos Draft Class with some analysis and thoughts after each pick……
1st Round: #23 Overall- Shane Ray-DE (Missouri): The Broncos traded up with Detroit from the #28 spot to snag the falling Ray. Denver also gave up a 5th round pick (#143 overall), a 2016 5th round pick, a Guard Manny Ramirez to move up and get him. This his a risk-reward situation for the Broncos. They end up with a player who was a top-10 talent and a dominant pass rusher who fell down the board in the 1st round. Denver gets a guy who can come in and help a pass rush that already has Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware. Ray can be a big help to this defense and give them another dimension, but of course the off the field concerns could be an issue with Ray. You worry about a player who got busted with weed three days before the draft going to team that plays in a city where Marijuana is legal. What could possibly go wrong there? All jokes aside, if Ray keeps his head on straight, this was a very solid move by the Broncos.
2nd Round: #59 Overall-Ty Sambrailo-OT (Colorado State): The Broncos had to address their offensive line in this year's draft, and they did so in Round 2. Sambrailo seems to fit Gary Kubiak's idea of an offensive lineman in his system, and there is a solid chance that Sambrailo steps in and starts at RT from day one. Remember in 2011 when Denver took Orlando Franklin in the 2nd round? Well, Franklin came in and became an immediate starter, and that is what Denver is hoping for with Sambrailo.
3rd Round: #92 Overall-Jeff Heuerman-TE (Ohio State): With the Broncos re-signing Virgil Green and signing Owen Daniels and James Casey in the offseason, some might be surprised with the pick of Heuerman in this spot, but it could be a move that pays off. You have to figure out some way to replace Julius Thomas' production, so why not try a three-headed system of Green, Daniels, and the young Heuerman. I can't see this move having that much affect this year, but down the road this could definitely be a solid pick.
4th Round: #133 Overall-Max Garcia-C/G (Florida): Garcia can play both Center and Guard, and that will be very valuable to this team. Look for Garcia to back up both positions this year, and get a chance to crack the starting lineup in 2016.
5th Round: #164 Overall-Lorenzo Doss-CB (Tulane): Doss has a pretty productive career at Tulane, and you can never have enough corners on the roster. Look for Doss to contribute on special teams this year, but it will be hard for him to get a lot of playing time in crowded group of CBs.
6th Round: #203 Overall-Darius Kilgo-DT (Maryland): If Kilgo makes the active roster out of training camp, I can't see him getting activated much during the regular season. He will be a rotational guy out of necessity at best. He could also be a very prime candidate for the practice squad as well.
7th Round: #250 Overall-Trevor Siemian-QB (Northwestern): Siemian will have a chance to compete to Zac Dysert for the #3 job at QB, but look for him to be a prime candidate for the practice squad next year.
7th Round: #251 Overall-Taurean Nixon-DB (Tulane): Another Tulane secondary member gets drafted by the Broncos. Nixon will most likely be fighting for a roster spot and avoid getting cut in training camp. His best option is to stick on the practice squad in 2015.
7th Round: #252 Overall: Josh Furman-S (Oklahoma State): Furman is interesting because he probably has a better chance to make the active roster than Nixon because the depth at Safety is not as deep as Cornerback. If he doesn't make the roster in training camp, then Furman will be a practice squad candidate as well.
1st Round: #23 Overall- Shane Ray-DE (Missouri): The Broncos traded up with Detroit from the #28 spot to snag the falling Ray. Denver also gave up a 5th round pick (#143 overall), a 2016 5th round pick, a Guard Manny Ramirez to move up and get him. This his a risk-reward situation for the Broncos. They end up with a player who was a top-10 talent and a dominant pass rusher who fell down the board in the 1st round. Denver gets a guy who can come in and help a pass rush that already has Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware. Ray can be a big help to this defense and give them another dimension, but of course the off the field concerns could be an issue with Ray. You worry about a player who got busted with weed three days before the draft going to team that plays in a city where Marijuana is legal. What could possibly go wrong there? All jokes aside, if Ray keeps his head on straight, this was a very solid move by the Broncos.
2nd Round: #59 Overall-Ty Sambrailo-OT (Colorado State): The Broncos had to address their offensive line in this year's draft, and they did so in Round 2. Sambrailo seems to fit Gary Kubiak's idea of an offensive lineman in his system, and there is a solid chance that Sambrailo steps in and starts at RT from day one. Remember in 2011 when Denver took Orlando Franklin in the 2nd round? Well, Franklin came in and became an immediate starter, and that is what Denver is hoping for with Sambrailo.
3rd Round: #92 Overall-Jeff Heuerman-TE (Ohio State): With the Broncos re-signing Virgil Green and signing Owen Daniels and James Casey in the offseason, some might be surprised with the pick of Heuerman in this spot, but it could be a move that pays off. You have to figure out some way to replace Julius Thomas' production, so why not try a three-headed system of Green, Daniels, and the young Heuerman. I can't see this move having that much affect this year, but down the road this could definitely be a solid pick.
4th Round: #133 Overall-Max Garcia-C/G (Florida): Garcia can play both Center and Guard, and that will be very valuable to this team. Look for Garcia to back up both positions this year, and get a chance to crack the starting lineup in 2016.
5th Round: #164 Overall-Lorenzo Doss-CB (Tulane): Doss has a pretty productive career at Tulane, and you can never have enough corners on the roster. Look for Doss to contribute on special teams this year, but it will be hard for him to get a lot of playing time in crowded group of CBs.
6th Round: #203 Overall-Darius Kilgo-DT (Maryland): If Kilgo makes the active roster out of training camp, I can't see him getting activated much during the regular season. He will be a rotational guy out of necessity at best. He could also be a very prime candidate for the practice squad as well.
7th Round: #250 Overall-Trevor Siemian-QB (Northwestern): Siemian will have a chance to compete to Zac Dysert for the #3 job at QB, but look for him to be a prime candidate for the practice squad next year.
7th Round: #251 Overall-Taurean Nixon-DB (Tulane): Another Tulane secondary member gets drafted by the Broncos. Nixon will most likely be fighting for a roster spot and avoid getting cut in training camp. His best option is to stick on the practice squad in 2015.
7th Round: #252 Overall: Josh Furman-S (Oklahoma State): Furman is interesting because he probably has a better chance to make the active roster than Nixon because the depth at Safety is not as deep as Cornerback. If he doesn't make the roster in training camp, then Furman will be a practice squad candidate as well.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
2015 NFL Mock Draft
Mock Drafts are ridiculous, time-consuming, and usually inaccurate, but it one of the most fun things to do in preparation for the upcoming NFL Draft. When I was young, there were probably fewer than 10 mock drafts available before the draft. Now, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, who cares about the NFL has a mock draft. After reading everyone else's mocks, a few years ago I figured I would jump into the mix, and I love doing it every year. Without further ado, here is my 2015 NFL Mock Draft.
Round 1
#1 Tampa Bay selects Jameis Winston-QB (Florida State)
-The Bucs have to take Winston here. He is the best QB in the draft, and Lovie Smith knows he needs a potential franchise QB-even with Winston's off the field concerns.
#2 TRADE: Tennessee trades #2 overall pick to the NY Jets for their 1st round pick (#6 overall), 2nd round pick (#37 overall), 4th round pick (#104 overall) and 2016 1st round pick
New York Jets select Marcus Mariota-QB (Oregon)
-The Jets desperately need a QB, and they have to do anything they can to move up and get Mariota. They have the ammunition to do it and they get it done.
#3 Jacksonville selects Leonard Williams-DE (USC)
-The Jags get the benefit of two QBs going in the top two, so they clean up and add possibly the best overall player in the draft in the very talented Williams.
#4 TRADE: Oakland trades #4 overall pick to Atlanta for their 1st round pick (#8 overall), 2nd round pick (#42 overall) and a 4th round pick (#107 overall)
Atlanta selects Dante Fowler Jr. OLB (Florida)
-Atlanta trades up and goes defense with the selection of Fowler. It is a bold move, but Atlanta desperately needs help on defense.
#5 TRADE Washington trades #5 overall pick to Cleveland for their first round pick (#12 overall) and a 2nd round pick (#41 overall), and a 5th round pick (#147 overall)
Cleveland selects Kevin White-WR (West Virginia)
- A big trade with the Redskins gives the Browns a chance to trade up and get a playmaker in White.
#6 Tennessee selects Vic Beasley-OLB (Clemson)
-With a plethora of early picks in the first two rounds due to the trade with the Jets, the Titans go pass rush with the selection of Beasley. They can address other needs at QB and WR in the second round.
#7 Chicago selects Bud Dupree-OLB (Kentucky)
-New head coach John Fox will begin the task of rebuilding the Bears defense by going with another stud pass rusher in Dupree.
#8 Oakland selects Amari Cooper-WR (Alabama)
-The Raiders trade down and select Cooper to help Derek Carr and that offense.
#9 New York Giants select Brandon Scherff-OT (Iowa)
-The Giants get the best offensive lineman in the draft fall to them at #9, and they make the smart choice to rebuild their offensive line.
#10 St. Louis selects Andrus Peat-OT (Stanford)
-The Rams defense is solid, so now it is time to work on the offensive line. Peat is one of the best offensive lineman in the draft, so this makes a ton of sense.
#11 TRADE: Minnesota trades their first round pick with Pittsburgh's first round pick (#22 overall), their 2nd round pick (#56 overall), and their 5th round pick (#160 overall)
Pittsburgh selects Trae Waynes-CB (Michigan State)
-The Vikings are in an interesting spot, and I could see them trading down, but I think they stand pat and go with Waynes to fill the need at cornerback.
#12 Washington selects Randy Gregory-OLB (Nebraska)
-Jay Gruden gets to trade down and grab a big-time pass rusher in Gregory, who drops because of character concerns.
#13 New Orleans selects Danny Shelton-DT (Washington)
-The Saints have to upgrade their defense somehow in this draft, and Shelton is a good start.
#14 TRADE Miami trades with Philadelphia. Miami swaps 1st round picks with Philly (#20 overall) and Miami gets Philly's 3rd round pick (#84 overall)
Philadelphia selects DeVante Parker-WR (Louisville)
-Chip Kelly's wild offseason continues on draft night with a trade up for top-flight WR Parker.
#15 San Francisco selects Arik Armstead-DT (Oregon)
-The 49ers need to start to rebuild their defense, and they start with a very intriguing player in Armstead.
#16 Houston selects Nelson Agholor-WR (USC)
-Agholor has been another name that has skyrocketed up the draft boards, and the Texans need another young wideout to replace the departed Andre Johnson.
#17 San Diego selects Todd Gurley-RB (Georgia)
-The Chargers need a replacement for Ryan Matthews, and they get a superb player to fall to them at #17. Gurley is a difference maker and a great addition to the SD offense.
#18 Kansas City selects Kevin Johnson-CB (Wake Forest)
-The Chiefs have a need at corner and fill that need with Johnson.
#19 Cleveland selects Breshad Perryman-WR (Central Florida)
-Not a household name before draft season began, but Perryman is very interesting player. The Browns needs playmakers on offense.
#20 Miami selects Melvin Gordon-RB (Wisconsin)
-Dolphins can't wait to grab Gordon in this spot. He is a dynamic player, and he deserves to go in Round 1.
#21 TRADE Cincinnati trades with Denver. Cincy swaps 1st round picks with Denver (#28 overall). Cincy also receives Denver's 3rd round selection(#92 overall) and Denver's 5th round selection (#164 overall)
Denver selects La'el Collins-G/OT (LSU)
-Broncos need an offensive lineman to help remake their offensive line after Orlando Franklin left for San Diego. They have never traded up in the first round for a player in the John Elway era, and this time they go up to get Collins.
#22 Minnesota selects Marcus Peters-CB (Washington)
-The Vikings have a need in the secondary, and go after one of the best corners in the draft in Peters.
#23 Detroit selects D.J. Humphries-OT (Florida)
-Detroit needs to improve their offensive line, then they will try to replenish their defensive line in Round 2.
#24 Arizona selects Malcolm Brown-DT (Texas)
-Cardinals need to improve defensive line, so Brown fits the bill here.
#25 Carolina selects Ereck Flowers-OT (Miami)
-Panthers need to get some help on the offensive line, and Flowers can help them do that.
#26 Baltimore selects Shane Ray-DE/OLB (Missouri)
-The Ravens always seem to get a guy to fall to them in the first round. Although he has some huge off the field concerns, the Ravens snag a stud pass rusher in Ray.
#27 Dallas selects Byron Jones-CB (UCONN)
-At this point, the Cowboys will end up settling for a running back in Rounds 2 or 3, so they go with Jones to improve their secondary.
#28 Cincinnati selects Eddie Goldman-DT (Florida State)
-The Bengals trade down and still end up with a solid player in Goldman to help anchor their defensive line.
#29 Indianapolis selects Landon Collins-S (Alabama)
-The Colts improved their offense via free agency, so they address their secondary in the draft with the selection of Collins.
#30 Green Bay selects Jalen Collins-CB (LSU)
-There are not a lot of holes on the Packers roster, but you can never have enough corners in this league, so GB grabs Collins near the end of Round 1.
#31 New Orleans selects Phillip Dorsett-WR (Miami)
-Sean Payton adds another speedster to go with Brandin Cooks. This will make Drew Brees smile a bit.
#32 New England selects Jordan Phillips-DT (Oklahoma)
-The defending champs need to find a replacement for Vince Wilfork, so they go after Phillips to close out Round 1.
Round 1
#1 Tampa Bay selects Jameis Winston-QB (Florida State)
-The Bucs have to take Winston here. He is the best QB in the draft, and Lovie Smith knows he needs a potential franchise QB-even with Winston's off the field concerns.
#2 TRADE: Tennessee trades #2 overall pick to the NY Jets for their 1st round pick (#6 overall), 2nd round pick (#37 overall), 4th round pick (#104 overall) and 2016 1st round pick
New York Jets select Marcus Mariota-QB (Oregon)
-The Jets desperately need a QB, and they have to do anything they can to move up and get Mariota. They have the ammunition to do it and they get it done.
#3 Jacksonville selects Leonard Williams-DE (USC)
-The Jags get the benefit of two QBs going in the top two, so they clean up and add possibly the best overall player in the draft in the very talented Williams.
#4 TRADE: Oakland trades #4 overall pick to Atlanta for their 1st round pick (#8 overall), 2nd round pick (#42 overall) and a 4th round pick (#107 overall)
Atlanta selects Dante Fowler Jr. OLB (Florida)
-Atlanta trades up and goes defense with the selection of Fowler. It is a bold move, but Atlanta desperately needs help on defense.
#5 TRADE Washington trades #5 overall pick to Cleveland for their first round pick (#12 overall) and a 2nd round pick (#41 overall), and a 5th round pick (#147 overall)
Cleveland selects Kevin White-WR (West Virginia)
- A big trade with the Redskins gives the Browns a chance to trade up and get a playmaker in White.
#6 Tennessee selects Vic Beasley-OLB (Clemson)
-With a plethora of early picks in the first two rounds due to the trade with the Jets, the Titans go pass rush with the selection of Beasley. They can address other needs at QB and WR in the second round.
#7 Chicago selects Bud Dupree-OLB (Kentucky)
-New head coach John Fox will begin the task of rebuilding the Bears defense by going with another stud pass rusher in Dupree.
#8 Oakland selects Amari Cooper-WR (Alabama)
-The Raiders trade down and select Cooper to help Derek Carr and that offense.
#9 New York Giants select Brandon Scherff-OT (Iowa)
-The Giants get the best offensive lineman in the draft fall to them at #9, and they make the smart choice to rebuild their offensive line.
#10 St. Louis selects Andrus Peat-OT (Stanford)
-The Rams defense is solid, so now it is time to work on the offensive line. Peat is one of the best offensive lineman in the draft, so this makes a ton of sense.
#11 TRADE: Minnesota trades their first round pick with Pittsburgh's first round pick (#22 overall), their 2nd round pick (#56 overall), and their 5th round pick (#160 overall)
Pittsburgh selects Trae Waynes-CB (Michigan State)
-The Vikings are in an interesting spot, and I could see them trading down, but I think they stand pat and go with Waynes to fill the need at cornerback.
#12 Washington selects Randy Gregory-OLB (Nebraska)
-Jay Gruden gets to trade down and grab a big-time pass rusher in Gregory, who drops because of character concerns.
#13 New Orleans selects Danny Shelton-DT (Washington)
-The Saints have to upgrade their defense somehow in this draft, and Shelton is a good start.
#14 TRADE Miami trades with Philadelphia. Miami swaps 1st round picks with Philly (#20 overall) and Miami gets Philly's 3rd round pick (#84 overall)
Philadelphia selects DeVante Parker-WR (Louisville)
-Chip Kelly's wild offseason continues on draft night with a trade up for top-flight WR Parker.
#15 San Francisco selects Arik Armstead-DT (Oregon)
-The 49ers need to start to rebuild their defense, and they start with a very intriguing player in Armstead.
#16 Houston selects Nelson Agholor-WR (USC)
-Agholor has been another name that has skyrocketed up the draft boards, and the Texans need another young wideout to replace the departed Andre Johnson.
#17 San Diego selects Todd Gurley-RB (Georgia)
-The Chargers need a replacement for Ryan Matthews, and they get a superb player to fall to them at #17. Gurley is a difference maker and a great addition to the SD offense.
#18 Kansas City selects Kevin Johnson-CB (Wake Forest)
-The Chiefs have a need at corner and fill that need with Johnson.
#19 Cleveland selects Breshad Perryman-WR (Central Florida)
-Not a household name before draft season began, but Perryman is very interesting player. The Browns needs playmakers on offense.
#20 Miami selects Melvin Gordon-RB (Wisconsin)
-Dolphins can't wait to grab Gordon in this spot. He is a dynamic player, and he deserves to go in Round 1.
#21 TRADE Cincinnati trades with Denver. Cincy swaps 1st round picks with Denver (#28 overall). Cincy also receives Denver's 3rd round selection(#92 overall) and Denver's 5th round selection (#164 overall)
Denver selects La'el Collins-G/OT (LSU)
-Broncos need an offensive lineman to help remake their offensive line after Orlando Franklin left for San Diego. They have never traded up in the first round for a player in the John Elway era, and this time they go up to get Collins.
#22 Minnesota selects Marcus Peters-CB (Washington)
-The Vikings have a need in the secondary, and go after one of the best corners in the draft in Peters.
#23 Detroit selects D.J. Humphries-OT (Florida)
-Detroit needs to improve their offensive line, then they will try to replenish their defensive line in Round 2.
#24 Arizona selects Malcolm Brown-DT (Texas)
-Cardinals need to improve defensive line, so Brown fits the bill here.
#25 Carolina selects Ereck Flowers-OT (Miami)
-Panthers need to get some help on the offensive line, and Flowers can help them do that.
#26 Baltimore selects Shane Ray-DE/OLB (Missouri)
-The Ravens always seem to get a guy to fall to them in the first round. Although he has some huge off the field concerns, the Ravens snag a stud pass rusher in Ray.
#27 Dallas selects Byron Jones-CB (UCONN)
-At this point, the Cowboys will end up settling for a running back in Rounds 2 or 3, so they go with Jones to improve their secondary.
#28 Cincinnati selects Eddie Goldman-DT (Florida State)
-The Bengals trade down and still end up with a solid player in Goldman to help anchor their defensive line.
#29 Indianapolis selects Landon Collins-S (Alabama)
-The Colts improved their offense via free agency, so they address their secondary in the draft with the selection of Collins.
#30 Green Bay selects Jalen Collins-CB (LSU)
-There are not a lot of holes on the Packers roster, but you can never have enough corners in this league, so GB grabs Collins near the end of Round 1.
#31 New Orleans selects Phillip Dorsett-WR (Miami)
-Sean Payton adds another speedster to go with Brandin Cooks. This will make Drew Brees smile a bit.
#32 New England selects Jordan Phillips-DT (Oklahoma)
-The defending champs need to find a replacement for Vince Wilfork, so they go after Phillips to close out Round 1.
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