Broncos Postmortem Mailbag Part 2

What players will be back on this awful defensive unit?
Well, the Broncos need to improve their defense in all levels and in all areas. They need better coaching, a sound scheme, and upgrades in the front seven and in the secondary. They need to get younger and faster. I would try to find at least 7 new starters for defense. I would resign Champ Bailey, keep DJ Williams and Robert Ayers at LB, and keep Justin Bannan on the Defensive Line. Don't forget that Elvis Dumervil comes back next year too. Other players like Darcel McBath, Wesley Woodyard, Mario Haggan, Kevin Vickerson, Jamal Williams, Perrish Cox, Andre Goodman, David Bruton, and Syd'quan Thompson might have a role on the defense, but you can't count on them as starters. Everyone else should go, and the Broncos need an impact Dlineman, a legit run-stuffing inside linebacker, and a ball-hawking safety. A lot will be determined on what kind of defense the Broncos run next year. They could go back to the 4-3.

What players on offense will be back next year?
I would hope and expect Kyle Orton to be traded, so he shouldn't return. Tebow, Knowshon Moreno, Spencer Larsen, and either Lance Ball or Correll Buckhalter will be back. The O-line is set the way it is, but Ryan Harris could leave via free agency. Daniel Graham and Dan Gronkowski should be back at TE, but Richard Quinn has to go. The Broncos need to get a pass catching TE in their offense badly. The receivers should pretty much stay the same, maybe a guy like Jabar Gaffney gets jettisoned, but the offense doesn't need too much of a shakeup. There is talent and potential on this offense to help the new regime next year.

What do you think of the hiring of John Elway as VP of Football Operations?
I think it is a good move and a positive move for the franchise. Elway will oversee the football operartions, but he will not play the Matt Millen role and make every personnel decision. He will leave that to Brian Xanders, who will actually function as a real GM this time, and the rest of the personnel department. Elway will be influential in hiring the new HC, which is good because Joe Ellis handpicked Josh McDaniels and we all saw how that turned out. Obviously, Elway has a lot of work to do, but I think he will go about it the right way, and let's hope that he can assist Xanders and the rest of the personnel department in picking the best and right players for the Broncos. Overall, I like the move, and as some people put it, it could have a Mario Lemieux-Penguins type of effect on the team.

Who will be the Broncos next head coach?
The Broncos are interviewing Mike Mularkey, Perry Fewell, and Eric Studesville. Out of those three, I would think that Mularkey would be the best choice. I don't think that Fewell or Studesville would be good fits in Denver. Obviously, Elway said he is interested in Jim Harbaugh but it looks like Harbaugh is headed to either San Francisco or Miami. There are other candidates to be interviewed, but the Broncos aren't landing a big name like Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden. Mularkey intrigues me and he could be a good fit (Heck he led Buffalo to a 9-7 season in 2004), but there are some more names that could surface. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised by any hire.

Who should the Broncos look for in the draft?
The Broncos have the number two overall pick in April's draft, and you would have to think they are going to be thinking about defense. The top defensive players in the draft are: Defensive Lineman D'Quan Bowers from Clemson, Defensive Lineman Nick Fairley from Auburn, and Cornerback Patrick Peterson from LSU. Those are the names at the top of the list, but so much can change from now until the draft. Plus, things could always change if Andrew Luck is not taken at number one overall.

How far away are the Broncos from competing for a playoff berth?
The Broncos haven't been to the playoffs in five seasons. They are what their record says they are: A 4-12 team. They have many holes on the roster and are going to be getting a new head coach. With that said, they probably aren't as far away as many people think. You can turn things around very quickly in the NFL. The Chiefs were 4-12 a year ago and won the AFC West this season at 10-6. Every year, teams improve dramatically and make a playoff run. The key is going to be at QB. If Tim Tebow (Or whoever the QB is) develops greatly next year, then Denver has a real shot of turning it around. The Broncos are gettting Elvis Dumervil back next year, so that can only help their defense. If Denver make some shrewd moves in free agency and selects some impact players in the draft to go along with a new coaching staff, the Broncos could be back in business as soon as 2011. The AFC West isn't great. The Raiders were much improved and finished 8-8, but of course Al Davis decides to fire Tom Cable. The Chiefs are good, but they have the look of a team that probably won't stay on top of the division every year now. The Chargers are still the class of the West, but maybe their window is closing. The Broncos could be closer to returning to prominence than people think. The real key is Tebow.

What are your final thoughts?
Eventhough Denver finished 4-12, it is still fun to watch them and follow them week to week. At times it was very frustrating, but that is expected when you are a fan of the team. Tim Tebow and John Elway give us fans hope for the future and it will be a fun offsesaon to watch all the moves the Broncos make. The Broncos will turn this around, let's just hope next year at this time I will be previewing a Broncos playoff run.