Broncos Summer Mailbag

There are certain periods of time during the NFL offseason that are slower than the others. This time of the year is one of the slowest times for the Broncos and the rest of the NFL. Free agency is done, the draft is in the rearview mirror, and teams have completed their OTAs and mini-camps. Now, the players will depart for the summer, and the next time they return it will be the end of July and training camp will begin. This seems like a good spot to look at some questions that remain for the Broncos as we head towards the summer and the eventual start of training camp.

Now that the dust has settled, which free agent acquisition looks like it will work out the best for the Broncos? The reports from OTAs are that Demarcus Ware and Aqib Talib look really good and primed to stand out for the Broncos this year. I agree with that, but from day one the move I liked the most was the Broncos getting T.J. Ward to fill a need at safety. There is some talk that Ward could even play down in the box as a nickel linebacker. I think he could be a real presence for this defense. Watch for Ward once the season starts.

Which draft pick seems the most likely to contribute this year? I think this is an easy one but it looks like Bradley Roby will get a lot of playing time come Week 1. Chris Harris is recovering from knee surgery, and Roby will probably beat out Kayvon Webster for the 3^rd CB spot and play in nickel situations early on. If Harris can’t be ready by Week 1, then look for Roby to possibly start opposite Talib.

Who could be this year’s Julius Thomas? At this time last year, all we heard about was the progress of Julius Thomas at TE. Many fans, myself included, didn’t buy into it right away because there is always talk of certain players standing out during OTAs, and then they don’t do anything once the season starts. Thomas was the star of last year’s OTAs, and then he continued that progress once the preseason started. We all know what happened from that point, and Thomas became a breakout star last year and one of the best tight ends in the league. This year’s candidate could be C.J. Anderson. The second year back will start the camp third on the depth chart, but don’t be surprised if he ends up beating out Ronnie Hillman for the #2 RB spot. Keep an eye on Anderson.

Could the Broncos offense actually be better this year? Of course it will be hard to top a year in which you set the record for points scored in a season, but this Broncos offense could be better than last year and that is very scary. It all hinges on two positions: Left Guard and Wide Receiver. From all accounts, Emmanuel Sanders looks like he is going to have a big year in Denver. Although he is a different kind of player than Eric Decker, he will probably be an upgrade from him. Sanders can be a game-breaking playmaker which is something that Decker isn’t. Sanders will benefit from other teams focusing on Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, and Wes Welker. Also, if Orlando Franklin can successfully make the move to left guard, then the Broncos offensive line will be stronger than last year. Chris Clark can slide right into the RT spot, and the return of Ryan Clady gives the Broncos a chance to play their five best linemen at the same time. If those two positions are solidified, then the Broncos offense will be just as dangerous as 2013.

Where are the weak spots in the Broncos defense? On paper, the Broncos defense looks like it will be better, but when you dig deeper there are concerns on all three levels. You have to wonder how Von Miller will bounce back from his knee injury. If he isn’t healthy for Week 1, that will throw a wrench into the pass rushing plans for the Broncos. The MLB spot is still up for debate, but it looks like it is Nate Irving’s job to lose. Watch out for a late free agent signing during training camp like the Broncos did the last two years with Keith Brooking and Paris Lenon. In the secondary, it will depend on the health of Chris Harris. If he isn’t ready for Week 1, then the Broncos are going into the season with Talib at one corner, probably Roby at the #2 CB, and either Tony Carter or Kayvon Webster at the #3 corner. That’s not what you want to see heading into Week 1.

Which free agent loss will impact the Broncos the most? Losing Eric Decker won’t hurt the Broncos passing game. Like I stated before, adding Sanders over Decker probably makes the passing attack stronger. Losing Zane Beadles won’t be too bad because the Broncos have plenty of flexibility and options if Franklin doesn’t work out at that spot. Knowshon Moreno’s heart and spirit will be missed, but he can be adequately replaced by the younger Montee Ball. I think the Broncos can survive the loss of Wesley Woodyard considering he was basically playing a reduced role last year anyway. The Broncos lost Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to the Giants but they added a better player in Talib. The one guy that I think Denver will miss the most is Shaun Phillips. He was their best pass rusher last year outside of Von Miller. He played great against the run, and his leadership was evident throughout the entire season. Phillips signed with the Titans, and I think his loss will be the toughest for the Broncos to replace.

Do you think the Broncos will sign Demaryius Thomas to a long-term extension before training camp? John Elway is on record saying that he would like to negotiate with Thomas a long-term deal this summer because once training camp starts, then the negotiations will likely end. I think it is obviously a smart strategy, but I don't think Thomas is going to sign an extension this summer. I think he will get to free agency after the season, and Denver will either re-sign him to a huge new deal in that time period when the Broncos have the ability to before he hits the market or they will just franchise him. Either way, they know that they have to sign or keep Thomas, but I just don't think they will get a deal done before the season starts.

How are you handling the Broncos Super Bowl defeat this offseason? I definitely am handling it better than last year's loss to the Ravens in the Divisional round. Losing the Super Bowl in the fashion that the Broncos lost to the Seahawks was absolutely awful and brutal, but there is a sense of accomplishment about getting there. I would rather see the Broncos get to the Super Bowl and lose it than not get there at all. I am a firm believer in that even after what happened in February. It is tough at times to sit back and think that they were there in the Super Bowl and came away with nothing, but I've  been able to really reflect on how special the rest of their season was in 2013. Put it this way: I have watched the AFC Championship win over New England at least three times since March. Every time I watch the game, I smile and enjoy it just as much as I did when it happened, so the satisfaction of winning the AFC title is and will always be there. I think the Baltimore loss left me with a feeling of "What might have been," while the Super Bowl loss left me feeling "Well, we had a great year and we were close, but it just wasn't our game that day." In any event, the loss to the Seahawks has me even more motivated and pumped up for the upcoming season. 

Where do the Broncos stand overall heading into the summer? The Broncos made big moves in free agency, and they drafted some key needs in the draft. On paper, they look like a better team, but we know that means nothing. Make no mistake about it, they will be a different team in 2014 than they were in 2013. The key is that they still have Peyton Manning. They have surrounded Manning with plenty of talent, and they addressed needs on defense which makes them a good team overall. The bottom line is that Manning is there and if he is your quarterback, then you are a Super Bowl contender. The Broncos are heading to training camp as the favorite in the AFC, but the competition will be tougher this year. The Pats are better. It is only a matter of time before Andrew Luck leads the Colts to a Super Bowl. The AFC West is one of the toughest divisions, and teams like the Ravens and the Steelers are primed for a bounce back year. It is going to be tougher for them, but at the end of the day the Broncos are still the team to beat in the AFC.