As I said earlier in the offseason, periodically I will post random Super Bowl thoughts as the offseason commences. The draft is over, free agency has died down, and now the Broncos are into rookie mini-camps and offseason training. Super Bowls last forever, and I wanted to keep the memories of Super Bowl 50 alive this offseason. Here are some random post-Super Bowl thoughts that have come up in my mind in recent months and weeks....
1) After watching the Broncos season highlight DVD that I received in March, one of my favorite scenes is after Von Miller sacked and stripped Cam Newton in the 1st quarter and Malik Jackson recovered it for a touchdown. NFL Films captures Miller celebrating right after the sack and touchdown, and Miller does a little dance with a "Dab" at the end. It is perfectly coordinated with a sea of Broncos fans in the background going nuts. It is just a very cool shot from the highlights of the Super Bowl.
2) Just like John Elway's helicopter dive was the indelible moment in Super Bowl XXXII, and Elway's bomb to Rod Smith was the memorable moment in Super Bowl XXXIII, the moment from Super Howl 50 will be that strip sack by Miller on Newton in the 1st quarter that put the Broncos up 10-0.
3) Think about this: The two worst losses in Broncos playoff history were the 1996 AFC Divisional Playoff loss to the Jaguars, and the 2012 AFC Divisional Playoff loss to the Ravens. It's not even a debate that those games were worse than any of the Super Bowls. What is interesting is that the Broncos were able to rebound from those losses and eventually win a Super Bowl not long afte tose defeats. After getting upset by the Jaguars in 1996, the Broncos won the Super Bowl after the 1997 and 1998 seasons. After getting their hearts broken in Peyton Manning's first year with the team in 2012 by the Ravens, the Broncos won the Super Bowl in Manning's last year with the team in 2015. That is pretty neat that the Broncos responded with Super Bowls in the wake of their two worst defeats in team history.
4) I still think that this defense will rank up there with one of the best defenses ever to win the Super Bowl. Re-examining this offseason, it is pretty clear that you can rank the '85 Bears and 2000 Ravens at numbers one and two, but this Broncos defense is right behind them in terms of what they accomplished in 2015.
5) When you think about turning points in a playoff run, look no further than the key moment of the AFC Divisional Playoff between the Broncos and the Steelers. Down 13-12 in the 4th quarter with the Steelers driving in Denver territory. Bradley Roby stripped Fitzgerald Toussaint and Demarcus Ware recovered. The Broncos scored on the ensuing drive, won the game 23-16, and went on their run to the Super Bowl. The Broncos never trailed from that moment again in the playoffs. They took the lead over the Steelers and never looked back against the Patriots in the AFC Championship and the Panthers in the Super Bowl. Talk about a turning point in a postseason run.
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Sunday, May 1, 2016
2016 Denver Broncos Draft Selections
Here are the Broncos 2016 NFL Draft Selections:
2nd Round (#63 Overall): Adam Gotsis, DT/DT, Georgia Tech-This was a surprise pick because many insiders didn't have Gotsis this high. The Broncos like his motor, attitude, and effort, and they had him high on their list. He will get a chance to get into the defensive line rotation and try to ease the departure of Malik Jackson
3rd Round (#98 Overall): Justin Simmons, S, Boston College-Another player that was valued by the Broncos higher than a lot of other teams. Simmons brings depth to the safety position, and he will contribute on special teams. He fills the void that was left by David Bruton.
4th Round (#136 Overall): Devontae Booker, RB, Utah-This was a classic example of a player falling into a team's lap. Denver had to jump on the chance to grab Booker, who was considered one of the best RB prospects, in the 4th round. He will get a chance to get some carries and will push Ronnie Hillman in the RB rotation spelling C.J. Anderson.
5th Round (#144 Overall): Connor McGovern, G, Missouri- The Broncos needed an interior lineman in this draft and they get McGovern here. He will have a chance to be the third guard in during the season.
6th Round (#176 Overall): Andy Janovich, FB, Nebraska-A fullback who will get a chance to be a part of Gary Kubiak's offense. Also, he is a special teams ace, who will definitely contribute in that phase of the game.
7th Round (#219 Overall): Will Parks, S, Arizona-He adds more safety depth and will get a chance to contribute on special teams. He should make the team this year.
7th Round (#228 Overall): Riley Dixon, P, Syracuse-Best case scenario for him is he impresses the Broncos so much that they decide to let Britton Colquitt go. Worst case scenario for him is he gets cut in August.
2nd Round (#63 Overall): Adam Gotsis, DT/DT, Georgia Tech-This was a surprise pick because many insiders didn't have Gotsis this high. The Broncos like his motor, attitude, and effort, and they had him high on their list. He will get a chance to get into the defensive line rotation and try to ease the departure of Malik Jackson
3rd Round (#98 Overall): Justin Simmons, S, Boston College-Another player that was valued by the Broncos higher than a lot of other teams. Simmons brings depth to the safety position, and he will contribute on special teams. He fills the void that was left by David Bruton.
4th Round (#136 Overall): Devontae Booker, RB, Utah-This was a classic example of a player falling into a team's lap. Denver had to jump on the chance to grab Booker, who was considered one of the best RB prospects, in the 4th round. He will get a chance to get some carries and will push Ronnie Hillman in the RB rotation spelling C.J. Anderson.
5th Round (#144 Overall): Connor McGovern, G, Missouri- The Broncos needed an interior lineman in this draft and they get McGovern here. He will have a chance to be the third guard in during the season.
6th Round (#176 Overall): Andy Janovich, FB, Nebraska-A fullback who will get a chance to be a part of Gary Kubiak's offense. Also, he is a special teams ace, who will definitely contribute in that phase of the game.
7th Round (#219 Overall): Will Parks, S, Arizona-He adds more safety depth and will get a chance to contribute on special teams. He should make the team this year.
7th Round (#228 Overall): Riley Dixon, P, Syracuse-Best case scenario for him is he impresses the Broncos so much that they decide to let Britton Colquitt go. Worst case scenario for him is he gets cut in August.
Broncos Trade Up in 1st Round to Select Paxton Lynch
The one thing that I love about the NFL Draft is the moment when your team trades up with another team and selects a particular player they covet. It is even more exciting when your team does that to select a quarterback. This happened in 2010 with the Broncos when they traded back into the first round to grab Tim Tebow, and it happened once again in this year's draft when Denver traded up from #31 overall to #26 overall with Seattle in order to select quarterback Paxton Lynch from Memphis. The Broncos gave up their 3rd round pick (#94 overall) to jump up to #26 and grab the guy they wanted. Here is how I break down this bold move by John Elway and the Broncos organization....
1) I was happy that Denver decided to select a QB in the first round. I felt they really needed to address the position after Peyton Manning decided to retire, Brock Osweiler bolted in free agency, and Mark Sanchez was acquired via trade in March. The Broncos didn't sit back and select a guy in the 3rd or 4th round. They went up and got a player who was considered the third best QB in this draft, and Lynch is someone that people feel could eventually be a franchise QB. Give Elway credit for having the balls to trade up and get Lynch and put the future of the franchise in the hands of a young and promising 1st round draft pick at the QB position.
2) Of all the options the Broncos had in terms of QBs, drafting a QB high was the best one in my opinion. Trading for Colin Kaepernick was not going to be a great move for the long-term. Signing a guy like Brian Hoyer was the not the answer. Trading for Sam Bradford was not going to work because the Eagles wanted a fortune for him. This was the best option because it gives the Broncos a future guy to lead the franchise, and it also resets the QB position from a money standpoint. If Lynch works out, then the Broncos have him for four years and a fifth-year option, and they only have to spend about $9 million. This will create flexibility for the team to continue to build the rest of the roster and continue to build a solid overall team.
3) I think Lynch's physical ability is what is the most intriguing about him. I know he is raw, and I know that he played in a spread concept in college at Memphis, but don't discount the idea that Lynch could be the starter come Week 1. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Gary Kubiak gets this kid ready to go at the start of the regular season. He definitely fits what the Broncos want out of a QB, and he will get coached up and protected by Kubiak and OC Rick Dennison, so Lynch could very well be the starter right away.
4) There is a lot to like about Lynch, but my two biggest concerns would be the fact that Lynch had his draft party at a bowling alley, and he has this "V for Vendetta" mustache and goatee-thing going. Other than that, I like his personality and demeanor. This was a really good move by the Broncos, and let's hope that Lynch is a the Broncos QB for a long, long time.
1) I was happy that Denver decided to select a QB in the first round. I felt they really needed to address the position after Peyton Manning decided to retire, Brock Osweiler bolted in free agency, and Mark Sanchez was acquired via trade in March. The Broncos didn't sit back and select a guy in the 3rd or 4th round. They went up and got a player who was considered the third best QB in this draft, and Lynch is someone that people feel could eventually be a franchise QB. Give Elway credit for having the balls to trade up and get Lynch and put the future of the franchise in the hands of a young and promising 1st round draft pick at the QB position.
2) Of all the options the Broncos had in terms of QBs, drafting a QB high was the best one in my opinion. Trading for Colin Kaepernick was not going to be a great move for the long-term. Signing a guy like Brian Hoyer was the not the answer. Trading for Sam Bradford was not going to work because the Eagles wanted a fortune for him. This was the best option because it gives the Broncos a future guy to lead the franchise, and it also resets the QB position from a money standpoint. If Lynch works out, then the Broncos have him for four years and a fifth-year option, and they only have to spend about $9 million. This will create flexibility for the team to continue to build the rest of the roster and continue to build a solid overall team.
3) I think Lynch's physical ability is what is the most intriguing about him. I know he is raw, and I know that he played in a spread concept in college at Memphis, but don't discount the idea that Lynch could be the starter come Week 1. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Gary Kubiak gets this kid ready to go at the start of the regular season. He definitely fits what the Broncos want out of a QB, and he will get coached up and protected by Kubiak and OC Rick Dennison, so Lynch could very well be the starter right away.
4) There is a lot to like about Lynch, but my two biggest concerns would be the fact that Lynch had his draft party at a bowling alley, and he has this "V for Vendetta" mustache and goatee-thing going. Other than that, I like his personality and demeanor. This was a really good move by the Broncos, and let's hope that Lynch is a the Broncos QB for a long, long time.
2016 NFL Mock Draft
Everyone does a Mock Draft these days. I remember back in the '90s there were only a few Mock Drafts available. You would get a mock draft in a magazine (Sports Illustrated) or a few beat writers would have a Mock Draft on the day of the draft, but other then that, no one really produced one. The ones that were out there were treated like Bible verses. Now, there are Mock Drafts starting in September and basically every person related to the NFL has one. Why not join the party? I have been doing Mock Drafts for the last few years just for the hell of it, so I wanted to continue the tradition one more year. Here is my 2016 NFL Mock Draft.....
#1) St. Louis (via Tennessee): Jared Goff, QB, California.
#2) Philadelphia (via Cleveland): Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
#3) San Diego: Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
#4) Dallas: Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida St
#5) Jacksonville: Deforest Buckner, DE/DT, Oregon
#6) Baltimore: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
#7) San Francisco: Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
#8) TRADE-Cleveland trades their 1st round pick (#8 overall) to Tennessee for the Titans 1st round pick (#15 overall) and their 3rd round pick (#64 overall). Tennessee selects Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
9) Tampa Bay: Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
10) New York Giants: Laquan Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
11) Chicago: Leonard Floyd, DE/OLB, Georgia
12) New Orleans: Jarran Reed, DT/DE, Alabama
13) Miami: Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Ohio State
14) Oakland: Sheldon Rankins, DL, Louisville
15) Cleveland: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
16) Detroit: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
17) Atlanta: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
18) TRADE-Indianapolis sends their 1st round pick (#18 overall) to the Jets for their 1st round (#20 overall) and their 4th round pick (#118 overall). The Jets select Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
19) Buffalo: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
20) Indianapolis: Cody Whitehair, Guard, Kansas State
21) Washington: A'Shawn Robinson, DE/DT, Alabama
22) Houston: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
23) Minnesota: Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
24) Cincinnati: William Jackson, CB, Houston
25) Pittsburgh: Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State
26) Seattle: Johnathan Bullard, DT/DE, Florida
27) Green Bay: Chris Jones, DT, Miss State
28) TRADE- Cleveland trades their 2nd round pick (#32 overall) and their 4th round pick (#99 overall) to Kansas City. Cleveland selects Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
29) Arizona: Robert Nkemdiche, DE/DT, Ole Miss
30) Carolina: Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
31) Denver: Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
#1) St. Louis (via Tennessee): Jared Goff, QB, California.
#2) Philadelphia (via Cleveland): Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
#3) San Diego: Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
#4) Dallas: Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida St
#5) Jacksonville: Deforest Buckner, DE/DT, Oregon
#6) Baltimore: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
#7) San Francisco: Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
#8) TRADE-Cleveland trades their 1st round pick (#8 overall) to Tennessee for the Titans 1st round pick (#15 overall) and their 3rd round pick (#64 overall). Tennessee selects Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
9) Tampa Bay: Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
10) New York Giants: Laquan Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
11) Chicago: Leonard Floyd, DE/OLB, Georgia
12) New Orleans: Jarran Reed, DT/DE, Alabama
13) Miami: Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Ohio State
14) Oakland: Sheldon Rankins, DL, Louisville
15) Cleveland: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
16) Detroit: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
17) Atlanta: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
18) TRADE-Indianapolis sends their 1st round pick (#18 overall) to the Jets for their 1st round (#20 overall) and their 4th round pick (#118 overall). The Jets select Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
19) Buffalo: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
20) Indianapolis: Cody Whitehair, Guard, Kansas State
21) Washington: A'Shawn Robinson, DE/DT, Alabama
22) Houston: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
23) Minnesota: Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
24) Cincinnati: William Jackson, CB, Houston
25) Pittsburgh: Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State
26) Seattle: Johnathan Bullard, DT/DE, Florida
27) Green Bay: Chris Jones, DT, Miss State
28) TRADE- Cleveland trades their 2nd round pick (#32 overall) and their 4th round pick (#99 overall) to Kansas City. Cleveland selects Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
29) Arizona: Robert Nkemdiche, DE/DT, Ole Miss
30) Carolina: Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
31) Denver: Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
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