February 2009 Archives

Broncos start with a run at running backs

02/27/09 

The Denver Post

The Broncos opened the free-agent period Thursday night by going after a pair of veteran running backs.

J.J. Harrington of the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia's Correll Buckhalter are coming in for visits today.... The Broncos are also expected to meet with Miami Dolphins safety Renaldo Hill.

...Broncos defensive end Kenny Peterson... was not signed to a new contract and hit the free-agent market as of 10:01 p.m. MST Thursday.

...Veteran center Tom Nalen will officially retire once he files the paperwork.

...The NFL revealed the Broncos carried $37 million of salary cap space into the opening of free agency Thursday night.

...And if all goes according to plan, the Broncos will use much of their budget by early next week. The top free- agent priorities are right cornerback, where St. Louis' Ron Bartell would be considered the best available, and safety, where Rodney Harrison, Will Allen and James Butler could draw interest.

Bartell did hit the market late Thursday expecting a five-year deal approaching $40 million. Nevertheless, the Broncos were among the teams who expressed interest in him. He will visit New Orleans today.

Other cornerbacks the Broncos may be considering are Tampa Bay's Phillip Buchanon and Pittsburgh's Bryant McFadden.

The Broncos were expected to call the agent of Tampa Bay receiver Michael Clayton.

Nose tackle is another priority position. Possibilities are Atlanta's Grady Jackson, Green Bay's Colin Cole and New England's Mike Wright.

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No on RB J.J. Arrington, he is 26 year old and only a back up.

No RB Correll Buckhalter he is 30 old and over the hill.

Yes on Tom Nalen's retirement.  Thank you Tom for your dedication the the great years.  We will miss you...

What a SHAME the Broncos did not sign Defensive End Kenny Peterson.  The best of luck to you Kenny!  The Broncos will probable go for Mike Wright. He is four years younger with similar numbers.

Yes on CB Ron Bartell, he is 27 and could be a very good acquisition for maybe 6 years 36 million.  I doubt if we get him.

No on CB Phillip Buchanon, he is 31 years old.  We need a younger player across from Champ!

No on CB Bryant McFadden he is 27 years old and has about the same numbers Dre' Bly.  

No on WR Michael Clayton, he is 26 years old with only fair receptions. A number three receiver in a high powered offense should have at least 60 catches.

NO, No on DT Grady Jackson, he is 36 years old.   How can he help us?

No on DT Colin Cole he is 28 with only low tackles and sacks.  His numbers are better than Dewayne Robertson.

Yes on DE Mike Wright he is 26 with only low tackles and sacks but his numbers show he is coming on.

I didn't see much difference in Mike Kills column on 02/27/09  Free agency, rebuilding on the clock Michael seems a little young to have five years experience. Kill also states he had 80 catches as a rookie.  He has only had about 125 in the other four years. 

AB Michael

LEGWOLD: Broncos have plenty of holes to fill on defense, special teams

02/27/09

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News

...The Broncos weren't ranked higher than 13th in any major special teams category, and they were ranked higher than 23rd in just one -- punt return average at 9.8 yards per return, checking in at 13th.

Beyond that is a long road of ugliness. Consider:

• The Broncos were 23rd in kickoff returns (21.83-yard average).

•They were 28th in kickoff coverage and 28th in punt coverage.

•And they were 30th in their average drive start after kickoffs, 19th in opponents' average drive start after kickoffs, 30th in getting punts down inside the 20, 30th in field-goal percentage, tied for last in blocked kicks (zero) and tied for last in special teams takeaways (zero).

Put all of [...these] components together you have one of the worst teams in the league on special teams [according to] Rick Gosselin, long-time NFL columnist for the Dallas Morning News... the Broncos settled in at 31st overall in the league when the math was completed.

That puts the Broncos in the league's basement on special teams to go with the fact they were one of the worst teams in the league on defense, just one of three teams that has surrendered at least 400 points in each of the last two season - Detroit and St. Louis were the others.

That's two thirds of the well-worn three phases of the game which coaches near and far speak of when assessing how things are going.

And it also means those expecting a quick fix, that the Broncos offense can simply overcome blemishes that run that deep, may need two scoops of patience. ...Broncos general manager Brian Xanders floated the idea of trying to acquire more draft picks recently, that too is an indication of just how big the job will be to dig out when money's also tight.

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First Jeff it has really been great reading columns over the years.  Thank you for all you have given to our community!

Why should anyone be surprised if the Bronco's end the 2009 season with a 6 and 10 record?  Well. well the Broncos defense and Special teams are down in the basement without a ladder.  Surprised?  No!  They will probable stay there if they sign players like Arizona's J.J. Arrington [and] Philadelphia's Correll Buckhalter,

AB Michael

Running backs taking a look at Broncos

Broncos free agents brace for change

02/25/09 - 

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News

The Broncos have informed their players who are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents they will be allowed to enter the market and won't be re-signed before the league's shopping spree begins Thursday night.

Most, if not all, of those players won't return, regardless of price, though there have been some talks between the team and defensive lineman Kenny Peterson.

The rest of the group about to hit the market includes running backs Tatum Bell and Michael Pittman, defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban, safety Marlon McCree, cornerback Karl Paymah, linebacker Nate Webster, receivers Darrell Jackson and Edell Shepherd and tight end Jeb Putzier.

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Back on January 15 of this year I said the following about these NON-PLAYERS:

Tatum Bell - Thanks for stepping in.  We appreciate your effort. He is worth keeping through out train camp.  He has potential...

Ebenezer Ekuban I expected Shanahan to replace... either Ekuban or Engelberger

Nate Jackson - Nate played well.  Jackson was cut back on 02/17/09.

Marion McCree - He was a very good acquisition! 

Karl Paymah -  Return to $ENDER!

Kenny Peterson - Decent DT  When given the opportunity to play 

Michael Pittman - Repair and Retire NOW!

Jeb Putzier - The Broncos real problem lies with the OLDER players... either Putzier or Darrell Jackson will go.

Nate Webster A very good Middle linebacker.

Edell Shepherd - no comment

I feel like it's a good choice to let these players enter the free agent market.  We picked most of them up as free agents... 

As noted on 01-15-09 I called each of these cuts... 

02/11/09

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/feb/11/alridge-pope-among-broncos-cuts/

Running backs:

Anthony Alridge

P.J. Pope

Alex Haynes

Tight end:

Chad Mustard

Wide receiver:

Cliff Russell

Alridge, Pope and Russell ended the season on the Denver's injured reserve list.

02/17/09

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_11719122

Defensive tackle:

Dewayne Robertson

Safety:

Marquand Manuel

Defensive end:

John Engelberger

Linebackers:

Jamie Winborn

Niko Koutouvides

Tight end:

Nate Jackson

Five of the defenders started at least one game in 2008.

Well the 2008 season is over for the Broncos.  How do you feel the Broncos did in the 2008 draft.  In case you for got who they drafted click for a quick review

The Denver Broncos are A Joke!

Firing Shanahan was the wrong move!! That's done.. So we went 8 and 8... So he promised the playoffs this year... Never in Bronco's history have we had more RB's / FB's injured... 

So what do we do?  Bowlen fires the most stable person in the Bronco's organization.  What a mistake!!

What do fans have to look forward to? 

Now all the coaches get to learn how to work together.  Wonderful! All the players get to learn a completely new system.  Just Great!  We will be real lucky to be 8 and 8 in 2009.  Now Jim Goodman wants to bring in some more has beens... to fill in for 2009... What a continuing joke!

The problems with the Bronco's could have easily been fixed this season without all the mess and shake up!  If we simply repair the running game, improve the kicking game just 10% and get our defense back to the middle of the pack the Broncos win 10 or 11 games.

Who is the better coach Shanahan or McDaniels? I don't care for Mike Nolan but he maybe better than Bob Slowik.  How much better remains to be seen.

Bronco's Defense in 2008  29th

San Francisco's Defense in 2008 13th √

Bronco's Defense in 2007  19th √

San Francisco's Defense in 2007 25th

Bronco's Defense in 2006  14th√

San Francisco's Defense in 2006 26th

Bronco's Defense in 2005  15th√

San Francisco's Defense in 2005 32nd THE BOTTOM!

Come on folks McDaniels hires Nolan whose record is awful!

The Broncos real problem lies with the OLDER players. They are a real LET DOWN! Shanahan would have dealt with that this year through the draft... I would have expected Shanahan to replace Nalen, Ramsey, Alridge, Pittman, Pope, Mustard, Russell, Shepherd, Young, Thomas, Robertson, Koutouvides, Shaw, Fox, Green, Clemons, Haggan, and either Ekuban or Engelberger and either Putzier or Jackson will go.  Maybe Champ Bailey and Dre' Bly will also go they have not lived up to expectations. So about fourteen to sixteen players will go from this years roster.

Unfortunately this is a good time to change many players because everyone will have to learn a new system.  Our team will be disassembled this year. I doubt if McDaniels will hold more than two coaches over.  High hopes?  Playoff hopes?  FOR GET THEM THIS YEAR!  I doubt if the Broncos win more than six games.  The first half of the season will be around 2 wins and 6 losses. The second half of the season will be around 4 wins and 4 loses.  If our season turns out this way I hope Bowlen cries in his soup for firing Shanahan...  With our schedule this season has the potential to be the worst since the 60's!

Good luck to the Broncos!! 

Bronco Bums: Under Achievers

Champ Bailey - He is seriously over rated! Reduce Salary, Trade or Release! Josh Bell is ready to step in... In a 3/4 Bailey will probable stay.

Dre' Bly - Reduce Salary! We probable need to keep him.  We are weak at Right Corner Back.

M. Thomas -  He is a very big disappointment! He lacks inspiration, Reduce Salary, Trade or Release!

Chad Mustard - Thanks for trying!  It's time to try somewhere else...

Selvin Young - A lot of talk little action, Trade or Release!

I WANTED TO USE YELLOW HERE BUT NO ONE COULD READ IT!

Bronco $alary Baggage:

Karl Paymah -  Return to $ENDER!

Dwayne Robertson -  IR every week, missed practices and over paid... Return to $ENDER!

Niko Koutouvides - A very big disappointment! Return to $ENDER!

THESE COULD BE RETURN TO BIG SPENDER i.e. Patrick Bowlen...

Bronco Injury Retirees:

Tom Nalen - Repair and Retire NOW!

Patrick Ramsey - Repair and Retire NOW!

Michael Pittman - Repair and Retire NOW!

Bronco's Keepers:

Boss Bailey Outside Linebacker - Boss is good.  He should be kept around if he stays healthy.

Josh Barrett - He stepped in and played great in the second half of the season.

Josh Bell - He was coming on the last few games. Great potential!

Tatum Bell - Thanks for stepping in.  We appreciate your effort. He is worth keeping through out train camp.  He has potential...

Ryan Clady - Ryan was the BEST Left Tackle in the draft. Great value! Great player!

Tim Crowder - Young Defensive End who needs to really step up this year to replace either Ekuban or Engelberger.

Jay Cutler - Stop whining!

Elvis Dumervil - Presently our best rusher...

Ebenezer Ekuban - Decent DE -  Either Ekuban or Engelberger should be replaced in 2009 draft. 

Daniel Graham - Solid Tight End, Blocker, Receiver, Good attitude!

Ben Hamilton - A very good Guard.

Darrell Hackney - He has potential!  He is better than a #3 Quarterback.

Andre Hall - He has potential... How much?  Uncertain..

Ryan Harris - A very young Right Offensive Tackle who will be hard to unseat if he gets his run blocking down.

Peyton Hills - Great Full Back, Tail Back, Running Back - Punishing blocker, powerful runner. A raise is in order!

Jeb Putzier - He is definitely worth keeping through training camp..

Nate Jackson - Nate played well.  Either Nate or Putzier will not be back.

Spencer Larsen - Good on both sides, Defense and Offense. He is a great Full Back and Middle Linebacker.

Bret Kern - He is a good solid young kicker.  He needs some training camp competition.  This was a big Shanahan mistake!

Kory Lichtensteiger - A real solid upcoming center! He backs up Left Guard, Center and Right Guard. 

Chris Kuper - A great young Right Guard.

Brandon Marshall - Excellent #1 Receiver, Great hands and speed but he needs to stay problem free!

Marquand Manuel - He was a good acquisition but he needs to stay healthy.

Marion McCree - He was a very good acquisition! 

Kenny Peterson - Decent DT  When given the opportunity to play he was better than DR without IR every week, missed practices and over paid...

Erik Pears - A very good young Right Tackle who should be back in 2009.  It maybe difficult for him to move Ryan Harris if Harris greatly improves his run blocking.

Tyler Polumbus - A good young Right Offensive Tackle who needs work and time...  He may not be back if Pears returns to form.  One of these guys will be moved to Defense.

Matt Prater - Very good kicker for second year. He needs some training camp challenges.

Eddy Royal - Better than 2nd round, Excellent #2 Receiver, Great hands, speed and really great attitude! A raise is in order!

Tony Scheffler - A great receiving Tight End when he is healthy! Teaching him to block is a waste of time. 

Brandon Stokely - Excellent #3 Receiver, Great hands, speed and attitude!

Ryan Torain - A good running back if he returns to form and stays healthy.

Nate Webster A very good Middle linebacker.

Casey Wiegmann - A great center. Casey is a little old but what heart!  A mild raise is in order!

D.J. Williams - Great Weak Side Line Backer. 

Jack Williams - He may survive if steps up and really plays, if a new draftee does not take his place and if Champ is traded or released.

Jamie Winborn - A good player at a good value.

Wesley Woodyard - Real potential at Outside Line backer.  He came on the last half of the season when given the opportunity.

What are your thoughts on the new coach, Josh McDaniels, the new defensive coordinator, Mike Nolan?  Will we go with a 4/3 or a 3/4?  Which players should stay?  Which players should go?

What do you think?