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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
