The Denver Broncos: Moving Forward

I debated continuing to write throughout the season, but I quickly realized I would essentially be repeating myself week in and week out. Now that the season is over I think it is time to put together a offseason plan to get this team back where we are use to it being year in and year out. 

First thing on this list of course is finding a new head coach, and before you do that you have to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your team. The Broncos biggest strength is their defense, and with young players like Bradley Chubb, Josey Jewell, and Justin Simmons the Broncos have a solid young core of players. When you add the young players with current stars Von Miller and Chris Harris you still have the makings for a very solid defense. 

The weakness of this team was its offense. They simply couldn't get the job done, and were inefficient at best. As bad as they were, there were a couple bright spots from this year. We found our starting running back of the future in Phillip Lindsey, and our starting wide receivers in Courtland Sutton and Daesean Hamilton. Those are pretty much the only positive things you can say about the offense. 

So what direction does Denver go for their head coach? Do they get a defensive minded head coach, and bring in a known offensive mastermind for offensive coordinator? Or do the get a offensive minded head coach, and a bring in a defensive coordinator that can continue to play to our strengths? Personally I think it is time to bring in an offensive minded head coach. It doesn't take a genius to coordinate a defense with players like Denver has, and the offense is in desperate need of an identity. Denver needs to find a coach on offense who knows how to play to his players strengths rather than forcing his players to play his system. 

After choosing a head coach, Denver will need to decide how they want to go about getting their next franchise quarterback. Case Keenum was never going to be your franchise QB, and I think everyone knew that even before they signed him. Some people are looking for Denver to draft their next QB this year. I think that would be a mistake. With the top 10 pick this year I think you take the best player available, keep Case as your QB for another season, and then go all in for Tua from Alabama, or Fromm from Georgia. My personal favorite is Trevor Lawrence, but many people are saying he will not come out until 2021. 

This is shaping up to be one of the most important offseason in the history of the team. I can't wait to see how John Elway puts this franchise back together, and how the team takes shape for next season. 

Broncos vs Seahawks Thoughts

Its been a long time since I have updated this, so rather than try to talk about everything to catch up I will just go from where we are at, and that is winning game one of the regular season.

The first thing that stood out in my mind watching this game was the group of rookies we have is special. Bradley Chubb had a tackle and half sack, Courtland Sutton had 2 receptions for 45 yards, Royce Freeman had 71 yards on 15 carries some of which were key running out the clock, and finally Phillip Lindsey who also had 71 yards rushing, and 2 receptions for for 31 yards and a touchdown. These are numbers I think we can expect for a lot of this season. Royce Freeman is the running back we have been missing here for years. He can carry the load of an every down back, and is a good receiver as well. He is going to be the workhorse this year. Bradley Chubb was disruptive and played very well. He would get consistent pressure, set the edge, and play various positions. Courtland Sutton showed he was no training camp all American and came up with some big catches at big times. Finally, Philip Lindsey who is going to be a special player for the Broncos. Along with being able to carry the ball, he can split out as a slot receiver, return kicks, cover kicks, and be a huge match up problem. Lindsey runs a 4.3 in the 40, but has the toughness to try and run a defender over. His ability to catch the ball makes him that much tougher to deal with as it leaves defenses with the problem of who do the cover him with? He will run around a linebacker, and run through most safeties. There isn't much this kid can't do, and the Broncos are getting the most out of him.

The defense has adjusted well from year one to year two under Joe Woods. They allowed less than 70 yards rushing, sacked Russell Wilson 6 times, and only had a problem with the big plays. The other good thing was the sacks didn't just come from the linebackers. Chris Harris Jr got a sack, and Darian Stewart was in on a half sack as well. This shows that Woods isn't afraid to get creative with his blitzes. The combination of Chubb, Ray, and Shaq came up with 1.5 sacks, but more importantly got consistent pressure which gave Von Miller the chance to to his thing and he got 3 sacks in the game. Adam Pac Man Jones was a surprise this game as a solid returner, but more importantly he played a very good game at corner and played with that edge Denver with lost with Talib. Keenum threw 3 interceptions, and even though the first touchdown came after their first interception Case Keenum did not let them get to his head and played an overall good game 25/39, 329 yards and 3 TDs.

Finally I will say the last big reason we won this game was Marquette King. With 6 punts he put 3 inside the 20, and had a 44 yard average. Last year Denver did not have a punter that could bail the offense out when they didn't move the ball. Forcing any opponent to start inside their own 20 makes things much tougher on their offense.  King is a weapon that Denver has the a lot of other teams don't have. He has the leg to flip the field when he needs to, but also has the accuracy to pin teams down inside their own 20 yard line.

This first game showed there is reason to be excited to be a Bronco fan. It also showed that there is a big reason to be excited about the young core of players Denver has from this years draft. Something that Denver fans haven't been able to say in years!

An Important Time Of Year For Rockies

    The Colorado Rockies are right in the middle of the most important stretch of the season. It started with sweeping the Giants in San Francisco, and then going on to see them take 2 of 3 against a Seattle Mariner squad making an American League playoff push. Coming home to take 2 of 3 against the Diamond Backs, followed by a home sweep against the Mariners, it sets the stage for the opening series against the Diamond backs in Arizona, followed by a 2 game home stand against Houston. After that they host Oakland and then go to St Louis to round out August.
   
    It was back at the beginning of July things were starting to look bleak for the Rockies. Their ace was proving to not be the player the front office thought he was, and one of the reliever's they signed to close out games ended up not living up to par in Bryan Shaw. To remedy this the Rockies sent both down to the minor leagues to get right, but until they prove they are who they thought they were Rockies fans can't trust the Jon Gray and and Bryan Shaw are what the Rockies signed.

    Even with all the issues with the pitching staff Denver has remained to within striking distance of the division, and absolutely in wild card contention. It was the beginning of July that the team caught fire. Some comments Nolan Arrenado made to the public seemed to set the team on fire as they have won multiple key games since then. Were the wins due to Arrenado speaking up? Maybe. One things is for sure is the team is absolutely in running for a playoff positions.

    At this point I think management needs to admit they need help in the 7th inning. It has simply become a killer for the Rockies. There have been too many games where the Rockies took a lead into the 7th inning that they ended up going to extra innings, or the Rockies found themselves battling for a victory that prior to the 7th looked locked up. It is my opinion the Rockies should be buyers, not sellers as far as trades, and they should not be afraid to pull the trigger on getting a 7th inning guy. It is time for another playoff run for the Rockies, and to do so they are going to need to get a guy who can come in for the 7th inning and get outs. Here's to hoping management can put something together!

The Colorado Avalanche and Their Offseason Plans

Free agency, has started, and the draft has come and gone for the NHL. Colorado has been somewhat active in free agency, and the Avs have been fairly active. They added a goaltender in Philipp Grubauer who the Avs are hoping will be their future goalie, and in they bought out the contract of Brooks Orpik at the same time. They then added defensemen Ian Cole, and 3rd/4th line player Matt Calvert from the Columbus Bluejackets to replace Blake Comeau who signed with the Dallas Stars.

In the draft Colorado selected some players who most likely won't make the roster next season, but in the coming years could provide Colorado with the talent in the farm system that will give them leverage in the future, or give them the opportunity to add players in the coming years. With their first selection the Avs drafted Martin Kaut, who played in the Czech league and had 16 points in 38 games. He is young, and at 6'2 176lbs has room to grow. Along with him the Avs selected 4 other forwards, one defensemen, and two goalies in the draft. None of which will probably make the team this year, but as I said could be future pieces of this team.

It is apparent that the Avs are looking to find a goalie for both now and the future with the addition of Grubauer, and drafting two goalies in the draft. Adding Cole gives them a guy who can play solid defense against in the NHL, and Calvert will replace Comeau on the penalty kill, and the 3rd and 4th lines. I think the Avs need to grab two more pieces in the offseason this year. One is a guy who can win faceoffs consistently. We have been terrible in faceoffs and it is something we need to improve on. The next thing is a big power forward type who can drop the gloves. We lacked a sense of toughness last year, and while we do not need a goon, we need a player who will stand up for the rest of the team.

The Avs are a young, exciting, up and coming team that are a couple pieces away. Hopefully Joe Sakic can find the right mix of players for next year for us to make a playoff run.

The Outlaw Josey Jewell

Going into this draft at some point Denver was going to have to draft an inside linebacker. Last season Brandon Marshall was injured, and Todd Davis played well, but he can be exposed when he has to cover a running back or tight end. The Broncos also lost Corey Nelson in free agency so there was a need at that position anyway. 

Leading up to the draft I broke down film on players I thought could be a good fit for the Broncos, and Josey Jewell from the University of Iowa was a player I targeted as one who I think could help right away. An on going trend among Denver's draft picks this year is they are all high character guys, and that streak isn't broken on Jewell. He was voted team captain multiple times, and was a leader on his team. Jewell is a  player who isn't going to blow anyone away by his workout numbers. At 6'1 and 238lbs he ran a 4.8 in the 40. When you hear those numbers you get the picture of a pretty average inside linebacker, but then you put on this kids film. He has football instincts that are second to none. Jewell simply has a knack for making plays. 

Brandon Marshall is the only guaranteed starter at inside linebacker. I think Todd Davis is vulnerable to Josey Jewell if Jewell comes in, picks up the playbook, and creates more plays than Davis. Jewell has that intangible ability to make the big play that you either have, or you don't. At Iowa it seemed as though he was always batting passes down, creating fumbles, and just making plays. Big plays are something that Denver's defense lacked last year. He understands angles so he is able to cover running backs out of the backfield, and he is a great tackler. What do I expect from Jewell this year? I think he will largely be a special teams contributor, and be able to step in should Davis or Marshall go down. To be completely honest though, I also would surprised if he beat out Todd Davis for the other inside linebacker job opposite Brandon Marshall. Jewell has a bright future with the Denver Broncos, and I will not lie, it does feel good to have a player I personally looked into get picked up by the team. 

Who Is The Best Pure Route Runner On The Broncos Roster?

Demaryius Thomas? He's good, but he's more of a straight line runner at his age. Emmanuel Sanders? I would say prior to this year Sanders was Denver's best  route runner, but he has been dethroned. The Broncos drafted who I believe to be their best pure route runner on their roster. His name is Daesean Hamilton, and he could easily be the most used rookie on this year's team. He played for Penn State University which is just now returning to being a powerhouse program after one of the worst scandals in college football history.

A team not usually known for producing good wide receivers found a diamond in the rough in Daesean Hamilton. Penn State is coming off a terrible sports scandal, but seemed to have found their way back to being one of the top programs football programs in college football. A team not known for throwing the ball found an amazing receiver while making a comeback to being one of the stronger programs in the country. Daesean Hamilton set the Penn States all time receptions record last year, and has shown over 4 years he is a player who can get open. He is an average size receiver at 6'1 and 204lbs, so on top of being a top route runner, he can also provide yards after he catches the ball.  Setting an all time receptions record at a Big 10 school is no small feet. Even though he his best time in the 40 was 4.47 seconds he is mostly known as a 4.5 40 guy who has the ability to run routes and get open. 

Is he physically gifted? Sure, but I think that by drafting Hamilton the Denver Broncos stayed the course of valuing the players leadership ability, and personality a little bit higher than pure athletic talent in their pre draft grades.  Drafting Daesean Hamilton is an instance of this of working in Denver's favor. He had 214 catches over 4 years at Penn State. Without blazing speed, or elite size  Hamilton's route running ability is what made him an elite college receiver. His work ethic is what I believe will make him a successful receiving threat for the Denver Broncos for the next coming years. 

Denver has positioned itself in a very smart position here from the stand point of their receiving corps. Should Courtland Sutton come in, and convincingly take the other outside receiver role moving Emmanuel Sanders inside I think we will see less of Daeseaan Hamilton, but he will get on the field. If Emmanuel Sanders stays on the outside next season I think that will mean Daesean Hamilton has a very good chance of being the slot receiver next year. Hamilton exploded onto the scene as a freshman with 82 receptions, and there is no reason he couldn't make the same splash in his 1st NFL season. 

Not being overly fast, or especially big, to be able to become a record holder for receptions at a Big 10 school is a clear sign he knows how to get open. If you asked most draft scouts who the best route runner in the 2018 draft was I feel a good number would say Hamilton.  He won't run away from many people, and he isn't a big body receiver like Courtland Sutton or Demaryius Thomas, Hamilton will make his impact in his ability to get open across the middle. This is a talent Denver has missed for the last couple years. It is hoped that along with Jake Butt, Daesean Hamilton will provide another threat over the middle of the field for Case Keenum. This is why, of all the Denver Broncos draft  offensive draft picks Daesean Hamilton might be the one to make the biggest impact in 2019. 

Courtland Sutton And How The Broncos Offense Should Look

I will be the first to say that I was a bit shocked when the Broncos drafted Courtland Sutton in the 2nd round. Shocked that Denver took a WR that high, and also shocked that Sutton was still on the board at the time. As I mentioned in the Royce Freeman post some players have that "it" factor, and I think Denver got another one with Courtland Sutton. He probably has the best catching ability of any receiver or tight end that was in the draft, and his ability to make plays on the ball when it is in the air is second to just about none. This was a pick of opportunity for the Denver Broncos as I feel like they didn't think Sutton would be there when they picked. Demaryius Thomas is still the Broncos top receiver, and one of the top 10 to 15 receivers in the NFL when he is healthy, but Courtland Sutton will be able to step right in as Denver's top target in a few years when Thomas retires.

Again, you have to ask yourself why did he fall to the second round? If he is so good why was he the third receiver selected? Wide receiver is a weird position where so many things come into play that it is hard to really say why any player is taken ahead of another. There could be a variety of reasons, but if I had to pick what I think are the top reasons, I would say the first reason would be his 40 time, he clocked in 4.5 seconds. Like with Royce Freeman, a 4.5 40 isn't going to make you look special in comparison to other receivers. Not having elite speed could be a reason he fell, and another could be that he came from a university not known for being a football power house at Southern Methodist University. Simply put, the competition he faced wasn't as good as the competition a receiver from the SEC, or Pac 12 would face. I am sure those things played into him falling to the second round, but either way in my eyes the Broncos got a player who can make a difference for years to come.

How does Courtland Sutton fit into the Broncos offense this season? First and foremost he will be Demaryius Thomas's back up. Should anything happen to DT, Sutton will step in at his spot, and take over being the big target for Case Keenum. I personally have a different hope for how he is used this season. My hope is that he impresses enough in OTA's and training camp that he can actually play on the other side of Demaryius Thomas. This would mean that Emmanuel Sanders moves into the slot, which I think is the best possible option for the Denver offense. Sanders has the elite route running ability, and elite speed to be a match-up problem for every NFL team. Emmanuel Sanders in the slot, Demaryius Thomas on one side, and Courtland Sutton on the other could be one of the more dynamic, and special receiving corps in the NFL next season. Having two receivers with the size of Sutton and Thomas on the outside, and the playmaking ability of Sanders on the inside would bring a smile to every Broncos fans face. Most teams end up trying to double team Demaryius Thomas, but if Courtland Sutton can make the transition to the NFL it will make it hard to do that. This means DT will have more single man coverage, and Emmanuel Sanders will be able to use his speed and route running ability from the slot where he has a huge advantage over just about any corner in the NFL. As it stands, Emmanuel Sanders plays on the opposite side of Demaryius Thomas, and the slot receiver is open for competition, but hopefully Sutton will be able earn that spot on the outside, and move Sanders inside. Should Courtland Sutton be able to succeed in doing that the Broncos offense really has a chance to be a tough team to game plan for this year.

Denver Broncos Draft Critique Of Royce Freeman

Royce Freeman could prove to be one of the biggest steals of the draft. Watching film on him he simply has that "it" factor you look for in any player, but especially at running back. At 5'11 and 230lbs he is big enough to run between the tackles, but he also has the quickness to break off a big run. Another strength of his is catching the ball out of the backfield, so he will not have to come off the field for 3rd down. The NFL is changing, and a running back has to also be a receiver not just a runner. He had 79 receptions for over 800 yards in his college career which for a 230lb running back is impressive. Freeman has the ability to run over a defender, and the quickness to make them miss and run around him.

After reading that the question has to be why did he fall to the 3rd round? There are a couple reasons that I can see, and the first is he had a pretty serious knee injury in 2016. A serious leg injury to a college running back will make even the best running back drop in the draft. This also changed the way he ran the ball. Prior to the injury he was a "shiftier" back, and he had a little more speed. After he got hurt his style of running changed, and he became a runner who will look to run through a defender rather than around him. His 40 time also probably caused him to fall in the draft. His 40 time was 4.5 seconds, and that isn't going to turn many general managers heads when you have running backs routinely running in the 4.4s, and even 4.3s. Running a 4.5 also means he isn't the home run threat that other running backs in the draft were. Chances are if he breaks a big run he will probably get caught from behind especially if a defender has an angle on him. The final reason I think he fell was that Oregon used him a LOT for the 4 years he was there. He had 1026 touches in his 4 year career at Oregon, and also scored 64 touchdowns which makes general managers wonder if there is any tread left on the tires. Having over 1000 touches in 4 a year career means he got hit a lot. This causes NFL teams to worry that investing a high pick in him might not pay off due to him having already carried the ball so much.

After weighing the positives and negatives the Broncos selected him with the 71st pick in the 2018 NFL draft. Personally I think Denver got a steal. He was successful in every single year he played at Oregon. He has pass catching ability, and the ability to make the tough short runs are what makes him special. After letting CJ Anderson go Denver was in need of a running back who could be their "work horse". I was one of the people who believed that Devontae Booker could be a special back in the NFL coming out of college. As of now he has proven to be a big disappointment. I think this is why Denver chose to use a 3rd round pick on a running back. Freeman is 10lbs heavier than Booker, and catches the ball better out of the backfield. Devontae Booker finds himself in a position a lot of the veterans on the Broncos are after this years draft; they have to earn their starting job because these young rookies will take their spots if they don't. My personal opinion is that Royce Freeman is going to start if not to open the season by probably week 3 or 4. He simply is too good of a player to keep off the field. The only two reasons I see Freeman not being the starter is if he can't learn the playbook (which I think he will as Oregon has a dynamic offense, and he learned that and excelled for 4 years), or Devontae Booker comes out and lives up to the hype he had when he was drafted. It will be an exciting training battle to watch in training camp that is for sure.

My Thoughts On Denver Broncos OTA's Starting Tomorrow

The Denver Broncos have made some serious progress in regards to developing quality young talent for the future. Here are some of my thoughts on OTA's starting tomorrow.

1) I would LOVE to see Emmanuel Sanders move inside to the slot. With the draft the Broncos had in getting Cortland Sutton who is another big body wide receiver who will one day replace Demaryius Thomas. Sanders would be a match up nightmare in the slot for opposing teams. He has the speed to get deep, the quickness to get open, and the hands to make the grabs across the middle. It would allow Sutton to start outside on one side and Thomas starting on the other. It would also put our most dangerous playmaker on the inside against the opposite teams 3rd corner. Sanders would immediately be the most dangerous wide receiver in the NFL.

2) Bradley Chubb gives us so much flexibility on defense I am worried he will not be used correctly. There is no doubt this man is an outside linebacker, and will be a match up nightmare out there. However it is my belief that when Denver has put a team in a 3rd and long situation that he should be moved inside over the opposites team's worst interior linemen. Put Derek Wolfe on the inside next to him, with Von MIller and Shane Ray on the outside, and if there was a way to include Shaq Barrett on the field at the same time you would have probably the best pass rushing unit in the NFL.

3) How does Su'a Cravens fit into this defense? Is he the heir apparent to TJ Ward? Will he have a "special position" created for him in sub packages as a linebacker/safety roll? Cravens is a very physical player, and has a unique set of skills. Justin Simmons has emerged into a very good free safety, and has the ability to play "center field" as good or better than anyone on the team, so does this push Darren Stewart out the door? What about Will Parks? Safety is the Broncos deepest position so it should be interesting to see how everything shakes out.

4) How long will it take Royce Freeman emerge as the starter before training camp starts? Devonte Booker has had ample opportunities to take the starting spot for himself, but I really do not believe any positions are "set" on the team outside of Case Keenum at QB, and Von Miller at outside linebacer

5) Can Demarcus Walker re-gain the weight and be the interior lineman he was at Florida State before he was moved to outside linebacker last year? As a 2nd round pick I was excited to see him join the team and thought he could be a special player because he was a high motor player with great athletic ability at Florida State. Playing him next to Derek Wolfe, who is also a high motor player could give a starting pair of defensive ends we haven't had since Malik Jackson was here.

6) I have about 5 more thoughts, but I will conclude with this one. Which undrafted free agent will make the team this year? Most people from Colorado will be pulling from former CU Buff running back Phillip Lindsey to make the team, but another name I would watch is Jeff Holland who is a linebacker from Auburn. Holland played on the outside at Auburn, and showed he had knack for getting to the QB. It will be interesting to see if Denver keeps him on the outside or moves him to the inside linebacker spot where they currently list Todd Davis and Brandon Marshall as the starters, with draft pick Josey Jewell and Zaire Anderson backing them up.

These questions and others are ones that Denver needs to answer during the offseason so they do not remain questions when the season starts. Its an exciting time of year as football is back!!!!!!!!

Thoughts On The 2018 Denver Broncos Draft

The 2018 draft has come and gone, and I will get straight to the point. The Broncos did a fantastic job in this years draft. Going into the there were two main groups of people, and those were the fans who thought that Denver should take their next franchise QB, and those who thought they shouldn't. I don't think I made any doubts about the fact I didn't think that Denver should NOT draft a QB with the 5th pick, or make the mistake of trading up to draft one. I think the NFL has changed, and now it is about how you coach the QBs you have rather than which QB you have. Of course it will always be important to draft, or sign a talented QB, and there will always be the guys who are just have the gift from God to be a QB, but for the most part it is about how you coach the QB you have, and how receptive he is to that coaching. With that said I am going to dig into each pick. 

With their first pick at pick number 5 the Broncos selected arguably the best defensive player int he draft in Bradley Chubb. Chubb is 6'4 and 270lbs and has the ability to play both on the line, and at outside linebacker. This pick was an interesting one because after Denver made the pick it came out that Denver was set to trade their pick to Buffalo because it was assumed that Cleveland was going to draft Chubb with the 4th pick. When Cleveland instead chose a cornerback rather than Chubb, Denver canceled its trade with Cleveland to pick the player who most people thought was the best defensive player in the draft. Chubb will come in and make an immediate impact, and has Von Miller to help tutor him, and show him how to be a successful player in the NFL. 

With their second pick, at pick number 40 Denver shocked a lot of people and drafted Cortland Sutton, a wide receiver from SMU. This move wasn't necessarily a move Denver made out of necessity, but because Sutton was the best player still on the board at the time. Denver has a need for wide receivers, and I believe they would have taken a receiver at some point in the draft, but when Sutton was still there I think Denver made the decision to take the best player available. Sutton has the potential to be one of the top players in the NFL in a few years, and is the player who Denver has selected to replace Demaryius Thomas when he decides to retire. Sutton is a player who has the ability to be one of the top receivers in the NFL, and I believe that Denver took him with that in mind. This was a great pick for the Broncos, and he should be very exciting to watch next season. 

The third player the Broncos selected at pick number 71 is Royce Freeman who is a running back out of Oregon. At 5'11 and 234lbs he has the size, and ability to be a 3 down running back in the NFL. He was a 4 year starter for the Ducks, and was an absolute workhorse for them. Denver let CJ Anderson go, and Devontae Booker has largely been a disappointment from the hopes they had when they chose him. Freeman should immediately compete for the starting position this year, and in my opinion he should be the favorite to be the starter going into the season. 

Denver's 4th selection was at pick 99, and he is a cornerback from Boston College.He is 6'1 and 190lbs, so he has the size to cover any wide receiver in the league, but he also has the athletic ability to make plays on the ball. I think this was a great choice after last season Denver chose Brandon Langley, and when he got his opportunity to play he was exposed. Isaac Yiadom is a bigger, more physical corner from Boston College that should immediately compete for at least the 4th corner spot, and I wouldn't be surprised if he competed with Tramaine Brock for the 3rd corner spot as well. 

Denver's 5th selection came in round 4 and was the 106th pick overall. Josey Jewell is a player I suggested Denver draft on this blog. I am not going to lie, when a player I viewed as a player Denver should draft got picked it felt pretty good. Jewell is a player I think could compete with Todd Davis immediately for the starting job. He is a violent hitter, and has the speed to cover running backs out of the backfield. Covering running backs has been something that Denver has been lacking since they let Danny Trevathan go. Jewell is a guy who can come in immediately and compete for a starting spot, and will be an instant contributor on special teams. He was a team captain for the Hawkeyes, and will be a player that should have a very long, successful career for the Broncos. 

Denver had two picks in the 4th round, and with their second pick in the 4th round, at pick number 113 Denver picked wide receiver Daesean Hamilton from Penn State. Hamilton will have the inside track at being Denver's slot receiver next season. He isn't overly big at 6'1 and 198lbs, and isn't overly fast either with his fastest 40 time being 4.47. What he is, and what he is known for is being the one of, if not the best route runner in the draft, and when you are looking for a slot receiver route running ability is the main attribute you need to have. It should be exciting to see how he fits into the offense next year, and I would expect him to be the starting slot receiver going into the season. 

Denver also had one 5th round pick this year, and at pick 156 Denver picked another player who I went over in detail on this blog, and that is Wisconsin tight end Troy Fumagalli. He is a big body tight end at 6'6 and 248lbs, and is known more for his ability to catch the ball than block. At his size he should be able to develop into a blocker, and be a great compliment to Jake Butt who will be Denver's do it all tight end. Slot receiver and tight end were two of Denver's main weaknesses last year, and getting Jake Butt back from injury, and drafting Fumagalli should remedy that situation at tight end. Once again, I went over this guy in pretty good detail, and I am excited that he will be a Bronco next year. 

Denver had two 6th round picks, and with their first one, at pick 183 Denver drafted a offensive lineman who is also local product named Sam Jones who went to Arizona State. At 6'5 and 305lbs he has the size to come in and compete for a job, and everyone loves a feel good story where a local high school player gets to come home, and play for his hometown team. The second 6th round pick Denver had was pick 217, and they chose another linebacker named Keishawn Bierria from the University of Washington. Bierria will most likely be looked at to compete on special teams for his first few years, and then see what he can develop into. He is a physical player who was a solid pick for the Broncos. 

With their last pick in draft, in the 7th round Denver chose a big body running back out of the University of Arkansas named David Williams. At pick 226 I would expect him to be put at on the practice squad, and maybe turn into a player in the next few years. 

Overall I think would grade Denver's draft with a B+. They managed to pick up a player at all their positions of need, but I think they might have waited too long to draft an interior lineman. I think they only way this draft could've been better is if they traded up in the 2nd round and picked up Will Hernandez, or Ronald Jones who were all taken within 7 picks of when Denver picked in the 2nd round. Getting Hernandez, or a game breaking back line Ronald Jones would've been the only way I think this draft could've been better. That said, I think this was a great rebound drafts from the last few years. 

Against All Odds LET'S GO AVS!!!!!!!!!!

When look at sports, and what they're really about is of course competition. However it also provides real drama. Watching underdog stories, or seeing long standing records get smashed are what makes sports special. As a sports fan you can't help but love what the Colorado Avalanche are doing this year in the playoffs.

This post is going to be short, and sweet. The Colorado Avalanche, as an 8 seed, have taken the top seeded Nashville Predators to a 6th game. Now on the surface that might not seem like a huge deal, but the fact they have done it without their top goalie, and top defenseman is extremely impressive. What makes it even more impressive is they won a game 5 in Nashville with their 3RD STRING GOALIE between the pipes. It's an absolute feel good story, and you can't help but get behind this team as they go into game 6 tonight in Denver. All the pressure in on Nashville, and any team that has the deck stacked against them, that is playing for survival the way the Avalanche are makes them a dangerous team. This post will provide no insight to the game, nor will it give you any information you didn't have before. This post is strictly a GO AVALANCHE post, and here's to hoping that this team of young players, that have out played the top seeded Predators in every game can keep it going tonight. It would be an amazing story if a team with their 3rd string goalie can take a top seed to game 7, never mind if they some how can pull out a series win. My hope is they continue to out skate, and out work this predator team, and they give us a game 7 later this week! LET'S GO AVALANCHE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Avalanche, The Playoffs, and The Future

Last season the Colorado Avalanche had the leagues worst record. Professional hockey had hit an all time low in the mile high city, and things didn't look promising for a turn around. People were beginning to speak openly about letting Joe Sakic go as the teams general manager. In a city that has a long, and proud hockey history things were not looking too good. Colorado is one of the states that expect excellence from all its teams. The fan base here in Colorado holds it's teams to a high standard, and they do not put up with prolonged periods of losing. The stage was set for another season of struggles, and an offseason that would be considered turbulent at best. To further solidify the speculation that the Avalanche were going to struggle was the trading of one of its top players in Matt Duchene. He was a fan favorite, but made it clear he didn't want to be here, so he was traded to Ottawa.

After that trade it became clear that this team really came together. They believed in themselves, and went to work. One of the potential signs that this team was going to be successful was that they retained head coach Jared Bednar, and he continued to hold the teams respect despite finishing last in the NHL last year. Top to bottom this team was united, and they quietly went about their business. The team has a super star in Nathan Mackinnon, a number one defensemen in Eric Johnson, a team captain who is as good of a two way player you will find in Gabriel Landeskog, and a few up and coming stars in Mikko Rantanen, Tyson Barrie, and Tyson Jost. They then put together a roster of players that was a combination of solid veterans like Carl Soderberg, Patrick Nemeth, and Colin Wilson with young players like Alexander Kerfoot, Samuel Girard, and others. This team completely transformed itself from last year.

Making the playoffs this year was a surprise to everyone other than the guys on the team, and the fact that they have been able to give the Nashville Predators, who are the number one seeded team in the conference, all they can handle in the first two games shows that the future is incredibly bright for this team. Not to mention that the Avalanche are doing this all without its top goalie in Semyon Varlamov, and its top defensemen in Eric Johnson makes the effort they are giving that much more impressive. Those players being gone is not an excuse to lose this series, and it is clear the team doesn't believe that either. I believe this series is far from over, and Nashville knows they have their hands full.

Regardless of how this series goes the future of this team looks very bright. Does this team have a fe holes to fill? Absolutely. Playing a team like Nashville that is about as close as you can get to a complete team helps point out what those holes are. Briefly to wrap this post up I am going to take a look at next year and some of the things the Avs need to do in the offseason to ensure that next year they are not an 8 seed, but potentially win the division and get home ice advantage.

The Predators have 4 elite defensemen that can do a bit of everything. They are big, they are physical, and can score. Currently the Avalanche have player in Eric Johnson who fills that role, but they need a couple others to step up, and probably need to sign a veteran free agent who can come in contribute at an elite level immediately. The Avalanche have players like Nikita Zadorov who is big, physical defensemen, but struggles to score. They have players like Tyson Barrie and Samuel Girard who are both fit the mold of "offensive defensemen", but are both rather undersized. Girard and Barrie both have a very bright future ahead of them, and most likely get bigger as they age, but as of right now both are a bit undersized.

The other thing I feel the Predators have that the Avalanche don't is size. They are a big team that has earned the nickname "Smashville". Nashville plays a very physical style of hockey, and in a 7 game series they simply wear smaller teams down. I won't say that the Avalanche are a "soft" team, but they could absolutely benefit from picking up one or two guys that have the size to physically wear other teams down, and play a physical brand of hockey. As fighting becomes less and less of a thing in the NHL having big, physical players who can score, as well as play a physical style of hockey is even more important. Playing at altitude is an advantage, but adding a more physical style of play would only wear teams down more. Hopefully this offseason the Avalanche will add a defenseman, and a couple wings who have the size to wear down other teams down, and provide a physical style of play that currently this team doesn't have. One thing is certain though, and that is playoff hockey is one of the most fun things to watch, and it feels great that playoff hockey is back in Colorado!

GO AVS!!!!!!!!!!!

A Quick Free Agent Post

During the offseason most teams will do more via the free agent market than making trades for players. Denver has gone into this offseason and been more active in the trade market rather than the free agent market, but there are some free agents still available that in my opinion Denver should take a look at. 

The first player I will name is one everybody has heard of before (mostly because of his off the field issues), and that player is none other than Adam Pacman Jones. As Pacman has aged he has seemed to calm down with the off the field stuff, and even seemed as though to be a leader in the Bengals locker room last year. He brings the ability to return punts, and either cover the slot receiver, or play on the outside. Denver tried to fix the punt return issue last year with drafting Isaiah Mackenzie. Sadly things didn't come together for him, and while he will have another chance this offseason, signing Pacman Jones gives us a solid insurance policy. Jones is at the end of his career, and I think he would just like to find a team that is competitive, and gives him a chance to finish out his career at a high level. 

The second free agent I think Denver should look at is wide receiver Brandon Coleman from the New Orleans Saints. The consensus around Denver is DT is starting to show signs of aging, and Denver needs another big body WR that creates match up problems. Brandon Coleman is 25 years old, and 6'6 and 220lbs. He has the athletic ability to get open, and the size that he can do something with the ball after he catches it. Coleman is an exciting player who at 25 can be a player for the Broncos for years to come. Denver still will need a "slot receiver" who can get open in the middle of the field on a regular basis, but to have Emmanuel Sanders in the slot with Brandon Coleman and Demaryius Thomas playing on the outside sounds like a pretty solid plan to me. Coleman is bigger than DT, and if you add him in with Jake Butt it gives Denver a lot of real options in the red zone. It would be difficult for a team to cover Jake Butt at tight end with Brandon Coleman and DT on the outside. 

The third player I would like Denver to target is tight end Marcedes Lewis. He is getting a little up there in years, but at 6'6 and still playing between 260lbs and 275lbs with the ability to block, and catch the ball makes him a player worth looking into. He would give Keenum a very large target in the middle of the field, and be able to help out one of our tackles if they end up struggling against a Khalil Mack, or Justin Houston. 

Just food for thought, but all of these guys would be solid contributors to the team the first day they got here. 

What To Make Of The Su'a Cravens Trade......

Back in February I made a post about what the Denver Broncos should do at inside linebacker. I mentioned some names to look at in the draft, but I also threw out an idea that was pretty outside the box, and that is picking up a bigger safety and converting him to inside linebacker. The evidence I gave for this was what the Carolina Panthers did when they drafted Thomas Davis out of Georgia. Davis played safety for the Bulldogs, but could also come up and play in the box. Rather than keep him at safety they had him gain some weight and moved him to the weakside linebacker in the 4-3 defense. Ever since then Davis has proven himself to be one of the most productive, and athletic linebackers in the NFL. With todays move it looks as though the Broncos have positioned themselves to do the same thing with Su'a Cravens.

Coming out of the University of Southern California Cravens was labeled a linebacker/safety. A player who could play either position, and play each spot well. He has the speed to play strong safety, be a TJ Ward type player where he will hang out in the box, and be a nightmare for teams when he blitzes. Another option is he could gain about 10-15lbs and become strictly a linebacker, but with the ability cover tight ends, running backs, and even a wide receiver on occasion. In the Broncos defense he would be an inside linebacker along with Brandon Marshall, and between the two of them probably be the fastest tandem of inside linebackers in the NFL. Should Denver move him to inside linebacker the days of teams being able to take advantage of the match up of a running back or tight end on a linebacker are over.  This move gives Denver flexibility like we have never seen here, and I for one am interested to see how Cravens is used. My personal hope is they move him to ILB, and that they use his flexibility to create problems for opposing teams offenses. This was an overall great move by Elway and the Broncos front office.

Stay At 5 Or Make A Trade?

As the draft approaches we have seen teams make moves up and down the draft board to better position themselves for their individual team goals. The NFL holds "the combine" where teams can get a look at the top college players coming out in the draft, and see them do individual workouts, as well as interview them to get to know them better. After the combine colleges will have their "pro days" to showcase the talent on their individual teams to the NFL teams that send representatives to watch. During all this you have NFL free agency open up, and teams can make offers to players they think that will help their team in the upcoming season. Spring in the NFL is an exciting time to say the least.

Listening to the radio I have also heard that the springtime in the NFL can also be called "the season of lies", and I think that is pretty fitting. Teams will show interest in one player only to go after another, front offices will leak information to give off the impression they are looking one way when they are actually looking another. It is why trying to gauge what your team will do in the draft, and free agency is so difficult. The best anyone can do is look at their favorite teams roster, see where they have holes, and then try and make an educated guess as to what the decision makers of their favorite team are thinking. If you are a Denver Broncos fan one thing is for certain, and that is John Elway is great at making people think he is looking to go one direction, only to go the complete opposite direction when the time comes.

First we have to simply state the obvious, and that is they have two options, and they are to either keep the pick, or trade the pick away for other picks. If Denver keeps the pick I have stated that my pick would be Quentin Nelson, the guard from Notre Dame. Drafting him would give Denver one of the better guard tandems in the NFL with Nelson, and last seasons big offseason pick up Ronald Leary. With Bolles and Veldheer at each tackle, Nelson and Leary at guard, and Paradis at center, it would give the Broncos talent on the offensive line that they haven't had in years. Having a great offensive line makes everyone on the offense better. Case Keenum would have an easier time making accurate throws, and CJ Anderson would finally have a line that could consistently open lanes for him to run through. This would also make it easier to control time of possession which plays into the Broncos favor because they still have a great defense, and if we control the time of possession it will put that much more pressure on opposing teams to have to score when they have the ball. The other player I would consider at 5 if he is on the board is Bradley Chubb the defensive end from N.C. State. Either way Denver adds a player that they desperately need to either their offensive, or defensive lines. Games are won in the trenches, and this is where Denver needs the most help.

The other option Denver has is to trade the 5th pick, and get more picks in return. I think with a top 5 pick you have a chance to get a player like Von Miller, or Cam Newton. A generational player that you can build a team around. Those opportunities don't come about every year, so when they do I feel it is best to take advantage of them. However, this year there is one team I would be open to trading with, and that is the Buffalo Bills. The reason I would welcome this trade is we would get the 12th and 21st picks in the 1st round, and most likely a 2nd or 3rd round pick to go with it. If you trade with Buffalo you can take a player like Roquan Smith, or Vita Vea at 12, and still get the guard you need in Will Hernandez at 21. It would be hard for me to want to give up the 5th pick in the draft, but to be able to get a player like Vita Vea for your defensive line, and Will Hernandez for your offensive line would set Denver up for years to come.

Personally I hope that Denver makes the trade with Buffalo. The Bills can get the franchise QB they want, and Denver can add two 1st round players to their team. In a perfect world this trade would happen, and Vita Vea would be the 12th pick, and Will Hernandez would be our 21st pick. Then in the 2nd and 3rd rounds they start looking at running backs, tight ends, and linebackers.

How The Success Of Case Keenum Has More To Do With The Broncos Than Case Keenum

The Broncos have decided to make Case Keenum their next starting quarterback, and from all accounts it looks as though he will be here for at least the next two years. I think they got him for a great price, 2 years guaranteed at 36 million dollars total, and I think he has the talent to get the Broncos where they need to be. Keenum showed in college that he has the ability to make any throw he's asked to make, and has consistently become more successful each year he has played in the NFL. In this post I am going to make the argument that his success in Denver has more to do with the Broncos offensive staff, and how he is used rather than Keenum's pure QB ability. 

The NFL is constantly changing. Every year there seems to be a new trend that the media, and fans will say their team has to do to be successful. Whether it be in the 90s when the big deal was finding that one running back that will carry the load for your offense, to the early 2000's when the 3-4 defense made a huge comeback, and it seemed like if you wanted to be successful you had to move to that defensive scheme. Some trends hold water, and others don't, but one thing about this league that is changing is the quarterback play. Gone are the days of the John Elways, Dan Marinos, Troy Aikmans, and the type of QBs who come in and run an offense that that is dictated by the coaching staff. Last season with the Philadelphia Eagles success, and how they succeeded we saw a new way of looking at the QB position in the NFL. Instead of forcing the QB to learn, and run a specific type of offense, teams are now adjusting their offense to what the strengths of their QB are. When Carson Wentz got hurt the Eagles coaching staff brought Nick Foles in, sat him down, and asked him what his favorite formations and plays were. They tailored their offense to what their QB was comfortable with instead of forcing their QB to play in a system that maybe wasn't the most compatible with his skill set. It is for this reason I feel that the success of Case Keenum in Denver will have more to do with how the Broncos use him, rather than how he fits into the offensive scheme they choose to run. 

To be a QB in the NFL you have to have talent. There are only 32 people on the face of the planet that in any given year can be named a starting QB in the NFL. Granted there are injuries, and back ups are forced to step in, but for the most part if you are named a starting QB in the NFL there are only 31 other people who can say that they have the same job you do. I think we underestimate a lot of these QBs, and pigeon hole them into opinions of how good they are based on how they perform in one offensive system. I think if Denver brings in Keenum, and runs an offense he is comfortable with we will see the same type of success he had last year with Minnesota, and when he was in college. In that same breath I think that if we bring him in and force him to run an offensive scheme that the coaching staff is comfortable with he will most likely struggle, and our worst nightmares about this singing will come true. If Vance Joseph and Bill Musgrave decide to have the conversation with Keenum about the style of offense he is most comfortable running, and build around that Denver will not only have success with Keenum, but we could quite possibly be seeing another great QB in Denver. 

Another reason to be happy about this signing is that it gives Denver the salary cap room, and draft freedom to plug the other holes this team has. Denver has 11 picks in this years draft, and that gives them a lot of freedom to make moves to add players that can make an impact for years to come. With the signing of Keenum it will allow Denver to still hopefully draft Quentin Nelson with the 5th pick, and then potentially sign Nate Solder to come play left tackle. Denver could also trade the 5th pick to say, Buffalo for the 12th and 22nd draft picks which would allow them to get two first round players to fill holes at offensive tackle and inside linebacker. Denver could also keep the 5th pick and simply draft the best player available, which is usually the best draft strategy for teams to use. 

The Broncos decision to sign Case Keenum gives them the freedom to build the team around him to give him the best chance for success, and it is now up to Vance Joseph and Bill Musgrave to tailor an offense that best fits Keenum's skill set. Whether or not they do that will have more to do with Case Keenum's success in Denver than any other variable in this deal.   

The Hidden Numbers That Matter

When people look at the success of an NFL team they look at things like total offense, total defense, and stats that basically have to do with the offense and defense of their team. Something that goes largely overlooked is special teams, and to be even more specific is starting field position both for your offense and your opponents offense. These numbers are important because it shows where your team starts with the ball compared to where your opponent starts with the ball. As kickers become more, and more accurate from distance, the shorter field a team has to get points plays a big role in how plays are called both on the offense, and defensive side of the ball. In a league where most games are decided by 7 points or less making a team have to go further to score points is often times determines who wins the game. 

I realize that what I just said might be a little confusing, so let me try and give an example of what I mean. Last year, according to Pro Football Reference the Denver Broncos ranked last in regards to where their opponents started with the ball. On average the Broncos opponents started from their own 33 yard line. The next closest team had an average that was 3 yards less. Now, that might not sound like a lot, but you figure in you are taking every single drive a team has into the equation so a 3 yard difference is actually quite large. It also means that there were a lot of times that the Denver defense had to take the field with their opponent already being in position to score at minimum a field goal, and you start to see how this can be important. When you look at the average starting field position of the Denver offense we are basically tied for 2nd from the bottom with a bunch of teams with an average starting field position of our own 27 yard line. As mentioned before this is an average of every drive, so that means often times Denver got the ball backed up inside its own 20 yard line. In comparison the Patriots had the best defensive starting field position with making their opponents start at their own 24 yard line, and the Eagles had were tied for the lead with average starting field position for their offense with a few other teams with their average drive starting at their own 30 yard line. Over 16 games NFL teams will have hundreds of drives, so you can't expect the numbers to show huge differences, but it shines some light on why certain teams always seem to win the close games while others don't. 

Now I will narrow this down to what I think this means for the Broncos, and how it should be looked at going forward. Despite losing Talib Denver still has two shut down corners, and with Von Miller and Shane Ray still have a team that can get after the QB. Quite simply if Denver can win the field position game it will lead to a lot more success as far as wins and losses. Denver is also one of the best "front running" teams in the NFL. Meaning if they get a lead, and force a team to pass it lets Von and company not have to worry as much about stopping the run, and they can do what they do best which is rushing the QB. It also forces their opponent to abandon their running game, and they are forced to throw the ball, often times under pressure, at our defensive backs like Chris Harris and Bradley Roby. That is the recipe for interceptions. 

If you look at the Super Bowl 50 team they were masters at this. They would get a 10 point lead, and it would force the opposing teams to throw the ball. At that time when Denver was sending Demarcus Ware, Von Miller, Malik Jackson, Derek Wolfe, and often times a blitzing TJ Ward at the QB it would create a lot of turnovers, or QBs just throwing the ball away to not take a sack. Granted Denver doesn't have a lot of those players anymore, but they can still get after the QB, and they can still lock opposing receivers down. If you take this ability, and then make an opposing team have to go a long ways before they can score it will make the team far more successful again. This is why I feel one of the biggest needs of the Denver offseason is to get a new punter who has the ability to "flip the field" when Denver struggles on offense. There aren't too many times I would say a team should draft a punter, but if JK Scott, the punter from Alabama is there in the later rounds he would be a player Denver should take a serious look at. He is a Denver native, going to Mullen High School, and he has the leg to get Denver out of trouble when they are pinned down in their own zone. He also punts the ball high enough that not many teams were able to get any kind of return on the punt which helps keeps teams pinned down in their own end. Denver's special teams were terrible last year, and I believe cost us at least 3 games. Denver would be a better football team if they did nothing else than address those problems, but we have a chance to not only fix the issue, but make it a team strength. For Denver to be successful in the 2018-2019 season they need to concentrate on the hidden yards in special teams game, and as Denver fans we can only hope that is something that is high on the Broncos list of things to do this offseason. 

A Universal Rule Of Football

Within the last few days things in the NFL have become a whole lot crazier than they were last week. It is at these times whether it be in life, or through the microscope of football you have to go back to what you know. A universal rule if you will. Free agency hasn't even started yet, and we have players bouncing all over the league. Bronco fans such as myself are upset that Aqib Talib was traded, the Cleveland Browns have begun cashing in on their salary cap, and draft pick riches with the trades for Jarvis Landry and Tyrod Taylor. The LA Rams getting rid of Ogletree, and as I mentioned getting Aqib Talib. Quite frankly things have become crazy in the NFL.

So what is a Bronco fan, or any football fan suppose to think? How do we make sense of all of this? In my life experience when things are crazy you go back to what you know to be correct. This is a Denver sports blog so I will only speak for Denver fans, but there's some free advice for you if you are not a Denver sports fan but still read the blog. There is a universal rule in football that the teams with the best offensive and defensive lines will usually be most successful. The NFL, through free agency, is designed to give every team the ability to literally transform themselves into a Super Bowl contender in one offseason. On average two thirds of every NFL team will turn over during each offseason, and that is why you're never more than a year away from having that hope of being a Super Bowl contender again. The league has changed since the days of John Elway, Dan Marino, and Joe Montana. Where if you were lucky you get a QB who can single handedly take you to the promised land. Those days are over. This is why you can see a guy like Joe Flacco look like the next John Elway one year, and then look like the next Jeff George the next. With all the changes that happen every year one rule still applies, and that is the team with the better lines on offense and defense will usually have the most success.

This is why any plan that the Broncos have to "rebuild" has to be centered around rebuilding their offensive, and defensive lines. Derek Wolfe has neck issues, Domata Peko is aging, Adam Gotsis made big strides this past season, and they are moving Demarcus Walker back to defensive end. I will be the first to say it isn't enough. This will be a need that will also need to be addressed in the draft. Moving on to the offensive line, which is a unit that the front office has tried to address the last few off seasons, but have failed miserably. The Broncos turn over 2 to 3 starters on the offensive line every year, and that needs to stop. The quickest way for Denver to turn things around is fix their lines is to draft a guy like Quentin Nelson, and then go for the "sexy" players in the later rounds of the draft and free agency.

My Pick For Who The Broncos Should Take As Offensive Tackle In The 2018 Draft

I have made a lot of posts talking about the problems that Denver has had on the offensive line, and pointing out that whoever the Broncos have at QB won't matter with the offensive line as it is currently constructed. As such I think my pick might surprise people, but I can say I have literally watched hours of tape on the tackle prospects coming out this year. This draft is deep in tackles, and Denver should be able to find the guy they can plug in immediately and have a starter at the left tackle position for years to come.

My pick for the future left tackle of the Denver Broncos is not a player I would take with the 5th pick in the draft. My pick for the Denver Broncos left tackle is Desmond Harrison, a left tackle out of the University of West Georgia. Harrison has a troubled past, and was recruited to the University of Texas, but ended up playing at West Georgia University, and is kind of a "diamond in the rough".

Why do I feel he is the player to pick? Well I think that question can be answered in what you look for in a left tackle. Obviously he needs to be a big guy, and while he is no doubt a big guy, he needs to get bigger. Getting bigger isn't something that cannot be achieved through a solid offseason of hard work, and isn't something that is going to take away from his natural God given abilities. Denver has taken risks on players before like Bradley Roby and Shane Ray, so taking a player other teams would consider a gamble isn't something totally foreign to the Broncos. If you watch the film I think it is pretty clear to see that this kid is a special football player. As someone who has played offensive line he was really the only player coming out this year that really impressed me. Harrison is more mobile than any other left tackle I watched film on, and I watched film on just about every offensive linemen coming out. He has long arms, has fantastic footwork, and absolutely plays with a mean streak. As I mentioned I have watched film on every offensive linemen coming out, and the way this kid finishes his blocks is second to none. A player who transfers from a big school to a small one should show he absolutely dominates his competition, and it was clear to me that is exactly what he did. No other offensive tackle in this draft has his ability to get to the second level on run plays, and has the length and strength to pass block in the manner he does. Will he have to gain some weight? Absolutely. I have seen him listed at anywhere between 288lbs to 315lbs depending on the site you look at. Ideally I would like to see him playing around 320-325lbs. Every scouting website makes it clear he has the frame to gain that weight, and with the right offseason conditioning program it is 100% achievable. Depending on how he does at the combine I think he can be drafted in the 2nd or even 3rd round. He would end up being the steal of the draft if the Broncos got him in the 3rd round, but the Broncos front office needs to be ready to make a move with the draft capital they have in the way of picks to pull the trigger on a trade should a run on tackles start in the second round.

So who do the Broncos take with the 5th pick? With the 5th pick in the 2018 NFL draft the Denver Broncos select, Quentin Nelson, guard, from Notre Dame. Nelson has been labeled the best guard that has come out of college in years. The Broncos draft Nelson at 5, and he immediately starts at right guard. This allows Denver to move Ronald Leary back to left guard, a position that he made his name at. Having Leary at left guard will help Harrison adjust to the NFL, and give him the help he needs to shorten his learning curve. Drafting Harrison also lets Denver move Garrett Bolles to right tackle where you typically want a nastier, more of a run blocker type of offensive lineman. Bolles being in the league for a year will also help Nelson adjust, but I have absolutely zero worries about Quentin Nelson adjusting to the NFL. Nelson is without a doubt a special player, and potentially a generational player that could be one of the anchors of the Broncos offensive line for 10 years or more. I also do not believe it is a stretch to say that with Ronald Leary at left guard, and Quentin Nelson at right guard the Broncos might have the best guard tandem in the NFL. It also wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility that with Harrison at left tackle, and Bolles at right tackle Denver could have their offensive tackles set for years as well. An offensive line consisting of Desmond Harrison at LT, Ronald Leary at LG, Matt Paradis at C, Quentin Nelson at RG, and Garrett Bolles at RT could give Denver the best young offensive line in the NFL. With Denver needing a new QB, and at least one new running back having their offensive line set for years to come would be something Denver could build around. When you watch this film on Desmond Harrison pay attention to how he moves, how he gets to the second level, and how he finishes blocks. He has the potential to be a special left tackle in the NFL, and I would draft him in the 3rd round, or even potentially the 2nd round.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zZaO_TpMYo

2018 Inside Linebacker Prospects

During the 2015 Denver Broncos Super Bowl run the inside linebackers for Denver were Brandon Marshall, and Danny Trevathan. Both guys could cover any running back out of the backfield, and in the aggressive style of defense that Denver played they were often asked to do so. Having inside linebackers who not only can play downhill, deliver punishing tackles, and cover running backs out of the backfield played a huge role in that defenses success. A game that is specifically standing out in my head was the AFC Championship against the Patriots. Bill Belichek is probably the best at finding, and creating favorable match ups. During that game he routinely tried to get both Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan isolated on running backs, and both Marshall and Trevathan were up to the challenge and shut those attempts down. This is going to be one of my longer posts as there are a lot of things to consider here.

After Super Bowl 50 Danny Trevathan left the team, and signed with Chicago. Todd Davis then won the starting spot over Corey Nelson, and proved to be one of the better inside linebackers in the NFL. In fact pro football focus rated him as one of the best in the NFL. Both Davis and Nelson are free agents this year, and Denver is going to have to decide if they resign Davis, or let him go elsewhere. I am just going to cut straight to the point, and say I think they should let him sign with another team. Todd Davis played well, but I think it is important to read league trends, and with the NFL largely becoming a passing league having a inside linebacker who is known more for being a run stopper than being able to cover running backs and tight ends creates match up issues we like the ones we saw last year.

Before I go into who I think the Broncos should draft I am going to bring up a player who isn't a free agent, but is a player who could be an example for how Denver should approach their inside linebacker issue. That player is Thomas Davis of the Carolina Panthers. Why do I bring him up? The reason is when he was drafted he was actually drafted as a safety from Georgia. He was a player that could play both positions, and when he got to Carolina they decided he should gain the weight, and play linebacker. At the time Carolina was playing a base 4-3 defense, and Davis was moved to the weakside linebacker position which is a position where he really doesn't have to deal with too many offensive linemen getting to put their hands on him, but a potential solution for the Broncos could be moving a player who played/plays safety to the other inside linebacker position which would allow them to match up better with teams like New England who try and isolate inside linebackers running backs. Sometimes you have to think outside the box to create advantages, and a move like that would be an "outside the box" that could create a big advantage for an already aggressive Broncos defense. There is a player on the Broncos roster who could make that move, and his name is Jamal Carter. He played safety for us last year, but a 6'2 and 200lbs it is not out of the realm of possibility that he could gain the weight and make the move to inside linebacker. After all last year they took second round draft pick Demarcus Walker, who was a defensive tackle in college, and made him an outside linebacker. Here is a highlight video of Jamal Carter in college playing a lot like a linebacker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVWKffz71-Y&t=65s

I am going to get into potential draft picks who could immediately step in and play opposite of Brandon Marshall at inside linebacker for the next year. There are players at the top of the draft like Roquan Smith from Georgia, or Rashaan Evans from Alabama who Denver would have to draft in the first round. Neither are worth the 5th pick, so that would mean they would have to trade back into the first round, or trade their 5th pick to move back a few spots in the 1st round to take one of those two guys. Seeing as that isn't really a possibility I am going to suggest some players in the later rounds I think could step in, and not only start, but make an immediate impact.

The first guy I am going to talk about is a linebacker named Christian Sam who played at Arizona State. Coming from a Pac 12 school he has the ability to cover running backs and tight ends, but can also play downhill, and stuff the run. He is a complete inside linebacker in my opinion as he plays with an edge. He is 6'2 and 240lbs, and projected to go in rounds 4-6.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9sA2x5c0_8&t=3s

The next player worth mentioning here is Josey Jewell who is a linebacker from Iowa who is the definition of a linebacker. He can tackle (134 tackles his senior year with 1 forced fumble), can make plays in the backfield (13.5 tackles for loss, with 4.5 sacks), and can cover ( 11 pass breaks ups and 2 ints). There really isn't much to not like about this kid and the way he plays. He is a character guy as he was a team captain, and is an ideal fit to play opposite of Brandon Marshall in our 3-4 defense. He is 6'2 and 230lbs, and projected to be drafted in the 3rd or 4th round.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1-TwOZ1Uzg

The final guy I will suggest, Azeem Victor, also comes from a Pac 12 school which is appealing as that is a conference known for high octane passing attacks. Azeem is 6'1 and 230lbs, and played for the University of Washington. While not as physical as a player like Christian Sam he makes up for it in his ability to play sideline to sideline. He has had some off the field issues with a DUI charge, and also an injury issue with breaking his leg during his junior year and was only able to play in 10 games. IN my opinion he is a player like Jake Butt, Shane Ray, or Bradley Roby who due to an injury issue, or off the field issue might fall into the later rounds and end up being a steal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS41uPIVrpg&t=76s

This being a longer post I am going to wrap this up, but regardless of what Denver decides to do next year at inside linebacker they need to adapt to the NFL turning into a match up league, and draft players who do not create potential liabilities in the aggressive defense they play. I would feel confident in all of these guys lining up next to Brandon Marshall next year, and not worry that they will be taken advantage of when they play a team that tries to isolate their running backs on our inside linebackers.

Bold Predictions for 2018 QB Free Agents

The 2018 QB free agency frenzy will start on March 12th when NFL teams are allowed to start contacting Unrestricted Free Agents and may sign any free agent on March 14th.  We all know that teams have a good feel on who they are going to sign several weeks in advance and with the desperate need for a miracle QB to come in and in a QB driven league, the top money and attention will go to the QB class.  

Here are my Bold predictions on where the QB free agent class of 2018 might end up and why.  I am looking forward to seeing if any of them will be correct and if they are wrong, then you can put me in the class of Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay and we will never revisit it again and still call ourselves "Experts."

NEW YORK JETS - Kirk Cousins

Sorry Bronco Nation but Kirk wants to win and can use a little bit more coin to upgrade his Shag Wagon Van.  He knows that the Jets have over $73 Million Dollars in cap space and can afford to upgrade around Kirk with free agents and the draft. 

The Jets also promoted Jeremy Bates to Offensive Coordinator who worked under Mike Shanahan, who everyone knows drafted Kirk Cousins.  This will allow the Jets to use their 6th pick in the first round of the draft to select Mike McGlinchy from Notre Dame and build the line for Kirk.   A line that is coached now by Rick Dennison, a longtime offensive mind and who also coached for... you guessed it.  Mike Shanahan. 

CLEVELAND BROWNS - AJ McCarron

Oh Cleveland.  If only Lebron James made himself available for another sport like Michael Jordan, they would definitely make Lebron the 20th Starting QB since 1999 when the Browns came back from the dust of Art Modell's moving trucks to Baltimore. 

Enter AJ, a two time College National Champion and husband to Brent Musburger's wet dream, Katherine Webb.  AJ spent the last 3 seasons with Cincinnati and has appeared in a whopping 11 games in his brief NFL career.  

However, this is a Cincinnati team that had Hue Jackson as their offensive coordinator in 2015, the year AJ was drafted to the Bengals.   Hue Jackson is the coach of the Cleveland Browns and although having only 1 more win with the Cleveland Browns than I do, he has found a way to keep his job and more importantly the title of Quarterback Whisperer. 

Cleveland already botched a trade for AJ last season and now that they do not have to give up a 2nd and 3rd round draft pick and with over $100 Million Dollars in cap space in 2018, they can way overpay for the 3 year starter and did I mention the husband of the one and only, Katherine Webb.  Remember, this is the team that paid Brock Osweiler $16 Million Dollars just to go away.  A restraining order might have been cheaper. 

With overpaying AJ in free agency, look for the Browns to select Saquon Barkley as their number 1 overall pick and Bradley Chubb with their 4th pick to hold the corners of the Defensive line with last year's number 1 overall pick, Myles Garrett. 

ARIZONA CARDINALS - Case Keenum

Is anyone else concerned that the Cardinals have no interest in Kirk Cousins?  Also if Andy Dalton is overrated, then why is AJ his backup?  

The Cardinals have zero quarterbacks on their roster for 2018.   With a history of bringing in Quarterbacks with a one time hype in College or the NFL and giving one last chance, a QB that is out there looking for a team to believe in him is Case Keenum.   

The Cardinals recent history of doorstep Quarterbacks included Kurt Warner, who the Giants kicked out for Eli.  Matt Leinart, who won the Heisman Trophy and never lived up to the hype in the NFL.  Derek Anderson, who actually made the Pro Bowl with the Browns in the 2007 season.  Let that sink in. Kevin Kolb, the much hyped backup QB made starter for the Eagles.  Then the great Carson Palmer, a Heisman Trophy winner and all but washed up after the Raiders abused him and traded him to Arizona for a couple late draft picks and a bag of Skittles. 

Why not bring in Case who just took the Vikings to the NFC Championship and is NCAA's all time leader in passing touchdowns with the University of Houston.  It fits the Cardinal mold and with Larry Legend coming back for probably his last season, why waste it with a rookie Quarterback?

MINNESOTA VIKINGS - Teddy Bridgewater

With all 3 of the Vikings quarterbacks entering free agency, the Vikings are too conservative to really enter the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes and would rather build with younger and cheaper talent.  Upon the return of Teddy in week 15 of 2017, all Case had to do was sneeze the wrong way and Teddy would have been in.  Unfortunately for Minnesota, Case kept winning and fell just short of the prize.  

With another full year of rehab and Powerbars, Teddy will be the next Fran Tarkenton of Minnesota. Let's just hope he's not the next Sam Bradford made of glass. 

DENVER BRONCOS - Sam Bradford/Baker Mayfield

Elway is the greatest QB of all time in my opinion.  The Elway magic has quickly been wiped away with the Vance Joseph blunder and no intelligent veteran is coming in to a situation where the Head Coach will probably be fired, no offensive line or running game, and who would have to cut or trade their best players in order to sign him.   

Peyton Manning came to a team coached by John Fox who barely lost to the Patriots in the 2003 Super Bowl with the Panthers and who managed to win a playoff game with the celestial Tim Tebow.  Kirk can come here for the Elway magic but will have a brand new coach and system in 2019 when Good Practice Vance will be let go after a 7-9 season.  

When all the chips are gone and all that is left is building from the draft, Elway will not waste another season with his "Championship" defense and will sign a bridge veteran in Sam Bradford.  All Sam will have to do is have his knees made of paper mache last for at least 6 weeks and at that point, the season will be 2-4 and the rookie can come in start his Broncos career and Elway can blame it on Sam, Vance, Billy Musgrave, and anyone else and can restart holding face with the Broncos Nation for 2019 with a fresh Coach, a talented rookie QB and a lower expectations.  

Who do the Broncos pick with their 5th pick in the draft?  The flag planter himself, Baker Mayfield.  Broncos are already familiar with Baker from the Senior Bowl and Elway can work with Baker's personality flaws.  Remember, Elway publically threatened to play for the Yankees than to play for the Baltimore Colts and even Terry Bradshaw stated "he's not the guy you win championships with."  

Is this a Master Yoda with a young Luke?  A Mr. Miyagi with a young Daniel son?  Let's just hope it's not Johnny Manziel 2.0. 

The Turnaround Of The Colorado Avalanche

To say that the 2016-2017 Colorado Avalanche were a bad team is an understatement at best. They were terrible. They won 22 games on the year, and with 25 games left to play this year they have already won more games than they did last season. Credit should be given to Joe Sakic, and the rest of the Colorado front office for the turnaround. Sakic stuck with Jared Bednar as the head coach, and that move is paying off as well.

So what changed? I think the first noticeable change is that the Avalanche got younger, much younger! During the 2016-2017 season their average age was 28 years old, and that average is still misleading as there was not many players who were that young, but a few players who were so young they made the average age lower than how the team looked, and played. This year the average age of the team is 23.8 years old. The youth movement has proven to pay off with players like Samuel Girard who is a 19 year old defenseman, but is playing with the smarts of a veteran being just one example. Girard has shown he is going to be a special player for us, and at 19 we can expect him to be around for a long time. They have another player who isn't even 20 yet in center Tyson Jost who has shown he has special offensive talent, and will grow into a player that will be around Colorado for a long time. Add in players like Mikko Rantanen who is 21, JT Compher who is 22, and Alexander Kerfoot who is 23 and you have a young core of players behind team stars Nathan Mackinnion, who himself is only 22, and Gabriel Landeskog who is 25, and you have a core of young, fast, and hungry players that will be around for a long time.

The next reason this team has turned around is best defined in two words: Nathan Mackinnion. He has taken that next step into not just being a star player, but being one of the top 3 to 5 players in the NHL. Mackinnion has been hurt for a few games, and is still in the top 15 in overall points scored, 15th in goals scored, and tied for 17th in assists. His ranking is misleading as again, he has been injured and has played about 10 less games than the other players on the list. Mackinnion has had an impact in every game he has played in, and it is my opinion that he has turned himself into of the best 3 or 4 offensive players in the NHL when he is healthy.

The success of this team also has to do with team chemistry that last year simply wasn't there. Team chemistry, especially in a game as physical as hockey is one of the most important things when it comes to a teams success, and Joe Sakic made a controversial move this year that went a long way in fixing the chemistry in the locker room. The move Sakic made was getting rid of Matt Duchene. There is no doubt that Duchene is a talented offensive player, but he was toxic in the locker room. He made it no secret he wanted out of Colorado, and I do not think that it is any surprise that once he was gone the team collectively started playing better, and things began to gel. The Avalanche got a ton of assets in return for Duchene that really were not supposed to pay off this year, but Samuel Girard is making the most of his opportunity, and showing that he is a future super star in the NHL. Along with Girard the Avalanche they got forward prospects Vladislav Kamenev, and Shane Bowers, along with goalie Andrew Hammond. They received Ottawa's 2018 first round draft selection, Nashville's 2018 second round selection, and Ottawa's 2019 third round selection. Getting rid of Duchene fixed the team chemistry, and gave us more than enough ammunition to build something special here over the course of the next few years.

If there is anything to be critical of this Av's team about it would be it's physical size, and its toughness. These are hockey players, so saying they are not tough is not what I mean in a traditional sense. What I mean by toughness is they are simply more of a finesse team than they are a physical team, and when the playoffs come the physical play increases and that is where the Av's could struggle. As of right now Colorado only has 1 player in the top 50 in hits delivered, and that is Nikita Zadorov. They do not have anyone to really fill the "enforcer" role, and if you watched them play the Winnipeg Jets it would be impossible to not notice they really got pushed around, and bullied on the ice. With the team being so young there is no doubt that a lot of these guys will grow, and fill out as they get older, but that doesn't make it any easier to watch this year.

After coming off a 22 win season last year I don't think anyone expected the Av's to play as well as they are this year, and they could potentially make a run in the playoffs, but if there is anything to get even more excited about than their success this year it is the future! Last season the support for the Avalanche was on life support, but this season one can't help but smile when they watch this team and think about what the future holds!

The Future At Tight End For The Denver Broncos

For my last post I discussed how the Broncos had nobody that could open up the middle of the field at the slot receiver position, or at tight end. Like the slot receiver position Denver has bigger needs they need to address with their top picks, but I outlined potential later round picks who could come in and help immediately. This is going to be the same type of post only focusing on tight ends.

Before I start going over players I think it is important to know that there are two kinds of tight ends in the NFL. A traditional tight end who lines up in a 3 point stance, or at the end of the offensive line is called a "Y" tight end. They are usually the better blocker, and play the position in a more traditional role. Not to say that they can't be great receivers as well, but they are just your more traditional tight end. The prime example of a tight end like this is Rob Gronkowski who can block, and catch passes. The second type of tight end is called the "F" tight end. They are usually the better receivers, and can line up anywhere. Sometimes they will line up in the slot, sometimes they will line up in the backfield like an H-back, and at times they can even line up outside like a regular wide receiver would. Probably the best example of an F tight end is Jimmy Graham, or Julius Thomas. Ideally you would like to have a guy who can do both, but those types of players are difficult to find. 

Going into this offseason Denver has Jeff Heuerman and Jake Butt as the two tight ends on the roster. My personal opinion is Heuerman should be released as he just simply hasn't worked out. He would be what you consider an F tight end, but he has done nothing to warrant being brought back. Jake Butt is a guy who could be special, and is coming off an injury he sustained during his final year in college. Denver drafted him in the 5th round, but draft experts said that had he not been hurt he would've been a first round pick. Jake Butt has the potential to be one of the special tight ends who can play the Y, or the F. If Denver is going to have success in the 2018-2019 season Jake Butt will be a big part the reason why. After spending the last few days watching film on tight ends I feel pretty confident with the list of players I will name as potential compliments to Jake Butt at the tight end position. 

The first guy will mention is Troy Fumagalli from the University of Wisconsin. NFL.com has him listed at 6'6 and 248lbs. He is projected to go in rounds 3 to 5, and he is similar to Jake Butt in that he can play the Y or F position comfortably. He would be a player that you could put on the field with Jake Butt and create some serious match up concerns for opposing defenses. Playing for Wisconsin he had to learn how to sustain his blocks in the running game, and pass protection when called on to do so.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij-aatDdBpQ

The next tight end I will take a look at is a player from Notre Dame named Durham Smythe. NFL.com has him listed at 6'5 and 257lbs. Smythe would be what you consider a Y tight end. Can he line up in the slot? Sure, but he plays with the demeanor of an offensive linemen. He is able to block defensive ends in 1 on 1 situations, but still can go out and make the big catch. His route running isn't the greatest, but he does have great hands. He is also projected to go in rounds 3-5. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6GiPwewR10

The third guy I will name as a potential tight end is Ian Thomas who played at the University of Indiana. In my opinion he has ability to play the Y or F tight end spot, and reminds me a lot of Antonion Gates. He is 6'5 and weights 247lbs, and projected to be taken in round 4-6. He looks deceptively fast on film, and has no issue going up and high pointing the ball. His route running needs some coaching, but scouts who have been around him say that he is a nice guy, and humble enough to know that he has room to grow. He is a project, but one that could pay off with the right team. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF_CgpnRBnM

Ryan Izzo from Florida State is the next guy I took a in depth look at. Izzo is listed at 6'5 and 245lbs, and is a traditional Y tight end. He is going to have to gain some weight if he wants to make an impact at the Y tight end in the NFL. Scouts have said he probably should've come back for his senior season, but since he declared for the draft he should be viewed as a project. He a good blocker, but his route running leaves a lot to be desired. He is projected to go in rounds 5-7, and will require solid coaching to make it in the NFL. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzLeb4Ax30w&t=320s

The final guy I will go over is Dallas Goedert from South Dakota State University. Coming from a small school could potentially hurt him, but he has all the tools to be a great tight end in the NFL. I would say he is more the F tight end than a Y, and will need to work on his blocking ability to be able to be a mainstay at tight end in the NFL. He is listed at 6'5 and 255lbs, and is a better receiver than he is blocker. He has the ability to make the amazing catch, but at times get caught up trying to get off the line of scrimmage. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8XIc9WLYOI

If I was in charge of drafting the next tight end in Denver my first pick would be Troy Fumagalli. He could step in immediately and help create match up problems for opposing defenses. He is the closest thing of a full package of a tight end that could pick up the slack if Jake Butt isn't completely healthy, or doesn't return to the form he was when he was drafted. The other player I would look to take is Durham Smythe as I think he can be the big body Y tight end that Denver has really been lacking since the days of Byron Chamberlin and Dwayne Carswell. Finally, if Dallas Goerdert somehow falls to the 5th or 6th round I think if you are Denver you take a chance on him. The NFL is a game of match ups, and this kid is a match up nightmare, but with the needs Denver has in my opinion he is not worth the risk in the earlier rounds. 

AJ McCarron is Brock 2.0

2/16/18

AJ McCarron is Brock 2.0

By Cliff Rodriguez @Crod303

Dear 8 pound 6 ounce baby Jesus; otherwise known has John Elway (according to Bronco’s homers that is). Please for the love of all that is holy in the mile high city; do not fall victim to the fraudulent upside of an unknown commodity. Broncos Country has been down this road before, we know how the story ends.

The only difference between AJ McCarron (6’3) and Brock Osweiler (6’7) is 4 inches and a smug ass grin. McCarron was original selected in the 5^th round of the 2014 NFL draft. The 2014 QB class included superstars such as Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater, Logan Thomas, Tom Savage, and Aaron Murray. All of whom were selected before McCarron. Meaning at some point all were identified in most NFL circles as better prospects than McCarron. The 2014 QB class did also produce Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo both of whom appear to be franchise QBs; even considering Carr’s regression in 2017.

Prior to the 2014 NFL Combine McCarron was projected to be a 2nd or 3rd round pick. Most scouts believed that McCarron was a “Great Game Manager” and made “Great Decisions”. His draft stock fell after combine interviews in which McCarron reportedly came across as “cocky” and “over confident”. So much for being “a maker of great decisions”; say that in a Yoda voice………..you’re welcome.

For reasons beyond my level of comprehension; there is huge buzz around McCarron’s upside as a starting QB. Dude has played in 7; that’s one hand and two pinky toes worth of career games. All of his career starts (3) came in 2015. He’s complied 920 yards passing, completing 64.7% of his passes with a 6/2 TD to INT ratio.  He’s thrown 133 career passes.

I will give McCarron credit for being accurate in his limited playing time. In 2015 he averaged about 27 passing attempts per game started. He completed 61% of his passes for 6.3 yards per completion. That’s adequate numbers for a starter if you average it out for an entire season. Coincidently in 2015 McCarron’s teammate Andy Dalton compiled 3,250 passing yards, completing 66.1% of his passes averaging 8.4 yards per completion with a 25/7 TD to INT ratio in 13 games. So based off of these numbers McCarron wasn’t a huge down grade from Dalton in his first few starts. McCarron did go 2-1 as a starter including playing at Denver and vs Baltimore; both tough challenges. However keep in mind Brock Osweiler and Ryan Mallet were the starting QBs in those games.

After looking into McCarron’s career numbers from (2015) my Spidey sense isn’t tingling in a direction that leads me to believe in McCarron’s ability to be a viable solution for the Broncos in 2018. I’m fine with his accuracy. I think he is an adequate leader. I think with a good run game and defense he could win a few games as a spot starter.   

My negativity and disbelief in McCarron stems from one stat. 3^rd down conversion percentage. The ability to sustain drives and score points in the NFL demands efficiency on 3^rd downs. In 2017 the average 3^rd conversion percentage in the NFL was approximately 38%. In 2015 while under center McCarron led the Bengals to a 34.5% conversion rate on 3^rd downs (19/55). This stat is including the wild card game vs Pittsburgh.

To further kick McCarron in the junk; keep in mind that in 2017 the Denver Broncos offense was pathetically inefficient. However the Broncos were able to convert 94/241 3^rd down attempts for a 39% conversion rate which ranked 15^th in the NFL. That was from the trio of Trevor, Brock and Paxton. In 2016 the Trevor, Paxton ticket converted 34.2% of 3^rd downs. In the magic season of 2015 Peyton (9 games) and Brock (8 games) converted 35.3% of 3^rd downs.

In 2017 the top 3 teams in 3^rd down conversion percentage were Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Minnesota. In 2016 the top 3 teams were New Orleans, Green Bay, and New England/Tennessee (tied). In 2015 the top 3 were New Orleans, Atlanta and Arizona. See the pattern? Signs are everywhere.

Based on McCarron’s limited sample size and on a statistic that I feel exemplifies an NFL QBs worth; How could the Broncos possibly think McCarron is an upgrade to the backup QBs they already employee?

He’s the same guy. He’s Brock. He’s Trevor, He’s Mike Glennon. He’s Matt Flynn. Can you say Chad Henne, Matt Moore, he’s Blaine freaking Gabbert.

I 100% understand the argument that he’s half the price of Kirk Cousins on the free agent market, and could have a similar career trajectory if given an opportunity. I get it, he’s on sale and the Broncos are desperate bargain shoppers right now.

But why pay McCarron $18 million a year when you can keep Brock or Trevor for $10 million? Other than creating early season optimism the team would end up with the same record. Hell Paxton is basically free and could possibly convert 30% of the 3^rd downs next year.   

3 years in a row is enough of a sample size to determine that something has to change on offense. Efficiency at QB has to be addressed. Stop retreading the tires. A $30 million dollar QB may not be the answer, but I know for a fact that a backup QB from another team isn’t the answer either. Don’t fall for the bait. Learn from Houston’s Brock experiment. Think about Mike Glennon, and remember Matt Flynn.

All stats came from Pro-Football Reference.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2015/#all_team_conversions

As always come at me haters; I always look forward to a debate.