Last year I got a first hand look at the Denver Broncos in their International Series match up with the 49ers at Wembley. The lasting image in my head was an unchallenged and clueless Troy Smith throwing a hopeful hail mary up from the halfway line, and a tight end whose name I can't remember just winning the jump ball setting the 49ers up for the go ahead touchdown. Their defense was every bit as poor as advertised and against a better offense than San Franciscos you knew they were going to have big problems. But hey, new coach, new front office and new year, those days are gone right?
I'm sure Josh McDaniels is not the most popular guy in Colorado right now. His reign of terror left a lot to be desired and a lot of the building blocks of the team are gone. The Broncos have some talent to build with but they have far more questions than answers. Champ Bailey is resigned and that was the first order of business. The next will be who is the QB? It has to be Orton surely. Apparently it is. But the road back to the top of the west is long, tough and full of questions.
Here's a question for you: Is Brandon Lloyd going to be the same model as 2010 or was that a freak year? Will Demarrius Thomas ever be able to recover from his tragic injury? Wide Receiver and Tight End are now huge positions of need, (funny cos Tony Scheffler and Brandon Marshall were pretty fantastic in 2008 and 2009) What about Knowshon Moreno? Will he ever live up to his high draft status? Ryan Clady is great at tackle but other than that his O-Line needs to be able to make a few more holes for the 26th ranked rushing offense. Peyton Hillis would sure look good back in a Broncos jersey right now! The number 7 ranked passing offense does not tell the full story.
Here is the rather pathetic truth to face up to Broncos fans: that is just the offensive problems the McDaniels era has left you with. Now for the defense...
The Broncos last year ranked last in points per game allowed and yards per game allowed. This is a luxury normally only known by Lions fans. The 31st ranked rush defense is also owned by the Broncos, who now have an aging and underacheiving defense anchored by veterans well past their prime. DJ Williams and Champ Bailey are still full of life but Brian Dawkins is a shadow of his former self. The pass defense was also 25th in the league, so surely defense is where pick number 2 goes. And it could be anywhere, they need run stuffers, pass rushers, defensive backs...They need strength on the inside and the outside. Thankfully they have 4 picks in the top 67, but they need to draft a lot better than thye have the last few years. Can John Elway make this better? He wasn't hired for his scouting experience or front office knowledge.
Does it get any better? Is there any good news? Well, the Chiefs and Raiders and much improved and San Diego is still the best team in the division...so no.
It is going to be a long road back and I don't see them surprising anyone next year, least of all the Lions.
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