No running back, no ring

By TheWookieeBronco
BroncosForums.com Team Writer

Denver has been labelled as Running Backs heaven many times in the past. The Broncos have gotten 1,000 yards out of worthless pieces of junk, Tatum Bell and Reuben Droughns for example. In fact if you were to give the Broncos a used carton of Orange Juice, the used carton would probably run for 1,000 yards. We see that the running back position is, and has always been a big part of the Broncos offense. However the Broncos could be in a running back crisis, something that would scar the offense for the rest of the season. In this article, I will emphasize how important it will be to draft a running back.

The Denver Broncos came into the 2007 season thinking they had found their workhorse running back in Travis Henry. Henry had come off of a 1,211 rushing yards season behind a mediocre Titans offensive line. The thought was that if Henry could manage that behind a mediocre line, he would do far better behind a better, running blocking wise, Broncos offensive line. The Broncos offensive line had problems; however Henry’s problems had nothing to do with the Broncos offensive line. You see, Travis Henry is an idiot who has the same IQ as his jersey number (#20). The man has no idea what a condom is, and he either smokes something he shouldn’t be smoking, or he is around people who smoke something they shouldn’t be smoking. Joking apart, Henry has several off-field issues that the Broncos aren’t going to put up with. Henry was leading the league in rushing, but his off the field issues and him being prone to injuries prevented him from getting any further. Now setting aside his off-field problems and injuries, Henry is a pretty good running back. He will never reach the elite status because he is injury prone and he can’t hit anything above 1st gear. A running back needs to be able to hit at least 2nd gear to break big runs. Also it is important not to forget that next October, Henry will be 30, a dangerous age for running backs. Recently the Broncos restructured Henry’s contract, many believe this means Henry will be here next season. However it is most probable that the Broncos restructured Henry’s contract so it would be more economical to cut/trade him.

This brings us on to the young gun, Selvin Young. Selvin is a very mouth watering prospect at this point in time. However the obvious question is “Can he carry the load?” The simple answer to that would be no. The few games that Selvin DID carry the load, he either didn’t play or played injured the next game. If Selvin can’t take carrying the load once in a blue moon, how is he going to carry the load over a 16 game season? The point is Selvin can’t carry the load; Selvin will never be the feature back in Denver or anywhere else. Once a back starts getting worn out after not that much playing time, he starts to fumble more and falls on his butt more often, think Tatum Bell. However if you took away that one negative of Selvin, he would have serious potential. However that negative is there and will always be there. Despite this, Selvin is fast, shifty and elusive. Do you really want to attempt to tackle him or do you just want to sit down? Selvin’s jukes and spins are very tricky to handle. Selvin Young was second in avg yards per rush for all rookie running backs, only behind Adrian “AD” Peterson. Selvin would make a very good backup and a good rotation back.

Then there’s Andre Hall. Andre had one good game and one long run in another game, however we know nothing more of him. All we know is he does a good job of Kick Returning and therefore he should be on the team unless someone better arrives. Andre Hall is quick and can make people miss. He’s a good spare guy to have.

So now we’ve taken a look at all the running backs the Broncos currently have listed on starting roster. Which one of them can honestly step up? Do you REALLY want to have to rotate guys? If we were to rotate guys what would happen if Travis gets in more troubleand gets suspended and then Selvin gets injured from carrying the load? What if Selvin or Travis doesn’t show up performance wise next season? Is rotating running backs regularly at least acceptable for success or is a workhorse back combined with a back who gets a few carries a game better ? Questions questions questions.

These questions can all be answered in one draft pick. The Denver Broncos offense can have the second to final piece, a left tackle being the other piece, needed to make this offense great in one draft pick. The Broncos can have a future “lead the league in rushing” running back with one pick. All they need to do is select Jonathan Stewart with the #12 pick. I’m not here to persuade you into why the Broncos should draft Jonathan Stewart over Rashard Mendenhall, I’ll leave that to one of our draft analysts. But I will argue why the Broncos should draft a running back over a Linebacker or an Offensive lineman.

Now I’ve been complaining about our offensive line for a while now, what needs to be understood is that this draft class is full of first round quality offensive tackles. Drafting a quality offensive tackle in the very late first round or early second round will be possible. The options are to try and get another first round pick, or to try and trade up for a higher second round pick. Both are options that could occur depending on circumstances that could possibly arise over the off-season. Pairing a young QB, a young RB, a young WR and a young LT will let the future of the offense bond together. Then to address some other needs, the Broncos could pull a trade for Marcus Stroud, sign WR Bryant Johnson and draft a young linebacker by acquiring a third round pick. This would put the Broncos in a good position because the major needs will be filled with young talent.

Do you see what Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch have done in their rookie season? Wouldn't you like that for the Broncos? Or would you like to be like the Detroit Lions, close but not close enough, failing miserably because you have no running game.

As we can see, the Denver Broncos running back situation is shaky to say the least, there are many questions and many risks that could blow up in the Broncos face and ruin their season. A Broncos offense without a running game is a Broncos offense going no where. Addressing the running back position by drafting Jonathan Stewart would provide quality at a key position. The Broncos could then fix all other problems this off-season and next off-season.

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Offseason Primer: Detroit Lions

By MissouriBronc
BroncosForums.com Team Writer

The Detroit Lions are an interesting case study. For years the Lions have drafted in the Top 10, picking up some top-flight talent and missing badly on some picks. The Lions have also left football fans scratching their heads, as they drafted three wide receivers three years in a row with their first pick, and then again, two years later picking another wide receiver.

Meanwhile, they’ve struggled to find a solid quarterback. Joey Harrington clearly wasn’t the answer and Jeff Garcia didn’t fit either. Ironically, journeyman Jon Kitna has had two pretty decent years in Detroit, including leading them to their best overall record since 2000, in 2007.

Kitna will be around again in 2008, but he is starting to age. He does seem to understand the previous offense and thrived, but gone is all-out passing guru Mike Martz. So, the question is, can Kitna adapt to new coordinator Jim Colletto’s offense, which most likely, will be a much tamer offense? Clearly, the Lions need to be thinking towards the future at the quarterback position, but is spending their No. 1 pick on a quarterback going to fix much in 2008? Probably not, and Matt Millen’s leash has to be getting thin. So, don’t expect the Lions to address the quarterback position in the offseason.

The Lions have a talented running back in Kevin Jones, who shined in his rookie season in 2004, but has struggled with injury ever since. T.J. Duckett and Tatum Bell have both been decent complement running backs on other teams (Falcons and Broncos, respectively), but neither are the No.1. Combined, all three could be an effective force. Colletto’s offense should be a little more conservative than Martz’s, so the Lions will rely on these three a little more next year. Duckett is an unrestricted free agent, and he probably won’t end up in Detroit. So does that mean the Lions need a short yardage back, or will Jones be healthy enough to carry out those duties? Martz rarely utilized a fullback, but Jon Bradley has a chance to step into that full-time role in 2008.

The Lions have plenty of talent at wide receiver, it just seems that production is a problem. Finally, it seems they’ve settled in with a solid No. 1 and No. 2, Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson are two of the most talented receivers in the NFL. Johnson started to show signs of what they expected when they drafted him at No. 2 overall in 2007. Williams is starting to look like an elite receiver, but is recovering from a knee injury that he suffered in Week 12. Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald can both be solid No. 3s, and both have shown they can be the No. 2. This gives the Lions, surprisingly, with four decent receivers, two of which could be All-Pro. Ironic, of course, because both Charles Rogers and Mike Williams, top 10 picks at the wide receiver position, are now gone.

At tight end, Sean McHugh isn’t really a top receiving threat, and Dan Campbell, a long-time starter was forced to sit out most of the season. However, with the talent at wide receiver, the Lions don’t need top-flight tight ends, just tight ends that understand the offense, block well and can score in short-yardage situations. We’ll find out how these two guys fit into the new scheme.

Jeff Backus is one of the most reliable left tackles in the business. He hasn’t missed a game in his career. He’ll be 31 next year, and is still in the prime of his career. Lions quarterbacks went down 47 times in 2007, and that number will have to improve, but the Lions are counting on Backus to anchor the line.

Edwin Mulitalo, a long-time Baltimore Raven, came to the Lions in free agency before the 2007 season. Mulitalo may be a little past his prime, but is still a decent guard. I wouldn’t be too surprised if the Lions brought in some competition for him.

Dominic Raiola is one of the most solid centers in the NFL. He hasn’t not started a game since his rookie season, and he continues to be an anchor for the line. However, he needs to be more consistent in 2008 to make up for some of the deficiencies along the line.

The Lions struggled on the right side of the line, and Stephen Peterman and George Foster should definitely consider their jobs in jeopardy. Peterman started 13 games this past season, after spending his first three years as a backup, Foster, as Broncos fans know, lacks effort at times, but has the bulk to be a good lineman. The Lions should bring in some bodies for depth and competition at both positions on the right side of the line.

Clearly the Shaun Rogers dilemma still is up in the air. Rumors swirl about his departure from Detroit to Denver, and by the time many of you read this, it will probably be solved. The oft-maligned, malcontent defensive tackle has been a very good defensive tackle for the Lions, even recording his highest sack total, 7, in thr 2007 season. Cory Redding hasn’t missed a game in four seasons, and is another solid defensive tackle. If Rogers is gone, the Lions will have to fill his void. Langston Moore may be a candidate to fill that position.

The Lions need a lot more production out of their defensive ends. Kalimba Edwards started six games and notched just 17 tackles and three sacks. Dewayne White, coming over from the Tampa Bay Bucs, had 43 tackles and 6.5 sacks this season. Neither replaced James Hall in the pass-rushing category. Jared DeVries is really nothing more than a pass-rush specialist. The Lions will probably look for a defensive end in the draft.

The Lions need some help at linebacker, as at least one of their top linebackers is leaving, and another promising young player is, as well. In the middle Paris Lenon, who will be 31 next season, actually had his most productive season of his career, with 118 tackles, two sacks and an interception. The Lions will need him to repeat that performance in 2008. On the weak side, Boss Bailey is likely gone. Where to, we don’t know, but he’s an unrestricted free agent. That leaves a gaping hole on the weak side of the defense.

On the strong side, Ernie Sims is one of the better young linebackers in the NFL, recording 134 tackles, a sack and recovering three fumbles, he is starting to prove he can be a top linebacker in the NFL.

The departure of Dre Bly in the trade with Denver left ninth-year veteran Fernando Bryant and six-year veteran Travis Fisher as the starting cornerbacks. Neither have ever intercepted a lot of passes, though both did record solid tackle numbers, 69 and 78, respectively. The Lions need them to be a little more ball-hawkish, as both hauled in just two interceptions. Don’t be surprised if they look for depth in the draft.

Kenoy Kennedy is a hard-hitting strong safety, who Broncos fans know all to well. He may have become a little gun-shy after being fined so much in Denver, but he’s still an effective player. He had 88 tackles and two interceptions in 2007, and the Lions will need more of that in 2008.

Gerald Alexander, a second round pick last season, stepped in and started every game at free safety for the Lions. As bad as the Lions have drafted in the recent years, it looks as if they’ve found a diamond in the rough with Alexander. He had 81 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions in his rookie campaign. They will need him to step up even more in 2008.

Jason Hanson will be turning 38 before next season, but he’s still a solid kicker in the NFL. Don’t expect the Lions to get rid of him, unless, of course, he retires. He still completes kicks in the 80 percent range, and he doesn’t miss extra points. Nick Harris has been a very solid punter, especially in the last three seasons.

Troy Walters came over from Indianapolis before the 2007 season to be the full-time return man, and he should keep those duties in 2008.

The bottom line for the Lions is that they need to draft better, and certainly more efficiently. Today’s game revolves around how well you draft, and then a few key free agents. The Lions have relied too much on free agents under Matt Millen. And, if this continues, you’d have to think his time is growing short.

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Offseason Primer: Chicago Bears

By MissouriBronc
BroncosForums.com Team Writer

After reaching the Super Bowl in the 2006 season, 2007 became somewhat of a disappointment for the Bears, as 7-9 is not what the team expected

Much of the problem was inconsistent play from the quarterback position. The Bears were forced to flip flop from Rex Grossman to Brian Griese to Grossman to Griese to Kyle Orton, for a number of reasons, including terrible play and injury.

Yet the oft-maligned Grossman was resigned and it looks as if he’s going to have a good shot at the starting position again. Griese was the best of the bunch, coming in with a 75.6 quarterback rating, 61.5 completion percentage, with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Kyle Orton came in with a 73.9 QB rating, 53.9 completion percentage, 3 TDs and 2 INTs. Meanwhile, Grossman was the worst, by far, with a 66.4 QB rating, 54.2 completion percentage, 3 TDs and 7 INTs. He was also sacked 25 times for 198 yards lost. All three will be back in camp most likely, and all three have a shot at the starter job. The real question, though, is, is this actually good for the Bears? They sit at No. 14 in the draft. Do they dare take a QB? Probably not, but its an interesting thought.

The problem is, running back isn’t a great position for the Bears, either. Between injury and ineffectiveness, Cedric Benson has never lived up to the expectations that come with being taken fourth overall. He carried the ball 196 times for 674 yards, but his YPC was just 3.4, and he only reached the endzone four times. Adrian Peterson is an interesting running back, but probably nothing more than a backup. What he does provide is a solid pass-catching back on third downs or long situations. They also drafted Garrett Wolfe from Northern Illinois, and while shifty, he’s probably not going to ever be an every-down back. So the questions continue to come for the Bears.

Jason McKie is a solid blocking back, but he doesn’t contribute much otherwise. Often the Bears employed a three wide receiver set quite often, and McKie wasn’t even on the field. He carried the ball just six times and caught it nine, yet he found a way to fumble it once. McKie will never be more than a blocking back for the Bears, but he can be a solid blocking back. Despite being in the league six seasons, he’ll only be 28 next year.

The Bears have two solid tight ends in Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen. Clark will be entering his 10th season, his sixth with the Bears, in 2008. He caught 44 passes last season for 545 yards and four touchdowns. Meanwhile, Greg Olsen, a first-round draft pick in 2007 out of Miami is a big and physical prospect, who caught 39 passes for 391 yards and two touchdowns. While the Bears seem to be shaky at other skill positions, they seem to be very set at the tight end position.

Meanwhile, at wide receiver, there are still some questions to answer. The Bears probably need to sign Bernard Berrian back, but they aren’t necessarily a team known to fork over a lot of money for free agents. Berrian led the team with 71 receptions for 951 yards and five touchdowns. A third-round pick in 2004, Berrian has become a solid option in the passing game, with 2007 being somewhat of a breakout season. Across from him is the aging Muhsin Muhammad, who will be 35 next season and is not likely to be much of a factor in the future in the passing game. However, he can still be a solid No. 3 option. The problem is, the Bears don’t have a solid No. 1, and now they don’t have a No. 2. Berrian can be a mediocre No. 1, and a good No. 2. So, the Bears probably need to find one more option at receiver.

Though there are some solid pieces to the offensive line, the Bears could need some upgrades there as well. John Tait is a solid left tackle. After playing right tackle in Kansas City, he’s moved to left in Chicago, and he has done a fine job up until 2007. The Bears offensive line was atrocious, and Tait may be part of the problem. He’ll be 33 next season, and without some help, he’s not going to be as effective. He could be moved back to right tackle, if the Bears can find someone better. I wouldn’t expect them to do so in free agency, but maybe in the draft.

Terrence Metcalf really has never been the answer at left guard for the Bears. Ironically, in 2006, when he didn’t start a single game, they went to the Super Bowl. Now, we know it isn’t because he, specifically, wasn’t in the lineup, but it does say that he’s nothing more than a backup in the NFL. Though the Bears looked to be the leaders in the Alan Faneca sweepstakes, it appears they aren’t really interested in him, after all. Expect guard to be addressed in the draft, especially if Ruben Brown isn’t resigned or if he decides to retire.

Olin Kreutz is still one of the best centers in the league, he just needs some help at both guard positions to survive. He can’t do everything in the middle on his own. Kreutz has missed one game in the last seven seasons, as he’s one of the most reliable offensive lineman in the league.

Roberto Garza is not the answer at right guard for the Bears, and they may look to the draft here to fill his spot. He has started the last two seasons, and with the Bears needing to address a lot of offensive positions, so he may be back again in 2008.

Brown was released by the club, and the solid offensive lineman will most likely retire if he can’t work out a deal with the club. If he does return, he’ll be 36 and will compete for either guard spot, if he does return.

At right tackle, if Tait isn’t switched over, Fred Miller may get the chance to win the job as well. He’ll be 35, so he’s no spring chicken, but he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. He does need to be more consistent, if he plans on keeping the job. Obviously, the Bears have a lot to do on offense to make themselves a contender in 2008.

The Bears have much fewer questions on the defensive side of the ball.

Tommie Harris is an elite defensive tackle. His sack total went up to 8 this season, which is outstanding for an interior lineman. Plus, he’s only going to be 25 next season. Darwin Walker, a journeyman defensive tackle may get the opportunity to start opposite Harris, although this is one spot on the defense, where the Bears may look for someone in the draft.

Adewale Ogunleye is still one of the better defensive ends in the NFL. He had 58 tackles, nine sacks and three pass deflections this season. He’ll be entering his eighth season next year and will be 31. Opposite of Ogunleye is Mark Anderson, who got his opportunity to start this season, after being a fifth-round selection in 2006. He will need to get more pressure on the quarterback next season, if he’s going to be the long-term solution for the Bears.

Brian Urlacher will be entering his ninth season in the league next year and will turn 30, and he’s still one of the best out there. His 123 tackles in 2007 were his third-best performance of his career and his 12 pass deflections was the most in his career. He also added five sacks, five interceptions, and one returned for a touchdown. He’s an elite linebacker and the leader of this defense.

On the strong side, Lance Briggs has also been an elite linebacker for the Bears, recording over 100 tackles in the last four seasons. He also had two sacks and three pass deflections, but he’s most likely not going to be back. He wants a bigger contract and the Bears have balked on it for two years now. He’s finally an unrestricted free agent and the Franchise Tag is not going to be applied to him this season. So, that leaves a gaping hole on the strong side of the defense for the Bears. Jamar Williams, a fourth round selection in 2006 is the most likely candidate. In mostly backup duty, he recorded 30 tackles, a sack and two pass deflections.

Hunter Hillenmeyer will be entering his sixth season, and he’s had a starting job for most of the last four years with the Bears. He’s an OK linebacker, that is certainly serviceable when you consider he’s been complimented by Briggs and Urlacher. With the departure of Briggs, however, the Bears may need a little more out of Hillenmeyer.

Charles Tillman is a very good cornerback. He’s physical and he’s a bit of a ballhawk. He has never had big interception numbers, but he recorded 75 tackles in 2007, knocked down 13 balls, intercepted three and recovered a fumble.

Opposite him is Danieal Manning, another tough cornerback. He notched 79 tackles, six pass deflections and two interceptions in 2007. The Bears will look for him to continue to improve in 2008, his third year in the league. Manning is also a versatile player, who has spent time at free safety as well. That gives Trumaine McBride a chance to play. McBride, in nine games started had 41 tackles and 5 pass deflections. His emergence allows Manning to roam and make plays.

Of course, don’t forget that Devin Hester’s natural position is at cornerback, as well. However, with his explosiveness on special teams, he doesn’t see much time in the defensive backfield.

Adam Archuleta signed with Chicago last year and came in and had a good year. He will be 31 next season, but the Bears are looking for him to be the strong safety again in 2008.

Robbie Gould is a solid kicker, though he did miss five kicks this year. He doesn’t have the biggest leg in the league, but there’s no reason for the Bears to look to replace him. Brad Maynard had a down year in 2007, especially compared to his 2006 season, but he’s still a good punter.

Obviously, Devin Hester is the most explosive returner in the game. He’s approaching “best ever” status, if he isn’t there already, as Broncos fans know all to well. The only problem is that he’s so good, teams might kick away from him. Either way, it’s a win for the Bears.

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