Cugel
04-19-2012, 11:52 AM
This article in today's Post analyzes some of Denver's recent draft picks and the result isn't pretty:
NFL teams identify rounds one, two and three as "starter" rounds. And in this segment, the Broncos have failed too many times going back to the 2001 season. Next week, the Broncos have the No. 25 pick in the first round. They need to find a player the caliber of D.J. Williams, not Jarvis Moss or Willie Middlebrooks.
The second round has been to the Broncos what a green-side bunker is to a golfer's approach — hazardous. (http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_20429272/broncos-have-hit-and-missed-recent-top-nfl) The Broncos' spectacular second-round whiff under the direction of Josh McDaniels in 2009 — Alphonso Smith (strike one!), Darcel McBath (strike two!) and Richard Quinn (strike three!) — is a major reason Manning's new supporting cast is not as strong as it could be.
This article really grossly OVER-Estimates Denver's success in drafting the last 5 or 6 years and gives passing grades to some Denver players who don't remotely deserve it like Rahim Moore.
The Broncos have had better luck in the third round, thanks to the recent hits of center J.D. Walton and wide receiver Eric Decker.
Walton is certainly not a "hit" yet, if he's ever going to be. He's probably among the worst starting C's in the NFL and they tried to upgrade his position by signing Jeff Saturday to start ahead of him, but failed when another team offered more money.
Here's their analysis:
1st round: They rate Von Miller and Clady as "very good." Well, Clady WAS good, but he's struggled since his injury and would be considered a mediocre LT at this point. Hopefully he can recover his form this season. Von Miller has had a great first year and should improve.
For some reason they lump in first round "disappointments" with total BUSTS: Jarvis Moss with Knowshon Moreno. If Moreno fails to make the team or play a significant backup role this season, then he's a "Bust", but otherwise he's a "disappointment" for a former first rounder. Moss was simply a totally wasted pick, which is a different matter. Let's not mix up the two ideas.
They list Robert Ayers and Jay Cutler as "OK". Cutler is certainly a LOT better than "OK" since he was a pro-bowl player in Denver and led his Bears team to the NFL Championship game and had the Bears headed to a potential playoff game again prior to his injury. It's not his fault that McMoron decided to try and run him out of town and trade for the incomparable Matt Cassel. Ayers is barely average.
And both Ayers and "No-Show" were wasted picks already IF we take into account who they could have drafted instead: Brian Orakpo and Clay Matthews, but NOT if we simply look at their play without considering alternatives.
Tebow was a "disappointment" if you expect your QB to last more than 2 seasons as a starter and to learn to throw accurate passes. He might well become a "good" player in NY of course if he supplants Mark Sanchez and ever learns to throw a forward pass. So, he probably deserves an "OK" rating, unless you consider the Broncos wasted three draft picks to move up to draft him. On the other hand, giving a 3rd round pick to McMoron is like giving money to a crack whore. You might as well just burn it right now and save yourself the trouble.
Second round
They rate RB Clinton Portis as "very good" but he didn't last long enough in Denver to claim that role, unless you consider getting Champ Bailey for him in trade. I guess he was "very good trade bait."
I'd say Orlando Franklin and Zane Beadles are "OK" but nothing better at this point. Beadles has been a major disappointment for the 2nd G taken in the draft. He was supposed to become an impact player (which is the only reason you draft a G in the 2nd round and not convert an OT to G) and he's barely good enough to start at all.
And Walton is badly in need of either getting his act together or being replaced.
It's not hard to spot the 2nd round total BUSTS:
CB Alphonso Smith (2009), S Darcel McBath (2009), TE Richard Quinn (2009), DL Tim Crowder (2007), WR Darius Watts (2004), LB Terry Pierce (2003), DE Paul Toviessi (2001).
Anyway, an interesting read.
NFL teams identify rounds one, two and three as "starter" rounds. And in this segment, the Broncos have failed too many times going back to the 2001 season. Next week, the Broncos have the No. 25 pick in the first round. They need to find a player the caliber of D.J. Williams, not Jarvis Moss or Willie Middlebrooks.
The second round has been to the Broncos what a green-side bunker is to a golfer's approach — hazardous. (http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_20429272/broncos-have-hit-and-missed-recent-top-nfl) The Broncos' spectacular second-round whiff under the direction of Josh McDaniels in 2009 — Alphonso Smith (strike one!), Darcel McBath (strike two!) and Richard Quinn (strike three!) — is a major reason Manning's new supporting cast is not as strong as it could be.
This article really grossly OVER-Estimates Denver's success in drafting the last 5 or 6 years and gives passing grades to some Denver players who don't remotely deserve it like Rahim Moore.
The Broncos have had better luck in the third round, thanks to the recent hits of center J.D. Walton and wide receiver Eric Decker.
Walton is certainly not a "hit" yet, if he's ever going to be. He's probably among the worst starting C's in the NFL and they tried to upgrade his position by signing Jeff Saturday to start ahead of him, but failed when another team offered more money.
Here's their analysis:
1st round: They rate Von Miller and Clady as "very good." Well, Clady WAS good, but he's struggled since his injury and would be considered a mediocre LT at this point. Hopefully he can recover his form this season. Von Miller has had a great first year and should improve.
For some reason they lump in first round "disappointments" with total BUSTS: Jarvis Moss with Knowshon Moreno. If Moreno fails to make the team or play a significant backup role this season, then he's a "Bust", but otherwise he's a "disappointment" for a former first rounder. Moss was simply a totally wasted pick, which is a different matter. Let's not mix up the two ideas.
They list Robert Ayers and Jay Cutler as "OK". Cutler is certainly a LOT better than "OK" since he was a pro-bowl player in Denver and led his Bears team to the NFL Championship game and had the Bears headed to a potential playoff game again prior to his injury. It's not his fault that McMoron decided to try and run him out of town and trade for the incomparable Matt Cassel. Ayers is barely average.
And both Ayers and "No-Show" were wasted picks already IF we take into account who they could have drafted instead: Brian Orakpo and Clay Matthews, but NOT if we simply look at their play without considering alternatives.
Tebow was a "disappointment" if you expect your QB to last more than 2 seasons as a starter and to learn to throw accurate passes. He might well become a "good" player in NY of course if he supplants Mark Sanchez and ever learns to throw a forward pass. So, he probably deserves an "OK" rating, unless you consider the Broncos wasted three draft picks to move up to draft him. On the other hand, giving a 3rd round pick to McMoron is like giving money to a crack whore. You might as well just burn it right now and save yourself the trouble.
Second round
They rate RB Clinton Portis as "very good" but he didn't last long enough in Denver to claim that role, unless you consider getting Champ Bailey for him in trade. I guess he was "very good trade bait."
I'd say Orlando Franklin and Zane Beadles are "OK" but nothing better at this point. Beadles has been a major disappointment for the 2nd G taken in the draft. He was supposed to become an impact player (which is the only reason you draft a G in the 2nd round and not convert an OT to G) and he's barely good enough to start at all.
And Walton is badly in need of either getting his act together or being replaced.
It's not hard to spot the 2nd round total BUSTS:
CB Alphonso Smith (2009), S Darcel McBath (2009), TE Richard Quinn (2009), DL Tim Crowder (2007), WR Darius Watts (2004), LB Terry Pierce (2003), DE Paul Toviessi (2001).
Anyway, an interesting read.