Vote for Most Valuable Surprise Player (MVSP)

[cmc0605]

We all know how good the Manning's, Millers, Champ's, Dumervil's, etc are... and we all knew it before the season started. However, a big part of this team's success has also been due to a number of other, perhaps more "surprising," contributors.

I'm putting in a poll to see the opinions on the biggest success stories on this team aside from the obvious ones. These are limited to groups that, in my opinion at least, would not have "obviously" been playing at a superior level if you asked everyone at the begnning of the season.

[cmc0605]

Throw in Stokley to the WR column too...

[BroncoWave]

I would say Carter and Harris. I didn't really buy into Harris before the season like most on here did and no one really had Carter on their radar. I am shocked at how good they are.

[NightTerror218]

I have to say DL, they are getting serious QB pressure and stopping run making it easier on secondary

[Jsteve01]

Cedric Cobb. Guy is electric. Oh and omon

[Canmore]

I would say Carter and Harris. I didn't really buy into Harris before the season like most on here did and no one really had Carter on their radar. I am shocked at how good they are.


Carter and Harris have been very pleasant surprises. They have played above my expectations. The secondary has been quite simply stellar.

[Dapper Dan]

All of the above and then some. I can't believe how well everyone is doing. Ayers and Vickerson are playing well. Woodyard has gotten better every season but seemed to skyrocket this season. I had hopes that Brooking would play well, wasn't sure he actually would. Trevathan is playing better than he's suppose to right now. I thought the DBs as a whole would be garbage. Undrafted free agents playing lights out at CB. Like with Brooking, I'm surprised Mike Adams is playing as solid as I wanted him to. I gave up on Moore, and I rarely give up on anyone, but he's improving. A lot of guys may have knew better, but I didn't think Dreessen would be doing this well. Stokely seemed to be fading out of the league, but you can't buy the timing that he and Manning have.

I really hoped our team would get better as the season progressed and as we got out of the tougher part of the schedule. I didn't think our defense would be playing like one of the best in the league.

[Canmore]

All of the above and then some. I can't believe how well everyone is doing. Ayers and Vickerson are playing well. Woodyard has gotten better every season but seemed to skyrocket this season. I had hopes that Brooking would play well, wasn't sure he actually would. Trevathan is playing better than he's suppose to right now. I thought the DBs as a whole would be garbage. Undrafted free agents playing lights out at CB. Like with Brooking, I'm surprised Mike Adams is playing as solid as I wanted him to. I gave up on Moore, and I rarely give up on anyone, but he's improving. A lot of guys may have knew better, but I didn't think Dreessen would be doing this well. Stokely seemed to be fading out of the league, but you can't buy the timing that he and Manning have.

I really hoped our team would get better as the season progressed and as we got out of the tougher part of the schedule. I didn't think our defense would be playing like one of the best in the league.

This is a nice post. I said the secondary but when the season began we looked like we had a number of question marks at a lot of positions. As the season has progressed the questions have been answered and they are a resounding yes. We have some players, especially on defense.

[Chef Zambini]

echo the enthusiasm on all fronts. we have made significant improvements in all 3 phases of the game, and several players have been pleasant surprises.
CARTER and HARRIS /
those guys have really been an upgrade! move them to safety !

[SR]

I would say Carter and Harris. I didn't really buy into Harris before the season like most on here did and no one really had Carter on their radar. I am shocked at how good they are.

This or Rahim Moore

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[HORSEPOWER 56]

I voted for Carter and Harris, but the real answer is JDR and Jeff Rodgers. For nearly a decade our defense and STs have been sub=par to say the least and now they're a team strength. Our offense is playing well with Manning, but the defense is making just as many plays to get the ball back for the offense and to force 3 and outs. It's a team game and we finally have a team that is playing like one and is a no-shit contender.

[smith49]

Agree with all above posts. If I had to pick one player in particular I'd say Woodyard.

When we first saw woody a few seasons back as a rookie he caught my eye. I thought he looked like a high energy highly motivated player. I think he still has all that and has just gotten smarter. He is leading this D and I couldn't be more pleased with his progression as a player and as a leader.

I also love that he gets very little credit outside of bronco nation. It seems like all the hype is PFM and our O, which is fine and well deserved. But to see the D that is qb'd by Woody doing what it is without hype and all the praise is just cool to see. Love that guy.

[Tned]

I would say Carter and Harris. I didn't really buy into Harris before the season like most on here did and no one really had Carter on their radar. I am shocked at how good they are.

Agreed on Carter and Harris. I thought Harris was a solid nickel last year and was good when injuries threw him into that role, but really figured he would be dime at best with Florence & Porter on the roster. He and Carter have stepped up big time.

[Northman]

For me, Carter and Harris. In key moments they have come up big this year which is great.

[Ravage!!!]

It was a tough choice between the DL and the DBs for me... hell, even the LBs were a question. But the biggest worry going into the season was the DL, and it was by far the loudest 'cry' around here. So I've been very excited as to how well they've played.

That being said, the play of Carter and Harris has been awesome. Can't say enough about them.

[BroncoNut]

Nate Irving for me. unsung hero

[blamkin86]

Harris and Carter deserve a lot of credit, but I gotta go with Woodyard. The man is playing at an entirely different level.

[BroncoNut]

I think I will be keeping more of an eye on Trevathon. for a rook he is certainly contributing. I know nothing more about him or his SEC career, other than most tackles, etc. nice size, mobility, and color though. I dont' remember drafting him

[Northman]

Im surprised the backup punter Anubis isnt getting any love. I mean, come on? Best moral support this team has had in YEARS!

[Dapper Dan]

I think I will be keeping more of an eye on Trevathon. for a rook he is certainly contributing. I know nothing more about him or his SEC career, other than most tackles, etc. nice size, mobility, and color though. I dont' remember drafting him

That's what happens when you play football at Kentucky. Haha

(Randall Cobb being an exception)

[SoCalImport]

The fact that it's tough to choose speaks volumes

[SoCalImport]

For me it's got to be woodyard. I've loved his heart and play for years. This year wasn't the first ttime he's played really well in place of DJ.
He's the definition of a team guy and his obvious friendship with B. Dawkins while he was in Denver speaks to that.




edit: I changed my mind. It all starts up front and Woodyard would not be having these kinds of games if not for those nobody DLinemen (and Dumerville) that are kicking some ass up front. Since it starts in the trenches and we lost Warren/dumerville is not usually great against the run/ Who's Mitch Unrein? I say the play of the D-line is the biggest overall suprise.

I already knew Woodyard was good.

[Grover]

It was a tough choice between the DL and the DBs for me... hell, even the LBs were a question. But the biggest worry going into the season was the DL, and it was by far the loudest 'cry' around here. So I've been very excited as to how well they've played.

That being said, the play of Carter and Harris has been awesome. Can't say enough about them.

I agree with the above, and also voted for the DL as being the most surprising. We knew that Harris was a good nickel corner, and although those skills don't exactly transfer to starting corner, there was some inkling that he might do well in the expanded roll. I remember liking Tony Carter when he was with us before, so his good play wasn't totally surprising to me, but the extent to which he's performed his job has been unexpected.

With the injuries pre-season to Hunter and Wilfork, us getting rid of Bunkley, and our decision to play Wolfe (a rookie) extensively, I wasn't expecting much from our DL. But the DL has been fantastic in getting pressure on the QB. They've been occupying blockers so that our Linebackers can play in space unmolested, and the rotation has been fantastic with Ayres/Vickerson really stepping up when Dumervil and Wolfe have been out. I'm loving the play of our defensive backs and linebackers, but I really think the unsung heroes are the guys on the interior of the DL that seem to be making it difficult to execute offensive plays against us.

[NightTerror218]

If the DL did not step it up we could still have been slashed in the secondary. We now have consistent QB pressure and can stop the run with the front 4 (plus Von). It makes the secondary's life much easier. But secondary is always playing better and getting TO. Like the pick 6 on cam, that was because von was pressuring him and he made a dumb pass that was picked off. DL is forcing bad plays IMO which improved secondary is taking advantage of.

[DenBronx]

Jack Del Rio


/thread

[weazel]

The D played really well last season but have taken a giant step this year. Everyone looks to have stepped it up and the young DB's look great. It's just a great time to be a fan of this team

[johnb]

I thought our LB's would would be a big ol weakness. I am very surprised how they have been able to "Get 'er done"!

[NightTerror218]

I thought our LB's would would be a big ol weakness. I am very surprised how they have been able to "Get 'er done"!

dude avatar is scary.

[weazel]

I thought our LB's would would be a big ol weakness. I am very surprised how they have been able to "Get 'er done"!

Im just high fiving this post because of the sweet avatar!

[Dreadnought]

It was a tough choice between the DL and the DBs for me... hell, even the LBs were a question. But the biggest worry going into the season was the DL, and it was by far the loudest 'cry' around here. So I've been very excited as to how well they've played.

That being said, the play of Carter and Harris has been awesome. Can't say enough about them.

Agreed - its a nice problem to have trying to ID the guys who have been the biggest pleasant surprise. The excellent development of the WR's isn't that much of a shock, and I've always liked Woodyard.

RB is the only area where we have come up short in 2012. Everyone else, CB's LB's DL, WR's TE's are more than earning their pay.

[bcbronc]

Agreed with everyone else that there is no wrong answer here (cept maybe WR, not that big a surprise really). But I voted DL mostly because of all the years Denver has been the place where DL busts go to bridge the gap to full pension. It's awesome seeing this group of relatively unknowns and left for deads playing as great as they are. And I don't think the LBs or DBs play at the level they are if the big uglies weren't winning the trench battles.

[Dreadnought]

Agreed with everyone else that there is no wrong answer here (cept maybe WR, not that big a surprise really). But I voted DL mostly because of all the years Denver has been the place where DL busts go to bridge the gap to full pension. It's awesome seeing this group of relatively unknowns and left for deads playing as great as they are. And I don't think the LBs or DBs play at the level they are if the big uglies weren't winning the trench battles.

Agreed here. We have almost made it a specialty to sign fat, slow, and/or washed up stiffs at DL for years. Sam Adams, Simeon Rice, Jamal Williams, etc. etc. etc. These guys we have on the roster are playing stout.