TXBRONC
09-04-2009, 08:37 AM
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_13266331
Broncos still have more questions than answers
Injuries affected offensive consistency, and defensive suspicions weren't resolved during the preseason.
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
Posted: 09/04/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT
Josh McDaniels put his first preseason as a head coach in the books Thursday night, closing out the practice games with fewer wins than he may have wanted and a few more headaches than perhaps he expected — just Google, you know the deal.
But the bulk of the roster the Broncos take to Cincinnati, give or take a waiver claim or two early next week, will come from the group that left the field Thursday night. A group with plenty of questions that still remain about how things will go, but a group McDaniels has promised almost from the time he was named head coach "would be competitive in September."
Well, September has now arrived, and it's all a true-false test from here on out.
Quarterbacks
Injuries were the story of the preseason as Kyle Orton's dislocated finger and Chris Simms' sprained ankle altered much of what was on the preseason drawing board.
Tom Brandstater finished things out Thursday, and a quick poll of a few personnel executives around the league before the Broncos kicked off against the Cardinals revealed that if the Broncos had planned to put him through waivers this weekend to get him on their practice squad, they may not be able to do it now.
Most pointed out that four teams claimed Kevin O'Connell this week, and Brandstater played better with his chances. So, if the Broncos want to keep him, he likely has to have a roster spot.
Overall, the Broncos didn't push much down the field offensively, and just as a point of comparison, Cardinals backup Matt Leinart threw for 360 yards in a half against the Packers in the preseason while Orton threw for 367 yards in his three games worth of work.
Running backs
Another position where things were shuffled because of injuries: Knowshown Moreno was slated to be the team's top back, but had just three preseason carries because of a sprained knee.
Moreno is still the best three-down option overall, but it's still unclear how long it will take him to reach prime condition to take a heavy workload. Correll Buckhalter got most of the work when Moreno was hurt, and La-Mont Jordan had an injury-marred camp with limited chances.
Overall, no one in the group has consistently shown he could power through No. 1 defenses, and plenty of run-tested units are on the '09 docket.
Receivers
With Brandon Marshall's camp having been more reality-show fodder than a football endeavor, Eddie Royal entered and exited the preseason as the clear No. 1.
Rookie Kenny McKinley has the potential to be a deep down-the-sideline option and went into Thursday night's game as the team's only receiver with a catch of more than 30 yards — he had two. But his hands have been spotty at times, and he needs a little more upper body strength to shield the ball.
Offensive line
The Broncos have not entirely abandoned the zone-blocking scheme they used in Shanahan's tenure, but the offense will have a little more of a hybrid look up front this season.
At the point of attack, however, they didn't always move defenses off the ball when things were starters-on-starters, and the group had some uncharacteristic penalties when it had to match up and lock on defenders 1-on-1.
Utilization of new offense
The Broncos did not play a preseason game with all of their best receivers — Marshall, Royal, Brandon Stokley and Jabar Gaffney — on the field, so the jury's out.
Orton played it safe much of the time, and may have to much of the season because the team figures to have a difficult time overcoming turnovers, especially if the run game can't keep the down-and-distance situations manageable.
Defensive line
Most personnel executives say when the '09 season ends, this is the area of the Broncos' roster will need the most attention.
It's no accident the elite 3-4 defenses in the league expend high draft picks on defensive linemen — the Patriots start three former No. 1's up front much of the time.
But the unit was active in the preseason, defending the run better than their predecessors did in the last two seasons, and if Ronald Fields holds his ground on the nose much of the time, the line will be improved.
Linebackers
This group was facing plenty of change, with several players, including Elvis Dumervil, switching positions in the preseason, and it has shown at times. While the corps does have plenty presnap movement by design here, it still has had legitimate trouble getting some guys lined up from time to time.
The real test, jumping around or not, will be whether the linebackers can consistently get into their run fits when actual games begin.
Secondary
An experienced group, but also a rare one in that all four starters are at least 30 years old.
If defensive coordinator Mike Nolan is going to bring some extra players in the pass rush much of the time, these guys will have to be up to the task. Offenses will go after Andre Goodman because they prefer not to challenge Bailey, and Brian Dawkins will be tested if the Broncos leave him in the deep middle.
Utilization of new defense
The blitzing may get the attention, but it is the run defense that will tell the tale of '09.
The Broncos consistently allowed too many teams to be in comfortable second- and third-down situations because they could not close down the middle of the field.
Special teams
Mike Preifer's unit will be more aggressive, has more speed and thus far looks to include better tacklers overall than the Broncos have had. The return game was unspectacular throughout the preseason, and ball security was a significant issue.
So the Broncos may have to surrender potential impact to simply line up those who will take care of the ball.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
I have questions about Orton but I think the middle of the defense is an even bigger issue. As much as it has been floated around here that if Orton does cut that we should draft another quarterback I think nose tackle is still the biggest concern of all.
Broncos still have more questions than answers
Injuries affected offensive consistency, and defensive suspicions weren't resolved during the preseason.
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
Posted: 09/04/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT
Josh McDaniels put his first preseason as a head coach in the books Thursday night, closing out the practice games with fewer wins than he may have wanted and a few more headaches than perhaps he expected — just Google, you know the deal.
But the bulk of the roster the Broncos take to Cincinnati, give or take a waiver claim or two early next week, will come from the group that left the field Thursday night. A group with plenty of questions that still remain about how things will go, but a group McDaniels has promised almost from the time he was named head coach "would be competitive in September."
Well, September has now arrived, and it's all a true-false test from here on out.
Quarterbacks
Injuries were the story of the preseason as Kyle Orton's dislocated finger and Chris Simms' sprained ankle altered much of what was on the preseason drawing board.
Tom Brandstater finished things out Thursday, and a quick poll of a few personnel executives around the league before the Broncos kicked off against the Cardinals revealed that if the Broncos had planned to put him through waivers this weekend to get him on their practice squad, they may not be able to do it now.
Most pointed out that four teams claimed Kevin O'Connell this week, and Brandstater played better with his chances. So, if the Broncos want to keep him, he likely has to have a roster spot.
Overall, the Broncos didn't push much down the field offensively, and just as a point of comparison, Cardinals backup Matt Leinart threw for 360 yards in a half against the Packers in the preseason while Orton threw for 367 yards in his three games worth of work.
Running backs
Another position where things were shuffled because of injuries: Knowshown Moreno was slated to be the team's top back, but had just three preseason carries because of a sprained knee.
Moreno is still the best three-down option overall, but it's still unclear how long it will take him to reach prime condition to take a heavy workload. Correll Buckhalter got most of the work when Moreno was hurt, and La-Mont Jordan had an injury-marred camp with limited chances.
Overall, no one in the group has consistently shown he could power through No. 1 defenses, and plenty of run-tested units are on the '09 docket.
Receivers
With Brandon Marshall's camp having been more reality-show fodder than a football endeavor, Eddie Royal entered and exited the preseason as the clear No. 1.
Rookie Kenny McKinley has the potential to be a deep down-the-sideline option and went into Thursday night's game as the team's only receiver with a catch of more than 30 yards — he had two. But his hands have been spotty at times, and he needs a little more upper body strength to shield the ball.
Offensive line
The Broncos have not entirely abandoned the zone-blocking scheme they used in Shanahan's tenure, but the offense will have a little more of a hybrid look up front this season.
At the point of attack, however, they didn't always move defenses off the ball when things were starters-on-starters, and the group had some uncharacteristic penalties when it had to match up and lock on defenders 1-on-1.
Utilization of new offense
The Broncos did not play a preseason game with all of their best receivers — Marshall, Royal, Brandon Stokley and Jabar Gaffney — on the field, so the jury's out.
Orton played it safe much of the time, and may have to much of the season because the team figures to have a difficult time overcoming turnovers, especially if the run game can't keep the down-and-distance situations manageable.
Defensive line
Most personnel executives say when the '09 season ends, this is the area of the Broncos' roster will need the most attention.
It's no accident the elite 3-4 defenses in the league expend high draft picks on defensive linemen — the Patriots start three former No. 1's up front much of the time.
But the unit was active in the preseason, defending the run better than their predecessors did in the last two seasons, and if Ronald Fields holds his ground on the nose much of the time, the line will be improved.
Linebackers
This group was facing plenty of change, with several players, including Elvis Dumervil, switching positions in the preseason, and it has shown at times. While the corps does have plenty presnap movement by design here, it still has had legitimate trouble getting some guys lined up from time to time.
The real test, jumping around or not, will be whether the linebackers can consistently get into their run fits when actual games begin.
Secondary
An experienced group, but also a rare one in that all four starters are at least 30 years old.
If defensive coordinator Mike Nolan is going to bring some extra players in the pass rush much of the time, these guys will have to be up to the task. Offenses will go after Andre Goodman because they prefer not to challenge Bailey, and Brian Dawkins will be tested if the Broncos leave him in the deep middle.
Utilization of new defense
The blitzing may get the attention, but it is the run defense that will tell the tale of '09.
The Broncos consistently allowed too many teams to be in comfortable second- and third-down situations because they could not close down the middle of the field.
Special teams
Mike Preifer's unit will be more aggressive, has more speed and thus far looks to include better tacklers overall than the Broncos have had. The return game was unspectacular throughout the preseason, and ball security was a significant issue.
So the Broncos may have to surrender potential impact to simply line up those who will take care of the ball.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
I have questions about Orton but I think the middle of the defense is an even bigger issue. As much as it has been floated around here that if Orton does cut that we should draft another quarterback I think nose tackle is still the biggest concern of all.