Thread: Team needs are all done

Team needs are all done

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on April 20, 2010 11:54 AM ET
There may not be a division in football with more team needs than the AFC West.

The Chiefs have a long way to go in their rebuilding process. The Broncos are losing more premier talent than they are bringing in. The Raiders have a quietly good defense, but not a lot of youth on that side of the ball. Even the Chargers have a few more holes than normal, with help needed at running back and cornerback.

The AFC West team needs is ready to go, the final division in our eight-part series.

If you missed any of the other divisions, check them out here: AFC East, AFC North, AFC South, NFC East, NFC North, NFC South, and NFC West.

Originally Posted by broncofaninfla

The Broncos are losing more premier talent than they are bringing in. ]

Interesting. The only premeir talent we lost was Brandon Marshall. We also brought in a collectively better dline than we had last year.

LMAO at this guy calling Peyton Hillis and Tony Scheffler "premier talent".

That's like saying Brady Quinn is "premier talent".

Team needs: AFC West

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on April 20, 2010 11:36 AM ET
[Editor's note: The following is our eighth in a series of NFL Draft team needs by division We've looked at the AFC East, AFC North, AFC South, NFC East, NFC North, NFC South, and NFC West.]

Denver

WR: This was a need even before the Broncos dumped Brandon Marshall. Josh McDaniels can live without a true top dog, but he needs more role players with different skill sets. Eddie Royal can help and Jabar Gaffney is a short-term solution. The group needs more size. Perhaps a guy like Marshall. Or Dez Bryant.

LB: We were really impressed how the Broncos coached up Mario Haggan and Wesley Woodward to be useful. We just don't know if you can build a 3-4 defense around them. The entire group wore down by the end of 2009.

OL: The Broncos are set at the tackle positions, but need help on the inside as they transition away from the team's old zone blocking scheme.

DB: This group is a strength of the team, but they risk getting old all at once.

QB: The Broncos should continue to draft a quarterback every year until they know they have a keeper. The team likes Tom Brandstater, but that shouldn't prevent them from taking another project. The team is mostly building for future depth on the defensive line and secondary as well.

Kansas City

LB: Re-signing Mike Vrabel doesn't mean you have to start him again. Derrick Johnson isn't a long-term fit on the inside of a 3-4 defense.

OL: It's not a good sign when a player picked up off waivers (Ryan O'Callaghan) starts 12 games. The team also needs to start planning for life without Brian Waters. They will have their choice of potential right tackles at No. 5, but right tackles usually don't get taken that high. Branden Albert still looks like a keeper left tackle.

NT: Every 3-4 defense wants a true nose tackle to call their own. The Chiefs can get by with Ron Edwards and Shaun Smith, but they'd love to upgrade their front. Defensive end also makes sense.

WR: Todd Haley can coach up wideouts. (As head coach skill sets go, that's not too exciting.) Even with the help of Haley, we're not sure Dwayne Bowe is long for Kansas City. Jerheme Urban is a stretch as a third receiver. It's not a great unit when Chris Chambers is the most reliable guy.

S: Is there a keeper in this group? Jarrad Page looked good in Kansas City's old scheme, but less so last year. DaJuan Morgan might be cut if the team had options. Jon McGraw is better on special teams. The team needs a safety that can cover or a nickel cornerback, whichever comes first.

Oakland

QB: Three years after passing on Brady Quinn, the Raiders may go with Jimmy Clausen. It's not so far far-fetched. Oakland was ready to give up on JaMarcus Russell when they aggressively went after Donovan McNabb. The head coach wants another option, and Bruce Gradkowski's ceiling is limited no matter how quickly he recovers from his recent injury.

T: This is the time. Forget about the Robert Gallery pick. Forget that even the fastest tackles can't run a 4.4 forty. The Raiders need a true left tackle, just in case they ever find a quarterback. Mario Henderson on the left side with Khalif Barnes on the right isn't going to work.

DT: Tommy Kelly was better in 2009, but he's not worth the money. William Joseph and Desmond Bryant are imminently replaceable. This team needs more beef up front to shield their light linebackers.

DE: The Raiders need to groom a pass-rusher. Richard Seymour's effort is highly inconsistent, and he's mostly good for stopping the run. Matt Shaughnessy looks like a solid pick from last year. The Raiders would love to find another player like him.

San Diego

RB: It's rare A.J. Smith puts himself in a position he has to draft for need. Luckily, this is a great draft to find a starter at running back, especially a big one. It would be stunning if the Chargers didn't take a back in their first two picks.

DL: Jacque Cesaire is passable at end, and Luis Castillo hasn't lived up to his big contract extension. The team also needs a Jamaal Williams replacement. The Chargers have drafted fine the last 2-3 years, but haven't hit home runs. They could use one here.

CB: Antoine Cason hasn't shown a lot in two years in the league. Nathan Vasher lost his confidence in Chicago and Donald Strickland is just a guy. The only thing left for the Chargers to do is make the Super Bowl and they will probably have to beat the Colts or Patriots to get there.

T: After the positions above, the Chargers don't have pressing needs. There's a sense the team could upgrade from Jeromey Clary at right tackle. Both he and Marcus McNeil were restricted free agents.

Originally Posted by broncofaninfla

QB: The Broncos should continue to draft a quarterback every year until they know they have a keeper. The team likes Tom Brandstater, but that shouldn't prevent them from taking another project. The team is mostly building for future depth on the defensive line and secondary as well.

We do that and Jr will need physco-therapy for the rest of his life.

(I'm just kidding Jr)

Team needs:


Get rid of the flash.......done.



Now bring in the SMASH.


Interior Oline and front seven.

Originally Posted by WARHORSE

Team needs:


Get rid of the flash.......done.



Now bring in the SMASH.


Interior Oline and front seven.

Aren't you the one that has been BROADCASTING for Spiller???

Originally Posted by TXBRONC

We do that and Jr will need physco-therapy for the rest of his life.

(I'm just kidding Jr)

Hey if we can find a quality QB that can push Orton or quinine to be better or supplant them I have no issues with that.

I do not think that Orton is the loser some folks do. If given protection and a "decent" consistent running game I believe he can win a hell of a lot of games. Is he a SUper bowl talent QB? Time will tell.

But the more I think about all the moves lately I beleive that unless MIN or JAX beat us to him Tebow will be out QB of the future.

This is not quite like the Jake vs Jay Situation. Drafting a loser to supplant a winner just because he had a BIGGER ARM. I believe that this talent pool at OG, Center and NT will be tapped later in the day if we take Tebow..

Unlike mike I think that Josh Knows he has to fix the LOS because of its lack of POWER and that smoke and mirrors of the ZBS will make the offense better.

He has addressed the DL in FA and now has to develop the young talent behind them or draft another DE or NT on day two or early day three.

mike never had intentions to make the DL good IMO always relying on broken hand me down players to get him by. he never believed that ZBS was flawed and that a the magic of a QB would carry the red zone problems he has had since the Super teams retired. that he could make 1K runner out of anyone actual he was great at that but they almost always failed deep in the RZ one of the reasons Jason "MAY" get into the HOF.

I have good feelings about where this team is headed much like I did when numb-nuts was fired and mike came to town. Lots of purging there also IIRC.

Originally Posted by silkamilkamonico

We also brought in a collectively better dline than we had last year.hat's like saying Brady Quinn is "premier talent".

I think that remains to be seen. Jamal hasn't played an entire season in some time. Bannan could go either way.

Originally Posted by jhildebrand

I think that remains to be seen. Jamal hasn't played an entire season in some time. Bannan could go either way.

I do not think he will play all downs all year he is going to get lots of bench time with the young guns we have behind him.

Last year all we had were smallish kids that for the most part had never played NT before, learning a new scheme.

It take bulk to play at NT and a 308 pound converted DT just is not going to make it all year.

Originally Posted by WARHORSE

Team needs:


Get rid of the flash.......done.



Now bring in the SMASH.


Interior Oline and front seven.

I know there's no guarantee but this sounds like a Raider move, rumors are they may target Iupati at #8! That's gonna suck for our dline for years to come if true and their run game will get alot more smash!!

I'm not entirely convinced that ZBS is all smoke and mirrors... we won 2 Super Bowls with it... but look at who we had on the line when we did so...
I understand that we're changing philosophy, but the guys that we have as replacements for Schlereth, Zim, Jones, Nalen, and Habib never measured up to this front 5. Clady is great, don't get me wrong, but as a UNIT, the group we had doing zone blocking in the late 90's were as good a line as you'll ever see.
I think Clady and Harris, along with Kuper are folks to definitely hang onto, but Harris has to make it all the way back from his injuries, and center and another guard are what separates us from having a pretty good line.

Originally Posted by silkamilkamonico

Interesting. The only premeir talent we lost was Brandon Marshall. We also brought in a collectively better dline than we had last year.

LMAO at this guy calling Peyton Hillis and Tony Scheffler "premier talent".

That's like saying Brady Quinn is "premier talent".

Oh Noes!!! Someone besides the resident critics see Denver's faults! What will you ever do?!

Originally Posted by Jrwiz

Hey if we can find a quality QB that can push Orton or quinine to be better or supplant them I have no issues with that.

I do not think that Orton is the loser some folks do. If given protection and a "decent" consistent running game I believe he can win a hell of a lot of games. Is he a SUper bowl talent QB? Time will tell.

But the more I think about all the moves lately I beleive that unless MIN or JAX beat us to him Tebow will be out QB of the future.

This is not quite like the Jake vs Jay Situation. Drafting a loser to supplant a winner just because he had a BIGGER ARM. I believe that this talent pool at OG, Center and NT will be tapped later in the day if we take Tebow..

Unlike mike I think that Josh Knows he has to fix the LOS because of its lack of POWER and that smoke and mirrors of the ZBS will make the offense better.

He has addressed the DL in FA and now has to develop the young talent behind them or draft another DE or NT on day two or early day three.

mike never had intentions to make the DL good IMO always relying on broken hand me down players to get him by. he never believed that ZBS was flawed and that a the magic of a QB would carry the red zone problems he has had since the Super teams retired. that he could make 1K runner out of anyone actual he was great at that but they almost always failed deep in the RZ one of the reasons Jason "MAY" get into the HOF.

I have good feelings about where this team is headed much like I did when numb-nuts was fired and mike came to town. Lots of purging there also IIRC.

I disagree with you that Orton didn't have protection. He's immobile but that's not nearly as problematic as the fact that he doesn't have very good pocket presence.

This thread is not about Shanahan so there was no bring him up just so that you could kick dirt in face yet again. It's untrue to say that Shanahan had no intentions of doing anything about the defensive line. His choices weren't good but he did try. In fact, there isn't a shit bit of difference in the approach that McDaniels taken to this point his tenure to what Shanahan did. He's brought journeymen linemen, draft one DE/OLB who may or may not pan and a 34 year old nose tackle that recently had health issues including a bad knee. I hope he has left in the tank but that remains to be seen. He also brought in UDRFA who was inactive all but two games.

Finally I think you missed why I made the joke. The writer is suggesting that McDaniels draft EVERY year until he finds the guy he can build his offense around.

Originally Posted by Jrwiz

Hey if we can find a quality QB that can push Orton or quinine to be better or supplant them I have no issues with that.

I do not think that Orton is the loser some folks do. If given protection and a "decent" consistent running game I believe he can win a hell of a lot of games. Is he a SUper bowl talent QB? Time will tell.

But the more I think about all the moves lately I beleive that unless MIN or JAX beat us to him Tebow will be out QB of the future.

This is not quite like the Jake vs Jay Situation. Drafting a loser to supplant a winner just because he had a BIGGER ARM. I believe that this talent pool at OG, Center and NT will be tapped later in the day if we take Tebow..

Unlike mike I think that Josh Knows he has to fix the LOS because of its lack of POWER and that smoke and mirrors of the ZBS will make the offense better.

He has addressed the DL in FA and now has to develop the young talent behind them or draft another DE or NT on day two or early day three.

mike never had intentions to make the DL good IMO always relying on broken hand me down players to get him by. he never believed that ZBS was flawed and that a the magic of a QB would carry the red zone problems he has had since the Super teams retired. that he could make 1K runner out of anyone actual he was great at that but they almost always failed deep in the RZ one of the reasons Jason "MAY" get into the HOF.

I have good feelings about where this team is headed much like I did when numb-nuts was fired and mike came to town. Lots of purging there also IIRC.

Agreed. Orton has already proven he can win a hell of a lot of games even
without top protection and running game. In fact, he has one of the winningest
records, even though he has never had a whole lot of either. If they finally give
him decent protection and a fair-to-good running game, and Orton can finally
stay healthy, I believe he is going to surprise a lot of doubters.

I'm not sure I would call any unproven rookie the "QB of the future," however.
And I'm not sure the Broncos are panting after Tebow or any other QB in the
draft as heavily as some think. They might pick one, and they might not. But
they have some still untapped talent at QB right now among Orton, Quinn, and
Brandstater, and I doubt any one of them will concede their position to any
newcomer.

But yes, Josh knows where the real problem lies, and he has said as much. If
McClain is available at #11, I believe we have a new linebacker, IMO. And, once
the dust settles in the second round, we will have two new offensive linemen,
IMO, or one OL and one WR.

-----

I like your thoughts Top. I like the beefy guys first, WR later.

BM was what, a 5'th? I like some size out there like SD & NO have shown to be very effective.