Tough defense can topple low expectations
The Denver Post
POSTED: 07/26/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT


For the second consecutive season in the two-season Josh McDaniels era, expectations for the Broncos beyond the Dove Valley property are for no playoff games in January.

The departures of coach Mike Shanahan and quarterback Jay Cutler last season dropped preseason predictions to the 6-10, 7-9 range.

This season, star receiver Brandon Marshall, tight end Tony Scheffler and veteran defensive coordinator Mike Nolan have left, and the consensus guess is the Broncos will finish 7-9 or 8-8.

But just like the early part of last season, when the Broncos started 6-0, there is valid reason to believe the pundits could be wrong.

NFL history says teams can win with a bad offense. It's just impossible to win with a bad defense.

Say goodbye, already, to the Shanahan-John Elway era. Bring back the Orange Crush of the 1970s. The 2010 Broncos are built to be a stout defensive/average offensive team.

It's difficult to imagine the Broncos becoming anything more than mediocre on offense. The unit has lost so much spectacular young talent at the skill positions while reloading with so much youth on the line that an offensive juggernaut is unlikely.

But with a rebuilt defensive front three and established veterans at no less than 11 of the top 12 defensive positions — outside linebacker Robert Ayers is the only unproven projected starter, and Nate Jones fills a gaping hole at nickel back — the Broncos may be capable of winning their share of 17-14 games.

"If that's the case, we'll welcome that," Broncos elite pass rusher Elvis Dumervil said.

Rookie update.

With the exception of their four unsigned, high-round draft picks, Broncos rookies will report to the team's headquarters today for conditioning and meetings. The first training-camp practice for rookies and veterans coming off offseason injuries will be Wednesday afternoon.

The unsigned rookies: first-rounders Demaryius Thomas

Post Poll - Training Camp

As training camps get going, optimism runs high for most NFL teams. Check out our Broncos training camp primer for more. What are your expectations of the Broncos?

10 wins or more: Playoff-bound in McDaniels' second season.
6-9 wins: The Broncos are 32-32 the last four seasons.
0-5 wins: There is no joy in Broncoland.

and Tim Tebow, second-rounder Zane Beadles and third-rounder Eric Decker.
The Broncos should finalize Decker's four-year contract today, a deal which figures to include a bonus of $732,000, give or take a few dollars. Beadles' contract is expected to be finalized by Tuesday. The Broncos hope the Tebow and Thomas deals will be completed in time for practice Thursday, and no later than the first full-squad workout that starts at 8:45 a.m. Sunday.

Plan on traffic.

The Broncos wouldn't dare call it the "Tebow Effect," but for the first time in four years, the team is expecting overflow crowds for several of its training camp workouts this year.

Get there early, in other words, if you want to see a close-up look of Tebow watching Kyle Orton take quarterback reps with the first-team offense.

For the first week of training camp that starts Sunday, the Broncos will start their morning workout at 8:45 and afternoon session at either 2:30 or 5:30. There will be no morning sessions Aug. 2, Aug. 5, Aug. 8, Aug. 10, Aug. 12 or Aug. 17.

Mike Klis, The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_15601238