I NEVER said Thomas was a bust! I said he was MEDIOCRE and he was. He didn't play strong at the point of attack and hold his ground. He was a starting DT on one of the worst defense in the NFL, a defense that gave up 448 points. He bears some degree of blame for that.
I never said any of the second day picks were "busts!" How could they be busts when 4th and later round players are NOT expected to have much impact and usually don't. All I'm saying is that it's a lot to expect much from such players. 5th round DTs; 6th & 7th round Safeties and LBs are a dime a dozen in the NFL and they seldom do much or last more than a couple of years. Mostly they are ST cannon-fodder for a few years, get into the rotation as backups and then disappear and are replaced by similar players.
Every roster has it's share. But if you expect the Spencer Larsons of the world to be your STARTING LB then your defense isn't likely to be very good! They're SCRUBS and were taken in the late rounds for a reason -- there were more athletic and more accomplished players taken ahead of them. And if you want an elite defense you need elitely talented players.
Thomas was at least good enough to get into the lineup, unlike Moss & Crowder so he isn't a BUST, at least not yet. I think the indications are that both Moss & Crowder are going to be busts, but certainly they will get a chance this spring to prove themselves to Nolan and the new coaching staff.
As a Broncos fan I'd love nothing better than for Moss & Crowder to make a complete U-turn and fulfill their potential. Not ever 1st round pick pans out of course.
So, Thomas MIGHT possibly blossom this year, especially in a new system.
But, the team is obviously trying to move to a 3-4 in hiring all these coaches familiar with that system. How fast they do it will depend on whether they can find suitable NTs (at least 2 via the draft & FA).
If they move to a 3-4 I doubt Thomas will play NT. He's not strong enough. He might be able to move to DE, but that's a wholely new position for him right as he's attempting to come into his own.
I doubt that switch will HELP his development, so it probably means another year of him struggling.
As for Moss, Crowder & Dumervil, they will be evaluated this summer too. It's quite likely at least one will be cut/traded.
If the team is trying to move to a 3-4 it at least helps them have a CHANCE to make the team.
Despite what you say TOP about Moss, there are no excuses in the NFL. Perhaps illness has slowed Moss's development, but he's been paid $5 million so far (not counting his signing bonus) and has earned NONE of it!
As Rod Smith used to say "You can't make the club if you're in the tub!" Injury can happen to anyone but often injured players find themselves out of a job. That's just the way it works. Perhaps Moss will suddenly be LOADS better this year. That would be great, but I'm not holding my breath. He hasn't done anything at all so far and Crowder less than nothing.
A move to the 3-4 is likely to mean a "learning curve" for both anyway.
I think it will be a miracle if the defense is better to start the season than it was to end it last year.
Perhaps if they draft Maualuga or James Laurinitis at LILB it could have an immediate impact giving them a strong tough defender against the run who will be a team leader and "rah-rah" take charge guy on the field. The defense has missed that "field general" since Al Wilson left. Wilson was the heart of the defense and DJ Williams just doesn't have that kind of personality.
If they take a DT like BJ Raji, I doubt he'll be an immediate impact. In a couple of years if you're lucky you get a guy who can push the middle of the pocket and cause total havoc like Haloti Ngata did in the AFC Championship. That's how an elite NT is supposed to play! Denver hasn't had that kind of player since a young Trevor Pryce 8 or 9 years ago.
But, 3-4 or 4-3 the team is going to need a LOT better players than they currently have.
I do NOT blame the Defensive coaches for this failure. They were coaches with a lot of successful experience in the NFL, especially Bates and didn't suddenly become stupid when they came to Denver!
THe NFL is a PLAYER dominated league. Unless you have at least average players you can't compete.
Denver the last 3 seasons has had increasingly talented young players on offense -- but increasingly worse than mediocre players on defense. We're about the same talent level as the KC Chiefs -- except we have Cutler and Marshall instead of Brodie Croyle and nobody much. IN fact their defense -- with the addition of Glenn Dorsey is already ahead of ours. They'd be a lot further ahead if they hadn't traded away Jared Allen, possibly the most brilliant 4th round pick in the history of their franchise.