Originally Posted by
UnderArmour
I was bored so I wrote this.
Best case: The defense returns to dominant form, forcing turnovers left and right propelling the Broncos to a 13-3 or 12-4 record. The rest of the division struggles to move the ball due to Roby sliding in and the defense not losing a step with Talib in LA. Joe Woods becomes more creative in generating pressure, not that he needs to because of addition of Bradley Chubb. The adjustments of Joe Woods last year in giving up less rush yards turn out to pay dividends, as teams start to rely on their aerial game, leading to more strip sacks and INTs.
Offensively, Jake Butt develops into a stud TE, giving the Broncos the interior receiving threat they have desperately needed. With the middle freed up, Demaryius Thomas goes off for a career year. Case Keenum has plenty of time to make his progressions, because Garrett Bolles and Leary have the left side absolutely anchored down. With an actual offensive line, Devontae Booker has a 1200 yard season at the head of the RBBC the Broncos have utilized. Freeman and Sutton turn out to be great draft picks, being effective role players in their rookie years.
Special teams: Isiah McKenzie is cut at final cuts, and is picked up by the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders put him out there in week 2 with the game tied late in the 4th quarter, and Isiah McKenzie does what he does best—fumble the football. Thanks to a short field, Case Keenum is able to run the clock down so that McManus can nail the game winner. Punter King turns out to be a stud worth every penny, giving the Broncos an edge in the field position battle all year long.
Best case verdict range: 9-7 to 15-1
Worst case: The Broncos continue to be a dominant team—every Wednesday practice, this football team is on absolute fire. Vance Joseph has them making plays left and right, performing amazing on Wednesdays. Unfortunately, Sundays tell another story. The team continues its struggles from last year. The team sorely lacks leadership, and Vance Joseph tries absolutely everything he can but shows that he has no business coaching a team. Just like last year, Vance Joseph tries everything--he benches a struggling Case Keenum for Paxton Lynch after an 0-3 start riddled with turnovers, and then Paxton continues to perform with the same lack of accuracy as last year, leading the Broncos to 0-5. Elway steps in, putting Vance Joseph out of his misery, but the damage has been done. Defensively, the Broncos are solid in the YPG category, statistically stopping opponents, but not forcing turnovers or getting themselves off the field.
Isiah McKenzie is back. He starts the year off hot, with 3 touchdowns in the first 2 games. Unfortunately, the fumbles continue as well. Although McKenzie shows electrifying return talent with his early season touchdown spree, he has a stretch of 5 fumbles in 3 games, including one late in the fourth quarter leading to a week 2 loss at home to the Raiders.
Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders show major signs of aging, and the Broncos continue to struggle to find an interior receiving option. Jake Butt turns out to be a wasted pick, and the rest of the TE room continues to be a bunch of scrubs. Carlos Henderson turns out to be a bust, with a few drive killing drops when he actually does get in the game.
Defensively, Roby is no substitute for Talib and gets burned left and right by opposing #1 receivers. In a week 2 match-up against Amari Cooper, Roby gets beat badly twice—for 50 and 60 yard scores. The rest of the secondary fares no better, especially with a sudden decline of Darian Stewart. Parks and Simmons turn out to be non-factors, Wolfe gets hurt again, and Gotsis/Walker turn out to be duds. The defense absolutely collapses, with Von Miller and Chris Harris turning out to be the only decent players on that side of the football.
Worst case verdict range: 6-10 to 0-16