2009 Denver Broncos Team Awards

It has been a roller coaster ride of a season for the Denver Broncos, as cliche’ as it may sound. After starting 6-0, the Broncos were sky-high heading into their bye week. They had just gone on the road and beaten the San Diego Chargers, and were ahead in the division by 3.5 games.

Little did they know that history has a nasty habit of repeating itself.

Coming back from their bye week, the Broncos were absolutely crushed by the Baltimore Ravens, and a team that won six straight games to start the season has suddenly lost seven of its last nine.

The Broncos are on the outside looking in at the AFC playoff picture, and they need a win this weekend plus a little bit of help to get themselves to a place they have not been since the 2005 AFC Championship game.

Despite the inconsistency from the Denver Broncos as a unit, this team has achieved more than most anyone this past offseason could have ever anticipated. Many thought the Broncos would vie for the top pick in the 2010 NFL Draft after trading away former quarterback Jay Cutler, firing Mike Shanahan, and having a disgruntled superstar wide receiver.

The Broncos have served crow on a platter all season long, though lately they seem like the team many of those critics thought they would be.

Denver is one win and a little help away from a postseason birth, and here are some of the great players who have helped get them there.

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One Last Chance: Denver Needs Win against Chiefs To Sneak Into Postseason

After a 6-0 start, Denver Broncos fans certainly did not envision this scenario for their beloved team—win against the Chiefs in week 17 and maybe, just maybe you will sneak into the postseason.

For the second consecutive season, the Broncos have blown a three game lead over division rival San Diego for the AFC West title, and for the second straight year, the Broncos are arguably the most inconsistent team in the NFL.

One week, they will beat a team like San Diego on the road, and another week, they will lose at home to the lowly Oakland Raiders.

The Broncos have had their chances this season, no doubt about it.  It is foolish in the NFL to play the “what if?” game, but Denver could easily have locked up a playoff spot already.

If only they had not been the first team to lose to a threeinterception game by Peyton Manning and the Colts. 

If only they had been able to score from two yards out at home late in the fourth quarter against the Raiders. 

If only they had capitalized on golden offensive opportunities against the Philadelphia Eagles.

If only.

The Broncos have missed ample opportunities to clinch a postseason spot, and they have not taken advantage.  A team that once played like the best in the NFL now looks like the team that every analyst and critic thought they would be before the season started.

But they still have one more shot.

The Broncos can erase the bad taste of these last nine games (of which they have lost seven) if they can beat the Kansas City Chiefs at Invesco Field at Mile High on Sunday afternoon.  They will not know whether or not they are destined for the postseason until late Sunday night following the conclusion of the Cincinnati/New York Jets game, one that is critical for the Bengals to win if Denver is to have any shot at the playoffs.

The Broncos have quite a few scenarios in which to clinch a playoff spot on Sunday, as both wild-card spots are up for grabs. 

In the early contests, the Broncos are big fans of both the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins.  New England will travel to Houston to take on the Texans, and Miami plays host to the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

If New England is able to win, they will all but eliminate Houston.  If Miami Wins, they will all but eliminate the Steelers.  Pittsburgh owns the tiebreaker against Denver from their head-to-head win earlier this season.

In the later games, the Broncos need to take care of their own business first and foremost and get rid of the Kansas City Chiefs, who are having an absolutely dreadful season.

Ironically enough, the Broncos also have to be huge Oakland Raiders fans, as the hated division rivals need to upset Baltimore in order for one of Denver’s potential scenarios to come true.  Here are the Broncos’ clinching scenarios:

Broncos clinch playoff berth with

DEN win +

1) NYJ loss + losses by BAL or PIT, OR

2) NYJ loss + HOU win, OR

3) BAL loss + PIT loss or HOU win.

Broncos can clinch berth with DEN loss and any combination of losses by

1) PIT + BAL + HOU + JAC, OR

2) PIT + BAL + HOU + NYJ, OR

3) PIT + BAL + JAC + NYJ, OR

4) PIT + HOU + JAC + NYJ, OR

5) MIA + NYJ + BAL + HOU + JAC.

It is not going to be easy for the Broncos, but the postseason is something they have seemingly been jinxed from for five years, ever since Darrent Williams died.  Denver can erase a lot of bad memories and make plenty of great ones with a victory on Sunday.

And of course, a little bit of help.

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Denver Broncos Sign Miami Dolphins Practice Squad Punter Britton Colquitt

Unhappy with current punter Mitch Berger, the Denver Broncos have re-signed rookie Britton Colquitt off the Miami Dolphins‘ practice squad to their active roster.

Colquitt re-joins the Broncos having spent the offseason and preseason with the team after signing as an undrafted free agent following the 2009 NFL Draft.

Colquitt, who originally lost the punting competition in Denver to Brett Kern and was waived on Sept. 1, was a free agent during the regular season until joining the Dolphins’ practice squad on Dec. 22.

Because Colquitt was signed directly off the practice squad of another team, the Broncos must keep him on the roster for three weeks (if their season lasts that long).

Interestingly, Colquitt’s first NFL appearance could come this upcoming weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs, where his brother Dustin punts.

With seven players on the practice squad plus cornerback Will Billingsley on the practice squad injured list, the Dolphins now have one open spot to fill if they so choose.

Guard Mark Lewis, whom Colquitt replaced last week, could be re-signed, or the Dolphins could bring in an entirely new face.

Any player signed to the practice squad will likely be with the team less than a week, as all practice squad contracts expire once a team’s season ends and the Dolphins are a long shot for the postseason.

 

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Pat Bowlen Should Pull the Plug on the Broncos’ Poor Decision Making

When the pages of football history reflect back on the 2009 Denver Broncos, perhaps they still won’t have a definitive pulse on the team other than they missed the playoffs.  This is premature speculation, however, when your team goes from the driver’s seat and controlling their own destiny all season long to life support, there is much doubt about the Broncos‘ ability to make the playoffs.

In fact, following the loss at Philadelphia on Sunday, Denver is now officially on the outside looking in at any playoff possibilities.  Currently the Broncos sit at 8-7 and are probable to reach 9-7. 

The Broncos knew since midseason, when they lost to Baltimore and Pittsburgh, that they would probably need 10 wins to make the playoffs. The team was 6-0 at the bye and has since lost seven out of nine games. For an undefeated team to go in the tank so quickly is nothing short of pathetic and ridiculous.

To quote Broncos owner Pat Bowlen from this preseason, “Eight and eight isn’t going to get the job done.”

To second that motion, neither does 9-7, and sometimes 10-6 and 11-5 won’t get it done either.

Herein stands the reason to look at the mish mash of poor decisions, a poor trade, poor use of the draft, poor offensive scheming, poor use of talent available, and poor coaching at the head coaching position.

 

Poor Decision Making

With full application, here are some of the Broncos’ biggest and most obvious blunders in their decision making this season. At Baltimore why didn’t they try to stretch the field?  At home against Pittsburgh, why did they force the physical run game against a more physical defensive line? In Washington, why couldn’t Chris Simms finish the job? At home against San Diego, why was Chris Simms the starter? After two wins against the Giants and the Chiefs, the Broncos knew they would need a full effort against the Colts. So why did they spot the most dangerous team in football 21 points before showing signs of life? How could they have lost at home to the Raiders for the second year in a row?  Why another slow start in Philadelphia?

Say what you will, all of those questions are net results of bigger problems in Dove Valley that owner Pat Bowlen needs to take into further consideration.  Yes it’s true, the franchise is somewhat cash strapped by currently paying two head coaches.

Understandably, the Broncos are now in a precarious position without a franchise quarterback. They also appear at this juncture to be without a competent head coach as well.

When looking at the base of work this season, it’s no small wonder that the Broncos have hit the skids after a stellar start. What made this team dangerous early on was the defense. What has proven to be their undoing in the end will be the lack of offensive production and a worn down defense at times down the stretch.

 

The Jay Cutler Trade

It is still too early to say the Jay Cutler trade was a good thing for either Chicago or Denver. What’s not too early to say is that this trade made two mediocre teams less potent than they were the year previously on the offensive side of the ball.

For all the Jay Cutler haters, he has thrown for a league leading 26 interceptions and has been poor in his performance most of the season. However, don’t sell that situation short. Jay Cutler has possibly the worst offensive line in football and only one real offensive weapon at the tight end position to speak of.

That was not the case in Denver. Broncos fans know Jay had a multitude of weapons to choose from, though he locked on Brandon Marshall far too much. Kyle Orton set an NFL record with Brandon Marshall for total completions to one receiver in a game against the Colts recently. It doesn’t get more locked on than that and the Broncos still lost that game.

For the Jay Cutler supporters, he just out-dueled Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football in a game that seemed almost destined to be another fantastic finish by Favre. Cutler threw for 25 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in Denver in 2008 where Kyle Orton has thrown for 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Now much has been made of the fact that Orton has not thrown a large number of interceptions, which is certainly commendable, however Peyton Manning, the best quarterback in football, has 18 picks because of his willingness to take chances.

Now, those five touchdowns might not seem like a whole lot, but consider the Broncos of 2008 and 2009 and the fact that both teams have had short yardage and red zone issues. Give the Broncos Jay Cutler and those five TDs this year and you are probably looking at a team that beats Washington, Oakland, and Philadelphia, and possibly the Colts. 

People can make the case either way with Jay Cutler at this point. He is a bust or he will be good once he gets the talent he needs in Chicago.

Ironically enough, the name of Jay Cutler probably was what drew Brian Dawkins to Denver shortly before Jay was traded. Brian Dawkins has become the spiritual leader of the Broncos this season and really set the tone for this football team. It’s an area usually reserved for quarterbacks to make their mark, and that is also a large reason why Jay Cutler was traded.

Two things that will be inescapable from the trade however, is the lack of point production by the Broncos this season and the draft picks used from the Jay Cutler trade. 

 

Poor Draft Day Decision Making

Running back Knowshon Moreno has proven he belongs in the NFL, but he has not proven he was worthy of a first round pick. Additionally, linebacker Robert Ayers has yet to emerge and prove he’s worth the first round money as well.

The Broncos could have had any number of defensive players that are making their mark this season in the first round.

Josh McDaniels correctly diagnosed the multitude of issues plaguing the Broncos, most notably in the defensive backfield, yet the odd trade of a first round pick to get Alphonso Smith in the second round is still baffling when looking at the lack of production from the rookie this season.

The Broncos do have some talent from the draft in house, but as with most draft classes, it’s still far too early to make the call on how last year’s draft will shape the franchise over the long run. The fact that is clear this season is that the 2009 draft class by and large has not helped this football team this season.

The Broncos have had full draft classes make immediate impact before, dating back to the John Ralston and Dan Reeves era. So while it’s a rarity to have a full class make instant impact, it’s not acceptable to have a full draft of underachievers in their first season either.

 

Poor Offensive Scheming

This almost goes without saying. If the Broncos did not have as good of a defense as they do this season, they probably would have less touchdowns than they already do on the season, in which they have clearly under-produced on the scoreboard.

The reality is that there is a myriad of predictable playcalling, poor situational playcalling, and pathetic short yardage calls that have killed the Broncos during all of their losses this season.

The predictability of the bubble screen makes most of the fan base nauseated, so why not Coach McDaniels?

Poor situational play calling, in particular on third down, almost goes hand in hand with the lack of creativity and not using their talent base properly to their advantage. Not using Dan Graham, Tony Scheffler, the slot receivers, and Peyton Hillis more is inexcusable.

 

Speaking of the Poor Use of Talent… 

This is possibly the deepest scar on this team. When the Broncos were winning, every player was making a contribution because they were getting the opportunities to do so.  Somewhere along the way Josh McDaniels discombobulated his football team. It probably happened when he traded Jay Cutler but he solidified his paralysis by analysis shortly after his fist pumping antiques.

Without being too redundant, Josh did not stretch the Ravens defense, tried power running instead of zone blocking against the Steelers, and lacked a good evaluation of Chris Simms as a backup quarterback. Moreover, Ben Hamilton was replaced on the offensive line about the same time coach McD started warming up to using zone rushing schemes more. Hamilton has had concussion issues in the past but those have not shown themselves to be the case this season. Go figure.

 

Speaking of Poor Coaching…

This applies most particularly to Josh McDaniels and his abilities as a head coach. His tirade and trade of Jay Cutler put him on the hot seat. The fast start cooled the temperature quite a bit, but missing the playoffs this season is still inexcusable.

For someone who preaches team yet goes out of his way to rub Jay Cutler’s nose in it during press conferences while his own team hasn’t made the playoffs is inexcusable.

For a team that was finally starting to live up to expectations to suddenly go into the tank is all the more inexcusable, and it happened on Josh McDaniels’ watch.

 

What Mr. Bowlen Should Consider In the Very Near Future 

The reality is there are two coaches being paid by the franchise right now and the better one hasn’t coached a down this season. Additionally, the likes of Bill Cowher are also making themselves available now as head coaching candidates.

Josh McDaniels showed he was open to every possible option by trading Jay Cutler and trading first round picks for second to third round talent. With that in mind, if the Broncos don’t make the playoffs and make a run, despite signing Josh to a high dollar amount, he should consider new options at this position sooner rather than later.

The errors on the field are obvious and painful to watch, not to mention atrocious in nature. At the very least Josh McDaniels has proven he is not a fully competent offensive coordinator. 

With that in mind, Pat Bowlen might consider bringing in a hand picked offensive coordinator. It’s a radical concept, but Mike Leach is about to be axed from Texas Tech as the head coach and he has a solid offensive mind especially when considering the spread offense. 

On a more radical edge, and probably the better decision, is the idea of hiring a new head coach now while a good one can be attained. An even more radical thought is to kiss and make up with Mike Shanahan and find a way of bringing about reconciliation.

The defense is in place to contend now, but the offense needs fine tuning and direction from a coordinator who is aware of the pitfalls of formations and play calls.

The bottom line is that this problem isn’t going to get better; in fact, the problem has been getting worse and costing the franchise victories. So the questions to Mr. Bowlen are how many more first round selections and talent will the Broncos be trading under Josh McDaniels only to fall short? How many more losses will be enough for this franchise to pull the plug on the boy wonder?

The only thing Broncos fans should take to heart is that until the franchise finds a quarterback they can rally around with a supporting cast, it’s only going to get worse, and this season is proving that out.

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2010 NFL Mock Draft, Denver Broncos Edition: Dez Bryant to Denver Possible?

With every week the NFL draft picture becomes clearer, and unfortunately for the Denver Broncos, it seems more and more likely that it will be their next significant event, unless they get a win and some serious help this weekend.

Either way, the Broncos have lost seven of their last nine games, and in those seven losses they have exposed various areas of weakness.  So many weaknesses, in fact, that it appears they will likely trade down in the draft to stockpile picks and take advantage of a very deep draft.

If they do not trade down, I think the Broncos should look to the best player available with their first round pick.  After the Chicago Bears‘ exciting overtime win against Minnesota on Monday night, that first round pick moved back a couple of spots, but is still in the top 10.

The Broncos are almost guaranteed a top 15 draft pick, so they will wind up with a very solid player no matter what, but who could they target if they do not trade down?

With their first pick, I really think the Broncos could be hard pressed to pass on Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant . 

Do not be confused, the Broncos are still in dire need of interior offensive linemen, but Bryant is too good to pass up on at this point in the draft, and he also fits a huge hole in Denver’s offense.

Yes, you read that right.

Despite the fact that the Broncos have Brandon Marshall, one of five players in NFL history to record back to back to back 100 catch seasons, they are still in need of a playmaking number two wide receiver.  Some of you might be asking, “What about Eddie Royal?” 

Eddie Royal is a fine player and he has all of the tools to succeed in Josh McDaniels’ offense, but not as a number two guy.  Kyle Orton has clearly not gotten him the ball enough on the outside, and his services would be better used in the slot much like Wes Welker over in New England.

Enter Dez Bryant, a game-changing playmaker on the outside who would provide Kyle Orton with a second go-to guy in the passing game.  Not to mention he would make the jobs of Royal and Marshall worlds easier.  He is also a huge asset in the return game, an area the Broncos have struggled save for one game this season.

If the Broncos stick with their first round pick, I truly believe they will look to the best offensive player available, and in this case, Bryant fits the bill.  He has great size as a receiver, game-changing speed, and he would be a great fit on the opposite side of the field from Marshall.

I know many Broncos fans, including myself, are really high on Idaho guard Mike Iupati.  He would be an excellent fit in Denver’s offense at left guard, an area of Denver’s front line that has been absolutely dreadful this season.

If the Broncos don’t trade down and take him in the first round, they will probably not be able to get him, which is why I have devised an alternate option for their second round pick.

It is clear that the Broncos need help at guard, and though I think Seth Olsen could be the answer at either guard or center, there is a player available in this draft that could also be an excellent fit for the Broncos on the interior line.

UMass offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse is a very underrated prospect who could possibly fall to the Broncos in the second round, and if he does, they would be wise to jump at the opportunity to draft him.

Ducasse is still developing in terms of his overall football awareness, and his level of competition is going to seriously increase when he makes the jump to the NFL, but this is a guy who has great natural talent and at 6’5″ 330 pounds, he is an ideal fit to play guard in Denver’s system.

The Broncos have struggled to find consistency in their running game or pass protection all season long, and a lot of that can be attributed to their lack of size on the interior line.  Ducasse brings a versatile weapon who is athletic enough to play tackle if someone drafted him to do so.

He would give the Broncos a very good, young left side of their offensive line, and though he is a small downgrade from the coveted Iupati, it is not much in terms of a talent drop off and this kid has great potential to succeed at the next level.  If he falls to Denver in round two, expect him to be the pick.

If the Broncos go for two straight offensive players in rounds one and two, which I believe they should (unless some guy named Suh falls into their laps), they would be wise to address the defensive side of the ball with the third pick.

In the third round, I like the Broncos to upgrade their depth and youth at the cornerback position by drafting Vanderbilt star Myron Lewis .  I really like Lewis and had him going to Denver in my previous mock draft in the third round, and this pick has not changed.

One of the reasons I like Lewis is because of his 6’2″ 205 pound frame.  He has excellent size for the cornerback position and has very long arms.  His speed is not elite, but his size helps him make up for it.  He is an excellent open-field tackler and would give the Broncos another weapon on special teams right away.

With their fourth pick, I think the Broncos should again look to the best player available.  In that case, I think they should go for Ole Miss playmaker Dexter McCluster. 

McCluster is one of the fastest players available in this draft, and the Broncos really lack a big time speedster at the running back position.  Though his size may be in question, the Broncos should have no reservations about a smaller running back given the amount of times they have been burned by San Diego‘s Darren Sproles, who is an excellent complimentary back, receiver, and return man.

McCluster has that big play potential for the next level.  He is small in stature but he is very competitive and has blazing open field speed.  He is a versatile player who would give the Broncos a home run threat offensively.

The Broncos do not have a fifth round pick, one of the reasons they would be wise to trade down.  Waiting two rounds for a pick late is not all that bad, and I think they could look again to the best player available in the sixth round.

No change here, I still think the Broncos should look to Iowa tight end Tony Moeaki in round.  Moeaki is a very good athlete with great ball skills and reliable hands though his biggest strength is his ability to block.  He has been injury prone in his time at Iowa, but he is a great player when healthy and could be excellent value if he falls this far.  He would be a nice replacement for Tony Scheffler if he leaves for free agency.

In the seventh, I look for the Broncos to go for more depth, and they clearly need depth along the offensive line.  I think a good value pick here would be New Mexico offensive lineman Erik Cook . 

Cook has been a very versatile performer for the Lobos, playing all of tackle, guard, and center in his time there.  He would be a nice late addition for the Broncos and he has a good NFL blood line as his brother Ryan plays for the Minnesota Vikings.

Here is a recap of my Broncos mock draft:

1.  Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

2.  Vladimir Ducasse, G/T, UMass

3.  Myron Lewis, CB, Vanderbilt

4.  Dexter McCluster, RB/WR, Ole Miss

5.  Anthony Moeaki, TE, Iowa

6.  Erik Cook, G/C, New Mexico

This draft may be heavy on the offensive players, and many will argue that the Broncos need young defensive linemen.  I will quickly point to the fact that their defensive line has been one of their biggest strengths this season, though they have struggled against the run at times.

The Broncos have two players waiting in the wings that they have high hopes for in Everette Pedescleaux and Chris Baker, two undrafted players who have been developing all season under veterans Vonnie Holliday, Kenny Peterson, and Ronald Fields.

Denver may also have a need at middle linebacker, but they will probably not be picking high enough anymore to nab Rolando McClain, and their duo of Andra Davis and D.J. Williams will be just fine for another season.  Wesley Woodyard is really coming on as well as a second year pro.

Another area the Broncos might like to address is their pass rush.  Though Elvis Dumervil has been absolutely outstanding in 2009, the Broncos haven’t generated a great pass rush outside of him.  They could use a guy like McClain, Michigan’s Brandon Graham, Ole Miss’ Greg Hardy, or TCU’s Jerry Hughes early on in the draft as well, and all are options.

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Denver Broncos Collapse: I Never Wanted To Be So Wrong in All My Life

I really got annoyed with all of the doubters among Bronco fans and the dipsticks in the media saying that Denver wouldn’t win five games in 2009 going into the season. I was thinking 7-9 or 8-8, possibly a small step backward from last year. My hopes were really set on the 2010 season. After six games, I was so happy that I was wrong. The Denver Broncos were on a roll.

Well, it seems that I wasn’t wrong. One more loss this coming Sunday, which is not completely out of the realm of possibility, and the Denver Broncos will finish at .500 again.

To me, this is a complete disappointment of a season after the hot start. I mean, which team are they, the 6-0 team, or the 2-7 team from the past nine games.

Are they the team that falls behind 27-10, or are they the team that comes out with lights out defense for four or five drives while the offense rallies to tie the game? Are they the team that squashes teams like Cleveland and Kansas City or the team that loses to the likes of Oakland and Washington?

My biggest beef is that going into week 17, the Denver Broncos seem to be a team without an identity. After six games, there definitely appeared to be an identity, but after the past nine, they are bipolar at best.

So, I am honestly not even interested in writing about the playoff scenarios right now. The season has turned out to be yet another disappointment, and it would have been much easier to take if it hadn’t started with such promise.

I’m tired of seeing Knowshon Moreno get stuffed at the line of scrimmage time and time again.

I’m tired of watching Mitch Berger struggle to punt the ball 30 yards after the Broncos struggle to move the ball one or two yards on third down. (Can we please stop complaining about Peyton Hillis not being utilized? He got stuffed, too.)

I’m tired of the undisciplined style of play. This is on the players as well as Josh McDaniels. Brandon Stokley was a complete idiot for 10 seconds yesterday, and it cost him and hurt his team for three quarters of a ball game. In an earlier drive, Brian Dawkins got away with some illegal contact, so it goes both ways; there is no excuse to get up in a refs face and shake your fist at him.

What can I say? I am tired of a lot of elements of the Denver Broncos. I would like to believe and be hopeful this week, but the Denver Broncos need a lot of help. It’s too bad that they haven’t been able to help themselves these past nine games.

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Yakety Sax: Denver Broncos’ 2009 Slapstick Comedy

There’s a saying that is very popular on the World Wide Web: “Yakety Sax makes everything funny, no matter how tragic.”

For those of you who don’t know, “Yakety Sax” is the theme song to the old television comedy The Benny Hill Show.  Look it up on YouTube, listen to it, and try not to laugh.  I bet you can’t do it.

Anyway, after the Broncos lost yet another heartbreaker—this time to the Philadelphia Eagles 30-27—I pulled up Yakety Sax on my iPod while watching some highlights of the Broncos in 2009.  It fit perfectly. I couldn’t help but laugh, and laugh hard.

Think about it.  The year started off with the Broncos hiring a wonderkid from New England as head coach after firing two-time Super Bowl champion coach, Mike Shanahan.  It was the first in long line of “Yakety Sax” moments that Broncos fans had this year.

Soon after came an even stranger moment.  After getting wind that Josh McDaniels was going to trade him for Matt Cassel, then-franchise quarterback Jay Cutler demanded a one-way ticket out of town.  Here was a young, talented quarterback coming off a Pro Bowl year, and suddenly he wanted out of town.  Cutler and McDaniels continued a sort of public back-and-forth, and when Cutler decided to blow off owner Pat Bowlen, the team had had enough. Cue “Yakety Sax.”

Cutler was sent to Chicago for Kyle Orton and two first-round draft picks.  Kyle Orton was supposed to lead the Broncos to the Promised Land? Kyle “Game Manager” Orton? Once again, “Yakety Sax.” 

The team then went through the motions of training camp and the preseason.  The Broncos finished the preseason 1-3, including a loss to Cutler’s Bears at Invesco Field.  More importantly, star wideout Brandon Marshall was suspended for most of the preseason after being caught on camera acting like a child during practice.  Give me some of that sweet “Yakety Sax.”

Finally the beginning of the 2009 season arrived, and it could not have started any stranger for the Broncos.  The Broncos had fought the Bengals to a 6-0 lead when the Bengals scored late in the fourth quarter, putting them up 7-6.  With under 20 seconds to go, Kyle Orton had a pass tipped up in the air, and it looked like Cincinnati had won…until Brandon Stokley grabbed the pass out of the air and took it to the house.  If that isn’t “Yakety Sax,” I don’t know what is.

After that improbable victory, the Broncos started to roll and were 6-0 going into their bye week.  Josh McDaniels was being hailed a genius, and everyone was heaping praise upon Kyle Orton, now that he finally had talent to throw to.  Denver was 6-0, San Diego was 2-3, and it looked like Denver would have a cakewalk to the AFC West title.

Then “Yakety Sax” struck again, in a not-so-good way.

Denver got blown out by Baltimore and Pittsburgh. They lost an inexcusable game to Washington (HUGE case of “Yakety Sax”) and got blown out again by San Diego. Suddenly, the Broncos were 6-4, and the Chargers were 7-3.  The Broncos offense couldn’t score, and the defense that was highly vaunted earlier in the season couldn’t even stop the likes of Jason Campbell. 

Denver got back on track with a win at home over the New York Giants on Thanksgiving, and then by beating the lowly Chiefs a week later.  It looked like the ship was righted, and Denver was looking good for at least a wild card spot.

Then, just like a bad headache that won’t go away, “Yakety Sax” started playing again.  Denver lost in a valiant effort to the Colts (a more muted version of “Yakety Sax”), but then lost on a last-minute drive to JaMarcus Russell and the Raiders at home (that would be the MEGA mix of “Yakety Sax).

That said, the Broncos would still control their own playoff destiny, as long as they beat the Eagles in Philadelphia this past Sunday.  Again, the Broncos put up a good fight, scoring 17 unanswered points, but it wasn’t enough as Philadelphia won on a field goal with under 10 seconds remaining.

It was that “Yakety Sax” again, except this time it had a funeral march melody to it.

The Broncos are still in the hunt for the postseason, but they need to beat Kansas City this week, plus rely on other teams to fail in order to make it. They are no longer in control of their own fate—not a good thing, heading into the final week of the regular season.

It has been a “Yakety Sax” kind of season, which means anything could happen no matter how wacky or comical.

So Broncos fans, when it’s all said and done, look back at this season and laugh.  It might be a pained laugh, like when your car won’t start right after you got done slipping in the shower and before that your burnt your breakfast.

So pull up some highlights of the year and crank some of that “Yakety Sax.”  Laughter is the best medicine (or so they say), and Broncos fans could use a heavy dose right about now.

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Broncos-Eagles: Why Brian Dawkins Return to Philly Is the Smallest Story

Brian Dawkins was an absolute beast when he played for the Philadelphia Eagles—he covered well, and hit hard enough to blow up any receiver. But above anything else, Dawkins was the unquestioned leader of the Eagles on the defensive side of the ball.

He started his career in Philly, played 13 years there and was named to the Pro Bowl seven times while an Eagle. All his wonderful play led to him not only being one of the most feared safeties in the modern game, but Dawkins also became a huge fan favorite in the City of Brotherly Love (which can show their hate for the Eagles at times).

But really, B. Dawk’s return to Philly is a less significant story line among many good ones in this Christmas weekend game—most notably pending playoff positioning for both teams.

For the Eagles, a win against the Broncos and a Cowboys loss means they would clinch the NFC East and secure a Wild Card round home game. Beyond that, while the Saints (13-1) have basically sewn up home field throughout the playoffs, Philly could still take home field up to the NFC Championship game with two wins and a Minnesota loss.

For the Broncos, the game is more meaningful than that, as Denver must win both their last two games to secure a playoff spot in this year’s muddled AFC. In fact, the Broncos could actually clinch a playoff position with a win and losses by four of the 7-7 teams (JAX, MIA, NYJ, and PIT). Either way though, this game is the biggest of the season for Denver—a definite must-win if they want to make the playoffs this year.

The Broncos are coming off two tough losses in a row that have made their last two must-wins, meaning the playoffs start today if the Broncos want to still be playing in two weeks.

Of course, as the season rolls into Week 15 every team in the NFL is dealing with injuries and that includes the Eagles and Broncos.

Philly will likely be without the services of Michael Vick and safety Quintin Demps, as they are both listed as questionable. But, veteran running back/kick returner Brian Westbrook has been cleared to come back and play for the first time since Nov. 15, even though he will play in a limited role only.

For Denver, wide receiver/kick returner Eddie Royal will miss the contest due to his neck strain, and fullback Spencer Larsen is out as well. Royal has been underutilized in 2009, with only 37 receptions and zero touchdowns, but his 23.9 yards per return will definitely be missed. Fan favorite Peyton Hillis will step in for Larsen, but will still likely not see many chances in the offense since Josh McDaniels uses the fullback almost solely as a blocker.

The last huge storyline of this game is coaching, and there is a massive contrast when these two teams are compared.

The Eagles have one of the best coaches in the NFL leading their team in Andy Reid. Reid’s Eagles own 107 regular season wins with a .611 winning percentage—second best only to Bill Belichick. Reid is the commander of his team, the seasoned vet with five NFC Championship appearances, the fearless leader of a team that has no fear in him.

On the other hand, the Broncos head man is Josh McDaniels in his first year leading a team. McDaniels and Denver went 6-0 to start the season, but only 2-6 since—and most of the onus lies on coaching. In large losses to AFC opponents Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis, the offense was mediocre at best and pathetic at worst. Last week against the Raiders, McDaniels had many coaching blunders, multiple mistakes that cost the Broncos valuable points.

If Denver hopes to win this game, and if McDaniels wants to avoid his first losing season in his football life (he told Woody Paige preseason), then he’s got to be on top of his coaching game today.

All in all, the Broncos task of beating a strong NFC team in the Eagles in Philadelphia today is a tough one to say the least, but nothing is impossible in the NFL. Denver can beat the Eagles, and they must to stay afloat in the AFC playoff hunt. One thing’s for sure, all of Denver will tune in to see what happens at 2:15 MT today.  

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

On the Naughty List: Denver Broncos Collapsing Again, But…

It’s a scene that would drive any kid absolutely nuts. 

You are on your best behavior all year and yet when Christmas rolls around, there’s a big ol’ lump of coal sitting under the tree. Again.  You tried your absolute best to be a good boy or girl, yet in the end it’s the same results as previous years.

This feeling is shared by Broncos fans all over the world as the 2009 NFL regular season enters its penultimate week.  We tried our best.  We stood by our team during one of the most turbulent offseasons any franchise has endured in recent memory and it’s basically “second verse, same as the first” except this time with a different melody.

Everything is different about this Broncos team this year.  A new general manager, head coach, starting quarterback and defensive scheme. The team was expected to struggle and compete for a top ten draft pick.

The results? The team has been more competitive than expected, but lately this version of the Broncos seems eerily familiar to last year’s, except they lost the division title much earlier.  This season the Broncos stood at 8-4 and seemingly had a stranglehold on one of the two AFC wild card spots.  Life seemed great despite the Broncos struggling after a scintillating 6-0 start.

Then it started happening. Again.

The Broncos have now lost two in row, one to the undefeated Colts in which it looked like the Broncos might just pull off the upset and the other to the pathetic Oakland Raiders led by JaMarcus Russell in a last minute comeback.  I still can’t believe I just typed that last sentence. That one will hurt for a long time.

The Broncos now have quite a battle on their hands for the AFC’s final wild card spot.  It’s possible to clinch this week, but first they have a very tall order beating the Eagles in Philadelphia and then they need the Steelers, Dolphins, Jets, and Jaguars all to lose.  It’s possible as the aforementioned teams all face playoff caliber teams this week. Then again, the Broncos probably face the toughest test of all in playing the red hot Eagles. 

The point is the Broncos have no business being in this position.  Had they won the easily winnable games against the Redskins and Raiders, they’d likely have a playoff position wrapped up and could rest their key players to make a run in the postseason.  Once again with the Broncos, they have a severe case of “woulda, coulda, shoulda.”

To a Broncos fan, it’s like being stuck in the Twilight Zone.  One year ago, the team had a three game lead over the Chargers with three to go and all they needed to do was win ONE of their final three games, including one at home to the Raiders, and the AFC West would be theirs.  Again, “second verse, same as the first.”

If the team misses the postseason this year, it is highly doubtful Josh McDaniels loses his job unlike what happened to Mike Shanahan last year.  This is McDaniels’ first year trying the change the culture of an entire organization that had gotten stuck in neutral the past few years.  Overnight miracles were not expected.

Indeed, McDaniels has given Broncos fans much hope this year despite recent struggles.  Given the amount of roster turnover this season, the fact that the Broncos are currently even competing to make the postseason shows promise. 

The Broncos weren’t expected to win much more than five games and the Broncos had that matched by week five.  I’ve even told people that if the Broncos finish 8-8 I’d be content considering how bad things looked this summer.

Would it be disappointing to miss the playoffs this year after such a great start to the season? Absolutely. As Herm Edwards so eloquently put it,  “You play to win the game! You don’t play it to just play it.” It would be a darn shame to see the team miss the postseason after the season started with such promise.

Now, I have been as pessimistic in this column as I have been all year, but I still hold out hope for the future. Think about it. If McDaniels was this good this year, his first as an NFL head coach, think of how good he will be the next few seasons as he learns from his mistakes and continues to get personnel in place that fit his system. 

This team will be better next season.  I have no doubt about that.  What seemed like a multi-year rebuilding project is now just a matter of putting the pieces together.  The Broncos are much further ahead than anyone thought they would be at this point, playoffs or not.

Who knows? Maybe instead of coal yet again next year, Broncos fans will get the best kind of Christmas present, one that doesn’t arrive until February: the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Besides, you think coal is bad this year?  Think of what Jay Cutler has under his tree this year.  Use your imagination on that one.

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Denver Broncos 2010 NFL Mock Draft, Part Five: Denver Looking Offense Early?

After the Broncos‘ loss to the Oakland Raiders, several new weakness have really emerged, namely on the interior of the offensive and defensive lines.

Thanks to former Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler and the Bears, Denver is currently armed with the eighth overall pick, one that could be very attractive to teams who want to move up for an elite level prospect in a very top-heavy draft.

One candidate who could possibly be willing to trade up is the Baltimore Ravens.  Trading up would be completely out of character for the Ravens, as they usually keep their picks or trade down for more.  They consistently build their team through the draft, and often end up taking the best player available when they pick.

This season, their main target in the draft needs to be a premiere wide receiver, and they will not be able to pick one up if they stick with the 21st overall pick.  That is why they should trade up with the Denver Broncos and acquire wide receiver Dez Bryant, who could be the top receiver prospect the Ravens crave.

Here is my projected trade:

Ravens Receive

-Broncos’ first round pick (8th overall)

Broncos Receive

-Ravens’ first round pick (21st overall)

-Ravens’ second round pick (54th overall)

-Ravens’ fifth round pick (150th overall)

It may seem a bit steep for a top ten pick, but the Ravens really seem to be on the verge of being a Super Bowl contender, and an elite wide receiver prospect could vault them to where they need to be.

Meanwhile, the Broncos’ draft slate appears to be much more filled out than it previously was, looking as such:

1. 21st overall (from Baltimore)

2. 54th overall  (from Baltimore)

3. 55th overall

4. 87th overall

5. 134th overall

6. 150th overall (from Baltimore) 

7. 192nd overall

8. 242nd overall

With eight picks, the Broncos can much more easily take advantage of this very deep draft, and they need to start off by going big in the first round.

 

1.  First Round, 21st overall (from Baltimore):  Mike Iupati, Guard, Idaho

6’6″ 330 lbs.

Iupati is a very hot prospect right now.  He has very imposing size and would fill an enormous void on the interior of Denver’s offensive line at left guard. 

For a long time, I have been defending former Iowa guard/tackle and current Broncos reserve Seth Olsen as the player to be the heir apparent at left guard, but the Broncos would be wise to take Iupati and hope Olsen can be the future at the center position or added depth at tackle and guard.

Iupati is an elite level guard prospect, and the Broncos can get him for a relative bargain.  He would provide Denver with great size on the interior, and would be the fourth piece out of five in what could potentially be the most talented young offensive line in the NFL with Ryan Clady, Ryan Harris, Chris Kuper, and Iupati.

Denver has really struggled to run the ball consistently and their interior pass protection has been marginal at best, though Kyle Orton doesn’t always do the greatest job of escaping the pressure.  Iupati would greatly help Denver’s pass protection, and would give Ryan Clady the help he needs at the left tackle position to succeed.

 

2.  Second Round, 54th overall:  Demaryius Thomas, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech

6’3″ 230 pounds

This might seem a bit off the wall for Denver, who already have one of the deepest and most talented receiving cores in the NFL, but this would be a very, very smart pick.

Besides the fact that Thomas would likely be a first round pick if he had a quarterback who could get him the ball better, he fits a lot of different roles that Denver would like to have filled.

First of all, the Broncos lack a true deep threat opposite Brandon Marshall.  Certainly Eddie Royal has excellent speed, but his skills would best be used from the slot as many Denver fans anticipated.  Thomas has excellent speed, and could sneak into the first round based on his measurables alone.

Also, Thomas would take a lot of pressure off of the Broncos’ other receivers.  Though Brandon Marshall has seemingly been the only wideout on quarterback Kyle Orton’s radar all season long, another big play receiver could really free up Marshall on the opposite side and Royal in the middle.

Thomas would also be a solid developmental prospect in case Brandon Marshall bolts in a couple of years.

 

3.  Second Round, 55th overall:  Toby Gerhart, Running Back, Stanford

6’2″ 240

Not a big shocker here.  As I mentioned in the early stages of the reasoning for Mike Iupati, the Broncos have really struggled running the ball, largely due to their lack of depth (or use of it in the case of Peyton Hillis). 

While many believe Peyton Hillis is the obvious answer for the Broncos as the team’s power back, head coach Josh McDaniels has refused to use him this season for whatever reason, and he is simply being wasted.  Sadly, Hillis could be traded or released come this offseason if the team doesn’t find a better use for him, though now that he has not played much, his value may be diminished.

All of that being said, Toby Gerhart would be the perfect fit for the Broncos as a power back.  The Broncos have really struggled with short yardage plays, and the additions of Gerhart and Iupati could potentially erase those struggles.

 

4.  Third Round, 87th overall:  Myron Lewis, Cornerback, Vanderbilt

6’2″ 204

Lewis is a relatively little known prospect but he has very good measurables and has proven to be a very durable, versatile player in his football career. 

He has had nine interceptions the last two seasons, and was named second team All-SEC in 2009.  His size makes him a very attractive prospect for the next level, especially because of his ability to help in the running game as an effective tackler.

His size helps him bat down balls much more frequently than many other cornerbacks, though his speed at times is somewhat of a liability.  He is slightly faster than average and reminds me a lot of Charles Tillman of the Chicago Bears.

 

5.  Fourth Round, 134th overall:  Micah Johnson, Middle Linebacker, Kentucky

6’2″ 258 lbs.

The Broncos could very easily look to this position much earlier in the draft, but Johnson is great value here.  He is a mammoth against the run, and almost fits the exact same mold as current Denver linebacker Andra Davis.  He is not so much fast as he is quick, but he is very versatile.

Johnson is close to a liability in pass coverage, but he can stay in on passing downs to rush the passer, an area he excels in.  Some scouts believe him to be best fit as a pass rusher or strong side linebacker in the 3-4 defensive scheme.

 

6.  Fifth Round, 150th overall:  John Skelton, Quarterback, Fordham

6’5″ 258 lbs.

Skelton is a very intriguing prospect to me.  I recently found out about him, and was extremely impressed.  He is quickly becoming one of the more popular prospects in the draft, and according to other reports, the Broncos have been scouting this kid since August.

They have been watching him this whole season, and for good reason.  Skelton is a physical marvel and has all of the tools to succeed at the NFL level.  With proper coaching, which he would receive in Denver, he could wind up being one of the bigger steals in the draft.  He has great footwork, escape-ability, and good zip on short range passes.  He throws a nice deep ball and can make any and every NFL throw.

Watch for this kid on draft day, he is an intriguing prospect.

 

7.  Sixth Round, 192nd overall:  Anthony Moeaki, Tight End, Iowa

6’3″ 247 lbs.

As I have said in previous mock drafts, I think the Broncos are going to have a tough time passing on the versatility of Moeaki, especially because they could lose Tony Scheffler at the end of the season.

Moeaki has been oft-injured in his time at Iowa, but he is one of the better players to come through Iowa City this decade.  He will likely fall in the draft due to his injury plagued career, but he is an excellent blocker in addition to being a good pass receiver.

He has good vision after the catch, but his speed is average.  He could be a nice find for some team late in the draft.

 

8.  Seventh Round, 242nd overall:  Erik Cook, Offensive Lineman, New Mexico

6’6″ 315 lbs.

Cook adds quality depth and versatility to the Broncos’ offensive line.  He is a very underrated prospect who could be the sleeper to fill the Broncos’ void at center for the future.

He has experience in college at tackle, guard, and center, and could really provide the Broncos with some quality depth if injuries occur throughout the season.

 

There may be questions as to why I have not included the defensive line in this particular segment.  I believe the Broncos will address the defensive line with the deep free agent class of 2010.  The defensive lineman available in 2010 are fairly deep, though it is very heavy on the top end and it lacks a lot of true 3-4 fits other than Terrence Cody as a nose tackle.

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