Denver Broncos 2016 mock Draft 1.0

Well Broncos fans it's that time of year again: Draft Time! One of the most exciting times of the year.  This draft will be huge for the Broncos following their losses in free agency.  There is no denying that free agency put some big holes in the Broncos roster.  The loss of Danny Trevathan, Malik Jackson, and Brock Osweiler has many believing that the Broncos are in serious trouble.  I am not one of those people.  John Elway and the Broncos front office made the right decision in not overpaying to bring back these free agents.  Just signing one of these guys would have put the Broncos right up against the salary cap which would have made it impossible for Elway to improve the offensive line like he has this offseason.  I also don’t think that the Broncos are in as dire of a situation as some have made it seem.   They have several young players on the roster that should be able to step in and help fill the voids of the players that have left so far.  Guys like Todd Davis, Kenny Annunike, and Zaire Anderson should see an increased role next season.  This draft will also be critical for the Broncos in re-stocking a few positions that are lacking depth.  Let’s take a look at the Broncos picks and try to see what direction they might go in. 

Round 1 (31^st overall)

Robert Nkemdiche- DE Ole Miss

If Nkemdiche were to fall this far in the draft (which is very possible) I think that Elway and company would think long and hard about taking him.  Elway has shown a willingness to gamble on guys with off the field problems (Shane Ray and Bradley Roby). Nkemdiche has the kind of talent that might make the Broncos consider taking a risk on him in the first round.  He is a physical freak who could instantly be a major contributor along the defensive line.  You can think of him as a young Malik Jackson.  He is a player who is very disruptive against the run and the pass.  I envision him playing 3-4 end for the Broncos on passing downs, and then sliding inside on passing downs to give the Broncos yet another threat for getting after the passer. 

Round 2 (63^rd overall)

Dak Preskott- QB Mississippi State

This might be a bit of a reach for Preskott but you often have to reach for quarterbacks and if the Broncos fall in love with Preskott, as they are rumored to have done, don’t be one bit surprised if he ends up being the pick here.  I think they would even consider him in the first round but his recent arrest for a DUI may have affected his stock enough that he slides into the second round where the Broncos can nab him.  This is the kind of player that would be perfect for Kubiak’s offense.  Preskott is a big strong quarterback with great athletic ability that would be great in the Kubiak offense.  He still needs work as a polished passer but the good news is if the Broncos don’t feel he is ready to start as a rookie they can start Mark Sanchez for the time being.  Once Preskott cleans up his footwork and learns to work through his progressions he could be a very good NFL quarterback. The biggest positive with his game was the improvement he made in each year of his college career which bodes well for his future success.  

Round 3 (94^th overall)

Christian Westerman- G Arizona State

This would be a dream scenario for the Broncos and for Westerman as well.  Westerman is a bit undersized for an NFL offensive linemen but he has great movement skills which would make him a perfect fit for the zone blocking offense that the Broncos like to run.  At the combine he was one of the most impressive linemen in attendance, showing off both his agility and strength.  He is the type of player that could come in and compete for a starting spot from day one.  I expect the Broncos to jump all over Westerman should he be here at this spot. 

Round 3 (98^th overall)

C.J. Prosise- RB Norte Dame

Another player that could step in and make an immediate impact.  Prosise would be a great compliment to starter C.J. Anderson and should Anderson get injured he would be able to fill in as a starter.  Prosise is one of the most exciting players in the draft this year and I think he would be a real steal for the Broncos at this spot.  He has great elusiveness evidenced by his ability to break off the big play which is something that the Broncos will need with the departure of Ronnie Hillman.  He still needs work in pass protection, but he will not be an every down back for the Broncos so that is something that he can learn with time. 

Round 4 (136^th overall)

Dominique Alexander- LB Oklahoma

Alexander is a player that has a very wide range for his draft stock so there is a decent chance that he is already gone by the time the Broncos make their 4^th round selection. Should he still be available at this point, I think the Broncos will make him their selection.  They are going to need depth next year at linebacker and Alexander has the ability to be a quality starter in the NFL.  He has good instincts and is athletic enough to hold up in pass coverage which is something that Denver asks its linebackers to do often. 

Round 5 (145^th overall)

Willie Beavers- OT Western Michigan

With their pick in the 5^th round the Broncos look to the future of the tackle position.  Beavers has the ability to someday be a quality tackle in the NFL but he is still very raw at this point in his career.  He possess great size and quickness for the position but he does not have great technique at this point in time.  Given a few years to sit behind Russell Okung and learn the finer points of the position Beavers could develop into a quality left tackle someday. This could also be an important depth pick if the Broncos do plan to move Ty Sambrailo inside to guard.  

Round 6 (219^th overall)

KJ Dillon- SS West Virginia

The Broncos lost safety David Bruton in free agency which means they will be looking for depth at the safety postion.  Cue West Virginia safety KJ Dillon.  He is a bit undersized for the position but he plays much bigger than his size.  A real thumper at West Virginia Dillon would provide much needed depth at the safety position and be a special teams contributor. He actually reminds me a lot of a younger T.J. Ward, he can really hit but he is going to struggle in coverage at times.  I expect the Broncos to pick up a safety at some point in this draft even if it is not Dillon. 

Round 7 (228^th overall)

Bryce Williams- TE East Carolina

After the release of tight end Owen Daniels the Broncos will need to look for some depth at the position.  Enter Williams who is raw but very talented.  He is physically gifted, measuring in at 6’6” tall with the speed to challenge defenses vertically.  He could come in right away and be a big time red zone target for Mark Sanchez or whoever ends up being the Broncos quarterback.  He still needs a lot of work as a route runner but that is something that he can develop over time. This could be a great pickup for the Broncos especially because they can afford to be patient with Williams and wait for him to develop. 

Round 7 (236^th overall)

Derek Watt- FB Wisconsin

That’s right the Broncos bring in the younger brother of J.J. Watt to provide a true fullback.  The Broncos lacked a true fullback last year and the Kubiak offense really needs a strong lead blocker for the offense to function properly.  Enter Watt who was a do it all player at Wisconsin.  He would instantly be penciled in as the Broncos starter at fullback and blow open some holes in the running game. Another possible player that the Broncos could target here is Dan Vitale out of Northwestern who was also a do it all fullback.  

Round 7 (253^rd overall)

Tom Hackett- P Utah

Mr. Irrelevant! Maybe not if this is the last pick of the round for the Broncos.  Now make no mistake Hackett is clearly the best punter in this class and there is a good chance that he will be gone by the end of the draft but if he is still there at the end I think the Broncos will snatch him up.  Britton Colquitt has been below average the last few seasons and he is the top paid punter in the game. I expect the Broncos to bring someone in to compete with him even if it is not Hackett. 

What's wrong with Peyton Manning?

Well the Broncos enter the bye week with a perfect 6-0 record but it sure doesn't feel that way. If you didn't know their record and heard all of the recent talk you would think the Broncos were 1-5. So what is ailing the Denver Broncos? Do the offensive struggles lie solely upon the shoulders of 39 year old quarterback Peyton Manning? Most Broncos fans would say yes, absolutely Peyton has been terrible. While it is easy to blame the quarterback it isn't fair to Peyton Manning because he hasn't gotten much help from his teammates on the offensive side of the ball. Let's take a look at what's wrong with the Broncos and see what can be done to help out a struggling quarterback. 

1.) A new and young offensive line

Denver Broncos

This has been the biggest reason for Peyton Mannings struggles so far this season.  This group is almost entirely new with the exception of Louis Vasquez and they have struggled mightily. The biggest problem for this new line has been in the running game where they are struggling to create running lanes of any kind. Now this was to be expected with 4 new starters that include a rookie and a 2nd year player who is a first time starter but after 6 weeks things should have been going better. This group has really struggled getting any push up front and if you look at the stats the Broncos have had more runs for a loss or no gain than any other team in football. That is not a statistical category that you want to be leading in. Now you might ask, what does that have to do with Peyton Manning? Well the plan coming into the year was to ask Peyton to throw less and rely on good defense and a strong running game. The Broncos have the good defense part down, but the running game has been atrocious this far. To have any shot at all in the playoffs this offensive line has got to drastically improve to take some of the pressure off of Peyton Manning and the passing game. 

Denver Broncos

Speaking of the passing game I should also note just how bad this offensive line has been in pass protection as well. Through six games this year Peyton Manning has already been sacked 12 times; he was sacked 17 times in an entire season in 2014! If you watch Peyton Manning he does not trust this offensive line and he is anticipating pressure even when he has decent protection. The biggest problem for the line has been with A gap pressure (between the center and guard). Young center Matt Paradis has struggled with recognizing these blitzes up the middle and as a result Manning has had pressure in his face, which is what quarterbacks hate more than anything else. I do think that we have seen small improvements from Paradis in blitz recognition and pickup but it still seems like Peyton does not fully trust this offensive line which is leading to rushing throws which is causing a lot of inaccuracy. Against the Browns Manning had 14 throws that were off target throws which was the most in his entire career so clearly he isn't comfortable behind this new offensive line. If the Broncos want to have any chance in the playoffs they have to get this offensive line working as a team and keep Peyton Manning upright and comfortable. 

2.) Lack of cohesion with receivers

Denver Broncos

Understand that this excludes players like Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders because they have both played long enough with Manning to know where he expects them to be. The real problem here has been with Cody Latimer and to a lesser extent Jordan Norwood. Against the Browns this was especially obvious as Manning expected Norwood to stop on his route and sit in the soft spot of the zone and Norwood kept running. Had he been where Peyton expected him to be it would have been a big 3rd down conversion for the Broncos. I think that as the season progresses we will see those two get on the same page and connect more often.  Manning really needs a reliable 3rd down target (think Wes Welker) and I think that Norwood could become that guy out of the slot. The bigger concern this year has been Latimer who appears to be sitting sixth on the wide receiver depth chart. When he has gotten on the field he has not taken advantage of the opportunity. Against the Browns he ran the wrong route on a 3rd down which forced the Broncos to punt the ball away.  These kinds of mental errors are very frustrating with Latimer because he has the talent to be a great wide receiver in this league. It seems like all we hear about all offseason is how good Latimer looks in practice and so far he has yet to make any impact at all on the field.  

Another problem for this Broncos receiving corp has been the inconsistent play of receiver Demaryius Thomas, who has struggled at times to catch the ball.  Now make no mistake Thomas has been great at times this season but at others he has been unreliable. This was especially true against the Browns when he dropped several balls that would have been for big plays and kept drives alive.  When your quarterback is already struggling you need your $90 million dollar wide receiver to help him out a little bit and so far Thomas has not done that in big moments. I expect Thomas to get back on track after the bye week and make a big impact the rest of the season. Manning is going to need all of his receivers to step up and make plays for him because he can't do it all himself anymore. 

Denver Broncos

One more player that I want to focus on has been tight end Owen Daniels who has really struggled to get open this year.  Most were expecting a big season from Daniels due to the fact that Kubiak utilizes the tight end heavily in his offense and Peyton Manning has always kept his tight ends involved in the offense. So far it just hasn't worked out for Daniels who has struggled to make much of an impact at all. It looks like maybe he is a step slower than years past and he has struggled to gain separation from defenders.  This helps to explain why the offense has struggled so much in the red zone. In years past Manning would look for Julius Thomas in the red zone where he excelled because of his athleticism but Daniels has been unable to provide that same impact. I believe that the Broncos should start using more of Virgil Green especially in the red zone where I think he can have a big impact.  Most think of him as more of a blocking tight end but if you look at his combine numbers he actually put up better numbers athletically than Julius Thomas did. The Broncos need to do a better job of getting Green involved as a receiver because he can create big time match up problems for opposing defenses. 

3.) Decision Making

The third and probably most surprising problem for Peyton Maning has been his decision manning. This is never something I expected to criticize Manning for as he has one of the best football minds we have ever seen. Some of the problems can be attributed to the shortcomings of the offensive personnel around Manning, but it seems like at least once a game (usually more) I watch a play and think what in the world was he thinking there? For a quarterback whose greatest asset is now his brain he has been having major mental breakdowns several times a game.  Just look at the last two games where he has thrown a total of 5 interceptions. He really had no business throwing any of those balls and they were all real head scratchers. I think it is time for Manning to realize that he is no longer the guy who can throw the ball 50 times a game and be successful. He just no longer has the abilities physically to do that. At this point Manning is more of a game manager but it seems that he has yet to realize that himself.  He is trying to force balls and make plays that just aren't there when in reality he needs to check the ball down and cut his losses.  So far the defense has bailed him out but I can promise you that if you turn the ball over three times in a game against the Packers or Patriots you are not going to win. Mannings number one priority from this point forward has to be protecting the football and not making mistakes that hurt the football team.  If he can limit mistakes and trust in the running game then this team has a chance to be very special. 

The positives 

Denver Broncos

I know that was very doom and gloom so it's time to take a look at the glass half full approach and acknowledge that for all of their failures on offense this team is still 6-0 which is a big accomplishment in the NFL no matter who you are playing or how close the games are. Their record speaks to this teams ability to make big plays in key moments and have that never say die attitude that John Elway was looking for when he fired John Fox and brought in Kubiak. 

The defense is absolutely unbelievable and they are so fun to watch. The way they attack their opponents and creat turnovers is something that this team has been lacking for years.  The play of this defense has been fun to watch and it seems like every player is making a contribution to the greatness of the defense.  Just look at a guy like Shaq Barrett who has been an absolute monster for the Broncos this year. A year ago he was on the practice squad and was a complete unknown. The play of this defense should have Broncos fans feeling optimistic because with a defense like that they always have a chance to win. If the Broncos can get some of the aforementioned problems solved then they have a very good chance of making some noise the rest of the season. 

Week 15: Broncos vs. Chargers

Denver Broncos

Another week and another tough test for the Denver Broncos.  This week the Broncos will be playing for their fourth consecutive AFC West title.  If the Broncos are able to snag a win today they will set themselves up nicely for the playoffs and inch closer to a first round bye although they will need help to secure the number one overall seed for the third season in a row.  This week look for the Broncos to get their passing attack back on track.  For those who say Peyton Manning is done, this should be evidence that he is far from done.  I think the Broncos will get the passing game rolling today and the nice weather should be a great aid to Peyton Manning.  Now that doesn't mean that the Broncos will stop running the ball.  I think that they are still going to put an emphasis on the running game, but I think their goal in this one should be to be more efficient both running and passing the ball.  Last week the Broncos were not very efficient at either, and I expect them to work to move the ball in a more efficient manner.

Denver Broncos

One positive from last week was the running game in the red zone.  If C.J. Anderson can continue to be a threat down inside the ten yard line this offense will be tough to beat when they get down near the goal line.  The running game is very important for the Broncos going forward, because it will keep defenses honest.  Having a running game in the playoffs will make a huge difference for the Broncos because they will be able to rely less on Peyton Manning.  I love the way this team is playing football right now because they can win with a subpar game from Peyton Manning.  During the last two postseasons they have relied way to heavily on Manning and if he does not play a perfect game they struggle.  Over the last few weeks the Broncos have proven that they can win football games even when Manning is not in top form.  Running the ball and defense will be the key for the Broncos going forward, and the occasional pass from #18 sure won't hurt either.

Denver Broncos

Speaking of defense, how good have they been over the last few weeks?  The defense is finally clicking on all cylinders and they have been extremely impressive over the last several weeks.  If they can continue to play at such a high level the Broncos are going to be a very tough team to beat going forward.  One player that has finally been rewarded for his stellar play is Chris Harris.  He got a five year contract extension this week and no player is more deserving of a pay raise.  He is one of the best corners in the league and it is good that he is finally paid like a top flight corner.  It seems like every single week he is making a huge play in the football game.  Last week he made a great play near the end zone that helped seal the Broncos victory.  I expect him to make another big play this week against Philip Rivers.  Rivers is a guy that Harris has made big plays against in the past and I think we could see another big play this week.

Denver Broncos

Another player on the defensive side of the ball that has been playing at a high level lately is Malik Jackson.  It seems like he does not get the credit he deserves because guys like Von Miller and Demarcus Ware get most of the accolades along the defensive line, and deservedly so.  However, if you watch the play along the defensive line Jackson is consistently making plays wether it is stopping the running game or getting after the quarterback.  He has been a big reason for the defensive improvements lately because he adds another pass rushing threat to this defense.  I expect him to make some big plays today because he often lines up at defensive tackle.  This should give him a great opportunity to rush the passer because San Diego is very weak in the middle of the offensive line, and more specifically at the center position.  They have lost three centers for the season and it has been a real problem spot for them throughout the season.  Look for Jackson and others to look to create pressure up the middle and get right in the face of Philip Rivers.

Denver Broncos

Brandon Marshall is another Bronco defender that deserves a ton of credit for the great play of the defense over the last several weeks.  He has been a huge difference maker for the Broncos, and has helped lessen the blow of losing Danny Trevethan.  Trevethan is expected to return this week and that will give defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio lots of options at the linebacker position.  It gives him two guys that are tackling machines, and have the ability to make plays in coverage as well.  One thing that I would look for the defense to do is match up one of these guys on Antonio Gates on obvious passing downs.  Tight ends have had a field day against the Broncos defense and I think they will try a few different things today against Gates to try to slow him down.

Prediction

I think this game is going to be close and it will be a back and forth contest.  I think the winner will be decided by turnovers.  Taking care of the football will be key in this game as the teams are fairly evenly matched.  The Broncos defense has been great lately at taking the ball away, but that has been slightly negated by the offense not taking care of the football.  Look for Peyton Manning to take better care of the ball today.   Ultimately I think the Broncos defense will be the difference in this one.  They have been playing great lately, and I think that will continue today.  Look for a turnover or two that will be the deciding factor in this game.

Final Score- Denver Broncos 27, San Diego 21

Week 14: Broncos vs. Bills

Denver Broncos

Looks like we found a kicker who can actually make a 33 yard field goal.  Connor Barth was a breath of fresh air for those of us who were sick of seeing Brandon McManus miss easy field goal.  Now we have a kicker who can make the easy ones.  The only concern that I had was that his kickoffs were landing at about the five yard line on every kickoff and the Chiefs had great field position throughout the game (although they did nothing with it).  The Broncos took care of this problem by re-signing McManus so he can be the kickoff specialist.  I loved this move because kicking off is actually something that McManus did very well.  He has the fourth best touchback percentage in the NFL (75%).  I also loved this move because it came at the expense of Isiah Burse.  Nothing against Burse but he just wasn't getting the job done in the kick return game, and I was glad to see that the Broncos realized that.  He just tried to hard to make the big play every time instead of getting the yards that were there.  There were several times last week where if he had just taken what the coverage gave him he would have had ten to fifteen yards, but instead he tried to get cute and break a big one and wound up getting a couple yards.  He had the worst average punt return in the NFL, so I was glad to see that the Broncos decided to go in a different direction.  I think the Broncos may look to use Wes Welker as the punt returner now.  They had been reluctant to do so but given his reduced role in the offense they may be more willing to risk using him as  punt returner.  Omar Bolden is another player who could see some time as the punt returner.  He has done a good job returning kickoffs over the past two weeks and I wouldn't be surprised if he saw some action as the punt returner.

Denver Broncos

This week the Broncos have to continue to run the football, and it will be a tough task against a very stout Bills defense.  This week it is important to run the ball to slow down the Bills pass rushers.  They lead the league in sacks, and have three players with double digit sacks. The Bills like to get after the quarterback and force him into mistakes.  If there is one weakness to Peyton Manning's game it is that he does not do well under pressure.  The Broncos need to get C.J. Anderson rolling early to make the Bills pass rushers respect the running game.  If they fail to do so the Bills pass rushers will come after Peyton Manning and cause problems for the Broncos offense.  I have loved seeing the Broncos be so committed to the running game over the last several weeks.  If they can keep producing  like they have been this offense will be one of the most dangerous in the NFL.  One concern that I have had in regards to the running game, is the heavy usage that C.J. Anderson has seen over the last several weeks.  The Broncos need to manage his carries more so he is fresh for the postseason.  Look for the Broncos to get Juwan Thompson more carries in this one to make sure Anderson is staying fresh.  I would also expect Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman to get a few carries whenever they come back from injury in the next several weeks, but make no mistake C.J. Anderson is the starter at running back no matter who comes back from injury.

Denver Broncos

In the passing game expect big things from Demaryius Thomas once again.  He has been having a monster season and I think he will continue to have success in this one.  If the Broncos offensive line is able to give Peyton the time he needs look for the Broncos to do a lot of damage through the air.  The weakness of this Bills defense is their secondary, which is hidden because of how great the defensive line is.  Peyton Manning's ability to get rid of the ball quickly should be a big advantage in this game and I expect the Broncos to have a big game through the air.  For some reason this offense is different when they are playing at home.  In six home game the Broncos are averaging just over 35 points per game, as opposed to road game where they are averaging only 24.8 points per game.  Look for the Broncos to get rolling early and score a lot of points in this one.

Denver Broncos

Another good sign from last week was the play of the Denver defense.  They absolutely dominated the Chiefs, and they shut down Jamal Charles which is no easy task.  The biggest change I saw last week was the Broncos willingness to blitz in big moments.  For most of the season the Broncos have been very reluctant to blitz, and have had one of the lowest blitz percentage in the NFL.  Last week that all changed as the Broncos blitzed early and often and they had no problem getting to Alex Smith.  They recorded six sacks in this one and a good number of them were off of a blitz.  One player that I loved blitzing last week was T.J. Ward.  He showed the ability to get to the quarterback and he did a great job of disguising his blitz.  He is a player that I expect to see blitzing more this week as well because that is where he can be really dangerous.  Ward is not a guy that is great in coverage, but he is really good at stuffing the run and getting after the quarterback.

Denver Broncos

Another Bronco that has been really impressive over the past several weeks is Mitch Unrein.  You just can't say enough about a guy who was a huge part of the rotation last year, and this year has been inactive for a good part of the season, and when he got his chance he seized it.  He has been causing havoc in the backfield over the last few weeks since he has been active.  When you watch him he is getting off of blocks and making plays in the backfield.  It has been good to see him take advantage of his playing time and I would expect him to be active the rest of the way.  He is just another playmaker for this very talented defensive line that should continue to cause problems for opponents as the season rolls along.  I expect the defensive line to have another great game shutting down the Bills running game and then getting after our old buddy Kyle Orton.

Prediction

I think this game is going to be close for a couple of quarters because the Bills defense is talented enough to slow down the Broncos offense.  Once the Broncos offense hits a rhythm I think they will begin to pull away from the Bills who have struggled offensively this season.  I expect the Broncos defense to continue their dominance from last week.  It would be nice if this defense could put together several great performances in a row and be clicking on all cylinders entering the playoffs.

Final Score- Denver Broncos 34, Buffalo Bills 16

Week 13: Broncos vs. Chiefs

The Broncos finally found a running game! For the first time this season the Broncos were able to run the ball and not just when the defense allowed them to do so.  They ran the ball against the Dolphins when they knew the Broncos were going to run the football.  That is the biggest difference that you could see in this game.  When the Broncos went for it on 4th and 2 and popped one off for twenty yards, it was a good sign for the Broncos running game.  C.J. Anderson will get most of the credit for the improvement of the running game and deservedly so, he played great and will be the starter for the rest of the season, but enough cannot be said about the offensive line.  They have been attacked all season as the Broncos weakest link, and last week they responded with their best performance of the season.  You could see that they were physically controlling the Dolphins in the running game and the passing game.  If the line is able to maintain their level of play the Broncos offense will be one of the most dangerous and balanced offenses in the league.  Thats the good news.  The bad news is that the Broncos defense struggled to do much of anything in this one and they were consistently beaten by the Dolphins.  One of the most concerning things that I saw was the lack of a consistent pass rush.  Teams are often chipping Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware with a running back or tight end, and making it harder for those two to get to the quarterback.  The Broncos have to be able to generate pass rush in other ways, whether that is blitzing or finding another player who can consistently create pressure.  Keep a close eye on the defense this week to see how they handle the Chiefs in the passing game.

Denver Broncos

Speaking of C.J. Anderson has he been impressive or what?  The Broncos coaching staff finally gave him his shot and he has not disappointed.  He has been great both running the ball and catching the ball.  If the Broncos want to continue to be successful on offense they need to feed Anderson the ball early and often.  Running the ball also had a profound effect on the offensive line.  When the Broncos run the ball it keeps the offensive line aggressive and that is part of the reason that they looked so good last week.  The Broncos also need to stay committed to the running game this week because the Chiefs have one of the worst running games in the NFL.  They are currently ranked 26th in the NFL and they have struggled even more over the last several weeks.  The Raiders managed to run all over the Chiefs last week and I would expect the Broncos to look to do the same.  Another reason I loved the way the Broncos ran the ball is that it set up the pass so perfectly.  For the first time this season the Broncos opponent didn't know if they were going to run the ball or pass the ball.  That meant that Peyton Manning was not under constant pressure when he dropped back to pass, and Peyton looked far more comfortable in the pocket against the Dolphins.  This will be important this week as well as the Broncos face off against a Chiefs pass rush that is very formidable.  Slowing down Tamba Hali and Justin Houston just a little bit could mean the difference between a win and a loss.

Denver Broncos

I am also looking for Demaryius Thomas to continue his torrid pace in this game.  He has been unbelievable this season after a bit of a slow start.  I know he did not reach 100 yards last week but he scored three touchdowns and had ten receptions so I would say he had a pretty good game all in all.  His role will become even bigger if Julius Thomas is unable to go again this week, which is looking more and more likely.  He did not practice again this week and that is usually not a good sign for a players availability on game day.  One player that could benefit from the absence of Julius is Wes Welker who finally got a second touchdown pass last week.  The chiefs will look hard to take away Demaryius and Emmanuel Sanders which means Welker will have plenty of opportunities in this one if he can get open.  Last week he was great on third down and in short yardage situations which is how I would expect the Broncos to use him going forward.  He is not the player that he once was but he can still be a valuable contributor for this Broncos team.

Denver Broncos

One player I would like to see more of this week is Omar Bolden.  Last week he took over kick returning duties and he did a much better job than Andre Caldwell has done at any point this season.  I expect him to keep that job and as long as he continues to perform he could look to take over the punt returner job.  This is something that has been a problem all season.  Isaiah Burse is simply not that special and to be honest I don't know how he managed to secure a roster spot on this team.  Had Jordan Norwood not been injured in the preseason there is not way that Burse is on this team.  Last season we had Trindon Holliday returning punts and he had fumbling issues, but at least he provided the chance for a big play in the return game.  This year Burse has had no big returns and he has had fumbling issues as well, fumbling three times (has only lost one).  The Broncos need to find somebody who can provide decent returns and hold onto the football so Peyton Manning and the offense can at least have a chance.  The special teams have been an issue all season but hopefully things will improve now that Brandon McManus is finally gone.  How he managed to hang around this long is anybody's guess, but I suppose the 33 yard field goal miss was the straw that broke the camels back.  It will be interesting to see how Connor Barth does as the new kicker.  My only concern with him is that he did not play last year so he could be rusty but he must have impressed the Broncos in workouts as he beat out an experienced kicker in Jay Feeley.  Keep an eye on special teams this week as they just need to avoid costly mistakes, which have plagued the special teams unit all season long.

Denver Broncos

If the Broncos hope to win this game they are going to need to see some major improvements from the defense.  They struggled to stop the Dolphins last week, although I will say they made some good halftime adjustments and got big stops when they needed to in the 2nd half.  The dolphins were able to exploit the Broncos run defense, which most teams have not been able to do.  They ran a lot of zone read run in the first half and the Broncos defensive ends were getting sucked to far in and the edge was sealed, which allowed Lamar Miller to break free around the edge.  This week it is very important that they keep Jamal Charles contained, because if he breaks contain you are in for a long day.  He is one of the most dangerous runners once he hits the open field, so the Broncos have to do the best they can to force him to run in between the tackles.  Another key when facing Charles is tackling him as a unit.  He is great at making people miss, so the Broncos have to swarm the football, and gang tackle him so he is unable to use his trademark elusiveness.  I expect the Broncos defense to rebound in this game, but if they do not and they continue to struggle this will be a major concern going forward.

Prediction

This will be a hard fought game and I think the Broncos are going to struggle in this one.  The Chiefs will be playing at home during primetime with some of the loudest fans in the NFL.  I think if the Broncos struggle early they could be in for a very tough night.  They need to come out and score a few touchdowns early to take the crowd out of the game and force the Chiefs to throw the ball.  I think the Broncos should be able to win this game if they execute and avoid turnovers.  Look for a close ball game that will most likely not be decided until the fourth quarter.

Final Score- Denver Broncos 27, Kansas City Chiefs 21

Week 12: Broncos vs. Dolphins

Clearly the Denver Broncos have a lot of things that they need to work out if they have any hope of playing in Super Bowl 49.  If this team wants to be playing in February they need to start by figuring out their offensive line.  The Broncos problems begin and end with the offensive line.  For starters they have absolutely no aggression at the point of attack, and they are getting eaten alive in the running game.  There is penetration on almost every single play, and that is a big reason why the Broncos attempted a measly nine running plays.  There were many who criticized the coaching staff for the nine runs but there was little option as the running game has been shut down because of the poor play of the line.  The line is also causing serious issue in the passing game as Peyton Manning is being moved off of his spot by pressure far to often.  The biggest problem rests in the middle of the line where defenses have brought lots of pressure through the A gaps and gotten pressure right in Peyton Manning's face.  The decline in Peyton's play recently can be directly attributed to the play of the line, even when there isn't pressure he is anticipating pressure and rushing throws.  Anyway, time to move on and see what the Broncos can do against the Miami Dolphins.  

Preview

Denver Broncos

If there is one positive to take away from the game against St. Louis, it is that Emmanuel Sanders looked great once again and I think we can expect him to continue playing well.  If he wouldn't have been hurt in the game against the Rams the Broncos may have been able to stage a comeback. It sounds as if Sanders has fully recovered from the concussion that he suffered and I would expect him to have another huge game.  If the Broncos offensive line can give Manning the time that he needs I expect a huge bounce back game from the Broncos offense.  This is a group that is used to dominating the opponent, and last week they were embarrassed by the Rams.  The offensive line has said all week that things will change and they will improve as a unit. The Miami Dolphins will provide a great test for this offense, and it will be a great gauge for the Broncos to see where they stand in terms of being a Super Bowl contender.  One thing this team must improve on is running the football.  This has been a struggle for the Broncos all season, and last week was a new low for the Broncos as they ran the ball a pathetic 9 times.  The Broncos will have to show commitment to the running game in this game and in the future if they hope to make it all the way to the Super Bowl.  When Peyton Manning has a successful running game he is a far more dangerous quarterback, and the Broncos need to establish a running game to keep opposing defenses honest.  

Denver Broncos

The real key going forward is going to be the Broncos defense.  If the Broncos continue to struggle on offense they may have to count on the defense to win them a few games going forward.  This unit was assembled to be dominant and so far this season they have yet to have a truly dominating effort.  The defense needs to show the ability to dominate games so Peyton Manning and the offense do not feel like they have to go out and win the game every single week.  It would be nice if the defense could start locking down the opponents offense.  One player on the defense who has been holding up his end of the deal is Von Miller.  Miller has been phenomenal all season long and he has looked like the best player on the field.  This is great for the Broncos, and it allows them to drop men back in coverage.  The Broncos currently rank 30th in blitz percentage in the NFL which means they are getting pressure on the quarterback by only bringing four men.  So far this has worked great for the Broncos, but they need to do a better job of getting stops on third down and long.  They have struggled most of the season with getting off the field on third down, and they need to make improvements on third down going forward.  

Denver Broncos

Another player that has been impressive this season has been Derek Wolfe.  Wolfe has looked like a player worthy of being drafted in the second round, after returning to a healthy playing weight.  Last season he struggled with seizure like symptoms and other various injuries, these problems caused him to drop weight and he was not able to make an impact on the game.  Now that he is healthy and back to his playing weight he has been a much more effective player.  The Broncos defense will need more great play from players like Derek Wolfe if they are going to win games for the Broncos.  Look for players like Wolfe and Malik Jackson to continue to make plays as defenses focus more and more attention on Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware.  

Denver Broncos

Keys To Victory

If I were game planning for the Broncos in this one my number one priority is to get the running game going.  Even if they struggle to run the ball they have to continue to run the ball in order to keep the pass rush of the Dolphins honest.  This is something they failed to do last week against the Rams, and Robert Quinn came flying off the ball on every play and didn't worry one bit about the running game.  If the Broncos want to keep Peyton Manning upright in this game they have to stay committed to the running game.  Hopefully this offensive line will improve as they get more reps in the running game.  This will only be their third game playing in their current alignment.  If the play of the line doesn't improve we could see yet another shake up along the offensive line in the coming weeks.  Defensively I would take away short and intermediate routes.  Ryan Tannehill has definitely played better over the last few weeks, but a lot of his game is hitting receivers on underneath routes.  The Broncos need to take these easy throws away and make him make difficult throws down the field.  Throwing the ball deep is something that Tannehill has struggled with throughout his career and the Broncos need to force him to make the tough throws in this game.  If they can do that they may force him into some tough throws and force a few turnovers, or he may choose to hold the ball and the Broncos pass rushers can get there.  

Prediction

Last week I called for the Broncos to start slow against a tough Rams defense, and they did.  The problem was that they never found their rhythm and the offense struggled to make plays all day.  I think this week the Broncos may struggle again offensively as they are facing off against a very talented Dolphins defense.  Look for the Broncos defense to keep the Dolphins at bay until the offense starts to get rolling.  I think that because this game is at home that will be the difference in this one.  So far this season the Broncos have been a very different team at home, and this week shouldn't be any different.  I think the Broncos will bounce back this week and get back on the winning track.  The thing to keep an eye on in this game is the play of the offensive line, a good game from them will likely result in a Broncos victory.  

Final Score- Denver Broncos 31, Miami Dolphins 17

Week 11 Preview: Broncos vs. Rams

Well, the Broncos were able to go to Oakland and take care of business against the Raiders, and this week they find themselves on the road once again, as they prepare for their third straight road game.  They will face off against the St. Louis Rams who enter this game with a 3-6 record.  So this one should be an easy win right? Wrong this St. Louis team is much better than their record indicates, and if they had a serviceable quarterback they would be right in the thick of things in the NFC.  The Rams have a lot of talent, especially on the defensive line where they have three former first round picks.  This game will present a huge challenge for the Broncos offensive line that has struggled this entire season.  The Broncos are obviously worried about the offensive line, because they brought in Richie Incognito this week and considered signing him.  This shows that the Broncos are concerned about the play that they are getting on the interior of offensive line.  They obviously have no worries about Louis Vasquez or Ryan Clady, and Will Montgomery played well last week, but the play of Manny Ramirez and Orlando Franklin has become a liability.  These players are not showing the ability to stop pressure that comes in the A gap (between the guard and center) and this means there is pressure in Manning's face.  While Peyton is great at disguising these weaknesses because he gets rid of the ball in two seconds, it is also a big reason why he had five passes batted down last week.  When there is pressure up the middle it makes it harder for the quarterback to get the ball past the line of scrimmage.  It will be worth watching the interior of the offensive line today to see how they perform against a very talented Rams defensive line.  

Keys to the Game

Denver Broncos

It is hard to talk about the keys to the game without talking about another new running back for the Broncos.  It seems like the Broncos have a new running back almost every week.  In reality they are on their third starting running back of the season.  C.J. Anderson was sensational last week against the Raiders, sparking a stagnant Broncos offense, and beginning the blowout that followed.  His 51 yard catch and run is his highlight play, but what I liked seeing was the way he was running the football.  For a bigger back he shows tremendous quickness in the first ten yards and he shows the ability to fight for yards after contact.  Today is a huge opportunity for Anderson to really seize control of the starting job.  While Ronnie Hillman did look good as the starter he is not really built to be an every down kind of back.  If Anderson is able to keep his production up, look for him to remain the starter, and when Hillman comes back he would become the third down back.  As I stated earlier this game will be very important for the running game.  If the Broncos struggle to run the ball, and protect Manning do not be surprised if the Broncos think long and hard about signing Incognito.  The Broncos should look to run the ball need to establish the run early to slow down the dynamic pass rush of the Rams and make sure that Peyton Manning stays upright in this one.  

Denver Broncos

If Peyton is able to get the time that he needs look for the Broncos to have a big game through the air.  This game will be played on turf which means everyone is just a little bit faster and that could spell trouble for the Rams.  I loved what I saw last week from Julius Thomas.  He finally emerged as more than a red zone threat.  I have been saying for weeks that the Broncos need to target Julius more often in all areas of the field.  That finally happened against the Raiders, and Julius showed what a great weapon he can be when he is involved in the game plan.  Look for the Broncos to continue to use Thomas all over the field, as he presents matchup problems wherever he lines up.  This Broncos offense has continued to improve as the season has rolled along, and I think that they are every bit as good as last seasons record breaking offense.  The emergence of Emmanuel Sanders has added such an explosive dimension to the offense.  His ability to beat one on one press coverage shows why the Broncos were so excited to add him in free agency.  He has also been very impressive when he goes up to fight for a contested catch.  He has great ball skills and consistently wins 50-50 balls, which is all the more impressive given that he is only 5'11".  Look for the Broncos receivers to have another great day against the Rams as long as Peyton is well protected.  

Denver Broncos

What was more impressive last week was the play of the Broncos defense that struggled the week before against the New England Patriots.  The Broncos have shown once again that they have some secret formula for finding linebackers out of nowhere.  Brandon Marshall has been a revelation this season, and his play in the absence of Danny Trevathan has stabilized the Broncos linebacking corp.  He is currently leading the Broncos in tackles, and he has left the Broncos with a tough decision to make whenever Trevathan does make his return.  He has performed so well that the Broncos will most likely look for ways to keep both of these players on the field once Trevathan comes back from injury.  Marshall has been one of the players that has been so key in the Broncos having the #1 ranked running defense in the NFL.  One player that deserves a lot of credit for that is Terrance "Pot Roast" Knighton.  His play in the middle of the defense has been unbelievable this season, and it has allowed linebackers to have a free run to the ball carrier.  If I was John Elway I would make sure I got Pot Roast locked up long term, because he is the reason this run defense is so good.  Malik Jackson is another guy who has been playing great week in and week out, but often does not get the recognition he deserves.  I expect the Broncos defense to shut down the Rams running game early, and get to Shaun Hill early and often in this game.  

Denver Broncos

Another player that has been making plays every week for this defense is rookie corner Bradley Roby.  Last week he got another interception, that set up the C.J. Anderson 51 yard catch and run.  Roby's emergence has allowed the Broncos to move Chris Harris into the slot on obvious passing downs.  Another player that has been very impressive this season is safety Quinton Carter.  Carter is playing for the first time in almost three years, as he missed the previous two seasons with injuries.  This year he has allowed defensive coordinator, Jack Del Rio, to do a lot of creative things with the nickel package (3 corners in the game).  When the Broncos go to the nickel or dime they walk T.J. Ward up and he basically becomes a linebacker, and Carter then comes into the game at safety where he is very good in coverage against opposing tight ends, which is not a strength for Ward.  The play of these two young players has allowed the Broncos to come at the opponents offense with lots of different looks, and it gives them the versatility to deal with any look the offense may throw at them.  I expect the Broncos secondary to lock up the Rams weapons and make life very hard for quarterback Shaun Hill.  

Prediction

I do think that this one is going to be close for awhile because the Rams defense should be able to cause problems for the Broncos offense.  The Broncos may struggle to find a rhythm on offense, especially if the running game has a slow start.  I would not be surprised if this game was close at halftime, but I expect the Broncos to pull away as the game rolls along because the Rams just do not have the offensive personnel to keep up with the Broncos offense.  I think the Broncos defense will clamp down on the Rams offense and make life hard for quarterback Shaun Hill.  In the end the Broncos should come away with a victory in this one.  

Final Score- Denver Broncos 34, St. Louis Rams 13