Denver Broncos 08-09 Season Forecast
Players from the Mile High City have often had a major impact on Fantasy Football. Elway was a stud for years and the Bronco’s are a running back ATM. One of their RB’s seemingly comes from out of nowhere every season.
From Terrell Davis (392 C 2008 YD 21 TD 25 R 217 YD 2 TD in ‘98) to Orlandis Gary to Mike Anderson to Clinton Portis to Reuben Droughns to Mike or Tatum Bell, the Bronco’s produce Fantasy Championship caliber RB’s.
Coaching: Mike Shanahan returns for his 14th season as the Head Coach of the Bronco’s. That’s the second longest current tenure behind Fisher with the Titans (15). With the Broncos, it all starts with Shanahan who is also the teams Executive VP of Football Operations. During his tenure the Bronco’s have put up stunning offensive statistics. In that time the Bronco’s have rushed for more yards than any team in the NFL (29,131 TYD 140 YPG) and totaled the most overall yards (74,727 TYD 359 YPG). Shanahan lead teams consistently put points on the board as is evident by their 74-4 record when scoring 30 or more points including being 4-0 in the postseason. His 138 wins are the most by any Head Coach over the past 13 seasons. He is the only Coach to ever win seven playoff games over two years (’97/’98). Not surprisingly, Rick Dennison also enters his 14th season with the Bronco’s. This will be his third season as the Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach. Prior to the ‘06 season, Dennison coached the offensive line (’01-’05), special teams (’97-’00) and offensive assistant (’95-”96). Bob Slowik enters his 4th season with the Broncos and his 2nd as Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs coach. Slowik has bounced around the NFL during his 17 seasons as a coach but seems to have found a home in Denver. From ‘01-’03 while coaching Green Bay’s defensive backs they lead the NFL in takeaways with 116.
Stats Slant: It doesn’t get much more solid than this group of talented coaches.
Quarterback: Jay Cutler enters his third season (1st round 11th overall ‘06 NFL Draft) and his second season as the undisputed starting QB in Denver. In ‘07 Culter started all 16 games and put up decent numbers (467 A 322 C 3497 PY 20 TD 14 INT and 44 R 205 YD 1 TD). Cutler was diagnosed with having Type I Diabetes in March of this year. This has some people concerned, but not Jay himself, as it’s a life long but very manageable disease. Hopefully Culter has a new Doctor because it’s been with him for a while and went undetected for far too long. With his weight back up to 230 Cutlers accuracy and overall numbers will improve in ‘08. Cutler has not lost a fumble in his pro career.
Stats Slant: Cutler will lead the second run on QB’s and should go off the board at the end of the 6th or early in the 7th round. He will reward the owner who selects him as we see him on the verge of a breakout season.
Running Back: One never knows what RB Coach Shanahan will pull out of the hat and entering the ‘08 season, nothing has changed. The Broncos found another undrafted RB in Selvin Young in ‘06 (6 starts 140 R 729 YD 1 TD 35 R 231 YD 0 TD) He has bulked up from last year and was the #1 RB for the Broncos in mini camp. Shanahan has been impressed with his new size and conditioning and may be softening his current 15-carry-per-game-man opinion of Young. That remains to be seen though. Young thinks he has worked hard enough, deserves to start and that he can handle the pounding that goes with being an every down back in the NFL. Behind Young is the recently acquired Michael Pittman, second year man Andre Hall and rookie Ryan Torain (5th round 139th overall ‘07 NFL Draft).
Stats Slant: This is a bit of mess and how it all shakes out is anyone’s guess. Shanahan always seems to do something other than the obvious. Ankle, foot and knee injuries hampered Torain’s senior season at Arizona State and his stock plummeted. That being said, he has been declared 100% healthy and should end up as the starter at some point. Based on mini camp though, Young is the starter and should be added as a 3rd RB and should go off the board late in the 6th round. Though Pittman is said to be ahead of him, get Torain as the
handcuff or avoid this situation all together.
Wide Receiver: Brandon Marshall (get this: 6′4″ and 230) enters his third season with the Broncos. Javon Walker was tabbed to be the top receiver for Denver in ‘07 but he ended up mostly injured and a total bust. He has departed for Oakland with a stop over in Vegas and his career is a mess. Marshall meanwhile had a breakout season (102 R 1,325 YD 7 TD O FL). This guy has WR speed and a TE body and that’s a lethal combination. This is another NFL player, the list seems endless, who can’t stay out of trouble. He is facing a DUI trial (16/09/08) and has a misdemeanor battery charge (06/3/08) hanging over his head. The surgery required to mend a severed vein, nerve, artery, and five muscle tendons, (injuries sustained while wrestling with his brother) appears to be 100% successful. Marshall showed up at mini camp and was catching balls with no ill effects from the surgeries. Brandon Stokely will return to the slot position (40 C 635 YD 5 TD). The Broncos were busy on in the free agent market in the off-season though all their moves appear to be quick fixes. Darrell Jackson, after a bust year in SF, (46 R 497 YD 3 TD) hopes he can resurrect his career in Denver’s version of the west coast style offense (more run heavy). He is only 29 and had 1,100+ YD seasons back to back in ‘03/’04 with Seattle. Keary Colbert comes over from Carolina and is hoping to finally live up to draft day expectations (USC ‘04 RD 2 62nd). Samie Parker comes over from the Chiefs and like DJ signed a one-year deal (Clobert signed for 3). The Broncos also selected Eddie Royal (’08 Va Tech RD 2 42nd) Royal will see time on Special Teams but will have limited playing time in his rookie season.
Stats Slant: If Marshall wasn’t in so much legal trouble he would be a top 10 pick at receiver. If he is convicted on either of the charges he’s facing he will most certainly miss some time with an NFL imposed suspension. The DUI trial will go forward as it has already been adjourned once. It will take place after Week Two. Everything going on with this guy has dropped him back to a top 15 WR and he should go off the board high in the 7th RD. At this time, there is no way of knowing who will start opposite of Marshall but Jackson has the inside track.
Tight End: Daniel Graham came over from the Patriots at the start of the ‘07 season and was a disappointment for the Broncos (24 R 246 YD 2 TD). An ankle injury basically shut him down after Week 15. His recent arrest (suspicion of criminal mischief and harassment involving his girlfriend) did not result in any charges being filed. Tony Scheffler (’06 RD 2 61st) appears to be fully recovered from the foot injury that limited him in the first four weeks of ‘07. Despite not catching a ball in the first four weeks Scheffler had decent stats (49 R 549 YD 5 TD)
Stats Slant: Scheffler is a top 15 TE who could move into the top 10 if his foot is healthy. He is a low end #1 or high end #2 TE prospect. Graham should not be considered an option unless Scheffler isn’t healthy.
Place Kicker: The Jason Elam (ATL) era is over in Denver after 15 years and the kicking situation in Denver could be the worst in the league. Journeyman PK Matt Prater is going to be challenged by undrafted rookie Garrett Hartley as the starter.
Stats Slant: ‘08 will mark the first year in many that a Denver PK will not be selected as a top 5 PK across the board. Avoid this situation.
Defense/Special Teams: Denver’s DF/ST were a huge disappointment last season after scoring just three TD and a mere 14 INT. Not good when you consider the talent in their secondary. They did bring in Boss Bailey and Niko Koutouvides to help at linebacker but this group has shown nothing to indicate it will be improved in ‘08.
Stats Slant: At best, consider them as a bye week replacement if your starting defense is off the week the Broncos play Miami in Week 9.
Red Flag: Injuries, overall health, careers trying to be resurrected and legal problems all pose quandaries for owners considering every Denver player.
Keep a pre-season eye on: The battle at RB will be heated and as is always the case with Shanahan, the #1 RB will probably not be determined until after the four preseason games. Even then it could change by the 10 minute mark of the first regular season game. Also keep an eye on who emerges as the go to #2 WR. We will keep you posted!
Stats Sleeper: Rian Torain and Eddie Royal
2008 Strength Of Schedule: 13th out of 32
Last word: The Broncos will score and post major yardage stats. That’s just the way it is in Denver under Shanahan. Try to determine, as best you can, how all the Red Flags shake out and we will keep you posted as the season draws near.
Up Next: Detroit Lions On Deck: Green Bay Packers In The Hole: Houston Texans
Photo Source:http://www.daylife.com/photo/04lC2lVdGC9Mj/