seeing Robert Ayers (their number 1 pick) against our O-line. Also, it should be fun seeing our linebackers match up against Knowshon Moreno.

can we? i doubt it. the jungle will be loud that day

i think we kill them

Not only do i fallow the Bengals with a passion, i can really name you at least 25-35 players on each team along with a rough scouting report on that player. So believe me their D-Line is not too good. Now i did hear that Ayers is going to play DE in the 3-4 so that may make it interesting. But they dont have a True NT, and are holding competition for the other DE spot.

Thier O-Line is Good though. Clady is one of the Best LTs in football. Ryan Harris is a guy i like. They may lack toughness on inside runs and power runs. But they Pass protect well and run their Zone blocking to perfection.

But overall, Kyle Orton is their QB, Marshall wants out, and the D is terrible. They have Champ, and Dawkins. And i like like their TEs. But they dont have the personel to run a 3-4 defense.

The Bengals are a better overall team, but the best team dosnt always win. But i like our chances

O-line: big edge Denver
receivers: big edge Cincinnati
running game: big edge Denver (due to zone blocking scheme managed expertly by the o-line, so pretty much any back can look very good)
QB: wash. Palmer has a much better arm, if he’s back to pre-injury form. Big if. Orton was the best QB the Bears have had in my lifetime (since 1974), but that’s not saying a lot. He’s smart, makes very few mistakes, but doesn’t have a big arm. If Palmer is completely healthy and back to form, fairly big edge Cincinnati. If he’s not, it’s even or maybe even an edge to Denver.
FB/TE: big edge Denver

Overall offense: slight edge Denver

D-line: slight edge Cincinnati. Denver’s line sucks, but so does ours.
Linebackers: slight edge Cincinnati. Neither team has a particularly good group, but the Bengals LBs have better upside/potential.
CBs: slight edge Denver. Bailey is one of the best, but CJ has made him look like a bumbling fool in the past. Hall and Joseph are pretty decent, but neither has remotely approached the level of domination Bailey is capable of.
Safeties: slight edge Cincinnati. Like the linebackers, neither team has a very good group.

Overall defense: slight edge Cincinnati

K: big edge Cincinnati
P: wash, neither team has an experienced punter, last I checked.
returners: big edge Denver
suicide squad: moderate edge Denver (Kilmer’s long gone. Herana-Daze Jones, the best kick coverage guy the Bengals have had since Kilmer, is now in Denver)

Overall special teams: slight edge Denver

Overall: slight edge Denver

Didn’t factor coaching in, would be hard to do with the Broncos rookie coach.

The Bengals chances depend on how well the o-line plays together and whether the defense holds up. I think the chances are fairly good, but don’t overlook Orton. He’s not much of a downgrade from Cutler, maybe even an upgrade. For all the fanfare, Cutler’s numbers are almost identical to Brian Griese’s numbers when he was the starter, only Cutler had a much better o-line and much weaker division rivals. Orton has a weak arm, but he’s very smart and very rarely makes mistakes.

Here’s an interesting read (from MHR) about McD, and Orton.

As any casual sports fan knows by now, Cutler was dealt to the Chicago Bears in exchange for Kyle Orton and three draft picks.

Orton has been named the starting quarterback by head coach Josh McDaniels, as expected, and will continue to compete for the job this offseason with free agent signee Chris Simms.

For the Broncos, Orton will be expected to run Josh McDaniels’ complex but effective offense that relies heavily on the pass. In his time with the New England Patriots, McDaniels was able to orchestrate the unquestioned best offense the NFL has ever seen in 2007, and followed up in 2008 by turning Matt Cassel into a $14 million man.

Bronco fans have good reason to believe he can have repeat success in Denver with Orton, especially with the talent he has around him.

Not only does the change of scenery and upgrade in arsenal help Orton, but the fifth year quarterback will be a free agent at the end of the 2009 season, and he does not want to be looking for a backup job when that time comes.

Here is a look at Orton’s 2008 statistics and a projection of his numbers with the Broncos:

2008 season: Comp Att Yds Cmp% YPA TD INT SACK RAT

                    272 465 2,972 58.5 6.39 18 12 27 79.6

2009 PROJ: 330 550 3,850 60.0 7.00 24 14 14 ~82.0

I fully expect Orton to have the best season of his career with the Broncos. In Chicago, he was not used properly, and the Bears relied far too much on the run to win games. In Denver, I fully believe he will throw around 30-35 passes per game and get every receiver involved.

I think it’s not wise to underestimate this new coach. However, he has a group of players who don’t know his style of complex offense and it may take them more time than preseason to get it down. The fact we play them first is a very good thing. It could mean some good picks and other turnovers for our hungry D that wants to prove they can compete.

http://www.milehighreport.com/2009/7/7/941416/broncos-2009-preview-through-the

Denver was downright awful against the Run last year. Are inexperienced O-Line has an opportunity to get comfortable together if we serve up a steady dose of Benson. (same for Week 2 in Green Bay)

I don’t care if McDaniels is bringing a Belichekian 3-4 Defense to Denver. Shanahan has been drafting/stocking up 4-3 players for years. Jarvis Moss and Robert Ayers are D-Ends for a 4-3, that can’t play LB.

The Bengals need to exploit Denver’s fragile Front-7 early and often with a power ground attack.

Rivers and Maualuga will smash Knowshon’s face in.

Nice idea with the Fanpost UpStateMike.

im driving through pittsburgh right now. it sucks haha

While scanning Mile High Stadium, one post that stuck out was about the Denver Safety Group.

http://www.milehighreport.com/2009/7/19/954599/inside-the-broncos-roster-the

Inside the Broncos’ Roster: The Strong Safeties
 by Sayre111589 on Jul 19, 2009 5:37 PM EDT 7 comments, 7 new

 

As it was explained in my previous article about the free safeties, the Broncos’ group of safeties as a whole just may have been the worst in team history.

There was not an ounce of passion, poor tackling, and a complete lack of effort on the part of Denver’s safety group in 2008.

The unit head coach Josh McDaniels has put together for 2009 seems to be the polar opposite of that, and may be the deepest group of safeties on paper that the Broncos have had in a very, very long while.

That depth appears to be most prevalent at the strong safety position, where the Broncos made their biggest splash in the free agent signing period by signing future Hall of Fame selection Brian Dawkins from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Dawkins joins a Broncos team that has had a storied history of successful safeties including Steve Atwater, Dennis Smith, and John Lynch.

One of the most decorated safeties in NFL history, the 13 year veteran has played in seven Pro Bowls, which is fourth most among any player at his position. He has also been selected four times by the Associated Press as a first team All-Pro.

He has started 182 games in his career, and has played in 183 overall including 18 post-season contests which are both Philadelphia Eagles’ records.

Over his career, Dawkins has recorded 898 tackles, 153 passes defensed, 34 interceptions, 33 fumbles forced, and 21 sacks.

Last year, he completed one of the most prosperous seasons statistically that he has ever had, finishing with 75 tackles, six fumbles forced, three sacks, and an interception.

Sure, Dawkins is not the “speedster” he once was, but he is undoubtedly an upgrade over Marquand Manuel at the strong safety position for the Broncos.

I don’t know what the impact of this trade for a great vet will be in regard to Game #1, but it seems noteworthy that they have Champ and Dawkins, older and slower yes, but unquestionabally very savvy safeties that can teach their young hires about the position.