Greetings from MileHighReport - A few good questions with the Broncos Blogger

I’m not John (OP), but I’ll give my input on this:

On Sunday, I would expect Kyle Orton to start. He’s got some stitches in his right index finger as you probably know, but he’s going to work this week on throwing with those in place. Chris Simms has been taking snaps so far in practice again, which is good considering he suffered a high ankle sprain in Seattle. As for Tom Brandstater, he has looked really good in the preseason. He made a lot of “rookie mistakes” in his first outing, and came back the next week and fixed them. He’s got a ton of poise in the pocket, and his confidence and positivity on the field resonates to the players and coaches. However, he’s not ready yet. He’s still got a long way to go, but I believe Tom B is the future quarterback for our team.

As for Sunday, expect the depth chart to stay the same as it is now. Orton may wear a glove to protect his sutures, but ultimately, Simms might get the go ahead to start.

In April, and even now, we had a lot of concerns regarding our linebacking group. I even wrote a piece prior to the draft explaining my personal opinions on why Rey should have been drafted to us. I thought they would scoop him up when they traded up, myself.

We traded next year’s Broncos’ 1st round pick for Alphonso Smith.
We traded our two 3rd round picks this year for a second (Quinn) and a 4th.

I never thought about Maulauga because A. Smith was announced as the pick at the same time.

I was not surprised Maulauga dropped out of the 1st round. He’s a dynamic but at times overenthusiastic player.

I thought we were going for Brace too.

The Broncos never had a realistic and financially responsible shot at Raji. We could have taken Brace, but we already had Ron Fields on the team. In retrospect we did not need a NT because we already had one. We also picked up a very promising CFA in Chris Baker. I like him every bit as much and maybe more than Raji and Brace so far.

Doom is poetry and power in motion. Vastly underrated, he is short enough to get around larger LT’s and has exceptionally long arms for his body and so can surprise blockers with his reach. He has gone against one of the best, if not the best, LT’s in the Broncos’ own Ryan Clady. He made Orlando Pace looked like a peewee league player in the Chicago game. No offense, but Doom will smoke Whit.

In order to fully absorb the national media spin on the Broncos, you’d have to conclude that Josh MacDaniels somehow worked all these years in order to have the opportunity to destroy a franchise. It doesn’t add up.

McD has done some unconventional things. He eschewed the drafting for need concept that seems to enveloped the rest of the NFL. He puts a high value on character and on-field competitiveness, rather than looking at physical tools alone. He doesn’t believe an individual transcends the team. Some might say he’s long overdue, some might not. Only time will tell.

The real reason that Josh MacDaniels is so maligned is because of his pedigree, and the fact that he despises the media more than they despise him and does nothing to hide his disdain. He would be learning that you don’t pick fights with people who buy ink or airtime by the barrell, except he really doesn’t seem to care.

The Broncos will be prepared and fired up. MHR is disgusted with the MSM coverage of the off-season Broncos and I think it is a safe assumption that the team is similarly disgusted and ready to prove themselves. The coaching staff is VERY experienced. It is a mistake to only look at McDaniel’s lack of head coaching experience. Our DC is Mike Nolan who was previously HC for the 49’s and one of the most respected DC’s in the NFL. We also added Nunnelly, formerly of the Chargers.

DOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(just practicing for the game thread).

On Defense, we added 3 Veteran and proven players in our secondary. Its funny how people think Dawkins was great last year but suddenly a year later, he becomes old. We added Hill and Goodman as well. We recently added Vonnie Holliday to bulk up our d line and we have a capable NT in Ronnie Fields. Doom, Moss, And Ayers have so much potential and anyone of them can break out this year I like our LB with pro bowler DJ, Reid, and davis. On offense, we added a pro bowl talent RB in moreno as wel as retaining hillis and adding capable backs in buckhalter and jordan. Orton runs great in a system and can do well if given the right tools. He has the right tools in our o line as it is in the top 5 in the league with 3 pro bowl talents in there o line. They have tremendous depth at TE and Wr even without bmarsh. Royal is pure money. Stokely is a nice slot man. Gaffney knows the system. We have some playmakers in mckinly and lloyd as well………..Id say weve improved vastly

Great question, Dealio. I’m Zo, rabid Bronco fan, and I don’t possess the writing skills of our fearless leader TSG (John Bena), but I think I can answer your question.
As many know, our D was historically bad last year. I would say that was an understatement. Over-pursuit, out of position, 10-yd cushions on 3rd and 5…just awful. During this offseason, our team set out to remedy this by cutting the deadweight (DC Slowik, Dre Bly, Nate Webster, Dewayne Robertson, ALL the Safeties), bringing in DC Nolan, along with the best position coaches from around the division (DL-Nunnely, LB-Martindale, ST-Priefer), and switching the alignment to a 5-2 ( http://www.milehighreport.com/2009/9/2/1010580/mhr-university-the-denver-broncos ).
This preseason showed our D has improved in a plethora of ways, from sound tackling to QB pressure, and still needed refinement in other areas, like turnovers and LB pass coverage. But after 3 years of decline, our D looked like an actual NFL-caliber D.
Oh, and we got DAWKINS!!!

The national press has had a field day despising the Broncos’ defense, draft, etc. ad nauseum. What they overlook is that it is almost completely different from last year. The team dismissed 3/4 of last year’s starters, brought in experienced veterans and added talented rookies (a 1st rounder, 3 second rounders, plus a real gem through UDFA in Chris Baker). The preseason indicates that scheme, personnel and attitude are all vastly improved over last year.

What I’ve learned through the great writers as MHR is what exactly the spread is, and why it’s used. I believe they will use a shotgun formation more often than not. It helps guys with mobility issues (such as Kyle Orton). I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a 50/50 mixture of shotgun and under center type plays this year. However, I think the basis of McDaniels’ spread system is based on the shotgun formation. It makes it very hard for teams to stack up in the box and blitz successfully.

The key to the success of our system is 100% execution. The receivers and quarterback need to have their timing perfect. This is the big difference between our offense last year and the offense this year. Last year, Cutler would take the snap, and in my opinion, he relied a lot on the receivers speed and vertical game. If the spread offense is run correctly with us, the downhill speed of a receiver isn’t that much of an issue.

One huge aspect of our offense this year is fundamentals in ball control. It’s all about having the perfect mixture of run vs. pass. It really helps having receivers like Stokley and Marshall that can spread the field vertically, leaving some room in the secondary for short passes and run situations. Also, expect the screens and bubble plays to be a large part of the system, but not all of it. Contrary to what we’ve seen in preseason, the short passing game isn’t the focal point of this offense. It’s our running game that will win us games this year. Kyle Orton is essentially the point guard.

Someone with more knowledge of the spread we’re using would be able to answer further.

The 2009 Denver Broncos will feature what has been termed the “Ameoba”-style offense. Have any ideas what that means? No? Good.
Our O will attempt to exploit what ever the opposition has a weakness in. Can’t cover more than 2 WR’s? Have some 4 WR sets. Can’t stop the inside run? Say hello to KnoMo and the Rumblin Redneck. Have trouble covering the flats? Healthy doses of HB and WR screens are the order of the day. Basically, our O is going to find a weakness, and dig our finger in that open wound until the opposition passes out. This team is equipped with the tools in every facet, from the running game (Moreno, Hillis, Buckhalter), Tight Ends (Graham, Scheffler), Wide Receivers (Marshall, Royal, Stokely, Gaffney, Lloyd, McKinley), and the Continental Divide (Clady, Hamilton, Weigmann, Kuper, Harris), and will have one of the brightest offensive coaches of the past decade calling the shots in Coach McDaniels.
Be prepared to watch your nickelback get targeted for a majority of the game.
Good Luck!

We really don’t know what offense the Broncos will run. Coach McDaniels has stated that every game will have its own unique game plan. The preseason was pretty vanilla. The best answer I can offer right now is that I honestly do not know. One game may be pass heavy, the next run heavy, but overall I think we will see a reasonably balanced scheme of attack.

NFL games typically feature a lot of passing in the first half as each team strives to achieve a lead. The team with the lead will then typically run the ball more in the second half to control the clock and preserve their lead. However, I think you will see a healthy dose of our new 1st round pick Knowshon Moreno running the ball in the 1st half.

Stokley may lack the big stats…but he is Mr. Clutch. He is our go-to guy when we really need to make something happen. I assure you he is still one of the best slot WRs in the league.

Gaffney is indeed hurt and I do not think he’ll play in this game.

It’s amazing how many teams claim the ‘deepest WR corps in the league’…and they’re all convinced of it. Of course they’re all wrong ‘cause Denver clearly has the ’deepest WR corps’. lol.

But seriously, Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Brandon Stokley, Jabar Gaffney (once healthy), Brandon Lloyd, and an impressive looking rook named Kenny McKinley (South Carolina HC Steve Spurrier said McKinley was the best WR he’s coached)? Not too shabby.

In terms of defensive positions, 10 out of 11 are different than last year’s starters (Bailey being the only holdover).

I think most Broncos fans would blame a horrendous defensive scheme for much of our defensive woes last year. We have completely changed our scheme and brought in Mike Nolan, who may not have made a great HC but is an excellent DC. I don’t think we’ll struggle in run defense or pass rush as in past years; however, I think our LBs pass coverage is now a weakness. If this defensive unit is not significantly improved I’ll be very surprised.

Our offensive line is one of the best in football, only giving up 6.5 sacks last season, and according to Football Outsiders was the best run blocking offensive line in the NFL.

The major question mark is obviously at QB. I’d actually be very surprised if Orton doesn’t start. Some of you clearly don’t think too highly of Orton; however, I don’t think he was set up to be successful in Chicago (bad offensive line, poor scheme, and lack of talent around him) and will prove to be a much better QB than people think. He ran a very similar offense to McD’s at Purdue and was quite successful in it. Regardless of who is playing at QB…the Broncos are not in a position where they need the QB to be the hero and win the game for them. He’s just got to manage the game, limit mistakes, and get the ball to the playmakers.

I think people have bought into all the drama and negativity surronding the Broncos this offseason and are overlooking a team that may be considerably better than most people seem to expect. Or maybe they won’t be. ;-)

I would like to refute a few of your observations, though. I also thought I heard that Andre Caldwell was on IR, but I could be mistaken. If so, my apologies.
Now, would the 5’ 9" Smith man up with 6’ 5" Chris Henry? Probably not, but I’m not the coach. My guess would be that Andre Goodman would move to the nickelback, and Smith would cover Coles, who stands about 5’ 10". Oh, and Marshall? Well, we’ll just have to see whats what there. Personally, I think we will see BM take the field Wk 1, and be BM.
I know most of you haven’t paid any mind to the Broncos actual preseason games this year, but our D might surprise you. Great penetration up front, Doom making the transition to OLB well, and our secondary will be solid. There is work to be done still, but anything is better than last yr, right?
I’ll give you one name to look out for on Sunday…Chris Baker. Ronnie Fields has been solid, but Mount Baker is a monster-to-be, if you will. A ton of potential, and damn near a ton of man.

I would say that our run game should be just as lethal as ever. I predicate this on the retainment of the “masterminds behind the MasterMind.”
Let me explain;
Mike Shanahan deserves the credit he is given, but the zone-blocking, 1 cut & go rushing attack has been in the hands of two of the best position coaches in the League, RB coach Bobby Turner and OL coach Rick Dennison. After Shanahan was ‘terminated’, and Josh McDaniels was hired, Denver proceeded to clean house. The only real constant was the retainment of Turner and Dennison, and then we FINALLY used a 1st-rounder on a RB.
With all those variables, I personally feel like this year’s rushing attack can rival what Clinton Portis did before we traded him. KnoMo is a rook, but its common knowledge that rookie RBs usually have the easiest transition to the pros. I do feel confident that our rushing attack will be just fine.

what film were they breaking down? if it was from the preseason, then i have to wonder their definition of “struggled to prevent long drives by their opponents.” last i checked, the bengals d allowed about one long drive per game this preseason. if that’s struggling, then i’d really like to see success.

1. Don’t all teams try and prevent the big play on defense?

Maybe that’s how the patriots do it? Man, I wish we would have thought of that last year. Prevent the big play. Man, I’ll make sure I email that to Josh McDaniels. He probably hasn’t thought to tell his defense that.