Pre-draft Look at the 2007 Denver Broncos

I suppose you could say that the 2006 season for the Denver Broncos ended in their poor performance against the San Francisco 49ers. The Broncos needed only to win that last game to ensure another trip to the playoffs. True, the 49ers are considered a potentially dangerous team to be aware of in the future. True, they had steadily improved throughout the 2006 season behind running back Frank Gore's 1,600-yard season, but the Broncos should have played like, well, like they were fighting for their playoff lives. Instead, they turned in another mediocre performance against a mediocre team. Thus, when the wild card games kicked off, the Broncos were forced to watch from their living rooms.

Nevertheless, the 49ers game was not the Broncos' undoing. Their season ended much earlier than that. After reaching the 5-2 mark after seven games behind a stellar defensive unit, the team began to slide. Any fan worth his or her salt could have seen it coming. Behind hot-and-cold QB Jake Plummer, the offense rarely put up enough points to win. It wasn't all Plummer's fault. Once teams recognized that WR Javon Walker was Plummer's only potential target, their job of stopping the Broncos became much easier. Denver's RB duo, Tatum and Mike Bell, could hardly be considered a vital component to the offense and aging receiver, Rod Smith, could no longer get open enough to draw coverage away from Walker. This would be a tough situation for any quarterback's shoulders. Add the fact that by the second game of the season Denver fans were screaming for the highly-touted rookie QB, Jay Cutler, to take the reins of the offense, and it's easy to see why Plummer had an uphill battle. The offense consistently went three-and-out. Even the best defense will eventually crumble when it spends 75% of the game on the field. The Broncos proved no different.

Denver fans hope that the disappointment of 2006 is behind them. Owner Pat Bowlen and head coach Mike Shanahan have given them enough offseason reasons to hold on to that hope. It's still very early to tell what the team will accomplish in 2007, but it doesn't hurt to look.

The first major figure to go was defensive coordinator Larry Coyer. Coyer is a talented coach, but he failed to tweak his defensive schemes to exploit the weaknesses in his opponents. "Painful" does not describe Coyer's fear to remain aggressive when the Broncos had the lead. There was a coach that was never afraid to drop into a prevent coverage and it stifled a defense that, no matter how tired, always remained capable of the knock-out punch. Coyer is replaced by Bill Bates, a coach respected for his ability to adjust to the opponents' game plans. Bates promises to utilize Denver defensive talent in a "lights-out" approach. It should be fun to watch.

After the saddening loss of CB Darrent Williams to a shooting soon after their season ended, Denver could have been on a slippery slope. Williams was a young, talented CB that held up well playing opposite Champ Bailey. The Broncos recovered nicely, however, and immediately set out to enhance their team through the free agency market. They traded for Lions' CB Dre Bly, instantly creating the best potential corner duo in the league. Originally, Bly seemed reluctant to come to Denver, preferring to be sent to the Redskins. Nonetheless, he just recently inked a five-year deal to remain a Bronco.

The Broncos "lost" RB Tatum Bell and offensive lineman George Foster in the Bly trade. Both were promising players, but too inconsistent. To replace Bell, the Broncos acquired the Titans' Travis Henry, a durable, one-cut-and-go back that should fit well into Denver's running system. Henry will take some pressure off of Cutler, who showed signs of becoming a top QB when he replaced Plummer, now with Tampa Bay (though he claims he has retired), towards the end of the 2006 season. Denver acquired another Cutler target when it wooed Patriots' TE Daniel Graham. Graham is a well-balanced blocking and receiving TE that should make a splash in Denver's system.

The Broncos' are hoping that WR Brandon Marshall will continue his rise that began late last season to become the #2 receiver opposite Walker. Smith and newly-purchased Colt's receiver Brandon Stokely should provide Culter with reliable options if Walker and Marshall are covered well. As insurance against an injury to Cutler, Denver added veteran QB Patrick Ramsey. Ramsey will be an experienced tutor to Cutler, but has proven that he can be called upon to perform well if needed.

The defensive side of the ball hasn't changed much, which could be a problem if Denver can't find a reliable pass rush. Games seemed to hinge on the D-line last year and Shanahan knows he has to fill that need. Seatlle beat them to Falcons DE Patrick Kearney in the free agent market, but there is much speculation that he hasn't much left after 11 seasons. To help out, Denver added defensive tackle Alvin McKinley to hopefully plug the middle. Denver's safety positions could become a problem as well. John Lynch isn't getting younger and is terribly slow to recover when he gets caught out of position. Sam Brandon is a good core player, but is returning from an injury that prematurely ended his 2006 season. Dominique Foxoworth has shown that he is a viable option at safety, but is a much better nickelback.

Denver hopes that it can revive an absolutely terrible return game through the promising Quincy Morgan. Trade rumors continue to swirl around linebacker Al Wilson, but he could prove difficult to move after failing a phyical for the New York Giants. The Broncos have hinted that they want to place outside linebacker D.J. Williams on the field much more often, so look for him to move to the middles if Wilson leaves. Wilson is still a great addition to any team, but he is battered and comes with a high price tag.

Despite all of their activity in free agency, the Broncos still have visible needs, the most glaring of which is at defesive end. Fortunately, they are blessed with a 2007 draft class that is especially rich at that position. Look for the team to pursue Purdue's Anthony Spencer. An even better pick would be Nebraska's Adam Carriker, but he is a highly-regarded DE and will likely be snatched early. In the second round, the team could make a move for a good safety to bring up under Lynch's experience. Don't be surprised, however, if Shanahan bucks conventional wisdom and surprises everyone in the draft. He's done it many times before.

Overall, the Broncos should be a strong contender. Cutler has now had time to work with the starters and grow comfortable with the system. Though he didn't play many games last season, he showed remarkable ability to quickly adjust to the pro level. He is a pocket passer, however, so Denver must protect him. Their offense could be terrifying if they learn how to work together and the defense should be an opponent's nightmare. They have to compete with a San Diego team that retained most of its top players if they want to win a division, but they hope that the jarring changes in the Chargers' coaching ranks will work to a mile-high advantage. Their schedule is not as tough as last year, but they will need to take each team seriously. Okay, maybe not the Raiders.

After placing so much confidence in them last year, I hesitate to predict immediate glory for this team. Yet the Broncos have placed many of their problems, especially Plummer, behind them. All signs (and professional analysts) point to success. The team seems rejuvenated and the players and coaches sound very excited to get under way. A successful draft would greatly enhance their prospects. Regardless, they already have many opponents taking notice. Here's hoping....