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Denver may have put themselves into a little "hot water" with starting quarterback Jay Cutler but no team has been "hotter" than the Broncos this off-season.
Mike Shanahan's era at Mile High brought the franchise its only 2 Lombardi Trophies ever...but by the time Shanahan's time was done, Denver was left with no defense, an aging offensive line, and their luck at the running back position had run out. New head coach Josh McDaniels has a lot to learn about being "the guy in charge" of an NFL team, especially how to handle your star quarterback, but Denver's front office is doing their part in helping the young coach get off to a promising start.
Mike Shanahan pieced together and plugged holes on the defensive side of the football for too long in Denver. That said, it was no surprise when the "new Broncos decision-makers" opted to tackle the defensive side of the ball first this off-season. After releasing Dre Bly, Denver went out and inked 2 sure-fire safeties in Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill. Cornerback Andre Goodman's signing came shortly after and then it was time to work on the lines further up the field.
One thing Mike Shanahan was good at...trading for and signing any former Cleveland Brown's defensive lineman, something the new regime will most likely shy away from. Ex-Colts defensive end Darrell Reid was signed to give the Broncos a major pass rush off the end and defensive tackle Ronald Fields brought in to add some much needed depth to the front 4. Finishing out Denver's spending spree on the defensive side...former Cleveland Brown Andra Davis...which is probably just a coincidence.
After an era of continuous 1,000 yard rushers coming from virtually nowhere, Denver's ground game hit an all-time low last season. Gambling on Travis Henry failed to pay off and the Broncos could string together enough healthy running backs by seasons end. So what do you do when your unsure of what to expect from a FA running back in 2009? How about signing 3 of them?
The Broncos first came to terms with oft-injured Eagle Correll Buckhalter. JJ Arrington was the next signing, the deal fell apart but as of tonight...JJ Arrington is officially a Bronco for the next 4 years. Finishing out the Broncos binge on the backfield, former Jets, Raiders and Patriots runner LaMont Jordan. Each of the 3 brings a slightly different style of ground game to Mile High and when combined, if healthy, can create an interesting committee amongst themselves.
The Broncos added WR Jabbar Gaffney to their receiving corps...which looks like a better idea the more Brandon Marshall continues to get himself into legal trouble. Gaffney doesn't possess the skills of Marshall but he is reliable and had a knack for making clutch plays with New England. Finally...the Broncos solidified the back-up quarterback position by signing Chris Simms.
Even after reading all of that, shaking your fists, nodding your head, laughing at that d*ckhead Raiders fan you know...I close with the reminder that Denver even 1-upped us all on the Special Teams side of the ball. That's right, expect to see much improved long-snapping from the Broncos, following the singing of Lonnie Paxton. -AE
Mike Shanahan's era at Mile High brought the franchise its only 2 Lombardi Trophies ever...but by the time Shanahan's time was done, Denver was left with no defense, an aging offensive line, and their luck at the running back position had run out. New head coach Josh McDaniels has a lot to learn about being "the guy in charge" of an NFL team, especially how to handle your star quarterback, but Denver's front office is doing their part in helping the young coach get off to a promising start.
Mike Shanahan pieced together and plugged holes on the defensive side of the football for too long in Denver. That said, it was no surprise when the "new Broncos decision-makers" opted to tackle the defensive side of the ball first this off-season. After releasing Dre Bly, Denver went out and inked 2 sure-fire safeties in Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill. Cornerback Andre Goodman's signing came shortly after and then it was time to work on the lines further up the field.
One thing Mike Shanahan was good at...trading for and signing any former Cleveland Brown's defensive lineman, something the new regime will most likely shy away from. Ex-Colts defensive end Darrell Reid was signed to give the Broncos a major pass rush off the end and defensive tackle Ronald Fields brought in to add some much needed depth to the front 4. Finishing out Denver's spending spree on the defensive side...former Cleveland Brown Andra Davis...which is probably just a coincidence.
After an era of continuous 1,000 yard rushers coming from virtually nowhere, Denver's ground game hit an all-time low last season. Gambling on Travis Henry failed to pay off and the Broncos could string together enough healthy running backs by seasons end. So what do you do when your unsure of what to expect from a FA running back in 2009? How about signing 3 of them?
The Broncos first came to terms with oft-injured Eagle Correll Buckhalter. JJ Arrington was the next signing, the deal fell apart but as of tonight...JJ Arrington is officially a Bronco for the next 4 years. Finishing out the Broncos binge on the backfield, former Jets, Raiders and Patriots runner LaMont Jordan. Each of the 3 brings a slightly different style of ground game to Mile High and when combined, if healthy, can create an interesting committee amongst themselves.
The Broncos added WR Jabbar Gaffney to their receiving corps...which looks like a better idea the more Brandon Marshall continues to get himself into legal trouble. Gaffney doesn't possess the skills of Marshall but he is reliable and had a knack for making clutch plays with New England. Finally...the Broncos solidified the back-up quarterback position by signing Chris Simms.
Even after reading all of that, shaking your fists, nodding your head, laughing at that d*ckhead Raiders fan you know...I close with the reminder that Denver even 1-upped us all on the Special Teams side of the ball. That's right, expect to see much improved long-snapping from the Broncos, following the singing of Lonnie Paxton. -AE
