Denver Broncos Team Needs - 2008 NFL Draft
June 8, 2008
The Broncos have been burnt in free-agency recently with many big-money investments not panning out. The Broncos draft selections haven’t been any better as only LB D.J. Williams remains on the team out of 28 players chosen from 2002-04. The Broncos will likely stay away from the free-agency market this season, and focus more on the 2008 NFL Draft to fill their team needs. Javon Walker is gone to the Raiders to free up some cap room, but some more contract restructures need to be performed with the likes of CB Dre’ Bly and RB Travis Henry, among others. The past two draft classes have some long-term potential, but the Broncos have won just one postseason game in the last 10 years and will be coming off Mike Shanahan’s second losing season in his 13 years coaching Denver.
2008 Denver Broncos NFL Draft Needs:
1.) Defensive Tackle
The Broncos really like ‘07 fourth-round pick Marcus Thomas in the middle, but his presence alone is not enough to be able to stop opposing rushers from having big games this year. Sam Adams and Amon Gordon, both starters in ‘07, were cut during the season for their lackluster performance. Veteran Alvin McKinley was serviceable. But the fact is that there has to be a major upgrade in this position if new defensive coordinator Bob Slowik hopes to protect his linebackers. Denver has much pass-rushing promise on the outside, but the deficiencies on the interior cannot go ignored in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
2.) Linebacker
Denver’s linebacking corps looked out of position under defensive coordinator Jim Bates last season. WLB Ian Gold had a down year and could hit the road. SLB Nate Webster is considered replaceable. Some folks in Denver believe D.J. Williams is better suited for the weak side than in the middle. Such a move would create the need for a run-stuffing middle linebacker, but still upgrades on the outside are a necessity either way.
3.) Safety
Eight-time Pro Bowler John Lynch could decide to retire and this position would move up the list of Broncos team needs heading into the season. Age and lack of play-making skills from Lynch are apparent and either way they need to build this position for the future. Nick Ferguson is 33 and lost his starting job last season. Once-promising backups Curome Cox and Sam Brandon were also cut during the season last year. With the height and athleticism of opposing WR’s in the AFC West, a need for more size at this position is a certainty. It’s possible that CB Domonique Foxworth could be shifted over full-time after playing a little safety at the end of the ‘07 season.
4.) Offensive Line
OG Ben Hamilton and C Tom Nalen went down in the preseason and Week 5 respectively, but the depth at offensive lined held up pretty well for what they had left to work with. Injury history and age are not on Nalen’s side, and OLT Matt Lepsis abruptly retired after the season, leaving rookie Ryan Harris to fill the void. There are no real standouts among the rest, so adding depth on the O-line is a must through the 2008 NFL Draft. The Broncos will be looking for guys that understand zone blocking angles with strength and size being of little importance as always.
5.) Defensive End
The Broncos did spend first and second round picks on Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder respectively last April. And starting DE Elvis Dumervil made a name for himself with 12.5 sacks in ‘07, but Denver’s struggles against the run can’t all be pinning on their DT and LB positions. The loss of veteran Ebenezer Ekuban to a preseason Achilles injury turned out to leave a bigger void than expected. Look for the Broncos to try and pick up more of a run-stopping defensive end in the later rounds of the 2008 NFL Draft.
2008 NFL Draft Prospects to fit Offensive Scheme:
Denver’s use of small, quick and athletic offensive linemen has been copied over the years. These types of linemen fit perfectly into their zone blocking scheme and the Broncos have had no problem finding the downhill RB’s to compliment it. Two-TE sets are common, but they’ve moved to more three-WR alignments in the last few seasons. WR Malcolm Kelly of Oklahoma would be a good fit to replace Javon Walker. RB Kevin Smith of South Florida, OG Mackenzy Bernadeau of Bently (Mass.), C Steve Justice of Wake, RB Allen Patrick of Oklahoma and OG Kerry Brown of Appalachian State would work into the Broncos mold of what they want to do on offense.
2008 NFL Draft Prospects to fit Defensive Scheme:
Jim Bates’ system never succeeded in Denver, leaving DB coach Bob Slowik to pick up the pieces. Expect to see more of a LB presence near the line of scrimmage to improve its woeful run defense. More blitzing is a necessity with the secondary using man coverage from its corners and two-deep zone from its safeties. MLB Curtis Lofton of Oklahoma is the ideal linebacker they are searching for in the 2008 NFL Draft. LB Keith Rivers of USC, SS Kenny Phillips of Miami, FL, DT Marcus Harrison of Arkansas, DRE Tommy Blake of TCU and SS Nathan Lyles of Virginia have the game-types that will fit the Broncos defensive scheme under Slowik this season.