Denver Broncos Draft Thread

[Nard_Dog]

I thought it would be a good idea to discuss the Broncos and what they should look for in the draft.

[Diehard]

OL - C and G both need significant upgrades. Someone who could play G and RT would be quite useful to cover off for Ryan Harris if injuries continue to be a problem.

Defense - We've got lots of decent players, but few impact guys. I could definitely see us taking a "BPA - defense" approach with our first round pick.

P - Berger is awful. Take a flyer on a young guy in the late rounds.

QB - Orton is holding the fort, but he's not the future. McD likes QB's who are smart, accurate and make good decisions. I suspect after seeing Orton's lead feet, the coach would also like someone who can actually move around in the pocket.

Receiver - could be an area of need depending on how things play out with Marshall, Stokely and McKinley.

[Nard_Dog]

Has anyone gotten a chance to watch Sean Canfield, I've heard he's a good fit for our system.

Thoughts?

[Diehard]

Has anyone gotten a chance to watch Sean Canfield, I've heard he's a good fit for our system.

Thoughts?

I haven't seen much PAC-10 this year, but I used to live in Corvallis and my football junkie friends there are very high on him.

As for fitting our system, he's definitely from the mould that McD's teams have drafted - tall, solid mechanics, decent arm, accurate, makes good reads... yeah, I think he could fit in with us.

[zachsaints52]

I could see Haden to you guys. Would be a nice addition. How much of the offensive playbook did you take from the Pats? I didn't watch much Broncos game but what I saw was shotgun pretty much it. And I also wondered why Hillis never ran it.

[Diehard]

I could see Haden to you guys. Would be a nice addition.

Yes, that would probably be fine in terms of fit and value where we are picking in the 1st.

How much of the offensive playbook did you take from the Pats? I didn't watch much Broncos game but what I saw was shotgun pretty much it.

A lot comes from the Pats. Not only the shotgun stuff, but also the kind of things NE ran before they opened up the Perkins system. Lots of 2 TE sets, screens, inside/pulls complemented by a little zone blocking.

And I also wondered why Hillis never ran it.

He got in the doghouse quickly for not knowing his assignments and making some stupid mistakes. I think he can be a solid contributor in this system (which McD also mentioned in his end-of-year presser), but he has to study hard and keep his head in the game.

[MichaelJordanEberle (sabf)]

I'd like to see us draft Taylor Mays if he's there, and if we do I promise not to hold it against Xanders if he busts. Anyway, I think him working with Dawkins would be very good for him, and after Dawkins is done I don't wanna watch a team with ****** safeties again. If he's gone, I wouldn't mind seeing Haden, I don't realistically think a guy like McClain will be there, unless he bombs the combine. After that though, interior OL is the way to go. We need depth on the DL as well, but we want to be at the stage where we need depth for the OL. We don't even have a surface on the interior.

Orton can hold down QB for at least another season or two. If only we had a dynamic young QB of the future...

[Timbathia]

I would love for McXanders to get a defensive players like McClain or Haden with the first pick and then get back into the end of the first to take Iupati (maybe through trading Marshall). Dream draft right there.

[jCut]

I am sick of seeing Bryant to the Broncos. The pick itself is fine, just getting really old.

My dream draft would be (assuming we trade Marshall) :

1 - LB Rolando McClain, Alabama
1 - OG/OT Mike Iupati, Idaho
2 - DT Terrence Cody, Alabama
3 - WR Danario Alexander, Missouri
4 - CB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Indiana (PA)
6 - DE/DT DeMarcus Granger, Oklahoma
7 - P Zoltan Mesko, Michigan

[Timbathia]

I am sick of seeing Bryant to the Broncos. The pick itself is fine, just getting really old.

My dream draft would be (assuming we trade Marshall) :

1 - LB Rolando McClain, Alabama
1 - OG/OT Mike Iupati, Idaho
2 - DT Terrence Cody, Alabama
3 - WR Danario Alexander, Missouri
4 - CB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Indiana (PA)
6 - DE/DT DeMarcus Granger, Oklahoma
7 - P Zoltan Mesko, Michigan

I am not sold taking Bryant. Just dont think WR is our biggest need right now. We need some playmakers on defense. A lot of the mocks have us taking Bryant because Haden and McClain are gone. I would prefer to trade down if that happens. We could use about 4 players between the middle of the first and end of the second.

I also dont think McDaniels will take Cody. He doesnt seem to have the personal characteristics that McD appears to look for.

[Diehard]

Any draft that has us picking up a bunch of perimeter/skill guys is a missing the mark - we need core strength on both sides of the ball: NT-DE-ILB on defense, C-OG-QB on offense.

Personally, I want 3 interior OL (including one who has the potential to play RT) in the draft unless we score a starter in FA. Our tackles are young, so it's the right time to put together a unit that will last. Consistency on the OL is underrated - keep the players and system together and success will come.

[Timbathia]

Any draft that has us picking up a bunch of perimeter/skill guys is a missing the mark - we need core strength on both sides of the ball: NT-DE-ILB on defense, C-OG-QB on offense.

Personally, I want 3 interior OL (including one who has the potential to play RT) in the draft unless we score a starter in FA. Our tackles are young, so it's the right time to put together a unit that will last. Consistency on the OL is underrated - keep the players and system together and success will come.

Exactly. Like it or not, we are stuck with an offensive game plan that relies on power running, every screen play ever invented and the occasional slant. If we cant run the ball, we may as well not even bother turning up. If the running game is firing and the o-line giving the QB time, then it isnt THAT important how good the WR is.

[jCut]

as far as qb, anyone have any thoughts? i don't really like either of them as prospects personally, but pike and bradford seem to "fit the bill" as far as what i imagine mcdaniels wants.

Most will disagree, but I really like LeFevour as a developmental guy. He would make a solid mid-round pick and is very underrated, in my opinion.

[MichaelJordanEberle (sabf)]

The fact that none of us want Dez Bryant tells me one thing: We are going to draft Dez Bryant.

I've learned that over the past few years. Think of the person you didn't want us to draft each of the last 5 years. We probably drafted him.

[Timbathia]

The fact that none of us want Dez Bryant tells me one thing: We are going to draft Dez Bryant.

I've learned that over the past few years. Think of the person you didn't want us to draft each of the last 5 years. We probably drafted him.

I am more worried that we take a DE that will not do anything special in his entire career.