Month: April 2016

Thin Air’s Operations During The 2016 NFL Draft

With the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft only two days away, it’s time to give a heads up on a few things that will be going on.

  • On Thursday morning, I will likely start an open thread for the draft in general, in which we can comment on all aspects for the entire weekend, Broncos-involved or not.
  • If the Broncos select in the first round on Thursday, I will start a thread dedicated to this player in which we can collect data and discuss his prospects going forward.
  • I will be unable to watch the draft on Friday, as I’ll be attending an important fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County.  (On that note, if you’re looking to make a charitable donation somewhere, in either money or time, getting in contact with your local Boys & Girls Club is highly recommended.  David Bruton would approve.)
  • Therefore, I will be asking for another member of the community to start a thread for each player the Broncos select in the second and third rounds.  For the sake of uniformity, I will ask that whoever volunteers uses the following format for the thread title: [pick]: [player name], [position], [college].  As an example from my mock draft, it would go like this: #31: Jonathan Bullard, DE, Florida.
  • I should be around on Saturday to handle the 4th through 7th rounds, but my time may be split between this site and in adding all the new rookies in on Over The Cap.  I have programmed a new function that I hope will make the addition of the rookies quicker than usual, so my time won’t be eaten up too much.

The excitement for several new Broncos rookies builds!

A THR-Influenced 2016 Broncos Mock Draft

I’ve commented very little on the incoming college talent in the 2016 NFL Draft.  That’s because, I’ve expressed here before, I’m not good at breaking down film in order to be an acceptable judge of talent.  Thus, I’ve come to rely on those who are good at it to help me figure out how the Broncos and other teams end up doing after draft weekend is over.

The one site that I’ve found the most helpful since 2004 is The Huddle Report.  Unless you’ve seen me mention it in comments here, you probably haven’t heard of it.  It’s not a fancy site, in either style or substance.  But in 13 draft seasons, I’ve found that it’s helped put me on the right track more often than the wrong track. Continue reading A THR-Influenced 2016 Broncos Mock Draft

The Broncos’ History In Early Sunday Games

Yesterday, Football Outsiders published an interesting piece by Brian Stonelake making the case that NFL teams in the Western United States struggle when they have to play on the road in the early slot on Sunday afternoons.  He argues that due to the slow adjustment of the circadian rhythm, teams that play at a time where their bodies feel like it’s the morning perform worse against teams that do not.

Since Stonelake’s study implicates the Broncos, and I’m familiar enough with their history, I thought I would break down their performance in early Sunday games to see how they have fared.  This is of particular current interest since the Broncos are going to have four early Sunday games in 2016 (Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Tennessee, and New Orleans).

Continue reading The Broncos’ History In Early Sunday Games

A Mock Draft For You To Mock (Or Not)

So after two blockbuster trades for the top two picks in the NFL draft, and the unlikelihood that anybody is going to trade up the board prior to the draft, I have rolled out my 2016 NFL mock draft.

This mock draft isn’t necessarily what I would do if I was running each team, but what seems likely to happen given their biggest needs or particular moves those teams have made.

I also project draft day trades. I don’t look at value charts, but simply consider what teams are likely to need to part ways with to move up a few spots. I also consider which teams are most likely to want to move down and gain picks, and which teams I could see trading up to pursue a player they like.

So let the fun and your debates begin.
Continue reading A Mock Draft For You To Mock (Or Not)