Month: May 2016

Jason Elam, John Lynch and Simon Fletcher Elected To Broncos Ring Of Fame

Comparing 2015 to 2016, a best and worst case perspective

I’ve seen a lot of discussion lately about how the 2016 Broncos compare to the 2015 Broncos.  I thought I’d write a piece that takes a systematic view at each position group, and provides a best and worst case scenario.  I feel this is the best approach this time of year, and factors in the views of the homers and the pessimists.  At the end I provide a summary of the upside and risk of each position group.

Since 2016 injuries will be unpredictable, I’m comparing to a healthy 2015 team with the exception of Clady and Heuerman, who did not even make it to training camp last year.  I did factor in declining play among older veterans, and to a lesser extent, players whose play seemed affected by nagging injuries.  Additionally, I did not list injuries in every “worst case” scenario, although injuries could obviously create worse scenarios than I laid out here.

I tried to look at each group individually, even though their success is greatly intertwined.  For instance, if the O-line struggles, the running backs and QBs will not look good.  On the contrary, if the running game is strong, troubles by the passing game could be masked.

QB

Best case: Sanchez has a career year, fixing his turnover problem.  He does everything the Broncos ask him to do, is able to step up and be a leader, throw more when needed, and control the offense.  He uses the play action beautifully, and pulls out a couple heroic comeback wins.  Lynch looks good in preseason and when he comes in for mop up duty.

Worst case: Sanchez struggles and continues to throw picks.  He does not command the offense, and Lynch is thrust into the spotlight early.  Lynch is in over his head and struggles as much as Sanchez was.  Meanwhile, Brent tears it up Houston.  This is a dark scenario.

Continue reading Comparing 2015 to 2016, a best and worst case perspective

The General Feeling Of The NFL Divisions, May 2016 Edition

With the draft now well in the books, there’s been a lot of scattered discussion about which teams are on the rise and fall in each division in the NFL.  I’m sure most of us will want to save our official predictions until just before the regular season, but in the meantime I thought I’d just put up a quick thread for us to share those opinions in one place in the comments for future reference.

Biomechanical Reviews Part 2

Paxton Lynch and Mile High Stadium

Feb 2, 2014.  John Elway looks out over a familiar scene.  Streams of green and yellow confetti obscure the scoreboard, which reads 43-8. Elway’s former AFC West patsies slowly jog off the field, meeting instead the inward flickering vortex of press and fans.  Elway is thinking of Dan Reeves.

If someone asked you to name the single biggest advantage possessed by the Denver Broncos, not just this season but every season, what would you name? I’ll bet John Elway could tell you- it’s in the name of the stadium.  The Broncos play a minimum of 8 home games a year at 5280 feet.  The next highest altitude for an NFL stadium is 1,070 feet, at the University of Phoenix Stadium, in Glendale AZ.   

This is an enormous advantage: to train at altitude, and have your opponents train 4000+ feet below you.  

Dan Reeves didn’t get it.  Mike Shanahan understood.

Elway just didn’t have time to put the pieces in place.  Having already hired Alex Gibbs away from the Seahawks in Spring 2013, Elway had to watch the blocking scheme he made famous- the one Alex Gibbs and Mike Shanahan co-created in 1995 and the one that Elway ran to perfection, winning Superbowls in 1998 and 1999- conquer his own Peyton Manning-led creation.

But he had already seen the writing on the wall.  Alex Gibbs was already in the building.

Continue reading Biomechanical Reviews Part 2