Month: September 2016

Nick already shared the NFL Playoff Predictor earlier this week and I will roll out my predictions for the upcoming season, along with some thoughts about why I concluded that the teams would finish the way they would.
Continue reading A Quick NFL Season Preview

The offseason is now over.  Free agency, the draft, training camp, preseason, roster cuts…all seen clearer in the rearviewmirror.  It’s time to put all that work to the test and play some football.

So if you wish, it’s time to put your predictions on the table.  And I’ve found a handy tool to do it: the NFL Playoff Predictor.  Be forewarned that there are still some bugs in it that you may have to account for in your own writing.  However, there are three things that I like about this:

1. It allows you to pick all 256 games, forcing you to actually show how you got each team to the record you’ve predicted for them.
2. The usability is excellent: just click on winners and move on to the next week.
3. It generates a URL that you can share your prediction with easily.

So for those interested, pick the games and copy and paste your URL here before the Super Bowl champion Broncos take the field on Thursday!

Per the team, the following players have been named to the practice squad:

• C Dillon Day
• OLB Vontarrius Dora
• WR Mose Frazier
• TE Henry Kreiger-Coble
• S Ryan Murphy
• T Justin Murray
• CB Taurean Nixon
• RB/FB Juwan Thompson
• ILB Kyle Kragen (per Mike Klis)
• WR Kalif Raymond (per Mike Klis)

As always, this list is subject to more changes as further leaguewide roster churning continues.

In light of the moves today (particularly the Bibbs over Hillman move), I thought I’d take a stab at projecting who the Broncos special teams contributors might be this year.  I’ve never coached or played organized 11-11 football, so I’m probably not the most qualified to look into this niche topic.  But I’m armed with special teams snap counts from Pro Football Reference and going to give it a shot.

Continue reading A look at possible special teams contributors for the Broncos

Per the team, the final list of cuts has resulted in the following 53-player roster.  Remember that as cuts are finalized leaguewide, there may be more roster churning ahead in the next day or two, in addition to the creation of the 2016 practice squad.

• Quarterbacks (3): Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, Austin Davis
• Running backs (3): CJ Anderson, Devontae Booker, Kapri Bibbs
• Fullbacks (1): Andy Janovich
• Wide receivers: (6): Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Bennie Fowler, Cody Latimer, Jordan Norwood, Jordan Taylor
• Tight ends (3): Virgil Green, Jeff Heuerman, John Phillips
• Tackles (2): Russell Okung, Donald Stephenson
• Guards (5): Max Garcia, Ty Sambrailo, Michael Schofield, Connor McGovern, Darrion Weems
• Centers (2): Matt Paradis, James Ferentz
• Nose tackles (3): Sylvester Williams, Darius Kilgo, Kyle Peko
• Defensive ends (4): Derek Wolfe, Jared Crick, Adam Gotsis, Billy Winn
• Outside linebackers (5): Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Shane Ray, Shaquil Barrett, Dekota Watson
• Inside linebackers (4): Brandon Marshall, Todd Davis, Zaire Anderson, Corey Nelson
• Safeties (4): TJ Ward, Darian Stewart, Justin Simmons, Will Parks
• Cornerbacks (5): Chris Harris, Jr., Aqib Talib, Bradley Roby, Kayvon Webster, Lorenzo Doss
• Kicker (1): Brandon McManus
• Punter (1): Riley Dixon
• Long snapper (1): Casey Kreiter

Reserve players:

• IR: Vance Walker, Garrett Graham
• SUS: Shiloh Keo