Up To Speed- Denver Broncos

LAST SEASON
The Broncos got off to a nice 7-2 start last year. There were pretty obvious problems though. The defense , which went from Week 2 to Week 6 without giving up more than 7 points in a game, started to show vulnerabilities, especially against the pass, due primarily to the inability to put any kind of pressure on opposing QBs. The running game, which for years had been able to make superstars out of the Olandis Garys and Mike Andersons of the world, wasn't able to do the same for Tatum and Mike Bell, who were just OK.

These issues were concerning, but a more urgent matter was that quarterback Jake Plummer was playing terribly. He finished 2006 with a 68.8 passer rating, which is understandable given that he spent most of the season looking over his shoulder at rookie Commodore Jay Cutler instead of at the mediocre receiving corps he was supposed to be throwing to. Eventually, Mike Shanahan gave in to deliciousness and benched his old, grizzled, grizzly veteran for the dewy, nubile rookie Cutler. Cutler didn't play badly, and in fact played much better than Plummer, but by then the defense had completely disintegrated, leading to 4 consecutive losses. The Broncos rebounded to win in Weeks 15 and 16, and needed only to win a home game against a 49er tea that had lost 4 of 5. It seemed like a slam dunk, but the Broncos dropped the game in overtime before their incredulous fans, and missed the playoffs.

OFFSEASON
It's been a tragic offseason for the Broncos, one which has seen the unfathomable catastrophe of having two of their players die in off the field accidents. Given that awfulness, the Broncos still had to shore up a defense which very quickly and unexpectedly fell apart at the end of last season. By signing former Lions CB Dre Bly to bookend the brilliant Champ Bailey, it can pretty much be guaranteed that the Broncos won't be ranking 21st in the league in pass defense this year. To help ensure this, the Broncos spent both their first and second round draft choices on defensive ends. The hope is that Florida's Jarvis Moss, and Texas' Tim Crowder can step in and boost a pass rush that didn't scare anyone in 06. Leading tackler Al Wilson was released, and the Broncos will fill that position from within, promoting LB Nate Webster to fill the Mike spot.

On offense, the Broncos will bring back pretty much the same group they had at the end of last year. Cutler will be the starter from Day 1. His group of receivers is uninspiring. Javon Walker led the team with 1084 yards, but after him, Rod Smith is old and Brandon Marshall is unproven. The Broncos signed former Raven and Colt Brandon Stokley in a half-hearted attempt to give Cutler someone to throw to, and also inked deposed New England TE Daniel Graham, who lost his job to Benjamin Watson last year.

Finally, Travis Henry will be the 2007 model running back. Henry looked like he was going to fade quietly into oblivion after back to back 300 yard seasons sandwiched around a substance use suspension, but last year he returned to the form he displayed in 02 and 03 in Buffalo, posting over 1200 rushing yards. The line he runs behind this year will be slightly altered, as guard Cooper Carlisle signed with the rival Raiders.

I don't know much about football, but I can say with some degree of confidence that the Broncos are clearly the second best team in the AFC West. The Chargers are drowning in talent, so the Broncos are not on their level, but the Chiefs are re-building and the Raiders are a primordial soup right now, so they are also clearly better than those 2 teams. So that means second place, and a possible wild card berth, which would lead to a probable first round exit. Now you are up to speed on the Broncos.