The Broncos: I don't see it.

[Direckshun]

I really don't.

The Manning thing was a stroke of genius, if only because John Elway has the benefit of being Manning's idol. I tell you what, if I was a future Hall of Fame basketball player, and none of you know me so let's just say I am, I'd probably be more inclined to play for the Pacers under Larry Bird (favorite player of all time) than on a small market playoff team like the Memphis Grizzlies.

I think the Broncos, with that acquisition, are about to have themselves a Top 5 passing game in the NFL.

The problem is, I'm pretty sure that's all this team is.

The offensive line is not close to being fixed. Orlando Franklin has been serviceable on the right side, but is not an Eric Winston world beater at the position. And unless they move Franklin inside, their interior line is a joke. Beadles looks like he's getting another year sucking it up at RG, and it looks like JD Walton will be sucking it up at C yet again, because I honestly don't think Phillip Blake unseats him. And if he does, we'll take 680 lbs of nose tackle and shove it up right up the rook's nose.

Which would mean a ton if they had a demonic run game to threaten defenses with -- which, ding ding ding, you guessed it: it's average. Willis McGahee was running like a wildman when Tebow was under center, but they couldn't move the ball against the Chiefs bottom-third run defense late in the year. The only reinforcements they've brought in? A scatback from San Diego State, Ronnie Hillman.

I've no doubt that teams will drop eight, giving the Donks a chance to run better, but it's nothing a stout defensive line and a fast linebacker corps can't rectify.

Their defensive line continues to underwhelm me up the middle -- I like what they have coming off the edges, but I think you can run right at Dumervil and Ayers (I regard Miller as the real deal). I've never been a big DJ Williams fan, just plays too much like Derrick Johnson from the Vermeil days for me to get too excited about.

Their secondary has some talent. Bailey is an All Pro in his twilight years, and I love that safety they drafted from UCLA last year. But Porter has spent the past year or two getting his ass handed to him in New Orleans, and their rookie corner is coming off a devastating injury and is going to take a year or two to develop anyway.

The more things change, the more they stay the same... the Broncos are looking a lot now like the Colts did in the latter Manning years: all pass game with an average run game, with a shit defense apart from two passrushers.

It was a successful strategy in Indianapolis, when the run game was better. The offensive line was better. The defense was better.

And the quarterback was younger, stronger, not a year out of football, one hit away from being sidelined.

In which case, we'll either see a lanky-ass rookie with a Tebow-style delivery, or Caleb Hanie, who we beat in 2011 with Tyler Palko under center.

Sorry folks, don't see it.

San Diego or Kansas City make a ton more sense as division winners.

[Quesadilla Joe]

Originally Posted by Dave

What about it?

I'm just saying. You can't say we were a blocked field goal from winning the division when one of our wins was helped by a fumbled snap on a kneel down.

[Mile High Mania]

Wish I had time to read through all 3 pages...

There are a few thoughts here. Of all the teams and all the divisions, Peyton's most ideal spot for advancing to the playoffs appeared to be by playing in the AFCW. I don't know that too many people would argue with that one.

So, looking at the options - it's Denver or KC. And, for various reasons, he chose Denver. I'm not suggesting that he could not have advanced with another team in another division, but landing in the AFCW was ideal for him.

Denver isn't without talent... especially with some of their FA moves this offseason. Are the Broncos a B+ or greater at each position? No. But, they're also not without talent.

Denver has a lot of playmakers and yes, the defense needs to be a lot more consistent and productive than they were at times last year.

The question is can PM stay healthy... can he get back to 90% of what he used to be? If so and the OL can keep the pressure off, then they can have a lot of success. The Broncos' offense has playmakers and I love the additions of Tamme and Dreesen.

The Broncos' defense has their work cut out for them with the schedule, but the good thing is that with Manning, they can have an offense that puts up 23-30 points a game consistently. They didn't have that last year - at all.

That takes some pressure off the defense.

Are they a SB contender for 2012? I don't think so... not yet, we need to see how they adjust. The AFCW is not a cakewalk division, the other teams have all improved to some degree, but they each have their own bag of issues. None of them are solid across the board.

The AFCW is wide freaking open... all you have to do is advance. I think Manning has 2-3 good years left, if healthy... meaning for me, that 2013 is the "win it all and go out with a bang" target.

You don't go get a Peyton Manning at this point without the goal being to win a SB in short order. Can they do it? It's going to be really difficult, lots of solid teams at the top in the AFC.

I won't be shocked if Denver wins 10 games this year... I think KC and SD can get there as well, not really sold on OAK. It's going to be a fun season.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

You're right it wasn't.

The hilarious part is that people think he adds something here. Cheifsplanet was a much more productive place until we let trolls infest this place repeatedly with nonsense.

Valipass, Mile High Mania, Garcia and List bring something to the table. They know football and don't rely on bogus made up twitter ramblings to support their opinion.

I'm Mile High Mania and I approve this message.

And, regarding the other comment on Thomas... I don't think he'll be top 3 at this point, there's just too many extremely good WRs out there right now.

But, Thomas has the ability with that offense and Peyton to have a top 3 year ... I just don't think he has the ability to be a top 3 guy over his career.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Cassel>Manning

I'm just saying. You can't say we were a blocked field goal from winning the division when one of our wins was helped by a fumbled snap on a kneel down.

Shit happens.

The Broncos used cooking spray on their jerseys and cheated the cap.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by notorious

Denver played a mediocre schedule last year.

Offenses played conservative, since Denver's offense was shit. Against Manning the other teams are going to attack again.


I see them going 8-8 again.

Opposing offenses played conservative against Denver because they believed Denver's offense was a joke? That makes little sense to me. "They can't score more than 12 points consistently fellas, so we're going to take the foot off the gas this week and shoot for 15 points".

Mediocre? A few teams had issues down the stretch and CIN was a young team that proved to be better than expected.

Bengals (9 wins)
Lions (10 wins)
Jets (8 wins)
Steelers (12 wins)
Patriots (13 wins)
Bears (8 wins)
Packers (15 wins)
Titans (10 wins)

Was it a brutal schedule? Maybe not, but it was far from a joke schedule.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by Dave

Shit happens.

The Broncos used cooking spray on their jerseys and cheated the cap.

KC should try that sometime... just bewared of the commish, he's not as timid as the last guy.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Cassel>Manning

I'm just saying. You can't say we were a blocked field goal from winning the division when one of our wins was helped by a fumbled snap on a kneel down.

And one of your wins was because Marion Barber couldn't hold a football.

Same premise.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

LOL, wut?

Why does a SB team need crazy depth?

The Giants had next to no depth anywhere but DE.

Where is depth lacking on this team? The offensive line? Linebacker and offensive line are the 2 areas it's lacking if it had a QB like Manning.

You just don't know if Eric Winston is going to play well in his new environment /OTW58

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

I love this move. It gives me another reason to hate Manning while simultaneously chapping Hootie's ass.

Verdict=

WIN-WIN.

[Okie_Apparition]

Octomomsweller needs to get tinted prescription visior for his helmet

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Dave

Dude. He is terrified to show any positive emotion towards the Chiefs but he'll pimp the shit out of an average RB on a rival. LOL

Jesus Christ, some of you are flat ignorant, trolling, or both.

I'm not pimping him. I'm simply claiming he's better than most of you are giving him credit for.

Funny, considering the majority of this board does exactly the opposite of what you're claiming I'm doing. Many of you undervalue players simply because they don't have an Arrowhead on their helmet or undervalue teams because their either a rival or on the schedule - while overvaluing the players on this team, and ignoring our potential question marks.

Atlanta is a good example. Schedule came out, and the majority here said "Atlanta's crap, we'll win that game."

We very well may win that game, but Atlanta is far from crap. They've won 43 games in the 4 years under Smith/Dimitroff. Have they had playoff success? Nope.

But we're not playing them in a playoff game. Not sure what that has to do with anything.

God forbid you show some objectivity around here. Place is slowly turning into WPI.

[DomCasual]

Everyone is talking like Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker are chumps, which is silly. But let's go with it. The Broncos have also really upgraded their Tight Ends. They aren't New England's TEs, mind you. But they are going to be a real weapon, IMO.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-tr...this-offseason

Denver Broncos

Hole Filled: Tight End

Yeah, replacing Tim Tebow with Peyton Manning was probably a pretty big upgrade, too, but let's focus on some of the other work that Denver did this offseason. While Daniel Fells and Dante Rosario exhibited the bizarre ability to suddenly turn into Shannon Sharpe in his prime during the final drives of Tebow-led comebacks, they were limited as receivers and would never have flourished in a Manning-led passing attack. While they were linked to Dallas Clark as part of the great Indianapolis Immigration Act of 2012, the Broncos were smart enough to pass on the aging, injury-prone Clark and instead opt for Jacob Tamme. While Tamme is another ex-Colt, he's one of the few members of the Manning offense who isn't past his prime and might actually flourish in his new digs. Denver also made a nice investment by adding Joel Dreessen, who's consistently been an effective, efficient player behind Owen Daniels in Houston. Even if the Broncos hadn't added Manning, signing Tamme and Dreessen would have been a wise move; by doing so, the Broncos now have one of the five best one-two punches at tight end in football.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Jesus Christ, some of you are flat ignorant, trolling, or both.

I'm not pimping him. I'm simply claiming he's better than most of you are giving him credit for.

Funny, considering the majority of this board does exactly the opposite of what you're claiming I'm doing. Many of you undervalue players simply because they don't have an Arrowhead on their helmet or undervalue teams because their either a rival or on the schedule - while overvaluing the players on this team, and ignoring our potential question marks.

Atlanta is a good example. Schedule came out, and the majority here said "Atlanta's crap, we'll win that game."

We very well may win that game, but Atlanta is far from crap. They've won 43 games in the 4 years under Smith/Dimitroff. Have they had playoff success? Nope.

But we're not playing them in a playoff game. Not sure what that has to do with anything.

God forbid you show some objectivity around here. Place is slowly turning into WPI.

For the record, most people had that Atlanta game as a loss. The argument came against GoChiefs, who couldn't let go of, "ATLANTA IS GOD WE ARE DOOMED MATT RYAN WILL RAPE YOUR CHILDREN"

[Nzoner]

Originally Posted by qabbaan

I expect Manning will beat us like stepchildren this year though.

Romeo has a good history vs. Manning,he may win against KC this year but neither game will be a beatdown.

[-King-]

Jacob Tamme and Joel Dressen are good upgrades? That's kind of sad.
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