Full Denver Broncos Report Card Heading into Week 4 Bye
Heading into their Week 4 bye, the Denver Broncos (2-1) look like one of the best teams in football and easily the best team in the AFC.
The Cincinnati Bengals (3-0) certainly look like a force to be reckoned with, and the Indianapolis Colts, despite being only 1-2, look like AFC's third-best team. They've played admirably against a very tough schedule so far and compete in the AFC South, the NFL's worst division by most everyone's standards.
While there is no question that Denver is a complete team, the Broncos have their fair share of concerns. The defense, while improved from last season, still has looked very vulnerable at times. Their run game has been virtually non-existent, and quarterback Peyton Manning and his best receiver, Demaryius Thomas, do not seem to be on the same page.
Head coach John Fox will certainly be addressing these issues, among others, during the team's early bye week, after which the Broncos enter a very tough portion of their schedule. They will face the Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots between Weeks 5 and 9.
Here's how Denver looks at each position; hopefully, some of these grades will go up by season's end.
Quarterbacks
1 of 10
There's not a whole lot to say here. The quarterback situation is just dandy in Denver.
Peyton Manning is playing, per usual for him, superb football. He's thrown for 814 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception. His passer rating of 108.5 is second among starting quarterbacks behind Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks (108.9).
As long as Manning is under center, the Broncos are a playoff team. We saw this last season when their defense was virtually non-existent.
Overall, however, we've seen more firepower out of Manning before, and while his numbers are great, his yardage figures are a bit conservative for him. The offense he ran last year was a little out of control, and this year, I think we will see a more realistic elite offense.
Grade: A-
Running Backs
2 of 10
The Denver rushing game is not very intimidating. The Broncos have rushed for an average of 75.3 yards per game, which is fifth-worst in the league. They've also only scored one touchdown on the ground.
Montee Ball is a supremely talented running back, yet the plays being called for him are not effective. This is something Denver needs to focus on in the bye week.
In Week 3's loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Denver would have fared much better if it could have gotten anything going on the ground, but instead it got nowhere while running ball and was forced to punt or force a pass.
Even Ball has said the Denver run game "needs a lot of work," per Andrew Mason of the team's official site.
Running backs C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman have also seen limited work this season, with Anderson being the more involved and effective of the two.
Grade: C-
Wide Receivers
3 of 10
Do you want the good news or the bad news first?
I'll start with the good.
The good news is that Emmanuel Sanders is proving to be one of the most spectacular free-agent acquisitions from this past offseason. The former Pittsburgh Steeler is playing like he and Manning have known each other since birth. He's a possession receiver and an absolute vital piece to the Denver offense.
The bad news is that Demaryius Thomas does not look like himself so far this year.
Now, to be honest, I believe this point is getting a little overblown in the media and by fantasy football owners who have overly lofty expectations of what Thomas should be doing every game. His numbers have been far from awful (13 receptions, 141 yards and a touchdown), and his two-point conversion reception that sent the game versus the Seattle Seahawks into overtime was simply brilliant.
Nonetheless, Thomas was a better player last year, and he's been struggling with some drops this season. Hopefully, the bye week allows him to find his stride.
Another receiver to note is Wes Welker, who returned early from his four-game suspension. He performed admirably in his first game back last week, catching six balls for 60 yards.
I think these are the numbers to expect from Welker this season. He's still a solid slot receiver who is good for a high number of short-yardage catches, yet I do think it is the beginning of the end for his career.
Grade: B+
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Tight Ends
4 of 10
Tight end Julius Thomas is a stud, and Peyton Manning knows it. That's why Thomas has five touchdowns already on the year and has been Manning's go-to target in the end zone.
Thomas has freakish athleticism, perfect size and great hands. He's the man for the job and a huge component of the Denver offense.
Backup tight end Jacob Tamme, who gets a decent amount of snaps with Denver running a fair number of two-tight end sets, is also a guy whom Manning looks to in the end zone. Tamme has two scores on the year.
Overall, the tight end game in Denver is doing great, and the team shouldn't change a thing.
Grade: A
Offensive Line
5 of 10
The Denver offensive line was a hobbled hot mess last season, and it was one of the main reasons why the team lost so badly to the Seattle Seahawks in last year's Super Bowl.
With the return of tackle Ryan Clady, the line is back to playing at its full potential.
Currently, Clady is at left tackle, with Orlando Franklin at left guard, Manny Ramirez at center, Louis Vasquez at right guard and Chris Clark at right tackle.
The unit is great, and Denver fans have to hope for no injuries, especially to Clady. His absence last season was felt greatly, and he is the true star of this line. He is simply one of the best left tackles in the game.
Most importantly, the Denver offensive line has only allowed Peyton Manning to be sacked thrice this season, which is tied for third-best in the NFL. (Fun fact: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has yet to be sacked.)
Grade: A-
Defensive Line
6 of 10
Outside of former Dallas Cowboy defensive end DeMarcus Ware, this unit needs to perform better.
Besides Ware, who has 2.5 sacks, the only member of the Denver defensive line with anything in the sack category is defensive end Malik Jackson, who has half a sack.
In the middle of the line, defensive tackles Terrance Knighton and Sylvester Williams have not been bringing their A-game. Running backs, particularly strong rushers like Seattle's Marshawn Lynch, have been able to rumble through with ease.
While Denver has only given up an average of 105.3 rushing yards per game, it has allowed four rushing touchdowns.
The Denver offense was so insane last year that teams were forced to pass against Denver almost exclusively, which meant this unit was not being fully tested. This year, with a more conservative offense, teams will be able to run much more against Denver. If they find out it's easy, they'll run a lot.
Grade: B-
Linebackers
7 of 10
I was worried about this unit before the season, but the linebackers have stepped up and played some great football through three games this year.
Nate Irving has provided the Broncos with some clarity at the middle linebacker position. Strong-side linebacker Von Miller, whose primary modus operandi is to pass-rush, has done so effectively with two sacks. Weak-side linebacker Brandon Marshall, who has been filling in for the injured Danny Trevathan, is the team's leading tackler though three weeks with 30 tackles.
Overall, everyone in Denver should be pleased with how this unit has performed so far.
Grade: B+
Defensive Backs
8 of 10
The Denver defensive backs were bad last season. Had it not been for an offense putting up ridiculous numbers, opponents would have beaten Denver every week by throwing long bomb after long bomb.
This was no secret, and after being embarrassed in last year's Super Bowl, Denver made major renovations to the defensive backfield.
Safety T.J. Ward (pictured) and cornerback Aqib Talib were signed in the offseason. Former Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby was drafted in the first round. Big names like Champ Bailey, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Mike Adams did not return.
The result is a completely revamped secondary that has so far looked like a huge step in the right direction.
While the Broncos have given up an average of 285.3 passing yards per game, which is the second worst in the league, they have only allowed four touchdowns through the air and have picked off three passes already.
We all know this unit is going to play fairly preventative defense at a number of times this season, but the defensive backs have proved thus far that they can give up yards and not points.
At the end of the day, points are all that matter.
Grade: B
Special Teams
9 of 10
There's not a ton to say here. Punter Britton Colquitt remains one of the league's best. He averages 46.5 yards per punt, which is third best in the league.
Rookie kicker Brandon McManus, who has been filling in for the suspended Matt Prater, has looked good the few times he's been needed. Denver has only attempted three field goals, and McManus has hit them all.
Return-wise, Denver has been nothing special. Wide receiver Isaiah Burse has been handling the punt returns, and he's averaged only 3.8 yards per return. Receivers Andre Caldwell and Emmanuel Sanders have each taken a kick return, with Caldwell taking his 54 yards.
With Sanders now established in the offense, Caldwell should have this job exclusively. Playing in Denver, however, in the thin mountain air, most kickoffs sail out of the back of the end zone for touchbacks.
Grade: A-
Report Card Summary
10 of 10
Offense
The Denver offense is still one of the league's most lethal, yet the Broncos will not be as potent as they were last year when Peyton Manning threw for a record-setting 55 touchdown passes.
The running game must get established, or else Denver is going to struggle to put points on the board at times.
Quarterbacks: A-
Running Backs: C-
Wide Receivers: B+
Tight Ends: A
Offensive Line: A-
Final Offensive Grade: B++
Defense
The Denver defense is much improved from last season, and this is important, as it will be tested much more.
The defensive line needs to step up and protect against the rush better. They also need to find more ways to get to the quarterback.
The secondary needs to get stingier in preventing completions and helping the defense to get off the field.
Defensive Line: B-
Linebackers: B+
Defensive Backs: B
Final Defensive Grade: B
Overall
Offense: B++
Defense: B
Special Teams: A-
Final Team Grade: B+
All stats courtesy of NFL.com.
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