Breaking Down Denver Broncos' Likely Opening-Game Starting Lineup

There is one game down in the preseason schedule, and three more are in the near future for the Denver Broncos. They got off to a good start with a win over the Seattle Seahawks, and the Broncos were able to see further development from players who could be playing a big role for them in 2015.

Several question marks still abound on both sides of the ball. During the rest of the preseason and training camp, the team will continue to analyze their players while looking for the best 53-man roster.

In addition to finding the best team, the Broncos must determine who is best suited to start.

Their regular-season opener against the Baltimore Ravens is fast approaching. The Broncos have to find the best starters they can during training camp in order to start the season off right.

In this article, we'll break down the likely opening-game starting lineup.

Quarterback

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Peyton Manning looks great out at UC Health Training Center. You could easily make the argument that his arm strength looks better than it ever has been during his career with the Broncos. The veteran quarterback seemed invigorated by learning the system set in place by head coach Gary Kubiak.

Last year, Manning wasn’t at full strength over the final half of the season. A quad injury late in the year sapped him of his ability as a passer. The team didn’t look the same with Manning banged up, and they quickly exited the playoffs in the divisional round.

The Broncos are going to rely on Manning to be more of a game manager this year. We’ll see Manning under center more than ever in his Broncos career, and he’ll be running a balanced attack featuring zone-blocking and a strong rushing attack. Manning will set up defenses with the run, and play-action passing will often be open because of this new philosophy.

Manning’s numbers should go down this year, but he’ll be a more efficient quarterback. The new system on offense (and an aggressive defense) means that Manning doesn’t have to do it all. Let the rushing attack and the defense do the heavy lifting, and then Manning can strike through the air with increased precision.

Some feel that Kubiak’s offense is too predictable, and his preferences are well-known from years of coaching the Houston Texans. Adding Manning’s ability to call audibles gives the Kubiak system a new wrinkle it has never had before.

This may not be a record-setting offense like the 2013 version in Denver. However, this offense and this team could be better prepared and built to win a championship than any other Manning-led Broncos squad.

Running Back

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C.J. Anderson is the clear-cut starter for the Broncos, and he has the opportunity to lead the league in rushing this year.

Anderson had to wait to get his chance last year, but he absolutely took the league by storm when he was featured. After both Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman went down with injuries, Anderson got his chance to show what he could do, and he did not disappoint. Over the final six weeks of the regular season, Anderson led the league in rushing. During that time, he also finished third in all-purpose yards.

Anderson proved that he could be a productive lead back, and now he gets to run the rock in a system that is known for making running backs look fantastic.

He has the power to create his own space when the rushing lanes aren’t there. Anderson is patient and will wait until just the right time to hit the hole. His vision and anticipation are elite, and he’ll be able to find cutback lanes to gash defenses at times.

Anderson is a fine receiver out of the backfield, and he can be a three-down back for the Broncos. The team may give him a breather from time to time, but make no mistake—Anderson is the real deal and he can be the centerpiece of the Broncos offense in 2015.

Wide Receivers

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Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders are among the best wide receiver duos in the league. We saw what they could do last year, but things could be different this season because of the run-heavy nature of the Kubiak offense.

Last year, Thomas caught more than 100 passes for the first time in his career. Even in this new system, Thomas should be able to come close to that production in 2015. During his time under Kubiak with the Houston Texans, Andre Johnson caught over 100 passes in five different seasons. Thomas is essentially playing the Johnson role in this offense, and he’s already established incredibly strong chemistry with Manning.

Sanders also caught more than 100 passes for the first time in his career last season. It was a season to remember for Sanders as he fit the offense like a glove and put up career-best numbers in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns.

This year, Sanders should see his numbers suffer. By his own admission earlier this year, Sanders is going to see less action. Looking over the history of second wide receivers in Kubiak’s offense, we may see Sanders snare about 65-75 catches. He still wants to post over 1,000 yards receiving, and that’s possible given his speed and big-play ability.

Tight Ends

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The Broncos will regularly feature two-tight end sets this year with both Owen Daniels and Virgil Green.

When Julius Thomas left in free agency, the Broncos turned to the open market to add Daniels. It’s no surprise, as Daniels has played every year of his pro career under Kubiak. He knows this offense backward and forward, and Daniels will be asked to move the chains often for the Broncos. Daniels should have no problem becoming a favorite target for Manning in 2015.

Virgil Green is the other player to highlight here. An underrated receiver, Green has transformed into one of the league’s best blocking tight ends. With so many questions on the offensive line, Green will stay in to block quite a bit. However, when the team is near paydirt we could see Green be a sneaky option.

Offensive Line

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The offensive line is a work in progress for the Broncos. This could be the position that sees the most upheaval from now until the start of the regular season.

At left tackle, rookie Ty Sambrailo will be the blindside protector of Manning. He has the athleticism and footwork to mirror rushers on the outside. However, Sambrailo struggles against savvy pass-rushers who have multiple moves to get after the quarterback.

At left guard, rookie Max Garcia has quickly overtaken other options like Ben Garland or Shelley Smith. Garland is incredibly strong and can control his man at the point of attack. He works well inside, but he’ll need to improve his ability to combination block and get to the linebacker level.

Inside at center, it looks like Matt Paradis could be the starter. The second-year pro from Boise State did not make the team last year, but he did stick around on the practice squad to develop. After four days of practice, he was able to overtake Gino Gradkowski. The Broncos traded for Gradkowski earlier this year, but he’s not been better than Paradis at practice.

Right guard is not a problem for the Broncos. All-Pro Louis Vasquez is moving back inside to his more natural position. Last year, Vasquez kicked outside to right tackle when the team had problems there. Now, he’ll be able to dominate inside at right guard once again.

Right tackle is likely to be filled by Ryan Harris. The Broncos opened training camp with Chris Clark at right tackle, but he was quickly replaced by Harris. This is his third stint with the Broncos, and Harris is a seasoned veteran who knows the zone-blocking system like the back of his hand.

Defensive Line

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The Broncos need to be strong up front in Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defense. With only three down linemen, they’ll need guys who can control the line of scrimmage and keep containment on the outside.

The nose tackle is likely to be 2013 first-round pick Sylvester Williams. That position is the fulcrum of the defense, and Williams will need to control his lone gap on the line. He disappointed last year, but Williams looks more natural at the position in practice. He won’t be asked to get push on the quarterback that often. Instead, Williams needs to make sure that he stands strong in the middle and blocks the path of the play inside.

Earlier this year, defensive end Derek Wolfe was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. We’ll likely see veteran Vance Walker start in his place.

Walker was added in free agency earlier this year. Over the last two seasons, he’s played for both the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs. He knows the division well and should be an adequate replacement while Wolfe is out. He may not be the edge-setter that Wolfe is, but he’s arguably better at getting after the quarterback.

Malik Jackson is going to play the J.J. Watt role in Phillips’ defense. Phillips was able to turn Watt into the superstar that everyone knows, and now he’ll be looking to Jackson to do similar things on the line. Jackson could tally double-digit sacks this year with a starter’s role. He has the length, strength and ferocity to be an impact player.

Linebackers

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The Broncos may have the best starting quaternary of linebackers in the league. In the Phillips 3-4 defense, the linebackers are going to be doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

Inside, the Broncos will feature Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall.

Trevathan is going to be playing the “Bow” (weak-side inside) linebacker. He’ll be asked to cover tight ends over the middle at times, and Trevathan has shown the ability to play from sideline to sideline. Trevathan can get his hands on the ball, and he could come down with a few interceptions this year. He’s capable of supporting the run and does a good job of chasing plays that go away from him.

Marshall is going to play the “Sam” (strong-side inside) linebacker. He’ll be the tackling machine for the Broncos defense. A lot of the action is going to be funneled inside right to Marshall’s feet. He attacks the line of scrimmage with an intent to disrupt, and he should be able to stand strong for the defense in 2015.

Outside, the Broncos have two of the league's best in Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware.

Miller has not been great—he’s been outstanding each day during practice at UC Health Training Center. Do not be surprised if Miller sets the single-season sack record this year, and 20 sacks (at least) is not out of the question. Miller plays with a fantastic combination of strength and speed. He’ll bend and burst around the edge to the passer, but he can also bull rush opponents in an effort to get to the ball.

Ware is likely to one day end up in the Hall of Fame. He had double-digit sacks for the Broncos last year, but only two of those came in the final eight games of the season. The Broncos will rotate in rookie first-round pick Shane Ray to help keep Ware fresh all year. Ware has worked under Phillips before, and he’s likely to produce better sack totals than he did last season.

Cornerbacks

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There’s no question that the Broncos have two elite corners in Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. Last year was a fine year for the secondary, but this season they could take things to the next level.

Talib has the size and toughness to play against the biggest receivers and most elite tight ends. He can redirect his man at the line of scrimmage, and Talib can stay in the back pocket of a receiver on a downfield route. Talib is adept at supporting the run, and he arrives at the play with natural violence.

Harris has developed into arguably the best corner in the game. He can play in the slot or star on the outside. Harris has a nose for the ball, and he can regularly bait opposing quarterbacks into bad throws. He has the ability to be a shutdown corner, and Harris should frustrate opponents early and often.

The Broncos defense should be much more aggressive this year. The swarming defense up front will help out defenders on the back end. Talib and Harris should be the beneficiaries of the pressure that guys like Miller, Ware, Jackson and Ray will put on quarterbacks.

Safeties

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There was some movement at this position in the offseason. Rahim Moore was allowed to leave in free agency, and the Broncos sought out veteran help to replace him.

Darian Stewart was a 14-game starter for the Baltimore Ravens last year. He’s a young player with a bright future so long as he stays healthy. Stewart does a good job of diagnosing plays as they unfold in front of him. He plays the ball like a cornerback, and Stewart is not afraid to play close to the line of scrimmage to support the run defense.

T.J. Ward made an immediate impact for the Broncos last year. He’s one of the most intimidating players in the NFL, and Ward gives the Broncos defense a swagger they lacked before he signed in 2014.

The Phillips defense should unleash Ward this season. That’s great news for the Broncos, but that’s bad news for opponents. Ward should be used to rush the passer on certain downs, and he’ll certainly be a force against the run.

This new duo at safety gives the Broncos the best of both worlds. They have the athletes to cover when needed, and both players are capable of taking advantage of quarterbacks under duress. The Broncos also have two tough safeties who play with aggression.

Special Teams

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The Broncos are going to play strong defense and rely on their special teams to establish field position.

Britton Colquitt accepted a pay cut earlier this year, and that pretty much locked him onto the final roster. His numbers have been down in recent years, but the talent that made him the league’s highest-paid punter is still there.

Connor Barth is the most accurate kicker on the Broncos roster at this time. He’ll have to prove himself over the rest of the preseason, and perhaps most importantly, he’ll need to show that he can put kickoffs in the end zone at altitude. Brandon McManus has a strong leg, but he’s not as accurate as Barth. At this time, Barth looks to be in the lead.

Aaron Brewer is the team’s long snapper, and he does a good job. Others—like Joe Don Duncan—are getting some turns long snapping at training camp, but there’s no reason to think Larsen’s roster spot is in jeopardy.

All quotes and injury/practice observations were obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information was provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted. Advanced stats were via ESPN's employees-only database.

Contract and salary-cap information was provided by Spotrac. Transaction history was provided by Pro Sports Transactions.