Mike Nolan to Miami: Are the Broncos in Trouble? | NFL Fantasy Football Rankings

As fast as the news broke that Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan were parting ways, faster still came the news that Nolan had signed with the Miami Dolphins.

Now Nolan will coordinate the Dolphins defense and McDaniels is looking for yet another replacement (could sign Dean Pees) to his coaching staff.

Nolan took the Broncos defense from a horrid NFL ranking of No. 29 overall in 2008 to a very respectable No. 7 overall ranking in 2009.

Respectable Regular Season, Questionable Offseason(s)

Last offseason I was more than open about the fact that I didn't like what the Broncos were doing. Because of questionable moves in the organization and a rookie head coach, I suggested that fantasy football owners stay away from this team, unless they got players at a cheap value.

Taking my own advice, I selected Brandon Marshall as a ninth-round pick after he fell out of favor and was suspended by coach McDaniels.

Then a surprising 6-0 start to the season sprang forth from this team's troubled offseason. The defense looked lights out and the offense was controlling the clock by running and getting the football to Marshall in the passing game.

It sure looked like McDaniels had everyone fooled, as he had his team atop the NFL standings looking primed for a playoff run.

Unfortunately, the team dropped a majority of its games thereafter and missed the playoffs. Not only that, but, by Week 17, coach McDaniels benched Marshall and is now entertaining trade offers for him.

Coach Them Up or Blow Them Out

It seems to me that a good NFL head coach tends to have the ability to build up the talent he has around him. The ability to take talent and make it work within a system to produce success is vitally important to winning games.

Coach McDaniels seems to have an ability to do just that, but at the same time he continues to have turnover at key areas.

This turnover will probably be the nail in McDaniels' coffin, as I can't see how he will benefit by losing another star offensive weapon for a couple draft picks. Beyond that he has now lost a coordinator that has provided proven success with his defensive unit.

2010 Fantasy Football Outlook

If the Broncos do, in fact, trade Marshall away, they should have another deep draft to help them fill holes. One player that will have to turn his game up next year is running back Knowshon Moreno.

McDaniels selected Moreno as his top draft pick last year, and this young runner will be expected to shoulder a big portion of this offense. Where Moreno will have problems is the fact that defenses won't have a receiver (Marshall) they will have to respect on the outside, and thus they can load the box with eight men.

At this time, Moreno makes for a No. 2 running back in deep fantasy leagues (12-plus-team leagues) and a flex play in smaller leagues.

Receiver Eddie Royal should get a bump in value, but it will be hard to say just how productive he will be after a disappointing sophomore season.

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2010 NFL Fantasy Football Player Rankings writer Sean E. Douglas: fantasy-info.com