Denver Broncos: The Four Biggest In-House Questions Facing the Team in 2011

The Broncos have not engaged in a flurry of activity in free agency. Therefore, there is not much to report on that front.

In fact, if the Kyle Orton trade gets done soon, there will be more trades than intriguing signings for the team to date.

Until the Broncos get busy in the free-agent market, it is worth talking about some other in-house questions facing Denver in the 2011 season.

How Long Will the Holdouts Last?

This is more a question of semantics than anything else. Obviously, Broncos draft picks like Von Miller and Julius Thomas are eager and excited to be Broncos, they just need contracts to be able to participate.

This is purely a matter of knowing these players aren’t going anywhere, instead of finalizing their contracts the front office is working on free agency and trades.

These players will be in camp, and they are not holding out by choice. Still, don’t make them “hold out” too much longer.

What Will Knowshon Moreno's Role Be?

There are serious questions about whether or not Moreno can be the starting tailback for the new look Broncos running game.

With the news that DeAngelo Williams decided to return to the Panthers, the Broncos are still searching for the player who might be the starter.

Regardless of who is added to the running back corps, the question about Moreno still remains.

John Fox needs to decide on how to use Moreno and start practicing that way immediately.

The smart money says that Moreno will become a third down receiving back and maybe even be used in some punt returning situations. 

Who Will Be the Team Captains?

Is it worth taking a vote with so many new faces? The odds are that nobody would argue if Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins represented the defense, but what about offense?

It would seem that Tim Tebow has done enough work in the offseason to warrant being voted a captain by his peers, but John Fox shouldn’t leave it to chance.

If Tebow is going to get the chance to lead this team, then give him the “C” that other great quarterbacks like Manning, Brady and Brees already have. 

The Broncos may not win games at the same clip as those squads, but Tebow will give the same effort as the aforementioned players.

If the Broncos Continue To Lose, Who Will Take the Fall?

Elway, Fox or Xanders?

This problem will not be a problem for at least two years. Apart from going 0-16 in the 2011season, there is not much that will cause the immediate departure of any of these men.

However, if things don’t get better this season, then it won’t be surprising to see Brian Xanders be set up as the fall guy.

The Broncos will be prepared to mitigate the growing frustration of the fanbase by firing Xanders and allowing Elway to bring in one of “his guys” to help him evaluate talent and make deals.

It’s not fair, and hopefully, that fate does not befall a good football guy like Xanders, but really…if heads must roll, you know it won’t be Fox or Elway.