Bleacher Report - Articles by Josh Vitale

Eight Bold Denver Broncos Predictions for the 2009 Season

Josh Vitale — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:47:33 -0400

After easily one of the most eventful offseasons in recent NFL history, the Denver Broncos are a team in turmoil. Longtime head coach Mike Shanahan was fired, franchise quarterback Jay Cutler was shipped to Chicago, and Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall no longer wants to be a Bronco.

I don’t think new head coach Josh McDaniels could have had a rougher start to his head coaching career.

Even so, the Broncos are ready to start their 2009 campaign. They may be without Shanahan, Cutler, and possibly Marshall, but they will be ready to play nonetheless.

Now, since the beginning of training camp, analysts, pundits, and fans alike have beaten to death the same predictions for the season: "The defense will continue to struggle," or "Brandon Marshall won’t play for the Broncos again," or "Kyle Orton will struggle as the starter."

I am here to share my predictions for the season—predictions that don’t follow the conventional wisdom on the Broncos right now.

Here are eight bold predictions for the Broncos' 2009 season.

Brandon Marshall Will Play, and He Will Play Well

Brandon Marshall and the Denver Broncos have had a lot of problems with each other this offseason. Marshall did not like seeing Cutler get shipped out of town, has shown a lot of unhappiness with his contract, and was even suspended for the rest of the preseason. He was also recently quoted as saying he "wants a fresh start," with a team other than the Broncos, obviously.

However, provided McDaniels lets him play, he will absolutely play for the Broncos this season—and he will play very well.

Why? Because Marshall is not stupid. If Marshall ever wants to play for another team or get a new contract, his only choice is to play well this season. If he sits out this season or doesn’t play well, no team will give up what the Broncos are asking for him, and the Broncos will never pay him what he wants.

Marshall wants a new team and a new contract. The only way for him to do this is to show he deserves it with his play on the field.

Kyle Orton Will Finish with 3,300-Plus Passing Yards and 20-Plus Touchdowns

Many people have been down on Kyle Orton’s prospects as a starting NFL QB, but he has been a winner in his career, going 21-12 as a starter for an offensively challenged Chicago Bears team.

Now that Orton has inherited the league’s No. 2 offense, he should substantially improve on his career averages of 2,450 yards and 14 touchdowns as a full season starter.

In Chicago, Orton played in a run-oriented offense and was always surrounded by lackluster receivers. In Denver, he will be playing in McDaniels' Patriot-style offense, where Orton will throw a lot more passes than he has ever thrown in an NFL season.

On top of that, he will have weapons such as Eddie Royal, Brandon Marshall, Brandon Stokley, and Jabar Gaffney, as well as a slew of playmaking running backs.

With all that in mind, it is very easy to see Orton topping the 3,300-yard mark, as well as the 20-touchdown mark. He threw for 2,900 yards and 18 touchdowns in 15 games last season, and seeing as the Broncos will rely on him to throw the ball well and often, these numbers should be very attainable.

Eddie Royal Will Finish Top Three in Receptions

Eddie Royal had a great rookie season last year, and he will only improve his numbers this season. He was relatively unheralded as a receiver coming out of Virginia Tech, but he surprised everyone in the NFL, leading all rookies in receptions and yards.

Royal also finished seventh in receptions in the NFL with 91, a number expected to go up this year. With McDaniels now the coach in Denver, Royal will fall into the role played by Wes Welker in New England, where he will be relied upon to be Orton’s go-to guy, getting open on all sorts of underneath, crossing, and screen routes.

He may only have around 1,100 receiving yards, but he should be a sure bet for 100-plus catches. Expect him to be neck and neck with Welker and Andre Johnson for the receptions lead by the end of the season.

Knowshon Moreno Will Win Rookie of the Year

Knowshon Moreno has had a less than stellar preseason. After being picked 12th overall by the Broncos, he missed the first eight days of camp during a contract holdout, and then, after showing flashes of brilliance in the first preseason game, he sprained his MCL and has not played since.

But once the season begins, expect all that to change. When he was picked No. 12 to a team that finished second in total offense and 29th in total defense, McDaniels was questioned for the move. So Moreno needs to play this season, and you can expect that he will be given plenty of opportunities to carry the ball.

When he does carry the ball, expect him to have a Chris Johnson-type impact on the Broncos game. Peyton Hillis and LaMont Jordan will handle the goal-line carries, but Moreno should be a monster between the 20s.

I expect him to finish the season with close to 1,000 yards and a couple of touchdowns, narrowly beating out Mark Sanchez of the Jets for Rookie of the Year.

The Broncos Will Finish in the Top 20 in Total Defense

After finishing 29th in total defense last season, the Broncos had a lot of work to do to improve their porous defense. Outside of signing Brian Dawkins, however, the Broncos did not make any marquee additions to their defense.

What they did do, though, is sign a slew of solid and consistent, if not flashy players, who will help the defense immensely and lead Denver into the top 20 in total defense.

On the defensive line, the Broncos added Darrell Reid, Ronald Fields, and Ryan McBean and re-signed Kenny Peterson. None of these players are flashy, big-name guys, but they should, along with returning linemen Marcus Thomas, Carlton Powell, and Nic Clemons, provide new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan with a lot of bodies he can rotate along the defensive line.

At linebacker, the Broncos added Andra Davis and Robert Ayers, as well as moved Elvis Dumervil, Jarvis Moss, and Tim Crowder back to linebacker. Combined with D.J. Williams and Wesley Woodyard, the Broncos should have a solid group of middle linebackers and an explosive, if inexperienced, group of outside linebackers.

In the secondary, the Broncos, along with Dawkins, added Andre Goodman and Renaldo Hill, as well as Darcel McBath, Alphonso Smith, and David Bruton through the draft.

Goodman should be a big upgrade over the departed Dre' Bly, and Hill will provide consistency at safety. Dawkins will become the emotional leader the Broncos have lacked since Al Wilson, and McBath, Smith, and Bruton will provide depth and youth in the secondary.

The Broncos have a long ways to go until they again have one of the better defenses in the league, but as of right now they have done a lot to improve themselves and should be able to be a top 20 defense this year.

Elvis Dumervil Will Record a Career High in Sacks

With Denver switching in part to a 3-4 defensive system, Dumervil will be moving from defensive end to outside linebacker, a role he should thrive in. After recording 12.5 sacks in 2007, his numbers dropped dramatically last season, as he totaled only five.

As a smallish defensive end, he spent most of his time in the three-point stance, being forced to take on tackles much larger than he was. Now, Dumervil will move back a couple of feet to outside linebacker, which will give him a running start at the quarterback, giving him more sack opportunities.

Expect Mike Nolan to use Dumervil the way the Cowboys use DeMarcus Ware—as an outside rush linebacker, whose main purpose is to hit the quarterback. If the Broncos do this with Dumervil, expect him to record a new career high in sacks.

Denver Will Win as Many or More Games than the Chicago Bears

Much has been said about the Bears this offseason, most of it surrounding the addition of Jay Cutler, with good reason. Many people are predicting they will be the NFC North winner this season.

However, outside of Cutler, the Bears have made no other substantial improvements to their 26th-ranked offense and 21st-ranked defense. While they do have RB Matt Forte on offense, they lack consistent receiver production, and their defense is aging and inconsistent.

On top of that, their schedule is much more difficult than most people realize, as they have seven games against 2008 playoff teams, including Arizona, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh, as well as three games against the much improved Packers and Seahawks.

If the Bears can sprinkle in a few wins against some of the stronger teams in the league, they could make a run at the North, but more realistically, they should finish around the 8-8 or 9-7 mark.

The Broncos Finish .500 or Better, Place Second in the AFC West

If you listen to any NFL "expert," they will all tell you how much the Broncos will struggle this season. Maybe it’s the die-hard fan in me, but I don’t buy that. Kyle Orton is obviously no Jay Cutler, but the talented receivers the Broncos will line up around him will make him better, as will the stable of talented running backs the Broncos have at their disposal.

If you add to that mix the fact that the Broncos' defense should (hopefully) be better than it was a season ago, the Broncos could conceivably win eight or nine games this season.

Let’s go through it game by game:

The Broncos should start 3-0, as they should be able to beat Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Oakland. In their next eight games, the Broncos face Dallas, New England, San Diego (twice), Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Washington, and the New York Giants. I see the Broncos splitting the series with San Diego and beating both the Cowboys and Redskins.

So, after 11 games, the Broncos are 6-5.

In the final five games, the Broncos face Kansas City (twice), Indianapolis, Oakland, and Philadelphia. They should beat the Chiefs twice, as well as the Raiders. That gives them a 9-7 record on the season, which should be good enough for second place in the West.

Those are my bold predictions for this season. Some predictions everyone may agree with. Some predictions may be seen as outlandish. And some people may just think I’m stupid.

Leave me some comments and let me know what you think.

Maryland Terrapins Looking to Upset California Bears Again in Season Opener

Josh Vitale — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:41:53 -0400

Nearly a year since one of the biggest upsets in the early part of the 2008 season, the Maryland Terrapins are set to take on the California Bears again.

Leading up to last year’s game, both teams were headed in opposite directions. The Terrapins were coming off an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Middle Tennessee State, making them 1-1 over the season.

The Bears, on the other hand, were a week away from a 66-3 trouncing of Washington, moving them to 2-0 on the season and into the Top 25.

In week three, the Bears came into College Park ranked number 23 in the country and looking to move to 3-0 on the year. They left, however, with their metaphorical tails between their legs, suffering a 35-27 defeat to Maryland.

This year, Maryland travels to California for the season opener, and the storyline looks to be very similar to last year. Maryland has one of the youngest teams in Division I with only 12 scholarship seniors on roster, and they have been picked to finish at the bottom of the ACC.

Cal, however, comes into the game ranked 12^th in the country, and is seen as a team that could finally challenge USC’s dominance of the Pac-10.

Should be a cakewalk for the Bears right?

Don’t jump to conclusions so soon. The Terrapins may be young, but they are talented. Led by senior quarterback Chris Turner, the Terps return most of the offense that dropped 35 on the Bears defense last year. With a more experienced Da’Rel Scott in the backfield and good receiving options still remaining on the outside, the Maryland offense may not miss a beat this season.

Maryland will however have to contend with a tough California defense. However, while they did graduate three of their four starting linebackers, the Bears return everyone else on their 26^th-ranked defense, which will make it a very long day for the Maryland offense.

On the other side of the ball, California can call on starting quarterback Kevin Riley and, more importantly, Heisman candidate Jahvid Best, who rushed for over 1,500 yards last season. They do, however, struggle at the receiver position, lacking consistent play from both receiver slots. But, with Best in the backfield, this offense will continue to put up points.

While Best is the key for Cal’s offense, he is also the key for the Terrapin’s defense; if they stop him, they stop the Bears. Their defense, however, graduated seven starters from a unit that did not perform well to begin with.

But, while they may have performed poorly, they did hold Best to only 25 yards on 10 carries last season, which was a large part of why they won. If they can even do half as good a job as they did stopping him last season, they will definitely give themselves a chance to win.

Prediction:

This game should be closer than many people think. While California was picked as a 22-point favorite, don’t expect the final margin to be that big. Maryland should have enough firepower on the offense to keep up with the Bears.

The key to victory for both teams revolves around Jahvid Best. If Maryland can keep him in check, they will give themselves a very good chance to win the game. But, if Best can establish himself early and put up his usual numbers, it’s hard to see anyone but California winning this game.

Joshin' Around: Bronco Backfield May Look Crowded, But It's Not

Josh Vitale — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:27:50 -0400

With the number 12 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos pick…Knowshon Moreno? Didn’t they just sign Correll Buckhalter, J.J. Arrington, and LaMont Jordan?

Yes they did, but, before you accuse the Broncos of overcrowding their backfield, take a look at Josh McDaniel’s former team, the New England Patriots. It has become abundantly clear that McD has brought the Patriot Way to Denver, and the running back position is no different.

That being said, the Broncos now have six running backs on their roster; Knowshon Moreno, Buckhalter, Arrington, Jordan, Peyton Hillis, and Ryan Torain. Torain, however, with all of his injury concerns, will be hard-pressed to claim a roster spot. That leaves five guys fighting for playing time.

Let’s see what their roles will be, and put them in the terms of McDaniel’s Patriot Offense:

Knowshon Moreno: Moreno, being the 12th overall pick in the draft, will become the number one running back in Denver. He was believed by many to be the best back in the draft, as he has the ability to run between the tackles, turn the corner and run outside, and catch passes with ease.

Patriot Comparison: He will become what the Patriots had hoped Laurence Maroney would, a primary back who can run and catch the ball with the best of them.

Correll Buckhalter: Buckhalter may have changed teams this season, but he has not changed his role at all. He will be the exact same guy he was in Philadelphia, as his job will be to come in to give Knowshon some rest.

Patriot Comparison: Buckhalter will fit into the Sammy Morris role, as Morris was the guy who came in to give Maroney some rest (when Maroney was healthy).

J.J. Arrington: Arrington will have no trouble getting touches in Denver, as he is a very good receiver out of the backfield, as well as a dynamic special teams player. He will see a lot of touches catching passes out of the backfield, and should become one of Denver’s top return men.

Patriot Comparison: Arrington will fill the role of Kevin Faulk, a player who New England loves. He is a great backfield receiver, and a solid return man, which is what McD expects Arrington to do.

Peyton Hillis: Peyton Hillis is a perfect example of a combo back, a guy capable of playing either the running back or fullback position. In McDaniel’s new offense, expect Hillis to take the role of the FB, being the primary lead blocker in the run game, while also receiving passes out of the backfield.

Patriot Comparison: He compares to Heath Evans, who played this exact role for the Patriots the last two seasons.

LaMont Jordan: This signing was a puzzling one, as Jordan has never really showed anything special in his NFL career. But, he has been an adequate option in short yardage situations, so expect him to see limited carries as a short yardage back in Denver,

Patriot Comparison: Jordan compares to himself, as he played this role in New England last season.

So, in conclusion, while the Broncos backfield seems like it will be overcrowded in 2009, do not be alarmed. The Broncos do have five guys back there, but they are all expected to fit in to their own respective roles. With the addition of Moreno, look for the Broncos to have, minimum, a top-15 rushing attack next season.

Joshin' Around: Bronco Fans, Let's Give Kyle Orton a Chance

Josh Vitale — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:11:40 -0400

In the two days since Cutler was traded to the Bears, I have heard a lot of talk about Mark Sanchez. Why? Because many of the so-called ‘experts’ out there don’t always know what they are talking about.

Now that the Broncos have two first round draft choices, many of the draft guys predict that the Broncos will package them in a deal to move up and draft Mark Sanchez, a quarterback out of USC.

I personally hate the idea of trading up for Sanchez though, and I also think there is a slim chance this could actually happen. Josh McDaniels has seen tremendous success from two quarterbacks in his system, and neither of them were highly hyped draft picks.

Tom Brady went from being a sixth-round pick to being a Hall of Famer, and Matt Cassel went from a seventh round pick to a viable NFL starter.

So, before the whole Bronco world starts pre-ordering their Sanchez jerseys, I’m going to make a strong case for Kyle Orton to be the guy in Denver.

If you simply look at the numbers, Jay Cutler and Kyle Orton do not seem to be anywhere near the same level. Cutler has passed for 3,700 more yards in his career, and has 24 more touchdowns than Orton. But, when you look a little deeper, Orton begins to look a little better than he did at first glance.

In 2008, for example, Cutler had 1,500 more yards passing, and seven more touchdowns. The Bears, however, are historically a run-first team, and the numbers clearly show that.

Jay Cutler surpassed 40 pass attempts in a game eight times last season, while Orton did it just twice. On top of that, Orton missed a game and a half due to injury, while Cutler did not. So, the disparity in numbers is not as alarming as it seems.

Also, the skill players that each quarterback had ad his respective disposal is very different.

Orton’s top three targets were Devin Hester, Greg Olsen, and Matt Forte. Olsen and Forte are a tight end and a running back, respectively, and Hester only had 665 yards. Even worse, the Bears top three wide receivers, Hester, Rashied Davis, and Brandon Lloyd, only totaled 1474 yards.

In comparison, the Broncos top three wide receivers combined for 2773 yards. That’s a difference of almost 1,300 yards between the Bears and Broncos receiving corps.

After seeing that, putting Orton on a team with the offensive talent that the Broncos have should do wonders for his numbers.

And, when you consider that in his senior year at Purdue he threw for 3,090 yards and 31 touchdowns in a system that is said by many to be very similar to the one McDaniels plans to run, Orton begins to look like he could be a very solid quarterback in Denver.

Orton also brings to the table that everyone covets in a quarterback; a strong arm, passing accuracy, and all the intangibles. He is a leader in the locker room and on the field, he’s very intelligent, and, most importantly, he is a winner, and will do whatever is necessary to win football games.

He is 20-12 as a starter, compared to the 17-20 record that Cutler is sporting. Even better, his 9-6 record last season (he missed one start) cannot be credited to his defense, as the Bears D ranked in the bottom half of the league.

But, the most important pro-Orton quality has nothing to do with the offense. To get Mark Sanchez, the Broncos will likely have to part with their extra first rounder in order to move up.

In doing this, the Broncos would go from having two first round draft picks to address their woeful defense to no first round draft picks to address their defense, as their one would have been spent on a QB.

The Broncos should be using those picks to draft two players that can make an impact on their defense.

So let’s hold off on the “let’s go get our franchise quarterback in the first round” talk. The Broncos have many more pressing needs right now.

Orton should be given his one year as a starter for the Broncos, and the Broncos should use those two first rounders on players like DE Tyson Jackson, LB Rey Maualuga, or, hopefully, DT B.J. Raji, if he falls to 12.

And, if the Broncos do really feel like they need to go out and get a rookie, let’s hold off until day two. There are plenty of quarterbacks on the board expected to go in round 5-6.

So Bronco Maniacs, let’s give Kyle Orton chance. He’s fairly strong and accurate, and has all the intangibles. Given McDaniels track record with quarterbacks and the slew of weapons he has in Denver, Orton could change a lot of minds in Denver.

Denver Broncos Primed for Defensive Overhaul

Josh Vitale — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:34:58 -0500

After last season’s defensive debacle, Denver Broncos fans can surely expect changes made to their defense. Add in the fact that the Broncos have an entirely new coaching staff and defensive philosophy, and the Broncos are primed for a complete defensive makeover.

With Mike Nolan coming in as the team's new defensive coordinator, the Broncos will start to make the transition to a 3-4 defense, something they do not have the personnel for right now.

The team has small defensive ends, no semblance of a dominant nose tackle, and weak safety play—a recipe for disaster.

There are some bright spots, though. The Broncos have a "top-15 pick," giving them ample opportunity to draft a defensive starter. They have D.J. Williams starting at OLB, who is becoming one of the best young linebackers in the league, and Champ Bailey, who when healthy, is still one of the top three cover corners in the league.

The Broncos also have two promising second-year players that are primed for starting jobs in 2009: linebacker Wesley Woodyard and safety Josh Barrett.

With those four as starters in 2009, that leaves seven positions for the Broncos to fill. However, they have plenty of opportunities to do so.

If the Broncos wishes come true, Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder will finally live up to expectations and become integral parts of the defensive end rotation. The two will hopefully be joined by another rookie end, which I hope the Broncos draft in either the third our fourth round.

As for the nose tackle position, expect the Broncos to draft Fili Moala in the second round to be the starter, and expect Marcus Thomas to back him up.

At linebacker, the Broncos should have two starters already in place, with Williams and Woodyard on the outside. With their first round pick, the Broncos should look no further than Rey Maualuga, who would become an instant force at ILB.

And, while the Broncos have little money for the free agency market, expect them to spend some of it on an inside linebacker, preferably Channing Crowder, a solid young MLB who could be had for a lower price than some others.

Also, I would like to see Elvis Dumervil groomed to be a rush linebacker in passing situations, similar to the role played by DeMarcus Ware in Dallas. They both have a similar body-type and skillset, so Dumervil could fit perfectly in that role.

In the secondary, expect Marlon McCree, Marquand Manuel, and Dre’ Bly to be released. Champ Bailey will start at one corner, and Barrett will claim one of the starting safety jobs.

For the other two jobs, the Broncos must look to the outside for help. I expect the Broncos to spend the remaining amount of their free agent budget here, as there are young, potential starters in both markets that will not demand large contracts.

At corner, Dunta Robinson and Bryant McFadden are both young corners who have played backup roles most of their careers, but are ready for a starting job.

Expect second-year Broncos Josh Bell and Jack Williams to become backup corners.

At safety, there are a slew of free agents, both youthful and experienced, who could be bought as a starter for a small contract. Players such as Jermaine Phillips, Oshiomogho Atogwe, and Mike Brown are all free agents, and would all be a huge upgrade over McCree or Manuel.

If the Broncos make these position upgrades, and change from the 4-3 defense to the 3-4 without many struggles, they could be primed for a huge improvement on defense in 2009.

Your 2009 Denver Broncos Defensive Starters:

DE: Jarvis Moss/Tim Crowder/Rookie

DT: Fili Moala/Marcus Thomas

OLB: D.J. Williams/Wesley Woodyard

MLB: Rey Maualuga/Channing Crowder

CB: Champ Bailey/Dunta Robinson or Bryant McFadden

S: Josh Barrett/Jermaine Phillips, Oshiomogho Atogwe, or Mike Brown

Joshin' Around: Why the Eagles Are Two Players Away from a Super Bowl Title

Josh Vitale — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:24:28 -0500

For the fifth time in the last eight seasons, the Philadelphia Eagles have played in the NFC Championship game.

In those five tries, the Eagles have one Super Bowl appearance, and no championships.

What’s their problem? It’s very simple.

The Philadelphia Eagles are two players away from winning the Super Bowl.

Let’s start with the players they do have:

Donovan McNabb starts at quarterback, and he has been one of the most productive passers in Eagles history. The offensive line is one of the best in the NFL, with a solid group of veterans and young guys protecting McNabb. Combine that with a solid tight end trio of L.J. Smith, Brent Celek, and Matt Schobel, and the Eagles have a solid core on offense.

And no, I’m not forgetting anyone. I’ll get to them later.

Now, on the defense, the Eagles may be even stronger. Their defensive tackles, Broderick Bunkley and Mike Patterson, may be one of the best duos in the league. They are flanked by Trent Cole and Jaqua Parker, two better than average defensive ends. Their linebacker corps of Akeem Jordan, Stewart Bradley, and Chris Gocong is young, but quickly improving. And their secondary is one of the best in the NFL, with Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown, Lito Sheppard manning the corner spots, and Brian Dawkins and Quintin Mikell at safety.

The two positions that I haven’t mentioned are where the problems lie. Brian Westbrook is among the best weapons in the NFL, as he dominates as a receiver out of the backfield, but he struggles as an every-down running back. And at receiver, Kevin Curtis, DeSean Jackson, and Reggie Brown are all solid receivers, but none of them are a No. 1.

Here is the solution that will solve all of Philly’s problems: Draft a running back, and find a way to get Anquan Boldin to wear green next year.

Why?

For starters, let’s look at wide receiver. In Terrell Owens’ first season as an Eagle, they were almost unstoppable, finally making it to the Super Bowl after three straight seasons of losing in the NFC championship. If he hadn’t destroyed that locker-room morale, it was a match made in heaven.

So if they were able to somehow lure Boldin away from Arizona, the Eagles would finally have the No. 1 they crave, creating one of the top receiving corps in the NFC, with Boldin being the No. 1 and Jackson and Curtis flanking him.

Second, let’s look at the upcoming draft. Beanie Wells and Knowshon Moreno are surefire first-round picks, and Shonn Greene is waiting in the wings. If the Eagles could get their hands on one of these guys, their offensive dynamic would change instantly.

Making this move would allow the Eagles to shape Brian Westbrook into the Reggie Bush mold, making him a weapon out of the backfield, from the slot, and even on special teams.

Just think, if the Eagles could put a true every-down running back in their backfield, get themselves a true No. 1 receiver, and make Westbrook a weapon from everywhere on the field, they would be incredibly hard to stop.

I’ll say it again: The Eagles are two players away from being the best team in the NFL.

Don’t forget to catch the next “Joshin’ Around.”

Joshin' Around: The "How Did That Happen?" Storylines of the 2008 NFL Season

Josh Vitale — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:06:39 -0500

Year after year, surprises run rampant throughout the world of sports. Many of those events leave us sitting on our couch in bewilderment.

“Oh my god. How did that happen?”

These events consisted of all sorts of things, including surprise teams, star rookies, senior citizens, and plenty of disappointments.

So without further ado, here are the "How did that happen?" moments of 2008, with somewhat of a comical twist.

Enjoy.

Little kids making a big splash

One of the main reasons the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens struggled so mightily in 2008 was the fact that they were starting rookies at quarterback.

Wait, hold on. That doesn’t sound right.

The Falcons and Ravens had a huge amount of success this season, and much of the credit has to be given to these two rookie quarterbacks.

Ryan, the Rookie of the Year, finished his rookie season as the 11th rated passer in the league, with an 87.7 passer rating, 3,440 passing yards and 16 touchdowns. He led the Falcons to an 11-5 record and a wild card playoff berth, where the Falcons lost to the Arizona Cardinals.

Flacco’s numbers are a little less impressive, but he has arguably had a better season than Ryan. Flacco finished as the 22nd ranked passer, with an 80.3 passer rating, 2,971 yards, and 14 touchdowns. He led the Ravens to an 11-5 record and a wild card berth, but, unlike Ryan, led Baltimore to two playoff wins, and a berth in the AFC championship.

If you asked any NFL expert at the beginning of the season about the successes of these two players, none would have predicted they would lead their teams into the playoffs. That’s why they are two of the biggest surprises in the NFL.

Resurgence of the old men

At the beginning of this season, Commissioner Roger Goodell started a senior citizen outreach program, allowing persons over the age of 60 to try out for their favorite NFL teams.

Who would have guessed any of these players would even survive the tryouts?

No one could have predicted it, but two of them quarterbacked their teams into the playoffs.

One of them was the second best passer in the league, and the other led his team to a 13-3 record and the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Kurt Warner, of the Arizona Cardinals, finished the regular season with 4,583 yards and 30 touchdowns, second in the league only to Drew Brees. Tennessee’s Kerry Collins had much less impressive numbers, with only 2,676 yards and 12 touchdowns, but he led the Titans to the best record in the AFC and a first round bye.

So who had the better season? Well, that one’s obvious.

Kerry Collins led his team, whose season ended in a 13-10 upset to the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round. Kurt Warner carried his team, and put them on his back all the way to the Super Bowl.

Winner? Warner.

Plaxico Burress pops a cap in his leg

This one still baffles me. Are you serious, Plax?

First off, how about not bringing a loaded gun into a night club? Second, if you are going to carry a gun, maybe you should consider registering it and buying a permit to carry it. And third, put the safety on the gun. Shooting yourself in the leg is not a strong career move.

Over the past few seasons, we have seen some stupid players do even stupider things. But the Plax fiasco surely tops them all.

Who let these guys into the playoffs?

If I told you at the beginning of the season that 2008 would welcome seven teams that didn’t make the playoffs in 2007, would you have believed me?

What if I told you those seven teams combined to finish 41-71? I bet you would have said no.

Well, the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, and Baltimore Ravens all made the playoffs this season, and none of those teams finished over .500 last season.

Apparently, consistent playoff berths are a thing of the past.

The Arizona Cardinals

On Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals wrote yet another chapter in their magical fairytale, upsetting the Philadelphia Eagles 32-25 to win the NFC Championship.

What?

This is the same team that staggered to a 9-7 finish, closing out their season 2-4.

This is the same team that, while finishing fourth in passing yards, finished dead last in rushing yards.

This is the same team that finished 19th in total defense, giving up 48 points in a regular season loss to the Eagles.

And this is the team that will represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLIII

This is by far the biggest “How did that happen?” of the 2008 NFL season.

Keep your eyes open for the next “Joshin’ Around.”

The Five Best College Basketball Players You've Never Heard Of

Josh Vitale — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:17:37 -0500

Every season, college basketball analysts select three star players to focus on all season 2009 is no different. This year, those three select players are Blake Griffin of Oklahoma, Stephen Curry of Davidson, and Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina. But, as fans, we must remember the other 1000+ players in college basketball. Here is a slideshow of some of the college basketball superstars you may not know. All these players are the leaders of top 25 teams, yet go mostly unheralded among college basketball fans.

Begin Slideshow

Coaching on a Tightrope: Josh McDaniels Has Many Questions To Answer for Broncos

Josh Vitale — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:01:15 -0500

Less than two weeks after long-time head coach Mike Shanahan was fired, owner Pat Bowlen found his guy.

On Sunday night, Jan. 11, the Denver Broncos reached an agreement with Josh McDaniels to succeed Shanahan as head coach.

McDaniels has spent the greater part of his coaching career with the New England Patriots. Most of his success, however, has come since 2006, when he was named the Patriots' offensive coordinator.

In this time, he has made New England one of the best offensive teams in the NFL. In 2007, led by MVP quarterback Tom Brady, McDaniels’ offense led the NFL in total yards as well as points scored.

The season that ensured him consideration for a head coaching position, however, may be 2008. Not eight minutes into their first game, Brady was lost for the year, due to a horrific knee injury.

The Patriots then entrusted their high-powered offense to backup QB Matt Cassel, who had not started a game since high school. Even with this challenge, McDaniels did not falter as his offense remained in the top 10 in both total yards and points scored, something unheard of for a team starting a second-string QB.

But, with all the success he had in New England, no one is ready to call him a savior just yet. He must answer many questions before he is praised by Bronco Country.

Question One: Will McDaniels improve an offense that finished second in total yards last year?

While it does not seem feasible, the answer to this question is yes.

The Broncos ranked second in total offense this season; third in passing, and 12th in rushing. They were assumed to be one healthy running back away from greatness. However, that does not change the fact that they finished 16th in scoring.

The Patriots, meanwhile, were fifth in total offense; 12th in passing, and sixth in rushing, even with trouble of their own at running back. On top of that, they finished eighth in scoring, eight spots ahead of the Broncos.

Put this into perspective; if the Broncos keep their passing offense at the same level as this season, and improve their rushing and scoring totals to the level that the 2008 Patriots reached, being the No. 1 offense in the NFL is very well within their reach.

Question Two: Will McDaniels improve the defense?

Seeing as McDaniels is primarily an offensive coach, the jury is clearly still out on this one. After finishing 2008 with the 29th ranked defense, many believed that the Broncos would go with a defensive coordinator as Shanahan’s successor.

But Bowlen, perhaps looking for a “young” Mike Shanahan, sided with offense, ergo McDaniels.

Today it was reported that Mike Nolan will be brought in as defensive coordinator. Nolan, who runs a 3-4 defensive system, will have his work cut out for him in 2009.

From a personnel perspective, the Broncos were already a mess defensively, suffering from a slew of draft busts and poor free agent signings. And that was for a 4-3 system. For the 3-4, the Broncos look to be in even more trouble.

There is, however, light at the end of the tunnel. The Broncos will pick 12th in this year’s draft, and have eight picks following their first rounder. Also, the defensive free-agent market is very deep this offseason, giving the Broncos ample opportunity to pick up any player they need.

If the Broncos can draft, sign, or develop the players to have success in a 3-4 system, McDaniels and Nolan may achieve their goal of improving this defense.

For now though, it remains unclear how much defensive improvement, if any, the Broncos will make in 2009.

Question Three: What will happen to Jeremy Bates and the rest of the offensive

coaches?

This is an intriguing situation. At his press conference yesterday, McDaniels told reporters that he would be the one calling plays on offense.

This brings into question the fate of quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates and the rest of the offensive staff. Bowlen has advocated for the return of running backs coach Bobby Turner and receivers coach Jedd Fisch, but other than that, there has been little word from McDaniels.

Rick Dennison, the long-time offensive coordinator, is likely to leave the team, and has already begun interviewing with other teams about their offensive coordinator positions.

Bates, who called the plays last year, will be relieved of those duties, but his role on the team, if any, has yet to be determined. This worries some people, because Jay Cutler did not support the Shanahan firing and has strongly advocated the return of Bates, with whom he has a very close relationship.

Our situation? To promote Bates to offensive coordinator and have him work with McDaniels in coaching the offense. Two young, talented offensive minds working together could make this offense one of the best we have ever seen.

There has been no word as to what will happen yet, however, so we will have to wait and see.

Question Four: Will McDaniels handle the pressure and attention he will receive as the youngest active NFL head coach?

Without having spent even one full day on the job yet, McDaniels has faced endless questions on whether his age will be a factor. McDaniels, at 32, is the youngest active head coach in the NFL.

Quick to dismiss these questions, he believes that his age will have nothing to do with coaching success.

However, as the head coach of the Broncos, a franchise accustomed to winning, McDaniels will face a lot of scrutiny in his first year, and every tiny mistake will be magnified.

No one quite knows how or if he will handle the pressure, but if he does, the Broncos may have found something special.

In Conclusion

McDaniels will begin his first head coaching stint in Denver with questions swirling around the entire organization.

What is the fate of the offense and its staff? Will the defense improve under Nolan? Will McDaniels handle everything the Denver fans and media will throw at him?

No one knows quite yet.

But, one thing that remains clear: Josh McDaniels is coaching on a tightrope.

If the offense falters, or if the defense does not improve, he will be criticized. His job will not be at stake, but Bronco fans are reluctant to accept anything but success, and will not be patient for long.

Stay tuned Bronco fans; 2009 will be an interesting year.

Joshin' Around: An Offensive Head Coach Could Mean Trouble for Denver Broncos

Josh Vitale — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 23:40:46 -0500

As we all know by now, on Dec. 30, 2008, Pat Bowlen shook the foundation of the entire NFL landscape.

Just one day after the no-surprise firings of the Jets’ Eric Mangini, the Lions’ Rod Marinelli, and the Browns’ Romeo Crennel, long time Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan was fired, ending his 14-year tenure in Denver.

Since this time, the Broncos have held interviews with seven head coaching candidates: Giants defensive coordinator (DC) Steve Spagnuolo, Patriots offensive coordinator (OC) Josh McDaniels, Buccaneers DC Raheem Morris, Cowboys OC Jason Garrett, Broncos OC Rick Dennison, Vikings DC Leslie Frazier, and Dolphins assistant head coach Todd Bowles.

At the conclusion of these interviews, McDaniels and Frazier are rumored to be the favorites for the job.

The question now is this: will the Broncos choose offense, or defense?

If history is any indication, the Broncos will choose offense. The two longest tenured head coaches in Broncos history, Dan Reeves and Mike Shanahan, began their careers as offensive assistants before moving their way up to head coach.

So why does history say the Broncos will go offense? Because in the 25 years that Bowlen has owned the Broncos, those two offensive-minded guys coached all but two of them.

And if this trend continues, the Broncos may be in trouble in 2009.

The Broncos finished second in total offense in 2008, and were more than likely one healthy running back away from being number one.

On top of that, the Broncos have one of the better offensive coaching staffs in the league, with veteran offensive coordinator Rick Dennison running the show and Jeremy Bates, one of the NFL’s hottest young assistants, calling the plays.

Now I’m no expert, but doesn’t it seem like the offense was not the issue this season?

It wasn’t.

The issue was the defense, which finished the season ranked 29th in the league, ahead of only the Seahawks, Chiefs, and Lions.

On top of that, the defensive coaching staff of the Broncos has struggled mightily, as they have had three different defensive coordinators in the past three seasons.

When taking this information into consideration, it seems like the only head coaching candidates should be Spagnuolo, Morris, and Frazier.

And if Frazier and McDaniels are the favorites, then Frazier should be offered the job as soon as possible.

Why?

The Broncos were dynamic on offense, averaging over 395 yards per game, second only to the New Orleans Saints. On defense, however, the Broncos were atrocious, giving up over 370 yards per game.

So who should be hired?

Well, the Broncos are more than likely going to fire defensive coordinator Bob Slowik. So if McDaniels is hired, the Broncos still have no direction on defense.

If Frazier is hired, the Broncos instantly gain a direction on defense, as Frazier’s defense was sixth in the NFL this season.

It makes perfect sense. When Shanahan was fired, Bowlen made it clear that he intended on hiring a head coach and a general manager, as well as revamping the entire defensive staff.

Hiring a defensive head coach would make Bowlen’s job much easier. Surely Frazier can bring in a guy from his staff in Minnesota to run the defense in Denver.

And seeing as McDaniels is the offensive coordinator in New England, the likelihood of him having a defensive coordinator on his staff is about zero.

Do the math, Mr. Bowlen. Leslie Frazier is the guy.

Keep looking out for future editions of “Joshing Around.”

Joshin’ Around: Why Do People Hate The New York Yankees?

Josh Vitale — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:12:28 -0500

Every true baseball fan has one thing in common: They either love the New York Yankees, or they hate the New York Yankees.

And if you ask any of those haters why they don’t like the Yankees, they will give you one of three basic answers: 1) They spend way too much money. 2) They don’t build teams, they buy them. 3) They think Yankees fans are obnoxious.

I’ll tell you one thing right now: all of those reasons are ridiculous.

Let’s start with answer no. 1. Do you know why other team’s fans complain about the Yankees spending too much money? Well it’s not because they think the Yankees overpay players.

It’s jealousy.

The Yankees are by far the richest team in baseball. So if you have enough money to sign the best players on the free agent market, why not? Don’t complain that the Yankees outbid your favorite team for the best free agent, because you have no right to. The Yankees offered that player more money than your team did, because they have more money than your team.

The Yankees do not overpay players; they just pay more than everyone else. They’re the Yankees. They can do that. Accept it.

This leads right into answer no. 2. More often than not, a typical Yankee hater will immediately accuse the Yankees of “buying teams,” instead of building them. Let me tell you something right now: since free-agency in baseball came into existence, every winning franchise has bought their team

Let’s start first with the projected 2009 Yankees roster. Out of the eight position players, five starting pitchers, and one closer (14 total), the Yankees have seven home-grown players, or players that have come up through their farm system.

Now let’s look at the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox, the next two highest payroll teams, and the two biggest Yankee hating organizations. Out of the same 14 players, the Mets only have four home-grown players, and the Red Sox have six.

What that means is this: the accusation that the Yankees buy teams is absolutely true, because every other winning team in baseball, minus the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays, has bought their team. Out of the eight position players, five starting pitchers, and one closer, the mets have bought 10, the Red Sox have bought 8, and the Yankees have only bought 7.

How ‘bout them apples?

So don’t accuse the Yankees as being the only team that supposedly “buys” their team, because when you look at the rest of the winning teams, they’ve all done the same thing.

And as for answer no. 3, all fans are obnoxious. Whether you are a Yankee fan, Royals fan, Brewers fan, or Mets fan, fans from every other team think you are obnoxious. That is just how sports work. There doesn’t have to be a rivalry; fans of one team don’t like the fans of others.

So there you have it. I have just made a mockery of the three biggest reasons why people hate the New York Yankees, the greatest franchise in sports history.

Now don’t get me wrong; I have no problem with anyone hating the Yankees. I completely understand why people hate the Yankees, especially Mets and Red Sox fans.

But hate the Yankees because they’re the best team in sports history. Don’t hate them because they have more money than your favorite team, and don’t accuse them of doing things every other team does.

That’s just ridiculous.

Don’t forget to keep looking out for the next “Joshin’ Around.”

Joshin' Around: Detroit Lions Finish 0-16, but May Be Among the Best Teams Ever

Josh Vitale — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:17:10 -0500

The Lions may not have won a single game this year, but does that really mean they are the worst team in the history of football?

No, it does not.

In high school, a science teacher once told our class that if we got every question wrong on a test, he would give us an automatic 100 percent.

Why?

Because he believed that if we were to actually get every question wrong on a test, we must know something.

So, with that logic, the Lions must know how to win right?

They do know how to win, but they did not want to. They were proving a point in 2008; they wanted to tell the football world that it takes just as much skill and talent to go 0-16 as it does to go 16-0.

Let’s look at some of the games that the Lions had to lose to keep their record alive. In Week Two, the Lions went down 21-3 early to the Green Bay Packers, but stormed back and actually took the lead 25-24 midway through the fourth. I think, as a team, you have to be incredibly talented to give up 24 points in the last seven minutes and lose 48-25.

Or what about Week Six? In a tightly contested game against the rival Minnesota Vikings, the Lions lead 10-2 in the third quarter, and held a 10-9 lead until there were seconds left in the fourth!

Quarterback Dan Orlovsky, however, foresaw this predicament, and made sure he ran out of the back of the end zone early in the game, turning Minnesota’s potential game-tying field goal into the game-winner.

They did it again in Week Nine. Down 10-0 early to the Chicago Bears, the Lions rallied, taking a 23-13 lead into halftime. But that was the end of their glory, as they let the Bears score 14 unanswered points for a 27-23 win.

But their best effort of the season had to be Week 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The energy of the home Detroit crowd pumped up the Lions and steered them away from their ultimate goal. At the end of the first quarter, it was all Lions, 17-0.

But a heartwarming speech from coach Rod Marinelli brought them back into the game. He preached dedication to the goal and told them to get it together on the field. And the Lions responded perfectly, giving up 35 unanswered points and losing 38-20.

Noting that logic, I am making the case the 2008 Detroit Lions are one of the best, most talented teams in NFL history. Sure, it took talent for the 2007 New England Patriots to win all 16 regular-season games.

But losing every game? That is an incredible feat.

Don’t forget to catch out the next “Joshin' Around.”

Joshin' Around: Denver Broncos' Defense Eerily Similar to a High School Defense

Josh Vitale — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:18:00 -0500

When looking at an average high school football team’s defense, one notices many common trends.

For starters, the defense consists of two types of players: the fastest guys and the biggest guys.

My high school follows this model. The defensive backfield and linebackers are some of the quickest, most aggressive players on the team, and the defensive line is large, in charge, and slow. Game after game, the Knights are burned by the pass and gashed by the run.

Sound familiar?

The Denver Broncos are eerily similar to my high school. The fastest guys run rampant throughout the roster, as Denver is home to one of the smallest, fastest defenses in the NFL.

D.J. Williams, Nate Webster, Boss Bailey, and Jamie Winborn are considered the fastest quartet of linebackers in the league, and Champ Bailey and Dré Bly are two of the faster cornerbacks in the game.

Do not mistake this as a compliment though. Outside of Williams and Bailey, these players are too fast for their own good, constantly missing tackles and getting burned by playmakers around the league.

It only gets worse from there. Three of the Bronco’s defensive ends—Elvis Dumervil, Jarvis Moss, and Tim Crowder—are light in the pants, with none of them weighing more than 275 pounds. While this allows them to be quick off the ball and fast to the quarterback, they are susceptible to the run and gashed game after game.

And when the Broncos finally got big, they went slow. The big men up front for the Broncos are John Engelberger, Ebenezer Ekuban, Dewayne Robertson, Kenny Peterson, and Marcus Thomas, and even with their size, they are constantly getting into trouble.

Four of these players are over the 300-pound mark, and all of them are slow off the ball, slow to shed blocks, and slow in pursuit.

Personnel wise, the Broncos combination of small, fast players and big, slow players—with no middle ground—is a recipe for disaster.

This isn’t the only common trend though; when I think of an average high school football team, I think of a ridiculously over-aggressive nature. I think of players leaving their gaps, taking bad angles on runners, and thinking of little but laying a big hit on someone.

These happen to be some of the Broncos' specialties.

The Broncos, with their deadly mixture of small speed and beefy sloth, were sometimes made to look like high schoolers by the better offenses in the league. It is a hard, sad pill to swallow, but it’s the truth.

I cannot remember a game where I didn’t see at least one example of this; whether it was Bly getting burned deep, Webster over pursuing a play, or Robertson and Thomas letting backs run right through them, it always killed the team.

I truly hope that the Broncos' new head coach, general manager, and defensive coordinator can work together and fix the defensive mess that is the Broncos, because it is sad watching Jay Cutler lead the Pro Bowl offense down the field, knowing he has a high-school defense waiting to blow the game.

Be sure to look out for the next installment of "Joshin' Around."

Joshin' Around: The Seven-Step Program to Turn Around The Denver Broncos

Josh Vitale — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:36:08 -0500

Bronco fans, I’m sure you all share my disappointment in the team’s performance in 2008. Yes, there were a lot of injuries and the expectations were pretty low from the get-go, but the three-game lead they blew was basically unacceptable.

However, I have developed a Seven-Step Program to bring the Denver Broncos back to life, and if followed correctly, this program should have the Broncos back on their feet in no time.

Step One: Hire a Head Coach with a defensive background

This one is a no-brainer. Since 2002, the Broncos have been ranked in the top 10 in offensive yards five out of seven seasons, and outside of 2006, they were never ranked below 12th.

In the past four years, however, the Broncos have ranked below 14th in total defense, ending with a ranking of 29th in 2008. The offense has always been there, but in the last few years, the defense was never there to back it up.

Hiring a defensive minded coach, such as New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, newly-promoted Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, or Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier would be the best plan of action.

Mike Shanahan was a strictly offensive-minded coach, and because of this the defense struggled. If the defense can catch up to the offense, the rest of the league better watch its back.

Step Two: Find a General Manager with a proven track record

The Broncos have not had a true general manager since Ted Sundquist was fired after the 2007 season, and the personnel department has struggled mightily with Shanahan running the show.

If the Broncos plan to succeed again, their decisions in the draft and in free agency must improve drastically. The Broncos desperately need to hire a proven GM in order to stay away from draft and free agency busts.

Step Three: Keep the Offensive staff together

Owner Pat Bowlen has made it clear that there will be changes on the coaching staff. The offensive staff, however, should not be messed with.

The offense was the reason the Broncos were able to stumble to an 8-8 record, and a lot of credit must be given to the coaches. Jeremy Bates, the quarterbacks coach and offensive play caller, helped Jay Cutler have one of the best single seasons for a quarterback in Broncos history.

Bobby Turner, the running backs coach, had seven running backs land on injured reserve, yet the Broncos were still in the top 15 in rushing yards, rushing yards per game, rushing average, and rushing touchdowns.

The defensive staff needs a serious makeover, but the offensive staff should continue to work together.

Step Four: Gut the defense

Over the last few years, the Broncos defense has been marred by draft busts and poor free agent signings. The current Bronco defense consists of a slew of players that have not panned out.

Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder have barely gotten on the field as defensive ends.

The oft-injured Nate Webster has played inconsistently at linebacker. Niko Koutouvides was brought in to be a special teams maven and a candidate for the middle linebacker job, but did not do well in either position.

Marlon McCree and Marquand Manuel were brought in to shore up the safety position, but when they were actually healthy and on the field, they were consistently burned.

Moss and Crowder will be allowed to have a few more years to pan out, but the rest should pack their bags and find a new job.

Step Five: Find a way to gain more draft picks

This step works simultaneously with Step Four. Over the past three years, the Broncos have turned late round draft picks into regular contributors on both offense and defense.

Players such as Peyton Hillis, Josh Barrett, Marcus Thomas, Chris Kuper, Elvis Dumervil, and Brandon Marshall were all drafted in rounds four through seven in the NFL draft, and have established themselves as starters for the Broncos.

The Broncos’ brass should note this trend and attempt to turn some of their free agent busts (see Step Four) into some late round draft picks. I’m sure there are plenty of teams out there that would be willing to give up a sixth or seventh round pick to gain a veteran backup.

Step Six: Rebuild the defense

While it is sixth in the process, it may be the most important step to success. The Broncos need to be near perfect in the draft and in free agency in order to bring the defense back to a respectable level.

First, the Broncos need to make a killing in the draft. For starters, they need to get a Trojan on their team. Whether they want to go with a linebacker or a safety in round one, USC is the place to go. Rey Maualuga or Taylor Mays would instantly improve the defense, and at least one will be available at the Broncos' No. 12 pick.

To finish the draft, the Broncos need to upgrade every position on the defensive side of the ball, as well as add depth and potential future starters to the cornerback, safety, linebacker, and defensive line positions.

Second, the Broncos need to spend some dough and make a huge splash in the free agent market. Albert Haynesworth (DE, Tennessee), Julius Peppers (DE, Carolina), Terrell Suggs (DE, Baltimore), Bart Scott (LB, Baltimore), and Jermaine Phillips (S, Tampa Bay) are the top of the defensive free agent class, and would all be huge upgrades at their respective positions.

The Broncos should definitely make a play to instantly upgrade their defense, and show one, or maybe two, of these players the money they want.

Step Seven: Find a Running Back

To create some balance on offense and keep Cutler’s pass attempts under 40 a game, the Broncos need to find a healthy, consistent running back somewhere.

I, however, do not believe that they should draft or sign a free agent running back. I believe the answer at that position is already on the roster.

Selvin Young, when healthy, has averaged over five yards per carry as a starter, and has played fairly consistently in his two year career.

Hillis filled in admirably when everyone in front of him went down, and fits perfectly as a combo back, playing as a short yardage back, fullback, and a receiver out of the backfield.

Ryan Torain showed flashes of brilliance when he was healthy and could pan out as a solid full time starter.

To round out the backfield, I believe the broncos should take a flier on a late round running back or an undrafted free agent, and pick up a true fullback in free agency.

In Conclusion:

If the Denver Broncos follow these seven steps, the only direction is up. If they maintain the status quo on offense and revamp the defense, the San Diego Chargers will have some company at the top of the AFC West next season.

So let us move on from Shanahan, Elway, Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII, and anything else that has happened in the past. Let us look only at our new head coach, Cutler, and Super Bowl XLIV.

Catch me later for the next installment of “Joshin' around the NFL.”