Bleacher Report - Articles by William Lipp

Coach Josh McDaniels and the Wasted Draft

William Lipp — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:04:10 -0400

Correll Buckhalter should start in Denver. Not Knowshon Moreno, but Correll Buckhalter. Why waste a pick on a running back when Denver has proved that you don't need to draft early to get a good one? Besides that the Broncos signed veteran Buckhalter in the offseason.

Josh McDaniels, this is an article dedicated to the way you have done almost nothing right since coming to Denver. What was your first move? Get rid of our Pro Bowl quarterback because he didn't come from your Patriot organization.

Your next move? Go into the draft looking like you had no idea what you were doing. You drafted a running back in the first round. Nobody wants a first round running back anymore (unless he's Adrian Peterson which Moreno is not). Follow that up with Robert Ayers.

Why?

Denver has multiple young defensive ends, the defense needs a middle linebacker or a middle defensive lineman. Not another defensive end.

Elvis Dumervil would work great in your 3-4 as a rushing linebacker, and all you had to do was get a backer and some size inside.

Anyone who actually watches a game, knows that Denver has struggled on defense since Al Wilson went down with a neck injury. The best teams in the league have what? A good middle linebacker.

Bears: Brian Urlacher

Ravens: Ray Lewis

Minnesota: E.J. Henderson

Green Bay: Nick Barnett

Who does Denver have? Andra Davis, a guy who has looked both good and bad in his career.

By the way, I commented earlier that you lost our starting quarterback who is coming off a Pro Bowl season. Do you get a replacement? You got us Kyle Orton (I would've rather had Rex Grossman) and Chris oh my spleen Simms. Simms is our only hope at the position. He did look passable as a quarterback in Tampa before his injury. Orton is nothing but a manager, he cannot win you a game. Orton does not have the ability to go to a Pro Bowl, or win a championship.

In fact the only decent thing I've seen you do was bring in Mike Nolan to run the defense. Maybe he'll have the know-how to get things squared away on defense and make the team look at least decent.

You have one season coach. If your plans stink, like many of us believe, then you can go back to New England.

Peyton Hills Moves to Halfback, Denver Broncos Having Flashbacks to '04?

William Lipp — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:56:19 -0500

This week against Atlanta, Denver fullback Peyton Hillis will start at halfback.

Taking a look back to 2004 when a similar move was made with Reuben Droughns, everyone in Broncoland can only hope for similar success. Droughns had been the starting fullback when his name was called to run the ball, he was able to amass 1,240 yards that season.

Will Hillis repeat that success? While he looked solid in last weeks game, it probably isn't something to get too excited about. He was a seventh-round pick and couldn't see any time at the position in college. Peyton Hillis played games at tight end and fullback, only to look like a solid player.

But then again, this is Denver. Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, and of course, Reuben Droughns all came from no where with little to no experience. Maybe, just maybe, Hillis can repeat their feats.

A serious problem that may arise is a lack of a fullback. Without Hillis blocking, Denver will have to rely on a fullback who hasn't seen time all season at the position. A single back set will more than likely be the game plan, but that just doesn't work quite as well to get the serious yards needed to be considered great.

Well, Peyton Hillis (who until this week I have been mistakenly calling Patrick), good luck and godspeed.

Rookie Ryan Torain is Broncos' Last Hope

William Lipp — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:56:54 -0500

After an amazing 4-1 start, the Denver Broncos have all but died after losing their last three games.

Eddie Royal remains a bright spot on the otherwise dead team. Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall look to be having a contest to see who can turn the ball over more. Michael Pittman and Andre Hall are now on the IR.

What will save Denver?

Rookie Ryan Torain may be that man. The Arizona State standout is very highly regarded by Coach Mike Shanahan, but hasn't seen any kind of time this season aside from three carries for one yard in last week's loss to the Dolphins.

Shanahan made mistakes on Selvin Young and Travis Henry, what if he's wrong again?

Well, Mike thought Selvin had what it took to run the ball, but was never supposed to be a long-term solution. As for Henry, he still has the talent and the drive, but can't seem to stay away from Mary Jane. Maybe he should consider talking to Ricky Williams; he's cleaned his life up. At least to the public.

The Torain love affair in Denver is the only hope this sadly division-leading team still has. Can the rookie save the day? Is he any good?

I believe so.

Just because he didn't go to the big USC or Miami (FL) doesn't mean he isn't any good. Anyone heard of LaDainian Tomlinson (TCU)? And maybe he wasn't drafted early, but did that stop Marion Barber III (109th pick)? Mike Shanahan has even gone as far as saying Ryan Torain is the next Terrell Davis.

Desperate? Maybe. Hopeful? Definitely.

No matter what, Denver will be watching him closely and hoping he can turn the ship back on course.

Charger Coach Norv Turner's Newest Nightmare

William Lipp — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:15:11 -0400

Some coaches stay up all night worrying about the next day's game. Dick Vermeil was famous for working himself into a panic attack, and since he left the league nobody has filled his worrying shoes. Until maybe now, Norv Turner has to see his potential Super Bowl challengers going down the drain.

But really, why should Norv Turner worry? They started out slow last year and won the division pretty easily.

Instead of rolling through the supposedly weak AFC West, the Chargers now have to worry about the Denver Broncos. Jay Cutler picked apart the Oakland defense last Monday night, and new comer, Eddie Royal, looked inhuman.

In the meantime, San Diego's own inhuman specimen is out for the year. Shawne Merriman decided he needed to get his bum knee fixed and was put on the injured reserve this week. Not that it really mattered because the Dallas Cowboys did whatever they wanted to the Chargers last weekend.

Along with Cutler and Royal, the Broncos get Brandon Marshall back from his one game suspension. Marshall was fifth in the league last year amongst wide receivers with 102 receptions and 1,325 yards. Can Antonio Cromartie and Quentin Jammer hold back the tandem of Marshall and Royal? And say they do manage them, who will stop Stokley? Stokley looked like his leg was finally healed, and he was almost the player he was with the Colts.

Sleep well Norv Turner, because when Saturday night rolls around and you fly in to Denver, you won't.

Mike Shanahan Brings the Zone Back to Mile High

William Lipp — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:53:46 -0400

After a long year last year, Denver's offensive line was finally able to stop somebody. The best part, they blocked everybody. Once again Mike Shanahan showed us why his zone-blocking scheme is what everyone else in the league is trying to learn. New addition Ryan Clady looked fantastic, and anchored the left side of the line.

At the end of the night I highly doubt Cutler's jersey needed a good cleaning. Clady was just the tip of the iceberg. The rest of the line out-worked and beat up anything and everything Oakland had to offer. Our guards pushed the black and silver around all night.

Chris Kuper looked good in his second year of starting, and Ben Hamilton gave us his usual strong performance. Speaking of the new additions, I know everyone's heard the name Eddie Royal by this time. The kid is fast and quick off the line. There had to be four or five times he just burned by a defensive back and made the guy look like an idiot.

The only question remaining (if you're into the fantasy scene) is if he will fall into a lesser role when Brandon Marshall returns from his suspension on Sunday. Whether it was Royal's speed, the offensive line's domination, or the diabetes medication you have to agree that Jay Cutler looked better than ever before.

He threw it where he wanted it when he wanted to. Nobody came near stopping that man he was on a mission. He wanted to prove that guy named John is in the past and it's time to move on. It's the Jay show now everyone, so get on the bus.