Envisioning Denver Broncos' Starting Lineup for 2015 Season
The 2015 NFL draft has come and gone. Teams across the league are looking at their 90-man roster with visions of training camp battles to get that number down to the best 53 players possible.
In addition to trimming the roster, every team needs to determine which players are best for the starting lineup.
The Denver Broncos had a few starting jobs up for grabs entering the offseason. After the draft and free agency, they need to now hold competitions for those positions in training camp. In this article, we’ll look ahead to see which players may come out on top in those battles.
Here’s the projected starting lineup at every position we will see for the Broncos in 2015.
Quarterback: Peyton Manning
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There's no surprise at this position. Peyton Manning enters his fourth year with the Denver Broncos under a new coaching staff.
Head coach Gary Kubiak has said he's going to meld his offense with what Manning likes to run. We may not see Manning under center as much as other quarterbacks that have worked under Kubiak. At the same time, we are unlikely to see Manning in the shotgun as much as we've become used to over the last few years.
Kubiak and Manning should have no problem crafting an offense that can move the ball effectively on the ground and through the air. Manning may not pass for over 5,000 yards like he did in 2013, but he could still end the 2015 season as one of the top passers in the NFL.
This offense will be more balanced, and that could help Manning stay fresh as the season goes on. The Broncos want to make a run to the Super Bowl, and having a fresh Manning in the postseason would help them do just that.
Running Back: C.J. Anderson
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The Broncos unearthed a star last year in running back C.J. Anderson. An undrafted free agent in 2013, Anderson was thrust into the starting lineup last season after both Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman were banged up.
Anderson flashed incredible ability as both a runner and receiver out of the backfield. As the offense changed after getting beat up by the St. Louis Rams in Week 11, it was Anderson who led the way for the Broncos.
Over the last six weeks of the regular season, Anderson led the NFL in rushing with 648 yards. His eight rushing touchdowns during that time also led the NFL. Anderson's 779 all-purpose yards (rushing and receiving) was good for third in the NFL behind New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (853) and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (780).
In the Gary Kubiak offense, the Broncos will be more balanced from Day 1. Anderson has the perfect skill set to be a dangerous runner in the zone-blocking system. It would not be shocking to see Anderson finish the season as one of the NFL's leading rushers.
The key to winning the Super Bowl could be Anderson and the rushing attack.
Wide Receiver: Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders
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Demaryius Thomas is one of the best receivers in the game today. His size, speed and wingspan make him a dangerous target no matter where the Broncos are lining up on the field.
Even in a new, more balanced offense, Thomas should still be able to put up similar numbers for the Broncos. He could catch over 100 passes for the second year in a row, and Thomas is always a threat to score around 10 or more receiving touchdowns in a season.
Emmanuel Sanders enjoyed great success during his first season with the Broncos. He posted career-best numbers in receiving yards (1,404), catches (101), targets (141) and receiving touchdowns (nine).
While Thomas may not see his numbers dip much due to the new offense, Sanders may not be as lucky. Second wide receivers in Gary Kubiak's offense aren't as involved in the passing game as Sanders was last year. That being said, Sanders could still catch 80 or more passes for around 1,000 receiving yards.
Denver is fortunate to have two star receivers to feature in the passing game.
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Tight End: Owen Daniels, Virgil Green
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The Gary Kubiak offense is going to regularly feature two-tight end formations. That's why the position was a key focus for the Broncos during the offseason.
They went out and signed former Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens tight end Owen Daniels as arguably their most important move in free agency. Daniels has rarely played a snap in the NFL when Kubiak was not his coach or offensive coordinator.
Daniels knows the Kubiak offense like the back of his hand, and he can step in as the lead tight end for the Broncos. He's not quite the same player he used to be, but Daniels can still find the soft spots of a defense on underneath routes. Daniels is a reliable target who should become a favorite target for Manning in 2015.
While the Broncos let Julius Thomas leave for the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, they decided to keep Virgil Green around.
A seventh-round pick in 2011, Green has become the best blocking tight end on the roster. With only 25 career receptions, Green could easily best that number this season as the second tight end in Kubiak's offense.
Green is an underrated receiver, and Broncos fans should see him make more plays as a pass-catcher this year than ever before.
Offensive Line: Clady, Smith, Gradkowski, Vasquez, Sambrailo
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The Broncos have shuffled their offensive line this offseason. They will be utilizing a zone-blocking system in 2015, and that will help them run the ball more effectively this season.
Left tackle will once again be manned by All-Pro Ryan Clady. While not a power player, Clady has the footwork and athleticism to play at an elite level in the zone-blocking system.
Left guard should be manned by free-agent addition Shelley Smith. He has experience working under Gary Kubiak from his time with the Houston Texans, and his skill set is a perfect fit for what Denver is going to run up front this season.
Center is a position we should see plenty of competition at in training camp. Earlier this year, the Broncos traded for Baltimore Ravens center Gino Gradkowski. He'll compete with second-year pro Matt Paradis and rookie Max Garcia for the starting job. Gradkowski's experience as a starter in the NFL should give him an advantage in this competition.
Right guard will be Louis Vasquez. He was an All-Pro right guard for the Broncos in 2013, but Vasquez had to move out to right tackle last year for part of the season. He was decent as a tackle, but Vasquez is absolutely dominant inside at guard.
Right tackle is going to be a position up for grabs in training camp. In the second round of the 2015 NFL draft, the Broncos added Colorado State offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo. His aggression, athleticism and footwork make him a great fit for the zone-blocking system. Sambrailo should be able to beat out second-year pro Michael Schofield and veteran Chris Clark for the starting job.
Defensive Line: Wolfe, Williams, Walker
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The Broncos defense is going to be more aggressive this year. New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is implementing a 3-4 defense, and he's likely to be much more blitz-savvy than Jack Del Rio was in 2014.
Defensive end will be manned on one side by Derek Wolfe. In a contract year, Wolfe is a strong edge-setter who will force plays back to the inside. He won't get much production as a pass-rusher, but Wolfe is a quality starter.
On the other side, free-agent addition Vance Walker should be a starter at defensive end. Walker can set the edge against the run like Wolfe, but he should be able to provide a bit of pressure from the outside.
Nose tackle is a bit of a question mark right now. Sylvester Williams should be the starter in the middle, but after a disappointing 2014, we might see Williams replaced at some point by Marvin Austin. This is a battle that will be worth watching during training camp.
Inside Linebacker: Danny Trevathan, Brandon Marshall
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The Broncos have two quality inside linebackers. In the 3-4 defense, the inside linebackers will do a lot of the heavy lifting as run-defenders.
Brandon Marshall is set to play the strong-side inside linebacker position (aka Sam) for the Broncos. Marshall is a smart player who can find the ball quickly. He arrives at the ball-carrier with natural violence and is known as a sound tackler.
Danny Trevathan is going to play the weak-side inside linebacker position (aka Bow) for the Broncos. Trevathan is an incredibly athletic player who can cover tight ends over the middle. He can bait quarterbacks into making bad throws, and he will make plays as a good tackler in the open field.
Outside Linebacker: Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware
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The Broncos defense is going to be more aggressive this year, and that's good news for the outside linebackers.
Von Miller may be able to lead the NFL in sacks this year under Wade Phillips. In the 3-4 defense, Miller will be able to get after the passer without concerning himself as much as a run-defender.
DeMarcus Ware started out strong for the Broncos last year. He finished the season with a respectable 10.5 sacks but only two of those sacks came in the final eight weeks of the 2014 season. This year, the Broncos will be able to mix in rookie pass-rusher (and 2015 first-round pick) Shane Ray to help keep Ware fresh as the season goes on.
Cornerback: Aqib Talib, Chris Harris Jr.
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You could easily make the argument that the Broncos have the best starting cornerback duo in the league. With a more ferocious pass rush up front, both Chris Harris Jr. and Aqib Talib should be able to take advantage of distressed quarterbacks.
Harris might be the best corner in the NFL. He can play close to the line of scrimmage and frustrate receivers. Harris has the closing speed to knock incoming passes away, and he can move inside to shut down slot receivers if need be.
Talib is big, physical and aggressive in his playing style. He does not back down from a challenge, and he can blot out move tight ends in certain matchups. Talib has good speed, and he is not afraid to come up in defense of the run.
Safety: T.J. Ward, Darian Stewart
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The Broncos' first move in free agency last year was to add strong safety T.J. Ward. He came through with a fine season for the Broncos in 2014, and he could be in for an even better season this year.
Ward is one of the most intimidating players in the league. He can play close to the line of scrimmage like a linebacker, and he's a force to be reckoned with as a run defender.
The Broncos went out in free agency this year to add former Baltimore Ravens safety Darian Stewart. If healthy, Stewart is a technically sound player with an efficient playing style. He can roam the field and diagnose plays quickly as they break down in front of him.
Stewart will be pushed for playing time at free safety by second-year corner Bradley Roby. We could see Stewart win the starting job in training camp, but don't be surprised if Wade Phillips has some packages where Roby is on the field instead.
Special Teams: Barth, Colquitt, Brewer
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This position group could see some changes before the start of the regular season.
Connor Barth should win the kicking job. The Broncos had to add him last year after Brandon McManus struggled to consistently knock in field goals. McManus may be back as a kickoff specialist for the Broncos.
Britton Colquitt is the highest-paid punter in the league. His play does not match his pay grade as Colquitt struggled to produce in 2014. He's going to be pushed by the strong-legged Karl Schmitz in training camp.
Aaron Brewer is a consistent long snapper and should have no competition for his job.
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