How Denver Broncos Offense, Defense Compare to Rest of AFC West

The Denver Broncos won't just have a brand new coaching staff in 2015, the team will also feature plenty of new personnel on both sides of the ball.

Despite the changes, the Broncos still have Super Bowl aspirations. The first key for teams to reach that goal has long been winning its own division, something the Broncos have accomplished the last four consecutive seasons.

For the Broncos to make it five AFC West titles in a row—something only the Oakland Raiders from 1972-76 have done—they will have to do so in a different way than fans have become accustomed to since the arrival of Peyton Manning.

Using the offensive style of head coach Gary Kubiak and a 3-4 defensive scheme installed by new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, the Broncos will attempt to win the one thing they couldn't under John Fox: a Super Bowl.

The road to doing so begins with winning the division. Here, we will take a look at how the Broncos' new-look offense and defense stacks up with the other three teams in the division.

Offense

Quarterback

Though Manning struggled down the stretch in 2014, he will return for another season despite being 39 years of age. Still, no matter how you slice it, the Broncos still have the best quarterback in the division, and it's not all that close.

Though it's quite conceivable that Manning will see his statistics drop down from recent years in which the Broncos ran an uptempo offense. Though Manning may not see 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns, he is by far the quarterback in the AFC West that you want.

Philip Rivers would have to come in at second, but if the San Diego Chargers were so happy with him, his name wouldn't have been connected to so many trade rumors around the draft, per NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport.

Since coming to Denver, Manning has a 6-1 record against Rivers and his Chargers. That includes a win in the postseason.

Player/Team	Passing Yards	TDs	INTs	Completion %	QB Rating
Manning	14,863	131	36	67.7	107.4
Kansas City	9,920	51	47	61.1	81.5
Oakland	9,954	63	52	58.4	76.9
San Diego	12,380	89	44	66.6	95.8

The Kansas City Chiefs have Alex Smith, and the Oakland Raiders have high hopes for second-year quarterback Derek Carr. They're both good players, but neither seems capable of leading a team to the promised land, at least not right now.

Despite his aging body and late-season struggles from a year ago, Manning is still one of the elite options at quarterback in the entire league and is clearly the best in the AFC West.

AFC West Quarterback Rankings: Denver, San Diego, Kansas City, Oakland

Offensive Line

If the Broncos have a perceived weakness, it is the offensive line. Despite plenty of uncertainty within the unit, there are players with plenty of promise.

That list includes two players the Broncos selected in the draft, Ty Sambrailo and Max Garcia. But with that youth comes questions. Can either man become a starter as a rookie?

In the case of Sambrailo, he'll almost have to be ready due to the season-ending injury sustained by Ryan Clady. Still, Louis Vasquez is about the only player who you can list as a starter at this point.

The Broncos also added veterans Shelley Smith and Gino Gradkowski, primarily for their experience playing under Kubiak.

The Broncos led the league in least sacks allowed last season, giving up just 17. But this year, the switch to the zone-blocking scheme will be the key to the offensive line.

In looking at the other offensive line units within the AFC West, the Broncos could still have one of the better units by the end of the season. Kansas City gave up 49 sacks last year, and they lost center Rodney Hudson to the Raiders in free agency.

Speaking of taking from within the division, the Chargers were able to land unrestricted free agent Orlando Franklin from the Broncos, teaming him with the likes of the massive King Dunlap and the developing D.J. Fluker. This gives the Chargers the best offensive line in the division.

For the Broncos, they have to find the best combination of players who complement each other in the new system. If Sambrailo and Garcia pan out, then there shouldn't be much to worry about. However, that is a big if at this point. 

AFC West Offensive Line Rankings: San Diego, Oakland, Denver, Kansas City

Running Backs

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The Broncos ranked No. 15 in terms of rushing yards per game last season, averaging 111.6 yards. But after a loss to the St. Louis Rams, the Broncos decided to focus more on the running game, and a noticeable difference came of it.

That was due mostly to the performance of C.J. Anderson, who had a breakout season and has earned the starting running back position heading into training camp.

The running game in 2015 will hinge on how the backs adapt to the zone-blocking system. This is the same system that made a star out of Terrell Davis and saw relatively unknown players Mike Anderson and Olandis Gary run wild.

Anderson and Juwan Thompson seem like perfect fits for the scheme, while it remains to be seen how Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman will take to it. In the cases of Ball and Hillman, they could be playing elsewhere if they don't find success in the system.

Anderson has all the tools to become one of the NFL's premier running backs. He runs hard and has good vision. His ability to discern the proper hole to hit is why he should excel this season. Behind him, Thompson and Ball could be great options as well.

The Chiefs still have the best running back in the division, Jamaal Charles, but do they have the best running game? Charles saw his numbers dip in 2014 in terms of yards and attempts, but he still averaged 5.0 yards per carry. He is also one of the most dangerous open-field runners in the league.

If head coach Andy Reid showed more of a commitment to the running game, the Chiefs could certainly be the best rushing team in the division. But since he likes to rely more on the arm of his quarterback, the Broncos get the nod over them.

In fact, the Broncos would have to be considered the best rushing team in the division when you look at Oakland and San Diego.

The Raiders lost Darren McFadden, and although he was prone to injuries, the team replaced him with Trent Richardson and Roy Helu. Latavius Murray could become a star for the Raiders, however, and he is a player to keep an eye on.

In San Diego, the Chargers will likely rely heavily on first-round pick Melvin Gordon. He had an incredible career in college, but stop us when you've heard of a Wisconsin running back having a great college career.

The Chargers will have to hope Gordon has more success in the NFL than the likes of Ron Dayne, John Clay and Ball.

If Gordon plays like he did in college, the Chargers will be dangerous. They also have other solid options in the backfield, particularly in the receiving game with Danny Woodhead and Donald Brown.

Each of the four teams in the division could have good rushing attacks in 2015, making the ranking order tough for this position. Because Anderson is coming off such a solid year and the Broncos are switching to the zone-blocking scheme—something Kubiak has had success with in Denver before—the Broncos will take the top spot, for now. 

AFC West Running Back Rankings: Denver, Kansas City, San Diego, Oakland

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

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In recent years, the Broncos passing attack has been as good as any in the league. This has allowed for guys like Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Emmanuel Sanders and Julius Thomas to put up huge numbers.

Decker went to the New York Jets last year, and Julius Thomas left for the Jacksonville Jaguars via free agency this year. Still, in Denver's old system, it seemed the team could plug in any player and they would have success with Manning.

The same was the case when Manning played quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. Remember when guys like Dallas Clark and Austin Collie had big seasons with that team?

Things will be different this season as Manning tries to adjust to a brand-new system, one that shouldn't be so dependent on him flinging the football around.

Receivers and tight ends will be asked to block much more than they've been used to. That won't be a problem for tight end Virgil Green, one of the best blocking tight ends in the league, a player the Broncos made sure to re-sign in the offseason.

The team also brought in tight end Owen Daniels, and while he doesn't have the athletic ability that Julius Thomas possessed, he is a veteran who Manning should be able to rely on the same way he used to with Clark.

All of this should lead to a comfortable offense for Manning to run, one that should feature far less pressure than the one he's led over the last three seasons.

The other teams in the division have some weapons in the passing game, particularly in San Diego where Rivers has Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates to throw the ball to. The Chargers also brought in some new faces, signing Stevie Johnson and Jacoby Jones.

This will give the Chargers a potent passing attack that will be a challenge for defenses to match up with.

In Oakland, the Raiders have given Carr an excellent young target in Amari Cooper, the wide receiver out of Alabama who was the No. 4 overall pick in the draft. The Raiders also brought in Michael Crabtree via free agency, and the young Andre Holmes provides a big target for Carr to throw the ball up for.

Kansas City is an easy choice for the bottom team in the division in terms of receivers.

Though Jeremy Maclin should provide a huge boost after coming over from the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent, the Chiefs went the entire 2014 season without a single touchdown pass to a wide receiver. That's almost unfathomable.

Tight end Travis Kelce has emerged as one of the best young tight ends in the league, and each team that plays the Chiefs must be wary of him at all times.

AFC West Wide Receiver/Tight End Rankings: Denver, San Diego, Oakland, Kansas City

Defense

Defensive Line

With a switch to a 3-4 alignment, the defensive lineman who lines up at the nose tackle spot will be as important as any player on defense. At least for now, Sylvester Williams is looking good at that spot for the Broncos, per the Denver Post's Troy E. Renck.

With Williams, Malik Jackson and Derek Wolfe, the Broncos should be able to send out a formidable trio for offenses to deal with. Wolfe and Jackson can both get pressure on the quarterback, and Wolfe should be perfect for a 3-4 due to his skills as a run-stopper.

One of the best transactions the Broncos made during the offseason was to sign Antonio Smith, a defensive end who doesn't just have experience playing in a 3-4, but also doing so under Phillips.

Any hopes the team and fans had for Smith were put on hold when it was announced that he was being investigated for child abuse. The Broncos kept him out of OTAs as a result. Pending the outcome of that investigation, it's possible that Smith will never play a down for the team.

Oakland and San Diego both ranked toward the bottom of the league in terms of sacks last season, and the Chiefs got a majority of their sacks from a linebacker—Justin Houston. The Chiefs do have Dontari Poe, though, arguably the best defensive lineman in the division.

How much success the Broncos are able to generate by switching to a 3-4 scheme remains to be seen, but the team has as much talent on its defensive line than any other team in the division.

AFC West Defensive Line Rankings: Denver, Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego

Linebackers

Aside from the offensive line, there will be no more important position group this season for the Broncos than linebacker. Denver has a wealth of talent at this position.

On the outside, you have the combination of Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware. Add to that first-round pick Shane Ray, and we could see the Broncos rise to the top of the sack rankings this season.

Ware has experience in Phillips' 3-4 system, and the knowledge he can pass onto Miller can't be overlooked. Both players can take Ray, a player hungry to prove he was worth a top-10 selection in the draft, under their wing. This is a dangerous proposition for any other team the Broncos face.

"

Broncos rookie LB Shane Ray: "I don't see anything less than Defensive Rookie of the Year" http://t.co/9LojgNuc3E

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) June 22, 2015"

On the inside, the health of Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall could be the key to the entire season. If both can bounce back from injury and stay healthy, the Denver defense will be a strong force to reckon with.

However, if Marshall or Trevathan go down, lack of depth could be an issue. A player like Lamin Barrow, Corey Nelson or Todd Davis would be forced to step in and be effective.

The AFC West is riddled with talented linebackers, particularly in Kansas City. The Chiefs have Houston, Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson. Houston led the league in sacks last year with 22.

Oakland has Khalil Mack, last year's first-round pick who is set to become a dominant force. The Chargers have Melvin Ingram and an improved Manti Te'o. Pro Football Focus ranked Te'o as it's No. 23 inside linebacker last season.

As for the overall position goes, it's close between Denver and Kansas City. If Ray becomes the fierce pass-rusher the Broncos believed he'd be when they drafted him, it would put the Broncos over the top.

AFC West Linebacker Rankings: Denver, Kansas City, San Diego, Oakland

Secondary

After being dominated by the physical secondary of the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII, John Elway made it a mission to improve the secondary in Denver. That included signing T.J. Ward and Aqib Talib and drafting Bradley Roby in the first round of last year's draft.

Putting those three players with Chris Harris, one of the best young defensive backs in the NFL, gives the Broncos a secondary that is about as talented as you'll find in the NFL. But there is still a glaring hole at free safety.

Hopes have been pinned on Darian Stewart, a free-agent signing who came over from the Baltimore Ravens. He'll get the first chance to play the position, but moving Roby or Kayvon Webster over to that spot is an option too.

"

C. Harris on FS Darian Stewart: “I'm loving Stewart right now. He's very vocal and a smart guy...he's going to have a physical presence."

— Emmett Smith (@alloverfatman) June 15, 2015"

This is a positional unit where the Broncos have a massive edge over the other teams in the division. The Chargers have safety Eric Weddle and second-year cornerback Jason Verrett. They also added Patrick Robinson as a free agent.

That isn't close to enough to tip the scales in their favor.

AFC West Secondary Rankings: Denver, San Diego, Kansas City, Oakland

How do the Broncos Stack Up With the Rest of the Division?

As you can see, the Broncos match up favorably to the other teams in the division. Based on our rankings, the Broncos have the best unit in six of the seven categories ranked.

Can the offensive line be that much of an Achilles' heel in that case? Unfortunately, yes.

The focus of training camp should be to find the best combination of five linemen and have them master the zone-blocking scheme. Offensive line may be seen as a potential issue for the team right now, but the players on the roster could also be a perfect fit for the team.

In the Broncos' Super Bowl years, guys like Brian Habib and David Diaz-Infante may not have been considered stars, but they were effective in Denver's offense with Kubiak calling plays.

As for the other positional units, Denver has as much talent as just about any team in the league. The Broncos shouldn't just be predicted to win another AFC West division title, it should be an expectation.