Denver Broncos Bye Week: Time To Buy Some Help And/or Make Some Major Changes

Given where the Denver Broncos season has gone so far—particularly the past two weeks—is it time to look at some serious additions to the roster?

Although mid-season pickups don't always work out, is there any question that almost ANY type of help would be a welcome improvement?

Granted, there isn't a lot of premier talent on the free-agency market or waiver wire, but let's take a look at where the Broncos might find some short-term relief to make some meaningful changes.

Offensive Line

When a rookie (Zane Beadles) beats out a high draft choice veteran (Ryan Harris) at RT, something is not right. Either Harris is still showing signs of his nagging foot injury, or he isn't as talented as everyone first thought.

Or maybe he is another of the Josh McDaniels' "Not my Guy"s but Beadles is.

We need help at RT, LG and even C, as rookie JD Walton, is, well, a rookie and makes rookie mistakes.

No new player at the moment comes to mind, but I would take a serious look at changing out the offensive line coach, Clancy Barone. Here is a guy who has never coached the offensive line before, only TEs.

Yet he was given the job of converting a zone-blocking scheme to a power-blocking scheme with two rookies starting.

The results so far? Last (32nd) in rushing at 67 yards per game, ninth in sacks given up (21) and 15th in QB Hits (35). Add the miserable pass-blocking results with the even worse run-blocking result and we have a total failure at the offensive line coach position.

Fire him now during the bye week and try to make some headway before the KC Chiefs come to town a week from Sunday.

Running Backs

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 12: Spencer Larsen #46 of the Denver Broncos is tackled by Justin Durant #56 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the NFL season opener game at EverBank Field on September 12, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Green

Until the offensive line coaching issue is worked out and we get some kind of improvement, there is not a lot that can be done here.

Knowshon Moreno is an injury waiting to happen, Buckhalter has an allergic reaction to pigskin (aka fumblitis) and Maroney has been ineffective as both a runner and as a pass catcher out of the backfield.

One thing I might look at is using FB Spencer Larsen on a few running plays. He is the only back on the roster that isn't in that same 5'11" 220-pound mold. He is big, (6'2", 243 pounds) and has decent hands. Bring in TE Richard Quinn or maybe Riar Greer as a FB-HB to block and see what happens.

Can't hurt.

Linebacker

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SAN DIEGO - SEPTEMBER 19: Linebacker Shawne Merriman #56 of the San Diego Chargers signals in the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Qualcomm Stadium on September 19, 2010 in San Diego, California. The Chargers won 38-13. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Ge

HA HA HA—too late, the Buffalo BIlls already picked him up today.

Even though I have about as much love for Shawne Merriman as I do typhoid, he might have added some pass rush to a team with no pass rush. He's a locker room destroyer, of course, but losing has a way of destroying locker rooms as well.

But it would have been a "Rent" not "Buy," because he is looking for big bucks. I don't think he would be worth it, especially with Doom and Ayers coming back next year. 

Wide Receiver

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 11: Randy Moss #84 of the Minnesota Vikings catches a 37-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter against Antonio Cromartie #31 and Jim Leonhard #36 of the New York Jets at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 11, 2010 in East

Randy Moss.

This ought to get the comments flying.

Even though we have a very good corps of WRs, wouldn't the addition of Moss provide another weapon to a team that already has proven it can't run the ball?

With Brandon Lloyd, Eddie Royal, Demarius Thomas and Randy Moss, it would be impossible to double anyone.

Just because he is a cancer in the locker room (see Merriman), what more could it hurt?

Oh, maybe it could cause McDaniels to admit he talks out both sides of his mouth, since he kicked out a few other locker room problem children.

But it could still happen.

And Mr. Bowlen, if you make this deal, just don't cater any food to the locker room if Randy hasn't pre-approved the menu.

UPDATE: Titans just claimed Moss off waivers after I published this article.

Quarterback

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DENVER - OCTOBER 24: Quarterbacks Kyle Orton #8 and Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos look on from the bench during their 59-14 loss to the Oakland Raiders at INVESCO Field at Mile High on October 24, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/

This is a tough one to call for many reasons.

Even though Kyle Orton has had some great games and some not-so-great games, there still is a chance that a change here couldn't hurt much. But under the existing situation, sooner or later Orton is going to get his head taken off with the crappy pass-blocking and lack of a running game.

There are actually two options here: Tim Tebow or Brady Quinn.

"Brady Quinn?" you ask. But hear me out.

We already gave away one of the key answers to the running game deficiency in trading Peyton Hillis to the Cleveland Browns for Quinn before the season began—and that was a total disaster, except for the Brownies.

But let him play out the season and see if there is any trade value for him, and also to keep Orton from getting killed. Who knows, Quinn might turn out OK, right?.....Right?

And why not start Tebow, you ask? First, because I don't think he is ready yet and can use the rest of this season to continue to learn what playing NFL QB is all about, And it still allows him to be used in certain situations that will give him some experience but not get him hurt.

And secondly, I wouldn't start Tebow because if he fails at all, he blows McDaniels' chance at having any rabbit left in his back pocket to pull out to save his job next year.

And that, my friends, is the reason he won't pull that trigger on Mr. Tebow, yet. Jersey sales notwithstanding.