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Denver Broncos
Posted: Sun April 19, 1998 at 9:53 p.m.
* compensatory pick
QB - This position has been hard hit this offseason. QB John Elway had offseason shoulder surgery. Backup QB Jeff Lewis injured his knee running or playing basketball, depending on whose report you believe. The team had to sign FA Doug Nussmeir so they had enough arms to make it through minicamp. Elway has still talked about retirement, but look for him to be back to defend the Super Bowl title. Lewis' knee injury wasn't real serious, and he should be ready to start the regular season also. If Nussmeier looks good in the minicamps, look for him to be the #3, forcing them to release Bubby Brister.
RB - Terrell Davis has distinguished himself as the 2nd best back in the NFL behind Barry Sanders. Davis is still playing on his original contract as a 6th rd. pick. Look for Denver to put together a long term deal in the near future. Davis is playing for near nothing, and deserves to be the second highest paid RB in the NFL before the start of this season. Vaugn Hebron is a decent backup, but his best role is as a KOR man. FA Derek Loville hasn't been re-signed yet. They may draft a RB in the middle rds. of this draft. Their best FA pickup last season may have been FB Howard Griffith... he opened up huge holes for Davis, and caught the ball better than expected out of the backfield.
WR - This position looked a little shaky coming into the season. On paper this looked like one of the worst units QB John Elway has ever had to throw to. They rose to the occasion though. Rod Smith was a guy they developed on the practice squad. He has good speed, and if you can run, Elway will get you the ball. He has to do a much better job catching in traffic though. Ed McCafrey has exc. size, and was Elway's go to guy on 3rd down. The biggest ?'s are at #3 and 4... Willie Green wasn't the answer, and Partrick Jeffers has been slow to develop. Look for them to add a WR or two somewhere in the draft.
TE - Have one of the best pass catching TE's ever in Shannon Sharpe... he is like having another WR on the field. The best thing Sharpe has been able to do lately is stay healthy... his ankle problems seem to be a thing of the past. When Sharpe retires, they have a diamond in the rough in Byron Chamberlain... he is a fluid athlete that can get up a field and put pressure on the defense. Unlike Sharpe though, he drops too many balls... He has a lot of talent but needs to become more consistent in practice, and the games. Dwayne Carswell does the dirty work in the run game... not a concern heading into the draft.
OL - Solid unit, but age has to be a concern. LT Gary Zimmerman, is close to the end, and LG Mark Schlereth may be another knee surgery away from retirement. The team also lost FA RG Brian Habib. Habib wasn't a great athlete, just a solid football player. His loss leaves a gaping hole at RG... the team hopes 1997 rookie Dan Neil will be ready to fill that hole... for insurance though, look for them to grab an OG in the draft. They also need to start developing a young OT to replace Zimmerman and Jones.
DL - Solid unit with one exception... they need a big run stuffing DT. They courted Dana Stubblefield, and Sean Gilbert this offseason, losing both. They love Keith Traylor, but Ma Tanuvasa wears down inside vs. the run, and would be best suited as a nickle DT. The team re-signed DE Neil Smith, so their pass rush will be feared again... especially if Alfred Williams returns to 1996 form. Trevor Pryce should continue to develop, but he isn't a big run stuffer either... may have to find one in the draft, despite their great season, they were shakey for much of it vs. the run.
LB - Solid unit that will miss underrated FA MLB Allen Aldridge. Aldridge was signed as a FA by the Detriot Lions, and will fill one of their OLB spots. The team likes backup Keith Burns, and will be watching him closely this offseason to see if he can step in and fill the void at MLB. Even if Burns can step in and fill the void, depth is marginal at best... could add another MLB and OLB in the draft.
DB - When DC Tory James went down in the preseason, it looked as if they might be in trouble. James was penciled in as the starter. They survived with Darrien Gordon and Darius Johnson handling the RDE spot. Gordon was primarily supposed to be a RS, but seems to have gained back some confidence he lost in San Diego. Johnson has added some weight, and looks much more physical. The team has re-signed LDC Ray Crockett, and James is expected to return at full strength, giving this unit a strong nucleus at DC. The biggest problems are at DS, where Steve Atwater and Tyrone Braxton don't run like they used to. They have been very important in this defensive system, so the team needs to ensure the future by picking up a DS or two in the upcoming draft.
ST - PT Tom Rouen and PK Jason Elam are solid. Elam injured his hip early in the year, and hit a slight slump, but he was solid down the stretch. He no longer has the booming leg on kickoffs though. The return units are in good hands with Vaughn Hebron (KOR) and Darrien Gordon (PR)... Gordon distinguished himself last season as one of the better PR men in the game.
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