Denver Broncos Team Report by Maurile Tremblay
| Den Projections (9/3) | Passing Stats | Rush Stats | Receiving Stats | Fantasy | |||||||||||
| Change | Name | Pos | Att | Comp | % | Yds | TD | Int | Att | Yds | TD | Rec | Yds | TD | Pts |
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#fname# #lname# | #pos# | #NumberFormat("#pts#", '__,_____')# | ||||||||||||
| Totals | #NumberFormat("#tot_patt#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_pcmp#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#evaluate(100*tot_pcmp/tot_patt)#", '_____._')#% | #NumberFormat("#tot_pyds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ptds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_int#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ratt#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ryds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_rtds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_rec#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_cyds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ctds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_pts#", '__,_____')# | ||
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Quarterbacks Starter - Brian Griese Backups - Steve Beuerlein, Jarious Jackson Starting Quarterback: Brian Griese is the son of former Dolphin quarterback Bob Griese, and inherited his dad's quick release and gritty toughness. Griese has struggled with injuries to his throwing shoulder, however, and is coming off a bit of an off-year in which he threw 19 interceptions. After a couple of very productive seasons in 1999 and 2000, Griese lost one of his main weapons early in 2001 when Ed McCaffrey broke his leg in the Monday Night Football opener. Griese's production tailed off toward the end of the year: he failed to throw for 200 yards in any of the final six games. Griese will try to bounce back this year now that he has McCaffrey back from injury and TE Shannon Sharpe back from Baltimore. Backup Quarterback(s): Steve Beuerlein is a 14th-year veteran who had a couple of big years in 1999 and 2000 for the Carolina Panthers, throwing for 4,436 and 3,730 yards, respectively. Beuerlein is coming back from an elbow injury that kept him out of action in 2001, but appears to be fully recovered from it. He has been throwing the ball with a lot of zip in training camp, and by some accounts, has looked better than Brian Griese. Beuerlein is an excellent backup quarterback: a veteran who knows his way around the offense, and can come into a game on short notice and perform effectively. If Griese struggles early in the season, or if he re-injures his shoulder, Beuerlein will have good fantasy value as he takes over the potent Denver offense. Running Backs Starter - Olandis Gary Backups - Clinton Portis, KaRon Coleman, Reuben Droughns Starting Running Back: Terrell Davis had been threatening to come back from injury for three years now, but his body finally gave out. That leaves Olandis Gary and Clinton Portis to battle for the starting job, and Gary will have the first crack at it. Gary rushed for 1,159 yards as a rookie two years ago, but is coming back from a knee injury himself (suffered in 2000). Gary is a strong north-south runner with good balance who can break tackles. He lacks top speed, but has proven he can produce in the Denver offense. Backup Running Back(s): Gary will be pushed hard by talented rookie Clinton Portis. Portis has the speed Gary lacks, and has drawn rave reviews in the Broncos' training camp thus far. He needs to do a better job of cutting up through the hole more quickly, rather than dancing in the backfield, but that's something that can be learned. Portis is an electrifying rusher who could take over the starting job in Denver and never look back. He will, however, need to hold on to the ball better than he has in the exhibition games. This is certainly a situation to watch as the preseason unfolds. Fullback(s): Mike Anderson, Tony Carter: Mike Anderson is a former halfback in this offense, and rushed for a cool 1500 yards in that role two years ago. He's a fullback now, and will not be the featured runner, but will still get his share of carries and could be the top goal line option. Wide Receivers / Tight Ends Starters - Rod Smith, Ed McCaffrey Backups - Kevin Karsper, Ashley Lelie, Frank Rice, Scottie Montgomery Starting Receiver(s): Rod Smith has been super productive over the last several years. He's now put together five straight 1,000-yard seasons, and two straight 100-catch seasons. In the last two seasons, he accumulated 1,602 and 1,343 yards, respectively (with 8 and 11 TDs to boot). Ed McCaffrey is coming off of a very ugly broken leg suffered in the first Monday Night Football game of 2001. In the three years before that, McCaffrey had at least 1,000 yards and 7 TDs every season. He was off to a great start last year, too, catching 6 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown before being carted off the field. McCaffrey appears to be fully recovered and will try to prove he's still the receiver was pre-injury. Backup Receiver(s): Behind Smith and McCaffrey, the Broncos' receivers have been slowed by injuries. Kevin Kasper is a second-year receiver who's missed some time in this year's training camp with a sprained ankle after suffering through various minor ailments last year as well. Ashley Lelie is a super talented rookie who has had continual hamstring problems since December. Lelie has fantastic size and speed and is an elusive runner after the catch; if he can overcome his hamstring problems, he should have the inside track to win the third WR position from Kevin Kasper this year. Tight End(s): Shannon Sharpe, Dwayne Carswell, Desmond Clark, Patrick Hape The Broncos are loaded at tight end. Shannon Sharpe spent ten seasons with the Broncos before darting for Baltimore in 2000. In those ten seasons, he had over 1,000 yards receiving in three of them (and 995 in a fourth). Now he's back in Denver, where his great speed and hands will benefit the Broncos once again. Sharpe and Carswell will be on the field together fairly often in two-TE sets, as Carswell is the better blocker and will be counted on to help spring Gary/Portis/Davis/Anderson loose on first and second downs. Although Carswell is a decent receiver (495 yards in 2000), he probably won't be featured much in the passing game this year. Desmond Clark is a very good receiver for a tight end, but will probably be under-used this year with Shannon Sharpe ahead of him. Place Kicker Jason Elam: Elam is one of the top place kickers in the NFL. Expect plenty of scoring opportunities for him this year, and expect him to capitalize on them. His job is secure; there is no training camp battle to speak of. Defense The defense improved in 2001 under coordinator Ray Rhodes, and should improve again this year. The Broncos have a pretty sturdy front seven, led by DT Chester McGlockton, DE Trevor Pryce, and LB John Mobley. The secondary, however, is somewhat of a concern. CB Deltha O'Neal had nine interceptions last year, but also gave up a lot of big plays. Safeties Kenoy Kennedy and Izell Reese are better in run support than in pass coverage. Coaching Mike Shanahan has enjoyed tremendous success in Denver, winning two Super Bowls and compiling a regular-season record of 72-39. Offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak is in his eighth year in that role, and can probably stick around for as long as he wants. Defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes joined the club in 2001; he has been a head coach in the NFL for five seasons (three with the Eagles, one with the Packers), and an assistant coach for an additional 15 seasons. Intangibles The Broncos fell apart a little bit last year as a team, falling from perennial winners to the ranks of the just average. They have reloaded this year, getting Shannon Sharpe and Ed McCaffrey back, and picking up Ashley Lelie in the draft. Look for them to get things turned around and to compete once again for the AFC West title and a run through the playoffs. |