Adrian Fedkiw
Each day leading up to the official start of the NFL football season, I will be providing you with player rankings, team previews, analysis, predictions, opinions and a whole lot more.
Considering how putrid Peyton Manning was in his final NFL season, just how much of a drop-off is it to Trevor Siemian?
But obviously the defending Super Bowl-champion Denver Broncos were led by their dominant defense, a unit that led the NFL in total defense (283.1 yards per game), pass defense (199.6 yards) and sacks (52). Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips might’ve been the team’s best acquisition a year ago as he transformed a 4-3 squad to a 3-4 beast. They allowed just 44 points combined in the playoffs against three of the top quarterbacks in the game, Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady and Cam Newton. That woeful offense put up just 194 yards in the Super Bowl, the fewest by a winning team.
The Super Bowl 50 MVP of that defense, Von Miller, is now the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history after signing a spanking new six-year, $114.5 million deal with $70 million guaranteed.
And despite the losses of linebacker Danny Trevathan and defensive lineman Malik Jackson, the defense remains stacked with talent.
Will they repeat, however, probably not. It’s going to be a struggle to even make the postseason.
Grading the Roster
QBs- Trevor Siemian (7.1), Paxton Lynch (7.1)
RBs- C.J. Anderson (7.3), Ronnie Hillman (7.3), Juwan Thompson (7.2)
WRs- Demaryius Thomas (8), Emmanuel Sanders (7.7), Jordan Norwood (7.2), Bennie Fowler (7.1)
TEs- Virgil Green (7.3), Jeff Heuerman (7.2)
Ts- Russell Okung (7.5), Donald Stephenson (7.2), Michael Schofield (7.2)
Gs- Max Garcia (7.2), Ty Sambrailo (7.2), Connor McGovern (7.1)
Cs- Matt Paradis (7.3), James Ferentz (7.1)
DEs- Derek Wolfe (7.9), Jared Crick (7.3), Vance Walker (7.4), Adam Gotsis (7.2)
NTs- Sylvester Williams (7.3), Darius Kilgo (7.1)
OLBs- Von Miller (9), DeMarcus Ware (8), Shaquil Barrett (7.4), Shane Ray (7.3)
ILBs- Brandon Marshall (7.8), Todd Davis (7.2), Dekoda Watson (7.2), Corey Nelson (7.1)
CBs- Chris Harris (8.2), Aqib Talib (7.9), Bradley Roby (7.3), Kayvon Webster (7.3)
Ss- T.J. Ward (7.8), Darian Stewart (7.5), Justin Simmons (7.2)
K- Brandon McManus (7.4)
P- Britton Colquitt (7.3)
KR- Emmanuel Sanders (7.3)
PR- Emmanuel Sanders (7.3)
Team Rankings
Team- 7.380545333
Offense- 7.265 (32/32)
Defense- 7.531
Quarterbacks- 7.1 (32/32)
Running Backs- 7.27 (26/32)
Receivers- 7.42 (11/32)
Offensive Line- 7.23 (31/32)
Defensive Line- 7.37 (7/16)
Linebackers- 7.63 (1/16)
Secondary- 7.6 (2/32)
Special Teams- 7.33
Coaches – 7.3
PREDICTION– 9-7 (3rd AFC West)
QUARTERBACKS
The retirement of Manning and loss of Brock Osweiler via free agency left a gaping hole a quarterback and emerging from the Training Camp and the preseason wasn’t Mark Sanchez, it was the little known Siemian, a seventh-round pick from last year’s NFL Draft. The Northwestern product made one appearance last year and ran one play, a kneel down.
Siemian does have a nice arm and the Broncos referenced his level head and grasping of the playbook as reason why they chose him over Sanchez, who might not even make the team after Denver acquired him via a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.
First-round rookie Paxton Lynch is the quarterback of the future. He has a huge arm and is an athletic specimen, but is very raw.
RUNNING BACKS
C.J. Anderson, who received four-year, $18 million deal during the offseason, is a 5’8, near 225-pound bowling ball. He runs with a low center of gravity and is tough to bring down, easily bouncing off tacklers. He runs the signature stretch plays of head coach Gary Kubiak very well, showcasing solid vision and Anderson is quicker than he appears and can change direction easily.
Ronnie Hillman, fourth-round pick Devontae Booker and Juwan Thompson are fighting for the backup job.
RECEIVERS
With Manning clearly not being able to spin it the way he used to last year, it was the first time in three years that Demaryius Thomas failed to get past the 1,400-yard and 10-TD mark, but still managed to haul in 105 balls for 1,304 yards and six scores.
Thomas is a big, explosive receiver that has the strength to beat press coverage and speed to get vertical and separate. He also uses that strength and speed to his advantage in the screen game and has the ability to score from anywhere on the field. Thomas is also a very good blocker. He did drop 12 passes a year ago, the third most in the league.
Emmanuel Sanders is lightning quick and an exceptional route runner that maintains top speed throughout his routes. Using that quickness, he’s also adept at picking up chunks of yardage after the catch. The depth behind Thomas and Sanders is slim, as Bennie Fowler, Cody Latimer and Jordan Norwood aren’t going to scare many defenses.
Virgil Green was underrated when he was a backup, but didn’t emerge like many thought he would last year. Jeff Heuerman is a 2014 third-rounder that is expected to take a step forward in year two.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Denver parted ways with the injury-prone Ryan Clady and added another left tackle that’s had an injury past in Russell Okung, who has yet to return to the form he showed over his first three years in Seattle. Donald Stephenson was signed after starting some games in Kansas City last year and is a better run blocker than pass protector.
Evan Mathis and Louis Vasquez did not return at guard. Last year’s second-round pick Ty Sambrailo will bounce inside to play right guard, while Max Garcia will be the starter at left guard. He showed some solid agility in his run blocking. Matt Paradis starts at center and showed signs last year.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Derek Wolfe is a grinder who doesn’t play with flash, but was still able to get to the quarterback eight times last year. His best move is the bull rush, using his size and strength to collapse the pocket.
In run defense, Wolfe’s motor runs hot. He plays with power and is very stout at the point of attack. Due to his breakout season, Wolfe earned himself a four-year extension late during last year. Filling in for Jackson is Jared Crick, who has been the defensive end opposite J.J. Watt in Houston the last four years and played under Kubiak for a couple of them.
Sylvester Williams is back at nose tackle. He’s strong and can get into the backfield, recording four tackles for loss last season.
LINEBACKERS
Despite being in a 4-3 over previous years prior to last season, Von Miller has never been asked to cover often. Pass rushing is his specialty. He mixes speed, agility and strength with a wide variety of moves to get pressure on the quarterback. He’s had at least 11 in four of his first five seasons, including 11 last year. Miller missed the final seven games in 2013 due to an ACL tear, that’s the only reason why he hasn’t done it every year.
Miller has improved drastically as a run defender whether he’s setting the edge or crashing down. He sheds blocks. When Miller does cover, he’s not that bad. Obviously it’s not a strength. Basically he’d play zone to take away tight ends or routes close to and a bit beyond the line of scrimmage.
Has the 34-year-old Demarcus Ware lost a step? Sure, but the talent is still there.
His ability to use his hands is unmatched and his length makes it tough for blockers to get a hold of him. The reason why he can still bring it is because of the variety of moves in his arsenal.
In the running game, Ware’s length and hands benefit him taking down runners, although he’s not going to chase anyone down anymore. You can beat ware if you get a hold of him, however, because he struggles to disengage. Last year’s first-rounder Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett provide solid depth.
Inside linebacker Brandon Marshall does a little bit of everything. He’s both strong and athletic, which helps him a lot in the running game. He can thump and has the speed to chase down a ball carrier from behind. Marshall is at his best in coverage, he literally takes away the middle of the field. He also does a stellar job with tight ends down the seams. Todd Davis will be the starter alongside Marshall.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Chris Harris’ pure coverage skills are outstanding and it’s not like he rarely gets challenged, he plays opposite Aqib Talib. It’s pick your poison in Denver. He’s also equally adept at playing inside.
Harris is an outstanding athlete, very fluid in his hips and is fast enough to run with any receiver in the game. He just doesn’t guess wrong. His feet are lightning quick and is able to always stay balanced. He also does a very good job of baiting quarterbacks while in zone coverage. Harris has gotten better against the run, but he turns the play inside more so than making tackles. Because of his size, he can get overwhelmed at the point of attack.
Not a lot of cornerbacks can match Talib’s physicality and when he gets the press and wins at the line, you’re not going to escape him. He’s a long-strided runner and can stick with receivers downfield. Talib is one of the better run defending cornerbacks in the game. He uses his physicality and strength to take on blockers and doesn’t get pushed off his spot often. Bradley Roby and Kayvon Webster are solid options as well and can be starters on most teams, especially Roby.
Coming off a very disappointing season in Denver in his first year with the club, T.J. Ward backed that up with a not so disappointing one. Ward is at his best playing the run and being physical in the box. He’s basically like an extra linebacker. His instincts of finding the ball helps him in coverage, where he plays with good range. Darian Stewart will be the starter alongside him.
TEAM PREVIEWS
Buffalo Bills | New England Patriots | Miami Dolphins | New York Jets
Baltimore Ravens | Cincinnati Bengals | Pittsburgh Steelers | Cleveland Browns
Indianapolis Colts | Houston Texans | Jacksonville Jaguars | Tennessee Titans
NFL PLAYER RANKINGS