Building Blocks for Success

By Dave Bruning

A Super Bowl Championship is ultimately won on the playing field. Equally important is the groundwork laid in the offseason; specifically the team building blocks of the NFL Draft and free agency. For the Denver Broncos to return to Super Bowl glory their performance in both of these areas needs to improve.

The surest way to build a successful team is to draft and groom your own players. During the Broncos back to back Super Bowl seasons homegrown players were vital contributors. Players that come to mind include Terrell Davis, Shannon Sharpe, Steve Atwater and, of course, John Elway. All were drafted by Denver except Elway, who was acquired in a draft day trade. This core paved the way to football history in the city of Denver.

Not to be forgotten in that history are a few key free agents that filled holes on the Broncos roster. Rod Smith, Ed McCaffrey, Bill Romanowski and Alfred Williams are examples of players brought to Denver to solidify an already impressive roster. The blend of drafted players and free agents brought Denver two Super Bowls. Sadly, that is ancient history.

Denver’s post Super Bowl drafts are not poor. However, the Broncos are not considered to be among the elite of the NFL when it comes to the Draft. Those teams would include the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens. All three of these teams have been playoff fixtures for the better part of the last decade. Denver has won one playoff game since Elway retired. Coincidence? I think not.

Last year’s arrival of Josh McDaniels as the Broncos head coach signaled a new era for the Broncos. I have mixed feelings regarding McDaniels’ first draft and I am anxious for his second effort. It will be particularly intriguing if Brandon Marshall signs an offer sheet with another team, as Denver would receive a first round draft pick as compensation.

Denver’s first draft with McDaniels calling the shots landed running back Knowshon Moreno, defensive end Robert Ayers and cornerback Alphonso Smith. All three players contributed and would appear to have nice careers ahead of themselves. The Broncos did trade a first round pick to Seattle to acquire Smith, a move I still do not agree with. The sixth round selection of quarterback Tom Brandstater out of Fresno State may pay dividends down the road.

Notable free agents brought to Denver for the 2009 season included safety Brian Dawkins, linebacker Andra Davis, wide receiver Jabar Gaffney and running back Correll Buckhalter. The drafted players and free agents meshed nicely with Denver’s existing squad to start the season. However, the team stumbled badly down the stretch and missed the playoffs, an all too familiar spot for Broncos’ fans.

The 2010 Denver Broncos are looking for a return to playoff prominence. They have some nice pieces in place. It is also clear there is plenty of roster upgrading needed. The offseason is a time for optimism. It is also the time to make the necessary upgrades. The NFL draft and adding selective free agents are cornerstones of building a winning organization. McDaniels’ grade so far is an incomplete. His final grade will go a long way in determining the future success of the Denver Broncos.

Wild Ride: 2010 Offseason Make or Break For Broncos

Navid Irani -

Where are the Denver Broncos headed in 2010?

That seems to be the question ringing in the minds of Broncos’ fans across the nation heading into this offseason. After a hot 6-0 start in 2009, it seemed as if the Broncos were destined for a return to their glory days. Josh McDaniels’ critics seemed to disappear in the blink of an eye after a heavily criticized offseason. The Broncos’ defense literally went from worst to first. And the offense was simply doing what it needed to do to win football games.

Then came the Broncos’ biggest opponent of 2009: the bye week.

After their week of rest, the Broncos went a shocking 2-8, with losses to rivals San Diego, Oakland, and Kansas City at home, finishing the season at .500. After their falter to the finish line, the Denver Broncos are now gaining a reputation as the NFL’s new choke artists. All the opposing critics that had faded away since the previous postseason have now returned, creating chaos throughout Bronco nation.

Yet, this time around, Broncos fans don’t want an explanation as to why their team faltered again in back-to-back seasons. They simply want to win. With a four-year playoff drought, a call for a return to the postseason now rings clear in the Mile High city.

However, that postseason appearance hangs by a simple thread: the 2010 offseason.

Already, the Broncos have lost defensive coordinator Mike Nolan to the Miami Dolphins only a month after season’s end. Thus, the shoes of a genius who changed the No.31 ranked defense in 2008 to the No. 7 in 2009 are big and waiting to be filled.

Then comes the much too hyped trade rumors swirling around Brandon Marshall. Let’s face it. Regardless of whether or not he wants to stay a Bronco, the man is one of the top receivers in the NFL and deserves to be paid.

And even with Brandon Marshall, the Broncos successfully showed this past year that they can compete with the best but get dominated by the worst. They were on the cusp of being great and finished in the mix of mediocrity.

Sitting at 8-8, the Denver Broncos organization will be made or broken this offseason. Here is the simple recipe for success in 2010.

Free Agency.

Aside last year’s successful pickup of captain Brian Dawkins, Renaldo Hill, Vonnie Holliday, Andra Davis, and a few others, the Broncos have rarely made big splashes in the free agent market. But in order for them to find success in 2010, they are going to have to make a hurricane with free agent pickups. With big names like Chester Taylor, Ronnie Brown, Terrell Owens, Julius Peppers, and Vince Wilfork on the market, Denver can put themselves in a position to compete with the improving AFC West for years to come.

Who the Broncos should go after in the free agent market I cannot guarantee. But what I can guarantee is if the Broncos do not pick up any one of the names listed above or other free agents this offseason, their future seems dim.

Free agency will not be the only deciding factor on the success of this offseason however. The 2010 NFL Draft, which possesses more depth at every position than any other recent draft, will play a key role as well.

It is clear that the Broncos need to go after their weaknesses in this draft, undeniably being the OL, DL, DB, and CB positions.

However, the fans seem to be split on one position, arguably the most post important position in the game: Quarterback.

The fan base is split on current QB Kyle Orton. In his first year with the Denver Broncos, Orton threw for 3800 yards, 21 TDs, and had a QB rating over 85.

Those that favor Orton as the Broncos future quarterback argue that he has consistently improved year by year, and is the only current option to run the helm in Denver. Yet, there are those that do indeed doubt Orton and his ability as the Broncos leader. They claim that Orton’s immobility, mechanics, and lack of arm strength really turn out the flame of this explosive offense.

While many continue to debate, the only opinion that matters is that of Josh McDaniels. As a former offensive coordinator for the Patriots, his opinion on the Broncos offensive players is largely credible. And if he strongly believes in Kyle Orton, then I’m sure Orton will be the Broncos quarterback of the future.

And as the Broncos limp into this exciting offseason, the decisions that will soon be made on Kyle Orton and Brandon Marshall will dictate the plan for this offseason.

The only thing that the Denver Broncos fans can do is to grab onto their horse and get ready for a wild ride: one that may lead them back to the Super bowl, or one that can ultimately lead to their demise.