DENVER BRONCOS
2009 RECORD: 8-8-0
(2nd in AFC West)
HEAD COACH: Josh McDaniels
Key Additions: QB Brady Quinn (trade/Cleveland), DE Jarvis Green (FA/New England), DT Jamal Williams (FA/San Diego), LB Akin Ayodele (FA/Miami)
Key Losses: WR Brandon Marshall (trade/Miami), TE Tony Scheffler (trade/Detroit), RB Peyton Hillis (trade/Cleveland), CB Ty Law (FA), QB Chris Simms (FA/Tennessee), RB LaMont Jordan (FA), LB Anrda Davis (FA/Buffalo)
Offense: The Broncos will have a new look and a revamped offense with quarterback Kyle Orton leading the way.
Orton, who threw for 3,802 yards and 21 touchdowns with 12 interceptions, will be backed up by Brady Quinn (1,339 passing yards with eight TD and seven INT with Cleveland in '09) and rookie Tim Tebow.
Knowshon Moreno (947 yards rushing with seven touchdowns) and Correll Buckhalter (642 yards in '09 and a 5.4 ypc average) are the halfbacks. Buckhalter has been nicked up in training camp so Moreno will have to shoulder the load for Denver.
The wide receivers are Jabar Gaffney (54 catches, 732 yards, two TD), Eddie Royal (37 catches) and Brandon Stokley, who made 19 catches in limited action, but four of them were for touchdowns.
Daniel Graham (28 catches) and Richard Quinn will be the tight ends as Tony Scheffler was dealt to Detroit. In addition, wideout Brandon Marshall was sent packing to Miami after many confrontations with Head Coach Josh McDaniels.
The offensive line will have center J.D. Walton, guards Russ Hochstein and Chris Kuper and tackles Ryan Harris and Ryan Clady.
The Broncos finished 15th in the NFL in total offense a year ago, averaging 341 yards per game.
Defense: The Broncos looked like world beaters through their first five games in 2009, allowing just 43 points while limiting opponents to meager yardage, particularly through the air.
The team totaled 39 quarterback sacks, including 17 by outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil.
But Dumervil is likely out for the 2010 season because of injuries and that will hinder the Broncos and their aggressive style.
Up front in the 3-4 is nose tackle Jamal Williams, a former Chargers' player who missed all of last season after a serious injury in the season opener.
The ends are Justin Bannan and Jarvis Green, who comes over from the New England Patriots.
The linebackers are Robert Ayers and Jarvis Moss on the outside and inside linebackers will be D.J. Williams and Mario Haggan.
The secondary seems in capable hands with perennial All-Pros Champ Bailey at left corner and strong safety Brian Dawkins. Bailey had three interceptions in 2009.
Andre Goodman, who led the Broncos with five picks, plays right cornerback and the free safety is Renaldo Hill.
The Broncos pass defense was solid last year, allowing just 186 yards per game which ranked third in the NFL. But the run defense was shredded as the team fell out of playoff contention last season, allowing 129 yards per game.
OUTLOOK: After racing out to a 6-0 start in 2009, Denver went 2-8 afterward and missed the playoffs as Head Coach Josh McDaniels saw his Coach of the Year dreams go up in smoke.
To avoid that from happening again and actually challenge the San Diego Chargers for the AFC West title, the defense must stop the run and keep the pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Without Dumervil, it appears that is a tall order.
The Broncos were lit up for 281 points over the final 11 games, including 44 by lowly Kansas City in the season finale loss that knocked them out of the AFC post-season.
Orton must also step up after receiving a recent contract extension. The running game will suffer with Buckhalter hurting as Moreno seemed to wear down by season's end. The depth is gone in the backfield as LaMont Jordan and Peyton Hillis were dealt in the off-season.
The team has capable and experienced receivers and Royal showed he is one of the league's best kick returners as he brought both a kickoff return and punt return back for touchdowns in 2009.
With the revamped look on offense and holes to fill on defense, will Denver be able to overcome those obstacles and return to the playoffs for the first time in five seasons?
Not likely as the Broncos appear headed for a 5-11 finish and will see how rookie Tim Tebow figures into their future plans.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- at Jacksonville
Week 2- vs. Seattle
Week 3- vs. Indianapolis
Week 4- at Tennessee
Week 5- at Baltimore
Week 6- vs. NY Jets
Week 7- vs. Oakland
Week 8- at San Francisco
Week 9- Bye Week
Week 10- vs. Kansas City
Week 11- at San Diego
Week 12- vs. St. Louis
Week 13- at Kansas City
Week 14- at Arizona
Week 15- at Oakland
Week 16- vs. Houston
Week 17- vs. San Diego
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