HEAD COACH: John Fox
Key Additions: QB Peyton Manning; WR Andre Caldwell; CB Tracy Porter; DB Jim Leonhard; DB Mike Adams; DL Justin Bannan; TE Joel Dreesen; TE Jacob Tamme
Key Losses: QB Tim Tebow; WR/KR Eddie Royal; DB Brian Dawkins; DL Brodrick Bunkley; CB Andre Goodman
Offense: Peyton Manning is the only name you need to know in 2012 regarding the Denver Broncos offense.
When we last saw the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback with the Indianapolis Colts in 2010, he passed for 4,700 yards and 33 touchdowns. Manning sat out last season following neck surgery and was released by Indianapolis back in March.
The backup QB is Caleb Hanie, who suffered through a miserable season in 2011 when he was thrust into the starter's role for the Chicago Bears when Jay Cutler was lost for the season with a broken thumb on his throwing hand after ten games. The Bears lost all the games that Hanie started.
The running game will again feature Willis McGahee (1,199 yards, 4.8 ypc average and four TD) as the primary runner with Lance Ball (402 yards, 4.2 ypc average, one TD), Knowshon Moreno (179 yards rushing while missing ten games) and rookie Ronnie Hillman (Fresno State) looking to get a chance.
The wide receivers have speedster Demaryius Thomas (32 receptions for 551 yards with a 17.2 ypc average and four touchdowns) and Eric Decker, who made 44 catches for 612 yards and eight touchdowns.
Andre Caldwell (37 receptions for 317 yards and three TD with Cincinnati in 2011), Brandon Stokley, Matt Willis and D'Andre Goodwin provide more targets for Manning.
The tight ends include Jacob Tamme, who had 19 catches with Indy last season and former Houston Texan Joel Dreesen (28, 353, six TD).
The line consists of center J.D. Walton, guards Zane Beadles and Chris Kuper. The tackles are Ryan Clady and Orlando Franklin. Providing depth up front will be Manny Ramirez, Tony Hills, Chris Clark and Philip Blake.
Denver led the league in rushing a year ago, but that was with Tim Tebow quarterbacking the team. The Broncos averaged 165 yards a game running the ball. They finished 31st in the NFL in passing, getting only 152 yards a game while finishing 23rd on offense overall, averaging 317 yards per game.
Defense: This unit was up and down all last season, finishing 20th overall (358 yards allowed per game) and 22nd against the run, where they gave up 126 yards a game. The pass defense allowed 232 yards per game, which was 18th overall. In addition, Denver picked off just nine passes last season but did register 41 quarterback sacks.
The Broncos will have a new defensive coordinator (Jack Del Rio) this season and will run the 4-3 set, with Elvis Dumervil (9 1/2 QB sacks) and Robert Ayers at the ends. The tackles will be Justin Bannan and Kevin Vickerson. Rookie tackles Derek Wolfe and Malik Jackson, along with veteran Ty Warren and second year man Jeremy Beal, will provide relief for the starters.
The linebackers have pass rusher deluxe Von Miller (11 1/2 sacks) and Wesley Woodyard on the outside with Joe Mays in the middle. D.J. Williams and Mario Haggan provide depth.
The secondary lost safety Brian Dawkins (retired) but still has veteran Champ Bailey (two interceptions) and free agent Tracy Porter at the corner spots with Mike Adams and Quinton Carter playing the safety positions.
Chris Harris, Cassius Vaughn, Rafael Bush and rookie Omar Bolden will be available as well.
OUTLOOK: With Peyton Manning now running the show in Denver, the offense definitely will look completely different than in 2011 when Tebow was the quarterback.
Manning will command respect from opposing defenses and the O-Line must do a good job in pass protection, because Manning is coming back from major neck surgery and there is no guarantee he will last all season if he gets knocked around on a regular basis.
Along with Manning and the pass attack, McGahee and company provide a good compliment for the offense running the football and Head Coach John Fox knows how to improvise as well as take some shots down the field.
The defense, led by Dumervil and Miller, should be solid enough to consistently keep the team in games.
The schedule is a killer one in 2012 and the Broncos know they play in a very balanced division where three out of the four teams finished at .500 a year ago.
Controlling the division will be vital for any playoff chances the Broncos will have this season, even with Manning at quarterback.
Look for a 9-7 finish and at least a 'wild card' playoff spot for Denver this season. A lot will depend on how they do against their division rivals after splitting the six AFC West games last year. One thing for sure, the Broncos will have a much better shot at making it to the Super Bowl than they did last season.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- vs. Pittsburgh
Week 2- at Atlanta
Week 3- vs. Houston
Week 4- vs. Oakland
Week 5- at New England
Week 6- at San Diego
Week 7- BYE
Week 8- vs. New Orleans
Week 9- at Cincinnati
Week 10- at Carolina
Week 11- vs. San Diego
Week 12- at Kansas City
Week 13- vs. Tampa Bay
Week 14- at Oakland
Week 15- at Baltimore
Week 16- vs. Cleveland
Week 17- vs. Kansas City
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