Today I decided to give in to the weaving flow of the Web and pass on some items that should interest you. If you have children, work with children or if you're an older athlete yourself, I've gathered and included some items that matter. I also had to give a brief nod to Denver's playoff basketball team.
Is there a Broncos fan out there that isn't dreaming of seeing Wesley Woodyard, David Bruton and Spencer Larsen chasing down kickoff- and punt-returners together? The three of them together should go a long way to getting the Broncos past the nightmare that has been special teams of late. Bruton's obvious grasp of the special teams role and his love of doing what he's been involved with since he was young is especially laudable.
Here's what you probably know about Rulon Davis. If you've been reading at all about him, you probably know that he was a Marine in the Iraqi conflict. He was in a fire zone, fought for his country, and came home.
Tyson Jackson stunned a lot of people by being the third player taken in the NFL draft. Many said that this was, in part, because of the laws of scarcity – there were few true 5-technique defensive ends in this year’s draft, making the ones that were there more valuable. The 5-technique DE lines up on the outside shoulder of the offensive tackles, giving them a chance to stack the line, stuff the outside run or rush the passer with equal verve. It’s a staple of the modern 3-4 defense, which the Denver Broncos will be switching to from their traditional 4-3 as quickly as circumstances permit.
Continue reading "Tales from the SunnySide: Everette Pedescleaux"
A lie can run around the world twice while the truth is still getting its shoes on. - Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
Like all college players whose names weren't called on Draft Day, Chris Baker knows that he has something to prove. He's heard all the opinions - "Boom or Bust," "Must be in the right system," "Left school too early," "Character concerns abound," "Troublemaker," "Takes plays off."
In the wake of this year's draft, as plays out every year, we have those folks who knew, thought they knew, wished they knew and know they didn't. But on the SunnySide, I've got the advantage of knowing that my guys are probably going to be drafted, and it adds a little spice to the days as I watch them going to different teams and wishing them well. It's kind of a small rite of passage.
Continue reading "Tales from the SunnySide: 2009 Draft edition"
The weekend of the draft is past, the main part of free agency as well as undrafted free agency is behind us and now we have to long opportunity to consider, in some detail just what it is that the Broncos brain trust has done in terms of making over this team. The Broncos are a team whose record was 8-8. This was a team who made history by being three games up with three to go and dropping them all, including the tiebreaker. It was historically bad on defense and special teams, but not as much better on offense as some have held. Passing yards are a poor measure of a team - red-zone percentage, points scored and similar measures mean far more. Weaknesses abounded, as statistics and analysis made clear. It was a team whose record was mediocre, but whose framework was as flimsy as cheap wicker.
And with the 12th pick in the NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos blow people away and take Knowshon Moreno!
Continue reading "12th pick in the NFL Draft - Denver Bronco Knowshon Moreno!"
A surprise to many fans but a common choice on the mock drafts, the Denver Broncos have taken Tennessee defensive end Robert Ayers with the 18th pick in the NFL Draft. Head Coach Josh McDaniel is looking to make a statement about his defense - his players are going to be very athletic, hungry for coaching and very, very versatile.
Continue reading "The Denver Broncos 18th Pick in the NFL Draft - Robert Ayers!"
Today's offerings are inspired by the questions of the hour - who will the Broncos draft? I see need #1 as being the defensive line, with versatility being essential, since the Broncos are probably going to a 3-4 hybrid of some sort. McDaniels have said that they will run the 3-4 at times and the 4-3 at other times, so finding a player who can function in either will be a priority.
According to the daily edition of The Sporting News, the QB battle at the Broncos mini-camp is in full swing. Mike McCoy and head coach Josh McDaniels were watching the QBs like a couple of hawks, and giving them a constant stream of information.
Orton, currently considered the front-runner in the race, said, "We run an up-tempo mini camp, a lot of teaching going on. Coach McDaniels and Coach McCoy are very good teachers. They've had a lot of success coaching quarterbacks in this league. I know Chris and I are trying to be like a sponge, and absorb everything they're giving us."
