Sunday, April 28, 2013

Broncos Will Find a Role for Shaun Phillips

(Screengrab: CBS Sports)

Lost in the buzz of the draft over the weekend was the fact that the Denver Broncos quietly signed a free agent—former San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Shaun Phillips landed in Denver on Saturday.

The one-year deal is worth $1 million with the possibility of increasing to $3 million based on sack-based incentives, according to the Denver Post's Mike Klis.  Phillip's $1 million deal is a big bargain for the Broncos considering that he earned a base salary of $4.4 million in San Diego last season, per Spotrac.com (link requires Premium subscription).

After Pro Bowl defensive end Elvis Dumervil was released by Denver and signed by the Baltimore Ravens earlier in the offseason, pass rusher quickly became a position of need for the team.  In addition to fifth round draft pick Quanterus "Q" Smith of Western Kentucky, Phillips will help fill the production void created by Dumervil's absence.

In San Diego, Phillips was an outside linebacker, but he has experience playing with his hand on the ground.

“I played [down] all the time in San Diego, so I was up and down most of the time, but I’ve played defensive end my whole career,” Phillips told the press over the weekend, implying that transitioning from being a 3-4 OLB to a 4-3 DE should go over smoothly for the 31-year-old veteran.

“In San Diego I was more like a hybrid—I had my hand down 55 percent of the time, and I was in a two-point stance the other 45 percent.  It’s comfortable for me.  I’m a natural defensive end that [the Chargers] moved to linebacker, and so for me it’s like going back home for me if I have to put my hand in the dirt.”

But Phillips will not play strictly at defensive end—Coach John Fox noted that he will be Von Miller's backup.  Miller is Denver's "SAM"—strong side outside linebacker—in the Broncos' 4-3 base defense, but he is moved around by Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio, who frequently has Miller line up with his hand on the ground.

"(Phillips) played outside linebacker in a 3-4," Fox said in a post-draft press conference at Dove Valley on Saturday afternoon.  "In essence, that's the same thing (as a 4-3 defensive end).  That's basically how we use Von and whoever the right (defensive) end is."

Phillips can move around—Fox called him a "flex-like" player and compared him to Miller.

"He'll have flex (to move from) 'SAM' linebacker as well as being that open (defensive) end, which is Robert Ayers' [job] now.  He will be a valuable asset."

As of now, Ayers and second-year defender Derek Wolfe are the right and left defensive ends, respectively.  Phillips' versatility will give the Broncos a third option.

Prior to the draft, the Broncos were looking at free agent veterans Dwight Freeney (33) and John Abraham (34).  Phillips (31) is younger than both and seemingly fills the need at pass rusher, so is Freeney now out of the equation?

"We never stop looking," said Broncos Executive V.P. of Football Operations John Elway, "but I'd say we are pretty happy with where we are.  We never say never, but we're pretty satisfied with the pass rushers we have—but we never shut the door."

Translation: Bringing in another veteran hasn't been ruled out, but is not a priority.

Having played with one of the Broncos' biggest division rivals, San Diego, for the past nine years, Phillips is very familiar with Denver, and vise versa.  Since 2004, Phillips has recorded 69.5 sacks—7.0 of them have come against the Broncos and 9.5 of them came last season.

"I'm on the good side now," Phillips said. "I'm excited. It's going to be fun."

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Broncos Sign 15 Undrafted Free Agents

Update: The team signed BYU defensive tackle Romney Fuga on Tuesday, bringing their undrafted free agent total to sixteen players.

Following the conclusion of the 2013 NFL draft on Saturday evening, the Denver Broncos signed fifteen undrafted free agents.  Courtesy of the team, a list of those players can be seen below:

Player
Pos.
Ht.
Wt.
School
C.J. Anderson
RB
5-8
224
California
Kemonte' Bateman
WR
6-1
185
New Mexico State
Ryan Doerr
P
6-3
189
Kansas State
Manase Foketi
G
6-5
325
Kansas State
Aaron Hester
CB
6-1
207
UCLA
Ryan Katz
QB
6-1
210
San Diego State
Uona Kaveinga
LB
5-11
243
BYU
Gary Mason Jr.
DE
6-4
255
Baylor
Quincy McDuffie
WR
5-10
178
Central Florida
Lerentee McCray
LB
6-3
249
Florida
Ross Rasner
S
6-0
212
Arkansas
Lucas Reed
TE
6-6
250
New Mexico
Doug Rippy
LB
6-3
245
Colorado
Lamaar Thomas
WR
6-0
185
New Mexico
John Youboty
DE
6-4
252
Temple

Per the team, thirteen undrafted rookies have made the team's opening day roster over the past ten years.  Back in the day, Denver's Chris Harris, Wesley Woodyard, and Wes Welker were all undrafted.

These players are a long shot to make it in the NFL (or even make the 53-man roster), but it can be done.

2013 NFL Draft: Denver Broncos Ace Day 3

(Quanterus Smith's highlights here.)
And on the third day, the Denver Broncos rounded out their roster.  And the fans said that it was good.

During the first three rounds of the draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York this weekend, the Broncos addressed needs at defensive tackle, running back, and cornerback.  The team landed North Carolina's Sylvester Williams, Wisconsin's Montee Ball, and Florida State's Kayvon Webster in the early rounds of the draft on Thursday and Friday before moving on to Day 3.


When the team came on the clock in the fourth round on Saturday, Denver traded down with the Green Bay Packers, acquiring an additional fifth round selection and a sixth round pick.  Going into the draft, the Broncos did not own a sixth round pick (they traded it to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Brodrick Bunkley back in 2011.  Bunkley has since left via free agency).


With their first pick of the fifth round (146th overall from Green Bay), they chose Western Kentucky defensive end Quanterus "Q" Smith, one of the best pass rushers in the country.  Last season, Smith (6'5", 250 pounds) was leading the nation with 12.5 sacks before an injury caused him to miss the final two games of the season.


Near the end of his senior year, Smith tore his ACL, which ultimately led to him falling in the draft. When healthy, Smith was one of the most dominate rushers in NCAA football in 2013.


If he can return to full health, it will be easy for Smith to fill the production void created by the departure of Elvis Dumervil earlier this offseason.  Smith and the Broncos are confident that he will return to full strength.


“I’ll be ready to go by training camp," Smith told the media on Saturday afternoon.  "I’m going through the rehab process right now. I feel real good on it, confident on it, so I’m excited and I’ll be ready for training camp.”


Smith's best game as a senior game against the talented Alabama Crimson Tide's offensive line in Week 2, when he sacked quarterback A.J. McCarron three times.  The offensive lineman that was protecting McCarron's right side?  San Diego Chargers first round pick D.J. Fluker, the eleventh pick of the 2013 NFL draft.

That's bad news for San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers, who is already used to facing a fierce rush from Denver's Von Miller.  Unfortunately for Rivers, Denver didn't stop acquiring QB hunters after selecting Smith.

Shortly after drafting "Q," ESPN's Adam Schefter broke the news that the team had also signed former Chargers outside linebacker Shaun Phillips, a player that recorded 9.5 sacks last season.  The team confirmed the signing an hour later.

Phillips provides the Broncos with additional depth as an edge rusher.  He recorded 69.5 sacks during his nine-year stint with San Diego as an outside linebacker.  In Denver, he will be moved to defensive end.

"I'm a natural defensive end that they moved to linebacker," Phillips said, adding that he is comfortable with playing with his hand on the ground. 

Phillips will join a defensive end rotation in Denver that includes Derek Wolfe (the team's first selection of last year's draft), Quanterus Smith, and Robert Ayers.  Miller, the 2012 Defensive Player of the Year runner-up, will also see time with his hand on the ground this season.

Phillips, 31, provided a younger option than fellow free agents John Abraham (34) and Dwight Freeney (33), who had also drawn interest from the team.  Freeney is likely now off Denver's radar.
Next, the Broncos went offensive, drafting Georgia wide receiver Tavarres King in the fifth round (161st overall).  King is a 6'1", 200-pound receiver that caught 42 passes for 950 yards (representing an astounding 22.6 yards-per-catch average) and 9 touchdowns in 2013.

In Denver, King's role is expected to be small early on, as he is joining a receiver corps jam-packed with talent.  But King is ready to do whatever is asked of him.


“I can do it all. I can do anything they need me to do. Obviously Wes Welker is a slot guy and you’ve got those two guys on the outside in Eric Decker and ‘Bay-Bay’ (Demaryius Thomas). Wherever I can fit in and help the team is where I’ll be. Anything that I can do to help is what I’ll do,” said King, who scored 21 touchdowns in four seasons as a Bulldog.


In the sixth round (173rd pick via Green Bay), Denver went with Virginia Tech offensive tackle Vinston Painter, a 6'4", 306-pound lineman that will provide depth on Denver's offensive line.

"(Painter) is a hard-working, physical tackle. We like his potential," Broncos V.P. of Football Operations John Elway tweeted after the selection was announced.


The Broncos capped off the draft in the seventh round (234th pick) by selecting Miami (Ohio) quarterback Zac Dysert, a 6'4", 228-pound QB that passed for 3,483 yards and 25 TDs last season.  In Denver, he is expected to compete with Brock Osweiler, Denver's 2012 second round selection, for the backup quarterback gig behind starter Peyton Manning.


"You can never have enough QBs," Elway said after the pick.  "We were thrilled that Zac was available, he is a talented player and competitor.


View a graphic of the Denver Broncos' complete 2013 draft class here.


The Broncos strengthened their entire roster through the draft and addressed several key positions of need, in addition to landing another talented pass rusher in Phillips.  But the party is not over yet.


Now that the draft has concluded, teams will begin signing undrafted rookies to come in and complete for a roster spot this summer.  Over the past ten years, thirteen college free agents have made Denver's opening day roster, per team P.R. man Patrick Smyth.


See @JHSMDEN on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates on undrafted free agent signings.

Denver Broncos: 2013 Draft NFL Picks

(Overview of Denver's draft can be found here.)

Friday, April 26, 2013

2013 Draft Has Historic Similarities for Broncos

(ESPN.com)
If history is going to repeat itself in a positive way for the Denver Broncos in 2013, all the pieces are beginning to fall into place.

Back in 1996, 36-year-old quarterback John Elway led the Broncos to a 13-3 regular season record, earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff race.  But in their first playoff game, Denver lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in heartbreaking fashion.

The next April, the Broncos owned the 28th overall selection in the first round.  With the pick, the Broncos drafted Clemson defensive tackle Trevor Pryce.

Pryce went on to win a pair of Super Bowls with the Broncos in 1998 and 1999 and was a four-time Pro Bowl selection during his tenure with the team.  Super Bowl XXXII marked the first time Elway was able to win a championship, as Terrell Davis gave Denver's offense balance and took pressure off Elway in the playoffs.

Does any of that sound familiar? 

Peyton Manning is 37 and coming off the same situation Elway found himself in following the 1996 season.  The Broncos were the AFC's No. 1 seed in the playoffs last fall but were knocked out of postseason contention by the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round.

Elway is now Denver's executive vice president of football operations and Manning is returning with high expectations for 2013.  The Broncos brought in slot receiver Wes Welker in free agency and have begun bolstering their defense and backfield through the draft.

On Day 1, the team selected North Carolina defensive tackle Sylvester Williams 28th overall, following it up with a second round selection used on Wisconsin running back Montee Ball (58th overall) on Day 2.  Williams has been compared to Pryce by Elway and Ball, naturally, is hoping to be Manning's version of Terrell Davis.

"I eat, drink and sleep football, and I’m going to continue to do that. I want to come in right now and help this team any way I can. Anyway I can I want to help them win," Williams said after the draft.

Fittingly, Ball grew up idolizing Terrell Davis.

“I’ve watched Terrell Davis—all of his interviews; all of his highlights; everything. I grew up watching him," Ball told reporters shortly after being selected by Denver in the second round on Friday evening.

While at Wisconsin, Ball scored 83 touchdowns in a four-year period, 25 more than the next-closest NCAA player during that time period.  In Denver's offense, he is primed to continue finding the end zone.

“It’s an honor, actually, to be on the same team as Peyton Manning. I’m going to do everything in my power to keep the program successful. It’s just a blessing right now, because I grew up watching the Broncos. The Broncos have been my favorite team ever since I started watching football. To be a part of this family is something very special.”

In the third round, the Broncos selected Kayvon Webster 90th overall, much higher than anyone was expecting the Florida State defensive back to be selected.  But the Broncos have confidence that he will be a fit in their secondary.

"Kayvon is a fast and explosive player who had great production during his career at South Florida. He was one of the faster cornerbacks in the draft with sub-4.4 speed, and he will be a great addition to our team," Head Coach John Fox told the press on Friday evening.

Growing up, Kayvon looked up to Denver's Champ Bailey.

“I love Champ. Favorite Corner. Broncos were my first team I grew up watching, when John Elway was in the Super Bowl in ‘98 and that got my eye wanting to play football," Kayvon noted.

Tomorrow, the Broncos are scheduled to make selections in the fourth (125th overall), fifth (161st overall) and seventh (234th overall) rounds.  The final rounds will kickoff at 12 ET and will be televised on NFL Network and ESPN.

Broncos Select Williams, Move on to Day 2

(ESPN.com)
Prior to the draft, Denver Broncos executive John Elway said the team was planning to stay at No. 28 and select the best player available, rather than trading up or down.

When the Broncos came on the clock, Notre Dame's Manti Te'o (ILB) and Alabama's Eddie Lacy (RB) were both still on the board.  But Denver had another target in mind.

North Carolina defensive tackle Sylvester Williams was the pick, a player that led the AQ with 25 quarterback hurries in 2012.  The 6'3", 313-pound defensive lineman recorded five sacks with the Tar Heels last season and ran a 5.03 at the NFL's scouting combine in February.

During the draft, the Broncos had the option of trading down, but ultimately chose Williams.

"Once Sylvester was there we said, ‘No, this is the guy we want, we're going to stay here,'" Elway said on Thursday evening. "We did have an option to go back, but we didn’t want to. We were thrilled that Sylvester was there and we didn’t want to move.”

In Denver, Williams is expected to start off as a rotational player on the Broncos' defensive line, joining holdover Kevin Vickerson and free agent acquisition Terrance Knighton at defensive tackle.

"With what they have inside, I think he's going to be a rotational guy that will get a lot of production," NFL Network's Mike Mayock said shortly after the pick.

"I had no idea," Williams said when asked if he was aware of Denver's interest in him. "I was really looking forward to being a first-round pick and to come in and give it all I got for whatever team takes a chance on me. The Denver Broncos took a chance on me at [pick No.] 28."

On ESPN's Sport Science, Williams drove a 325 pound sled ten yards in less than four seconds and sacked Sport Science's dummy quarterback with 2,127 pounds of force, the hardest hit the show has measured in 2013.

"I’m going to come in and give the Denver Broncos everything I got.”

In Williams, Denver has found a solid defender.  But the Broncos aren't done yet.

The second and third rounds of the draft will kickoff tonightDenver owns selections in both rounds (58th and 90th).

In addition to Te'o and Lacy, a few other top candidates still on the board include LSU's Kevin Minter (ILB), Mississippi State’s Johnthan Banks (CB), Boise State’s Jamar Taylor (CB), LSU’s Sam Montgomery (DE), and Michigan State’s Le’Veon Bell (RB). 

Bell is an ideal mid-round prospect that the Broncos will likely target with their 90th pick.  The draft will kickoff again at 4:30 p.m. ET on NFL Network and ESPN.  Rounds four-through-seven will be held on Saturday.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Denver Broncos: Pre-Draft Notes & Projections

(DenverBroncos on Instagram)
The 2013 NFL Draft is just moments away, with the Denver Broncos scheduled to select 28th overall in the first round.  Earlier in the week, Broncos V.P. of Football Operations John Elway noted that the team is planning to select a player at No. 28.

But as the draft draws closer, the likelihood of Denver trading (up or down) seems to be increasing.  Elway noted a few hours ago that if a player they like falls farther than expected, they may trade into the upper-20s to select him.  

The possibility of trading down also remains an option.

The mock drafts have been learning towards defensive ends for the Broncos in the first round, with Florida State defensive ends Bjoern Werner and Cornellius Carradine are the heavy favorites to go off the board at No. 28.  Other first round candidates the Broncos will consider include Washington's Desmond Trufant, UCLA defensive end Datone Jones and Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes.

Two dark horses that may fall farther than expected include Alabama running back Eddie Lacy and Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o, who have both drawn interest from Denver.

Meanwhile over at MileHighReport.com, David East is projecting the Broncos to select Michigan State running back Le'Veon Bell and Miami (OH) quarterback Zac Dysert this weekend.  I fully endorse both of those projections, especially the Bell selection.

Bell met with the Broncos twice before the draft and told me the team was impressed with his versatility.  If he falls into the third round, watch for the Broncos to scoop Bell off the board with their 90th pick (assuming they do not trade their third round selection).


The draft will begin at 6 p.m. MT and will be broadcast on NFL Network and ESPN.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Elway Expects Broncos to Select 28th Overall

(Photo courtesy of BroncosTV)
The 2013 NFL Draft is quickly approaching.  The Denver Broncos currently own six selections (28, 58, 90, 125, 161, and 234) and their positions of need include defensive end, defensive tackle, middle linebacker, cornerback, and running back.

So, what is the team planning for on draft day?

"We're open to anything, (the draft is) so fluid," team executive John Elway told the media during a press conference on Monday (video available on DenverBroncos.com).  Elway also noted that it would cost a lot to trade up, but the team hasn't ruled out either trading up or down in the first round.  But the most likely scenario for the team is selecting 28th overall.

"When you look at the depth of this draft, there are a lot of good football players, so as I stand here now, we'll get a good football player there at 28—that's our plan right now. We'll see how things go from here."

Whatever direction the Broncos decide to go, it may not fall in line with popular opinion—but that isn't required.


Last year, the "experts" were abuzz about the defensive tackles "rising and falling" on draft boards and projecting one of them to land in Denver in the first round.  But as draft day came and went, the Broncos passed on several defensive tackles and didn't even select in the first round, choosing to trade down into the second round.


But it should be noted that the myth of "risers and fallers" is just that—a myth.  You won't stumble across a war room and overhear any excessive talk of rising and falling.

Scout:  (Notre Dame's) "Manti Te'o improved his 40-time at his pro day by milliseconds and the major networks are saying his stock is rising."

G.M.: "Then we better take him higher than we had previously planned so he doesn't go off the board before the second round."


That's not how the process works, according to former Broncos G.M. Ted Sundquist, who says teams value the film above everything else, including the pre-draft process of 40-times, meetings, and everything else.  So when the media proclaims that a player is a "reach pick" (being selected too high) or says he is "falling" on draft day, take it with a grain of salt.

Often times the media are two steps behind the actual teams making the selections.  After all, there is a reason that those folks are on TV and the executives, scouts, and coaches are in their respective war rooms—they are good at their job.

Denver's Elway is particularly good at his job. 

Of the sixteen draft selections the Broncos have chosen since Elway took over football operations two years ago, fifteen of them are still with the team.  Those fifteen players have combined to play in 250 games since 2011, led by defenders Von Miller (2nd overall in 2011) and Derek Wolfe (36th overall in 2012), who both started in all sixteen games last season.

Among the positions that Elway and the Broncos will look to address through the draft this weekend appears to be running back.  Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell is one of the backs that has caught Denver's eye, but Elway was coy when asked about the team's plan for the position on Monday.

"Well, with where we are right now, with (Willis) McGahee, he is that big back for us right now,” Elway said. “But, I think that if you look at what we have with Ronnie Hillman, he is that 190-pounder, that change-of-pace-type guy.”

And fifth-year running back Knowshon Moreno?  There was no mention of him, which could be telling.

“We look at Willis as being that guy who is going to be the big back for us right now,” Elway said, “and then we’ll see what happens in the draft.”

Elway gave McGahee a mini-endorsement, but that should also be taken with a grain of salt.

Last February, Elway told reporters that quarterback Tim Tebow was, at the moment, "our guy."  One month later, circumstances changed when Peyton Manning hit the free agent market.

The Broncos went after Peyton, and landed the Super Bowl-winning QB.  In a matter of days, Tebow went from being the Broncos' "guy" to being traded out of Denver.

But Elway was being honest.  At the time, Tebow was their guy—until a better option became available.  Right now, McGahee is Denver's RB—until a better option becomes available.

If the Broncos land a running back in the draft that they feel can carry the load for them moving forward, McGahee may lose his starting job, or even be cut.  But as of today, he is Denver's "big back." 

In their history, the Broncos have drafted 68 running backs, using more selections on their backfield than any other position.  Syracuse halfback Floyd Little was the franchise's first selection back in 1967 (sixth overall).  More recently, the team selected Moreno, a former Georgia Bulldog, in the first round (12th overall) in 2009.

There will be plenty of opportunities to draft a running back this weekend, whether in the first round or later in the draft.  Alabama's Eddie Lacy, Wisconsin's Montee Ball, and Bell are just a few of the most intriguing prospects.

The first round of the 2013 NFL Draft will take place in two days on Thursday, April 25 at 8 p.m. ET and will be televised on NFL Network and ESPN.  The final six rounds will take place on Friday and Saturday.