Broncos feeling effects of '06 draft

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 8, 2008 at 9 p.m.
Updated November 10, 2008 at 9:51 a.m.

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Eric Lars Bakke/Denver Broncos

Six of the seven members of the Broncos' draft class of 2006: from left, tight end Tony Scheffler, receiver Brandon Marshall, offensive tackle Chris Kuper, defensive end Elvis Dumervil, center Greg Eslinger (now on the team's practice squad) and quarterback Jay Cutler. Not pictured is receiver Domenik Hixon, now with the New York Giants.

It started with a single call.

The draft that provided the foundation moving forward for the Broncos was set in motion when coach Mike Shanahan picked up the phone April 28, 2006, a Friday night, just hours before selection weekend.

Shanahan wanted a quarterback. His best friend in the NFL coaching fraternity, Jeff Fisher, had dissected ad nauseam the three top prospects - Texas' Vince Young, Southern California's Matt Leinart and Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler - for months and had a similar mind-set.

The longest-tenured coaches in the league exchanged small talk, after which the worst-kept secret around was revealed. Young would be the Tennessee Titans' pick at No. 3 overall, behind the anticipated selections of defensive end Mario Williams (Houston) and running back Reggie Bush (New Orleans).

Shanahan then embarked on a fishing expedition.

He dug for information on the remaining two quarterback prospects, mindful both likely would be out of reach with the Broncos' scheduled pick at No. 15. But he had clandestine designs on possibly moving up.

Fisher, in turn, promised Shanahan he wouldn't let on he had called.

"That," Shanahan recalled, "was the first time I ever showed my hand to anybody."

The conversation lasted an hour. As Shanahan hung up, he was even more fired up to potentially acquire a player to become the new face of the franchise.

Hours later, the phone lines again were busy. This time, the Broncos held an extra third-round selection (68th overall) as possible ammunition to move up and snare their top target.

It already has been decided Leinart was out; and if Cutler was available, only then would the Broncos go all in.

The Buffalo Bills at No. 8 were the first team the Broncos approached, but they declined. The Detroit Lions were next, but they also said no.

The Arizona Cardinals were next on the clock, and they also were in the market for a quarterback. The Broncos were fairly confident but not entirely sure Leinart would be the choice.

When he was, and when the St. Louis Rams at No. 11 subsequently were responsive to the Broncos' offer, a resounding cheer went up in the war room at Dove Valley.

And one of the signature weekends in team history had begun.

"I could tell by the way the coaches and scouts were reacting that this was really something special," recalled Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, adding the feeling in the room that day was unlike any other he had experienced in his quarter century with the club.

"It was just different. And maybe you'd attribute that to the fact that you're drafting a quarterback who's, hopefully, going to be here for the next 12, 14 years. When you go after that particular position and you're getting a guy that you think . . . can play and be your franchise player, that's a whole different picture."

But just as heartening was what happened next - and then again, and again.

Like hitting all the green lights on a long drive across town, the Broncos' top target on the board was available with each selection.

And despite coming off an AFC Championship Game appearance, they needed those picks to hit.

The roster was skewing older. Past draft mistakes had robbed the club of young, talented depth. So it was imperative and impressive what occurred in the next 30 hours.

Among the Broncos' additions were what would become their top pass-catching tight end (Tony Scheffler), a No. 1 receiver (Brandon Marshall), their best pass-rushing defensive end (Elvis Dumervil) and an offensive line fixture (Chris Kuper).

"That one draft class has completely changed their team," NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. "Obviously, they need to get a little better on defense, but if they can do that, you're talking about an offense that can compete at the highest level for the next several years."

ADMIRING FROM AFAR

Cutler never knew what was coming on draft day. As he watched from Judge Bean's Bar-B-Que in Nashville, Tenn., the Broncos were among the last teams he thought would take him.

"I never talked to the Broncos," Cutler said about a trend that largely would continue throughout the team's selections.

Even at Cutler's pro-day workout on campus, the Broncos never sent a representative. But the team secretly was smitten.

Broncos vice president of player personnel Jim Goodman, then the head of the college scouting department, had seen Cutler in the Senior Bowl and at the NFL combine, where Cutler went against the grain by working out while other top prospects sat.

Goodman also coached with Vanderbilt's Bobby Johnson at Clemson in 1993, so he had good inside intelligence.

As for the pro-day session, not only did the Broncos get a tape of that workout, they also received firsthand reports through scouting contacts.

"It was a cold day in Nashville. Windy. What would the normal quarterback do? 'Let's go in the gym,' " Goodman recalled. "Cutler went and grabbed the ball and said, 'Let's go outside.' And he's out there flinging the ball out there with that wind and that Tennessee cold late in February or March. It wasn't just, 'Here he is.' It was, 'Boom . . . boom . . . boom.' "

That echoed the heart rate of Broncos scouts and front-office personnel when it became apparent Cutler might be available.

The groundwork was laid long before, through a series of trades that were swung with a big assist from former general manager Ted Sundquist.

The Broncos dealt their first-round pick in 2005 to the Washington Redskins, giving Denver the 22nd pick in 2006, which in turn was sent to the San Francisco 49ers for two first-day selections.

The Broncos' 29th pick also was part of a three-team deal that included the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons, allowing the Broncos to climb 14 spots.

Everything was aligned for taking a quarterback, from those accumulated extra picks, to the caliber of talent available, to the Broncos' own timing and mind-set with Jake Plummer behind center.

"I knew after we lost to Pittsburgh in the championship, that was as good as we were going to get as an offense, that's as good as we were going to get as a team with what we did offensively. And we couldn't win the Super Bowl . . . ," Shanahan said. "So that's when I decided then if there was going to be a franchise quarterback that was available, that we were going to go after him."

As the 11th pick, Cutler was the highest-drafted quarterback in team history (John Elway was acquired in a trade). Not since Tommy Maddox in 1992 had the club selected a quarterback in the first round.

"Jake was still here and he was still the guy, but I knew they drafted me for a reason," Cutler recalled recently. "I'd wait and do my thing, and when they throw me in there, they throw me in there."

But first it was up to the club to begin the process of rebuilding the roster around their potential future star while improving team speed.

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

After the move to get Cutler, the Broncos made more headlines, but it wasn't by drafting Marshall, Scheffler or Dumervil. They made noise by trading the 37th pick, acquired from the 49ers, to Green Bay for receiver Javon Walker.

That was significant because Rod Smith was getting older, Ashley Lelie was considered mainly a deep threat and David Terrell had potential but little else.

The Broncos needed to revamp their receiving corps, which prompted them to also draft Domenik Hixon out of Akron late in the fourth round in addition to Marshall.

But in the woulda-shoulda world of the draft, this one's a doozy: The Broncos were 15 seconds from staying put in the second round and drafting Greg Jennings, a Western Michigan product who has been among the Packers' receiving yardage and scoring leaders the past two seasons.

"We had it in," Shanahan said of the card bearing Jennings' name. "And Green Bay called us back. They wound up trading that pick back and still getting Jennings."

Jennings secretly had been in Denver for a visit a week earlier. Shanahan now calls Jennings "the one that got away."

Green Bay initially wanted not only the second-rounder but a fifth-rounder, too, for Walker, which is why Denver was so close to taking Jennings. The Broncos had declined until the Packers' last-second call-back, settling for the 37th pick.

Walker had one 1,000-yard receiving season in two years with the Broncos but was sent packing last offseason because of knee issues and a questionable attitude.

"The bottom line is, that's history," Shanahan said.

But the club wasn't done with its fascination with Western Michigan players just yet.

Scheffler's speed immediately jumped off the tape.

He was big and had hands like flypaper. But he also was a baseball player who didn't play spring football. And there was no real indication how tough he was as a blocker. But Shanahan loved him, so the Broncos took Scheffler with the 61st overall pick, well before his initial fourth- or fifth-round projection.

"I was fortunate to have a good showing at the combine, and people realized that I fit this system pretty well and took a chance on me," Scheffler said.

It ultimately would turn into a full-fledged run on players from nonfootball powerhouses, including Louisville's Dumervil.

"All of our guys from the '06 class all feel like we owe something to the Broncos because they kind of took a chance on all of us," Scheffler said. "They moved up to draft Jay. Brandon had a few issues coming out and kind of played different positions in college, that sort of thing.

"So I think we all had something to prove our worth to this organization, that we were worthy of them drafting us. I think that was a common theme."

DUCKS IN A ROW

There was a trend on Day 2 of the draft, too.

In the six weeks leading to draft weekend, a handful of names are affixed to each slot, first from a value standpoint and various mocks. The pick ultimately is made from shortlists culled from such sessions.

Marshall, Dumervil and Hixon were taken within 11 spots of one another in the fourth round. All were primary targets in Round 4.

"It doesn't happen that often," Goodman acknowledged about that convergence of events. "But I also think preparation causes that. If you're prepared and rehearse, send the scouts in there, research and drill so you've got your game plan, that helps."

But as history has shown, even the best-laid plans don't always pan out. From 2000 to 2005, the Broncos had one of the spottiest draft records in the league. Only three players - linebacker D.J. Williams, guard Ben Hamilton and cornerback Karl Paymah - remain with the team from that period.

So there was some extra pressure to deliver in 2006, especially from outside the organization, but some from within, too.

"At some point in time, . . . (the Broncos) decided we were going to try and go after some young guys and build a team," Bowlen said. "We wouldn't abandon the free-agent market but would put some emphasis in a different direction because we hadn't had a lot of luck in free agency.

"Obviously, we had some luck. But free agency always seemed to be a crapshoot. And if you pick your guys out of college, do your homework and get good character guys and good players, and if you can hang on to them, that's in my mind how you build a championship team."

And as an offshoot of that philosophy, getting huge results from second-day picks who initially are inexpensive can be a tremendous boon to such roster building.

As it has turned out, no one would underscore that point more than Marshall.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

Goodman first caught a glimpse of the hulking Central Florida player at the Hula Bowl.

The veteran scout's immediate reaction: "Good gosh almighty . . ."

While Marshall's sheer size - he was 6-foot-4, 235 pounds - was the initial draw, he also appeared quicker and faster than anyone at that all-star game.

So Goodman went back to Dove Valley and began digging on Marshall. The player's verified speed was only in the high 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash, but his playing speed at times seemed to be much faster. Marshall's vertical leap was 37 inches.

From a production standpoint, Marshall didn't overwhelm in college. He had come from a midmajor program, where he often played second fiddle to Mike Walker, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Marshall, by necessity, played safety for seven games during his junior year.

"You could see flashes in the game," Shanahan said. "Every once in a while you'd see a second gear."

But there were some off-field questions that pushed Marshall into second-day status.

"There was the whole 'Baby T.O.' thing," Mayock said, referring to character knocks on Marshall that drew comparisons to, at times, petulant NFL receiver Terrell Owens. "But the question was, was he quick enough to be a wide receiver or was he going to have to be an H-back/tight end guy? But you watch him run and go, 'Wow.' There's no question now."

Said Marshall: "I just knew once I had a chance to get in camp and show the coaches how polished I was as a receiver - because a lot of people didn't think I was that polished as a receiver - that I would have the opportunity to play in this league and be a factor."

DOWN THE LINE

But that's the thing about second-day picks: Everybody's game has perceived holes.

The knock on Dumervil almost solely was focused on his 5-11, 258-pound frame. He was seen as too short to play end, not stout enough to move inside.

The Louisville standout led Division I-A with 20 sacks in 2005, and he recorded 23 tackles for a loss. He played with power and leverage and had a huge wingspan.

So the Broncos made him their only defensive selection of that draft class with the second of five second-day picks.

"My worst-case scenario was second round because of the height," Dumervil said, adding Jacksonville, Seattle and Indianapolis were destinations he thought he might have landed.

"But Tamba Hali went ahead of me. Mathias Kiwanuka. Darryl Tapp. I watched all of these guys go ahead of me and I was like, 'OK' . . . I led college at my position in forced fumbles, sack. I still have a chip on my shoulder because of that."

If anyone at the bottom of the Broncos' 2006 class had room for similar thoughts, it was Greg Eslinger, the team's final pick in the sixth round.

After all, he had won the Outland and Rimington trophies as the best interior lineman and best center in Division I-A, at the University of Minnesota.

Once again, size was a primary issue. Because he might be too small to fit well in other systems, Eslinger, like Kuper, was a match for the Broncos' scheme.

Eslinger missed the 2006 season because of a shoulder injury, was waived in 2007 and recently re-signed with the Broncos' practice squad after stints with the Cleveland Browns' and Houston Texans' developmental units.

Meanwhile, Kuper, a 2004 and 2005 Division II All-American at North Dakota, went from appearing in only one game on special teams as a rookie to the team's starting right guard six games into his second year.

Broncos scouts believed Kuper fit their mold - athletic, able to reach the second level of the defense.

That notion was only reinforced in the East-West Shrine Game, where Kuper's competitive nature against big-school competition stood out.

"My goal was to get in there and play. But I didn't expect that right away," Kuper said. "I wanted a spot, but I wanted a year to acclimate to the NFL. Once I got here, it wasn't as big of an adjustment as I'd thought."

Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images

Domenik Hixon was a member of the Broncos' 2006 draft class and now is with the New York Giants, with whom his career has been reborn.

Hixon went through his own adjustment period. First, he had a foot injury that limited his exposure at Akron and later landed him on injured reserve as a rookie. Then his hit in the Broncos' 2007 opener nearly left Buffalo's Kevin Everett paralyzed.

Hixon became tentative in the wake of that episode, and when the Broncos tried to place him on the practice squad, he was claimed by the New York Giants, with whom his career has been reborn.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

It's too early to gauge where the Broncos' 2006 class fits in the grand scheme. But with Cutler and Marshall leading the way, it could be in the discussion alongside the 1973, 1975, 1983 and 2008 classes as perhaps the best in team annals, if it hasn't already surpassed them.

From a league perspective, Mayock labeled the group "one of the best" since he began closely studying the draft.

"I can't think of another draft in the last seven years - and I haven't sat down to go through all of them - where the productivity has been both at a high level and throughout the entire draft class," he said.

"Even Domenik Hixon is all of a sudden playing with the Giants and has talent. You're looking at three, four Pro Bowl-type players."

The starting point in any all-time discussion of drafts starts with the 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers, who selected four eventual Hall of Fame players - Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth and Mike Webster.

No one is suggesting the Broncos' 2006 draft is even in that neighborhood.

But 12 teams have produced two enshrinees from the same draft year. Mayock believes Cutler and Marshall have that level of talent, though they have much more to prove.

The Broncos' recent slide from a 3-0 start and the struggles of both players only underscores that latter point. Yet the talent still is apparent.

"Cutler should be an All-Pro quarterback for the next 10 years. He's a guy who has the arm strength of Elway and the gun-slinging mentality of Brett Favre and can be awfully special," Mayock said. "And then you talk about Brandon Marshall; if he continues what he's been, keeps his head on straight and stays healthy, he could put up silly numbers over the next 10 years. So if these guys stay healthy and continue to develop going forward, you can be talking in historical proportions about this draft."

It's the group's collective goal to someday be considered the best draft class in Broncos lore.

"We're young," Cutler said. "We've all played young. We all got out there and gotten thrown in the fire and had some success. Elvis, on the other side, and Tony and me and 'Kupe' and 'B' on offense. There's an upside there that everybody's excited about. It's only Year 3. And we've got a lot ahead of us."

• November 8, 2008

  10:05 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Nice article. I like the ole' memory lane bit. It just is nice to reminisce. Nice photo, also.

• November 8, 2008

  10:33 p.m.

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  RockyMts69 writes:

  You know, no matter how frustrating the season has been so far, we all have to admit Shanahan did a nice job of picking Cutler. I mean look where AZ and TN are with their top picks. But then it's nice to see Kurt Warner and Kerry Collins come out and be on top of their game(s). It's just a matter of time, hopefully next year, and Denver is going to have one hell of an offense!

  Dynamicdave, what part of Vegas do you live in? I live in GV.

• November 8, 2008

  11:36 p.m.

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  LarryB writes:

  Thanks for a great article, Lee. It's not hard to believe you're the best sports writer the Denver media has to offer.

• November 9, 2008

  12:05 a.m.

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  angryman1n writes:

  One of these guys is not like the others.

  What is Cutsoon looking at??? Stand up straight for crying out loud. Your slouching makes it look like you've got a gut.

• November 9, 2008

  12:58 a.m.

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  Woody writes:

  Hey, RockyMountainNews, elevate this writer's salary!!

• November 9, 2008

  12:58 a.m.

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  Dynamicdave writes:

  RockyMts69, Bonanza and Lamb.

• November 9, 2008

  11:06 a.m.

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  Jubei writes:

  Cutsoon?

  I don't get it.

  Oh wait, Cut-ler... Cut-Soon...

  Wow, that is some really clever stuff mad guy. What is the timetable on soon, do you think?

  Great stuff. Keep it coming.

• November 9, 2008

  11:10 a.m.

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  Jubei writes:

  Oh yeah, and kudos to Lee for being one of the few Denver sportwriters do perform actual research.

  Great article, and keep them coming.

  BTW, Dynamicdave and RockyMts69, where do you fellas go to watch the games? I seem to remember Dave talking about a Broncos bar. I might like to experience that sometime. I'm 2 hours up I-15 from you guys.

• November 9, 2008

  11:49 a.m.

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  Dynamicdave writes:

  Jubei, I go to the "4 Mile Bar" on Boulder Hwy. Been going there for 6 years. It was packed on Thursday. Don't know how many people will show up for the Atlanta game? It's a morning game and some people can't drag themselves out of bed till 10am because of Saturday night drinking. Some will wander in during the 2nd quarter and halftime. But, hey, each year, there are some new faces, so maybe they will surprise me?

• November 9, 2008

  11:54 a.m.

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  Jubei writes:

  Cool, thanks for the info. Not many bars in my neck of the woods, much less sports bars.

  Here's to the Broncos somehow avoiding the early game hangover they're so famous for.

• November 9, 2008

  12:08 p.m.

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  Dynamicdave writes:

  Jubei, they will have their hands full with Atlanta, no doubt. Elam will try to make a point by kicking a field goal from 90 yards out, ha, ha. Denver has 10 days to plan for them and heal the aches and pains. We'll see how they respond? You ought to try and make it down for the Raiders game, the week after.

• November 9, 2008

  12:21 p.m.

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  Jubei writes:

  You guys think they'll use Larsen at FB, with Hillis at RB? I'd like to see what kind of production that combo could give them. I think Hillis will need a lead blocker on most of the running downs. If he can get into the secondary, I pity the safety that has to try to take him down.

  Lots of pressure on Jay, though. Hopefully Clady and Harris hold up well against Abraham. If they do, and if there is even a little bit of a run game, then there is hope.

• November 9, 2008

  1:33 p.m.

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  Dynamicdave writes:

  I think they will play P.J. Pope. Hillis at FB as he normally is.They brought him off the practice squad for a reason.

• November 9, 2008

  5:53 p.m.

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  Spider writes:

  I hate it when they have to go back East for those early morning games. BTW, What in the world was Herm thinking?

• November 9, 2008

  8:38 p.m.

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  angryman1n writes:

  Jubei... You know you're w/ the other 90% of Denver. Nothing but praise when they put up 30+ points, but booing when they can't score 20. At least I'm consistent.

  And to answer your question. I give him three years, or he'll end up being w/ the likes of Dan Marino. Simple fact is he has never been on a winning team, and his QB rating has continually dropped. I know he's young, and he can still make a solid QB. But, if he doesn't do it in his first 5 (not looking so good now), he never will.

• November 9, 2008

  9:03 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  angryman1n, wrong again, as always. Jubei is a good poster, win or lose. You are the epitome of negativism, win or lose. Jay hasn't even played 2 full years. He had 5 games in 06 and 15 in 07. He has 9 games, now. That is still less then 2 years. Your "observation" is weak. Your comparison to what Marino did in his career is lame. Elway didn't win any SB's till his last 2 seasons. But you have it all figured out? Nobody takes your posts serious because you're such a negative person. Oh, plus you're usually wrong...

• November 9, 2008

  9:07 p.m.

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  Dynamicdave writes:

  Spider, he figured if it worked for Shanahan, it will work for him? Actually, when you're 1-7 and the Chargers were scoring, might as well take the chance and go for the quick win, rather then risk OT. Win, he's a hero, lose, well, we all know what he will be called.

• November 10, 2008

  7:25 a.m.

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  Broncody writes:

  Where did you find the videos on PJ Pope. I searched for him on youtube but couldn't find it. I want to see Pope play before I jump on the "Hillis at RB" bandwagon... even though I'm already half way on it. He played very hard and I liked what I saw.

• November 10, 2008

  7:45 a.m.

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  ifyem writes:

  Who cares?? Can we change the headline story now RMN??

• November 10, 2008

  8:49 a.m.

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  philvysor writes:

  It feels good to come back home and see that all my predictions are coming to light. I watched the Miami game in Cancun and laughed my A$$ off, and was laughing even more at the swim up bar on the Cleveland game. Denver at 6-10 looks like the best they will get.

• November 10, 2008

  8:58 a.m.

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  B300 writes:

  At the risk of upseting someone I still would have to say the headline says it all. Feeling the effects. Is that good or bad? I have seen a look on Cutler's face that I am not sure I cared for. Lack of confidence. Maybe he can grow out of it, but many have not.

• November 10, 2008

  9:12 a.m.

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  MTBroncofan writes:

  I laugh when I hear comments (both here and in the national media) that degrades the level of talent on this team. The talent is there - bolstered heavily by the 06 draft class. The 08 class appears to be a big time winner also... especially when considering Royal, Clady, and Hillis - all with potential to be all-pro's in the NFL for many years. Hopefully Torain turns out to be the real deal also - next year.

  I believe that the offense will be fine for a long time. The sputters that they've undergone the last several weeks will disappear and they will be a dominant force on offense again before the end of the season.

  The defense needs help. The 07 class that focused on defense is turning out to be somewhat of a bust... It appears that if Shanahan keeps his job after this year, something needs to change again on the defensive side of the ball. I too get tired of the 'musical defensive coordinators' game over the last several years... But something has to change because the defense gets lousier and lousier with each passing year.

• November 10, 2008

  9:23 a.m.

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  BroncoDan writes:

  Marshall didn't look all that hot Thursday! Hopefully, he was just having an off day. Scheffler is looking good, though! I think Jay should pull his helmet up out of his eyes!!!

  Morning games...chance for Bronco Brunch! Mimosa's and omelette's!!! ;-D

• November 10, 2008

  10:10 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  ifyem writes:

  You've got to be kidding me RMN..The donkey's didn't even play yesterday, yet the headline story on your website is all about the Broncos..Aren't there any other headline stories ya'll can come up with!! No wonder I can't stand the Broncos!!

• November 10, 2008

  10:15 a.m.

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  RockyMts69 writes:

  Why are so many gung-ho on seeing Shanahan fired? Cutler is improving, he just needs to 'settle' down a bit. He has a great recieving core, but if you don't have a healthy running back, it's hard to run an effective west coast style of offense. I agree we need some SERIOUS help on 'D'.

  Besides...name one coach that would be more effective than Shanahan? Cowher has been to the SB twice, with one win. And he looks pretty happy!

  Roadrunners on Eastern & 95 is a pretty good place to hang on Sundays...

• November 10, 2008

  10:46 a.m.

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  JohnnyBallgame writes:

  DynamicDave it is always good to read your posts my man, I am so tired of these bandwagon Bronco Fas more than likely transplants from California. I am a native and love my Broncos through thick and thin. I love how people are bagging on Cutler, they did the same stuff to Elway for many years when he was younger. We have a great franchise and this team is a few guys away on D from being SB contenders. We have a great core of players to build the team around, a great coach, and an owner who is always trying to get that Lombardi trophie here in Denver. We are young and have had some injuries this year and have not been perfect, and I am all for being critical of your team but suport them no matter what!

  GO BRONCOS!!

  Remember: 2/3 of the earth is covered by water, the other 1/3 is covered by Champ Bailey.

• November 10, 2008

  11:54 a.m.

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  Mtnlover writes:

  No doubt the 2006 draft was filled with good choices, especially Cutler. How about an article about some of their poor draft day decisions, e.g. Karl Paymah over Ellis Hobbs? It's an old saying that you learn more from your mistakes than your successes. Think the Broncos have a thick enough skin to revisit some of their past blunders?

• November 10, 2008

  12:07 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Jubei writes:

  I'm a little late to the party, so forgive me...

  First off, AngryDude, I'll look for you on here in three years to see if you actually back up your nonsensical prediction that Jay will be cut by that time. And three years ain't exactly 'soon' is it? Of course then your oh-so-witty moniker for Jay wouldn't have the same ring, right? Stay with the negative thing though, it works for you, and it gives me something to laugh at. You only get so many Charger fans whining, and Raider and Chief fans with their third grade spelling and grammar.

  Dave, thanks for the backup, man. The 'Cutsoon' thing was too lame to pass up. Besides I think it's possible to be a fan without having to think the sky is falling all the time.

• November 10, 2008

  1:29 p.m.

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  MTBroncofan writes:

  RockyMts69 - Your points are well taken. The problem is that the Bronco nation expects a super bowl contender every year. We haven't had that for a while, so I think it's natural in today's NFL to start wondering how much longer Shanahan can hold on. I'm not personally wishing for Shanahan's departure, but the probability of something drastic happening greatly increases when a team fails to perform up to expectations.

• November 10, 2008

  3:22 p.m.

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  Brain writes:

  Falcons will be tough to beat but I think they can do it. Don't like the early games though, that seems to have always killed the Broncos. Noway is the D going to be able to stop a big score by the Falcons, teams with less on offense have scored big against the D. I think Hillis should get the start at RB, Droughns did it and was fine; he also is a big threat to catch passes.
  This offense has a great future, just need a D.
  I have not been a big Shanahan fan through the years but now or the end of the season is not the time to change coaches; this team could do some big things next year and for a number of years to come with a QB (CUTLER) that will be a consistent pro-bowler for many years.

  GO BRONCOS

• November 10, 2008

  3:40 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  DocBronco98 writes:

  I find it a bit of a lark to say Cutler hasn't owned up to his billing!! (i.e. cutsoon, stupid moniker and a bit like what I expect from a bronco-hater). If you look back at all of his years as a Bronco and compare it to Elway's first 3 you would see that numbers wise he and John are on a similar path! I am not going to get into comparing arm strength etc. between the two because it is unfair on both accounts I will give you this though Jay Cutler has been surrounded by a lot more talent early on than was John Elway. I would also dare say he will thanks in large part to injuries have a new crew who can come in and back him up! (i.e. class of 2008 great group of Rookies) Time will tell but with the Broncos getting used to a new scheme on defense the plethora of injuries riddling our db's and linebackers we are lucky to be where we are and pray to God our rookies step up and stop the Falcons (dirty birds) next Sunday! Go Broncos! You gotta love those rookies and 06'ers.

• November 10, 2008

  4:37 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  tdcolorado writes:

  Angryman- Are you Bernie Linicome's evil step-brother? How do you guys manage to pull yourselves out of bed in the morning with such a depressingly negative take on everything? Saying the Broncos should get rid of Cutler for his occasional mistakes is like saying you'd break up with Jessica Alba for eating crackers in bed.

• November 10, 2008

  8:06 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  ifyem, it's a BRONCO BLOG! DOH! If you don't like it, read another article? Man, get a clue....
  JohnnyBallgame, thanks for the perks.
  Jubei, no problem, bro. There are 3 people who never have anything good to say, angryman1n, Winthorp and gofastgo. They are always dogging the Broncos and are less then "glass half empty". That's their opinion and choice, let them run with it. It gives everyone something to talk about.
  tdcolorado, Jessica Alba, huh? Hmmm, not a bad analogy. I would have taken Sarah Michelle Gellar, but hey, no time to be picky, I guess?
  RockyMts69, I never go to the Roadrunners, only because I've been going to the 4 Mile for 6 years and Lucky Dogs, until they closed, before that.
  Broncody, I mentioned it to another blogger, on another post. I was hungover when I pulled it up. I'm fairly certain it was on YouTube, but could be mistaken. I tried to find it the next day and couldn't so maybe it was a different website that I saw his college days? Sorry.

• November 10, 2008

  8:37 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Jubei writes:

  Jessica Alba and Sarah Michelle Gellar can both eat crackers in my bed. If Jessica Biel wanted to join them I guess I could deal with that too.

• November 10, 2008

  9:38 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  Jubei, sure, why not. Besides, if we can have a "Fantasy Football League", then we can have a different kind of "Fantasy League". That's a whole new "BALL-game" (pun intended).

• November 10, 2008

  9:59 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  RockyMts69 writes:

  It's just a matter of time...and Mike Shanahan & Cutler will deliver. Pat Bowlen will do everything in his power(s) to keep this offense intact. I expect for some changes to be made in the off season in regards to the defense, only because that's where the problem lies. Elvis is young, Champ & Boss need to get and stay healthy, Dre' Bly....I'm not sure....? But their is a rumor that Urlacher might be available this off season and he would bring A LOT of energy to the Denver 'D'!!!! And that's what we need!!!

  We have to be patient!!!

  4Mile bar isn't bad, I just like the cocktail waitresses better @ RR Dynamic!

• November 10, 2008

  10:02 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  RockyMts69 writes:

  Jubei, are you in St. G??

• November 10, 2008

  10:51 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  RockyMts69, yeah, but I like the $4.75 pitchers and free shots of Schnapps for each Denver touchdown. Plus, I'm friends with many of the Broncos fans that currently go there. We built a camaraderie as the seasons have past. I won't go to another and miss all that. As I am to the Broncos, I'm loyal to my bar and friends.

• November 11, 2008

  8:19 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Jubei writes:

  RockyMts69, yeah basically. Call it the 'greater St. George metropolitan area".

  I agree totally on keeping this offense together. The OL is going to get better at run blocking, and they are already fantastic at pass blocking. If we can get a RB to stay healthy, the offense will be fine. Speaking of which, I sort of like what the G-Men are doing with Jacobs, Ward and Bradshaw. Watching that game sunday night, I was thinking how sweet it would be to have Torain be the all-around back, and use Young to spell him. Then when the D is tired in the 4th you throw Alridge at them.

  We're right there. On D, we need to keep Slowik for at least another season or two. The scheme turnover does no favors for good players and just exposes mediocre ones. Get a stud MLB in the draft, a couple quality DTs, and a safety or two. Pick a scheme that plays to the strengths of the players you have, and let them play. DON'T CHANGE SCHEMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON!

  On ST, were set with Prater and Kern, but the coverage units still scare me. The return units seem to be improving with each game.

  Anyway, keep the class of '06 together, Pat!

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