Denver Broncos 2015 Season Preview

Denver Broncos

2014 record 12-4

O/U 10

Off season overview

The Broncos made their big move at loading up this roster last year and now in 2015 they handled paying their own, and making some tough roster decisions in the process. Peyton Manning lost his top red zone threat Julius Thomas. Aside from losing Thomas the team ultimately lost four offensive lineman but we will get to that later. Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton took a payday to play for Washington this season, and Rahim Moore also left the defense. Adding Darian Stewert may just be a lateral move, but that may not be enough for the rest of the losses. Antonio Smith was signed to help bandage Knigtons’ loss, and Owen Daniels and James Casey will maybe combine forces and be half as good as Thomas? The lack of urgency in building the offensive line was also a surprise and you can see why the Broncos win total is two less than last season as the Broncos have some questions to answer.

Offensive Strength

For one of the first times in his career Peyton Manning has questions heading into 2015. Manning had a nice season in the overall statistics, but the last five games of his season saw four touchdowns and six interceptions and he looked unlike the super star quarter back we are used to. After the season it was known that he was injured through the last six or seven games, but at 39 all eyes will be on how Manning bounces back from injury. Fortunately for the five-time MVP he has a strong supporting cast. Demaryius Thomas is a top tier wide receiver and finished 2014 at age 27 and with career highs in catches and yards, in which he finished second in the league in both categories. He isn’t a clean route runner but he is a complete freak of an athlete and is a burner for a 6’3” 230 pound frame. Across from Thomas is Emmanuel Sanders who had the best drop rate in the NFL in 2014. Sanders is better out of the slot, and the team has a young second year player, Cody Latimer who may be able to get some time in the outside to free up Sanders in the middle. The Broncos however, have a plethora of tight ends and I think they are willing to use them. While Julius Thomas was the great TD threat, the tight ends the Broncos signed are more sufficient blockers, and will add to what should be a passing game, opened by the run. CJ Anderson took the reigns averaging 91 yards per game, with 8 touchdowns in his seven starts last season. Anderson is a do everything back, and can protect in the passing game so here you have potential for an every down back. The team has a variety of weapons in the depth behind him, and between the three tight ends and the four running backs who may see touches, the Broncos can throw a lot of different formations out here. This is a unit that finished top 5 in efficiency in 2014, and there is a lot to love heading into 2015.

Offensive Weakness

What happened to the offensive line makes you scratch your head in 2015. Losing an all-pro caliber player like Ryan Clady due to injury is only the start and there is little to blame the Broncos for on that part. The team does have a second round rookie to try to fill the gap, but his prime expectation was to compete with Ryen Harris for a starting right tackle job. Ryen Harris, who played in Denver from 2007-10 now comes back under different management and will get a starting job he once had for three years. Harris is an average lineman, and you could tell he wasn’t in the future a plan with the second round draft pick along with Clady. Had the Broncos known that there would be depth trouble at tackle, they may not have been so willing to move Louis Vasquez to Guard. The team had to do it in order to comply with the salary cap by trading Manny Ramirez and letting Orlando Franklin walk. The team also had to downgrade, at least monetarily at the center position, but any team needs to be noted when a center change is made and there is current competition at the position. Evan Mathis is the most notable name added, but he is now 34 and coming off season ending surgery. He also was signed in late August so he hasn’t had any time to get a feel for the team. Now that, my friends is how you completely make over what was once considered strong offensive line into a group of unproven names. Two rookies now feature the line, and their only returning starter is in a new position. The Broncos have this year and maybe, but I don’t think they will have the next two years to win a Super Bowl with Manning. With a rookie at the blind side, and the swinging door at center it isn’t exactly the best foot to start on.

Defensive Strength

Manning may be saved in 2015 by what could be the best defense in his career. The secondary is a unit that will be shut down this season after ranking 5th against the pass in 2015. Chris Harris is arguably one of the five best corners in the game. He remains on the right side of the field, but did not give up a single touch down in 2014. At 26 and beginning the season a bit more unproven than his running mate Aqib Talib, teams tested Harris and they found out quickly they are better off going against Talib. Talib is no slouch however, and is arguably the robin to the best trio of corners in the NFL. That is because I like what I saw from rookie Bradley Roby in 2014 in the slot. TJ Ward didn’t have a great 2014, but he is a great player and I would suspect in year two the 29-year-old vet would be a team leader on this defense. Ward won’t have to do all the lifting, because this team is set at the pass rusher position. Von Miller is a force not only on the quarterback, but also against the run and is one of the most complete linebackers in the NFL. What is great about him, as well as teammate and former defensive MVP Demarcus Ware is that they can both play the defensive end role, as well as the outside linebacker position and be a threat in space. The two combined for 24.5 sacks in 2014, and the Broncos decided to add Shane Ray in the first round in case Ware at age 33 now has lost a step or two. Either way the rotation is fresh and strong, and Ray like the two has the ability to run in this multiple defense, which allows the Broncos to be flexible in their defensive front. The Broncos are limited at middle linebacker depth, but have two above average starters, and from ranking 4th as a team in defensive efficiency I think they are a top five unit again in 2015.

Defensive Weakness

There are a few questions on the defense and they are all primarily on the defensive front. I like Sylvester Williams but he isn’t going to replace everything Knighton brought, and while they Broncos thought they were sly bringing in Williams’ old college teammate to run beside him, Marvin Austin is now out with groin surgery. Derek Wolfe who mainly plays the end position is out for 4 games due to a PED suspension and he is the most experienced lineman on the team. Antonio Smith is a long time vet hoping to get a ring on Mannings’ coat tails. What he doesn’t know is he may have to earn it with a year of gutting it out in the trenches.

Where do they rank O/U 10?

I hate to bet on a team who isn’t strong in either side of the trenches, but this schedule sets up perfectly for Denver to be division leaders. Getting the Packers, Ravens and Patriots at home has to be nice. Opening the season with the Ravens, getting the Packers after a bye and heading to division rival Kansas City Chiefs week two while Manning is still fresh seems to be convenient. Also the teams only pair of back-to-back road games is when they go to Oakland followed by a trip to Cleveland to face the Browns. If they are anything worse than 1-1 during that tough trip this team clearly lost more than six games, but I think it is tough to point out six if you think they can get at least two of those big three home games. That amount of wins to me makes them once again the favorites to win the division, and while I am unsure where Manning will be by the post season I will bet the over, and bet on him to be a regular season hero again.

Parkers Pick: 1st in the AFC West over 10 wins

Logans Pick: 1st in the AFC West over 10 wins