Experts predicting a Denver Broncos crash haven’t been paying attention
The Denver Broncos have had one of the more interesting off-seasons in the NFL, since their season ended in February after winning Super Bowl 50.
After the club won their third championship in franchise history, the Broncos roster was picked apart by a number of teams around the league.
First, starting quarterback Peyton Manning decided to retire after 18 incredible seasons. That was very little surprise. We had seen over the past few seasons that Manning’s body had started to give out on him, and while his mind was sharp, he was struggling to do the things he used to do with ease.
Then free agency hit, and the player moves really started.
Defensive lineman Malik Jackson opted for more money in Jacksonville.
Linebacker Danny Trevathan and safety Omar Bolden both joined former Denver head coach John Fox in Chicago.
Tight end Vernon Davis and safety David Bruton are now in Washington.
Offensive linemen Evan Mathis and Ryan Harris signed with Arizona and Pittsburgh.
And the biggest surprise came when backup quarterback Brock Osweiler bolted to Houston for more money, after being sent back to the bench in favor of the aging Manning.
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Sure, the Broncos signed a few free agents of their own.
They rebuilt a very average offensive line by grabbing offensive tackles Donald Stephenson and Russell Okung. And they did pick up defensive lineman Jared Crick, while also retaining their running backs CJ Anderson and Ronnie Hillman.
But many in the football world have already made up their mind.
The Broncos are going to be in full rebuild mode.
Their once powerful defense is a mere shell of what it used to be.
And all of the production that they got from Manning and Osweiler, now falls to the never-has-been butt-fumbler Mark Sanchez, who is sure to embarrass the Bronco faithful and leave them pleading for a rookie to take his place.
Well, except that isn’t exactly how this team has been built.
The Denver defense does not come down to one player.
After getting blown out in Super Bowl XLVIII by the Seattle Seahawks, John Elway set about rethinking his team, and rebuilding it accordingly.
He beefed up the defensive line, acquired more depth at linebacker, and picked up some talented cornerbacks.
So when DeMarcus Ware missed a few games this past season, the Broncos used young players like Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett, to make up for the lack of production.
And when Danny Trevathan went down for 13 games in 2014 the Broncos used backups like Brandon Marshall and Corey Nelson to keep the defense playing at a high level.
This defense will still be very good.
And while the loss of Peyton Manning’s leadership will be felt, it is hard to say that the Broncos are going to struggle to make up for the Manning/Osweiler combination,
The one that consisted of just 19 touchdowns to 23 interceptions.
The last time Mark Sanchez started 16 games, he threw 26 touchdowns with 18 interceptions, and he did it with far less talent than he inherits with this group.
The offensive line should be improved, and the combination of Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, and CJ Anderson in the Gary Kubiak offense, will still be very effective.
John Elway has built a team that is capable of overcoming a few losses.
So count the Denver Broncos out if you want.
But it might just be wishful thinking.
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