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I know it's baseball season around here like it hasn't been in a long time. So we'll see how much this is Lions Country over the next few weeks.
But with the Lions beginning their pre-season on Friday with an exhibition against the Denver Broncos, I thought it might be a good time to talk some football. Playing "Five Questions" with Thank You Brian Sabean about the Minnesota Twins a couple of weeks ago went so well that I thought we might try it again. So I exchanged some questions with Kevin Antcliff, who now whirls his wit from the Rocky Mountain region, and tried to ask the same sort of hard-hitting, insightful questions about the Broncos.
Just remember, it is the pre-season, so we still have some sharpening up to do. My answers to his questions on the Lions can be read at Kevin's blog. Here's our conversation:
Me: Any truth to the reports that Mike Shanahan didn't want to make the trip to Detroit, saying that his scout team would provide better competition in practice than the Lions?
K-Dog: None whatsoever. The only reason Coach Shanahan didn't want to go to Detroit is because... it's Detroit.
Me: Who the hell is Mike Bell? And is it true that the Broncos will feature a "play running back and get 100 yards" contest in each game this season?
KA: I'm not sure where you're getting your information, but I have heard of no such contest. That said, the Broncos will be holding their yearly "Be a no-name and get 1,000 yards" contest.
As for this Mike Bell guy, there is very little information available about him. My mole tells me that he was just the guy Shanahan picked out of a hat to be the next RB to prove that anybody can gain 1,000 yards in his offense. Other names in the hat included Willie Roaf, Ty Detmer, the kid in the wheelchair from Malcolm in the Middle, and Phyllis Diller. Shanahan is convinced that any of them could have rushed for 1,200 +. Hard to argue with him.
Me: Did you see Maurice Clarett got arrested again? It's a cry for help! Seriously, don't the Broncos feel bad about that? The guy just wanted a job, just wanted a chance, and he was kicked to the curb. Couldn't they have spared him the indignity of having to return to, of all places, Columbus? Really, wouldn't you go crazy too?
Mr. Antcliff: Ian, it's hard for me to be very tough on the guy, to be honest. You see, I recently came into posession of a document that opened my eyes to a few things. I cannot post it here, but I will provide a quick summary.
Maurice left the Broncos - the Broncos didn't cut Maurice. The reason? Maurice made more money in his freshman year at Ohio State than the Broncos were willing to guarantee him. Shocked, Maurice then made a series of bad decisions that brought him to where he is today. So, this isn't the organization's fault. This is Ohio State's fault.
Me: Why hasn't Ashley Lelie been traded yet? Did he and his agent veto the deal to Chicago when they found out Rex Grossman would be the guy throwing passes to him?
Kevin: The Lelie situation is a difficult one. On the one hand, you have a receiver who thinks he's one of the best in the NFL, and just needs a chance to prove it. On the other hand, you have Ashley Lelie.
As far as the Bears trade is concerned, it was the Bears who pulled the plug on the deal. In an effort to prepare him for a future role with the team, the Broncos had Jake Plummer handle the negotiations. The conversation between Plummer and the Bears took place over a cell, so the connection was fuzzy at times. The Bears thought they were sending Thomas Jones to Denver in return for "a picture of me [Plummer]", so they were all for it. Strange. Over a cell "A picture of me" and "Ashley Lelie" sound really similar.
Me: Does Jay Cutler tearfully thank a higher power each day for the Lions drafting Ernie Sims instead of him?
K-Dog: Yes. Mike Shanahan.
The Denver Broncos are coming of a great season where they were a game away from the Super Bowl. Like always the expectations are high, but there seems to be questions at quarterback like always. They brought in Jevon Walker, kicked out Mike Anderson and there is a lot of potential on this squad. Many sleepers and busts will come out of this team, and I will help you figure out where each player falls.
Jake Plummer - MOR award for Most Over Rated player
Lets face it, every year Jake Plummer receives infinite hype about this is "his year." This is NOT his year, Jake Plummer is not a good QB, he never will put up good numbers. Last year he had 20 total TDs with 9 total turnovers. He had 3400 passing yards to go with that. He is ranked in the top 15 by most rankings, making him a backup QB.
Jake Plummers career highs are 4,000 yards and 27 TDs and while those numbers are great, I see no reason why he will post such huge numbers. Sure they have Jevon Walker at receiver, but he is more of a big play receiver than an everydown guy. Walker posted insane numbers in 04' with 89 catches 1382 yards and 14 TDs-part of the reason I won the championship that year. He will not BOOST Plummers numbers, because I feel Plummer will make many mistakes at QB.
Stat line: Lets say Plummer has a great year, he could put up 30 TDs, if he increases by 12 with Jevon Walker being an insane wideout. 4,000 yards is not out of the question. Due to this potential he is a backup QB, and has a lot of SLEEPER potential. He is a late pick, and worthy of a pick because him and Walker could have a lot of chemistry.
Ron Dayne and Tatum Bell -Thunder and lightning ????
With Mike Anderson going out the door, this moves Dayne up the depth chart and will surely boost his numbers. I think Dayne will be the TJ Duckett of the squad with maybe 800 yards but 7 TDs,
Tatum Bell last year ran for 921 yards with 8 TDs. I expect him to crack 1000 yards this year and maybe get 8 TDs, depending on Dayne stealing the goal line carries. I think Bell has a lot of talent, and is a solid sleeper as well. He could be their Clinton Portis and be the 15/15 guy (1500 yards and 15 TDs). Denver is known for making RBs stars, and I think Bell is the star here, and not Dayne (despite others guesses)
Bell is worthy of a mid round pick somewhere between the 6th and the 10th, while Dayne is a late pick, I would say maybe the 13th round, but in most drafts he will go earlier. You need to play Ron Dayne by ear, because he could win the starting job, in which case he could be worthy of even a 4th round pick. Thats how important it is to be the starting RB in Denver
Jevon "people will forget I exist" Walker
As I stated above Walkers last full season had 1400 yards and 14 TDs which are top tier WR numbers. He is in a new offense that spreads the ball out and runs the ball a lot. Walker has so much talent however, but is coming off an ACL tear. I have a lot of love for this guy, so I think he can work through the Plummer issues that might be had for a 1200 yard 7 TD season.
He is ranked around 20th on my list, and is one of my top sleepers. If you are in a 3 WR league I would want this guy as my 3rd WR, behind let say a Fitzgerald and a Marvin Harrison, which is very possible (Fitz in late 3rd, and Harrison in late 4th). I want Walker with 2 reliable starters and then a VERY reliable backup like a Rod Smith or Keenan McCardell. Walker has some undeniable question marks, so you need to be careful about his backups.
Where to draft him: While Walker might very well explode for a big year, I would be very cautious of having him as my #2 receiver. He is a 5th round pick at earliest, because in the 4th round guys like Willie Parker and Warrick Dunn are still on the board, and RBs are just more valuable and worth the earlier picks. He is very likely this years Steve Smith (who i got in the 7th round last year).
DEFENSE
I think this defense will have a great year, they got Kenard Lang in the offseason, and CHamp Bailey is coming off a 2 TD 8 INT season. Look more of the same 16 PPG, and about 30 Takeaways and Sacks.
They should be a very late round draft pick.
Denver Broncos Schedule
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