Today the Broncos continued their active 2010 free agency by adding two veteran lineman to help shore up the defense. I am in love with the way that the new regime has handled free agency this season and last season by bringing in key veterans to fill positions of need. Today, the Broncos helped to virtually reshape their line by signing defensive linemen Jarvis Green and Jamal Williams to their roster.
Jarvis Green joins the team as yet another former New England Patriot. Speaking of that, why does anyone care? Personally, if we can bring some proven players and winners on board, I don’t care who they played for. Green isn’t a flash player but will make a very nice defensive end for the Broncos and brings a solid veteran presence.
Jamal Williams joins the Broncos from the divisional rival San Diego Chargers. I love this pickup. Love it, love it, love it. He is a big boy who will fill the crucial role of nose tackle very nicely. Williams also is familiar with the Bronco’s defensive line coach Wayne Nunnely who coached in San Diego previously to joining the Broncos this past season.
This makes 3 defensive linemen that the Broncos have managed to sign through the 2010 free agency period (defensive end Justin Bannan joined the team last week from the Baltimore Ravens). I really like how they are directly addressing a need that has been around for years, whether it is a veteran or not. I look for Denver to expand on that depth through the draft to help groom some young players with proven veteran players.
I think everyone in Bronco country was anxious for the free agency period to begin. I can only speak for myself here, but last year I thought was a fantastic free agent class for Denver. This year, I was looking forward to seeing what Denver could bring in to help, but also what they might fetch for their own free agents. Let’s be honest, I am talking about Brandon Marshall. More on that…
Yesterday, during the opening day of 2010 free agency, Denver officially signed 3 players to their roster.
Arizona Running Back, J.J. Arrington. Yes, this does look familiar. Denver actually signed Arrington last off season but he failed the physical due to knee complications. Arrington will compete for a spot in the backfield and offers another option as a return man on special teams. I am a little torn on this (no pun intended) move. Arrington has the talent, but I question his health. I look at this as a replacement for Jordan as the 3rd or 4th back at best personally.
Baltimore Defensive Lineman, Justin Bannan. Now this signing, I am excited about. Bannan is a local guy, he attended and starred at the University of Colorado, and will really help to bolster the Denver defensive front. He is a versatile player and was a Defensive End in Baltimore, but that’s considering they have the monster known as Ngata at Nose Tackle. Justin will likely step into the Nose Tackle rotation here in Denver with Fields, Baker and whoever else happens to compete for the spot (please, please Dan Williams at #11, k thanks). I love this move!
Miami Cornerback, Nathan Jones. I also like this signing for depth in the secondary and at 28, Jones goes against the trend in Denver in terms of average age. That was a joke, kinda’. Jones brings a solid game and work ethic to the Broncos, and likely will contribute as a nickle back. That does bring up the question, what about Tony Carter and Alphonso Smith? Needless to say, there will not be a lack of talent in camp this year and a lot of competition. You can’t be deep enough at a position like this, especially when we have some aging veterans starting.
And now, for some rumors…
Brandon Marshall, it was awesome to have you on the field in Denver while you were here. The word is, Brandon is to visit the Seattle Seahawks today to talk about a contract. This could be very interesting for Denver as they could receive the 6th overall pick in the upcoming 2010 draft. Talk about possibilities! My personal opinion is and always has been that I would rather Brandon remain a Bronco, but that seems unlikely at this point. He hasn’t been happy here for a while and wants out. It looks like a reunion with his old offensive coordinator and wide receiver coach will happen in Seattle.
Baltimore Defensive Lineman, Dwan Edwards. I was really hoping Denver could land Edwards to join his former team mate Justin Bannan as a new Bronco. He was scheduled for a visit, but is now is reported to be visiting the Seahawks this weekend. Let’s hope Denver still has a chance, I think Edwards would be an immediate impact addition to the front 7 along with Bannan.
Well that’s about it for now, I have no doubt I will be posting another blog later today.
Yesterday, the Denver Broncos released Center Casey Wiegmann and Running Back LaMont Jordan. Both Wiegmann and Jordan provided a lot of veteran experience and leadership but found themselves struggling at time and in Jordan’s case, getting limited playing time.
Wiegmann is a veteran Center but lacks the size to fit into the new power scheme that Denver is transitioning to. Not to mention, he is no spring chicken anymore. This tells me also that Denver has a plan, and will obviously be pursuing some lineman through the draft and free agency. ON a side note, I look to Seth Olsen (another Hawkeye, w00t!) to step into some major role this season.
Jordan provided a 3rd option in the backfield and surprisingly “took” carries away from the young and popular Peyton Hillis. He really did not contribute anything on the field this season, and I look for this move to be either a statement that the team is standing behind Hillis and giving him another shot or that they will pursue a running back, perhaps through free agency.
This is just the start of the action with free agency opening up in just over a week. Good luck to both Casey and LaMont, Go Broncos!
Finally, a Denver Broncos legend is receiving an honor that has been long overdue for years. The voters have spoken, and Floyd Little will become the 3rd Denver Bronco to be enshrined into the Hall of Fame.
Unfortunately for me, I personally never saw Floyd play. I have been a Bronco fan my entire life, but he was before my time. He was drafted by the Broncos out of Syracuse in 1967 and remained with the team his entire career before retiring in 1975. At the time of his retirement, Little was the 7th leading rusher in NFL history. He is also one of the original Ring of Fame inductees for the team.
Nicknamed “The Franchise”, Floyd Little helped to put the Broncos on the football map and finished with 3 Pro Bowls, 2 AFL All Star games, led the league in rushing (1971) and led the team in rushing for 7 straight seasons which is still a team record. Floyd joins quarterback John Elway and offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman in Canton.
Congratulations Floyd, this has been a long time coming and is well deserved. You are what Denver Broncos football is all about.
It’s hard to believe that the Pro Bowl is behind us and the Super Bowl is the only football left for the season. The good news is, we got to see some of our Denver Broncos play yesterday, and play pretty well actually. As an aside, I love the new time slot for the game…but having it a week before the Super Bowl is just stupid.
Brandon Marshall: Only 1 reception, but it went for a 23 yard touchdown. In typical Marshall form, it was a YAC score, and he powered his way across the goal line. I really, really hope this was not his last game wearing Bronco orange and blue.
Brian Dawkins: 3 tackles and a nice interception against his former (maybe future?) team mate Donovan McNabb.
Champ Bailey: 2 tackles, and gave up a touchdown but he clearly wasn’t going all out either.
Elvis Dumervil: Let’s hope this is his last game in Miami for a while and that rumors are false of him joining Nolan there. He had 1 tackle, for a sack and also played pretty well in pass coverage. Good to see Doom get some recognition.
Ryan Clady: He was at right tackle which was odd to see, but looked pretty solid. Just a solid pro, this should have been his 2nd pro bowl.
It was confirmed today that the Denver Broncos have named former linebacker coach Don Martindale as the new defensive coordinator. Filling the void left by Mike Nolan, who departed the team for the Miami Dolphins, coach Martindale was a popular choice among the players.
Coach Martindale has also served as the linebackers coach for the Oakland Raiders and prior to that was the defensive coordinator at Western Kentucky.
Several sources indicate that Eric Studesville has agreed in principle to join the Denver Broncos as their running backs coach. The spot was vacant after long-time running backs coach Bobby Turner left the team this month to re-join coach Shanahan in Washington as assistant head coach.
Coach Studesville is an experienced running backs coach, most recently with the Buffalo Bills and prior to that the New York Giants. He has helped produce 1,000 yard rushers such as Marshawn Lynch, Tiki Barber, Willis McGahee and Fred Jackson. He is expected to be visiting the team today in Dove Valley to work out the details. I like the hire and think he will go a long way to helping our running backs, most specifically Knowshon Moreno.
It has taken me some time to get over what happened at the end of the Denver Broncos football season. I know, I sound like a baby but I bleed orange and blue and while I was pleasantly surprised with the 2009 team…I walked away disappointed. Here is how the year went in my eyes, with some breakdowns of different positions along with some random other things from the season. Continue reading Breaking down the 2009 Denver Broncos
Sources say that Mike Nolan and the Denver Broncos “agreed to part ways”, and now Denver has let go the third coach in this short off season (Dennison and Turner being the others). This one is a biggie. Denver had a vastly improved defense in the 2009 season, even with the late-season drop off in production and effectiveness against the run.
No details are out yet but the popular rumor is that Nolan will pick up the defensive responsibilities with the Miami Dolphins. It will be swirling here in Denver while they look to replace Nolan who I was a big fan of personally. Color me a little shocked and a lot aggravated. This is not the way I want my Denver Broncos to start an off season. Stay tuned for more on this situation as it develops.
Broncos offensive line coach Rick Dennison will be joining another former Broncos coach in Houston as their offensive coordinator. All of our ex’s live in Texas it seems.
Coach Dennison joins coach Kubiak on a team that is really making strides in the AFC. It is a promotion for coach Dennison and one that is well-deserved. He has been great here in Denver with the offensive line although it was relatively clear this season that the zone-blocking schemes of the past are falling in favor of a power blocking scheme that coach McDaniels prefers.
Congratulations to coach Dennison, I am sad to see you go but happy that you are getting this opportunity! (I secretly root for Houston, I am a huge Kubiak fan)
It has taken me some time to get over what happened at the end of the Denver Broncos football season. I know, I sound like a baby but I bleed orange and blue and while I was pleasantly surprised with the 2009 team…I walked away disappointed. Here is how the year went in my eyes, with some breakdowns of different positions along with some random other things from the season. 
