Mile High Clubhouse

[Ol'ColdToes]

Mile High Clubhouse

Welcome to the Mile High Clubhouse, your spot for Broncos banter and news. It will be updated weekly with game recaps, signings, depth chart changes, and, of course, who-wore-it-best articles.

Week 3 is upon us, which means we’re only a few weeks behind schedule updating you on the 2016 Broncos squad! And what a fine looking team it is. Faster, stronger, more determined, and twice as absorbent as the 2015 version.

2015 Recap



Those 2015 Broncos, you’ll remember, lost Super Bowl 50 to the Dallas Cowboys. For the second consecutive year, a late game interception decided the outcome of the Super Bowl. On the first play of overtime, the game tied 10-10, Brock Osweiler overthrew a wide-open Emanuel Sanders on a simple slant route. Two plays later the Cowboys kicked a field goal for the win. The Cowboys celebrated, the Broncos wept, and a jilted Peyton Manning (the legend was traded to the Texans midseason) smirked his evil Manning smirk.

 

[Ol'ColdToes]

OFFSEASON

A SUPER BOWL LOSERS banner now hangs atop Sports Authority Field. To improve the team after the heartbreaking loss, owner Ol’ Coldtoes consulted with his spiritual guru on some offseason personnel moves.

Retirements

LG Evan Mathis, OLB Demarcus Ware
The Broncos lost two of their top players to retirement in the offseason. After allowing pressure up the middle that caused Osweiler’s overthrow, LG Evan Mathis decided to call it a career. Shortly after, OLB Demarcus Ware also announced his retirement. The organization’s track record of trading or benching veterans to make room for young talent likely influenced both decisions.




FA Acquisitions

OT Kelvin Beachum 88 OVR 4yr/22M
Beachum is one of the leagues best pass blocking offensive tackles and an instant upgrade over last years starting RT Ryan Smith. Pairing Beachum with LT Ryan Clady should provide Osweiler more time in the pocket to let downfield routes develop.

C/G Stefen Wisniewski 81 OVR 4yr/14.3M
The Broncos view Wisniewski as a younger version of Evan Mathis.

TE Ladarius Green 82 OVR 3yr/4.5M
Green has been a breakout candidate the past couple seasons in San Diego. A change of scenery should allow Green to flourish as a vertical seam threat.

HB Jeremy Langford 73 OVR 2yr/2.6M
After letting Ronnie Hillman test the free agency market, the Broncos signed Langford to a low risk deal. He possesses a rare combination of speed and power.

LB Sean Weatherspoon 4yr/8.4M
Weatherspoon will be the Broncos backup plan at both inside and outside LB. A proven veteran, he could challenge second-year OLB Shane Ray for the starting job.


DE Margus Hunt 1yr/1.1M , NT Phil Taylor 1yr/1.9M , NT Jesse Williams 2yr/1.4M
Three big men with strength and quickness.

Draft

Rd. 1- QB Michael Wilson
The Broncos surprised fans by selecting a QB with their first pick. Months earlier they signed Brock Osweiler to a long-term deal. Coldtoes on the pick: “Wilson was the best player available on our board and the most accurate QB in this years crop. He reminded us of Drew Brees coming out of Purdue. Most years he’d be a top 10 pick. Last year Brock was missed a few weeks with the hip injury. We need a backup who can operate the offense in full, make all the throws.”

Rd. 2- DB Dre Griffin
“You always need athletic guys who can run, turn their hips, and cover. But he also has exceptional strength for the position. We plan on giving him a look at safety to see if that strength shows up in defending the run.”

Rd. 2- OG Eric Crosby
Rd. 3- OG Andrew Brewer
“We need to develop long-term starters on the line. Both are strong and surprisingly nimble. “

Rd. 6- CB Marcell Winston
“He’s raw, but if you just ask him to go out and cover his guy man-to-man, he can lock‘em down. We’ll coach him up and give him the opportunity.”

 

[Ol'ColdToes]

Quick and dirty recaps of the first 4 games...


Week 1

The Broncos faced off against the Kansas City Chiefs in week one. The post Super Bowl hangover lasted a single half for the Brock Osweiler lead offense. At halftime, down 7-3, the Broncos made adjustments to attack the aggressive Cover 2 coverages employed by Kansas City. Osweiler targeted the deep middle often over the final two quarters. Tight end Virgil Green was the beneficiary, posting a career day with an 8 catches and 131 yards.

The teams traded scores throughout the second half. The Broncos started their final drive of the game down by four with under two minutes remaining. Operating the no huddle, Brock completed an unbelievable pass to free agent acquisition Ladarius Green who turned upfield for a 67 yard TD.

Unfortunately, the quick score gave Kansas City the ball back with plenty of time to move into field goal position. The Broncos secondary challenged the KC receivers on the final drive. But it was the instinctive play of newly acquired linebacker Sean Weatherspoon that sealed the victory. Weatherspoon undercut a curl route and snatched an errant Alex Smith pass.

DEN 31- KC 28

 

[Ol'ColdToes]

Week 2

The Broncos welcomed the Tennessee Titans to Denver in week two. Once again the offense got off to a slow start. But an effective 2 minute drive, capped off by a beautiful TD by Emanuel Sanders on comeback route, gave the Broncos a 10-3 lead at half.

Playing with the lead, the Denver defense was able to force Mariota and the Titans offense into mistakes. T.J Ward and Chris Harris came up with key picks that the offense was able to convert into field goals. C.J. Anderson carried the ball 23 times for 86 yards in an effort to chew the clock.

DEN 33 - TEN 3

 

[Ol'ColdToes]

Week 3

A rivalry is brewing in the AFC West between the Broncos and Chargers. In 2015, both matchups came down to the fourth quarter or overtime. The first meeting in 2016 provided more of the same.

Denver moved the ball at will throughout most the game. But in the first half two drives stalled within the SD five yard line. Osweiler threw an ill-advised throw into the end zone that was easily picked off on the first series. And just before half with no timeouts left, the Broncos watched the clock run out before the field goal team could get on the field.

In the second half, a 14-14 game turned on a interception by Brandon Marshall. The offense quickly converted the turnover into a 20-yard Ladarius Green TD. On the ensuing SD possession, the defense tightened up and forced a 3-and-out. After a relatively quiet game, C.J. Anderson took over with 47 yards on the ground during the game clinching TD drive.

DEN 28 – KC 14

 

[Ol'ColdToes]

Week 4

The Broncos dominated the New Orleans Saints in every facet of the game. The passing attack, ground game, return team, and defense all contributed TDs in a 38-3 blowout. Aqib Talib notched three interceptions in the win. Osweiler continues to put up efficient numbers, but he must cut back on red zone turnovers as the season progresses.

DEN 38- NO 3