Like previous years Denver concentrated on focusing on their needs. Last year focus was found in the trenches (Jarvis Moss DE-Florida, Tim Crowder DE-Texas, Ryan Harris OT-Notre Dame, Marcus Thomas DT-Florida). One such focus was the offensive line. Matt Lepsis retired and is a tremendous loss. However, Ryan Clady (12th pick) should fill in nicely and start immediately. Clady has light feet, can neutralize quicker edge rushers on a regular basis and has agility to react to a quick change of direction. He anchors well and plays with great patience. Kory Lichtensteiger (C-Bowling Green) should provide better depth on the OL. He is alert to defensive schemes, can play both RG and LG and moves well in the box. Kory did suffer a torn labrum left shoulder injury in 2006 but played through it. With the 42nd pick Denver took Eddie Royal (WR-Va Tech) who will be utilized as a KR/PR. Royal struggles with physical corners but does have some blazin bronco speed. He does possess great ability to chance direction and acceleration but will drop a few passes. I'm not exactly sold on that pick. I believe there were bigger holes that could have been filled at that time. One such example is Trae Williams (CB from So Florida, picked up by Jacksonville) or Orlando Scandrick (CB Boise State, chosen by Dallas) who were both still available. Scandrick even ran a 4.32 timed forty. Champ is in his 10th year. Lynch will likely retire when 2007 is done (16th year). Foxworth has a good chance he's leaving via free agency also at the end of this coming year. Dre Bly is in his 10 year. Those will be some big holes need to be addressed quickly. Coach Shanahan has also stated that both Selvin Young and Mike Bell aren't everyday backs. Well, both Ray Rice (RB Rutgers, selected by Baltimore) and Steve Slaton (RB West Virginia, grabbed by Houston) were also available. However, I do like adding Ryan Torian (RB Arizona St) to the stable as well as Peyton Hillis (RB Arkansas). Ryan has a 34 inch vertical and has good field vision. He was a JC transfer from Butler Community College and won a national title there before joining up at Arizona State. Torian sat out the final 7 games with a Lis-Franc fracture. If he can regain his former form Ryan could be a steal for a 5th round pickup. If you followed Arkansas football even remotely you'd be familiar with Darren McFadden or Felix Jones. Peyton Hillis often paved the path for McFadden or Felix to run through. The secondary was addressed with Jack Williams (CB Kent State) and Josh Barrett(SS Arizona St). Jack possesses rare speed (4.32 forty) to start and stop. He has good balance and is a self starter. Williams can be a relentless blitzer and definately a vocal leader with a great team attitude to make up for the lack of size (5-9 some say is generous). At 6-2 225 Josh Barrett is built along the lines of a OLB. He ran a 4.35 forty and has a 31" vertical. He graduated with a Bachelors in Marketing (hopes to be a dentist someday). At Arizona State linebacker Spencer Larson was unquestionably the team leader. He is a high motor type and has great vision for developing plays. Unfortunately, he lacks a explosive quickness but does close well. On the defensive side Carlton Powell (DT Virginia Tech) has great line speed. He was the fastest (5.12) of all defensive tackles timed. Carlton has great instincts and feel for double teams. At 6-2 300 he was a dominant run stopper for Virginia Tech with solid character. Overall, I think this was a good draft but could have been better. There were some good choices made. Some bad choices made. However, noone will really be able to truly evaluate this draft for a number of years to see who came strong or who didn't come at all.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Da Donkeys Postdraft Analysis
Like previous years Denver concentrated on focusing on their needs. Last year focus was found in the trenches (Jarvis Moss DE-Florida, Tim Crowder DE-Texas, Ryan Harris OT-Notre Dame, Marcus Thomas DT-Florida). One such focus was the offensive line. Matt Lepsis retired and is a tremendous loss. However, Ryan Clady (12th pick) should fill in nicely and start immediately. Clady has light feet, can neutralize quicker edge rushers on a regular basis and has agility to react to a quick change of direction. He anchors well and plays with great patience. Kory Lichtensteiger (C-Bowling Green) should provide better depth on the OL. He is alert to defensive schemes, can play both RG and LG and moves well in the box. Kory did suffer a torn labrum left shoulder injury in 2006 but played through it. With the 42nd pick Denver took Eddie Royal (WR-Va Tech) who will be utilized as a KR/PR. Royal struggles with physical corners but does have some blazin bronco speed. He does possess great ability to chance direction and acceleration but will drop a few passes. I'm not exactly sold on that pick. I believe there were bigger holes that could have been filled at that time. One such example is Trae Williams (CB from So Florida, picked up by Jacksonville) or Orlando Scandrick (CB Boise State, chosen by Dallas) who were both still available. Scandrick even ran a 4.32 timed forty. Champ is in his 10th year. Lynch will likely retire when 2007 is done (16th year). Foxworth has a good chance he's leaving via free agency also at the end of this coming year. Dre Bly is in his 10 year. Those will be some big holes need to be addressed quickly. Coach Shanahan has also stated that both Selvin Young and Mike Bell aren't everyday backs. Well, both Ray Rice (RB Rutgers, selected by Baltimore) and Steve Slaton (RB West Virginia, grabbed by Houston) were also available. However, I do like adding Ryan Torian (RB Arizona St) to the stable as well as Peyton Hillis (RB Arkansas). Ryan has a 34 inch vertical and has good field vision. He was a JC transfer from Butler Community College and won a national title there before joining up at Arizona State. Torian sat out the final 7 games with a Lis-Franc fracture. If he can regain his former form Ryan could be a steal for a 5th round pickup. If you followed Arkansas football even remotely you'd be familiar with Darren McFadden or Felix Jones. Peyton Hillis often paved the path for McFadden or Felix to run through. The secondary was addressed with Jack Williams (CB Kent State) and Josh Barrett(SS Arizona St). Jack possesses rare speed (4.32 forty) to start and stop. He has good balance and is a self starter. Williams can be a relentless blitzer and definately a vocal leader with a great team attitude to make up for the lack of size (5-9 some say is generous). At 6-2 225 Josh Barrett is built along the lines of a OLB. He ran a 4.35 forty and has a 31" vertical. He graduated with a Bachelors in Marketing (hopes to be a dentist someday). At Arizona State linebacker Spencer Larson was unquestionably the team leader. He is a high motor type and has great vision for developing plays. Unfortunately, he lacks a explosive quickness but does close well. On the defensive side Carlton Powell (DT Virginia Tech) has great line speed. He was the fastest (5.12) of all defensive tackles timed. Carlton has great instincts and feel for double teams. At 6-2 300 he was a dominant run stopper for Virginia Tech with solid character. Overall, I think this was a good draft but could have been better. There were some good choices made. Some bad choices made. However, noone will really be able to truly evaluate this draft for a number of years to see who came strong or who didn't come at all.
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