Top 10 Broncos Who Will Impact 2007

I thought about making this Tuesday’s Top 10 “Top 10 Reasons I Hate Computer Science.” Sorry for the delay and general lack of posts lately, folks – it’s Finals Week at school and I’ve been a very busy bee. But I have yet to miss a Tuesday and I never plan on it, so here is this week’s entry.

The Super Bowl Champion of each year reaches that point with the combined efforts of 53 (and often more) individuals. It will take a combined effort among all Broncos players to help us reach our goal – BUT – certain players have a heavier weight on their shoulders. Who do Broncos fans need to depend on most to step up to the plate and carry the team? Who MUST we count on to succeed in 2007 and reach our goal of Super Bowl Champions? I list the top 10 here. On an interesting note, only one player on this list has been a Bronco for more than 3 years. The top 3 have a total of 5 starts as a Bronco among them. It just goes to show you that this is a fluid, dynamic game we play in the NFL. New players are sometimes relied on to make the most impact.

10) Gerard Warren

Sometimes you need to compare your successful years to your failures. Getting a game away from the Super Bowl, while not reaching the ultimate goal, can still be considered a successful year (at least over a year later). So 2005 was pretty good. 2006 was not. So I look at the performances of players between the years and a few stand out… Gerard Warren is one of those standouts. In my mind, he is by far the best “Brownco” we have ever had, and he played above expectations in 2005. In 2006, he fell below those. With Ladainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson facing our defense twice a year each, it is vital to have a big run-stuffer in the middle. The pressure’s on you, Gerard, to lead newcomers Alvin McKinley and Marcus Thomas to complement your abilities to stop the run before it gets going.

9) Daniel Graham

Our $30 million man wasn’t originally on my list, but Graham will be relied on heavily in our offense this year. He is our jack of all trades, master of none – he will be the tight end who will likely be in the game, down in, down out, in all of our two tight end sets. Tony Scheffler will be the focus of passing plays, while wily vet and journeyman Stephen Alexander will participate more in running downs. I’m sure Shanahan won’t show his hand too much, but it will Graham’s performance in both the running and passing game that will greatly indicate how effective (and deadly) our offense would, could and should be.

8) Elvis Dumervil

Get that quarterback, Doomee! The coolest-named player on our roster (I mean, when you pronounce it you have both “Elvis” and “Doom”. Sweet) will likely come in more this year, helping to post sacks on downs-other-that-third. Can he help in run support? Can he step up. If he can, it will put the pressure off our other rookies to have to make an immediate impact on our team.

7) Brandon Marshall

No can fill Rod Smith‘s shoes in my mind. But with injury problems (and possibly contract disputes) lingering, it’s up to this newcomer to step up and play a position that seems to be cursed in Denver since Ed McCaffrey left years ago – our #2 WR. Off-field issues aside, Brandon Marshall showed enough signs to give Shanny his vote of confidence, which is (almost) enough for me. Marshall will be asked to be everything Lelie was and wasn’t – an explosive, big-play maker (was), as well as a solid, reliable chain-mover on third downs (wasn’t). Marshall certainly has the size to do it, it’s just whether or not he is talented and/or dedicated enough to make it happen.

6) Tim Crowder

I’ve said multiple times since the Draft a few weekends ago that Tim Crowder will have a bigger impact on our season than first-rounder Jarvis Moss. While certainly not containing the same upside as Moss, Crowder is more poised to break the starting lineup in Week 1. It will be important that he help in run support as well as registering sacks opposite Dumervil in passing downs.

5) Matt Lepsis

I attribute our lackluster 2006 campaign to Matt Lepsis‘ injury more than anything else. Jake Plummer sucked, sure. We couldn’t run the ball, fine. But we were 7-2 before Lepsis went down, and 2-5 after. Do the math. Stay healthy, Matt, and we’re talented enough to make a run.

4) D.J. Williams

D.J. Williams will have all the opportunities to make big plays

Making a move at linebacker is a big deal in Denver – we’ve always prided ourselves in having one of (if not the) best tandem in the league. Cutting the heart and soul of this defense was the most detrimental thing we’ve done all year – Al Wilson not being there sets the stage for problems down the road. Unless D.J. Williams can step up and make plays in the middle. He will remain in nickel packages with Ian Gold, giving him more opportunities to make those plays. If he can’t play like Wilson then the Broncos defense will suffer. Bottom line.

3) Travis Henry

We need to run the ball better than we did last year, and Travis Henry looks like just the ticket. Just STAW AWAY FROM THE WEED, Travis, and we’ll be fine!

2) Dre Bly

Darrent Williams, rest in peace, was picked on A LOT last year. After teams realized that Champ Bailey was having an MVP-caliber season, they threw in every direction that wasn’t within 20 feet of Champ. Welcome to Denver, Dre Bly. Yes, you are a former Pro Bowler, but you are the #2 now. Learn from Champ and learn how to be even greater than you have been in the past. Help us form the greatest CB tandem in recent history. Help us beat the Colts for crying out loud!

1) Jay Cutler

The Denver Post likes to call Jay Cutler the Golden Boy with the Golden Arm or Magic Arm or some kind of fabled expression regarding Cutler’s right appendage. Well, the weight is on his shoulders (or rather, said arm) to deliver us to glory in 2007. Our window is closing. Rod Smith, Tom Nalen and John Lynch are all in the twilight of their careers. The place to win is Glendale and the time to win it all is now. Can Cutler challenge Ben Roethlisberger‘s recently-set record of youngest Super Bowl Champion QB? Mile High is counting on it. We’ll only go as far as he can take us.

As you can tell by the list, we’re counting on our young players to carry the team. And it’s a pretty even mix of offense and defense (whoa – upon further inspection, I noticed that my list actually alternated offense-defense. Not intended but pretty indicative of our even needs throughout). I’m starting to warm up to the idea of a Super Bowl again – something I’ve cooled off against since we cut #56. There’s not a doubt in my mind that each of these players can step up to the plate. It’s just a matter of “will” they.