Subscribe to BroncoTalk

Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe via email

Facebook Twitter
Search
Sponsors
Broncos Rumors & News >
Disclaimer

BroncoTalk is an unofficial Denver Broncos fansite and is not affiliated with the NFL. Images and articles used on this site are used under the fair use provision of the Copyright Act for purposes of comment, criticism, and news reporting.

Published on 04/27/2009 at Mon Apr 27 11:54.
Tagged: 2009 NFL Draft,Alphonso Smith,Blake Schlueter,Darcel McBath,David Bruton,Denver Broncos,Kenny McKinley,Knowshon Moreno,Richard Quinn,Robert Ayers,Seth Olsen,Tom Brandstater,Top Stories.

Denver Broncos 2009 Draft Results

Posted Mon Apr 27th by Monty

Ladies and gentlemen, your Denver Broncos 2009 draft class…

1. Knowshon Moreno Running Back (12)		1. Robert Ayers Defensive End (18)
2. Alphonso Smith Cornerback (37)	2. Darcel McBath Defensive Back (48)		2. Richard Quinn Tight End (64)
4. David Bruton Safety (114)	4. Seth Olsen Guard (132)		5. Kenny McKinley Wide Receiver (141)
6. Tom Brandstater Quarterback (174)		7. Blake Schlueter Center (225)

Kyle’s take: I loved the first two picks. From then on, I would have to say I was very disappointed. I understand the offense had some holes last year as well, but the defense needed to be addressed more, particularly the front seven. And I’m still livid at the trade for Alphonso Smith. I’ll give a grade of C, mostly because the first two picks are so important, and I think we nailed it on them. What are your thoughts? Poll after the jump.

Loading ...

Boisebroncoguy

I only went up to a C because of Ayers and, even though we shouldn’t have picked him, Moreno. They should be good for us. I really didn’t get the rest of it. Especially when I heard all we had to do was give up a 3rd rounder to swap with J-vill at 8, and we could have gotten Raji. I just hope the new Broncos’ brass knows what they are doing. Between Cutler and this draft, I am not sure they do.
http://merlinofchaos.livejournal.com E. Halsey Miles

So about Knowshon Moreno, and why I’m not in love with this pick: Football Outsiders found a stat that is a pretty good (though not perfect) indicator of runningback success, called the ‘speed score’, which is essentially a ratio of weight to 40 time. Very, very few runningbacks have been picked in the first round with a speed score as low as Moreno’s — and the names that come up include Ron Dayne.

Now, in the article Tanier wrote about this, he caveated that Moreno is a better athlete than almost everyone else who was picked with that speed score, and in McDaniel’s system the elite speed may not be as big of a deal because he’ll be used more as a blocker and short range wideout like, say, Kevin Faulk is used.

Still, he lacks the elite speed of a proper first round NFL runningback and this means he’ll always have issues getting to the corner and getting behind the secondary even if he does hit the hole and burst through. That could be a problem.

That only leaves 1 pick I truly like: Ayers, and 1 pick I’m curious about: Smith. But Smith has to surprise the same way Eddie Royal surprised to make him worth it, because as far as I’m concerned he needs to be worth around pick #10 in next year’s draft to have been value.
http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

My issues with this draft are not with the individual playersâ€¦ they all seem very nice and skilled. My issue is with the moron making the picks and the order and cost of those picks.

With 3 FA running backs signed this off-season and 7 total, RB was NOT a need position. Taking Moreno #12 was stupid (even if heâ€™s Hall of Fame material). McDâ€™s comment, â€œwhen our pick came up, there werenâ€™t any quality DT players left that we thought were worth the value of the pick.â€

REALLY?!?!?

Well, two picks later you pissed away our 1st round pick next year for a CB! If you were willing to throw away picks next year, why the FRAK didnâ€™t you do it earlier so we could have landed Raji or another quality DT?!?!?!?

10 Picksâ€¦ 0 DTâ€™s selected. Grade: F

This prick needs to be firedâ€¦ and fast.
BEDressler

Let’s wait and see how the drafted players work out….
NathanH47

JD…relax. Sure, trading the 1st was a HUGE failure. But we shored up our secondary for years to come. The d-line also got a big boost with the addition of Chris Baker today. Between him, Fields, and Marcus Thomas, we should be able to hold down the NT spot for a year . McDaniels said in his press conference he wasn’t in love with any of the front 7 guys where we were picking, so I don’t blame him for not picking someone that would looked good to us but wouldn’t have made it long in the NFL. I’ll elaborate more later, and i’m not grading the draft because we have no idea how good any of these guys will be for a couple years.
(stuck in) raiderland

Wow, I share none of Jonathan’s rage over this. I just try to remind myself that these drafts are always impossible to figure until players actually hit the field. Nobody had any idea what a valuable pick Royal was last year at the time– people figured we had just drafted a punt returner who had a lot of work to do to get to be a receiver.
I guess the criticism I do completely understand is drafting a RB after having paid out money for three free agents. I was particularly hopeful Arrington might work out. They do all seem like a waste now. Sigh… maybe McJosh is going to unveil a crazy new plan. I’m imagining something like the “flying V” out of those cheesy old Disney “Mighty Ducks” movies, which McJosh would have been young enough to have his mommy take him to see in theaters when they came out. That would explain his need for 6 running backs…
(stuck in) raiderland

Actually, thinking about it more, I really would enjoy that plan. Sure it may not exactly be legal under current rules, but… c’mon! Put ’em all on the field in a “Flying V” and play “Who really has the ball?” with the defense. That would at least be a lot of fun to watch… the first couple of times… and we’d avoid having wasted our money.
http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

GRADES BY PICK:

#12 – Moreno: D
If they KNEW there wasn’t depth at DT in this draft then they should have traded up at the beginning rather than pissing away our 2010 picks later.

#18 – Robert Ayers: A
Solid. No complaints.

#37 Alphonso Smith: D
WTF? Really… We sold our 1st round pick next year for a CB? I don’t care if this kid is the second coming of D-Will (another under-rated short CB), it’s not worth this pick.

#48 – Darcel McBath: C
Another CB… Is McD planning on trading Champ? Why are we not selecting defensive tackles?!

#64 – Richard Quinn: F
Holy Cow… We are officially into wildly stupid moves at this point! What a HUGE reach for a guy NO ONE would have picked until the 3rd round. And we gave up TWO 3rd rounders to get him. Again, NOT A NEED POSITION!!!!

#132 – Seth Olsen: B
We need depth and developmental talent at O-line… this is fine.

#141 – Kenny McKinley: A
Good talent, good value.

#174 – Tom Brandstater: C
Again, we reached on this one, but he’s fine and we needed another QB for camp anyway.

# 225 – Blake Schlueter: B
Fine project to develop.

Total Score: D

We needed DT’s leading into the draft and we got a RB and a TE, while throwing away two third round picks this year and next year’s 1st round pick.

Terrible…. just plain terrible.
DC

I think what we did was picked players that can fit our system and picked players that were the strengths in the draft. Lets face it this draft was slim pickings at DT. Only 2 DT’s went in the first round, B.J. and Jerry. Evander hood, like I said along time ago, is going to be a 3-4 DE. I think he focused on the strengths of the draft. My only gripe is picking up A.S. I hope he turns out to be an incredible player, but damn I think we gave up a lot. As of right now I think we got hosed on the Cutler trade, but we will have to wait and see. I love the fact that all our players are high character guys. I think the WR Gamecock is going to turn out to be a great slot when it comes time to play. Overall, I would give this draft a B.
http://broncotalk.net Kyle

I’m not mad about Moreno… I am mad about the free agents we picked up earlier though. Didn’t like those moves when we made them! But the Moreno pick = A to me. He’s a game changer and will keep our defense off the field. I’m glad we didn’t pass him up because of the earlier crap FA signings.
http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

And I completely agree with you all about not knowing if these players are truly good until they hit the field. In fact, I LIKE all these guys. I hope they play for years and make the Pro Bowl…

My anger is with the Dove Valley team that made foolish decisions when faced with the issue this team has as a whole.

Let’s remember Shanahan was fired for not being able to fix the Defense. Now we’ve lost our starting QB, our OC, most of our offensive position coaches and now we’ve drafted 60% offensive players and NOT ONE DT… that’s just moronic, folks.
Pete

There are very few things about this draft that I like. As stated before, we didn’t draft a single DT.
About the only thing that is keeping me from jumping off the roof of my office is that McDaniels stated that nobody was there that they liked that “fit our system”, and that he wasn’t gonna just pick up a defensive lineman for the sake of picking up a defensive lineman. I think this may have been a downfall of the Shanahan era for defense. If we needed a DT, Shanahan would have picked a DT regardless of whether or not he fit the system that the Def Coordinator was using, and that would ultimately make the player a bust. Look how we always were with RB’s. We had a system, and that system called for a certain style of runner. The same can be said for any system that coordinators use. Just because someone is a beast of a player doesn’t mean he can play in any system.
I am very disappointed in us trading away next years #1 for a small CB. Our #1 would be top 5 next year, as I predicted we go 4-12. This is a HUGE mistake, unless Smith is another Champ.
I’m fine with Moreno, I’m fine with Ayers, but after that, I shake my head in disgust. We have our “franchise” RB and hopefully a “franchise” DE/OLB. I’m just hoping that these other picks provide much needed depth and the ability to take over the starting position with supremacy in the next few years (Dawkins is old)
http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

Kyle, I’m very excited about watching Moreno. I’m not down on him at all… I’m just sick that McD KNEW there were only a couple DT’s on the board worth anything and was obviously willing to throw away next year’s picks to trade up… then WHY didn’t we do that to get Raji?

Can someone please explain that to me?
http://broncotalk.net Kyle

I actually wish I had an answer for you there JD… you’re absolutely right. This draft would have been better with Raji, and if we’re throwing away picks anyway…
http://BroncoTalk.net Mr.East

Its way too soon to grade picks.

Denver picked up a 2nd round talent in Chris Baker in UDFA. Denver actually picked up 3 defensive linemen that were supposed to be drafted.

People need to understand that the draft isn’t completely about filling need. The draft is about taking the best possible player on the board that fits your scheme. Thats why the Steelers, Colts, and Patriots are the best year after year. There is no reason to complain that Denver didn’t take mediocre DTs over good players.

McDaniels also addressed special teams via draft, which Denver was the worst in the NFL in. Don’t naysay when they haven’t even played a game. Two drafts ago everyone was all giddy for Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder. Everyone be super happy this year if Denver drafted Brian Orakpo and then Fili Moala in the 2nd. However, both of these players are thought to have a high chance of becoming busts. In two seasons everyone would be calling for McDaniels’ head, I guess the guy can’t win.
BK

Man Douglas I can’t wait until you are the GM of a team as you seem to know a lot more about talent than men who are actually paid to scout and evaluate. Take a chill pill and realize that the front 7 haven’t been entirely neglected (Fields, Powell healthy) addressed and are continuing to be addressed with the addition of college free agents, several of which (Chris Baker, Hampton/ Everette Pedescleaux, Northern Iowa) all graded out as mid round picks on many teams boards.
Pete

Also, Terrell Davis was never a fast RB, and look at him? People practice for the 40 yard dash. A fast 40 yard time means NOTHING if it doesn’t translate to the field, and I’ve seen Reggie Bush caught from behind (amazing 40 time), and I’ve seen Terrell Davis run away from everyone (very low 40 yard time). It isn’t about how fast you are in shorts and sneakers running a straight line, it’s about how fast and agile you are in cleats wearing all your gear, and with a football in your hands that matters. So Moreno’s speed is plenty fine for me.
DC

#12. Moreno “A”
The dude is an all around Back. He can play all three downs. He is going to be the savior of this football team.
#18. Ayers “B”
I hope this dude pans out because I don’t think he can be an elite 3-4 DE. And at 275 he can’t be a LB.
#37. Smith “A”
I believe in this guys talent. I think we traded too much for him, but I grading these guys on talent.
#48 McBath “B”
I think this guy is not only going to help us out in the secondary but also special teams.
I don’t know enough about the others to grade them. What I do know is McD drafted team players who want to work hard and compete.
http://broncotalk.net reyes lopez

i really don’t think mcdaniels knows what the heck is going on. we are not new england and he’s not belichik. they should just let us have cutler back and send mcdaniels to new england which he seems to emulate and love. oh well i guess no do overs we’re screwed.
http://mrherculesrockefeller.blogspot.com hercules rockefeller

The Quinn pick is indefensible. From any standpoint. You can maybe argue that if you really, really like Alphonso Smith (apparently the #1 corner on McD’s board), you can make a deal to go get him because he wouldn’t have been there at your next pick.

But Quinn? Quinn would have been there in the fourth, fifth, maybe sixth. There was no sane reason to dump the entire 3rd round to move up and take him.
http://mrherculesrockefeller.blogspot.com hercules rockefeller

And that’s not discussing whether or not we even needed another TE.

We didn’t of course…
http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

East,

I agree that grades for their future performance at this time is silly… What I was referring to was based on what needs the picks filled on our team and what we paid to get that player.

The low grades went to players we over-reached for and probably didn’t have a need position to fill.

Again I’ll say… I don’t have an issue with the individual players. I hope they all turn out to be HoFers.

My issue remains that McD didn’t address our biggest Defensive needs and overspent in picks for the players he did get.
DC

East, where did you look to find the FA signings.
DC

We did need a TE who can block in the 2 TE sets. Thats when they like to run the ball. Lets face it Tony S can’t block an elite DE.
http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

Agree 100%, Herc.

Do you think this just shows how inexperienced Xander and McD are at this part of the game? I mean, the ‘old guard’ may have picked Eddie too early last year, but they didn’t trade a 1st round pick for him!
NathanH47

JD, Mcdaniels didn’t make the picks, Xanders did. Nolan and him provided input, but Xanders made all the final calls.

Everyone is bashing the Raiders for the Mitchell pick, but the Bears came out and said they were planning on taking him with their next pick and viewed him as a future probowler. Maybe someone planned on doing the same with Quinn. And the fact remains that Daniel Graham is the most overrated player on our team, and Scheff doesn’t fit McD’s system, so people need to stop acting like TE wasn’t a need. Was it a seeming reach for Quinn in the 2nd? Certainly, but if the guy does more than DG can do for us in a couple years, and for much cheaper, than it was a good pick.
http://BroncoTalk.net Mr.East

JD,

I just think you’re missing the point.

Who cares if Denver traded a first rounder for Alphonso Smith? The guy was a first rounder that fell. If he had been 2 inches taller he would have been a top 5 pick.

Now that Denver only has 1 draft pick next year they don’t need to worry about signing 4 first rounders over two seasons, that’s just fiscally irresponsible.
http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

DC,

ummm…. er… Wasn’t our offense ranked 2nd in the league last year? Even though we went through 7 RB’s, and played from behind a whole lot, our O-game wasn’t the problem.

The solution isn’t another blocking TE….

THE DEFENSE NEEDS FIXED!!!!!

I don’t care if we put up 40 points per game. If the defense gives up 41 per game we still lose.
http://BroncoTalk.net Mr.East

DC,

http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2009/04/2009-undrafted-free-agent-signings-list.html
http://broncotalk.net reyes lopez

i thought the bears really made the most of their late picks. they outdrafted the hell out of mcdaniels and co. not to mention the fact that they really bent him over on cutler trade.
roshon2411

I gave the draft a D. McDaniels reasoning is exactly how I felt before the draft. Don’t draft by postion but draft best available. I just don’t think he followed through. Moreno probably wouldn’t have fell to 18 but Orakpo was the best availble at the time. Getting Ayers at 18 was the best pick there. But Orakpo at 12 and Ayers/Moreno at 18 would have been a better combo. Smith could be a better player than I originally thought, but Rey Malaluga/Barwin/Brace were available. I wouldn’t have traded our natural for any of those three but wouldn’t be as pissed if Malaluga/Brace/Barwin was the pick. Defnitely could be some talented guys, Moreno, Ayers, and Smith. Too many reaches.

They shouldn’t have traded up for anyone but my picks would have been like this:

12-Orakpo
18-Ayers
37-Brace
48-William Moore
64- Jarron Gilbert
114- DJ Moore
132- Marcus Freeman
151- Rhett Bomar
174- Ricky Jean-Francois
225- Rashad Jennings

Other than not adding a franchise QB, this would have been the perfect draft for me. These players were the best available or close to it when Denver picked. What do you guys think? Also, whats our picks look like for 2010? How many do we have and what round?
http://BroncoTalk.net Mr.East

JD,

The offense was NOT 2nd in the league. They were in 2nd yards, they were 16th in scoring. The offense underperformed after the first 3 games. There were not many quality DTs worth selecting outside of Raji and Jackson. Why yell at Xanders and McDaniels? Do they coach college DTs?

I’ll say it again.

Two drafts ago everyone was all giddy for Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder. Everyone be super happy this year if Denver drafted Brian Orakpo and then Fili Moala in the 2nd. However, both of these players are thought to have a high chance of becoming busts. In two seasons everyone would be calling for McDanielsâ€™ head, I guess the guy canâ€™t win.
http://mrherculesrockefeller.blogspot.com hercules rockefeller

Its the first draft being in charge for both of them and it showed. Maybe a little panicky?

Dan Graham can’t block elite DE’s either. That’s not what TE’s do.
http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

OHHHHH… this is has to do with fiscally responsible.

Ok, they I say we just skip the draft next year entirely and just sign UDFAs. It’s cheaper and apparently the talent level among the DT players is the same there as with high first round picks.

Wasting next year’s pick for a player that would have been around when our next selection came up is wasteful… not the other way around.
Pete

JD, our offense was #2 in total yards. They were #16 in scoring. Last I checked, POINTS, not YARDS wins a football game. I don’t think we scored 40 points all season did we? Game 1 maybe? Anyways, our offense was #2 yet we struggled to score more than 14 points for 3/4 of the season. That is as inexcusable as our horrible Defense last year. I’d rather have the #16 yardage offense but the #2 scoring offense than the other way around. So please spare us the “offense didn’t need fixing” speech, it’s just plain wrong.
http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

East… I think we agree more than you think. You agree Raji and Jackson were elite DT’s (in this draft at least).

My question is simple… If Xander and McD were willing to give up picks next year, why didn’t they do it EARLY and get one of these guys?

That’s it… that’s all I want an answer to?
http://BroncoTalk.net Mr.East

JD,

McDaniels and Xanders liked Ayers and obviously thought he’d do the job. I think you also have to consider that trading up to get Raji may not have been available after selection 5. The teams who got those players really wanted them.
http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

I’m confused… Do you all really believe that our offense was the problem last year? Really?

16th in scoring… Ok. It won’t matter a hill of beans what your offense does if your defense allows more points than GM has loans!

Are there things we could have done better on offense. Yes. But was the offense such a priority it trumps our desperate need on Defense? No.
Pete

JD, I am in complete agreeance with you on “why didn’t we move up if we were gonna trade away 1st round picks”. I would gladly have given Jax our 1st next year and maybe our 3rd this year and who knows what else it would take to get to #8 and draft Raji. I think alot of that was 1st time jitters when it came to our coaching staff/GM. They’ve never had to pull the trigger before, and it showed. Maybe next year will be better for drafting.
http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

East. That might be acceptable. If McD says that he tried to get a trade up to grab Raji and no one would take it (even for next year’s first round pick)…. I will take it all back. But I don’t think that’s the case.
http://BroncoTalk.net Mr.East

JD,

You can’t draft players if they don’t exist. Name some who you would have drafted.
Pete

hey, Denver held Buffalo to 23 points (not far off of that magical 21 that people keep praising Cutler for having a winning record with), yet our offense couldn’t score 24 points when it needed to AT HOME WITH THE AFC WEST TITLE ON THE LINE…. inexcusable offensive performance I say. Our D did good enough that 1 game to get us the Title and into the playoffs. Our offense is what lost at least that game for us.
http://mrherculesrockefeller.blogspot.com hercules rockefeller

next year will be probably be uncapped anyway.
Andpark

I am pretty happy actually, we got a lot of depth in the secondary and with Dawkins hopefully will learn a lot. Moreno will be a stud, why did we get some many in FA I don’t know but Moreno is good. Defensive line I am a little baffled but Nolan and McD I hear had the mandatory practice the week before the draft and I guess decided they can work with what we got.

Draft grades are pretty worthless, we won’t know til game time. What would have we all said about Royal this time last year?

Still going forward with my trust in McD judging talent. Really crazy to think about what the Broncos will look like come Week 1!
http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

Pete,

I agree it might have been jitters. But if I were completely honest… I really hope next year’s draft is handled by a new front office in Dove Valley. I don’t like McD at all. And I fear even a winning season might not make me like him any more.

I think I’ve come to the conclusion that I would rather watch my beloved Broncos play the type of game I grew up loving to watch (with hot shots like Elway and loud mouths like Sharpe) even if we lose every game than watch a bad carbon copy of the Patroits ‘system’ machine playing in Denver uniforms even if they win every week.

I’m just not into what Josh is selling. :(
http://broncotalk.net reyes lopez

one last comment from me regarding the draft. mcdaniels needs to develope what belichik is a master at and that’s the knack for obtaining value picks. of all the picks the broncos made not one can be considered a value pick. this really hurt denver as we actually overpaid for several of our picks, by trading or simply drafting them too high. does everyone agree with this assessment?
http://BroncoTalk.net Mr.East

JD,

No offense, but if you can’t like a head coach that wins every week then it’s not his fault. Not to burst your bubble either but the 1992-2008 Broncos were a carbon copy of the Super Bowl winning 49ers. It’s about time people stop hating on the Patriot way. The New England Patriots are the most winningest team in the 2000s, and you have to deal with that. Josh McDaniels hasn’t won or lost a game yet. I don’t understand why there has to be so much hatred over him. Forget the whole Jay Cutler situation, it was clear that Cutler did not want to be a Bronco, and if you hate McDaniels for that then you’re a hypocrite. You say you like the old school flashy Broncos, well Cutler was anything but John Elway.
http://broncotalk.net reyes lopez

hey roshon11. i totally agree with your draft selections. most of those picks would prob be starters this year. gilbert is the diamond in the rough that ended up with the bears.. hey will you help me when fantasy football season starts up? lol
roshon2411

uh Buffalo scored 30 against Denver. And 21 points isn’t the magical number, just the average number. The offense didn’t need fixing just tweaked.
http://BroncoTalk.net Mr.East

Roshon,

The offense isn’t being fixed, it’s being transformed. New players are needed in this process, plain and simple. A ton of defensive players were brought in during FA and now in UDFA.

Search

Sponsors

Disclaimer

Denver Broncos 2009 Draft Results

Posted Mon Apr 27th by Monty