The Denver Broncos addressed the secondary for the second time Saturday by drafting Texas Tech safety Darcel McBath in the second round. A first-team All Big 12 safety in 2008, McBath (6’0″, 198) moved from corner to safety during his time at Texas Tech and tallied 218 tackles and 11 interceptions in his career (70 and 6 respectively in 2008).

“I’m excited. I’m excited about the future, I’m excited about what’s going to happen,” McBath told reporters Saturday. “I’m going to try to fit in and do my part on the team.”

McBath is the latest move that Josh McDaniels has made in the secondary in both free agency and the draft. Broncos fans will be looking at a completely revamped back four this September – and that’s a good thing. More quotes after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The Denver Broncos weren’t expected to be on the clock when they selected DB Alphonso Smith early in the second round. But they saw something in the 5’9″, 193 lb. cornerback that made them trade their natural 2010 first round draft pick (not the Chicago Bears‘ pick they received in the Jay Cutler trade) to get him.

Smith, a senior hailing from Wake Forest, was extremely productive in college, tallying a whopping 20 interceptions for his career. He was also disruptive in the backfield, notching nine sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss, and eight forced fumbles in his career. Smith will also make an impact on special teams, where he was a capable kickoff returner for the Demon Deacons, averaging 20.7 yards per return.

Like the player, hate the cost. This was a weak draft class to begin with; why trade a potentially high – possibly top 10 – first round draft pick next year for a second round corner this year? I’m livid at whoever suggested and green lit this trade; it should have been laughed out of the Broncos’ war room. Quotes from Smith after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The Denver Broncos selected running back Knowshon Moreno with their first of two first round draft picks today. They followed that up by addressing the defense, selecting DE/LB Robert Ayers out of Tennessee.

Ayers, at 6’3″ and 272 lbs., has been stamped with the dreaded “one year wonder” tag, but has a lot of upside. The NFL Network’s Mike Mayock (whom I trust above and beyond anyone ESPN employs) called Ayers his “favorite” defensive player in this year’s draft and said, three years from now, Ayers could be regarded as the best player taken in the draft overall. You can view Robert Ayers video highlights here.

The Broncos’ next selection is the 16th pick in the second round, 48th overall. Quotes from Ayers after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The Denver Broncos have made their first draft choice of the 2009 NFL Draft, selecting running back Knowshon Moreno out of Georgia with the 12th overall pick. With many fans clamoring for a defensive playmaker, and Brian Orakpo staring the Broncos straight in the face, this draft pick is already mired in surprise and controversy.

You can view Knowshon Moreno video highlights here. The Broncos’ next selection is in the first round, 18th overall. Quotes from Moreno after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The 2009 NFL Draft has arrived! The Denver Broncos are heading in a new direction, and the Broncos’ 10 selections in this draft will set the tone of this franchise for years to come. Will the Broncos find their next signal caller by selecting a quarterback in the first round? Will they uncover an impact defensive player? Will they address the running back situation early? There are plenty of questions, and soon enough, the throng of fans will have answers.

We’ll be here, live blogging the event all day and reporting on the latest news as it breaks. Come join us for a fun glimpse into the future of the best team in the NFL! Go Broncos!

Tomorrow I’ll have my 3 year old adopted son, Michael, with me. And, while he probably won’t have the attention span to watch much of it, I think it might be a good thing for him to see.

You see, this year another former foster kid from Tennessee named Michael is projected to go in the first round. Michael Oher is a 6ft 6in, 310lbs O-lineman from Mississippi. And while Denver doesn’t have a need at this position I might be paying a little extra attention to where he goes tomorrow.

Michael Oher started off life on the streets of Memphis as one of 13 siblings. His mother was addicted to drugs and his father was murdered. He spent time homeless, finding food where ever he could.

Our Michael was actually found abandoned in a car parking lot three weeks before his second birthday. Among the only things with him when the police picked him up was his diaper bag that still had his birth mother’s hypodermic needles hidden inside.

In Michael Oher’s case, he bounced between several foster families before being adopted at age 16. And even though he’s now a FULLY grown man, hearing him talk recently with FoxSports about finally “having someone to tuck you in at night,” hits home in a major way.

In our case, we just finalized the adoption of our son and his biological sister last month. And while we continue to work with them on their very special needs, we are grateful that they didn’t stay in ‘limbo’ as long as Oher did.

This means happy endings for these former foster kids. Unfortunately, that leaves over half a MILLION kids in the US foster care system today.

As most of you know, my wife and I are very involved in our state’s foster care program and we spend much of our free time volunteering for advocacy groups and children’s charities. Most recently, my wife has talked me into getting off my lazy butt to walk in a 5k designed to raise money for school supplies and backpacks for foster kids in Tennessee (by the way, there is a great picture of our family up on my wife’s walk-athon page).

I’m not trying to talk anyone into fostering kids or even donating to any specific program… I just wanted to share a personal story about this year’s draft with you and why you might hear an extra big cheer from my house when Oher’s name gets called. :)

Have a wonderful draft weekend – and hug your kids (no matter what their favorite NFL team is)! lol

GO BRONCOS!
Jonathan Douglas

Which hole to fill in the defense first?  McDaniels has his pick.  [Denver Post]

Terrell Davis, Shannon Sharpe, and Karl Mecklenburg all place in the top 15 of ESPN’s All Time Draft Values [ESPN Hashmarks]

Denver could show interest in picking up J.P. Losman after the draft.  [PFT]

Frank Schwab goes over the Broncos draft needs for linebacker, OL & DL, WRs & RBs along with quarterback.  [Colorado Springs Gazette]

An article saying the quarterback position isn’t worth the picks this year.  [Boulder Daily Camera]

The Draft Room video on the Broncos and Chargers with Brian Billick and Mike Mayock, they have us taking Tyson Jackson and the Bolts picking up Maybin.  [NFL Network]

A look at the first player, Phil Loadholt, that will be selected in the draft from the home state of Colorado.  [Denver Post]

Kyle Orton’s take on the team’s visit to scout Mark Sanchez.  [Predominantly Orange]

And the big news of the day, Tony Gonzalez is leaving the AFC West in trade to the Falcons for their 2nd round pick next season.  I can finally root for a genuinely likable guy.  Now there’s a sight.  [NFL.com]

As draft day approaches, BroncoTalk will be giving you game tape highlights of some of the bigger (and smaller) names around the draft. In this segment we will cover the other half of the Boston College defensive tackle duo, Ron Brace.  Brace is projected as a 2nd round pick in the draft, and is a favorite of many for Denver to take with their 3rd selection this year.  There’s a lot of debate as to whether Brace is a great talent at DT or rode the coat tails of B.J.Raji, you can watch the footage to decide.

NFL Network’s Inside Look at Ron Brace

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

As draft day approaches, BroncoTalk will be giving you game tape highlights of some of the bigger (and smaller) names around the draft. It’s back to defensive line in this segment with Tennessee defensive end Robert Ayers. Ayers has shot up the draft board since the end of the college football season as the 4th video shows.  On some boards he has been posted as the #3 overall pick but usually lands between Orakpo and Jackson in the defensive end pickings.  A lot of experts have the Bills selecting him at #11 so he is a realistic candidate for the Broncos to take at #12.

NFL Network’s Inside Look at the Tennessee Defensive End.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

An interview with Peyton Hillis stating that he expects carries.  [Sports Illustrated]

A look at Denver’s defensive prospects in the draft along with a review of the USC Trojan linebacking trio.  [Denver Post]

Jim Armstrong’s column on the smoke and mirrors game of the NFL in April.  [Denver Post]

Brian Dawkins is in unfamiliar territory suiting up in something other than green.  [The Philadelphia Inquirer]

We have lost our beloved mascot Thunder, he died in surgery Saturday.  [Denver Post]

The Sporting News has their list of top 10 teams looking to move up in the draft.  They have the Broncos trading both picks to take Sanchez.  Don’t they read the news?  [The Sporting News]

A review of the Sanchez scouting trip and the Bears are dealing with the gossip around Cutler’s out on the town drinking.  [Denver Post]

Around the AFC West there is a lot of new blood chasing the Chargers.  [SignOnSanDiego.com]