• A really good Broncos draft review – breaking down Day One, injuries, late rounders, and more. Legwold hits another one out of the park. [Rocky Mountain News]
• RMN’s Drew’s Broncos draft day cartoons. [Rocky Mountain News]
• A good interview with Kory Lichtensteiger days before the draft. [Football Review Daily]
• Short BroncosTV clip of a Ryan Clady interview. [DenverBroncos.com]
• Mark Cooper welcomes the rookies. [DenverBroncos.com]
• Chargers sign OT L.J. Shelton.  [Sign on San Diego]
• Then SD Asst. GM Buddy Nix calls it quits.  [BoltTalk]
• NHL: The Avs are now one loss from elimination. [Denver Post]
• MLB: Rockies win 3-2 vs. Giants. [Rocky Mountain News]

Wow, what a weekend!  The guys and I here at BroncoTalk want to thank you for your unbelievable support and contributions over draft weekend.  Saturday, Sunday and Monday were particularly groundbreaking for us, as we tallied personal records in both unique visitors and hits over that span!  In those 72 hours, BroncoTalk welcomed over 4,700 unique visitors and over 10,000 page views!  Monday alone featured over 4,000 hits.  Both well eclipse the previous milestones for our little site.

We’re dedicated to bringing you the best Denver Broncos blog and fan site possible, but we couldn’t do it without you! Thanks again!

“If players were measured by their heart and desire instead of their body structure, Woodyard would be a giant among men. A fearless tackler with little regard for his own safety…” — NFLDraftScout.com

That’s not a bad intro for your NFL Draft Scouting report. I think most of us here on BroncoTalk.net are pretty excited about this guy, so I’ll dive right into my review…

Woodyard started playing WILL in High School where he helped his team post a 51-3 record and win two state championships. In his senior year alone he racked up 125 tackles and 6 fumble recoveries with 4 returned for TD’s.

Woodyard arrived at the University of Kentucky in 2004 as a strong safety, but after only 10 games (and 5 starts) he was moved back to WILL. He impressed both coaches and teammates and became the first Kentucky freshman to serve as a team captain.

For the next three years he dominated the weak side LB position. He broke 100 tackles all three years finishing his collegiate career with 395 tackles (259 solo), 6.5 sacks (for 48 yards worth of loss), caused 7 fumbles, recovered 7 more, deflected 12 passes and intercepted two others.

Here are some things I liked from the scouting report:
* Smart player who shows awareness and good instincts on the field
* Learns and picks up things well on the field
* He is an aggressive wrap-up tackler
* He is not afraid to give up his body and lay a blow if he gets into position
* Works hard in the weight room
* Appears to be very coachable player
* He is a vocal team leader
* Quality performer on all of the special team coverage squads

And here are a few things that concern me:
* He struggles to shed blockers when working along the line of scrimmage
* He can often overrun the ballcarrier
* A competitive tackler who will lay some wood, but plays out of control
* Several scouts say he plays too high – needs to lower his pads

All in all, I think his main issues (according to the ‘experts’) can be solved by good coaching. If Woodyard is willing to learn, he has a bright future with the Broncos. I just don’t know enough to predict if Denver will use him at safety or LB, but he seems like the perfect fit for our standard faster-than-humanly-possible LB unit.

I guess I could start harping on DJ being allowed to compete for his MIKE position again, with Woodyard now able to compete at WILL… but I feel like I’ve already beaten that horse well past death.

And now, for a couple of short video clips of Woodyard in action!
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The Denver Broncos have hired former Falcons coach and executive Brian Xanders as Assistant General Manager, the Denver Post reports. Both Xanders and Jeff Goodman will hold the same title of Asst. GM, while Jeff’s father Jim will remain Mike Shanahan‘s “top deputy,” according to the report. Mike Bluem will continue his salary cap and contract negotiation duties.

We reported earlier that the Broncos have offered him a job; now it’s been confirmed that he signed the three year contract today.

Welcome aboard, Brian!  But we all know who’s still in charge…

Now that the NFL Draft is over, we want to hear what you would have done differently. Did you have a certain player you were hoping the Broncos would target in the first few rounds? Were you hoping they would address a specific position more effectively? More defense, less offense? Just downright hated a pick or two? Let us know in the comments!

A ton of good nuggets in this video folks, as Jeff Legwold of the Rocky Mountain News and CBS’ Gary Miller and Vic Lombardi discuss the Broncos draft choices. They start by talking about Eddie Royal not being a reach after all, and how Ryan Clady can lock down the left tackle position for 10 years. Check it out below.

The release of former Denver Broncos General Manager Ted Sundquist has left a hole in the team’s executive heirarchy. In his stead, long time Broncos scout and personnel executive Jeff Goodman and his son, recently promoted Assistant GM Jim Goodman, were given added tasks to run the personnel department. To help the Goodmans, the Broncos have reportedly offered long-time Atlanta Falcons coach and executive Brian Xanders a job in upper management, the Denver Post reports.

The title and duties of the offered position are unknown, but it is believed that the Broncos will move forward without any one person holding the title of “General Manager.”

The story around this guy is hard to find on the Internet, but apparently he was either already released or on his way out of Atlanta, and almost had a Packers job in a similar role. His bio page has been taken off Atlanta’s official site.  I’m not even 100% certain that this is actually him pictured here (first hit on Google Image and that’s about it) [ED: Yeah it’s him, thanks in the comments].

Another guy needed to be added – the Goodmans were busy enough as it was. Hopefully this three-headed monster can function for us in the future as well as the Goodmans did this past weekend.

Alright gentlemen, the 2008 NFL draft has come and gone, and we have nine new (drafted) Broncos. Last time I checked there were four of us making this blog work – let’s break it all down, starting with each guy’s favorite pick. F.N.G., you’re up!

JOSH: Easy answer is Ryan Clady, real answer C Kory Lichtensteiger. I couldn’t be happier with this selection. Taking a versatile interior lineman couldn’t help Denver more with depth. This guy could go in and compete for the right guard spot right away and challenge Hamilton as the replacement for Nalen when he hangs it up. If he does make an excellent guard imagine how tough our line could look this year or next. Clady a beast at LT, Hamilton who I consider one of the most underrated guards in the game at LG, the future Hall of Famer at C, this kid breaking on to the scene at RG and up and comer Pears at RT. We also still have Holland in that mix. The other thing that I haven’t seen mentioned is that this kid is probably a lock for long snapper. If I were Mike Leach I would be on the phone with my agent in a hurry. With taking a position player and eliminating an extra specialist that opens another spot we can use on a project. Win win.

Click here to see Earl, Jonathan, and Kyle’s picks

• Mike Klis agrees – Ryan Clady was the right pick.  [Denver Post]
• Can’t judge the draft classes just yet.  [Boulder Daily Camera]
• Ryan Torain will be a stud if he just stays healthy.  [Denver Post]
• Former Buffalo Terrence Wheatley talks about his draft day experience.  [Rocky Mountain News]
• Days after drafting Darren McFadden, the Raiders release Dominic Rhodes.  [Rocky Mountain News]
• NBA: Lakers sweep Nuggets.  Don’t worry, my Suns aren’t too far behind.  [Denver Post]
• Did he really just compare the Jared Allen trade to sex?  [Kissing Suzy Kolber]

At 5 foot 9 5/8 inches tall and weighing in at all of 184 pounds, Eddie Royal has been picked on for being undersized and too short to compete as a receiver in the NFL. There have been several draft ‘experts’ that have claimed Shanahan really reached for Royal with our 2nd round pick (42nd overall). And the only positive thing I hear consistently is how Eddie might give us a spark on special teams as a returner.

Before we go any further, may I remind the ‘experts’ of another undersized, short, 2nd round pick that was pronounced by these same ‘experts’ as only being able to assist us as a returner?

In 2005 we drafted a 5 foot 8 inch tall cornerback from Oklahoma State with the 56th overall pick. His name was Darrent Williams. I clearly remember reading all kinds of things in the mainstream media about how the CB’s drafted after Williams (Foxy and Paymah) would likely win starting jobs before the diminutive Darrent.

And then… we all witnessed the immeasurables. The heart and passion Darrent had. The fearlessness and confidence that he displayed on the field. And, of course, his contagious smile and overflowing spirit. I don’t think there are many Bronco fans that would have traded D-Will for another cornerback even if he was a foot taller than Darrent.

Now, I’m not proclaiming that Eddie Royal is D-Will. And I can’t pronounce that Eddie has the kind of massive immeasurables that Darrent had. But, fellow fans, before you buy into the ‘experts’ on Royal’s chances to end up starting at WR for Denver, remember that success in the NFL is very much based on more than a guy’s height and weight or the school he came out of.

And now for some highlight videos of Eddie Royal — Enjoy!!!

NOTE: I must give props to Jeff Legwold over at Rocky Mountain News as one of the few people I’ve seen that has not only said that Eddie Royal was a great draft pick, but predicted on CBS4 News that he would win a starting job at receiver before long.
MORE VIDEO BELOW THE LINK
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