Terrible news for the Broncos.
While the Broncos overcame the loss of Ryan Clady in 2013 to reach the Super Bowl, they sure felt the loss of not having him against Seattle in the Super Bowl. With Peyton Manning a couple of years ago and coming off a quad injury, it's going to be more difficult for the Broncos to overcome the loss of Clady to the extent that they did in the 2013 season.
Quote:Terrible news for the Broncos.
While the Broncos overcame the loss of Ryan Clady in 2013 to reach the Super Bowl, they sure felt the loss of not having him against Seattle in the Super Bowl. With Peyton Manning a couple of years ago and coming off a quad injury, it's going to be more difficult for the Broncos to overcome the loss of Clady to the extent that they did in the 2013 season.
I think with a WCO approach featuring shorter drops, quicker throws, and a greater emphasis on the running game, there is the opportunity to mitigate the damage somewhat, but make no mistake, this will hurt Denver.
Aside from losing a top notch talent at LT, an offensive line struggling for continuity will lose more after losing Ramirez and Franklin. Plus they are learning a new blocking scheme. But for Manning, this group will struggle mightily. Even with Manning, it will be an uphill climb.
No Thomas, Clady, or Franklin. Lots of talent up front gone. Not good for the ageing QB
Quote:I think with a WCO approach featuring shorter drops, quicker throws, and a greater emphasis on the running game, there is the opportunity to mitigate the damage somewhat, but make no mistake, this will hurt Denver.
Aside from losing a top notch talent at LT, an offensive line struggling for continuity will lose more after losing Ramirez and Franklin. Plus they are learning a new blocking scheme. But for Manning, this group will struggle mightily. Even with Manning, it will be an uphill climb.
Related to what you mentioned, the Broncos need rookie 2nd Round pick Ty Sambrailo to emerge as a solid starter at LT much like 4th Round 2013 pick David Bakhtiari did with the Packers. After Bryan Bulaga tore his ACL in training camp, Bakhtiari took over at LT and has never looked back. Both Sambrailo and Bakhtiari have backgrounds in Zone schemes and played college ball in the state of Colorado.
Once the Broncos hired Gary Kubiak, it was inevitable that Manny Ramirez and Orlando Franklin didn't have a future with the team. Both fit power type of schemes much more than ZBS.
Even before the season ending injury to Ryan Clady, I thought the Broncos Offensive Line was their # 1 question mark from a unit standpoint. Especially, with the transition to a ZBS and changes in personnel. When combining this with the adjustment the entire Offense will have in 2015 and the health questions with Peyton Manning, I think the Broncos are in serious trouble. At least from the standpoint of their very high team goals.
The Broncos are beyond done. They have a 55 year old QB and simply yesterday's news. Their window's closed.
I know they're defending SB champs but the Pats are done too. The AFC is about to undergo a massive overhaul. I'm not saying the Jags are going to take over because that would be not only foolish but homerish.
I see the next 2-3 years to be simply dominated by the NFC. Then the AFC will climb back into relevance by a group of young players on teams other than NE and DEN.
Quote:The Broncos are beyond done. They have a 55 year old QB and simply yesterday's news. Their window's closed.
I know they're defending SB champs but the Pats are done too. The AFC is about to undergo a massive overhaul. I'm not saying the Jags are going to take over because that would be not only foolish but homerish.
I see the next 2-3 years to be simply dominated by the NFC. Then the AFC will climb back into relevance by a group of young players on teams other than NE and DEN.
So Hendershot,
Who would you say are the 3 best teams in the AFC right now? I can see the overhaul coming to the AFC too.
If the NFC is going to dominate the next three seasons or so, which team or teams will do the dominating?
Quote:The Broncos are beyond done. They have a 55 year old QB and simply yesterday's news. Their window's closed.
I know they're defending SB champs but the Pats are done too. The AFC is about to undergo a massive overhaul. I'm not saying the Jags are going to take over because that would be not only foolish but homerish.
I see the next 2-3 years to be simply dominated by the NFC. Then the AFC will climb back into relevance by a group of young players on teams other than NE and DEN.
broncos definitely arent done yet and who knows what osweiler can really do. manning still has another year in him. the pats are far from done, you can never count them out.
the cowboys should be very good, seahawks still, i like the rams as a darkhorse and depending on palmer, maybe the cards.
Quote:broncos definitely arent done yet and who knows what osweiler can really do. manning still has another year in him. the pats are far from done, you can never count them out.
the cowboys should be very good, seahawks still, i like the rams as a darkhorse and depending on palmer, maybe the cards.
I love that you said both the rams and cards. Both teams really do have solid teams in place but something just always seems to go wrong. I do believe the NFC West and North both look to be dominate for some time to come in the NFC.
AFC is a bit harder for me I dont want to say the colts since they happen to be a little rivalry lol. Pats and really other teams in the AFC East seem to either be good or always one step behind, if the Bills/Dolphins or Jets can figure something out(QB play?) they could be a difference maker...then again a good QB always becomes the difference maker.
Quote:I love that you said both the rams and cards. Both teams really do have solid teams in place but something just always seems to go wrong. I do believe the NFC West and North both look to be dominate for some time to come in the NFC.
AFC is a bit harder for me I dont want to say the colts since they happen to be a little rivalry lol. Pats and really other teams in the AFC East seem to either be good or always one step behind, if the Bills/Dolphins or Jets can figure something out(QB play?) they could be a difference maker...then again a good QB always becomes the difference maker.
The QB situation in Baltimore with Joe Flacco is a substantial reason why I think the Ravens will continue to be a serious Super Bowl contender more often than not. Combine Flacco's track record in the playoffs with the terrific job their front office has done, at least for now I'm comfortable with the Ravens being my 2015 season AFC Super Bowl selection. Also, while the Patriots did comeback to beat the Ravens in the playoffs this past season, no team has given New England more problems in the AFC than Baltimore.
At least we're not the only ones having bad luck ......
Quote:At least we're not the only ones having bad luck ......
It really has nothing to do with luck. It's simply a fact of life that injuries happen. Football is a physical game. People get hurt.
Quote:It really has nothing to do with luck. It's simply a fact of life that injuries happen. Football is a physical game. People get hurt.
Wow..... Maybe your user name should just be captain obvious.
Quote:Wow..... Maybe your user name should just be captain obvious.
Apparently some folks need the obvious pointed out to them.
Quote:Apparently some folks need the obvious pointed out to them.
Obviously injuries happen.... But for those injuries to happen to your first round pick in the first day, in non contact is pretty bad luck if you ask me. A lot of things have to go wrong within a 3 second period, and if you think there is such a thing as bad luck there must also be good luck..... But us Jags fans don't know much about that!