On the Clock: Denver Broncos

For the next few weeks leading up to the draft, I am going to assume to roll of each NFL general manager and make draft picks based upon need, scheme, and in some cases wants.  I will not make any trades throughout this process but will chime in when I think one is needed.  Each day leading up to the draft I will make a pick and summarize my thought process of why certain teams will go a particular way.  So put this blog in your favorites section and check back daily to see who I will select for each team.  With the second pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos select…

Von Miller, DE/OLB, Texas A&M (6’3” 246 lbs)

As GM of the Denver Broncos I need to sit back and think about what issues last year, lead our team down the toilet.  Sure I could cop out and say it was a poor coach and bad scheme.  But that isn’t enough.  My offense is growing.  I have a solid running back but need depth.  My QB situation is enviable since Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow are solid options. My WRs have depth but are injury prone. I’d like to get some depth their late on as well. I’d really like to upgrade along my offensive line but there is no one worth taking at the #2 overall pick. Defense is my issue. Elvis Dumervil will be coming back with his 10.5 sack average per year so my pass rush should improve.  Brian Dawkins is getting old and Champ Bailey will be here for another 4 years. I’m switching to a 4-3 so I need to add a player that can help out with the 4-3.  Ideally I’d like to get a DT that I can plug in the middle but I Von Miller is the best player on the board.  His film shows that he can drop back in coverage as a LB or put his hand on the ground.  My defensive minded coach would probably love a guy with his athleticism. He could move him all around the field and hopefully with the addition of him and Elvis to my defense we should be able to increase our pathetic sack total from 2010.

"The Executioner" may have trouble living up to the hype that everyone places onto him, but being on a team with another stud DE will allow him to get a lot of one-on-ones.  He'll be able to dominate against the average tackles in the league since he is so athletic and he'll be too quick for RBs that stay in to block.  He can cover in zone, but I don't know how I feel about him in man coverage on a TE.  Miller played in a 4-3 defense his sophomore year, and then as a joker in 2009 when he had 17 sacks.  If he can stay healthy, the Broncos can look to him to not only be a dominant pass rusher, but a great team leader.

"The Executioner"

There is depth at the DT position and the CB position.  I need severe help at both but since I have 2 second round picks I can wait for the best player at either one of those positions.  Stephen Paea and Drake Nevis are 2 defensive tackles that will probably fall to the second round.  I am also interested in Ras-I Dowling and Brandon Harris as cornerbacks that I could plug in as a starter or even as a nickel back.  This passing league forces me to have depth at this position.

Some of my fans will be wondering, “Why would the Broncos want to do this? Defense at the first 3 picks?” Well as GM, I need to think about where my team is coming from, why we were there in the first place and where I want the team to go.  Denver is moving to a 4-3 defense which means a major overhaul will be needed with the personnel.  I probably won’t be able to do it through free agency because of the lockout. I can’t roll the dice and hope that I can get a DT or DE via free agency because if I miss out in free agency, I won’t have any other options other than trading and I would not have leverage at that point. The chances that any veterans come to Denver at market price are very low since my team is rebuilding. Also, I truly think that our team has a chance to challenge for the division this season. The AFC West is weak and with good coaching at solid drafting I could build a defense that can give our team a chance to win some games.  Kansas City had the best record last year, but it was mainly due to coaching.  We have improved that with John Fox now in town.  The Raiders will fall apart because they don’t have a true answer at quarterback and are going to lose their best defensive player. Not having a first round pick will also hurt them. The Chargers are always a team to reckon with but I know that Ron Rivera is gone so the defense is probably going to take a step back. Vincent Jackson is probably going to be a free agent and I’d love to sign him away from them. With him, Demaryious Thomas, Brandon Lloyd, and Eddie Royal I think our defense can be dangerous.

Buffalo is on the clock...