Free Agency Reaction: Are the Broncos really that much better?

[PatsFanSince74]

Also, this thread should be deleted.

OP is making all Pats fans on here look extremely insecure with threads like this.

Please delete.

I think that it's legitimate to ask whether a major Conference rival has improved or not improved in the off season to date, especially when that rival eliminated the Pats from the Playoffs in a game won by the better team on the field on that particular day.

I think you have to keep in mind that the Broncos are a team that has given Brady fits over the years, especially in Denver. And, I also think that the Elway-era Broncos were a symbol of all the Pats never seemed to be able to be for those of us who were following the team back in that day. So, there's more than a little "history" at work here and I think taking a view on the team's progress isn't out of line.

So, it's a legit thread. If you don't like the discussion, just do what I do to many threads on this board...ignore it. If I asked the mods to delete every thread that I found wanting in one way or another, I'd be sending silly messages to that effect most days.

 

[PATS16N0]

Broncos fans are legitimately stupid when it comes to football. Zero credibility.

Their posts should be deemed irrelevant.

This x 1,000.

If you lurked a Bronco forum for an hour you would quickly learn that it doesn't matter what Bronco fans say. I guarantee you 90% of them didn't know who Ware and Ward were until a week ago, and 95% of them didn't know who Talib was until the AFCCG.

They celebrate nothing a lot. This is their third consecutive March Lombardi.
They're an imaginary Dynasty now.

 

[Ivan]

DRC is rated above Talib at PFF

In other words Talib is better..................

 

[PATS16N0]

In other words Talib is better..................

He's better when he's on the field. Since he'll spend a huge chunk of the season "unexpected to return" he's a downgrade

 

[Rob0729]

In other words Talib is better..................

Although PFF sucks, DRC is more consistent than Talib. His high isn't as high as Talib, but he played at a higher level more consistently throughout the season last year.

 

[Deus Irae]

So I went to the broncos board and they are all acting as if they are on the same level as Seattle/SF now, but are they really?

Talib is a significant upgrade over DRC;

Sanders may/may not be a significant downgrade from Decker;

Ward is definitely an upgrade at safety;

Ware is probably a big upgrade from Shaun Phillips;

Woodyard had lost his starting job;

Beadles is a legit loss, but Clady's return will offset that

Not sure what all the fuss is about with denver.

They were better than the Patriots last year, and they've improved their team. Right now, they are the team to beat in the AFC.

 

[Ivan]

IDK, I think Ware is still a good player. I think his contract sucks and he is injury prone now, but still a good player. I still don't know if he is a good scheme fit. He seems better suited to stand up in a 3-4 than with his hand in the grass in a 4-3.

Ware was a phenomenal player the question like most other older player's is how much he has left and whether he can stay healthy. I doubt he returns to his prime form but he can still be a really good playuer for them and playing across from miller is going to give him plenty of opportunity to succeed in Denver. Fortunately for the Patriots OT is a real strength and combined with their Te's they should be able to handle their outside rush.

Overall the Bronco's moves position them well to have another great season however I'm not sure how much they have done to put them in position to succeed in the play-offs. They are still a passing team and their offensive line is a real question mark, especially on the interior and that's where they really needed to bulk up. Imo they would have been much better off spending their big money on Alex Mack and a really good guard, they could have then kept Philips and drafted a WR with their first round pick, and that WR could have given them the production that Sanders will give them. So the bottom line for me is that Elway made the glamour moves but failed to address their most significant needs in terms of getting past a Seattle or S.F., and if the Patriots can add interior pressure in the draft then they are going to be screwed against them as well.

 

[PATS16N0]

We split with them 1-1 despite all our injuries. They were only better than the the team we were capable of fielding by the AFCCG, which isn't saying much. Our best weapon was expected to be.... Blount.

I respectfully disagree and don't consider Denver the AFC favorites at all, and certainly don't now that our secondary is legit and elite.

Also, Denver cannot stop Gronk. He Gronk smashes them at will.

 

[SalemPats]

We get to play the Broncos twice next year (i expect to see them in the AFCG). It will be a great battle. I'm interested to see how the Broncos rush will be with Ware/Von Miller. I want to see how our offense performs with a healthy Gronk and added weapons. This will be a fun year.

 

[Ivan]

Although PFF sucks, DRC is more consistent than Talib. His high isn't as high as Talib, but he played at a higher level more consistently throughout the season last year.

I agree with this, my post was simply a form letter response to anyone who cites PFF as a credible source, which it isn't. Five guys watching ALL 22 in their basement and making up metrics does not qualify as such. It's a shame they have been able to fool people into believing it is but it does give me hope that I too can make sh.t up and sell it as real.

 

[TBR]

Hey buddy, the thread may be dumb, but you have no credibility here after a month. You look bad being critical of long-time posters by saying "close the thread down" as if you've been on this board for years. Enough people have responded so the thread is not that bad. There are plenty of threads on this board about the jets, john elway, etc. but being a new member here you would not know that.

Do I have to repeat myself, buddy?

My join date has nothing to do with how dumb and insecure this thread makes Patriots fans look.

Stop bringing up irrelevant garbage. You're acting like I signed up for the internet a month ago. No, it's just a forum that I signed up for after reading for 2+ years now.

You take internet forum credibility way too serious.

For all you know I could be Tom Brady. Just because I signed up 2 months ago doesn't make my opinion as a fan any less valid.

 

[Ivan]

We split with them 1-1 despite all our injuries. They were only better than the the team we were capable of fielding by the AFCCG, which isn't saying much. Our best weapon was expected to be.... Blount.

I respectfully disagree and don't consider Denver the AFC favorites at all, and certainly don't now that our secondary is legit and elite.

Also, Denver cannot stop Gronk. He Gronk smashes them at will.

They are the AFC Champs and have made significant moves in free agency so it's hard for me to see how they aren't a favorite to win the AFC again next season. I think Elway should have approached free agency differently but still have to respect the fact that they have a strong team in an altogether weak conference. There are only two favorites for the AFC Championship next season and it's the same two teams that met for it in january, no-one else has done anything that could put them in that category.

 

[PATS16N0]

They are the AFC Champs and have made significant moves in free agency so it's hard for me to see how they aren't a favorite to win the AFC again next season. I think Elway should have approached free agency differently but still have to respect the fact that they have a strong team in an altogether weak conference. There are only two favorites for the AFC Championship next season and it's the same two teams that met for it in january, no-one else has done anything that could put them in that category.

Again, I just disagree.

Their FA is being drastically overrated. The Patriots have had, by far, the best FA in football. Revis alone is a complete game changer. It's like signing Gronk or Randy Moss.

Denver beat who in the AFCCG? A Patriots team decimated by injuries. No Wilfork, no Mayo, no Kelly, no Volmer, no Spikes, no Talib, injured Dobson, injured Thompkins, injured Amendola, NO GRONKOWSKI.

I mean at a certain point you have to say the game was a total wash and has ZERO relevance on what to expect from 2014.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Talib is a slight upgrade over DRC;

Only when healthy. Which doesn't seem to be in playoff time. DRC is much more reliable and durable, having only missed a handful of games in his career.

I wonder how long Talib lasts before testing out the legal marijuana in Denver (which is still banned by the league).

Sanders is a significant downgrade from Decker;

Sanders is less consistent and smaller. I agree that it's a downgrade.

Ward is definitely an upgrade at safety;

Great signing. Give them props for this.

Ware is a downgrade from Shaun Phillips

Is he? Ware has had a much better career. If he's healthy, he's a much better player than Phillips. Don't lie to yourselves. One down year due to injuries doesn't negate his ability. We really don't know how Ware will do in Denver so it's hard to say. I do think they overpaid for him considering his age.

To me they look about the same as last year. Peyton will be a year older as well. Not sure what all the fuss is about with denver.

But Brady is a year older too.

I would also mention that Welker's numbers took a drastic nosedive last year. Wonder if it's scheme related or if his gas tank is reaching it's end.

 

[PATS16N0]

Part of Welker's decline in numbers was from Peyton having so many targets but you could still see a noticeable drop off in his capability.

Score another one for Belichick.

 

[Deus Irae]

Part of Welker's decline in numbers was from Peyton having so many targets but you could still see a noticeable drop off in his capability.

Score another one for Belichick.

Welker was Welker until the concussions, and he was ahead of Edelman's pace, even as the WR2 rather than the WR1. Don't kid yourself. It doesn't help your analysis.

 

[PATS16N0]

Welker was Welker until the concussions, and he was ahead of Edelman's pace, even as the WR2 rather than the WR1. Don't kid yourself. It doesn't help your analysis.

Our offense was a fiasco in the beginning of the season and I seem to remember Brady and our offensive coordinator trying to force Amendola to be Welker's replacement until Brady started going to Edelman.

Welker had a noticeable decline towards the end of the year and I expect that to continue.

 

[Danger Zone]

Part of Welker's decline in numbers was from Peyton having so many targets but you could still see a noticeable drop off in his capability.

Score another one for Belichick.

Are you TRYING to get Deus to ignore you? You cant hint at Welker's decline AND praise Belichick in the same sentence man! Sacrilege!

 

[Deus Irae]

Our offense was a fiasco in the beginning of the season and I seem to remember Brady and our offensive coordinator trying to force Amendola to be Welker's replacement until Brady started going to Edelman.

Welker had a noticeable decline towards the end of the year and I expect that to continue.

Let's me repost what I'd written, since you seem to have missed the important part the first time:

Welker was Welker until the concussions, and he was ahead of Edelman's pace, even as the WR2 rather than the WR1. Don't kid yourself. It doesn't help your analysis.

Pointing out the failure of Amendola doesn't help your claim:

Score another one for Belichick.

either. Belichick screwed up. It's not the first time. It won't be the last.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Revis and Browner > Talib and TJ Ward

I'm also predicting LaFell will have a better year than Emmanuel Sanders.




looks like Denver might lose Knowshon Moreno too.