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

[SHOWTIME15]

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 slight upgrade over DRC;

Sanders is a significant downgrade from Decker;

Ward is definitely an upgrade at safety;

Ware is a downgrade from Shaun Phillips

Plus they lost Woodward and Zane Beadles.

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.

 

[Sicilian]

I'm not sure Ware is a downgrade from Phillips, but I agree it's not a significant upgrade either. Seems to me like they're right around where they were last year... until Talib gets hurt, then their defense is worse.

 

[makoute]

Talib is an upgrade, Ward is an upgrade, if Ware can be 80 percent of what he used to be, it will definitely be an upgrade, they definitely got better on paper. Whether that translates into more wins and a championship will have to be determined on the field.

 

[ivanvamp]

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 slight upgrade over DRC;

Sanders is a significant downgrade from Decker;

Ward is definitely an upgrade at safety;

Ware is a downgrade from Shaun Phillips

Plus they lost Woodward and Zane Beadles.

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.

Ward is a significant upgrade. Talib is, IMO, a pretty noticeable upgrade at CB. I think Ware is a better overall player than Phillips. Plus, they'll get Chris Harris back at CB (giving them a VERY good CB tandem) and they'll also get pro-bowl LT Ryan Clady back.

They'll lose Woodyard and Beadles and probably Moreno. And I do think that Decker to Sanders is a slight downgrade, though, lets be honest, Peyton Manning can definitely get Sanders to put up Decker-like numbers.

So I think they've improved for sure. But then again, I think the Patriots have improved MORE.

 

[Big-T]

They also lost Dan Koppen & JD Walton - the top 2 Centers they had. Chris Kuper - a Guard also retired.

One thing the Broncos don't need is giving up pressure straight up the A gaps and they've lost 4 interior linemen!

Chris Harris (Nickel specialist) also looks like he's going to be starting opposite Talib at the minute which downgrades 2 spots on the defense.

 

[TBR]

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

Their posts should be deemed irrelevant.

 

[jah]

They also lost Dan Koppen & JD Walton - the top 2 Centers they had. Chris Kuper - a Guard also retired.

One thing the Broncos don't need is giving up pressure straight up the A gaps and they've lost 4 interior linemen!

Chris Harris (Nickel specialist) also looks like he's going to be starting opposite Talib at the minute which downgrades 2 spots on the defense.

Chris Harris is not a nickel specialist. He's one of the better starting corners in the league.

 

[PugBrady]

Even if they are better on paper, they will not be better against the Patriots in the next match-up. Revis will take away D. Thomas (just watch out for 'legal' pick plays to your ribs, Darrelle). Second year Collins or Browner will be better against J. Thomas. Decker is gone obviously and Moreno may be as well. With Revis in single coverage, Welker can easily be doubled now. Also, Welker's next encounter with Browner over the middle may not be all that pleasant.

On defense, Talib is an upgrade, but which games will he miss next year? He has never played a 16 game season and we all know about his history in the playoffs. If he was not willing to play with a 'bone bruise' in the AFCCG with a new contract on the line, will he be willing to play through pain with all of this guaranteed money in the bank now? Ware, after having a injury riddled last two years, is an unknown.

 

[50-yard-line]

It's always a crapshoot. Big question marks with Talib and Ware, for example.

Denver was quite healthy last year where it counted. Thomas, Thomas, Welker, Decker, Moreno and Ball all stayed on the good side of the hospital door.

Add to that an easy as pie schedule and everything just sor tof worked the right way for them.

They'll be right there come playoff time. The only thing that could stop them would be an injury to Manning.

I'm not sure the AFCCG will go through Denver this year, however, given the improvements with the Chiefs and Chargers and the fact that the AFC West is playing the NFC West. All four of those teams are tough, especially on the D-line.

Denver, New England, Indy - in that order, should be AFC favorites this year, at least at this point. So many months to go, however...

 

[Sciz]

They've done nothing to address the offense falling apart if teams can match up and get physical with them, and the Pats added two top CBs in terms of route disruption. The Broncos went with the strategy of collecting talent despite injury, age, and money question marks. The Patriots are building a team, adding specific talent at the position that can most benefit them against the Broncos.

 

[ivanvamp]

Even if they are better on paper, they will not be better against the Patriots in the next match-up. Revis will take away D. Thomas (just watch out for 'legal' pick plays to your ribs, Darrelle). Second year Collins or Browner will be better against J. Thomas. Decker is gone obviously and Moreno may be as well. Talib is an upgrade, but which games will he miss next year? He has never played a 16 game season and we all know about his history in the playoffs. If he was not willing to play with a 'bone bruise' in the AFCCG with a new contract on the line, will he be willing to play through pain with all of this guaranteed money in the bank now? Ware, after having a injury riddled last two years, is an unknown.

I agree that New England's defense looks to be primed to be able to match up with Denver's offense right now. Revis on DThomas, Browner on JThomas, Dennard on Sanders…that works for me. Should give Denver fits.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Hard to say whee we compared o the Bronco's last year with all our injuries. On paper, we got better as a team by getting some injured players back (Gronk, Mayo, ...). we upgraded our secondary as well.

So, did we do enough to close the gap from where we were with them. If they were the "better" team, then they don't have to upgrade as much to still stay ahead.

Note, that's a bit of devils advocate there and to me, we'll have to see what the team looks like during training camp. but, it's definitely a season to look forward to (so far).

 

[Big-T]

I agree that New England's defense looks to be primed to be able to match up with Denver's offense right now. Revis on DThomas, Browner on JThomas, Dennard on Sanders…that works for me. Should give Denver fits.

Then send Collins & Mayo right up the middle at fivehead because Elway seemingly forgot he lost 2 Guards (including starting the LG) and 2 of the 3 Centers they had.

 

[thenepatsrule]

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.

Well it is 5 months before the start of the season, fans are always hoping for the best. Broncos fans can celebrate prematurely all they want coz come playoffs they have the worst man for the job leading them at QB. I am surprised how soon they have recovered from the ass kicking they recvd in the SB. I went into hibernation for months after the 07 and 11 SB loses.

 

[KCSVEN]

DRC is rated above Talib at PFF, in fact Talib had a great start last year but like every year could not maintain it over the full year so with Talib's injury history and DRC rated a better corner that seems a downgrade. They upgraded at safety which will be a big help. Don't forget Von Miller was out for the Super Bowl and much of the season. So add Ware to a healthy Von Miller and it is an upgrade. On Offense Decker is a downgrade. They improved their defense a bit but you can also wager the offense will take at least a small step back. The Seahawks are a special defensive team but they also put the blueprint on what you need to do and a couple teams will be able to keep the offense in check.

So, improved defense, worse offense, and then a question of depth and which players get hurt. Broncos were one of the oldest teams on average last year so improvement from young players may not have as big an effect as other teams and injuries may be more prominent.
I think in comparison to Patriots as of now, the Patriots have lost little of major value and upgraded with one of the best CB's in the game, and one hopefully will actually play all the playoff games. Add to that the hopeful return of a healthy Gronk and Mayo and the depth added with Browner and Lafell it's clear the Patriots have upgraded. Collins, Dobson, Ryan, and Harmon have a chance to improve and they were significant contributors on their year 1.
So I think the Broncos are better, but the percent better vs. Patriot is likely less, then again, they were better than the Pats last year and hopefully the gap has closed enough that the pats now surpass them.

 

[thsunga]

They also lost Dan Koppen & JD Walton - the top 2 Centers they had. Chris Kuper - a Guard also retired.

One thing the Broncos don't need is giving up pressure straight up the A gaps and they've lost 4 interior linemen!

Dan Koppen played 0 snaps for the Broncos last year.
JD Walton played 0 snaps for the Broncos last year.
Chris Kuper played 106 snaps (8%) for the Broncos last year.

I doubt they will have too much trouble replacing the contribution from those players next year.

 

[PatsFan2]

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 slight upgrade over DRC;

Sanders is a significant downgrade from Decker;

Ward is definitely an upgrade at safety;

Ware is a downgrade from Shaun Phillips

Plus they lost Woodward and Zane Beadles.

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.

Put down the Bong dude D. Ware is a Beast! best signing for them this offseason. I think DRC and Talib are the same kind of players they can cover but they can also get beat.

 

[varjao]

Hard to evaluate.

Let's just put it that way, we've got to guarantee that HFA.

 

[Brady6]

This is the way I see it currently.

QB – Brady vs. Manning = Patriots
RB – Ridley vs. Ball = Patriots
RB – Vereen vs. Hillman = Patriots
WR – Dobson vs. Thomas = Broncos
WR – Edelman vs. Welker = Even
WR – Amendola vs. Sanders = Even
WR – LaFell vs. Caldwell = Patriots
TE – Gronkowski vs. Thomas = Patriots
LT – Solder vs. Clady = Even
LG – Mankins vs. Garland = Patriots
OC – Connolly vs. Ramirez = Broncos
RG – Cannon vs. Vasquez = Broncos
RT – Vollmer vs. Franklin = Patriots

LDE – Ninkovich vs. Wolfe = Patriots
LDT – Kelly vs. Williams = Patriots (if healthy)
RDT – Wilfork vs. Knighton = Patriots (if healthy and remains on roster)
RDE – Jones vs. Ware = Patriots
SLB – Miller vs. Hightower = Broncos
MLB – Mayo vs. Chaney = Patriots
WLB – Collins vs. Trevathan = Patriots
LCB – Revis vs. Talib = Patriots
RCB – Browner vs. Harris = Patriots
SCB – Dennard vs. Carter = Patriots
DCB – Ryan vs. Webster = Patriots
FS – McCourty vs. Moore = Patriots
SS – Harmon vs. Ward = Broncos

 

[thsunga]

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?

Just like the Pats, the Broncos were crippled by injuries last year.
So I would say its a fair assumption that they will improve significantly with normal injury luck. Coupled with the acquisition of some big-name free agents, I can't blame them for being optimistic.

With regards to Seattle, it should be remembered that they had virtually no injuries at the end of the season. With normal injury luck next year, they will probably decline significantly. Which bodes well for both the Pats and the Broncos.