The 2018 Broncos: Schedule Predictions

[Mingo]

I noticed. You had previously called for Sutton to work the slot before we had drafted Hamilton. The goodies are in the bag now let's see if they come out.

Yes - I thought the Broncos might want to run a few Julius Thomas plays out of the slot with Sutton (they may still - for match up reasons - I suspect). When DaeSean Hamilton was drafted it was clear to me that he would be a more natural slot receiver as a permanent spot (his reputation for route running tipping the scales over the more natural gifts Sutton possess). So ironically - I see the 4th round pick as an earlier starter than the 2nd round pick.

It is exciting to think the Broncos have loaded in DT's replacement and Sanders' replacement in the same draft - the overlap is very cool.

The guy I'm most excited about is Josey Jewell. His 3 cone and shuttle times are comparable to slot receivers around the league - even when his 40 time is considered slow. I think that makes him ideal for the ILB position for this Bronco's team. His ability to blitz the QB - is a game changer and his ability to track and tackle are sorely needed in the middle. With all that - he also has the ability to defend the pass. I am super excited to watch him put together a career with the Broncos. I wish I had paid more attention to him (or any) during his college career.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Good post Mango.

 

[MileHigh64]

Good post Mango.

You're just happy that he spelled Josey the right way.

 

[Draft Crazy]

You're just happy that he spelled Josey the right way.

He is an Iowa homer now.

 

[cdumler7]

This draft definitely has a lot of day 1 impact and future implications all rolled into one. Very few picks in this draft that I disagree with and really until about the 6th round hard to find a guy that I don't see starting sometime in the next two seasons.

 

[iknowftbll]

This draft definitely has a lot of day 1 impact and future implications all rolled into one. Very few picks in this draft that I disagree with and really until about the 6th round hard to find a guy that I don't see starting sometime in the next two seasons.

The first three picks look like guys that will make an immediate impact. To varying degrees. There is a lot of good depth in the later rounds.

I realize the team needs to lash it all together and execute on the field, and further realize coaching remains a valid question. Still I am feeling very confident in this team. Especially given every opponent on the schedule has questions of their own. It’s not like there’s a single game you look at and say “definitely a loss: Broncos have no chance.”

If you go back my last couple seasons my predictions were off due to failed assumptions. (Sanchez panning out, Siemian not regressing, etc...)

Like those years this year is really dependent on some assumptions that may or may not pan out. Hard to avoid that when making predictions this far out. When faced with uncertainty this far away from kickoff and needing something to talk about, I prefer to be optimistic. That’s why I think 11-5 is attainable.

 

[cdumler7]

The first three picks look like guys that will make an immediate impact. To varying degrees. There is a lot of good depth in the later rounds.

I realize the team needs to lash it all together and execute on the field, and further realize coaching remains a valid question. Still I am feeling very confident in this team. Especially given every opponent on the schedule has questions of their own. It’s not like there’s a single game you look at and say “definitely a loss: Broncos have no chance.”

If you go back my last couple seasons my predictions were off due to failed assumptions. (Sanchez panning out, Siemian not regressing, etc...)

Like those years this year is really dependent on some assumptions that may or may not pan out. Hard to avoid that when making predictions this far out. When faced with uncertainty this far away from kickoff and needing something to talk about, I prefer to be optimistic. That’s why I think 11-5 is attainable.

In the Salary Cap era that is what you have to do. Every team has an assumed weakness or at best an unknown heading into the season. The Broncos have plenty of uknowns that you just have to try and project how you think they will play out. OL, QB, RB, TE on the offense are all question marks at this point. Defensively other than maybe 3rd CB I feel pretty confident in knowing what they will all bring to the table.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Lets hope Tremaine Brock played like he did before he signed his long term deal with SF... or one of the young 3rd round picks is ready right away.



Or we re-sign Kayvon when he is cleared.

Or all of the above.

 

[cdumler7]

Lets hope Tremaine Brock played like he did before he signed his long term deal with SF... or one of the young 3rd round picks is ready right away.



Or we re-sign Kayvon when he is cleared.

Or all of the above.

That is the one position that worries me quite a bit honestly. I like everything else that we have on defense but that 3rd CB could be costly for this defense. We have been spoiled the last few years with having 3 great cover CB's.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Hopefully a strong pass rush will help ease that concern.

 

[iknowftbll]

Hopefully a strong pass rush will help ease that concern.

That combined with an offense that can actually score. That will take some pressure off the defense so maybe breaking in that 3rd corner won’t be as painful as it otherwise would be.

 

[cdumler7]

I would also add at least this year the Broncos are not playing as many of the big time spread teams like in the years past. A lot of teams that love to run the football which stopping the run really could be the strength of this defense with what they have added.

 

[iknowftbll]

Worth sharing:

John Elway believes Los Angeles Chargers are team to beat in AFC West

 

[Draft Crazy]

I would also add at least this year the Broncos are not playing as many of the big time spread teams like in the years past. A lot of teams that love to run the football which stopping the run really could be the strength of this defense with what they have added.

Spread offenses exist in the NFL?

Or are you talking about Boise State Broncos?

 

[Mingo]

Worth sharing:

John Elway believes Los Angeles Chargers are team to beat in AFC West

On paper the Chargers are the class of the AFC West, but paper view - is too expensive to bet on.

 

[Draft Crazy]

I think the AFC West is the most open, mystery division this year.

 

[fightinredantz]

I think the AFC West is the most open, mystery division this year.

I agree. The Broncos, Chiefs, and Raiders have questions leading into the year. The Chargers appear ready to win the division, but they underperform so many times. it seems like they lose 3-5 games a year they just shouldn't. They could find a way to win a game in first 4 weeks of the season. They had at Denver, Miami, Kansas City, and Philadelphia. I will say they had a tough schedule (especially looking back). Denver and Kansas City both start out playing well. That was Miami's first game of the year however. But good teams do not lose 4 games in a row and not 3 in a row at home. Good teams find a way to win a game or two in those tough stretches. Then they played really pretty well going 9-3 to finish season.

Last season I felt Denver had a chance to win most weeks if they didn't give the game away. Unfortunately they gave away a lot of games.

 

[iknowftbll]

The thing about my prediction for the Chargers and seemingly Elway’s expectations is it’s based on best case scenario. The Chargers could easily be a 13-3 team. The thing is they often do under perform. It’s head scratching, but it’s very common for them. The reason it’s not unreasonable to expect this year to be different is because it’s the second year for this HC and his staff. Even incremental improvement likely wins them the division. Now here’s the catch: that 0-4 start was freakishly unfortunate and likely an outlier, despite being 1/4 of the season. So incremental improvement over the 9-3 finish is actually a pretty formidable team.

Then again, it all comes down to the Chargers proving they have it, and that’s something they’ve failed to do for years now. So that’s the position the Broncos are in: facing a slate of division rivals, the potentially best of which notoriously under performs while the other two are under going major transitions. The Broncos are also under going a transition at QB, but what makes them appear better than the Chiefs and Raiders is they have a defense that can help them weather the setbacks.

We’ll see.

 

[MileHigh64]

No one expects the Broncos to be there this year. Time for the unexpected rise.

 

[iknowftbll]

A casual glance at Arrowhead Pride and Arrowhead Addict tells you MaHommes is a lock for 4000+ yards, 30+ TDs, no more than 10 INTs, and a completion percentage in the high 60s at least.

There is no denying the Chiefs have some legitimate weapons on offense, probably more than they’ve had since Trent Green and Priest Holmes produced some top tier offenses from 2002-2004.

The problem is they are assuming he is just going to waltz in and sling it as much as advertised with little to no growing pains. He may well throw for 30 TDs but I seriously won’t be surprised if his INT count is north of 20.

What’s more is that defense looks like it’ll be bottom tier this year. Hahomes may prove to be a good QB but it’s insane to expect him to take the league by storm this year AND be able to overcome the shortages on defense. If the Chiefs can shore up that defense from this year to next they may be a very good team for a few years. For now I view this season as transitional for them.