NFL Outsider Season Preview 2009: Denver Broncos

NFL Outsider is hosting a season preview of all 32 teams. The NFL regular season begins on September 10; in the meantime follow the best NFL bloggers as they analyze their teams in this 2009 season preview.

Broncobear from the Mile High Report gives insight into what to expect from this year’s Denver Broncos. Follow the rest of the NFL here.

                                             The Broncos in Brief

For the first time in this millennium, the Broncos are in a rebuilding mode. With Mike Shanahan gone, new Head Coach Josh McDaniels needs to prove that he can do with a team what he can do with an offense. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan brought a new 3-4 hybrid scheme and GM Brian Xanders needs to showcase his personnel skills. Offensive Coordinator Mike McCoy will pitch in on offense, but it’s McDaniels’ scheme and he is very hands-on with the coaching. Mike Priefer came over from Kansas City to head special teams while defensive line coach Wayne Nyunnely was brought on from San Diego.

McCoy/McDaniels have a lot of tools. Can blue-collar quarterback Kyle Orton, replacing Jay cutler, handle McDaniel’s cerebral offense? Bill Walsh always used to say, “The first year, we teach the player the system. The second year, we develop his skills within the system”. That’s the challenge for Kyle Orton and the Broncos - to learn and mature quickly. Orton’s a Purdue guy - he should do well. FB/RB Peyton Hillis will block for powerful and elusive number one rookie Knowshon Moreno and is also a force rushing or receiving. Brandon Marshall’s situation is iffy, but the receivers are a strong group led by WR/returner Eddie Royal who caught 91 passes as a rookie, along with Jabar Gaffney and Brandon Stokley. The offensive line is among the best in the NFL from Center Casey Wiegmann to brilliant young tackles Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris. The tight ends are a strong group with rookie Richard Quinn joining Daniel Graham and TE/receiver Tony Scheffler.

There are still big questions on defense. Can they pick up the new schemes quickly? It will help that NT Ron Fields came over with Mike Nolan from SF. The DEs aren’t set yet, but DE/NT Marcus Thomas should contribute. The secondary, from leaders Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins to rookie Alphonso Smith, looks stronger than ever. The Broncos brought two solid players from the Miami secondary, S Renaldo Hill and CB Andre Goodman. The linebackers will be led by Andra Davis and DJ Williams. Rookie Robert Ayers will get to show that he can contribute as a 3-4 OLB and a 4-3 DE and last year’s rookie Wesley Woodyard will find a place. Three DEs from 2008, Jarvis Moss, Elvis Dumervil and Tim Crowder, will be fighting for slots as OLBs.

Special teams were awful in 2008, but specialist S/ST David Bruton came on and free agent DE/OLB Darrel Reid is also a top special teamer. Britt Colquitt will compete with Brett Kern as punter, while second year player Matt Prater is unchallenged as kicker.

The Broncos face a difficult challenge this year, but they have a deep, strong offense and a lot of solid pieces on defense. 2009 will show if Josh McDaniels can put the jigsaw together before season’s end.