[ttiokjbnhjjillp]

I find it veeery interesting that the Broncos basically got a free pass on the Portis-for-Griffin change, with nobody even blinking an eye that Shanny is going into the season with two backs with a combined year of NFL service under their belts. Not one pundit has really questioned the fact that Q-Griffin is automatic for 1200 yards (or Bell, or the waterboy).

I'm not saying he won't - I like Griffin, have ever since last year's draft when I thought the Lions should look at him right around that fifth round - what I'm saying is that the Broncos don't have a magic elixir that turns backs into gods. Or if they do, it tends to chew them up and spit them out with nasty knee injuries (Helloooo, Terrell Davis! Meet Olandis Gary and Mike Anderson).

The fact is that the Broncos don't have Alex Gibbs anymore. They might have a protege (I don't know for sure, but I think I heard that his replacement was one of Gibbs' disciples), but is that enough? Will Griffin and Bell buy into the system that produced all these long-shot rushers? We'll have to see.

Again, not saying it can't happen. But to not dock the team for the uncertainty at their position, like they're just going to run the table like they were playing the league on Rookie Mode in Madden -- well, that's just crazy talk.

New England, Philly, Indy (even after last night and even with that crappy secondary), Seattle -- all could lay claim as the team to beat this year in the NFL better than Denver can.

Good team. Potentially very good. But that word 'potential' does have to carry negative weight until it pays off.

[QwOpHGyZ]

http://msn.foxsports.com/story/2646222?GT1=5012

On their power rankings they have the broncos #1, and they also have a lot of good teams lower than they should be, but does anyone seriously think the broncos will be good?

[AnriXuinriZ]

Woefully undersized? So was Barry Sanders. I'm not saying Q is Barry reincarnated, but he does have some of the same "how'd he do that" ability. Maybe 35%-40% Barry Sanders. Of course, I'm a bit biased.

Larry

[CorpoRasion]

Personally I don't see GB being downgraded simply because of a missing DB. GB hasn't been known as a defensive powerhouse since White left and even then it was Favre's team. GB reminds me of Denver when Elway didn't have the probowl WR's or RB's. Yes you have Green, but he's so often hurt. GB is on the decline and no one really saw a major improvement in the offseason.

Portis was in that Indy playoff game last year where Denver's secondary had been exposed. It didn't matter that he was playing. The 3 games he missed last year we won. Yes he was a talent that is becoming rare but even with him we couldn't win with our secondary as this is now a defensive league. Look at Manning and the Colts, KC and their offense. They can only go so far. I'm sure there may be some games this year that we regret trading him but I'm also thinking there will be more that we will be so grateful we did.

[vNZsk39B]

Oh and BTW, Anderson was never going to be the starting RB. It was Griffin's from the time we traded Portis, and only wouldn't have if he had lost it with his performance. Anderson hasn't done anything for quite some time and the preseason game he got hurt was his first good one in a long, long, time. Yes I think he would have handled for goal line stances now we'll have to stick Hearst in.

[makemoneyonli]

i think every year the broncos end up being rated higher than they should be, then never meet expectations. Their offense wont be more than middle of the pack this year with the loss of portis (i dont care what people say, you cant plug a random RB into that system) and they gained a shutdown corner. I think they go 2nd in the west with a 8-8/9-7 record.

[iceleliewBync]

hmmmm can't plug any RB into that system huh? Did ANY of you see ORlandis Gary in Detroit? They have consistantly plugged rb's inot that system and have had great success. If Plummer keeps his T.O.'s down and can utilize his T.E.'s i think they will be efficient on offense and put up some points...Special teams and field position will play a larger role for the Broncos then alot of teams...And the defense has ONLY gotten better....

[kmjbbT3U]

i think every year the broncos end up being rated higher than they should be, then never meet expectations. Their offense wont be more than middle of the pack this year with the loss of portis (i dont care what people say, you cant plug a random RB into that system) and they gained a shutdown corner. I think they go 2nd in the west with a 8-8/9-7 record.

Yeah I remember Eugene Robinson thinking the Broncos were overrated, "they weren't even a good team". Our offense maybe overrated this year, our D isn't and you win with D now, not O. GB will find out what overrated means this year.

[gorbasevhuynani]

Jake Plummer was his old self in preseason this year. He was a turnover machine. They make the playoffs i think, but no further than that.

[Peterli]

How can you say plugging a random back into the system does not work. Look at the stats. four 1000 yd rushers in the past six years. Can any other "system" say that, NO. Q maybe small but will be the fifth rusher over 1000.

[Fosavoa]

Tatum Bell will probably be starting for the Broncos before Columbus Day.

He's not proven either, but he'd probably be better able to stand up to the constant beating than Griffin.

[Ayyfjicg]

The Broncs are continuously overrated. I see no point in thinking otherwise this season.

history does tend to repeat itself....

[EasyLOAD]

The Broncs are continuously overrated. I see no point in thinking otherwise this season.