Intro by Doug Ottewill
The 53-man roster has been set.
Bo Nix has been charged with saving the franchise…and he looks capable.
Yet, the wise guys from Las Vegas haven’t budged from the Broncos season win total – 5.5.
While Broncos Country is ecstatic about the direction of the franchise, the sentiment isn’t necessarily reciprocated around the NFL. The Broncos, for better or worse, are viewed as one of the NFL’s “also-rans.”
But why?
As exciting as the direction of the team might be, the Super Bowl is likely not in the cards. So, whether one believes that the Vegas line of 5.5 wins is on point or that Denver will surpass the number easily, there are reasons why the Broncos haven’t – in the eyes of the masses – turned the corner yet.
As such, we asked our team of experts what the Broncos biggest areas of concerns might be heading into the season. Here’s what they said…
Cody Roark
My biggest concern is the health of the safety depth right now. With Brandon Jones making his way back, the overall experience behind him is a question mark, but it could be a good thing too? Sean Payton has fully embraced the youth movement and loves them being the underdog.
Dan Mohrmann
My biggest concern actually comes on the defensive side of the ball. The line looks pretty stout and the pass-rush is intriguing, but the middle linebackers and the secondary could be an issue. Alex Singleton is a nice guy and a heck of a golfer, but for years the Broncos have been missing that Al Wilson-like presence. If Riley Moss isn’t the answer opposite PS2, things could get dicey and the safeties are also relatively unknown factors. If those units are struggling, the offense is going to have to put up some big numbers for the Broncos to avoid another sub-par season.
Mark Knudson
If you’re concerned about the W-L for this season, you’re being impatient. Rebuilds take a couple of years at least. This year needs to be about finding out what the Broncos have in order to discover what they need for future years to be an actual contender. This year’s roster is very thin…the backup o-line play is very concerning and they have to keep their fingers crossed about the defensive backfield without the critical leadership of Justin Simmons. They need to keep Nix upright and healthy so he can use this season to grow into the job.
Rich Kurtzman
Denver’s improved at wide receiver, and added depth on the edge, but they’re far from a complete team. Two of their biggest glaring weaknesses are safety and tight end. The lack of a playmaking tight end is huge considering Bo Nix will likely check down a lot. Greg Dulcich is a massive question mark, even if he is healthy. Of note: Denver signed Daniel Parham who has 11 career TDs, the other three Broncos TEs have 10 TDs combined. So Parham could emerge as the guy if elevated from the practice squad and plays.
Shawn Drotar
The Broncos’ defensive backfield is still problematic in a high-flying AFC. Safety is a major question mark in both top-end talent and depth, and Denver still hasn’t found a solid cornerback to pay opposite of Pat Surtain II. Tight end’s still a problem that’s begging for a solution, and the answer almost certainly on this roster. The Broncos are still long on potential and short on production – unless that changes, long-suffering Broncos fans are in line for another long campaign as the team’s rebuild continues. They’re finally headed in the right direction, though.
Nate Lundy
I’ll focus away from the 53-man and more on the question of why they are still a 5.5 win over/under according to the books even though they won 8 games last year. I think it has three big factors. The first is a rookie quarterback. Could Bo Nix pop and be the savior Denver has been waiting for? Sure. But he’s still a rookie. Second reason: the AFC West isn’t easy. The Chargers should see some improvement with Jim Harbaugh. The Raiders might have plenty of question marks but they still went 4-2 in the division last year. And, well, Patrick Mahomes. Third reason, and one I don’t think gets talked about enough, this year is the “odd” year for the Broncos and they play 9 road games and only 8 at Mile High. Home field helps, especially for a young quarterback. Let’s say the Broncos can go 4-4 at home. Do you see 2 road wins? Because I don’t. Take the under.
So there you have it. The Broncos, while headed in the right direction, are still a work in progress. The concerns are valid, but which ones actually “bite” the Broncos remain to be seen. Once the season begins, the deficits are sure to surface.
