From the inside looking ahead, feelings of uncertainty are masked with optimism.
The Broncos might have finished 7-9 and missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season, but it was youth that got them there. Growing pains of today, the Broncos figure, offer hope for a better tomorrow.
“The feeling is a lot different this year than it was last year,” kicker Jason Elam, the oldest Bronco at 37, said of winning the finale Sunday against Minnesota compared with getting knocked out of the 2006 playoffs by losing the last game to San Francisco.
“We weren’t able to go to the playoffs the last two years, but we feel a lot better about ourselves right now.”
From the outside looking in, though, the concern isn’t just identifying positions in need of improvement but determining where the Broncos should start.
Defense is as logical a place as any. The Broncos ranked just 28th in the NFL in scoring defense by allowing 25.6 points per game and were 30th against the run. They have needs on the defensive line, at linebacker and at safety.
“A lot of people are kind of peeking over their shoulder right now,” linebacker Jamie Winborn said.
The offense is anchored by second-year quarterback Jay Cutler, receiver Brandon Marshall, tight end Tony Scheffler and rookie running back Selvin Young. This youthful package often was brilliant between the 20s this season, but the key next season will be to convert yards into more points. The Broncos’ offense ranked only 21st in red-zone efficiency.
A look at the Broncos in 2007 and where they may be headed in 2008:
QUARTERBACK: Compare Cutler’s second season _ 3,497 yards, 20 touchdown passes, 14 interceptions _ with those of the game’s best. In Tom Brady’s second season, he threw for 2,843 yards with 18 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Brett Favre threw for 3,227 yards with 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Ben Roethlisberger threw for only 2,385 yards. Carson Palmer had 2,897 yards with 18 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
Tony Romo never left the bench. Kurt Warner was a grocery stocker.
Only Peyton Manning had a better second year than Cutler. Yes, Brady and Roethlisberger won Super Bowls in their second year and Manning went 13-3. But Cutler’s stats placed alongside 7-9 suggest the Broncos” problems are somewhere other than quarterback.
RUNNING BACK: Travis Henry beat his marijuana rap but lost his starting job to Young. By not carrying the ball in the season finale against Minnesota, Henry received a clear message he is either not in the Broncos” plans for 2008, or must accept a substantial pay cut.
If Henry doesn’t return, the Broncos would have to pick up another sturdy back. Young has terrific speed and he’s strong enough to break tackles, but few backs survive 16-game seasons, let alone those with injury history.
Starting fullback Cecil Sapp is a free agent.
RECEIVERS: After the superb Marshall, the late-season knee injury to Stokley and end-of-season rant by Javon Walker leaves the Broncos a tad thin. Marshall will become the focus of opposing defensive game plans next year, and he vows to work on beating the initial bump off the line and becoming more of a deep-ball threat. Marshall’s strength and size will allow him to ward off any cornerback, but Cutler will need a legitimate threat at the other wide receiver spot so Stokley can return to the slot.
TIGHT END: A team strength. Daniel Graham is one of the league’s top 5 blocking tight ends and Tony Scheffler finished 10th among receiving tight ends even though he didn’t get his first catch until the fifth game.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Unquestionably the greatest area of offensive concern following the retirement of left tackle Matt Lepsis, and season-ending injuries to center Tom Nalen and left guard Ben Hamilton.
For now Ryan Harris, who only played special teams as a rookie, will start at left tackle. The injuries to Nalen and Hamilton did allow the Broncos to develop Chris Myers and Chris Kuper.
The Broncos believe they will be strong in the middle of their line with Nalen coming back at center, Montrae Holland returning at right guard and Myers and Kuper competing for left guard. But the Broncos will likely acquire either a veteran tackle or select one high in the draft.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Unquestionably the team’s top offseason priority, specifically at defensive tackle. The key in the middle will be Marcus Thomas, a rookie who wore down late in the season after missing most of his senior year at Florida. Alvin McKinley was the most dependable veteran and the Broncos will want to add one or two more to their rotation next year.
There is decent depth at defensive end if first-round Jarvis Moss comes back healthy _ no guarantee given the seriousness of his lower leg injury. Elvis Dumervil is a premier pass rusher and rookie Tim Crowder met expectations. But all must improve dramatically to attain run-defending caliber of veteran John Engelberger.
LINEBACKER: The Broncos believe they can one day win the Super Bowl with D.J. Williams as a starting linebacker. The question is whether Williams is a Super Bowl-caliber linebacker in the middle, or outside. He struggled early but improved considerably by season’s end and finished second in the league with 141 tackles.
The Broncos must also have make decisions on weakside linebacker Ian Gold, who is scheduled to make $3.3 million next year, and strongside linebacker Nate Webster. Winborn will compete for a starting outside spot next year.
Only 4-12 Oakland and 1-15 Miami gave up more rushing yards than the Broncos this season, so the linebacker play as a whole was disappointing.
CORNERBACK: Champ Bailey and Dré Bly played well considering all the man-to-man assignments they were given. It’s far easier to play cornerback in zone coverage. Bailey and Bly each got burned in a prime-time defeat against the Green Bay Packers but there were otherwise the defense’s strength.
Karl Paymah emerged in his third season as the nickel back after Domonique Foxworth was switched to nickel safety.
SAFETY: The Broncos began this season with the league’s oldest safety tandem in John Lynch, now 36, and Nick Ferguson, now 33.
Ferguson was replaced by third-year player Hamza Abdullah while Lynch was re-positioned to the eighth men in the box.
Abdullah will return but the Broncos may have to add another safety through the draft, especially if Lynch retires.
KICKING: Given their multiple needs elsewhere, it would be a surprise if the Broncos didn’t quickly re-sign Elam, a free agent who just had another consistently accurate season.
Sam Paulescu, signed for the final game Sunday, will get a chance to win the punting job next summer, but expect the Broncos to bring in a veteran.
RETURNING: As Devin Hester showed the Broncos on the chilled shores of Lake Michigan in late November, the most important segment to the return game is the returner. Glenn Martinez did a nice job after Domenik Hixon was released, but expect the Broncos to seek an electric returner in the draft, where California’s DeSean Jackson, Utah State’s Kevin Robinson and Kansas State’s Jordy Nelson are among the best.
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
