Denver Post Broncos writer Troy Renck posts his Broncos Mailbag on Wednesdays during the season.
You can . Follow Troy for more daily updates on and .
In the wake of the Broncos releasing Montee Ball, was passing on Eddie Lacy and drafting Ball instead John Elway’s biggest draft mistake thus far?
— Mark Wilson, Tucson, Ariz.
Mark: Hindsight is better than Lasik surgery. Though in fairness, there was plenty of first-guessing of the pick when Ball was chosen over Eddie Lacy. The Broncos favored Lacy over Ball. That simple. Initially, it appeared wise when Lacy reported to Packers camp overweight. But Lacy has adapted to the pro game, becoming a star. Ball showed flashes during his rookie year while spelling Knowshon Moreno, before dissolving before the Broncos’ eyes. I wonder two things about Ball: should he have turned pro a year earlier, limiting the mileage on his body in college? In my opinion, the answer is clearly yes. And did Ball lose his explosiveness after last season’s multiple groin injuries? I am not sure on this one, but the injury didn’t help his career. The hope is that Ball regains his burst and revives his career. Whether it becomes the biggest mistake, for me, depends on how C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman play. In particular Anderson, a nondrafted free agent who became a Pro Bowler. So while the Broncos clearly missed on Ball, they aren’t seeking his replacement with arms in the air. They have a solid back, if not two, cushioning the mistake.
WATCH:
Why aren’t the Broncos signing kicker Nick Novak? Huge upgrade at, clearly, a position of need.
— Ariel Belkin, Los Angeles
Ariel: They committed to Brandon McManus after he beat out Connor Barth. I would suspect, however, that the ground beneath McManus’ feet is slippery. He has to perform better than he did in the preseason when he missed multiple 50-yard-plus kicks. The Broncos kept him for that reason — to be a home-run threat, not a singles hitter. If McManus struggles, the Broncos won’t wait long before exploring other options in my opinion.
Why in the world would the Broncos want to expose Emmanuel Sanders’ body to returning punts and kick offs when the opponent may take a 15-yard penalty just to take a cheap shot. Sanders has proved himself to be in the same caliber as Demaryius Thomas. One bad or cheap hit and you could lose him for the year. Go Broncos!
— Mike U., California
Mike: The blunt answer: The Broncos want to get him more touches. He is a dynamic player so this increases his value. In theory.
There’s a huge risk to this reward. If Sanders is injured on punt return, it could dramatically affect the offense. Sanders told me that he will play it smart until he becomes more comfortable. He wants to net at least 10 yards on every return. That would be a huge upgrade over the Broncos’ 7.2 yard average last season. The one escape hatch available to Sanders is the fair catch. He can choose to protect himself when necessary. It will be a balancing act — Sanders’ explosiveness vs. the risk of injury. If Sanders shows he’s uncomfortable, I’d switch immediately to Omar Bolden or Jordan Norwood.
Will C.J. Anderson be the clear No. 1 back this season, and if so, will he be the guy to carry the ball on goal-line situations and also stay in on third down?
— David Cap, Shallotte, N.C.
David: Sounds like somebody is playing fantasy football this year. Big office league, perhaps? Listen, I don’t know if Anderson will stay in at the goal line. Coach Gary Kubiak has a history of using a bell cow back. The idea of Anderson scoring 10 touchdowns again is realistic in this offense. Could he lose four or five scores to Ronnie Hillman? Yes. Hillman provides a different look and will receive some opportunities early in the season. I figured Anderson for a 1,500-yard season. With Hillman’s strong camp, Anderson might dip to 1,250 but still produce 10 touchdowns.
Based on the court decision for Tom Brady, do most writers and/or commentators still regard Brady as better than Peyton Manning? Peyton has thrown for many more records and has much better stats without having any scandals. I’m curious on how you as a writer view the both of them?
— Hany H., Los Angeles
Hany: I can only speak for myself. Deflategate and Spygate both hurt Brady’s legacies, fair or not. In baseball, which I covered for 15 years, Brady would suffer. The sport is evaluated strictly on numbers and if some are believed to be tainted it would affect his Hall of Fame candidacy. In that regard, Manning’s case against Brady would resonate. Still, Brady has strong regular-season stats as well. Football remains a different animal. So much of the evaluation centers on Super Bowl titles. It carries so much weight, breaks every tie in any argument. Brady owns four Super Bowl rings, winning three MVPs in those games. Manning has one Super Bowl ring. Even if Manning becomes the first quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two different teams this season, he won’t pass Brady.
“Peyton Manning sprains right thumb, out for two weeks.” Hope I never see that headline, but can our backup quarterbacks run Gary Kubiak’s new offense?
— David Camping, Lillington, N.C.
David: Brock Osweiler fits this new scheme well. The play-action, bootleg, rollouts all align with his skill set. He must become more consistent and continue to improve his footwork. He enjoyed a strong preseason, showing real growth with his confidence, poise and leadership. But work remains. He should have dominated the 49ers in the final preseason game, and was erratic. Overall, Osweiler has shown comfort in this offense. Until he performs well in a real game, questions will remain. But he’s in a much better position to succeed than he was at this time last year.
You can . Follow Troy for more daily updates on and .
Troy Renck: trenck@denverpost.com or twitter.com/troyrenck
