Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag weekly during the season.
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Ryan, I know it’s early, but how far do you think the Broncos will go this year? Call it preseason optimism, but I feel like there’s a good chance they can land a playoff berth. With an upgraded secondary and an improved offense, tell me I’m not crazy for believing this.
— Josh P., Commerce City
You’re not crazy in believing the offense will be improved (led by quarterback ) and the secondary (rebuilt with and Bryce Callahan) will also be better. But in mid-June, this remains a third-place team in the AFC West because the Broncos haven’t shown their perceived improvement on the field and Kansas City and the Los Angeles Chargers haven’t proven they are sliding back to the pack. Can the Broncos survive the first quarter of the season, which includes a prime-time game at Oakland, a trip to Green Bay and home games against Chicago (Week 2) and Jacksonville (Week 4). If they can go 2-2, maybe they can hold serve at home (three of next four at Mile High) to get into contention.
With Pat Bowlen passing away, is the Pro Football Hall of Fame going to award his family a gold jacket and a ring? Or are they going to do him dirty as they did with Junior Seau?
— Mike, Las Vegas
Bowlen, who died last Thursday, is believed to be the first person who was alive at the time he was voted into the Hall of Fame, but had passed away before the induction date. Count on Canton doing the Broncos and Bowlen right. By this point, the coat and ring are sure to have been produced so it makes every bit of sense to proceed as planned on Aug. 3.
Hey Ryan, I read your 53-man roster projection and saw you had the Broncos keeping both and George Aston on the team as fullbacks. Could you go a little more in-depth why you think they’ll do this rather than keeping a sixth receiver?
— Jaden, Denver
My in-depth response: I had to throw a little bit of a curveball into the roster projection process instead of going the boilerplate route. Itap a long shot, but what about Aston instead of Janovich? That would be a surprise, but Aston is something to watch during camp because the Broncos may prioritize the fullback more in the receiving game this year and Janovich is a free agent in 2020. Aston to the practice squad is a strong possibility. As for the roster math: If I kept only one fullback, I probably would have added an extra offensive lineman, but you’re right about a sixth receiver. If the Broncos believe is healthy but semi-limited in Week 1, they may keep a sixth receiver as insurance.
Any word if Broncos Stadium is getting a new name soon?
— Richard Smith, Parker
We’re inching close to the start of the season and still “Broncos Stadium at Mile High” being the official title again in 2019. But no, I have not heard a specific timetable.
So who was the biggest surprise at OTAs this year? Good or bad? And does Kevin Hogan stay on the roster if Drew Lock beats him out for the No. 2 spot?
— Carl, Castle Rock
We were asked about the surprises last week and were honest – – nothing really jumped out. Watching a team work only once a week doesn’t allow for many conclusions. As for Hogan, if the Broncos have Lock as the No. 2 exiting the preseason, is there really a reason to keep Hogan on the 53? Probably not. They could put Brett Rypien on the practice squad and keep an extra player at another position.
What’s the Broncos’ plan if Emmanuel Sanders enters the season with a lost step? Are Courtland Sutton and the clear Nos. 1 and 2 then with Sanders playing the slot? Do the Broncos try to move Sanders? I can’t see the season going well without him being healthy.
— Tim Murray, Inglewood, Calif.
Sanders keeps posting Instagram videos of his rehabilitation steps at the Broncos’ facility but we won’t truly know (and nor will Sanders and the coaching staff) what No. 10’s status is until he gets on the practice field and runs routes and goes against defenses and practices several days in a row. Starting Sanders on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list when camp starts is fine — they have a long training camp and can be patient with Sanders and his Achilles injury. If Sanders is available in Week 1, but on a limited snap count, Sutton and Hamilton will be the Nos.1-2. Sutton may be ready for the challenge of facing an opponentap top cornerback and the pressure will be on Hamilton to win matchups outside and make chunk yardage plays. As for moving Sanders, that doesn’t make a lot of sense because a) if he isn’t his usual self, he doesn’t have a lot of trade value and b) if he does rebound nicely and the Broncos have early success, they will want to keep him.
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