Four Broncos Named to Pro Football Focus Team of the Month for September

Sep 5, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos strong safety David Bruton (30) reacts to his blocked punt in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Broncos may be a second half team, but they are off to a roaring start in 2013.

Led by Peyton Manning, this is probably the best Denver Broncos team I have ever seen, and that includes the late-90s teams led by John Elway. Even Elway recognizes the historical significance of what’s happening around him, stating that he’s never seen any QB play like Manning has to start off this season.

While Manning has been dominant and nearly perfect, the Broncos as a whole have played great team football, and placed an NFL-best four players on the Pro Football Focus September Team of the Month.

PFF is considered the ultimate source of football statistical analysis, and their grades of players are unanimously the best and most accurate you can find out there. The four Broncos to make PFF’s All-September squad are quarterback Peyton Manning, right guard Louis Vasquez, return specialist Trindon Holliday, and special teams ace David Bruton.

You’ll definitely want to check out the whole article, as there are some surprise players on there that have graded out well to start the season around the league, but here’s what PFF had to say about Manning’s record-setting performance in the first quarter of 2013:

What more can you say about the month Manning has had in Denver? He matched an NFL single game record on opening night and that wasn’t even his best performance this month. In spite of the fact that his receivers have dropped 9.0% of his targeted passes (third-highest in the league) he’s still completing 75% of his throws and has an Accuracy Percentage of 85.1%. Brutal efficiency from Manning who has made full use of the Broncos’ loaded offense this month.

The Broncos also made a splash in free agency this year, and the first guy they signed to a big contract was right guard Louis Vasquez, who has been a huge upgrade on the interior of the offensive line. Vasquez joined Philadelphia’s Evan Mathis on the All-September team, and looks like he will be a huge addition (literally) for the Broncos going forward. Here’s what PFF had to say bout him:

Taking the other spot is new Bronco Vasquez who has been nearly flawless in pass protection for Manning and has been an excellent contributor as a mobile blocker for the running game in the last two weeks.

Obviously Holliday and Bruton are two of the best special teams players in the NFL, but as good as a guy like Peyton Manning has been at QB, Holliday has been almost just as unreal as a return specialist. He already has both a punt and a kick return for touchdowns in 2013 after leaving the 2012/13 season with two return touchdowns against the Baltimore Ravens. Holliday is shaping up to be one of the best in-season pickups the Broncos or any team has probably ever had. He is a major special teams weapon that is approaching Devin Hester status.