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Denver Broncos Season Outlook: Boys Of Fall Are Back

By Cameron Parker

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 30: Quarterback Trevor Siemian #13 of the Denver Broncos shouts out a play at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 30, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 30: Quarterback Trevor Siemian #13 of the Denver Broncos shouts out a play at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 30, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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If you smell the hot dogs at Sports Authority Field and hear the crowd cheering after a Denver Broncos touchdown, then it means the boys of fall are back…

Last season, the Denver Broncos found themselves in unfamiliar territory missing the playoffs. Despite missing T.J. Ward in the secondary, the “No Fly Zone” and rest of the defense is still ready to remain elite.

Solidifying the defensive line was a top priority heading into free agency, and John Elway made sure to address it. Zach Kerr and Domata Peko enter the fold in 2017, hoping to provide depth upfront against the run.

The other major order of business in free agency was the offensive line. This was the biggest issue in 2016 and why the Broncos missed the postseason. Elway and the front office spent big at the guard position signing Ron Leary, and added physicality at right tackle in Menelik Watson.

Both players boost the team’s physicality, so hopefully they won’t be pushed around anymore up front. There was still one glaring need heading into the 2017 NFL Draft. Elway’s used the team’s top draft pick on Garett Bolles. Bolles was the best tackle in the draft and is adapting well in the NFL.

Staying on the offensive side of the ball, the Broncos made it a point of emphasis to add playmakers. Carlos Henderson, Jake Butt and Isaiah McKenzie were drafted to bring ‘juice’.

Henderson and Butt are on the shelf for awhile, but McKenzie appears ready to assume a role on punts and occasional plays on offense. Both Henderson and McKenzie seal depth for the future at the wide receiver position and more competition this season with Cody Latimer, Bennie Fowler and Jordan Taylor.

Demaryius Thomas will see a rebirth back in Mike McCoy’s offense, utilizing his strengths on the bubble screen and creating yards after catch. Emmanuel Sanders is a nightmare number two. He can play in the slot or outside. If Sanders is in the slot, he potentially becomes one of the more dynamic playmakers in the league at that position.

Jamaal Charles signed late to the Denver Broncos, but all signs point to him being healthy in 2017. A healthy Charles spells doom for defenses, especially with him in a Mike McCoy offense. Charles gives McCoy the back he needs as a home run threat in the passing game and running attack on the outside.

In general, the running back position is deeper and stronger than in year’s past. Despite the loss of Devontae Booker for a short period, DeAngelo Henderson is making the waves in just his first season. C.J. Anderson, on the other hand, is poised to make a huge impact in 2017.

Anderson will find himself comfortable in the offense of McCoy. Anderson seems much more effective in a spread style of offense. If the Broncos play predominantly from the shotgun, then Anderson can use his vision to hopefully duplicate his success from the second half of 2014.

Trevor Siemian finds himself starting for a second year in a row, defying the odds once again. Siemian showed he’s a tough quarterback playing through a severe injury last year. However, he was never the same after getting hurt.

This year, Siemian has more weapons at his disposal. Paxton Lynch, interestingly is not coming back tentatively until week five. Even with the reunion of Brock Osweiler in Denver, if Lynch is healthy and Siemian does not play well Lynch might hit the field after the bye.

The quarterback sends the McCoy offense into another stratosphere if firing on all cylinders. Third down offense is critical to sustaining drives and not gassing the defense. No defense wants to be on the field more than the offense. Siemian must convert third downs, use his legs when pass rushers are near, take chances, convert in the red zone, and limit the turnovers.

The Broncos ranked near the bottom of the league in red zone offense in 2016. There are too many targets for there to be any stagnant short yardage struggles. The team has too much going for them to hit a wall offensively.

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For the Broncos to make the postseason the defense must sustain a better turnover ratio helping win games. The franchise must rank in the top six of teams in total defense, scoring defense and takeaways. The Broncos ranked seventh in takeaways last season.

The pass rush must re-reach epic proportions like in 2015 creating strip sacks, hurries and hits on quarterbacks. All in all, the defense will be fine from top to bottom.

As long as the offense provides enough of punch to take early leads, they will allow the pass rush to do what it does best.

This gives the Denver Broncos’ pass rush of Von Miller, Shane Ray, Shaquil Barrett, DeMarcus Walker, and Kasim Edebali a chance to destroy quarterbacks. This is a recipe for success in 2017.

The boys of fall are back and I smell a chance for the Denver Broncos to get back to the playoffs, but it will not be easy.

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