Welcome to the next installment of "MrNFL's prediction system previews."  On these posts, we will look at an NFL team, and grade them at different positions to figure out what record each team will get.  For a full explanation on how the system works, click here.

Today we look at the Denver Broncos.

LAST SEASON: The Broncos had a disappointing season, finishing 9-7 and short of the postseason.

Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers

QB's: Jay Cutler, Patrick Ramsey, Preston Parsons
WR's: Javon Walker, Rod Smith, Quincy Morgan, Brandon Stokley, David Terrell, Brandon Marshall, Domenik Hixon, David Kircus, Brian Clark, Glenn Martinez

Cutler wasn't bad when he played his rookie year.  Although he's still not likely going to be great this year, he should be serviceable.  Walker can be a solid #1, but at times he looks to be more a #2 guy.  If Smith is healthy, the old man is still a good #2 guy.  Stokley can be a solid slot guy, but he is injured a lot.  Marshall is a decent #3 guy.  Overall, not a bad group, but still with flaws.

QB/WR score: 7/10

Running Backs/Tight Ends

HB's: Travis Henry, Mike Bell, Andre Hall,
FB's: Troy Fleming, Kyle Johnson, Cecil Sapp, Paul Smith
TE's: Daniel Graham, Tony Scheffler, Stephen Alexander, Teyo Johnson, Chad Mustard, Mike Leach, Nate Jackson,

Travis Henry is a pretty good running back, and a great addition by the Broncos.  Bell isn't a bad backup either who can hold his own.  Johnson is a solid fullback.  Graham is a solid all around tight end, and Scheffler isn't a bad young tight end.  Alexander can block fairly well also.  Great group, they are able to get a 9.

RB/TE Score: 9/10

Offensive Line

T's: Matt Lepsis, Erik Pears, Ryan Harris, Adam Meadows, Jacob Rogers
G's: Ben Hamilton, Montrae Holland, Chris Kuper

C's: Tom Nalen, Chris Myers, Greg Eslinger

When Lepsis is healthy, he is a very good tackle.  Last year was the first that he has had any injury issues.  Pears wasn't bad starting as a rookie last year, but still has some concerns.  Meadows isn't a bad backup, and the rookie Harris has some skill.  Hamilton is very good, and Holland can be a good replacement for Carlisle if he stays healthy.  (Which has been an issue for him).  Nalen is one of the NFL's best centers.  Overall a pretty good group, but they fall short of a 9.

OL Score: 8/10

Defensive Line

DT's: Sam Adams, Gerard Warren, Alvin McKinley, Demetrin Veal, Jimmy Kennedy, Antwon Burton
DE's: Ebenezer Ekuban, Elvis Dumervil, Jarvis Moss, Carlos Hall, Kenard Lang, Tim Crowder, John Engelberger, Amon Gordon

If Sam Adams is at full strength, he is a great inside tackle.  Warren is decent, and McKinley is alright, but neither is that special.  Kennedy and Veal are both decent as well, a lot of guys will be fighting for the other starting spot.  Ekuban is a solid end, and the young Dumervil is a good pass rusher.  Lang and Engelberger are both decent, and Moss and Crowder both improve this group.  Still, they get an 8 at best.

DL Score: 8/10

Linebackers

LB's: Ian Gold, D.J. Williams, Nate Webster, Warrick Holdman, D.D. Lewis, Louis Green, T.J. Hollowell, Cameron Vaughn

Gold and Williams are both very good outside linebackers, however with the loss of Al Wilson, they have a hole in the middle.  Holdman isn't a bad linebacker, but they'd need to move one of the others to the middle.  Webster is average, and the other guys haven't proven anything.  The upside outside gives them an 8 still.

LB Score: 8/10

Defensive Backs

CB's: Champ Bailey, Dre' Bly, Domonique Foxworth, Karl Paymah, Jeff Shoate
S's: John Lynch, Nick Ferguson, Quentin Harris, Hamza Abdullah, Steve Cargile, Curome Cox

Bailey is most likely the best corner in the NFL.  They have another #1 corner on the other side after adding Bly, who is very good.  Foxworth isn't a bad DB who can be the #3 corner or a safety, and Paymah is decent.  The veteran Lynch may not be a great coverage safety, but he can still hit hard.  Ferguson when healthy is solid.  Overall a great group, they just get the 10.

DB Score: 10/10

Special Teams

K: Jason Elam
P: Paul Ernster, Todd Sauerbrun
KR: Quincy Morgan

Elam is a pretty good kicker, who has solid accuracy and power.  If Sauerbrun stays out of trouble, he's pretty good, and Ernster isn't bad either.  Right now their best returner is Morgan, and he's an average at best kick returner.  Solid group however.

ST Score: 8/10

Coaches
 

Head Coach: Mike Shanahan
O. Coordinator: Rick Dennison
D. Coordinator: Bob Slowik

Shanahan is still one of the better coaches in the NFL.  Dennison is a 2nd year offensive coordinator for them.  Slowik is a first year coordinator after previously being their DB coach.  They also have Jim Bates, a good defensive mind, on the staff.  Good group.

Coach score: 4/5

Recap

QB/WR- 7/10

RB/TE- 9/10

OL- 8/10

DL- 8/10

LB- 8/10

DB- 10/10

ST- 8/10

C- 4/5

Make sure and leave your rankings for the Broncos.

Up next, the Chiefs.

FanIQ Says... (248)

"Prediction System" rankings: Denver Broncos Full explanation here. 7 categories. Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers Running backs/Fullbacks/Tight ends Offensive line Defensive line Linebacker group Secondary (more...)
(Q1 of 8) Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers Consensus answer: 6.6	Asked by: MrNFL
Asked >7 days ago