Time for answers
Broncos reporter Mike Klis analyzes issues facing the team this season.
1. How much will the Broncos miss Jason Elam?
With their star kicker, below, gone, perhaps the Broncos will more often go for it on fourth down when inside the opponent’s 30-yard line. Maybe they’ll take more play-calling risks in the red zone. Maybe this will lead to more touchdowns, which in turn will help ease the kicking transition for Matt Prater. During the 2007 regular season, Lawrence Tynes missed two extra points and three field goals from inside the 40, yet his Giants ended up winning the Super Bowl.
2. Is this a must-win year for Mike Shanahan?
After failing to reach the playoffs the past two seasons, there may be more pressure on Shanahan than at any other time in his 14-year coaching term with the Broncos. But there has been enough previous success to warrant the same patience from owner Pat Bowlen that the Rooneys showed Bill Cowher during Pittsburgh’s three-year playoff slump from 1998-2000.
3. Is middle linebacker Niko Koutouvides ready to start?
He didn’t get a three-year contract worth $7.2 million — including a $2.5 million signing bonus — to play special teams, not that the Broncos couldn’t use him there. Koutouvides may not have Al Wilson’s range, but he’s a punishing tackler and has the kind of leadership moxie needed at the “Mike” (middle) position.
4. Will it be Chris Kuper or Ryan Harris at right tackle on the offensive line?
Kuper has the experience advantage after starting 11 games at left guard last season, but Harris has the better tackle body type. Kuper was the first-stringer through the offseason, but if Harris’ back holds up, this could be the camp’s fiercest position competition.
5. Why should anyone believe the Broncos’ defense will be better?
Two reasons: an overhauled linebacking core and the simplified, if aggressive, system led by new defensive coaching boss Bob Slowik. At linebacker, D.J. Williams is a natural, and proven, on the weak side; Koutouvides is a natural in the middle; and newcomer Boss Bailey is one of the NFL’s best strongside linebackers. Slowik’s top priority is stopping the run, so the Broncos will use eight men in the box. And there will be more blitzing this year.
6. After his tumultuous offseason, what can the Broncos expect from Brandon Marshall?
Take away his forearm injury and off-the-field issues, and Marshall would still find it difficult to duplicate his 102-catch, 1,325-yard season of 2007. Why? Last season, opponents focused first on Javon Walker while Marshall sneaked up on defenses until halfway through the season. This season, opponents will concentrate on stopping him from the get-go. Given the coverage he will receive, Marshall would do well to get 80 catches this year while Jay Cutler spreads the ball around.
7. Can tailback Selvin Young get anywhere close to his stated goal of 2,000 yards rushing?
No, but he should top 1,000 yards. Given Young’s history of injuries, he is not likely to average more than 15 carries per game. But 4.5 yards per carry, at 15 carries per game over 16 games, would put him beyond 1,000 yards. The Broncos will work in rookie Ryan Torain, and they would like newcomer Michael Pittman to get four or five short-yardage carries per game.
8. Is defensive end Jarvis Moss and his draft class ready to make an impact?
They had better. Moss, the 17th pick in that draft, endured a lost rookie season. He struggled in the season’s first half, then missed the second half because of a lower-leg injury that required surgery. Defensive end and second- round pick Tim Crowder was hurt early last year, but started making big plays in the middle of the season. Moss and Crowder, plus fourth-round defensive tackle Marcus Thomas, will play plenty this year on pass-rushing downs.
9. Can rookie offensive tackle Ryan Clady stop the likes of Shawne Merriman from reaching Jay Cutler?
One on one, Clady already has enough skills and technique at left tackle to stop anyone. It will be the stunts and sophisticated blitzes that will challenge him.
10. Does this year’s schedule help or hurt the Broncos?
An NFL team’s ability to quickly rise, and fall, makes schedule analysis a worthless endeavor. Last year at this time, Denver’s game at Detroit was penciled in as a win — and look what happened: a 44-7 drubbing by the Lions that wasn’t that close. But if last season is an indication, the Broncos should be 4-1 entering back-to-back games against Jacksonville and at New England, and 9-6 entering the regular-season finale at San Diego.
