The Denver Broncos are in such a tight spot at tight end they’re converting offensive linemen.
Only to be used in a pinch, of course, and mostly in blocking situations.
After all, the last thing quarterback Kyle Orton wants to do is rifle a pass downfield to tackle Chris Clark or guard Russ Hochstein. Orton has seen their pass-catching skills in practice and even if they’re clearly wide open, he’ll think twice about letting it fly.
“And I’ll never throw the ball to Russ,” Orton chuckled.
At this rate, Orton may not have a choice.
The Broncos had two healthy tight ends Thursday at practice with rookie Julius Thomas (ankle) out and Daniel Fells (knee) only participating on a limited basis. That left just Virgil Green, a rookie out of Nevada, and Dante Rosario, a player just signed by the Broncos last month.
Not that the Broncos are fretting.
“They’re all trained the same. They all do the same drills. They run the same plays. They’re all prepared,” tight ends coach Clancy Barone said. “We have a very diverse and very athletic group of tight ends.”
These days, that’s the norm around the league. The trend is to have that go-to guy over the middle to provide a safety valve for the quarterback. Tony Romo has that luxury with Jason Witten, who’s leading the NFC in receptions, and Drew Brees with Jimmy Graham, a budding star in New Orleans.
“It’s a comfort level” for the quarterback, Barone explained.
And Barone is attempting to cultivate that same kind of security blanket for the quarterbacks in Denver. He’s the guru of tight ends, too, having worked with Antonio Gates in San Diego and Alge Crumpler with Atlanta.
Those two Pro Bowlers have spoiled him on the difference a tight end can make for an offense.
“With Antonio and Alge, I learned a lot. I really did,” Barone said. “Once you see the game through their eyes, you can help them see the game through your eyes as well.”
Barone clearly sees this: the promise of rookies Green and Thomas, along with the flaws that come with coaching greenhorns.
Green is already a solid blocker but is working on improving his receiving skills.
Thomas brings loads of athleticism to the field. Like Gates, he’s a converted basketball player. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Thomas only gave football a try when his basketball eligibility ran out at Portland State.
His progress was interrupted when he turned his right ankle awkwardly after hauling in his one and only catch of the season in Week 2 against Cincinnati. Thomas is hoping to return after the bye next week.
“I’ve made up a lot of ground,” said Thomas, who was taken in the fourth round last April. “People probably didn’t expect me to have the impact that I have. So I can’t let this discourage me. I’m having an opportunity now to sit back and learn and watch the game from a different perspective.”
Rosario is quite familiar with this offensive scheme, especially after playing for coach John Fox in Carolina last season. And Barone knows all about Fells, whom he was with in Atlanta.
Still, all four Broncos tight ends have combined for just 11 catches so far — 16 fewer than Witten.
“They’ve been dinged from time-to-time,” offensive coordinator Mike McCoy explained. “It’ll be nice to have (Thomas) back with his speed, letting him run down the field and doing some things to stretch the defense like he did during training camp.”
It never hurts to groom a few more, just in case of an emergency. That’s why Clark and Hochstein have been learning the position in case they’re needed.
It’s already happened once.
The Broncos went into the Bengals contest with only three healthy receivers after Brandon Lloyd was a late scratch. Eddie Royal then pulled a groin in the first half and the team’s emergency receiver, Thomas, left on Denver’s first drive with a high ankle sprain.
So the team inserted quarterback Tim Tebow at receiver, mostly as a decoy.
Might the former Heisman Trophy winner be used as an emergency tight end as well?
“I can’t answer anything like that,” Barone said, laughing.
For now, it’s just Clark and Hochstein in a pinch.
“Russ has to know center, guard, tackle and tight end, sometimes even fullback,” Barone said. “He’s a pro.”
Notes: Broncos DBs Rahim Moore and Jonathan Wilhite missed practice because of an illness. … S Brian Dawkins sat out a second straight day with a balky ankle. Asked how it’s feeling, the Pro Bowler said, “It’s coming along.” … CB Champ Bailey (hamstring) said he will be ready to go Sunday.

(Sports Network) – It sure looks like a long way.

While it’s true that both Denver Broncos losses so far in 2011 have been near-
misses and not near-blowouts, it’s every bit that far in reality.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Green Bay Packers are just that good.

Regardless of the heads turned by competitive efforts under year one of the
John Fox era in Denver, the chasm between the most recent Super Bowl champion
Packers and the reigning AFC West doormat Broncos couldn’t seem much wider as
the teams get together for a Week 4 matchup Sunday at Lambeau Field.

The Broncos fell to 1-2 with a 17-14 loss at Tennessee last week in their first
road game of the season, a result largely created when veteran running back
Willis McGahee went 0-for-3 on consecutive attempts from inside the Titans’
two-yard line with a chance for an insurance score early in the fourth quarter.

The host Titans turned the failure into follow-through later in the period when
Daniel Graham reeled in a four-yard touchdown pass from Matt Hasselbeck for the
decisive points.

And Fox was left to an unenviable line of follow-up questions about why he
repeatedly chose to go with McGahee instead of inserting collegiate short-
yardage hotshot Tim Tebow.

Denver scored twice from close quarters earlier in the game, both on passes
from quarterback Kyle Orton.

“We had two touchdowns in the same situation, we just needed three,” Fox said
afterward.

He indicated certain goal-line schemes were available that featured Tebow and
claimed they were considered at the time of McGahee’s runs, but he was
unwilling to make the jump to say it was a lack of confidence that steered him
to McGahee.

“I didn’t say that,” he said. “We just didn’t choose [those packages].”

Meanwhile, in Green Bay, it all seems so much simpler.

The Packers won their fifth straight regular-season game over the past two
years — and ninth in a row including the playoffs — last week in Chicago,
where they threw for 292 yards and ran for 100 more while topping the Bears,
27-17, in a rematch of last January’s NFC Championship Game.

Ominously for the rest of the league, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers still
sees room for growth.

“I think we have the potential to get better, and I don’t know how many wins
that means or the playoffs or whatever, but I just think we can play better
football,” he said. “The standard we’ve set around Green Bay is excellence, so
until we’re at that point, there’s going to be a lot of hard work during the
week.”

A potential stumbling block is injuries, of course, which the Packers could
experience more so this week with the possible absences of first-string running
back Ryan Grant and starting right offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga.

Head coach Mike McCarthy said midweek that both players, suffering from a
bruised kidney and sprained knee, respectively, will be “pressed to make this
game.”

If Grant can’t play, 2010 postseason hero James Starks would draw his first
start of 2011. Second-year lineman Marshall Newhouse, who spelled Bulaga
against the Bears, would start in latter’s place against Denver.

SERIES HISTORY

This regular season series is deadlocked at 5-5-1, with the Packers drawing
even by virtue of victories in each of the last two meetings. Green Bay routed
the Broncos by a 31-3 count at Lambeau Field in 2003 and also came through with
a 19-13 overtime decision in Denver during the 2007 season. Denver has never
bested the Pack in five lifetime outings as the visitor in this set, though it
did forge a 17-17 in a game played at Milwaukee’s County Stadium in 1987.

The most famous matchup between these teams took place in Super Bowl XXXII
following the 1997 season, when Denver scored a 31-24 upset of Green Bay at San
Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium.

Fox owns a 2-3 career record against Green Bay, with all of those games taking
place during his tenure with the Carolina Panthers from 2002-10. McCarthy has a
1-0 mark against Denver and is 1-1 over two previous head-to-head bouts with
Fox.

WHEN THE BRONCOS HAVE THE BALL

Orton has a 3-1 career record as a starter against the Packers and needs four
touchdown passes to reach 50 with the Broncos. He has 14 touchdown passes, six
interceptions and a 94.0 passer rating against the NFC since 2009. McGahee had
a rushing touchdown in his last game against the Packers, while with Baltimore
in 2009. He had a scoring reception last week, the fifth of his career. Since
2010, wide receiver Brandon Lloyd has 79 first-down receptions, third-highest
in the NFL behind Atlanta’s Roddy White (88) and Indianapolis’ Reggie Wayne
(83). Lloyd has three touchdown catches in his past three games against NFC
opponents as well and needs five catches to reach 100 with the Broncos. Wide
receiver Eric Decker had a career-high seven catches last week, and 11 of his
15 receptions this season have been for first downs. Tight end Daniel Fells is
averaging 13.8 yards per catch on six receptions.

On defense, Green Bay cornerback Charles Woodson holds the franchise record
with nine defensive touchdowns (eight interceptions, one fumble recovery).
Since the start of 2006, his eight interception return scores are the most in
the NFL. Linebacker Clay Matthews has nine sacks in his past seven games
against AFC foes, while safety Morgan Burnett had a career-high two
interceptions last week and has three picks in his past two games. Defensive
end Jarius Wynn had a career-best two sacks in last week’s win.

Statistically, the Broncos’ offense is 23rd in scoring (19.3 points per game),
27th in total yards (286.3 yards per game), 22nd in passing yards (210.3 ypg)
and 28th in rushing (76.0 ypg). On defense, Green Bay is tied for 22nd in
points allowed (24.7 ppg), 29th in yards allowed (414.3 ypg), 31st against the
pass (359.3 ypg) and first against the run (55.0 ypg).

WHEN THE PACKERS HAVE THE BALL

Rodgers is 12-1 in his past 13 starts at home while completing 284-of-421
passes for 3,609 yards, 29 touchdowns and a 109.1 rating. He leads the NFL in
2011 with 120.9 rating and has a 100-plus number in seven of Green Bay’s nine
straight victories (a 115.5 rating overall). Grant rushed for 104 yards in his
only career game against Denver and has a rush touchdown in three of his past
four against the AFC. Tight end Jermichael Finley had a career-high three
touchdown catches last week, while wide receiver Greg Jennings had six catches
for 141 yards and an 82-yard score in Green Bay’s last meeting with Denver and
nine catches for 119 yards in the Week 3 win over the Bears. Since the start of
2007 Jennings has 44 receiving touchdowns including the playoffs, the third-
most in the NFL. Including the Super Bowl, he has three receiving touchdowns in
his past two games against the AFC. Also, wide receiver Jordy Nelson has a
receiving touchdown in three of the Packers’ last four games.

For the Broncos on defense, rookie linebacker Von Miller — the No. 2 overall
pick in last April’s draft — aims for a third consecutive game with a sack.
Safety Brian Dawkins has two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble
recovery in his last five meetings with the Packers, while outside linebacker
Wesley Woodyard leads the team with 28 tackles.

On offense, the defending champion Packers are fifth in scoring (33.0 ppg),
eighth in total yards (403.3 ypg), ninth in passing (294.3 ypg) and 10th in
rushing (109.0 ypg). Meanwhile, Denver is tied for 13th in scoring defense
(20.7 ppg), 15th in yards allowed (334.7 ypg), 13th in pass defense (234.7 ypg)
and 14th against the run (100.0 ypg).

KEYS TO THE GAME

The Broncos are middle-of-the-road statistically in pass defense, but they’re
in for a huge challenge from the likes of Rodgers and his fleet of talented
pass-grabbers. How they handle that task will decide their fate.

For the visiting Broncos to have any chance, it may need to come via shootout
with Orton trying to poke holes in a Green Bay pass coverage unit that’s second
from the bottom of the league.

The Packers are mediocre statistically on defense, but they have a knack for
the big play with big-moment players like Woodson and Matthews that Denver will
need to pay close attention to.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

No coach will endorse the value of a moral victory on the record, but that may
be all Fox has got to go on with the Broncos visiting a red-hot championship-
level team. Sure, the Packers could be looking ahead to what was forecasted as
an colossal NFC showdown at Atlanta next week, but they still should have
enough to pull themselves through here no matter how events unfold.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Packers 30, Broncos 14

The Sports Network

In two seasons with the Broncos, QB Kyle Orton has thrown 41 touchdown passes and 21 picks.
(John Leyba, The Denver Post
)

There was the time Kyle Orton wasn’t Drew Brees, the time he wasn’t Jim McMahon.

And the time he wasn’t — take your pick — John Elway, Brian Griese, Jake Plummer or Jay Cutler.

Now, he isn’t Tim Tebow.

It seems wherever Orton has gone since leaving Southeast Polk High School in Runnels, Iowa — from Purdue to the Bears to the Broncos — fans have wanted somebody else to do his job.

But he is on the doorstep of his seventh NFL season, a contract year and a potential free agency windfall, and he’s at the center of the Broncos’ preparations for their season opener Monday night against Oakland in Denver.

“The offseason is so long and so tedious and so annoying, you just want to get to the regular season,” Orton said. “A lot of things happen. A lot of things are said, but the regular season is finally here and you just immerse yourself in football for 16 games, hopefully more than that.

“That’s what I’m prepared to do. Immerse myself, have a great year and help lead this team to a lot of wins.”

What an offseason it has been. New executive vice president of football operations John Elway anointed Orton the Broncos’ No. 1 quarterback in January. New head coach John Fox re-affirmed it in February, March and April, even as training camp opened in late July.

The Broncos tried to trade Orton to the Dolphins this summer, but the deal fell apart because a new contract with Miami couldn’t be worked out. There was, and is, the constant call from fans to make the extraordinarily popular Tebow the starter.

And now, there is fatherhood. Orton and his wife, Bridget, welcomed their first child into the world last week.

“Really, I don’t expect anything in the offseason in terms of what’s happening outside of the team or me,” Orton said. “Basically I try to spend as much time with my family as is possible, enjoy that and don’t worry about anything else.

“I thought whatever happened, it would take care of itself and I would get to football time at some point. Just get to football time, that’s my mind-set. And now is football time, and I’m always excited for that.”

Fox said of Orton: “He’s done what you want a quarterback to do. He’s performed in the preseason games, performed in practice, led the team and controlled the huddle. That’s what the job is.”

Orton has thrown for at least 3,600 yards in each of the past two seasons as Denver’s starter. Last season he ranked third in the NFL in completions of at least 25 yards, behind stars Aaron Rodgers and Philip Rivers.

But Orton is only 11-17 as Denver’s starter — 8-7 in 2009, 3-10 in 2010 — and the Broncos have struggled once they get into the red zone.

“No matter what team Kyle plays for, he’s going to be awesome,” said Broncos wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, Orton’s teammate in Chicago and Denver. “He is a really good quarterback. He knows what he’s doing and the team believes in him.”

Orton hopes Fox’s commitment to the running game — Denver ranked 27th in the 32-team league in rushing attempts last season and 18th in 2009 — will open things up when the Broncos move inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. In Fox’s nine seasons as Carolina’s coach, the Panthers were in the top 10 in rushing attempts four times and in the top 14 six times.

“To be an offense where you’re scoring consistently, it takes a lot,” Orton said. “It takes everybody involved. If we run the ball better, it should give us better looks to get the ball into the end zone. But to be honest, I’d prefer we get the same looks we got last year and we’ll just walk the ball in. I’m just excited about what this offense can do.”

Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com

Two sides to Orton’s story

Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton had some ups and downs in the team’s 4-12 season last year:

UPS

NFL leaders in completions of 25 yards or longer

1. Philip Rivers, Chargers 43
2. Aaron Rodgers, Packers 40
3. Kyle Orton, Broncos* 35
3. Eli Manning, Giants 35

NFL leaders in completions of 40 yards or longer

1. Philip Rivers, Chargers 14
2. Michael Vick, Eagles 12
3. Kyle Orton, Broncos* 11
3. Donovan McNabb, Redskins 11

*Started 13 games

DOWNS

Passer rating inside opponent’s 20-yard line

1. Tony Romo, Cowboys 121.8
2. Alex Smith, 49ers 118.8
3. David Garrard, Jaguars 115.5
20. Kyle Orton, Broncos 91.5

Passer rating in the fourth quarter

1. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers 110.3
2. David Garrard, Jaguars 108.3
3. Michael Vick, Eagles 106.8
15. Kyle Orton, Broncos 86.3

Jeff Legwold, The Denver Post

The genesis of the 2011 Raiders and Denver Broncos can be traced back to last Oct. 24.

A 59-14 beat-down administered by the Raiders in Denver went beyond historical significance, helping shape the teams that will meet Monday night before a national television audience at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

The Raiders held a 14-0 lead before fans had settled into their seats, were up 24-0 at the end of the quarter and 38-7 at halftime.

Coming as it did the week after a listless 17-9 loss to the 49ers that saw the Raiders fall to 2-4, it brightened the outlook of the team and its hopes for the remainder of the season.

“Last time we were there it was a big victory, one of the best in franchise history,” free safety Michael Huff said. “So we’re looking forward to going out there and play well.”

Oops.

Huff apparently was unaware coach Hue Jackson, whose offense gained 508 yards and put seven touchdowns on the board, wants no part of reminiscing about past glories.

“It’s a new year and I don’t think their players are talking about last year,” Jackson said. “The media’s talking about last year. (The Broncos) are talking about this year.”

The game in Denver was the breakout game for Jackson’s offense, which ended the season ranked second in rushing and helped the Raiders average 26.7 points per game, their most since 2002.

The 59 points were a franchise record, as were the five rushing touchdowns and

eight touchdowns overall (the Raiders also scored on defense).

By season’s end, Jackson, having rebuilt the Raiders offense, was in line to replace Tom Cable, whose relationship with Al Davis had deteriorated and who had a two-year option on his contract.

Broncos coach Josh McDaniels apologized to his team’s fans after the loss, which dropped Denver to 2-5. It was considered the low point in his tenure, which ended Dec. 6 with the Broncos at 3-9.

Denver quarterback Kyle Orton hasn’t forgotten.

“We know what happened,” Orton told Bay Area reporters by conference call. “We’re not sitting here crying over spilled milk. What happened, happened. You can always learn something, and we’re excited to get them back to Mile High and see what they’ve got.”

Denver’s new coach, John Fox, was the coach in Carolina when the Raiders were cleaning up on the Broncos, but he noted for those involved in the game, “it would be fair to say it would be a rallying point.”

The Raiders’ destruction of the Broncos didn’t stop with the game in Denver. The Raiders won the rematch 39-23 in Oakland, putting up 502 yards of offense.

In the two games against Denver, the Raiders had a 98-37 advantage on the scoreboard, outgained the Broncos 1,010-475 and out-rushed them 592-181.

Fox has switched the defense from a 3-4 to a 4-3 and will emphasize a run-first offense as he did in Carolina.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP)—The Denver Broncos waived Perrish Cox(notes) on Saturday,
cutting ties with the cornerback who is facing a sexual assault trial later this
year.

General manager Brian Xanders indicated it was Cox’s on-field performance
and not his legal issues that led to his departure.

“Everybody coming out of that lockout, it’s their job to create their
role,” Xanders said. “No roster spot is safe. His was based on the four
preseason games, the five weeks of training camp. It’s unfortunate to make a cut
like that when he’d started for you before, but the coaches talked to him about
what he needs to improve on for his career. It’s unfortunate we let a draft pick
go like that.”

Cox’s agent, Jordan Woy, tweeted Saturday that “any teams looking for a
good, young CB should jump. Good starts under his belt.”

Cox started nine times as a rookie last year and was the backup to right
cornerback Andre’ Goodman(notes) this summer.

Despite struggling early in camp covering the slot receiver, Cox came on
strong over the last couple of weeks and his roster spot seemed secure after
second-year cornerback Syd’Quan Thompson(notes) was lost for the season with a torn
Achilles’ tendon Thursday night at Arizona.

Instead, Cox was among two dozen players cut by the Broncos, who placed
three others on injured reserve, including Thompson.

Several Broncos players are expected to testify in Cox’s trial, which is
scheduled for later this year.

Cox faces one count of sexual assault against a victim who was physically
helpless and one count of sexual assault against a victim who was incapable of
determining the nature of the conduct. He has pleaded not guilty and is free on
$50,000 bail.

If convicted, he could face two years to life in prison.

Cox, a former Oklahoma State standout who was selected in the fifth round
last year, expressed confidence several days ago that he was going to make the
team despite his legal issues.

Another notable second-year defensive back was cut by the Broncos. Kyle
McCarthy(notes) had a spectacular camp coming off major knee surgery but didn’t play
well in the preseason finale and was beaten out by Darcel McBath(notes).

With McCarthy and Cox cut, undrafted free agent cornerback Chris Harris made
the roster.

Some players who made it might be gone by Sunday to make room for players
claimed off waivers from other teams.

Because of their franchise-worst 4-12 season last year, the Broncos own the
second waiver wire claim behind Carolina, which has first dibs on waived players
with less than four years’ experience in the NFL.

The Broncos, in need of backup linemen and hoping to add depth to both their
offensive and defensive backfields, have scouted 900 players they expected to
become available.

“We’re going to look at everybody,” Xanders said. “We’re going to look at
everybody on the waiver wire. We’re excited about that process today. We’ve
been at it for three or four weeks now, and today’s the day when you get to
realize who’s out there.”

The Broncos can establish a practice squad of up to eight players Sunday and
would like to bring back quarterback Adam Weber(notes), whom they waived Saturday.

The biggest surprise of the day for Denver was wide receiver Demaryius
Thomas(notes) making the 53-man roster and not going on the physically unable to
perform list as expected. He missed all of the offseason after tearing an
Achilles’ while working out on his own in Atlanta in the spring.

“He’s cleared to practice. He’s ready to go,” Xanders said. “He did a
great job rehabbing during the lockout, then he came in and had a great five
weeks with us out on the field. The doctors allowed him to work more routes and
more explosion exercises.”

Also on the 53-man roster is defensive tackle Ty Warren(notes), who is recovering
from triceps surgery and is out at least until November.

Connect with AP Sports Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton at

http://twittere.com/arniestapleton

“Everybody coming out of that lockout, it’s their job to create their role,” Xanders said. “No roster spot is safe. His was based on the four preseason games, the five weeks of training camp. It’s unfortunate to make a cut like that when he’d started for you before, but the coaches talked to him about what he needs to improve on for his career. It’s unfortunate we let a draft pick go like that.”

Cox’s agent, Jordan Woy, tweeted Saturday that “any teams looking for a good, young CB should jump. Good starts under his belt.”

Cox started nine times as a rookie last year and was the backup to right cornerback Andre’ Goodman this summer.

Despite struggling early in camp covering the slot receiver, Cox came on strong over the last couple of weeks and his roster spot seemed secure after second-year cornerback Syd’Quan Thompson was lost for the season with a torn Achilles’ tendon Thursday night at Arizona.

Instead, Cox was among two dozen players cut by the Broncos, who placed three others on injured reserve, including Thompson.

Several Broncos players are expected to testify in Cox’s trial, which is scheduled for later this year.

Cox faces one count of sexual assault against a victim who was physically helpless and one count of sexual assault against a victim who was incapable of determining the nature of the conduct. He has pleaded not guilty and is free on $50,000 bail.

If convicted, he could face two years to life in prison.

Cox, a former Oklahoma State standout who was selected in the fifth round last year, expressed confidence several days ago that he was going to make the team despite his legal issues.

Another notable second-year defensive back was cut by the Broncos. Kyle McCarthy had a spectacular camp coming off major knee surgery but didn’t play well in the preseason finale and was beaten out by Darcel McBath.

With McCarthy and Cox cut, undrafted free agent cornerback Chris Harris made the roster.

Some players who made it might be gone by Sunday to make room for players claimed off waivers from other teams.

Because of their franchise-worst 4-12 season last year, the Broncos own the second waiver wire claim behind Carolina, which has first dibs on waived players with less than four years’ experience in the NFL.

The Broncos, in need of backup linemen and hoping to add depth to both their offensive and defensive backfields, have scouted 900 players they expected to become available.

“We’re going to look at everybody,” Xanders said. “We’re going to look at everybody on the waiver wire. We’re excited about that process today. We’ve been at it for three or four weeks now, and today’s the day when you get to realize who’s out there.”

The Broncos can establish a practice squad of up to eight players Sunday and would like to bring back quarterback Adam Weber, whom they waived Saturday.

The biggest surprise of the day for Denver was wide receiver Demaryius Thomas making the 53-man roster and not going on the physically unable to perform list as expected. He missed all of the offseason after tearing an Achilles’ while working out on his own in Atlanta in the spring.

“He’s cleared to practice. He’s ready to go,” Xanders said. “He did a great job rehabbing during the lockout, then he came in and had a great five weeks with us out on the field. The doctors allowed him to work more routes and more explosion exercises.”

Also on the 53-man roster is defensive tackle Ty Warren, who is recovering from triceps surgery and is out at least until November.

___

Connect with AP Sports Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton at http://twittere.com/arniestapleton

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Denver Broncos are still trying to find some consistency in the post-Mike Shanahan era. After two nightmarish years with Josh McDaniels at the helm, the franchise has handed the personnel keys to a legend and the coaching keys to an established defensive mind with an impressive head-coaching résumé.

But while the onus is on John Elway and John Fox (and I suppose general manager Brian Xanders) to fix a defense that surrendered a sickening 29.5 points per game in 2010, the focus continues to be on the quarterback position.

That isn’t surprising, because quarterbacks are the easiest players to analyze and criticize on any team. But it’s still sort of perplexing, because the Broncos had the NFL’s seventh-best passing game last year.

It’s no secret that the Broncos considered trading Kyle Orton in the offseason. It’s also no secret that Tim Tebow has struggled in training camp and the preseason, so much so that Brady Quinn has (at least temporarily) supplanted him as Orton’s backup. These are juicy storylines, but they aren’t overly crucial when assessing the fate of the 2011 Broncos.

As long as Orton is under center, they’ll be good offensively. And Tebow proved late last season that he can probably hold it down in Orton’s stead, if necessary.

The passing game isn’t the problem in Denver.

The problem? Everything else.

2010 in a nutshell: They go 4-12 despite winning two of their first four games. The defense can’t stop anybody, especially on the ground. Kyle Orton and Brandon Lloyd emerge to become the only bright spots in a painful season.

Three predictions for 2011:

1. Von Miller will be the defensive rookie of the year: Marcell Dareus and Ryan Kerrigan might be primed to have big years in Buffalo and Washington respectively, but Miller has emerged as a clear DROY frontrunner during training camp and the preseason. The No. 2 overall pick (and the defense as a whole) will benefit greatly from the presence of a healthy Elvis Dumervil on the opposite side. Dumervil led the league in sacks in 2009 before missing all of 2010 with a torn pectoral muscle. This is a team that registered a league-low 23 sacks and 18 takeaways last year. With Miller and Dumervil rushing the passer and a healthy Andre Goodman teaming up with rookie ballhawk Rahim Moore in the secondary, they’ll make more big plays in 2011.

2. They won’t run well: They ranked 26th on the ground last year, and I see no reason why Knowshon Moreno will be any more effective this season. He still doesn’t have much support from a weak interior offensive line and there’s a feeling that he’s simply not capable of being a quality No. 1 back. Fox had a great power running game in Carolina, so his presence and the acquisition of Willis McGahee could help a little, but don’t expect them to dazzle on the ground.

3. And they won’t defend the run well: They tried to improve a horrible run defense with the addition of free agent defensive tackle Ty Warren, but it looks like he’ll miss most of the season with a torn triceps tendon. Solid linebacker D.J. Williams is also hurt, which is nothing new for him. For the second year in a row the Broncos will rely on a group of mediocre run defenders to keep offenses balanced, but I don’t envision Brodrick Bunkley, Kevin Vickerson and Marcus Thomas (who is also currently injured) making a big difference. Denver surrendered a league-high 26 rushing touchdowns and was beat for a league-high 22 runs of 20 yards or more last year. I don’t see those numbers improving much this season.

The final word(s): Improvements were made to the defense, they’ll be better off with an established head coach and the passing game will again experience success. But they still lack both the talent and depth required to compete. They’ll win five or six games.

SITE: Paul D. Bowlen Memorial Broncos Centre, Englewood, CO

CAMP OBJECTIVES: The quarterback position will be the primary storyline when
the Broncos officially begin the John Fox era, as all signs point to 2011 also
becoming the dawn of Tim Tebow’s ascension into the team’s full-fledged starter
under center. That means Denver will likely spend the start of the new league
year fielding offers for veteran Kyle Orton, a sensible strategy considering
his $9 million salary and present lack of available cap space on a roster that
has an abundance of needs entering camp. Dealing Orton would help the Broncos
find suitable upgrades to a defense that surrendered the most points in the NFL
last year, as well as a complementary running back to returning starter
Knowshon Moreno. There will be plenty of rookies to watch during the preseason
slate, with both No. 2 overall pick Von Miller and third-rounder Nate Irving
expected to given opportunities to start at linebacker and second-round choice
Orlando Franklin a leading candidate to replace free-agent Ryan Harris at right
tackle. Don’t be surprised if Denver brings in battle-tested vet Jake Delhomme,
Fox’s longtime starting quarterback in Carolina, to serve as Tebow’s mentor if
Orton is indeed jettisoned.

PRESEASON SCHEDULE (All Times Eastern):

Aug. 11 – at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Aug. 20 – vs. Buffalo, 8:30 p.m.
Aug. 27 – vs. Seattle, 9 p.m.
Sep 1 – at Arizona, 9 p.m.

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The Broncos have three significant questions entering training camp at quarterback, running back and No. 2 wide receiver. The answers could lead to significant Fantasy options in the majority of leagues.

At quarterback, new Broncos coach John Fox has to decide if Tim Tebow showed enough in three starts last season to remain the starter this year ahead of Kyle Orton. Early indications are mixed since Fox appears to be leaning toward the veteran in Orton, but executive vice president John Elway might want Tebow to start since he’s the potential future of the franchise.

There’s still a chance Orton could be traded, and Brady Quinn is also in the mix to start, although he’s a longshot to win the job. It should be a fun battle to watch during camp, and Fantasy owners should hope Tebow wins the job because he offers the most upside.

At running back, Knowshon Moreno should be considered a solid No. 2 Fantasy running back if he remains the starter. Fox built a strong running game in Carolina, and Moreno has proven he can be an every-down back with at least 1,100 total yards, eight total touchdowns and an average of 32 catches in each of his first two seasons.

But the Broncos might bring in a veteran rusher to compete with Moreno, and that will lower his value. He won’t be replaced, but he could be relegated to a third-down role, which would drop him from a No. 2 Fantasy option to more of a key reserve or flex.

And at wide receiver, Brandon Lloyd established himself as the No. 1 option in the passing game, but the depth chart is unknown after that. There are four candidates for the No. 2 spot in Eric Decker, Jabar Gaffney, Demaryius Thomas and Eddie Royal, and the Broncos will have to sort out who starts opposite Lloyd.

We expect Decker to win the job ahead of Gaffney, with Thomas coming off an injury and Royal more of a slot receiver. But we’ll have to wait to see if Fox feels the same way before finalizing our board on Draft Day.

Sleeper … Tim Tebow, QB

Orton would be a solid No. 2 Fantasy quarterback if he wins the starting job, but Tebow has a higher ceiling based on his play last year. In 2010, Tebow started the final three games of his rookie season with Orton out with a rib injury and performed well for Fantasy owners. Tebow had at least 24 Fantasy points in a standard league in all three outings. He finished with 651 passing yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions, with 199 rushing yards and three touchdowns in that span. His ability to run and throw makes him an excellent stat producer. We would consider him a high-end No. 2 Fantasy quarterback if he’s the starter, and he would be worth drafting with a mid-round pick. But if Orton gets the job back and Tebow is the backup, then he wouldn’t be worth drafting in the majority of leagues.

Bust … Brandon Lloyd, WR

Lloyd had an amazing season in 2010 when he was the No. 1 receiver in standard Fantasy leagues with 77 catches for 1,448 yards and 11 touchdowns on 153 targets. He had 203 Fantasy points in standard formats, and now we’ll find out what he can do for an encore in a contract year. With Lloyd, there’s good and bad. The good: He’s the no-doubt No. 1 receiver for Denver, he plays in a weak division and should be motivated for a new deal. The bad: He’s never produced like this before in eight seasons and is known as an underachiever, his offense will be more run-based with Fox calling the shots compared to Josh McDaniels and there’s no firm commitment to a quarterback by the Broncos. The safe option is to let Lloyd fall to you on Draft Day. He has the chance for another quality season, but he could easily turn into a one-year wonder, which is why some owners won’t touch him. If you don’t overvalue Lloyd and let him fall to you in the right spot on Draft Day – say around Round 5 or 6 – then you could end up with a solid pick. But don’t be the guy on Draft Day who says Lloyd is a must-own Fantasy option based on his play last year because repeating those stats again are unlikely.

Late-round flier … Eric Decker, WR

Decker is hoping to make more of an impact in his sophomore campaign than he did as a rookie when he was limited to six catches for 106 yards and one touchdown, missing time early due to his recovery from a broken foot. Decker has the potential to start for the Broncos this year opposite Lloyd, especially with Thomas (Achilles’ tendon) sidelined to open the year. We like Decker as a sleeper in deep leagues if he can earn a starting job ahead of Gaffney. He has plenty of upside, but he has to prove himself first, especially with Denver’s offense changing under Fox. But Decker could easily see a significant amount of targets in his direction, and he’s worth drafting with a late-round pick in deeper leagues.

Schedule breakdown

The Broncos have the chance to start the season on the right foot with consecutive home games against mediocre opponents in Oakland and Cincinnati and a relatively easy road game at Tennessee. We’ll find out early on if Denver’s offense can move the ball against those defenses because it gets progressively tougher over the next four games, especially for a run-based team, against Green Bay, San Diego, Miami and Detroit. The Broncos also have a tough stretch against the Jets, at San Diego, at Minnesota, home against Chicago and home against New England starting in Week 11. If they come out of those matchups in good shape then the Fantasy championship game will look nice at Buffalo.

Training camp topics

Fox doesn’t have much to do in his first training camp with the Broncos. Just pick a starting quarterback, establish a running game, find a starting wide receiver and improve a defense that was among the worst in the NFL last season. That’s all.

As we’ve established, Fantasy owners need to monitor the quarterback, running back and No. 2 wide receiver spots heading into Draft Day. The Broncos also are hoping rookie tight end Julius Thomas steps up during training camp because the Portland State standout could be the next basketball player to turn into a Fantasy star like Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham. He is someone to monitor in keeper and dynasty leagues.

There could be a lot of change in Denver as the year goes on, so don’t be surprised if players like Gaffney, Thomas or Royal end up starting for you or a running back who is not yet on the roster. Coming off a 4-12 season in 2010, the Broncos are rebuilding and Fantasy owners need to pay attention to all the potential moving parts.

Injury update

Demaryius Thomas (Achilles’ tendon; doubtful for the start of training camp) … Eddie Royal (hip; probable for the start of training camp) … Matt Prater (groin; probable for the start of training camp) … Elvis Dumervil (chest; probable for the start of training camp)

Stay in touch with the most passionate Fantasy staff in the business by following us via Twitter . You can also follow Jamey at @jameyeisenberg . Do you have a question or a comment for our Fantasy staff? Drop us a line at dmfantasyfootball@cbs.com .

Yesterday began the first ever SB Nation Arizona mock draft. The Carolina Panthers selected Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, and that got a pretty even reaction across the board. The grade that readers gave the pick was almost split between an A, B, C or D. The pick is a risky one, but Newton has the highest ceiling with his size and skillset. 

Now the Denver Broncos are set to make their selection. They were so bad that they were beaten last year by Cardinals kicker Jay Feely 25-14 (the entire Arizona team put up another 18 points en route to a 43-14 victory). As such, it would be pretty hard to make a bad pick, except maybe a quarterback, as they drafted Tim Tebow in the first round in 2010. Will they go with cornerback Patrick Peterson, Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller, Georgia receiver A.J. Green or any one of the talented defensive linemen rated near the top of the draft?

SBN AZ editor Cory Williams represents the Broncos with the second pick in the draft. Here is his selection:

Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M

Denver had a disaster of a season in 2010, and it was mostly because the defense couldn’t stop anyone. With that knowledge in mind, the Broncos will look to develop their defense, and there’s no better way to do that than to draft an excellent athlete to play linebacker for your team.

Von Miller has exactly what the Broncos need — speed and an insatiable desire to make tackles. Miller clocked in at 4.49 seconds in the 40-yard dash at Texas A&M’s pro day last week, and also had 68 tackles in 13 games for the Aggies in 2010. Most impressively, 47 of those tackles came in Big 12 play.

Miller will be an integral part of the newly formidable Broncos linebacker corps, joining D.J. Williams and Elvis Dumervil to plug the running lanes and allow superstar cornerback Champ Bailey to be more effective in the secondary.

Seriously, Denver could pick Miller or Marcell Dareus out of Alabama. Either way, the team will benefit from picking up a young, talented defensive player come draft day.

For tomorrow…

Scott Howard and the Buffalo Bills are on the clock!

2011 SBN AZ Mock Draft recap:

1- Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

2- Denver Broncos: Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M