I can't say that I'm happy, but I'll have to give Cam Newton a chance. I didn't want the Panthers to take him at number one, but I don't want him to bust now that he's "the guy" for my favorite team. I wish the Panthers took a Marcell Dareus or A.J. Green and give Clausen and Moore another shot. After all, it is rare that a QB does well after just one year. It takes time. Smart teams like the Bucs wait three years for their QB, and the Bucs were rewarded when Josh Freeman had the year he had last season.

Newton is one of my least favorite players already, but I can't deny his athleticism. I just wish he had better footwork and was a better person. Jake Locker deserved to be picked at number eight by the Titans. He was high on their board, fits their system well, and he wasn't a reach. There are plenty of unintelligent people that dropped Locker from the first choice over Sam Bradford the year before, to somebody values in the late teens. And why? Well, that's because suddenly mystifying accuracy problems arose. This happens when those said unintelligent "experts" read stats- meaningless in college football- like completion percentage and don't watch what actually happened. Locker's receivers were terrible, and he was almost always under pressure due to an incompetent line.

Christian Ponder was a reach at 12, but the Vikings couldn't risk waiting too long. They made a smart choice because if you think that QB can be the guy, then by all means take him. Bill Musgrave wants to instill a WCO, and Ponder is the most accurate QB in the draft and best suited for the West Coast Offense. Ponder is an early second round talent and would have been most likely off the board by the time the Vikings would pick again.

I don't like the Saints' idea to trade up to the first round to select Mark Ingram. You should never do that for a running back. The Patriots accepted the basically free second round choice, and they own the top pick in the second round thanks to another horrible draft-day trade by Carolina the year before. That pick is a highly coveted one, but the Pats should keep the first of their three second round choices to select Da'Quan Bowers. He's far too talented to pass up on, and he is a first-round talent. The Pats could use a pass rusher like Bowers.

The Falcons did a nice job in trading up to get Julio Jones at number six. They knew that they desperately needed a playmaking receiver, and the choices after Jones were all developmental projects. It wasn't a reach because a lot of teams near that pick also looked like they really wanted one of only two top receiving prospects. The other guys are all boom-or-bust players or sleepers. The Falcons got their man.

Von Miller will be a good pass rusher in this league, but he is awfully similar to a great pass rusher the Broncos already have; Elvis Dumervil. I would have taken Marcell Dareus in that spot, because the Broncos start the poor Kevin Vickerson at defensive tackle. The Bills gladly picked up Dareus, and he will form a great defensive line duo with Kyle Williams.

I thought Aldon Smith was taken too high. Smith has a lot of upside, but the 49ers would have been better off drafting Robert Quinn and then re-signing Manny Lawson. Quinn and Fairley took big drops, and the teams that took them pounced on both top prospects on the D-Line. While the Rams and Lions are set on the line and have needs elsewhere, they took the best guys available and acquired two elite prospects outside of the top ten.

Prince Amukamara also took a huge plunge, and the Giants finally have a coverage corner. Terrell Thomas is solid, but he's a physical corner that mainly stops the run. Thomas isn't really a coverage player. Aaron Ross and Corey Webster are poor corners, so Amukamara will greatly boost a secondary that just couldn't cover. I love his instincts.

No. 1 Pick

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Posted By: Joe Soriano - Category: NFL, Patriots, Bills, Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus, Titans, Jake Locker, A.J. Green, Broncos, Elvis Dumervil, Kevin Vickerson, Von Miller, New York Giants, Aaron Ross, Corey Webster, Prince Amukamara, Terrell Thomas, Panthers, Cam Newton, Jimmy Clausen, Matt Moore CAR, Saints, Mark Ingram, Bucs, Josh Freeman, Falcons, Julio Jones, Lions, Nick Fairley, Vikings, Bill Musgrave, Christian Ponder, 49ers, Aldon Smith, Manny Lawson SF, Rams, Robert Quinn, Sam Bradford

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2/2011 Team Scope: Denver Broncos

February 28th 2011 16:02

I like John Elway as the new Broncos' owner. He is making the majority of the team decisions public, which is nice because the fans get more of an idea of what their favorite team is doing. I hate GM Brian Xanders, and I will continue to hate him. He makes awful trades and decisions, and then he blames it on his coach who just happens to be a high profile one in the midst of a minor scandal which gives him adequate reason to fire the said coach. That being said, I love Denver's new coach John Fox. I have met him, and I think he is one of the best defensive minds of the past decade as well as a great people person. Players love to play for Fox. He handles everything systematically and diplomatically. Fox will bring something to this punchless defense.

Speaking of defense, that will be the Broncos' primary need heading into the draft. The Broncos will most certainly take a defensive player with the number one pick, and that player will probably be defensive end Da'Quan Bowers. He will fit whatever scheme the Broncos choose. Bowers led the NCAA last year with 15.5 sacks, and he is also a stout end against the run as well as a leader. The Broncos will definitely need all the rush D they can get. Let's take a look at the Broncos' current roster.

I think Kyle Orton should be the starter for Denver. Tim Tebow doesn't look like a true QB, but he isn't a bad player. I think he looks like a solid player right now, but Orton is far more accurate as a passer and is more efficient. He gets the ball downfield. Knowshon Moreno is a solid running back, but he is injury prone. Correll Buckhalter is an adequate backup. Brandon Lloyd is a speed demon that goes deep well. Jabar Gaffney is a solid veteran that provides some run blocking. Eddie Royal is speed and nothing else. DeMaryius Thomas has a ton of ability if he can get healthy, and fellow sophomore-to-be wideout Eric Decker is a sleeper for a nice year. They have depth, but they don't have much star power. However, I think the Broncos are fine at receiver.

Ryan Clady is one of the best offensive linemen in the league, and right tackle Ryan Harris is also a stud. Chris Kuper is a solid right guard, so the Broncos have a good foundation there. However, they need more depth on the O-Line. Their lack of depth showed last year when the injury bug took its chomps. Daniel Graham is a horrible tight end, and they need to upgrade at TE. Graham doesn't cut it. This offense is solid and gets the job done, but it isn't great. After this coming season, they need to assess where their wideouts are in their standing with the team. They need to cut and replace when needed, but that comes next year. For now, they have to wait and see.

The defense is where everything gets interesting. Jamal Williams is a great veteran nose tackle, but the depth at the position is really bad. Louis Leonard and Ronald Fields are terrible. If the Broncos ever want to think about using a 4-3 package- Fox's favorite- they are going to need to get a depth guy. Drafting Da'Quan Bowers would solve the problems at end. Justin Bannan isn't really a true end, and Kevin Vickerson is a poor player.

Elvis Dumervil is one of the best outside pass rushers in the game. Having him back will really boost the Broncos. DJ Williams is a great tackler that will get his mojo back. I hate RILB Wesley Woodyard. He was one of the worst players this past season, and it was no surprise when you look at just how terrible he is. They really need to start Mario Haggan over him.

Champ Bailey isn't getting any younger, but he is still a beast. Andre Goodman- 2 CB- and Perrish Cox- 3- should switch spots on the roster. Cox is a solid corner, but Goodman is a liability. Goodman might be okay as a nickel corner. Brian Dawkins is done, and he and fellow safety Renaldo Hill get burned too easily. One of them has to be replaced by a safety that is solid in coverage. Say bye, bye Brian.

Briton Colquitt is a solid punter, and Matt Prater is a decent kicker. Eddie Royal and Eric Decker make up a great return game tandem. Royal is one of the marquee punt returners in the NFL. The Broncos are not going to be in the playoff mix. They don't have enough star power for it, and they are still a rebuilding team. However, they will make some improvement from last year; especially if they have a good draft. They are in the position to take some nice pieces home on draft day.