nfl 2011 Predictions: Denver Broncos

August 28th, 2010 › nfl 2011 category › nfl ›

The Denver Broncos were all smiles through the first 6 weeks of the 2009 season when they got off to a fast 6-0 start. But those smiles were quickly wiped off their faces when they lost eight of their final 10 games and missed the playoffs.Improving on last season’s 8-8 record will not be an easy task for head coach Josh McDaniels, especially without last year’s two best players. nfl 2011 Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who caught 101 passes for 1,120 yards and 10 scores, is now a Miami Dolphin, and first-team All-Pro linebacker Elvis Dumervil, who led the NFL with 17 sacks, could miss the entire 2010 season with a torn pectoral muscle.Offense: The Broncos were just the 20th-best scoring offense in the NFL last season, averaging 20.4 points per game. Led by quarterback Kyle Orton, they did most of their damage through the air. Orton put together a solid 3,802-yard, 21 touchdown season while leading the 13th-best passing offense in the NFL.

Despite the additions of Brady Quinn and Tim Tebow, Orton is expected to remain the starter. nfl 2011 However, his leash will likely be short. Whoever is getting the snaps will certainly miss having a playmaker like Marshall. His departure opens the door for Eddie Royal to have a big season. The team is also expecting big things from first round draft pick Demaryius The Broncos would like to run the football better to take some of the pressure off of their quarterback, but that could be hard to do with such an inexperienced line. Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter are promising backs, but they could find yards tough to come by while running behind a pair of likely rookie starters in J.D. Walton and Zana Beadles. The Broncos are hoping left tackle Ryan Clady, who suffered an offseason knee injury, will be ready for the opener.

nfl 2011