The Colorado Rockies were thought to have one of the best all-around Major League rosters heading into the 2010 season. Analysts around the country held high expectations for the Rockies, due in part to their deep bench and starting rotation. Let me start by stating the obvious: Injuries are expected in a 162 game season. What were not expected were the nagging injuries to team leader Todd Helton , defensive captain Troy Tulowitzki , slugger Brad Hawpe , pitchers Jeff Francis , Jorge De La Rosa , Taylor Buchholz , Matt Daley and Huston Street .

Teams can get by with one or two missing links in the chain but injuries to the heart of the batting order and starting rotation can ultimately be the death of a team. The Rockies have done a valiant job of filling in their holes within their farm system but ultimately they will need to buy a bat. Injuries have derailed the chemistry of the team and lack of production from power positions has pushed it even further. I understand that players deserve time to get back their swing and work out kinks they may have once coming back from the DL. How long does it take to get back? Is winning the main objective or loyalty to players?

I believe the Rockies have what they need to succeed if all the aspects of the game are played to their potential. Confidence is easy to lose and hard to gain but the Rockies have the talent. One suggestion for the revolving door at first base: If Helton’s back continues to set him back, go after a proven corner infielder such as Derrick Lee or Adam Dunn . A move at the trading deadline doesn’t guarantee the ship will right itself, but either does hoping veterans will turn it around. 

The Denver Broncos have signed Elvis Dumervil to a 6-year extension worth $61.5 million, including over $43 million in guaranteed money. The extension included a raise for the coming season with an additional 5 years added on. This means Dumervil will be in Denver through the 2015 season. Many Broncos fans feel this was the best move Josh McDaniels has made since he took over as the Broncos Head Coach following the 2008 season.

For most teams, signing a key player is big news -- for the Broncos it was HUGE news. Prior the the Dumervil extension, many fans felt alienated by some of the surprising moves made by Josh McDaniels. Jay Cutler gone, Brandon Marshall gone, Tony Scheffler gone, Payton Hillis gone. Broncos fans saw their favorite players leaving town and wondered if Dumervil was next. He proved to be a great player in the first few years of his career and even led the NFL in sacks last season. There was still a feeling that since Dumervil was drafted by Mike Shanahan, it was only a matter of time until McDaniels ran him out of town. Well Broncos fans you can rest easy – Elvis will be in Denver for many more years.

To me the signing of Elvis Dumervil is BIG for a couple reasons.

1) The Broncos showed they are willing to spend money. There were some fans wondering if the Broncos were getting cheap (which under the current economic climate is understandable) or if the CBA was holding up the negotiations with Dumervil. I think it’s safe to say that if the Broncos think a player is worth it, they will have no problem doing everything they can to keep them in Denver.

2) The Broncos will have a dominant pass rusher for the foreseeable future. Elvis Dumervil is 3rd in the NFL in sacks since he came into the league in 2006 (behind Jared Allen  and DeMarcus Ware ). When other teams game plan for the Broncos, they will have to spend a great deal of time figuring out what to do with Elvis. While opposing teams try to take care of Dumervil with extra blockers, Robert Ayers, DJ Williams and the rest of the linebackers should be able to pressure the opposing quarterbacks.

Who’s the best pass rusher in the NFL?  Will Robert Ayers be able to improve and give the Broncos a nice 1-2 punch at outside linebacker?

 

The Colorado Rockies are having a very good season so far in 2010. However, they are entering the time of year where the great teams separate from the rest of the pack --  which leads to one question --  can the Rockies be great this year? When looking at the Rockies roster, I see only one area where the Rockies may not have what it takes to be  great…the starting rotation.

While Ubaldo Jimenez has accounted for nearly 1/3 of the Rockies wins, the rest of the starting rotation has not faired quite so well. Jason Hammel has been pitching very well over his last 10+ starts and is beginning to look like a solid #2 or #3 starter. Aaron Cook looked great yesterday in the Rockies 1-0 win and showed the nasty sinker ball that made him very good over the last few seasons. Jorge De La Rosa has not been effective in his 2 starts since coming back from the DL and may need time to get back to his early season form. Jeff Francis started out well in his first 2 starts after being on the DL for all of 2009 and the beginning of 2010, but has since struggled a great deal since.

While I feel the Rockies rotation has potential to be great, there may need to be a big change for it to happen. The Rockies are in the National League West, which happens to be one of the best pitching divisions in Major League Baseball. If a team cannot send out starting pitchers night in and night out with potential to pitch 6-7 solid innings, it will be tough to compete for the division title. The more the bullpen is relied upon now, the more worn down they will be for the stretch run of September/October. Starting pitching is always important, but this time of year it becomes a key to whether a team will make the playoffs.

My question is how long can Manager Jim Tracy watch Jeff Francis struggle? Francis was once the face of the Rockies pitching staff, unfortunately that was a couple years and a couple injuries ago. Should Tracy put Francis in the bullpen until he feels more comfortable? Can Jeff Francis regain his old form and be a solid member of the Rockies rotation? Should Jhoulys Chacin be added to the starting rotation again? He did fill in pretty well earlier in the year. Whatever the Rockies decide to do with their rotation will most likely determine whether the Rockies will be great in 2010.

As most of you know, Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is having a huge year. He's quickly making a name for himself throughout baseball as a 5-tool player thanks to his hitting, speed and outstanding defense. The voting for the 2010 All-Star Game is nearly complete and the rosters are almost full. There are 5 finalists for the National League and American League and its up to the fans to decide who will be the last two additions to the 2010 All-Star Game.

To find out more about the players that are left, follow this link http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2010/fv/ballot.html. While Joey Votto, the very talented first baseman of the Cincinnati Reds is the favorite, Carlos Gonzalez still has a chance to make his first All-Star Game.

National League Finalists:
1) Carlos Gonzalez   OF  Colorado Rockies
2) Heath Bell   RP  San DIego Padres
3) Joey Votto   1B  Cincinnati Reds
4) Ryan Zimmerman   3B  Washington Nationals
5) Billy Wagner   RP  Atlanta Braves

One thing to consider before voting -- especially if you're not planning to vote for Carlos Gonzalez -- CarGo has been hitting out of the leadoff spot for the Rockies for most of the season. Imagine what his RBIs would be had he been hitting 3rd or cleanup.

The Denver Broncos have announced that their Pro Bowl outside linebacker, Elvis Dumervil has signed his 1-year tender. Signing the tender means that Dumervil will be back with the Broncos through the 2010 season and will make $3.168 million. For Broncos fans this is not a huge surprise, but it is definitely good news. Anytime a great player wants a big contract and the team is not willing to offer one (Brandon Marshall) it can be a crazy time. So at least for one more season Broncos fans can be excited to have the services of one of the best pass rushers in the NFL.

My question is now that Dumervil has signed, what will happen with him? Will he have another huge season and then test the free agent market next year? Will he quietly sign an extension with the Broncos and avoid making headlines? Will the Broncos trade him for future draft picks? It will be interesting to see what happens with Dumervil after the 2010 season. The fact that the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) runs out after this season makes the Dumervil situation even more of a question mark. If a new agreement is signed the Broncos will most likely offer Dumervil a long term extension. If there is no new CBA reached, the Broncos will likely avoid adding to the payroll since there would not be a season in 2011.

What will happen with Elvis Dumervil?
How much is he worth?
How have the Broncos handled the situation?

** Warning! ** Before reading, understand that I came up with a theoretical scenario to try to explain the Broncos quarterback situation. It's been brought to my attention that many readers think it's crazy - if it is crazy then let's hear what you think is going on at Dove Valley. It's like trying to understand why you drive on a parkway and park on a driveway...it makes no sense.

Since Josh McDaniels has been Head Coach of the Denver Broncos, the team has made some shocking moves at the quarterback position. Last offseason, Jay Cutler was traded to the Chicago Bears for draft picks and Kyle Orton. Then this offseason the Broncos traded fan favorite Peyton Hillis for Brady Quinn (this move was adamantly defended by McDaniels as simply improving depth and competition at the quarterback position “Kyle is our starter, no doubt about it”).  To complete the quarterback scramble, the Broncos picked Tim Tebow in the 1st round of the NFL Draft last month.

For Broncos fans, the Tebow move was a total shock. McDaniels said over and over that Kyle Orton deserved the starting spot and he was the man for the job. So what exactly was it that made McDaniels feel that drafting a quarterback in the first round of the NFL Draft was necessary? Did he start taking the fans opinions into account? No way. Did the game tape bring up red flags about Orton that McDaniels missed during the season? Nope, he had a few months to form his decision on Orton’s play last season. What exactly was it that made Josh McDaniels think Kyle Orton was not the long term solution in Denver?

I think Kyle Orton got on Denver Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen’s bad side. How did Orton pull this off? All offseason Orton had been vocal about his inability to get a big free agent contract, thanks to there not being a CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement). Had there been a CBA in place, Orton would have been an unrestricted free agent after the 2009 season. However, because of the expiration of the old CBA, Orton and other free agents were restricted, and basically didn’t get to cash in on huge contracts. Last month, Kyle Orton was in Hawaii for the NFL Player’s Association Meetings to discuss what they could do to get a new CBA in place. At the meetings, Orton made comments that the NFL Player’s Association was not ruling out a strike after the 2010 season. While Orton was in Hawaii, the Denver Broncos traded for Brady Quinn.

I think the timing on the Brady Quinn trade had nothing to do with Orton being in Hawaii. However, I think Orton’s actions after the Quinn trade had EVERYTHING to do with Tim Tebow being drafted in the first Round of the NFL Draft. Orton made no public appearances after the Brady Quinn trade until he came back to Dove Valley on April 6th. At his first appearance, Orton showed up in an NFL Player’s Association hat, not in a Denver Broncos hat. To me, this was a clear sign of Orton putting the NFL Players Association ahead of the Denver Broncos. This is where -theoretically- Pat Bowlen lost his patience with the Kyle Orton project and gave Josh McDaniels orders to start Plan B….draft a franchise quarterback. Bowlen had already listened to Orton speak publicly about not getting a long term contract, instead signing for  $2.6 million next year.  Then Bowlen had to see his quarterback use a press conference at Broncos headquarters to help the Player’s Association in their battle with the NFL Owners….BYE BYE KYLE ORTON.

It's definitely possible that Kyle Orton was only meant to be a short-term solution at for the Broncos. Pat Bowlen did make comments about drafting a young quarterback in the draft this year. "I want Kyle back," Bowlen said . "Orton is a good quarterback. I'd also like to think we might have the opportunity to draft a young quarterback, not necessarily to come in and play right away, but if you have the opportunity to draft somebody, that would be a plus for us." Did Bowlen mean they were looking a better backup? Did he want to use a first round pick on a quarterback? Was he looking for a new starter?

Remember when Jay Cutler was finally traded last year after weeks of rumors? Pat Bowlen grew tired of trying to reach out to him through phone calls and voicemail and gave orders to trade him. I think Kyle Orton paid for his ticket out of Denver with his NFL Players Association hat. What do you think?

By Annette Lyndon
Your Source 4 Sports



The 2010 South African FIFA World Cup is fast approaching.  Fans from all over the globe will be flocking to South Africa to watch their countries compete. Excitement is building as the opening match approaches (June 11th). Football, or soccer (US), is the world’s sport, and mounting anticipation can only be expected. However a high level of enthusiasm is coming from an unlikely nation this year, the USA.

While sports are an integral part of American culture, soccer never really gained popularity as a primary spectator sport. For many years soccer was accepted as a popular team sport for youths and never caught on in the mainstream arena. But recently soccer has taken flight and is becoming more than recognized as part of the American sports lineup. Major League Soccer (MLS) was founded in 1993 and today has 16 Major League Teams . The sport has also attracted a large number of individuals from many backgrounds. Soccer teams and clubs are increasing in popularity in US inner cities. Role models, like Cobi Jones from the LA Galexy, have demonstrated minority involvement within the sport and are encouraging youths from different ethnicities to adopt playing it as well.  Soccer has also developed as an important sport for women. In the US, 35% of all soccer players are female, one of the highest percentages of women participants around the world. Soccer in America is helping to cross racial, as well as gender, lines.

While the United States has their own teams, fans are broadening their horizons and watching international play as well.  Many American soccer fans have begun to follow popular foreign teams like Spain’s Real Madrid and Britain’s Manchester United.  Yet, when the World Cup begins, you can be sure that the majority of the country will be supporting the USA.  As of March 31st, the USA ranks 16th out of the total 204 world teams who entered to take part in the games and qualified for the tournament. The USA is scheduled to play its first match against England on the 12th of June.  An overwhelming number of American fans are traveling to South Africa to see the US play. It is reported that Americans stand second after South Africans as primary ticket holders for the tournament.

While American fans may have to fly overseas this year to attend the festivities, in the future they may not have to leave their own backyard. The United States is being considered as the host country for the 2018 World Cup .  Former President Clinton’s top counselor, Doug Band, has accepted an invitation to join the Board of Directors as a member of the USA Bid Committee in an attempt to bring the World Cup to the US in 2018 or 2022. Adding him to the committee should increase the chance that the U.S. has at winning the bid since Doug Band is known worldwide for his international philanthropic initiatives, thus improving the relationship the U.S. has with over 170 foreign countries. Ultimately, the hope is that the committee effort will continue to boost soccer enthusiasm in the US and bring the nation to the forefront as a serious contender for the bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

The Denver Nuggets had a good season that ended with an early exit from the 2010 playoffs. To take advantage of some extra time off this summer, a few current and former Nuggets are running youth basketball camps. Many local kids will be happy to spend time with Kenyon Martin, Chauncey Billups, Chris Anderson, Bill Hanzlik and Mark Randall at their respective camps. Check out the information on these camps and come back to tell others how the camps went.

CURRENT PLAYER CAMPS

Kenyon Martin Basketball Camp (Boys and girls, 6-17 years)
June 1-4, 2010  9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
WHAT: Intensive work on fundamentals with expertise from professional coaches.
COST:   $206
WHERE:  South High School / 1700 Louisiana Avenue / Denver, CO 
www.cbfcamp.com or 800.725.6958

Chauncey Billups Elite Basketball Academy (Boys and girls, 6-18 years)
June 7-10 and June 14-17
WHAT: Individual skill development, conditioning, team play and fun
COST:  $150
WHERE:  Montclair Rec Center / 729 Ulster Way / Denver, CO 80220
303.627.9604

Chris Andersen Birdman Basketball Camp (Boys and girls, 5-18 years)
June 21-24
WHAT:  Week-long half day sessions designed for specific age groups
COST: $250  
WHERE:  Regency Student Housing / 3900 Elati / Denver, CO
www.chrisandersenbirdman.com  or 303.882.2819


ALUMNI CAMPS

Bill Hanzlik Summer Hoops Camps (Boys and girls, 2nd-10th grades)
July 12-18 and July 19-23
WHAT: Daily schedule includes fundamentals and drills, contests for prizes and games in a league format
COST: $125-150
WHERE:  Gold Crown Field House / 150 South Harlan / Lakewood, CO
www.goldcrownfoundation.com or 303.238. 6628

Mark Randall Basketball Camps (Boys and girls ages 7-14 years)
July 19-23 and August 3-5
WHAT:  Learn basketball fundamentals and how the game of basketball can be a positive influence include team attitudes, sportsmanship and importance of academics. 
WHERE:  July 12-18                     August 3-5
    South High School                    Thomas Jefferson High School
    1700 Louisiana Avenue           3950 South Holly Street
    Denver, CO                                 Denver, CO
www.markrandallbasketballcamp.com  or 303.405.1327

Round 1
#22 Demaryius Thomas WR Georgia Tech
Thomas is a big, physical player that had a great career in college. The numbers he put up were very impressive, especially because he played in a triple option offense – needless to say, the passing game is not the emphasis in the triple option. Thomas had a remarkable 3 game stretch in 2008 where he caught a 70+ yard touchdown in 3 consecutive games. If the Broncos were trying to fill the shoes of Brandon Marshall, they may have found their man. I think Thomas may be a step faster than Marshall and is about the same size. Thomas has overcome some pretty big obstacles in his life and is known as a smart, hardworking player.

#25 Tim Tebow QB Florida
If you’ve never heard of Tim Tebow, you must have found a sizable rock to hide under.  Tebow spent the last 4 years dominating college football and crushing records. Tebow set the SEC career record for rushing touchdowns this year when he passed Herschel Walker. Tebow won the Heisman Trophy as the best college football player in 2007. To top it off, Tebow even had an NCAA rule named after him (players are no longer aloud to wear eye black with messages on them). While some NFL scouts, coaches and GMs said they would never draft Tim Tebow, others wanted to add him for his great talent and even better character. Tebow may be a bit of a project, but he should be a fan favorite in Denver and hopefully an impact player sooner rather than later.

Round 2
#45 Zane Beadles T Utah
Beadles started a remarkable 50 games for the Utah Utes. He was credited with 313 knockdowns/key blocks and came up with key hits on 45 touchdown drives. He earned 1st team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America and College Football News. While he has a great deal of size, toughness and experience, many NFL scouts believe he’ll be a better fit at guard than tackle in the NFL. Beadles may have been a bit of a reach in the second round, but he should be a great addition to the Broncos offensive line.

Round 3
#80 JD Walton C Baylor
Walton is known as a very physical run blocker and gained attention from scouts for his ability to make “pancake” blocks (knocking the opponent the ground). He’s credited with 194 knock-downs over the last 2 seasons, while helping open up holes with 26 touchdown resulting blocks. Walton was also named an All-American and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy and Rimington Trophy as a senior. Many draft analysts rated Walton as the second best center in the draft behind Florida’s Maurkice Pouncey. He should be able to step in from day one and start. Walton should be an excellent addition and will greatly help the Broncos offense transition from a zone blocking scheme to power blocking.

#87 Eric Decker WR Minnesota
Decker is another big strong receiver. He may remind Broncos fans of former fan favorite Ed McCaffrey. While they have the same build, I think Decker is actually a better overall athlete. Decker has been drafted the last two years in the Major League Baseball draft, in addition to being drafted this year by the Broncos. He made a name for himself in college as one of the best receivers in the Big 10 conference. If not for an injury to his foot during the 2009 season, Decker may have been picked in the 2nd round. With Decker, Thomas, Eddie Royal, Jabar Gaffney and Brandon Stokely, the Broncos should have a very solid receiver group.

Round 5
#137 Perrish Cox CB Oklahoma State
Cox had a very solid career for the Cowboys. He ended his career with 36 pass breakups and 10 interceptions. In his senior season he led the nation with 19 pass breakups. Cox is has very good size for a corner and can matchup pretty well against bigger receivers. He’s good in man coverage, especially when playing bump coverage (jamming receivers at the line). Cox is also a very good return specialist. He set the career return yard record for the Big 12 Conference with 2,804 yards, including a school record 4 touchdowns on returns. Cox would have been drafted much higher, but he was suspended for OSU’s bowl game due to being late for curfew. Cox should be able to get on the field early on as a returner and I think he’ll beat out 2009 2nd pick Alphonso Smith for the 3rd corner spot.

Round 6
#183 Eric Olsen C Notre Dame
Olsen joins a few former Notre Dame players on the Broncos roster (David Bruton, Ryan Harris, Brady Quinn). Olsen is known as a tough, physical and smart player. He played in a very similar offense to the Broncos as he was coached by Josh McDaniels mentor, Charlie Weis. Olsen has experience playing both guard spots as well as center. With his knowledge of the offense and terminology, he may have a leg up on the starting center spot this year. I think he’ll end up being a backup guard/center, but if JD Walton struggles to learn the offense, Olsen may be called upon early.

Round 7
#225 Syd’Quan Thompson  CB California
Thompson is a former 2-time All-Pac 10 selection and started all 52 games in his career at California. He finished his career as the all-time leader in pass breakups at Cal with 36. Thompson finished his career with 257 tackles, 7 interceptions, 2 sacks and 20 tackles for loss. Thompson is a little undersized, but he plays physically and is not afraid of contact. It may be tough for him to make the Broncos roster in 2010, but he should be able to stick around on the practice squad and step in if there are injuries.

#232 Jammie Kirlew  OLB/DE Indiana
Kirlew was a very solid defensive end for the University of Indiana and in 2010 was voted All-Big 10 by the coaches and media. Kirlew led the team with 6.5 sacks and added 15 tackles for loss, 5 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries. While he had a solid college career, and is a solid person, he may have a hard time making the Broncos roster in 2010. He’ll be transitioned from a 4-3 defensive end to an outside linebacker in the 3-4 (i.e. Elvis Dumervil in 2009).

The Denver Broncos shocked everyone by trading with the Baltimore Ravens to select Tim Tebow with the #25 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Tebow was thought to be a likely 2nd round pick heading into the draft, but the Broncos believe he's worth much more than that. The Broncos traded a second, third and fourth round pick to get Tebow. Many experts think Tebow will need at least a year to become ready to play in the NFL. The Broncos gave up a great deal for a guy to sit...is it possible Tebow will play this year? I guess only time will tell....

Tim Tebow: 6'3" 237 lbs  QB Florida 

Mike Mayock is a former NFL player and one of the most respected draft experts. Here's Mayock's take on Tebow "Tim Tebow is a physical specimen with off-the-chart intangibles. Redshirt him at least once; maybe redshirt him twice. I want that kind of kid in my huddle and in my building leading my franchise. I believe in the kid. You want to talk about athletic ability, he ran a 6.66-second three-cone drill, which is almost better than any wide receiver or corner at the combine. This is an athletic kid who will compete down the road for the Broncos."

The Denver Broncos were active in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. They first traded down from #11 to #13 for a 4th rounder from San Francisco. Next the Broncos traded from #13 to #24 for two 3rd rounders from Philadelphia. Finally, the Broncos traded up to #22 and gave New England the 4th round pick the Broncos received from the 49ers....confusing to say the least! The Broncos ended up with the first WR in the 2010 NFL Draft and with a very nice replacement for Brandon Marshall. Demaryius Thomas is a very talented player and has great size.

Demaryius Thomas 6'3" 224 lbs WR Georgia Tech

NFL.com Analysis: He has the size of a tight end with the speed, agility and ball skills of a wide receiver. He needs a lot of work on his route running skills as he tends to round off his breaks and will telegraph his routes with too much upper body movement. Possesses elite size and physicality for the receiver position. Has good top-end speed. Has been productive in a system not overly friendly to receivers. Really good catching the ball in a crowd. Will rise up above defenders and shield players with his large frame. Exhibits natural hands and consistently catches the ball away from his body. 

1. St. Louis Rams Sam Bradford  QB Oklahoma
Bradford won the Heisman Trophy as a redshirt sophomore in 2008 and then decide dafter his junior year to come out early. He missed most of the season after injuring and then re-injuring his shoulder which required surgery to repair in October of 2009. He has won a lot of games between his years at Oklahoma as well as during high school. He can be extremely accurate in the short to intermediate passing game and will flash the ability to time his throws leading his receivers so that they can catch the ball in stride when going downfield. While he may need a year or two to develop into a starting quarterback, he does have a tremendous upside. NFL.com

2. Detroit Lions Ndamukong Suh  DT Nebraska
Suh is an excellent combination of size, strength and athleticism. He isn’t a massive body but has enough power to play as a nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme or asa 4-3 defense tackle or end. He utilizes excellent hand strength and quickness to control defenders. Suh is often unblockable for one offensive lineman and draws many double teams from opposing offenses. He shows great range to make plays outside the tackle box and is quick to shed blockers to get to the ball.Suh is a disruptive lineman that can create havoc with penetration versus the running game. Suh has developed an expanded pass rush package with counters coming off his initial power move. His production, power, athleticism, technique and versatility make him arguably the best interior defender in this years draft. Suh is a dominating player that projects as an impact defender in his rookie season. NFL.com

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Gerald McCoy  DT Oklahoma
McCoy has an excellent combination of size, strength and athleticism for an interior lineman in a 4-3 scheme. He doesn’t have the bulk to fit as a two gap nose tackle at the next level, but is Oklahoma’s most active defender. McCoy possesses outstanding initial quickness to penetrate the line of scrimmage and disrupt the running game as well as pressure the quarterback. He has strong quick hands to control blockers but can improve his consistency in this area.McCoy has the natural strength necessary to hold the point, but is best when stunting. McCoy is one of the top defensive linemen in this year's draft and is likely to be a high pick that will impact a club in his rookie season. NFL.com

4. Washington Redskins Trent Williams  T Oklahoma
Williams is an intense run blocker that played on the left side his senior year but will find a better fit as a right tackle at the next level. He has good size, but could still add quite a bit of bulk after a few years in the NFL. He does a good job of playing over his feet on run blocks which allows him to sustain blocks and redirect with movement. Once he smells blood he will drive opponents into the ground. As a pass blocker he shows good technique but lacks the top lateral range to stay with premier pass rushers coming off the edge. NFL.com

5. Kansas City Chiefs Eric Berry S Tennessee
Berry has been the most active secondary player for the Volunteers over the past three years. Berry has average size for the safety position but plays bigger than his dimensions would suggest. He is a physical run support player when filling the alley as well as a hard-nosed defender in the passing game. He is a confident player with great leadership skills. Eric shows great vision and instincts reacting to plays as they develop. He anticipates well to jump routes and make a play on the ball. Berry is a good blitz defender that has a good sense of when to hit a crease. He plays with a high motor that works through trash to get to the pile. Berry doesn’t have impressive size but the combination of athleticism, instincts, toughness, production and leadership qualities make him one of the top safety prospects in the 2010 draft. NFL.com

6. Seattle Seahawks Russell Okung T Seattle Seahawks
Okung is a prototypical left tackle in that he has rare size and long arms that allow him to control and steer pass rushers on by the pocket. He shows excellent balance and body control but will occasionally overextend or reach for the block which keeps him from sustaining blocks as long as he could. Okung should be a nearly draft pick on the offensive line and has the body type that teams are looking for when it comes to protecting the blind side. NFL.com

7. Cleveland Browns Joe Haden CB Florida
Haden has had an outstanding career for the Gators as their most active defender in their secondary during that time. Haden is an excellent combination of size,strength and athleticism. He has great foot quickness, balance and agility to maintain proper body positioning in coverage. Haden has excellent hips to open turn and run with receivers as well as burst to stay in his opponent’s hip pocket. Haden is a solid run support defender on the perimeter but can be inconsistent being physical. He understands route progressions but doesn’ talways react quickly as plays unfold. Haden can be too aggressive with the ballin the air at times but shows very good ball skills which make him a great playmaker. Haden is one of the top cornerbacks in the 2010 draft and should goearly on day one. NFL.com

8. Oakland Raiders Rolando McClain LB Alabama
McClain has great length and strength for the position and has been the Crimson Tide's most active defender in 2009. Rolando is an instinctive player that makes all the calls from the middle linebacker position. He sheds blockers well to leverage the ball and understands angles to maintain proper run fits to the line of scrimmage. McClain is disruptive attacking a crease when blitzing the quarterback. He is powerful as a tackler and keeps good balance in the open field. McClain is somewhat limited in man coverage and may be a liability in this phase of his game at the next level. He does understand route progressions and can be effective in short zone coverage schemes. McClain is a good football player that should have an immediate impact as a rookie on special teams while working into a starting role. NFL.com

9. Buffalo Bills CJ Spller RB Clemson
Spiller is not the kind of back who can carry a team by rushing 20-25 times a game over the course of a 16-game season. Like a Reggie Bush or Felix Jones,though, he can be a situational player who gives the offense big-play capability out of the backfield. He has a rare burst through the hole, and not many safeties can run him down once they lose the angle on him. He is a competitive runner who will fight for yards and has balance to bounce off hits and keep his feet to gain more yards. Spiller is apt to be the first back taken in the draft in spite of his lack of power and bulk. NFL.com

10. Jacksonville Jaguars Tyson Alualu DL California
Alualu appears to be a bit of a tweener (combination of height and weight) for an NFL defensive lineman. He doesn’t have the great bulk as an interior lineman in a 4-3 front or the ideal height to play end in a 3-4 scheme. Alualu shows deceptive power for his size that can push the pocket as a pass rusher as well as penetrate the line of scrimmage as a run defender. He has quick hands to control and separate from blockers as well as solid instincts to feel pad pressure and maintain leverage in his gap responsibility. Alualu has enough tools and talent to contribute giving depth to an NFL defensive line.

11. San Francisco (From Denver for #13 and 4th round pick) Anthony Davis T Rutgers
Davis is a prototypical left tackle in that he is a good foot athlete and has bulk as well as long arms that allow him to get a fit and control opponents as he steers them on by the pocket. He is not a natural knee bender and will let his pads get too far forward as he extends to sustain his blocks. He can slide and shuffle with an edge rusher and has the body control and foot agility to react and adjust to counter moves. He has shown a tendency to gain too much weight and will need to be monitored. He has strong hands and upper body and can swallow opponents up on the run block but does not finish his blocks off as much as he could. He will need some time to develop but could end up as a starting left tackle in a couple of years. NFL.com

12. Miami Dolphins *Traded to San Diego* Ryan Mathews RB Fresno State
Mathews is a good sized running back that runs hard and shows a good burst through the hole. He is a one cut runner that does not waste a lot of time dancing around in the backfield. Once he gets past the first level he could use a bit more elusiveness in space as he has some straight line to him. He tends to run a bit erect but does show upper body strength to stiff arm his way out of a tackle as well as balance on contact to stay on his feet and fight for extra yards. He has struggled to stay healthy as he has missed time in each season at Fresno State. NFL.com

13. Philadelphia Eagles (From Denver Broncos for #24 and two 3rd round picks)
Brandon Graham DE Michigan
Brandon is a short thickly-built player with good athleticism. He has very good initial quickness as an edge rusher but doesn't have elite speed or range in pursuit. Brandon uses his hands well to control and leverage blockers versus the run as well as to counter as a pass rusher. Graham is the Wolverines' most disruptive defender and plays with a high motor. He doesn't have enough burst and lateral agility to excel as a stand up player in the NFL but may be effective in zone blitz schemes in limited coverage responsibilities. Brandon is a good football player who should be productive at the next level in the right defensive scheme.

14. Seattle Seahawks Earl Thomas S Texas
Thomas is an undersized safety with great straight-line speed. He is an excellent athlete who has good hips and quickness for the safety position. He is competitive athlete who will fill the alley, but scouts question his effectiveness at the next level in that role. He is a solid open-field tackler, leveraging the ball well in the open field. He is an instinctive player who anticipates break points well to make plays in the passing game. He has excellent ball skills and has big-play potential when he makes the interception. Thomas is a very good football player who lacks ideal size but has high value in this year's draft.  NFL.com
 
15. New York Giants Jason Pierre-Paul DE South Florida
Pierre-Paul is coming off a big year for the Bulls defense in his first season in the program. Pierre-Paul has a great frame to add additional bulk and strength which should improve him as a run defender. He shows natural quickness and anticipation as an edge rusher and has an expanded package to counter effectively. Pierre-Paul is a disruptive player with good range to run down plays from the backside but lacks the strength at the point of attack to stop the run. He will need to improve his hand use, pad level, strength and technique in this phase of the game at the next level but should fit in well in a 4-3 defensive scheme. NFL.com

16. Tennessee Titans Derrick Morgan DE Georgia Tech
Morgan has been an extremely productive starter for the Yellow Jackets over the past two seasons. He has a good combination of size and athleticism for a 4-3 defensive end. He doesn’t appear to have the overall athleticism to project him as an outside backer in a 3-4 scheme. Morgan has improved his overall hand use and counter moves as a pass rusher with good quickness to close to the quarterback. He needs to improve his pad level and power at the point as a run defender but gives consistent effort in this phase of the game. Morgan is an excellent football player that should test out well for his dimensions and likely be highly touted in the 2010 draft. NFL.com

17. San Francisco 49ers Mike Iupati OL Idaho
Iupati is a massive guard that started three years at Idaho although he did miss some time in 2008 after dealing with offseason shoulder surgery. He is one of the more powerful blockers in the draft and once he gets his hands on opponents it’s pretty much all over. Iupati was born in American Samoa and English is not his native language which can slow down his progress when it comes to learning new schemes and the playbook. While it may take Iupati a bit longer to develop into a front line player, he could have a long and productive career once he settles in. NFL.com

18. Pittsburgh Steelers Maurkice Pouncey C Florida
Pouncey is a versatile lineman that has lined up at both center and guard. He is a squatty, quick-footed athlete that can roll his hips to redirect and adjust to movement or sink his hips to hunker down against a powerful bull rush by big nose tackles. He is quick with his first step after the snap and quick to get a fit with his hands but will let his weight get too far forward at times. Pouncey had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder in May of 2009 and durability could become a concern down the road. He should be quick to see the playing field thanks to his versatility. NFL.com

19. Atlanta Falcons Sean Weatherspoon LB Missouri
Weatherspoon is an excellent combination of size, strength and athleticism for the position. He is a tough hard-nosed linebacker that plays with a great motor. Weatherspoon is a solid tackler but not a thumper in this area. He runs well and shows good range in pursuit as well as in coverage. Weatherspoon leverages the ball well with good angles and proper body positioning. He uses his hands well to ward off blockers and maintain gap responsibility. Weatherspoon is an intelligent linebacker that possesses great intangibles that along with physical attributes which should make him a productive player as a rookie. NFL.com

20. Houston Texans Kareem Jackson CB Alabama
Jackson has an excellent combination of size and athleticism for the position. He is a very confident defender that will play tight to his opponent in both man and zone coverage schemes. Jackson shows great foot quickness burst and speed to stay with top receivers. He is an instinctive player that is quick to anticipate and jump routes as plays unfold. He is a competitive player but is inconsistent to as a run support defender. Jackson needs to rap up ball carriers better on the perimeter as well as corralling receivers in the open field. Kareem Jackson is an excellent football player that won’t last long on the first day of the 2010 draft if his shoulder checks out. NFL.com

21. Cincinnati Bengals Jermaine Gresham TE Oklahoma
Gresham will likely go later in the draft than he would have last year due to a season-ending knee injury in practice prior to the first game of the 2009 season. He had surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee in October. He lacks premier top end speed but can challenge secondaries down the middle thanks to his stride length. Gresham is more of a finesse blocker in line but can and will smother opponents on the second level as well as down field. There are times where it looks like he has lapses of concentration from his route running to missing blocks, but he is smart and can pick things up. NFL.com

22. Denver Broncos (From New England for #24) Demariyus Thomas WR Georgia Tech
Thomas has rare measurables for the wide receiver position and will be a very attractive gamble for some team after the first round. He shows excellent vertical speed, especially for someone his size, and can be intimidating to a cornerback when isolated on the perimeter. He has the size of a tight end with the speed, agility and ball skills of a wide receiver. He needs a lot of work on his route running skills as he tends to round off his breaks and will telegraph his routes with too much upper body movement. He can make acrobatic type catches but will drop some very catchable passes due to lapses in concentration. He is not a very physical blocker on the edge in spite of his massive size advantage. In a recent workout, Thomas broke his foot and will be unable to participate in combine drills. NFL.com

23. Green Bay Packers Bryan Bulaga OL Iowa
Bulaga is a good, not a great, talent as a left tackle. Like most Iowa linemen he will come into the league with a good understanding of the game as well as the position he plays. He understands angles and blocking schemes and is quick to recognize and adjust to games up front. He is quick to set the edge and knows how to get a good fit with his hands but will struggle when speed rushers transfer that speed into power. He can be inconsistent with his footwork and is not an elite athlete for the position but there is enough there to make an eventual starter at left tackle. NFL.com

24. Dallas (New England) Dez Bryant WR Oklahoma State
Bryant is an extremely talented receiver that has legitimate downfield speed as well as the ability to adjust to off-target throws. He missed the final 10 games of 2009 for lying to an NCAA investigator and his ability to control and handle the off-field issues that could come up have to be in question. He is extremely competitive to the ball when he is the target but sometimes shows a lackadaisical attitude when on the back side of plays or when asked to block. He needs to be more precise on his route running and not round off his breaks on the hard cuts. He could easily be the first receiver taken off the board if he can impress the personnel people in interviews. NFL.com

25. Denver Broncos (from Baltimore Ravens) Tim Tebow QB Florida
Tebow is arguably one of the best college quarterbacks of all time. He has won a lot of games over the years as he is a perfect fit for Urban Meyer’s offensive system. He will need a lot of retraining when he gets to an NFL camp as he plays out of the shotgun formation and will need a lot of work on dropping from center and setting up in the pocket while reading coverage schemes. He has a strong arm but his accuracy has been inconsistent over the years as he often ends up throwing the ball when on the move. He is not generally real quick to pull the trigger once he decides where he wants to throw the ball. NFL.com

26. Arizona Cardinals Dan Williams DT Tennessee
Williams was a three-year starter for the Vols and had a breakout season in 2009. He has an excellent combination of size, strength and athleticism for an interior defender. He plays with great pad level and a natural base to anchor effectively versus the run. He is a powerful bull-rusher who can collapse the pocket in the passing game. Williams can be inconsistent with his effort but does play with an attitude (can be nasty) in the trenches when he wants to. He is tough to move due to great initial punch and good balance and will draw many double-teams on the inside. He doesn't have great initial quickness to penetrate gaps but is a better run defender than pass rusher in base defenses. NFL.com

27. New England Patriots (from Dallas Cowboys) Devin McCourty CB Rutgers
McCourty is an average sized cornerback with good athleticism. He runs well but doesn’t have premier speed out on and island. McCourty is a tough, competitive player that understands angles and route progressions. He is an active secondary defender that gets his hands on lots of balls but doesn’t always make the interception. McCourty has great hips, agility and balance to turn and stay in the receiver’s hip pocket. He does get overpowered at times versus larger receivers in block protection and on jump ball situations but he appears to know his limitations and is a defender. McCourty is a good football player that will likely contribute quickly at nickel back and special teams (returns as well as coverage units) in his rookie season. NFL.com

28. Miami Dolphins (from San Diego Chargers) Jared Odrick DL Penn State
Odrick has a good combination of size and strength. He is more of a run-stopper with power to hold the point but needs to utilize his hands more consistently to separate to the ball. Odrick shows power to collapse the pocket as a pass rusher but again needs to expand his pass rush package with more moves and counters to contribute at the next level. He feels pad pressure well and constricts running lanes effectively. He has some limitations (lateral agility and speed) but plays with a good motor and often wins with effort. Odrick could be considered a versatile prospect as an end in a 3-4 front or tackle in 4-3 schemes. Odrick has upside if he can improve his overall technique at the next level. NFL.com

29. NY Jets Kyle Wilson CB Boise State
Wilson is an athletic versatile player that has immediate value giving depth to the secondary as well as contributing as a return specialist. He is aggressive to go after the ball as a coverage defender as well as fielding punts and kicks. Wilson understands angles and how to leverage the ball that may fit best in combination zone schemes. He shows good vision and instincts to find a crease as a punt returner. Wilson lacks great top end speed but shows excellent quickness and hips to be effective as a nickel defender. He is a willing run support player but isn’t physical and needs to improve in this phase of the game. Wilson is a good football player that should contribute in a rookie season and eventually vie for a starting position. NFL.com

30. Detroit Lions Jahvid Best RB California
Best is an explosive ball carrier that has the speed to turn a missed tackle into a long touchdown run. He has been productive as a runner as well as a return specialist. He missed the final four games of the 2009 season after sustaining a concussion and sore lower back in the game against Oregon State (11/7/2009). He is a patient runner that does a good job of setting up his blocks and squeezing through small run lanes. He has an explosive burst through the hole and has enough power and leg strength to run through arm tackles but is not big, or powerful enough to move piles. He shows good balance on contact and will fight for yards. NFL.com

31. Indianapolis Colts Jerry Hughes DE TCU
Hughes is a defensive end that has been the most disruptive defender for the Horned Frogs over the past two years. He is a tweener (size and athleticism) at the next level and may fit as an undersized end in a 4-3 scheme or an inexperienced outside backer in an odd front. Hughes is best attacking the line of scrimmage rushing the passer or penetrating to disrupt the run. He uses his hands well to control blockers on the edge. He also shows an expansive pass rush package. Hughes has dropped in zone coverage at times but is most comfortable with his hand on the ground. He is a solid tackler in the open field utilizing great balance and body positioning. NFL.com

32. New Orleans Saints Patrick Robinson CB Florida State
Robinson is the Seminoles most active pass defender and should make the transition to the next level well. His combination of size, strength and athleticism is best suited as a rolled up corner in two deep schemes. He is a solid perimeter run defender but not always physical versus larger ball carriers. Pat needs to use his hands better to jam and reroute receivers off the line of scrimmage as well as his over all body positioning in coverage. He can be aggressive in zone schemes and is susceptible to gadget plays as well as double moves. Robinson is a good football player that should contribute on special teams as a rookie while developing his overall game. NFL.com

With the 2010 NFL Draft less than a week away, fans are anxiously waiting to see which players their teams will draft. There have been thousands of mock drafts, blogs and stories written about where certain players will end up, which teams will draft who, etc. While most of the information will be completely wrong, certain parts of the mocks, blogs and stories will become reality. Josh McDaniels held a pre-draft press conference on Friday, April 16th and added to Broncos fans curiousity and excitement over who may potentially be drafted next week. Fans need to consider that everything McDaniels said could simply be to gain leverage with potential trade partners that are looking to draft a player McDaniels spoke about. Here's a summary of a few players McDaniels mentioned on Friday:

Dez Bryant WR Oklahoma State
“We had Dez Bryant here the other day, we spent time with him at the combine, we spent a lot of time with him actually. I’m not going to comment on Brandon, but with Dez Bryant, I think you need to be careful confusing character issues with some people who have made some mistakes. This guy has never been arrested, never had a drinking issue and never done anything to put himself in that position. I think he’s made a few mistakes that he wishes he hadn’t made but I think there’s a difference. You can say well, ‘This guy has made a couple mistakes that have been really glorified,’ and made a big deal of it and all of the sudden turn him into a really bad kid. That’s the farthest thing from the truth relative to (Bryant). We enjoyed our visit with him and he did everything we asked him to do. He had a smile on his face and he did everything well. I’ll tell you this, he’s on our board – there’s no question. I know there are other teams that may have taken him off their board but he is not one of the players who is off our board.”

Rolando McClain LB Alabama
"He understands the game at a level where most kids that come in as rookies will never be at. That’s a credit to the work he’s done at Alabama, the way he’s been coached and he has a very bright future ahead of him. He’s a good player; there are a lot of them. Like I said, there are a lot of players that we had in our building. We had a lot of great visits over the last couple of weeks here. We took our full allotment of 30 and really took an interest in a lot of players. The thing about this draft is that it’s deep enough where a lot of people are saying, ‘These players are all going to go in the first round.’ Well, they all can’t – Ithink that’s how deep this draft is. You’re going to be sitting there in the second round saying, ‘Wow, I never thought this guy would be here.’ Like you said, Rolando McClain, Dez Bryant and we’ve had a number of other players in here who are going to be picked right around where we pick. We’re going to finalize that process in the next couple of days because we have to have a plan for if we are picking at 11, what’s going to happen.”

Dan Williams DL Tennessee
"He's a big, athletic player. Obviously he has played inside at nose, really, for the most part at Tennessee. But the thing we think about Dan is that he's got what we would say a play radius that's a little different than some noses, meaning he can make tackles over there on the sideline. We've kind of gone back and forth on it. (He) could even play end because he's that athletic. He's an athletic player who has really had one solid year of production, which always is something you take a look at. But he's a good kid. We had a good visit with him here, we also worked him out at Tennessee. We've done our work and our research on him, and he's a player that I think is going to go probably somewhere right around where we pick, there's no question about it. But we do have an interest in Dan Williams. He is a good player, he is a good kid and we think that that would be a possibility."

Tim Tebow QB Florida
"No question. You look at the tape, and the only thing that you can say about the tape that isn't flattering or very impressive is that he dips the ball a hair. He has already fixed that. I think that's something that you can fix through repetition. He's already done it. He proved that at his pro day. Everything else that you're watching on film is accurate, tough, smart, good leader, versatile, can move out of the pocket, can move in the pocket, can run with the ball. This guy scored… What is he, the third-leading passer all-time and the leading scorer in rushing touchdowns over Herschel (Walker)? There are so many things that you can say about the kid. Then, to top that all off, he's every bit the person that you read about before you got the chance to meet him. He's very enthusiastic, wants to work hard, smart, bright, one of the smarter players I've ever been around in terms of coming out of college."

Ubaldo Jimenez, the 26 year old flame-throwing ace of the Colorado Rockies, threw the first no-hitter in Rockies history against the Atlanta Braves last night in Atlanta. The no-hitter was the 264th in the history of Major League Baseball. Many who watched the first 5 innings of the game last night were shocked that Jimenez ended with a no-hit shutout. In the first 5 innings, Jimenez walked 6 batters and had control problems with all of his pitches. He was able to get out with runners on base and wiggled out of a few sticky situations. Jimenez was able to put down the final 15 Braves batters in order and made history for the Colorado Rockies.

Jimenez has always had a great fastball and now has good control of it. Last night Jimenez hit 100 mph and in the 9th inning was still throwing 98 mph. He's added a good changeup and curve ball to make him one of the most feared pitchers. Over the second half of last season, and the start of this season, Ubaldo placed himself among the top pitchers in MLB. Some national baseball analysts were already picking Jimenez to be a favorite for the Cy Young Award as the National League's best pitcher.  Ubaldo Jimenez will really be in the national spotlight after his no-hitter. Rockies fans should be excited to see him continue to blossom into possibly the most dominant pitcher in all of baseball.

Carmelo Anthony Revisited – Following up an E:60 feature from 2009, reporter Lisa Salters visits with Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony, who has taken steps to rebuild his image and distance himself from a troubled past. Anthony is leading the Nuggets in the NBA Playoffs as the team tries to go even further than last season, when they lost to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. Anthony’s problems began in 2004, when he was labeled a troublemaker and became the face of Team USA’s disappointing bronze medal at the Olympic Games. A fight in a New York nightclub, a citing for marijuana possession, a DUI arrest and a major NBA brawl leading to a long suspension were among the incidents that followed. But at the end of his seventh and perhaps best NBA season, Anthony says he has changed.

To view the a video preview of the Carmelo Anthony E60 episode, click here .

The episode will air on ESPN Tuesday, April 20, at 7 p.m. ET

This morning the Denver Broncos traded Brandon Marshall to the Miami Dolphins for a 2nd round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft (#43 overall). ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Broncos will also receive a 2nd round pick in 2011, but it's not official as of yet. Marshall has to pass his physical for the trade to be finalized. The Broncos will now have 3 pics in the first 45 of the 2010 NFL Draft (#11, 43, 45).

It is also being reported that WR Dez Bryant and QB Tim Tebow are in town to visit the Broncos today. 

Did the broncos get good value for Marshall?
Will the Broncos draft a receiver in the 1st round?

 

The Denver Broncos have been looking for a 1st round draft pick in exchange for Brandon Marshall, the teams leading receiver over the last 3 seasons.. The New York Jets were thought to be a front runner for Brandon Marshall. That all changed Sunday night when the Jets traded a 5th round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Santonio Holmes. Holmes, much like Marshall, has made a name for himself on and off the field. With the problems the Steelers are already facing with Ben Roethlisberger, the team wanted to get rid of the additional headaches Holmes brought from his off the field troubles. Holmes is a former 1st round pick and has tons of talent on the football field. It's being reported that Holmes will be suspended for the first 4 games of the 2010 season for violationg the NFL's substance abuse policy. 
 
Now that the New York Jets are out of the picture, who's still in the market for Brandon Marshall? It looks like the only realistic suitor for Marshall may be the Seattle Seahawks. They have 2 first round draft picks this year and have already shown interest by flying Marshall out to Seattle. The problem is that with only 1 team in the mix, the Broncos will never get a 1st round pick. 
 
Who else may want Marshall?
Where would Marshall be a good fit?
Will the Broncos get a 1st round pick for him?

Golf Course of the Week: April 9, 2010:

Indian Peaks Golf Course, Lafayette, CO.

Indian Peaks Golf Course is located in Lafayette, CO. about 10 miles east of Boulder and 15 miles northwest of Denver. Indian Peaks is a Hale Irwin designed course and has been open since 1993. The course has incorporated 1,500 trees, 87 bunkers, 6 lakes and 2 winding creeks, which add beauty and difficulty. Indian Peaks is located on an old dairy farm and has some of the best views I've ever seen from a golf course. Just to the west are the Indian Peaks, which as you can see, provide an awesome backdrop to play a round of golf. Indian Peaks Golf Course provides golfers challenging play on scenic settings most courses cannot offer.

Our experience at Indian Peaks was a good one to say the least. The course was in excellent condition, especially for this early in the year. The greens were in remarkable shape and much faster than typical for this early in April. While some of us were knocking off the rust from the winter, others were draining birdies with regularity. We were lucky enough to play 18 holes with 2 of the course pros, Craig Stevens and Courtney Rudolph. Craig is the Head Golf Professional (PGA) and has been at Indian Peaks since it opened in 1993. Courtney is the 2nd Assistant Golf Professional (LPGA) and has been at Indian Peaks since 2000.  Craig, Courtney and the rest of the Indian Peaks staff were great. I would recommend the Indian Peaks instructors to anyone that can use a little tweak in their swing (I definitely did, thanks Craig!) 

There were a few holes at Indian Peaks that really stood out to us. Hole #4 (Pictured above) is the first where you get the awesome views of the Indian Peaks. Not only does #4 provide an awesome view, it's a 516 yard par 5 and a great hole to go for a birdie. The next hole #5, offers the first par 3 and another great chance for a birdie (2 out of our foursome had birdies). #13 is a 352 yard par 4, but it can be difficult if you don't stay in the fairway. There are many old trees about 50 yards out from the green, getting behind those can be tricky. This is a great hole to test your club selection skills and your ability to hit your tee shot straight. #18 is probably the favorite hole for most golfers at Indian Peaks. It's located on the top of a big hill and overlooks the course. The Indian Peaks stand out here more than anywhere else on the course. #18 plays downhill and is a 406 yard par 4. This hole offers another great chance for a birdie and is a great way to end 18 holes of golf.

Denver Sports Blog contributors Jeremy Fleming and Ian Surkalo had a great experience at Indian Peaks Golf Course. We would recommend taking the trip to Lafayette to try out Indian Peaks for yourself. We welcome any feedback from anyone that has played Indian Peaks Golf Course. If you have any insight, leave a comment and share your thoughts with fellow golfers.

Indian Peaks Golf Course
2300 Indian Peaks Trail
Lafayette, CO 80026
(303) 666-4706