The 2011 season has been a rollercoaster ride for the Denver Broncos. It started with very inconsistent play from Kyle Orton, and the defense. The Broncos were able to be close in the early games, but ultimately started with a 1-4 record. Over the first five games, Kyle Orton uncharacteristically turned the ball over too often, and John Fox decided to give Tim Tebow a chance to play. This is where the season took a turn that no one really expected.

Since Tim Tebow took over as the Broncos starting quarterback, the team has a ridiculous 5-1 record. While the games are always close (except for the Detroit blowout loss), the difference is that the Broncos score touchdowns when they make it to the redzone, and don’t turn the ball over. One of the knocks on Kyle Orton was that he could lead the team down the field, but couldn’t get the ball in the end zone. Tim Tebow may not consistently lead the team down the field, but when he does get in the redzone, the Broncos tend to score touchdowns. Another knock on Orton was that he didn’t lift his game when the team needed him to (4th quarter comebacks and game-winning drives). Tim Tebow plays his absolute best football when the game is on the line, and the team needs him to make plays.

Lost in the Tim Tebow hysteria is the fact that the Broncos defense is playing lights out. Von Miller is making a name for himself as one of the best defensive players in all of football. Elvis Dumervil is back to getting pressure on the quarterback, and with Miller on the opposite side, the Broncos have probably the best pass rush duo in the NFL. The run defense is pretty solid overall, even though they did give up quite a few yards to the Chargers. It appears that Marcus Thomas and Brodrick Bunkley are a better DT tandem than most of us expected. Brian Dawkins, Champ Bailey, Quinton Carter and Andre Goodman are playing great in the secondary. The Broncos defense is starting to come together, and they’re making it tough for opposing offenses to move the ball. 

Many football experts don’t think the Broncos can keep winning the way they have recently.

Critics will point to the fact that Tim Tebow is not throwing the ball enough, and that he is not accurate. I can’t argue with them, but I can argue that he is getting better, and he is doing a good job with the current game plans. The Broncos coaches are not asking Tebow to sling the ball all over the field. They’re asking him to methodically move the ball with a mix of runs, and the occasional pass on third down. So far this tactic has worked well, but I think its time to open things up a bit. Last week Tebow passed the ball the best he has all season. He still ended up with a 50% completion percentage, but he threw some great passes when he needed to. Also, there were two key drops on 3rd downs that stalled drives – both of these passes were on the money, and should have been caught. Of course, none of the experts will bring up the drops, they’ll just chalk them up as incompletions.

I think that with the Broncos remaining schedule, they can win the AFC West, and make it to the playoffs. This may be laughable to some experts such as Merril Hoge and Boomer Esiason, but it can happen. Not only do I think the Broncos can make the playoffs, I think they could do a little damage as well. What do they say wins championships? A good rush offense, and good defense. Even with the move towards heavy passing offenses, the NFL playoffs require a good running game and a good defense. The weather can get nasty in January, which makes a good running game important. The Broncos currently have the #1 rushing offense in the NFL. Tim Tebow is getting better in the passing game, and the defense is rock solid.

If the Broncos get a crack at the playoffs, they might be a scary team to take on…

The Rockies season is coming to a close at home, mercifully. According to the Denver Post, Aaron Cook will start today's game at Coors Field and close out the season in Denver. It seemed as though this day would never come, with losses resulting far more frequently than wins. For the Rockies to finish with a losing record at home requires at list of things which would be too long to mention on this forum. Injuries are by far the most detrimental to most teams and the Rockies have received their share of them, maybe a little too often.

Aaron Cook is by far the longest tenured Rockies pitcher and will look to go out on top. Despite his struggles this season, Cook is one of the most accomplished pitchers to call Denver home and will be missed if he decides to move on next season. While fans would have liked greater results from the veteran pitcher this year, it's hard to ignore his accomplishments over the years and his stellar performance in the All-Star game just two years ago. Cook has been one of the most stable pitchers in the rotation over the last handful of years and should not be forgotten. It would be great to see Aaron Cook win the last game of the season at Coors Field.

The last home game may not be as important as most players or fans would have liked but we can hope for a better outcome next season. Not only can we hope for next season, we will get another look at the future of the team with today's lineup. Promising players such as Jordan Pacheco, Willin Rosario, Tommy Field and Eric Young Jr. could make an appearance today and give fans a taste of what to expect on the horizon.

What do you think fans? Is there anyone else you would like to see before the season is over?

                Common Ground Golf Course - Aurora, CO.

Common Ground Golf Course is located about 15 minutes southeast of downtown Denver, in Aurora, CO. The course was designed by world renowned golf course architect, Tom Doak. The facility at Common Ground includes a world-class 18-hole championship golf course, a short course devoted to Junior Golf development, a full-service practice facility and a caddie program. In 2012, Common Ground will be the supporting course for the U.S. Amateur from August 13th thru 19th at Cherry Hills Country Club.

Common Ground is surrounded by tall native grass, trees and an abundance of wildlife. While reviewing Common Ground, Denver Sports Blog writers Chad & Jeremy Fleming encountered a deer, and coyotes could be heard howling from the open natural areas surrounding the course. The location of Common Ground is ideal for city golfers as it is close to downtown Denver, but you get the feel you're away from the city. There are great views of the mountains off to the west, the Denver skyline can be seen off in the distance, and of course there is wildlife all around.

As they will tell you at Common Ground, there are two important things to know before teeing it up and experiencing the course for the first time:

1) Take advantage of the generous fairways that are available on most of the holes on the championship course. The fairways are often wide, and are lined by strategically placed sand traps and thick native grass. With a good tee shot in the fairway, your ball can roll for a long time down the fairways, which are pretty quick.

2) Stay out of the native grass! This may seem like a bit of an obvious statement, but it has never been truer. Having played many courses around Denver with native grass, Common Ground sticks out as having perhaps the toughest native areas around town.

While playing Common Ground, the most surprising thing about the course were the lightning quick greens. Most of the greens are large, include a good deal of break, and are very fast. The greens at Common Ground can provide a tough challenge, but they can also be very rewarding. Our group faired pretty well on the greens, and even managed to drop a few difficult putts. The best put of the day came on about a 40 footer that dropped for par on hole #14.

Favorite holes:
Hole 6 - This 147 yard par 3 is dogleg left with a lake on the immediate left of the fairway. Unless you’re very confident with the distance and placement of your irons, the safe play is to the right of the water. The water hazard provides a nice challenge on this hole but if you can make the green it is well worth it. The green is large and includes a great deal of break.

Hole 8 – This 337 yard par 4 is relatively straight with a large bunker on the right side, about 230 yard from the tee box. Placement is key on this hole with bunkers directly in front on both sides of the green. The pin placement for us was in the back of the green and left little room for error on our approach shots.

Hole 13 – This 408 yard par 4 was one of the more challenging holes. On the right side of the fairway lies a large bunker roughly 200 yards out. The dogleg right is challenging with thick native grasses on the left side with another bunker in the middle of the second shot. Also, bunkers line the sides and back of the green.

Hole 18 – If you like bunkers this is the hole for you. This 539 yard par 5 is surrounded by native grass and has large trees on the right side of the fairway. On the left of the fairway lies a bunker 250 yards out. The second shot must be towards the left side of the fairway with 3 bunkers lining the right side. For those wishing for birdie, watch out for the bunkers on the right side of the green.

Common Ground Golf Course
10300 E. Golfers Way
Aurora, CO 80010
(303) 340-1520 
http://www.commongroundgc.com/

While the national media has been spending lots of time ripping Tim Tebow for supposedly having no skills, and no chance in the NFL, Von Miller has been turning heads among Broncos fans. After watching the Broncos' first-team defense rip apart the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night, I couldn't believe what I saw. In fact, I watched many of the plays two, three, or even four times. There were a pile of players on top of Seattle quarterback Tarvaris Jackson nearly every time he dropped back to throw. The broncos defense collected 5 sacks, with Von Miller notching two, and Elvis Dumervil getting 1 1/2. The speed that Von Miller brings to the Broncos defense will make them scary when playing with the lead, and will help to erase the memory of the 2010 Denver Broncos, which had perhaps the worst defense in franchise history. If the national media could stop bashing Tim Tebow, and actually pay attention to the Broncos defense, Von Miller would be a popular target for national headlines.

Having spent a majority of the last 15 seasons focusing on upgrading the offense, the Denver Broncos have consistently fallen short on the defensive side of the ball. There have been some good seasons, but nothing consistent from year-to-year, or even from the start of the season to the finish. There have been some great individual efforts (Elvis Dumervil's 17 sacks in 2009, Champ Bailey's 10 interceptions in 2006), but there has always been a feeling the defense was somewhat of an afterthought. New Head Coach John Fox and Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen have great defensive minds and are doing an excellent job of changing the mentality of the Denver Broncos in 2011. The Broncos will be a more physical team on offense, and on defense will apply pressure in hopes of causing turnovers and sacks.

With the new-look defense of 2011, the Broncos have vastly upgraded the overall speed of the group. Along with Von Miller, fellow rookie Rahim Moore adds great speed and athleticism to the safety position, and back-end of the defense. The new scheme focuses on applying pressure from all over the field, and will create opportunities for defenders to blitz opposing quarterbacks early and often. While Von Miller has yet to play a regular season game, what he has shown so far makes me think he is a great fit for the John Fox/Dennis Allen defense. Miller will play linebacker on early downs, and will move to defensive end on passing downs. With his speed and athletic ability, Miller should have no problem reaching 10+ sacks as a rookie. 

Many experts expected the Broncos to draft a defensive tackle with the #2 pick. I think they made the right choice by selecting Von Miller. If he can stay healthy, Miller can help make the Broncos defense one of the most feared units in all of football in 2011. Maybe by the end of the season we won't have to hear from Merril Hoge, Michael Silver, Boomer Esiason, or any other Tim Tebow bashers. Maybe they will focus on the real story, which is the dynamic defense of the Denver Broncos, and more specifically, Defensive Rookie of the Year, Von Miller.

Just over two years ago, Josh McDaniels came to Denver and brought with him a Napoleon-sized chip on his shoulder. He wanted to do things his way, and wanted to be the new mastermind in town. After taking over for Mike Shanahan, McDaniels did his best to rid the Broncos of most of the players Shanahan and his staff brought in. While there was quite a bit of work to be done on the defensive side of the ball, the offense was pretty good in 2008. Jay Cutler, Eddie Royal, Brandon Marshall, Tony Scheffler and a good offensive line made the Broncos offense one of the most talented and youngest groups in the NFL. Most offensive coaches would have been salivating over the young talent...most coaches don't have egos the size of King Kong though.

 
Thankfully the Josh McDaniels' demolition project lasted less than two seasons. He ran much of the youth out of town, added a lot of old players, and drafted some of the worst pics in Broncos history. With all of this in mind, I'm pretty impressed with how quickly the Broncos seem to be improving their talent, depth, youth and speed. Here's a breakdown of the obstacles McDaniels left, and what has been done to move past the Spicy McDaddy era.

1) Jay Cutler trade: Jay Cutler was considered to be one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL. Growing up a Broncos fan, I had not seen an arm like his since John Elway. He could make every throw, run, avoid sacks, and was very competitive. While he could act like a bit of a baby sometimes, he still had lots of room to grow and mature. Cutler definitely could have used some coaching, and some people skills, but he should not have been traded. The Broncos ended up with Kyle Orton and two 1st-round picks. This was a pretty good deal...of course McDaniels squandered one of these pics by trading it for 2nd-round bust Alphonso Smith. Kyle Orton has turned out to be reliable, and looks to be ready to have a good season for a balanced offense in 2011. Of course it goes without saying, Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn are both there to step in if anything happens to Orton. The Broncos appear to be set at the quarterback position.

2) Brandon Marshall trade: Brandon Marshall is no doubt one of the most talented receivers in the NFL. He's a big guy and has no problem playing physical. There were games in 2009 where without Marshall, Orton would have been in serious trouble. Marshall also had a knack for being a bit of a baby, and saying things in the media that should not have been said. I called it back in March of 2010, if Marshall left Denver, McDaniels would follow him. That is exactly what happened. The Broncos got two 2nd round picks for Marshall, and the trade has turned out to be a pretty good deal. Brandon Lloyd emerged last year as one of the best receivers in the NFL. Eddie Royal is very talented and will be utilized more. Eric Decker and Demariyus Thomas add young talent, and recent signee David Anderson adds veteran leadership. The Broncos receiving corp is actually one of the bright spots of the roster.

3) Tony Scheffler trade: Scheffler was one of the more difficult tight end matchups for opposing defenses. Mike Shanahan would move him around and get him matched up against smaller corners, or slower linebackers. While Scheffler did have some injury problems, he was well on his way to becoming a premier NFL tight end. McDaniels decided that tight ends should not catch the ball, and instead there should always be three receivers on the field. Bye bye Scheffler. McDaniels really screwed up the tight end position, but the Broncos have done well in upgrading the tight end group. Recently signed Daniel Fells provides a huge target, and is a good run blocker. Draft picks Julius Thomas and Virgil Green add youth and athleticism. While Dante Rosario and Dan Gronkowski add veteran depth.

4) Peyton Hills trade: One of the fan favorites, Hillis was a hard-runner that made life hard on opposing tacklers. He didn't have the most speed in the world, but he did have quick feet and ran with authority. For whatever reason, McDaniels never gave him a chance. Funny because he could have been huge in helping one of the worst short-yardage and goaline teams in all of football. The Broncos ended up trading Hillis and a 6th round pick to Cleveland for Brady Quinn. While Quinn has not played much, he may end up being used at some point. Hillis of course, is on the cover of Madden and had a huge season in 2010.

5) 2009 draft busts: Darcel McBath, Alphonso Smith, Richard Quinn: enough said. What the hell was McDaniels thinking? Not only are none of these guys good, he traded away a 1st round pick to get Smith and two 3rd-round picks to get Quinn. Did I mention, Smith was traded for a tight end (Gronkowski) that may not make the team this year.

6) Trading for Lawrence Maroney: Trading a 4th-round pick seemed ok. Then Maroney showed up and was horrible. He looked slow and rarely broke a tackle. Ouch. The Broncos seem to have rectified the running back position by adding Willis McGahee to take some of the load off Knowshon Moreno.

7) Switch to 3-4 defense: The Broncos needed some help on defense when McDaniels arrived, but they probably didn't need to switch to the 3-4. With players like Elvis Dumervil, Marcus Thomas and DJ Williams, the front seven would have been pretty good. They could have used some of the high draft picks to bring in a defensive tackle or two, and who knows what would have happened. Instead, McDaniels made the switch to the 3-4, signed overpaid and old players (Jarvis Green, Ronald Fields, Jamal Williams Justin Bannan). While the defense looked strong to start in 2009, 2010 was awful. One of the worst defenses I can ever remember watching.

While there has been a ton of work to fix the McDaniels screw-ups, the Broncos have done a great job. Under new Head Coach John Fox and Executive Vice President John Elway, the team looks much different in 2011. Speed, is in. Gone is the pass-heavy offense. There's even a possibility the Broncos will have two fullbacks on the roster! The Broncos will have a much more balanced offense, and hopefully will put up more points. The defense will be tough on opposing quarterbacks, and should make a vast improvement over 2010.

According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies have been awarded the waiver claim on veteran Astros pitcher Wandy Rodriguez. At age 32, Rodriguez possesses a high salary, reported to be roughly 36 million over the next three years. The addition of a veteran left-handed pitcher with a 3.31 Earned Run Average could go a long way not only this year, but in the future as well. Since 2008, Rodriguez has started at least 25 games a season with an ERA under 3.60 (23 this year). Wandy has shown his ability to rack up strike-outs, with a career 7.7 per 9 innings. He also doesn't walk many with 3.2 per 9 innings. His walks + hits per inning pitched is currently 1.265, which would rank him number two in the Rockies starting rotation, behind Jhoulys Chacin's 1.26.

According to Troy Renck, the Rockies also completed a waiver-wire claim on veteran 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff. He hit well against the Rockies while playing for the Padres and I believe he could provide competition next season. Plus, he's a local star from Evergreen High School.

What do you think Rockies fans? Could this provide a boost the team needs, and compliment the rotation along with Alex White?

The Denver Broncos biggest free agent signee, Ty Warren was injured in practice earlier this week. It is being reported that he partially tore his his triceps tendon. The triceps tendon is important as it allows for the elbow to be straightened. Ty Warren plays one of the most violent positions in football -- the interior of the defensive line. Warren likely will not be able to play this year, unless his injury is not as severe as it has been reported. 

Preliminary reports have said that Warren had a partial tear, about 70 percent of his triceps tendon is torn. While this has not been confirmed by the Broncos, it has become the talk of Denver sports for the last couple days. Dr. David Geier, who runs a medical website and sports injury directory, offered to explain what the recovery for a torn triceps tendon would be.

Dr. David Geier: "Treatment involves surgery to repair the tendon. The surgeon will make an incision over the back of the elbow to expose the ruptured tendon and repair it to bone. The repair involves placing stitches in the tendon and anchoring them to the tip of the elbow either with suture anchors or through tunnels drilled in the bone. As with most tendon repairs, the surgeon then has to get the tendon to heal in that position. Healing involves immobilizing the elbow to prevent stress on the repair for several weeks. Gradually motion is started slowly and progressed over many weeks. When full motion of the elbow has been restored, strengthening of the triceps muscle and other muscles of the upper extremity is started. Unfortunately, the full recovery process is a long one. Return to sports can take many months, and therefore this is usually a season-ending injury."
To read the full article on Tricep Tendon Ruptures, click here: http://www.drdavidgeier.com/injuries/triceps-tendon-rupture/

This is not good news for Broncos fans. However, it should be noted that it may be possible for Warren to return this season. The reports of a partial tear are not confirmed as of yet, at least to what degree. Also, former Broncos defensive end Alfred Williams said on his radio show yesterday that he played most of the 1997 Super Bowl season with a partially torn tricep. While Williams said he was able to play through the injury, he thinks it would be more difficult for Warren, as he plays defensive tackle, and takes a pounding on basically every play. At the very least, Broncos fans should count on not having Ty Warren for roughly 8 weeks of the season. The Broncos are saying they will re-evaluate the injury to determine if it needs surgery. If the injury needs surgery, Warren will definitely miss the remainder of the 2011 season.

Update: As of 8-18-11 the Broncos have decided to move forward with surgery for Ty Warren. The hope is that he will be able to make it back between 3-6 months after surgery. If he's able to return closer to 3 months, he would be able to play some this season. Last year the Broncos waited to make a decision with Elvis Dumervil, and he ended up missing the entire season. While it is a longshot that Warren will play this season, there is still a small chance he will return.

Personal statistics may not be what players play for, but many Rockies' position players are having a solid year. First one on the list has to be Todd Helton. At age 37, Helton is having a nostalgic season reminiscent of the glory days at the turn of the Century. The Gold-Glove 1st baseman is having a year worthy of consideration for comeback player of the year. The most consistent hitter on the team, Helton provides stability in the lineup against lefty or righty pitching. In 107 games, Helton is hitting .307, has an on-base percentage of .390, sent the ball out of the park 13 times and has 62 runs batted in. Did I forget to mention he has doubled 24 times? Oh yeah, he also has a .997 fielding percentage...

Troy Tulowitzki, the All-Star SS and face of the franchise for years to come, is also having a very solid year for the Rockies. In 118 games, Tulo is hitting .303, owns a .372 on-base percentage, has hit 24 home-runs to go along with 84 runs batted in. His 57 extra base hits aren't too shabby either! Not only is Tulo a great hitter, he plays his position better than any other SS in the game. With only 4 errors on the season Tulo has a remarkable .993 fielding percentage and has shown why he's the best short-stop.

Seth Smith had been one of the most consistent hitters on the team until a little bump in the road during July. Hitting over .300 for most of the season, Smith now sits at .284 with 26 doubles, 7 triples, 12 home-runs and 49 runs batted in. One aspect he is sure to be working on is the strikeout rate, but otherwise he's been solid. Playing time has diminished because he doesn't play against left-handed pitching, but that isn't his decision. Without Smith, the Rockies would be in a deeper hole but I guess the manager believes otherwise.

Carlos Gonzalez "Little Pony" has been a much needed contributor to the Rockies' offense. In 102 games he's hitting .281 with a .350 on-base percentage, has 18 home-runs and 66 runs batted in. His 42 extra base hits rank second on the team, his 16 stolen bases is tops. Oh, and his 9 outfield assists lead the team as well. Cargo has the ability to play all outfield positions and play them well. Opposing baserunners have tried to run on him but the majority of players have recognized the kind of arm he possesses.

Dexter Fowler has been a spark of late, after being sent to the minors, crushing any confidence he had in the process. On the season Fowler is hitting .269, has a .368 on-base percentage and 32 runs batted in. One major strength has been his ability to find a way to get on base. He's been caught stealing 9 times with only 8 successful attempts, but has scored 57 runs in only 88 games. Dexter is a great center fielder and covers ground as good as anyone. If he can continue to work things out with the bat the Rockies will have him manning center field for years to come.

Jason Giambi is Rockies biggest threat to go yard. In only 101 at-bats, Giambi has 11 home-runs and 27 runs batted in. All of his dingers have come when starting at 1st base, which gives Helton the much needed time off he deserves. It must be hard for Giambi to pinch hit late in games after playing for 15 plus years, but he has done an admirable job. Giambi has won a few games this year for the Rockies, the last one coming at the hands of the Marlins last night. His walk-off 3-Run homer was the Rockies third walk-off at home this year.

Ty Wigginton was brought over from Baltimore to be the utilityman but has played 3rd base regularly for the majority of the season. Wiggy has the power to hit 20 plus home-runs a season and will most likely do so this season. In 100 games played, Wigginton is hitting .254, has 14 home-runs and 44 runs batted in. He's played 63 games at 3rd base and only has 4 errors. The signing of Ty Wigginton has helped the Rockies weather the storm at 3rd base, and he has played how many people expected him to. He strikes out some but also has the ability to hit for power.

This season may not be over yet technically, but the Rockies are on pace to receive the number 9 pick in next years draft. It's not easy to crack the elusive top ten pick, which goes to show just how bad this season has been. The Rockies are now 13th out of 16 National League teams with a 56-66 record, and stand at a season high 10 games under .500. Is it possible the Rockies could crack the top 5 in next years' draft? There's no way anyone can say no to that question, given the Rockies play over nearly 5 full months.

Forty games remain on the schedule, 22 at home and 18 on the road. What can faithful fans expect from their Rockies for the remainder of the season? Will it be the team from last year that lost 13 of 14 to end the season? Will they be able to overcome obstacles every team must endure: injuries, ineffectiveness, unselfishness, motivation and tough losses? There's plenty of games left to show us, as well as themselves what kind of team they want to be now, and in the future. The additions of Alex White and Drew Pomeranz could boost the Rockies pitching depth, but its safe to say this season is a lost cause.

Maybe next year the local media can do themselves and the Rockies a favor by not placing lofty expectations on the team. The Rockies have clearly shown their dislike for playing up to expectations. Next year, we should expect them to finish 3rd in the division, nothing out of the ordinary since the inception of the franchise. Once a division pennant is earned, maybe we can start to expect more from them, but until then we should be realistic. Why were they a favorite to win the NL West this season? Was it because of the additions in the off-season? One thing I learned this Rockies' season is to expect the unexpected.

Will the Rox go on a run to end the season? Will they pass the 3 million mark in attendance?

    

The Rockies' rocky road has taken time to develop, but with more and more games in the rear-view mirror, one doesn't have to wonder why it's been so rocky. The current roster possesses four players considered to be 2nd baseman. Or utilitymen. What happens when regular players need a day off, sometimes more than one player? You use a lineup full of utility players and hope for the best. With the team MVP sitting one out, you use back-up catcher Eliezer Alphonzo and put him in the cleanup spot. Nothing against Alphonzo, he won a game for the Rox last week with a 'slam, but the Rockies would never use Ianetta in the heart of the order.

The best way to win "rest day" games is by placing lofty expectations on the starting pitcher, this time it's Jhoulys Chacin's responsibility. With Ubaldo Jimenez now gone, Chacin is the default "Ace" and has the task of shutting down the opposing team. He better shut them down with runs coming at a premium on a veteran "rest day". Although veterans must have a day off every now and then, would it be possible to replace them in the field with a true back-up? I think it may be too much to ask from the Rockies. Maybe next year though!

The Rockies are 9 games back in the National League West, with 44 games remaining. Every game is important from now until the end of the season and the Rockies are "re-tooling". In other words, I believe they are giving an extended try-out for next years' utilityman. There's really no other explanation. While the team is "re-tooling", fans will look through the smokescreen to next year, unless the players get sick of losing and a win streak ensues. A comeback is not out of the question, either is playing for pride. If the Rockies don't catch up to the Giants in the standings, hopefully they can at least remain competitive.

If you've been a fan of the Denver Broncos for very long, you know that the defensive line has not been a strength of the team -- for a long time. For a majority of the last 7-10 seasons, the Broncos have had average defenses, and many times have had very poor run defense.  The main reason for this, in my opinion, is the defensive line has not been a strength. There have been a number of veteran free agent signings that have not worked out (Daryl Gardener, Jarvis Green, Jamal Williams, etc.). The draft has really not helped with the talent on the defensive line either. Mike Shanahan had decent success drafting defensive lineman (Trevor Pryce, Marcus Thomas, Elvis Dumervil). Josh McDaniels didn't address the defensive line in the draft at all, and it was one of the biggest mistakes he made in Denver (which is saying a lot, because he made TONS of mistakes).

The reason the defensive line will be a unit of strength this year is simple - competition. The Broncos front office added players that have been highly touted and underachieved (Derrick Harvey, Brodrick Bunkley, both former 1st round picks), with a guy that has been a pro bowler (Ty Warren). On top of the new players, there are two returning players that should thrive in the 4-3 defense, and never should have been in the 3-4 defense in the first place (Robert Ayers, Marcus Thomas). Oh yeah, there's that other guy named Elvis that will be making his return this year. Elvis Dumervil has bulked up and looks like he's ready make it a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks on passing downs. No more playing linebacker, he'll be lining up in a 3-point stance every play.

While many "experts" are quick to write-off the moves the Broncos have made to bolster their defensive line, I'd like to explain why I don't agree. The Broncos brought in younger guys (Harvey, Bunkley) that are trying to prove they belong in the NFL. Many "experts" once said these guys were worth the risk of drafting in the first round. Well, which "experts" were wrong then!? Harvey and Bunkley both have short contracts remaining, and will need to prove to the Broncos, and scouts around the league, that they belong. There is no better way to prove you belong than to earn a spot in the defensive line rotation for the Broncos this year. After the awful performance of last year, any improvement will be noticed, but a major improvement could earn some big paychecks. Heck, even Ty Warren needs to prove something this year. After sitting out last year with a hip injury, he has to prove that he can come back healthy and play at a high level. He's 30 years old and has a two-year contract with the Broncos. If he can play well for two years, another contract could be in his future.

The Broncos players that are coming back from last year should do well in the new defensive scheme (Ayers, Dumervil, Thomas). While Robert Ayers will be playing defensive end, he will move inside to tackle on passing downs -- in order to make room for 2011 first round pick, Von Miller. This is what Ayers did in college, and is more natural for him. He can stuff the run, and also get after the quarterback. He won't have to be a stand-up linebacker and will be much more comfortable. The best part is that with Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil bringing heat off the edges, Ayers should be able to get good one-on-one matchups against guards and centers. Marcus Thomas is my candidate for breakout player of the year -- that's right, you heard it here first. Thomas is crazy athletic, and his skills will be utilized under John Fox. He has a one-year contract, and will certainly look to play well and earn a big pay day.

What do you think of the Broncos defensive line this year? Will they finally be dominant, or will they simply be a disappointment like they have been over the years?

As much as people would like to blame the Rockies' woes on situational hitting, situational pitching has played a big part in the loss column as well. If I was to show you the number .625, what do you think it would be connected to? No, its not the teams winning percentage! The stat is the percentage of games saved - 30 out of a possible 48. What about the team ERA pre and post All-Star break? Before the break, the Rockies possessed a normal 4.13 ERA, since then, a bit higher at 4.92.

Even with the notable split, the Rockies have pitched well away from the friendly confines of Coors Field all season. Witness the 3.97 ERA on the road. It's not really news that pitchers have increased success away from Coors Field, just a statement of fact that any fan who's watched the Rockies for any length of time would know. Home/Road splits have always been decidedly one sided for the entirety of the Rockies' existence, but this year another facet of the pitching side has shown a pronounced weakness. The unenviable split of Day/Night games. At night, the Rockies possess a very good 3.82 ERA. During the day, the team ERA sky-rockets to 5.32! So how do those numbers translate into wins and losses?

The Rockies have played 78 night games and possess a record of 41-37. Night games don't seem to be a problem, yet. In my opinion, the Rockies woes start and end with day games. To date, the Rockies have played a total of 37 day games. How many have they won? 12. A 12-25 record during the day is not a recipe for success and is a major reason why the team sits 9 games under .500. Why is there such a large disparity between wins and losses during the day and night? In my opinion, the lack of position player depth is displayed during day games, which typically are the last game of a series, and on Sunday. Some regular players rest on day games to keep fresh for a long season, giving playing time to their back-ups. The team ERA during day games is simply not good enough either. Neither situational hitting or pitching can be singled out as the only reason for the Rockies' struggles, but games are won by keeping the other team from scoring.

What is the reason behind the Day/Night ERA ? Is hitting the reason for the lack of success during the day? 

Broncos fans, and NFL fans from all over the country have been talking about Merril Hoge and his "expert analysis" of Tim Tebow. Wow, where do we start. I'd like to start by saying, you can't take a guy too seriously when he wears infant sized clip-on ties and sprays on fake hair before his ESPN show starts. Now that we have an understanding of who we're dealing with, lets dig a little deeper.

Yesterday, Merril Hoge took to Twitter to announce just how awful Tim Tebow is. He had just watched game film from one of the three starts Tebow made last year. Yes, you read that right, he watched one game film. After watching the film from one game, Hoge felt it necessary to post on Twitter the following:

@merrilhoge
Sitting watching tape off bronco offense from last year! Orton or Tebow? It’s embarrassing to think the broncos could win with tebow!!

@merrilhoge
Orton or tebow? QB play is not just about who works hard gives rare rare college speeches or who is a good guy!! Because orton works hard

@merrilhoge
And is a good guy as well. It’s about who can play!! I just watched Tebow throw 5 out routes to a wide open WR! He was 1 for 5! 2 went in

@merrilhoge
Dirt 2 in the stands! That throwing motion he changed? U can’t change who u r! Just watched 2 throws and he throws like he did in college!!

@merrilhoge
College credentials do not transfer to NFL raw raw speeches do not work! You must poses a skill set to play! Tebow struggle with accuracy!

Heavy words from a guy that has never been known to be a quarterback guru, or a special player himself. Why did he feel like he needed to go to Twitter to share his thoughts? hmm. I'm about 99% sure this was done for a few reasons:

1) To promote his website, which I won't list here, but he links to it on Twitter.
2) To boost ESPN ratings.
3) To help Hoge sell books (he has a book out now - I'm sure it hasn't sold nearly as many copies of Tim Tebow's).

Not only did Hoge post his thoughts on Twitter. He spent the day doing interviews and continued to bash Tim Tebow, and his supposed lack of ability to be an NFL quarterback. After being invited by Mark Schlereth, Alfred Williams and D-Mac from 104.3 The Fan to discuss Tebow, Hoge went off. He said "Tebow's accuracy is horrible and will never improve!" He then got in a shouting match with D-Mac and threatened that he'd be in Denver next week. It's really quite ridiculous all the things that Merril Hoge went on to say. To hear the entire interview click here: http://www.1043thefan.com/channels/thedrive/Story.aspx?ID=1473664

I think it's completely irresponsible to look at one game tape, and make the claims that Hoge made against Tebow. Of course he didn't look good. He was a rookie that didn't play until the very end of the season. He didn't get many reps at practice, and didn't get a chance to improve much during the season. Any rookie quarterback is going to struggle in that position.

What I want to know is, what gives? Why did Hoge act so unprofessional about this whole thing? Constructive criticism is fine, but completely writing off a guy is different. Using Twitter to bash Tebow in order to promote himself is pretty lame.

Are the Rockies trying to get the No.1 pick in next years draft? Although it seriously doubt they are, from the outside it sure looks like a possibility. Two weeks ago I wrote about how the Rockies still had a chance, with a nine game West coast road trip against divisional opponents. It's safe to say that dream went out of the window with a 4-5 trip and an 0-2 start to this homestand. Staying positive about this season has become difficult, due to the Rockies GM saying the trade of Ubaldo was a means to "Re-tool" his team for this year, and for the future. Should we believe the trade is going to help this season?

August is now upon us and time is fleeting for the Rockies chances at the post-season. If they have any aspirations for baseball beyond September, winning games must become more of a norm than losing, especially at home. When writing about the nine game roadtip and the Rockies chance to narrow the gap in the division, it was dependant on the Giants losing games against some quality opponents. Which they did. Instead of a more reasonable race, the Rockies have won three of the last ten games, the Giants four. That road trip was crucial and the Rockies simply didn't come up big in the clutch. With a few more wins they could be in great shape to battle for the division. Instead, they sit ten games back with 52 games remaining. Again, anything is possible, but making up that big of a margin will require many wins in the division.

Today the Rockies will finish up a three game series with the Phillies, and we should be happy to see "Charlie" and his fair weather Phils exit Coors. The Rockies 12-23 record in day games doesn't really excite me today, Roy Halladay taking the mound makes a win seem impossible. A win today could be a catalyst to a Rockies team looking for positives in a lost season. With the trade deadline already in the rear-view mirror, the Rockies will have a chance to trade for players on the waiver wire. With a bad record, they will have priority over many teams and this could be a chance to "Re-tool", if that's the goal.

Are the Rockies "Re-tooling" or are they looking to next year? 

The Denver Broncos have been busy adding free agents in the last couple days. Willis McGahee started the parade into Denver on Sunday. He was followed by many free agents that left Broncos fans shaking their heads. No big names. No Pro Bowlers. Nothing too exciting.

Well Broncos fans, I'm telling you not to worry. Time will help make sense of the Broncos additions, and some of them will surprise you.

Here's a summary of who the Broncos have signed or traded for as of today:


Willis McGahee: RB 6'0" 235 lbs.
McGahee is by far the biggest name to be added by the Broncos so far. He's been in the league eight seasons and has put up big numbers along the way. Early in his career, he played under Broncos running back coach Eric Studdesville, and had his best yardage totals. McGahee then moved on to Baltimore where he took a back seat to Ray Rice in 2008, after rushing for 1207 yards for the Ravens in 2007. While Ray Rice took over the bulk of the carries, McGahee was still a solid goal-line and short yardage back. He's racked up 55 rushing touchdowns in his career -- that is music to the ears of Broncos fans. With Knowshon Moreno being a bit less than expected so far in his career, McGahee will provide depth and may push Moreno to become a better back. This to me was a great signing, and it didn't break the bank. With the heavy run offense John Fox runs, McGahee should get plenty of touches, and touchdowns over the next 4 seasons.

Brodrick Bunkley: DT 6'3 306 lbs.
Bunkley was drafted in the first round out of Florida State in 2006. While he has had plenty of playing time for the Philadelphia Eagles, he also missed some of last year with an elbow injury. In 76 career games, Bunkley started 52 games, accumulating 144 tackles and 7 sacks. He's only 27 years old and is entering the final year of a six year contract he signed as a rookie. While Bunkley has not lit the world on fire, he has been a steady player for an Eagles team that typically plays well on defense. Many critics are quick to say he is a bust, and the Broncos didn't get much. I'm here to say, give him a chance. He's looking to make a name for himself as he enters the last year of his contract. Playing under a coach like John Fox, he should have an opportunity to make plays this year. Bunkley was traded for a low pick in the 2013 draft, so it didn't cost the Broncos much. I'd say Bunkley is very low risk, with potential to be a high reward.

Marcus Thomas: DT 6'3" 316 lbs. 
Thomas has been with the Broncos since 2007, when they drafted him in the 4th round. Before the draft in 2007, there was talk of him being a first round pick, but he got himself in trouble for failing drug tests (marijuana) during his last year in Florida. I have to admit, I'm a fan of Marcus Thomas and think that in the right defense (4-3), with the right players around him (Von Miller, Elvis Dumervil), he can be a huge difference maker. If the Broncos had never switched to the 3-4 under Joshy McD, I think Thomas would have been a highly touted free agent this year. The guy weighs 316 lbs and can do a standing back flip. I know that doesn't make him a good football player, but he's a great athlete for his size. In his second year, he started all 16 games, and put up good numbers on a terrible defense (2008).  Thomas signed a one year contract and will also be looking to make a name for himself as he enters free agency again in 2012. With a little competition between him and Bunkley, the Broncos should get a nice rotation in the middle of their defensive line. The great thing about Thomas is he is only 25, and has lots of room to improve and mature as a player.

Daniel Fells: TE 6'4" 272 lbs.
No you didn't read that wrong, and there is no typo. Daniel Fells is a monster of a tight end. He can basically be like an extra lineman, while also providing versatility catching the ball as a tight end or fullback. With the Broncos new emphasis on running the ball, Fells could be a very valuable asset in the run game. He could also be big in the red zone on play action, as the Broncos go with run-heavy formations. Fells is only 27 and had his best year last year with St. Louis, as rookie QB Sam Bradford looked his way often.

Dante Rosario: TE 6'4" 250 lbs.
Rosario is in his fifth year, his first four were spent playing for John Fox in Carolina. While he didn't put up huge numbers, he is an athletic pass-catching tight end. He won't spend too much time inside in the run game, but  should get plenty of looks in passing situations. John Fox said today that Rosario had his best year as a pro last year, and he was excited to add him to the team. Rosario is only 26, and at the very least will add depth to the growing group of tight ends the Broncos have accumulated.

Derrick Harvey: DE 6'5" 268 lbs.
Harvery was drafted in the first round in 2008 by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had very high hopes for him (they gave up more to get him than Minnesota did to get Jared Allen!!). Harvey was an ultra-athletic defensive end for the Florida Gators, and a teammate of both Tim Tebow and Marcus Thomas. While he has definitely earned the title of draft bust...he's only 24 years old. It may be possible that getting him around more talent, and former friends and teammates, he could provide quality depth at defensive end.

The trade of Ubaldo Jimenez to the Cleveland Indians is still a raw wound, but Rockies fans must accept the trade made by team management before the July 31st Trade Deadline. Ubaldo is gone, but potential talent exists as a result of the trade, which gives consolation to fans of the "Chief". Reasons for why the trade took place have been talked about but why continue to concentrate on what was. The Rockies, in exchange for Ubaldo Jimenez, recieved four quality prospects from the Indians, each of whom could potentially help the team in the near future. According to MLB writer Jonathan Mayo, the Rockies will receive OF Matt McBride, P Alex White, P Joseph Gardner and a player to be named later (reported to be P Drew Pomeranz).

In exchange for the 27 year old Rockies Ace, they will get two 22 year old pitchers (White and Pomeranz), 23 year old P Joseph Gardner and 26 year old OF Matt McBride. Alex White was drafted by the Indians in 2009 out of the University of North Carolina, with the 15th over selection. In his minor league career and short duty in the Bigs, White has accumulated a 2.63 K/BB ratio to go along with a GO/AO of over 2.00. His minor league ERA the past two seasons is also a noteworthy 2.45 and 1.90 respectively. Gardner, drafted in the third round in 2009, has displayed a 1.85 K/BB ratio and a GO/AO in the mid 3.00 during his two years in the minor leagues. His record of 20-14 is positive but he has taken a small step backward this season in AA Akron, posting an ERA of 4.99 in 97 1/3 innings. Right handed hitting OF Matt McBride is a 2.76 hitter in 4 seasons at the AA level and has shown power with 69 homers, to go along with 349 RBI in his six minor league seasons. His OPS of .811 and SLG of .467 is comparable to Ryan Spilbourghs numbers of .773 OPS and .426 SLG.

As is usual in most trades, a player to be named later was involved but according to Jonathan Mayo, P Drew Pomeranz will not join the Rockies until sometime in August. Pomeranz, a left-handed pitcher selected number 5 overall  in the 2010 draft out of the University of Mississippi in 2010, will  undoubtedly be the most prized asset obtained in the deal. In 19 games in the minor leagues this year, he has a 3-3 record to go along with an ERA of 1.98 in 91.0 innings pitched. His GO/AO ratio of 0.96 is a tad low but he did post a K/BB ratio of 2.94 and a BA against .202. He is very young and talented which bodes well for the Rockies and pitching coach Bob Apodaca.

Add up all of the talent obtained in the blockbuster trade, and the Rockies are left with an up and coming OF and three very talented pitchers with major league potential. As much as fans would like to have seen Ubaldo Jimenez stay here in Colorado, the deal the Rockies made has the long-term goal of strong, solid starting pitching throughout the rotation. Ubaldo will never be replaced, but the ball players recieved in return should be given the opportunity to make their own mark on the team and its goal of a World Series crown. When the trade first happened it was hard for just about everyone involved, but the goal on both sides of the deal was to come out a winner. It's hard to come to a conclusion right now. Time will tell in the years that follow, how successful of a trade it became.

Now that you know who was obtained, does this sound like a good deal Rockies fans?

The Denver Broncos 2011 Training Camp has started off with lots of buzz. The quarterback situation is crazy to say the least. Fans want to see Tim Tebow, the Broncos want to trade Kyle Orton, and the rest of the country seems to be focused on the quarterback soap opera at Dove Valley. There is a new coach in town that actually wants to focus on defense (John Fox), and the transition back to 4-3 from 3-4 has begun. It's an exciting and time to be a Broncos fan, that's for sure!

To view a slideshow of the Broncos training camp, click here: Broncos Photos

Practice Friday afternoon at Dove Valley was in front of a packed house. Fans were basically sitting on top of each other as they crammed in around the practice field. There was certainly excitement in the air, and the players seemed to be just as excited as the fans. In fact, some of the players were so excited, they got a little more physical than they probably should have. Safety David Bruton was tackling guys like it was a full contact practice, and the pads were not even on. You could definitely see the players had an itch to strap on the helmets and make some noise.

Ten Observations:
1) Fans can't get enough of Tim Tebow. Everytime he fired a pass, fans looked on with nervous anticipation. If the pass was complete, the fans did lots of cheering him on. If the pass fell incomplete, fans yelled out encouragement to the second year quarterback.

2) Kyle Orton did not interact with Tim Tebow at all. The closest the two came was about 5 feet apart, and never spoke to each other (from what I saw, as well as others sitting around me). A majority of the time they were at least 10-20 yards apart.

3) Brady Quinn has a loyal following, especially from the ladies. Quinn made some good throws, and each time the female fans let him know they still have love for him.

4. Orlando Franklin is a huge man! The rookie Right Tackle is a big guy and looks like he'll bring some much needed physicality to the run game. For a long time Broncos fan, a lineman of his size is a little weird to see.

5. Von Miller looks the part. The rookie #2 overall pick is lightning quick off the ball, and should provide a solid 1-2 pass rush tandem with Elvis Dumervil.

6. The 2011 Denver Broncos look like they have fun. Last year, fun was a bad word with Josh McDaniels around. This year the players look more loose, and smiles could be seen all over the practice field.

7. Eddie Royal will be a bigger part of the offense this year. It looks like Royal will play in the slot in 3 receiver sets, and will get plenty of time opposite Brandon Lloyd in base formations.

8. The defense will have lots of speed. There are many smaller looking players on defense this year, many of which have some serious speed. There should be a great deal of competition for the secondary positions as there is a great mix of young and old fighting for starting spots, especially at safety.

9. Von Miller will be more of a hybrid than an "outside linebacker". During passing situations, Miller always lined up as a defensive end opposite Elvis Dumervil. While Miller went to the defensive end spot, Robert Ayers squeezed in to the defensive tackle spot to help rush the passer. This means he will most likely spend more time rushing the quarterback than covering tight ends.

10. Elvis Dumervil should get plenty of opportunities for sacks this season. As noted above, Von Miller will help take the double-teams away from Dumervil. Also, it appears Dumervil will always line up on the weakside, or the side with no tight end. This will make it difficult for opposing teams to double team him.

Go Broncos!

The Colorado Rockies are in a tough predicament this year and everybody knows it. According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies are willing to trade Ubaldo Jimenez because he is the best option to fill a roster full of holes. Rumors are flying around that Ubaldo is discontent with his pitching coach Bob Apodaca, but Troy Renck wrote that no such quarrel exists between the two. Given his close relationship with Jimenez as a beat writer, I will believe what Renck says. Ubaldo has been a great teammate and popular pitcher since his arrival in late 2007, but some writers are trying to paint a picture of him that simply isn't there. Ubaldo is a thoughtful and soft-spoken person, who has stated more than once, his desire to remain a Rockie for the remainder of his career.

As a teenager, Ubaldo was signed by the Rockies out of the Dominican Republic, in the small town of San Cristobal. He had been offered contracts by other teams but the Rockies made him the best one. Money for college was included in the deal, just in case a career in baseball never panned out. In the decade since his signing, Ubaldo has transformed into a stellar pitcher as well as a stand up guy. During interviews he is polite, understands the English language well, and never seems to get mad. Yet, some media are trying to paint a different picture, putting words into his mouth without any indication from him that a problem with coaches actually exists. This season has had obstacles any Ace would love to forget, but saying Ubaldo wants to go or is discontent is simply not true. Ubaldo could be traded but he has no control over the matter.

Big market teams are attempting to swoop in and grab Ubaldo while his stock is at an all-time low. Confounding the issue is the poor performance of the Rockies. With the ability to improve the team which lacks talent, trading Ubaldo might happen but not because he wants to go. National media will push for blockbuster trades and things will be said that are untrue, but one thing should be known: Ubaldo is a great leader, person and teammate who loves playing for his current team. The Rockies are the only franchise he's ever known, the team he prefers to play with for the remainder of his career. The Rockies may end up trading him because their need for talent is large. Saying it would happen to resolve a dispute between management and himself is not true.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter via twitter, the Denver Broncos have signed #2 overall pick Von Miller to an undisclosed contract. This is good news to Broncos fans as they look forward to seeing a revamped defense under new Head Coach, John Fox. The terms of Miller's contract have not been released, but it is speculated to be a 4 year deal, with a team option for a 5th year.

The Broncos announced yesterday that Von Miller will be wearing jersey #58 this season. This is partially in honor of his favorite player, Derrick Thomas. Hopefully Broncos fans will see Von Miller terrorize opposing quarterbacks the way Derrick Thomas used to terrorize John Elway.

Today is a good day for Broncos fans.

Do you think Von Miller will be able to help lead the Broncos defense back to being the orange crush?

There are many reasons why the Colorado Rockies continue to play uninspired baseball in the Jim Tracy era. None of which reside on the part of the Rockies. From what I've been hearing, the blame has been going to the umps, writers, bloggers, and even Dinger himself. Even Root Sports, the unbiased home telecast is being pulled into the excuse machine known as the 2011 Rockies season. Root does a great job of calling games, with talented and experienced broadcasters. But, excuses are becoming more of a crutch than to actually give a fair assessment of how the Rockies are playing.

One explanation given as a reason for the lack of success, is of course, all the trade rumors being flung around. True. Trade rumors can affect a baseball player on the field and be a detriment to a team looking to escape a season-long funk. So what was the main excuse before all the trade rumors started flying? Injuries. The Rockies season has spiraled to a new low because of injuries, which cannot be overlooked. According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the admission by Dan O'Dowd that he was listening to offers on Ubaldo Jimenez, was meant to light a fire in the Rockies Ace. I guess that didn't work out too well. This season has seen injuries to key players (De La Rosa, Cook, Tulo, Cargo) and sub-par performances by players looking to make the next step in their careers (Stewart, Ianetta). While injuries and trade rumors can take a toll on a team, they are not the only reasons for the underperforming Rockies.

Going into Spring Training at an all new Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, high hopes were placed on the Rockies by national and local media alike. Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez were both given "Mega Deals" in the off-season and were secured by the team for the next decade.The usual slow start to the season was going to be a thing of the past for the Rockies. Chris Ianetta was to become the starting Catcher again, not having to compete with Yorvit Torrealba or Miguel Olivo. Ian Stewart was given the opportunity to lock down 3rd base and show the tremendous potential he has. With the trade of Clint Barmes to the Astros, The Rockies brought in 2B Jose Lopez to compete with Chris Nelson, Jonathan Herrera and Eric Young Jr. Utilityman Ty "Wiggy" Wigginton was signed in the off-season to bring in a power bat that could play almost anywhere on the diamond. Jason Giambi signed a team friendly contract to back up Todd Helton at first base and be the DH during interleague games.

On the pitching side, it looked as though the Rockies would possess a ton of depth in the starting rotation. Former Mets starter John Maine signed a minor league deal and former first round pick Greg Reynolds looked to be healthy this season. Felipe Paulino, acquired through a trade with the Astros was converted to a reliever. The bullpen was given a boost with the acquisition of Matt Lidstrom. The only thing left to do
was compete, and show everyone that the Rockies mean business.

So here we are on July 27th, a season-low eight games under .500, with the trade deadline only 4 days away. Admittedly, there are reasons as to why the Rockies are fighting to salvage the season, with injuries taking the bulk of the blame. Trade rumors definitely have hurt the team over the past few weeks as well. Underperforming cannot be overlooked as many younger players are getting older. The front office can also take a share of the blame for risky off-season moves. No one could foresee the season as it has unraveled, but nevertheless, the season is what it is. There is always next season. Ubaldo Jimenez is still the Rockies Ace, Tulo and Cargo are here to stay. Creating the right pieces around them may not be easy but will be a necessity in the very near future. Last but not least, Todd Helton is having a great year and truly looks like the HOF we all know and love.

Winning the AFC West has been a pipe-dream for Bronco fans over the past few seasons, not because of the stiff competition though. The division has been there for the taking, but the inability to run the ball has led to too many 4th downs, and lopsided scores. It used to be a given that division foes would hang their heads on the way out of Denver, but lately its been the Broncos. Just like any sport, winning within the division is key to finding success, and especially at home. Sustaining a long drive on the ground can really take the wind out of opposing defenses, but the lack of a running game has given new life to the opposition.

According to Lindsay Jones of the Denver Post, the Broncos will part ways with Correll Buckhalter, leaving an opening for a RB. The Broncos will likely add a Free Agent RB to compete with Knowshon Moreno and LenDale White. Broncos Head Coach John Fox has shown in the past, his appreciation for a two-headed combo at running back, and that should give us a reason to be optimistic. Unless Moreno continues his fumbling ways. The Broncos could have a three-headed monster, if and when the "Mile High Messiah" becomes the starting QB. WIth the ability to scramble for first-downs and elude pass rushers, Tim Tebow will give an added dimension to pass heavy Denver Broncos team. With a good running game, young athletic QB's tend to have more success. All you need to do is look at Joe Flacco, Mark Sanchez and Matt Ryan. Each of them had good defenses behind them, but they were also able to run the ball with regularity. Not to mention they are athletic enough to scramble in the pocket (opposite of Kyle Orton).

Critics have been highly skeptical of Tim Tebow because of his throwing motion and his eagerness to scramble at a whim. If I had a choice, I would take a Heisman winner and National Champion over a scared, slow QB. Tim Tebow might not be a polished starter in the NFL, but he has the desire AND work ethic to be a great leader and QB. If Tebow is numero uno on the depth chart this season, the Broncos will attempt to protect him with a solid running game. Although the Lock-out will undoubtedly affect his ability to learn another new offense, Tim Tebow should be the starter of the Denver Broncos. The AFC West is still ripe for the taking.

Last years 4-12 Broncos team was a major disappointment with such a weak division. So how many wins could it take to win the AFC West next season? The division winner could end up with a 9-7 record and the Denver Broncos could be that team. Getting an additional 5 wins is not out of the question for the Broncos. Defense will continue to be a priority for the Broncos, and the additions of Von Miller, Rahim Moore, Nate Irving and Quinton Carter through the draft will go a long way in determining how many games the Broncos win this year.

How many games do you think the Broncos could win this year? 8...9...possibly 10?

According to the Denver Post's Mike Klis, Kyle Orton has been put on the trade block by the Denver Broncos. This is really no surprise to anyone that has followed the Broncos over the last couple seasons. Orton has had some great numbers, and has really made a name for himself across the league. However most Broncos fans have seen enough and are ready for the next John Elway replacement to roll into town. Kyle Orton is a stand-up guy, a hard worker and a good football player. His departure from Denver simply boils down to his lack of playmaking in the red zone, poor performance on third downs, and an inability to avoid any pressure that comes his way. Orton will be a good quarterback for a team with a great offensive line, a good defense, and offensive playmakers around him.  

Just imagine if Josh McDaniels had not drafted Tim Tebow...Kyle Orton may not be going anywhere....

Possible landing spots for Kyle Orton:

Arizona Cardinals: Not likely to happen, only because Arizona really wants Kevin Kolb from the Philadelphia Eagles. If that trade were to fall through, or the asking price was too high for Arizona to pull the trigger, Orton could end up there.

Seattle Seahawks: Matt Hasselbeck is all but gone from Seattle. They're left with Charlie Whitehurst as the most dependable quarterback option they have. It's possible Hasselbeck stays, but more than likely Seattle makes a splash and brings in a quarterback via trade or free agency.

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins have had more quarterbacks the last ten years than Al Davis has had nationally televised verbal diarrhea incidents. Chad Henne is a good athlete with a strong arm, but he just can't seem to put it all together. It looks like Miami will be in need of a quarterback for the long-term, and Orton could be the guy.

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings are in serious need of a veteran quarterback. The Tavaris Jackson experiment seems to be over, and his biggest supporter, former coach Brad Childress is gone. There is a new regime in place, and there will be many changes made. The Vikings drafted Christian Ponder in the first round, but he will not be ready to start this season.

Tennessee Titans: Vince Young has had his chance, and has been hit or miss. There is a new coaching staff in place, and changes are on the way. Kerry Collins finally threw in the towel, and Tennessee is left with little at the quarterback position. I see the Titans as a very likely place for Kyle Orton to end up.

Where do you think Kyle Orton will end up?

What will the Broncos get for him?

The infamous 5-month NFL lockout is finally over...well almost over. Once the players sign the proposal made by the owners on Thursday, the 2011 NFL season will officially begin. As for details of the agreement between the players and owners, fans simply need to know that the players and owners are still rich -- and will get richer. You can remove your finger from your eye, and take off the earmuffs...it's time to actually start watching and hearing about FOOTBALL again. 

What I'm concerned about now is what do the Denver Broncos do moving forward? Due to the ridiculous lockout that just ended, the business side of the NFL will be much different this year than any other. Free agency will be very short and sweet, rookies will have to sign quickly, and teams with new coaches (Denver Broncos) will have to introduce their players to the coaches just days before the start of training camp.

Here's a quick schedule of what will happen one the lockout is officially over:

Tuesday, July 26th:

• Drafted and undrafted rookies can sign contracts with teams.
• Teams can begin discussions with unrestricted free agents from around the league. 

Wednesday, July 27th - Friday, July 29th:

• Teams will begin training camps (roughly 10 teams will start each day).
  

Now that we know a bit of what the schedule will look like, I'm wondering what the Broncos moves will look like? They have some pressing issues that need to be handled for them to improve from the pitiful 4-12 performance they put up last year. Obviously defense is a huge issue, and will be the main focus for signing free agents. Who will be the starting quarterback is also a huge issue... and is perhaps the most important decision the Broncos will make this year.

What will happen first, and what is most important to the Broncos success in 2011?

• Kyle Orton gets traded
• A big name defensive lineman is finally added to the Broncos
• The decision is made on who will start at quarterback (Orton vs. Tebow. vs. Quinn)
• Current free agents are either signed or let go (Ryan Harris, Marcus Thomas)
• #2 overall pick Von Miller signs his rookie contract