Why Josh McDaniels’s first year in Denver will be a tough one.

Denver Broncos

Predicted: 2^nd

2008: 8-8 (2^nd AFC West)

Head Coach: Josh McDaniels (1^st year)

Roster Quick View (*new veteran, **rookie)

Offense (coordinator: Mike McCoy)

QB: Kyle Orton*

Sprinkle your analysis with all the fancy words you want. Deep down, you know he’s a caretaker.

RB: Knowshon Moreno**

His versatility prompted Denver to overlook its mountains of needs on defense and draft a player at a position already full. Probably a worthwhile move in the long haul.

RB: Correll Buckhalter*

The mildly-elusive ex-Eagle will split power-running duties with LaMont Jordan.

FB: Peyton Hillis

Solid second-year player who won’t see a lot of action, as Josh McDaniels favors two-tight end sets.

WR: Brandon Marshall

Stunning strength and sheer athleticism have produced consecutive seasons of triple-digit receptions. Off-field issues are a concern, but you just don’t find many wideouts this gifted.

WR: Eddie Royal

Set every significant Broncos rookie receiving record last season. In this new scheme, he’s a faster Wes Welker.

WR: Jabar Gaffney*

Fluid route runner and soft hands make the former Patriot a better option than reliable Brandon Stokley or acrobatic Brandon Lloyd.

TE: Daniel Graham

Not much spring in his step as a receiver, but far and away the best blocking tight end in football.

TE: Tony Scheffler

Athletic fourth-year pro will see significant action if he can just stay healthy. A natural receiving threat.

LT: Ryan Clady

Doesn’t turn 23 until September, but is already the best offensive tackle in the NFL.

LG: Ben Hamilton

Savvy veteran who does a good job masking his mild deficiencies in pass protection. Can he handle the new power-blocking duties, though?

C: Casey Wiegmann

Has started 127 consecutive NFL games, playing all of them at a high level. Just earned a pay raise and extension through 2010.

RG: Chris Kuper

One of the game’s finest pass-blocking guards. Also creates excellent angles on the ground.

RT: Ryan Harris

Doesn’t have resounding raw talent, but savvy technique and hard work make him an upper echelon right tackle. Best part is, he’s only 24.

6 OL: Brandon Gorin*

Former Patriot who, at his best, is overwhelmingly average. But he’s also big and knows the system.

Defense (coordinator: Mike Nolan)

LDE: Ryan McBean

Seriously….who?

NT: Ronald Fields

Weighs 315 but is better suited on the outside. And as a backup.

RDE: Kenny Peterson

Decent strength, but the fact that he’s starting tells you Denver literally has no one to fill the defensive end position.

LOLB: Robert Ayers**

Versatile first-round rookie who will line up at DE in passing situations. Shows good quickness and burst. Some experts compare him to Terrell Suggs.

SILB: Andra Davis*

Smart veteran leader who was very productive in a similar scheme as a Cleveland Brown.

WILB: D.J. Williams

There might not be a fiercer man at the point of attack. But he’s playing the fourth different position of his six-year career.

ROLB: Darrell Reid*

Have you ever seen a defensive tackle convert to outside linebacker? Has proven as a special teams maven that he’s not bad in space. But still…

5 LB: Elvis Dumervil

Doesn’t fit this scheme. Too small for OLB and way too small for DE. That said, should be able to hold off’07 early-round picks Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder.

CB: Champ Bailey

Healthy for most of his nine-year career, though injuries have been a problem as of late. Still, at 31, he’s remains one of the top three corners in the game.

CB: Andre Goodman*

Much better man defender than people realize. He’s an enormous upgrade over Dre’ Bly.

NB: Alphonso Smith**

The team traded its 2010 first-round pick just to get him at No. 37. He’s the ACC’s all-time interception leader, but goodness––that first-rounder will likely be in the top 10.

SS: Brian Dawkins*

Broncos are hoping he can follow the course of John Lynch and remain a Pro Bowl caliber safety in his late 30s.

FS: Renaldo Hill*

Not an impact player, but unlike those like who rotated at this position last year, he’s not prone to giving up plays.

6 DB: Josh Bell

Athletical undrafted nickelback a year ago who is not yet refined but is worth developing.

Special Teams

K: Matt Prater

Confidence issues and fatigue hounded him down the stretch in 2008.

P: Brett Kern

Averaged 46.7 yards per punt, but Denver’s coverage unit ranked 28^th.

RS: Eddie Royal

Darting big-play threat, but might be too valuable on offense to use in this role.

Offseason Quick Glance

Draft

RD PK (OVR) NAME POS SCHOOL

1 12 (12) Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia

1 18 (18) Robert Ayers DE Tennessee

2 5 (37) Alphonso Smith CB W Forest

2 16 (48) Darcel McBath S Texas Tech

2 32 (64) Richard Quinn TE UNC

4 14 (114) David Bruton S Notre Dame

4 32 (132) Seth Olsen OT Iowa

5 5 (141) Kenny McKinley WR S Carolina

6 1 (174) Tom Brandstater QB Fresno St

7 16 (225) Blake Schlueter C TCU

KEY PLAYERS ACQUIRED

RB Correll Buckhalter: UFA Eagles; 4 yrs, terms unknown.

LB Andra Davis: UFA Browns; $5M/2 yrs, guarantees unknown.

S Brian Dawkins: UFA Eagles; $17M/5 yrs, $7.5M guaranteed; can void to $9.5M/2 yrs.

DT Ronald Fields: UFA 49ers; $5M/2 yrs, SB unknown.

WR Jabar Gaffney: UFA Patriots; $10M/4 yrs, $3M guaranteed.

CB Andre’ Goodman: UFA Dolphins; $25M/5 yrs, $10M guaranteed.

OT Brandon Gorin: UFA Rams; terms unknown.

LB Nick Greisen: FA Ravens; terms unknown.

S Renaldo Hill: UFA Dolphins; $10M/4 yrs, $3M guaranteed.

P Dirk Johnson: FA Redskins; terms unknown.

RB LaMont Jordan: UFA Patriots; $2.5M/2 yrs, guarantees unknown.

QB Kyle Orton (trade Bears).

LS Lonie Paxton: UFA Patriots; $5.38M/5 yrs, $1M SB.

DT Darrell Reid: UFA Colts; $6.8M/3 yrs, SB unknown.

QB Chris Simms: UFA Titans; $6M/2 yrs, $1.5M SB; 2009 cap: $2.71M.

KEY PLAYERS LOST

CB Dre’ Bly (released).

QB Jay Cutler (traded Bears).

DE John Engelberger (released).

TE Nate Jackson (released).

LB Niko Koutouvides (released).

LS Mike Leach (released).

S Marquand Manuel (released).

TE Chad Mustard (released).

CB Karl Paymah: UFA Vikings; $1.55M/1 yr.

OT Erik Pears: Not tendered as RFA/Raiders; terms unknown.

FB Andrew Pinnock (released).

RB P.J. Pope (released).

QB Patrick Ramsey: UFA Titans; 1 yr, terms unknown.

DT Dewayne Robertson (released).

DT Josh Shaw (released).

LB Jamie Winborn (released).

RB Selvin Young (released/failed physical).

Analysis

This offseason we learned what happens when an owner abruptly pushes CTRL-ALT-DELETE twice on his franchise. Replacing legendary head coach Mike Shanahan with callow Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was just the beginning for Pat Bowlen. In case you haven’t heard, McDaniels and QB Jay Cutler didn’t exactly hit it off. So, Cutler became the NFL’s first young superstar passer in recent memory to get traded. In exchange for him, Denver got placeholder Kyle Orton (who easily beat out free agent signee Chris Simms for the starting job), the No. 18 pick that became DE/OLB Robert Ayers, a third-round pick that was eventually traded, and Chicago’s 2010 first-round pick. The first-rounder next year was also essentially traded in order for Denver to move up and select CB Alphonso Smith early in the second round. Denver’s staff had first-round grades on Smith and saw this as a bargain. Smith will likely play behind free agent pickup Andre Goodman, a very solid man-defender.

In addition to Ayers and Smith, McDaniels and new GM Brian Xanders made three other picks in the first two rounds. Critics have griped that those picks didn’t address areas of need. No. 12 overall selection Knowshon Moreno joined a backfield that had already seen the arrival of free agents Correll Buckhalter and LaMont Jordan. None of those guys, however, are starters. The versatile Moreno is, though.

Denver’s final second-round pick was used on TE Richard Quinn. They value the 260-pounder’s blocking, but they already had the game’s best in Daniel Graham. Plus, Tony Scheffler comes off the bench.

It’s reasonable to criticize the Broncos for once-again throwing money at free agents––they signed 16 possible contributors––and not doing enough to stock the front seven of their new 3-4. But be patient with McDaniels; Pat Bowlen will be.