Interesting Draft Related Observation On 1997 Bronco Offense

[SpiritOf77]

Offense Starters:

- John Elway - 1st Round
- Terrell Davis - 6th Round
- Howard Griffith - 9th Round
- Shannon Sharpe - 7th Round
- Rod Smith - Undrafted
- Ed McCaffery - 3rd Round

- Gary Zimmerman - 1st Round
- Mark Schlereth - 10th Round
- Tom Nalen - 7th Round
- Brian Habib - 10th Round
- Tony Jones - Undrafted


Looking at this offensive roster and where the players were drafted - esp on the offensive line - makes me wonder just how much loading up with individual superstars means to a team, esp a team lead by Gary Kubiak - he seems to be completely comfortable with non-superstars ..

It's about team, finding the right pieces and getting a group together that fit the vision ...

Looking at this offense draft-wise, who would have thought that they would revolutionize the way offensive lines work and dominate in the run game ??

 

[WalkerBoh]

Offense Starters:

- John Elway - 1st Round
- Terrell Davis - 6th Round
- Howard Griffith - 9th Round
- Shannon Sharpe - 7th Round
- Rod Smith - Undrafted
- Ed McCaffery - 3rd Round

- Gary Zimmerman - 1st Round
- Mark Schlereth - 10th Round
- Tom Nalen - 7th Round
- Brian Habib - 10th Round
- Tony Jones - Undrafted


Looking at this offensive roster and where the players were drafted - esp on the offensive line - makes me wonder just how much loading up with individual superstars means to a team, esp a team lead by Gary Kubiak - he seems to be completely comfortable with non-superstars ..

It's about team, finding the right pieces and getting a group together that fit the vision ...

Looking at this offense draft-wise, who would have thought that they would revolutionize the way offensive lines work and dominate in the run game ??

Worth noting that three-four of the o-line players were known commodities from other teams by the time they got to Denver. They were good players on other teams.

 

[Malibu]

Worth noting that three-four of the o-line players were known commodities from other teams by the time they got to Denver. They were good players on other teams.

Agreed, plus this was a long time ago. The game has changed. There are late round gems that can be found in the draft but most of those players like WalkerBoh said were established players already then came to Denver.

 

[cdumler7]

Agreed, plus this was a long time ago. The game has changed. There are late round gems that can be found in the draft but most of those players like WalkerBoh said were established players already then came to Denver.

As much as the game has changed I still think we are looking at a time where the NFL draft is still almost as much a crap shoot today.

Look at the All-Pro team from this past year with the OL. They were not all 1st round picks. Marshall Yanda was a 3rd round pick. Andrew Whitworth was a 2nd round pick. Ryan Kalil again a 2nd round pick.

We expand that to the 2nd team and we have Josh Sitton who was a 4th round pick.

In 2014 Jason Peters was on the 2nd team All-Pro list and was an undrafted player.

2013 you have Vasquez who was a 3rd round pick, Evan Mathis 3rd round pick, Jahri Evans 4th round pick.

So talent can be found still in the late rounds for the OL. In fact with OL players especially needing time to develop I almost think being able to get some late round guys that you sit for a year is a good idea letting them learn how to play in the NFL.

 

[Malibu]

As much as the game has changed I still think we are looking at a time where the NFL draft is still almost as much a crap shoot today.

Look at the All-Pro team from this past year with the OL. They were not all 1st round picks. Marshall Yanda was a 3rd round pick. Andrew Whitworth was a 2nd round pick. Ryan Kalil again a 2nd round pick.

We expand that to the 2nd team and we have Josh Sitton who was a 4th round pick.

In 2014 Jason Peters was on the 2nd team All-Pro list and was an undrafted player.

2013 you have Vasquez who was a 3rd round pick, Evan Mathis 3rd round pick, Jahri Evans 4th round pick.

So talent can be found still in the late rounds for the OL. In fact with OL players especially needing time to develop I almost think being able to get some late round guys that you sit for a year is a good idea letting them learn how to play in the NFL.

Agreed but those guys that were mentioned in the OP except for Tom Nalen were established by other teams. So it's not like Denver developed all those guys. Yes o lineman can be found late rounds or even undrafted. It's all about how patient teams are on developing them and if they are in the right scheme. 4 out of the 5 mentioned yes were late round picks except for Zimmerman but they all fit M.S. zone blocking scheme. They were o lineman that could run and not over powering but quick and a little undersized by today's NFL standards. When the Broncos beat the Packers in the Super Bowl it was the heaviest D line versus the lightest o line. We know what the final result was. The NFL draft will always be a crap shoot but it has changed so much where every little thing a player does is critiqued more then ever with the numerous scouts and social media. I always believed that game film shows me more then any player at the combine running in shorts or how much they can lift or how tall they are. Hopefully the Broncos with there o lineman they drafted of late and this year can develop them into a solid unit. There is some promise there with Paradis, Sambrailo and Garcia. Peace.

 

[cdumler7]

Agreed but those guys that were mentioned in the OP except for Tom Nalen were established by other teams. So it's not like Denver developed all those guys. Yes o lineman can be found late rounds or even undrafted. It's all about how patient teams are on developing them and if they are in the right scheme. 4 out of the 5 mentioned yes were late round picks except for Zimmerman but they all fit M.S. zone blocking scheme. They were o lineman that could run and not over powering but quick and a little undersized by today's NFL standards. When the Broncos beat the Packers in the Super Bowl it was the heaviest D line versus the lightest o line. We know what the final result was. The NFL draft will always be a crap shoot but it has changed so much where every little thing a player does is critiqued more then ever with the numerous scouts and social media. I always believed that game film shows me more then any player at the combine running in shorts or how much they can lift or how tall they are. Hopefully the Broncos with there o lineman they drafted of late and this year can develop them into a solid unit. There is some promise there with Paradis, Sambrailo and Garcia. Peace.

Oh I agree with all of this. I just meant it definitely does not require us taking early round picks to find talent on the OL. Actually because Kubiak runs a little different scheme than most in the league a lot of times it means that OL players that fit us drop more in the draft because they lack the size to fit in other schemes. I actually have my eye on some late round prospects more so than some early ones.

 

[SpiritOf77]

Worth noting that three-four of the o-line players were known commodities from other teams by the time they got to Denver. They were good players on other teams.

But still, they were low round or undrafted

 

[SpiritOf77]

I think what prompted me to post this is the fact that we should look at the draft as a whole - who we bring in with those late picks - and undrafted players - can make an impact

 

[cdumler7]

I think what prompted me to post this is the fact that we should look at the draft as a whole - who we bring in with those late picks - and undrafted players - can make an impact

I would honestly say with Elway so far he has been great in the draft with the 1st round picks and then the late round picks (5th round or later). Most of his struggle drafting wise has been the mid-round guys. So far we have seen a lot of late round and even undrafted guys really produce well for this team. We do not have a Super Bowl victory without the likes of Trevathan, Malik, Harris, Anderson, Paradis, and Green. Then you throw in the guys that were late round or undrafted guys from other teams like Marshall, McManus, Stewart, and some others.

 

[randymon]

I would say writing has been a on wall for awhile that the good teams know they can find great players deep in the draft and also as walk ones. Sometimes the numbers lie,and if you really do your homework,a guy like Vernon Adams might just make you a genius.

 

[SpiritOf77]

Yes ..

In other words:

Successful teams can be full of low round picks ..

With the staff we have and success Kubiak has enjoyed his entire coaching career with low round picks, I have complete confidence that this team will be contenders again ..

 

[Mingo]

True for all positions on the Oline except for LT. Zimmerman was a former #1 and so was Clady of course.