Who is the Best

[cdumler7]

Was reading an article talking about all of our FA signings this past off season and realized just how fortunate we are as Bronco Fans to have maybe the best FO in football right now. Our drafts have produced quality players and our FA signings have been the best since our Super Bowl years (saw a comparison and until this group wins a Super Bowl still have to give it to the FA classes of 97 and 98 right now as best in franchise history). My question though is who has been the best signing for the Broncos at this point in the season?

You have DeMarcus Ware who is tied for 4th (everyone ahead of him other than Von Miller has one extra game played) in sacks. He has also been a very vocal leader on the team and a great addition especially for off the field mentoring.

You have Aqib Talib who has really just played outstanding this season in my opinion. He has 2 picks and has tipped about 3-4 other passes that have lead to interceptions this season. He has also been huge in the run game being about the most physical corner I have seen play in a long time (Champ was great in the run game but that was because he was a sure tackler that was not afraid to get into stopping the run but Talib actually knocks people off their feet).

TJ Ward has been outstanding in the run game. He has been as advertised in just sticking his nose in and playing like a linebacker. I would say his coverage hasn't been quite what I had hoped but hey he is a big reason our run defense continues week in and week out to be one of the best in the league.

Emmanuel Sanders was the forgotten man in the off season. Everybody wanted to talk about our defensive players that we added and Sanders always seemed to be the talk after those guys and only a short little bit of the conversation. All he has done is be in the top-10 in yards and receptions for the season once again with one less game than most. The guy has changed the dynamic of our offense from last season making teams really have to respect his side of the field and especially the deep ball. The guy has yet to actually drop a pass.

So who is it? Who has been the best of that group? The more I think on it the more I realize how difficult of a choice that really is. They all have added so much to this team.

 

[Broncos6482]

Personally I'd go with Ware. He's been a key part of the pass rush, plus just the leadership role he's taken on the team, especially with Von, puts him over the top for me. Second choice would be Sanders.

 

[cdumler7]

I'm leaning a bit towards Sanders to be honest. The leadership side of Ware probably should put him over the top but Sanders is exactly what this offense needed especially against the physical defenses this season. I mean look at the physical teams we have faced this year...


Seattle--Sanders had 11 catches for 149 yards. Last year in the Super Bowl Decker had what 1 catch.


Arizona--Went against a guy considered a top-3 corner in the league and still put up over 100 yards.


San Fran--Just looking at his stats it doesn't look great but he did draw something like 3 pass interference calls in the game where it looked like he was going to score touchdowns to only get ripped to the ground but then watch the Broncos then march it into the end zone after those plays.


Throw in I would say the guy has been making the clutch catches for us. The 3rd and long where we are needing a first down it does seem like Manning is going to Sanders on those situations even if he is double covered and Sanders seems to be coming up with the catches.


I do think me picking Sanders right now is probably more to do with him exceeding my expectations where I did expect big things from the other 3. Sanders had accomplished the least of the 3 in his career and I was just going to be happy if Sanders got even half way close to the production of Decker in this offense this first year. Now it is looking like he will exceed Decker plus make our offense so much more dynamic with teams having to respect his deep threat.


I would say Ware is a very very close second though as it is hard to gauge just how much of a behind the scenes impact he has made. The stories of him helping not only Von Miller but the rest of the team. heck they were saying he was working with OC Gase teaching him how to mix up his play calling so teams can't just look at the formation and know the play that they are going to run. There was talk of him taking Clady aside and working on hand placement against elite pass rushers. So he probably should be the top guy just like I said Sanders has so exceeded my expectations.

 

[MrDoc420]

Ware and Talib have both been great, but Sanders has made the biggest impact IMO. He's been all over the field and adds another burner to our WR's. Huge upgrade over Decker, and we got him relatively cheap. I think Ward has overall played really well too, but he's been slippin' a bit the past two weeks. Still really solid overall though.

 

[DownSetHutch]

I'm with Broncos6482. Ware has impacted the defense not only with his on-field play, but with his leadership as well. Our defense was going to be better than last season just by staying healthy, but he has brought a toughness and attitude that we didn't have last year. The D is getting better every week, and even though the pass defense is still not up to par yet, it just seems like it's only a matter of time until they get it together and start shutting opposing offenses down completely. I think Ware is the biggest reason that our defense is playing at another level. However, I am pretty stoked about how Ward and Talib have contributed also. We really may have the most talented defense in the NFL.

Having said all that, Sanders has definitely brought another dimension to our offense with his ability to stretch the field. Dude is just BALLIN right now, making huge plays and sucking in every ball that is thrown his way. I would put him as second most impactful FA signing so far, even though he may be playing the best.