It's hard to find five wins for the Broncos in their 2009 schedule. Next year's first-round draft pick should be a very high pick. So why on earth would you trade it for a guy in the second round? Did they not consider the schedule in their thinking when they did this? Seems like amateur hour at Dove Valley.
Josh, Butte, Mont.
Mike Klis: If the Broncos had traded their 2010 first-round pick and taken 335-pound defensive lineman Ron Brace with the No. 37 pick in the second round of this year's draft, few would have squawked. It's making that kind of deal for a 5-foot-9 cornerback (Alphonso Smith) that raised eyebrows, especially when Brace went three picks later to Josh McDaniels' former team, the New England Patriots.
I'm not saying you're wrong, Josh. I'm saying McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders liked Smith as a cornerback better than they liked Brace as a nose tackle. I don't watch enough ACC Football - Brace played at Boston College, Smith at Wake Forest - to make an informed opinion as we sit here in May, although it is fair to question the wisdom of such strategy.
As for your educated projection of a five-win season, I'll take the over. The Broncos play a total of four games against Kansas City and Oakland, one each against Cincinnati and Cleveland and have eight home games. I'd be more surprised if the Broncos are worse than 7-9 than I would be if they were better than 9-7 this year.
Getting defensive. With the defense broken and the offense fine, McDaniels drafts six out of 10 on offense! Knowshon Moreno will be a good tailback right away. But what's the plan for the defensive line? I canceled my Broncos season tickets.
Walter, Colorado Springs
Mike: If I'm following your train of thought, did you just cancel your season tickets because the Broncos didn't select Peria Jerry or Ron Brace? A discerning group, Broncos fans. So long as we don't lose you from this mailbag, Walter, I don't care what you do with your entertainment dollar.
Personally, I'd get more bang watching Moreno run than Brace plugging a two-gap. But that's me.
Here's the deal about the D-line: Yes, the Broncos were hoping to take nose tackle B.J. Raji or defensive end Tyson Jackson with their No. 12 overall draft pick. But both were gone, and there wasn't another player at those positions, in the Broncos' opinion, whom they considered a franchise-type player.
I thought the team's biggest weakness the past two years was its safety play. The Broncos now have two good ones in Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill, and they drafted Darcel McBath in the second round. The Broncos were 30th in defensive scoring last year, 28th in 2007. The 2009 defense can do better merely by showing up.
Passing on Freeman. Were the Broncos really interested in QB Josh Freeman at pick No. 18?
Jack, Tampa, Fla.
Mike: They were not. I know Tampa Bay's brass thought so, evidenced by the Bucs' trade from No. 19 to No. 17 to leapfrog the Broncos and nab Freeman. But as the Broncos rated the QBs for their offensive system, they liked Mark Sanchez first. The next QB on their list was Rhett Bomar, although they liked him in the third round. The Broncos did like Freeman. Liked him a lot. They just weren't sure if he was the right fit for their system.
Siding with Simms. If Chris Simms wins the QB battle, would Denver consider moving Ryan Clady to right tackle and Ryan Harris to left tackle since Simms is a southpaw? You want your best lineman protecting the QB's blindside.
Tim, Austin, Texas
Mike: I was talking to Mark Schlereth, a former Broncos left guard, about this on draft day. He said the switch from left side to right side on the offensive line is almost like asking a right-handed batter to switch to the left side. It's hard to believe it's that difficult, but I get his point that it's tougher than people think. And what kind of message would Harris receive if he was asked to switch with Clady? The silent communication would also be at risk - Clady and left guard Ben Hamilton instinctively know when the other needs help, as do Harris and right guard Chris Kuper.
For many reasons, they'd be better off leaving well enough alone. --------- Making a mess
Just so I'm clear: The Broncos traded a Pro Bowl quarterback for Robert Ayers, Alphonso Smith and Richard Quinn?
Justin, West Virginia
Mike: And Kyle Orton, right. And it's not that clear because, technically, the Broncos still have the 2010 first-round draft choice they received from the Bears. Officially, Smith won't be part of the Jay Cutler trade because the Broncos surrendered their own 2010 first-round pick to get him. This is a trade that will never be neatly packaged, which is appropriate because it was a messy ordeal to begin with.
