Broncos Roundtable: The best and the worst of the offseason

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It’s been over half a year since the Broncos last took the field in a live game.

And what a six months it’s been.

A new coaching staff, a new quarterback and new schemes on both sides of the ball make the 2019 Broncos as unrecognizable as one team can be from one year to the next. But thanks to the two-month offseason conditioning program that just wrapped up, BSN Denver has an inside look to this year’s squad.

With the behind-the-scenes information, the BSN Broncos crew breaks down the state of the team during their five-week summer break.

MOST ENCOURAGING STORYLINE FROM THE OFFSEASON

Ryan

The offense might not suck — Look, you can complain about the coaching staff(s), the game management or even the defensive play calling over the last few years, but by far the most frustrating thing about the post-Peyton Manning Broncos has been just how much the offense has sucked.

Just about every week over the last few years, you could look up after the game and say, “Well, the defense did their job.” Meanwhile, the offense tripped all over themselves and fell face first into a puddle.

With Rich Scangarello now on the headset and Joe Flacco under center, it seems like a legitimate possibility that the offense might not suck, and that’s really all this team needs to be able to stay above water.

Zac

Bradley Chubb’s dominance — The Broncos may have every defensive coordinator’s dream and every opposing quarterback’s worst nightmare: Two Von Miller’s.

Is it possible?

This offseason has not only showed that it’s possible but at the end of the year the saying could very well be two Bradley Chubb’s, instead of centering around Von, the future Hall of Famer.

According to Vic Fangio, Chubb is “tailor-made” for his defense and, according to Ed Donatell, outside backers are “very important” to this specific defense.

In an offseason where Von himself has been publicly challenged by Fangio, Chubb has received nothing but the highest praise from the entire coaching staff, truly setting expectations as high as they could possibly be for two players who get after the quarterback.

Oh, the second-year player terrorized Denver’s tackles in OTAs and mandatory minicamp, too.

Andre

Vic Fangio’s defense — Before Vic Fangio was even hired, his defense looked very intimidating when I studied the tape. From disguising coverages to the variety of personnel packages and the ability to manufacture pressure, Fangio’s scheme can perfectly counter the modern pass-heavy game.

With the additions of Kareem Jackson, Bryce Callahan and Chris Harris Jr.’s contract situation behind us, Denver is poised to have a really talented defense against the pass as Vic puts his stamp on the unit.

Early signs are that things are begging to come together on the defensive side, as the vets have embraced their new coach and the talk of how confusing this scheme is has only added to the intrigue.

The 2019 Broncos will have to be built on defense to get back to winning and the offseason additions, starting with the head coach, should have us all optimistic about their ability to compete next year.

MOST CONCERNING STORYLINE FROM THE OFFSEASON

Ryan

Key contributors still healing — While it’s easy to believe that time literally heals all wounds, until those wounds are officially healed, it’s going to be a concern.

We saw what this team looks like without Emmanuel Sanders and Phillip Lindsay in Week 17 of last year and let me tell you, it wasn’t pretty.

Both seem to be heading in the right direction but with less than a month to go before training camp, we’re getting close to worry time. If one or both aren’t out there at the start of camp, each passing day will bring more concerns.

Zac

More questions than answers on the offensive line — Outside of letting Matt Paradis leave, John Elway devoted nearly every resource he had to improve the offensive line this offseason.

Elway paid a pretty penny to lure Mike Munchak away from Pittsburgh, he made Ja’Wuan James the highest-paid right tackle—at least for a moment thanks to Jon Gruden—and devoted a second-round pick on Dalton Risner.

The offensive line was trending up. Was.

Now, entering training camp, it once again is the biggest question mark on the team.

Has Garett Bolles taken a significant step under Munchak?

Will Ron Leary truly be healthy for an entire season?

Can Connor McGovern consistently snap the ball in shotgun?

Those are just a few of the many legitimate questions across Denver’s line.

Andre

Who is Flacco going to throw to? — Zac and Ryan will know how the receiving corp has looked thus far better than me, but from afar, Joe Flacco’s targets all have significant question marks.

It starts at the top, where Emmanuel Sanders’ recovery’s going well but we still don’t know what to truly expect from No. 10. Courtland Sutton keeps winning contested catches but can he do more?

It’s even murkier beyond the starting two, as someone out of DaeSean Hamilton, Tim Patrick or Juwann Winfree will have to step up, rather, they’ll have to break out entirely. Hamilton was a fourth-round pick, Patrick was undrafted, and Winfree never truly proved himself even at the collegiate level. Expecting any sort of breakout from one of the three seems wishful.

The tight ends should pick up some of the slack in this scheme but for that to happen, a group that’s completely unproven must show signs of growth for the passing game to survive.

ARE YOU MORE ENCOURAGED OR DISCOURAGED ENTERING TRAINING CAMP?

Ryan

Encouraged — It’s always easy to be optimistic during this time of year, but it feels like this team has a real chance to get out of this rut.

The coaching staff seems to be pressing the right buttons, the free-agent acquisitions were solid and John Elway may have just hit on another draft class.

In a tough division and up against a tough schedule all around, it’s going to be an uphill battle for these Broncos, but I’m confident in saying that this team is going to play much better football in 2019.

Zac

Encouraged — The team has seemingly finally found stability with their entire coaching staff and, most importantly, at the most important position in sports thanks to the veteran Joe Flacco.

Flacco’s not going to put up 50 touchdowns, 40 touchdowns or likely even 30 touchdowns this year, but from everything he’s displayed during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, he will be the exact steady quarterback Denver has so desperately been seeking since Peyton Manning left.

Seeing Flacco be Joe Cool on and off the field this offseason is enough to be more encouraged than just a few months ago, but there are other reasons, too.

Look no further than Vic Fangio and his gray sweatsuit to find another reason for legitimate optimism for 2019.

Andre

Encouraged — Look, it’s early and there are obvious questions about this team but the trajectory of this roster is trending up and there’s a solid foundation already forming.

All signs are positive on defense and Flacco seems like enough of an upgrade on Case Keenum to be optimistic about the offense as well, especially with the youth movement forming on that side of the ball.

The fact that the roster looks solidly upgraded over the last few years is a plus but the young core, with strong draft classes in back-to-back years, is what has me excited.

As long as these rookies and sophomore’s play up to their potential, the future of this franchise looks as positive as it has since Peyton Manning left.