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| Andrew Perna & The RGM Denver Broncos Board. 16th April, 2008 - 12:00 pm
 Here at RealGM our hearts beat thanks to the thousands upon thousands of posters that frequent our forums on a daily basis. With the NFL season still months from kicking off, but the ever-important NFL Draft just a little more than a week away, what better time than now to check in with the people who care about football even more than some of the players on the field?
2007 Record: 7-9
Additions: Boss Bailey, LB, Keary Colbert, WR, Samie Parker, WR, Marlon McCree, S
Subtractions: Jason Elam, K (ATL), Jason Walker, WR (OAK), Nick Ferguson, S (HOU)
Draft Picks: 12th
The Answers
1. What was the best thing(s) that happened in 2007?
Gibbs: Seeing Jay Cutler prove that he can be a star in this league, as well as emerging as the best quarterback from the 2006 class.
Elway=GOAT: The improvement of the young talent we have, who have shown the potential to be all-pro material (Cutler, Brandon Marshall, D.J. Williams).
BDutch48: Cutler’s emergence into a good starter and Marshall stepping up to where Walker should have been last season.
2. What was the worst thing that happened in 2007?
Gibbs: The injury bug. If it wasn't for us losing essentially our entire starting offensive line, Javon Walker, Travis Henry, and some key defensive guys, we would have been right in the mix for that AFC Wild Card spot.
Elway=GOAT: The death of Darrent Williams.
BDutch48: The untimely death of Darrent Williams and Travis Henry's downward spiral.
3. Who had a breakout season?
Gibbs: Brandon Marshall. He emerged as a number one receiving threat and will become Cutler's primary target for long time.
Elway=GOAT: Brandon Marshall (A top-seven wide receiver in football).
BDutch48: Cutler is the obvious answer, but that was kind of expected. Marshall pretty much came from nowhere to become our top receiving option.
4. Who was the biggest disappointment?
Gibbs: Javon Walker because of the injuries he had and the fact he gave up on the team by refusing to take a pay-cut. Jim Bates was also a let-down. I expected to have a good defense with him at the helm, but this was the worst we’ve had in years.
Elway=GOAT: Javon Walker (I did not like, or expect much from, the move in the first place) for being injured and a non-factor when healthy.
BDutch48: Henry and to some extent Dre Bly. He and Bailey were supposed to be a scary tandem at corner, but Bly lost his focus way too often.
5. How could the team have been more successful?
Gibbs: Sticking to one defensive scheme all year would have helped. The Slowick/Bates hybrid defense was very poor. Maybe if we hadn't practiced and worked on one defensive scheme the entire offseason, and then abandoned it after Week Three, we would have been more successful.
Elway=GOAT: Actually bringing in defensive linemen to stop the run.
BDutch48: If Bly would have kept his head in the game, and if Henry played the way he should have. Also, it would have helped if the defensive line lived up to expectations.
6. What do you make of the team’s offseason progress at this point?
Gibbs: We haven't addressed our biggest need this year which is defensive tackle, but I like what Mike Shanahan has done with moving D.J. back as well as adding Boss Bailey, Manuel and McCree. The jury is still out on Niko as our new mike.
BDutch48: Signing Bailey was huge, because I think big brother (Champ) will push him to reach his full potential. We now have one of the fastest line-backing units in football, which is crucial when trying to keep up with teams like the Pats. Also, McCree will help with out iffy safety situation.
7. Where are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
Gibbs: Defensive and offensive tackle, a secondary receiver, depth at safety and linebacker and a primary back.
Elway=GOAT: Both tackles, because it all starts in the trenches. We could also use help at linebacker and a primary back. Preferably someone who fell down to us that shouldn’t have.
BDutch48: Defensive tackle. If the defensive line played better last year I believe we could have won at least two or three more games.
8. Who do you hope the team drafts with their first pick?
Gibbs: With Glenn Dorsey and Sedrick Ellis off the board, I am hoping to trade down and pick up a right tackle like Branden Albert or Gosder Cherilius, or a defensive tackle like Kentwan Balmer or Pat Sims. However, I wouldn't put it past Shanahan to get a receiver or running back, especially if one falls down the board.
Elway=GOAT: Rashard Mendenhall.
BDutch48: Contrary to my last statement, I would love Desean Jackson. I have heard rumors that the Broncos are looking at him, and I think he could give this team a very good one-two punch alongside Marshall. Although the defensive line is the problem, I still think we should give the guys that came in last year more time.
9. Which player will be on the hot seat in 2008?
Gibbs: Chris Kuper and Erik Pears from the offensive line. Jay got sacked a lot last year and these guys were mostly to blame. Shanahan has already expressed his confidence in them, but that could change quickly with a poor start to the season.
Elway=GOAT: Dre Bly.
BDutch48: Whoever is our running back. It gets switched around so often and I would like a permanent solution.
10. What are the realistic expectations for 2008 at this point?
Gibbs: It all depends on how well we draft and can cover our weaknesses. We have too many holes to compete for a Super Bowl this year, but we can challenge for a playoff spot. Anywhere from 7-9 to 10-6 would be realistic, but again that depends on how well we draft and how Cutler progresses.
Elway=GOAT: Stopping the run is the biggest thing. If we can do that, this defense has the pass rushers and coverage to be very good. That is the biggest key for sure, because I think the offense will be pretty deadly. I’m thinking Wild Card.
BDutch48: If our defensive line can grow into the starters we hoped they would be, ten wins would not out of the question. It also depends who is running the ball, but I would say 10-6 is a good benchmark.
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