The Denver Broncos are treading some serious rough water in handing over the starting job as kicker to 23-year old Matt Prater.  He started last season as the placekicker for the Falcons but that didn’t last too long.  Prater played in 4 games with the Broncos and Falcons as a rookie last season and he only made 1 of 4 field goals (25%).  He has a strong enough leg to handle the job but his accuracy is a huge problem.  He won’t last long with the Broncos unless he improves big time.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  D-

The Broncos are deep and talented at the tight end position.  25-year old Tony Scheffler has turned into one of Jay Cutler’s favorite targets in the passing game.  He is a big target at 6′5″, 250 pounds and he combines solid hands with enough speed to get down the football field.  Scheffler played in all 16 games for the Broncos last season and he caught 49 passes for 549 yards (11.2 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  Look for his numbers to be even better in 2008 as Scheffler should be even more involved in the passing game in 2008.  Scheffler has now played in 29 games in his NFL career and he has caught 67 passes for 835 yards (12.5 avg) with 9 TD grabs.

29-year old Daniel Graham is also a big target at 6′3″, 257 pounds in the passing game.  He’s also a pretty solid run blocker which earns him a lot of playing time.  Graham played in 15 games with the Broncos last season and he caught 24 passes for 246 yards (10.3 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Graham should catch about the same amount of passes in 2008 as Scheffler will be playing a lot more than him on passing downs.  Graham has now played in 78 games in his NFL career and he has caught 144 passes for 1,639 yards (11.4 avg) with 19 TD grabs.

29-year old converted WR Nate Jackson has never really broke through for the Broncos.  He played in only 5 games for the Broncos last season and he caught 3 passes for 34 yards (11.3 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Don’t expect much out of Jackson in 2008 unless Scheffler or Graham get injured.  Jackson has now played in 31 games in his NFL career and he has caught 16 passes for 156 yards (9.8 avg) with 1 TD grab.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B+

Even with the off the field problems of #1 WR Brandon Marshall the Broncos have a lot of depth at receiver for 2008.  Marshall had a true breakout season last year for the Broncos and he is a big guy (6′4″, 230 pounds) with a lot of speed.  Marshall played in all 16 games for the Broncos last season and he caught 102 passes for 1,325 yards (13.0 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  Marshall also carried the football 5 times for 57 yards (11.4 ypc) last season.  If Marshall isn’t suspended by the NFL for his off the field actions he could even be better in 2008 for the Broncos.  Marshall has now played in 31 games in his NFL career and he has caught 122 passes for 1,634 yards (13.4 avg) with 9 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 7 times for 69 yards (9.9 ypc) in his career.

29-year old veteran Darrell Jackson was brought in as a free agent and he should be the #2 WR for the Broncos.  Jackson played in 15 games for the 49ers last season and he caught 46 passes for 497 yards (10.8 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Look for Jackson to play much better for the Broncos than he did last season as the 49ers’ QB situation was a big mess.  Jackson has now played in 111 games in his NFL career and he has caught 487 passes for 6,942 yards (14.3 avg) with 50 TD grabs.  Jackson has also carried the ball 6 times for 18 yards (3.0 ypc) in his career.

32-year old Brandon Stokley is back to be the likely #3 WR for the Broncos this season.  He’s fast and fearless over the middle making big plays all over the field.  Stokley played in 13 games for the Broncos last season and he caught 40 passes for 635 yards (15.9 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 1 time for a loss of 6 yards last year.  Look for Jay Cutler to be looking in Stokley’s direction often on third downs as he has a knack for finding the sticks.  Stokley has now played in 87 games in his NFL career and he has caught 239 passes for 3,464 yards (14.5 avg) with 27 TD grabs.  Stokley has also carried the ball 9 times for 32 yards (3.6 ypc).

26-year old Keary Colbert was brought in as a free agent in the off season and he will give them quality depth.  Colbert played in 12 games with the Panthers last season and he caught 32 passes for 332 yards (10.4 avg) without any TD grabs.  Colbert could move up the depth chart if the Broncos suffer any injuries or suspensions.  Colbert has now played in 55 games in his NFL career and he has caught 109 passes for 1,424 yards (13.1 avg) with 7 TD grabs.

Rookie Eddie Royal will have a hard time getting a lot of playing time at WR this season because of his size (5′9″, 182 pounds) but he’s pretty fast.  He will likely battle for the kick and punt return jobs this pre-season for the Broncos.  Royal played in 13 games (11 starts) last season at Virginia Tech and he caught 33 passes for 496 yards (15.0 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Royal will likely be no more than the #5 receiver on the Broncos as a rookie in 2008.  Royal played in 52 games (44 starts) in his career at Virginia Tech and he caught 119 passes for 1,778 yards (14.9 avg) with 12 TD grabs.

26-year old Glenn Martinez is back for the Broncos but he will have a uphill battle in trying to make the final roster.  Martinez played in 12 games for the Broncos last season and he caught 14 passes for 175 yards (12.5 avg) without catching a TD pass.  Martinez is a solid special teams player so that will benefit him this season in trying to make the team.  Martinez has now played in 17 games in his NFL career and he has caught 15 passes for 186 yards (12.4 avg) without any TDs.

27-year old Samie Parker was brought in as a free agent over the off season and he will try to make the final roster.  He played in 15 games for the Chiefs last season and he caught 24 passes for 298 yards (12.4 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Parker also carried the ball 1 time for 2 yards last year.  Parker has the potential to work his way up the depth chart as he is a very experienced player.  Parker has now played in 47 games in his NFL career in which he has caught 110 passes for 1,529 yards (13.9 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  He has also carried the football 4 times for 9 yards (2.3 ypc) in his career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B+

The Broncos have smaller fullbacks that can handle the football which makes the offense more dangerous than most running the ball.  5′11″, 229 pound Cecil Sapp is listed as the starting fullback right now but he will have to fight to keep the job.  Sapp played in 16 games (8 starts) for the Broncos last season and he carried the ball 18 times for 59 yards (3.3 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He also caught 14 passes for 51 yards (3.6 avg) with 1 TD grab last season.  The Broncos might give Sapp the ball a couple of extra times this season.  He has now played in 49 games (9 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 49 times for 223 yards (4.6 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  Sapp has also caught 24 passes for 102 yards (4.2 avg) with 1 TD grab.

Rookie Peyton Hillis might be the player to watch at this position.  He is 6′1″, 240 pounds and he can do it all at fullback.  Hillis was a strong runner and receiver at Arkansas last season so he will push Sapp for the starting job in 2008.  Look for him to do a good job for the Broncos when he gets on the field in 2008.

Mike Bell has gone from starting tailback to #3 fullback in two short years.  Bell is undersized at 6′0″, 225 as he’s really a tailback playing fullback.  Bell played in 5 games (0 starts) for the Broncos last season and he carried the ball 6 times for 3 yards (0.5 ypc).  He also caught 1 pass for 7 yards.  Look for Bell to possibly get some playing time at tailback this season for the Broncos if the need arises.  Bell has now played in 20 games (3 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 163 times for 680 yards (4.2 ypc) with 8 TD runs.  He has also caught 21 passes for 165 yards (7.9 avg) in his career.

UPDATE:  The Broncos have waived Mike Bell.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B-

After the release of last year’s starting RB Travis Henry, the Broncos will have a new younger look at the position.  Selvin Young will likely be the main running back and he’s predicting that he’ll rush for 2,000 yards in 2008 behind the Broncos’ offensive line.  That is wishful thinking by Young who was an undrafted free agent find for the Broncos last season.  He played in 15 games (8 starts) for the Broncos last season and he carried the ball 140 times for 729 yards (5.2 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also caught 35 passes for 231 yards (6.6 avg).  Young is a very fast back but he doesn’t have the muscle to consistently pick up yards between the tackles.  He will be the main man in the running game but the Broncos will also use other backs.

Veteran Michael Pittman was signed just before the Broncos cut Travis Henry and he’s a solid vet.  Pittman is a good receiver and he also runs with power between the tackles.  Pittman played in 10 games (3 starts) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season and he carried the ball 68 times for 286 yards (4.2 ypc).  He also caught 26 passes for 191 yards (7.3 avg).  Look for Pittman to double those numbers this season in Denver.  Pittman has now played in 143 games (79 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 1,316 times for 5,307 yards (4.0 ypc) with 21 TD runs.  He also has caught 415 passes for 3,400 yards (8.2 avg) with 8 TD grabs.

Andre Hall will be the #3 RB for the Broncos this season.  He was a rookie last year and he showed a pretty good skill set in limited action.  Hall played in 10 games (1 start) with the Broncos last season and he carried the ball 44 times for 216 yards (4.9 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He also caught 2 passes for 69 yards (34.5 avg).  Look for Hall to have a much bigger role in 2008 with the Broncos.

Rookie Ryan Torain is starting out behind the 8-ball as he is recovering from a torn ACL.  Torain is a power back as he gets most of his yards between the tackles.  Torain averaged 93.8 yards rushing per game, 5.5 yards per carry and he scored 12 TD runs in only 19 games (14 starts) at Arizona State.  He also caught 5 TD passes out of the 25 balls he caught in college.  Torain has a nice upside especially in the Broncos’ style of offense.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B