Broncos Youth Movement Is Very Successful

By Garrett Barnes

To think that only a year ago the Broncos were well known for their older team and big time free agency acquisitions. It had worked very well too until we got to the 2007 season where most of our big time free agents ended up being busts. It brought this feeling of urgency to the team. We could needed to start building from the draft.

The 2006 Draft had indeed brought some good players but we almost sort of gave up in the 2007 Draft due to the fact that we had great Free Agents. (The term great I use very loosely.) We did get Ryan Harris out of it but everyone else ended up being busts. The Broncos needed to bring some trust back to Denver.

That was why we needed the 2008 Draft to be a big hit. We knew we couldn't have a "dreamy" draft like 2006 where we exciting players that electrified the organization. That involved positions like QB, WR, DE, etc... That said looking back on the 2008 Draft. It seems a lot better than it did at the time. It was a B+ or a B in most eyes but now it is an A+!

By getting players like Ryan Clady and Eddie Royal we were able to give Cutler the tools he needed to become a star. It worked out alright and we are one of the top teams in the NFL due to that draft. This brings me back to the title and subject of this post. The Broncos are in the midst of a youth movement and it is the perfect example of how one should work.

Having a young 1st Round QB is the key in my opinion to a youth movement because you do need some excitement and I think that a youth movement should always be based around the QB. A QB can always bring out the best in a team. Also we got some young, hot Offensive Line players.

They are the cornerstone to be able to build up with the QB. With Ryan Clady, and Ryan Harris we did just that. When you mix that with a young pass rusher in Elvis Dumervil, and you put two amazing Wide Receivers (Marshall and Royal) on the same team not only do you have a better team but you have a bigger window to win a Super Bowl.

The Broncos are 8-5 and are doing very well. This is much thanks to the youth movement in Denver that has worked out so well. I do not think we will win a Super Bowl or maybe even a playoff game this year, but we do have the makings to have a Super Bowl winning team for next year or maybe later.

The following Broncos are 25 or younger. (I only put players who get noticeable playing time)Ryan Clady, Chris Kuper, Matt Prater, Tony Scheffler, Eddie Royal, Elvis Dumervil, Jay Cutler, Ryan Harris, Brett Kern, Spencer Larsen, Brandon Marshall, Selvin Young, Tim Crowder, Jarvis Moss, Marcus Thomas, Wesley Woodyard, Kory Lichtensteiger, Jack Williams, Cory Boyd, Chad Jackson, Josh Barrett, and Josh Bell.


Garret Barnes is the Co-Blogger for BZ, he is also the Editor, Administrator, and lead Bronco Madness blogger.