2015 Broncos Season — 1A and 1B

As someone who checks on his Dynasty league lineup daily and recently bought a 2015 Fantasy Football ranking guide magazine — basically 162 pages of stats an analysis — I am ready for the season to start.

Listening to the Broncos interviews at mini-camp, I think they might be ready, too. Of course, we still have more than a month before training camp begins, and nearly two months before actual (fake) games resume. Still, it's not too early for some (over) analysis of the team's prospects. Let's look at some position groups.

Offensive Line:
This group suffered a huge blow during OTAs when left tackle Ryan Clady was lost for the season. That leaves just one defined starter — Pro Bowl right guard Louis Vasquez. During mini-camp, some of the other positions started to round into shape. Here's the other starters as they currently sit:

Left Tackle — Ty Sambralio (R)

Left Guard — Ben Garland

Center — Gino Gradkowski

Right Tackle — Chris Clark

Of course, this isn't set in stone. Reports are the Broncos feel pretty solid about Sambralio and Garland on the left side. I am rooting for both, but it is a little concerning to think that the left side of the line might feature two players who haven't started an NFL game. At center, Matt Paradis and Max Garcia — young players with little experience — are still in the mix, and second year tackle Michael Schofield is still in the mix to start at right tackle. The Broncos also have veterans Shelly Smith and Ryan Harris available for some position as well. Based on history, the Broncos won't keep all these lineman on the active roster come the regular season, so some of these players are probably playing for jobs. The Broncos kept nine lineman last year, with a few on the practice squad. The list above doesn't even include Paul Cornick, who started a few games for the Broncos at right tackle last season, and was often the sixth offensive lineman. The Broncos have depth in this unit, and some interesting options, but not a lot of experience. My guess is is that one or two of the first and second year players ends up on the practice squad.

Running Backs:
This is conceivably a strength for the Broncos, as the team returns three players, all young, who have started games in the past. C.J. Anderson — off a Pro Bowl season — is the starter… for now. Montee Ball, now in his third season, and Ronnie Hillman, in his fourth season, are waiting in the wings. And Ball isn't quietly biding his time. He even suggested this week he and Anderson could for a 1A and 1B running back tandem, which suggests a running back by committee look. I hope that's not the case, as that often make continuity a problem.

If I was ranking this group based on what I've seen, Anderson would be a clear number one, Hillman would be a change of pace number two, and Ball would be third. I don't understand the love of Ball, which must be based on practice and potential — not his work in any actual games, which has been terrible. On the flip side, Anderson has been great whenever he's gotten a chance. In the 2013 pre-season, Anderson was my favorite player, but an injury derailed his season.

Last year, Anderson was buried on the depth chart — but when he finally got in, he proved he was the best running back option. Let him run!

Wide Receivers:
This should be a position of strength for the Broncos. On paper, a lineup of Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and second-year man Cody Latimer seems stout. But there are questions. Thomas hasn't participated in any off-season workouts as he waits for a new contract. And Latimer remains an unknown quantity after a largely anonymous rookie season. Now Sanders, one of the best, most explosive playmakers last year for the Broncos, will be sliding into the slot and possible serving as a punt returner. That makes me a little nervous. This is a team that had the No. 2 (Thomas) and No. 5 (Sanders) receivers in the league last year. I still think they'll be good, but I wonder if the passing game will slip a bit this season.

Defense:
Wade Phillips has done more with less than he has in Denver, but that doesn't mean this unit is settled. The offense has drawn more of the conversations, but the defensive depth chart still has some questions — the biggest of which is nose tackle. In a 3-4 scheme, nose tackle is crucial. Early word is Sylvester Williams — the former No. 1 draft pick entering his third season — has impressed. Due to a lack of options, he'll have to impress.

Elsewhere, the Broncos have the makings of a great pass rush with Derek Wolfe at defensive end, and DeMarcus Ware, Von Miller, and rookie Shane Ray at outside linebacker positions. Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan have shown talent at inside linebacker, but both are coming off injuries and depth is a bit of a question mark.

Finally, the secondary returns a tough group of corners in Chris Harris, Jr, Aqib Talib, Bradley Roby, and Kavon Webster. And T.J. Ward brings toughness to strong safety. But who plays free safety? Right now it's Darian Stewart, formerly of the Ravens. We'll have to see how that plays out for the Broncos.