NFL.COM: Mike Lombardi's comments on his time consulting in Denver

[TSO]

How about Peyton Hillis and Ryan Torain? The current Denver regime shipped Hillis out for Brady Quinn.

Hence, the words "any RB he deemed fit" that I used, lol. Shanahan is simply incredible at finding guys at that position, and even without Torain and Hillis I'm sure he would've found someone else.

---------- Post added December-9th-2010 at 12:06 AM ----------

I don't know where the Goodmans are now, but I mentioned them in a post the last time I came around. They were amazing! They knew what Shanny wanted as far as skillsets for each position and they were sharp! With Bruce Allen in place, I'm not so sure how the Goodmans will fit in there, but if you can get the scouting department beefed up, you will have a good draft. Bruce Allen isn't really known for his drafting skills, that's for sure. He & Gruden made teams old.

In Denver, this was the most disappointing departure along with Mike Nolan post Shanny.

I remember TK mentioning something about Shanny wanting to bring them in. I wonder what happened.

[elkabong82]

There wasn't many free agents this past year...I get that, but that has nothing to do with the guys signed. Why not bring in a undrafted rookie free agent instead of Galloway. I would feel more comfortable about the future if that was Barnes or Tryon getting burned instead of Buchanon. Its not just free agents, but players he trade for as well. He obviously didn't get the Jamaal Brown trade right, because he sucks. And then the McNabb trad takes the cake. Shanny and us fans didn't envision McNabb playing this poorly when we acquired him. We thought we were getting a Pro Bowl QB, but instead we traded for a old, medicore QB. Shanny loses again...he would be better off only building through the draft.

We brought in a bunch of WRs in camp, but Galloway won the competition over them. We do have Armstrong emerging, and Austin is on the roster now. Plus, during camp they still had DT and MK.

Buchanon I want replaced also, hopefully Barnes is the guy that does it. But Buchanon wasn't a terrible option for nickle, but he's bad at #2 spot. Can you name any good, young nickle corners that were available then?

Brown came off a major injury, and many on here said it takes more than a season to recover and he likely wouldn't be able to return to his old form for the entire 1st season back. Next season he should be 100% and noticeably more effective. He also was switching from LT to RT, and playing a ZBS. Players don't magically just suck all of a sudden, there are reasons.

McNabb is in season 1 of a new system, when played and excelled in a different system his entire career. That's hard to change/adjust. Most of us were aware McNabb had faults when he came here. Our interior OL is weak, really weak. It seems we have a new starting RB every week now, we lack a true #1 WR as well. OL problems and WR problems are carry-overs from last season. Solid OLs aren't built in 1 offseason, nor are #1 WRs easily found.

Add in the context that the FA market was crippled by the CBA, turning good young FAs into restricted FAs, and you're left to rely on the picks you have and a bad FA market. Skins fans, myself included, got their hopes up at the start of the season, but many of the problems we have, we have had, and our limited picks and the bad FA market, plus our schedule, were glaring signs that some on here did say were going to keep us from contention, but many disregarded because it was the start of the season and many preferred to be optimistic.

We still have reason to be optimistic, IMO.Barring a lockout, there are good players coming into FA in 2011, and we at least have our first 2 picks, and a evy of low round picks. I think the entire interior OL needs to be replaced, we need a legit #1 WR, a solid NT, a blitzing OLB to complement Zo on the outside or possibly move Zo inside (I think we let Rocky Mc go), a FS, an maybe a CB, if we don't re-sign Rogers.

WR can be gotten in FA, Woodley will be available for OLB and would be a monstrous addition IMO, Guard or center you draft 2nd round likely, 1st is FS or NT just going off our needs and where we pick (hopefully the position that isn't picked is available in FA), and lower rounds you try and find another interior OL and whatever else you need. I'm hoping we can trade Al for a 3rd at this point, which could be used to address another interior OL.

Sorry for the WOT, but I do believe this team can drastically improve itself this offseason, if football continues.

[TSO]

^^Great points elka, and I'm pretty much with you on all of them, as usual.

I don't necessarily disagree with you about how you'd use our first round pick, but I would add that a few years ago a really good NT can be found in later rounds, since they were a very specific type of player in sort of a niche position, but now that's changed a bit with all the teams that have transitioned to a 3-4. Still, I find it hard to believe it's worth spending a first on a NT considering how few colleges play that D. Granted, it's the most important position on a 3-4 Defense so that fact may be justification enough to make it priority number one in the draft. I'd say the same for a FS... I think you could find some good ones later on. Maybe if we trade down in the 2nd and nab another 4th rounder, I'd assume there's a bunch of solid FS prospects there.

It might be more lucrative for us to spend another high pick on an interior Olineman. Heck, I think it's more important to take a QB there if Shanahan sees what he wants from one and he knows he won't drop much past us.

Of course, all of this is dictated by what the teams in front of us do.

But yeah, if there's a sure-fire hit at either FS or NT, and other guys we targeted have already been taken, you could do a lot worse so like I said I don't necessarily disagree with you there. Should be fun as always to see what happens!

[Glenn X]

NFL Network seems to have a knack for hiring on-air people who aren't very insightful, like Neon Deion and JLC. But at least I'd heard of them before. Mike Lombardi? He goes 2-for-2 here: a no-name know-nothing.

[Shanahanigans]

NFL Network seems to have a knack for hiring on-air people who aren't very insightful, like Neon Deion and JLC. But at least I'd heard of them before. Mike Lombardi? He goes 2-for-2 here: a no-name know-nothing.

Like I said, he's a Raider & a Belichick disciple. Of course he won't have anything good to say about the Broncos despite the fact that he's never even met McDaniels before.

In all honesty, there is some basis for his argument, but it's hardly a fair article and is totally slanted.

[Oldfan]

There wasn't many free agents this past year...I get that, but that has nothing to do with the guys signed. Why not bring in a undrafted rookie free agent instead of Galloway. I would feel more comfortable about the future if that was Barnes or Tryon getting burned instead of Buchanon. Its not just free agents, but players he trade for as well. He obviously didn't get the Jamaal Brown trade right, because he sucks. And then the McNabb trad takes the cake. Shanny and us fans didn't envision McNabb playing this poorly when we acquired him. We thought we were getting a Pro Bowl QB, but instead we traded for a old, medicore QB. Shanny loses again...he would be better off only building through the draft.

Your complaints are justified in my opinion. These moves can be explained as more of the win-now moves we Skins fans have been getting for years.

We should be rebuilding, but you don't bring in Mike Shanahan and give him full control if rebuilding is your goal.