2003 BRONCOS
	Jake Plummer threw 18 TDs and 20 INTs last season for Arizona.
	Head coach: Mike Shanahan. 2002 record: 9-7. AFC West finish: 2nd. Season opener: Sept. 7 vs. at Bengals. Schedule | Depth chart

As quarterback Jake Plummer jogged off the Reliant Stadium Field in Houston, where he completed three passes in his sterling Broncos debut that left him with a 130.8 passer rating, Denver tight end Dwayne Carswell spotted his team's newest hope.

"Sweet game, No. 16," Carswell yelled.

Now, like some school-aged girl, the Broncos are hoping this season is an extended Sweet 16.

Much of their success will depend on it. In an effort to pull out the three games they lost last season on the game's final play -- at San Diego, and at home against Indianapolis and Miami -- the Broncos axed Brian Griese and landed Plummer.

Then defensively, Denver promoted linebacker coach Larry Coyer to defensive coordinator and signed former Washington defensive tackle Daryl Gardener.

The hope is that a Plummer and a Gardener can turn last year's 9-7 team into a playoff team that can pull out Denver's first postseason victory since the Broncos beat the Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII. We'll see.

Offense
Quarterbacks: Tired of watching Griese unable to improvise, the Broncos acquired a quarterback who can do just that. Watch Plummer roll out, scramble and, most important, create. Plummer has a stronger arm and quicker release than the Broncos initially suspected. But at times, his creative energy gets him in trouble. Witness the 114 interceptions he threw in Arizona compared to the 90 touchdowns. Plummer will have to be smarter and take some of the shorter throws available to him. Already he has. Broncos backs have lauded Plummer for his checkdowns, for welcoming the chance to throw them the football. Should Plummer struggle or get hurt, Denver would have no problems turning its offense over to the highly capable veteran, Steve Beuerlein. Had Denver failed to land Plummer, the Broncos believe Beuerlein would have been good enough to lead them to the playoffs -- if he could only stay healthy for a full season.
Grade: B.

Running backs: No team uncovers more quality backs than Denver, and the Broncos have a full stable of them again. After rushing for 1,508 yards last season, Clinton Portis reported to camp 18 pounds heavier — and just as quick. No longer does it seem ludicrous to think that Portis could shatter the rushing records that Terrell Davis once set for the Broncos; after all, it was Davis himself who first predicted that Portis would. Backing up Portis is fourth-round pick Quentin Griffin, a tiny but explosive back. Fullback is where the Broncos have even more depth. Mike Anderson is the starter, and Reuben Droughns is good enough to be one. Any back in Denver's system, behind a nifty and controversial run-blocking offensive line, would be able to gain big yards for the Broncos.
Grade: A-minus.

Receivers: Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey are the household names, but second-year wideout Ashley Lelie is on the verge of becoming one. No wideout made more acrobatic catches in camp than Lelie. He equates the coming season to the growth he experienced at Hawaii. When Lelie was a freshman at Hawaii, he finished with 36 catches for 518 yards and two touchdowns. During his freshman NFL season, Lelie finished with 35 catches for 525 yards and two touchdowns. During his sophomore season at Hawaii, Lelie racked up 74 catches for 1,110 yards and 11 touchdowns. During his sophomore season in Denver, Lelie expects his numbers to grow correspondingly. "Realistically,'' Lelie said, "if I get the playing time this season, I definitely can come in and double what I did last year." To get all three wideouts on the field, look for Denver to deploy plenty of three-wide receiver sets. And do not forget Shannon Sharpe, the NFL's all-time most productive tight end. Last season the Chiefs did, and Sharpe ripped off 214 receiving yards against them.
Grade: A.

Offensive linemen: Last season was a good-news, bad-news season for Denver's offensive line. The running game produced a team record 4.96 yards per attempt, yet Denver allowed 46 sacks last season, the most since 1994. Those within the organization believe the slow-footed Griese deserved some of the blame for the high number of sacks. But Denver's offensive line certainly deserves its share as well. Guard Ben Hamilton, who was forced to switch to center when Tom Nalen tore his anterior cruciate ligament, struggled some with his pass protection. Denver also struggled without Nalen. But Nalen and right guard Dan Neil are both back after major surgery and, although the line might not move as swiftly as it once did, it is intact. Left tackle Ephraim Salaam also is coming off summer knee surgery that prevented him from playing Denver's first three preseason games. Matt Lepsis is projected to start the season at right tackle, with first-round pick George Foster eventually figuring in the mix.
Grade: B.

Defense
Defensive linemen: Denver attempted to beef up the inside of its line, awarding Gardener a seven-year, $39 million deal that included a $5 million signing bonus. Then Gardener went out and got into a fight in a restaurant parking lot at 2:30 in the morning and tore ligaments in his right wrist. Gardener could be back for the opener, but he will have missed all of camp. Beyond Gardener's health, there are questions about the quantity and quality of Denver's defensive ends. No questions about defensive end Trevor Pryce's abilities; he's one of the top players in the game. But on the right side of the line, Denver is using Bertrand Berry and Reggie Hayward, neither of whom has been a regular starter in the NFL. Berry is an effective pass rusher, but Denver should be concerned about who is going to defense the run. Second-year defensive tackles Monsanto Pope and Dorsett Davis will play a much larger role, with Pope expected to take over for Lional Dalton at left tackle.
Grade: B-minus.

Linebackers: Of all the great linebacker units in the league, Denver's is the fastest. Alone, weak-side linebacker Ian Gold might be the league's fastest linebacker. Do not be surprised to see the Broncos send Gold after the quarterback more this season. When larger offensive linemen aren't swallowing him up, Gold is an excellent speed rusher. At middle linebacker, Al Wilson is headed into a critical season. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, and with Denver having drafted middle linebacker Terry Pierce in Round 2, Wilson suspects the Broncos already are planning for his departure. Look for Wilson to play an inspired brand of football this season -- his next payday hinges on it. Joining Wilson and Gold is veteran John Mobley, who has battled sore knees most of the summer. Mobley has been a solid, but never spectacular, pro.
Grade: A.

Defensive backs: Ever since the Broncos cut cornerback Denard Walker, who eventually signed with the Vikings, and failed to re-sign cornerback Tyrone Poole, who opted for the Patriots, questions have persisted about who would man the important corner positions for Denver. The Broncos believe the 6-foot-4 Lenny Walls is the answer on the left side. On the right side, Deltha O'Neal and Kelly Herndon will get plenty of action. O'Neal is a mysterious player. Blessed with brilliant talents, he too often loses confidence and gets beaten in games. At strong safety, Kenoy Kennedy was not the same player after the league suspended him one game for his hit on Dolphins wide receiver Chris Chambers. Denver needs Kennedy to go back to playing the way he did. With second-year player Sam Brandon manning the other safety spot, the Broncos' defensive backfield is both young and inexperienced.
Grade: C.

Special teams
Still one of the game's top kickers, Jason Elam now has the security of a lucrative long-term contract. He is expected to rebound to the top form he has displayed most of his career. But Denver's kickoffs, punting from Micah Knorr and coverage teams have been shaky at best. O'Neal and Droughns return punts and kickoffs, respectively.
Grade: C-plus.

Adam Schefter covers the Broncos for the Denver Post.

Material from Pro Football Weekly.
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