Bills Behind Denver Lines: Five Questions With an Enemy Blogger

This is a slightly modified segment of one that was run on NFL FanHouse last year, in which a specific team blogger scours the internet and interviews a blogger of the opposing team.

I began this season by interviewing TheSportsGuru of Mile High Report, a Sports Blog Nation column that covers the Denver Broncos.

Dan Benton: "Due to injuries, the Broncos have lost three extremely important players. How will Denver move forward without Al Wilson, Rod Smith and Ebenezer Ekuban? Just how significant are those loses?"

TheSportsGuru: "All three are tough, but for different reasons. The toughest of the 3 is certainly Al Wilson who meant so much to the team, both on and off the field. Wilson was the emotional leader and glue that kept the defense together. While there is no doubting his importance in the locker room, Wilson's play had deteriorated as injuries to his neck, back and hands began to take their toll. It is a testament to Wilson and the reputation he had garnered around the League that he made the Pro Bowl last season. The Broncos have found it harder to replace what he meant on the field than the production they from him on it. D.J. Williams will get the first chance to replace Wilson in the middle and will grow into the role nicely over time. As for Wilson's leadership, look for John Lynch, Champ Bailey and Ian Gold to be counted on for an increased voice in the locker room."

TheSportsGuru (cont'd): "Rod Smith, like Wilson, is as important off the field as he is on it. His journey to the NFL is well known which makes the other members of the offense listen up and pay attention to what he has to say. The Broncos certainly have talent at receiver and with Javon Walker at 100% health-wise Smith's absence is easier to swallow. Smith will be given every opportunity to return after Week 6 and I think he will but I look for Brandon Marshall to firmly entrench himself as the #2 receiver.

Ekuban was going to be counted on to be a veteran influence on a talented, though extremely young defensive line. I was truly concerned about the unit until the Broncos were able to sign Simeon Rice. While I don't think Rice will be the guy that averaged 14 sacks over the past 5 years, I think he will be a solid influence on Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder, the Broncos 2 rookie D-Ends, even more so than Ekuban, who was a solid player but not nearly as talented or decorated as Rice."

DB: "The deaths of Damien Nash and Darrent Williams shocked Denver, the NFL and every football fan across the nation -- I, myself, donated to the "Already Ready Fund." How will these tragedies affect the Broncos, and more importantly, Javon Walker?

Guru: "That was the $65,000 question for me this off-season. I knew once the team got back into the locker room, back on the field at Training Camp that all the wounds would be exposed again. I was particularly concerned about Walker. Watching him this pre-season, and viewing his interview on HBO's "Real Sports" has eased my fears and then some. Walker has used the Williams' death as motivation and I think he is on a mission this season to have a huge year, for himself and Williams. I credit the Broncos Organization for allowing Walker to grieve the way he saw fit, being there only when Walker needed. Walker's teammates, particularly Champ Bailey, were there as well. Walker admitted in the interview that he initially wanted out of Denver and had it not been for his teammates and the organization and the way they handled it I believe he would have forced his way out.

The Nash tragedy, while different, was equally crushing too many of the Broncos. If anything, the shock of the Williams killing was still fresh in the mind of the Broncos and many on the team were still numb. You never really know how a team will respond to a situation like this, but watching the Broncos through Training Camp and the Pre-Season makes me believe the Broncos will use these tragic events as motivation."

DB: "If you were game-planning for the Broncos, what approach would you take against Buffalo tomorrow?"

Guru: "The Bills are talented but extremely young on Defense which plays to the Broncos advantage. I love Paul Posluszny, and believe he is going to be a great linebacker in this League. That said, if he is going to be a step slow this would be the week for it to happen, early in the season. I would use a lot of formations, a lot of movement, a lot of play-action to try and get Poz and the rest of the linebackers out of position. The best thing to do to a home team is get them behind, get the home-town fans on their back a bit. I look for the Broncos to try and get vertical early and often in the 1st Quarter in an attempt to get an early lead, before feeding the ball to Travis Henry in order to take the air out of the football."

DB: "What are your expectations for Jay Cutler in his first full season as the starting quarterback, and how do you see him performing tomorrow?

Guru: "I think Jay is going to have a huge year -- 3500 yards, 2/1 TD-to-interception ratio, and it starts tomorrow. I know people keep pointing out that Cutler has only started 5 games but it should not be overlooked how important having the entire off-season preparing to be the starting quarterback, preparing for this game, essentially, means. The Mike Shanahan offense is complex and Cutler has been a star student learning as much as he can as fast as he can. He has an excellent rapport with Walker, and I expect big things from Cutler and Daniel Graham. Most importantly, Cutler has the moxie to be a QB in the NFL. I think he is going to play well tomorrow -- 18-30, 267 yards and 2 TDs."

DB: "Prediction time! Who wins the game, and what's the score?"

Guru: "Gotta go with the homer answer, but I think the Broncos are sick and tired of hearing about how poorly they have played in the previous two openers, embarrassing losses at Miami and at St. Louis. There is nothing better than to start a new season with a win on the road and the Broncos are ready to do just that. Buffalo has a lot of talent, and are going to get tougher and tougher as the season goes on which makes this the perfect time, if any, to have to go on the road to play the Bills.

I'll take the Broncos -- 28-17"

A special thanks to TheSportsGuru for taking the time! Again, you can read his Broncos coverage over at SBNation on the Mile High Report.

Note: Feel free to check out my responses to some of TheSportsGuru's question over on his blog.