Dwight Freeney = Neil Smith 2.0?

Headlines on ESPN.com say the Colts are not going to be offering Dwight Freeney a contract.

First let me stress this part: THE PRICE WOULD HAVE TO BE RIGHT!!!!

With that in mind, if the price is reasonable, he could be the perfect addition. The chance for him to compete for a ring again with Peyton Manning might be the perfect in. The Broncos could use a Pass Rushing DE, and this team is built to win now.

Seems like a good option, again, if the price is right.....

Thoughts?

I just saw this, beat me to it, Cali.

If the price is right.... 

Charles Woodson may also be available to the Broncos. The Packers just cut him. Denver need's youth but veteran experience is good too. He could help anywhere in the secondary including Safety.He would probably be cheap too. I love pash rush, but the more seconday help the better. Denver and New England are potential landing sports

Dwight Freeney played pretty well over the last 4-5 games, so his sack total from last season might be misleading. The Broncos defense is completely dependant on the pass-rush, so if we can sign him cheap I think he'd be a huge addition.

I'm on board with this idea but I see only 2 issues:

1. Who plays left defensive end, Elvis Dumervil or Dwight Freeney? None of them would be "situational" players for reasons of talent, salary (Freeney won't come for peanuts) and well frankly, name. I think Doom played LE in 2007 or 2008, sparingly but I don't know about Freeney. I played DE before playing LB and I can tell you that switching sides is a BIG difference.

2. If the Broncos have Freeney and Doom (which sounds freaking awesome) well, the weight of the run-stopping duties on the D-line will fall squarely on the DTs which we DO NOT have (Kevin Vickerson and Justin Bannan are free agents). Remember how the Colts got routinely ran over, specially by the Jaguars? I would like to avoid that so, IMHO, Freeney should be a package deal, mainly him, and major reinforcements at DT in order to maximize what the team is trying to do with 2 undersized pass rushers. 

Seems to me that there would be too much overlap between what him and Doom are as players and position they play. Would Wolfe be asked to put on a few extra pounds and moved inside? I personally am looking forward to see what Wolfe can do in year  2 on the outside.

Totally agree on Doom and Freeney being similar.

Also agree that the move would have to come with a fortified DT position. That's kind of why I throw in there that it would have to be for a great price....because we need to fill other positions as well. I'm basically banking this entire hypothetical on Freeney wanting to play with Manning again as well as get a chance for a ring, therefore signing for "peanuts" or something close to it.

I also agree 100% on Wolfe.....however, I am from the train of thought that you can never have too many pass rushers. I think we have a group of young Corners that I would like to see grow. The best way to help that? Pass rush, in my opinion.

I also think we are going to look for a young Corner in the first few rounds of the draft, so that is why my focus with Free Agent $$$ would mostly be on the Front 7.

I wouldn't mind as long as we didn't pay him a lot, and still looked to the draft.  In other words, Freeney would be good for depth.

I don't think an overhill pass rushing specialist who is a liability against the run is really what we need right now.  I really don't care how much of a bargain he might be, I'd rather spend the money elsewhere on areas that are more of a pressing need (like running back, defensive tackle, or cornerback).

So unless he's willing to play for Denver for free, I'd pass. 

Never said Dwight Freeney was a "need". Although, as evidenced by the Baltimore game....we do need to add another Pass Rusher or two.

Signing for "peanuts" and "playing for free" are pretty close to the same thing....lol....and I am not proposing the Broncos center their Free Agency focus on Dwight Freeney. Just saying if he were up to chasing a ring, Denver might be as good a place as any with the way the League currently looks........

A great team that scores a lot of points (like we do) can never have too many pass rushers IMO. On the first long bomb to Torrey Smith, neither Doom nor Von were on the field. That would've been a perfect moment to have Freeney out there. I highly doubt Freeney will come for anything more than $4M a year and even that's a stretch. It would be awesome to have at leat one dynamic rusher on the field at all times. I never wanna see Malik Jackson and Kevin Vickerson coming off the edges again LOL.

Although, as evidenced by the Baltimore game....we do need to add another Pass Rusher or two. 

Eh, I think that was more due to a bad game plan than a deficiency in the pass rush. It seems to me that the Broncos had Miller dropping into coverage a lot more than rushing the passer. Who knows why.  Now, I only watched the game once (too painful for me to revisit), so I could be wrong but my initial memory is the Broncos didn't really try to bring much heat on Flacco.

I put more stock in the regular season than one awful playoff game, and we finished the regular season tied for the league lead in sacks. With that in mind, I'd just rather the Broncos spend their money elsewhere on areas of more pressing needs than adding another pass rusher which I think would be a luxury at this point.

Just saying if he were up to chasing a ring, Denver might be as good a place as any with the way the League currently looks........

I agree with this from his end, but I guess I just don't see the benefit for us. I think sometimes we get caught up in name recognition and overlook how a player is currently playing. Freeney was certainly an elite rusher, but I think that time is gone. He only had 5 sacks and 1 forced fumble last season. I just don't think there is really anything he can add to the team at this point. 

Eh, I think that was more due to a bad game plan than a deficiency in the pass rush. It seems to me that the Broncos had Miller dropping into coverage a lot more than rushing the passer. Who knows why.  Now, I only watched the game once (too painful for me to revisit), so I could be wrong but my initial memory is the Broncos didn't really try to bring much heat on Flacco.

I agree with that, 100%......(I also have not watched the game again).

However, I think we have a great drop off when it comes to pass rush after Doom and Von Miller. Wolfe is a rookie and he did a nice job, but other than that, do we have anyone else that can beat his man and put some pressure on the QB?

I agree with this from his end, but I guess I just don't see the benefit for us. I think sometimes we get caught up in name recognition and overlook how a player is currently playing. Freeney was certainly an elite rusher, but I think that time is gone. He only had 5 sacks and 1 forced fumble last season. I just don't think there is really anything he can add to the team at this point. 

That's fair, but I disagree. Again, as long as the price is right I would look into adding a guy who has experience coming off the edge. Even if it is just situational, this team can use another guy that can bring the heat in a one on one situation or obvious passing downs, in my opinion.

I'm always optimistic, so I will say this....if we don't add to the pass rush, then I hope Robert Ayers develops a little more. lol

That's fair, but I disagree. Again, as long as the price is right I would look into adding a guy who has experience coming off the edge. Even if it is just situational, this team can use another guy that can bring the heat in a one on one situation or obvious passing downs, in my opinion. 

I thought the same thing about bringing in Simeon Rice a few years ago. Ugh, that didn't turn out very well. But here's hoping that if they do bring in Freeney, he's got some left in the tank.

I'm always optimistic, so I will say this....if we don't add to the pass rush, then I hope Robert Ayersdevelops a little more. lol

You know, I had thought that Ayers had a decent season, so I went and looked up his stats; he had 2 sacks. Yikes. Here's hoping a second year with the same d coordinator will help him make a leap forward, but at this point let's say I'm hopeful yet extremely skeptical.

Totally agree......

Especially on Ayers. He must be the master of being one second too late. I thought the same thing.....it just seemed like he was around the QB an awful lot, he just never got there.

I would like Freeney to be a part of the 2013 Denver Broncos roster but unfortunately the only way I see it happening is if Manning himself takes a pay cut in order to pay him.  As I see it we have a few people that we need to resign, one tackle (Clady), three defensive tackles (Unrein, Vickerson/Bannan), one cornerback (Carter), and one punter (Colquitt), all of which I think we can agree will be resigned, not to mention the rookie salary pool.<br /><br />UFA - Clady he will be set to make at least 9.6 million dollars but if he does sign a contract it will probably be more.<br /><br />UFA - Bannan 910,000 minimum<br /><br />OR  <br /><br />UFA - Vickerson 810,000 minimum<br /><br />ERFA - Carter 685,000<br /><br />ERFA - Unrein 525,000<br /><br />RFA - Colquitt   I think that they will tender him with the right of first refusal tender which would pay him 1.323 million<br /><br /><br />PLUS We may resign Stokely, Koppen, and Bruton because these players offer veteran experience and were productive last season.<br /><br />UFA - Stokely 910,000 minimum<br /><br />UFA - Koppen 910,000 minimum<br /><br />UFA - Bruton 685,000 minimum    <br /><br />Rookie pool which is based on 2012's rookie class because I think it will be comparable to what we spend this year - 4,020,223 <br /><br />DWIGHT FREENEY - 910,000 MINIMUM<br /><br /><br />So if I add up all of the FA's that I believe we will resign (Bannan, Clady, Carter, Unrein, Colquitt) along with the rookie pool it will cost:<br /><br /><br />17,063,223 which is over 3 million more than the cap plus rollover, not to mention I'm sure there is a player or two that we may want to make a run at..  I know that we can restructure, cut or ask for paycuts but even then it still offers a little relief.. Bottom line we will be against the cap with many players to resign next season.<br /><br />http://profootballtalk.nbcsports
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oot-up-under-new-deal/<br /> <br /></a>http://www.denverbroncos.com/new
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http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl
/1517/dwight-freeney

Manning is actively recruiting Freeney, apparently. I just don't know if he is much of an upgrade on Doom if at all, and that isn't saying much.

Profootballfocus grade:

6. Dwight Freeney

2012 Grade: -1.4
2012 Snaps: 768

Summary: How much does Freeney have left in the tank? At his best Freeney was, arguably, the most destructive defensive player in the league and his spin move would give tackles facing him sleepless nights in the run up to their encounter. However, we need to look back now to 2010 for Freeney’s last great and really consistent season and the question has to be asked as to whether he can repeat that?

Many point to the Colts’ scheme as a hybrid that didn’t suit Freeney this season, but in reality he rushed the passer predominantly with his hand on the ground. Of his 466 pass rushes, Freeney had his hand on the ground for 402 (86.2 percent) of them. The greater concern for Freeney is being able to overcome injuries and niggles for a full season. If you’re looking at a multi-year deal, Freeney is a massive gamble, but if he has a couple more top quality seasons in him someone could get some good value production out him.

However, I think we have a great drop off when it comes to pass rush after Doom and Von Miller. Wolfe is a rookie and he did a nice job, but other than that, do we have anyone else that can beat his man and put some pressure on the QB?  


Wolfe is better in run support so far, he didn't add much to the pass rush at all. Here's the stats from profootballfocus.com:

Derek Wolfe, DE
Draft: Second round, 36th overall
Snaps/Usage: 933 snaps, 480 at defensive end on a three-man line

Notes: Despite Wolfe’s six sacks, he graded at -24.5 as a pass rusher as he totaled only 25 total pressures on 530 pass rush attempts. Similar to Cameron Jordan with the New Orleans Saints, Wolfe may be miscast as a 4-3 defensive end as his pass rushing is sub-par compared to his peers, but he is effective against the run. He graded at +10.3 as a run stopper and ranked 14th at the position in [Run Stop Percentage] at 6.2.


 

 

Wolfe is a rookie....didn't expect HUGE things from him to begin with. But, I would say he showed enough potential that we can count on him to improve a bit each of the next couple seasons.

And to make it clear AGAIN....I would not count on Freeney to replace Doom. I would be hoping to add him to the pass rush on obvious passing downs or when someone else needs a break. Or as your own evidence state jb:

If you’re looking at a multi-year deal, Freeney is a massive gamble, but if he has a couple more top quality seasons in him someone could get some good value production out him.

It all depends on how much $$$ he wants. Like I said.....

Manning is actively recruiting Freeney, apparently.

I saw this also.  You know Manning gets what Manning wants.

 Despite Wolfe’s six sacks, he graded at -24.5 as a pass rusher as he totaled only 25 total pressures on 530 pass rush attempts.

That grade is deceptive.  With Miller and Doom, not many others were credited with pressure.