Justin Edmonds - Getty Images
Linebacker Wesley Woodyard of the Denver Broncos celebrates after causing a fumble against running back Marion Barber of the Chicago Bears in overtime at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 11, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Bears 13-10 in overtime. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
This series has covered the Broncos 2011 Comeback, Overachiever and the Most Inspirational Players of the Year. This time, we're looking for the Most Improved Bronco in 2011. You might have noticed that there hasn't been any duplicate names. It was my intent to show appreciation to as many players as possible. After all, it took a team effort to go from a 1-4 beginning to a 9-9 finish. Add in the bonus of a playoff appearance after missing the postseason for what seems like an eternity, shows promise for the immediate future of this team. Granted, there is a ways to go, but there were more than a few surprises this year. Perhaps the 3 players below qualify in that regard for you too.
The first nominee for MHR's Most Improved Player of the Year is Linebacker Joe Mays. In 2011, Mays won the starting MLB spot pretty much at the beginning of Training Camp. The Broncos drafted Von Miller for the Strong Side and already had a good Weak Side LB in D.J. Williams. Coming out of a lengthy Lockout and no offseason practice time as a team, Denver chose the experienced Mays over faster Wesley Woodyard to begin the season at the MIKE. Joe had played in 12 games (5 starts) during the 2010 season and made 31 Tackles and had one Pass Break Up. This year, Mays made 83 Tackles and broke up 3 passes appearing in all 18 games with 13 starts. For a guy who left the field when the Nickel package was used, those are pretty good numbers.
2 recs | 55 comments
I'm not seeing it with Mays
as he hasn’t really improved. He did get more play time maybe, but he always is just what he is…. a 2 down thumper with good hit power.
Woodyard is the same way… what you see is what you get.
Bunkley had a whopper of a year, so I had to give it to him.
Just wondering, why wasn’t Demaryius Thomas considered? Or Colquitt? Or McGahee?
PaleHorse78 - January 22, 2012
See the 3rd sentence.
KaptainKirk - January 22, 2012
Ahh... I see
that certainly explains it then. My vote would have to go to Bunkley, cause he was an afterthought last year in Philly… then a botched trade attempt with Cleveland brought him here. No one felt safe when the season started with Ty Warren and Marcus Thomas hurt. Bunkley got no love. How did he respond? Well, a lot of analysts thought he had a great year. Just because the dude isn’t a pass rusher, doesn’t mean he has no worth to a D-Line. I love a big, athletic run plugger like Bunk.
PaleHorse78 - January 22, 2012
I did not vote
As I think Beadles needed a shot at this one. He is one of the best pulling guards I have seen this year and think his improvement was HUGE this year. Just my 2 cents worth.
kimbertr - January 22, 2012
Good point
KaptainKirk - January 22, 2012
Yes
Him and Kuper were two of the best pullers in all of football.
PaleHorse78 - January 22, 2012
I don't recall seeing Woody for the last half of the season.
Tim Lynch - January 22, 2012
Agree
There was discussion here from time to time about wanting him in the game (when Mays was getting exposed), but he did kind of disappear. Why?
MakeCents - January 22, 2012
probably a number of reasons
one being his lack of size. We’re not talking about a 235 lb. man here…. I think Wood is closer to 220.
PaleHorse78 - January 22, 2012
Robert Ayers
RoxWS2014 - January 22, 2012
Not many will agree with you
but I certainly see his worth.
PaleHorse78 - January 22, 2012
totally agree
Mike Agnew - January 23, 2012 via mobile
totally agree
Mike Agnew - January 23, 2012 via mobile
Edit
The section on Mays repeatedly calls him “overachiever”, but you’re doing “most-improved”. I could see him contest for either category – though probably more as an overachiever. Mays gave some glimpses in limited time last year, but don’t see that he really improved to become a solid (3-down) starter in the middle. Maybe that’s an unfair criterion, but just my take.
MakeCents - January 22, 2012
Mays has hit his ceiling
I honestly don’t see how he can get any better
the new Bradfather - January 22, 2012
Mays took a lot of wrong angles
to the gaps and was either late or got swallowed up by blockers. This can be coached and is an area for possible improvement. Also his tackling skills were lax and pretty weak but this is also can be coached. So I really dont understand this statement at all :)
Disturbed70 - January 22, 2012
Mays was never meant to be a starter here
Josh McD went out an fleeced the Iggles (with JJ Arrington) on B Dawk’s rec’d of Mays. He was just supposed to be 3-4 ILB depth and nothing more. Okay, I lied, he was meant to be a key special teamer as well. But that’s it. For whatever reason (redshirt, sucking), Nate Irving couldn’t beat him out. I pray the FO isn’t somehow sold on Mays… and stubbornly keep him there to develop for the next few. Surely John Fox knows better.
PaleHorse78 - January 22, 2012
With the roster we had to make due iwth what we had...
By his numbers he did have a solid season.. And whether or not the FO is “sold” on him I trust their evaluations of his performance and his potential for learning the trade to become an excellent MLB. From what I saw this season he was never out of position other than exactly what I stated. But to say he has hit his “ceiling” with no room for improvement is a bit extreme :) All his flaws are correctable,
Disturbed70 - January 22, 2012
A lot of that is instinct and I don't think Mays has it. Tackling yes, Angles, not so much.
BroncoMath101 - January 22, 2012
Playing within the system
and taking the right angles can certainly be coached. As far as instinct Mays was always around the football, just not in the proper position to make the play.
Disturbed70 - January 22, 2012
but you're missing something here
Joe Mays is not a John Fox MLB. His flaws might be able to be corrected, but I’d almost bet my life they will look for someone more athletic, with better instincts. You can go back and look at the players Fox has historically liked there (Dan Morgan, Jon Beason), and plainly see more is needed to make our version of the 4-3 work.
Joe Mays might turn into a decent player one day… but he doesn’t fit what we like to do (not in Philly’s 4-3 either). Could it be Mays is miscast right now, and could fit better as a 3-4 ILB?
PaleHorse78 - January 22, 2012
Im not disputing that at all.
Just stating my opinion that he has not hit his ceiling. That was my point all along. Whether he can or can’t project into the 4-3, he still had a solid season and I don’t understand all the hate he is getting :) Like I stated before we made due with the roster we had. And he wasn’t as bad as a lot of people here are making him out to be.
And personally I feel he does have potential and the instinct to become a great MLB. He has the size and the speed, to project, just needs to learn more and improve in certain areas of his game. You can argue with me all ya want but I judge players by what I see with my own eyes and from what I saw this season from Mays is he has earned the right to come into camp as the starter. If he loses the spot so be it. That only means that we have picked up another MLB or Irving has stepped up and we will have better than “solid” talent in the middle. Either way its a win win situation for the Broncos :)
Disturbed70 - January 22, 2012
Just look at Von Miller
Jon Beason, Dan Conner, Will Witherspoon…. ALL faster, athletic as hell LB’s. Perhaps I’m too hard on Mays, but he just doesn’t have it. Don’t get me wrong though… all teams need worker ants like him… not all starters can be stars… but IMO, MLB is a spot where we need a star.
PaleHorse78 - January 22, 2012
Mays belongs on special teams
the new Bradfather - January 22, 2012
exactamundo
PaleHorse78 - January 22, 2012
Really?
You want to compare him to two 1st round once in a decade talents, and two 3rd round talents? Talk about some high standards LMAO! Lets just say our whole defense belongs on special teams because 95% of our defense wouldn’t live up to those standards…
Disturbed70 - January 22, 2012
I personally don't see the speed
but I am no expert analyst by any stretch. I always want us to draft studs for the middle (Dawk, Al Wilson, Neil Smith, Atwater) and it never happens. I don’t hate Mays at all… I love him as depth / ST… but I seriously doubt he even backs up on some teams across the league. Could just be me though.
PaleHorse78 - January 22, 2012
Or better yet....
lets just go to the roster edit page and “steal” all the starters from other teams to “stack” the Broncos, then hit the save roster button :)
Disturbed70 - January 22, 2012
I don't really think it is hate. It is just assessing the position and saying that he isn't cuttnig it like he needs to be and we need to improve it.
Maybe some (including myself) are just saying it less tactfully. You make valid points though and maybe he would play much better as a 3-4 Mike.
BroncoMath101 - January 23, 2012
if you've read my posts
you know I love Joe Mays, but in the NFL, it is about winning and the Broncos are in good shape for the future, we’re going to be doing quit a bit of winning the next few years!
the new Bradfather - January 23, 2012
That is a typo
Thanks for pointing it out.
KaptainKirk - January 22, 2012
I Love you Woodyard!
in a completely hetero way, you followed me on Twitter before I followed you, among other things :)
the new Bradfather - January 22, 2012
lol
PaleHorse78 - January 22, 2012
First time I've voted in these polls because I could vote for Bunk
He’s the #1 player the Broncos need to bring back (with apologies to Matt Prater)
mikebirty - January 22, 2012
Prater, Bunkley, Thomas and Wesley Woodyard should be priorities...
Joe Mays, Eddie Royal, Ryan McBean, Jason Hunter, Brady Quinn, Daniel Fells and Chris Clark make offers to…The rest who cares.
bfree2bronc - January 22, 2012
I agree with your first 4 and believe we should bring back Fells. He was good in the clutch and the lack of receptions isn't his fault.
I say let the rest walk except maybe Hunter. If he’d stay for cheap he’s ok depth but not much else.
BroncoMath101 - January 22, 2012
Mays is a thumper but
not much else. He is a weak link between two excellent linebackers and pretty much neutralizes their efforts, IMO. Nice guy, but I wouldn’t vote for him on anything on the football field.
Woodyard brings it, but then, he did last year, too.
Bunkley is the one. He went from virtually an afterthought signing to a stalwart on the defensive line. Put a standout UT with him, and all the sudden the Broncos will have a juggernaut D-line, IMO.
AZDynamics - January 22, 2012
Agreed
someone made a great point about Mays earlier in the year…. they said just because Mays is a hard hitter, it doesn’t automatically make him a good run stuffer. Many, many times this year, Joe Mays was a sieve and a turnstile.
PaleHorse78 - January 22, 2012
Demaryius Thomas had a whopping turn around from his injuries he incurred...
Receiving alone over 400+yards in December was remarkable, and wasn’t even thought possible with Tim Tebow. Wesley Woodyard had a great season and developed even further than he had the previous 3 years. I voted for him.
Broderick Bunkley did a remarkable job after Vickerson and Warren went down to injuries. This will go down as one of the best acquistions for the Broncos in a long time. Willis McGahee also has a piece of this conversation as well with his numbers escalating from near nonexistent to nearly 1200 yds on the ground! Wow!
Joe Mays had a solid year learning his position at Mike even though contrary to some people’s beliefs that he had a terrible year. PFF had him rated +10 and that says a lot about his perfromance. I’m at a minority here that believes he hasn’t reached his ceiling yet being thrust into 3 different defenses in 4 years…Not great, but not real bad either.
bfree2bronc - January 22, 2012
Just looking at the numbers I wish you would have done an option
for the whole defense as a unit. From dead last in nearly every catagory to the low to mid 20’s shows an excellent improvement. And without an off season to implement the change from a 3-4 to the 4-3 the improvement stands out even more!
Ive been saying all along Bunkley was our best FA pick up of the season. Coming into what little TC we had our DL was one the weak links going into the season. Then losing Warren and Vickeson had me worried. Bunkley stepped up HUGE and deserved my vote.
I feel Mays had a solid season, but still has a lot to learn. Always trying to line up for the monster hit will do that. He needs to learn proper tackling technique and better angles to the gaps and he will become a monster, if he gets the shot. He will have some competition in TC this off season with Nate Irving, and it will be an interesting battle to watch.
In my opinion Woodyard had a par to sub-par season in the nickel, but was outstanding as usual in his ST’s play. Not much of an improvement if you ask me.
Disturbed70 - January 22, 2012
In retrospect, I feel you are right
and I agree, the Defense made strides this season.
KaptainKirk - January 22, 2012
Bunkley was never an afterthought. He was considered one of the best run-stopping 4-3 defensive tackles
He brought nothing to the Eagles in terms of pass rush.
Woodyard was misused in the 4-3 as was Ayers and the entire o-line. You can pick anyone front he positions that shifted schemes and it would be hard to argue with you. I would say Kuper was most improved imo. Easily a top 5 guard this season and brought a whole lot of leadership to this young line.
ShyandObese - January 22, 2012
Bunkley.
Woodyard played great but didn’t show me why he should be a starter at WLB with DJ there so in my mind he is still just a great backup. Bunk really helped our run D improve greatly.
BroncoMath101 - January 22, 2012
No love for Ayers?
Finally get him playing where he should be and he actually does well…
thejbow - January 22, 2012
I for one love me some Robert Ayers
he has the body type, toughness, and the right amount of nasty that I love in a D-Lineman. Unlike Joe Mays, I feel that Ayers has the ceiling to turn into a very good (perhaps never “great”) player. Along with myself…. I bet the other defenders really, really trust him to set the edge on run plays. You just always know that Ayers will do his job in that respect.
PaleHorse78 - January 22, 2012
I love him in that respect too but we have to find an upgrade at DE on pass rushing downs.
Look at what Aldon Smith was able to do in limited duty this season. He made plays on 3rd downs until he was able to get more playing time due to his production. We have to bring in another pass rushing specialist to pick up the slack when Von Miller isn’t on the line.
BroncoMath101 - January 23, 2012
Yes, Ayers . . .
There’s a very good reason he had his best games at the end of the year. He had been progressively improving from game to game. This last year was his first year in the pros at his truly natural position. We just may see a breakout from him this next year . . .
AZDynamics - January 23, 2012
If I was an OC, I’d find Wes Woodyard and run right at him all day long. He is the most fan overrrated player in a Bronco uniform..by 2…at least. The Steelers made him their bitch a Monday night not so long ago, and y’all blamed it on D.J. He is, by every definition, a special-teamer/spot player, and his best attribute is the good old fashioned ‘grass is always greener’ syndrome. How he could possibly make this vote is a mystery to me.
Pigskin - January 22, 2012
Don't forget Eddie Royal and Spencer Larsen too.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Spencer Larsen a lot but I once heard someone on here say he is one of the best FB in the NFL.
I’ve also heard that Wood can replace DJ with no drop off.
Sorry, I don’t see it.
BroncoMath101 - January 23, 2012
Spence is great for us
but the best fullback in the NFL=Vonta Leach, screw BIlly Cundiff, I felt so badly for the Ravens
the new Bradfather - January 23, 2012
agree with all of this
DJ is stronger at the point than WW, WW is marginally better in coverage… but both are functional WLBs.
cjfarls - January 24, 2012
Im Surprised no one mentioned Tebow
I mean at the beginning of the year we were told he was the 4th string QB…:D
JOEGATOR15 - January 23, 2012
Eric Decker anyone?
He did regress a little with the emergence of DT, but compared to last year…. Not to mention his blocking, I’d say Decker.
PearlJamBroncoGFunk - January 23, 2012
drop your loser girlfriend Eric
there are plenty of beautiful women who won’t affect your on-field performance
the new Bradfather - January 23, 2012
Bunkley had a down year last year...
…but he’s basically the same player he was 2-3 years ago in Philly… that doesn’t make him “most improved” to me.
Mays also is the same guy he was before… warts and all.
Of the choices, I’d vote WW… but can definitely can see better arguments perhaps for someone like Beadles, Bay-Bay, Ayers, or even someone like Bruton. Thinking about it, Colquitt is probably my top choice.
cjfarls - January 24, 2012
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