The Broncos' defense was the worst in the league last season. By far. It wasn't even close.

Denver game up 6,253 total yards in 2010, an average of 390.8 yards per game. Opponents racked up an average of 236.3 passing yards and 154.6 rushing yards per game. They also scored a league-high 471 total points against the Broncos.

What makes these stats even more surprising is that the Broncos were among the league’s top-10 defenses in 2009. An injury to star linebacker Elvis Dumervil and limited production from aging veterans Brian Dawkins and Champ Bailey depleted the defense in 2010.

New head coach John Fox knows a thing or two about defense. A former NCAA and NFL defensive coordinator (and head coach), Fox had no plans on extending Denver's defensive struggles. Taking a defensive mindset into the draft, Fox and General Manager Brian Xanders made Texas A&M's OLB Von Miller (pictured) the second pick of the draft. Miller, the only linebacker picked in the first round, will fit in perfectly with the Broncos' 3-4 defense. With Dumervil back, Denver will have one of the most potent pass rush tandems in the league. In 2009, when Dumervil was healthy, the Broncos posted 39 sacks, good enough for tenth in the league. Miller gives Denver the ability to surpass that total.

The Broncos didn't stop their defensive mood there. With the 45th overall pick, the team drafted highly-touted FS Rahim Moore, a UCLA product who was not expected to slip 13 picks into the second day. Moore is a formidable heir to the free safety position occupied by 37-year-old Brian Dawkins. With Dawkins as a mentor, Moore's potential has skyrocketed as a Bronco.

After taking T Orlando Franklin, who will give Denver offensive line depth, with the 46th pick, the Broncos went back to defense in the third round. With the 67th pick, they chose Nate Irving, a linebacker who can play on both the inside and outside. Irving will be a solid utility piece for a linebacking core that may redevelop into one of the league’s best.

Thus far, things are looking brighter in Denver. The defense has been strengthened and may very well have gained the draft's best player in Miller.

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-- JEFFREY EISENBAND
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The NFL released the 2011 schedule on Tuesday and for the first time since Sept. 12, 2004, against Kansas City, the Denver Broncos open the regular season at home. Following is a breakdown of Denver’s regular-season slate:

Sept. 12 v. Raiders
-- A regular-season home opener? Monday Night Football? Say, what. Yep, the NFL season isn’t going to happen. This is a mirage.

Sept. 18 v. Bengals
-- Who will be Denver’s QB? Kyle Orton or Tim Tebow? Better yet, who will be Cincinnati's? Blaine Gabbert?

Sept. 25 at Titans
-- Better draft Marcel Dareus because Denver just may need it to step Chris Johnson.

Oct. 2 at Packers
-- John Elway won’t be able to help the Broncos this team, at least not from the suite seats.

Oct. 9 vs. Chargers
-- It’s San Diego. It’s Philip Rivers. Need any more motivation than that.

Oct. 23 at Dolphins
-- Denver say hello to Brandon Marshall and his new gig.

Oct. 30 vs. Lions
-- While we’re reuniting, hello Alphonso Smith and Tony Scheffler.

Nov. 6 at Raiders
-- Tebow showed signs of what he can do here in his first career start last year. Now finish the job this time around.

Nov. 13 at Chiefs
-- First Oakland, now Kansas City. Back-to-back road division games in the heart of the season will be challenging.

Nov. 17 vs. Jets
-- Quick turnaround against one of the AFC’s best. Broncos had New York on the ropes last season.

Nov. 27 at Chargers
-- A 10-day break before heading west could be just what the Broncos need.

Dec. 4 at Vikings
-- Brett Favre is gone, but there’s still Adrian Peterson. As if Chris Johnson earlier in the season wasn’t enough.

Dec. 11 vs. Bears
-- The reunion tour wraps up with Jay Cutler back in town. And this time it counts.

Dec. 18 vs. Patriots
-- Late-season showdown with Belichick’s boys will be a tough go. At least it’s at home.

Dec. 24 at Bills
-- A potential letdown game on Christmas Eve. Remember what Buffalo did here a couple years ago?

Jan. 1 vs. Chiefs
-- Another season finale at home with Kansas City. Keep an eye on Jamaal Charles.

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-- MICHAEL HICKS
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Boy, as if things weren’t scary enough for the Denver Broncos with whether Tim Tebow or Kyle Orton will start at quarterback, with a defensive front seven that has more holes than Swiss cheese and if the team will gaffe the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft later this month, then comes the preseason schedule.

Oh, the trip to Dallas and Jerry World looks nice for the opener, but home games against Buffalo and Seattle the next two weeks. Really? They’ll be giving away tickets to those games.

That’s not exactly stout competition. I mean the Bills were 4-12 a year ago with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm and, sure, the Seahawks made the playoffs. But that was with a pedestrian 7-9 record and an aging Matt Hasselbeck, who is a free agent, at quarterback.

Denver finishes up the preseason at Arizona, 5-11 in 2010. Considering not a single team the Broncos play in the preseason -- assuming there is a preseason -- had a winning record last season, what will we really know about the 2011 squad? Better yet, what will we know if the team struggles? That might be the better question.

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-- MICHAEL HICKS
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The Champ is back. OK, he never really went anywhere, but there was a good chance that the Broncos were going to be without Champ Bailey next season if they could not work out contract negotiations.

Bailey has been the one bright spot on a struggling Broncos defense, and thankfully, he signed a four-year deal worth $43 million that essentially guarantees that he will retire a Bronco.

That was perhaps John Elway’s best decision to date as vice president of football operations. Making the push for a player like Bailey not only enhanced Elway’s front office credibility with fans, but it shows that the Broncos are committed to making the leap back to late-90s greatness.

Bailey could have easily tested the free agent market and found a team that would be a Super Bowl contender next season rather than staying with the rebuilding Broncos.

But the Pro Bowl corner also knew that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side and that the sky is always bluer in Colorado.

Bailey has made Colorado home for seven seasons during which time he has endured six defensive coordinators.

The last playoff success the Broncos had was in 1999 –- long before Bailey was a Bronco. The last time the team made a playoff appearance was in 2005, when Bailey was a fresh face at left corner.

For a player of Bailey’s caliber to stick with a team such as the Broncos, it says a lot about his character and loyalty.

Like in any workplace, people leave for better opportunities whether that means making more money or moving up the corporate ladder.

One couldn’t blame Bailey if he wanted to dance his way out of Denver and find an immediate contender to play for and perhaps retire with.

With a certain amount of faith in the future of the Broncos, Bailey has found reason to stay. That’s enough for us to believe that the Broncos will return to dignity and prominence in a Mile High minute.

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For more on the Denver Broncos, check out FanSided's Predominantly Orange blog.

-- KIM CONSTANTINESCO
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For many players, the NFL is the ultimate roller coaster ride. Only the lucky few ride the high track all the way through with minimal injuries and great success.

Wide receiver Eddie Royal's career started on cloud nine when he rode the Mike Shanahan and Jay Cutler offensive train all the way to outstanding rookie numbers. Royal appeared to be just that -- Royalty. In 2008, the first-year receiver took the league by storm, setting a team record for most receptions (91), receiving yards (980), and receiving touchdowns (5) by a Broncos rookie.

His numbers dropped off in his sophomore season, catching 37 balls for 345 yards and no touchdowns in two fewer games.

Heads turned toward Josh McDaniels and his play-calling when people noticed the drop off in production from Royal. Was Royal a product of Mike Shanahan’s system and Jay Cutler’s arm or was McDaniels simply not targeting the talented wideout enough?

Entering his third season in the league, Royal was looking to bounce back to rookie form if you will. He finished the year with 59 receptions for 627 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was competing with a highly competent group of receivers in Pro Bowler Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney, and Demaryius Thomas, but people expected more out of Royal who posted such great numbers as a rookie.

Not only is Royal a tremendous asset on offense, but he’s provided a spark plug to the Broncos return game for the past three seasons. He can be compared to Chargers’ dual threat receiver/returner Darren Sproles in that regard.

Royal’s third year certainly wasn’t the charm. Even though he didn’t miss any games, he had just two receptions in the Broncos final three games. This was due to a hip injury that he eventually had surgery on after the season was over.

Royal’s recovery is set to be about five months at best which will limit him until OTA’s in May (if the CBA gets worked out).

Until then, Royal will rest, heal, and then rehab back to Fast Eddie form. As one can imagine, he’ll do it as quickly as possible.

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For more on the Denver Broncos, check out FanSided's Predominantly Orange blog.

-- KIM CONSTANTINESCO
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