The Internal Confessions of a Frustrated Broncos Fan

I should be doing anything but writing this column right now.

I have two finals tomorrow that will greatly determine my grades in those respective classes, not to mention a final paper due on Wednesday that I have barely even started. It doesn’t matter, because to this point, the only thing that I feel motivated about is the soap opera that dominated the Denver Broncos’ offseason and the repercussions that have followed.

If you follow this team like I do, you know what I’m talking about. I shouldn’t have to tell you. Hell, you can be a fly on the wall for all I care. You know about the epic tantrum that went down between Josh McDaniels and Jay Cutler, and you also know how much different the Broncos will be this season and every season that follows because of it.

To this day, I don’t understand why Mike Shanahan just had to have Jay Cutler in the draft back 2006. Jake Plummer was the perfect quarterback for Shanahan’s run based offense, and he was coming off the best season of his career. Yet, it was mostly his fault that Denver fell apart in that AFC Championship game against Pittsburgh? The same Pittsburgh team that stifled Peyton Manning in the previous round? Give me a break.

Following that game, everything changed for the Broncos. They traded up to nab Cutler and Jake Plummer officially had 7 starts left in his football career. Trevor Pryce walked away in free agency and Al Wilson played his final game for Denver the same day Cutler played his first. Anyway you look at it, the kid from Santa Clause changed this franchise, sometimes for better but mostly for worse. Maybe Mike Shanahan thought he saw the next John Elway when he watched film of Jay Cutler from Vanderbilt. Apparently Cutler felt the same way when he said that he thought his arm was even stronger than Elway’s. For all that is right in the world, why would a young quarterback who has never even been to the playoffs compare himself to the most iconic sports figure in Colorado history?

Of course, this is all old news. Which brings me back to McJaygate. I still have a hard time picking a side. McDaniels should never have tried to trade his best player for a one-hit wonder in Matt Cassel who no doubt benefited from all the talent around him in New England. I don’t care how familiar you are with a player, you never trade talent for good system players. At the same time, how does Jay figure that it’s ok or professional to throw the kind of fit that he did? Say all you want about Denver’s terrible defense (and it has been beyond terrible) but Cutler has never shown the fire that it takes to be a winning NFL quarterback. Elway had it. Craig Morton had it. Even Plummer showed flashes of it at times. Cutler has never been short on talent, but talent only takes a player so far. Fellow ’06 quarterback draftees Matt Leinart and Vince Young can attest to that.

Here’s the catch though; once Josh exiled Jay out of the AFC by sending him to Chicago, I had moved past this. After seeing the bevy of draft picks that the Bears surrendered for the spineless talent that is Jay Cutler, I was ecstatic. Here, finally, was my team’s chance to regain prominence after suffering through the final years that became the lost visions of Mike Shanahan. Kyle Orton might suck, I thought, but McDaniels’ talents at grooming quarterbacks are supposedly just as good as Shanahan’s talents at grooming running backs. It’s all about the system, so this didn’t bother me that much. Not nearly as much as Cutler’s errant passes at the goal line that turned into interceptions did.

Then came draft day. I wasn’t quite a kid on Christmas morning, but believe me my heart was pumping. School and girls be damned, the draft was the only thing I thought of all week. We had five picks in the first three rounds. We were going to rebuild our team. We were going to be relevant again for the first since Elway left the building and Terrell Davis’ legs went with him. Everything good in Broncos Country would be restored. Right?

Maybe that will still happen, but certainly not the way I or any other person with half a football brain hoped it would. The Broncos effectively passed on Brian Orakpo, Rey Maualuga, James Laurinaitis, Everette Brown, Brian Cushing, and others for Knowshon Moreno, Robert Ayers, and Alphonso Smith. Ayers being the only defensive lineman McDaniels drafted and Smith being one of three defensive backs that he took instead. Am I crazy here? Were the Broncos not one of the worst teams at defending the run last year? Not only did McDaniels pass on all those players, but he traded the team’s first round pick in next year’s draft for a cornerback who likely won’t even start for a year or two.

Don’t get me wrong. Just because I think Denver didn’t need Moreno and shouldn’t have traded up for Smith doesn’t mean I think they are scrubs. These are all good players coming out of college (Smith would’ve been a first rounder if he was taller than 5’9) and they should all contribute to the Broncos this year in some capacity.

Still, by erasing the face of the franchise, McDaniels rattled the Denver fan base and has created more controversy than any other coach in history before coaching in his first game. Don’t be surprised if he gets booed at the first home game at Invesco Field. Bottom line; Josh needs to win right now to regain the full support and trust of the fan base, and I don’t see how he can do that when he didn’t look to solve his team’s biggest weakness through the draft. It’s like getting a new paint job for a broken down Mustang instead of fixing the transmission. It looks better, but the performance won’t improve at all.

To be fair, it’s only May. McDaniels and the Denver “Patriots” have a few more mini-camps, training camp, and the preseason to work out all of the kinks. Regardless, mistakes will still be made, important assignments and plays will be blown, and somewhere between now and next offseason Brandon Marshall will find another girl to get arrested with. You come to expect these things as a Broncos’ fan nowadays.

Ultimately, when looking at the Broncos’ roster and comparing it to that of San Diego, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, New England, and the other teams of the AFC elite, I can’t help but feel that it will be another long season. My only saving grace is the hope that somehow, someway, Chicago will have an equally miserable season to us. At least that way I won’t feel quite as bad about trading that damn first round draft pick.

 

Denver Broncos’ Offseason Moves Have Team in Complete Disarray

After wishing for and then finally receiving a new GM, head coach, an experienced defensive coordinator, and some free agent signings, things could not have been looking better for the Broncos in 2009. 

Already anchored by some of the best young talent in football in Ryan Clady, Ryan Harris, Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Tony Scheffler, and Jay Cutler, the Broncos just needed to address the RB position and defensive side of the football in the 2009 Draft and offseason. 

And with the free agent signings of Correll Buckhalter, J.J. Arrington, Brian Dawkins, Andra Davis, Andre’ Goodman, and Renaldo Hill, the Broncos did just that and asserted themselves as one of the most aggressive teams this offseason.

With these moves, the Broncos basically assured themselves on paper to contend for a playoff spot and the AFC West title, and most importantly, re-energized their loyal fanbase for the 2009 season.

Since that time, the once proud Broncos franchise has gone into disarray with the Cutler and Josh McDaniels feud that eventually led to Cutler being traded. 

Even after this ugly separation, the Broncos were still in a better position than most thought, as they acquired two first round selections and a third rounder as well. This left the Broncos with 11 draft picks this year, which included the No. 12 and No. 18 selections, to address their glaring needs.  

The Broncos could draft a RB and a DE with their two first round selections and then possibly package both of their first round picks next year to move up to select either Sam Bradford or Colt McCoy. 

Instead, the Broncos gambled and may pay for it for many years to come, as they selected Knowshon Moreno with the 12th pick and Robert Ayers with the 18th pick.

Selecting Moreno was a very good selection, as he is a complete back and a back that the Broncos can depend on for the next 10 years. The problem, however, is that the Broncos’ primary need was DE, and with Brian Orakpo somehow on the board, the Broncos clearly made a mistake. 

The right move would have been to select Orakpo and then hope that Moreno fell to No. 18. Otherwise the Broncos could have traded up due to their abundance of picks or selected LeSean McCoy or Chris Wells. 

If this was not bad enough, the Broncos then traded their first round pick next year to Seattle to move up and select CB Alphonso Smith. Smith is a playmaker that will be a very good NFL CB, but was it really worth burning one of your bargaining chips next year when the QB crop is going to be deep? 

Yes, the Broncos still retain the Bears’ first round pick, which should be a top 15 pick, but if the Broncos had any hopes of landing Bradford or McCoy, they will be disappointed, as both will be gone within the first five picks of the draft. 

Kyle Orton, who the Broncos also received in the Cutler trade, will be a lot better than critics think. Orton will have a better offensive line, better weapons to throw the ball to, motivation of a one-year contract, and the experience of playing in bad weather. 

But what happens after this year? Will a QB be available where the Broncos pick? Will they sign Orton to a multi-year deal? Will the Broncos luck out and have the Bears finish as one of the worst teams in the league? 

For the Broncos’ sake and for us fans, all we can do is hope as we watch McDaniels attempt to clean up the many messes that he created. 

Ten NFL Coaches On The “Hot Seat” For 2009

By Derek Lofland, NFL director at Football Maniaxs

Now that the draft and free agency have passed, I think we are starting to have expectations for certain teams. There are some franchises like Detroit and St Louis where the expectation is going to be six wins and a solid rebuilding effort.

Their coaches won’t be under a lot of pressure to produce big win totals in their first year. There are other teams expecting that their free agent signings and draft picks will turn them into playoff and Super Bowl contenders.

These 10 coaches are going to be feeling an even hotter seat than the rest of the NFL head coaches when September rolls around. I believe if these 10 guys don’t show us something in 2009 they will probably be looking for coordinator jobs in 2010.

10) Josh McDaniels (Broncos)

McDaniels doesn’t need to win 10 games and secure a playoff birth to keep his job, but he has to give the impression that it was worth trading a franchise quarterback in Jay Cutler to improve the overall team, in particular the defense.

If the Broncos go 6-10, but lose close games to good teams, rank 20th in the NFL in defense, and Knowshon Moreno looks like the real deal on offense, McDaniels will be considered a success and get a second season with no questions asked. If the team goes 6-10, the defense is still a mess, and the offense can’t move the ball to save its life; there are going to be problems.

If Denver is getting blown out most weeks, four of the wins are close games over the Chiefs and Raiders, all while Cutler is playing great and leading the Bears to the playoffs, Pat Bowlen might not have the patience to stick with a guy that is only one year on the job and already sent a franchise quarterback out of town.

Shipping Cutler out of town puts pressure on McDaniels to look impressive this year. Pat Bowlen needs to see that the team is headed in the right direction in year one. Even if Denver’s record isn’t great, Denver needs to play well. McDaniels basically forfeited a year to “learn on the job” with a bad defense when he made the move to ship Cutler out of town.

9) Marvin Lewis (Bengals)

I thought he would be gone the last two years, but the Brown family hates to terminate people under contract and have to pay the remainder of their contract. Winning is not the most important thing in Cincinnati. Lewis is 46-49-1 since arriving in Cincinnati in 2003 and 0-1 in the playoffs.

Furthermore, he is just 19-28-1 the last three seasons. He was brought in for the great work he did with the Baltimore defense. The highest the Bengals have ranked in scoring defense since hiring Lewis was 17th in 2006. The highest they have ranked in yards allowed was 12th in their four-win campaign of 2008.

I just don’t think he can afford to go 4-12 or 5-11 and expect to keep his job again. He has a franchise quarterback to build around in Carson Palmer and they have been adding pieces on defense through the draft for some time. They used a first round pick on Keith Rivers last year. In 2007, they added CB Leon Hall in the first round.

In 2006, they added CB Jonathan Joseph and DE Frostee Rucker in the third round. In 2005, they added David Pollack and Odell Thurman in the first two rounds. This year they gave him a potential franchise offensive tackle in Andre Smith. They also added MLB Rey Maualuga and DE Michael Johnson in the second and third rounds.

Cincinnati is not an ideal situation and everyone knows that. I don’t think Marvin Lewis has to win 12 games and the division to save his job. The standards in Cincinnati are not very high, but there are still standards and Lewis needs to get back up to .500 with his young players playing well and make the playoffs looking like they are a year around the corner.

His defense, that is loaded with top picks, has to start playing like a top defense. If he has another losing record in 2009, I think the Bengals will make a change that quite frankly is probably a year or two overdue.

8) Mike McCarthy (Packers)

McCarthy is 27-21 since coaching the team, but almost half of those wins (13) came in the 2007 season. He is coming off a 6-10 campaign despite having an offense that finished fifth in the NFL in points scored.

The problem for him since arriving there has been the defense. The 2005 defense allowed the 19th most points in the NFL. In 2006, which was McCarthy’s first season, they regressed to 25th. Then they broke out and finished sixth in 2007. But that lasted only one year and they were back down to 22nd in 2008.

Except for Winston Moss, the entire defensive staff was let go and the team is implementing a 3-4 defense this year. Usually if a coach doesn’t turn it around after major changes are made to the staff he is shown the door.

They spent two first round picks upgrading the front seven, which finished 27th in rushing yards allowed last year. The expectation is that this defense will be improved with those two picks, a new staff, and a new scheme.

I don’t think McCarthy needs to make the playoffs to save his job. His 13-3 record from 2007 and NFC Championship appearance give him a “get out of jail card free” for last year.

Aaron Rodgers has a bright future and McCarthy is receiving the credit for his development. There have been a lot of positives with McCarthy there and most people feel he is a rising star in the coaching profession.

But if this team goes 6-10 again and the defense looks lost, Ted Thompson is probably not going to survive a fourth non-winning season in five tries. If Thompson goes, the Packers GM probably isn’t going to feel obligated to keep McCarthy for one 13-3 season, three non-winning seasons, and two consecutive seasons under .500. A new GM is probably going to want his own guy.

McCarthy needs to do well so that Ted Thompson can keep his job, which will ensure that McCarthy sticks around. They probably need to go 8-8 to 10-6 and be the second place team in the NFC North this season for that to happen, with a defense that is improving and looks prime to break out in 2010.

McCarthy needs to have a solid season in 2009. His defense cannot play like it did in 2006 and 2008.

7) Gary Kubiak (Texans)

Kubiak has been in Houston for three years. He has a 22-26 record and has never done better than 8-8, which happens to be the best record in Texans history. The offense is slowly getting better, but the defense hasn’t taken the jump yet.

The best they have ranked on defense in either yards allowed or points allowed in his first three seasons is 22nd. That is despite drafting players like DE Mario Williams, DTs DeMeco Ryans, and Amobi Okoye.

This year they added OLB Brian Cushing and DE Connor Barwin in the first two rounds of the draft and signed DE Antonio Smith in free agency.

With an offense led by Andre Johnson and Steve Slaton that was third in yards gained, the expectation is that the Texans will be able to compete in a division where Tony Dungy is no longer a coach, Albert Haynesworth is no longer a Titan, and Jacksonville is coming off a 5-11 season. The young defense eventually has to stop being young and get better.

I think the Texans need to make the playoffs this year if Kubiak is going to be with the Texans in 2010. At the very least, the defense needs to get up into the top-15 in the NFL and the team needs to win nine or 10 games and be in contention for the playoffs the last week of the season.

At a minimum, they need to be like the 2007 Cleveland Browns. They can’t start slow like they have in past seasons. If the Texans go 8-8 again and are mediocre a third time in a row, they may feel the need to cut ties with Kubiak and bring in a guy to get the team over the top and into the playoffs.

6) Jim Zorn (Redskins)

He was first hired as the offensive coordinator and then promoted to head coach after they couldn’t find anyone they liked better. It wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement. He also took over for a team that went 9-7 and made the playoffs as a wildcard in 2007. While they only lost one more game, they started the season 6-2 before finishing 8-8 in last place.

Dan Snyder always likes to make a splash in free agency and this year was no different. They signed DT Albert Haynesworth and CB DeAngelo Hall. The Redskins also drafted DE Brian Orakpo. People are expecting this defense to dominate the NFL and a bad record will not be tolerated.

The other problem Zorn has is that for as much as Snyder likes to sign free agents, he loves to sign big name coaches even more. Mike Shanahan, Mike Holmgren, Bill Cowher, and Jon Gruden are all free agent head coaches. With the exception of Cowher, the other three are considered offensive gurus.

If the Skins finish in last place with a solid defense but a mediocre offense, don’t be surprised if he cuts ties with Zorn to go after one of the big offensive names. Zorn pretty much needs to go 10-6 and get a wild card birth to save his job in one of the toughest divisions in the NFL.

5) Jack Del Rio (Jaguars)

He flat out needs to make the playoffs this season. He has been in Jacksonville since 2003 and struggles to string successful seasons together. After going 12-4 in 2005, they slipped to 8-8 in 2006.

They rebounded to go 11-5 in 2007 and won a playoff game in Pittsburgh. That led to a 5-11 2008 season instead of a breakout year. Many people thought they would be a dark horse contender for the Super Bowl in 2008.

They always seem to be great at running the ball and have a solid defense, but are a quality quarterback and receiver away from competing with the top AFC teams. Last year the defense fell apart as well and the offensive line didn’t run block or pass block very well, mainly because of injures and lack of depth. That disaster cannot happen again.

I do not believe that Kubiak and Del Rio will both survive the season. I think one of those teams will have a losing record in 2009 and the coach that does will be shown the door.

Del Rio has an improved offensive line, but many questions at quarterback. Even though Torry Holt is now there, this isn’t the same dominant Torry Holt from 2000-2006. I think Del Rio needs at least a wildcard birth and possibly a playoff win to save his job. He has been there too long for them to do poorly again and survive.

4) Sean Payton (Saints)

It’s great that Drew Brees puts up great numbers and the offense scares people to death. Problem is offenses love playing against the Saints. After going 10-6 in 2006 and advancing to the NFC Championship game in Payton’s first year, the Saints are 15-17 the last two years and have finished in the 20s in both points allowed and yards allowed in 2007 and 2008.

Expectations were that they might be a Super Bowl contender in 2007 and a NFC South division contender in 2008. This year, they drafted CB Malcolm Jenkins and signed Darren Sharper to improve a pass defense that has been lost the last two years.

A 7-9 or 8-8 record and last place in the NFC South isn’t going to cut it. Missing the playoffs isn’t going to cut it. Six losses on the road like they had in 2008 isn’t going to cut it.

This team needs to fulfill its potential and win the NFC South or compete for a wildcard. Payton needs to get back to the playoffs. If they aren’t in the playoff mix in 2009 and the defense is still struggling, Sean Payton is probably going to pay with his job no matter how well Drew Brees looks.

3) Brad Childress (Vikings)

I don’t necessarily know if it’s fair that he is on the hot seat. Even though he is only 24-24 in three seasons, the team has gotten better every year. They went from 6-10 his first year to 8-8 his second year, and 10-6 with the NFC North crown in his third year.

The problem is that he came in as an offensive guru that was supposed to fix the offense, particularly the quarterback situation. He hinged his rebuilding on Tarvaris Jackson becoming a viable NFL quarterback. That hasn’t worked out to date. The Vikings are still a quarterback away from competing for the Super Bowl. That’s a problem when you are saying that for the third straight offseason.

If Jackson has a good year this year and the Vikings win 11 or 12 games, Childress is going to keep his job. But if Jay Cutler and Aaron Rodgers dominate the NFC North and the Vikings regress to 8-8 or worse and miss the playoffs, he is going to be out of a job.

The expectation with Adrian Peterson, a great offensive line, and that top flight front-seven defense is that they should be playing for championships, not Wild Card appearances and first round exits. If they don’t do that, Childress hasn’t been impressive enough to escape blame. He is going to be the one that pays the price for the Vikings still not having a quarterback that can carry the team to the next level.

2) Wade Phillips (Cowboys)

I debated about whether to go with Any Reid as the other NFC East coach on the hot seat, but I think Phillips has more pressure. The Eagles at least made the NFC Championship Game in 2008.

Unless the Eagles bottomed out to 6-10, which I can’t see happening with the additions they made this offseason, Reid can probably survive an 8-8 or 9-7 season if the team suffers a lot of injuries, in particular to Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook. Wade Phillips can’t miss the playoffs for a second straight year for any reason.

Jerry Jones was not happy with how the team did last season and really didn’t make a major splash in free agency. They allowed troublemakers like Terrell Owens and PacMan Jones to go elsewhere. They released S Roy Williams. They also didn’t select a player in the draft until the third round. Most of their signings were mid-tier veteran players with good character that didn’t create a ton of buzz.

The Cowboys are depending on better chemistry equaling more wins. They believe that Phillips and the talent weren’t the problem, but rather a few bad seeds (insert Owens and PacMan Jones) in the locker room caused the meltdown. Those guys are gone now and can no longer be blamed.

They haven’t won a playoff game since 1996 and Wade Phillips has a reputation of being a playoff choke artist. I believe that if Wade Phillips doesn’t make the playoffs and at least win one playoff game, Jerry Jones isn’t going to be as patient with is underachieving head coach in 2010. Jones will instead show Wade Phillips the door and look to bring in a big name coach to get the team over the hump.

1) Norv Turner (Chargers)

“Marty Ball” was fine for September through December, but it didn’t win in January. That is why Norv Turner was brought to San Diego. In 2006, the Chargers were first in points scored, fourth in yards gained, seventh in points allowed, and 10th in yards allowed.

They were 14-2 and lost those two games by a combined six points, but they lost in their first playoff game to New England and Marty was shown the door for Norv Turner.

The Chargers have been considered the most talented team in the NFL for the last few seasons. Since they brought in Norv Turner, they just haven’t been able to start the season fast in a pretty weak division the last two years. They went 5-5 to start 2007 before winning their final six regular season games to eventually lose to the Patriots in the AFC title game.

That was supposed to propel them to a 2008 Super Bowl run. In 2008, they started 4-8 before winning their final four games and catching the collapsing Denver Broncos. However, they beat the Colts in the first round of the playoffs and played respectable in a loss to eventual champion Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh.

A 3-2 playoff record has helped Turner keep his job again. Had they missed the playoffs, I think he would have been gone.

The division is in turmoil; Denver traded Cutler, Oakland and Kansas City are rebuilding, and Tom Cable is the second-most seasoned coach in the division, after Turner, with 12 games under his belt from 2008. The Chargers should win this division by four games, easily. They need to go 12-4 and earn a first round bye. They need to compete for a Super Bowl.

If the Chargers start the season 5-5 and make the playoffs again with a late season surge, I don’t think it is enough for Turner to just make the playoffs and win a playoff game. He needs to show the Chargers front office that the Chargers can play well for the entire season under his direction.

They didn’t bring him there to make the playoffs and win a game or two there. They brought him to get the most talented team in the NFL over the hump and win a Super Bowl. If the Chargers don’t play like a Super Bowl team most of the season, Turner is going to probably pay with his job.

Those are my 10 coaches with the most to prove in 2009. While every coach is coaching for his job, as we found out last year when so many high profile veteran coaches were given their pink slips, I think these ten have the most to prove entering the 2009 season. If they have disappointing seasons, I don’t see them surviving the season.

Broncos Coach Gets Advice From “Big Brother”

     OK Josh, I will explain why the kids keep picking on you. When Dad (Bowlen) left you the keys to the family Cadillac, you immediately took it to Bert’s Garage for a new paint job, getting Dawkins, Goodman, Hill and Davis. It looked great compared to the old look. However; you got a little cocky and decided to upgrade the engine, and Ole Cooter exchanged your North Star V8 with a Honda Accord 4 banger. Trading Cutler for Orton was a severe downgrade. This is when the playground bully gave you your first wedgie and hung you on the flag pole.

   I defended you like the big brother I am but you didn’t learn any lessons. Remember when I dried your tears and told you the yellow water on your pants was from your juice box?

   Then Dad gave you his credit card and said to go buy tires and fill it up with gas. The first thing you did was buy a transmission. Remember Moreno is a running back and you had already overspent on three mediocre ones. Oh well, at least you could still afford new tires and you bought a great tire in Ayers. Good job Joshy! Then all you needed was three more to complete the first half of your task.

    I know Cooter was working you hard and you just had to buy those flashy rims since you had Dawkins and Champ shining so bright. So you bought two more with your next two picks Smith and Mcbath and yes they do look sporting. But Ole Cooter put them on the old bald tires you came in with including the flat tire you limped into his garage with. You had no real nose tackle.

   I had faith that you were going to get one with the other 8 picks because you’re so smart. (At least that is what your teacher Mr. Belicheck says.) But this is where Cooter took you out back and showed you his slutty sister Henrietta and convinced you that you needed something she could provide. You were so happy you gave two picks for the opportunity to draft Quinn who by the way would probably never even get drafted but I can excuse you because it was your first experience and you got prematurely excited. This is when you bought the bumper sticker that says Shit Happens. I don’t think it belongs on the hood however; it did cover the hole where the ornament used to be. Remember you gave it to Henrietta for a necklace.

     So far you bought one tire, two rims, a transmission and your first sexual experience, but you still need three more tires and gas. This is where you told Ole Cooter that you really need a nose tackle and some defensive line help however; he sold you another shiny rim, Bruton, only it was for the spare tire in the trunk. You seemed to regroup for a moment, except you forgot that Olsen plays on the offense not defense.

     After that you simply asked if there was any credit left on Dad’s card, and Cooter said there was plenty since he had already extended you credit on the payment plan by using next year’s first round pick on one of those shiny rims and you could get some candy while he installed a fancy steering wheel cover, Mckinley for round five.

     While you were busy looking for the Cracker Jack box toy, Cooter extended you even more credit from next year and then installed a leaf blower as a turbo charger by getting quarterback Brandstrater for two picks, including next years fifth rounder. After the sugar high from the caramel coated popcorn and Henrietta’s eternal love, you simply said lets buy a car freshener named Schlueter.

     Josh, I think dad is going to be pissed when he find’s out that you didn’t get all the tires or any gas.

     Maybe that’s why the boys pick on you when you show pictures of the made over Cadillac. Josh, it’s time I let you in on a few little secrets. When your teacher Belicheck makes you sit on the chair in front of the class with the pointed hat, it is not because you are his favorite. It is called a dunce chair. The juice box yellow is from you pissing your pants and, well, you better sit down for this one Josh even though I know you are still tender there. Henrietta is really a man in a dress.

    Oh quit crying at least he didn’t give you a dirty Sanchez!

 

Denver’s 2009 Defense, from a Layman’s Perspective

Many writers and commentators on this site, as well as many professional writers have scratched their heads at the Bronco’s draft that took place last weekend. So have I.

One reason that I won’t belate is the fact that offense was addressed more so than defense. The other reason is only one D lineman and no linebackers were taken.

Here is a projection of the front seven on defense:

DE: Tim Crowder

DT: Marcus Thomas/Ron Fields

DE: Kenny Peterson

OLB: Elvis Dumerville

ILB: DJ Williams

ILB: Spencer Larsen/Wesley Woodyard

OLB: Robert Ayers

 

This takes into account the new 3-4 scheme. Of course, there is going to be competition and a number of other players will come off the bench or be cut.

The downfall of Denver’s defense for the past two years has been an inability to penetrate and collapse the pocket. Opposing running backs have fared quite well while opposing QBs have sat back for eternities in the pocket without any substantial pressure.

Last year, Brady Quinn looked like a five-year veteran and Philip Rivers looked like Joe Montana while facing a very similar defense to the one that will be fielded in 2009.

What perplexes me is how McDaniels/Xanders and company barely addressed this obvious problem during free agency and the draft. There were two free agents that Denver could have gone after who would have made an immediate impact while not breaking the bank too badly: Igor Olshansky and Chris Canty.

Denver didn’t even make a run at these guys. There are too many scenarios in the draft where Denver could have at least have made an attempt to address this problem head-on.

Tyson Jackson was taken off the boards too early to have done anything about it, however, Raji was still on the boards when Jacksonville was drafting. A trade could have been made to keep him out of Green Bay’s hands and into ours.

Additionally, here are some players that were available when Denver had picks in the first two rounds: Peria Jerry, Clay Matthews, Rey Maualuga, Ron Brace, James Laurinaitis. All of these players are either DTs or ILBs.

I question whether the current DTs on this squad will be able to accomplish anything different from last year whether they play in a 3-4 or 4-3. Additionally, because DJ Williams is now forced to be an ILB in the 3-4 scheme, he’s going to be over a guard and will be limited in this role.

He needs to be outside where he can do the most damage and be a true feature player on defense. Lastly, Dumerville, while a great pass rusher, will be forced to cover receivers in the flats as an OLB. This is not his strength. I doubt that Ayers has this ability either.

I’m glad that DB and offense were so lavishly addressed. But it’s just not going to equate to wins next year…

With the Pieces in Place, Broncos’ Running Game Puzzle Becoming Clear

The waiting is finally over. The NFL draft, and all its anticipation, predictions, and mocks is done and gone for another 350-some odd days.

Now, the real predictions can begin. Most teams will soon be opening mandatory minicamps, and the new rookies will begin their NFL careers. 

The Denver Broncos had an interesting draft. It surprised many. It confused others. But in the end, the Broncos added many of the pieces that they will need to bounce back from a disappointing end to 2008.

One of the key factors for this resurrection (an AFC West title) will be the running game.

The historically strong unit ranked 12th in the NFL in yards per game in 2008, with 116.4 yards per game. While this is not a shabby number by any means, this year’s backfield will have more pressure to excel, the main reason being Jay Cutler’s departure from Denver.

While projected starting quarterback Kyle Orton is a highly competent player, he is not Jay Cutler, and isn’t expected to be. He can make most of the throws Cutler could, but not with such ease.

As the football adage goes, “Use the run to set up the pass.”

The Broncos will undoubtedly be doing a lot of this in 2009. With that said, on to the predictions.

The Broncos have six running backs and two fullbacks on the active roster going into minicamp. They are J.J. Arrington, Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan, Ryan Torain, Knowshon Moreno, and Kestahn Moore. The fullbacks are Peyton Hillis and Spencer Larsen.

As the 2008 team proved, there is never a surplus of running backs that is too large. At some points in 2008, it seemed a back would be placed on IR every week.

This offseason has seen a full “renovation” at the running back position. The only returning players are Torain, Hillis, and Larsen.

Gone are Selvin Young, Andre Hall, Michael Pittman, Tatum Bell, P.J. Pope, and any others seen lining up behind Cutler last season.

The team signed Buckhalter from the Eagles, Arrington from the Cardinals, and Jordan from the Patriots. They drafted Moreno with the 12th pick in the first round, and added Moore as a college free agent last week.

This group has players with different specialties, and it is likely that four or five of the current six players will be on the week one roster.

As of now, first round draft pick Knowshon Moreno has a good chance to be #1 on the depth chart for week one. He will likely be followed by Buckhalter, Arrington, and Jordan.

The jury is still out on Ryan Torain. The fifth round pick in 2008 injured himself in training camp and missed the first eight weeks of the season.

He got his first start in week ten, but tore his ACL in the second quarter of that game and was placed on IR.

In his quarter-and-a-half of work, he rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown, and looked to be a promising young player.

However, the addition of Moreno and veterans like Buckhalter and Arrington could push him off the initial depth chart unless he really impresses Coach McDaniels in training camp. 

J.J. Arrington began to make a name for himself during the Arizona Cardinals’ unlikely Super Bowl run in 2008. He spent the majority of his game time as a third-down back, but also established himself as a very good receiver out of the backfield.

Arrington rushed 31 times for 187 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 29 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown. He is expected to be a situational back who could come in for shotgun formations.

LaMont Jordan is a journeyman who has spent time with the Jets, Raiders, and Patriots. He had 80 carries for 363 yards and four touchdowns in 2008.

He is only 5-foot-10 tall, but weighs 230 pounds and is a power rusher. He could be used in goal-line and short-yardage situations for McDaniels’s offense.

Correll Buckhalter rounds out the new group of veterans, and will be the primary backup to the starter. He has been a solid backup in eight seasons for the Eagles, stepping in whenever All-Pro Brian Westbrook was injured.

Knowshon Moreno, the Broncos’ first pick of the 2009 draft will be going into 2009 with high expectations.

He earned offensive MVP honors from a Georgia team that also featured #1 pick Matthew Stafford, and rushed for over 1,400 yards in 13 games for the Bulldogs.

Before the draft, I previewed the impact Moreno might have on this team if drafted. I said that “The one thing this group does not have is a true star back. A guy who will be the starter every week and who will definitively lead the team in overall rushing.”

This is exactly what Knowshon is expected to be for the Broncos. Barring any injury, it is very plausible that #27 on the Broncos will be the AFC West’s second most feared running back (LaDainian Tomlinson is still #1) by the season’s midpoint.

He has all the elusiveness, versatility, and intelligence that is required to be an every-down back. It is even noted that he’s a better receiver out of the backfield than he gets credit for, and will be a valuable weapon for McDaniels on the field. 

In the locker room, there is no shortage of praise for this young man. He was a team captain at Georgia, and according to scouting reports, is an “Extreme competitor who can put the team on his shoulders. Wants the ball with the game on the line.”

Moreno looks to be a smart draft choice in every sense, and should quickly make his way into the top running backs in the NFL.

In his first season, he will be eased into his duties with a strong group backing him up. As I mentioned earlier, J.J. Arrington will spell Moreno in third-down situations and Jordan on the goal line.

Peyton Hillis will be slicing a path through the opposing defense as the primary fullback, and the stellar offensive line of 2008 is returning all five starters.

Running backs coach Bobby Turner was one of two holdovers from the Shanahan era, and he will undoubtedly be a mentor to Knowshon, as he was to Terrell Davis in the late 1990’s.

All signs point to a revived Broncos rushing attack in 2009, one that will once again make Denver one of the most feared running teams in the NFL.

Preliminary Predictions:

Moreno (Starter) 1,000-1,200 yards rushing, 8-10 touchdowns, 30-40 catches for 300 yards.

Buckhalter (Primary Backup) 250-300 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns, 10 catches for 100 yards.

Arrington (3rd Down) 150-200 yards rushing, 1 touchdown, 20 catches for 250 yards.

Jordan (Goal Line/Short Yardage) 200-250 yards rushing, 4-5 touchdowns, 5 catches for 40-60 yards.

Hillis (Fullback) 100-150 yards rushing, 2-3 touchdowns.

Torain (Situational Back) 200-250 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns.

Team rushing totals: About 2,200 yards, 22 touchdowns.

Denver Broncos Rookies Humbled By First Mini-Camp Experience

The Denver Broncos commenced their first full-team mini-camp today, and reports out of Denver are that the new-look Broncos were still trying to get past the initial learning curve.

“They made a lot of mistakes, and that’s what you expect them to do at this point in time,” coach Josh McDaniels said, “but you know, there’s enough to look at out there, and there’s some promise out there.

“We’ll get better, and I’m sure we’ll make some more mistakes tomorrow morning and tomorrow afternoon. They’re trying. They’re working hard, but they’ve got a long way to go.”  

Despite McDaniels’ analysis that the youngsters struggled in their first NFL practice, he was not overly concerned about it.  Even the team’s head coach has to be having his first year jitters, as he himself is participating in his first full-team organized practice. 

He’s not letting it show.

Criticize McDaniels all you want, but the man finally has Bronco fans back on his good graces after the controversy between he and now Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.  A solid draft and a great free agent signing frenzy have the Mile-High Faithful giddy to the point where Broncos bloggers are even reporting a list of the new players’ names.

I would even go so far as to say, this is the most excited Denver fans have been since some kid named Elway brought his laser of an arm to the Rockies.

Is there still skepticism out there?

Of course, but Bronco fans are intrigued, captivated, and ever alert for the next development in what has been the most active off-season for the Broncos this decade.

Much of that excitement has come from the team’s 27 new rookies, ten of whom were brought in via last Saturday’s NFL Draft. All of those first year players, hoping and praying for a roster spot, have already jumped into Josh McDaniels’ complex playbook.  For wide receiver Kenny McKinley, a fifth-round pick out of South Carolina, the transition has been challenging, but exciting at the same time.

“Me and [Running Back Knowshon] Moreno, we’re roommates, and we were up last night studying for a long time,” McKinley said. “I know he wants to play, I want to play also, and you’ve got to know your plays to get on the field. It’s a job, so we’re both taking it very serious.”

McKinley went on to emphasize the fact that he, like many rookies, are willing to do whatever it takes to “help the team”, and that he hopes to see the field on special teams as well as catching passes.

As for McKinley’s roommate, Knowshon Moreno, there has been no reported news in regards to his first practice as a Bronco, other than the number on his chest and back.

Moreno will don the No. 27 uniform, one that was previously worn by Broncos great Steve Atwater, as well as the slain Darrent Williams.

The subject of Williams is a tender one for Broncos fans, who all hold him in very high regard. His death was undoubtedly one of the most tragic events in Broncos history, and couple that with the stellar career of Hall of Fame snub Steve Atwater, the number 27 is not one to be taken lightly.

According to Bill Williamson of ESPN.com, the Williams family wants Moreno to volunteer at the Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center in exchange for the privilege of wearing that particular jersey number, and it is assumed that Moreno will agree to do so, no questions asked.

Another number that is very familiar to Broncos fans, No. 30, will be worn by rookie safety David Bruton. Bruton will not have the tall task of living up to the man who wore that number just 10 years ago, as they do not play the same position. That man of course is none other than Bronco great Terrell Davis.

There are no shortage of storylines in Denver these days, and the Broncos will continue their offseason activity tomorrow afternoon at Dove Valley. Hopefully the team will provide the fans with some screenshots of the new players in action, but stay tuned Broncos fans.

Denver Could Learn a Valuable Lesson from the 1994 Broncos

This hasn’t been an offseason that Broncos fans have become accustomed to.

After 15 years under the control of the “Mastermind,” Mike Shanahan, Denver’s favorite sports team now marches to the tune of a vastly different drummer. A Patriot’s tune, to be exact.

Josh McDaniels has changed nearly everything about Broncos’ football that Shanahan so carefully installed over the years.

Shanny’s teams relied on a strong running game, a quick defense that was tough against the run and a tenacious, game-changing quarterback that could keep a defense honest when everything around him seemed to be falling apart.

While that system experienced its fair share of both success and failure, it was still a system that the Denver fan base had become very accustomed to. Perhaps that’s the biggest reason why Josh McDaniels’ changes have fans all over the Rocky Mountains calling for the new drummer’s head.

By trading Jay Cutler, the face of the franchise, and then turning around and trading the leverage that he received from the Cutler trade for a 5’9 rookie cornerback in Alphonso Smith, McDaniels isn’t exactly taking a conventional path to rebuilding this team.

There are still gaping holes on that defense and Kyle Orton, no matter how valiantly he played in Chicago, is a tremendous downgrade in talent from Cutler.

Add all this up and even some of the most loyal Broncomaniacs believe next season and the ones after it are a lost cause. Maybe those same fans could find some closure if they remembered the 1994 Denver Broncos.

The ’94 Broncos had star players John Elway, Shannon Sharpe, Steve Atwater, and Karl Mecklenburg, and an offense that ranked 10th in points and sixth in total yards.

Unfortunately, it also featured an abysmal defense that ranked 25th in points allowed and 28th in total yards allowed. Denver twice gave up more than 40 points in a single game and finished 7-9, good for fourth place in the AFC West.

Suffice to say, coach Wade Phillips was fired after the season and was replaced with a hot shot offensive guru named Mike Shanahan.

With the addition of a star running back through the draft in Terrell Davis, a few key veterans on defense and a switch to different offensive and defensive schemes, the ’95 Broncos made progress.

While their 8-8 record was only good enough for third place in the AFC West, they showed substantial improvement in their rankings. Denver’s offense finished ninth in points and third in total yards while the defense ended up at 17th in points allowed and 15th in total yards allowed.

The 2008 Denver Broncos featured an offense that gained a lot of yards and couldn’t score that much and a defense that would have given up touchdowns to varsity high school teams. Shanahan is gone, replaced by that hot shot offensive guru named Josh McDaniels.

The team thinks it found a star running back in the draft with Knowshon Moreno. Brian Dawkins, Andra Davis, and Renaldo Hill are a few key defensive veterans looking to give Denver a boost. The Broncos will now pass the ball before they run it and have dropped the 4-3 defense for McDaniels’ 3-4 scheme.

For fans of a football team that haven’t had a lot to cheer about since the ’95 Broncos reached their potential in the Super Bowl, an 8-8 season in McDaniels’ debut as head coach may be better than any Broncos fan could ever hope for.

MiniCamp: Time to Step it up and Win Your Roster Spot

The Broncos second mini-camp starts Friday and runs through the weekend.  Camp provides players the opportunity to show how valuable they are to the team, and some players have more to prove than others.  

This camp allows coaches get their first look at the incoming rookies in their own team specific drills.  It will allow coaches to compare players abilities as they work out alongside the veteran players who have been competing and learning this new system for the past month. 

Everyone is trying to make the team, from established veterans to undrafted free-agent rookies. Everyone needs to up their game. 

This is especially true for players who are holdovers from last year who were Mike Shanahan’s choices to be on the team, not Coach McDaniels.  Players like J.Moss, T. Crowder, and R. Torain need to prove right now that they can contribute or they may soon be looking for work elsewhere.

Selvin Young is the latest player to find he no longer has a home with the orange and blue, and he certainly won’t be the last.  Young’s situation was a different one, with multiple injuries playing a role, but nonetheless his services are no longer required. 

So, Who will be next?

Career backups like LB-L.Green, CB-R.Moulton, LB-M.Haggan, S-H.D.Jones and S-V.Fox will have to fight hard to stay with the team, given the influx of rookies and the change in scheme.

And there are many undrafted free agents who will also find it difficult to stay in Denver for very long either.

It is time for all the players to take their destiny in their own hands and use this weekend’s mini-camp to make a statement loud and clear that they deserve to wear the Broncos uniform. 

This is only the beginning, with a long summer of work ahead, but if the Broncos truly desire to win games, then there is no time to waste.  It starts right now.

Breaking Down the Denver Defense: Post Draft

Well, the draft has now come and gone and the Broncos Nation (and outsiders) still have little consensus on the personnel decisions being made on the defensive side of the ball.  There is no question that the defensive front seven should have been addressed in the draft, however, the debate might not ever end about if the talent was there so that it could be addressed.  We don’t know that now and it would take another article and a crystal ball to get to the bottom of that issue.

What is obvious is that the front seven are going to get the most attention in practices, and I am really curious how it will shake out.  It is obvious that the Broncos didn’t invest much in the draft at those positions with only Robert Ayers being selected at DE/OLB, which I will trust the coaching staff on since I personally don’t like a “one year wonder” type player, but hopefully Ayers is just hitting his stride and keeps working hard with his talents.  However, the lack of attention beyond his selection was the most surprising part of the draft for me, as I really wanted Ron Brace, Jarron Gilbert, and/or Connor Barwin in the 2nd round.  However, the Broncos did snag a couple of college free agents that could be great steals in Chris Baker (NT) and Everette Pedescleaux (DE).

I think Ronnie Fields gives us at least a passable NT to start with but I think Carlton Powell (Powell basically fit this role at Virginia Tech) and Chris Baker can be big surprises there.  Baker should have been drafted at that position but his off-field issues prevented that from happening.  I like Marcus Thomas as a LDE in this defense (although he is in the mix for NT), and with Robert Ayers and Kenny Peterson at RDE that is how I would expect the starters to look on the line.  Keep an eye on college free agent Everette Pedescleaux as he was on my board for 3-4 DE in the draft and could be a solid contributor as he is very athletic.

For ILB, Andra Davis is a natural fit at strong ILB and putting D.J. at Weak ILB is also a very solid move, (remember this a 3-4, not a 4-3 so the weak ILB is very much the same as a WOLB in a 4-3) as he will be able to “pick up the pieces” from Davis stuffing the run blockers and cover the RB in the passing game.  I do not see D.J. Williams as an OLB in the 3-4, he is a very good fit for the “Patrick Willis” type role as an inside backer, and having Davis alongside will only make him more productive.

At OLB, of course are all the “hybrids” DE/OLB types in Dumervil, Moss, Crowder, and Reid. I would suspect that Moss and Reid will battle for the Strong OLB position as they should be able to cover TE’s and break up the short passing game with their height, reach, and athleticism.  Dumervil and Crowder (with Ayers at times) would be the best fit at Weak OLB as the “Rush LB” and do what they do best which is to be the missile launched at the QB every down.

Boss Bailey is really the hardest holdover to put into a new position but until he is fully recovered I wouldn’t count on him for anything.  Once he is healthy, I think he would resume his role as a solid Strong OLB in passing situations.

While I am not jumping on the bandwagon (or trying to start one) that this was a great draft for the Broncos, I do like the way our special teams should be shaping up with the players picked up in FA and the draft.  No matter what, this draft will be remembered too much for the “could have been’s” not the “look what we got’s.”

I won’t enjoy watching Ron Brace in New England take over for Vince Wilfork at nose-tackle in a couple of years remembering how we had a chance to draft him.  Nor will I feel cozy and warm when Jarron Gilbert becomes a dominant defensive lineman for the Bears, or Connor Barwin explodes as a one-man wrecking ball in Houston.  Even more heart-breaking will be eventually facing a developed Vaughn Martin at Nose Tackle in San Diego twice a year when he was picked one spot ahead of us in the fourth round (probably too high, but an interesting talent nonetheless).

But, I am an optimist and I will be pulling for all the new Broncos (and yes, the coach too) despite my criticisms and analysis they are still MY Denver Broncos and that love is unconditional.

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