Hello Denver, Meet Kyle Orton

The following is a fictitious interview with Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton. The list of questions are what I would ask if granted an interview. The answers to the questions are for entertainment purposes only.  I did try to answer them as I thought he might, if he were being honest and not giving the company line.

 

 

Q:  Hello, Kyle, how do you like Denver so far?

 

A:  I like Denver a lot.  It is a fun city.

 

 

Q:  Are you excited about the opportunity to start for the Broncos?

 

A:  Yeah, it’s going to be a good competition with Chris, but I think I will win the    

      starting job.

 

 

Q:  What would you say to Broncos fans that are down on the team for trading Jay   

      Cutler?

 

A:  I would say hold your opinions until you see what I can do in this offense.

 

 

Q:  You have never played an entire 16 game season.  Do you think you can perform at a high level for an entire season?

 

A:  I have played in 15 games my rookie season and last season.  I am sure I can play at a high level though an entire season.  I have improved my quarterback rating and

touchdown-to-interception ratio each season.

 

 

Q:  How did you feel when you heard about the trade?

 

A:  I was a little pissed off, to be honest with you.  I put a lot of hard work in trying to prove to Coach Smith I could be the man in Chicago, and then it felt like they gave up

on me.

 

 

Q:  You had four seasons to prove yourself.  How much longer did you want?

 

A:  I think I did prove myself.  I have a good record in games that I have played (21-12). 

I know it is better than Cutler’s win-lose record. They just never had the confidence

in me.

 

 

Q:  Do you think you can run McDaniels’ system at a high level?

 

A:  Well, if I can’t, I should quit now. This will be a quarterback-friendly offense. I can’t

wait to start running it.

 

 

Q:  Other than the Chargers, this division is pretty open. Do you think the Broncos can

win the AFC West?

 

A:  It will be tough. The Chargers are a good team, and the Chiefs are getting better. I

know we will give it all we have and see where it comes out at the end. I’m not really

into making predictions like that.

 

 

Q:  This was a good offense last year.  Can you make it better?

 

A:  We will be better.  McDaniels has brought in a good system.  I will make this prediction, we will score a lot of points.

 

 

Q:  Broncos fans have been used to quarterbacks making plays when things breakdown. 

Do you have that ability?

 

A:  I’m not the most athletic quarterback in the league, but I’m not a statue either.  I can make plays more with my intelligence. Peyton Manning isn’t real mobile, but he can

still make plays better than anyone in the league.

 

 

Q:  You think you can be on the level of Peyton Manning?

 

A:  Look, I have confidence in my ability; I think anyone at this level does. Peyton is the best in the league in my opinion.  So, no, I am not on that level.

 

 

Q:  No one is expecting you to be Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, but can you be as

efficient as Matt Castle was last season?

 

A:  Oh yeah, that is what this season will be all about, being efficient.

 

 

Q:  Kyle, thank you for your time.  I have one last question. As a die hard Broncos fan, I

hope for the best but fear the worst.  Are my fears misguided?

 

A:  No, I don’t think so.  It’s a fear of the unknown.  For the first time in Denver, there is so much that is unknown with a young rookie head coach, a new quarterback that  

Broncos fans know nothing about, and a rookie running back. Then there is an entirely

new defense.  I understand the fear.

Maurice Clarett: “I Want to Play Football Again”

“I can’t hold these feelings in anymore. I want to play football again. I have a deep desire to play. I love the game.”—Maurice Clarett

The star who dazzled fans and lead the 2002 Buckeyes to the BCS Championship wants to win another one.

The man who was suspended by Ohio State University for filing a false police report wants to regain his athletic credibility.

The rebel who lost his battle with the NFL to declare for the draft a year early wants to rejoin the league.

The sloth who ran a 4.82 40-yard dash at the 2005 NFL combine wants to speed past tacklers.

The criminal who was arrested twice and sent to jail for armed robbery wants to strap on the helmet and lower his shoulder into the end zone.

I couldn’t believe it when I read it.

Maurice Clarett, that guy rotting in jail, playing football?

I guess I subconsciously dragged my mental Maurice Clarett icon into the “Jailed athlete; never think of again” folder, but apparently Clarett is eligible for early release in 2010.

But is he serious?

Does he really think any organization (NFL or not) would take a chance on a guy who hasn’t played in an organized football game in seven years?

But, as Maurice says, “In the penitentiary, you could say basketball is football. Back here, everything is aggressive. Everything is intense.”

So I guess a few ill-intentioned elbows during a pick-up basketball game in “the joint” qualifies you to play professional football?

Not quite.

But, hey, not so fast.  Let’s at least hear the guy out.

Maurice claims to have turned his life around.

And if you read his blog, it appears that he may have a point. 

He has a steady girlfriend who he plans to marry.

He has a young daughter that he can’t “imagine not being in her life everyday.”

And…

He is currently enrolled in a distance-learning program at Ohio University (he even got an “A” on his first philosophy assignment).

On top of that, he’s not sugar-coating anything.

“Anyone who glorifies prison is an idiot. Anyone who thinks that coming to prison solidifies their manhood is a fool…Most, if not all, of [the prisoners] wish they can turn back the hands of time. It’s hard to watch life pass you by, and even harder to watch your family grow up through photos. I am not doing “a lot” of time, but I still feel the pain when I think about my daughter.”

He even warns people form making the same mistakes that he did.

“I am telling all the young men out there running wild to slow down. All of your so-called homeboys won’t be around when it rains and pours. You better go to school and experience the pain of studying for a test rather than sitting in a courtroom facing a sentence of 25 to life.”

No one can discredit these messages, and he’s talking from firsthand experiences.

OK, but even IF he has his life turned around and is all there mentally, that means squat when a 250-pound linebacker is barreling towards you.

Clarett would have to get back into “football shape,” and based on his past, that could be a challenge. 

Remember, during his year off, he lost all control and ballooned up to 256 pounds. Then he showed up to the Denver Broncos training camp about 20 pounds overweight at 248 pounds.

However, weight isn’t the only issue. Clarett would have to be stronger, faster, and more agile than before.

But talk to Maurice, and he’ll tell you that’s not a problem.

“I am 220, rock solid. I am moving swift, running fast, and jumping high. My mind is right and my life is in order. I am 25, but I feel like I am 18. I am still young.”

If that’s the case, then does he really have a chance?

Will teams be willing to at least give him a look?

Will he have this new found discipline once he’s released from the prison cell into the temptation filled world where he’s already messed up so many times?

Right now, we can only speculate.

Maurice says in one of his posts, “I am rock solid. I train hard. I go hard. I’m HERE.”

Yeah, Maurice is “here” and he’ll be “here” when he gets out.

The question is…

Will anyone be waiting?

 

Denver Broncos: 3-4 Defense Or a 4-3 In Disguise??

There’s been a lot of hubbub about the “new” 3-4 defensive scheme that the Broncos will be using this year.  At the end of the day, is the 3-4 really that different from the 4-3?

The major difference between the two defensive schemes is the number of down lineman used.  In the 4-3 defense, there are four lineman. In the 3-4 defense, there are three down lineman. You are basically just exchanging a down lineman for a linebacker.

Here’s the rub; in a lot of cases, and in Denver’s case, the down lineman is exchanged for a “hybrid” linebacker, guys like Robert Ayers, Elvis Dumervil, or Jarvis Moss. 

These players are essentially 4-3 rush ends, but since they will be adding pass defending duties to their run stop and pass rushing duties, they do the job of both linebackers and defensive ends in a 3-4 defense. 

In the 3-4, the down lineman are in charge of plugging the A, B, and C gaps, while the linebackers read the offense and attack the remaining gaps. 

In a 4-3 defense, the down lineman are asked to rush the passer as well as stop the run, instead of worrying about gap assignments as much.

Mike Nolan, the Broncos’ current defensive coordinator, is said to like to play an “attacking” type of 3-4. 

“It’s not really the usual 3-4,” Ronnie Fields explained on the Denver Broncos’ official Web site. “It’s an attack 3-4, it’s like an offensive mindset. Some people play the 3-4 different, they’re more like sit back and wait. But as far as us, we attack. It’s kind of mixed-up with a 4-3. There are a lot of good things in there for linemen instead of just sitting there and catching the blocker and being passive and waiting.”

So tell me this, if you are basically putting out the same personnel, four defensive lineman and three linebackers, and all of the guys are attacking the quarterback, isn’t this really the same as a 4-3 scheme? 

I mean the down lineman are bigger, but if if the team runs out of an over/under defensive set, the hybrid linebackers, who used to be defensive ends, are now defensive ends again.

What the 3-4 will do is give the defense more options on the field.  With Dumervil and Moss at the 3-4 outside linebacker spots, the Broncos could even run a 5-2 scheme and either drop the OLBs into a zone or send them straight at the quarterback. 

Likewise, the Broncos could drop everyone into a zone and stop the short pass, or rush the two inside linebackers; there are a ton of packages that they can put together.

With all of this upside and the new looks the 3-4 defense will give the Broncos defense, is this going to change their success? 

If the players can’t perform in the 4-3, what makes them more suited for the 3-4? 

Mike Nolan and the Broncos’ defense have a lot of work to do this off season to make themselves a competitive squad. 

I for one believe that they will be able to succeed.  However, at this point there are so many questions that I wouldn’t be surprised if they were only marginally better than last season. 

Let’s hope this isn’t the case.

McGenius or McDumbass? Josh McDaniels’ Controversial Start in Denver

The 2009 offseason has been tumultuous for the Denver Broncos. Josh McDaniels has replaced Mike Shanahan as Head Coach and the litany of moves and decisions that have followed have been met with much criticism by Denver Broncos fans and NFL pundits alike.  Everyone is trying to figure out what it is that Coach McDaniels is doing?

We honestly don’t know terribly much about Coach McDaniels. His reputation and experience, up until now, in the National Football League are completely tied to the success of the New England Patriots.  

Given the track record of other coaches that have emerged out of the Bill Belichick coaching tree, the prospect of McDaniels success is questionable at best.  The evidence up to this point seems to support that the magic behind the Patriots’ success has been because of Belicheck’s knowledge and expertise, not his coordinators.  

Add to this the fact that McDaniels has never been a head coach of a football team at any level of competition and is only 32 years old. Then there is enough evidence to cast reasonable doubt on McDaniels ability to be a successful NFL head coach.

But before we make too quick of a judgement about coach McD, lets take a look at his body of work.  Being that his NFL career history before this off season has been with the Patriots, doubt can be cast upon his influence and actions being in the shadow of Belichick. 

Therefore, I suggest that we focus on what he has done with the Denver Broncos thus far.

There has been a lot of criticism about the decisions that McDaniels has made since taking over the team, but lets take a look at those decisions from a different perspective.

In order to do this we need to take an honest look at what the Denver Broncos did last year.  Objectively viewing the team’s results on the field and putting aside the fan glasses that we so often choose to view our team through. 

Offense

The facts don’t lie. The Denver Broncos had the second most prolific offense in 2008. Denver fans love this statistic. But despite gaining more yards than their opponents in 2008 the Broncos were outscored by their opponents by an average margin of 5 points per game. 

It is a wonderful thing to move the ball down the field and amass great yardage statistics, but if the team is not getting in the end zone, if they are not scoring points, if they are not winning games than all you have is a bunch of stats with nothing to show for it.

This fact is not lost on Coach McDaniels, he knows that the Broncos offense needs to score more points to be successful in this league. 

Having coordinated a team that broke records for scoring touchdowns just two years ago, Coach McDaniels has installed his offensive system in Denver to make his mark on the team and give the team a chance to put more points on the board. 

Changing the offensive scheme alone will not produce dividends without quality players to execute them.  The Broncos offense was full of great players at every position except one, running back. 

Denver went through eight different running backs last year due to injuries.  None of these players were anything to write home about either. Many of them were one trick ponies who did not excel at blocking or catching the ball out of the backfield, but were serviceable as one cut running backs.

So McDaniels went out and reloaded their backfield with versatile running backs who can run, block, and catch. K.Moreno, C.Buckhalter, J.J.Arrington, and L.Jordan among others.

Having a solid, reliable running game is important in the NFL.  Running the ball helps open up opportunities in the passing game, and can help extend drives.  That is something that the Broncos didn’t have last year.  Which is evident when you look at the Denver Broncos Time of Possession statistics verses their opponents.

The Broncos average time of possession was 28:43, while their opponents averaged 31:16.  This minute difference may not sound like a lot, but over the course of 16 games with the up and down season the Broncos had that extra minute could have been the difference between a win and a loss. 

The bottom line is that the Broncos didn’t have the ball more than they did.  You can’t score points without possession of it. 

Healthy and consistent running backs in McDaniels spread offense will help us to keep the ball and manage the clock.  Control the game with ball possession makes any team dangerous because it wears down the defense, making it easier to drive the ball down the field and score points.  

Developing a strategy to put the offense in a better position to succeed would be key as well, and that is where the defense comes in.

Defense

It is no secret to anyone, the Broncos defense was terrible last year.  Shanahan’s inability to fix it over the past few years is most likely why Bowlen decided to give him his walking papers after 14 years of service.

Champ Bailey and D.J. Williams being the only legitimate starters on the defense, the problem is not just scheme, it is skilled players.

McDaniels focused on the secondary in the off season and because one specific defensive statistic stood out above the rest, Turnover Ratio.  The Broncos turnover ratio last year was -17. 

The secondary was so porous that they had a tough time even stopping the opposing team from scoring on every play.  Asking them to try to pick off the ball was simply out of the question. 

So the Broncos brought in some players to rebuild the defense with who know how to create turnovers for the defense: B.Dawkins, A.Goodman, R.Hill, A.Smith, D.McBath, D.Bruton. These are guys who have a nose for the ball, creating interceptions and hitting players hard to help force some fumbles. 

These players bring experience and new life are a great start in rebuiding the Broncos defense.  They already make the defense so much better than they were last year. If they can level the playing field by getting that turnover ratio back to around even it will go a long way to help the Broncos be more successful this season.

Fixing everything that is wrong with the defense is too big of a job to complete in one off season alone, but by focusing on the creating turnovers McDaniels has at least begun to point them in the right direction. The Broncos revamped secondary should at minimum keep them from getting beat through the air too often.

Bringing in defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, who has a history of success in this league, to re-scheme the Broncos defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4 is another big part of McDaniels plan to restore Denver’s defense to being respectable once again.

Improving the offense and defense was only one of the ways that McDaniels knew he needed to improve the Denver Broncos though.

Special Teams

Offense wins games, Defense wins Championships, but Special Teams is what makes it all possible. More than great offensive or defensive schemes or players, special teams is where the game of football can be won or lost.

Football is a game of field position plain and simple.  And nothing impacts field position more than special teams. 

If you can limit your opponents starting field position on kickoffs and punts with smothering coverage, than they have farther to move the ball down the field increasing the chances that their drive will stall.  

Likewise, with good special teams blocking and returning you can shorten the field for your offense, increasing the likelyhood of scoring points through touchdowns or the kicking game.  

The Broncos Average Starting Field Position over the past five years has been among the worst in the league.   (Espn.com)

Broncos’ average starting field position, 2004-08 Year Average NFL rank 2008 24.6 30th 2007 24.0 32nd 2006 23.5 31st 2005 25.7 28th 2004 26.8 T-28th

McDaniels has made moves to correct this by acquiring players who are special teams aces. 

Darrel Reid, Nick Griesen, David Bruton, J.J.Arrington, Darcel McBath, and Alphonso Smith all bring with them great special teams ability in coverage and returning to help the Broncos start with better field position, which should transition into more scoring with a shorter field to work with.

Special teams can make up for a bad defense, and can put your offense in a position to score. Coach McDaniels made it a priority to focus on this most crucial aspect of the game, and it should hopefully pay dividends in the form of more defensive stops and more scoring.

McDaniels’ focus on these key area of the game (time of possession, turnover ratio, and average field position) that the Broncos really struggled with last season should set the team up to have a much better all around game on Sundays. 

Being better in these areas could allow the Broncos to steal a win or two in games that they “shouldn’t” win on paper.

Whether you agree with any or all of the decisions that Coach McDaniels has made, he is making the team better.  It may take some time before the Broncos can once again be leaders in their division, but a new day is dawning for the Denver Broncos and the prospects for the future are bright.

Denver Broncos: Hopes Run High In Mile High City

Expectations for the Broncos are always high among the faithful in Denver, with this year being no different. This season’s hopes are especially lofty because of last season’s struggles and disappointing loss to the chargers.

Realistically the AFC west is still one of the weaker divisions in the NFL. The division does not have the marquee quarterbacks of the AFC East or the raw power and potential of the Central, but that is not to say the division has stood pat from last year.

The Raiders have collected a few great play makers in their recent drafts and the Chiefs significantly improved at the quarterback position with Matt Cassel. Of course the Chargers are just a little older and still just a little more talented overall than Denver as they proved in last season’s playoff match up.

Even given the above, the Broncos have what it takes to compete for their division title and have a strong chance at a wild card bid. Though to think this team can go deep in the post season seems to be a little far fetched. 

As good as Orton was in Chicago, it may be hard for him to come to a new town, learn a new system, all the while trying to acclimate to new players. This process could be doubly difficult because of the switch in coaching systems and staff that the entire team is going though. Almost every player struggles at first in new surroundings, so seeing how he handles a town that never found their answer after Elway left should prove to be interesting.

Granted the wide receiver core anchored by Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall should help ease the transition, along with the traditionally strong running offense of Denver. Denver was one of the top offensive teams last year, if they are to compete in the division, Orton and the other new comers must perform well.

The other major question mark for the Broncos is the performance of their defense last season. They finished the season at low end of the scale in almost every category and while they drafted well, Rober Ayers will be a nice fit for an ailing Defensive line, the impact those players will have is yet to be seen. Champ Bailey can still lock people down, but the rest of the team has a lot of work in front of them.

Over all Broncos fans can be cautiously optimistic for the season. If Orton and new Coach Josh McDaniels can win at least two of their first three games against the Bengals, Browns, or Raiders the whole city can breathe a lot easier as they head in to a tough middle part of the season that features the Patriots, the Cowboys, and the Steelers.

The 2009 Denver Broncos Envisioning a Change In the Backfield

For the Denver Broncos of 2009 with the coaching change I envision the backfield of both sides off the ball may see most of the play changes.

Of course after the 2008 season, the Denver Broncos released Mike Shanahan who was the head coach of the Broncos from 1995-2008. Shanahan in his tenure in Denver established the team as a running dominant team.

In that era such running backs such as Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis, Tatum Bell and others all became great running backs in the National Football League.

Now, however, a wave of change has come with the name of Josh McDaniels. Already McDaniels has started his quest to find a new Quarterback after the trade of Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears.

Next, looking at the draft picks that McDaniel’s and crew made it appears that the running game in Denver may not be what it was in years past. McDaniels in his previous job as offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots, has shown that he may be more of a pass coordinated coach than run coordinated.

After all as the offensive coordinator for New England, the Patriots of 2007 had an undefeated season, and a record setting 75 touchdowns.

Then as the 2008 season started, and Tom Brady went down, Matt Cassel, who never started an NFL or even college game before took the starting quarterback position. With McDaniels calling the plays Cassel and the Patriots went on to an 11-5.

During his tenure at New England, McDaniels and the Patriots were not known for their running game, suggesting that the ball may fly high this year in the mile high city. Looking at the draft picks however, the Broncos may not be so eager to abandon the running game that they have been known for in the past.

Off season moves and draft picks have shown that Denver could still run the ball in 2009 as the Broncos picked up running backs, J.J. Arrington, Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordon, and drafting running back, Knowshon Moreno.

Developing a quarterback will also be a key point that Denver and McDaniels is going to have to make in the upcoming 2009 season. Luckily for the Denver Broncos McDaniels does have experience in training new quarterbacks, as previously mentioned Matt Cassel was helped along by McDaniels in his transition into a NFL quarterback.

Even though a quarterback for the 2009 Denver Broncos, there are several rookies that have time to grow and may serve that time under McDaniels. In addition to offensive moves the defense of Denver may be on the course for change as well.

Although McDaniels may be known mostly for his offensive past (including playing wide receiver) it may come as a surprise that McDaniels also has a history in defense as well.

From 2002 to 2003 McDaniels was the defensive backs coach for the New England Patriots. And it may be the defensive backs that will change for Denver.

Draft picks indicate that a big change in defensive schemes and it could very well start for the defensive backs. Denver still has corner back Champ Bailey. Notable additions to the Denver Broncos defensive back field include safety Brian Dawkins.

Also in a bold trade for the first round pick of 2010, the Broncos also received CB Alphonso Smith from the Seahawks. Smith might fit right in as he holds the ACC record for most career interceptions, taking the record away from former Broncos corner, Dre Bly.

The Broncos also drafted two more defensive backs a safety and a free safety in the second and fourth round respectively.

As the 2009 season and training camp roll closer, it appears that under the new coach Josh McDaniels that the backfield of both sides of the ball may be where the biggest changes could come from last year to this year.    

Filling In The Gaps: Rebuilding The Broncos’ Defense

There’s only word that sums up the Denver Broncos defense’s 2008 season.  Abysmal.

Last season, the Broncos ranked 29th in yardage allowed and 30th in points, giving up 448 points.

Injuries definitely played role in the Broncos defense being so porous last season, but personnel issues were also at the forefront of the Broncos’ problems.

Well, the Broncos have attempted to rectify the personnel problem with new players and new coaches as Mike Shanahan and Bob Slowik are now gone and Josh McDaniels and Mike Nolan are in.

Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan is also planning on implementing a 3-4 defense, something the Broncos haven’t used in some time, and will be asking their remaining players, as well as free-agent acquisitions and draft picks to adjust to this new system that will feature three down lineman and four linebackers.

The defensive line, which consisted of Elvis Dumervil, Dewayne Robertson, John Engelberger and Ebenezer Ekuban will return only Dumervil, and he most likely will move to outside linebacker where he will do some pass coverage and rush the passer.

Look for free-agent acquisitions Darrell Reid and Ronald Fields to contribute heavily here along with holdovers Kenny Peterson and Marcus Thomas and undrafted free agent Chris Baker from Hampton.

The pass rush will still be an issue as the projected starters had a combined total of five sacks in 2008. The Broncos hope Reid and Peterson will step up and get to the quarterback as well help Fields, Thomas and Baker plug the middle and stop the run.

The linebackers will have a distinctly different look than last season. Middle linebacker Nate Webster and leading tackler Jamie Winborn are gone and the Broncos hope free-agent Andra Davis can fill the void as well as Boss Bailey, a starter who missed most of the 2008 season due to injury.

D.J Williams is another holdover that will return to his outside linebacker position and the other outside position is up for grabs. Dumervil, first-round draft pick Robert Ayers and holdovers Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder may all see time there. All natural defensive lineman, the player who is able to hone is pass defense skills will most likely see the most action. Don’t be surprised to see these guys on the defensive line as well at times.

The secondary probably had the largest shakeup as three of the four starters won’t be back. Dre Bly, Marquand Manuel and Marlon McCree were all cut or will not be retained. Champ Bailey is the only starter remaining from last season.

Bailey will hope he can stay healthy all season, while the other corner position will be filled by either Andre’ Goodman or second rounder Alphonso Smith.

For the safeties, both Manuel and McCree were colossal disappointments last season. The team will look for better performances out of Renaldo Hill and big-splash free agent Brian Dawkins. Second-rounder Darcel McBath may also see some action.

For the 2009 season, the secondary should be much improved, but the big question will be how the rest of the team adapts to the 3-4 defense. If Dumervil, Ayers or Moss can be effective at the outside linebacker position, the team should be just fine.

Some criticized the Broncos for using only four of their 10 draft picks on the defensive side of the ball, three of those used in the secondary, but if the penciled in starters on the defensive line can step up and contribute. The Broncos defense could be a force to be reckoned with in 2009.

 

Denver Broncos 2009: Predicting The Unpredictable

The Denver Broncos preseason and season schedules:

2009 PRESEASON SCHEDULE

Fri.     Aug.14     at San Francisco    
Sat.     Aug.22     at Seattle    
Sun.     Aug.30     VS. CHICAGO    
Thu.     Sep. 3     VS. ARIZONA    

2009 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

1     Sun     Sep.13     at Cincinnati    
2     Sun     Sep.20     VS. CLEVELAND    
3     Sun     Sep.27     at Oakland    
4     Sun     Oct. 4     VS. DALLAS    
5     Sun     Oct.11     VS. NEW ENGLAND    
6     Mon     Oct.19     at San Diego    
7             BYE WEEK            
8     Sun     Nov. 1     at Baltimore    
9     Mon     Nov. 9     VS. PITTSBURGH    
10     Sun     Nov.15     at Washington    
11     Sun     Nov.22     VS. SAN DIEGO    
12     Thu     Nov.26     VS. NEW YORK    
13     Sun     Dec. 6     at Kansas City    
14     Sun     Dec.13     at Indianapolis   
15     Sun     Dec.20     VS. OAKLAND    
16     Sun     Dec.27     at Philadelphia  
17     Sun     Jan. 3     VS. KANSAS CITY

The unpredictable is what I predict for the Broncos 2009 season. It’s going out on a limb, I know. But, clearly, committing to a commitment regarding the 2009 Denver season is dangerously close to actually having an opinion about what the Broncos might do in the upcoming year. And I’d rather just kind of ramble on.

Musings are much less substantial and not really accountable. So here goes nothing.

Mini-camp will have stretches of tedious repetition, theatrics and Shakespearean drama, and roiling waves of excitement and exhilaration. There will be on field arguments that’ll have the commentators predicting gloom and doom in Bronco Land and long hot days of nothingness inciting the pundits to platitudes of marrow sucking for a story, any story. Coaches, players, even ball boys, all,  will be ripe for the picking.

There will be moments of complete cohesion in camp, beatitudes as everything flows together and coalesces; a rainbow will alight upon the field, bunnies shall nibble upon the clover, and a glowing halo of butterflies will follow McDaniel off the field at the end of the day.
 
There will be days of boredom, routine, the constant.

I predict that when the preseason finally arrives it will suddenly look as if McDaniels is going to go with Simms.
Orton will have had a better camp. Fans will chorous: “What does this ‘supposed’ new Broncos coach think he is  doing, exactly?”
But in the end, it’ll be Orton after all. McDaniels is such a tease.
At some point in the preseason I’ll bet he’ll even have us thinking what’s his name, Brandstater might actually be starting the season…

Oh, and by the way, when Dawkins gets injured in the pre-season, the year will NOT be in jeopardy. Despite the newscasters and commentators going into a anxiety ridden tail-spin, the injury turns out to be minor, and the X-Factor will dominate through the year.
Going 1-3 in the preseason isn’t going to  help fan morale either. “This kind of record shows just how far this once hallowed team has fallen.” they will lament, “That dastardly McDaniels and his Satan worshipping ways has ruined us.”

Losing to Cutler at Invesco in the pre-season will be like a dagger in the heart. Fans will boo McDaniels. They’ll boo Cutler. Some will just be cheering for Bruce Springsteen. Many will give up hope, without the Broncos having played a single regular season game.

Right out of the gate, the Broncos will win in Cincinnati. Ocho Cinco does the Riverdance not once, but twice in the end zone. But it’s not enough as Orton hits a wide open Royal on a deep score and Moreno rushes for 100 yards and a TD. The defensive line holds and the secondary scores on an interception. Grown men skip about their living rooms in tighty-whiteys stained with buffalo wings and other unspeakable things. The Broncos are going to the SUPER BOWL!!!

And low and behold, the mighty boys in Orange will beat the teams they’re supposed to in weeks two and three, and will find themselves suddenly 3-0 and on top of the AFC West. McDaniels will be treated as the savior, Orton a deity, and the Denver Broncos are doing the unspeakable, they are going to the SUPER BOWL!!!

Except they’ll drop two of the next three games.

Dallas will come in and bend the Orange over and spank them hard. Perhaps, it will be discovered, it’s best not to go into games over-confident and cheer leader giddy. The Broncos forget their place for a moment and actually begin to believe they might be a playoff caliber team. Tisk, tisk, what a rookie mistake this proves to be. Romo rips them a new one. Orton is almost yanked in favor of Simms. At home, in front of everyone, we set off a stink bomb.

The very next week, however, we surprise everyone, and McDaniels wins the Grasshopper / Sensei battle. This despite Belichick being in our McDaniels “playbuk and steelin hiz signulz.”

Then, not yet ready to shake the monkey off their backs, and not as motivated as the previous week, we drop a close one to San Diego. What’s his face, QB from San Diego, taunts the Broncos’ starting quarterback Brandstater (yes, he gets a start due to injuried to both Simms and Orton) from the sidelines as the clock ticks down.

At the bye week we’re 4-2.

Then Baltimore kicks our tails, as does Pittsburgh.
Seriously? How can anyone not love the Ravens and the Steelers?
I hate Baltimore and can’t stand Pittsburgh and yet I still love them.
Baltimore has had the highest crime rate of any city for the past fifteen years, and yet I would take my wife and daughters there, through the ghetto, unarmed, at three A.M., with $100 bills hanging out of my pocket to see a game, just because I love the Baltimore Ravens that much.
And Pittsburgh? What’s not to like about dirty snow and well, dirty snow. Come on now. Deal with reality folks.
 
4-4.

But wait. Kyle Orton is put back in after his infected beard rash heals up, and we whoop up on Washington in the next week, finally beat San Diego the week after that, and give rookie Mark Sanchez an NFL beat down. In fact, Sanchez gets benched after the Denver drubbing. It’s ok though, because he’s still got his modeling gig.
7-4.

KC catches us off guard, McDaniels hugs and nuzzles and spoons Cassel midfield after the game, and then the next week Indy isn’t the same since losing Dungy, along with everyone else, and we pull off a win somehow.
8-5.

We clobber Oakland at home, Philly and Michael Vick (my crystal ball stopped streaming for a minute, but I’m pretty sure that’s what I saw) smack us around, and this time we’re ready for KC and we manage to pull off a close one. The intervention team is on the field post-game to avoid another embarrassing display of affection (that boarded on adult entertainment) between McDaniels and Cassel.

Final record: 10-6

After losing the wild card game, McDaniels, who has let his neck hair grow to sternum length, promises a better season next year.
The fans, also growing neck beards in honor of Orton, rally behind McDaniels, and gather to drink the punch.

We are the Denver Broncos.
Our colors are Orange and Blue.
We are unpredictable. Just as Orange and Blue are unpredictable colors.

I mean, come on…

How the heck does Orange and Blue look so damned cool?

10-6?

Believe it.

The Denver Broncos’ Season Is a Box of Chocolates (Part Two of Two)

I think we can all agree that the Denver Broncos’ season hinges on putting a respectable defense on the field. Right?

Well what about the offense? No Jay Cutler? No Mike Shanahan?  

Enter Knowshon Moreno.  

The curve ball first round selection that initially left Bronco Nation scratching their heads and cursing their televisions, will soon have fans thanking the Gridiron Gods for bringing them an elite playmaker to the Denver backfield.  

I am going to largely stay away from the inevitable comparisons to a former Bronco/Bulldog that many will make, but I will say that Knowshon has achieved more, impressed more, and dominated more than TD at similar stages in their careers.

For all the critics: Have you even seen this guy? Are we talking about the same Knowshon Moreno? I challenge you to resist getting goosebumps watching his YouTube highlights. Josh McDaniels and Brian Xanders hit a home run with this pick. They helped the offense, they helped the defense, and they re-ignited their fan base with one player.  

For all of the grumbling that analysts and fans have done in the weeks following the draft about the Broncos not taking a defensive linemen in the first round, I think they are missing a huge point. Knowshon makes your defense better too. Ball control = clock control = a fresh defense. Simple math. 

The Broncos number twelve selection in this year’s draft signals a welcome change in philosophy, especially now that Denver’s former best offensive weapon has headed to the Windy City.

Another fact the “experts” and arm-chair GM’s may have overlooked is the deep class of defensive linemen set to come out in 2010. Todd McShay’s early 2010 mock draft has five defensive tackles going in the first round next year.  This defense was not going to be a finished product after one off season folks. Knowshon makes this team better right now.

Aside from Knowshon, the Broncos have gathered a stable of dependable, versatile, tough running backs that will bring out the best in each other through competing for roster spots.  Correll Buckhalter will help to form a lethal one-two punch with Moreno, while J.J. Arrington will contribute with spot duty on third down situations and special teams.

Lamont Jordan, Ryan Torain, and Peyton Hillis will also be in the mix for a chance to tote the rock. Keep an eye on Torain. If he can stay healthy, he could surface as a nice complement to Moreno, and a hammer to wear down opposing defenses with.

Speaking of hammers, Peyton Hillis will line up at the fullback/H-back/tailback to be Mr. Everything for Denver. Not having this guy incorporated into your offense to run, catch, and block would be like making John Elway your longsnapper.  Use your talent wisely.

All of these weapons in the backfield is a good start, but who will be blocking for them?

No worries here. The Broncos are returning all five linemen and both tight ends from last season. Sounds pretty good when you consider that the 2008 Denver offensive line gave up fewer sacks than the other 31 teams in the NFL, and plowed holes wide enough for cell phone salesmen to gain considerable yardage.  

This unit is primed for another great season. They have an excellent mix of talent, youth, and experience that will make transitioning to a new offense that much easier. 

The future is bright for this group.

Can the Denver receiving corps produce without No. 6 throwing to them? In a word: Yes.

The Broncos pass catchers may actually benefit from Jay Cutler’s absence. Quickly rewind back to the end of last season.  Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal were routinely drawing double coverage from back-end heavy defenses geared to stop our pass saturated offense.  

It would be hard to imagine these receivers compiling more catches than last year, but that would be a good sign for Denver fans if they didn’t. How many of those catches were substitutes for a hobbled running game? Bubble screens work great, but not when you’re throwing 10-15 of them a game.  

With a fresh cupboard of dangerous ball carriers, defenses will be forced to play Brandon and Eddie honest. That is a tantalizing thought for Josh McDaniels, and a scary thought for defensive coordinators. 

If the prospect of this dangerous pair isn’t enough to convince you, consider adding sure handed options Brandon Stokely, Jabar Gaffney, Tony Scheffler, and Daniel Graham to the equation. (I won’t even mention the safety valves in Knowshon and Hillis for fear of melting faces.)

Josh McDaniels’ spread offense is not going to skip a beat as long as they can get steady, smart play from the quarterback.  He dosen’t need a gunslinger, He needs a distributor. Fortunately, the Broncos have two capable distributors on their roster.

Who will be the Broncos quarterback, and will he be able to lead? Good questions; If I do say so myself.

Kyle Orton appears to be the early favorite to come out of training camp as the primary signal caller.  It took a little while for Bronco fans to get over the sting of an Orton for Cutler swap and a couple of unknown draft picks, but the clouds are beginning to dissipate.  

I have to preface this analysis by admitting that I was a huge Cutler fan, and I still would like to see him do well, just not this season.  Orton is here now, so what can we expect?

It’s safe to say that Kyle Orton does not drop jaws like Cutler, but it also safe to say that he has only scratched the surface of his limits.  In his short career with Chicago, it has been a roller-coaster ride.

Orton displayed a lot of grit and toughness throughout the ups and downs.  

As a rookie, Orton was thrown to the wolves when Rex Grossman went down with an injury early in the 2005 season.  He may not have wowed anybody with his statistics, but he showed some serious moxie leading a Bears team to a 10-5 record, including an 8-0 stretch after a 1-3 start.

It’s not lost on me that the Chicago defense was among the more dominant units of this decade.  I’m aware that Thomas Jones led a punishing Bears rushing attack. The point is that the glue that holds it all together and converts them to wins is the play of the quarterback. His ability to step up for his team when they needed him was gutsy.  

Last season Kyle had earned a shot to compete for the starting job and he never looked back. Through the first seven games he was playing like an MVP candidate; leading his team to a respectable 4-3 record, and throwing for ten touchdowns versus four interceptions.  

In Week Nine, Orton injured his ankle in a nasty roll-up with Detroit tacklers that visibly put Kyle’s season in jeopardy.  

Despite better advice, Kyle rushed himself back into the lineup after just one week. The Bears struggled their way to a 9-7 record, and just missed the playoffs.  Orton put up a pedestrian eight touchdowns versus eight interceptions.

A lot has been made about whether it is the quarterback that makes the receivers, or the receivers that make the quarterback.  

Easy question.

Really it’s both.  Jay Cutler will probably curb his statistical ascent a little bit with young unproven receivers, but he will still be a sparkly player.  

Kyle Orton will probably improve on his career numbers, but he likely won’t sniff the yardage marks that Jay Cutler was able to compile.  

That’s OK.

I know I spent considerable time qualifying him, but forget what we know of Kyle Orton in Chicago.  With Josh McDaniels’ impressive schematic resume, and a surplus of offensive weapons to work with, Orton has a real opportunity to be successful.  

Out of preemptive damage control, I think Chris Simms is equally gutsy, and he still has a chance to earn the starting nod.  But Josh McDaniels saw enough in Orton to pass on some good offers and make Chicago the winning bid for Jay Cutler.  He will get the benefit of the doubt for now.

I won’t neglect the special teams, but I won’t overanalyze them either.  This phase of the game has some question marks as well.

Will the Broncos kicking game be reliable?  Only time will tell.

Brett Kern showed promise as a rookie last year.  He should hold on to his roster spot as long as he continues to progress. 

Matt Prater, on the other hand, should dress like The Riddler.  

He started out the 2008 season with an impressive combination of power and accuracy, but the second half was a different story.  Jekyll would hit a 55-yard field goal with plenty of room to spare, and then Hyde would come back out and push, pull, and putz away anything inside of 40 yards.

He has too much talent to give up on.  But he won’t be around long if he doesn’t find a way to control his powerful leg. 

The coverage units should be much improved.  With all of the competition for starting positions, there will be young play makers left chomping at the bit to make their mark.

Wesley Woodyard, David Bruton, and Spencer Larsen will stand out with their reckless abandonment mentalities.  Look for the cream to rise to the top in the preseason, and a revamped unit that wears their hearts on their sleeves.

Eddie Royal and J.J. Arrington have no ceiling on their return game capabilities.  It simply comes down to translating ability into touchdowns.

So what can be expected from the 2009 Denver Broncos?  The unexpected.  

Each area of my analysis tends to magnify the potential for this team, but not all of these areas have to be dominant to make this a special season for Denver.  Miami, Atlanta, Baltimore.  The difference between winning and losing in this league can be paper thin.

With all of the gloomy outlooks out there for the 2009 Broncos, isn’t it nice to look at the bright side?

Ten Reasons The Denver Broncos Should Sign Michael Vick

It has been two seasons since the National Football League and its fans have seen the greatest athlete to play the game since Bo Jackson.

Two seasons is much too long of a drought.

While he is still under contract with the Atlanta Falcons, many are already speculating as to which teams make logical sense for the beleaguered quarterback. Teams like Pittsburgh, New England, and Miami have been mentioned as possible destinations due to their elite level of management and history of dealing with personalities like Vick.

One franchise that has yet to be mentioned in the competition for Vick’s services is the Denver Broncos, who in case you have not heard, traded their Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears over a month ago.

Throughout the off-season I have been a huge supporter of Denver quarterback Kyle Orton. I firmly believe that Orton can run Denver’s offense sucessfully with all of the great weapons around him.

There is always a chance that Orton could flop or get injured however, and Denver’s backup plans are nothing to write home about.

Chris Simms has not started a game since rupturing his spleen, and rookie Tom Brandstater will not be ready to start for two or three years.

Does Michael Vick make sense for the Broncos? Can rookie head coach Josh McDaniels handle him? Here are some reasons why Vick in Denver does make sense, and why it would not make sense.

1.  Kyle Orton

As I stated before I have been, and will continue to be, a supporter of Kyle Orton. He has  experience in the spread offense in college where he became one of the nation’s top passers, and could really benefit from the excellent receivers, running backs, and offensive line that Denver has to offer.

Still, there is always a chance that Orton could flop or get injured. There is no guarantee that he will make a smooth transition to Denver, and the Broncos do not have a very stable option otherwise.

Chris Simms has not played in a regular season game for a long time, and Tom Brandstater is a big project at this position. Signing Vick as a backup would be an excellent option for the Broncos.

2.  Marketing

Prior to his dog-fighting incident there was not a more marketable player in the NFL.  Michael Vick would sell jerseys, tickets, and merchandise for Denver. In this dire economy, no team can pass that opportunity up.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not condoning Vick’s past. What he did was downright putrid, but the man has paid his debt to society and the NFL. 

Even if the Broncos do not end up signing Vick, whatever team does go after him is going to sell out every single game next season. Vick is like LeBron James or Kobe Bryant in the sense that no matter where he ends up people always want to watch him play.  He is captivating on the field, and can make the impossible seem possible.

3.  Athleticism

Does anything even need to be said? Michael Vick is the second best athlete to have ever played professional football. He has one of the strongest arms I have ever seen, and he is also one of the fastest players I have ever seen.

Granted, he is probably a little rusty from his time in prison, but what do you think he has been doing since he got there? I would be willing to wager he has done nothing but work out and become a physical marvel.

4.  Risk/Reward

After two seasons out of the league and his background of off-field issues, how expensive is Michael Vick really going to be? Any team that signs him is going to get a great football player for a very, very reasonable price. 

5.  Versatility

Thanks to his excellent running ability, Vick could provide the Broncos with much more than a strong-armed quarterback. Even though he has had trouble fumbling the football (55 in his career), he could help Denver in kick returns, wide receiver, and maybe even running back.

6.  Tony Dungy

One of the most well respected and well known coaches in the National Football League thinks Vick has a chance to make a comeback in the league. If there is any opinion that an NFL fan or coach should hold in high regard, it is that of Dungy.

7.  Josh McDaniels

While Vick is probably a better fit for the “wildcat” offense, Josh McDaniels has a great track record of developing quarterbacks. Vick would benefit greatly from his tutelage.

8.  No Bull Allowed

McDaniels is running a really tight ship in Denver. If at any point he decided that Vick was a distraction or affecting the team in a negative way, his butt would be out of Denver faster than Maurice Clarett.

9.  Changed Man

Say what you want, but the time he has spent in jail has to have changed Vick for the better. I do not claim to know this man as a person, and given the circumstances, none of us really have any reason to believe he has changed his ways. 

I feel that being in jail for a year and a half, losing nearly $20 million, losing every endorsement, and being away from the game you love has to be a humbling experience.

Vick is now 28 years old, and likely has matured. Think Randy Moss.

10.  Vick has something to prove

Michael Vick knows he owes his life to the NFL. If the Denver Broncos are willing to give him a shot, I have no doubts he will give that team his everything, and do anything to help them win football games.

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