Denver Broncos Waive Brett Kern, Sign Punter Mitch Berger

It wasn’t the flashiest move, but the Broncos have finally fiddled with their roster, waiving second year punter Brett Kern and signing veteran Mitch Berger.

Kern has been on the hot seat for a while with the Broncos, and there were rumors he would not beat out Britton Colquitt for the punter job earlier this off-season.  Head coach Josh McDaniels and the Broncos have seen enough from Kern, and they decided to go with the veteran Berger who will wear number 17 with the Broncos.

Berger was most recently seen in a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform, where he filled in very nicely last season to help the team to a Super Bowl victory over the Arizona Cardinals.  He has also played with Arizona, New Orleans, St. Louis, Minnesota, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

Berger has connections to this state, graduating from Colorado (Boulder) in 1994.  He is a two-time Pro Bowl performer and will serve the Broncos as the punter and holder on field goals.

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Six Reasons to Believe in the Denver Broncos’ Amazing Run

The Reality Check

Oh, how have the Denver Broncos utterly shocked a nation of fans and football media? 

Let us count the ways.

From the get go, whether you are or aren’t a fan of the Denver Broncos you’re reading this article. Why that’s happening probably has something to do with what the team accomplished in the first six weeks of the 2009 season.

The fact of the matter is this team is a force to be reckoned with the rest of the 2009 football season.

In effect, these aren’t your daddy’s Broncos, and they aren’t what most would expect from the Denver Broncos at this stage in time under this new regime.

Still a record of 6-0 is a great start and somewhat impressive in any NFL season for any team.

To match the six wins the Broncos attained before the bye week, here are six reasons why you can virtually bank on Denver continuing on their special run. 

This direct thought is the reasoning behind what can still be considered an early season projection that will most likely land the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game.  This team is almost destined to land the number one seed in the AFC playoffs for the Lombardi Trophy.

It’s intriguing. Every year there are teams that surprise everyone in every sport.  So stop, take a minute, and evaluate the data and the factual arguments that support the amazing run of this 2009 Denver Broncos team, one which appears to be heading deep into the post season.

 

1. The Broncos Have the League’s Best Scoring Defense

Much like a quarterback within the grasp of Elvis Dumervil, there is simply no escaping it. The Denver Broncos have the best scoring defense in the NFL.

There is a reason the old saying, “Defense wins championships” was coined.  It really has to do with a sense of Las Vegas type odds and a general philosophy.  If you are capable of shutting down your opponent in any sport, you are winning half of the battle right then and there.

In football, if that becomes a team’s advantage, it is huge. 

Defense can create opportunity where there appeared to be none.

That is exactly how the Denver Broncos’ new 3-4 defense has been working to accomplish its goals, game in and game out. 

Consider the fact that through six weeks of the season the Denver Broncos have only given up 66 points for an average of 11 points per game.

Looking at Sunday’s most recent NFL games, Jay Cutler’s new team the Chicago Bears, who are known for their defense, gave up 45 points on the road in Cincinnati against the Bengals.

Yes, the same Bengals that were said to not be very good and easily discredited after the Broncos won on the Immaculate Deflection play to start the season with a win.  Those same Bengals are currently 5-2 and tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for first place in the AFC North division.

The point is, even good defenses get scored on.  The fact that the number of points the Broncos have given up is under the century mark at this juncture is nothing short of stellar.

Look a little deeper though at the talent level that is assembled by the Broncos on defense and you quickly see it’s not entirely a group of no-name players. 

It might however be a group of veterans who have never completely been given their personal due in their own right. Sure the likes of Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins are career Pro Bowlers and have reached one Super Bowl and a number of conference championship games.

The fact remains, the talent on this Broncos defensive team is greater than meets the eye.

The Broncos have something this season they did not have last season—a stable defensive backfield with depth, experience, and players. 

One of the primary criticisms of the Broncos defensive backfield last season was that they tackled poorly, showed their inexperience, failed to create turnovers, and had a lack of chemistry, especially once Champ Bailey went down with an injury at New England.   

This season’s defensive backfield has Brian Dawkins and Champ Bailey, along with the best part of the Miami Dolphins defensive backfield the previous few seasons in Andre Goodman and Renaldo Hill. 

Combined the starters have 42 years of NFL experience in the defensive backfield and none of them appear to have lost much. 

Philadelphia believed Brian Dawkins had lost a step and some have said he may have, however his play on the field hasn’t shown any sign of letting up or being a step behind.  Brian Dawkins’ fire is intense and reminds old Broncos fans of former linebacker and current ESPN personality Tom Jackson, who was a fiery competitor in his own right.

In the linebacking corps is Elvis Dumervil who converted to an outside linebacker from being a defensive end, and it seems to have boosted an already promising career. 

Additionally, D.J. Williams has 46 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery at his new position on the inside of the Broncos attacking 3-4. 

Cleveland cast-off Andra Davis has 38 tackles on the inside along with one sack.

The Broncos’ front three of Kenny Peterson, Ron Fields, and rookie Ryan McBean have done an exceptional job of gap control and funneling the play to the linebacking crew. 

Additionally while the group has not logged a sack, they have played a key role in the Broncos being tied for the league lead in sacks with a total of 21 heading into the bye.

 

 

2. This Team Is Healthy and Very Well Coached

Without a doubt, for a team to win a number of games and have a chance of getting deep into the playoffs they have to stay healthy. 

For the most part the Broncos have done that up through their bye week. It seems the most important injury happened to Brian Dawkins against San Diego where it appeared he may have had a slight hamstring pull in the first half. 

Dawkins eventually returned and helped to lock it down on defense while leading the Broncos to the victory in a hotly contested football game.

If the Broncos can stay healthy expect them to play in the AFC Championship Game.

Just as important as staying healthy, the Broncos are a well coached football team.  From the schemes being run on both sides of the ball, this football team very much reminds people of the New England Patriots. 

With Josh McDaniels formerly under Bill Belichick’s tutelage it’s obvious the Broncos organization’s approach to the game is now radically different than it has been in the past.

Perhaps the greatest of all the moves Josh McDaniels made in coming to the Denver Broncos was in landing the coaching staff he now has in place.  Moreover, Josh puts the trust in his coaches to get the job done right.

From the start the focus was on changing the culture, and it is different because of the coaching. 

Josh in his own right has been hard on Kyle Orton when he has needed to be, but he has also celebrated the successes and a mutual respect has been forged because of it.  Orton’s growth is obvious, his play is probably the most noticeable of any player, and he has proven the system is working for him.

There are more however.  Where is the criticism of the defensive line and the Broncos front seven now?  The fact is there isn’t any. 

Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, defensive line coach Wayne Nunnely, linebackers coach Don Martindale, and defensive backs coach Ed Donatell have revamped the defense and forged a nucleolus of high expectations.

The depths to which the Broncos defense fell last season aren’t even viewable on the radar now.

Champ Bailey recently made some comments that said how important coaching is at the NFL level because the talent level is so close. Sometimes it’s just weird how things work out.

Right now it seems like a perfect storm in Denver much in the way one is brewing in New Orleans.

It’s not that the Broncos had poor defenders last season on the whole. There were talented guys there that remain on the roster now.  Perhaps the Broncos defense wasn’t running the right scheme for the talent base a year ago.

These Broncos have made a relatively smooth transition to an attacking 3-4 scheme.  Right now it’s showing in the stat sheet, but it also shows up on film. 

The Denver Broncos are fundamentally sound, where they aren’t second guessing the gap coverage like they were a year ago or even the pass coverages for that matter. 

 

 

3. The Broncos Are Winning the Turnover Battle

On the statistical side, the Denver Broncos are causing forced errors from the opposition, and they are taking care of the football. 

Currently the top team in the NFL is the Green Bay Packers at a plus-10 in the turnover battle. The Denver Broncos aren’t far behind at a plus-7 that basically is working out to one key turnover per game. 

Looking back at each game, those turnovers are playing a vital role in beating teams and setting the tone on defense.

The Broncos took Oakland out of the game when Brian Dawkins recovered a fumble deep in Broncos territory, ending the Raiders’ hopes of getting back in that game.

Last week in San Diego, the Broncos D-line forced a Phillip Rivers fumble that iced the game for the Broncos.

When they aren’t getting the turnovers, they are shutting teams down at key moments throughout the game and keeping them out of the end zone.

Think about the work the Broncos did in keeping the Bengals drives between the 20’s. 

Think about Tony Romo throwing at Champ Bailey all day with little success that resulted in a pick near the end zone and last second knockdowns by the Broncos cover corner. 

Then think about how poor Tom Brady looked against the Broncos defense at times and the fact that Randy Moss was a non factor in the game.

Because of the differential, the Broncos have allowed themselves the opportunity to have late game winning drives against Dallas and New England while being able to put the Chargers out of their misery.

The bottom line is these turnovers are making a difference.  If the Broncos are going to start dominating teams they should create more of these sorts of opportunities for themselves.

 

 

4. The Challenging Schedule Now Favors the Broncos

If you want to know how good these Broncos are and you are still not convinced, there are three games remaining on their schedule that will be the true barometer on how close this team can be to winning the AFC. 

Sunday the Broncos will play in Baltimore, a place where the franchise has traditionally had a number of problems against both the Colts and the Ravens. 

The Baltimore Ravens will be starving for a win as they are also coming off a bye week to face a Broncos team that wants to send a deliberate message to the rest of the NFL.

Following the game against the Ravens, the Broncos play a home game against the reigning world champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The Broncos have always historically matched up well with the Steelers.

An historical average score between the two franchises gives Pittsburgh a slight edge at around a 24-22 margin.

Should the Broncos lose both those games, they have a great deal more work to do to raise the bar to a championship level.  However if they win those two games the only other obstacle in the AFC would be the Indianapolis Colts. 

Denver will visit the Colts on December 13 in a game that could determine which team has the home field advantage throughout the AFC Playoffs.

Outside of those games you can virtually bank on the Broncos at least splitting five of their next 10 games.  The Broncos will win at Washington, at Philadelphia, against Kansas City twice, and versus the San Diego Chargers in Denver in a tough rematch. 

 

 

5. The Broncos Have Attitude and Something to Prove

It’s been said attitude is everything. Think about it. Perhaps at some point in time you worked for a losing organization or a loser of a boss. How well did that go over? 

Sometimes you can only scratch your head as to how they got their position in the first place.  Now contrast that with working for a young upstart and putting it all on the line where success is the only acceptable answer. 

The offseason brought a slew of questions about the Broncos organization and the hiring of Josh McDaniels as the new leader, supplanting future Hall of Fame coach Mike Shanahan.  To say the least there were a lot of unanswered questions about the direction of the franchise.

There were also holdover questions from last season about the defensive talent and what it would take to put this team back into a good place. 

Things seemed to be going in the right direction when Brian Dawkins was signed; in fact fans started dreaming of the Super Bowl. 

Just moments following the press conference to introduce Dawkins, the Jay Cutler debacle started to unfold.  Now it’s looking like everything the Broncos did in handling the Jay Cutler ordeal seems to be the right moves now. 

Additionally this team is not hindered by the loss of Cutler. In some areas it was a surprisingly welcomed change of pace.    

Kyle Orton has found the perfect match for his talents, and the Broncos have found a perfect match in the locker room.  Orton has not put up the numbers that would blow away Dan Fouts’ place in history anytime soon, but he has been very consistent and has avoided interceptions. 

Certainly Kyle probably should have about six INT’s on his resume at this point, but he has been fortunate to limit that number to one, which most believe really shouldn’t count since it came on a Hail Mary at the end of the first half against the Patriots.

These Broncos see only one acceptable answer and much of that has come directly from the way Josh McDaniels has handled the approach to this football team. 

Truly this is a football team working hard at its craft.  Perhaps the igniter to the whole equation is that when guys look around their locker room they see talent and experience.  When they saw the media attention locally and nationally they saw disrespect. 

The end result here is that these Denver Broncos have a fiery attitude sparked by Brian Dawkins, but they have much to prove and they are enjoying that portion of the ride.

If you think the Broncos didn’t enjoy beating the Cowboys, Patriots, and Chargers in succession, think again.

This team has a championship swagger about them.

 

 

6. The Broncos Are Undefeated

Considering the fact that the 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only NFL franchise to go undefeated in the Super Bowl era, fans shouldn’t necessarily expect this group to go undefeated. 

The fact that the team is 6-0 at a third of the way through the 2009 season says a great deal about this team’s ability to win. They have a goal for each game to find a way to win and they are meeting their goal. 

More importantly when teams are undefeated they find ways to stay in ball games and find ways to win. That is the greater and more important test of their character.  It’s sort of like solving a puzzle on the fly, and the Denver Broncos are doing incredibly well in this area so far.

So like them or hate them, the Denver Broncos are undefeated and worthy of every team’s respect at this point.

 

The Conclusion

The real conclusion won’t be known until the postseason starts and ends.  The Broncos appear to be headed on the way to being one of the top two seeds in the AFC.  Should they win the homefield advantage, history has shown that teams with the advantage wind up in the Super Bowl more often than not.

At the end of the day this Broncos team is showing the signs of a team that will be playing for an AFC Championship and possibly a Lombardi Trophy into the late winter months.

Contact Chaz at sportsmanagement@gmail.com

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

The Bye Week Blues: A Fan’s Sob Story

For one week out of every year, somewhere between week four and ten of the NFL season, I find myself wallowing in sorrow and despair.  It never fails.

I always spend countless weeks perfecting the art of the game day ritual, scrutinizing over the piece of clothing to be anointed as this year’s lucky relic, fixating over the preparation and timing of the refreshments, organizing the day’s responsibilities around the exact moment of kick off, meticulously managing the people with whom I watch the game, so as not to pollute the viewing experience.

I think you get the idea.  It’s a painstaking and delicate process.

And every year, just when it seems like I have discovered the perfect balance, established the ultimate game day experience. Bam. The collectively dreaded bye week.

And thus, the arrival of sorrow and despair.

It blindsides me. I can never quite prepare myself for the magnitude of the impact, and every year the pain intensifies like the days immediately following a difficult break-up.

This year is particularly grueling as my beloved Broncos are riding the momentum of a six-game winning streak, and yours truly has flawlessly orchestrated and executed his game-day rituals like a puppeteer imbuing life into an inanimate object.  

What will happen now? Will the Broncos be able to sustain their momentum through this off week?  Will the defense become too tranquil and lose the edge that has defined them to this point?  Will Orton revert to his disastrous preseason form? Will I be able to recreate the magic of last week’s barfly ceremonial brilliance?

I’m really starting to worry now.

Every year, I question to myself, and to those close to me, just why the bye week actually exists. And no one ever has an answer that satisfies my inquisitive nature.

So this year, I will begin to question out loud, to anyone who is interested and will listen. To anyone willing to offer me their opinion. Why the hell do we need a bye week in the NFL?

To extend the NFL week to 17 weeks?  My answer… Cut the preseason down to three games then, and utilize what is now the final week of the preseason to host the opening week of the regular season.

To give the players a well-deserved week to rest and recover?  My answer…What? Are they in high school? Do they need to catch up on their homework? Do they need to put ice on their boo boos? Aren’t we , the NFL fans, paying their salaries, and shouldn’t we be rewarded for our loyalty and contribution?

Whatever the reasoning, I can tell you right now the benefits won’t come close to outweighing the agony I will experience tomorrow.

Maybe I’m just being selfish, but I’m not sure I can handle the depraved monotony of another Broncoless week.

Last week was bad enough when I had to wait until Monday night to watch my Broncos.  Not that Monday Night Football doesn’t have its own magic and mystique, but we all know it’s not the same as a Sunday spent in the trenches.

Now I have to figure out a way to distract my guttural urges from surfacing.  Do I finally get around to hanging up those two paintings sitting on the living room floor that I’ve been putting off for months?

Do I cave in and replace that toilet seat in the guest bathroom that has been needing my attention for weeks?  Do I watch that inevitably awful movie I’ve been promising my wife I’d watch with her?

Oh, cruel NFL, why must you make me stoop to such lows?  Please. I beg you. Please get rid of the excruciating bye week.

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Jay Cutler Sends Letter To Josh McDaniels

(Writer’s Note: This is a humor column. Jay did NOT actually send this letter to Josh McDaniels. I know B/R readers are smart enough to figure this out, but I can’t speak for the whole Internet)

Dear Josh,

As much as I don’t want to say “I told you so…”

Oh what the hell, I’ll say it anyway: I TOLD YOU SO!!!! NYAH NYAH NYAH NYAH, NYAH, NYAH!!!

How does it feel, dummy? You ran me out of town and look what happened! Look at how bad you are! Don’t you miss me? I could have easily gotten you two or three more wins.  I have a much better arm than John Elway, let alone that limp noodle Kyle Orton you got in place of me!

Wait a second. Ron Turner just came in told me your record. You’re 6-0? Really? Oh well, it’s all luck anyway and you haven’t really played anyone! I’m better than Tom Brady, Tony Romo, and Philip Rivers all put together anyway! I’m the best there is!

Oh, hold on there. Kyle Orton? He has a 100.1 quarterback rating and I only have an 86.9? That’s an error as we all know NFL quarterbacks can’t get extra credit therefore he can not be over 100 percent! Are you that desperate, Josh? You’re fudging numbers to spite me. Didn’t you learn anything from Belichick? That’s the kind of thing that will get you in trouble with the league. Enjoy your $25,000 fine dummy! Ha ha.

On top of that, you already ticked off Brandon. If B-Marsh knows what’s good for him, he’ll sit out the rest of the season since he wasn’t traded by the deadline because you’re too dumb. What makes this so great is that once Brandon is gone, I will be proven right. I knew what was best for that franchise. No one believes in you, and they all believed in me. Too bad the Denver franchise is being set back 10 years.

Before you ask, yes I realize we are trailing the Vikings by 2.5 games right now. I’m not worried at all. I’m better than Brett Favre ever was and we have the best running back in the NFL named Adrian Peterson. That other one in Minnesota has nothing on ours. 

My offensive line is better than yours, too. I heard Clady just gave up his first sack.  What a bum! Can’t even make it two full seasons before getting owned and letting Orton get hit! I don’t have to worry about that as mine gives me all the time in the world to throw and read my receivers multiple times. The interceptions are never my fault as my receivers sometimes run the wrong route. I yell at them and make them know to never make the same mistake again or I’ll make sure management replaces them.

Finally, I am very happy to be playing on a team that has a real defense for a change.  Look at you, you still have the same guys and take it from me, they suck. That was OK last year that we collapsed down the stretch, at least I got to put some really nice numbers and even made the Pro Bowl! Now, with the great defense we have in Chicago, maybe I can add a Super Bowl ring but that’s not that important. All that matters is that I can hang personal accolades on my mantle.

Oh, hang on. Lovie Smith just showed me some stats. Wow, you allowed 66 points this year and we have allowed 99. See, we’re better in that category too. We are just so much better than you.

Anyway, I need to get back to practice. Oh, and if you happen to bump into Uncle Mikey, the guy you replaced you jerk face, please have him mail me my binky, my blankie, and some cookies. I think he should still have them. I want them and I want them NOW!

I look forward to laughing at you when I volunteer at a soup kitchen sometime. Have fun on the unemployment line, sucker!

Jay Cutler

(P.S. Did you ever notice I have the same initials as Jesus Christ? Coincidence? I think not.)

 

(Another writer’s note: Again this was a humor column.  The views expressed in this column are indeed the views of the writer.)

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Understaning Kyle Orton

During Cutler’s rookie season I attended a Broncos home game and as usual I arrived quite early for the tailgating and to see the team warm up.  Its my own little ritual that I have become accustomed to every time I attend a home game.  During said warm ups Cutler launched a ball from the twenty yard line with a nice ark that landed somewhere between the fifteen and twenty yard line, that’s around seventy five yards.

I turned to my step brother and told him that was one of the strongest arms I have ever seen, he agreed and we went on to see a pretty good game that day.  Yesterday my step brother mentioned that it would’ve been nice to see Cutler and his rifle arm in McDaniel’s offense and that got me thinking, is the difference between Orton’s arm strength and Cutler’s really that much?

No, it is not.

See, arm strength difference is greatly exaggerated by the media and by us fans when in reality Cutler’s arm is stronger but not by as much as we think.

Lets put it this way, on a scale of one to ten, one being a really weak arm (Pennington) and ten being the strongest (young Favre) I would say that Cutler is about an 8.5 and Orton about a 7.  No I’m not crazy and I’m definitely not delusional, I have seen Orton launch a ball that traveled around 60 to 65 yards in the air and for those that simply just won’t believe I suggest looking up “Purdue 2002 Highlights” on youtube and you will see Orton’s arm strength on display with balls that travel 50+ yards.  That is more than enough arm strength.

Perhaps no one has been as critical of Orton as I have been in the beginning, but after I have witnessed his play throughout this season and doing lots of research I have come around.  Orton understands that the ability to throw the ball hard is not everything is this league, he knows that ark, touch and accuracy  are just as important or perhaps even more so.  After all, it was Joe Montana that famously said “I don’t throw darts at balloons, I throw balloons at darts”.

Much of Cutler’s problems are due to his over confidence in his arm strength, he relies so heavily on it that he tries to throw tight ropes at his receivers where a lofted pass is preferred.  We Bronco fans have all witnessed Cutler’s inability to read zone defenses and watched in horror as he tried to zip a ball past a defender only to see batted down, or worse, go the other way.  It is that kind of throw that made me almost have a heart attack every time he dropped back to throw the ball.

With Orton’s this has changed.  He knows when to zip the ball and when to lead his receiver away from coverage and danger and when throw over a defender.  Throughout this season I have seen the Bronco offense get better every week along with Orton. Now I know most of his deep passes, if not all, have been horrible but the deep ball is something that relies heavily on timing and familiarity something that only comes with time.  The more time Orton spends with his receivers the better those deep balls will get.

Orton has shown the ability to read defenses and make the correct throw taking what the defense is giving rather than put the ball, and game, in harms way.  While in Chicago this style of play earned him the title of game manager, it’s a title that no longer fits. 

Game managers are the QBs that play for a ball control and run first and second,only-throw-if-absolutely-necessary style of offense; teams like Chicago, San Fransisco, Tampa, Carolina, Tennessee and Jacksonville.  Those QBs are game managers. I don’t believe that title can be applied to Orton anymore sice this offense is balanced and depends on Orton as much as it depends on its ground game.  Thus, Orton is no longer just a game manager but rather a QB that is allowed to run the offense and make the necessary changes depending on what the defense is doing.

Granted, Orton seems to be on a leash thus far, but like the deep ball, this offense will be his with time.  Tom Brady runs the same offense and we do not see him as a game manager, not to compare Brady to Orton, but it is proof that this style of offense can’t function with a QB that is just a game manager.  With time we will see Orton given more and more freedom to audible and change plays as he reads the defense, this is what the “spread” or “run and gun”, whatever you prefer to call it, is all about.

All in all this is one fan that not only has come around or taken a wait and see attitude with Orton, but is rather glad to see No. 8 under center instead of having a weekly heart attack.

 

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Week 7: NFL Picks & Predictions

As most of you know, I pick em’ every week and have for years, I’ve been doing most of my picks right here on bleacherreport.com and also over at my site at www.sports-uncut.com.

Going into last Week (6) I was a solid, if unspectacular 54-22, good for a 71.05 percent accuracy rate. Last season was my personal best of right at 80 percent, this year, I’m looking to improve that! It’s slowly getting better and better!

I finished Week 6 with an average 9-5 record, not great….but, not bad either. My percentage did dip from 71, but only by one point. The Philly v Oakland game came out of left field! Regardless, this week, I’m looking to improve upon that performance greatly!

As always, I’m not picking the spread here folks, I’m picking the straight up winner. So, let’s get to it!

Record:

Record from 2 Weeks Previous (5): 11-3

Record from last Week (6): 9-5

Record coming into Week (7): 63-27 (70.0 percent)

So, let’s get right to it!

Begin Slideshow

Denver Broncos Bye Week Pt II: Stats, Pluses, Minuses, and the Outlook

Statistically Speaking

Certainly the talk of this early 2009 season has been the strength of the Broncos defense. Even after facing a San Diego team that scored more than any other team on the Broncos, the orange and blue still has the first rated scoring defense. The team has only yielded 11 points per game, an astounding number through six games and against good offensive threats like Cincinnati, Dallas, New England, and San Diego.

The Broncos defense is also rated second in total yards allowed, yielding 262.5 yards per game, which certainly is saying something. The Broncos are also tied for first with the Minnesota Vikings in total sacks with 21. Who would have thought that coming into this season?

The Broncos have also forced ten fumbles and recovered six of them on defense while getting six interceptions. That works out to two turnovers per game in the Broncos favor.

The Broncos have also one other amazing stat keeping them in ball games. That being the best thing that Kyle Orton has done thus far. Through six games Kyle Orton has only thrown one interception, which came at the end of the first half against the Patriots to wide receiver turned defensive back Randy Moss.

Think about that, one interception through six games, an amazing statistic for a starting quarterback to have. Now that is not to say Orton hasn’t thrown a few ball that should have been picked off, oh contraire he has put the ball in danger a number of times. Yet somehow, Kyle has been fortunate and careful and has made taking care of the ball a somewhat conscious venture.

Orton is also ranked seventh in total yards and eleventh in average yards per game. Not great, but serviceable. Kyle is also tied with Matt Ryan of Atlanta for tenth in touchdown passes with a total of nine through six games. Matt Schaub of Houston has fourteen for his first place ranking, but his team is struggling to make a playoff run.

Things in the Broncos Favor (Pluses)

Certainly the statistics prove out how good the Broncos defense is playing and how few turnovers the team is committing on the offensive side of the ball. Underneath the surface however are a handful of things that are lending strong thought to the fact that this team can be even better than what’s been seen so far.

To this date in the season the Denver Broncos coaching, execution, attitude, and health of the team are standing paramount to their streak of success. Now all of these attributes don’t entirely make the stat sheet in it of themselves, however they are making their impact on this team and in turn making this team very dangerous indeed.

Coaching perhaps was viewed in a poor light by some, or overlooked by others coming into the 2009 NFL season.

Yet the Broncos through all the turmoil and media frenzy in the off season have occupied the minds of football fans for the first six weeks of the season. Many may have been tempted to think that this defense was not going anywhere, and others probably thought how are they doing so well without Jay Cutler?

This team is filled with surprising responses for the mainstream talking heads and they owe a great debt of gratitude to their coaching staff.

Consider the fact that this staff released over half of the previous regime, integrated new ideas and terminology, and traded a franchise quarterback with a calm cool demeanor to bring on Kyle Orton as the new leader on offense. It’s amazing. Moreover, the Broncos coaches went the distance to ensure that this was going to be a physical football team.

Without a doubt, the Broncos greatest offseason acquisition was future football Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins who not only is a physical presence, but calls upon his teammates to be that way as well.

He is like a coach on the field but more importantly his mere presence has influenced an entire team to take it higher and to literally sell out and make the sacrifices for the sake of the team. That is something that can’t entirely be coached, it has to be lived out on the field and in that is one of the greatest teaching tools for this team to use as a template for being a more physical football team.

With the character the coaching staff insisted on in its players, the amazing and improbable has started to take shape with a vengeance.

In all phases of the game it’s about execution while being cerebral on the field. It’s a forgone conclusion before it happens. This team knows what it’s doing on the field; they have purpose and humility within their swagger to get the job done right.

They believe in themselves on a much deeper level than most teams. Couple that belief with intent to prove others wrong, its fuel enough to last an entire season. Historically speaking that is the point in time when teams become dangerous and take things from their opponents and wind up in a special place at the end of the season.

That is exactly why this team is dangerous.

The Broncos execute, but it’s also the way in which they execute. It is with an attitude where failure is not an option. It might not be a new attitude in Dove Valley, but the blade of supremacy has been sharpened and has new dimensions for the Broncos organization. When they do fail they bounce right back like a prize fighter who will see it through to his opponents TKO.

Take, for instance, the end of the Dallas or New England games when they had to have it, they got it from Brandon Marshall probably the last guy to buy in to the new regime. Just two months ago the talk was that Marshall wanted out of Denver and now he’s realizing his contributions matter to this team and yet the Broncos are focused on rounding out the arsenal.

The Broncos are a very fast team on defense and that is posing problems for teams while they control the ball on offense.

Think about last year’s Pittsburgh team and the ways in which the Steelers defense flew to the ball out of their similar 3-4 schemes. That is what the coaches’ saw in the Broncos talent and a large part of why they switched things up defensively.

The attitude to fly around the ball and trust the coaching staff to scheme in such a way to slow down the opposition and take away their best offensive threats is what has kept this team at the top.

Finally, the Broncos have their lucky stars to thank. It seems the most banged up member of the team has been their heart and soul, Brian Dawkins. He broke a finger in the preseason and had to play with a cast, and then he tweaked or pulled an apparent hamstring against San Diego on Monday night.

In true superhero fashion he later returned to the game to help finish off the Chargers. Make no mistake, the Broncos really need Brian Dawkins healthy, and so far he has at least been there to answer the call. Additionally the team has been healthy on both sides of the ball to remain dynamic in their attack on teams.

Things Needing Work (Minuses)

This teams current Achilles’ heal is not getting early leads and not finding a way to build big leads to take the opposition out of the game early. If the Broncos focus on locking things down, they can potentially kill two birds with one stone by getting on teams early and improving their scoring offense.

Currently the New Orleans Saints are averaging 38.4 points on offense while the Broncos are at 22.2 points per game. With both teams undefeated at this point what stands out is that the Saints have been dominating on offense while Denver has dominated on defense. If the Broncos can elevate their offensive output and not squander red zone opportunities, turning them into touchdowns not field goals the Broncos can become the dominating team in the NFL.

The Broncos have been fortunate in not turning the ball over a great deal as well; however they need to be prepared to execute in case they do.

The Broncos run game still could use some help as well. The Broncos are currently sixth overall with nearly 800 yards rushing with only three touchdowns. As physical as this team has been, they need to be more physical and successful in the rush game to create the right balance against the opposition.

Failure in this area will probably lead to predictability and more defenses attacking the Broncos pass routes creating turnovers and more sacks.

 

Remaining Season Outlook

Obviously the outlook for this team is bright for the remainder of the 2009 NFL season. They should make the playoffs as a division winner and will in all likelihood get there as one of the top two seeds in the AFC giving them a first round bye and at least one home playoff game.

 

So what will propel this team into the number one playoff seed in the AFC?

Stay tuned for Monday’s article.

 

Contact Chaz at sportsmanagement@gmail.com

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Come To Think Of It, Who Would You Rather Have: Jay Cutler or Kyle Orton?

It’s a debate for the ages—who is the better QB, Kyle Orton or Jay Cutler?

To me, it’s fairly cut and dry. For now, Orton is fine. You can win with him. If you are a risk averse team, you certainly like his game managing skills and ability to avoid making mistakes.

Yet, for the long term, give me Jay Cutler to build around. He has the stronger arm, the mobility, the franchise-changing ability to win games all by himself that Orton does not—and likely never will—have.

But try telling that to a Denver fan who not only hates Cutler but is enjoying an undefeated season thus far. It’s difficult to argue when faced with the choice between a QB that has thrown only one interception (a “hail mary” picked off by Randy Moss, of all people) and one who throws picks about as often as he throws TDs.

There’s also that little issue of the 6-0 season. Not that it’s all because of Orton.

Still…

I keep hearing that Cutler is a primadona; that he’s a baby, only concerned about his stats.

Meanwhile, I keep hearing how Kyle Orton is the main reason for the Broncos surprising success this season.

It’s as if Denver’s 6-0 record is because of Orton, not due to an excellent defense and an offensive line that would allow Orton to order a pizza while waiting to throw if he wanted.

The arguments go as follows: Because Orton doesn’t throw picks, the Broncos can score in the red zone.

Even the improved play of the defense is apparently due to Orton. His sustained drives are keeping the Denver defense off the field longer, resulting in fresher bodies and improved play.

Hell, I’m surprised that Orton isn’t being given credit for ending world hunger, the hyperbole is flowing so much.

And Cutler is solely responsible for global warming, right?

Look, the recipe for success in the NFL isn’t trading a franchise QB for a mediocre one. If it were that simple, the Bears would have many more Super Bowls to their credit.

And if being a gunslinger was so bad, how come the Packers and Brett Favre did so well all these years?

Don’t get me wrong, teams can win with Orton. But they don’t win because of him. He is playing as well as he can, with limited upside, while a guy like Cutler has no ceiling.

Yes, Cutler makes more mistakes. It’s because his talent allows him to take more chances.

It’s a lot like comparing defensive players in baseball based on number of errors. That is flawed logic because a player with greater range may make more errors because he gets to more balls.

You still take the player with the better range. Just like you take the QB with the stronger arm.

Denver’s turnaround has more to do with the improvement on defensive side of the ball. But give Orton his just due, he’s performing well like he did with the Bears in the first half of last season, prior to injuring his ankle.

Yet comparing the two based on their teams’ win-loss records is plain silly. Going back to a baseball analogy again, it’s like comparing pitchers based on their win-loss records. There are so many variables that go beyond his control that the W-L is not a fair indicator of performance.

As for the difference in their personalities, of course a guy like Cutler is going to be the more conceited. All the great ones, in every sport, have huge egos. If you don’t think that Joe Montana could be a real turd to his teammates, then you didn’t get the memo.

Time will tell, I suppose. But at this point in their respective careers, Cutler has made a Pro Bowl, has thrown for more yards, and throws a much better deep ball than Orton. And I imagine it will remain that way.

I don’t begrudge Denver its success. And I’m happy for Orton, he seems like a good guy.

But long term, I still think Cutler ends up being the better QB.

Of course, let’s not let facts get in the way, come to think of it.

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Josh McDaniels: Player’s Coach or Disciplinarian?

Watching Josh McDaniels man the sidelines on gameday is a fascinating and somewhat inexplicable experience—a conundrum wrapped tightly inside a paradox.

At times, he seems like the ultimate authority figure, surveying every detail of every play, barking out commands like a crazed platoon leader, disciplining his players for even the slightest mistake.

Other times, he comes across like an old college buddy you call when you want to go grab a beer and shoot some pool.

In today’s NFL, it seems like a coach, fairly or unfairly, inevitably gets slapped with the label of either being a player’s coach or a disciplinarian.

Player’s coaches are criticized because they are at times too lenient, allowing the players to over-influence the locker room. This can be disastrous when the makeup of the team is not strong enough to handle the freedom.

Disciplinarians are criticized because they come across too dictatorial, issuing commands in a “my way or the highway” manner and not allowing any room for flexibility. This can be disastrous when a team becomes too rigid, loses respect, and begins to resent their coach.

When Josh McDaniels took over the Broncos last January, it was clear that his strategy was to immediately assert his authority onto a franchise that was losing direction under Mike Shanahan.

Trading Jay Cutler to the Bears was a clear indication that McDaniels would stand his ground at whatever cost—an attribute of a disciplinarian.

He would then continue his power play over the course of training camp, through the entire pre-season, and into the regular season. First by issuing a suspension to Brandon Marshall displaying conduct detrimental to the team. Then by limiting Marshall’s playing time in the first few games of the season, reinforcing his message of authority.

Only once he felt like Marshall had earned the respect of his team did McDaniels begin to yield his control. Then, and only then, have we begun to see his lighter side.

Now we’re seeing video clips of him on the sideline pumping his fist in elation like a teenager on steroids, mic’d-up snippets of McDaniels mixing it up with his players on the sidelines like he is just one of the guys, and even friendly embraces from formerly embittered players. These are all attributes of a player’s coach.

McDaniels has somehow struck the perfect balance between overt discipline and good-willed leniency, clearly earning the respect of his team. The 33-year-old coach has the 36-year-old veteran Brian Dawkins calling him “sir,” for God’s sake. If that isn’t respect, I don’t know what is.

They say winning tends to cure all ills and there is wisdom within that statement. But winning doesn’t come effortlessly or without sacrifice. To say that McDaniels has only garnered this level of reverence because he is winning games is too simplistic.

The reason the Broncos are winning games is because they are the most prepared team in the NFL week-in, week-out. They are prepared because the entire team has bought into McDaniels and his leadership. They have bought into his leadership because he has earned their respect. He has earned their respect because he understands the balance between camaraderie and authority.

McDaniels is the perfect coach for this team brought in at the perfect time. He has made perfect personnel decisions and he has perfectly handled all controversies. His game management is perfect and he makes the perfect halftime adjustments.

My apologies for ever doubting him.

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Believe It: Three Things The Broncos Can Do To Make a “Super” Run

Crazy, off your rocker, cracked, and insane.

Those are the words I would use if you had told me in August that the Broncos would be 6-0 going into their bye and talk of a Super Bowl run, let alone a playoff berth, would be discussed with a straight face.

But here we are.

Most fans almost always hold out hope at the start of every season that this could be “the year” for their team, but it was especially hard for Broncos fans to even give consideration to such thought this year. Their stalwart head coach was gone, as was their young Pro Bowl franchise quarterback, and their star wide receiver was throwing a temper tantrum that would make Terrell Owens proud. The defense was rebuilding in a new scheme under yet another defensive coordinator.  Broncos fans were bracing for the worst year the team had in recent memory.

But here we are.

The team is 6-0 going into their bye. The rookie head coach, Josh McDaniels, looks like a genius and the new quarterback, Kyle Orton, is having a career year playing practically mistake-free football. Brandon Marshall, the angry receiver, has overall bought into the team’s philosophy and is back playing in Pro Bowl form.  Perhaps most surprisingly, the defense has been playing lights-out football, pressuring the quarterback and generating turnovers.

Thanks to their 34-23 win over the San Diego Chargers Monday night, the Broncos hold a three and a half game lead in the AFC West. The team is healthy overall, and the confidence of McDaniels and his team is at an all-time high.  Barring an even more monumental collapse than last season, the Broncos are likely to make the postseason for the first time since the 2005-2006 season. 

But why stop there?

If the Broncos are going to make a serious run at the Lombardi trophy, there are areas they definitely have to improve in.  Here are the three most important areas of improvement:

 

 

1. Start games faster

 

During the first half of games this year the Broncos are barely outscoring their opponents, 57-56. During the second half,  however, the Broncos are walloping the other team by a combined score of 76-10. 

The Broncos have been fortunate so far, but if they are to make a deep playoff run, they need to get off to a better start. If they face Indianapolis in playoffs, which they very likely could (and the teams do meet during the regular season as well), the Broncos will need to at least keep pace as the Colts can put up points early and often as long as Peyton Manning is under center. Same goes for the Patriots as we all saw what Tom Brady is capable of during their 59-0 demolition of the Tennessee Titans.

In order to fix this, Orton needs to get in a rhythm much sooner than he has.  He usually starts games out 0 for 2 or so and it’s key that he be accurate early.  While it’s only two passes, you never know if those could turn out to be big plays.

The two-headed rushing attack of Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno must also be sharp early.  While they don’t need to get a first down every carry, pounding outs runs of four, five or six yards go a long way towards forcing the opposing defense into respecting the run game and allowing Orton to make more plays down the field.

 

 

2. Stop committing so many penalties

 

Looking at this past game against the Chargers, the Broncos were penalized four times for 44 yards.  While the numbers don’t look that bad, they don’t show the entire picture. Two of them were absolutely inexcusable and could have cost the Broncos the game. 

One was on Marshall for unsportsmanlike conduct in the second quarter that, had the Chargers not also committed a pass interference penalty, would have made an easy field goal for Matt Prater that much harder to make by backing the team up 15 yards. Three points could have come off the board there.

The second was on Moreno for spiking the ball after not getting a first down on 3rd and 1.  It was a five yard delay of game penalty that, had it occurred further down field, the Broncos could have lost points there as well.

Correcting this issue lies with both the players and the coaches.  The players need to maintain focus and mental discipline while the coaches need to inform the players that continually committing penalties could cause them to be removed from the field.

While the Broncos don’t have as severe an issue with penalties as say the Green Bay Packers do, committing penalties in key game situations will bring any potential postseason run to a grinding halt.

 

 

3. Handle adversity properly

 

I’m going to stop short of saying there’s no way the Broncos run the table and go 16-0.  If there is one thing I have learned about the NFL, it is to expect the unexpected. However, since the New England Patriots in 2007 were the only team since 1972 to complete a perfect regular season, it seems relatively safe to say the Broncos will lose at least one game along the way this year.

This is just about the only thing we have not seen from the team at this point: how they bounce back.  At 6-0, they haven’t dealt with a loss yet.  They have faced close games, but each one has turned out in their favor. 

They can likely bounce back from one, but what happens if the team loses two or three games in a row?  Will they begin to see themselves as overachievers that played too hard at the beginning of the season and that they aren’t as good as they thought they were?  Will the confidence of the team begin to dwindle?

My guess right now would be no.  McDaniels has been saying all season that he and the team haven’t accomplished anything yet and it is key to be playing their best football at the end of the season.   He is trying to keep the team humble by saying that many mistakes were made and need to be corrected.

McDaniels is saying all the right things, but we won’t know for sure until some adversity occurs.  Here’s hoping it doesn’t, but it likely will.

 

 

They can do it

 

Based on what we have seen through six games, it’s possible for the Broncos to make a deep playoff push.  That said, this team is far from perfect and they need to correct the above issues amongst others if they want to make a run for glory.

It would be the ultimate Cinderella story, and these first six chapters have been a lot of fun to watch.  Here’s hoping the next ten are just as exciting.

 

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