The Denver Broncos Must Face Their New Reality

Times are changing in the Rocky Mountains. The Balloon Boy scandal is about to go away. Bill Ritter won’t run for re-election as Governor of Denver. Last but not least, Mike Shanahan will be coaching a team other than the Broncos.

And with that, the last page of the Shanahan Era in Denver has finally been turned, while the next chapter of the Josh McDaniels Saga has yet to unfold. I am uncertain. I am wary. I am scared to death.

It hasn’t been easy being a Broncos fan over the past four years. The team has seemingly lost their identity as one of the competitive teams of the league and become the annual whipping boy for the Chargers.

This was true in Shanahan’s final three seasons with the team, and nothing that McDaniels tried this year did anything to change that.

The Broncos are stuck, as one may say, in football purgatory. Not getting worse, but never improving either. This year’s team teased all of us with their euphoric 6-0 start, only to succumb to their greatest collapse to date, going 2-8 in their final 10 games.

I wish that I could tell you why this happened, why this keeps happening. The success that the Chargers have enjoyed this decade makes it even worse. San Diego has won five of the last six AFC West titles. Oakland won the first three this decade.

The Broncos? 1-1, which is 1 division title and 1 playoff win. They have 0 playoff appearances since 2005 with a 32-32 record over that time span.

We can all agree that 2005 featured the last truly great Broncos team. I remember every game from that season. Every touchdown. Every score. Every key play and every hurtful loss. And you know what? I can’t say the same about 2006-2008.

Know why? I blocked it out because I believed those seasons to be a fluke, that this was still a playoff team that was missing just one or two key players.

At this point, its obvious that I’ve been lying to myself all this time because I was hurt by the truth. And the truth is that the Denver Broncos in 2010 are not a great team. They are not a competitive team.

Simply put, they are average and irrelevant in today’s NFL. Not only that, but with the Avalanche enjoying a surprisingly successful season, the Broncos are the worst of the 4 major sports teams in Colorado.

Ten years ago, the Rockies and Nuggets could barely get fans to attend their games. Now they put on a better show than the Broncos ever can.

What’s even more frustrating is that nearly every good player on this team has a down side. Brandon Marshall, fresh off another 100-catch season, is good as gone. Champ Bailey is in the final year of his contract and may not be back in 2011.

Brian Dawkins played too much and wore down at the end of the year. Even Elvis Dumervil struggled when teams ran the ball at him more often.

I don’t write this for the sole purpose of being a pessimist and I do not withdraw myself as a Broncos fan. I could never do that.

For now, what I’m saying is that the Broncos of the present are bogged down in their own mediocrity and the Broncos of the future are completely unpredictable.

There. I feel better. Now the bright side to this column (didn’t think there was one did you?). The moves that the Broncos will do, should do, and probably won’t be able to do this offseason.

 

First things first; it’s time to completely cut ties with the Shanahan regime. If McDaniels is going to do things the Patriot Way, then he needs to do them all the way.

That means almost all of the Shanahan holdovers need to go. Rick Dennison and Bobby Turner are good coaches, but their zone-blocking and cut-back running styles of coaching don’t fit with what McDaniels is trying to do on offense.

Besides, they will get plenty of interest from other coaches, including Shanahan and Gary Kubiak, and would be hard to keep.

After that, it’s time to clean house with the players. Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler want out almost as much as McDaniels wants to get rid of them.

Ben Hamilton is a fraction of the player he used to be and is now too light for the offensive line. Peyton Hillis, Jarvis Moss, and Marcus Thomas were seldom used and rarely effective.

However, a few of the Shanahan starters from last year, outside of Champ Bailey, Ryan Clady, and Elvis Dumervil, will be back.

Eddie Royal saw a pretty large dip in his production from 2008, but he’ll get another chance because of his potential. Brandon Stokely and Spencer Larsen are wild cards who may or may not be back.

Next on the agenda is improving at the line of scrimmage. It’s no secret that the Broncos had major issues at their offensive and defensive lines toward the end of the season.

Offensively, they need to get bigger. Clady, Harris, and Kuper (if he’s resigned), are all good fits, but I’m not so sure about Casey Wiegmann.

Hamilton was benched midseason in favor of Russ Hochstein, who outweighs Hamilton by about 20 pounds, and the same thing could happen to Casey this spring. Those two may even retire.

The Patriots’ offensive line features five starters who each weigh 300 pounds or more, so look for McDaniels to replicate that here in Denver.

As for the defense, the teams with the best 3-4 defenses are typically the ones with the best nose tackles.

Ronnie Fields was decent for the Broncos this year, but his weaknesses began to show more as the season went on. He’ll have competition for his job in camp next year, as will Ryan McBean and Kenny Peterson.

The team could also use a true run stuffer at middle linebacker. DJ makes a lot of tackles and Andra Davis is solid, but neither of them instill fear into the hearts of running backs.

When Al Wilson roamed the middle of the field, the Broncos were consistently one of the hardest teams to run against. They have yet to replace him.

Lastly, the Broncos lack the playmakers that they need to compete in today’s NFL. With Marshall on his way out, someone else will have to make up for his 100 catches, and I doubt that someone is Jabar Gaffney or Brandon Lloyd.

Correll Buckhalter was better than expected, but he’s not the long term answer at running back.

Which brings us to Knowshon Moreno. I know, he’s a rookie, and I’ve already mentioned how the Broncos had a struggling offensive line most of the season. Moreno played well early on, but he was a non-factor in the final three games.

First-round picks are expected to make plays to help their teams make the playoffs, and Moreno didn’t make enough of those plays this year. Obviously he’s not going anywhere, but he needs to become more of an impact player.

That goes for the other Broncos first-round picks too, Robert Ayers and Alphonso Smith. Ayers finally began to get after the quarterback towards the end of the season, but not so much at the beginning.

Smith was nearly invisible all year and got beaten in coverage for a costly touchdown against the Raiders in week 15. Progress must be made here, or it will put the Broncos in a tough spot.

For all you Kyle Orton haters out there, I guarantee you that he will be back next year. Unless the Broncos draft a total stud at quarterback or Tom Brandstater magically turns into Tom Brady overnight, Orton will also be starting once again.

Whether he deserves it or not is a topic for another column. Orton will be your quarterback next year Broncos fans. Don’t like it? Deal with it.

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Denver Broncos: The Beginning of a New Era, Or The Beginning of the End?

WHOA! Maybe to clarify, this isn’t a picture of the future, but just a reminder of how truly awful the first uniforms were. And if on the 75th or the 100th anniversary of the AFL, they must promise not to bring these monstrosities back.

As to the title of this article, I have read and wrote on where this franchise lies at the moment. And it does seem to be an either/or thing with most fans and followers of the Broncos: Either you are with the new regime or you are against it.

So, to bring some balance, let’s review where the Broncos have been, where they are, and maybe take a glimpse at where they might be going.

Begin Slideshow

Hey Denver, Where’s the Love for Josh McDaniels?

His tenure started with a bang. Down goes Cutler , in a way, is what should have rang in the ears of NFL fans everywhere.

Of course, you had your Jay Cutler haters, who shrugged off the bold move by new head coach Josh McDaniels to challenge the rising superstar quarterback.

Bold? Yes, you’d say.

Stupid? Hell no.

And in the end, that may have been the correct assumption.

But then, after the trade that for all intents and purposes landed them Knowshon Moreno and Robert Ayers came the Brandon Marshall saga.

It poured into our media outlets for the rest of the summer, quietly drowning out the pain (or happiness?) of the so-called prima dona Cutler exiting Denver.

And then the Broncos started the season with an extremely unlucky (and dare we say lucky?) win on a tipped pass that was scooped-up by Brandon Stokley and raced in for a 12-7 Denver win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Victory bred emotion. Emotion bred momentum. Momentum bred more victories, and then the hugging began.

Oh, the jumping, the hand-holding, the swearing on camera, and all that jazz.

The Broncos were 6-0, McDaniels and his odd team of no-names and over-achievers were winning the hearts everywhere, er, in Denver.

It wasn’t stylish. The offense wasn’t always pretty. But they were getting it done McDaniels’ way.

Naturally, as we’ve already learned, it’s his way or the highway.

Then came the bye week and a loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Then a loss to the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

Oh, but these were two “good losses”. Losing to the defending champs can’t hurt one’s stock, right?

Maybe so, but it only got worse from there.

Not only did the Broncos go on to lose to the Washington Redskins the following week, but they even dropped a fourth straight game in a huge divisional match with the San Diego Chargers, and it wasn’t even close.

In fact, all four of their losses after starting 6-0 were by 10 or more points, and three of them were by 18 or more.

Josh McDaniels had apparently lost control of his team and was staring at a full collapse as the Broncos entered a pivotal Thanksgiving showdown with the New York Giants, who had already endured their own four-game losing streak.

Denver escaped that game victoriously and lived to fight another day—several other days, in fact—and were alive in the AFC wild card race until the very final week.

But it’s that final week that has developed into the most concerning aspect of Denver’s season.

Forget about the second four-game losing streak that ended their season, as they blew a close contest with the Kansas City Chiefs and then watched as a lesser team kicked them to the curb and out of the playoff race.

That happened, and it’s over and done with.

The question now is who is responsible? Do we blame Kyle Orton for not doing what Jay Cutler maybe could have done?

Do we blame Brandon Marshall for causing another rift between himself and the coaching staff? Do we question his motives (or lack thereof) for sitting out the final week?

Or do we start pointing the finger at the very man who we promised not to question?

Josh McDaniels sent Jay Cutler away, and the Denver fans asked no questions. They gladly accepted the two extra draft picks (and another in 2010) and had high hopes for a Kyle Orton-led offense.

And when Brandon Marshall stood in the way of what McDaniels was trying to accomplish, many agreed that he, too, should be sent elsewhere. Let the coach be the coach, the players be the players, and so on.

As hard as it is to admit that the seemingly egotistical McDaniels is to blame for Denver’s fallout, Denver fans need to suck it up and give some much-deserved applause.

McDaniels is a rookie at this, but he didn’t coach like a rookie. He beat his former boss, started 6-0 with his first NFL team, showed a cocky quarterback the door, and lived to tell about it.

Then when his prima dona receiver started making a fuss about a sore hamstring, he calmly informed him that he’d be sitting out and didn’t guarantee him a spot in the starting lineup if the Broncos were to make the playoffs, either.

McDaniels didn’t do much to stop his team from sliding from 6-0 to 8-8, but there’s a strong argument that there wasn’t much he could do, either.

The fact is, this wasn’t (and probably still isn’t) a very good football team. McDaniels over-achieved in his first season, and he took a bunch of over-achievers along with him.

Kyle Orton isn’t the long-term solution. The defense is progressing but is inconsistent.

And as for Brandon Marshall, well, they call him “Baby T.O.” for a reason. It’s because he’s a joke when it comes to character, but he’s a phenomenal player that can change games.

Josh McDaniels knows everything we know and then some. He knows Marshall (and Eddie Royal) could have helped his team get into the playoffs.

But he also knows that guys like Marshall are what keep his team from winning it all.

It’s about the big picture for McDaniels, and it always has been.

It’s time we all start looking in the same direction he is.

This and more NFL articles can be found here .

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Josh McDaniels Is the Poster Boy for “Too Much, Too Soon”

It’s been a trying season for Josh McDaniels for various reasons. At the tender age of 33, he was thrust into the role of NFL head coach last winter—and at least as far as his team’s fanbase is concerned, he has failed miserably so far.

So it begs the question: Is there such a thing as being too young or inexperienced to be an NFL head coach?

I think so, and thanks to his latest brilliant idea of benching Brandon Marshall—which may have ostensibly cost Denver any shot they had of making the playoffs—McDaniels is the poster boy for proving the point.

See, with age and experience come a certain maturity and panache for handling players, team personnel, and opponents. But when you’re younger than a quarter of your roster, it’s almost impossible to possess those qualities.

McDaniels has now exhibited that lack of knowledge three times this season.

The first came almost immediately after he was hired, when a tiff between him and Jay Cutler got so heated that the “franchise passer” the Broncos had previously alienated the adequately capable Jake Plummer for was jettisoned to Chicago for…a few draft picks and the adequately capable Kyle Orton.

Then, there was the alleged incident with the San Diego Chargers, where McDaniels allegedly claimed “we own you.” Even if it went as McDaniels claimed—that the “owned” comment referred to his past with the Patriots—it was out of line. Outside of Ty Law and Jabar Gaffney, how many guys on the Broncos’ roster even ever played for the Pats? Exactly.

And now, finally, with the season on the brink of collapse, McDaniels benched his best offensive player. Sure, Gaffney had a big day in his absence, and the defense resembled little more than an obstacle course for Jamaal Charles, but there’s no way you can’t tell me having a two-time Pro Bowl receiver who is barely in his prime wasn’t a huge loss.

All because Marshall was late to an injury treatment session?

Please. There’s more to it, and both McDaniels and Marshall know it, and Marshall also knows that he’ll most likely be suiting up somewhere other than Denver next year. Which means unless they draft Jerry Rice or Joe Montana next year, this “new era” of mediocre football will continue for at least another couple years.

After all, the sum total of McDaniels’ efforts was an 8-8 season in which the team started strong, collapsed, and missed the playoffs. Sort of like 2008 with alleged fossil Mike Shanahan at the helm.

But hey, when you’re young and don’t know what you’re doing, bad decisions and immaturity seem acceptable—unless you’re Mike Tomlin, but he’s a special case of a young guy succeeding.

If I were an NFL GM, I wouldn’t even look at a guy who hasn’t been in the game for more than 10 years—especially one with so little experience above assistant to an assistant—to be the savior of my franchise.

To wit, I offer you two resumes, and urge you to pick the one lesser qualified to be an NFL head coach.

No. 1: Played HS ball for his daddy. Went to a Division III school where he had to switch positions to get playing time. Got graduate assistantship in college based on a connection from his daddy. Moved onto a defensive assistant job elsewhere based on another connection and spent eight years there (two as a coordinator) before being hired as a head coach.

No. 3: Played high school ball for a local legend and was a three-year starter for a two-time state champion. Three-year starter at Division I-AA school and then became a grad assistant there. Moved on to take lower assistantship at another level based on a previous connection, spending four years there (two as a coordinator) before being hired as a head coach.

Take away names and levels, and those resumes look very similar, don’t they? Clearly, the latter was a better player (and probably a few years younger) yet the former is very privileged.

I suppose I shouldn’t have to tell you that behind door No. 1 is, in fact, McDaniels.

For those who are counting, the second one is Tom Lennon—the current head coach at Seymour (CT) High School and a guy I graduated high school with 12 years ago.

But hey, clearly, as long as you know the right people, you’ll be fine regardless of how much you know.

Unless you’re black, in which case you’ll get a token interview before they hire the guy they really want…but that’s another story I’ve already written.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Denver Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall: “I Love Being a Bronco”

Brandon Marshall–“I love being a Bronco…I am blessed to be a Bronco…I will do anything in my power to be part of this team…I have the utmost respect for Coach McDaniels…I’m going to be a Bronco until someone ELSE tell me otherwise.”

I will remember you said that, Brandon.

In an interview on Denver radio 104.3 FM “The FAN,” Marshall had an interview that lasted over half an hour, and those are just some of the things he had to say.

Honestly, I really hope Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall receives this article and contacts me somehow, though I know it’s a long shot and he probably has better things to do. But I want him to tell me straight. Man to man. I want Brandon Marshall to open up to a FAN of the team.

I want Marshall and McDaniels to stop this nonsense.

Honestly, Brandon, us Bronco fans have defended you through numerous arrests, petty, childish acts in training camp, slipping on McDonald’s bags, and now this. Now we have to put up with it again.

Will it ever stop?  When can Brandon Marshall and the Denver Broncos co-exist, or can they at all?

From what Marshall has said, they most certainly can, and he will do “everything in his power” to remain part of this team. So what gives?

Why are we having this discussion? In case you have been under a rock the past week, you know that Marshall was recently benched for being late to physical therapy and “miscommunicating” with his head coach, Josh McDaniels.

Marshall recently suffered a pulled hamstring in practice, and decided he wasn’t physically able to play this Sunday, and admitted that in the aforementioned interview.  He also stated he wishes he could take back what he said about head coach Josh McDaniels not knowing what it’s like to play in the NFL.

It would seem as though Marshall is pulling a huge “B.S.” card on the Broncos and their fans, but how can you ever tell? The guy has been great to the fans, and as far as we’re concerned, we have no reason not to believe what he is saying is true.

Marshall also went on to say how much he has learned from McDaniels this year, and how even things he thought he already knew, McDaniels taught to him and grew his knowledge anyway.

Give all the credit in the world to “D-Mac”, Oren, and Mark Schlereth for getting all this information out of Marshall. 

At least we know one place Marshall will not go. When revealing his list of goals, he said the number one “team” goal was to “beat the hell out of the San Diego Chargers.”

When asked if Marshall were given a lucrative offer by another team like the Redskins and the same offer from the Broncos, he said, “Let me say this–hats off to coach McDaniels…The opportunity I had to play for coach and this staff, I am very grateful for. Whenever you’re in a situation when you can become a better player, coach McDaniels is a similar guy to me, have a lot of emotion when you touch that field, a lot of passion about what he [does]. We’re similar. I couldn’t ask for a better coach.”

Only time will tell Marshall’s fate with the Broncos, and whether or not he is telling the truth.

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Denver Broncos Mock Draft, Part Seven: Time for Marshall, Scheffler To Go

Following the Denver Broncos‘ pitiful excuse for a last chance at the playoffs, it’s time for their first offseason mock draft.

The writing is on the wall in Denver, and it seems as though both Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler have played their last game in the Bronco blue and orange, which should be fine with the fans.  Marshall and Scheffler clearly are not interested in this team or in hopping aboard the Josh McDaniels train.  That is not fair to the fans in the very least.

This will undoubtedly be my most out there mock of the offseason, but I hope you will all climb aboard my imagination for a bit.  I really feel the Broncos are going to make some big time trades before the draft this year, and I know many of you feel it too after the Marshall/Scheffler benching.

I did a piece recently about the likelihood of Marshall getting traded and which teams seem like the most likely candidates.  I came to the conclusion that the Jets , Ravens, Bengals , and Redskins  are the most likely to give Marshall a shot.  They have the picks (for the most part), and they have the need.

I really am struggling in deciding which team to go with for Marshall, but I think either the Ravens or Jets make the most sense.  Since the Ravens have the better package to offer, let’s go with them. 

Projected Trade

Broncos Receive:

• Ravens First Round pick (21st overall)
• Ravens Third Round pick

Ravens Receive:

• WR Brandon Marshall

It will suck losing Marshall, and the media will be all over us for it, but I think it’s the right decision moving forward (even though two of my jerseys will be gone to waste). 

I also think we are going to find a suitor for Tony Scheffler , and his value right now is nothing less than a third round pick, in my opinion.  I think the Bills liked him last offseason, and he would still be a good fit there. 

Another projected trade:

Broncos Receive:

• Bills’ Third Round pick
• Bills’ Sixth Round pick

Bills Receive:

• TE Tony Scheffler

With these two trades, our draft slate would be much more appropriate given the depth and quality of this class. 

I do have one more projected trade that I think could happen based on one potential head coach signing, and it is a trade that I hate because I love the player, so here it goes:

Broncos Receive:

• Redskins Fourth Round pick

Redskins Receive:

• RB/FB Peyton Hillis

Obviously, a lot of that potential trade depends on Mike Shanahan deciding whether or not he wants to coach the Redskins this season, and that seems likely at this point.  Shanny reunites with not only Clinton Portis , but he gets a new power back in Peyton Hillis as well.

With these three trades, our draft slate would look as such:

1. First Round, 10th/11th overall (from Chicago)
2. First Round, 21st overall (from Baltimore)
3. Second Round, 46th overall
4. Third Round (from Buffalo)
5. Third Round
6. Third Round (from Baltimore)
7. Fourth Round (from Washington)
8. Fourth Round
9. Sixth Round (from Buffalo)
10. Sixth Round
11. Seventh Round

From here, I think I am ready to make my mock draft, after that mouth full.

First Round, 10th overall:  Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama

McClain is the best linebacker prospect in this draft, and he seems like an excellent leader.  He is the best player on the best defense in college ball, which just happens to be a 3-4 scheme.  I love his potential in the league, and having two first round picks allows us to make this move.

First Round, 21st overall:  Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho

I think Iupati has become a very popular/logical selection for the Broncos.  He is a beast at the offensive guard spot, and he would fill a gaping hole on our offensive line.  He is instinctive and has great footwork.  This would be right about where I would expect Iupati to come off the board.

**Projected Trade**

Broncos Receive:

• Jacksonville Jaguars  2nd Round pick (through Patriots), 42nd overall
• New England Patriots 4th Round pick

Patriots Receive:

• Buffalo Bills ‘ 3rd Round pick (through Broncos)
• Baltimore Ravens 3rd round pick (through Broncos)

Second Round, 42nd overall:  Tim Tebow, Quarterback, Florida

I will get hammered on for this pick, but the only thing wrong with Tebow is his long release, and that has been/can be worked on with our coaching staff.  His intangibles are off the charts, and he has Ben Roethlisberger potential to me.  I think he will impress McD and the rest of Broncos’ management with his strong arm, escape ability, measurables, leadership, and instincts. 

Second Round, 46th overall:  Demaryius Thomas, Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech

Assuming he declares, Thomas is one of the most underrated prospects available in this draft.  He has excellent size (6’3″, 230) and good speed given that size.  He is a big play threat that would make our offense miss Brandon Marshall a little bit less, especially right away.

**Projected Trade**

Broncos Receive:

• Seattle Seahawks 3rd round pick (through Philadelphia)
• Philadelphia 5th round pick

Eagles Receive:

• Two 4th round picks

Third Round (from Seahawks through Philadelphia): D’Anthony Smith, Defensive Lineman, Louisiana Tech

Hard working defensive lineman who could make the transition to a 3-4 defensive end in our system.  Coaches rave about this kid, and I think he will impress us in the offseason activities.

Third Round:  Vladimir Ducasse, Offensive Lineman, UMass

This pick is made with the assumption that Ducasse works out well as a center for us.  He is a smart player, so you know he will be on our radar.  We were scouting some of the higher rated center prospects last year as well, and I think this kid has the versatility to make the switch. 

Fourth Round:  Danario Alexander, Wide Receiver, Missouri

I love this kid’s size and athleticism.  I think he would be an excellent complement on the outside to Demaryius Williams for the future.  He has outstanding size along with great playmaking ability.  He will win deep ball battles, unlike our former fourth round pick Brandon Marshall, on a consistent basis.

Fifth Round (from Philadelphia):  Tyson Alualu, Defensive Lineman, California

This guy has a motor that never stops.  He is versatile, durable, and great at stopping the run.  He would be a welcome addition, especially at this point in the draft, to our defensive attack.

Sixth Round (from Buffalo):  Tony Moeaki, Tight End, Iowa

Tight end for tight end, Tony for Tony.  I love this kid, and not just because Iowa is the college team I call my favorite.  Moeaki has all the talent in the world but will fall on draft day because of prior health issues.  He is a great pass receiver and an even better blocker.  If he can stay healthy, this pick is a steal.

Sixth Round:  Myron Rolle, Safety, Florida State

I don’t know why draft sites have this guy rated so low right now, but he is a lot better than he is getting credit.  I would find it excellent if we were able to pick this guy up in the sixth round.  Again, I’m basing this off of an ESPN.com ranking of 49 (roughly sixth round pick) and a projected late fifth round pick by CBSSports and NFLDraftScout.com.

Seventh Round:  LeGarrette Blount, Running Back, Oregon

Very little risk with this pick.  Blount has had character issues, but he is worth a seventh round draft pick.  We weren’t afraid to waste it last year, so why should we this year?  The risk is worth the reward if he can screw his head on straight.

Obviously, the needs of this team will change after free agency.  I think trading Marshall and Scheffler works because we free up money to go after Dumervil, Orton, and Kuper, our primary FAs.  I think Dumervil will sign a five or six year deal, preferably six.  Orton will sign a two year deal, and Kuper a four or five year deal.

More to come on the draft, so stay tuned!

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Josh McDaniels Still Has a Big Hoody To Fill, but Don’t Blast Him Just Yet

Denver fans are a stubborn bunch.  I should know. I was born and raised in the suburbs of the Mile High city, bleeding orange and blue with my father and all the other true Broncomaniacs for more than 20 years.  

While we are good at cursing the TV (or the field from the stands) when they make bad plays, we are just as passionate to cheer them on when they make good plays.

Fans of any professional sports team have every right to be stubborn, opinionated, and passionate.  Aside from home city pride, fans pay good money on professional sports franchises.  Just like paying taxes, that gives us a good reason to be extremely interested in the outcome of events.  

Not to mention, the expectations have been high in Denver ever since Elway started making the Broncos contenders, and they will probably never subside.

While I believe that we, the Broncos fans, should continue to exercise our criticism and passion in full throat, I must say this to my fellow Denverites out there when it comes to Josh McDaniels: Calm down!

Catchy new phrases have emerged since before Josh McDaniels donned the first hoody on the sidelines: McEgo, McPowerTrip, to name a couple.  

A lot of Broncos’ fans see Josh McDaniels as a Belichick wannabe, who wants nothing more than to prove himself to his mentor, and mimics him by cracking the whip of authority.

I see it much differently.  

When I look back on what turned out to be an extremely tarnished Broncos season, I see a coach who handled a lot of things very well and made some mistakes.  

I see a  rookie head coach trying hard to muster victories with a patchwork team that’s not quite “his” just yet.  I see a coach who was trying to make things work with the hand he was dealt.

Make no mistake about it—McDaniels was dealt a bad hand when he found out how much of a malcontent Jay Cutler really was.  

If all you read are the headlines, it would seem that Josh made a mistake when he tried to float a trade, and Jay was terribly offended.  

If you read between the lines, listen to comments, follow Adam Schefter, and know enough about Denver, it’s easy to make the conclusion that Jay was very unhappy after Shanahan and Bates were shown the door, and he had no intentions of staying.

In the midst of all of the chaos, McDaniels was still able to implement his system and get the offense rolling in one of the toughest NFL schedules in recent memory.  

Kyle Orton had his best season as a pro by far, and while it ended ugly, he proved he can be a factor in the Broncos successes.  Looking at stats alone, it’s highly doubtful that Jay Cutler would have done better for the Broncos, attitude issues aside.

In the midst of the chaos, McDaniels was also able to drastically improve the defense (compared to the last three seasons) by hand-picking potent free agents, insisting upon a 3-4 scheme, moving Dumervil to outside linebacker, and grabbing Mike Nolan as his top defensive coach.

McDaniels lit a fire under the team, and they played hotter than anyone imagined they would.  In retrospect, they overachieved and played up to the competition.  

But as NFL seasons sometimes go, the Broncos got too comfortable with their success, and they were simply outplayed in the fourth quarter of several games.  

The Broncos’ ugly final half of the season showed a lack of confidence.  Flashes of that once great competitive spirit were enough to keep them in their games against Indy and Philly, but not enough to win.  

The Broncos seemed to be ego-battered and bruised against the extremely weak Chiefs, and they lost big as a result.  Drama stemming from what the coach thought were poor attitudes didn’t help matters any.  

Josh McDaniels could have done more to build up the confidence and more to avoid four-game losing spirals two times in the season.  

But he’s learning on the job.  Coaches have to go through these experiences before they become great, and he is no exception regardless of his 6-0 start.  

Some Broncos fans are less forgiving, believing that McDaniels puts his ego ahead of the team, and wants to play the “power” card by benching former Shanahan players.

This belief severely lacks thought and is not backed up by reason.  Why would a rookie head coach, amidst a tough crowd and media in a sports town like Denver, want to bench some of his most talented players simply to show power?  Isn’t it more likely that he had a good reason?

Marshall has proved himself a “me first” player in numerous interviews and off-field activities.  He is clearly more worried about free agency dollars than Broncos wins.  

No one but the Broncos know for sure what Scheffler said or did, but it must have been enough to draw the attention of not only the coach, but the veteran leaders in the locker room.  

In several news sources, the veterans like Dawkins and Bailey have stuck up for their coach’s decision and have spoken out against the malcontent attitudes.

Denver fans should follow the lead of veteran players and all-around good guys like Dawkins and Bailey.  

They offer patience to the new coach and see a winning, fiery spirit on the sidelines.  

They understand that teams like New England don’t win three Super Bowls simply on talent alone, but on a great team chemistry with attitudes that promote gutsy, inspired play.

Perhaps McDaniels knows that better than any coach that Denver could have hired.  Perhaps he can instill these same values that worked so well in New England.

To all of the Josh-hating fans out there, give it a rest and give him the benefit of the doubt—for now.  It takes more than one year for a coach to cement his philosophy.  And he’s probably not going anywhere anytime soon, so is it worth the maddening screams?

Broncos fans, please keep bleeding orange and blue and cheering loudly. Cheer for the team, cheer for the coach, and hope that after next season Josh McDaniels has shown us why his system works—in the playoffs.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Brandon Marshall: A Love/Hate Relationship

After a 6-0 start to the 2009 football season, the Denver Broncos lost eight of their last ten games. This was due in large part to one of the most difficult schedules in the league, but their collapse can also be attributed to lack of team chemistry and off-field issues.

Most of these off-field issues involved Broncos star receiver Brandon Marshall, who has been in the public spotlight ever since he entered the league.

Marshall has been arrested four times since 2006, or four more times than most of his teammates. His most recent arrest came during the 2009 offseason when he was charged for disorderly conduct.

Commissioner Roger Goodell was on the brink of suspending Marshall for the first three games this season because of the incident, but charges were dropped.

It wasn’t the first time Marshall suffered a suspension. He was suspended for one game in 2008 for violating the NFL‘s personal conduct policy.

Marshall has not gone one season without running into some kind of trouble with the law. It’s a wonder he hasn’t sustained greater punishment for the extent of his misbehavior.

Not only has Marshall been in trouble with the law, but also with his teammates and coaches. There was no greater evidence of this than this offseason when Marshall “threw a fit” during a practice and even went so far as to punt the ball away in an act of frustration.

It seems as though Brandon Marshall has not outgrown his adolescent stage. He has been participating in childish, unprofessional acts ever since he stepped foot in the league.

Marshall’s latest attention-getter came during the Broncos’ most pivotal week in the season—the week before they played their last game against the Kansas City Chiefs with a playoff berth on the line.

It was reported that Marshall arrived late for a therapy session for his pulled right hamstring. Head coach Josh McDaniels felt that Marshall was exaggerating the injury. When all was said and done Marshall was benched for the Broncos’ last game.

McDaniels said it was more because of accountability and lack of heart than because of the injury.

With all the mishaps Marshall has been a part of the last few seasons, he is still one of the most talented receivers in the NFL.

He has totaled 307 catches, 3,710 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns over the past three seasons, some of the best numbers in the league over that time span. Not to mention his 21 catch, 200 yard, two touchdown record-breaking performance against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 14.

Marshall is one of the most talented receivers in the league, but his character is one of the most lacking. He has yet to figure out that his responsibilities and actions off the field are just as important as those on the field. He has been taught this many times in the past, but ignorance and arrogance always seem to get in the way.

Sure, Josh McDaniels could have been more lenient and started Marshall for Sunday’s game, but the bottom line is that Brandon Marshall needs to understand that a reality check is just as important as a paycheck.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Josh McDaniels Is Not at Fault for Latest Denver Broncos Collapse

They say a picture can say a thousand words. 

If that’s the case, then the photo above says a lot about how some Broncos fans and critics alike are painting head coach Josh McDaniels.

McDaniels has been called every name in the book and is unfairly carrying the weight of the Broncos’ epic 2009 collapse. 

As the head coach of the team, it is common for McDaniels to have to carry this weight, but in this case, it is completely unjustified.

In McDaniels’ first season as head coach, the Broncos took a wild roller coaster ride, cliche’ as it may sound. 

He was chastised for trading away Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, and following the trade, nobody in the media thought the Broncos would win more than six games, maybe seven if they were feeling generous.

Following the Cutler trade, drama with both tight end Tony Scheffler and wide receiver Brandon Marshall ensued, and McDaniels was under the microscope yet again as a young kid who couldn’t handle a professional football team.

While under the microscope, McDaniels went into the NFL Draft and free agency and upgraded many areas of need for the Broncos, and added both promising young college players and savvy veterans. 

Even then, McDaniels was cursed for “reaching” in the draft and adding too many “old” free agents to the Broncos’ defense.

The preseason was unkind to McDaniels as well, and the Broncos lost three out of four contests including a game against recently traded quarterback Jay Cutler. 

In the first preseason game, Kyle Orton threw three interceptions in a Broncos loss, and the team suspended Brandon Marshall.

On the surface, it did not appear as though the Broncos were going to have a great season, but that is only if you put a lot of stock into the preseason. 

Following the tumultuous offseason, Denver started the season 6-0, and it seemed he had repaired any burned bridges or broken hearts in Denver, and the team headed into the bye week on a high note, defeating rival San Diego on the Chargers’ home turf.

At this point, McDaniels was no longer being heralded as “McIdiot” or “McDumb(rear),” he was being called a “McGenius.” 

Winning heals a lot in the NFL, and the Broncos’ young coach was an early Coach of the Year candidate, and his team even had Kyle Orton and Elvis Dumervil in the MVP mix.

McDaniels was all hugs with his players (Brandon Marshall) and appeared to have the Broncos on the right track.

And he still does.

The Broncos finished the season with a 2-8 record, and became the first team in franchise history to start the season 6-0 and not make the playoffs.  In fact, it was the first time in Broncos history that a 6-0 start didn’t translate to a Super Bowl victory.

Is McDaniels solely to blame for Denver’s collapse? 

Absolutely not.

This is not to say the rookie head coach did not make some mistakes in the games or in how he handled his PR business, because he did. 

After all, he is new to this head coaching gig.

The 33-year old McDaniels came into Denver to an unhappy quarterback who didn’t want to be there without Shanahan anyway, and if you need proof of that, then you haven’t read enough into the story than you have been told.

And it is also not McDaniels’ fault that Brandon Marshall lets his emotions get the best of him. 

In case you didn’t see, Marshall had an epic freakout in practice before the start of the season, and recently was deactivated because he was tardy to a physical therapy session and refused to play with a minor injury.

In the end, fans right now are just angry with the Broncos’ late-season collapse, and they have every right to be. 

But to direct all the blame toward Josh McDaniels is simply unfair.

McDaniels overhauled half of Denver’s roster from 2008 to 2009, and while many rebuilding teams are picking in the top five of this year’s draft, the Broncos finished 8-8 and in the 14th slot. 

Their record did not improve this season, but the direction this team is going is exciting, and fans will come to realize that. 

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

What Being a Fan Means to Me

 

I could rip the Broncos and Josh McDaniels after yesterday’s nightmare loss, but what would be the point? It really wouldn’t have mattered if Denver had beaten Kansas City yesterday with the way the Jets played against the Bengals. It is what it is. 32-32 for the past four seasons. It is not necessarily bad, and it is not anything good. It is just mediocre.

As a Denver Broncos fan, I would never claim to be any better than any other Broncos fan–or any other NFL fan for that matter. We have a tendency to question the fortitude of certain fans’ support. Don’t get me wrong; I am not a fan of the fickle-minded fan who starts to talk about burning his jerseys or getting rid of his season tickets when things don’t go well. Those people are not fans. A fan, to me, is someone who loves his team, cheers for them no matter what, and wants the absolute best for his team.

Here are some reasons why I love the Denver Broncos:

• I eat up any kind of information on the Denver Broncos. I love denverbroncos.com, MHR, bleacherreport.com, and any other kind of media related to the Denver Broncos.
• I have devoted myself to writing a blog about them. I will continue to update this blog at least two times a week regardless of  the depressing outcome of the season.
• I have paid hundreds of dollars just to sit in the nosebleeds at Invesco Field after an 18-hour drive to Denver, and, let me tell you all, it was one of the best trips of my life.
• When my wife and I started dating, we were both hardcore Broncos fans. Eight and a half years later, our two oldest kids (4 and 2 1/2) get excited when they see the Broncos emblem because they know that they are mommy and daddy’s team. It is a huge part of our family.
• Since I live out of the market, I mute the Seahawks games on the TV and tune in to KOA online to listen to the Broncos games when they aren’t televised here.

Those are a few ways that I show my love for the Broncos:

• The past four seasons have been very hard for me. The Broncos seem to get my hopes up every year in the early parts of the season only to lose it at the end. I will still follow them and support them.
• Often times, my evening mood on Sundays or Mondays is heavily influenced by the way the Broncos perform. I will never yell at my wife or kids because of it, but it definitely affects me.
• I get sick of the MSM’s endless campaign to make the world doubt the Broncos. I am more of a believer in taking things a week at a time rather than jumping the gun on assumptions and predictions. My team doesn’t have to get all of the love of the Patriots, Steelers, Giants, and Chargers get from the media for me to love them and believe in them.

I may have negative things to say about the way they are peforming:

• I do not know more than the coaches or players. I promise you that I would lead an NFL team into the grave if I was a head coach, coordinator, owner, or GM, but does that keep me from being opinionated? Absolutely not!
• Fans are a huge part of professional sports. The money and the time we invest to support our favorite teams and players certainly do not entitle us to run the show, but we see what is going on and, therefore, have thoughts and reflections on how things are going.
• I appreciate the job Mike Shanahan did winning two Super Bowls for the Broncos, but I was ready for him to go after last season. Many people accused me of hating my team for wishing for such a thing. I am sure a bunch of those same people will say, “Be careful what you wish for. McDaniels didn’t do any better.”  Well, I have certainly made negative comments about Josh McDaniels as of late, but McDaniels hasn’t been with the Broncos for over a decade like Shanahan had been. McDaniels deserves a few years of patience to get things figured out.
• The reason I was negative about Shanahan was that I felt like he cared more about what was best for Shanahan, not what was best for his team. Some might say the same thing about Josh McDaniels, but only time will tell. I want the coaches and the players who will help the Denver Broncos be the best team they can be.
• The Broncos always show flashes of brilliance. They did it in Shanahan’s last three years, and they did it this year. When that starts to fall apart like it has the past four seasons, I get frustrated. I will compare it to the teacher who gets upset with a student who is just flat out intelligent and capable of doing quality work, but for whatever reason, time and time again, that student underachieves and never does anything to realize their potential. That is what I see in the Denver Broncos. It is not them that I hate, it is a hatred for them not doing what they are capable of doing.

Now that I have explained the last two ways that I am a fan, I want to talk about the fine line between supporting one’s team rain or shine and wanting the best for your team. Many fans seem to blur this line. I find a lot of Denver Broncos fans are intolerant of people who have anything critical to say about the Broncos.

I think we all have a right to an opinion. So, I want to offer my sincere respect to those who love Josh McDaniels and would never venture to say anything negative about him. I don’t question the strength of your passion for the Denver Broncos because we reflect on things a little differently. In fact, I don’t know most of you personally, so I feel like it would show immense weakness of character for me to turn something like some banter about football into a personal attack; too many people don’t think before they type.

 

I am, as always, very proud to be a Denver Broncos fan. I am happy to have the opportunity to write and interact with passionate fans like myself, and I wish all my fellow Broncos fans a happy 2010 and offseason. Please check in with the blog as often as you would like. I’ll be around.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

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