Denver Broncos: 3rd and Uh Oh

If there was one thing sacred in my entire existence, it used to be that the Broncos were absolute money on third and short come Sundays.

Everyone and their mothers knew what would happen in that situation and sure enough the ball was snapped, handed to the RB on a stretch in the now-famous one cut and go style, then poof, like it was magic first and ten. 

Those were the days.

Even last season when the Broncos put every RB in existence on their IR whenever the Broncos needed to convert a crucial 3rd or 4th and short, we did it.  We were not as successful as in the past, but let’s be real, last season was the exception, not the rule.

As I watch my team struggle this season with that type of situation I find myself wanting to find one guy I can blame, one person that I can point to and say “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THE RUNNING GAME YOU A$$%#@!&”, but I can’t. 

I’m one of those people who tries to be as honest and real as possible all the time, so in this a moment of weakness, I must stay true to myself.

That said, there is not one person who can be blamed for the Broncos struggles on the ground in short yardage situation this season, they are all to blame.

If you watch the games as closely as I do, you will notice that the Broncos are caught in a classic transition from one system or style of running to another and therefore, they are not performing either the old one or the new one up to par.

When McDaniels got here we all knew he was going to install his offense but never in my wildest dreams did I think he would mess with one of if not the most prolific running scheme for the last decade and a half, call me naive if you want but I just didn’t think that would happen.

Like most times when I think such thoughts, the complete opposite happened and McDaniels brought his running-game scheme with him.

While I was surprised, a small part of me kinda expected it and its not like his scheme is horrible, but like the zone blocking scheme, his requires a unique type of offensive lineman, one that we do not have within the organization. 

Its no secret that McDaniels prefers a power scheme with big, bulldozer type of linemen, and the Broncos always prefered the smaller, yet more athletic linemen.

Obviously, this type of linemen are not interchangeable and so that causes a problem.  That is not to say all is lost along the offensive line, we do have a pair of elite tackles in Clady and Harris (when healthy), that can perform both styles and not just do it well, they can be dominant. 

However, the problem lies in the interior of the offensive line, this is where our guards and centers are experiencing the biggest problem with the transition and have been getting dominated.

Kuper, Olsen (R) and Hochstein all have good size and strength, while Hamilton and Wiegmann are both very savvy and athletic, they are undersized and constantly overmatched. 

Both Kuper and Olsen are young players who have shown a lot of promise within the new scheme, they also have the frame to put on more weight if required.

Hamilton and Wiegmann, who have been sharing duties as the main centers for the O-line, are both on the last leg of their careers and with each passing week, this area has become an even bigger area of concern.

Depth along the interior is another issue because behind Kuper and Olsen only Hochstein remains and he is another one that is on the latter part of his career. 

That is not to say that this “grey beards” can’t perform they certainly can, but only as stop gaps they are no longer dominant as they once were, especially the centers.

This is not the only issue though, play calling is another area of concern.  If anyone would please explain to me why on God’s green earth are we running a two-tight end set on short yardage instead of putting Hillis and Larsen in the backfield and just plowing ahead?

Let’s not pull a guard, just put your big boys out there and let them do what they do best, which is maul each other over.

I don’t know if its that McDaniels refuses to use a two-back set in that type of situation, but at some point he has got to realize that what he has been doing is not working and he needs to change it up and try something that will get the job done.

Two weeks ago against the Chiefs (yeah I know its the Chiefs), we saw Hillis carry people on his back for five or six yards on almost every play that he was in, while last week against the Colts we struggled to gain a couple of yards on some crucial third and forth downs. 

I can’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, if we would’ve ran Hillis up the middle with Larsen as his lead blocker he might have been able to carry the Colts linebackers and get the yardage needed for a first down. 

Linebackers are quick and athletic but smaller than our 250-pound RB/FB, and let’s not forget that Hillis has what you might call deceptive speed.

McDaniels’ love affair with the one back set in short yardage is inexplicable given our personnel along the interior line. 

His system is not at fault here; it’s his refusal to concede to the fact he simply does not have the right personnel right now to run it that concerns me.

I mentioned above that depth is an issue as well, and that is because no matter how talented and how much promise Kuper and Olsen show, we need to be able to rotate them in and out because they will get tired after a couple of plays. 

Trust me I know, I am a big guy and no matter how much you train and exercise, if your a big person you will lose your breath rather quickly. 

This issue however, is a fairly easy fix, we just need to address it either through FA or the upcoming draft and I am confident that McDaniels will do so.

Also, the issue at center will be addressed through the either medium as well.

As disappointed as I am in this area I must give the devil his due, McDaniels has coached his rear end off this season and has silenced most, if not all of his critics. 

He is an extremely smart and bright coach who’s got a very long and bright future ahead of him (hopefully with the Broncos) filled with Super Bowl trophies I’m certain. 

I am also confident that this little issue will be ironed out sometime in the near future and we will once again experience the certainty of the Broncos in a short-yardage situation.

At least we got the Raiders coming into town this Sunday, and just like good chicken soup, the Raiders are always a cure for whatever ails you.

GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!

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The Future of Denver Broncos Quarterbacks

When I thought of Kyle Orton at the helm of my beloved Broncos I honestly went nuts.  Just the mere thought of it made me a little queasy, not because I loved Cutler on the contrary but because I just didn’t see Orton performing to the level he has thus far.

I was obviously wrong and Orton has performed well above anyone’s expectations, but the question remains, is Orton the future at QB?

Well lets break it down.

Orton is still young enough at 27 to be the future and while his stats don’t really scream future star they definitely don’t scream the Griese blues.  Orton has size, arm strength and better yet accuracy to take care of business at this level, but something is missing.  Orton is the type of QB who prides himself in not putting his team in a difficult spot by making silly mistakes.

He is a smart QB who studies hard learns the game plan and follows it to the letter.  However it is in there where his biggest weakness also resides.  While he does so much of the work right Orton lacks the killer instinct that would allow him take the next step.  I am referring to that certain “thing” that sets aside a QB like Manning or Brady among so many others in the rich history of this our beloved sport.

It is that (not to quote Marty again) gleam that twinkle in their eyes that ability to every once in a while put the team on his back and say “I’ll get us there boys”.  It’s that ability to know when the plan is not working and start winging it that separates the great ones from the average.

Elway did in record fashion while Manning does it almost on a weekly basis and guys like Montana, Marino, Favre, Brady and Young knew when to go ahead and just ” turn it on” and take their team to victory.  Now I do recognize that a big part of this comes from familiarity with not only the scheme but the players as well but the x factor resides with the QB.

He is the one that has the most contact with the coaches and he is the one that can always call an audible to put the team in a spot to win.  All of the QB that I mentioned above had that killer instinct and they never seem to be satisfied always wanted more and were willing to put life and limb on the line to get the W, while Kyle sometimes seems happy to just not throw a pick.

I hope that this is not viewed as a bashing of Orton because as I said before a lot of that killer instinct will come with time spent with the players and within the system and I certainly hope Orton has it and its just waiting to unveil it when he is more comfortable, but as of now this is where, in my opinion, lye’s his biggest weakness.

So does that mean that the future is in the roster already?  Well, While I do like Brandstater (I think Sims should join his father in the booth) his measurable are very similar to Orton’s.  Brandstater has great size, athleticism, accuracy and great arm strength (think Matt Ryan not Jay Cutler) it is too early and I have yet to see him get any meaningful time on the field.

I will say this though, Brandstater did show a grittiness and that killer instinct in college as well as playing in a pro style offense and that bodes well for the rookie.

Some of my fellow brothers in orange and blue have taken to the draft already to answer this question, I have heard the likes of Tebow, Bradford, McCoy, Pike, Locker, and many others as the future answer, well I say not so fast.

Beware of the siren call of this young studs coming out of college with promises of stardom.  Most of this guys are coming from the spread option system a system that while its success at the college ranks can not be denied, it is a system that exploits the biggest disparity in the college ranks, which are speed and awareness.

The spread option preys on the difference in speed between schools and the mere fact that student athletes just simply don’t have the time to do the necessary amount of film study to read the little signs.  It is also a system that create habits in QBs that would be frowned upon at the pro level.

Some examples of this bad habits are bad footwork and bad mechanics.  QBs like Tebow, McCoy and Bradford while talented, would have to have their mechanics and footwork broken down in a long and hard process that would take a few years to see any returns on.  That is why I simply don’t like QBs coming out of this system.  Some of you might be angry at this point but the proof is in the pudding.

Russell, Smith, and Young are big examples of spread option QBs that have yet to perform in the pros. 

The spread option is at its best when it takes advantage of the difference in speed between the offense and the defense, but when you take into consideration the fact that in the NFL “elite” speed is as common as wet ones in a BBQ joint the scheme falls apart.  Which in turns impedes the QB from this system, to do what he does best, which is make one or two reads and either throw it or take of running.

When that is taken away the bad footwork and bad mechanics are more noticeable.  It is no coincidence that the young QBs that have the most success in the NFL are those that come out of pro style systems in college. 

Regardless of whether we look at the short or long term it is the QBs like Flacco, Ryan, Rodgers, Roethlisberger, and Palmer, that have all come out of pro style systems in college that have always had more success and are able to sustain it.

If the Broncos feel like they must address this situation through the draft I hope they are not lured by the hype machine of the BCS and the big schools but instead take long hard looks at guys like Skelton, Pike, and Locker among others. 

They may not be as hyped as their big school counter parts but the meassurables are there along with the good footwork and good mechanics.  Their learning curve will be considerably shorter and if history is any indication, and it usually is, they will produce faster and longer.

However, I believe that the answer might be closer than we think, with more time I am confident that either Orton or Brandstater will prove to be more than capable.  They might not be up to our unusually high expectations but if Dilfer won a Super Bowl I know that Orton or Brandstater can win at least two.

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Breaking Down The Ravens Vs. Broncos Match Up

When I look at the matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the Denver Broncos, there seem to be several mismatches waiting to be exploited by the Giants.  The Ravens are a tough team to face, but perhaps more so in the past than today, as the Ravens have been vulnerable to the pass in recent games.  They also miss Rex Ryan more than many thought they would.  The Ravens are a team built to apply pressure and take advantage of the mistakes that said pressure forces other teams to make.

However, in this young season the Ravens have not yet applied the desired pressure on opposing offenses, furthermore they have not been as creative in their blitz packages, which is a clear sign of a team missing their former coordinator.

I have broken down this game into four matchups that could very well decide the outcome of this game.

Ravens ground game vs Broncos run D

The Ravens boast a very good and efficient run game, with a one-two punch composed of Ray Rice and Willis McGahee.  The Ravens will pin the 10th ranked rushing attack against the 3rd best rushing defense.  While the ground game does not seem to be the focal point of Baltimore’s offense anymore, it is definitely a crucial part of their attack.

Rice and McGahee each bring something special to the table and they certainly have very different running styles.  They also bring a line very similar to the Cowboys, they are big and strong but not the most athletic group in the world.  When pitted against a Broncos defensive front that is very athletic but not as big the Ravens, Oline should come away with some success.  All in all, this is a matchup to watch and is one area where the Broncos face a disadvantage.

Advantage:  Ravens

Broncos ground attack vs Ravens run D

This is an interesting matchup for me.  While the Broncos do bring the 7th best ground game in the league, they will face the 7th best rush defense in the league.  The Ravens streak of not allowing a 100 yard rusher was broken, and since then they have slowed a bit.  Denver’s one-two punch bears some similarity to that of the Ravens with the different styles and their versatility.

Denvers’ offensive line is among the very best, if not the best in the league and they have helped the Broncos develop a very efficient ground game.  I believe that the new streak for the Ravens continues as their aging defense continues to miss Ryan and the Broncos hit them up foe 100+ yards in the match up.

Advantage: Broncos

Ravens newfound pass attack vs the Broncos veteran secondary

While it might be cheek to say that Baltimore’s passing attack has developed and turn the corner, they are still very much unimpressive to me.  Mason, Clayton, and Heap do not present an elite core of receivers to threaten the Broncos secondary.  While the O line has been good in pass protection, they are far from impregnable and Flacco’s mobility does help, when it comes to getting to the QB the Broncos hold a decisive advantage.

What the Broncos need to watch out for, once again, is the screen game.  Ray Rice has shown a knack for taking screen and short passes and turning them into huge gain, when you add Denver’s aggresive style of defense this could be a problem.  All that said, I think the Broncos veteran leadership in the secondary will be a major asset.

Advantage: Broncos

Broncos spread vs Ed Reed (basically)

When the Broncos lineup to pass the ball there is one man that has to be accounted for at all times, that man is Ed Reed.  Baltimore has chosen to go the young route this off season when they addressed their secondary, it might prove to be a very wise choice in the future but not this season.  The Ravens pass defense is ranked at a very pedestrian 23rd in the league and while the Broncos are not very impressive at number 12th, they have been getting better with each passing week.

Kyle Orton has been very careful with the ball whenever he has dropped back to pass, but the more time Orton and his weapons spend together, the more dangerous they become.  When you look at weapons like Marshall, Royal, Gaffney, Scheffler, and Stokely against a very young and inexperienced secondary, you see some serious mismatches.  The one man that does have to be accounted for at all times is Reed, he can and will cause serious problems for Orton and company if he is not accounted for.

This matchup is one that the Broncos should exploit and handle with ease.  I believe that this week is one that the Broncos show a more cohesive and potent offense.

Advantage: Broncos

I have never been one for predictions and I will not start now, but I will say that while most people seem to be under the impression that the Ravens will win this game I say the the Broncos keep the perfect record after this week.

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A Look at the Denver Broncos’ Future

There has been a lot of talk about the future of the Broncos at certain positions specially at QB seeing that this is a contract year for Orton.  Some of the fans have taken to speculation as to whether the Broncos will draft a QB in next years draft or if they will re-sign Orton or promote from with in.

This is a very interesting situation, and one that will be the topic of many rumors and speculation for the remainder of the season or until something is done by the front office.  The way I see it i is really not all that tough to see what Mcdaniels might be headed towards.

Orton has done an impressive job so far in handling the transition while learning and leading the offense, and he has surprised all of his critics including me.  He has been a key part to their success and has been getting better with each passing moment, but he is one of many Broncos in a contract year, and while he is a key part there are others that will demand the attention of the front office as well.

Some of the key members of the Broncos that face free agency include, Brandon Marshall and the king of doom himself Elvis Dumervile.  I believe that those two will represent the priority when it comes to being re-signed.  I know that may seem a little out there for some of us but the more I think about it the more it makes sense.

Marshall is huge part of our offense and is a headache for opposing defenses to cover, even more prove of this is the fact that the more McDaniels incorporates Marshall into the offense the better it has become. 

Add to this that Marshall has presumably turned the corner on his antics and has fully bought into the system and he becomes more indispensable with each week.  I have seen Marshall become a better blocker and his attitude and route running have improved dramatically.

If the front office hasn’t already begun drafting long term contracts and talks with Marshall, they soon will, this is one that we simply must keep.  He will demand a big contract but one I’m sure will be riddled with clauses regarding his off the field issues and attitude.

I don’t forsee this as a problem, from what I’ve heard, Marshall is more than willing to take his lumps, as they say, and negotiate his up-coming long term deal.  I have even heard that he is just find with an incentive oriented contract because he is out to prove his worth and that he has changed for the better.  The Broncos have the cap space to certainly accommodate Marshall and I think they will.

Then there is Elvis.  What can I say about this kid, non stop motor, great technique and certainly is very very coachable, not to mention the fact that he just simply gets the job done and then some.  Elvis’ knack for getting to the QB isn’t something that you can coach or teach, its a gift. 

He has become a disruptive force in the defense and by standing him up during running downs he is more than efficient against the run.  Elvis is just as important to the Broncos as is Marshall and he too is one that we simply must keep with the organization if we are to be successful in the future. 

His unique skill set and attitude as a “team guy” will demand a big payday from the Broncos, one that could very well be along the lines of Ware’s contract in Dallas.  This is a deal that will get done towards the end of the season but I don’t believe that Elvis will even sniff free agency, because as I stated before he is definitely a keeper.

Another that I would like to talk about is half of the Ryan brothers, Ryan Harris.  While he is not in the final year of his contract, he is an exceptional player.

I’m sure most fans would agree with me when I say that Harris is a very important player in Denver’s O line and one that if not for Clady could very well be the starting left tackle for the Broncos, and could very well be for any other team.  He is one that I think should be re-signed as soon as possible.

That brings us to our QB, Mr. reliable Kyle Orton.  While he has played at a very high level and will surely be and upgrade at the position for over half of the NFL, Kyle finds himself in a very weird situation. 

Many, in the media and front office personnel, have attributed his success here in the Denver to the system, and while this is partly true I think its safe to say that not all of its due to the system.  Kyle has proved himself to be more than just a game manager and is on his way to being a bonafide play maker in this offense, with time.

Orton is barely 27 years old and has all the tools needed to succeed, but there are a couple of problems standing between Kyle and a BIG payday.  One is the perception surrounding Orton around the league, and that is that he is no more than a product of the system and his performance in a different system would not be comparable.

This is an issue that Kyle must face if indeed he and the team decides to let him try free agency and one that will keep this valuable commodity’s price down, from what it should be for a QB of his caliber, one that is a proven winner.

Second and perhaps his biggest issue to getting a big pay day here in Denver, goes by the name of Tom Brandstater.  The rookie you say, yes the rookie.  Tom showed a lot during the preseason (when he was prepared) to warrant hope for the future as the QB.

Brandstater showed, excellent arm strength, mobility, athleticism and touch when he got a real chance during the preseason, not to mention awareness and a very good ability to make the right read and go through his progressions.  Word on the street is that Mcdaniels is very high on this QB and likes him a lot.

This puts Orton in a weird place.  Orton knows all to well about the perceptions around the league about him, and he knows that those perceptions will keep his price tag relatively low in the free agent market. 

Add to that the fact the Tom and even Simms both performed well given their chances and this will drive his value down even further and elevate the “he’s just a system guy” talk even higher, but this all plays in favor of the Broncos.

You see, if Orton would like to stay in Denver, and I believe that he would very much like to, he will have to do it not only below market price, but if Xanders is as good as I have heard he is when it comes to the cap, he will probably have to take a home discount as well.  All this boils down to Orton being very available to re sign in Denver, something that I think is of great benefit.

A lot of my “brothers” in orange and blue have speculated that Denver will go the QB route come April but that’s just not McDaniels’ style.  He comes from a system that has taken two lower round picks and turned one of them into a hall of fame QB and another into a capable one.  McDaniels likes to develop his QBs within the system and not pay much for them, that is one of the main things he brought with him from New England.

I have a very strong feeling that he will go defense to start next years draft, specially if we retain Orton.  Among the bounty of defensive talent coming out of next years draft are LB Spikes from Florida and NT Cody from Alabama.

I won’t presume to know which way we will go but I would love to see Cody wearing the orange and blue, can you picture it a line that starts Baker and Thomas at DE and Cody in at NT, that would be a very nice defensive line indeed.

Then again we might draft Spikes who is a very good prospect at LB and I would not mind seeing that either, but who knows, Mcdaniels might go for something else entirely and draft Taylor Mays or he might go the QB route, in the end though, I have no doubt that McDaniels and Xanders will do what is best for the team and that is something we should take great comfort in.

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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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Mike Shanahan’s Farewell: Thank-You Letter for Former Denver Broncos Head Coach

As the day rolls by and the mere thought of the success that the Broncos are enjoying brings a smile to my face I am reminded of the golden days, the days of John and even Jake.  Those days meant the world to me, as they did to lot of Bronco fans, yet I find myself sad when I remember I never gave you your proper farewell.

You see, when I think about the direction this team is headed in, I can’t help but to think about when you first arrived, a (relatively) young coach full of ideas and were finally able to bring home the gold to a much deserving QB and fan base.  You brought us a lot of good times and kept the bad ones at a minimum, while bringing forth a competitive team year in and year out. 

Although I must confess that I was part of that group that called for your job, I never forgot everything you ever did for me and our team.

I know that I must sound like a hypocrite right now, but I knew you and the team needed a change of scenery and your competitiveness would never allow you to step down, therefore there was only one way to make it happen and that was for you to be let go. 

Unlike most fans, though, I had an idea of why it would happen and it wasn’t because of your managerial skills or draft day picks, for the most part it was because you refused to back out of your word to coaches and players such as Slowik, Robertson, and McCree, among others, that finally happened.

After all, you’ve always had an eye for true talent and the proof is in the picks, and you did bring us guys like Berry, Hayward, Pryce, Pope, DJ, Darrent Williams, Al Wilson, Gold and so many others that I can’t remember and that, to me at least, proves that you had an eye not only for offense but for talent and football ability regardless of position. 

Towards your latter days when you knew that you had to show immediate results, not only to the fans and the owners, but yourself, in your visible frustration you made some mistakes with guys like Crowder and Moss but it’s ok, after all you are only human.

I remember with vividness the day I heard the news of your departure. I was at work doing my tedious and boring job while listening to sports radio, and I was so tuned in that when I heard, I almost spilled my coffee all over my desk.  One of my co-workers ran into my office and with disbelief looked at me and asked if it was a joke. 

All of us around the office were striken with sadness but we all knew, as ardent and hardcore fans, it was time.

It was some time after that day that I mindlessly walked into a 7-Eleven around Lowry, late at night and to my surprised I looked to my left while deciding which vitamin water to get, that I spotted you. 

You looked at me and said hello and then looked at my No. 30 jersey and told me that he was a hell of guy. It was then that I finally was able to say hello and as we both waited in line to pay for our beverages, I decided to ask you something that my girlfriend had wondered earlier, and I asked if you would coach again, you looked at me and said with a grin that you would like to, but not in the AFC West. 

My next question I felt was stupid but I asked, “Why not in the AFC West,” and you gave me an answer that brought a smile to my face and showed me what kind of man you are. You said that while facing the Broncos every once in a while would be hard, facing us twice a season would not be your ideal scenario.

While a side of me took that statement with a grain of salt, the other side wishes it is true.  Then I thought of a reason for you to lie and I found none, you had never lied to us in the past why would you now.  It was then that I realized that while a change was immanent and we had lost a great coach, we had also lost a great man.

I have supported McDaniels since day one, granted not on everything, but in him this fan sees a coach with great potential with an incredible eye for talent and football ability, a coach that has come in and put his stamp on the team and with it has brought in an all too familiar energy and, not to quote Marty, a gleam that makes me shake with excitement. 

I can only hope and pray that he is as successful as you were and his tenure is as sweet as yours was.

Mike, I wish you the best of luck in your future, which I know is bright and filled with many more victories and Super Bowl trophies, though not at the Broncos’ expense. I do hope to see you roaming the side lines once again.  At last Mike, with fond memories of the past, this Bronco fan bids you farewell and thanks you for everything you did for us.

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Mike Shanahan’s Farewell: Thank-You Letter for Former Denver Broncos Head Coach

As the day rolls by and the mere thought of the success that the Broncos are enjoying brings a smile to my face I am reminded of the golden days, the days of John and even Jake.  Those days meant the world to me, as they did to lot of Bronco fans, yet I find myself sad when I remember I never gave you your proper farewell.

You see, when I think about the direction this team is headed in, I can’t help but to think about when you first arrived, a (relatively) young coach full of ideas and were finally able to bring home the gold to a much deserving QB and fan base.  You brought us a lot of good times and kept the bad ones at a minimum, while bringing forth a competitive team year in and year out. 

Although I must confess that I was part of that group that called for your job, I never forgot everything you ever did for me and our team.

I know that I must sound like a hypocrite right now, but I knew you and the team needed a change of scenery and your competitiveness would never allow you to step down, therefore there was only one way to make it happen and that was for you to be let go. 

Unlike most fans, though, I had an idea of why it would happen and it wasn’t because of your managerial skills or draft day picks, for the most part it was because you refused to back out of your word to coaches and players such as Slowik, Robertson, and McCree, among others, that finally happened.

After all, you’ve always had an eye for true talent and the proof is in the picks, and you did bring us guys like Berry, Hayward, Pryce, Pope, DJ, Darrent Williams, Al Wilson, Gold and so many others that I can’t remember and that, to me at least, proves that you had an eye not only for offense but for talent and football ability regardless of position. 

Towards your latter days when you knew that you had to show immediate results, not only to the fans and the owners, but yourself, in your visible frustration you made some mistakes with guys like Crowder and Moss but it’s ok, after all you are only human.

I remember with vividness the day I heard the news of your departure. I was at work doing my tedious and boring job while listening to sports radio, and I was so tuned in that when I heard, I almost spilled my coffee all over my desk.  One of my co-workers ran into my office and with disbelief looked at me and asked if it was a joke. 

All of us around the office were striken with sadness but we all knew, as ardent and hardcore fans, it was time.

It was some time after that day that I mindlessly walked into a 7-Eleven around Lowry, late at night and to my surprised I looked to my left while deciding which vitamin water to get, that I spotted you. 

You looked at me and said hello and then looked at my No. 30 jersey and told me that he was a hell of guy. It was then that I finally was able to say hello and as we both waited in line to pay for our beverages, I decided to ask you something that my girlfriend had wondered earlier, and I asked if you would coach again, you looked at me and said with a grin that you would like to, but not in the AFC West. 

My next question I felt was stupid but I asked, “Why not in the AFC West,” and you gave me an answer that brought a smile to my face and showed me what kind of man you are. You said that while facing the Broncos every once in a while would be hard, facing us twice a season would not be your ideal scenario.

While a side of me took that statement with a grain of salt, the other side wishes it is true.  Then I thought of a reason for you to lie and I found none, you had never lied to us in the past why would you now.  It was then that I realized that while a change was immanent and we had lost a great coach, we had also lost a great man.

I have supported McDaniels since day one, granted not on everything, but in him this fan sees a coach with great potential with an incredible eye for talent and football ability, a coach that has come in and put his stamp on the team and with it has brought in an all too familiar energy and, not to quote Marty, a gleam that makes me shake with excitement. 

I can only hope and pray that he is as successful as you were and his tenure is as sweet as yours was.

Mike, I wish you the best of luck in your future, which I know is bright and filled with many more victories and Super Bowl trophies, though not at the Broncos’ expense. I do hope to see you roaming the side lines once again.  At last Mike, with fond memories of the past, this Bronco fan bids you farewell and thanks you for everything you did for us.

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Talking Strategy on the NFL Draft

Recently I had a conversation with a good friend of mine about how the NFL draft is a complete crap shoot and how it is virtually impossible to be consistently successful during that famed weekend.

I disagree. I believe that the right strategy on said weekend gives you the ability to maintain good depth on the roster and supply the team with playmakers on both sides of the ball, all the while building for the future.

Of course, if you listen to this so called “experts” on the subject like Mel Kiper Jr. or Todd McShay, they will have you convinced that the best strategy is to draft the best available athlete despite of position.

Not only do they throw worthless numbers at you like 40 time and vertical leaps, but they celebrate teams that follow that mantra.

I say its all bull; however, the one thing that they have been right about is that, you never, ever draft for need.  That’s how you end up reaching and overpaying for a guy who may just end up as a back up.

The teams that have been constantly successful during this past decade have been the teams that follow a different motto on draft day.  I am speaking of teams like the Steelers, Patriots, Colts, Giants, and Eagles, among others. 

These teams have rarely followed the hollow rule of drafting the best available athlete, and yet they have all been successful.  So, what gives?

Is it that some teams have more information on prospects than others? Or maybe some teams have more luck than others?

Well the answer to those questions is a resounding no. You see, the best strategy is to draft the best available FOOTBALL player who best suits your specific scheme.

Take, for instance, the San Diego Chargers. They have followed the advice of drafting the best available athlete for some time and the reality is that their draft picks of recent years have been less than desirable and team depth is an issue at key positions.

Just look at the NT position, Jamal Williams is 34 years old, that means he’s about 50+ in football years specially for a guy in the trenches, and yet AJ Smith has not addressed this issue.

Instead, Smith went with picks like Larry English, who was not only a reach but the Chargers also exposed the fact that they either don’t believe in Merriman or they do not plan to keep him.

Also, the safety position has been in shambles for the Chargers since Harrison was let go.

Also there are the Raiders. They have have continuously drafted the fastest player available and that hasn’t really worked out well for them. 

Now, I understand that being the fastest does not mean your the best athlete; it is, however, a big part of how we define a great athlete, at least in the NFL.

I am glad to see that McDaniels is not of this school of thought and instead drafted the best available football players who best fit his needs, guys like McBath, Smith, and Moreno.

McDaniels was alsosmart enough to lure Baker, a guy who before his little mishap and during his last year at Penn State was being graded as a can’t-miss prospect, along with bringing in veterans to tutor the children and get them ready for the future.

I admire McDaniels for sticking to his guns on draft day and finding the best player to fit the team and knowing when to take them. 

After all, desperation on draft day cost Shanahan his job, but today I feel that would not be a problem when building the future of my Beloved Broncos.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Talking Strategy on the NFL Draft

Recently I had a conversation with a good friend of mine about how the NFL draft is a complete crap shoot and how it is virtually impossible to be consistently successful during that famed weekend.

I disagree. I believe that the right strategy on said weekend gives you the ability to maintain good depth on the roster and supply the team with playmakers on both sides of the ball, all the while building for the future.

Of course, if you listen to this so called “experts” on the subject like Mel Kiper Jr. or Todd McShay, they will have you convinced that the best strategy is to draft the best available athlete despite of position.

Not only do they throw worthless numbers at you like 40 time and vertical leaps, but they celebrate teams that follow that mantra.

I say its all bull; however, the one thing that they have been right about is that, you never, ever draft for need.  That’s how you end up reaching and overpaying for a guy who may just end up as a back up.

The teams that have been constantly successful during this past decade have been the teams that follow a different motto on draft day.  I am speaking of teams like the Steelers, Patriots, Colts, Giants, and Eagles, among others. 

These teams have rarely followed the hollow rule of drafting the best available athlete, and yet they have all been successful.  So, what gives?

Is it that some teams have more information on prospects than others? Or maybe some teams have more luck than others?

Well the answer to those questions is a resounding no. You see, the best strategy is to draft the best available FOOTBALL player who best suits your specific scheme.

Take, for instance, the San Diego Chargers. They have followed the advice of drafting the best available athlete for some time and the reality is that their draft picks of recent years have been less than desirable and team depth is an issue at key positions.

Just look at the NT position, Jamal Williams is 34 years old, that means he’s about 50+ in football years specially for a guy in the trenches, and yet AJ Smith has not addressed this issue.

Instead, Smith went with picks like Larry English, who was not only a reach but the Chargers also exposed the fact that they either don’t believe in Merriman or they do not plan to keep him.

Also, the safety position has been in shambles for the Chargers since Harrison was let go.

Also there are the Raiders. They have have continuously drafted the fastest player available and that hasn’t really worked out well for them. 

Now, I understand that being the fastest does not mean your the best athlete; it is, however, a big part of how we define a great athlete, at least in the NFL.

I am glad to see that McDaniels is not of this school of thought and instead drafted the best available football players who best fit his needs, guys like McBath, Smith, and Moreno.

McDaniels was alsosmart enough to lure Baker, a guy who before his little mishap and during his last year at Penn State was being graded as a can’t-miss prospect, along with bringing in veterans to tutor the children and get them ready for the future.

I admire McDaniels for sticking to his guns on draft day and finding the best player to fit the team and knowing when to take them. 

After all, desperation on draft day cost Shanahan his job, but today I feel that would not be a problem when building the future of my Beloved Broncos.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Breaking Down the Defensive Schemes in Today’s NFL

A couple of days ago, I was trying to explain the defensive scheme the Broncos play to my girlfriend, only to get a vacant stare back at me. 

At this time, I remembered reading a few blogs on many different sites, including this one, where a lot of the fans of their respective teams ran into the same issue. 

I took it upon myself to do a serious amount of research and try to point out the differences among the countless schemes being employed in today’s game but found it a bigger task than I anticipated, so I have boiled it down to 4 different schemes in total, within the two main formations, the 3-4 and the 4-3.

Let’s begin.

Not all 3-4 are the same, in fact there are various schemes ran out of this formation, because at the end of the day, the name 3-4 or 34 as some people like to call it, depicts a formation not the scheme. 

One of the schemes employed out of this formation is the two gap system, think San Diego, Cleveland and Miami to name a few.

This system employs three down lineman and four linebackers as their front seven.  The three down lineman are each responsible for two gaps, with the nose tackle (NT for short) being the most important of all, followed closely by the two ends. 

The NT will be responsible for the gaps between the center and each guard while the DEs are responsible for the gaps between the guards and tackles as well as “sealing” the end.

I believe that this the hardest scheme to find players for because the breed of athlete it employs is just hard to find.

This version of the 3-4 relies on the down lineman to “hold” the point of attack, other wise known as the line of scrimmage, making sure to tackle anyone coming down their respective gaps all the while taking on blockers to allow the linbackers (LB) a free path to the ball. 

This requires strong, big, and heavy linemen that can move laterally with quickness, but it does not require penetration, that’s left mostly to the LBs, especially the outside LBs.

In turn, this will require instinctive LBs on the inside and strong LBs on the outside to produce the pass rush. This scheme relies heavily on the OLBs to produce pressure on the QB. 

This style of defense is great against the run but a little vulnerable against the pass.  Another problem with this scheme is depth, as it relies heavily on the NT, which is a rare find in the NFL.

If your NT just happens to get injured the defense will suffer greatly due to the fact that NT are at a premium and very difficult to find, making the building of depth a problem.  If you want an example see the Chargers.

Now a different scheme from the same formation would be the one-gap or “attacking” 3-4.  This scheme was made popular by the Baltimore Ravens after the 2001 season, however, one of the first teams to use it successfully were the 1975 Broncos (although their best season with the scheme came in 1977).

While the same formation is used, the difference lies within the personnel.  In this case the linemen are usually a little lighter and quicker, this is due to the fact that they will be given one gap to defend and will be frequently asked to penetrate and get to the QB. 

This also requires a different type of LB, one that will be able fight off blockers and get to the ball.  This style of defense does require one LB to be fast and instinctive and that’s usually called the “jack” LB.

With this scheme, pressure is put on the QB from all angles making it excel against the pass, but it is vulnerable to the run.  Some of the teams that use this scheme are the Jets, Broncos and Ravens.

The most important position with in this scheme are the LBs, both the ILBs and the OLBs.  Speed and quickness are at a premium among the LBs within this scheme and that’s due to the bevy of things they will be asked to do, anything from blitzing to man to man coverage. 

While the two-gap system is designed to to funnel the ball toward the linemen, the one gap is designed to funnel the ball towards the LBs.

Now in the 4-3 there are four linemen and three LBs representing the front seven.  This formation is a little less varied than the 3-4. 

In most schemes, the four down linemen breakdown as follows, 2 DEs 1 NT and a DT(defensive tackle).  Now I know I said one NT and the truth is, while many think the 4-3 employs two defensive tackles, it actually employs one three-technique DT and a five-technique DT, better known as a nose tackle.

This formation is all about the linemen, and therefore they are the true play makers of this formation.

Take, for instance, the 2002 Tampa Bay Bucs.  That team might have been the truest incarnation of what a 4-3 defense should be, with two true pass rushers in the edges as DEs in Rice and Spires, one good NT in McFarland, and perhaps one of the best three-technique DTs in league history with Sapp.

The LBs also change in this formation. Let’s start with the weak-side LB or “Will;” he must be fast and athletic.

The strong side LB or “Sam” must be big and strong, with the middle LB, or “Mike,” being instinctive and a combination of both, but the linemen are the stars of the show. 

The linemen’s jobs break down as follows, the DEs will be responsible for the edges and applying pressure on the QB while the NT will be responsible for the gaps between the  guard/center and tackle/guard. 

Which brings us to the star of the show the DT, in the 3 technique, the DT is the one lineman that has free reign, he can choose his gap and “shoot” it, applying pressure to the QB and collapsing the pocket from the inside.

This defense is probably the most well rounded of all as it is strong both aginst the run and pass, but that is not to say that it is easy.  Finding a true 3 technique DT, aside from the fact that they are more abundant, is probably just as hard as findinga good NT to play the two gap 3-4. 

Don’t believe me?  Just ask Mike Shanahan or the 2009 Raiders.

Some of the teams that use this style of defense successfully are the Giants, Eagles, Vikings and Bears.

Now I have left my favorite for last, and that is the “zone blitz” scheme.  This scheme was perfected by Dick LeBeau of the Pittsburgh Steelers, actually he might have invented it I’m not sure, but he sure damn perfected it.

While the Steelers use a 3-4 formation, this is a scheme that could be used out of any formation, as long as Mr. LeBeau is teaching it, but for now we’ll go with the two-gap 3-4. 

This scheme is all about deceiving the offense, at any given time anyone on the field regardless of position could drop into a zone coverage or blitz, and yes, that includes the linemen. 

That makes it almost impossible for the offensive line to adjust their protection scheme in order to account for a blitzer, which in turn causes confusion that usually results in pressure, sacks, or turnovers. 

What makes this scheme go is the personnel, and you must have the absolutely correct personnel in order to run this defense and it takes quite a while to learn, that is why you will rarely see a rookie or young player start for the Steelers defense. 

The linemen must be fast, strong, and athletic, along with all the linebackers and safeties.

Corners don’t have to have blazing speed, since they will be responsible for zones and not man-to-man coverage.  Along with all those attributes I mentioned above, perhaps the two most important ones are discipline and trust.

Each player must trust his teammates to be disciplined enough to do their jobs and not free lance, well Polomalu is the only one allowed to free lance, but he is usually right.

When this defense is at its peak it is virtually inpenetrable and perhaps the best defense against both the run and pass, although rarely using man-to-man coverage does have its draw backs, mainly against the pass, this scheme might just be the best of them all or at least its my favorite.

Well, that’s all I have for today, and I hope I helped clarify some of the differences between defenses that sometimes can seem like they are all alike.  Please feel free to comment and discuss.

Thanks for reading.

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