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.

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Bronco Fans, Will the Rats Be Leaving a Sinking Ship?

After watching the last eight weeks of this season of the Denver Broncos, it has become clear that whether it is an intended consequence or not, there will be a MAJOR housecleaning before next training camp.

The glorious stadium that Bowlen had the taxpayers of Denver build is about as terrifying to incoming teams as that white gelding on top of the South stands wall.

Was a change at the head coaching position warranted after the past several seasons of continuing mediocrity? Probably. Was there a bit too much player coddling going on in some instances. Probably.

But when looking for a replacement for a coach with the credentials that Shanahan had, it might have made sense to look to someone who actually had some head coaching experience. And to hire one as young as McDaniels, it is asking for some issues to crop up.

One issue is that the new coach can’t seem to figure out how to prevent a second-half meltdown, just like his predecessor couldn’t.

Also, for someone who was trained under the mantle of Master Hoody himself, where everything is cloaked in mystery and wrapped in secrecy, spouting off to the media about your issues with certain players and almost writing off any chance at making a playoff slot seems to be rather immature and puzzling, to say the least.

The message seemed to be: “I am the boss of you and that is more important than winning a damn game and having a shot at the playoffs.” That message sure seemed to get through to the rest of the team, especially the defense and even the offense in the second half.

When you can make the lowly Raiders and Chiefs look like contending teams, you have succeeded in getting your ego-driven message across loud and clear.

Now to the even more painful issue that is the thrust of my headline:

The past eight weeks and the behavior of the head coach has set the stage for a mass exodus of what talent currently resides on the Bronco roster. It is almost a given that both WR Marshall and TE Scheffler will be gone. LB/DE Dumervil may not be too far behind them, either. Champ Bailey will be considering his options, as will Ty Law. In addition, guards Hochstein, Kuper, and Hamilton could take that walk down the hall. If I am not mistaking, that would mean two starters (Kuper and Hochstein) from the O-line plus a backup (Hamilton) could be gone.

Add to that the kickers (Prater and Berger) and Lloyd, a decent backup WR and you have some major holes to fill. Oh, and of course, Orton, making about $1 million, could get another offer, although not too likely.

But, you say, they wouldn’t all leave, would they? Probably not, this is about money but also more than that. Players want to play where they feel they have a chance at a Super Bowl ring, or at least to go deep into the playoffs. And they also want to play for an organization that has a commitment to winning and that treats the players with some level of respect.

That used to be the reason so many players wanted to come to play here. It was that kind of environment. Plus, Denver is not the worst place to live.

With that perception changing, it will be harder to keep the RFAs and the UFAs, not to mention signing other FAs to build back a quality team.

This article isn’t meant to cry “Wolf” or that all is lost, just to point out that all is not well on the Good Ship Bronco as some leaks are starting to flood the bilges.

And the rats might just be getting restless!

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Ego or Bad Coaching?: Snatching Defeat From the Jaws Of Denver Victory—Again

Why in the F*ck is this man smiling??

How often does a first year Head Coach have an opportunity to show their knowledge, maturity and growth? Especially when you are 33 freaking years old?

On the other hand, how often does a 33 Year old Head Coach have the opportunity to let his ego write checks his team can’t cash?

This was the case in the game between Denver and Oakland at Mile High Invesco or High Invesco Mile or whatever today.

Watching a young egotistical head coach call the same lame up-the-gut running plays with an undersized running back and a pass-oriented O-line over and over and over again and losing yardage or getting 1 or 2 Yards when 4-5 yards are needed to either score a TD or gain a 1st down is getting old.

In situation after situation and game after game, we see the same thing. This is a true real-life example of defining failure as doing the same thing over and over with the same negative results but expecting a different outcome.

The only thing more predictable in the NFL right now is getting close-ups of siliconed-enhanced Cheerleaders on the sidelines when breaking for or going into mandated commercials.

Even if Josh would use Hillis or Clady or Larsen or one of those faux-bosomed sideline eye candy prancers instead of Moreno, there MIGHT be a slight chance of a different outcome. Or possibly throwing a short pass to—GASP!—Marshall, Graham, Stokley (or even the aforementioned Clady) there could be a slightly higher chance of success.

I am not sure if this is a result of too many games under the shadow of St. Billy  Belichick and his water-walking success with a much better short yardage team or maybe too many games wearing that stupid hoody that has cut off the circulation to his 33 year old brain.

No matter what the reasons are, until his ego gets a major surgical reduction or he actually looks at past results, I guess the Denver fan base can only expect the same outcome.

And that is a future that really sucks, if you are a Bronco supporter. Or even a fan of good football.

Of course, Raider/Chief/Charger fans are chuckling and snorting into their collective beers.

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Brandon Marshall: A Beast Or A Blip?

Brandon Marshall was a fourth round pick that made people say “Who?” when drafted has turned into quite a steal for the Broncos. He now holds the NFL record for catches in a single game (21) and probably will break his own record before he is through. Maybe more than once.

There is no denying his 6’4″, 230 lbs. physique and decent speed creates horrendous match-up issues for opposing DBs.

His yards after catch average, is almost unbelievable for a wide receiver.

His ability take a routine five-yarder or a bubble screen pass and s t r e t c h  it into a 15 yard play may not have a rival in the NFL.

His one-handed grabs cause defensive coordinators to pull their hair out after a perfect defensive call and great coverage.

His ability to juke and/or turn his shoulders square and run over people, even linebackers, causes OOHs and AHHs.

He has turned into an above-average blocker and can pancake a defender when the mood moves him.

He has nine TDs and over 1,000 yards and will improve on those stats before the year is through.

He has a million watt smile and has taken in his nephew to help turn around a troubled kid’s environment.

BUT….his maturity issues still come and go.

His hand-eye coordination (i.e. completing the catch) can still improve.

He has been known to put the ball on the ground at very inopportune times.

He has been a disruptive influence in the locker room at times.

Maybe the most frustrating thing about Bmarsh is his decisions to turn all this ability on and off.

I know I know, he seems to be bringing it on a more consistent basis recently, as in the Giants, Chiefs, and Colts games.

But he also has somewhat disappeared in other games (CIN, CLE, BAL, SD) where he has had no TDs and under 50 YDS in each of those games.

He said before the Giants game, he wanted to come out and “make a statement”; and he did. But why decide to do that in one game, or three, and not ALL games. As poor as the offense has been playing, he should make that effort each and every game.

Sure, teams will key on him and try to take him out of the game plan, but they tried to do that in Indy and look what happened?

My point being that maybe Brandon has begun to mature before our very eyes the past 3-4 weeks and this will continue. For his sake and for the Broncos’ sake, I hope so.

But will he? See how Randy Moss has back-slid into a ME ME ME guy again at New England and supposedly his maturity issues were resolved. We have no need to even mention TO or Chad 85; both are lost causes.

Marshall has all the tools needed to be maybe the best WR or at least one of the top five in the history of the game. But, he will have to make that next leap and maintain his commitment, desire, effort, and leadership shown in these past few games.

A Beast or a Bust?  Time will tell.

 

 

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