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 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

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.

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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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McD Officially Puts the Cart Before the Broncos

The old adage of the cart and the horse came about probably shortly after the chicken and the egg.  Nonetheless, it came about to show there is importance to the order of doing things.

In football terms, putting the cart before the horse is a bad idea, especially in Denver.  From the looks of things Head Coach Josh McDaniels has clearly put ego, power, authority, and himself before the team. 

It was a very deliberate and divisive effort that put the team second and the coach first.  Moreover, one of the fault-lines within the locker room all year long has been between McD’s New England rejects and coach Shanahan’s guys.  Much of this fell along the offensive side of the ball and special teams.  In the end, the coach lost his locker room to some degree and now it’s official.

Josh McDaniels’ team was exactly as good as his predecessor’s a year ago with two glaring exceptions.  Coach Shanahan never lost eight out of 10 games with the Broncos.  Coach Shanahan was also one of “the guys” when he started. He was not perceived as a hired hand.

Oh so how exactly did Josh McDaniels put the cart before the horse this season in Denver? 

 

Let Us Count The Ways…

Let’s start with the most obvious blunder of the Boy Wonder’s inglorious offseason that started with Jay Cutler being traded.  Say what you will, Jay and Denver were better together than they were apart this season.  Both the Bears and the Broncos missed the playoffs, Denver had the defense, but lacked the offense the entire season. 

The next major blunder came in subtle and snide ways in which Josh threw the previous regime under the bus with a number of his comments over the last year.

Obviously Josh forgot to back it up, count that as yet another major blunder.

Then, free agency and the draft came into play.  Free agency was good with Brian Dawkins coming over from Philadelphia to help shore up a weak secondary.  Then a slew of other veterans like Holliday, Goodman, Hill, and Reid followed.  It seemed the Broncos were pointed in the right direction. 

The Jay Cutler trade ruined all of that.  Sure, it was already mentioned, but certainly Brian Dawkins would rather be in Philly following this dismal season in Denver.  With the Broncos revamped defense, make no bones about it, with Jay Cutler the Broncos are a playoff team.

Josh McDaniels however chose to blow up the offense because the Broncos finished second in yards and sixteenth in points.  So the 2009 Broncos finished 15th in yards per game and 20th in points per game.  So, that’s better right?  Interestingly enough the Broncos scored one fewer point than Jay Cutler who had exactly one real weapon in Chicago.  So, what are Kyle Orton and Coach McDaniels excuses on this one?

To the defense’s credit given all the problems down the stretch they only fell from first to seventh defensively in yards and first to 12th in points allowed.  

Still how can you have a top defense like that and miss the playoffs with so much offensive talent in house?  It must be the scheme, or the coaching, or both.  If it’s the scheme, then why did the Patriots finish third in yards and sixth in points while running the same system? 

According to McDaniels his trade of Cutler and even his acceptance of Orton and Simms into his system also suggest that quarterback play doesn’t matter in this system.  At least that’s almost what he’d have you believe. 

So then, it can’t be the coaching because Josh is “The Hoodie Part Duh” right? 

Coach McDaniels is so much on top of the coaching that he released incumbent punter Brett Kern for an older veteran punter in Mitch Berger during the team’s bye week.  While it was speculated that Kern may have taken his job lightly, the selection of Berger was questionable as much as the timing of the move.  Kern ends this season with a 45 yard average, three yards better than Berger and ended with a net of 41.4 yard net a full 3.5 yards better than Berger.  So it looks like the authoritarian move during the bye week backfired.

Someone should call the National Guard or at least put Josh McDaniels on alert, the rest of Broncos Country got the memo, and he’s not a very good coach.

How about those draft selections?  Alphonso Smith was last seen lateraling a punt return to an innocent teammate who was just a bystander.  Keep in mind the Broncos could have picked Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga in that spot.  Then there is the lack-luster rookie season for Knowshon Moreno and Robert Ayers.  The list goes on and on, but let’s give the coach some credit.  After all he did go 6-0 for a very brief moment this season.

Then camp and the pre-season came along and the Broncos only won their last pre-season game under rookie Tom Brandstater who never took a snap the rest of the season.  The Broncos also lost their most important pre-season tilt with Jay Cutler and the Bears.

Brandon Marshall was eventually suspended only to help his team later on, make amends with Coach McDaniels, only be inactivated for the last game along with Tony Scheffler.

Then the regular season started.  Thanks to two missed interception opportunities in the last minute of play by Bengals defenders Brandon Stokley gave his teammates reason to believe.  They took the fire with them five more games.  During that time, the Broncos defense carried the team while the offense worked on finding an identity.  The offense never found that identity, one which was schemed by Josh McDaniels himself.

The Broncos don’t have their quarterback of the future and if it’s Tom Brandstater he never touched the field this season. 

Chris Simms wasn’t anywhere near ready to play for coach McD, whose fault is that?

The Broncos spotted the Colts and Eagles huge leads before getting back into those games prior to imploding again.

The defense eventually imploded after the stress and strain of the season at home against the Raiders and the Chiefs.

The one thing that got away from the Broncos down the stretch was what was supposed to be coach McDaniels most praiseworthy trait, that being game management.  Turnovers increased with the predictability of the offense and the defense gave up more points with no supporting cast.

Given the clear divisive nature of Josh’s tyranny over the Broncos it might be harder to find quality free agents and players willing to fit within this scheme.

Short yardage and red zone points never improved, one of Josh McDaniels supposed focus points in the off season.

 

What It All Means

So there you have it, a list of a least 20 reasons why Josh McDaniels failed to get the Broncos into the playoffs this season.  It could also be perceived as a solid 20 reasons to stop the bleeding, cut ties, cut losses, and find a more qualified coach now before four seasons of missing the playoffs turns into six, seven, or worse.

When a coach puts himself before the team, it’s hypocritical in nature and Josh has unfortunately had to learn the hard way with a challenging group of veterans.  Regardless, Josh McDaniels approach did not work, that is the bottom line.  It’s not the way this group of players wants to be treated on the whole and the net result is failure to perform which falls on Coach McDaniels.

Finally, in the history of the Denver Broncos you have to go back to the other striped sock era since they have lost eight out of 10 games in one season.  Ironically enough, three of their worst implosions happened in their first four seasons.  Perhaps fans will be finding those socks a littler cheaper on eBay now.  It might make sense for the Broncos to bring back their 1977 Orange Crush jerseys to get this team back on the right track next season.  Better yet, a retired Elway is still better than a good Orton any day of the season.

What putting the cart before the horse does is it leaves fans and analyst scratching their heads.  Putting the coaches’ authority before the concept of team is hypocritical and has caused a rift larger than the Grand Canyon.  In the end, Josh has proven to the fan base that it’s about him and not the Broncos.

Mr. Bowlen has stated that 8-8 isn’t going to get it.  This season if nothing else proved that this regime has put the cart before the horse, or the Broncos organization, and may never get the situation figured out. 

It’s time for a change at the top while there is still some talent to be had on this team, or is that putting the cart before the horse?

 

 

Contact Chaz at sportsmanagement@gmail.com

 

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Josh McDaniels Needs To Learn What Accountability REALLY Means

Apparently it is possible to see a mirage in the Rockies.

Earlier this season after the Broncos started 3-0, I wrote that the Broncos and their fans were buying into what Josh McDaniels was doing with the team and, to steal a line from McDonald’s, I said they were “lovin’ it.”

Well, 13 games later, I think it is safe to say both the team and its fans are “hatin’ it.”  Even yours truly admits he was dead wrong. In a season of low expectations, the Broncos took advantage of no one taking them seriously and surged to a 6-0 start. 

Then the wheels came off and the Broncos finished a putrid 2-8 and becoming only the third team since the AFL-NFL merger to miss the postseason after starting the season 6-0. This collapse is worse than the three-game losing streak the Broncos had to end the 2008 campaign, due to that they played poorly for ten games versus three.

Mike Shanahan got fired for that three-game collapse last season, so logic dictates McDaniels should suffer the same fate. Will it happen?  Probably not this year. That said, Bowlen has even more just cause to fire McDaniels than he had to fire Shanahan.

First, as can be seen in the 44-24 thumping they took at home to the 3-12 Chiefs, McDaniels has lost control of this team. Just when fans thought it couldn’t get any worse than being beaten by JaMarcus Russell at the last second, it does. 

For example, McDaniels had the gall to make a more boneheaded move than Shanahan ever did by benching two of his best three pass catchers for “attitude problems,” for a game that had playoff implications. Anyone who saw today’s game would have been able to see that Marshall’s height and Scheffler’s hands would have helped the Broncos.

Marshall’s case is sketchy at best, but as a former problem child who had been on his best behavior all season it makes McDaniels’ move that much more puzzling.

On top of that, McDaniels has proven himself to be such a big liar that it would make Bill Belichick cringe. Case in point, McDaniels said today that Marshall’s benching had nothing to do with the Pro Bowl receiver missing a treat session for his purported injured hamstring. However, earlier in the week the head coach told Ed Werder of ESPN that missing a session was a primary reason for Marshall’s benching.

Which one is it coach? I understand that coaches mislead members of the media a lot with statements that aren’t necessarily true yet not entirely false, but this was an out and out lie that wouldn’t have been such a big deal had McDaniels told it one way or the other.

Such an outright lack of integrity even has me questioning how much of what McDaniels said about the falling out with Jay Cutler is true, but as they say “there is no use in crying over spilled milk.” We likely will never know what really happened there, but recent events should cause some Broncos fans to re-examine who the real villain in that situation really was.

Owner Pat Bowlen is learning what Cleveland (times two with Romeo Crennel and Eric Mangini) and Notre Dame have come to terms with recently: the “Patriot way” of running an NFL works nowhere outside of Foxboro and even there, Belichick’s methods are starting to show signs of strain. Fudging on injury reports is no longer tolerated and Belichick’s monotone press conferences are beginning to become the laughingstock of the NFL. 

Players and fans alike want to see their teams run with integrity and class, a way in which the Broncos were run just one year ago. Taking out shortcomings on defense and struggles to finish off seasons, no one can say that the Shanahan regime wasn’t classy.  Shanahan’s final press conference is an example of that. He didn’t get it done and openly admitted it.

What does McDaniels do? He throws two of his best offensive players under the bus. If you have an issue with some players’ attitudes, that’s fine. McDaniels said the word of the week was accountability, and he held Marshall and Scheffler accountable. 

Now, following another embarrassing defeat, does the coach hold himself accountable? McDaniels said after the game, “Obviously, something is wrong and it needs to be fixed.”  Look in the mirror, coach.  McDaniels went on a power trip this past week and now he needs to learn the true meaning of the word “accountability.”

Mr. Bowlen, for the sake of your franchise, please fire this man. You don’t have to (and shouldn’t) bring back Shanahan, but please hire a proven winner.

Bill Cowher would be a good start.

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Denver Broncos: Embarassed at Home, Now Synonymous with “Collapse”

With their Mile High Magic and Mile High Mystique, the Denver Broncos were once a franchise synonymous with winning seasons and respect in the AFC. Those days feel farther away than ever in the Mile High City.

For the fourth straight year, the Broncos have gone home following their 16 game regular season.

For the third straight year they have failed to pass eight wins.

And, for the second straight year, they have been embarrassed in their final game, a game that has in both cases carried playoff implications.

The Denver Broncos that played today against the 3-12 Kansas City Chiefs looked unprepared and, for lack of a better term, downright bad.

This was quite similar to how last year’s Broncos looked in their final game against the San Diego Chargers.

Two years, different coaches, different core players, but the same result. The Denver Broncos had it all in front of them this season, and they let it all slip away, the same as they did last year.

Synonymous with “collapse.”

The 2009 Broncos fooled fans into believing that this year would be different. They started out 6-0, respected as one of the dominant teams in the AFC. It all fell apart after their week seven bye.

Losses to the Ravens, Steelers, Redskins, and Chargers put the Broncos into a dangerous tailspin. They were able to rebound with wins against the Giants and Chiefs, only to complete their collapse by “running the table” the wrong way.

After a loss to the Colts, the Broncos sat at 8-6 and in command of the AFC’s fifth seed. With games against the Raiders and Chiefs at home, they were fully expected to easily reach ten wins and walk into the postseason.

Needless to say, they did not. Amid the controversial benching of top receiving threats Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler, the Denver Broncos’ season went down in flames once again on Sunday. 

There will be many decisions to make this offseason, the least of which includes dealing with Brandon Marshall, as his troubled relationship with Josh McDaniels appears to have reached the boiling point.

There is nothing more to say about the 2009 season. The team will have to take what they can, having learned the hard way that it is rarely beneficial to peak in the first six weeks of the season.

They do have a relatively strong core of players and coaches, and now it is time to try once again to avoid yet another repeat in 2010.

For the sake of poetic justice and karma, Jay Cutler finished with seven wins, and can only dream about what might have been for him, had he stayed in Denver. 

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