Darcel McBath: The Denver Broncos Unsung Hero, Out For Season

In a day of big hits, flashy celebrations, and underachieving superstars, a rookie defensive back slowly made a name for himself amongst veterans like Brian Dawkins and Champ Bailey.

Darcel McBath, a second-round pick out of Texas Tech, may be one of the most overlooked players that have helped turn the Broncos around this season. The Broncos over the past few years have been horrible tacklers on special teams and McBaths’ 28 tackles this year have come almost exclusively on the third side of the ball.

Twenty-eight tackles, 22 of them solo, is quite a feat for a near exclusive special teamer. Eleven of these solo tackles came in his two games against San Diego. This is absolutely spectacular considering San Diego’s knack for breaking big plays with speedster Darren Sproles. I have a feeling he will be sorely missed when the Broncos play big-play-man DeSean Jackson and the Eagles in two weeks.

Josh McDaniels had this to say about rookie Darcel McBath: “He’s the personal protector on the punt team, which is no small chore. He handles all the communication there. He’s our leading tackler, very unselfish, plays great on all of the teams. He has been a great addition in that regard and he will be missed.”

Steve Tasker is in the conversation for the one of the greatest players to not make the Hall of Fame and apart from 51 career receptions, he was a exclusive special teams player for the Bills back when they almost won all those Super Bowls. A form tackler with great speed and an unselfish attitude;that is who McBath reminds me of when he plays.

Studying under arguably the best safety and cornerback of this decade, Brian Dawkins and Champ Bailey, I think McBath has an opportunity to grow into much more than just a hard-nosed special teamer. He has two interceptions this year with limited defensive playing time.

One of those picks came this last weekend against Peyton Manning‘s undefeated Colts and gave Kyle Orton and Brandon Marshall a short field to work with unfortunately, McBath will be on IR for the remainder of the season with a broken right forearm he acquired in the fourth quarter of Sundays game.

Perhaps, just perhaps if he had stayed in, Peyton would not have been able to make a game ending drive at the end of the fourth quarter.

McBath will be missed, but veteran Vernon Fox has been signed in his place and hopefully, will help the Broncos not miss a beat against a hungry Raiders team this weekend.

Sometimes it is the players you don’t see who make the biggest difference; hopefully McBath will be a productive player for the Broncos for many years to come.

Also, big shout out to Brandon Marshall and his record 21 receptions this weekend. Keep it up big boy!

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

How the Denver Broncos Shake Out in the AFC Playoff Scenarios

If ifs and buts

Were candy and nuts…

These are a few of our favorite things!

 

When the playoffs near

And the picture’s in view but not so clear

These are a few of our favorite things!

 

Self-realization as a football fan starts now.

Admit it, whether you are religious in having a faith in God or not, or you celebrate the holidays or not, you as the NFL fan love this time of year.

The playoffs start in less than four weeks. Shortly after the last regular season games on Jan. 3 take place, the playoff picture will be official.

As of now, there is still a great deal of wiggle room, especially in the AFC, but this week is the time to nail down the possible playoff entry scenarios. You have to map that out first before you can speculate on the possible matchups, so here’s a definitive look at the AFC Playoff picture and how it impacts the Denver Broncos most specifically.

 

Kiss Home Field Advantage Goodbye

As everyone knows, the Indianapolis Colts are set to run the table in the AFC, as they may finish the regular season undefeated. Then the road to the Super Bowl goes through Indianapolis.

There is a remote yet favorable speculation that might land San Diego in Indy first. That situation could be the best thing for the rest of the AFC playoff picture, so stay tuned.

For now, however, give the Colts credit for yet another amazing run under Peyton Manning. The Colts are currently 13-0 with three games remaining. Not even 13-0 New Orleans in the NFC has wrapped up home field like the Colts have at this stage.

Here’s how the rest of the AFC teams shake out.

 

San Diego Chargers

Just a month and a half ago we were calling them the San Diego Super-chokers. Suddenly there is life in San Diego, where this team is living up to its billing. The Chargers are 10-3 overall, 7-3 in the AFC, and 5-1 in the AFC West. This all virtually guarantees the Chargers a share of the AFC West Division crown at the very least.

If the Chargers win this week and the Broncos lose, San Diego will represent the AFC West and probably be the second seed in the AFC.

There is, however, a very interesting game in the AFC this weekend involving the Chargers hosting the Cincinnati Bengals. These two teams are currently No. 2 and No. 3 in the AFC playoff picture. This matchup will define which team has the inside track to the No. 2 position. This is a key game because whichever team loses this game could be the first team to play at Indianapolis in the playoffs.

If San Diego and Denver win, they guarantee the second seed in the AFC will be an AFC West team. If Denver loses, they will officially only make it as a wild card team.

If disaster hits San Diego and they lose three games in a row, they would lose the AFC West if Denver won all of their remaining games.

If San Diego loses two of their remaining three games and Denver wins all of their remaining three games, the two teams tie head-to-head in the division.

The tiebreaker will then go to conference play. The Chargers currently own a 7-3 edge to the Broncos’ 6-4 conference record. If the Chargers lose to Cincinnati and Tennessee, it puts Denver back on the inside track if they win out. That is the best scenario for the Broncos outside of a Chargers three-game skid.  

Say the Chargers do lose to the Titans and the Bengals while beating Washington and Denver wins out. This would put Denver at 8-4 in conference play and San Diego at 7-5.  The Denver Broncos would then own the second seed in the AFC.

If San Diego loses the rest of their games, they will lose tiebreakers to Miami and Baltimore because of head-to-head losses this year.

 

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals could own the second seed in the AFC, but they must win this weekend against San Diego. If the Bengals lose, the AFC West will own the second seed due to head-to-head losses to the Chargers and Broncos.

The Bengals could wind up 9-3 in conference play, which would make them the second seed in the AFC.

The game against the Chargers on Sunday is paramount to the AFC playoff picture.

The Bengals lose their division lead if and only if they lose all of their last three games and the Baltimore Ravens win all of their remaining three games.

 

New England Patriots

The only shot New England has at being the second seed is to win all of their remaining games. San Diego will have to lose all of their remaining games. The Bengals will have to beat San Diego and lose their remaining two, and Denver will have to lose two or more games.

The Patriots have a tough stretch in playing at Buffalo, hosting Jacksonville, and finishing out at Houston. 

The biggest competition for New England is in their division. They could lose their division to the Miami Dolphins or New York Jets if they slide much more.

The chances for New England to own a wild card slot are slim, especially if they lose to the Jaguars because they would then lose tiebreakers to the Jags and the Broncos. The Pats split with the Jets and Dolphins and only own the tiebreaker against the Ravens.

 

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos currently have the inside track to the No. 1 wild card slot in the AFC. They can win the division only if they win out and San Diego loses two of their next three, preferably against the Bengals and the Titans. Denver can also win the division if they have the same record as the Chargers but that would require the Chargers to lose both games to their remaining AFC teams while Denver wins out against their AFC opponents.  The Broncos could own the second seed in the AFC if the Chargers lose the division and the Broncos at least tie the Bengals’ overall record.

This would mean the Broncos could host at least one playoff game.

If the Broncos wind up as the wild card, they will not have a home game unless both wild card teams run the table, which is highly unlikely.

Denver owns wild card tiebreakers against the Bengals and Patriots. The Broncos have an edge over the Jaguars, Dolphins, and Jets but lose tiebreakers to the Ravens and Steelers.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars

If the Jags survive Indy and New England, they could be the toughest team heading into the playoffs. The Jags just lost to Miami, however, so they are vulnerable, especially when you consider they would lose a key tiebreaker to the Dolphins.

If the Jags win out, they still can’t win their division thanks to the Colts.

The Jags could surpass the Broncos if they win more conference games. Currently the Broncos are at 6-4 with two conference games against the Raiders and Chiefs. The Jags are at 6-3 with the Colts, Patriots, and Browns remaining. 

Not helping the Jaguars’ cause is that they haven’t sold out this season and are subject to local television blackouts.

 

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens can only win their division if they win out and the Bengals lose out, which is not likely.

The Ravens, however, are a very scary proposition for the Broncos since they own the tiebreaker against the Broncos.

If Denver loses just one game and the Ravens win out, the Ravens will own the head-to-head on the Broncos, which in effect could push Denver out of the playoffs even if they win 10 games.

The Ravens currently own other tiebreakers against the Chargers and Steelers but lose them to the Patriots.

The Ravens could win out against Chicago, the Steelers, and at Oakland.

 

Miami and the Jets

The reality is these two teams are hanging on for life. Their best shot at the playoffs is if the Patriots lose their grip on the division and the Jaguars and Broncos lose games.

These two teams are on life support and need a lot of help.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers

Who are they kidding? The defending World Champions are done—stick a fork in them. The one thing they can do is beat Baltimore, which opens the door for Denver, Jacksonville, Miami, and New York.

 

For Broncos fans, the most direct route to the playoffs is three wins in a row. They could win the division and the second seed. As long as the Broncos beat the Raiders and Chiefs in Denver, their route is fairly secure, but they are highly vulnerable to the Ravens and Jaguars in tie scenarios for wild card slots. So losses by the Ravens and Jaguars are appreciated. 

 

Contact Chaz at sportsmanagement@gmail.com

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Broncos-Colts: Denver Disappoints But Had a Chance To Defeat Indianapolis

On the surface to most NFL fans, it may look like the Indianapolis Colts handily beat the Denver Broncos. However, the scoreboard and statistics are very misleading. I urge you to take a deeper look into the game and see how the Broncos defense handled Peyton Manning.

The first half was somewhat of a train wreck for the Broncos, and it really is the reason they lost the game. A lot of the blame goes to head coach Josh McDaniels for some very ordinary play calls in critical situations.

In the past, under Mike Shanahan**, the Broncos rarely kept it close against Manning and the Colts. His Broncos never beat Manning in a meaningful game. On Sunday, first-year head coach Josh McDaniels had a very tough task in front of him. With a two-game lead in the AFC Wild Card race, the Broncos were on the road in Indianapolis, facing an undefeated Colts team lead by a healthy Peyton Manning.

After struggling mightily after knee surgery in 2008, Manning has returned to very good form in 2009. His passer rating of 101.9 rates him fifth in the NFL. He has thrown 29 touchdowns with a pretty much completely new corps of wide receivers this season. Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie have been brought into the limelight under the wings of the future hall of famer.

Early in the season, Manning was lights out. He threw 20 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. That has changed as the quality of opponent has gotten better as of late. In his last four games, he has thrown only nine touchdowns and doubled his total interception total by throwing seven interceptions.

Even with his lack of success of late, the Colts are still unbeaten. Led by a stout defense and steady running from Joseph Addai, the Colts have managed to escape after being very vulnerable the past few weeks.

The Broncos had every chance to put the pressure on Manning and his teammates. Brian Dawkins and Champ Bailey turned Manning over on multiple occasions giving the Broncos a legit chance to get back into the game. After allowing touchdowns on the Colts’ first and second possessions, the Broncos defense forced a “three and out.”

Orton followed it up with a nice completion to Brandon Marshall, which moved the Broncos to their own 30 yard line. A sack of zero yards and a run of four by rookie Knowshon Moreno made it 3rd-and-6 from their own 34.

In his first sketchy call, the Broncos handed it off for only a two-yard gain. They were forced to punt, and Manning led the Colts down for another touchdown making it 21-0. I question the young head coach and his decision to run the ball in the situation because of his experience with New England.

He knows that to beat Manning you need to score points. A very conservative play call in a desperate situation, called for play that is more likely to net more than six yards.

From that point until late in the game, the Broncos pretty much controlled the ball and the Colts. On the next drive, the Broncos got what they desperately needed. Eight completions and 80 yards later, Orton had made it 21-7, hitting Brandon Marshall for a five-yard touchdown catch.

The Colts went “three and out” on their next drive, using only 32 seconds of the clock. Denver started their next drive at their own 46 yard line. With great field position and a chance to cut the lead to one score, McDaniels’ Broncos needed a big play.

With 1:41 on the clock, Moreno ran the ball for one yard on first down. On 2nd-and-9, a good pass to Moreno made it third and less than a yard from the Indianapolis 45-yard line. A run for no gain off of their right tackle, Tyler Polumbus made it a critical fourth down situation.

It was interesting that McDaniels decided to run behind one of his weaker lineman in such a crucial situation. At the start of the season, Pro Bowl-caliber right tackle Ryan Harris was starting. Due to an injury against the Baltimore Colts in which Harris dislocated two of his toes, the Broncos have had to make some changes up front. 

In most situations, you would figure that if the Broncos needed one yard, they would call on the guy up front, their stand out, Ryan Clady. McDaniels much like his mentor Bill Belichick has been willing to go for it in most fourth and short situations.

He decided to go with another run, this time up the middle behind the lightest of the Broncos lineman, Casey Wiegmann. They were absolutely stuffed and turned it over on downs to the Colts with about 40 seconds until halftime.

With only 34 seconds on the clock, Manning was trying to move the Colts into field goal range when he was intercepted by Brian Dawkins at the 50-yard line. A 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Darrell Reid cost the Broncos a realistic chance at a legitimate drive.

The Broncos went into halftime down by 14 points when it realistically should have been less than that.

The Broncos have made very good coaching adjustments in all of their victories at halftime in those games. Their defense has honed in on what the offense had success doing in the first half and they have been able to shut it down when they needed it the most.

The Broncos went “three and out” on their very first possession of the second half and a nice punt by Mitch Berger pinned the Colts inside their own 20.

The Denver defense forced Manning to a couple bad incompletions and they punted the ball right back to the Broncos. After gains equaling 24 yards, the Broncos were in business at midfield. A nine-yard scramble by Orton on second down moved Denver closer and brought up 3rd-and-1 from the Indianapolis 33.

A terrible delay of game penalty by the offensive coaches and quarterback made it 3rd-and-6. Orton was sacked and Denver was forced to punt again.

On the next Colts drive, Manning threw another interception to Brian Dawkins and the Broncos had the ball at the Indianapolis 37-yard line. Moving it down to the Indianapolis 15-yard line after a series of runs and passed made it 3rd-and-1 for the third time in the game. Another penalty backed up the Broncos, making it 3rd-and-6.

Orton’s next pass was badly underthrown and intercepted by the Colts. Squandering multiple opportunities has been the Broncos story in all of their losses this season. They made all of their bad mistakes at crucial moments in their comeback attempt. With first downs on Indianapolis’s side of the field on those two drives, coming away with zero points ensured the negative outcome.

To make things worse, Manning was still throwing the ball erratically and the Broncos got the ball back 50 seconds later. Back to back plays totaling 26 yards moved them deep in Colts territory again. Three plays later, the streaky place kicker, Matt Prater, missed a 42-yard field goal attempt, making it four straight possessions with no points.

Guess what happened on the next Colts drive? The very first play was intercepted by Darcel McBath. He returned the pick to the Indianapolis 24-yard line. By now most fans watching this game can’t believe how bad Manning is playing, not realizing that Denver could easily have tied or taken the lead had their offense put together any semblance of a drive.

Again, the Broncos decided to squander their opportunity. Unlike the last trip, Prater made his 28-yard field goal attempt. The Broncos had cut the lead to 11 with practically the entire fourth quarter in front of them.

Three straight quick incompletions in a matter of only 13 seconds gave the ball right back to the Broncos with a chance to make it a one-score game. A fairly quick, 11-play drive capped off by Brandon Marshall’s NFL record-tying 20th catch for a five-yard touchdown made it 21-16. The two-point conversion, another conservative run up the middle, was no good.

At this point, I’m thinking how could this have happened. All of those second half defensive adjustments have caused Manning this much trouble, no way. He has faced so many looks and tests through the years. After re-watching the majority of the game, a lot of the problems stem from inexperienced receivers. He is relying on kids out their to make on-the-fly adjustments to their routes.

The problem is, Marvin Harrison isn’t out there anymore. He has two reliable guys to throw the ball two, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark. He was unable to get the matchups he wanted, and Denver was doing a good job of matching up Dawkins on Clark.

The comeback came up a little short for the Broncos, as Manning made a critical and game-breaking 3rd-and-long throw to Austin Collie on the first set of the next series. From there, the Colts scored, making it 28-16 and that’s how it finished.

I beg all of you NFL critics and story writers to be a little more skeptical of the Colts’ 13-0 record. They remind me a lot of the 13-0 Denver Broncos of 1996. Young and talented on the outside with a veteran presence at quarterback.  That team lost a heartbreaker at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars led by Tom Coughlin. 

If I were predicting a playoff result right now, my guess is the Colts do not win their first home game. I think they are ripe for the playoff upset. Also, give the Denver Broncos a little more credit. As the fifth seed in the AFC right now, Denver should be considered a team to be reckoned with.

With two relatively easy matchups with rivals Kansas City and Oakland remaining on their schedule and a road matchup with the very good Philadelphia Eagles, Denver will most likely be playing the Bengals or Patriots on Wild Card Weekend.

If I were one of those teams and it works out that way, you better have all your guns ready because the Broncos can bring it when they’re on.

Successfully moving the ball down the field through the air, McDaniels again called a very conservative first down run. A coach who has been more than enthusiastic on the sidelines and has brought a new life to Denver Broncos footbal.

He absolutely destroyed them in two straight playoff games in 2003 and 2004. In 2003, Manning through four first half touchdowns and finished with a perfect passer rating.

He led the Colts to a 31-3 halftime lead and they finished it off by winning 41-10. The following season, Denver had to travel to Indianapolis for their first playoff game. In pretty much a repeat performance, Manning threw for 457 yards and four touchdowns. At halftime, the score was 35-3 and the Broncos had no answer for the 2003 and 2004 NFL MVP.

In 2006, Denver got a chance for payback against the Colts. Their hopes were dashed again when Manning came in to town. He threw for 345 yards and three touchdowns, all to wideout, Reggie Wayne. The Broncos kept it close by holding the Colts to only six first half points.

Manning found his groove in the second half. The Colts defeated the Broncos 34-31 and kept their perfect record in tact at the time. 2007 was no different than the previous three chances. In a Week Four battle, the Colts dominated the second half at home and defeated the Broncos 38-20.

Peyton Manning again threw for three touchdowns and added a running touchdown to his unbelievable statistics against the Denver Broncos. Beyond those games you have to go back to 1993 for the last time the Broncos won a meaningful game against the Indianapolis Colts. They did defeat the Colts in week 16 of the ’03-’04 season and week 17 of the ’04-’05 season. Both games meant absolutely nothing to the Colts.

They were going to be the third seed in the AFC no matter what the outcome was in both of those games. It just happen to turn out that they would end up having Denver as their opening round playoff opponent in both seasons.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

John Elway, Terrell Davis, and Seven More Reasons To Love the Denver Broncos

On a day in which the Denver Broncos lost once again to their greatest post-Elway nemesis, the Indianapolis Colts, I have decided to share seven of the great many reasons why the Denver Broncos are my favorite team. 

 

7. Great Success in Hideous Throwback Uniforms  

On two occasions this season, the Denver Broncos took the field in outfits more closely resembling those of the University of Wyoming than their own, and each time Denver prevailed against one of the league’s flagship teams.

Defeating the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots in consecutive games is an impressive enough feat, but to do so dressed like a team from the Mountain West Conference is downright rootin’ tootin’.

 

6.  America’s Greatest Famous Fan

The New York Jets may claim Fireman Ed, the Oakland Raiders have the Black Hole’s shoulder spiked residents, and the Cleveland Browns‘ Dog Pound features a bunch of guys and gals wearing studded collars and rubber dog masks.

In fact, nearly every team has a recognizable superfan who represents the rooting interests of the home team each week, but one would be hard pressed to find a fan possessing the dedication and bravado of Denver’s recently deceased Barrel Man .  

Wearing nothing more than a cowboy hat, cowboy boots and a Broncos’ logoed barrel held up with suspenders, Denver supporters could long rest assured that Barrel Man would be in the stands urging the men in orange to victory, whether it was 70 degrees on opening day or -10 on a December Monday night.

Tim McKernan, who passed away last week, only missed four games in over four decades as a Broncos ticket holder.  His dedication and commitment to his team, his family, and friends are characteristics everyone should emulate and respect.

Rest in peace, Barrel Man.

 

5.  Denver’s Orange Crush Defense

Aside from the Steel Curtain and the Purple People Eaters, Denver’s Orange Crush has the best nickname of any defensive unit in NFL history. 

I am too young to remember watching the original O.C.D., but Broncos defenders Karl Mecklenburg, Rulon Jones, Simon Fletcher, Greg Kragen, Lyle Alzado, and Dennis Smith helped form my earliest Denver memories.  

All-Pro safety Steve Atwater’s devastating tackle of Christian Okoye was one of the hardest hits of the 1990s and several other defensive stars, including John Mobley, Al Wilson, John Lynch, Champ Bailey, Elvis Dumervil, D.J. Williams, and Brian Dawkins have continued Denver’s defensive tradition in recent years up until today.

 

4.  They’re Not the Raiders

No Black Hole, no Al Davis, ’nuff said.  The Raiders are evil and Al Davis is Montgomery Burns. How many skeletons do you know with such a dogged commitment to “excellence?” 

 

3.  Terrell Davis and the Mile High Salute

Terrell Davis only played in seven NFL seasons, but in that short period of time, he put together a Hall of Fame caliber career including a four-year opening stretch in which he amassed 6,413 yards, a pair of NFL Offensive MVP awards and a Super Bowl MVP. 

Known to his teammates and fans as T.D., Davis created one of the league’s most understated, classy and popular scoring celebrations when he honored the Denver faithful with his post-touchdown Mile High Salute.

Unfortunately, T.D.’s career was shortened by leg injuries and a degenerative knee condition that never allowed him to fully recover from a pair of seemingly routine surgeries, but make no mistake, Terrell Davis is one of the greatest runners to play the game and a Denver Broncos icon.

 

2.  The Big Game

I have watched hundreds of great Broncos games over the years, but those etched most vividly in my memory and heart have also been among the most important in team history, for better and for worse. 

The Drive.  The Fumble.  Timmy Smith.  Jake Plummer.

I suffered with Dan Reeves’ AFC Champions during devastating Super Bowl losses to the Giants, Redskins, and 49ers in my earliest years as a Broncos fan and I rejoiced with Mike Shanahan’s back-to-back Super Bowl champions following wins over the Packers and Falcons in the late 1990s.

In 23 years, I have ascended to victory’s summit and sunk to the depths of defeat with my team as only a true fan may, and these experiences have shaped my relationship with the Broncos as I have remained a faithful supporter throughout.

However, the main reason I love the Broncos is…

 

1.  Number Seven

John Elway is Mr. Bronco. 

Dan Marino and Brett Favre passed for more touchdowns, and Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, and Tom Brady can flaunt more Super Bowl rings, but John Elway played with a swagger, a style, and a confidence that make him the greatest in my eyes.

Elway’s tailback legs, bazooka arm, and uncanny ability to lead his team to improbable comeback wins cemented his status as a legend of the game and a first ballot Hall of Famer. 

With No. 7 at quarterback, the Broncos nearly always had a chance to win the game and they did so more often than not. 

Mr. Elway will always be my favorite Bronco, the reason I became a fan and, I believe, one of the greatest and most important quarterbacks to ever play the game.

More importantly, though, he played a positive role in many of my fondest childhood memories as a sports fan and he was instrumental in shaping me into the Denver Broncos fan I am today. 

———————

Congratulations to Denver wideout Brandon Marshall for setting a new NFL single-game receiving record with 21 grabs today in a 28-16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The Three Amigos would be proud.

Kyle Orton also passed for a pair of touchdowns and completed nearly 80 percent of his passes on a day in which he outplayed Peyton Manning between the 20’s but could not lead his team to victory.

 

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Dear Santa…College Football Christmas Wishlist for the Denver Broncos

Dear Santa,

This Christmas I want my list to be a little bit different. This year, I want to give all of my presents to the Denver Broncos.

In college football, there are a select group of players that may or may not enter this year’s NFL Draft, and the Broncos could use some of them. Obviously, it would be great if they could have all of them, but I realize you are Santa Claus and not God himself.

The following is a list of the players I feel best define what Josh and Brian are looking for on the Denver Broncos. Players with high character, toughness, and versatility. Players who are willing to be coached, and players who fit our system well.

P.S. Say thanks for me to the Big Man upstairs for Jay Cutler’s karma, for if not for the newest Chicago Bear quarterback’s horrible start, the Broncos would not have a shot at the top ten of the draft and would have only their likely playoff appearance to rub in his face.

Your friend,

Sayre

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Denver Broncos 2010 Mock Draft: Part Three

For my first few mock drafts, I have projected the Broncos to make a trade out of their first round pick which was acquired from the Chicago Bears. This time is no different.
The Broncos would be extremely wise to trade down. This is a deep draft, and they could address multiple areas of need with a bevy of higher picks.

As it stands, the Broncos’ draft would currently look as such:

Round one, pick 9
Round two, pick 25
Round three, pick 24
Round four, pick 23
Round six, pick 27
Round seven, pick 26

Here is my projected trade:

**Broncos trade pick number nine in round one to New England for pick 21 in round one, pick 20 in round two, and the 21st pick in round five**

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Denver Broncos’ Ryan Harris out for Remainder of Season, Herb Taylor Signed

Denver Broncos‘ right tackle Ryan Harris was placed on injured reserve today after aggravating a toe injury suffered earlier this season.

For this to be my first article breaking the horrid news of a player landing on injured reserve is a serious testament to the new regime’s training and conditioning program.

The Broncos did place Nick Griesen and J’Vonne Parker on injured reserve prior to the season, but neither was expected to be a starter or maybe even make the final roster. 

Harris will be replaced by Colorado native Tyler Polumbus, who replaced him when he went down earlier this season as well.  Polumbus is in his second year out of Colorado and was really showing signs of improving when Harris returned to the lineup against the Chiefs.

Unlike the last time Harris went down, Polumbus will now have starting experience and good chemistry with the first unit.  The transition should be a lot more smooth, and Polumbus’ development will be key as the Broncos prepare to attempt an upset of the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday.

Harris’ departure of the active roster to the injured reserve opens a roster spot which was filled by former Kansas City Chiefs tackle Herb Taylor.

Taylor, a sixth round draft pick in 2007 out of TCU signs with the Broncos days after visiting with the Indianapolis Colts.  He was drafted by the Chiefs and let go at the conclusion of training camp this past summer.

He appeared in two games as a rookie and in all 16 games last season.  He was a first team All-WAC performer in his junior and senior seasons at TCU, and according to the Denver Broncos’ official website, he set a team record with 48 consecutive starts. 

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

The Denver Broncos Panicked Attitude Switch Is Paying Off

Two weeks ago, the Denver Broncos had the opportunity to get back on track and take the edge away from the San Diego Chargers.

Somehow the Broncos let the opportunity slip away in a game that put the Chargers at the top of the AFC West.

It also had Denver on a four-game skid with no answers in sight.

On the horizon, a short week with a game on Thanksgiving night against the New York Giants about to hit front and center.

It was at that time the Broncos needed a wake-up call.

It was time to panic, if the 2009 Denver Broncos were going to reach the AFC Playoffs.

It wasn’t that the Broncos lost to the San Diego Chargers in Denver when they could have owned the inside track to the division themselves.

It’s more the way in which they lost to San Diego.

They showed a lack of focus and the lack of a team pulse.

That was when enough became enough.

A players-only meeting was called for by Brian Dawkins.

He is a veteran who has shown that, in him, the Broncos have a gem of a player and a leader they have lacked the last few seasons.

Moreover, it’s helped to change the team’s identity on the defensive side of the ball and fueled a fire not seen there in quite some time.

It’s been debated whether or not player-only meetings are productive or helpful to the future growth of football teams.

The argument against them is they are a waste of time and really are only reserved for teams that are in trouble. 

The argument for having a meeting like that is that it’s an opportunity to air out any differences and make sure the entire team has an elevated sense of what needs to happen for the remainder of the season.

In Denver’s case, both the arguments for and against a players-only meeting probably applied to the state of the team at that point.

There was a need for a meeting, and the team has since proven there is no sense in dwelling on the issues, but certainly a solid response was required.

The Broncos say they weren’t panicking, and you have to believe them, nonetheless the need for urgency was there and the panicked attitude switch absolutely came into play.

What’s encouraging to see—since the Broncos lost to San Diego—are the decisive efforts they have had as a team against the Giants and the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Broncos got back to their early season style—finding ways to win.

But more than that, they found ways to dominate. 

Against the New York Giants, the Denver Broncos rushed for 138 yards against one of the best front-sevens in football.

Against Kansas City, the Broncos exploded for 245 yards on the ground.

Defensively, the Broncos yielded only 57 yards on the ground to the Giants and 98 to the Chiefs.

Neither team was able to establish control against the Broncos.

This happened in part due to the offensive output and the mitigating performance by the Broncos defense.

It seems these types of efforts could not have come at a better time for a team that was hot, then got irreversibly cold.

The Denver Broncos have more than just a win against the Giants and a key win in Kansas City over the weekend.

Believe it or not, the Broncos have a two-game edge over two teams that could knock them out of the wild-card playoff slot. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Oakland Raiders at home on Sunday, and the Baltimore Ravens lost at Green Bay on Monday Night Football.

Two weeks ago, the Broncos were on the outside looking in; now they have a two-game edge over the teams that could oust them from a postseason slot with four games remaining in the regular season.

Herein lays the Broncos payoff to their current rally cry.

They chose to hit the panic switch in the nick of time, and it’s paying off huge dividends to put them back into the playoff hunt.

Even more so, should the Broncos beat the Indianapolis Colts on their home field, it will knock the Colts from the ranks of the unbeaten while sending a message.

It will be the Broncos way of essentially serving notice to the rest of the league, that they will be ready for the postseason once it hits. 

A win at Indy could prove that the Broncos are real contenders for the ultimate prize. 

Additionally, and most importantly, it could put pressure on San Diego and give Denver a leg up on the division should the Chargers falter along the way.

Call them streaky.

Call them beatable.

But call them a team that is on the verge of solidifying a playoff berth.

As things currently set, the general thought is 10 wins makes a wild-card team in the AFC this year.

That means Denver needs two wins, Jacksonville three, and Pittsburgh and Baltimore must win out to reach 10 wins. 

Provided the Broncos stay on edge and can win at least two games, they have a solid shot at making the playoffs.

The Ravens and Steelers play each other once more, meaning one of those teams is almost certainly out of contention—we just don’t know which one as of yet.

Jacksonville holds a slim one-game lead over those two teams but has a challenging schedule down the stretch.

 

Key Broncos’ Stats

The Denver Broncos had their challenges over a four-game stretch, but somehow still have the third-best defense overall and the third-best scoring defense behind the Bengals and the Colts.

The Broncos have given up an average of 16.8 points per game.

This just reinforces the idea that the defense is a solid core, despite the four losses by large margins.

The Broncos also boast the ninth-best rushing attack in the NFL.

It might not seem all that amazing until you consider that there are only two teams in the top 10 that are probable playoff teams.

The Broncos could prove to have one of the more potent rushing attacks in the playoffs, should they make it.

Currently, Broncos rookie running back Knowshon Moreno leads all NFL rookies with a 64.5 per game average rushing.

Moreno may reach the 1,000-yard mark by the end of the season, since he currently sits on 774 yards accumulated. 

That is 244 yards better than the next closest rookie running back.

So while Moreno has only been over the century mark once, his contributions to the one-two punch with veteran Correll Buckhalter appear to be a solid change of pace. 

This tandem is keeping the Broncos in games and starting to establish a window of dominance the team can exploit down the stretch and into the playoffs. 

Moreno is currently ranked 15th and Buckhalter 29th among all NFL rushers.

It’s a different NFL nowadays, as well, with only six rushers over the 1,000 yard mark through 12 games. 

The Broncos’ tandem appears to be in good shape with 1,337 total yards, which would rank them second behind Tennessee Titans‘ RB Chris Johnson’s 1,509 yards.

No other tandem is currently in that realm.

Defensively, the Broncos’ D-end Elvis Dumervil leads the NFL in sacks with 15—a full 2.5 sacks ahead of the next closest pass rusher, the Minnesota Vikings‘ Jared Allen. 

Elvis has an outside shot at the all-time NFL record.

He would require two sacks per game for the remaining four games.

Given his speed, leverage, and technique, anything seems possible for a guy who once lead the NCAA in sacks.

Probably the most important stat is the final score.

While the Broncos now seem to be hitting their stride, they have to find more ways to create points. 

Denver is a sub-par 21st in the NFL in average points per game at 20.

Consider the top five scoring teams: undefeated New Orleans (36.7 pts/game); Minnesota (29.9 pts/game); San Diego (28.5 pts/game); Indianapolis (27.6 pts/game); and New England (27.3 pts/game)

 

The Final Note

Who is the 22nd offensive team behind the Denver Broncos, you might ask?

That would be Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears.

That telling stat shows one very clear thing about the Broncos and Jay Cutler: They were both far better together than they have been apart.

It seems that if there is one thing that has plagued the Broncos this season, it’s the lack of a legitimate threat at the quarterback position.

Whether you were a fan of the Cutler trade or not, the Broncos are 21st in scoring, when they underachieved at 16th last season.

In fact, the Broncos’ total output in 2008 finished the season second only to New Orleans in total yards.

In 2009, the team won’t even reach the top 10.

So what does all this really mean?

Well, it’s hard to break down entirely, but the Broncos have not improved on offense under Josh McDaniels.

The Broncos are still showing some deficiencies in the red zone and are not scoring as much as they did a year ago.

The Broncos had issues in the red zone last season and were supposed to correct those this season.

Ironically enough, the team appears to be working on those red zone situations in some regard against the Giants and Chiefs

and it may be possible that the best is yet to come.

 

Contact Chaz at sportsmangement@gmail.com

 

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Why the Broncos Can, and Just Might Upset the 12-0 Colts on Sunday

For years, the bane of the Denver Broncos‘ existence has been Peyton Manning and his Indianapolis Colts. 

Dating back to the early 2000s, one of the most lop-sided matchups in the NFL has been the dominance of the Indianapolis Colts over the Denver Broncos. 

These aren’t the same Denver Broncos.

I realize the Colts are undefeated, and that they are playing this game at home.  I know that a victory for them clinches a first-round bye.  I even understand the magnitude of the potential NFL record 22nd straight regular season victory for the Colts.

But so do they, and that may not be the best thing. 

In the NFL, winning is winning, and you can’t make excuses for it.  The Colts have been up to every task so far, but they are walking on eggshells.

This is a team living on the edge, winning half of their games by four points or less.  They also overcame a 17-point deficit against the Houston Texans two weeks ago.

Again, the only thing that is important is that they are winning, but the living on the edge could stop when Denver visits Lucas Oil Stadium this Sunday.

The Colts are a very favorable matchup for the Broncos, provided Denver brings the game it played in the eight games they won rather than the four games they were blown out in.

The Colts’ rushing offense is putrid, ranking 32nd in the NFL with nearly 88 yards per game.  Despite the inept running attack the Colts boast, they still rank fourth in the NFL in total offense and scoring. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Indianapolis ranks a very mediocre 18th against the run, allowing 111.7 yards per contest. 

This is an area the Broncos must take advantage of, and very well should.

Denver’s rushing offense ranks ninth in the NFL at 125.6 yards per contest, and they might be one of the hottest units in the league.

Correll Buckhalter made Kansas City‘s run defense look absolutely silly, averaging over nine yards per carry.  Rookie Knowshon Moreno is in his best stretch as a pro, rushing for 86 yards in each of the last two games and scoring three of his five touchdowns in that timeframe.

Additionally, Denver fans breathed a sigh of relief when Peyton Hillis, the breakout running back from 2008, was spotted on the field against the Chiefs.  He came in on the final drive of the game and ran the ball seven times for 47 yards.

A welcome sight for the Broncos and their fans, to be sure.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Broncos had really been struggling against the run until the last two games.  They rank 16th in this particular category, which is clearly the weakest part of their defensive attack.

The Broncos should be able to limit Joseph Addai and the Colts’ running game while running the ball well themselves.

Another area where the Broncos could excel defensively is in the passing game.  Obviously, the focal point of the Colts’ offense is their elite passing game featuring two of the league’s best in Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne.

Manning and Wayne lead the NFL’s top-ranked passing attack, but they face a very stiff task in Denver who ranks second in the entire league in passing defense.

Denver is led by All-Pros Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins, and veterans Renaldo Hill and André Goodman who lead the team with a combined six interceptions.  The Broncos also added veteran Ty Law and top youngsters Darcel McBath, Alphonso Smith, and David Bruton to the mix in their defensive backfield.

Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of Denver’s defense is their pass rush, which is a big reason for the success of the defensive backfield.

Led by current NFL sack king Elvis Dumervil, the Bronco pass rush has been rejuvenated under Mike Nolan in the 3-4 defensive scheme.  Denver features 10 different players who have recorded a sack in 2009, and it could become 11 if rookie first-round pick Robert Ayers records his first quarterback takedown of the season against Indianapolis.

The Broncos rank fifth in the NFL with 34 sacks, and the Colts lead the NFL with only 10 sacks allowed.  This will be the key matchup in the game, as the Broncos have to apply pressure to Peyton Manning to be able to win.

Another thing the Broncos have on their side is the simple fact that the Colts are undefeated, which may be confusing on the surface.

I know this isn’t baseball, and may not even be applicable, but in baseball when a team is on a hot streak, it is not the worst thing to have to play them.  Winning streaks are bound to end, and the Colts’ win streak isn’t exactly picking up steam.

The Broncos could catch them at their highest point, and bring them back down to earth.  The Colts are not likely going to go 16-0, and with their defense ailing worse than it has in years, this could be the week for them to slip up.

I am not going to be so bold as to say the Broncos will go into Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday and beat the undefeated Colts, but I would say it is a definite possibility.

I think this is a very favorable matchup for the Broncos, who are in desperate need for a win this weekend to potentially gain ground on the San Diego Chargers who also have a tough road game in the works.

Maybe the Broncos will finally get the best of Peyton Manning and the Colts.  Maybe the stars will align just right, and Denver will even stick it to Indy on their home turf.

Maybe all those years of blowout playoff and regular season losses were all just setting up this contest, where neither team’s sideline will feature the likes of Mike Shanahan or Tony Dungy.

Maybe, just maybe.

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

Swagger Regained, the Denver Broncos Must Step Up Once Again

44-13 over the Kansas City Chiefs. The way it should be.

With their four-game freefall and the depths of depression feeling far off, the Denver Broncos have now won two games in a row to move their record to 8-4.

They currently sit at the fifth seed in the AFC, occupying the first of two wild-card openings. They are second in the AFC West, behind the red-hot San Diego Chargers, winners of seven straight.

The final four weeks of the season will prove challenging for the Broncos, and they will need to continue playing at the level exhibited on Sunday in Kansas City.

First on the schedule is a trip to “the Oil Can” or Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the undefeated Indianapolis Colts.

The Denver pass defense will be put to the test by Peyton Manning and the extremely high-powered Colts offense. It will be imperative for the Broncos to keep pressure on Manning, and the defensive backs must continue the exceptional play they have shown over the past two games.

As the New England Patriots and Houston Texans have both demonstrated, no lead is safe when Manning and the Colts’ offense is on the opposite sideline, and the Broncos will have to score early and often to keep the pressure on for all 60 minutes.

If the Broncos end up on the short side of a relatively close game, it would be a respectable showing.

The following week, they must play the suddenly-upstart Oakland Raiders. With shocking last-second wins against the Bengals and Steelers, the Raiders have become a semi-legitimate opponent.

This will be a critical game for the Broncos, especially if they fall in Indy. A win at home against the Raiders would put the hypothetical record at 9-5, likely retaining the fifth seed.

Two days after Christmas, the Broncos will visit Philadelphia in Brian Dawkins’ much-anticipated homecoming. In a game that could go either way, the Broncos will need to play physical football and put pressure on Donovan McNabb.

If the Broncos are able to leave Philadelphia with a 10-5 record, both players and fans should be very proud of their team.

More importantly, the team would then have the opportunity to give some starters a much-needed rest during the regular season finale against the Chiefs.

The Denver Broncos have re-focused themselves, worked hard, and righted the ship. As bad as the four game losing streak felt, in hindsight it may have happened at exactly the right time.

Losing streaks that begin a season can be detrimental to team and fanbase morale, and losing streaks to finish the season can knock a competitive team out of the play-offs, a situation that is all too familiar in Denver.

Losing streaks that fall smack in the middle of the season, however, can be enough to force the players to “wake up” and refocus without damaging either morale or even play-off hopes.

The Denver Broncos have a very real shot at finishing the 2009 season with an 11-5 record, far better than anyone would give them credit for in the preseason.

With this in mind, it is time to once again step things up. Step up practicing, step up effort, step up with the leadership.

The time is now for this team to drive away the demons of last year and regain their status as one of the AFC’s strongest contenders, maybe even venturing to say “AFC’s elite.”

Read more Denver Broncos news on BleacherReport.com

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