Broncos Rumors + News + Blog + Draft 2012: Broncos Mix

It's Now or Never to Trade Orton

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Bruning) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:40:00 +0000

By Dave Bruning

The Denver Broncos have been given a small, second window of opportunity to trade Kyle Orton, and they should make it happen.

The original opportunity came during the preseason and the Broncos’ would-be trading partner was the Miami Dolphins. It appeared the trade would happen, but things fell apart at the altar. I applauded John Elway at the time for not caving in and giving Orton away for the low-ball offer the Dolphins were fishing with. Now, however, the time has come to cut bait.

Miami starting quarterback Chad Henne injured his shoulder and has undergone season-ending surgery. Backup Matt Moore is what the Dolphins are staring at as their new starting quarterback. A trade of Orton to Miami for a 3rd or 4th round pick makes sense for both teams and the timing is perfect. Miami is on a bye this week, and Denver has their bye next week. Let’s look at the trade in a little more detail.

Denver head coach John Fox has steadfastly maintained Orton is the starter despite overwhelming public outcry for Tim Tebow. I respect Fox’s stand here as Orton clearly won the job and is the better player. The head coach must play the best players; it is one of the most important ways to gain the respect of your players. Trading Orton would eliminate any second guessing about preferential treatment for Tebow or caving in to public sentiment. Hell, Brady Quinn should share the new-found playing time over a 3-4 game trial period and then let the player who performs the best finish the season as the Broncos starting quarterback. It is time find out if either player can be a starting NFL quarterback. My gut feeling is the answer is no.

From Miami’s perspective they acquire a veteran quarterback at a minimal cost whom they tried to obtain in the preseason. Let’s face it, neither of these teams is going anywhere and both should be shopping for a new starting quarterback in next year’s NFL draft. Andrew Luck of Stanford, Landry Jones of Oklahoma and Matt Barkeley of USC all will be available, and both of these teams are staring at a top-5 draft pick next year.

This proposed trade will not in all likelihood improve either team. It is a trade of convenience and necessity. Denver and Miami stumbled at the altar once. The second window will close quickly. I hope Elway picks up the phone and Miami answers.

Tebow vs. Newton: The Tale of the Tape

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Bruning) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:53:00 +0000

By Dave Bruning

I have never been a particular fan of sports talk radio at any time of the day. Recently, though, I have to admit I have become a fan of JT the Brick, airing late nights on Fox Sports Radio. I work nights and his show is spirited banter for my ride home. On a recent evening before the NFL season began, JT solicited thoughts on the long term success of Tim Tebow vs. Cam Newton. This invitation inspired me and prompted me to put together the “Tale of the Tape: Tebow vs. Newton.”

Tebow and Newton are very interesting character studies as potential NFL quarterbacks. A trip to the library is in order to study, dissect and predict the future of these two charismatic athletes.

I think a normal comparison of two athletes or individuals begins with what they share in common, generally positive attributes. The case of Tebow vs. Newton dictates their differences be addressed first. I say this because I believe their differences will largely dictate not only their potential success, but also the opportunity each is given to succeed.

Cam Newton is starting as a rookie because he does not have an established veteran making $9 million to compete with. Newton’s competition is former Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Claussen. Tim Tebow is not starting because veteran Kyle Orton commands that $9 million salary and is clearly better prepared to play

Newton was the first pick in his draft class. Tebow was the 25th overall draft pick the year before Newton. Newton was not initially thought of as the #1 pick, but came on strongly. Tebow was never considered #1 overall, and most feel his selection in the first round was a HUGE reach by then head coach of Denver, Josh McDaniels.

Newton is the quarterback of the Carolina Panthers. The great college basketball rivalry of Duke vs. North Carolina is at the top of the Carolina sports pyramid, chased closely by NASCAR. This is a cozy back drop for Newton to develop his skills. Newton is going to have the opportunity to mature and develop as a quarterback. Denver lives, breathes and bleeds Bronco football. Lunatic Bronco fans want to spend $10,000 on billboards to promote Tebow as Denver’s starting quarterback when the consensus is he is currently the third string quarterback. This suffocating environment is akin to trying to breathe with a burlap potato sack over one’s head. Tebow probably longs for the brutal humidity of Florida for some clean air.

Newton has a very strong NFL arm. Tebow does not. Newton’s delivery is solid. Tebow’s is elongated and slow. Newton possesses better speed than Tebow.

This dialogue is not meant to be a negative breakdown of Tebow’s skills when measured against Newton’s. As I mentioned earlier, I believe the differences in their skill sets are telling. Let’s look at some differences that favor Tebow.

Tebow’s work ethic is unquestioned. There is not a single NFL fan who does not know how Tebow will respond to adversity. We all know he will dig his heels in deep and work harder than anybody. We don’t know that about Newton. He seems to have taken the easy way out and escaped without much scrutiny. He left Florida after involvement in a theft scandal. His time at Auburn is shrouded in mystery and doubt regarding his father’s dealings to secure the playing future of his son. Mystery and doubt are two words never associated with Tebow. Both men won a Heisman Trophy and led their team to a national championship. College is a plateau for some; a stepping stone for others.

Maybe the answer to their respective futures lies in the above paragraph. We seem to know what Tebow can do, and it is limited on the NFL level. On the other hand, Newton just seems to be scratching the surface of his NFL ability, despite doubts about his character. His situation in Carolina definitely seems to favor his development as an NFL quarterback over Tebow’s situation in Denver. A sad reality for this Denver fan.

Saved by the Locksmith

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Bruning) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:52:00 +0000

By Dave Bruning

The lockout is finally over. I have been on hiatus since Green Bay beat Pittsburgh. My computer and I had numerous issues to resolve before I could continue blogging and sharing my NFL thoughts with my 6 readers. God Bless all of you for your patience as I reworked my collective bargaining agreement with my computer.

First of all, I will continue to blog without monetary compensation. This was the primary reason for the lockout. Apparently words of wisdom aren’t cheap unless I’m writing them. Rest assured though, I did not entirely cave. My computer agreed to fix a sticking “L” key and the spell check option agreed to quit laughing at me. I did have to purchase a Tim Tebow mouse pad; surprisingly it was not hard to find! I did receive an autographed Tim Tebow Bible as part of my settlement. It’s amazing what you can get accomplished with a little give and take. GB bartering! Have you seen the Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith “Ebony and Ivory” video? Let’s play some football!

This whole lockout reminds me of getting locked out of my car. You can see the keys sitting there on the seat. You know your ex-girlfriend flushed your spare key down the toilet. You begrudgingly call the locksmith and he charges you $50 to unlock your door in 8.3 seconds. Not a bad hourly rate if I do say so myself.

Sarcasm aside, the NFL lockout is mercifully over. I fully expected an agreement to be reached, but honestly thought NFL fans would be looking at a 12-game season. It shouldn’t be that hard to split up a $9 billion dollar pie. I did it at home with my wife and daughter several times. In all fairness, we always seemed to end up fighting over the last billion dollars. The mirror says greed is not pretty, and the mirror doesn’t lie (a Def Leppard classic by the way).

Seriously, all sarcasm aside. I think the owners and players did a respectable job of settling their differences, although I think a lockout could have been avoided by exercising a little common sense. The owners clearly deserve to profit from their elite position in sports, as do the players. The owners strike me as dairy farmers who will try to milk a dry cow. Yes, they own the farm, but don’t quite seem to know how to take care of the farm. The players drive the game of football; it’s who the fans connect with and are passionate about. The best part of the new collective bargaining agreement is the new pension and health benefits for the players. The fans hear very little about the health of players post retirement. There is not a single player who leaves the NFL without a debilitated body. Post concussion syndrome is just one example of the hidden, long-lasting effects of an NFL career on the human body. Both sides deserve some credit for getting this right and working through their other issues; it just should not have taken a lockout to make it happen.

The 2011 NFL season has been saved. Goodell and Smith have come off as shining knights that saved the day. All it really took was acting in the best interest of the sport. Perhaps the United States Congress could learn a thing or two about negotiating from the NFL. Talk about a scary thought.

P.S. – I reserved the right with my lawyer and my computer to buy a new laptop next year if I am unhappy with our new deal.

Tebow can't do Dallas

noreply@blogger.com (Cory Whitmer) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 22:06:00 +0000

Written by Cory Whitmer

The Broncos hit the field for the first time yesterday for preseason action against QB Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys.

Broncos QB Kyle Orton played one series, going 2-for-6 with 37 yards passing. The march straight up the field was fueled by RB Knowshon Moreno who broke off some first downs and looked pretty good during the first drive.

Orton looked ok and could’ve shown better if the starters stayed on the field longer than one series.

The defense looked alive and did a serviceable job in the opening of the game, preventing Dallas from scoring and sending Romo off the field without having led a scoring drive.

Second string QB Tim Tebow took the field and the show began …

Tebow did not have a good game and looked a bit lost most of the time. Tebow fans disagreed whole heartedly on Facebook after his performance ended in the third quarter with over 90 yards passing, a couple rushes and a 118.8 QB rating, which does not encompass all the mistakes he made. His QB rating should be much lower, but is not, because of fortunate penalties. He had a pass intercepted that was stricken from the record because of defensive pass interference and a few other ill-advised passes were given back because of other penalties.

Tebow is going to have to realize this is the NFL and he isn’t Michael Vick. While he had a good TD run that was cancelled by a penalty on the play, he also had a play that ended with him running around the field, shaking tackles, to throw a complete pass short of the down marker that all resulted in three penalties against the Broncos. The Tebow show was nothing to be too proud of.

I haven’t seen a team commit so many penalties and still only lose by one point. The discipline at the line is going to have to increase. It’s usual for a preseason game with second and third string guys playing to have messy penalties, but not to the point where it is happening constantly.

Also the ball snap was less than desirable. Between Tebow fumbling the ball around and the ball being snapped high in the air, it is going to have to be severely adjusted. The QB should not be fetching the ball out of the air after the snap.

Third string QB Brady Quinn didn’t have a very good outing despite leading two touchdown drives. One of his touchdowns was overthrown and Quinn was lucky that his man was able to get up and get the ball, and keep his feet in the endzone.

Even after playing just one series, it is obvious that the starting job most certainly belongs to Kyle Orton. At the very least he led a fast paced drive to the red zone but like usual, couldn’t finish it in the endzone.

It was a battle of field goals at the onset of the game that Dallas ultimately won 24-23.

Follow me on Twitter @CoryWhitmer

Broncos go thrifty and LeBron has Tebow's back

noreply@blogger.com (Cory Whitmer) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:20:00 +0000

Written by Cory Whitmer

The Broncos have not been the most active team in free agency, signing only one notable FA in Willis McGahee. The explanation could be attributed to the Broncos wanting to be thrifty with their money in possible hope of having more cash to spend next season.

The Broncos look to be more determined in their rebuilding efforts by going through the draft instead of free agency.

If this is the line of thinking coming from the offices of Dove Valley, I say go for it. Aside from McGahee, who got a four-year contract, the other free agent signees have all received one-to-two year deals which shows that Denver is in favor of cooking dinner at home than going out to eat. Raising home grown talent that was groomed by your people, in your playbook can go a long way to having team cohesion.

As training camp grinds on, so does the “Can Tebow play?” battle. Chiming in this week was ESPN analyst Merril Hoge who stated this week that after watching Tim Tebow play for a few years that he is sure that Tebow will not succeed as a quarterback and then proceeded to unleash on the inadequacies of Tebow in probably the harshest way I have yet to hear of.

Tebow tweeted out after the bit on ESPN with “Hey Merril,…‘ppreciate that,” in the style of his FRS commercial.

Coming to Tim’s defense? LeBron James.

King James tweeted out that the talking heads don’t know what they’re talking about; to stop hating and that Tim will prove them all wrong because he is a “winner.”

Unfortunately, for Tim the consensus around Dove Valley is that Kyle Orton is leading the way in the QB competition.

Tebow’s time will come, I am still holding on to the idea that Orton will still find a home elsewhere and Miami fans are turning, fast. QB Chad Henne is constantly being booed in practice and there are chants of “We want Orton.” Miami Coach Tony Sporano said he is “disgusted” by the fans attitude towards the team and Henne.

If you want to end it, Sporano, then push to get Orton. Of course the fans are disgusted, the organization tried to replace the current coach with Jim Harbaugh (now in San Francisco), got a bad year from Henne and actively pursued Orton once free agency began.

A trade is still an option, it is going to take Henne being terrible in the preseason to possibly make it happen. Miami has QB Matt Moore on their roster, who was drafted by Carolina last season. He could be a part of a possible package for Orton when Miami gets desperate.

Follow me on Twitter @Cory Whitmer

Orton stays ... for now

noreply@blogger.com (Cory Whitmer) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 03:10:00 +0000

Written by Cory Whitmer

Day Two of training camp and Tim Tebow was behind center, of the second team. Kyle Orton, the subject of "for sure" trade rumors to Miami, was taking the snaps with the first team.

The trade did not happen as speculated. The "done deal" went cold.

Local talk says that there is no trade and it is being sold as "over".

The Miami Herald says otherwise. The trade has just stalled according to the Miami news and is still an option. The hang-up is supposedly the structure Orton and his team require contractually.

Miami and Orton's team may still try to work out a deal that is mutually beneficial for all. Kyle has been a "company" man his whole career and now wants to be the one calling his own shots. He has made that clear by stating he "will not be anyone's back up," when asked about the possibility of being #2 to Tim Tebow.

There is still a chance that Kyle Orton could be the second big name in Colorado to be traded after the Colorado Rockies traded their ace pitcher, Ubaldo Jimenez to the Cleveland Indians on Saturday evening.

Orton will be on a shorter leash if the season does not begin well and could easily be pulled to thrust Tebow into the starting spot. The fan base is restless of Orton, supporter or not and will want to see something new and not the same 'ol neck beard show of short passes, check downs and statue pocket presence.

Follow me on Twitter @CoryWhitmer

Lock Out Lifted, Engage Broncos Free Agency

noreply@blogger.com (Cory Whitmer) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 01:54:00 +0000

Written By Cory Whitmer

...and on the 132nd day, the Lock Out was ended. The owners and players finally came to an agreement on a new CBA that will last 10 years. We shall see how the next CBA expiration fairs, but until then it's on to probably the most exciting Free Agency period in NFL history.

Since the beginning of Free Agency NFL Insider Adam Shefter is probably on course to win a Twitter award as he has been firing away updates on player movement that has been rampant.

One place it hasn't been? Denver.

Since the beginning of Free Agency, Denver has managed to trade WR Jabar Gaffney to Washington for DE Jeremy Jarmon. No blockbuster trade here, just a Supplemental Draftee that had to forgo his senior year at Kentucky because of a positive test for a banned substance.

Can't say losing Gaffney hurts too awful much.

What is truly perplexing is two things: why a team that has many needs hasn't been more active and why is Kyle Orton still a Bronco?

The Broncos have holes it needs to fill on both sides of the line, it requires a better corps of receivers and there are no serviceable tight ends. That is just the start.

Aside from those glaring gaps, there is the Kyle Orton situation. The Broncos had become involved in trade talks with Washington, San Francisco and Miami as possible landing spots for good 'ol neck beard.

Washington still seems likely as they traded Donovan McNabb to Minnesota, leaving them with only one QB, John Beck.

San Fran seems committed to Alex Smith thus far and then there is Miami...

Miami got Brandon Marshall last off-season, just acquired Reggie Bush and now seem to be the most likely spot for Kyle Orton to take his mediocre talents to South Beach. The problem is that the Broncos are in training camp and Kyle Orton sits #1 on the depth chart.

Both Kyle and Tim Tebow have played their parts well the last two days trying their best to be cordial, well actually Kyle has tried to be cordial, Tim has been his regular "ah shucks" self and been quiet about it or deflected it. The majority of the city wants him gone and for this franchise to succeed in some way this season Kyle Orton has to go somewhere else, and he deserves to.

Orton is a serviceable QB and with a good supporting cast he could be ok somewhere else, just not in Denver.

The people demand Tebow and the future of the Broncos lies in the hands of Timothy Richard Tebow. For better or for worse.

Follow me on Twitter @CoryWhitmer

Team dividing lines?

noreply@blogger.com (Cory Whitmer) — Wed, 18 May 2011 03:27:00 +0000

Written by: Cory Whitmer

The 2011 Lock-out continues on as scheduled thanks to the appellate court upholding the NFL’s stay on their pending appeal of the ruling last month, which will reconvene June 3rd. Until that time, Broncos news continues to grind away in trickles. Dumervil was acquitted of his assault charge stemming from a case of unknown identity during the season when he lacked credentials to enter (Invesco Field at) Mile High.

Cox plead not guilty to his two sexual assault charges and a guy named Brandon Marshall got attacked by the most unlikeliest of people, an intimate partner. This time around, the wife.

What I am most ‘concerned’ about currently is the divide I feel may be drawn between the two teams: Team Orton and Team Tebow. It was reported last month by the Denver Post that Tim Tebow along with Eddie Royal, Jabar Gaffney and Brandon Lloyd were getting together and working out on a field. Not too long afterwards it was made known that incumbent QB, Kyle Orton, was working out with Eric Decker, Zane Beadles, LenDale White and ten others were getting together at the Family Sports Center dome in Centennial for work-out, on Orton’s dime.

My issue with this is that during Tebow’s starts at season end, Orton was not seen on camera once trying to help the rookie and also wasn’t very complimentary about Tebow, actually very aloof, during press conferences. Not a surprise given that the fans have spoken and enough voices are calling for Tebow to be the next starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos. The fact they are not working together during the offseason only draws the line in the sand even deeper. On one side are Orton’s guys and on Tebow’s side are his.

Trade rumors are circulating that Arizona has made inquiry into acquiring Orton, which would be a good choice for all involved. Orton may be an insurance plan, but even the fans are mostly done with him and he won’t be able to get a real shot here. He just doesn’t embody the qualities that Broncos fans expect out of their QB. Only The Snake, Jake Plummer, has been close and he was still more aloof then what we wanted. Cutler was exciting, but has the personality and demeanor of a depressed spoiled rich kid. Entitled and avoidant. Tim Tebow is the personable, albeit cliché, player that will create entertaining, exciting plays.

This team can’t unite under one QB until one of them (Orton) is wearing a different uniform come Week 1. If Denver wants to continue with Orton then Orton is going to have to make this offense hum and the defense is going to have to give the offense field to work with.

Drafting an Orange and Blueprint for a New Fox Hole

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Bruning) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:46:00 +0000

By Dave Bruning

The rebuilding of the Denver Broncos organization has begun. The Josh McDaniels’ era ended in disgrace both on and off the field. The Broncos are moving forward by returning to their past. The building of a new Fox hole has begun.

The old fox hole was obliterated by Hurricane McDaniels. We experience all sorts of weather in Colorado and are generally well prepared, but this hurricane caught us off guard. The storm began with a few ominous signs. McDaniels was brash and arrogant. He schemed behind the scenes to acquire Matt Cassel, which ultimately led to the trade of starting quarterback Jay Cutler.

Suddenly, though, the eye of the storm settled in. A 6-0 start in 2009 had the city of Denver and the NFL buzzing. The brunt of the storm was waiting in the wings, just like a hurricane. A dismal 2-8 stretch to finish 2009 was harbinger of things to come. Multiple questionable personnel decisions followed. More disgruntled players were shipped out. The 2010 season featured a brutally embarrassing home loss to the hated Oakland Raiders, a video cheating scandal that smeared the Broncos’ NFL reputation and culminated with a 4-12 record and the poorest stretch of football in Denver’s proud history. The silver lining in this debacle is Tim Tebow secured an underwear contract and some potentially valuable playing time.

The firing of McDaniels with three games remaining in 2010 initiated the rebuilding process. The Broncos faced many questions as they prepared to move forward, including hiring a new head coach and President/GM, not to mention overhauling an aging roster lacking talent.

The Broncos, once again, turned to John Elway to begin the process of building their new Fox hole. Elway was hired as Vice-President of football operation. Elway has final authority on the football decisions of the Denver Broncos. Some believe Elway lacks experience. I generally disagree with this. Elway served in this capacity as owner of the Arena League’s Colorado Crush, which won an Arena Bowl title. He also has the wisdom of his father, Jack Elway, in his ear. The elder Elway has passed, but the experience and knowledge is carried by the younger Elway. I also believe his years on the field will help him evaluate talent; an area he concedes will be a group process.

Elway’s first big decision was to hire Denver’s next head coach. Part of me was hoping Rick Dennison might get the job. He is a former Bronco and has experience coaching on both sides of the football. Ultimately, Elway hired former Carolina Panther head coach John Fox. I think this decision was well thought out and bodes well for Elway’s decision making ability. Fox has experience building a franchise with an emphasis on defensive football. I initially thought it would have been nice for Fox to have a year off to recharge his coaching battery, but most people agree he was on his way out last year in Carolina and I think he was already mentally preparing himself for his next challenge.

Elway’s next task was/is to focus on personnel decisions and the upcoming draft. I think he made a great decision in resigning Champ Bailey. Bailey is probably Denver’s best player and could have left via free agency had he wanted. Champ has always liked Denver. This decision reminds the NFL Denver is committed to their best players and a return to its rightful place of prominence in the NFL hierarchy.

The upcoming NFL draft is Elway’s next stepping stone in rebuilding Denver. The Broncos hold the 2nd overall pick and are sitting in the cat bird’s seat. The current buzz is all about quarterbacks. Cam Newton is expected to be the first selection. Some people feel Denver should take Newton if available. I disagree completely. The total focus of this draft needs to be on improving the defense. If Denver keeps the 2nd pick the two players I like are defensive tackle Marcell, Dareus of Alabama or linebacker Von Miller of Texas A&M. Either player would start immediately and be an excellent building block.

There is some speculation Denver may try to trade down. I would be comfortable with this if they can acquire a second 1st round pick or two extra 2nd round picks. It is a very deep draft for defensive linemen and tackles. The Broncos need to come out of this draft with at least 2 new starters on defense and 2 more rookies receiving significant playing time in a revamped defense.

An under the radar move I would like to see Denver make is signing DeAngelo Williams. The ex-Carolina Panther is a free agent and would form a nice duo with Knowshon Moreno. I think sharing the featured back role would be acceptable to both as neither have shown tremendous durability in their careers. This and other free agent moves will have to wait until the NFL and the players agree on a new collective bargaining agreement.

I am excited for this new chapter in Broncos history. We have new leadership and a renewed emphasis on our great fans. Rebuilding does not happen overnight, but usually happens quicker in the NFL than the other major sports. The clean-up of a hurricane always takes some time, as does building a new Fox Hole.

posted 4/25/2011

Offseason/ Lock-out Thought Pt. II

noreply@blogger.com (Cory Whitmer) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:18:00 +0000

By Cory Whitmer

Well the CBA deadline has came and almost was past. They gave it another 24 hours, then another 7 days after that. The current CBA will expire this coming Friday (March 11th), even though most clubs have already begun the lock-out phase since it was too close to "doomsday". Hopefully talks this week prove fruitful, or just get extended. Either which way it seems more positive than it feels negative if both sides elect to keep talking and trying to figure out how to split up this one billion of highly contested dollars.

As for the Broncos, the front office and staff is deep in the trenches battle planning and scheming on the 2011 NFL Draft. This week saw VP of Football Ops., John Elway and the other important John, over at Auburn checking out the two players I am going to discuss in this post: Cam Newton and Nick Fairley.

I'm not as concerned about Cam Newton other than that The Johns showing interest in him is surely to drum up interest in other teams to want to go get him at #2. The Broncos should and most likely are going to turn the #2 Pick into multiple picks by trading down in the draft. We don't NEED Cam Newton at #2. The team has three serviceable quarterbacks in Orton, Tebow and Quinn. Will any of those three take us to a Super Bowl? I don't know other than "Not right now". Can Cam Newton take this team to a Super Bowl? Don't know. Leave that question to be answered within Dove Valley than in this year's draft.

Nick Fairley though, would be worthwhile to take at #2 based on current needs of the team, defensively. Fairley is coming out of Auburn as a would-be Senior, forgoing his final year. He showed up at the combine weighing 291 lbs at 6'4". He is a big boy, but NFL linemen are just as big and bigger. His stats in college all-around are pretty good. Last season he had 32 solo tackles and 24 assists. The solo tackles are a good showing and assists I think get overlooked by the casual observer. Granted, NCAA players aren't all NFL caliber, but he took down plenty of guys and helped take down just eight less. Assists are big in hockey and basketball and for good reason. You may not be going solo, but helping others do the job is just as commendable as those who did it alone. Assisting on tackles is a GOOD thing and having relatively even stats in solo and assist is what this team needs: team players. Picking him out of Auburn wouldn't be too bad of an idea, just not at #2.

The Broncos need to trade out of the #2 spot and make sure they grab someone they are sure of to start this upcoming season and be a quantifiable impact on the field. This team has burned too many first round picks and first round money on guys who aren't doing the team a ton of favors: Robert Ayers, Knowshon Moreno, Damarius Thomas and Tim Tebow. These guys all need to be first round type guys, especially for the money that past regime entrusted them with. Their jobs are now a whole hell of a lot less safe without Josh McDaniel's around. I think the Broncos should trade out Kyle Orton for some picks, make Tebow the starter (I'm sure he can beat Quinn in everything except age and drinking games) and see what the guy can do with a full year on the field. He is fiery and hungry, give him the green light. The Broncos have nothing to lose. He does well, good. He does bad, ok now we know what we have to work on, or move him. We all know Orton isn't the guy at QB, so move him now while their is worth, high interest and give him a chance to be the #1 guy somewhere else. He would be good with a better supporting cast elsewhere.

The Draft should be interesting and I think less bothersome because I believe the Broncos this year will make better picks resulting in less head scratching by everyone watching to see where the Broncos go with their picks. Be wise.

Today's Offseason/Lock-out Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Cory Whitmer) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 01:22:00 +0000

By Cory Whitmer

It has been quite some time since I have wrote any piece for this blog. As a matter of fact, I would say too long. This will be the first of what I hope are some more frequent posts for the future.

The last season was a huge waste. I wasn't very happy to see the team start off slightly uneven. The offense did hit some strides. Connections with Brandon Lloyd were almost always the way to go. Moreno was one year older after being crowned the biggest single player question mark of the team. The guy's job is to house balls in the endzone, being very ineffective on any of the three downs doesn't make for a very easy future. Got to pull it together.

The defense was only serviceable a few times and even then it wasn't enough from them and miscues I think were very overlooked when looking at defensive effectiveness. There are some players that are either undisciplined or lacking the mental faculties to NOT flinch at the line or take some flagrant, bad penalties. Got to pull it together.

The "it" I am referring to is: cohesion. They need to burn it down and start over with a lot of fresh pieces. Having some good vets like Dumervil, Williams, Haggan and Bailey then having some hungry young guys like Mays. That is where you try to build around, the key players. Speaking of Mays, the man was beastly at times, running wild to feverishly seek-and-destroy. I like this guy because he just wants to hit somebody. Go get em. This team needs to get better quality players who want to play here and want to get out there and make their money doing it right. I really want to see AJ Hawk come down from Green Bay. Hawk plays at a pretty high level and he is certainly a team player. The Super Bowl champs released him and if it is at all possible that they don't bring him back once the almost-inevitable lock-out is looming and could indefinitely. I would like to see him signed before tomorrow evening at 11:59 ET. Probably won't happen even if nobody throws a job offer at him by Friday morning.

The immediate future for NFL fans is going to enter watch-and-wait mode full-swing and the Broncos will have to game plan without holding much to deal with and too many holes to fill (TE with the release of Daniel Graham, which is kind of unfortunate). Time to hit the lock-out fallout bunker.

Super Bowl XLV Breakdown and Prediction

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Bruning) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 20:53:00 +0000

By Dave Bruning

The Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers have weathered the competition and earned the right to meet on the frozen tundra of Cowboys Stadium in Super Bowl XLV. Aside from the unusual wintry weather to hit the Dallas area this week, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the football fans in general have to be pleased and excited about the match up featuring two the league’s most storied franchises.

Pittsburgh sports a 6-1 record in the Super Bowl and has won the most titles in the modern era. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is seeking his 3rd title and head coach Mike Tomlin is trying to win his second before the age of 40, an unprecedented feat.

Green Bay has a 3-1 record in the Super Bowl. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and head coach Mike McCarthy are seeking their first title and in the process re-establishing Green Bay as an elite franchise. A victory would also finally allow Brett Favre to fade into the background.

These teams are well-matched. I am anticipating an exciting, well-played game. In my previous previews, I have picked the Packers correctly through each round and the Steelers incorrectly through each round; something has to give. With that in mind this is how I see the game unfolding.

Pittsburgh has stopped the run all season. Green Bay has played most of the season without a rushing attack. I expect Pittsburgh to shut down the run. No team is better equipped to abandon the run and attack a defense with their passing attack than the Packers. The Green Bay wide receivers have a definite advantage over the Steelers secondary. I expect Rodgers to throw the ball almost 50 times. Rodgers is also very elusive in the pocket, and this will be pivotal in avoiding the elaborate blitz schemes of Pittsburgh. His ability to avoid sacks will also set Rodgers up to make a couple of big plays down field.

Pittsburgh will counter with a more balanced attack. Running back Rashard Mendenhall will need to have a big game for the Steelers. Green Bay’s run defense has been stout and I think will limit the effectiveness of the Steelers running game. The Packers secondary is playing extremely well. I think Roethlisberger will struggle against the Packer defense overall. The Steelers offensive line has been ravaged by injuries. They will struggle to protect Big Ben. Packers linebacker Clay Mathews should have won NFL defensive player of the year over Steelers safety Troy Polamalu. Polamalu is a great player, but he did miss two games and I don’t believe he is 100% healthy. I like Mathews to have a big game and show why he should have won the defensive player of the year.

I think the edge at the coaching position goes to Tomlin. There is so much to like about him. He speaks with candor, treats his players like men and respects his opponents. McCarthy is also solid, but lacks Tomlin’s big game experience. This could be the edge that swings the pendulum in Pittsburgh’s favor.

The Packer offense is built for the fast turf of Cowboys Stadium. Green Bay dismantled Atlanta in the Georgia Dome, where the Falcons and Matt Ryan had basically been unbeatable. I also believe in the karma of Brett Favre. Nothing would put a cherry on top of his horrible season like a Green Bay Super Bowl victory. Pittsburgh has never fully found their rhythm after Roethlisberger served his 4-game suspension. It is a credit to their players and organization that they made the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XLV is Aaron Rodgers’ coronation as a truly elite NFL quarterback. I like Rodgers to lead Green Bay to a thoroughly entertaining 30-23 victory over the rugged Pittsburgh Steelers.

posted 2/3/11

NFC/AFC Championship Overview

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Bruning) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 22:08:00 +0000

By Dave Bruning

The NFL has reached its version of the Final Four. The Regional winners are Green Bay, Chicago, Pittsburgh and the New York Jets. It takes tremendous effort, talent and a few lucky breaks to make it this far. There is much to be proud of. Just like the NCAA basketball tournament, there is still work to be done to be ultimately crowned champion. Let’s break down the two games that will give us the participants for Super Bowl XLV.

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears

I have been driving the Aaron Rodgers’ bandwagon and I am not about to hop off now. Rodgers has been my fantasy football quarterback for the last two years. I have watched him play very closely since he supplanted Brett Favre as the starter for the Packers and he continues to impress me. His arm is stronger than I think most realized, as is his understanding of how to play the quarterback position. His mobility and ability to elude the rush were on full display as the Packers dismantled the Falcons in Atlanta.

Rodgers faces a much sterner test against the defense of the Chicago Bears. The Packers managed to score 27 points in two regular season games against Chicago, going 1-1. The Bears play a stout version of the Tampa cover two defense and do it very well. They do a tremendous job eliminating the big down-field play (a Packers specialty) and force the quarterback to be extremely patient. It usually takes a well-executed drive to score on the Bears. I think Rodgers will be content to throw the ball underneath the coverage of the Bears, especially out of 4- and 5-wide receiver sets. This is the area the Bears do not match up well with against the Packers and prove to be critical to a Green Bay victory.

There are two wild cards in this game; Jay Cutler and Devin Hester. I believe the Packers aggressive, ball-hawking defense will put tremendous pressure on Cutler. I expect the Bears to be playing from behind, thereby minimizing the effectiveness of Matt Forte and forcing Cutler to throw more than he would like. Chicago turnovers are an inevitable result. Hester gives the Bears a definite advantage on special teams if he is given an opportunity. I think Green Bay will be smart and generally kick away from Hester. The poor playing surface at Soldier Field is not really a factor as Green Bay is familiar with this field. Green Bay is the better team and will advance to the Super Bowl with a hard-fought 24-16 victory.

New York Jets @ Pittsburgh Steelers

The AFC Championship features the rugged Steelers against the brash and loud Jets. Pittsburgh will be making its record 15th appearance in the AFC Championship game (7-7 overall) while the Jets will be making their second consecutive appearance in the AFC title game.

On paper I like the Steelers. Football games are not played on paper. The Jets have been built to win in the playoffs, and sport a 4-1 record over the last two years in the playoffs. All of those games have been played on the road with an inexperienced head coach and starting quarterback. Beginning with their appearance on HBO’s Hard Knocks to start the preseason and culminating with a thorough performance against their hated divisional rival New England, Rex Ryan and the Jets have embraced and thrived in the spotlight. The lights only get brighter, and I believe the Jets are up to the challenge.

The Jets are riding the emotional motivation of honorary captain Dennis Byrd. For those who don’t recall, Byrd is a former Jet player who was suffered a neck injury on the playing field in 1992. Byrd was unable to walk for a time being but after extensive physical therapy is able to walk again. He gave the Jets an inspirational speech before the Patriots game.

The big match up in this game is the Jets wide receivers vs. the Steelers secondary. Pittsburgh is a little banged up in the secondary and I think the Jets have the receivers to take advantage. Former Steeler Santonio Holmes could definitely come back to haunt his former team. I also think the Jets will run the ball better than most people think.

The Steelers have been very fortunate most of the year. I honestly felt Baltimore was the better team last week and would have won the game had they protected the football in the 3rd quarter. I like the Jets defense to exploit Pittsburgh’s inferior offensive line and harass Roethlisberger all day. The Jets move on to the Super Bowl 23-17.

Posted 1/22/2011 – I can be reached at dabruman23@comcast.net to share thoughts or disagreements, just share!

NFL Divisional Playoff Prognostications

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Bruning) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 07:15:00 +0000

By Dave Bruning

The opening week of the NFL playoffs has come and gone. Last year’s Super Bowl participants, the Saints and the Colts, were unceremoniously eliminated, highlighting once again how wide open the NFL playoffs can be and how difficult it is to defend a Super Bowl title. I was 2-2 in my predictions last week, but more importantly, 3-1 against the spread. Let’s move forward and look at this weekend’s games through the crystal ball that is my brain.

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh

This is a grudge match between fierce division rivals that are literally mirror images of themselves. These teams arguably have the best rivalry in the NFL. The game will be filled with animosity, hard-hitting, smack-talking intensity reminiscent of two great boxers going toe to toe for 15 rounds. In the end only one will remain standing. I like Baltimore to emerge victorious in another classic game. I think the Ravens are peaking at the right time, while Pittsburgh has never quite fully found its rhythm after Ben Roethlisberger returned from his 4-game suspension to start the season. Baltimore lands the final punch and grinds out a 20-17 victory.

New York Jets @ New England

This is another grudge match between division rivals. The intensity here has been wrapped up in the verbal sparring leading up to the game. Antonio Cromartie of Jets started things with a profanity-filled tirade aimed at Tom Brady. Wes Welker of the Patriots returned the banter beautifully with a witty twist on Jets head coach Rex Ryan’s foot fetish. These teams do not like each other. Tom Brady and Bill Belichik have had 2 weeks to rest and get ready for the Jets. This does not bode well for the Jets. They were blown out 45-3 in their last appearance in Foxboro. It won’t be quite as bad this time, but the Patriots move on 31-17 behind Brady.

Green Bay @ Atlanta

This is the game I am most looking forward to watching. I am a huge fan of Aaron Rodgers. He carried the Packers on his back to the playoffs. Green Bay has suddenly found a running game behind rookie James Starks and their defense looks better every game. They are starting to look like a team of destiny ready to place the final eff you on the disaster of a season that Brett Favre has had. The Georgia Dome has proven to be a difficult place to play. Matt Ryan is 20-2 in his career there. All the pressure is on Atlanta. Young teams tend to struggle when placed in this position. I like Rodgers to have a huge game and lead the Packers to a 31-24 victory.

Seattle @ Chicago

Nobody thought the Seahawks would be here. Now they are a sexy pick to pull another upset. I don’t see it happening. The Bears certainly don’t impress me, but they always seem to do enough to beat inferior teams. Chicago’s defense is significantly better than New Orleans. They create turnovers as regularly as they make big plays on special teams. Despite an earlier victory this season in Chicago, Seattle is nowhere near as good on the road. Jay Cutler is playing in his first playoff game. I don’t expect anything overly impressive, just enough to win an ugly 23-14 game.

posted 1/14/2011

Wild Card Weekend Preview and Predictions

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Bruning) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:23:00 +0000

By Dave Bruning

The NFL playoffs have arrived. It is a great time of year to be a football fan unless you root for the Denver Broncos! Enough wallowing in misery and pity! There’s always next year, John Elway is back and pro football is the easiest sport to reverse the fortunes of your team. Let’s analyze Wild Card Weekend and make some predictions.

New York Jets @ Indianapolis:

This is a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship game. Peyton Manning vs. the Jets defense will determine the outcome of this game. The Jets defense is very good overall despite struggling in a few games. I think Peyton and the Colts will be too much in the end. The Colts are home on the fast track of Lucas Oil Field. Their running game is slowly returning to provide balance to the offense. I think Shonn Greene could have a big game for the Jets. Ultimately, the inexperience of Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez will cost New York the game. Jets head coach Rex Ryan has talked trash all year. Sometimes when you talk too much you put your foot in your mouth. Peyton Manning is the right man to insert that “foot” ball in Ryan’s mouth and end the Jets season 24-17.

New Orleans @ Seattle

On paper this is a mismatch. The defending Super Bowl champs are 10 point favorites on the road. Seattle is the first playoff team with a losing record. In fact, all 9 of their losses have been by 15+ points. I like New Orleans to win, but in a closer game than most people anticipate. Seattle is a difficult place to play. Their crowd is one of the loudest in the NFL. There is always the chance of rain, which would favor the Seahawks. The primary reason I think the game will be close is the Saints will struggle to run the ball. Their top two running backs, Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory, are out for the season. This leaves Reggie Bush to shoulder a heavy load. Bush could very well have a huge game. Ultimately, Drew Brees makes enough big plays to lead the Saints to a 27-20 victory.

Baltimore @ Kansas City

A very intriguing game here. Kansas City returns to the playoffs after an extended absence while Baltimore looks to make another deep playoff run. It's the Chiefs top ranked rushing offense vs. the Ravens vaunted defense. I expect this to be the hardest hitting game of the weekend. I like the Ravens defense to contain the Chiefs running attack, thereby also limiting the effectiveness of quarterback Matt Cassel and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. Young quarterbacks tend to make a couple of mistakes or poor decisions in playoff games. The inexperience of the Chiefs will show. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is also young, but has significant playoff experience under his belt and is an excellent game manager. I like Ravens running back Ray Rice to be the star of this game won by Baltimore 23-13.

Green Bay @ Philadelphia

The juicy match-up of the weekend. Green Bay managed to make the playoffs despite a rash of injuries that would have kept Hawkeye Pierce and MASH 4077 on their toes! Philadelphia rollicked in the resurrection of Michael Vick’s career and is a dangerous offensive football team. In a high scoring game the difference will be the Packer defense. They are aggressive and attack the football relentlessly. They held six of their regular season opponents to single digit points despite all the injuries. The Eagles are banged up on defense, especially at linebacker. Look for Aaron Rodgers to exploit this with 5 wide receiver sets and a ton of short throws. This will allow Green Bay to control time of possession and keep Vick and the big play offense of the Eagles on the sidelines. It will also set up a big play or two for Rodgers to find Greg Jennings or James Jones behind the Eagles secondary. The Packers win 34-24.

Football fans rejoice. The playoffs are here!

Tim Tebow's Two Game Report Card

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Bruning) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 21:48:00 +0000

By Dave Bruning

Denver Bronco fans have been clamoring for Tim Tebow much of the season. The Broncos teased us with a few Tebow goal line cameos and a couple of guest appearances as the leading man in the Wild Bronco. These teasers gave the fans a preview of Tebow. Thanks to a 3-10 record and the bruised ribs of Kyle Orton, the Tim Tebow era in Denver has officially begun and it appears there is no looking back.

Tebow made his debut as a starting quarterback in the Black Hole of Oakland. The Raiders level of play has been subpar lately for the most part, but they are a team on the rise. Tebow could have made his first start in an easier game than on the road against the Broncos most hated rival. Then again, maybe that is the way it should be.

Tebow brings an impressive list of intangibles when he takes the field. His charisma, leadership, preparation and effort will never be questioned. In fact, he provided a nice spark for a Denver team that played hard but came up short against Oakland, 39-23. If Lance Ball doesn’t drop a touchdown pass late in the third quarter the final outcome may have been different.

The most impressive Tebow highlights came in the first quarter. He scored a touchdown on a 40-yard scamper off a broken play and threw a 33-yard touchdown pass as well. Brandon Lloyd deserved most of the credit on the touchdown pass as he made yet another spectacular catch.

Much of the rest of the game was typified by rookie struggles. Tebow made some nice throws, but there were also shaky passes and some poor decisions. To become a quality NFL quarterback, Tebow must learn from his mistakes and the best way to do that is to continue to play. Interim head coach Eric Studesville committed to starting Tebow the rest of the season with just that in mind. To be fair, I thought the Broncos were very conservative in their play calling and did not take advantage of some Tebow’s skills.

Tebow’s home debut came against the Houston Texans. This was fortuitous as the Texans defense is statistically one of the worst in the NFL over the past 25 years. Denver opened up the playbook against Houston. Tebow started with several nice quick screens, moving Denver quickly down field. He then threw a very bad interception. The Broncos were stagnant for the rest of the half and trailed 17-0.

The second half showcased the best of Tebow. He led Denver back to a 24-23 victory, throwing a touchdown pass and scrambling for the winning score late in the 4th quarter. Tebow threw for 308 yards and rushed for 27 more. He is a raw talent who will make mistakes, but the learning curve has started. Don't underestimate the importance of the respect Tebow is earning from his teammates. Denver’s victory eliminated any chance of having the first pick in the 2011 draft and a chance at Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. That had to be a pleasant thought for Tebow as he celebrated his first NFL victory.

None of these developments bode well for Orton. He didn’t deserve to lose his starting job. It is not likely he will get it back with Denver. Orton will likely be traded in the offseason or on draft day. There are a number of teams in need of steady veteran leadership at quarterback, San Francisco, Arizona and Minnesota to name a few. If Denver can acquire perhaps a second and fourth round pick for Orton, it is a trade I would make. The classy Orton deserves the opportunity to play elsewhere.

It is easy to get caught up in the excitement Tebow has generated. There has not been much else for Denver fans to get excited about in this dismal season. I would give him a B- so far; plenty of potential and room for improvement with the expected rookie mistakes. His play through two games warrants a full season of playing time to see if he is truly Denver’s quarterback. This team is about to start a massive rebuilding project and needs to address an aging and quite frankly, terrible defense in the upcoming draft. A new head coach is also on tap. Whoever that may be, Tim Tebow is the clear cut choice at quarterback for the 2011 Denver Broncos. As Tebow likes to say, God Bless.

Let Tim Tebow Part The Red Sea And Deliver Broncos Fans To The Promise Land

noreply@blogger.com (KobeFan) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 04:01:00 +0000

By Brian Ailor

I agree with most that Tim Tebow isn't a perfect option at QB in the NFL but go with me here... Say the Broncos go out and get an offensive type coach this next season, which seems to be the type Pat Bowlen goes for, then build around Tebow. Get maybe Mike Martz or another smart offensive coordinator to utilize what Tebow can do and not make excuses over what he can't do. Why can't the Broncos next year be like the Eagles are now? Have Tebow dink and dunk the ball to super fast athletes under smart packages like Andy Reid does in Philly.

How about we trade the top 5 pick to a team even more desperate for a QB then we are and maybe get multiple 1st round picks in return. Can use them to get other play makers on defense to go alongside Dumervil and hopefully the returning Champ Bailey. Then perhaps trade Orton for mid round picks and draft some weapons for Tebow.

Lets say the Broncos go out and get a Jon Gruden, who worked with Tebow at the NFL combine a year ago, or Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg to be the head coach. Both of whom are smart coaches capable of compiling a playbook around Tim Tebow. Look what Mornhinweg has done with Mike Vick... Can't tell me it would be harder to transform Tebow into a successful pocket passer then someone who spent 2 years in prison. As far as the defense is concerned, we know Wade Phillips needs a job. Say what you will about Wade's head coaching stats, most recently with the disaster that was the Dallas Cowboys, but no one can argue that hes not a top NFL defensive coordinator.

A QB's best friend is a strong running game and a clutch TE. At the moment the Broncos don't have the luxury or either of these. With the Number 5 pick the Broncos select Mark Engram, Running Back, Alabama. Can you tell me that wouldn't be hard to turn down? Have Mr. Inside in Engram, and Mr. Outside in Knowshon Moreno. Get a TE that doesn't look like an offensive lineman, that means you Daniel Graham, and your all of a sudden an offensive force to be reckoned with.

Just because you don't have a cannon for an arm doesn't mean you can't be a productive QB in this league. Look at Chad Pennington for example. Early in his career Chad was a pro bowl level QB. Truth be told I think Tebow is a better, ill be it left handed, version of Chad Pennington. You Basically have the same completion percentage and same arm strength, only your adding better athleticism and a much higher leadership potential. Plus Tebow just has "winner" written all over him.

How can you not watch Tim Tebow and not cheer for the him? The guy gets so fired up and commands not only the attention of his teammates but also the fans. I personally can't help myself wishing he gets a chance to start next season. And judging by the fact his is the #1 selling jersey this season, it looks like I'm not alone in thinking so..

It's Tebow Time

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Bruning) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 07:24:00 +0000

By Dave Bruning

He’s clearly not ready. He’s clearly overhyped. He clearly hasn’t earned the opportunity to start. His biggest believer and the man who drafted him has been fired. Hell, his college coach is no longer around either. Still, Tim Tebow mania has a strong pulse. Against all that is rational, it is Tebow Time.

I almost can’t believe I wrote the previous sentence. I have not been a fan of the Tebow draft pick from the beginning. I have tried to be positive in my assessment of Tebow and his potential future with Denver because I am a fan, but realistically, the Broncos had screaming needs on the defensive side of the football that have basically been ignored for two years. This might explain why Denver has allowed almost 1,200 more yards rushing to date than the Pittsburgh Steelers. I can’t believe I just wrote that, yet it is true.

Denver’s defensive woes are not going to improve this year. This is why it is time to give Tebow an opportunity. Starting quarterback Kyle Orton has banged up ribs, not to mention he has proven his worth. The Broncos are out of the playoffs and it is time to give Tebow some quality playing time; if not Tebow, then the other college prodigy, Brady Quinn. Reality (financial commitment) dictates the obvious choice is Tebow.

Denver visits the Black Hole of Oakland this weekend. This is certainly not the ideal location for a rookie quarterback to make his starting debut. On the flip side the Broncos have lost 2 games this year already to rookie quarterbacks (Sam Bradford and John Skelton). The hostile environment of Oakland should remind Tebow of just another SEC road game. Tebow’s college resume indicates he plays his best in the biggest games and the toughest environments.

Assuming Tebow gets the start, I believe he will be overwhelmed at times and look very much like a rookie. I also expect him to be able to improvise and make some plays with his legs. The Broncos desperately need an injection of youthful enthusiasm, and there is no doubt Tebow will bring that. Oakland’s defense is not overly scary and the Broncos would certainly have a vast array of unseen plays to throw at the Raiders with Tebow running the offense.

Denver is staring at a top 3 pick in the upcoming draft that is loaded with top quarterback prospects. Conventional wisdom dictates interim Broncos Head Coach Eric Studesville should play it safe and stay with Kyle Orton. His reality and any hope to coach Denver in 2011 dictate Tebow Time. Even scarier, the choice Studesville makes could shape Denver's future for years to come. Once again, where are you Pat Bowlen?

How Bronco’s Owner Pat Bowlen Can Make Even Al Davis Look Good

noreply@blogger.com (KobeFan) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 05:02:00 +0000

By Brian Ailor

1. First you fire a proven offensive genius in Mike Shanahan, Allah Al Davis, for a so called offensive genius in Josh McDaniels. Some offensive genius huh… Maybe someone should tell McDaniels your allowed to run the ball in pro football with 430 passing attempts and only 249 rushing attempts so far this season. Over 63% of the Broncos offense comes through the air.

2. You then let said coach trade away players such as franchise QB Jay Cutler, who has a cannon for an arm the likes of Hall of famer John Elway and the mobility to boot. Then stud all pro wide receiver Brandon Marshall. I don't even want to talk about Running back Payton Hillis who's having a career year in Cleveland. *sighs*

3. Pop Quiz... You just traded away your two most explosive weapons on your team for draft picks and your now on the clock. What would Al Davis do???

(A) Replace an aging defense.
(B) Sure up your offensive line.
(C) Reload on WR by drafting Dez Bryant.
(D) Trade for both Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn then gamble big time on mechanics unfriendly Tim Tebow.

4. The McDaniel’s experiment started about as well as can be expected... a little too well for Pat Bowlen's liking apparently as the broncos parted ways with Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, who only helped the Broncos to a measly 6-0 start a year ago. Not to mention coaching an undersized defensive end in Elvis Dummerville into the NFLs sack leader. A pretty tall task when you consider this was the year the Broncos switched from a conventional 4-3 defense to the trendy 3-4.

5. Spy Gate 2. Say what you will about Al Davis but his team has never been accused of, or worse, caught filming walkthroughs of the opposing teams. Yes, in case you haven’t heard the Bronco’s former videographer, Steve Scarnecchia, taped six minutes of the 49ers’ walkthrough practice the day before the game on Oct. 31st in London.

Despite for the betterment of the team, or at least the best wishes of Broncos fans, the penalty for this act was not followed up by an immediate termination of head coach Josh McDaniels. Not even a $500,00 fine like former McDaniel mentor Bill Belichick did when his Patriots team was caught having similar scandal. But a lousy $50,000 fine instead.

In a nutshell, even with the Broncos’ recent taping scandal, their current 3-8 record and McDaniel’s 5-16 record in the last 21 games, looks like McDaniel is still Bowlen’s coach for this year and next. Hopefully for Bronco fans that’s just because of the lingering threat of an NFL lock out next year and not because Pat Bowlen is trying to pull an Al Davis on us.

Where are you Pat Bowlen?

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Bruning) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:35:00 +0000

By Dave Bruning

The Denver Broncos are in disarray. Their performance off the field is almost as embarrassing as their performance on the field. A Spy gate II sandwich bookended by San Diego kicking sand in Denver’s face and that offensive juggernaut St. Louis dropping 36 points on a defense that can only be described as a sieve are the latest examples. Denver owner Pat Bowlen remains sadly silent and unavailable. Where are you Pat Bowlen?

It has not been acknowledged fully, but it appears Bowlen is struggling with memory loss. Rumors have been circulating since Bowlen acknowledged to Denver Post columnist Woody Paige last year some trouble remembering details of Denver’s championship seasons. If Bowlen is ill, all of the Denver Broncos community, hell, all of the NFL community, would be terribly saddened by the confirmation of this news.

Meanwhile, the Broncos have become the laughing stock of the NFL. The recent acknowledgement of taping the San Francisco 49ers walk through practice in London is the latest bad news/poor decision involving Denver. Their play on the field is ugly and their actions off the field show very little quality leadership.

The Pat Bowlen I watched guide Denver to 2 Super Bowl titles would not sit back idly and watch his team fall apart. His retreat from the public eye is eerily similar to that of now deceased New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. There are two differences, however. Steinbrenner’s failing health was definitely more common knowledge, and his sons, Hank and Hal, had been groomed to replace him. The extent of Bowlen’s health issues is not fully known, and clearly Denver is operating in a leadership vacuum.

Bowlen and Steinbrenner were very similar. Both were strong personalities and leaders driven to see their teams succeed. The inability to effectively run their teams is the only reason I can fathom for ceding control to another person.

Many decisions made by Denver in the last two years are under scrutiny. Hiring Josh McDaniels, drafting Tim Tebow, trading Jay Cutler and Peyton Hillis and questionable draft picks in general are just a start to a dirty laundry list of poor moves made by Denver. Was Bowlen in charge of these decisions? I honestly don’t know.

Those close to Bowlen have closed ranks around him and it is difficult to get any information regarding his status. His last interview was more than nine months ago. Once again, if he is ill, my heart goes out to him and his family and I wish him well. If he is ill and not capable of running the Broncos, there is a potential owner waiting in the wings who bleeds Bronco orange. His name is John Elway.

Transition of ownership or shared ownership with Elway is a step in the right direction to restoring the Denver Broncos to their rightful place in the upper echelon of the NFL. Step 1A is the dismissal of McDaniels as head coach. The on and off the field embarrassment is not part of the rich tradition of this prideful franchise. Elway could facilitate this change quickly.

Elway deeply desires to be an owner and has experience as an owner with the Colorado Crush of the Arena League. I also think Elway is savvy enough to surround himself with experienced football minds and bring order to a situation in total chaos. Elway is rumored to be involved with the return of the NFL to Los Angeles. It would be a shame to see him revive football in Los Angeles instead of Denver.

Now is the time to steady the shaky leadership in Denver. Pat Bowlen has been a great leader for the Denver Broncos; Josh McDaniels has not. It’s another two minute warning and the Broncos are down by a touchdown. John Elway was and is the man to save Denver again.

A Glimmer of Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Bruning) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 22:26:00 +0000

By Dave Bruning

The unpredictable and erratic performances of the 2010 Denver Broncos continued following the most embarrassing defeat in team history. Denver followed the pathetic loss to the Oakland Raiders by giving away victory to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL’s annual foray to London. The Broncos regrouped during their bye week, and then dismantled the AFC West leading Kansas City Chiefs 49-29.

The game against the Chiefs has ignited a glimmer of hope for the Broncos’ fans. Reality dictates another uneven performance against the San Diego Chargers in the upcoming Monday night showcase.

I think there are two incredible statistics in this NFL season. The first is Manny Pacquiao currently leads the Dallas Cowboys in victories this season at the new Cowboys Stadium, 2-0. The second is after being outscored 38-0 through most of the first half against the Raiders, the Broncos outscored the Chiefs 35-0 through most of the first half of their recent game. Perhaps it is the Mile High altitude, but you would have to sift long and hard through NFL history to find such a drastic scoring swing.

Ultimately, those two games underscore the difficulty Denver has in being a consistent football team. I did see some positives coming out of the Chiefs game and will highlight those.

• The Broncos offensive line is finally healthy. Ryan Harris returned to right tackle, Ryan Clady is stronger with each game and rookies Zane Beadles and J.D. Walton seem entrenched in the starting lineup

• The Broncos showed a semblance of a running game. They rushed for a season high of 153 yards, including the first 100-yard game of Knowshon Moreno’s professional career.

• Kyle Orton continues to play well. With better balance in the running game, his performance can actually improve, which is saying something.

• Denver seems to be slowly working rookie QB Tim Tebow into the mix with some nice results. Tebow rushed for a touchdown and threw his first touchdown pass against the Chiefs. Tebow has now accounted for 4 touchdowns on the season and appears to give the Broncos a viable, yet unconventional, goal line threat.

• The Broncos defense held Kansas City’s high powered rushing attack to 51 yards. The big first half deficit was certainly a factor. More importantly, it underscores how effective Denver can be if they score early and can dictate the pace of the game. Denver scored 21 first quarter points; they had 7 all year prior to the outburst against Kansas City.

• Denver has a favorable schedule the second half of the season and next to the NFC West, probably plays in the second worst division in the NFL. It is possible 9 wins will take the division, with 8 wins not totally unrealistic.

The Denver Broncos continue their maddening rollercoaster season with a trip to San Diego and arch nemesis, Philip Rivers. They have shown some nice resolve bouncing back from the destruction at the hands of Oakland and the disappointment of London. Their performance against Kansas City showed they can play some good football. The goal is to turn the glimmer of hope into a spark in San Diego and full-fledged fire for the rest of the season.

A Signature Loss with London Calling

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Bruning) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 20:32:00 +0000

By Dave Bruning

The Denver Broncos have lost three games in a row, culminated by perhaps the worst loss in franchise history. Denver lost 59-14 at home to their arch rivals, the Oakland Raiders. Let’s not kid ourselves; the game wasn’t even that close.

Throughout the history of professional sports teams can point to a signature victory. Perhaps it is finally beating your hated rival or it is a comeback of miraculous proportions to win a playoff game. These victories define the history of a team. The pathetic loss to the Raiders is the Broncos signature defeat in the almost 30 years I have been following them as a fan.

There are many disturbing things about the loss. In no particular order they are as follows:

• The Broncos showed little if any fight/heart.
• The loss occurred at home. It would still be brutal on the road, but Denver would not be first team to be blown out on the road (see Tennesse @ New England last year).
• Denver is 0-4 under head coach Josh McDaniels at home against their AFC West rivals and has also lost 13 of their last 17 games.
• The childish touchdown celebration by Knowshon Moreno when trailing 38-7 should never occur. Moreno’s only focus for the foreseeable future should be to try and stay healthy.
• With injuries mounting and a non-existent running game, future blowouts are not out of the question.

As I mentioned I have been a fan for almost 30 years. I have been spoiled by John Elway, Terrell Davis, Dan Reeves and Mike Shanahan. Save the last five years, Denver has always been a playoff and Super Bowl contender. Mediocrity was not an option. I’m sure Shanahan does not wish ill will on Denver, but you have to believe that wry smile of his appears on his face when he enjoys a private moment.

This all leads back to McDaniels. When he was hired from New England he was considered a hot shot, up and coming head coach molded by Bill Belichik. I think he clearly understands offensive football. As far as an overall head coach, he appears to be in over his head. I did like the acceptance of accountability he displayed in the following quote:

"We get one chance a week to put our name on something for the three hours we play and coach on Sunday and our name is going to be forever put on this game," McDaniels said. "None of us are proud of it, but we're a part of it and those of us who are a part of the problem are also going to have to be a part of the solution."

McDaniels and the Broncos take their 2-5 record to London to face the equally downtrodden 1-6 San Francisco 49ers. A trip out of the country and an early escape from Denver media and fans probably comes at a good time. It’s an opportunity for Denver to show its loyal fan base what they’re made of after the signature loss in franchise history. I anxiously await their response.

Denver Broncos at the Quarter Pole

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Bruning) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 23:06:00 +0000

By Dave Bruning

The Denver Broncos are 2-2 through their first four games. Many of the common themes I outlined in my season preview and two week review continue to be prevalent. These themes include stellar play by Kyle Orton and the Broncos’ receivers, a slow return to health for the Denver offensive line, a virtual inability to run the football and continued poor play from the special teams unit. Let’s quickly review Denver’s last two games.

Orton and the Denver offense moved the ball at will against the Indianapolis Colts. The Denver QB threw for a career high 476 yards and led one drive after another into the red zone. Sadly, zero touchdowns and only 2 field goals were scored on those drives and the Broncos lost 27-13. Crafty veteran Peyton Manning torched Denver’s secondary, which was missing Andre Goodman. Rookie Perrish Cox was thrown into the fire and repeatedly burned by Manning and Austin Collie. The rook had a tough game, but I see nice potential in his ability. Cornerbacks need short-term memory and hopefully Cox let this game go quickly.

Denver’s inability to run the football could easily be fixed if the other Peyton, Hillis that is, were still wearing a Bronco uniform. The former Bronco has scored 4 touchdowns for the Cleveland Browns and taken over as Cleveland’s featured running back. It goes without saying a tandem of Hillis and Knowshon Moreno would give Denver much needed offensive balance. The trade of Hillis for Brady Quinn did not create many headlines, but clearly appears to be a bad decision by head coach Josh McDaniels.

Game 4 saw Denver travel to Tennessee for a matchup with Chris Johnson and Vince Young. Once again, Orton had a fantastic passing day, the receivers were superb yet again and the Broncos had no running game. Denver totaled 19 yards on 20 carries – no misprint, no exaggeration. The defense deserves some nice credit here, holding stud runner Johnson to 53 yards on 19 carries and even overcoming a kickoff return for a touchdown. It is a minor miracle Denver emerged with a 26-20 victory.

The second quarter of Denver’s schedule features difficult matchups at Baltimore and home to the New York Jets. Also on tap is a visit from the Oakland Raiders and a trip to San Francisco before the Broncos get their bye. 5-3 is possible, 4-4 more likely. Denver needs to find a running game. Sadly, it appears they gave theirs away.

Broncos Two Week Review

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Bruning) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 04:37:00 +0000

By Dave Bruning

The first two weeks of the 2010 regular season have showcased almost all of the strengths and weaknesses of the Denver Broncos. I’m afraid fans of the team had better get used to these types of rollercoaster performances. With that in mind let’s take a look at the good and bad Denver has ponyied up.

Kyle Orton has been extremely efficient through two games. He continues to display a mastery of head coach Josh McDaniels’ complicated offense. Orton exudes confidence and preparation, reads defenses well and rarely makes a poor decision or throw. He probably will not guide the Broncos to a Super Bowl but he clearly gives Denver the best opportunity to win football games.

I was quietly confident in the Broncos’ receiving corp. Through two games, this group has exceeded my expectations, and has been the most impressive part of the football team. Eddie Royal looks reborn as a slot receiver, Jabar Gaffney and Brandon Lloyd are off to nice starts and if rookie DeMaryius Thomas’ debut is a precursor of things to come, Brandon Marshall will not be missed at all. Thomas caught eight passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. He is a physical specimen without the baggage of Marshall. Thomas is the only 1st round pick by McDaniels that I feel has future star potential.

Denver’s running backs have punched their time cards but have not worked much overtime. Knowshon Moreno had a solid game against Seattle yet still worries me with his durability and fumbling. Denver added some depth by trading for Laurence Maroney from the New England Patriots. Maroney needed a fresh start. This trade does not particularly excite me.

The Broncos’ young offensive line is holding its own (no pun intended!). Rookies J.D. Walton and Zane Beedles are learning their craft in the trenches from the get go. Standout left tackle Ryan Clady has looked rusty in his return from knee surgery, but I am not overly concerned. When right tackle Ryan Harris returns Denver’s offensive line should be a solid and cohesive unit.

I am reserving judgment on the defensive side of the football. Denver looked rather pedestrian against Jacksonville; too many penalties and big plays against a Jaguars’ offense that doesn’t evoke memories of Peyton Manning and the Colts. Conversely, the defense created turnovers against Seattle and turned the tide of the football game in the first half. Look for the erratic, yet at times opportunistic play to continue throughout the season.

Special teams coverage makes me sick to my stomach. Continued shoddy play here will certainly cost Denver a game down the road. I do, however, like both their field goal kicker and punter, although the Mile High altitude makes all kickers appear to be special.

Head coach Josh McDaniels has been solid through two games. I like his offensive mindset and game planning. I am ambivalent about his in game adjustments. He hasn’t made any major mistakes, yet I don’t believe he has been forced to make major adjustments to his game plan either.

The first win of the season is as euphoric as the first loss is sobering. 1-1 is not terrible. 2-0 is nicer but no guarantee of success, as 6-0 last year proved. I see some nice qualities in Denver. I want to see more consistency overall and elimination of mistakes. Improvement in these areas will remind the NFL how unpleasant it can be to play an NFL road game in Denver and help re-establish the Broncos as an elite franchise.

2010 Denver Broncos Overview

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Bruning) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 05:03:00 +0000

By Dave Bruning

The 2010 NFL preseason fraternity rush has come and gone. Qualified candidates have put their best foot forward. Even Tim Tebow’s debutante ball was a success. The Denver Broncos have had a full preseason to look into their football crystal ball and put their regular season roster together. Here are my thoughts on what I have seen so far.

• Kyle Orton is clearly entrenched as the Denver starter. By all accounts it has been his best offseason/preseason and his mastery of the Broncos’ offense is unquestioned. The 1-year, $9 million contract extension for next season is not the long term contract Orton was looking for, but it will feed his family for the foreseeable future.

• Tim Tebow has showed tremendous potential. He is raw and his quarterback skills clearly need fine-tuning. I have hope for his future despite the good-natured fun I have had at his expense in previous posts. I look for Tebow to be used effectively in Wild Bronco, goal-line and short yardage situations in the upcoming season.

• I like Brady Quinn’s work ethic and professionalism. I honestly don’t believe there is a future for him as a Denver Broncos quarterback.

• The running game scares the be Jesus out of me. Too much uncertainty and injuries to have much confidence here. That being said, look for Orton to have a big year throwing the football.

• I am excited about the wide receivers, despite the trade of Brandon Marshall (good riddance!). Jabar Gaffney should enjoy a breakout season, Brandon Lloyd also looks to follow suit, rookie Eric Decker reminds me of Ed McCaffrey every day and 1st round pick DeMaryius Thomas could be very special if he stays healthy.

• The offensive line is looking to integrate several young players, most notably Zane Beadles. If premier left tackle Ryan Clady can make a healthy return from an offseason knee injury, Denver should be solid in the offensive trenches.

• The defensive line is another area of concern. Standout pass rusher Elvis Dumervil is likely out for the season and there is not enough depth here. Denver defenses traditionally start strong and fade. I believe this is directly attributable to the defensive line.

• Denver’s linebackers and secondary are solid. Sadly, I believe they will wear down as the defensive line struggles. Head coach Josh McDaniels is in the midst of bringing in bigger bodies to anchor the defense, but it takes time the NFL does not usually afford head coaches.

• Denver’s kicking game is quite solid. Kicker Matt Prater has a shotgun of a leg, and punter Britton Colquitt is packing a howitzer in his leg.

• Denver’s biggest wild card might be their head coach, Josh McDaniels. He is clearly bright, innovative and confident. A good buddy of mine (sadly a Raider fan) mentioned to me he thought McDaniels would make a great head coach in his second opportunity. The pressure is on in Denver. I like McDaniels’ conviction. I haven’t agreed with all his draft choices.

The Denver Broncos recent history speaks of strong starts and poor finishes. I could make a ton of money if they were a greyhound or a thoroughbred! I like another strong start and a battle to a 9-7 finish. Overall improvement, but not enough to be booking playoff tickets in the rugged AFC conference.