Random Sunday morning notes …
Just about to leave here for the stadium, to beat the traffic and settle in comfortably to watch the early games. It appears to be a glorious Sunday in the Mile High City, if a little hot, with temperatures headed to the mid-80s. Last night in Boulder, it was a tad warmer than I expected at the Colorado-Florida State game, so my high-school pals from the Sunshine State felt right at home. The result for their side — a 16-6 Seminoles win — probably felt just as nice to the visitors. Of course, even when it’s chilly, Saturdays in Boulder are typically pleasant experiences as long as I stay away from the restrooms in the field house. Gross …
… How young is Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin? Consider the perspective of 36-year-old Broncos safety John Lynch.
“I used to see him on Spring Break when he’d come back to Tampa,” Lynch said.
“He’d always come, and you knew the guy loved football and was going that route of going into coaching. It does surprise you, but from all accounts and what you see on film, he’s doing a terrific job and they’re buying into what he’s preaching there and it shows.”
Lynch isn’t surprised, considering Kiffin’s bloodlines as the son of famed defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who for 12 seasons has directed Tampa Bay’s defensive symphony.
“If you know his dad, he’s got his football and he’s got his family. He loves the game. I’m sure he’s learned from his dad over the years, and it’s a big help,” Lynch said. “We certainly respect (Lane Kiffin), and I think at a certain point, even though I knew him in a different scenario back before, things change and he’s doing a great job. He’s earned his way here and he’s trying to make the most of it.”
For those who say Kiffin is too young, I offer the case of Don Shula, who wasn’t too much older when he got his first head-coaching opportunity, or Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan, who was 35 when he was hired to coach the Raiders. If you’re well-versed in the game, as those men are, eating and drinking the sport since childhood, the experience collected goes back to being in high school or even before. I’m curious to see what Kiffin and the Raiders have in store today …
… In regards to Friday’s Raiders post and comments …
A rivalry’s greatness should be somewhat independent of the ebbs and flows of the respective teams’ fortunes. It’s games like the Broncos’ 1972 win at Oakland and the Raiders’ 2004 win in Denver that give the series spice and unpredictability, which makes the rivalry more compelling.
The question is simple, “Who is the Broncos’ biggest rival?” How you choose to interpret that question is up to you. If you add “right now” or “traditional” or anything else to the question, that’s your prerogative. Had we asked something wordier, then a) we would have had fewer responses and b) the question probably would not have fit in the allotted space.
Part of our charge is to keep the questions clear and snappy. Larry King has often said that he asks short questions, and what that does is a) it gets to the point without superfluous words and b) keeps things clear. The clearer and more engaging the question, the better the response. Based on the responses to the question and then the subsequent blog, it looks like a nerve was touched … which, for blog purposes, is splendid, since this is all about stirring the pot and getting people talking.
In reply to broncogram65 … I disagree. I don’t merely answer the “chosen few,” as you say. In addition to the main posts, I’ve replied 101 times since the start of training camp, which is an average of just over twice a day. I answer as many questions as I can, but can’t get to every one. Sometimes — like this week, when we’ve got two game programs coming out between now and next week, plenty of content on the site and friends visiting from out of town for a few days — I only have time to quickly scan the replies to see my name, which means I’ll miss some. I’m already the prodigal friend with some of the people in my social circle because I already work too much. This past seven days, for instance, I spent a touch over 72 hours at the office or working from home and the road. I know that the idea of toiling for a football team being work may seem incomprehensible to many, but when you’re writing, clicking around the site and trying to stay on top of things throughout, it is. And while I love it here in blogland, my job is more than just that.
Besides, gram, I thought you said you weren’t going to post here anymore. I was legitimately curious as to why you thought things had gotten so bad. And as for “wanting to spill about Ben Hamilton’s injury,” I don’t know any more than what was written on Sept. 5, except that he remains out of practice …
… Manchester City scores for the first time in two and a half games. Maybe that’s a good harbinger for my day …
OK, enough of that. Off to the stadium. Thoughts, predictions, projections or anything else you’d like to share … please post below.
Until the next post at just past midday, vaya con Dios.
Tags: Oakland Raiders
Hey Mason,
Thanks for always taking the time to keep us up to date. Most of us fans realize you run a very busy schedule and your efforts don’t go unnoticed! As far as Kiffin goes, he is young and new, and that makes him a little unpredictable. The Broncos have typicallly had issues against that type of scenario because it takes some of the game-planning out of it (which I think is our forte). At the same time, perhaps Shanahan and Co can take advantage of some youthful inexperience.
Keep up the good work and thanks! Here’s looking forward to a Bronco win today!!!
city were a bit lucky today. But they’re back above united. Looks like they’re the team to beat this year. Maybe end those 31 years of hurt. And then maybe the raiders will score 5 touchdowns on champ. And pigs will fly.
As far as the Biggest rival, there is only one! There are very close seconds in this race to be the most hated but the Raiders by far are the most dreaded in this Bronco household. Losing to them is just about like losing the Super Bowl, it shoots your entire week. The CHEFS (HAHA in reference to the Snickers commercial) are my second, with the Chargers coming up third and Seahawks last.
and yea and more thing.
GO BRONCOS!!!!!
That was an incredibly loud yell with both fists pumping!!!!!
humberg:
Thanks for the kind words. Unpredictability does make preparation a little tougher sometimes, though … for a game like this, you have to look at gobs of game tape … from Atlanta (because of offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, since that was his last stop), from USC, from Minnesota and/or Miami (for Daunte Culpepper), etc.
mikebirty:
We got City-Villa over here in Denver at 9 a.m., so I was able to watch while working on the morning blog and quickly downing some eggs and bacon before driving north to INVESCO Field. I agree with you about City being “lucky,” because there’s too many moments where the guys seem to be in a little bit of a fog. I knew inconsistency would be a problem by trying to put so many new parts into the machine to make it function.
Kasper Schmeichel sometimes scares me a bit back there in goal, but you can see the potential he possesses and I’m willing to chalk up some of his missteps to his youth. At this point, I think City is best served by riding him rather than turning back to Isaksson; with four clean sheets it’s hard to quibble with Kasper’s results.
With the potential at goalkeeper, Michael Johnson playing the way he is and Micah Richards hopefully signing a long-term deal, I think City is building a foundation on rock, not on sand. I’m trying not to get too excited, and the 8,000 empty seats are testament to how all of us who follow the team are still waiting to see … but I haven’t felt this good about our chances in quite a while.
I WASNT THERA AT THE GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111…..******************
Hey Mas! How was it during that storm delay? Did it every look like the game would be called? I was watching at a buddy of mines house on the NFL Ticket. I went to check on the Chiefs game and turned back to see that the game was suspended. I had just got a nice Ribeye steak and a bowl of cocktail shrimp ready to finish watching the game. I thought they were done for the day but was happy when they started back up 24 minutes later. Tell your thoughts on the day Mas. If you have time.
MASONNNNNNN – Oh my, i use to love you, but a City fan?!?!?!? I live in Manchester, England and am i die hard Red, but i live 10 mins drive from both the City of Manchester Stadium and The Theatre of Dreams (Old Trafford), so plenty of my friends are blue. Jokes aside, im glad to see you’re a ‘soccer’ (i cant say it properly, doesn’t sound right) fan, thats two things we have in common! Ignore the troller, everyone else knows how hard you work and we all fully appreciate it. I work for my University’s paper doing the American Sports section, and that is stressful enough. Keep up the good work, and be a turncoat and turn red, you know you want to!