Mike Rice’s blog: No reason to panic
Jim Saccomano’s blog: Preseason time, not panic time
My Spidey Sense hath detecteth a theme here.
Not much sense in repeating what’s being uttered elsewhere in Broncos blog-land. But unlike my esteemed blogging brethren I’m not going to counsel you not to panic. First, I’m not much of a counselor; just because I say “y’all” doesn’t make me Dr. Phil. Second, on a social-observation level, I enjoy observing the panic, because I don’t understand it, at least not when it comes to preseason football. After all, if a regular-season or playoff contest is “just a game,” then what is preseason, anyhow?
I surmise the best observation on the preseason came in Domonique Foxworth’s blog. He quotes his defensive coordinator, Bob Slowik, who says, “Preseason doesn’t count, but it matters.” A letter-perfect sentiment. Foxie and Slow … smart men both. Former O-lineman Mark Cooper offers a similar sentiment in his blog and responses to commenters.
As an observer, I go into every preseason game with one thought above all — let’s get through this injury-free. That’s what made Saturday’s game so frustrating. The on-field action wasn’t great for the Broncos, but the result was reflective of two teams with different game-planning philosophies in regards to their first team. That happens.
Preseason “matters” in that you want to see cohesion, chemistry and a the afore-mentioned lack of injuries. It “matters” in that you want to evaluate individual players for purposes of grouping them together for a season-long whole. It “matters” in that you want to get a glimpse at guys who might help down the line — or that you figure out which ones won’t help in the regular season. Certainly, preseason “mattered” to Terrell Davis back in 1995, when he landed a haymaker on kickoff coverage in a game at the Tokyo Dome to first capture Broncodom’s attention.
But if preseason “counted,” the Buffalo Bills would never have gone to four Super Bowls or won six straight division titles from 1988-93. Their preseason record in those years? Eight wins and 19 losses, with nary a winning August in that time. They went 3-1 in the 1994 preseason — and promptly finished the regular season 7-9.
This isn’t to say the win-loss results of preseason games weren’t always unimportant. But you have to go back to the AFL-NFL preseason games in the late 1960s to find preseason results that dripped with meaning. The single most significant Broncos preseason game, IMHO, was on Aug. 5, 1967, when the Broncos defeated the Detroit Lions 13-7 at University of Denver Stadium. Thirteen nights later, at the same venue, the Broncos defeated Minnesota 14-3.
But since then for the Broncos? Nothing’s really matched that. Not in the preseason, anyway. Panic if you must, and panic in the comments. I only edit for cursing, over-the-top insults and, like Will Ferrell as Alex Trebek on “Celebrity Jeopardy!” we keep a no-ethnic slurs policy here. But I can’t join the panic attack. Maybe I’ve just been in the press box too long and take a broader, more distant view of things. But for now, I’m just going to wait it out and keep the panic button covered by a plastic lid for now.
Tags: Personal Thoughts, Preseason
Best celebrity jeopardy…
Ill take anal bum covers for a $100….
Thats An Album cover you idiot….
Anyways I agree, Ill start panicking after Sept 9th.
I won’t panick just yet, but some of the moves I see the team making do make me wonder what’s going on. Most of the offseason moves I’ve seen make sense but this one… basically trading Gerard Warren for Browning… is just confusing.
I word for word agree with “Thejerg”
Andrew, I think even more than the defense (which definitely needs a lot of work, but will get there with some time) we should be discussing and concerned about the special teams. This has consistently KILLED the Broncos for awhile now, and its very frustrating. A few uncharacteristic Saurbraun-shanks aside, the special teams play over the last two preseason games (minus, of course, Q Morgan’s very nice 58 yard return or however long that was) has seemed very poor. I don’t know what all the exact numbers are, but the Broncos need to start not only improving but excelling in this area if they are to contend in the playoffs.
Oh, and please tell the Broncos staff to take a good hard look at Jeremiah Trotter, recently waived by the eagles…that could be a real lift for the D.
I’m not as concerned with the LBs as I am with the DTs. The DT’s are taking this “Not penetration DTs” too literally. Why wouldn’t they though? Warren got sent off because of it. I watched the film and these guys had numerous oppurtunities to rip and get to the QB. Every time one of them was in position to run and either get a holding flag called on the o-lineman or to get to the QB they would stop and then work their way to the other side of the O-linemen.
Not to mention that O-linemen are not going to double team a guy if all he does is stands straight up. They’re doing all the work for them! It’s been giving the Gaurds and Tackles a great oppurtunity to come up and block the back. Of course our backs are having a rough time! They have to keep shedding blocks! This is the DT’s responsibility to take up two blocks. If they don’t start hustling and establishing themselves as a threat then teams are gonna run to the strong side between the tackle and gaurd all day long.
A team may consider double teaming you if your a big guy but if they see your standing up and planting your feet not trying to chop them to get penetration then they are just going to laugh and stick one guy on you! We need these guys to hustle.
Like I said in a previous comment, we don’t need Trotter or Rice. I think we need to take a hard look at Tank Johnson for reasons mentioned in a comment to the previous blog entry.
I agree about the special teams
I am still not worried,perseason is not the time to panic,game 3 of the season will tell where we are and where we are heading..Relax and listen to some Bluegrass until then and enjoy watching the rookies play…
GOOOOOOOOOOOO BRONCOS!!!!
anyone think theres any chance of getting jeremiah trotter
I have been a Bronco fan since 1972,Lot of hard times and a lot of great times. But over time it just seems one thing continues to persevere with our teams.A lack of intensity. You must have a focus on what is important whether it is pre-season or not.You cannot lay off in preseason and then think you can turn on the jets in the regular season. it does not work.In My opinion the coaches should tighten up on discipline and expectations from the git-go. As far as I am concerned players should not involve themselves in Blogging during pre-season or regular .It is a distraction not needed. Total focus produces results,results produce champions. we need 100% intensity .
c
Let them feel out the new defense that is being implemented, its not about just winning right now. Its about preparing to win in the regular season.
Well, to wade in here, I am a counselor–a psychologist to be exact. And if there’s one thing you teach clients to do, it’s check in with their instincts and see if there’s any validity to them. I agree that “panic” may not be the best response right now, but “concern” should be. Taking in consideration that the players keep leaning on “learning a new system,” the fact that Bates hasn’t lasted a really long time in any of his coaching jobs (despite his results), the shuffling of players for the right combination, and a defense that last year (even though I couldn’t stand Larry Coyer’s style), with more or less the same personnel was playing way above where they’re at currently, I’d say it’s fair to be concerned with “worry” on deck and “panic” waiting in the wings.
I mean, how long can “adjusting to the new scheme” hold up? Unless of course this whole bad defense thing is just a ruse and the Broncs will come out on opening day and open up a can. Yet, what I’m hoping is that Bates didn’t come in and sell Shananhan a bill of goods that he can’t deliver on this year because the personnel isn’t quite right. And it’ll take a season to work out the kinks and personnel to get the results he shown to obtain.
And for Banjopicker up there who isn’t worried…the devil’s at the door knocking. Hope you’ve a good response for him. I understand he’s not much for bluegrass.
As for Jeremiah Trotter, yes that might be a good move. Perhaps Tank Johnson might too, or Corey Simon for that matter if he’s healthy. But the fact that we might have to go out shopping again makes me uneasy about Bates and his scheme.
I agree that its not time to panic. But I also don’t think its unreasonable to be worried or disappointed. Sure its the pre season and we don’t know the whole story about game plans and schemes the defense was running. But if our defensive unit was tried and true we might be able to cut Bates and the guys some slack. Being this is our first look at the new unit its more than distressing seeing them give up so many big plays and 3rd down conversions. I think a lot of the worry is stemming from the memory of dropping week 1 games on the road that we should have won the last 2 years and being fearful of making it a 3peat with a poor showing in Buffalo. That said, I’m waiting to see what happens in a more real game situation against Cleveland before going in the panic room.
Andrew,
I think you are confusing panic with frustration. Personally, I waited, as a loyal Broncos fan, for 32 years for my first Superbowl Championship and that only came after four humiliating Superbowl losses.
Since John Elway retired, we’ve had ONE playoff win! ONE!
New England has reloaded, San Diego is a monster and then there are the Colts with Peyton Manning having ALL DAY to throw the ball and eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to boot.
The Steelers, Bengals, Jaguars, and the Ravens will all contend and even the Texans could surprise.
I love M.Shanahan but my patience is beginning to wear thin…….. Show me “THE TITLE” Mike! As the MOST LOYAL BRONCOS FAN I am beginning to STARVE. Feed me “The Title”
BroncoThunder………out……..
Preseason is where the team gauge its potentials and make significant adjustments as it enters the regualr season…please consider that we are adjusting to our new defense, it may take time (i hope not too long) but nonetheless, we still have a big shot in the super bowl.. for the past superbowl winners, preseason standing is not the indication fior them winning the crown!
I can’t stand looking at Mason’s blog during preseason games because of all the crying.
Booohooo our defense looks like poo!
Booohooo stop telling me its only preseason!
Booohooo anyone who thinks that Shanahan doesn’t want to win doesn’t know football!
What a load….it is only preseason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To all those worried about our defense…hey at least we’ll be better than the Bears because so far in the preseason they’ve allowed more points than we have. And from reading all these so called Bronco fan comments during the games, preseason is a direct reflection of the regular season