mike_rice « DenverBroncos.com

Author Archive

Welcome To The Second Half

November 14th, 2009 - 10:51am by mike_riceOther posts by mike_rice

The big picture shows the Broncos are 6-2 at the halfway point of the season. There probably aren’t too many people who predicted that before the regular season began.

At the same time, the last two losses to Baltimore and Pittsburgh showed that the Broncos have work to do. But what NFL team doesn’t have to get better?

There are plenty of unknowns as the second half of the season begins in Washington, D.C. on Sunday. I’m determined to enjoy the process of watching things unfold each week.

Click to continue reading “Welcome To The Second Half”

Tags: Washington Redskins, Week 10
Posted in Mike Rice | 7 Comments »

Keeping Things In Perspective

November 6th, 2009 - 1:00am by mike_riceOther posts by mike_rice

One game does not make a season. But it can be cause for some concern. Such is the place where the Broncos find themselves, at least to some degree.

The bottom line is the Ravens dominated the Broncos last weekend. There is no getting around that.

But it’s one game. It’s not a trend; it’s not a pattern; it’s not necessarily the start of the Broncos’ demise. There is no need to call Chicken Little.

All together now…breathe in deeply…hold it for a moment…slowly exhale. The Broncos are still 6-1. Last I checked, that’s pretty good.

Click to continue reading “Keeping Things In Perspective”

Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Postgame, Week 8
Posted in Mike Rice | 49 Comments »

Back To Work

October 31st, 2009 - 12:05pm by mike_riceOther posts by mike_rice

Six games down, ten to go. What does the future hold?

Only time will tell. But to this point, the Broncos have indeed taken to the identity head coach Josh McDaniels envisioned: Tough, smart and versatile.

Just under two-thirds of the season remains to be played. The Broncos are well on their way to making it a season to remember.

Here are a few things that will go a long way to that end.

1 – CONTINUE TO KEEP EXPECTATIONS UNLIMITED. Before leaving for the bye week, head coach Josh McDaniels made what I thought was an interesting point about expectations.

A reporter asked Coach McDaniels if anything has exceeded his expectations.

“We get whatever we deserve in terms of the work we put in and the production we get in whatever phase it is,” McDaniels said. “We don’t set boundaries on anything and say, ‘Boy, we’re ahead of where we thought we’d be.’ We hope we’re at the top in a lot of areas and doing the best we can in every area.”

Click to continue reading “Back To Work”

Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Week 8
Posted in Mike Rice | 5 Comments »

Catching Their Breath

October 25th, 2009 - 10:34am by mike_riceOther posts by mike_rice

The Denver Broncos can take a breath this weekend. They have bolted out to a 6-0 start and shown themselves to be one of the best teams in the NFL.

Clearly there is plenty of football left. But there is no doubt they deserve to enjoy their start.

The best part of it all is that no one who follows the team expected this. Most people thought the Broncos would struggle. Few, if any, thought they would be undefeated. That’s why they play the games.

Here are my top three reasons the Broncos are 6-0:

Click to continue reading “Catching Their Breath”

Tags: Brian Dawkins, Bye week, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Kyle Orton
Posted in Mike Rice | 84 Comments »

Staying Grounded

October 13th, 2009 - 2:47pm by mike_riceOther posts by mike_rice

I’m not sure what the Broncos’ final record will be this season. But I now know for certain it will be much better than many people thought it would be.

We all know the NFL tends to be a week-to-week business. The prevailing thought is that a team seems to be only as good as how well it played the previous game.

After defeating the Patriots, the Broncos deserved to celebrate a terrific win. It is clear that they are a really good team.

And they can be even better.

Click to continue reading “Staying Grounded”

Tags: Boston Patriots, Postgame, Week 5
Posted in Mike Rice | 38 Comments »

Here For The Long Haul

October 6th, 2009 - 12:25am by mike_riceOther posts by mike_rice

The confidence that Broncos’ Head Coach Josh McDaniels says has always resided in the hallways at team headquarters is now overflowing.

The Broncos are good.

No, they’re not a perfect team. And I don’t pretend to think they’ll go 16-0 in the regular season.

But my guess is they’re not going away, either.

Understandably, many people weren’t that impressed when the Broncos began the season with wins over the Bengals, Browns and Raiders.

Beat the Cowboys and people start to take notice.

Click to continue reading “Here For The Long Haul”

Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Postgame, Week 4
Posted in Mike Rice | 32 Comments »

A Team In The Making

September 28th, 2009 - 12:25am by mike_riceOther posts by mike_rice

It was, by all accounts orange and blue, a good time had by all.

The Broncos brought the hammer down on the Raiders, 23-3, Sunday afternoon in Oakland. What little there was of the Silver and Black before the blowout, undoubtedly nothing remained after. It was a team effort of terrific proportions.

“We talked all week about needing to play well in three phases in order to beat this team at home,” Broncos’ head coach Josh McDaniels told 850 KOA after the game. “We got a great effort by our kicking units, did a nice job defensively stopping the run (and) creating some turnovers and offensively dominated the time of possession.”

I’ll dispense of the obligatory “it was just the Raiders” preface and get right to the point: The Broncos have played pretty well to this point in the season.

Click to continue reading “A Team In The Making”

Tags: Correll Buckhalter, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Oakland Raiders, Postgame
Posted in Mike Rice | 113 Comments »

Putting the “D” Back in Denver

September 20th, 2009 - 11:43pm by mike_riceOther posts by mike_rice

They quietly yet methodically closed their lunch pail, snapped the top shut and walked into the locker room, subtly smiling at the thought of another opponent tidily packed inside.

The Broncos’ defense is playing some good old fashioned football.

The Broncos beat down the Browns 27-6 on Sunday and the defense turned the Browns black and blue, limiting Cleveland to 200 yards of total offense, forcing three turnovers and getting a franchise record-tying four sacks from Elvis Dumervil. The only points the Broncos allowed were two harmless field goals.

Someone tell those guys they aren’t supposed to be this good.

Click to continue reading “Putting the “D” Back in Denver”

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Postgame
Posted in Mike Rice | 51 Comments »

More Than A Miracle

September 13th, 2009 - 11:51pm by mike_riceOther posts by mike_rice

On Sunday the Broncos showed why you never say, “Never.”

As improbable as the Broncos’ 12-7 win over the Bengals was, it is real. As miraculous as it was, it is truly happened. As unbelievable as it was, they are off to a 1-0 start.

Welcome to the great unknown.

Click to continue reading “More Than A Miracle”

Tags: Cincinnati Bengals, Postgame, Week 1
Posted in Mike Rice | 208 Comments »

Into The Great Unknown

September 12th, 2009 - 10:29am by mike_riceOther posts by mike_rice

It is time to stop talking and start playing. Thank goodness.

The Broncos open the 2009 regular season Sunday in Cincinnati. We will get an idea of where the Broncos stand after an off-season of change.

Deep down, I believe the Broncos will be better than many people, especially national “experts,” think they will. I know I hope they will be but ultimately, I don’t know.

Click to continue reading “Into The Great Unknown”

Tags: Cincinnati Bengals, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Week 1
Posted in Mike Rice | 67 Comments »