Minutes after the schedule was released, Head Coach John Fox went on NFL Network and Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway spoke with 850 KOA about the Broncos’ slate of games.
Below are the transcripts from those interviews.
HEAD COACH JOHN FOX:
On the schedule
“We just saw the schedule about 20 minutes ago. We were able to look at it just a little bit, then we’re still in the middle of grading defensive backs.”
On five primetime games
“Any time you stare at a first-place schedule, it’s going to be a tough schedule. There are no cupcakes in this league regardless of who ranks where, because it was all based on last year and every year is a new year.”
On the bye week
“It’s pretty good. I think I’ve always preferred to have as close to midseason for the bye as possible. Week 7 is a pretty good turnout for us as far as that timing goes.”
On whether the Steelers can use revenge as a factor in the Week 1 rematch
“Things always factor in, but they’re going to be a completely different team. So will we. It’s a different season. There’s so much that goes on between now and then as far as preparation — as much as they might be able to use that in some ways, they’re still going to have a lot of new players on that football team just like we do.”
On the schedule in December
“A lot of times you look at what might happen weather-wise, but even that’s hard to predict. I remember one time we had a December game in Buffalo and it was 60 (degrees). Sometimes you can’t predict that just like you can’t predict how tough the schedule is, because it’s a whole new season.”
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS JOHN ELWAY:
On the schedule
“We knew it was going to be a tough one before the schedule came out today. We just didn’t have the dates. It’s going to be exciting opening at home against the Steelers. Any time you open at home on Sunday night there is going to be great excitement with that. We know that is going to be an important football game for us. We have to win those football games at home -– especially the openers. It’ll be an exciting schedule. Fans should be excited about it. I think we’ll be ready for the challenge. We have five playoff teams out of the first seven and the other two are San Diego and Oakland in our division. We have to get off to a quick start. That’s why this offseason is going to be so important to us.”
On starting with back-to-back primetime games
“I think we get the Steelers at home and then we have to go to Atlanta, who obviously is a very good football team. It’d be nice to get off to a quick start.”
On playing back-to-back road games
“I think it’s always difficult. I think after the bye week we’re on the road five out of seven weeks. That’s why when you look at that start, it’s going to be so crucial for us to get off to a good start. Then, when we go on the road –- I think we did a better job on the road last year than we have in the past, but we’re going to have to go with the mentality of being able to win big games against good football teams on the road.”
On the strength of schedule
“I think it’s just kind of the luck of the draw and the way it works out. That’s the way the schedule sets up and depending on what division you are playing in the NFC -– we’re playing the NFC South so that’s a tough division. It really is the luck of the draw. But, it’s year-by-year and some teams aren’t going to have as good of a year as they had last year and there are going to be some teams that didn’t have great years that are going to have good years next year. It really comes down to that everybody in the league is a good football team. The bottom line is that we have to go out and play good football.”
On this upcoming season
“With a year under my belt, I’m in a lot better shape than I was last year. I felt like I was in pretty good shape last year, but I think experience plus everybody working together, our personnel staff, (Director of Player Personnel) Matt Russell, (General Manager) Brian Xanders and everybody has done a tremendous job. Understanding with the coaches what we’re looking for on the defensive side as well as the offensive side. I just think that a year of everybody being together is going to help us tremendously.”
Tags: 2012 Schedule, John Elway, John Fox
Ranchings good Kod… the weather is typical Spring so Cold and Windy but so far so good with the calving, still 100% live birth rate and 100% survival so far… KNOCK ON WOOD!!!
Turtle is a name that came from Poker in the Late 90′s… I was always slow and deliberate in my betting (mostly just to irritate other players at the table and get them off their game) and I mark my cards with a Schliechs mini-desert Tortoise… Most can’t tell the difference between a Turtle and a Tortoise and people just started calling me ‘That Turtle Guy’ and then as I started traveling it just stuck… ‘Turtle’…
now it’s what I go by… only the Police and my family call me by my real name!!!
BT – I hear ya man, but that’s like saying that every struggling young QB would’ve made it if only their team had given them another chance.. Truth is, most QB’s fail, as there are only 32 possible jobs openings on the planet.. Despite a few stats from small sample sizes, Elway and Tebow are nothing alike.. One would make your jaw drop with his bullet arm, and the other would inspire you with his gritty play.. Pretty much polar opposites..
hahaha, good one. I love poker too…….haven’t really got much time for internet poker………I enjoy trying to read players too much.
Trading Tebow is like folding a pair of pocket sailboats with an Ace, King, Queen on the flop…
It would be like TT to river you though……….at the last moment, just like in his games. haha
*pocket sailboats (4′s), facing a hefty re-raise, with a suited A, K, Q flop.. Sometimes, despite potential, you gotta just move out of the way
I must say I get tired of the TT talk sometimes but I love the POKER analogies!
Lol. I guess from reading the blog, you can tell it’s a slow news day…..
nothing feels better than when someone limps in with pocket aces and you can check your pocket ducks in the big blind, ony to hit your trips on the flop with other rags…………..Cracking aces is such a rush……..which is why I hardly ever slow play them.
I know OT! Nothing but Mock Drafts!
OT… to compare Tebow to ‘every other struggling qb’ would be very Glibb.. Tebow is unique and my assessment was very apt…
Tebow has unique skills and his situation with following is also unique… you gotta see these things man!
Lmfao kk! We should get a Broncos blog tourney going! Btw, can’t believe that Pittsburg is facing elimination.. Big game for the Rangers tonight too!
and as Poker analogies go….
Trading Tebow was liking folding a Set of Aces because there was a KQA on board after the flop and you are afraid of a 10 J for a Straight… or in other words… Bad Read!!!
Turtle,
Chris Harris was a Freshman when Talib was a Junior Talib didn’t stay for his Senior year so they didn’t play together much but they had Harris on ST a lot back then that’s when Kansas was really good
yeah, best series of the playoffs has been pitt-philly. I think the pens win this one and survive one more game but the series is out of reach. I think the sens tie it up heading back to MSG……….but lundquist has been off the charts.
LOL Turtle…my poker IQ is complete crap but I feel ya….I also disagree with you, but such is life!
I like Tebow…he was popular in the locker room and is an fun player to watch….just not my type of QB. Personal Preference growing up watching Elway I guess.
Nice Mike! What makes that such a bad Poker move is that even if your opponent does have 10 J for a straight, you still have 10 Outs (cards) that can beat him… and if the Turn is a miss you inherit a minimum of two outs, usually 3…
I also grew up going nuts for Elway….
He is and always will be my favorite ‘Player’…
and thank you DO for answering my Harris, Talib question!
BT – I’m not trying to disrespect Tebow, and I’ll agree with you that he’s not like just any other struggling QB, as his heart is off the charts and he has other intangibles that he brings to the game, but we just don’t know what will happen. Teams did seem to figure him out towards the end of the season, and Pittsburg was heavily criticized for going away from it. Much like any trade really, you hope to be right, but there are no guarantees. If he turns out to be a great starting QB, I’ll have no problem saying it was a bad move, but the odds stacked against him IMO.
kk – agreed, that Pitt/Philly series has been great. A lot of tough physical play throughout the playoffs so far! Only thing keeping me sane until the draft. Lol
I understand OT… and You know I’m always going to admit when I’m wrong as well…
In changed the way I view my childhood hero, and for our sake I want to win this year more than anything, but I don’t see it… Tebow had so much to offer the Franchise, and Peyton’s shelf life is so limited even if he stays healthy that I can’t find any value here unless we actually win the SuperBowl… at which point I will have to do something crazy embarrassing to atone for my doubts… but until then we are all right till we’re wrong!!!
BT your Welcome
Good to hear the calving is going well Turtle, it can be a battle sometimes, we start in April, a few years ago the old man got tired of battling either the snow and or the mud and cold, most of the time the weather is fairly good by now.
Not gonna lie, at first I was bummed at the way the offseason started, I was sad TT was gone, but now… though still slightly sad I am so ready for the season to start already! I haven’t been following the draft mocks much but I’ve been trying to keep tabs on here. My Twins lost to the Yanks last night, but at least my former favorite Twin has found a good home with the Rockies (Cuddyer)… dear Lord I’m ready for football…
i really like tebow, and apprecitate what he did for us last year… but im sorry, i just dont see him panning out as a starting QB.
Vickerson takes pay cut,and Thomas likely to go elsewhere:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=denver%20broncos&source=newssearch&cd=2&ved=0CDMQqQIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F1150363-denver-broncos-defensive-tackle-vickerson-takes-pay-cut-to-stay-with-team&ei=lgmPT9ruIoTGtgezg4nxCw&usg=AFQjCNG-V_aSyf-6C0GgqfQWNIpVAppcOA&cad=rja
BT – good way to look at it! Everyone is right until we’re wrong. Either way, it will be fun to watch everything unfold, as we all can agree that it will be an exciting season. And whatever happens, we’re all Broncos fans, and no need for bashing anyone for being “wrong” IMO
Peyton’s shelf life?
Dude last year was the 1st time he missed a game in his career,13 years!
Can’t find any value unless we win a SB?
So many players and coaches will learn a LOT from PM,it’s like having your OC playing QB,the guy just being on the team will make us better,and if he stays healthy,he is the best QB in the NFL,period!
Turtle………..you have a right to your opinion dude,and I respect that,but I have to disagree.
But hey,we can disagree here and still be bros,lol.
Good luck to TT,and I appreciate all he done for us,especially the heart pounding comebacks that made me think I was gonna have a Heart attack,lol.
He is gone and so is the media hype,day after day,after day.
Kiper has us taking Wolfe at #25, and the Chargers taking Jones at #18….
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcwest/post/_/id/42900/kipers-mock-goes-three-deep
BFE – I agree, I do NOT miss the Media circus surrounding Tebow, but now that he is in NY, it’s still in my face.. I just can’t get away from it!
Vickersons’ a trooper – good to see he wants to stay on and contribute towards the success of the Team. Look forward to seeing Vick back on the field.
Derek Wolfe at #25 – WOW !!! Kipers’ really getting delirious… lol! j/k.
Seriously though, Reyes and Wolfe could go earlier than originally projected. I like both of these players myself. Both seem to be on the rise. Players like Still and Worthy seem to be dropping.
Who was it last draft that started out in the top 10 and fell all the way to 2nd rd or was it 3rd … DE DeQuan Bowers???
BFE,
I think BT is a girl
I hope I’m not confused again lol
I thought he was a dude?
rbf1….Vickerson,a healthy Warren,Bannan,Unrein,Ayers moving inside on some running downs,and a DT in the 1st or 2nd round,under JDR,I think will be a good rotation.
I know we will miss Bunkley as the run stuffer,but I’m hoping we can find a DT that can stuff the run and pressure the QB,is it April 28th yet?
? you eat a funny mushroom DO? if so, hook it up man!!!
How long you been reading the blogs DO?
LMAO@Turtle…….you are a dude right?
BFE… I’m cheering for Manning… I love my team, and he is a part of it!
Odds of us beating a team like NE or Bal are slim in my oppinion, but I’m going to hope for the best! this team is growing and by next year the D-Fense could be at the level we need to win it all… who knows!
LMAO/JK…..I know you are a dude,DO must be high,lol.
Turtle…everybody can’t have the same opinions or this blog would not work because everybody would think alike,I respect your opinions very much bro,nothing wrong with disagreeing ever once in a while,that’s what blogging is all about,discussing differences of opinion,as long as people don’t rip each other for having a different opinion than theirs,(I’m guilty too),but we really should try to see each persons opinions as different,not wrong.
LIVE ACTION……..GETCHA SOME!!!!!!!!!!
New blog.
Almost BFE… almost there bro!!
BT
been on hear for a little over a year now but been reading since the begging of time sorry for the mix up I know someone said that they were a girl but not sure who my memory isn’t what it used to be
I am a dude! lol
LMSDB
FTR
FTR is a dude..wow…..LOL/JK.