This is a very exciting moment in Denver Broncos history as John Fox takes the reins as head coach of the iconic Rocky Mountain sports franchise.
There is no team comparable to the Broncos in our time zone, and as one draws closer to Denver it is like heading into the epicenter of an emotional tsunami, with the Broncos figuratively representing the state religion for legions of Broncos Country residents.
The Broncos have achieved legendary status over the past 51 years, albeit in a legendary low ebb at this very time.
But with every negative comes a positive, and in this case it just happened that John Fox was available to bring his experience, energy and focus to the Mile High City.
He is the right man at the right time.
Much has been accurately written about the emphasis on defense, a strong running game, passionate play and sound coaching which John Fox’s teams historically have shown.
Those elements reminded me of when Red Miller came to Denver at the Broncos’ head coach back in 1977, for an era that soon would have its own name — the Orange Crush, a moniker founded on defense.
The Broncos at that time parlayed defensive play with a sound offense that ran the ball and did not make mistakes, adding in exceptional performance on special teams.
History was made in 1977, as every Broncos fan knows.
I am absolutely not suggesting that history will repeat itself in exactly that manner; not exactly, but Red Miller was the right man at the right time in 1977, and he was a veteran coach who emphasized strong defense and a sound offense that liked to run the ball. There are parallels, and another one will be the zest and energy level that fans will soon see from John Fox.
The words of Heraclitus always ring true. Heraclitus was an ancient philosopher who said, “No man can step in the same river twice, because the second time, the river is not the same and neither is the man.”
Those words apply just as aptly to a city and to a football team and to the fans who follow and love that team.
It is not the same time, the same thing all over again, but it might be closer than people think.
History has so many instances in which the past presages the future, and the opportunity for another one may be upon us as the Denver Broncos enter the John Fox era.
Tags: 2011, Head Coach John Fox, Jim Saccomano, Red Miller
It’s pretty easy actually to see why Mr T would be a worthy DC candidate:
Mike Trgovac is currently the Green Bay’s defensive line coach and is probably the front runner to win the SB this year and he was Fox’s DC from 2003-08. The only reason he left Carolina in 2009 for a lesser position with the Packers is because he was fed up like many others over how the Panthers’ Owner and GM basically started to tear apart everything that had been built there.
BFE, I was one of them but I`ve had a change of heart. I knew nothing about Fox until recently. I love the fact that we have a defensive mind coach. Coach Fox will bring some balance to the team in all phases of the game.
Yeah,everybody blames Fox for the demise of the Panthers,Hell it was the Owner and the GM ripping the team apart!
I liked the Fox hire since day one, I’m stubborn that way, I feel one way and I stick with it pretty much always, it drives people bonkers, haha.
Fox will be the best thing that’s happened to the Broncos since we hired Shanny.I’m not saying he’ll win 2 SBs,but he will bring back balance and stability,something we’ve lacked for at least 5 years!
I am glad we got Mr. Fox as a coach.
Over the past years offensive coordinators as coaches for head coaches has not worked out well. I hate to say it also includes Shannahan . After Elway retired the defense was neglected and was in a downward spiral and the was a contributing factor to his demise.
Currently I believe our offense can compete.
Tebow has the skills. He just needs a good QB coach to refine and bring the best of him out. Brady Quinn Gone. Orton “Learn from Kubiak” You can be a great backup and help train a possible future star. You retire still healthy and with enough knowledge learned to become a future coach.
Please remember our offensive line is young and big. They showed sparks of what they can be but great offensive lines need time to gel. I think 3 years minimum, till they know what each other is thinking and doing as first nature.
Our defense is what hurts. I like Champ but with age you lose speed. His knowldge of reading QB’s is his advantge but possibly moving him to safety for help in the run stop. He can still lay a lick on them.
You can have the best corners in the league but without a pass rush .
” You cannot cover forever”
A nice big 350 nose tackle that will take 2 people to move over center would be nice. That pretty much plugs the center. Dumervile and another speed rusher on the outside can fix the problem.
When a defense has to worry about tying up 5 people that are blocked by 3. It works to our advantage
Thanks for the re-post, haha.
When re-posting, it’s always nice to say re-post up top, that way us who read every post don’t have to double read stuff.
lol.
bOinger1,Your talking to a 4-3 guy here.
Although the 3-4 is a good scheme,if you have the players to run it.
If we keep the 3-4,I think we need a NT,DE,and 2 LBs to be effective.
If we change back to a 4-3,we need a DT,and a LB.IMO.
Simple explanation by Woody of how things function up top in our organization:
Pat Bowlen is the owner. He will only participate in the really large decisions ($70 million for a free agent, trade of a Jay Cutler, salary max, those kind of things). Joe Ellis will run the business side of the franchise and will also be involved when it’s a big-ticket item (long-term contract for Champ Bailey, No. 1 draft choice contract parameters). Brian Xanders will run the personnel department over the pro and college scouts. John Fox totally will run the football team, schemes, assistants, gameplans, the usual stuff. And John Elway’s job is to coordinate all of those people and those aspects of the football operation.
Elway answers to Bowlen; Ellis answers to Bowlen; Xanders answers to Elway; Fox answers to Elway.
Something else from Woody that could make BFE and many others very happy campers:
Fox and Elway have been tap-dancing around Champ. A lot hinges on the collective bargaining agreement. But I have it on good authority that Champ, who wants to come back, will be signed to a four-year deal, think $42 million, or will be designated franchise player for next season.
I do hope everything works out for Champ! Thanks for sharing bay.
Glad things with champ seem to be looking up. Im sure he appreciates a Defensive mind as HC. TRB out…
Legwold’s take on our front 7, no way to orange color that:
Denver’s front seven definitely needs to be upgraded, especially if the defense goes back to a 4-3 look. Defensively, the Broncos are wafer-thin at tackle, end and linebacker. Most personnel people in the NFL would say they are thin at safety too.
That’s a lot of needs on one side of the ball, probably more than the Broncos can fill in just one offseason. But it would be surprising if they didn’t target some of those positions during the April 28-30 draft.
The return of Elvis Dumervil will help the Broncos at defensive end. But they have little depth on the outside and almost nothing in place at defensive tackle when it comes to true 4-3 players.
Fox will give plenty of attention to stopping the run. That’s part of why the Broncos hired him.
Just like TRB said yesterday, very little chance to fix all this lack of talent defensively in one year….
I’m sorry I am just not completly sold on Fox. I am keeping myself from getting to excited about it because yes he has some good seasons but he also went 7-9 the year after his superbowl followed by a 11-5 season just to have the next 2 seasons going 8-8 and 7-9. He had another good year in 2008 at 12-4 all before he had his team be rebuilt by the GM and Owner. But those records seem like he may have played easier schedules some years to make him look better or something it is just not constant.
It kinda reminds me of Shanahan in his years after Elway is all i am trying to say.
I do agree with that assessment that TRB has said. There is hpoe. I can see us in the playoffs in 2012 if we play are cards right. I believe it starts with drafting young talent at key positions such as DT, DE LB, S, and a TE. And a free agent or two. And last but not least trade away some players that we do not want for draft picks. In my estimation there are approximitaley 5 to 7 players that we could get draft picks for. We`ve discussed those players to no end and that will continue unti draft day. I do enjoy the anticipation though. GO BRONCOS! AND SIGN CHAMP!
Here is an thought for TE as a FA Mercedes Lewis will become a FA this year.
Man sometimes I feel like I get ignored sometimes. I thought I was bringing up a valid point with the fact that Fox has had as man losing or .500 seasons as he had winning and that is not including his first and last years.
Yup bay, thats what I was trying to convey, entirely too many wholes on that side of the ball to fill in 1 year/draft. So for now, if we have proven talent I say keep the ones we can on D. No need to get all the draft picks for this one draft…would be great, but with a great draft we will be fine, theres always next year. TRB out
PS: For those who wanted a new blog, there ya go. A new blog where we will continue the same convo …. no diff lol
I hear you, but it doesn’t mean we don’t START rebuilding the D this year by trading some D players to get more draft picks as I said yesterday, the truth of the matter is we don’t have that many “proven talents” on the D side of the ball.
Well we ended this blog with over 1500 blogs, not bad.
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