I was very impressed by the comments of Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin in his press conference on the Monday after the Super Bowl.
One of the things he said that really resonated with me was while acknowledging the great accomplishment of his Pittsburgh team in winning its sixth world championship for the franchise, he emphasized that this was the accomplishment of the 2008 team. It had no bearing on what would happen in 2009.
I was reminded of that in a recent interview which Broncos Head Coach Josh McDaniels did.
When asked to comment on the recently announced 2009 schedule, Josh said he liked it and looked forward to competing every week.
But Josh made a great comment, I thought, in noting that fans look at each year’s schedule within the mental context of what last year’s team was.
So 32 teams are being judged and evaluated with a completely new schedule, but based on what the previous year’s team was.
And that could not be more irrelevant. Last year is not this year.
Players changes, coaches change, schemes and philosophies change, some teams sustain fewer injuries, some more. And regardless, there are games played every week.
Not too many people predicted last year that the Arizona Cardinals would march into the Super Bowl, or that the Tampa Bay Rays would advance to the World Series.
But after the fact, everyone accepts it quickly, and many people even take advantage of revisionist history to claim they knew all along that this was likely to happen.
An analogy relative to this point is that every week, for every NFL game, one of the stats used is the history of the two teams against each other, won-lost record, current winning streak, etc.
But the teams that take the field that week are not composed of the same players who kicked off 10 years ago, five years ago, or sometimes even three weeks earlier.
Today is the only measuring stick, and today changes every day.
The Broncos have a new head coach, nearly 20 new NFL veteran players, and will shortly add 10 players in the 2009 draft. Many other teams have a similar number of changes, and each team has to deal with the weekly issue of injury.
So anybody who tries to predict the 2009 record based on what different players and coaches did in opposing other teams’ different players and coaches in an entirely different year might as well be throwing darts at a wiffle ball in a wind storm.
Heraclitus was right.
Heraclitus was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher who lived about 475 years B.C., and Heraclitus in his wisdom spoke words that still are applicable to NFL teams today.
He 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.”
And so too are the teams and schedules different from year to year.
It’s going to be a very interesting season, and the results will all play out on the field, not in predictions made nine months before the season ends.
Amen.
j
I Knew Josh McD was smart! Nobody in the NFL could have put it better! Thats exactly ewhy all the spectators are writing off the Broncos because of what their 09 oppoents did last year! Thats why every team in the NFl has a chance to do great…Doesnt matter what happens in the past, its all about the present
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!
Great Post. It’s true, look at the Dolphins and Falcons. Last year nobody would have thought they would do as well as they did either. Last year doesn’t matter. The present is all that matters. We can do it this year just as good as anybody.
Go Broncos!
And the future is full of unknowns
I agree with Jim. We may think know but its all speculation. Like I said in a prev. blog, I could never predict the out comes of the next year. Take it week by week and we will talk at the other end.
Jim,
Nice to see Greek philosophy on your blog! I am hoping that Bronco Nation can unify and move on next year with a little more of Aristotle’s notion of moderation in all things, including transition. Let’s see how things play out.
But, looking at the schedule, you have to say that the beginning is the cupcake part of it, the middle is difficult and the end is when the division will be decided.
Should be fun to watch and I look forward to seeing and reading your book.
broncos rule!
Right! Besides, if a team’s really a championship contender, it must be capable of winning every game, against any team, in any field, any time of the season. And even like this, a team can loose some games and make a winning tendency in the final 3 or 4, get into the playoffs and win the SB (I still have nightmares with the 05 Steelers!!). Or be a 16-0 and loose the SB. The Colts never got to the SB when they were the favorites to be NFL champions, but when they weren’t favorites… champions!! The 07 Titans were completely different as 08 Titans, just as Miami, and even San Diego… who would bet to an 8-8 season? And getting into playoffs with that??!!
This is why NFL is fun.
Go Broncooos!
VERY wise words indeed Jim. And in the wake of Madden retiring, I’ll say thank you for stating the “obvious.” Ha! It actually is blatantly obvious but in today’s world so many things are blatantly obvious and yet somehow get missed by so many. I personally will miss Madden and don’t understand people that say he insulted their intelligence by stating the obvious. I think they miss the point of truth that Wisdom is actually simple.
Like this blog. Simple, straight forward, obvious and yet every year people still predict what will happen based on the past. I think once and for all we finally have a season last year that proves anything can happen. The Dolphins, the Falcons, the Ravens, and the Cardinals, and even the Lions going 0-16. Things nobody would have predicted at the beginning.
With that said, I’m SICK of hearing so many Broncos fans saying we are going to suck this year. Your blog Mr. Saccomano will hopefully really get people to think and realize the blatantly obvious fact about not just football but life in general and that is:
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE SO WHY NOT BELIEVE?
Oh, let’s be realists some will say? Reality is what we make it with thoughts, beliefs and most importantly actions. Every single person in the Broncos organization is thinking Super Bowl, so how about us fans get on board and start thinking BIG.
Thanks for the inspiration Jim.
Agreed. No one on this planet can set the future in stone. We can see glimpses of it but its just like a big ball of clay in your hand. Its undeniably present but its there for you to shape however you see fit. We can win the superbowl this year if everyone believes that. Theres absolutely nothing that can stop one collective mind working to achieve a common goal. Nothing.
I have to disagree, to some extent. I didn’t look at the schedule and bemoan the Colts game because of their 2nd place finish last year. Rather, it was the previous 6 division titles that gave me pause. And I don’t worry about the Patriots game because of their 11-5, 2nd place finish last year. Again, it’s the previous string of division titles, 4 Super Bowl appearances and 3 titles that make me nervous. They may not be the same “men” stepping into the same “river,” but they sure as hell recognize each other. The Colts, Patriots, Steelers, Ravens and, more recently, the Chargers, are all consistently good teams. And if the Broncos aren’t a much different, much better team than they were last year, it will be another long, disappointing year. Little sayings are nice. I have one too. A new broom sweeps clean. But it only sweeps clean if it is a good broom, regardless of how new it is. So the Broncos still need what those other teams have had for years, and continue to have. Talent, heart, and execution. Can’t win without them.
letswinplz77…You have a point in saying teams stay on top season to season, but seriously you question the talent, heart, and execution of this team. Cutler couldn’t carry Ortin or Simms athletic supporter when it comes to heart. Talent, we have undoubtedly the best O-line in the game right now…Marshal, Royal, Hillis, Dawkins, Champ just to name a few. Execution…Well your right that one we will only see in time, but hey atleast we might not be looking an offense that collapses in the RED ZONE. And the once mighty fall all the time…Injuries, schemes, free agency, and coaching all play a major roll in seasonal turn out. Don’t judge the team based on your presumptions of inadequacy just cause Shanny and Cutler are gone.
GO Broncos!!!
Great blog post Jim, I on behalf of everyone with common sense, thank you deeply for cracking the whip of lucidity to get folks to wake up and realize the world isn’t over!!!
Can’t wait to be shouting at the TV that first pre-season game… Not to mention the draft (only 9 more days!!).
I have NEVER looked forward to a draft as much as this one (I think it’s a combination, because I’m young/ haven’t experienced more than 14 drafts that I was concious of, and getting Eddie Royal in the draft last year made me really want to pay attention in the future)
So basically if broncos win the majority of the teams that are usually
good then broncos have a way high chance at taken the playoffs or just
being a dangours team through the post season.. So this is the biggest
test of team. Not to mention i cant handle seeing the CHARGERS take the
playoffs again! so all in all it still sucks we lost CUTLER.. So gooo BRONCOS and off to sell my cutler jersy at buffelo exchange haha lol
calibronco…You know I’ve thought many times of getting rid of old jerseys, but then I stop myself and remember no matter how brief or how bad of a break up all those old players are a part of the bronco history. So they end up getting put in the retired section of my jerseys. All the way from Portis to now Cutler.
Thats why they play the game Jim! As I have said in a recent post, I’m sick of the press trying to bury Denver before the season starts.The whole idea that the Chargers might have the division won before we play them the second time is just ridiculous. The real champs know that the road to championships is never an easy one. I love the fact that like Tomlin, coach McDaniels isn’t worried about it. Every win is EARNED in this league and thats the one thing as fans we always know for sure. Last year is last year and even the Steelers will tell you that. It’s just my hope that we prove the critics wrong. Yes I think the schedule is tough but if we make the playoffs, our confidence will be sky high. I’m really looking forward to the draft,and for the start of mini-camps.
Thank Goodness!!!! I’m tired of hearing all of the speculation about the Broncos season coming up, Look what speculation did to the gas prices…lol
Anyway did any one think we were gonna go 8-8 last year I doubt it! Look either you’re a DENVER BRONCO FAN or your not!!! NO in between, and real Bronco fans don’t come out sayin were gonna stink cuz you gotta believe PERIOD……..
Folks remember this day. This is the day we realize something special is about to take place. You gonna be able to look back and remember what you were doing. Trying to say i knew it all along! lol
Okay. Heraclitus puts his money on a random schedule because league parity is all the rage. I bet on the teams with a winning tradition biased by last year’s record. I win every time. To suggest we don’t have a difficult looking schedule is denial. Does that mean we can’t be successful next year? Hell no. Changes in coaching, players, injuries, dumb luck; they all happen. But I’d say to Heraclitus: Same dudes DNA in water flowing the same direction, chances are he’ll get wet.
To bnt: Questioning Cutler’s heart last season would have gotten you tossed. Did we even watch the same player? How about we accept that Josh and co wanted to trade him, got good value, and move on. If he had sucked, you wouldn’t be looking at Orton and the draft picks we got. The scary part is Josh wanted to trade for Cassel straight up. Didn’t happen, and it’s perfectly ok to be optimistic about the actual result. I’m willing to give Josh the benefit of a year before I evaluate, but I can’t see what you accomplish trying to diminish the player Jay is. I wish him luck in Chi-town, and hope we beat them in the Super Bowl. Hang onto the Jersey, might have value one day.
Jim, nice article….
“YOU NEVER KNOW”
Great article. I think we will be better in the long run with all these changes. Thank God we got rid of that poo nanie Jay Cutler. I am really impressed with JMAC. Can’t wait for the draft.
Letswinplz77 – Nice spin and good points.
Why is it that optimism breeds negativity?
Seriously, fans are optimistic abou the season…so what’ll they say? “I love what we’re doing, glad to see Jay gone. Jay was a whinner, Jay had no heart blah, blah, blah……”
Bronco fans, I agree let’s move on. But don’t kid yourself! YOU WOULD’VE IN A MILLION YEARS EVER SAID THAT BEFORE THE TRADE!!!!
I’ll be the first to admit, I loved Jay. HATED to see him go! but it is what it is. It’s very possible this team could be in a very good position. Hard to believe but it’s possible. I support JMac 100% as my new head coach……
But, would never say that Jay had no heart…that he didn’t care….that he was a whinner…the kid can play!
oh…by the way…Jay sorry you’re gone now! 5 bucks says a Rookie MLB lays you out in week 3 of the preseason! I would tell Lovie not to play you that game
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
Seriously though….
JMac love what you’re doing….Mike great post! you do an excellent job for us all!
To my great Blog Master who keep us updated, you all did an amazing job throughout this whole circus
Now, let’s get some phenominal players in the draft and go create some havoc!
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
i agree with most of you and Jim. I love this team. I would never say or perdict this team to fail. Ilook at the schedule. and see some good football. that what i’m excited about. I think some people perdiction are based on the fact that they are still mad that we don’t have Cutler. so automatically people say were going to stink. but eople we are better than last year. So sit back and lets cheer togather
Great bolg, Jim! You’ve taken the words right out of my mouth. Nobody can predict anything, otherwise will somebody please predict me winning the lottery? Uh, wait, it’ll all just go to taxes and the government…never mind….
Anyway, the Broncos will be a different team, which might just benefit them in ’09, because teams won’t have a lot film go on or won’t know what to expect any given week, which will let them be a little more flexible and unpredictable. If we just take care of the ball, score touchdowns on offense, be sound on defense and solid on special teams, how can we not win?
Go Broncos!
Well said Thornyissue
jim,
that’s a very posh way of simply saying “Any Given Sunday”
Go broncos!
Mike
one thing for certain this season will be one of the biggest unknowns since Elway retired. This should be interesting to say the least, not sure what to do with my Culter jersey or what to replace it with, but least I still have my Elway and Sharpe jerseys well worn and seen many Broncos victories. As for the schedule -> looks pretty rough to me, specially with a team that is just meeting now, ah but that is what change is all about, looking forward to a very interesting season.
GO BRONCOS
so we lost cutler…he was good, maybe great in the future, but that’s a small possibility because the bear’s system isnt a pass happy team, and cutler will get impatient as he did here in denver a couple of times, which will lead to many interception…LIKE LAST SEASON…maybe if jay didnt throw as many INT’s as he did…shannahan would still be here…i swear he went like 7 or 8 games in a row with an INT…so good ridance…although orton doesn’t have a blazing arm like jay…he is more patient…so just like cassel…mcdaniels will make him a top qb in the league next season…or any other qb if we go with drafting sanchez…mcdaniels proved he knows wut he is doing with qb’s when he lead brady to throw 52 td’s and made cassel elite and badly wanted by other teams…bummer for him now that he plays for the chiefs cuz the broncos are going to hand it to them both times next year
We all need to calm down about the Cutler trade and realize we are in a better place. He is a very talented quaterback, but extremly raw. Chicago will not make him any better, but McDaniels will make us better. Orton is a good smart quarterback with loads of potiential that McD will mold into a champion. Cutler lost us plenty of games with his INT’s (KC, Miami, Jacksonville, Okland) and Shanny just encouraged him to keep throwing into double and tripple coverage becuase of his “amazing arm strength”, enough said.
As for our talent, we have plenty. In fact we have had plenty for a while, just horrible coaches, especialy on the defensive side. Moss and Chrowder are good players that just need to be coached, don’t give up on them yet. Nolan alone has already made us better on defense. We still need to consentrate in that area next weekend, and if that is done we will be even better.
The schedule looks like a lot of fun to me. Jim is right we can’t predict anything on last years results. In fact, this schedule looks almost identical to the ’05 schedule. No one thought we would do anything that year, and we road the dark horse all the way to the AFC Championship. The end result was terrible, but it was still a good season.
We are in good hands with the new coaches, and headed in the right direction. Go Broncos!!!
p.s. I gave my Cutler jersey to Good Will. Going back to the old school and wearing Elway orange crush for home games and Atwater white for away games!!
ya im sure you know exaclty what shanahan was telling Cutler on the sidelines, could you please fill us in with more…
Very true Jim.
I sure do hope the past is in the past, because if I have to observe another end to a season like this past one, I’ll cry. Watching the team blow a sure division title over the last three weeks sucked.
With all the changes that have transpired over the last three months gives me hope for the team and the greatest football fans in the world! I also hope that the soap opera is now over.
Go Broncos!
WOOOHOOO!!! Completely off topic, but I will be visiting Colorado for the weekend! Don’t know what part yet, but I’m still excited anyway
I think we should get any of these 3 players with are 12 pick, because 1 of them should be on the board.
1 Mark Sanchez
2 BJ Rajii
3 Tyson Jackson
18 pick
1 aron maybin
2 maulaga
3 cushing
4 lauranities
5 vontae davis
Raji12 Cushing 18 is the orange crush coming back for 2009?
I like that idea… Raji and Cushing…
Just hopefully raji gets to us, and Cushing is still there at 18…
So joining in on SBBB’s completely off the subject conversation… any part of Colorado is worth visiting. Enjoy it cuz time will fly my friend… like the wind! When you find out what part you’ll be visiting let me know, kinda curious as to how much trouble you’ll be getting yourself into!! haha…
Anyhoo, not crazy enough about McD to watch his PC on the mini camp today but sounds like Champ and Doom thought it went well. Excited to see those 2 and more get out on the field. Really interested in how much better how defense will be this season, nervous and excited about it at the same time. Just by some of the new additions can pretty much count on a whole new D and Lord knows we need that.
With faith…
GO BRONCOS in ’09!!!!
I watched Jim Romes interview of Jake Plummer. While Jake admitted that he and Shanny weren’t on the best of terms, he gave some interesting insight into the players attitude towards Shanny and his excessive demands during Shanny’s last years. Jakes example of a typical practice week certainly put an interesting perspective on things. Practicing 140 different pass plays alone and practicing them until Shanny was satisfied is not the way to win the hearts and soul of your players, nor the way to keep your players fresh. The interviews by Champ and Elvis certainly showed me that all the players are 100% behind McDaniels and eager to lear his way of doing things. It’s going to be an interesting 20 games.
if raji doesnt fall to us at 12, then we should get Tyson Jackson at 12, and i kinda like Aoran Maybin at 18, but cushing is good to, if he falls that far.
J.J. Arrington (knee), Selvin Young (neck), and Ryan Torain (torn ACL) were unable to participate in Denver’s minicamp practice Friday.
Young and Torain are fighting an uphill battle to relevance as Shanahan holdovers, and their injuries won’t help. Arrington is recovering from a torn meniscus.
Source: Denver Post
Peyton Hillis, now fully recovered from his torn hamstring injury, took snaps at tailback and fullback at Denver’s minicamp Friday.
Josh McDaniels has to be happy to get on the field. Correll Buckhalter and Lamont Jordan were healthy enough to take snaps along with Hillis, who doesn’t figure to be a big fantasy factor as a hybrid player.
Source: Denver Post
oldsouthstander: I also saw Plummers interview on ESPN on Thursday, and found it interesting. His summary on Coach Shanahans last few years was consistent with what he said in an interview with the DP back in early January. What he had to say about Denver fans, the organization & Culters departure was interesting as well. It was also announced he will be a High School QB coach in Sandpoint ID. Jake seems to be happy and enjoying life.
I can’t wait to see who we draft this year with the 12th and 18th selections in the draft.. (1st round). Most mock drafts now have the Broncos selecting Tyson Jackson w/ 12 pick & either Aaron Maybin or Rey Maualuga w/ 18th pick. I don’t believe Maybin or Maualuga will be around for the 18th pick but we’ll see.
Raji12 Cushing 18 bring the orange crush back to Denver 2009!!!!!
No way Raji is still around at 12, even though it would be sweet. Tyson Jackson is the right pick if Raji is gone. 18 will be the most interesting to see. With all of these picks we can really load this defense with young talent. I hope we take a look at Peria Jerry from Ole Miss. With Raji going early he could be a steal in the 2nd or 3rd round for our need at nose tackle in the new 3-4 scheme.
Go Broncos!
I like the guy who played next to Raji. His name is Ron Brace.
Brace would be a great fit as well. I think this the most excited I’ve ever been about a draft. Can’t wait to see who we get.
Did I miss something? Did D.J. Williams get cut.? He’s the best LB we have. He can play outside and inside. So if we draft Jackson then put Boss at OLB on the same side. Then ya’ll are putting Doom on the other side and then draft Maualuga for inside with Andre’. Its olny natural D.J. plays the otherside. No where in any of this post have I seen D.J. name in any of them. Well maybe one if any(thinkin I didn’t see all the old comments). If Doom play OLB (my thinking is because he is not that good at DE on run defense and OLB in a 3-4 would be better)then put Boss on the otherside. Andre is the one of the starting inside LBs. Thats why they brought him in for. Draft Jackson(good pick) then another inside Lb?(not a good pick)Put D.j. at the other inside LB And get a 3-4 NT! I think sometimes people just be posting just to post! lol Man