Wow, tough game yesterday. The Playoffs really started three weeks ago with Carolina. I mentioned that then and would have before the Bills game, had I been in the country.
I didn’t see any of last weeks game against the Bills while in Mexico so I didn’t blog, sorry. It’s a little tough to get the internet down there in some of the remote locations and very expensive in others. It probably didn’t really matter with the Bolts being the end game for all the marbles. Turnovers and defense were the tell-tale here. Some folks that I’ve talked to today turned the game off after the third quarter. I didn’t because we have the ability to strike quick but couldn’t hold off the Bolts running game.
Tough season with all the injuries — as I’ve said all along. No excuses, they had a shot, and as a young group just couldn’t pull it together. There will be a lot of finger pointing going on and the papers already started this morning, saying the loss will be carried around by the players for years to come. The headline was about losing first place after being up by three games. In a season or two no one will remember that and who really cares. We didn’t make the Playoffs regardless of how it happened. That’s just junk to sell papers.
In 1985 we didn’t make the Playoffs at 11-5. I actually forgot that myself until I read it today. Stuff happens and my quote of “Good teams become mediocre fast with injuries”, stills stands. The Bolts are getting healthy and getting in the groove here at the right time and were the better team, hands down.
I’m hoping we can find some pass-rushing D-lineman in the draft or on the market because pressure on the QB is what will take the pressure off our secondary. I’m sure folks will jump all over Champ and Dre’, but you and I (not really) could stand back there if we had all day to pass the ball to crossing routes, eventually any receiver will get open. Champ is probably 65-85 percent healthy because groin injuries don’t heal well in a season. So I’m not the guy that singles folks out because at that level you can sometimes get by at 75 percent healthy, but not at the speed positions, I don’t care who you are.
I like what we have on offense and with a few moves on defense, I’m already excited about next year and I know you are too. Sure we’ll all have to pick a new favorite for the Playoffs, so we might as well start now.
Coop
Jack_Fan your right Cutler is a gamer but you got it backwards on the D. When Cutler turned it over he put the D in bad positions and the Spread O scheme doesnt control the clock so when the scheme fails and The Broncos go 3&OUT that puts the D in a bad position. When The Broncos Score fast with the spread O it looks GREAT and is exciting but it puts the D right back on the field and sets nothing up for the next series. That’s Tactics without strategy. If you know you have a young and strugleing D why constantly put the D in bad positions?! Thats why I think Bates should go too.
The Broncos need more ball control to help the rest of the TEAM. YES they had the 2nd best O in the league but inflated stats are the result of Tactics without strategy. Control the ball, control the clock, control the game.
COOP, did he suit ya? HA!
Alex Gibbs? Was way in over his head in Washington. He’ll stick to watching cars go in circles for a while.
I’m looking for a lesser known name. Mangini, Andy Reid… Not sure. Maybe a Kubiak return?
monodono: “Cutler turned it over he put the D in bad positions”?
All quarterbacks throw interceptions, Cutler threw 18. Thats no excuse for a defense who is a league worst. I mean 6 interceptions all year???
I don’t care how they became the #2 offense in the league, they are #2 and that is a GOOD thing!
If we had even a mediocre defense this team would have won at least 4 more games.
Bottom line is, we didn’t lose games because of Cutler and the Offense.
Shanahan is such a great guy. I feel real bad for him having to do this press conference.
However, it made sense for the Broncos to make a change. We haven’t won enough lately.
He has always wanted to win and has done his best to do so.
He built a great offense here.
Obviously, we all, including Pat Bowlen, was to win Super Bowls. We have the offense to do it as it exists right now. That means, whoever comes in, that person and his staff MUST keep the zone blocking scheme the Broncos are so good at.
Marty Schotenheimer Remember his pathetic record when it comes to the playoffs? And would he keep ther zone blocking scheme? REJECTED!!
Joe Gibbs His record second time around withe the Redskins proved the game has passed him by. REJECTED!!!
John Elway Bart Starr could walk on water as far as Green Bay fans were concerned. He absolutely sucked as a head coach. Elway will be no different. REJECTED!!!
Bill Cowher Will his ego allow his to allow the Broncos to keep their highly successful offensive scheme? Probably not. REJECTED!!
Rob Ryan Head coach/defensive coordinator????
AIEX GIBBS The former Offensive line Coach not joe gibbs. The Broncos havent been the same since he left.
2 turnovers per game, three 3&OUTS per game, And a lack of T.O.P. is a direct result of the Spread Offensive scheme not Jay Cutler!
I never said Jay Cutler turned the ball over I said turnovers, get the facts straight before you correct.
Time of possession is a missleading stat. Turnover margin a a legit stat.
The Broncos were like a -17 turnover margin. Our offense will give up turnovers sure, but we should expect some in return… Not this year.
The defense forced very little turnovers. No pass rush, thus no INT’s. I wonder how many 3 and outs we held other teams to?
The offensive scheme had very little to do with the Broncos problems. The Broncos had to pass a lot of the time because the had to try to come back in a hurry. When Hillis was the RB, they had a good consistent running game. I say he would of been the key to beat Buffalo and win a playoff game. They could of still won without a good running game, just not with the defense they have.
A horrible defense had EVERYTHING to do with the Broncos’ problems.
you have to call the running plays to have a running game 8 run play’s to 49 pass plays is reCockulously unbalanced. The D was bad but it wasnt the ONLY reason the TEAM lost!
Jackofffan, your right TIME OF POSSESSION is a misleading stat but when you control it 3 out of 16 times a year your Offense is doing something wrong and if corrected could also win 4 more games for The TEAM. TEAM change not just D!
Changing gears here folks to a new Blog after the news of Mike’s coaching change. Forward to the new POST.
Thanks Coop
HAPPY NEW YEAR COOP !
[...] In 1985 we didn’t make the Playoffs at 11-5. I actually forgot that myself until I read it today. Stuff happens and my quote of “Good teams become mediocre fast with injuries”, stills stands. The Bolts are getting healthy and getting in …[Continue Reading] [...]
Rick Dennisen is one of the candidates fro the head coaching position. He did an outstanding job with the o-line this past season and also was the offensive coordinator. He was a Bronco linebacker so you know he is defensive minded. He has been coaching with the Broncos for 14 years. I could take the pain of losing Shanny a lot better if one of our own got the chance to run the show though I doubt he will get fair consideration with the owner wanting to take a new direction. I hope part of the hiring of any head coach would be to keep him on in his current position. If they hire outside of the organization, maybe a defensive head coach may do just that. Mayabe that is just wishfull thinking because all haed coaches want to run their own programs but I think that would get the Broncos to a superbowl the quickest. Keep that offense in tact!