The coaching change has been made. Everyone can now exhale. The season, however, rolls on. And there is a good amount of football left.
Among the drama surrounding the Broncos’ now-former head coach, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that there is still a quarter of the season left to play. That’s a lot of football. While the Broncos are mathematically out of the playoff chase, they still have an opportunity to show that they are professionals.
“We have four games to play,” Broncos’ Chief Operating Officer Joe Ellis said on Tuesday. “Our goal is to finish the year on a promising note and make our fans proud of our team. That’s what we intend to do. We appreciate their passion and support. I don’t think it’s ever been greater. Everyone in this building is intent on doing the best we can, starting with (interim head coach) Eric (Studesville), his support staff, his coaching staff and all the players. That’s…what our focus is going to be the next couple of weeks.”
Rest assured, the Broncos will be doing their due diligence on the coaching search. But for me, that is news for another day and the day to discuss that will come. There will be plenty of time to talk about the possible candidates, interviews with candidates and the person the Broncos ultimately hire.
For now, though, I want to see the Broncos play well. I understand they are out of the playoff race. I understand they won’t win the division.
I also understand that the true measure of one’s character comes during the tough times. Certainly times are tough for the Broncos.
The man charged with leading the Broncos through the final four games is interim head coach Eric Studesville, the Broncos’ running backs coach. Ellis said he is the right man in the right place at the right time. Now Studesville has to get the Broncos to do the right thing and finish the season the right way.
“We’re going to ask those players (and) coaches to give their greatest effort and to make their greatest commitment to the most important thing, which is us finishing the season in a positive way that’ll make Mr. Bowlen and the fans proud of the product we’re going to put on the field,” Studesville said.
That’s what I’m talking about. It has been awhile since anyone can say they’ve truly been proud of what they have seen from the Broncos. They’ve played well at times but let’s face, it has been a dismal season. Now, they can start to reverse what has been a tough trend.
“Right now, my number one focus for the fans is putting a product on the field they can be proud of,” Studesville said. “This is a fantastic football environment. Players love to play here; coaches love to coach here. The best thing I can do is get these players ready to go. Let’s put a great product out on the field they (the fans) can really be proud of and they want to get behind.”
Preach it, Coach. Better yet, play it.
If the Broncos make the fans proud, something they’ve had serious trouble doing recently, then they’ll also go a long way towards meeting the stark reality Ellis outlined.
“Mr. Bowlen recognizes, I recognize and everyone in our organization recognizes that we have a lot of work to do to restore the integrity of our organization and the trust the fans have in our organization. My standing here delivering those words won’t do that. What will do that is action. And that is what we intend to take.”
The team will have its chance to take action Sunday against the Cardinals.
There are four games left and I want to see the Broncos play good football and, perhaps more importantly, inspired football.
So please excuse me if I put the coaching talk on the back burner for right now. I’ll get to that in due time. Right now, I’m looking forward to watching a certain team wearing orange and blue play some ball.
I almost forgot what it was like to simply talk football.
Now that the coaching change has been made, what do you want to see from the Broncos this week and in the final four games?
Thanks for reading and posting your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Mike
Tags: 2010, Denver Broncos, Eric Studesville, Mike Rice
Mike
Nice post. lengthy but nice lol.
you said it best: “There are four games left and I want to see the Broncos played good football and, perhaps more importantly, inspired football.”
Amen to that. Thats all I want to see, some inspired football. Players playing with excitement, passion and pride. This is the first season I can truely say I was ready to be over ever. Sundays were less enjoyable…and at times I even forgot we existed. Heck I barely knew the standings because I didnt check em cuz I knew we werent a factor and it would only piss me off to see us at the bottom of the AFC west.
So with that said, Initially I wanted us to lose the rest of the season (yea I know not cool) so McD would definitely be gone and we would have a great pick. Now I just want to see some broncos football. I want to see a product out on the field that I can be proud of. I want to be able to say (even if they lose) “man they played their hearts out”. McDaniels is gone. Thats the past…I am ready for the future and who the new broncos will be. No more talk about what was lost during the last regime. Still hurts but I am ready (more so than before) to move on cuz while McDaniels was around, I was always worried he would do something unbelievable adn that took my mind off just enjoying bronco football.
Ready for sunday. I think we can win out the rest of our games, and 7 and 9 aint bad. Plus we will get to hurt some AFC west players standings, while making sure we are not bringing up the rear in the division. I am excited for the next coach. The next draft. And the future of this Organization. Always been a fan, always will be a fan. So Lets play some BRONCOS FOOTBALL!!!
4 GAMES LEFT. LETS MAKE EM COUNT BOYS. GO BRONCOS. TRB out…
1nOnlyTRB…thanks for checking in. I har where you’re coming from. I know, sometimes my posts run on a little…oh well. Thanks again. Mike
I want to believe that Coach Studesville can come in and amp up our teams production. Even just a little bit would be very much appreciated.
When the schedule came out before the start of the season, I knew this was going to be a tough year. We have played some great teams, some solid teams and very few if at all weak teams. Minus the Raiders game, all outcomes were believable. 3rd down and red zone efficiency, injuries, etc. A 3 and 9 record reflects our current state of the franchise. I am not led to believe as some, that the firing of McDaniels will be a cure all. If even a great advancement. It will take years to regain a form of Superbowl capacity and even a few years to regain a form of mediocrity. It is going to be a tough and long fought out process that I hope every fan will endure.
Champ is tired of change he says, “This is the last straw.”
Lloyd says, “BEST COACH I ever played for.”
Orton says, “I don’t know why (they fired McDaniels)”
Obviously they all need to spend some time with the snakes… err, fans on this blog so they can understand the “truth”.
I mean just compare the class and character of these three with those of Jay and Marshall and then align yourself with the ones that most embody your own values and beliefs.
I wonder what a team player like Eddie Royal thinks, especially since most here think he was being under utilized by coach. If any of the “experts” on this pit… err, blog can finds out please post it.
I honestly have a high opinion of Josh and the players he assembled/kept. I never thought the “fans” could make enough noise to get Bowlen to go back on “I’m not interested in making a change”. Years ago when the fans were calling for Elway’s head Bowlen didn’t waver. I guess I should be glad that they didn’t have the internet back then.
I hear you stevecan2. I don’t think there’s any way that a new coach is going to transform the players into instant winners at this point in the season (Jason Garrett notwithstanding).
I’m not even sure that we can win next year. McDaniels brought in what is obviously a complex system that has taken the team a long time to master. Next year (assuming no lockout) they will all have to learn somebody else’s system. Of course anything’s possible, and if we draft really well, I think that that, in addition to a great new coach, could mean a winning season. But I won’t be holding my breath.
As for hoping the team wins all/most of the rest of the games this year, I would love to see that, but I have to say it would be really weird if Studesville made that much difference. The players all say they loved McD. How do they end up playing that much better without him?
broncos 31
cards 17
steve, carsonic
I dont expect an instant turn around because of a new coach, and I understand learning a new system is a trial in itself. But its doable. And with a young team who just last year were losers. Look at the cheifs for example. Young with talent but horrible last year. They get a new staff add some new young talent and they sit attop a division. point is its possible. While we have lost alot of talent (water under the bridge) there is still a lot of talent on this team. They just need right motivation, preparation, and discipline cuz they beat themselves alot. Thats what u hope a new coaching staff offers. I guess my stance is….I have never seen the broncos at 3-9 and my only hope is that with a change, only way we can go is UP. I hope lol. Just wanna see some inspired football. TRB out…
PS: Broncos 27 Cardinals 13
Another case in point. Raheem Morris and the bucs. And Raheem actually inherited a worse team than the broncos when McDaniels took over. I wanted him because he was defensive minded….I remember being laughed at when they struggled their first year and we were on our 6-0 winning streak but look at them now 7-5 with a pretty good team being built. If they were in our division they would be in contention for winning it.
I know a lot of people think the next four games will be a special time for evaluating the current Bronc roster, which makes little since to me. The first 12 games under Mcd is where the evaluation should take place. I’d want to know who can perform under adversity, who performs at a high level regardless of the difficulties that surround him. Guys like Champ are the players I want on my team. Lots of people can perform at a high level during a job interview only to falter when times get tough. The next four games will be for the players to have some fun playing football. They deserve it after what they have been put thru the last 2 years. Personally, I have a McD football hangover. I still watch the games but have no emotional connection like I’ve had for close to 40 years. I hope I can get that back the next four games. We fans deserve to have a little fun too! Go Broncos!
Mike,
I hope we learned from our mistakes and never empower a young Coach like this again. The front office has bought a little time to restructure and make sound decisions re: how we will move forward. It would be great to see Elway involved in some form or another. He obviously had some impact on the Team, as they met with him the week before our best game of the season on 11/14/10.
In reference to the previous regime, I personally didn’t like seeing so much talent being shipped out of here like yesterdays trash, as one DP writer stated. I voiced my frustration but since learned to curb my emotions and not let them get the best of me… online anyway….LOL.
I was a fan of alot of these players and was very disappointed to see them leave. Bottom line though, it’s all about win n losses, but it certainly didn’t help to see our former Coach handicap us.
Coach Studesville appears to be a quality Coach who should be able to fill in admirably for the last 4 games.
Coach McCoy will now make the calls on offense. He came from a system where running the ball was a priority, thus setting up play action.
Time to move forward and begin a new era.
We will have to be patient, but if all the right moves are made, both on and off the field, we will hopefully see our proud franchise prosper once again.
GO BRONCOS!!
Mike, welcome to the McDless era.
A cause a few of us here fought with tooth and nails for quite some time as you know.
It is nice to know that the voice of the people can always make a difference.
All you have to do is get the motivation to stand up and cast your vote.
Mission accomplished.
Now on with the rest of the season for nothing but clean fun football with an aura of integrity once again.
I now can say what I just couldn’t muster to say all year long (OC’s self invented Bronco motto):
I LOVE ME SOME DENVER BRONCOS!
Blue skies and calm seas… It’s so much easier to steer a ship that way!
Mike,I wanna see our players fight hard for 60 minutes and play a complete game,I’d like to see more zoneblocking and more use of Spencer Larsen at FB.I would also like to see EVERY coach get to be able to do his job without worrying about answering to McD.I would like to see us try and use more 43 Defense.And most of all I would like to see Tebow get at least 10-15 snaps.
BFE
All I have to say is I love me some Pat Bowlen for listening to his fans.
Morning Mike! Happy Holidays.
I want to see packed stands. That are shaking in the fourth quarter. Sending SD home for the offseason!!! That and maybe some Spencer Larsen at MLB….
I LOVE ME SOME DENVER BRONCOS, too!!!
I’d like for Champ Bailey to be resigned too. I think we missed the boat on that one though.
Too bad, because he IS the corner stone of our defense. He has at least 3-5 good years left in him. Plus he could go the route of Jimmy Spencer and be player/coach!!!
But all in due time, right Mr. Rice?!?
Well all I can say is that Denver fans MAY (doesnt mean they all are) be impatient, but I stood by and watched how much support we gave to Cutler and his rookie mistakes haven’t even ceased to this day. what I’m trying to say is that I don’t think that Denver will have a problem supporting Tebow while he works out the process of becoming an NFL QB. Give the kid at least the last two games at home, that way they can formulate a game plan around him and he will have the hometown crowd at his back. I just can’t see why you wouldn’t give the guy a shot! there is literally nothing to lose!
GO BRONCOS!!!!
I posted this in the last blog a lil late
I have to be honest, I’m not sure that Champ is a Bronco at heart anymore. I believe he will use this offseason to find a less dysfunctional team that has a legit possibility of getting a championship for him in less than 4 years. Champ is no doubt one of the best CBs to ever play for Denver, but from what I’ve heard lately I just don’t think he wants to be a Bronco anymore. It makes me sad, but if he doesn’t want to be a Bronco he doesn’t deserve the title. I will be happy if he chooses to stay next year, but I’m not going to hold my breath.
GO BRONCOS! p.s. Don’t be stupid! Play Tebow!
Yeah, us hoping for Bailey to be here next year is almost like us hoping we make the playoffs this year, LOL.
Wins over san Diego and Oakland and I can go into the offseason looking ahead to next year optimistic that BRONCOS football has returned to the milehigh city
My guess is that when we play our next home game against houston, Tim Tebow will start. He will fill the stands. And we will once again have the MILE HIGH STANDS ROCKIN N ROLLIN!! We want to see some MILE HIGH MAGIC. Put in TIM TEBOW and let the fun begin. He`ll run for miles.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81cba03b/article/mcdaniels-paid-price-for-broncos-lack-of-commitment-to-change?module=News_CP
Interesting article.
Good piece Mike. When I first heard the news, all I could think about was who would be the next head coach. But like you said, now I’m mostly interested to see how this team plays the last four weeks. I think there are some winnable games left on the schedule, mainly this Sunday at Arizona. I hope to see this team playing lights out, because what do they have to lose now? They might as well just let it all hang loose and have some fun, something I don’t think they’ve been able to do most of the year. That’s partly because of us fans since we put a lot of pressure on them to win every week. But hopefully now they can just have fun with it. That’s what I’m most excited about the rest of this season.
That would be great strandoftds! Would love to see TT play!
i hear you talking about what Orton had to say about McD after the firing but i think thats just lip service. i am pretty sure Orton wasnt real happy with McD after he brought in Quinn and then a 1st rd for Tebow and i dont think he will be that sad to get out of this town
I`m telling ya, When Tim Tebow comes onto the field as the QB, MILE HIGH is going to go nuts. There`s going to be an ELECTRICITY throughout the stadium.
Just heard urban meyer stepped down. Speculations on him coming to denver to be reunited with tim tebow.
Yeah socal, I just saw that too. Interesting timing I must say…
Nah, just read he is not intersted in getting back in football, after 25 years coaching he wants the time out for his family, check out the previous blog.
Thanks bay. Just can’t wait to find out will lead this great organization.
This is Klis’ take today of what’s out there for whatever it’s worth:
General managers:
Les Snead, director of player personnel, Atlanta: To find the next Dimitroff, look at his right-hand man.
George Paton, director of pro personnel, Minnesota: Third year with Vikings after six years with Dolphins, he is ready for top job.
George Kokanis/Eric DeCosta, Baltimore: Kokanis is former Browns GM. He and DeCosta are GM Ozzie Newsome’s top personnel lieutenants.
Tom Telesco, director of player personnel, Colts: Before Dimitroff, Bill Polian was the game’s top executive. Telesco is top personnel guy.
Will Lewis, director or pro personnel, Seahawks: Highly regarded in the industry. Worked closely for years with Mike Holmgren.
John Beake, Ted Sundquist, former Broncos GMs: If Pat Bowlen wants a return to the Broncos Way, he can bring back leaders of the glory years.
Head coaches:
Gary Kubiak, head coach, Texans: If Elway makes the call, this might be his guy.
Eric Studesville, interim head coach, Broncos: Tampa Bay’s Raheem Morris has proven it’s a dynamic leader, not coordinator experience, that makes a head coach.
Leslie Frazier, interim head coach, Vikings: If the Vikings don’t immediately remove “interim” label, the Broncos better not wait two minutes to pounce.
Ron Rivera, defensive coordinator, Chargers: He has had success coaching blitz-heavy Eagles, the Bears’ 4-3 Tampa Two and Chargers’ 3-4.
Jim Fassel, head coach, UFL Las Vegas: A former NFL head coach and Broncos assistant so badly wants another NFL head-coaching job he went to the United Football League to prove himself.
Oooops, I forgot Mike said he didn’t want to address the coaching changes here at this time, Sorry!
If Urban Meyer came to Denver to coach Tim Tebow, I will run to the nearest cliff and run off of it.
we need Ron Rivera
I’ll go on record and say that Jim Fassel is our best choice.
If we brought in a coach that is D minded, I`d rather choose Gregg Williams as HC.
I Vote Coach Ryan
And barring some miracle, our 8th home game next season will be against the Bengals, if anyone was interested. The 8th away game will probably be Tennessee again.
Noteven! No showboats!
Or Houston.
Ya, or Houston. I don’t see Tennessee winning again, thats why I went with them, but it could be either.
I see. Ya termoil in Tennessee is not good. You may be right.
No matter what though, Cutler will be coming back to Denver. Hopefully they make that a Monday or Sunday nighter.
Broncos win 24-10
CurtOU, That would be a fun game.
Adam Schefter on ESPN just reported that there is NO WAY that Urban Meyer will be the coach of the Denver Broncos.
well, to add my own thoughts to the rest of the bloggers here… i want someone who is a defensive minded coach. and who knows.. maybe studes can stay on as DC. in my opionion you have to be able to do 2 things to be good in this league. you have to be able to play solid defense, especially against the run, and you have to be able to run the ball well. if you can do that, then you have a good chance to go far in this league! i dont care what the experts say. hard nosed football is where its at.
so that being said, i would definately NOT be interested in Kubiak as HC. like the guy, loved him as our OC, but i dont want anything to do with him as HC. sorry.
i also agree with the majority here that say we need to hire a PROVEN GM to run personel. a coach is a coach. thats all their job description should include. leave talent evaluation to someone else!
my 2 cents
Keep on buckin broncos (and fans)
OFFENSE WINS GAMES. DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
PS… broncos win 28 – 13
oops… i meant studes can stay on as OC. lol it help to proof read BEFORE you submit!
One thing that has become painfully obvious is that McD managered to aleniate and humiliate not only the players, but his coaching staff. There’s no way you can successfully run a team when you’ve lost everybody’s respect and loyalty. As has been said by many on the outsiders looking in, McD is a brillient tactician and has an exceptional understanding of the game. The one thing he never had was any concept of the value of the input of others, especially those more experienced than him. It’s just tpo bad for the Broncos that he didn’t lerarn that before he came here. There’s no telling how good the Broncos could have been.
People keep insisting that we go back toi Shanny’s way of doiung thingds because it worked., Well, the reality is that it didn’t work once John was gone. Every successful coach has his own way of doing things. BEfore Shanny, Reeves way was his variation of Dallas’s offensive and defensive ways of doing things. It worked quite well. John Ralston’s way was entirely different and it worked, etc, etyc ad nasium.
What is needed is a top notch GM and HC who are on the same page and realize that it’s going to be several years before the Broncos are back among the elite. What style they choose it totally irrelivent. What is important is that the quality of the coaches and players be utmost in their thoughts.
@ oldsouthstander… you nailed it!
oh, and to comment on something else a few have mentioned. this team is no longer built to run a zone blocking scheme. we traded away or cut all the linemen who fit that mold. we chose bigger men up front as opposed to more athletic men. so unless you want to dump most of our interior linemen then we will probably be sticking with this power blocking scheme! that doesnt mean that we wont utilize zone blocking, it just means it wont be our primary philosophy. even McD used zone blocking sometimes!
Ray, sorry but your argument about the zone blocking scheme doesn’t hold water, the Jets are # 3 in the entire league rushing and they switched to a zone blocking scheme this year, these are the “smaller” starters they use on their O line:
Ferguson 310 lbs
Slauson 315
Mangold 307
Moore 305
Woody 327
So much for needing smaller O linemen for the zone blocking theory….
Plus Moreno is the perect specimen to run the zone blocking and inadequate for power blocking, so I really don’t see what would hold us back switching, just my opinion..