Editor’s note: Denver’s preseason games at Chicago (8/9), vs. Seattle (8/18) and at Arizona (8/30) will be simulcast with Dave Logan (play-by-play) and Ed McCaffrey (color analyst) providing coverage for both television and radio broadcasts.
This season, Broncos’ fans will be able to tune in to one of their favorites. Former Broncos’ wide receiver Ed McCaffrey (EM) will be in the booth as the new color analyst with Dave Logan on all Broncos broadcasts on 850 KOA.
McCaffrey spent nine seasons with the Broncos (1995-2003) and now steps into a new role, replacing Brian Griese, who will have an increased workload at ESPN this football season.
850 KOA’s Dave Logan (DL), the Voice of the Broncos, and Dave Krieger (DK) spoke with Ed about his new position.
DL: Ed, welcome aboard.
EM: Thanks, guys. Dave, I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am to join you in the broadcast booth. I know you don’t need to hear it from me but you’re a true professional and hands down the best in the business. It is truly both an honor and a privilege to work alongside a guy of your caliber and I promise to do my best to keep up.
DL: Thanks, Ed.
DK: As an outsider, here’s the question I have. You were a wide receiver. Dave Logan was a wide receiver. Are we going to get wide receiver-centric coverage?
EM: Dave, I pity the wide receivers on the Denver Broncos because they’re going to get critiqued to no end. (Eric) Decker may never talk to me again at the end of the season.
DL: All I know is our mantra in the booth is going to be: Keep the ball off the ground. Let’s get your initial thoughts. Training camp has just started but as you begin to dig in and do some of your work, what are some of your early thoughts on the Broncos?
EM: It’s exciting once again. Who would have thought that after the crazy season with Tim Tebow last year? John Elway may be the only guy who could have lured Peyton Manning to play for the Denver Broncos.
Manning has missed a year. Obviously his health is a big concern. (Some analysts) say he doesn’t quite rip it the way he used to. There’s a hybrid offense. I know it’s huge that they’re allowing him to bring in his snap count. That’s a big deal for Peyton. He anticipates the throws and relies on intelligence to work the defense. It takes team chemistry between those receivers and tight ends and running backs. It takes time to develop.
Where will they be week one? Who knows? I’m excited to find out.
DK: How do you evaluate the Broncos receiving targets right now?
EM: Peyton developed players. He’s a master at doing it. You hear about his preparation. He leaves no stone unturned. He’ll go over rep after rep after rep with every single receiver on that team. He needs to have confidence in those receivers and they need to keep up, especially if he’s bringing a lot of his offense to the Denver Broncos.
It’s a lot of chemistry and timing that goes into this. He develops those guys over the years and developed the chemistry and rapport with them.
Who’s going to be the next Marvin Harrison? Who’s going to be the Reggie Wayne? Who’s going to be the Dallas Clark of the Broncos? You have Demaryius and you have Decker. You’ve got a slew of tight ends. Who is going to step up? Maybe it’s Jacob (Tamme). Maybe Julius Thomas. Somebody is going to have to step up in each one of those positions to become the type of weapon he had in Indianapolis.
DL: The Broncos made some changes on the defensive side of the ball, too, and none more important in my book than defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio. Again, it’s early in camp but when you look at the Broncos’ defense, what do you see? Realistically, what kind of expectation should Broncos fans have for that defense?
EM: I think they were 20th in the league last year, maybe 12th in the AFC. I’ve always had a ton of respect for Jack Del Rio and the type of defense that he runs. He coaches a hard-nosed, attacking defense. He’s been doing it for a long, long time. He’s talking about the terminology on defense as well and to me, that’s the key. He’s coming in with a little bit of (new) terminology. Champ Bailey discussed it a couple of days ago. All the defensive concepts pretty much stay the same but the communication on defense has to happen. How he can relay that to the team is a big question.
One thing that will help the Broncos’ defense, similar to the way that Peyton Manning helped the Indianapolis Colts’ defense, is usually when Peyton is the quarterback, you’re team is putting up 24 to 30 points per game. I think that means they’re probably going to be ahead in more games than what they’re used to. That’s going to allow guys like Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil to pin their ears back and put pressure on the quarterback.
(The Broncos have) a new secondary. They have some new guys back there, couple of young guys that might have to step in and play early. Those are all questions marks. But I think Jack Del Rio will do an excellent job with the defense.
DK: I think most Broncos fans remember the night before 9/11 at the stadium when you suffered a compound fracture of your leg against the Giants. Would you reflect back on that injury and how you’re doing physically, how that leg is doing as a result?
EM: 9/11 was obviously one of the biggest tragedies our country has ever experienced and one of the biggest tragedies I’d ever personally experienced. I was never the same player after that. I played for another two years, played through pain and rehab and took painkillers and tried to hopefully play long enough for that injury to go away but it just never happened.
The next day in the hospital bed, I was watching television. Bryant Gumbel was on the air. I thought I was watching a movie with the towers smoking right before my eyes. I, along with millions of Americans, saw the second plane hit the second tower and realized this is really happening. It reminded me quickly that there is a lot more to life than football. My thoughts and prayers went immediately to the families and people that were suffering during that horrible time in our nation’s history.
Obviously, it was a time that I’ll never forget. I’m not kidding, about twice a day I just happen to look at the clock when it says 9:11 and it reminds me of that horrible event that will be with us forever.
DL: Eddie, I’m looking forward to working with you. See you soon.
EM: Thanks, guys.
Yes, I’m biased because I work at KOA. But I think it will be a great season having Dave and Ed in the booth.
Thanks for reading.
Sincerely,
Mike
Tags: 850 KOA, Ed McCaffrey, Mike Rice
Thanks for the article, I am glad to see Eddie back. I will always remember his “go for it” attitude.
I absolutely love Eddie Mac………..he was one heck of a Bronco and a fearless receiver. I see a lot of him in Decker as their styles of play are very similar. Decker will always go into those tough spots to make a catch……..and has no problems laying out to get it. Glad to have you aboard calling games Ed!
NFL Films 2011 Season Review: Part 3
This was fun to watch and recap the 2011 season. Thanks Tebow for a memorable year that brought Invesco back up to a Mile High!!!! I still like Tebow and believe that if a team truly gets behind him and stays with it would be a team to be reckoned with. Tebow is not a prolific passer and will not throw 30 to 40 passes a game but he will beat you with his arm and ware you down. Helps to have a good defense that can keep you in the game. But don’t get me wrong having Peyton gives the Broncos the best chance to win now and we could very well go deep in the playoffs if not win the superbowl. I will have to say that the way we won games last year will make it one of the most memorable years.
I’ve been a Bronco fan since 1972 and Eddie Mac is one of my alltime favorite receivers. I live in San Diego now but I haven’t missed many Bronco games in the last 40 years. I catch a lot of heat for my allegiance to the Broncs out here in lightning bolt country but I have never even considered selling out. I have Directv with Sunday Ticket so I’ll probably watch on Sat and listen on KOA. I’ve always listened to Dave and sidekick (Griese, most recently) and always enjoyed the broadcast, so I am really looking forward to Logan teaming up with McCaffrey!
Looking forward to a great season!! Go Broncos!!
It truly is amazing how far this franchise has come in a short two seasons. In hindsight, the difficulties were almost worth it, to get to this point. Best part is, we were division champs in our rebuilding year one. 2nd year into our rebuild and we are already talking superbowl… Even more exciting is the pride being reestablished in our organization, as evidenced by Mr. Saccomanos last entry!
On a personal level, though I am not a professional football player, I am a professional. And I try to emulate my work ethic much like that of certain players we read about here. I mention this because I was recognized as employee of the month. An accolade I am proud of, but moreso the fact that sometimes…hard work does not go unrecognized!
Broncos Country Strong 2012!
Haha… Welcome back Eddie Mac. Another example of how having a strong work ethic can pay off!!!
Great to read Eddie Mac will now be on the airwaves…. lol!!
In all seriousness though, I’m sure he’ll have some great input!!
Way to go sndvl – you truly do make a difference in your field of work!!
Congrats sandvl, Working hard is contagious and I’m sure you inspire others to give it just a little more.
Good to see Eddie Mac getting back involved with the Broncos as some level… I have to admit though, I do really like Dave Logan. He’s gotta be one of the best game callers out there… If I can’t watch the Broncos, I definitely listen to them!!!
Trivia Question: What Broncos asst coach & Broncos player previously won a Super Bowl championship on the same Team?
Can you clarify your trivia question royal?
What asst coach with the Broncos and player on the current Broncos roster won a Super Bowl trophy as members of another Team?
Hope this helps…
Both are members of the current Broncos Team…
My guess is Ty Warren is the player.
Haha! I thought you meant Keith Burns.
That’s a tough question. Good one. It’s JDR & Brandon Stokley with Baltimore…
Here’s a list of players who’ve have rings with other Teams currently on the Broncos roster…
Ty Warren (Patriots)
Tracy Porter (Saints)
Peyton Manning (Colts)
Brandon Stokely (Ravens, Colts- IR)
Lonie Paxton (Patriots)
Nice going sndvl !!! That’s right JDR was the LB coach for the Ravens and Brandon Stokely was a WR who caught a TD in that game!!
When you look at Broncos roster, you see players with 10 yrs or more experience, but not too many. I like the fact that Broncos are overall a young unit with some veteran leadership.
A few people thought JDR was the DC with the Panthers when they made they’re run, but it was actually Mike Trgovac who took over, after JDR accepted the job with as HC with the Jaguars.
They were right about one thing though, he did get a ring with another Team but it was the Ravens.
JDR coached their LB group and also helped develop Ray Lewis into an outstanding LB!
Ravens DC at the time was Marvin Lewis – HC of the Bengals.
Rex Ryan was D-line coach now HC of the Jets.
Another defensive asst on that Team was Mike Smith – now HC of the Atlanta Falcons.
That would be a good one sndvl re: Keith Burns!! lol!
Also we have another coach who was with the Patriots in 04 along with Paxton and Warren when the Pats won the SB.
Cory Undlin was a Patriots defensive assistant in ’04 when the Patriots won the SB along with Paxton and Warren (Like I said above)
The defensive quality control coach… good one ab!
And ironically, Coach Fox was the DC for the Giants when the lost the SB to the Ravens in 2000.
That is pretty ironic lol
It’s pretty cool to click on the coaching staff link here on the website. Not sure if many check it out but it’s a good way to look at their history. You know what they say, behind every great football Team is a great coaching staff!
Look at the Ravens coaching staff from back in 2000, when no one really knew who they were really, and then you look at where there at now, with the exception of HC Brian Billick, who seems to enjoy working for the networks.
Looks like the Broncos have assembled a great coaching staff..imo.
RBF1 I agree we have a nice staff. I also like in the NFL the coaching branches/connections. Can always connect all the coaches in some way.
A big fraternity….lol!
Yep… I have to say something here. Eddie Mac is my favorite Broncos ever. This day ROCKS! This season already rocks! Peyton looks amazing and the NFL won’t post articles that are positive because they can’t handle that they’ve been so wrong about him!!!! Next Thursday can’t get here soon enough. I loooooooove my team !!!!!! GO BRONCOS! This ain’t no dream. We got Peyton Freaking Manning. Tap your cleats…
I was at dinner tonight and my sister was eating hot rocks… its a piece of granite where you basically cook your own food because the granite has been in the oven all day… its awesome and you should try it if you ever get a chance, anyway, it was smoking like crazy and my eyes got all watery and my mom kept trying to get me to move but my dad and brother kept telling me to “man up” and my mom kept arguing wig me and I said, “hey, I’m just manning up here” Dorky I know, but it was hilarious! LOL needless to say, I have grease burns all over my arms. I had to Manning up!!!
How goes it Cat?
You should go back a couple blogs and check what happened yesterday in my neighborhood. Was rather interesting lol.
LOL thats funny!!! Ive heard thats a fun way to have a meal.
Ive loved Eddie Mac for all his great years in the league. Never forget a Halloween game against the Vikings years back when Ed was concussed and the trainers were holding him back to do tests and he ditched them for a second and was running out on the field with his helmet backwards. What heart. Luckily they got him off the field before further damage could take place.
i remember that game!! that was also one of tds comeback games before he had to hang it up..i recorded that game the night before 9/11 on tape somewhere…he is the man cant wait to hear his take on the broncos week in and week out.
I`d rather listen to Eddie Mac than Greise any day. Greise was really dry to listen to on KOA.