It is time to stop talking and start playing. Thank goodness.
The Broncos open the 2009 regular season Sunday in Cincinnati. We will get an idea of where the Broncos stand after an off-season of change.
Deep down, I believe the Broncos will be better than many people, especially national “experts,” think they will. I know I hope they will be but ultimately, I don’t know.
“I think we have a better idea than most people outside of this building of what we think we’re going to put out there,” Head Coach Josh McDaniels said on Friday. “But there’s always a little but of uncertainty before opening day. You want to get out there, get the butterflies out of the way and start playing football and start trying to execute the way you need to.”
At this point, I simply cannot buy into the notion that the Broncos will only win four or five games. I’ve spoken with some people who find those numbers to be high. Please. Come let us reason together. Is it possible the Broncos could struggle that much? Of course it’s possible. Barring a rash of injuries, it is highly unlikely, in my opinion, given the talent on this team.
Disagree? Let’s take a look at some of the evidence, first on offense.
Kyle Orton has been a reliable, if not spectacular, starting quarterback in a conservative offensive system in Chicago. At Purdue, he showed he could be the trigger man for a high-powered offense. Granted, it’s not completely an apples-to-apples comparison but it does show that he has been able to throw the ball effectively in the past.
Orton will be operating behind an offensive line that has already shown itself to be really, really good. Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris are terrific young tackles who should only get better. Chris Kuper and Ben Hamilton are really good guards. And center Casey Wiegmann is the iron man in the middle who seemingly gets better with age.
Tight end? Daniel Graham is another o-lineman in the run game and has much more to give as a receiver. Tony Scheffler is a big-time target and the Broncos are well aware of his ability.
At running back, there is a great mix of proven veterans and young talent with guys like Correll Buckhalter and Lamont Jordan, Peyton Hillis and Knowshon Moreno. While the backs are different from past years, the line is back. I have no doubt the Broncos will be able to run the ball well.
On defense, there are questions to be sure. But the overriding question I keep asking myself is, “Can the Broncos defense struggle any more than it has the past few years?” This is a unit that has surrendered over 400 points in each of the last two seasons.
With all of the changes, including a new defensive coordinator with a new scheme, I find it impossible to believe the Broncos won’t at least be just a little better on defense. The have upgraded their talent, they seem to be committed to a more attacking style and they seem to be adapting to the 3-4.
In his 11 years as an NFL defensive coordinator, Mike Nolan’s units have forced an average of 32 turnovers per season. That tells me he has a philosophy and a system that has, more often that not, produced results on the field.
While I’m on the topic of the coaching staff, let me add that there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Josh McDaniels will be a great NFL head coach. There are times in all of our lives when we get the opportunity to do something at a higher level for the first time. He is ready for this and he will be successful.
I know on the verge of the first game, the schedule looks tough. Heck, I think the opener in Cincinnati is hardly a gimme win. But let’s not forget that the Arizona Cardinals went to the Super Bowl last year. All I’m saying is that one never knows what will happen during the course of a season.
On the other end of the spectrum, I can’t sit here in mid-September and honestly say I believe the Broncos will win 11 or 12 games. I definitely think it is possible. But there are too many unanswered questions right now and there have simply been more changes than there have been opportunities for this team to show how good it can be.
So what do I expect out of the Broncos’ 2009 season?
1 – I expect the Broncos will continue to improve throughout the season. I believe, again barring key injuries, the Broncos will be better at the end of the season than they are at the beginning. Everything is new right now. As these players get used to the new systems at regular season game speed, I think they’ll show steady improvement.
2 – I expect to have fun following them. I don’t mind it at all when uncertainty is the primary feeling I have about a team. I don’t mind not having any kind of true feel for what I think will happen Sunday against the Bengals. I’m embracing the unknown.
3 – I expect it to be an interesting season. I can’t see this team having a miserable year. And I’m not at all ruling out the possibility of a great year. I’m sure it will be an interesting year as this team establishes an identity and goes out each week to try to win a game.
“I think our entire team, all our staff, is excited for Sunday,” McDaniels said on Friday.
So am I. Let the games begin.
What are your expectations for the season? I’d love to get your thoughts.
Thanks for reading,
Mike
I typed a long message and lost it – Arrggghhh!!!
In essence I stated that I believe we can win at least 6-8 games, though I am optimistic we will more. I believe that the talent we have on the field and the current level of the coaching we have is better than two of our divisional opponents. In theory this should equate to 4 wins.
I also believe that between the two Ohio teams we face first that we have a stronger team. Based solely on what I have seen, heard, and read of the Broncos, Bengals, and Browns, I can’t help but think we are better organized and better prepared. I believe we’ll take 2Ws from Ohio.
When facing the Bengals, we’ll have a tough time against the Palmer – Henry, Ochocinco, Coles attack, and that they have incredible offensive power. We have a superb secondary that can hopefully keep up. However, I believe their O-line can wear down quickly and act like a sieve. If we can create enough pressure on Palmer from the get-go we can severly limit their offensive attack. I think that our O matches up in our favor to their secondary and I believe with well placed throws by Orton we can take advantage of those match-ups. I believe we will walk out with a W from Cinci, but, of course, it is always hard to predict game one no matter who you are or what stability has returned from previous years.
From what I’ve seen in the preseason, our special teams are leaps and bounds better than where they were last year. I believe this unit will continue to hone their preseason production throughout the year. I can’t help but think that at some point, just based on the ST improvement, we’ll take a W somewhere down the road.
No matter what you believe regarding the current state of the team or the new coach, it is hard not to be curious, if not excited to see whats to come. It is an exciting time to be a Broncos fan as we enter into the unknown. I’m eternally optimistic when September rolls around every year and I am again this year. The improvements on D and special teams will hopefully allow the precieved loss at O to be equalized. If the team buys in to the new coach and see success, it won’t be long for the fans to do the same.
Go Broncos!
I couldn’t agree with you more, Mike. Nobody knows how our team(or any team, for that matter), will fare this year. I do think we’ll be much better, as a team, than last year. I’ve really come to love Coach McDaniels’ philosophy and attitude towards the game. He wants to win and win NOW. I loved Shanahan, but it’s nice to see something refreshing. I think that this team will benefit from this offseason sooner than later. Now it’s time to go out there and shut all of the critics up! Thanks, Mike!
Go Broncos!!!
Mike, I couldn’t have said it any better. I’m just too lazy to write that much. lol jk… I have a very positive outlook and feeling about this team. We have upgraded many positions throughout the team. Sure Kyle is not as talented as Jay but he is a smarter quarterback and he is a winner with the right attitude to lead a team. I feel the “national expert” are out of their freakn’ minds when they predict 3-13 or 4-12. They really need to address their man crush on Cutler and just ask him on a date. haha
Keep it postive bronco fans we’re going to shoch a lot of people.
GO BRONCOS!!!!
Mike I just want more turnovers and sacks on D and and less turnovers and mistakes on O
Completely agree with Mike. A building year, getting better and better. I personally think it will be another .500 season, with no playoffs, but plenty to build off of going into next year. Man I really hope that im wrong and they go all the way!!
GB!
i say let them underate us because the fans and the broncos are the only ones that know what where about i say we go to cinci and orange crush the **** about the bengals
The other night I saw a show, and the guy was all excited about the Bears and said, “Cutler just does NOT get sacked! He only gets sacked one out of every 56 snaps.”
Sorry buddy, but he didn’t get to bring his former offensive line with him.
Chicago is going to be totally differen’t timing for him to get rid of the ball. Orton even said that when he was in Chicago the plays were designed to get rid of the ball quickly. Cutler’s going to get cocky and forget that at some point and get blindsided. I know he’s a big guy, but is he durable? He’s always been protected, so who knows?
I just hate those TV critics. The Broncos are going to surprise everybody this year. I don’t think we’ll lose in Cincy, but if we do, they are going to be doggin’ us like never before. Don’t listen to them though. They’re the same people that keep picking SD as a Super Bowl hopefull. NOT EVEN CLOSE!
Go Broncos!
GO BRONCOS!
I don’t put any stock in what the “experts” say. I for one am very excitied about our team and current direction. I thought letting Shanny go was about 2 years to late. I also blogged here on this site that the Chargers would put up 50 points on us the last game of last year and it happened. Not because I wanted us to lose but because our coaching staff was horrible last year and our best players were not on the field those last 3 games and it was evident in the score. This coaching staff is for real and Nunelly and Nolan will improve our defense leaps and bounds. The days of getting blown out by the Chargers are over. I am pumped and say bring on the Bengals……..West Coast
I agree with you 100%, Mike. Could be a bad year, could be a good year, we just have to wait and see. It should be fun to follow along. GO BRONCOS!
West Coast: FINALLY somebody who agrees with me!!! Don’t get me wrong, I loved Shanny but he was the problem with the Defense! When you bring in a great defensive mind like Jim Bates and out defense was as bad as it was year after year… There’s something more to it than just the defensive coordinator especially since we’ve always had a fairly talented D#. I’m glad Shanny’s gone, I think it just got stale. After ’97 & ’98 he didn’t have a fire under him every year.
If Shanny was a better coach we would have won 3 super bowls. ’96, ’97, & ’98. Our team was WAAAY too good to lose to the Jags that year!
Anyway… I’ve been predicting one of two things this offseason. We’re either gonna be REALLY GOOD! Or REALLY BAD. I say that we have the talent to go all the way, but only time will tell how good the coaching is.
And as for K.O…. I’ll say the same thing Shannon said to Bubby in ’98. “This is a Ferrari, just put it in 1st and cruz”. The only thing different here is that I think that K.O. is a much better driver (QB) than Brister!
Let’s get ready for SUNDAY! AND LETS SHUT JAMIE DUKES UP!!!
GO BRONCOS
I think the key to the amount of success the Broncos will have this season will be determined by how well this team gels together on the field. Coach McDaniels will be a great coach, those words are a suprise coming out of me considering how PO’ed I was when Shanny was dismissed and he was hired. However, he put together what appears to be a great coaching staff. Mike Nolan will have this defense playing in the top 1/3 of the NFL by the end of the season. The McDaniels offense reminds me of Shanny when he was young, no worries there. The approach to the draft by coach McDaniels made a lot of sense, I believe the players selected will contribute and, most importantly, I believe they are team players. I also look at the guys who were brought in as free agents, also team players. If I’m right , because of the team concept, this team will come together quicker than most would believe and play better than might be thought by the “pro analysts”. Though I’m no Patriot fan, the one thing that is obviously instilled in McDaniels is the team concept, that will be the difference in this team achieving more than what is believed by many of the experts. It will be a joy to watch them eat their words! Go Broncos!
Thanks, Mike! You really proved everything people need to know about our rampage this season.
Why wouldn’t we be better? Better D, by far, and maybe orton isn’t as good as cutleros, but defense is honestly more important than offense, not by TOO much, but look at Baltimore! Defense can score too
I pray no wait I PRAYYYYYYYY that they don’t let E. Royalty return kicks and/or punts. He is wayyyyy to valuable to be messing around with that. Let McKinley have those duties. Like Mr. Rice and many of you have said INJURIES play a big part in any sport escprcially football. Look at when Troy Polamalu went out thursday night the Titans started attacking the spot he would usually be in.
Like broncofan96 our Defense getting sacks and forcing turnovers will be key. Also our Special Teams coverage which has failed us just as much as the D and O!
This is my take….NO ONE knows what will happen this season. Thats why they play the game. What i would like to see this year a balanced offense, an aggresive play making defense, and solid special teams. If we do that, we can compete with anyone. Here is my match up take for this week…
QB-Advantage Cin. Palmer makes you defend the whole field with his arm strength and accuracy. Orton will manage the game with lots of screens and short throws.
RB-Advantage Den. You gotta give Denver the nod here with all the depth and talent in the backfield. Although Cedrick Benson is coming off a strong year, he appears to be the only serious threat on the ground.
WR and TE-Advantage Den. Ochocinco headlines a very talented receiving group with Coles and Henry but we bring the unstoppable B-
Marsh,Royal,Stokley,and Gaffney. Not to mention our TEs are far more talented. Graham and Sheffler could be the difference in this one.
O-line-Advantage Den. This one isn’t even close.
D-line-tough to compare a 3-4 D against a traditional 4-3 so this one is debatable.
LB-Advantage Den. I’m not being biased here but I really think Denver has a slight edge here. Williams and Davis are savvy veterans that bring alot experience to the table. Also gotta love Dumervil who will spend most of the time blitzing palmer. But Cincy does have much potential with Maualuga and Rivers.
DB-Advantage Den. Bailey,Dawkins, and Goodman impress me. Alot of question marks in the secondary for the Bengals.
ST-??? who knows
What do you guys think?
Yo, guys Josh McDaniels just answered my question on a few minutes with, I was A.J in toronto. Amazing! But on a not so good not lost my staring qb position I’m really down right now.
I just hope we do not play the prevent D like Tenn. did. That never works. It seems our D can stop the run this year, but we still give up big passing plays. I hate that!!!
Against the steelers, bengals, broncos, and any team with TERRIFIC receivers can stop the prevent. you just need double coverage on S. Holmes and teh steelers would lay down and die
I agree 100% Mike. Very well put. As this is our team, they know more about what they have to give than the “analysts”. There’s a reason why the are called that… all they do is analize. They know nothing. They should change that title to “guessers”. They want us to lose, they want us to be bad so they put that out there for the world to hear/see/read. Its ridiculous. Our coaches & players know more about our team than anyone else but still nobody knows what’s going to happen for us this season. It is literally up in the air for grabs.
Its possible for us to go in any direction but I don’t want to look down on this team or our season. We are very capable of winning 10 or 11 games, so I’d rather look at it that way. Its not an unrealistic perspective… its being optimistic and believing this team can do that well after all the changes and drama we went through this offseason. We will most definitely surprise people and I can hardly wait to see the looks on their faces when we make them eat their words. That will be a good day!!
We, as fans, just need to take this season one game at a time… just like this team needs to do. And like Mike said, we will probably be better when the end of this season gets closer. It will take time for them to get in the motions with all the changes and different schemes now. Regardless of what happens after our first 3 or 4 games… there’s no need for anyone to panic. We have a whole season ahead of us. I can’t say this enough… be patient and just chill. We got this!!! lol
With faith…
GO BRONCOS in ’09!!!!
A time for speculations and rumors is over…. It’s time to play football and I mean real football. This isn’t pre-season. This is it and I wish our beloved Broncos the best and I’m not sure what is going to happen tomorrow but I do think it’s important we get out to a good start for the city of Denver and the players of the Broncos. There have been a lot of people questioning JMAC’s decisions and he can put all that to rest by getting a ‘W’ in Cinci tomorrow. As a fan I agree the defense will be better. The offensive line is great. Our tailbacks are going to be better than last year. However, I’m sorry to say I’m still on the fence about Kyle Orton. I will give him a chance. Go Broncos!!!!
you know that would be a nice change being better at the end of the season and make a push then start with a bang and fizzle out.
Schien on fox sports called the Broncos a joke and predictecd 3 wins… What a DOU CHE BAG!
I asked fans on NFL.COM that weren’t commenting on our game…they are all trolls and Den/Cin fans. but the chiefs/ravens fans were helpful. they predicted us over cinci most the time. probably 7-2 average
and they weren’t the most helpful because they predicted we would win the most, but more like because they actually discussed each teams flaws and had a real discussion.
Mike, with 32 new players (60%) over last year’s opening day roster, there is no doubt that only the coaches and the players have an idea of what’s gonna happen as McD refers to. Anyone who think they have a crystal ball as far as what this first season will bring is simply talking from their heart.
McD wants it that way, in everything he has done so far, secrecy has been the MO. As well as none of us fan, including you Mike, and all the other writers have no clue as what to expect, NEITHER HAVE ALL THE TEAMS WE’RE ABOUT TO FACE. That’s the genius part of it, I don’t honestly think the Bengals can prepare against us from what they saw in pre-season, they are like us fans and writers, they know nothing. And as McD’s game plans differ for every team, the mystery will go on… for all of us, at least for a good while. How exciting is that?
On this, my 35th year as a Bronco fan, I cannot recall as exciting a year as this one, except for maybe 1983, when Elway came into town, but that year kind of turned out to be a dud. Hopefully, this one will have a different outcome. I still say 8-8, split right down the middle. Show me an agressive D and a TEAM effort day in day out, that will be good enough for me. You can’t rebuild Rome in a day… or a year.
Hope all you guys speaking with your heart are right and show me wrong with a winning record, playoffs and all the way to the super bowl and bring back the Lombardi trophy home. I’ll be happy to say what a fool I was to have such conservative expectations. On the other hand, hope you guys will be cool enough to humbly accept that your heart got you carried away if we finish at 500 or under.
Let’s start to rumble…. 18 hours from now anyway…
G-O-O-O-O-O-O-O……………………………………BRONCOS!
dumervil is beastly
Yes…he is… and so id D.J. Williams
This is random, but I wish we didn’t cut crowder or walker. they had potential in my eyes…
what a year this will be….. the lombardi where it belongs and another fantasy title on my fantasy mantle… good luck to all in the ORANGE COLORED GLASSES league….
Marshallman we have walker on our P Squad no worries..
HOLY CRAP!!! Jamie Dukes actualy said the broncos will win tom….I never thought i would see the day before we played a game lol
no he didn’t he changed his mind, the fat swine!
Its not random…felt the same way…especially about walker but its ok cuz im so over multiple RBs….Heres hoping we only need one….Knowshon Moreno, with some Hillis help and Buckhalter help/
I keep telling yalll to ignore predictions….I believe this blog speaks volumes about ignoring so called “experts” as well. They are supposed to be analyst but I gaurantee you they haven’t thoroughly analyzed our team like we have. I heard some analyst on ESPN radio call us a sleeper team. I believe he is correct. We have a lot of potential, we just need to transform that potential into greatness.
This blog also mention the cardinals which I also have in some other post. Im sure they werent ranked high last year and BAM!!! superbowl. Just keep the faith Bronco Nation…..When all fails, we always got Any Given Sunday on our side. You dont have to be the best team to make the superbowl. All it requires is Will, Intensity, a bit of luck (especially in the health dept) and doign the right things.
THE SEASON IS OURS FOR THE TAKING
GO BRONCOS!!!!
just got done fighting a exbronco fan……I told him he was never a bronco fan he was a cutler fan…..his handle is bearsfannow………dude got schooled by me! that is nfl.com for you….you blog on there you better be ready to defend yourself that is why it is nice to come on this blog
How so?… can we get a summary of what went down?
I personally think that the Broncos will be good this year. We have improved in all three phases of the team. We have good running backs with experience to teach the young guys. Our receivers and tight ends are among the best in the league. Our offensive line is the best. Our defense is going to be far better than last year. With the addition of B-Dawk and Hill to add to the secondary with Bailey is great. Our special teams looks to be better than last year as well. Coach McDaniels is going to be a great coach for a long time. I think that he is smart in the way he does everything. He is very detailed all the way down to where people sit on the bench when they are not on the field. I can’t wait for the kickoff to see all the experts eat their words. All the teams went through change in the off season, why are the Broncos the only ones that are going to be bad every year? Let’s keep the faith and stay positive Bronco fans and have fun together watching the best team out there.
—GO BRONCOS—
Ya, on NFL.com, you have to back up your talk, which is hard to do if they don’t pay attention to all the off-season moves we do. You can’t criticize any teams without all the knowledge they do, either it’s all b.s.
your right mike, every time i hear the heaters run their mouth, its like they suddenly forgot that we have marshall and royal, like they are going to have a bad year. no one can match up with them one on one, it takes a lot to take down some one like hillis, so there are no problems their its just our d that is going to need to step up. we need balance and stay healthy, we had something good going on last year we just could not finish strong. i just have a good feeling we are going to surprise everybody. the only thing that was missing in our team, was a knew coaching staff and a new head coach that is what we have now. so ready or not here we come!!!
60 minutes of football go broncos!!!
I’m with you Mike I think the analyist want us to lose. just like 07elway said they want us to do bad because they are just waiting too rag on Mcd. I just think it funny when we had cutler we where perdicted to do bad. i think as long as i been a broncos fan we have never been picked to do good. but that good i like being the underdog it makes the season a hole lot of fun
manny01, we didn’t finish strong because: A- injuies, B- cutler had a red zone problem
week 1 tomorrow. so pumpedd. getting ready to shut down that joke of a team they call the bengals.. GO BRONCOS. were making the playoffs this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Correction Marshallman….Broncos had a redzone problem. No capable runners. Which forced cutler to pass like a crazy man.. So when we got down to the redzone, guess what? They were expecting a pass. People were too hard on the broncos and cutler last year….har to decieve an offense that knows what you are gonna do on every down……pass. Wish cutler was still here, McDs offense is real pass happy and about spreading the ball. A guy like Cutler woulda done well in this offense with adequate running support. It didnt go that way….so water under the bridge. All I can pray is Moreno and Hillis improve our redzone fight cuz it wasnt looking to good in preseason either.
moreno and hillis should be a good 1-2 punch. i like who we have to spread the ball with marshall, royal, stokley, an gaffeny. an i really love tony sheff.hes a under rated tightend
No one knows what the out come is going to be at the end of the season, Like they say. THAT IS WHY THEY PLAY THE GAME, anything can happen in a course of a game and they are all pros out there so anything can happen.
did some research on the 2008 preseason predicitions of the so called ‘expert’ on all the sports networks and the were right a combined total of 10%, so much for the ‘experts’
my prediction is that cutler will miss the week 3 game because it will take the surgeons more then 7 days to remove jamie dukes and adam shefter’s lips from cutler’s derrière
then they have to remove dukes foot from his mouth and head out his ### well you know.
Common Sense was not written by Thomas Payne, it was Mike Rice. GO BRONCOS!!! Beat the Bungles!
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa thats funny.
Well said lostfan.
Good luck Denver…definitely going to need it…
Yes, Good luck in Cinci GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!