I understand why Tim Tebow’s first NFL start grabbed the headlines last Sunday. Undoubtedly this week, Tebow’s second career start will dominate much of the discussion and analysis after the game.
If I knew today that Kyle Orton or Tim Tebow or someone else would be the starter next season, I would be fine with that, as long as the “someone else” were at least decent.
The Broncos’ quarterback situation is not my number one concern. Not by a long shot.
If Pat Sajak were planning to be in Denver any time soon, I’d have to ask him for a “D.” It has become unbearably obvious that defense is where the Broncos have to start in getting their house in order.
The numbers have been mentioned already, but they are worth repeating. In two games against the Raiders, the Broncos surrendered 98 points, 1,010 yards of total offense, 592 rushing yards and 49 first downs.
Gulp.
The Raiders have a solid offense. They are in the top ten in scoring, total offense and rushing yards per game. But they put up video game numbers in their two wins against the Broncos.
Then again, other teams did the same thing this year, too. And there’s the rub.
For years, even long before Josh McDaniels came to town, we heard the Broncos talk about their desire to have a tough defense that stops the run. In the last five seasons, five different defensive coordinators have talked about that.
Hopefully sooner than later, we will start seeing it on the field.
The Broncos are currently last in the NFL, allowing 29.6 points per game. They are second-to-last in total offense given up per game (386.1 yards) and rushing yards allowed per game (158.4).
We all know one can spin stats in a variety of ways but it is really difficult to put those in any kind of positive light. They are what they are. And they are a big reason the Broncos are what they are, namely 3-11.
Of course, every team would like to have a Steel Curtain defense or a defense as good as that of the 2000 Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens, to name a couple of examples.
But it doesn’t take a unit that dominating to have a great team, even an elite team that consistently contends for championship. At the same time, I can’t think of an NFL team that has won on a regular basis with a defense anywhere similar to the one the Broncos have now.
In the recent past, the primary focus for the Broncos has been offense. As the Broncos begin their journey into a new era, I hope that defense plays a much more prominent role.
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. I hope you and your family are enjoying a wonderful Holiday Season.
Best,
Mike
Tags: 2010, Defense, Denver Broncos, Mike Rice
Mike
All I can say is…AMEN TO THAT. Thats what many hoped the next coach after shanahan would fix…world class offense with no defense…We were dissapointed in the draft for two years. Im sick of this team having a laughing stalk defense…It sickens me…so once again we need the new coach to come and fix defense…and not just defense…mainly the front seven (even tho I think we need a SS as well). But I wouldn’t be made at em if all picks were defensive. Like seriously…thats how bad we are on that side of the ball with the exception of a few players…but they can’t do it by themselves. We allowed like 30 points a game on average this season…we woulda needed a O that scored more than 30 points EVERY game on average to win. That is pathetic. ALL I WANT IN 2011 IS DEFENSE!!!
Defense Defense Defense.
I bet Tony Dungy would fix our defense up real good……
I wish we could get some news from the top on Elway??
I wonder what’s taking so long to get him aboard??
I wish we had a list of coaches that Mr B has in mind..
I need some information or at least some indication in which way Mr B is going to go with our Mgmt structure…
The suspense is killing me! I’m soo excited…
ILMSDTB!!!
REPOST:
I listed Justin Houston as one of my 2nd round picks:
Justin Houston DE/OLB Georgia,he has 10 sacks-18.5 tackles for loss!
Against Georgia Tech in his last game he had 7 tackles a 18 yard fumble recovery for a TD,and a game saving Int to seal the win.
That’s if he comes out early!
Along with Fairley at DT,Houston could play DE or LB.
Iam with OC and BFE92
Thanks for the article Mike and I think the entire Broncos Country will agree! My concern moving forward is getting a football person like Elway in the front office in what ever you wish to call him. Then we need a coach? Here is where Mr. B has to be concerned. How much can he afford to entice a great coach like some good ones we have been talking about? Gruden, Fisher, to name a few. Has any team had 3 head coaches on the payroll before? How much can Mr. B afford? How much is he willing to pay? I am just saying lets fix the front office and then we can talk building a defense we all will be proud of!
FTR
So true FTR.
We need a staff in place before we can even talk about the draft,but I’m just humouring myself,It’s GOOD to be a Bronco fan !!!!!!!!!!
GO BRONCS IN 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1.Fairley DT
2.Houston DE/OLB
3.Paea DT Oregon St
Sorry can’t help it.lol.
I like Studs choice of coaching attire..
Not that I’m shallow as to worry what another man wears, but the flag a HC flies when Represent’n the Team is very important to our unity/family structure…..
So far he’s sported our colors like a true front man!!
Nice Threads Coach…
ILMSDB!
As long as the new HC is a Tebow supporter. If we get an anti-Tebow guy who tries to draft a QB I will not be happy. Tebow is the future. Period.
BFE92
Keep up the pick comments Bro! We all need to get our list ready!!
LOL
OC
My Mom who is 82 years old and has been excited about Tim Tebow ever since we drafted him (yes my mom watched the draft) and can tell everything about his stats through out his collage career!! While we were watching the game as she was all excited to see her Gator start the first thing she said to me was—I am so glad that Broncos McD coach is gone and look she exclaimed the new coach has No Hoddie!! LOL
FTR
07
How about that Decker!!
FTR
HAHAHAHAHAHA, FTR your mom is hilarious. Bronco fans of all ages knows whats good and whats not.Shocked your mom follows football so closely. Thats pretty cool.
FTR, LOL. Thats awesome. So you take after your mom huh? Way cool.
TRB
She is a die hard Broncomanic. But loves her Gators as far as collage football! It’s their colors Blue and orange like the Broncos and she never has missed a game because we have her hooked up. She also calls me on the stats on CU!! Never play hearts with her either!!
FTR
Tebow score winning TD on QB sneak in OT to beat Texans 41-35.
We breed Bronco fans strandoftds!! LOL
FTR
FTR, cool mom, lucky to still have one, enjoy it!
Mike, yes, DEFENSE! what else is there if you don’t have a D? we have ignored it for so many years, look at where we are at now, an absolute disgrace on that side of the ball, I think you will find no one in Bronco Country to argue that point. Anyhow, I have talked at length about all that in the last three blogs for two straight days so all I will add now is happy holidays to you and your family.
BFE, I just brushed over the mock draft and more than 1/2 of them are JRS. What a trip. Who knows who really is going to stay in school and which players are gonna come out early. If half of the projected first rounders stay in school the draft board will change dramatically. It `s going to be interesting to see who comes out for this draft. Totally fun though. I can hardly wait.
The only way. HaHa!!!
The Bronco`s need to get back to the days of old. ORANGE CRUSH!!
I meant to say In the first round of the projected mock draft that more than half are JRS.
Ladies and gentleman, the Orange Crush:
Barney Chavous LDE
Rubin Carter NT
Lyle Alzado RDE
Bob Swenson LOLB
Joe Rizzo LILB
Randy Gradishar RILB
Tom Jackson ROLB
Bernard Jackson WS
Billy Thompson SS
Louis Wright LCB
Steve Foley RCB
I give you days of old! My man Atwater!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWtSUgLm_Oo
FTR
Depending on which mock you look at. I counted 17 JRS in the first round of one paticular mock draft.
Lyle was flippen psycotic. Posessed. Loved his play.
Steve Atwaer is in my top 5 Broncos of all time.
I`d like to have the AFC Championship game on DVD of 1977 against the raiders. That would be extra special to have.
Steve Atwater
He was one of the first to be miked during a game. Loved his “Yeah baby bring it on”
FTR
I’m pretty sure the BRONCOS will win this week,how else would they lose the 2nd pick on the draft so 24-17 Denver
Freaken amazing. And that smashing hit on Christian Okoya during the MNF game. One left standing.
strandoftds, you should get the Complete History of the Denver Broncos on DVD if you don’t already have it. Although it only goes to 2005, it was worth every penny for me. It is a very good documentary of the Broncos from the beginning to now. And they have the entire AFC Championship game against the Browns where John Elway led the team 98yds on “The Drive”. Absolutely beautiful.
Cool. I`ll order it. Thanks.
I’m going 30-27 Broncos. Two teams bad at defense, and Tebow at the helm.
No problem. It has a lot of interviews with players, and it talks a lot about Steve Atwater. Who I believe needs to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Outstanding player.
Bronco`s lose this one. 27-24.
God I hope so. Atwater and Sharpe this year. Let it happen.
When Steve Atwater and Dennis Smith were side by side, they were like two freight trains.
denver0723,
I bought that DVD for my dad last year for Christmas and I’m pretty sure it was his favorite gift of all time. Every Broncos fan should own it… absolutely amazing.
Atwater is definitely one of my favorite all-time Broncos. Why guys like Atwater, Sharpe and Gradishar aren’t in the HOF I will never understand. Something is seriously wrong with the selection committee, they must have forgotten that the Broncos are actually an NFL franchise.
Man that Orange Crush roster is crazy… Alzado, Jackson, Wright, Thompson… All of those guys deserve to be in the hall too! Canton is missing the boat.
please get this guy Patrick Peterson
he is the next champ
There`s one oldie but goodie we shouldn`t forget. RICH TOMBSTONE JACKSON. The famous head slap. Today that method would cost ya 15 yards and a chunk of change.
Tombstone Jackson should also be in the HOF too. Highway robbery if you ask me.
The starting DL for the Organge Crush defense was exceptional, but what most people forget is that the “seconds stringers” were almost as good. This allowed Collier to keep the DL fresh throughout the game. This is why the cry, “The 4th quarter is ours” was so true during the Orange Crush days for the Broncos. The 4th quarter scoring differential was massive!
I was only 13 years old in 1977. Memories. I got a ORANGE CRUSH T-SHIRT FOR CHRISTMAS that year. HAHA!!!!!
I meant ORANGE CRUSH DEFENSE T-SHIRT. But of course.
Somebody around here is singing my song!!
I LOVE ME SOME ORANGE CRUSH DEFENSE!!!
ILMS TOM JACKSON TO THE MAX!!!!!!
It’s awesome to be able to see him and hear his opinion every Sunday on ESPN with Boom!!!
Too bad we don’t or can’t hear more from the rest of the Real Orange Crushers…..
ILMSDB!!
Yeah we Bronco fans have got a lot of great memories over the years,that’s a good thing,cause we need to remember them NOW after the last 2 years we’ve had under the McD torture.
OC,my man,thats a great handle you got dude…Orange_Crusher!
FTR,great story about your mom,she is a true Diehard Bronco fan,and I give her a Great Big Mile High Salute!!!!!!!!
Too bad she’s a Gator fan tho! LMAO.