Before you can get to where you want to go, you have to know where you are.
The Broncos are painfully aware of the latter.
“Let’s not lose touch with reality,” head coach John Fox said this week. “This is a 4-12 football team under a new staff. We’re four games into it. We’re 1-3, that’s the reality. That’s where we are.”
Indeed.
John Fox is four games into his tenure as the Broncos’ head coach. Four games. In the NFL world of 100-hour work weeks, that’s hardly enough time to organize one’s office, although I’m assuming Coach Fox was able to get that done at some point during the lockout.
I thought Coach Fox would get a honeymoon, or at least a general good-feeling stage, that would last longer than four games.
Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying the Broncos are a good team right now. I’m not saying they’re one player away from contending for the playoffs or the Super Bowl.
They aren’t. And no one in the organization is pretending otherwise. Sunday’s game against Green Bay showed how far away they are from those things.
Somehow the Broncos have to reconcile the reality of where they are with the desire to still win as many games as possible this year. It’s too early in the season to play for next year yet the reality of where they stand is also impossible to ignore.
“Everybody wants it now,” Fox said. “That’s not just in football, it’s in everything. I can understand. We want to win now, too. We’re done with the first quarter and we have three-quarters (of the season) to go.”
In the final three-quarters of the season, I want to see how this team develops. I want to see what parts of the foundation they can put in place that will contribute to long-term excellence.
If they win a bunch of games doing that, great. If they don’t, but there are identifiable elements of the foundation of a quality organization and team, that is also great because without the foundation of a strong front office, coaching staff and roster, the Broncos will not get back to where they once were and where the Packers now stand.
For many, that kind of progress this season is just not good enough. Win games or else the season is a waste. I get that line of thinking but I don’t subscribe to it.
For me, wanting to see progress in building the foundation is not an excuse to lose games. It is simply a rational expectation given the reality the Broncos currently face.
“We aspire to be where they (the Packers) are and that means win the Super Bowl and be the defending Super Bowl champs,” Fox said. “It didn’t happen for them overnight and I don’t think anyone in their right mind would think it’s going to happen for us overnight.”
That is abundantly clear. In the final twelve games of the season, I’m ready to see how many steps they take towards one day realizing their aspirations.
Thanks for reading,
Mike
Tags: Packers
Excellent piece, Mike. This seems like a perspective that any true fan should be right in line with. It’s justifiable for this team to be where they are right now, but if they’re not measurably better in the last quarter of the season, that’s the time to start raising the big questions. It’s just that we’ve all been thirsting for the turnaround for so long now, that when the hope of ‘next weekend’ turns out to be another mirage, it’s hard not to just feel frustrated and angry. But hey, it’s just football, and all us homers will stick with the Broncos through thin and thinner.
Agreed Carsonic, I think that the way we end the season will be the best barometer of where we are as an organization.
It is frustrating to have a shortened offseason, that affects the play of our youngest group of players not getting the O and D schemes hammered into their brains BEFORE training camp… so consider the first quarter, the conclussion of Training Camp/Preseason, and gauge the rest of the season on production (improvement)
Mike
Thank you for this column. The candidness jumps off the piece, and to be honest this may be one of the best columns i’ve read this season by your hand. This is how I expected Fox’s comments to be from the start. That’s why it threw me off with the whole “win now” line of comment’s. Those type of comments made it seem as if the organization was trying to appear neat and comprehensive only by ignoring the true complexities of the issues at hand.
Although I am a homer, I don’t like to feel as if i’m just being fed the ‘politically correct,’ PR type statements. We know as fans (for the most part) the hand we’ve been dealt and right now that’s the hand we have to play with, I get that. It’s when you start to have the ‘buyers remorse’ type feelings is when you start to get frustrated, for many thats already the case. For me, that hasn’t kicked in… yet.
I for one, can never subscribe to the thinking of some on here which you’ve stated, “Win games [now] or else the season is a waste. I get that line of thinking but I don’t subscribe to it,” (e.g. suck for luck).
That, that is the culmination of this article. Right to the point. I hope Fox can really grasp that type of stance and I hope EFX can start to display the TRUE transparency that we here on this blog had been looking forward to since the beginning of the season. Once again kudos on this article, a refreshing, old school point of view.
-Royalty
Agreed, Mike, you build from where you are, not where you hope you are. However, you don’t per se “build” unless you find out what pieces you have to build with now. You don’t know what you will need to add. If personnel decisions are made on this roster without a thorough in-game evaluation of exactly what the talent level of each player on the roster is, you are not building, you are guessing with the future. That is the part that many of us don’t see happening right now. Certain portions of the game will take time to install, some thngs do not. Without having the right players, none of it will work. It is time to start mixing and matching players in a n effort to lay the foundation for future teams, not starting the same team over and over already knowing its weaknesses and strengths. So, while I can completely agree with your article, that does not appear to be what is happening with the team at this point!
On a lighter note Legwold points out the talent that may lay the foundation on which we can look forward to in building our future.
Watching him sift through the one-notch-below-chaos piles in his locker or scroll through the selections in his digital music player singing along with the words, it’s easy to see Von Miller for the fresh-faced, enthusiastic NFL rookie he is.
Watch him race around offensive tackles and take down quarterbacks, including Packers star Aaron Rodgers twice Sunday in the Broncos’ game at Green Bay, and it’s just as easy to see what Miller could be.
“He’s special,” Broncos coach John Fox said. “That skill set we identified in the draft is something that makes him special. He’s still learning the NFL game, the NFL commitment, but that skill set is still there. It shows up. The sky is the limit.”
“He’s got it,” Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said. “From the first time on the field, you could see what he can do. When he adds to his game, learns what offenses do, he’s going to be real tough to block because he’s tough to block already and he’s only played a few games.”
In a 1-3 start that has featured a seemingly endless discussion about who is, or isn’t, the team’s quarterback, as well as penalties, fumbles, interceptions, missed opportunities and a pile of injuries to key players, Miller is someone the Broncos can point to as proof that better days are ahead.
Miller has four sacks in four games and is the only rookie among the seven players in the NFL who have at least four sacks.
“I know I have plenty of things to work on,” Miller said. “I just want to help my team, no matter the situation in the game. I want to be a player who people say played hard for his team all the time, no matter what. And if I make mistakes, I’m just trying to go as fast as I can.
“That’s what they keep telling me. ‘Play fast. Play fast.’ ”
Dumervil played in the Green Bay game, but it was evident he isn’t all the way back from the injury. NFL personnel executives believe Miller’s production in the pass rush could improve significantly when Dumervil is full speed — and that Miller’s performance so far will help Dumervil return to his 2009 form, when he led the league and set a Broncos record with 17 sacks.
“I think we can make it hard for quarterbacks,” Dumervil said. “(Miller) has all the skills. You can see that already.”
“He may not be as far along in some things, such as (pass) coverage or things like that, as he is rushing,” Fox said of the Texas A&M product. “But obviously rushing (the passer), he’s very special. Very special.”
If we can keep making picks such as these put your sunglasses on
because the future sure looks bright.
-Royalty
henryac you made a great point yesterday which I think that the DP may have picked up on.
“Pro football is not a democracy. Not inside the locker room and not outside it. But it is a business. And, like any business, a pro football team cannot afford to alienate its customers,” writes Krieger.
For those who care to read more regarding the fans and the QQ here’s the link:
http://www.denverpost.com/krieger/ci_19042537
BRE1979, what can I say. Great minds think alike!
Good read Mike. I was actually wondering what possible positive spin you were going to put on the team this week……….and it was more of a reality check.
I guess I just had higher expectations for this team this season……and those were prob unjustified at best.
Now back to reality………..we were a 4-12 team last season. And we’re looking like a 4-12 team this season at best. For me, this season is no longer about the wins, it’s about how we are playing as a team toward the end of the season. Who’s playing well and who needs to go.
In my opinion, there are a few players I can name right now who should be released, and who will probably not be here next season. Notably Moreno (too injury prone and not really effective), Goodman (a vet where father time has caught up), DT (Again, another player who is made of glass and will let his talent go to waste)
And this has been beaten to death so I hate bringing it up cause I’m also so sick of it myself. But it is something that hasn’t been addressed yet.
We all know that Orton is not in the plans long term and will be gone next season. Heck, even if the Broncos wanted him to stay, why would he want to re-sign here where the fans loathe him bigtime.
So, if Orton is not the answer, why can’t we just find out if Tebow is. He’s the unknown factor in all of this. If he can be the starting QB, then let’s find out. If he can’t be the starting QB, then we need to find that out too.
We’ll never know the answer if he remains on the bench.
I’m not Anti-Orton, nor am I Pro-Tebow. I’m just a die-hard Broncos fan and want what’s best for the team. And what’s happening now, IMO, is not best for the team long-term.
So we’re 1-3 at this rate we’ll be 4-12 by the end of the season…actually we’ll be 3-13…he who must not be named won one of those 4 wins last year for us.
For me it’s not that Orton is starting, its not that Moreno is seemingly more and more like a bust, its not that we aren’t winning (well that hurts) its the misleading from the front office. They come in and say yeah ‘we want to win now’ blah blah blah, ‘Orton gives us the best chance’ blah blah, they pretty much get our hopes somewhat feeling good and then they crush them. If you’re going to say you want to win now then you had better win now.
As far as that article by Krieger, c’mon Fox, if you’re evaluating Orton and he gives us the best chance, I’d sure hate to see what a good QB can do for our team.
Great post Mr. Rice.
It is what it is. I also am just watching the games (and rewinding them) to look for bright spots of progress. Facing the Packers on week 4 of a short off season is tough; but with good coaching, a lot of positives can come from it. Number 1 is seeing what we truly have on the team and the coaches not having illusions of playoffs. We have some great pieces to building a great team.
I had hoped for 10 wins this season. I will hope for 10 wins or more every season. I am a little more disappointed that we couldn’t get better faster for the sake of Dawkins and Bailey. I have no doubt that Bailey will be here next year; but Dawkins is running out of time to get to the Super Bowl.
killerkod, boils down to the money and the incentives in Tebow’s contract. Just goes to show you usually players holdout FOR more money, but in this case the player his heldout BECAUSE of the potential to make more money. Just another way money is ruining sports.
Taking a break long enough to make a pick…
Broncos – 23
Chargers – 20
Dawkins restructured his contract so this is his last season under contract. Now I don’t know if that means he’ll be retiring or maybe looking for a team to get him to the Super Bowl. His leadership will unfortunately be gone after this season so hopefully someone will step up in his place.
If you don’t care to go to the link well here it is bay style lol.
You don’t want to get into a war with your fans. You just don’t.
Unfortunately, that’s what the new management of the Broncos is facing just four weeks into the NFL season.
On KOA radio the other day, I asked coach John Fox how he would respond to fans who say the Broncos are in a rebuilding situation and might as well see what their young quarterback, Tim Tebow, has to offer. This was his reply:
“Well, I think we did that. We did that in camp. It was an open competition. Everybody on the roster had that opportunity. And to a man in our locker room, and we’re the ones there every day, I’m not suggesting that the fans shouldn’t have an opinion, but they’re not in the meetings, they’re not at practice, they don’t get a chance to truly evaluate it.
“Albeit I have great respect for the fans, and our fans in particular, (but) we are full time and we evaluate it, and that has already been decided.”
Here’s the problem: That was then. This is now.
In the two preseason games in which he played significant time, Kyle Orton had passer ratings of 135 and 99. The Broncos won both games.
So when Fox said Orton was his best quarterback going into the regular season, at least he had evidence to support his conclusion.
Through four games of the regular season, Orton is tied with Donovan McNabb for 18th in passer rating at 80.9. Orton’s team is 1-3.
So harking back to a decision made in training camp or the preseason is basically avoiding the current question. Orton has not been that guy in the regular season. About the only way the Broncos quiet the growing insurrection in their fan base is to beat San Diego on Sunday.
Beat the Chargers and they validate Fox’s belief that Orton gives them a chance to win important games.
Beat the Chargers and they’re within a game of first place in a division without a dominant team.
Beat the Chargers and a coach buys time for his short-term goals, even if you believe, as I do, that the Broncos’ rebuilding program requires long-term, not short-term, thinking.
The fact is, coaches always think short-term. As you may have heard, they take them one game at a time. So the only person in the Broncos’ hierarchy who can impose a long-term focus is John Elway, the man atop the organizational chart.
Last year, perhaps the most important reason Tebow got to start the final three games of the season was the show of fan apathy for the home game against St. Louis on Nov. 28. Broncos brass did not want to see those stretches of empty seats when the team returned home after three consecutive road games.
There also was Orton’s injury, of course, but even after he declared himself healed and ready to go, Tebow finished out the season.
Pro football is not a democracy. Not inside the locker room and not outside it. But it is a business. And, like any business, a pro football team cannot afford to alienate its customers.
The Broncos’ argument for continuing to start Orton at this point boils down to this: “We know more than you do.” Which, let’s face it, they had better. If their full-time football people don’t know more than fans and media types, they’ve clearly hired the wrong full-time football people.
But there are only two possible outcomes in football — winning and losing. And if you’re not winning, whether you’re right about the best quarterback on the practice field or in exhibition games really doesn’t matter.
At its root, this is a question of timing. At some point, given a poor enough record, even Fox is likely to want a look at some of his young backups, as he did on defense in Green Bay on Sunday after the game was out of hand.
But fans were quick to point out the inconsistency between his rationale for emptying the bench on defense and his rationale for keeping Orton in the game to the bitter end.
It’s beginning to look like a war of wills, and a war of wills between a coach and his team’s paying customers seldom ends well for the coach.
Beat the Chargers and both Fox and Orton win a reprieve from a restless fan base. Go into the bye week at 1-4 and the Broncos may face the one thing worse than angry fans: fans losing interest.
It looks like Krieger has been reading the blog lol. I wish Fox would have the humility to do the same.
-Royalty
Im out, have a great morning BC!
-Royalty
@brian
Yeah, I’ve read about the incentives, etc.
It’s really sad that $$$ is getting in the way like this. Makes me sick.
Maybe there should be “discentives” built into Ortons contract.
For each loss, he loses money
For each INT he loses money
For each pick-6, he loses double
and so on………..LOL
Mike, you must be a night owl! LOL You’re posts are usually super early in the morning? Are thoughts of the Broncos keeping you up late at night? LOL
Well, it’s like deja vu all over again..sort of. Divisional opponent..in our yard..what are we going to do about it? Are we going to release the Kraken or just let those dogs pee all over our flowers? Release the Kraken!!!!
I smell pee
Is Bailey supposed to be back in the lineup this week?
Thanks for the realistic point of view Mr. Rice. I bought into the way of thinking that our team had the pieces to make a quick turnaround. It’s painfully obvious last season was no abberition.
I too want nothing more to see weekly improvements, and a few wins along the way.
GO BRONCOS!
Btw, can someone explain to me what a homer is?
“homer” as in home run?
“homer” as in Simpons?
Thanks for the sensible post Mike, keep them coming. The Broncos will be champions again, it’s just going to take time. I’ll be cheering the players and staff win or lose. I am looking forward to seeing River’s picking himself up off the turf Sunday! Go Broncos!
Rivers…meet Von Miller…Von Miller meet…BOOM..a pancaked Rivers!
Excellent article Mike. You are very correct. It is time for a reality check. One big question is, why we were told one thing when something else is happening. Like you say in your article, we need to be finding out what these younger new players can do now instead of having to go through this next year all over again. This past weekend showed most of us fans just where we are with the “rebuilding” of this team. The mentality of “win now” or someone “giving us the best chance to win” has been preached until frankly most of us are really sick of hearing it. I for one, thought that there was supposed to be some transparency here, but that all ended when the open practices ended at the end of training camp. It has also become apparent that the only one making decisions is Mr. Fox. You would think that he might have learned about the fan base at his prior team, but it is becoming apparent that either he didn’t learn, or doesn’t care about the fan base as Orton already declared he doesn’t care what fans think or say. The sad part about this is, there is no provision anywhere for the fans to be reimbursed for their hard earned money they shelled out at the beginning of the season when we were told Tebow was the starter and Orton was going to be traded. Personally, I don’t care who starts as long as it isn’t Orton. He isn’t going to be here next year (unless we have been lied to about this also). We have got to see what the other player have to offer us, and now is as good a time as any. Not just the qb position either. I am speaking of all positions. Let these guys play so they can learn. The sidelines are not the place to learn. Oh, Mr. Fox, putting them in for one lame play per game is not going to help them learn either.
I thought we were going to make the GM position more important going into the current coaching hiring decision. But it looks like FOX is calling the shots in D-town.. And that is a mistake.. What should have happened is you hire FOX and you tell him that we are going to have some input in your offensive staff.. Then the GM goes out and hires a good O/C and qb coach to design an offense to maximize Tebows strengths.. They said they were trying to trade ORTON before training camp(which I don’t believe), if that is true WHY DIDN’T they have an offense designed to tebow’s STRENGTHS in place? Any good GM would have made sure the staff was hired specifically for that reason.. Either FOX is calling the shots or Xanders is an idiot (probably both)… What has ELway done???? Absolutely nothing but stuff his face into every TV/news story that he can. He’s a gloried PR guy.. How can a guy that was a mobile QB allow a team to run such a lame offense? How could he allow this offensive staff to develop an offense unsuited for TEBOW? Good teams do not make mistakes like this.. This all adds up to a team being run by an accountant (ELLIS) that makes it’s decisions purely on dollars and cents. (Not wins and losses).. We are operating like the Tampa Bay BUC’s of the 1980’s.. This is a disaster in the making and it looks like the only hope for us fans is a change in ownership.. The glory days of Bowlen are over…. He is no longer running the show…. Man I miss the young Bowlen…
Los Angelos Broncos….?
I have a gut feeling that Mr. Elway is being used as solely a PR guy. Selling tickets, etc. so the fans get a chance to maybe see him someplace or talk to him. Lately I bet he is not venturing very far out because he does not, or is not, answering the questions that fans have for him. That is becoming more and more evident every Tuesday afternoon.
brian_schneider, HUSH!!! Don’t give them any ideas!! I can’t afford to pay for direct TV…….. I love the donkey’s!!! I just hope management swallows their pride and let all the younger players develop.. Let’s trade Orton to Miami for a cup of decaf coffee (or a o/c), and get this show going!
Don’t worry the way we’re playing right now I don’t think LA even would want our franchise. LOL!
If they aren’t going to play Tebow they can trade him to Miami or the Colts. Manning is done. He just hasn’t accepted that fact yet.
I also don’t think this franchise will ever mover out of Denver.
Elway’s legacy is in Denver. I don’t see him letting the franchise move either. It is possible that this is just a step for him to learn the business side of things gfor him to take it over. Just a thought.
A lot of you guys are like the polititians – when you’re outside the decision making process, you’ve got all the answers … “just do what I say and everything will work out” … well – it doesn’t work that way … long term, with the Broncos, it should be painfully clear – the heirarchy doesn’t believe Tebow is the answer … they’ve already said, he doesn’t run this offensive scheme well … to go to him, they’d have to change that scheme, which is what they would already have done if they believed he was the answer, or even potentially the answer … but we don’t see that … read the tea leaves … to put him in now to “see what he can do”, they’re not willing to do that … yes, I’m sure Orton is gone after this year, but at least with him the rest of the team has the best chance to develop in THIS SCHEME – a lot of them will for sure be back to go forward with this TEAM … so try to understand what’s really going on, and quit the circus sideshow which only detracts from the effort going on to BUILD FOR THE FUTURE … as for us “not getting the real skinny from the heirarchy”, what were they supposed to say in August – that “we’re really in a rebuilding mode, so buy your season tickets and come watch us grow”? … use some common sense, for goodness sakes …
I hope Elway steps up and rides to our rescue… If he could do it in cleveland (what a game), maybe he can pull the late upset here…. If he does he will jump into crazy sick legend status.
The issue is not are the broncos good or not we know where they stand the issue is What does every good team have that we dont?
That is simple good teams and great teams have a Franchise QB Packers have Rodgers, The Chargers have Rivers, The Colts have Manning, The Pats have Brady, The Falcons have Ryan, The Lions Have Stafford ect ect.
We have Orton not a Franchise QB and we sure as hell Cant not build a team around a QB who is a loosing QB. Look At Cam he is a beast throwing 350+ yards every game but they lack so much on both sides of the ball but he keeps them in every game. Give the Panthers 2 years and get some great WR’s TE and an O line and the panthers should be a playoff team.
The raiders have found some luck with Cambell and Mcfadden they got good WR’s and a great O line they just need a better D and they will be taking over the AFC west.
We need to build our team around a QB that is going to get the job done wasting the season with Orton is not going to get us anywhere and Yes I understand Tebow may not have it in him to be a great QB so we at least need to know.
If that is the case and Tebow is not our guy we better be giving away picks and dealing for Luck, Luch is possibly the best college QB coming into the Draft since Manning. Lets find our QB of the future and build the team around him. Simple as that.
let’s see. we have a couple of ex 1st round selections on the bench and we are starting the ex 5th round selection? who just happens to be a proven looooser! the only other way this would make less sense is if Weber was out starting QB at this point. that’s the reality John Fox should be worried about!
I don’t necessarily think it’s all the scheme. It’s also the type of QB they’re looking for, they want a pocket passing QB plain and simple. Tebow doesn’t fit that mold and asking him to do it is just like asking Orton to become a scrambling QB, not going to happen. That’s too bad because I would’ve like to actually see Tebow more but that’s ok Orton is giving us the best chance to win. At least next season we won’t have a QQ, Orton, Quinn, and Tebow will all be gone and we’ll be looking at drafting Luck. Not exactly what I’d hoped for but if the organization isn’t going to invest anything in Tebow he should at least be let go instead of riding the bench. It’s not Tebow’s fault but when or if he does get his chance and makes it the first words out of the organization’s mouth will be, well he wasn’t what we wanted with our scheme. Tebow, Moreno, Demaryius Thomas might be gone after this season..can’t be many McD draft picks left. I’ll just let the organization do whatever they want and not ask questions because obviously voicing our opinions don’t mean a darn thing to them.
or 4th round, what difference does it make… LOL
We should boycott the EFX version of the Broncos and see if our opinion is not regarded!
Scheme…………Shmeeem………
Pros are supposed to be able to adapt………..but in order to adapt, the opportunity must be there first.
WieminCA , what scheme? Throw picks and take sacks?? Is that the scheme?? Do you remember management said before the season began that they were going to trade Orton, so they must of had a Tebow plan.. This isn’t rocket science it’s football.. It’s not hard to throw in a couple of roll-out passes into the playbook… Allow me to refresh your memory.. Tebow 108 passer rating this preseason (orton 104).. Tebow career rating 82.1.. Orton career 79.6 (this season 80.1)… SO a ROOKIE with only 3 starts has put up better numbers than kyle.. (comparing Kyles starts this year to Tebow’s 3 starts, and preseason)… The numbers don’t lie… Have you ever heard that actions speak louder than words… Tebow’s actions speak that he should be the starter… And do you recall that he lead the team last year with 6 rushing td’s.. There is no evidence one can argue that would lend credence to Orton starting. NONE… And throw in the fact that Tebow is a number one pick (that we should be developing) and a fan favorite, that should be starting so we can assess him fully before next years important draft…….. What our management is doing is insane… Throwing the scrub defense in last week at the end of the game for experience, and not giving your NUMBER 1 draft pick some game experience is insane.. Do you remember when McNair was a rookie for the TITANS? Chris Chandler (who was better than Orton) was starting and the team mixed in McNair in certain situations so as to develop him. There was a plan in place… Here in Denver MCD & now FOX act like every game is life and death, and there is no time to develop a number 1 qb… That is insane… How many coaches in the NFL stink? Most… So to blindly accept their boneheaded decisions would be unrational… Fox is making a mistake, just like he did in Carolina when he rolled with a pathetic has been Delhomme far too long… Also, he must be judged for starting a loser Brian St. Pierre last season.. St. Pierre was out of the league when Fox calls him and starts him after a week of practice.. Where is St. Pierre now??? FOX cannot judge QB talent… It’s a fact… It’s a fact that this genious thought that Steve Young was not going to be a great QB… Didn’t he watch any of his BYU games? He was on the LA Express staff when Young rocked it in the USFL.. He more than anyone should have known his ability and HE DIDN’T… So I do not trust his judgement, not at all.. He has never proved his ability in that department.. Is he a good defensive coach? Yes, hands down… But offensively he is a child, and the game has passed him by…
This weekends game is drawing nearer to the straw that broke the camel’s back. If all I see is the same product that’s been on the field the past 4 games, I’m not sure if I want to watch anymore games this season. Winter is drawing nearer and nearer here in the midwest and I still like to enjoy being outdoors and stuff I’d rather be outdoors while the nice weather lasts then sit inside with false hope and be dissapointed week after week. It’s not that I don’t love the Broncos but it doesn’t matter to them if I watch the game at home or not. It’s not going to make them play better, it’s not going to change the outcome of the game. I’ll still support the team, you can call me not a true fan or whatever, I’ll still support them I just won’t watch the games. I’ll watch them from an analytical view point and try to draw the positives from that. We’ll see though, so far for 4 weeks its been the same thing with 1 resulting in a win. Maybe someone can put some fire ants in Orton’s jock strap.
Thanks to those who have posted.
Carsonic…yes, let’s see what happens over the course of the season. There is still a lot of football left. I don’t pretend to know what will take place over the next 12 games. I want to watch and find out.
BroncoRoyaltyEst.1979…thannks for the kind words. One of the points I’m making is this: Why have buyer’s remorse after just four games? That seems pretty quick to me.
While I don’t think the Broncos have played well through four games, there is also a lot of football left. I’m not pretending I think they’ll all of a sudden be a great team, but I’m at least willing to give them a little time to see if they show some improvement.
And I don’t think the Broncos, in general, have been feeding PR-type statements. There are decisions that any coach makes and for obvious rerasons, he won’t share every thought that went into that decision. To me, though, that doesn’t mean that he is feeding PR statements.
I think Coach Fox, along with others in the front office, are truly in tune with both the reality and complexities of where the Broncos are.
On the one hand, they want to win as many games as they can this year. That’s the job of any team/organization. On the other hand, there are realities that are inescapable, one of which is that the Broncos are starting the process or trying to get back to where they once were, that is, Super Bowl champion.
The fact that Coach Fox hasn’t thrown in the towel on this season and isn’t taking the “let’s see what we’ve got” approach with this guy, that guy and the next guy, indicates to me he is both aware of and trying to navigate those complexities as best he can.
henryac…I see your point and there is a part of me that agrees with it. You are right, game situations are the best way to evaluate. At the same time, players have to earn playing time. That is just the way of life in the NFL.
If the Broncos’ record continues to slide, then I think we will see changes made. But again, I just think it’s too early to start solely going to the “evaluate for next year” plan. In my opinion, four games can hardly qualify as a “thorough in-game evaluation of exactly what the talent level of each player on the roster is.”
killerkod…thanks…I hear you about the expectations. I thought this team would come out of the gate playing better and winning more than one of its first four games. I completely underrstand that even if the Broncos have been down and not very good at all in recent years, people still want to see them win, even if those expectations aren’t realistic.
I also agree that right now, they don’t look like a very good team. But here is another side to that. I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility that they beat the Chargers on Sunday. For a moment, let’s say they do…the Broncos would be one game out of first place with 11 games to play. That wouldn’t guarantee a run at the division title, but it also wouldn’t rule it out, either. We would have to see how things unfold.
If they lose to the Chargers, then they’re three games back with 11 to play. Obviously, that’s a much different scenario.
So while I’m in tune with the reality that the Broncos have a lot of work to do to become an elite team again, I also think it is way too early to simply play for next year because they haven’t played all that well through four games of this season.
brian_schneider…I understand the frustration but what do you want to hear from the Broncos…”we don’t really want to win this year”? I don’t think that would go over too well.
You make a good point about the Chargers game. It’s one in which the Broncos need to come out, play well and win. I hope they do those things.
hometeam007…thanks. I agree with your perspective and I do think one can find some positives from the Packers game. While the Broncos are trying to make progress and build back up to a higher level of play, they have to acknowledge where they are at and keep working to get better. I see them doing both.
I get the fact that we all want them to be a winner now. Every fan of every NFL wants that.
And as far as the time I often post…it’s often the best time for me to think and write…not to mention the fact that a certain little man in the house is usually asleep, too!
sndvl…thanks to you. While there have been some amazing turarounds in the NFL, I think it’s also fair to say that there has been a core group of playoff teams over the last ten years or so. I don’t think that’s an accident.
By the looks of it, the Packers have made the move into that group.
imready…you’re welcome. Glad you liked it. I’m interested to see how the Broncos play on Sunday.
seweatherman1…thank you for the kind words. You make a lot of points and I’ll offer some thoughts on a few.
As far as transparency goes, see my comment above. Coaches and front office personnel are not going to give detailed reasons for all deccisions that are made. I don’t think that contradicts the Broncos’ desire to be more forthcoming and the fact that things in this area have changed drastically in the span of one year.
In my piece, I never wrote that I think the Broncos should be playing the younger guys to see what they have.
As you know, I wrote that I would like to see progress towards again becoming an excellent team. The two are not necessaraily the same.
Also, please direct me to the quote by someone in the organization that indicated Orton will not be back. It is possible I missed that quote. I don’t recall anyone in the organzation saying that so I ask you to back up your statement by showing me one.
Finally, I completely disagree with your suggestion that John Elway is being used “solely as a PR guy.” For instance, I think he is watching way too much film for someone who is just there for PR.
And I also don’t think it’s accurate that “he is not venturing very far out because he does not, or is not, answering the questions that fans have for him.” John has at least three weekly shows on radio/TV and to my knowledge he hasn’t missed any of them recently. He isn’t ducking anyone or any issue.
But hey, that’s just what I think.
Thanks again to all. Really appreciate your passion and your posts.
Sincerely,
Mike
Thanks for the response Mike. I think you’re one of the few that actually responds to what we have to say and I sincerely appreciate that.
The one great thing about this blog is that while we all have differing opinions and butt heads sometimes, we all do it because we’re passionate Broncos fans and want to see our team win another championship…
And I wouldn’t have it any other way!
GO BRONCOS!
I agree with Mr. Rice. However, I feel the first mistake the Broncos made was getting rid of Mike Shanahan and replacing him with a presumtuous wet behind the ears punk. Mr. Bowlen has put us back on the right track with Coach Fox, who I do not blame for the current status of the Broncos. We are making strides. There are players who are coming up hard such as my favorite LB, Wesley Woodyard, who is in on practically every play or tackle, Doom, Miller, Ayers, Rahim Moore, Eric Decker, Willis McGahee! Those are highlights. But the bottom line is, if we have a quarterback that gives away the game in the 4th quater in 3 out of 4 games, what does all their hard work accomplish? Why not put in Quinn or Tebow? Someone said, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. Well, Orton against San Diego will probably result in an L. He has no passion. He has no ownership. If we are gonna lose, let’s make sure we lose differently…..who knows…Quinn or Tebow might give us a chance.
killerkod…thanks. I do my best to respond. You are so right about the passion you all show, which is a good thing, to be sure. It’s not easy to hang in there, but I know you all will because yo ulove your Broncos.
GeorgeinABQ…thanks for the post. Despite the 1-3 start, I do think there are already positive thing I’ve seen. But those tend to get lost in the overall record and obvious shortcomings.
Mike
Let Tebow play did Elway not see the last 3 games when Tebow started he played good for a rookie at least u see he want’s to win . Orton throws a int does’nt even try to make the tackle he worthless!!!!!!
Football is a business. The job is to provide entertainment for the fans, and to win enough games so the team can earn addditional playoff revenue… The fans are not being entertained right now.. Management can say whatever they want but we have seen Tebow play in 3 starts. It was fun and exciting and we want more. We have had over 2 years of Orton, we have seen him under all types of conditions.. We are done.. His record reflects our perception of him.. Did Oakland keep cramming J. Russel down everyone’s throat? No, they cut their losses and moved forward. And they are better for it.. There is no reason whatsoever that we have to start Orton. NONE.. We need to find out what we have in TEBOW. I am sick and tired of everyone sugar coating Fox’s weaknesses when it comes to evaluating QB’s.. He is a weak stomach coach that loves running a 1930′s offense in the year 2011. He hates qb’s that run.. SO WHY DID WE HIRE HIM?? Because of his track record? What track record? He has never had back to back winning seasons… NEVER… He got lucky (cause Jake played out of his mind) and made the superbowl (during a weak NFC year.. I must add). SO what! The next year he had a losing record.. Great job coach.. Way to build on success… We need a coach that can win in BACK to BACK seasons.. We need a coach that can win despite injuries.. That can adapt his philosphy to his players around him.. Don’t forget that he is currently one of the lesser paid coaches right now.. We should have gone hard after harbaugh…. Every day FOX proves to me that he learned nothing from his days in Carolina.. He is just an old coach set in his ways.. The dude has no scoreboard.. HE NEVER WON A TITLE… Thanks Ellis, your penny pinching will eventually get the best of ya.