I don’t know how many games the Broncos will win this year, although next week I’ll offer a guess.
I don’t know what kind of season they’ll have.
But I know for certain I’m already a big fan of the man leading this football team.
John Fox is the right coach at the right time for the Denver Broncos.
I won’t pretend to know Coach Fox. But I really like what I see.
First off, I see a man who knows football. You simply cannot be as successful as he has been in the NFL, both as a head coach and as a defensive coordinator, by mistake. You don’t last in this league by being o.k. You last in the NFL by being really good. John Fox is a really good coach.
I also see a man who has an exceptional way of communicating with players. Against Dallas in the preseason opener, Coach Fox was the one patting Tim Tebow on the head and firmly yet enthusiastically getting a point across.
I see a man who isn’t afraid to put his arm around a player and love him up while also communicating a belief that the player can perform better.
I see players with more pep in their steps and more smiles on their faces. Feel free to chalk it up to the beginning of a new season. I’m not buying that. I think it goes deeper than that. I think it’s the freedom to have fun playing football. It’s there or it isn’t. It sure seems to be there for the Broncos.
I also sense the Broncos have a coach that people respect. No player, no reporter, no fan will like every decision any coach makes. Coach Fox seems to have a way of being likable even if you disagree with him.
People can talk about the quarterback situation all they want. They can talk about the return of Elvis Dumervil, the drafting of Von Miller or any other move the Broncos have made since last year. In my book, the Broncos’ hiring John Fox is hands down the number one story of this past offseason.
The amazing part is that it is such an easy move to overlook. Not one to be flashy or slick, Fox has simply rolled up his sleeves and set about earning the respect of a team that was in dire need of a leader who knows how to relate to them.
Apparently, many of the players like what they see in Coach Fox, too. One player told me in training camp that he treats them like men. There was both relief and sincere appreciation in his voice when he said it.
Coach Fox not only treats his players like men but he also expects them to perform like men on the field. That combination could make this season really interesting.
I know it’s easy to get excited in the preseason. I know it’s easy to be optimistic and think a team is better than it turns out to be. The Broncos will undoubtedly face more adversity than they already have. Their journey back to respectability and, hopefully, beyond likely won’t be complete overnight.
I believe, however, they are indeed on the right track. The conductor of the train is one of the big reasons why.
Thanks for reading,
Mike
I am with Elway regarding Jay Cutler and I think he saw a lot of himself in Jay. Obviously I liked Cutler because he reminded me so much of the young Elway. C’est la vie.
Well, at least I have a Cutler jersey out of it, LOL.
RSH – Andrew Mason has his own site now, maxdenver.com, and it is well worth a look.
I am aware Crazyhorserider, thank you. I read his posts daily and comment on them from time-to-time. I also follow Mr. Mason on Twitter. He’s fantastic!
Bay, With everybody destroying their Cutler jerseys yours will be a rare commodity. I wonder how many Bronco fans watch Chicago games hoping they will lose and how many have a soft spot for Jay and hope they win. I used to think the ratio was 99:1 but I am not so sure now.
There are two kinds of people in Bronco Country, the ones who like to have fun and the ones who are no fun, that will never change and the clashes will go on and on between them forever. No biggie.
This is a public announcement: Warning, I always strive to have fun on this blog and make fun of things in the process and whoever takes me seriously does so at their own risk. Overly serious people would do well to abstain from addressing me as to avert utterly ridiculous confrontations. This is a game folks, played for fun, not life and death.
Yeah, OC has been trying to get me to burn mine for over a year now, but I’m too cheap to burn perfectly good jerseys, haha.
And they last forever so you could even be buried in it.
I stopped buying jerseys after John Elway and Ed McCaffrey. Too much player turnover these days, but the way Von Miller is looking, I may have to reconsider my policy. Miller looks like a bonafide talent, who will be a life-long Bronco and a very special player. If I do buy a jersey, however, I am going to wait to see what Nike does with the Broncos’ uniforms when they take over as the official apparel provider of the NFL in 2012.
I’ve found the solution to that problem over a year ago, the only jersey I buy now are personalized jerseys and the name says “TWELFTH MAN” with a 00 number, I got that in our current navy, unfortunately I will need to buy the new Nike Orange one next year, but it will be the same trick and it shall last me for a dozen years I hope. I know the organization doesn’t like to hear stuff like that but at least I got the jersey from their pro shop and I love it, I feel like a bigger fan of the team with that on that any player name jersey I have and I have like about 8 of those.
Well bay like everyone has said we are a team so I’m not gonna fight. We are a team and all season long we on this blog are a team. ok bay or baylinorcrush or should i call you baby. Yea i like baby instead of bay. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!! jk
I’ve been called worse huggin, LOL.
But don’t get your hopes up huggin, there will be some heavy weight fights on here this season just like any other season, it’s just the nature of the blog world, Bronco Country or otherwise, you just get used to it, don’t take it personal and let it roll off your back.
I know baby its cool as long as we’re talking(blogging). Your very educated on broncos news so I like you and wanna get more from you. We are a team lets do this. Much love bronco
Oh yea I like this defense alot it reminds me of the “Orange Crush” do you think the CRUSH is back.
Gonna have to wait for a whole regular season to evaluate that statement, I lived through the Orange Crush back in 1977 so it ‘s not going to be easy for me to go there, but it’s obviously looking up, I’ll leave it at that for now.
Jersey solution..buy the numbers that are retired..if you can. Hard to do and the only ones that hold any value. Look for auctions as that’s about the only place to find authentic jerseys of value.
broncohuggin….umm I don’t believe there will ever be another ‘Orange Crush’ First they ran a 3-4 designed by the master Joe Collier who was a character to say the least. And the guys they used were hand picked for it. And they would do ANYTHING for Joe and vice versa Although Randy Gradishar was the best linebacker ever…what about Rubin Carter? Louis Wright? Tommy Jackson? Steve Foley You get my drift..that was a unique unit. They were somebody when some of the very best defenses EVER were around. The Orange Crush was mentioned with Steel Curtain, purple People Eaters, Doomsday, etc and if they had the same coverage and tradition they would have been considered the best…i think they were.
Its been a while. Has anyone heard if we are looking at any DTs since we are so thin there?
thanks for the info……..i just really wanna the broncos to improve this year. After that 6-0 we had with McD then the damage he did to the team I just want them to out do the 6-0
I like Foxy too! He seems to have a way about him. Like when you watch him on the sidelines even when the play doesn’t go as expected he kind of chews him gum and pats the players on the head and says “ok we’ll come back now.” Or whatever it is that he says to them. He seems alright. Not like McDaniels screaming at people. Go Foxy!
Mr. Rice,
You are spot on with this analysis. At first, I was like…”Oh no, they are recycling a coach from another team.” But, then I realized, the only problem in Carolina was not John Fox, it was the owners unwillingness to buy the players he needed to win. He got Carolina to a superbowl and lost to a respectable team. After that, he got no help from the management and owners. I believe Mr. Bowlan and one of my heros, John Elway will give him everything he needs to be successful. I’ve also noticed his firm but fair treatment of players and respect and warmth toward them. That’s a humanity issue they couldn’t teach McDaniel with his X’s and O’s. God Bless John Fox!
GO BRONCOS, BEEN A FAN FROM FLORIDA FOR A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AND I KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE IT THEIR BEST