The offseason got off to a big start for the Broncos this week. There are plenty of opportunities to share your thoughts in some of the other blogs and many of you have already done that.
As for me, I’m going to focus on the playoffs over the next few weeks. I’ll break down the upcoming games, make my predictions and hopefully get yours as well.
AFC WILD CARD PLAYOFFS
NEW YORK JETS 23, INDIANAPOLIS 20
The Colts are not what they used to be. Certainly injuries have played a part in that. And those injuries have put a serious dent into Indianapolis’ high-octane offense. Tight end Dallas Clark: out. Wide receiver Austin Collie: done. Running back Joseph Addai: Just coming back after missing half the season.
And the Colts expect to win a playoff game against the Jets? Come on. It won’t happen.
I’m not a huge fan of the Jets’ offense. Mark Sanchez hasn’t shown the ability to put the team on his back. And now his shoulder is, at least, sore.
But the Jets can run the ball, to the tune of 148.4 yards per game, fourth-highest in the NFL during the regular season. That will be a great match-up against the Colts’ porous run defense, which ranks 25th by surrendering 127 yards per game.
It just doesn’t add up for Indy. The Jets win on the road and move on.
BALTIMORE 17, KANSAS CITY 13
The Chiefs’ turnaround this year has been admirable. In fact, it has been down right impressive. But hold the phone just a minute. The Ravens are darn good. You don’t win 12 games by mistake.
While the Ravens’ defense has slipped some, it is still really good. They allow an average of 16.9 points per game (third-best in the NFL), 93.9 rushing yards per game (5th) and 318.9 yards of total offense per game (10th).
One can spin stats many different ways but no matter how you look at it, those are indicative of a top-notch defense. In my opinion, it is a defense that will be able to do enough to at least slow down the NFL’s best rushing attack. Kansas City averages 164.2 yards per game on the ground.
As tough as it is to face the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, the Ravens won’t be intimidated. This is their type of game. The Ravens get it done but it won’t be a work of art.
NFC WILD CARD PLAYOFFS
NEW ORLEANS 37, SEATTLE 6
Really, is there any analysis needed of this game? For a road team, the Saints get the best playoff draw in the history of the NFL. We’ll hear the Saints offer up their best Lou Holtz speech about how dangerous the Seahawks are.
Don’t believe a word of it.
The Seahawks are bad. They have a bad record in a horrendous division. 7-9 in the NFL West? For that, the Seahawks get to host a playoff game. Enjoy it while it lasts, because it won’t be for long.
One and done for the Seabirds. The Saints march on. Expect it to get ugly. Really ugly.
GREEN BAY 30, PHILADELPHIA 24
This is an intriguing first round match-up. Green Bay won the regular season meeting, 27-20, at Lincoln Financial Field. I know, that was way back on September 12, the first game of the year.
I go back and forth on this one. On the one hand, I love the Packers’ offense. With quarterback Aaron Rodgers back, the Packers are a threat to go deep into the postseason, even though the running game is somewhat suspect.
On the other hand, I like the playmaking ability of Eagles’ quarterback Michael Vick, even though he is coming off a game against the Vikings in week 16 in which he lost two fumbles, threw an interception and was sacked six times.
Defensively, both teams have been at least solid, with moments of great play and moments to forget.
In a close match-up such as this, I’ll take the better quarterback. That would be Aaron Rodgers of the Packers. The Pack Attack is back, at least for the first round of the playoffs.
I know, I’m going out on a limb by taking all four road teams to win this week. I think, however, the road teams are the better teams. And the better team usually wins in the playoffs.
What are your predictions? I’d love to have you share them. Thanks for reading and enjoy the games this weekend.
Best,
Mike
Tags: 2011, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Mike Rice, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, NFL playoffs, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Wild Card Weekend
Capers didn’t fold today against the Eagles, the Packers D did a terrific job against Vick.
Capers as a HC is what I mean. I`ll take him as a DC though. He`ll stay in G.B. anyway unless he`s offered a HC position
It’s all good, but if some of it seems funny you can’t blame me for having fun, you are welcome to have fun at my expense anytime you want.
@Bay
any luck with the videos yet?
Yea, it would be nice giving an interview to Capers!
Yeah I opened it then minimized it to do something else while it slowly ran with all those stops and go, then when it was finished I went back in and started it over and it went through smoothly, probably need some type of upgrade for that kind of video, will check it out later. Thanks. Didn’t hear anything out of the ordinary though, just good political interview verbiage mainly.
It sounded like he watched the Elway interview from Wednesday. But non the less I am pleased with the personality of Fewell.
“We brought Perry into the league in Jacksonville,” said Coughlin, “and I was impressed with his thoroughness, his ability to work with the players and his absolute intent on learning all he could about his profession.
I totally missed your war joke Bay. I’m assuming that was Navy reference haha.
Good, I was hoping it wasn’t in bad taste when you guys’ job is actually to go to war at times. Thank you for serving our Country.
Good Morning my fellow Broncos Family. So now KC is looking at McCoy as their OC huh?! Has anyone else heard about this, and what are your thoughts?
Krieger is pointing out the obvious but never too old and all so necessary to repeat here about our sorry D:
In his rookie year as an NFL executive, Elway confronts defensive incompetence of historic proportions. The 2010 Broncos not only gave up more yards (6,253) and more points (471) than any team in the NFL, they also recorded fewer sacks (23).
This last stat is related to the other two, of course. The Broncos have done such a poor job reinforcing their defensive front seven, they can’t pressure opposing passers without blitzing and they can’t blitz without getting burned.
Presumably, this is why a hefty representation of defensive coaches is on the underwhelming list of usual suspects to be head coach. But if the Broncos have learned anything from the revolving door in their defensive coordinator’s office — five in five years and counting — it should be that coaching can’t overcome talent, or the lack of it.
To that I would personally add that as Elway and Bailey said and many others btw, CONTINUITY on the D side of the ball is something that has been missing for years now. Whether we go D minded or O minded HC, it is critical that we go with the right guy for DC and stick with him and whatever system he brings for minimum three years before we go with the flavor of the day there like we used to. Bailey has pretty much said of late that it has been the major problem for him and his D teammates on this team.
Considering continuity at DC is a big culprit in our inability to put a good D on the field you can maybe see why I heavily lean to a D minded HC. I mean a current DC from some other team as our HC pretty much insures that we will have continuity on that side of the ball for at least three years since he would get a DC of his choice, like one of his current assistant, who would actually just implement his D and as management usually keeps HC’s for a minimum of three years we would get a sort of insurance on continuity on D, unless of course they are absolutely moronic at the HC job like McD was.
That being said, that alone is not a fix all strategy, we are so badly lacking talent wise on D that we will also need to trade a few current players with draft pick trade values and go into the draft doubling the number of picks we have now (only 6) so we can properly rebuild our D from the groud up and long term. I say no to FA this year other than using it to move players OUT, not bringing them in. All stuff I rehash all the time, just trying to find different ways to make my points giving them a better chance to stick with whoever is in charge who may be reading, or not, either way I clear my conscience this way.
The real concern of mine going O minded HC like Dennison, who would be my only choice if we went that route btw, is that it will then be very difficullt to attract a decent DC. I mean all these DC’s are coming in town only because they are interviewing for the HC position, none of them will come back to be DC since the league doesn’t allow a current DC to leave his team for a similar or lesser position on another team. It has to be for a higher title, like assistant HC as Woody was saying yesterday, but, and this is for BB&R’s yesterday’s argument, as much as I think we have a shot at luring Dennison in that assistant HC/OC capacity because he has so many ties and background with the Broncos that it may not take much to convince him to come back for that, unfortunately I believe we have nearly no shot at trying to get a complete stranger to the Broncos ways like all those DC’s we are interviewing now to come in here and settle for an assistant HC/DC position.
Bottom line to me, if we want both a great DC and Dennison and his zone blocking scheme, we need to go D minded HC and Dennison as assistant HC/OC, that seems to be the only possible way to get the best of both worlds at those positions to me. The other way around is much more of a pipe dream.
My thoughts? Bye bye McCoy… the new HC will most certainly hire all new assistants, at least the majority of them and definitely key positions like OC. All the Broncos current coaches would do very well to interview with as many teams as they can right now if they are lucky enough to be asked, such is the life in the NFL.
Bay what are the chances of what you said in your last paragraph happening? Would Dennison and/or the HC be able to handle that?
Well if McCoy does go he already going into a pretty good situation bc of KC’s run game, and the offense is very similar.
melloo, that was yesterday’s discussion on this blog which I started with a 9:44 am (Jan 9th) post with the help of Woody, and also read the following posts and you should have your question answered as well as it could be as things stand now.
Let me go play catch up right fast.
From the DP:
The Broncos are expected to request permission to speak to New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. The Saints were eliminated from the NFL playoffs Saturday.
And of course today is Fox’s interview and tomorrow Dennison and Koetter.
Take your time, make sure you interview everyone of them and whoever else you bring in town before you form a consensus, no jumping the gun this time!
Ok I’m up to speed now! I love Woody bc he aalways makes some great points!
If we get Williams I hope he brings Pierre Thomas with him.
He has imagination and he likes to think outside the box, all stuff I strive to do all the time.
Bay don’t forget he has a swagger about him and he’s a players coach. He’s just as famous down here as Sean Payton. Saints fans barely knew who their D coach was before Williams came along.
I was talking about Woody, LOL, but thanks for the info about Williams, as you know he is my #1 choice.
Hahaha! When I saw Williams tell the Bengals to “Suck It” after a 4th down stop. I said we need swagger like that in Denver! One thing about the Saints the the past two years they were pretty good at protecting their endzone inside the 10 yard line.
724 posts…..wow,new blog please!
Can’t wait for tonight’s BCS National Championship game,Fairley will not choke like Bowers and Peterson did,mark my words,he will show why he is the best player in the draft,and why we should snatch him up!!!
Defense in 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fox has a heck of a defensive resume, he and Dennison wouldn’t be a bad combo either. Don’t know how things got so bad this season for Carolina and I’m too lazy to do all that research. I’m guessing they just lost all their personal and had bad drafts .
I still like Dennison for HC, he played defense, coached offense and special teams. I like that kind of backround for the head coach, you would think with his experiences he would strive for balance of all three phases of the game. He would be comfortable here in Denver from the get go which would make it easier to transition , maybe we get better ,faster. He also was 2nd team academic all american, the guy has got some smarts. Kubiak , whose Texans will probably be contenders for the national title next year with the addition of Wade Phillips as DC, gave Dennison rave reviews. If he interviews well, which I expect he will, I won’t be suprised if he gets the job come Wednesday.
I’m usually wrong,LOL, but it’s fun to try and figure it all out anyhow! Go Broncos!
imready – The Panthers decided to go young and wouldn’t spend any money.
Beast I hope you’re right and the SEC can bring home another title.
I`m looking forward to tonights matchup. I really want to see Fairley play. This will be a first time for me to see him play. If he dominates and especially being double teamed then thats our man.
Janoris Jenkins CB is going back to school.
imready, Klis always said the word is that there would be no HC hiring until at least the 15th and likely later and I tend to take his word for things, so I would be very surprised if a decision is reached before next week, as I said this is a decsion not to make lightly and everyone on our radar needs to be heard before a decision is made, and there are very few teams in need of an HC now so it’s not like if we snooze we are gonna lose, specially Dennison, no one out there is interested but us, so the decsion can definitely wait and everyone needs to be heard including Williams if we can get him to come in.
Moreover PATIENCE is key in this search specifically since even if a CBA is reached before next season, in all likelyhood there will be no off season to speak of other than the draft.
SO TAKE YOUR TIME, NO RUSH WHATSOEVER, even wait until the SB is over if there is anybody on those teams you are interested in, this is the perfect seaon not to panic into chosing, very few teams needing HC’s and no rush to prepare for a big off season other than the draft and Xanders is already working on that anyway.
Did I make my point?
I agree. There very well maybe 3 or four more coaches that we haven`t heard about as of yet. And we`ll Interview a few of them twice mabe. This next HC we hire is crucial.
Bay, I was going by what Elway said, if they interview a candidate that met their criteria ,that was their guy, they were going to hire him or something to the effect. That’s what I got out of it anyhow. I don’t know how big a hurry they are in now to get it done, as many some teams have gotten their coaches hired. I would think if a candidate was approved by all the upper management , there would be no point in continuing interviewing hoping they may find someone they all like better. Not my decision to make anyhow, I’m just here to speculate. I know you have your heart set on Williams, I just don’t see that happening, he loves where he is with the Saints. Still, there is a chance, nobody knows what the futher might bring. There are always lots of different ways to look at situations and generally many different correct solutions too. Regardless of what path they chose, I’m sure it will be the general consensus that the path chosen is best for the Broncos.
I hear ya melloo,the SEC is going for ’5′ National Championsips in a row.
Also they are going for 7 out of the last 12,can you say DOMINATION!!!
Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Beast! After we find us a new coach at LSU then maybe Vols vs Tigers for that SEC Title.
I just hope they leave no pages unturned in the search is all, whether they like let’s say Fox or Dennison a lot, it never hurts to look at it from all angles and take a look at all applicants, this is a once in a blue moon decision that I will question if it is made hastily like Wednesday like you say, I think that wouldn’t be smart is all.
They need to take their blooming time and interview all there is to interview. If they all like this guy today, then they might all like some other guy tomorrow. Who knows, but it needs to be done thorough. Not all piece meal like it was done before.
Thank you.
Strand has the right idea too, calling it a crucial decision, this is not like tradind a player or drafting one, plus Elway has never gone through this process, so the more interviews he does the better equipped he will be to make a decision.
It appears that it’s interview by committee though so MANY people can agree on what candidates may bring to the table. A brilliant move since this is new territory for Elway. Patience and diligent consideration by many sounds good to me.
Broncos have been given per mission to interview Greg Williams of the Saints!
I have no problem remaining patient. Out of the eight remaining playoff teams, Mularkey blew his chance, IMO, and would rather not consider him for a rescheduled interview. Dom Capers is the only other coach I’ve heard mentioned.
Dick Lebeau would be nice, but that’s just a wish.
Forget anybody from New England (that one didn’t fare so well). No one from the Jets. Definitely nobody from the Bears. Though their special teams coordinator, Toub, should be climbing the ladder. So, that leaves the Hawks and Ravens. Jeremy Bates? Nah. Who’s Baltimores D coordinator? Don’t know. Too be fair, Wink could be their coordinator and be successful. As baylin once pointed out, ‘ Baltimore has no half-pints on their D. Only a group of mean full sized players!’, or something to that effect!
Yes peterson, bowers, did not impress anybody in their bowl games and fairley another ? to me because he’s in the same boat as Robert Ayers… This is fairley 1st breakout season and that scares me…. If broncos don’t trade back to pick up more pics i hope they pic marcell dareus from Alabama, he’s been destroying offenses year in and year out.. he definitely is not a 1 year hit wonder
Some other great choices would be
J.J. Watt DE
Cameron Heyward DE
Stephen Paea DT
Bay you got your wish as I am sure you heard! haha. Williams will interview Wed. I look forward to hearing how he does. I wonder how interested he is in the Broncos? His defensive mind would be well appreciated here. I think Champ would stick around if he got to work with a guy like Williams.
It`s going to take some time before our new HC is hired. Not only am I looking forward to find out who he is, I`m curious to know who our next DC is. If I had a choice in the matter I`d like to hire back Mike Nolan. I don`t know if he`d want to stay at Miami after what they pulled last week. I wouldn`t want to be there. I believe it was McD`s arrogant attitude who wanted Nolan gone and saw Mike as a threat. If we brought in the right HC maybe Nolan would want to be back with the Bronco`s.
Ron Rivera or Don Capers would be a HC for the broncos… but panthers are moving fast on Rivera, panthers scheduled a 2nd interview with rivera… Broncos might be moving to slow or probably they just don’t have that much interest in rivera
807, Watts and Heyward played great in there bowl games. They both stepped it up when it counted. For starters I`d still like to see how Fairley doe`s tonight.
Ron Rivera or Don Capers would be a nice HC…
sorry bout that
I want to thank the organization for extending an interview to Williams and Williams for accepting it.
Whatever comes out of it I will now be fine with it, all I was asking is giving the guy a look.
For some reason I have gotten the majority of my wishes over the last year so I’ll knock on wood one more time on this one, but if Williams does not get it, as I said, I will now be fine with it, he will get his shot.
Lots of good days ever since McD was let go, like a kazillion more than when he was here, I think that’s absolutely wonderful!
LIFE IS GRAND!!