Game Thread- Patriots at Broncos

[Draft Crazy]

Stephen A. Smith really ripped into Gary Kubiak today. Said he doesn't believe in him. he isn't a leader.... When the team lost Manning they lost all leadership on offense and their HC isn't a leader.

Sorta what I was talking about earlier.

 

[CEH]

Also wonder how a guy like Vernon Davis can disappear in our offense and then Put togehter
a pretty good year in Washington

Sometime I have to look at Kubiak and his offense only being able to run on high premium
Fuel when you know that this fuel is in short supply or not at all as the season wears on

 

[SpringStein]

Stephen A. Smith really ripped into Gary Kubiak today. Said he doesn't believe in him. he isn't a leader.... When the team lost Manning they lost all leadership on offense and their HC isn't a leader.

Sorta what I was talking about earlier.

Not sure what to think about Kubiak - I do know what I think of Stephen A. - I don't believe in him.

 

[Draft Crazy]

I actually like Stephen A. Probably one of the few. He comes off the wrong way because he is so arrogant, but I so often agree with him.

My feelings are same with Kubes as yours. Not sure what I think of him here long term, but I do know that he doesn't deserve to be fired a year after he won a SB as our HC.

 

[MileHigh64]

I'm a fan of Kubiak and it seems like the players are as well. However, I'll readily admit that I'm a homer and base my opinion on his Broncos lineage. Bringing the whole gang back together and winning a Super Bowl was a kind of fairy tale story. Unfortunately, this season has been Nightmare on Elm Street.

 

[CEH]

2 Tds in the last 37 drives
This has to ultimately come back on the coaches

 

[iknowftbll]

Stephen A. Smith really ripped into Gary Kubiak today. Said he doesn't believe in him. he isn't a leader.... When the team lost Manning they lost all leadership on offense and their HC isn't a leader.

Sorta what I was talking about earlier.

How many Super Bowl wins has Stephen A. Smith coached a team to?

 

[redseat]

Stephen A Smith sucks period... I don't listen to a word that guy says.

(I do realize this is the team board) but I just wanted to come on and talk about the game.

It's not like the Broncos defense was torched by Brady, they didn't make him look good at all. So you have to be happy with that. I don't think it has anything to do with the coaching but the players themselves.

You guys will still make the post season and that's where the D truly steps up. Best of luck the rest of the way.

 

[Draft Crazy]

How many Super Bowl wins has Stephen A. Smith coached a team to?

The same amount as most NFL analyst. You don't need to have a super bowl ring to have an opinion.

I think Smith has a valid point. Not saying it is right or wrong, but we don't need to be acting like the guy is crazy because he made a negative point about our beloved Broncos. It's not like he said our defense was overrated or something. HA!

 

[MileHigh64]

Stephen A Smith sucks period... I don't listen to a word that guy says.

(I do realize this is the team board) but I just wanted to come on and talk about the game.

It's not like the Broncos defense was torched by Brady, they didn't make him look good at all. So you have to be happy with that. I don't think it has anything to do with the coaching but the players themselves.

You guys will still make the post season and that's where the D truly steps up. Best of luck the rest of the way.

Easy for you to be optimistic since you've locked up the AFCE. The Broncos need to win out against two division rivals and we have an offense that scores one touchdown about every three games. Thanks for the well wishes but we're going to need a modern day NFL miracle to get to the big dance.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

@NWPATSFAN this is where things can sometimes frustrate me. People complain about what is wrong but never have any kind of suggestions for a solution. The OL is trash...Well instead of just repeating that over and over how about come up with some ideas of how to fix it kind of thing...That is what I do a lot on these boards is I see the problems and try to figure out some things I think the Broncos could do.

Here is the thing. You are right to expect all those things I said to happen is asking a lot. Not all of it has to happen though for the Broncos to be a Super Bowl contending team though. You realize every team has weaknesses right? Even your great Patriots. Brady and Belichick do a lot to cover up some of the warts of that team. That is why I say I don't think it is this huge overhaul to get the Broncos back to competing for Super Bowls. Not like we are that far off. We just held Brady and the Patriots to 16 points. Heck we have played the top-3 teams in the AFC now and while the Oakland game got away from us we were up by 8 against the Chiefs with just a few seconds left to go in the game. So we have kept it competitive against good teams.

So let me give you my plan for the Broncos of how to get things back on track. Doesn't mean everything will be perfect or that it will all work.

1) I'm honestly of the opinion that Kubiak will be retiring after this season. There is a lot of smoke in Denver that his health is not great and he will be stepping down. So step 1 would be finding a new Head Coach. Easiest solution and in my opinion the best solution is hire Kyle Shanahan from the Falcons. Family connections to the Broncos and it makes the transition easy because he runs such a similar offense to the Broncos. His system is a much more upgraded version though to fit better with today's rules.

2) This would then mean him bringing over many of his offensive assistants to Denver. The one I am most interested in is Chris Morgan the OL coach. Everywhere he has gone the OL has vastly improved without huge changes in personnel. Atlanta is a great example. In 2014 they ranked bottom-10 in blocking grades. 2015 they jumped clear to 4th and are again top-10 this year.

So I haven't even changed a single player on this team and the possibility of this OL vastly improving has become a possibility. You want to talk about what Scar has done for you guys well other teams can have the same thing happen.

3) Yes an upgrade is needed though at the RT position. There are some options via FA and/or the draft for this position. The Broncos actually have a decent cap situation with all key players locked down for this upcoming season. So they can look outwardly for help. I would honestly do both. Use draft capital to help build the youth of this OL and FA to get some experience helping lead the way. This then should add competition throughout the OL as loser of the RT battle then can be a part of the RG/LG battle as well depending on the growth of Garcia and Schofield. Something to keep in mind with this Broncos offense is it is one of the 3 youngest starting offenses in the NFL. There were going to be some tough times when you are relying on so much youth.

4) Yes I do expect some growth from both Siemian and Lynch. Players always talk that the biggest jump in ability happens from year 1 to year 2. Well in a way both Siemian and Lynch are experiencing that at the same time. Both now have starting experience in this league and will have a full off season to work on what went wrong.

I'll stop and let you respond to this because well I'm told I'm too long winded and don't want to get people too lost at this point. One final thought though. It is amazing how much just fixing the run game can improve an entire team. The OL can actually work on pushing forward instead of always having to pass block. Teams don't know what you are going to run at them. You can wear out defenses. When the run game gets going teams have to commit more to box to stop it leaving things easier in the pass game. Play action starts working better. And then because the offense is on the field more the defense gets to rest more. Throw in instead of always being behind in the 1st half maybe the Broncos actually build up a lead helping that run defense because well a team can't just keep running 30 times a game but have to switch to the pass which hey then Von Miller and company can finally pin their ears back and go after the QB. Look at Dallas as a great example. Got the run game going really well with a competent QB at the helm and they actually have a decent looking defense as they don't have to play so many snaps a game.

First if you took my comments as ragging on you, you shouldn't. The majority was lighthearted joking. Like being long winded.
Most of our differences is semantics. Trying to pull all that together in a year, I think is still a long row to hoe. Combined with a lot of what ifs.

1-2. Shanny is a good option but how many teams are going to try and bring him in? Then trying to bring his assistants with him. does Wade Phillips stay around? I haven't seen another Scar out there sorry.

3. Olinemen is going to be a bloodbath is all I'm saying. Good luck. Sure you may find a diamond but you may not.

4. I would hope some growth from your young QBs. But you moved the goal post on me. The way I read it, you were comparing them to possibly being Brady or Manning like.

Don't lose sight of what I originally said. Denver will still be a good team. But if things continue along the current path they will be 2nd tier.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Here is to hoping we find some miracle and muster up an offense vs the Chiefs, then the Raiders with nothing to play for rest their starters and we beat them in Denver. Although not sure Oakland would be willing to do that vs us.

 

[Draft Crazy]

and oh yeah, get some help.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

I do apologize if it sounds like I am a bit short today. Good friend passed away last night and going off little sleep. Probably not the best state of mind to be trying to respond to people.

Sorry to hear that RIP

 

[Draft Crazy]

Sorry to hear Carl...

 

[NWPATSFAN]

I agree about the offense. Unfortunately this offseason is a terrible time to need o-line. I think the defense can change a little more quickly.

As I been saying getting a seasoned FA Olinemen will be a bloodbath.
Teams are going to need to get lucky in the draft to find a quality 1st year starter.
I'm glad NE is pretty well set? May take a flier or two in the draft for the future. BB knows what he's doing. We all thought he was crazy locking up Cannon. Cannon was a turnstyle last year. 180 degree different this year with Scar back and pushing him outside. I mean how many T can keep Miller off their QB for an entire game? Cannon was the MVP for that game.

 

[SpiritOf77]

I do apologize if it sounds like I am a bit short today. Good friend passed away last night and going off little sleep. Probably not the best state of mind to be trying to respond to people.

I am sorry to hear CD

RIP

 

[SpiritOf77]

On third and 1 Sieman sacked for a 15 yard loss. I have real concerns about his football IQ ..

Valid point, as is the fact that we don't / can't / refuse to run on 3rd and one

 

[Draft Crazy]

Max McCaffrey to the Packers PS.

 

[SpiritOf77]

I'd be very surprised to see a Shanahan hired by John Elway .. shocked, actually

On the topic of John and Mike Shanahan

That shouldn't come as much of a surprise, as Dave Krieger has pointed out before that based on his long-term relationship interviewing Elway, he had always known that the two did not get along. Elway had told him point blank many years ago that he would love to get involved in a position with the team, but not while Mike Shanahan was around

Interesting article from 2010

Mile High Feud: John Elway and Mike Shanahan Still Have a Beef, but Why?