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Published on 08/15/2009 at Sat Aug 15 15:47.
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Someone Talk Me Off the Ledge

Posted Sat Aug 15th by

Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels is seen in the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL preseason football game in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Aug. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels is seen in the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL preseason football game in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Aug. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

There have been a few moments this offseason that have left this Broncos fan speechless.

The moment we fired Mike Shanahan. The day Pat Bowlen announced Jay Cutler would be traded. During the NFL draft, when we traded a first rounder for second round pick Alphonso Smith, and later when we traded back into the second round for Richard Quinn.

Add last night’s preseason meltdown to the list.

The truth is, I wasn’t impressed with the defense. I thought they looked strong at times, but soft and confused at others. Two of the sacks were coverage/QB-indecision sacks, and two were plain mismatches. No one dominated a blocker of equivalent talent (except maybe Chris Baker), and no one dressed in white was able to make a turnover. “Inconsistent” would be the obvious way to put it.

I thought Kyle Orton looked absolutely terrible – even when he looked good at the start, he was dinking and dunking and doing nothing to open up the ground game. Knowshon Moreno looked good but he got hurt, and the runners ahead of him on the depth chart did nothing to impress. Sure-hands Stokley was dropping balls, and I didn’t even think the starting offensive line looked that great last night, especially in run blocking.

Denver Broncos defensive coach and former 49er head coach, Mike Nolan shouts during the game against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL preseason football game in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Aug. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Denver Broncos defensive coach and former 49er head coach, Mike Nolan shouts during the game against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL preseason football game in San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Aug. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

What has me more worried than anything is that the players might be feeling the same way, and not buying into Josh McDaniels. For a rookie head coach (or any head coach for that matter), nothing is more important – the team needs to see that his system will work. We need to win our first batch of games, schedule notwithstanding, so the team can start gaining confidence in their coach and themselves. If we struggle early this season could snowball fast.

And despite it all, I have bought in to McD (for the most part). I think he can take us places, and he was my top choice as the head coach candidates were being rolled out. I hated the Cutler decision, but I only put about 20% of the blame on McDaniels for that one. Cutler and Bowlen can split the rest 40-40.

In my mind, this season is hanging on a thread. It can go either way, but if it starts bad, it’ll only get worse. If the team succeeds at first they can do something special. Fix these issues, McDaniels – and fast.

Until then, I’m left looking for positives as I watch last night’s exhibition opener for the third time. The positives were there, but for my tastes, they were too few and far between.

All I can do now is repeat the old familiar chant – as football fans do every August, often times to temper expectations but at others, like now, to talk them off the ledge. “It’s only preseason… it’s only preseason…”

  • http://www.obsessedwithsports.com Kircus Made My Sub

    Just curious where you heard that the players aren’t buying into the system. I can see your frustration from last night but inferring that the players aren’t buying into the system from one game is a little reactionary dont you think?

    That being said. McDaniels seemed completely in over his head at his press conference after.

    That also being said, Jay Cutler is Jeff George 2.0

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Still love the username. ;) I never said I “heard” the players weren’t buying in, I’m just speculating. Never meant to infer anything more.

    But it is what I sincerely believe. I think the success or failures to start the season will snowball into greater success or failure later. My opinion.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    I see now Kircus. Honest mistake on my part. I tweaked that sentence to be more clear, didn’t mean to infer that at all.

  • Robert

    You can’t read much into lasts nights game. The Raiders are notorious for dominating in preseason and every year they suck. In the 49ers glory days they used to lose almost every preseason game. Colts are bad in preseason. Pats usually don’t do that well either and these are teams that are established and steady.

    You simply cannot expect the Bronco’s to look 100% every play on defense, the whole D is new and getting used to a new coordinator and system. You can’t expect the offensive line to dominate on the run, they are not running the zone blocking system they spent time all last year gelling.

    Orton looked terrible BUT you have to leave judgement for at least 1 more game. On the flip side Sims looked very impressive.

    All in all considering its the first preseason game of the year with new players, new coaches and new systems they played quite well (Orton withstanding).

    I expect to see dramatic improvement in games 2 and 3. Game 4 will probably be a bust as the team is looking over final cuts and letting the knowns rest.

  • conbrio

    geez, a new offense, a new defense, new players and the first preseason game, any knowledgeable gambler will tell you that betting on teams that have great preseasons or against teams with bad preseasons is a prescription to get your pecuniary butt kicked. but you all know this. just relax for awhile.

  • http://broncomadness.com Garrett Barnes

    I agree with most except for the part about the players not buying into McDaniels. I think if anything, they are buying into McD. That doesn’t mean they will win though. I was very disappointed like you at last night.

  • DHB

    Kyle, you’re not a Detroit Lions fan.

  • postalmoose

    Wow! Bronco fans have become such freaking wusses. If Shanny and Cutler were here you can bet another 8-8 season was coming down the pike, bad defense, bad ST, another lousy year. You would think that we would have been Super Bowl favorites with the status quo. Then we get a start over and I mean a complete start over. New coach, new system, new quarterbacks. 40 of 80 players new and all these fans(including Woody Paige) are in a complete panic. I don’t expect a title this year or even next. We are starting over. The cupboard isn’t bare so it won’t be Lions or Bengals bad but until everything the new regime is putting in gels it is going to be fits and starts. As I have said we weren’t going to win diddly this year the old way. Was everyone going to give Shanny a pass? Who cares about Cutler, he isn’t good enough to win it himself. Few quarterbacks are and he ain’t one of them. You guys are so in love with his strong arm. Everyone likes sexy but already everyone conveniently forgets his crucial turnovers last year and his lack of leadership the last four games. And be honest he got a break when the ref blew a whistle otherwise he would have lost that game and never had been in the playoff hunt anyway. Why is it so hard to have a little patience and faith in the new when the old wasn’t working anymore? Or did all you fans forget the last four years. Let Orton and the team make mistakes now. I for one am standing tall and patient!

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    I will always be proud of the Broncos. You couldn’t tear a Broncos jersey off me, no matter what. But I will never accept losing seasons. Ever. If that’s defined as impatient, so be it.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    LOL Thanks DHB. /takes a few steps back

    Robert, great comments, you made me take a few more.

    Needless to say, I am eagerly, eagerly awaiting preseason game 2.

  • Robert

    Amen postalmoose. The Broncos were a 500 team under Shanahan post Elway. According to Plumber the guy was so focused on hitting specific stat numbers he would coach his game to that instead of winning.

    I’m sick of hearing about the Bronco’s top rated offense. That is based on yards and anyone who buys into that is flat out ignorant. There red zone scoring was among the lowest in the league and the points scored was average.

    Hell, lets give a list of teams that scored more points

    Patriots (without Brady)
    Jets
    BALTIMORE RAVENS
    Titans
    Chargers
    Giants
    Eagles
    Vikings
    CHICAGO BEARS
    Packers
    Panthers
    Falcons
    Saints
    Cardinals

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    “The Broncos were a 500 team under Shanahan post Elway.” This is false, and something I keep hearing more and more among Broncos fans. The Broncos have the 5th highest winning percentage in the league since 2000. They were only a .500 team the past three seasons.

  • broncoNM

    I was impressed by alot of things last night but one of them was the play calling… i re-watched that first drive and that was just a small dose of what to expect from McD. We saw flashes of the offense controlling the ball, the tempo, and spreading it around… Our defense could actually catch their breath. The play calling allowed for high percentage passes to allow orton to get into rythm… i think it was most likely first game jitters but if orton doesnt succeed in this system he wont succeed anywhere and McD will find a QB that is servicable. I have no doubt that McD is going to be a great coach in this league… my biggest fear is that denver does not give him the time to turn it around and learn from his own mistakes. The biggest one to benefit from the cutler trade will be the next team that gets mcdaniels if denver freaks out lets him go too early.

  • postalmoose

    That is right the past three seasons they were .500 team and getting worse every year. The good free agents weren’t coming here, the drafts were bad, one defensive coach after another. Bowlen saw the future with the old regime and it was bleak. We all expect winning and Super Bowls but sometimes you have to be real. You say “I will never accept losing seasons” but you seem to have accepted the last three years of losing. By the way here are their records since 2000. Looks pretty mediocre to me-

    1999 1999 NFL AFC West 5th 6 10 0
    2000 2000 NFL AFC West 2nd 11 5 0
    2001 2001 NFL AFC West 3rd 8 8 0
    2002 2002 NFL AFC West 2nd 9 7 0
    2003 2003 NFL AFC West 2nd 10 6 0
    2004 2004 NFL AFC West 2nd 10 6 0
    2005 2005 NFL AFC West 1st 13 3 0
    2006 2006 NFL AFC West 3rd 9 7 0
    2007 2007 NFL AFC West 2nd 7 9 0
    2008 2008 NFL AFC West 2nd 8 8 0

    Two good seasons and a bunch of mediocre seasons including those 10-6 years. I welcome the change to something new and the possibilties.

  • postalmoose

    Bowlen won’t freak and won’t cave into fan and media pressure. He knows what he got!

  • anthony33

    Kyle

    Good comments. I too have faith this will all work out, but I have to admit the whole Orton – Culter thing still leaves a deep pit in my stomach.

    We are on the brink, no doubt. Let’s hope we make progress next wee. After all, this team is really just as shade north of an expansion team with all the changes they went through.

  • anthony33

    oops
    * week
    ** a shade north

  • postalmoose

    An expansion team? Good grief!!!!! Cutler wasn’t worth five or six wins in a year.

  • Jason

    Kyle,
    Step away from the ledge. 1. read my post re: Simms Should Start Next Week (25th comment). Orton looked good on dink and dunk passes because that is what big plays are built on. If Orton can hit 65% of his passes and if he checks down 50% of the time he’ll be very much like Brady or Manning (Note that neither of these SB winning QBs are ‘Gunslingers’ nor do they have rocket arms). Our previous offenses were built around the “tootsie pop challenge”, 3 runs and a 60 yard pass. Big plays are nice but they will come in time.

    Orton showed right away:
    1. good rhythm
    2. good decisions
    3. crisp throws and
    4. accuracy.

    He also showed:
    1. Little in the way of field the general (but it’s a little soon for that by a year or so)
    2. a tendency to lock on his target; failing to look off the zone coverage
    3. what looked like hesitation, thinking instead of reacting – which we also need to expect this early.
    4. and yes, ‘happy feet’ but I think this is reminiscent of the above.

    His mistakes are very coachable.

    Defense:
    While sacks came from, as you described, mismatches and such, note that
    1. defensive schemes are made to create these mismatches and are a sign of good planning, coaching and execution – plenty of sacks come from just such things by design.
    2. Coverage sacks only come if the sack is made very, VERY quickly. We couldn’t do that last year… or the year before… or the year before that…
    3. I clearly saw times where the pocket was being collapsed – rapidly- and Ayers was forcing the QB to step up into the pocket as he was manhandling the RT. Ayers was waltzing with the RT and leading!
    4. There was not a lot of room to step up for the QB.
    5. The potential and work ethic of Chris Baker.

    Off-season:
    There is no way to judge the changes made, not even at the end of this season but, while we have the taste of John Elway still in our football-mouths, the game is changing and whether we like it or not Josh McDaniels has been, is, and will continue to be a major contributor to the continued shaping of NFL offensive, and consequently defensive, philosophies.

    Bronco land is experiencing a football revolution, if you will.

    (My apologies for the blog-kill post)

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Wow, I just read Woody Paige’s column, and he said pretty much the exact same thing I did. Almost to a T. I’m honestly disappointed in myself.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    If Orton can hit 65% of his passes and if he checks down 50% of the time he’ll be very much like Brady or Manning (Note that neither of these SB winning QBs are ‘Gunslingers’ nor do they have rocket arms). Our previous offenses were built around the “tootsie pop challenge”, 3 runs and a 60 yard pass. Big plays are nice but they will come in time.

    Orton showed right away:
    1. good rhythm
    2. good decisions
    3. crisp throws and
    4. accuracy.

    I would LOVE 65% accuracy. Unfortunately Orton fell well under 60%, like his career average.

    And I think you’re contradicting yourself when you say he showed good decisions, good rhythm and crisp throws. He looked out of rhythm, especially after the first pick (not a good sign). He got away with an interception to boot, so his decisions really weren’t good. And no way were his throws crisp. They just weren’t.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    That last sentence was awesome broncoNM, I actually tweeted it. :D

  • postalmoose

    Great post Jason. Great descriptions! And the line about Bronco Land in a football revolution is awesome.

  • Robert

    Kyle I agree with you on Orton’s decisions, rhythm and crispness. He looked really bad.

    As far as a 500 club goes, you are correct that the overall winning percentage was high, however, they had 6 years as basically a 500 club give or take a win while having just 4 years with a real winning record and only 1 playoff win.

    Jason, being a “gunslinger” and having good arm strength are two different things. For the record, Brady has a cannon and Manning has one heck of a lot more strength than Ole Noodle Arm Orton.

    If it makes anyone feel better, Cutler is a very bad decision maker (how many int’s got dropped last year just because he throws so hard?) and proved that nothing has changed in his preseason debut in which he had an int in 10 throws and was lucky on a couple other throws including one right into the arms of the defender who dropped it.

  • broncoNM

    Thanks kyle! I have to give you kudos for your “overprotective mother” post in the knowshon thread… gave me a chuckle.

  • postalmoose
  • http://www.search-this.com mark

    Kyle, just brace yourself, it’s not going to be a pretty season. The most they will win this year is 6. You only put about 20% of the blame on McDaniels? Sorry, but it was 100% McDaniels. Who do you think worked the trade? Not Bowlen, McDaniels. If Josh McDaniels wanted Cutler on the team then he would be on team. He didn’t. It’s just that easy. Sure you can say, but Jay was being a baby. Yeah so. So is Brandon Marshall and he’s still on the team. Josh McDaniel’s has little or no people skills and in the end it will end up costing us more than just a young (whinny) pro-bowl quarterback.

    Josh McDaniels may end up being a terrific coach in the NFL, but it won’t be with the Broncos. He will cut his teach here, learn from his mistakes and move on.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Brandon Marshall returns Pat Bowlen’s calls. Jay Cutler didn’t.

    And it was 100% Pat Bowlen’s decision, he has said so since.

  • http://www.search-this.com mark

    Jay Cutler didn’t, return phone calls, after he had heard McDaniels position. They met. Jay Cutler said he just wanted an apology. He never got one. McDaniels told him (paraphrasing) that look Jay, no one is above the team and I have to do whatever I can to make this team better. Ok, sure. But all he had to do was apologize and it would have been over. McDaniels wanted to prove that he is in charge and that’s it, no apology necessary. Fine, way to show you are in charge… and without a decent QB now.

    Do you think if Tony Dungy were our coach that Jay wouldn’t still be here? It comes down to communication and people skills. Maybe Jay doesn’t get high marks in those categories, but that’s okay when you are a player, not when you are a coach.

    And, Pat Bowlen said it was his decision because that’s what he’s supposed to say. Sure, McDaniels has to get Bowlen’s go ahead to pull the trigger, but McDaniels did not want him.

    If there was some young pro-bowl gunslinger of a QB that was on the market and you wanted him on your team. You would or should do anything and everything to get him. That means put on your country boots, get on a plane and go to Nashville. Watch a UFC fight and tell that QB that you think you may name your first son after him. McDaniels did NOTHING to indicate that he wanted Cutler, nothing.

  • Tom9798

    Chris Simms should start from here on out . . . period.

    He showed more poise and command the whole time he played . . . ended up 11-17 for 142 yards and two touchdowns with a QB rating of a gozillion . . . (actually something around 130) . . . .

    His first touchdown to Putzier was identical to the one Tom Brady threw in the Pat’s game . . . (just not as pretty) . . .

    His two-point play should have been a mirror . . . always a fade to the outside . . . never over the middle . . . too much traffic . . .

    Simms ended with 142 yds. But should have had 178 yds. . . . . we won’t discuss the passes that were dropped that should have been caught but weren’t because of the zip on the ball . . . and please no crap about the spin from a lefty . . .

    The receiver’s were used to the marshmallows that Orton was floating out there for anyone to catch . . .

    Orton looked like he read Cutler’s book, “Just throw it and someone will catch it.”

    People seem to forget that Simms played with a ruptured spleen and still almost had the Buc’s in the playoffs . . . .

    This guy was a steal! . . . and the obvious choice from here on out . . . . T

  • http://cdn0.sbnation.com/profile_images/111140/La_La_Mascot.jpg WhidbeyBronco

    postalmoose
    why not post our records before Shanny!
    You know, back before you were a fan!

  • http://cdn0.sbnation.com/profile_images/111140/La_La_Mascot.jpg WhidbeyBronco

    Kyle you were mostly right the first time… don’t get weak! There were bright moments, it was game one yada yada
    But face it folks we’re starting over from scratch here!
    It’s a complete rebuild (outside the young talent that Shanny left us)
    Let’s hope Mcd has a clue.
    One post from above complimented his play calling… agreed. Great play calls from what appears to be a sound offensive mind.
    Let’s hope he gets up to speed with the rest of his coaching duties so we can start winning again next year.

    Gulp, sips the kool aid… maybe 8-8 9-7 this year.

  • roshon2411

    Mark,

    I’m with you. You think if Denver hired any other coach other than McDaniels, Cutler would have been traded. Weather he made the call to New England or took the call, he started the process. Did Cutler play his part to get out of Denver, hell yes. He should of return Bowlen’s call, but Bowlen should of put the gin/tonic down and flew to meet Cutler. Neither McDaniels, Bowlen, or Cutler were able to swallow their pride and do what was best for the team. That being said, I was very impressed with the offensive play calling yesterday and will be very excited if Denver can bring in a QB who can execute. Simms looked good against the 2nd team but was also playing with alot of the 2nd team. Simms arm with McDaniels offense, and weapons like Royal, Marshall, Hillis, and the others could be exciting. Orton’s arm takes away a couple of those options.

  • http://birty.blogspot.com mikebirty

    Right – reasons to not be on the ledge.

    Kansas City looked awful. Matt Cassel, who could’ve been a Bronco, couldn’t hold on to a ball, only connected on two passes and threw for 15 yards.

    San Diego’s defense gave away 20 points to the SEAHAWKS!!! And they’re relying on one player to come back and improve a team from 8-8 to superbowl champions.

    In fact only the Raiders looked good but we know that’s not going to end well because, well, just because it never ends well.

    So the Broncos may only need 6 wins to win the division. Sure that doesn’t make sense but neither does judging a team after 1 practice game.

  • SoCal Den Fan

    Mark
    I understand your position but, we really don’t know how it really went down it was like he said she said. Maybe Cutler who was under contract should of came in with the attitude I’m gonna work my ass off and show everyone what kinda QB I can be. It really made him looked bad like a child throwing a fit because he didn’t get what he wanted.If he wanted big bucks then go out and earn your money win games and take his team deep in the playoffs then they would have no choice to pay him.

  • http://www.search-this.com mark

    SoCal Den Fan and Kyle,

    Cutler was not without his faults, I agree. But in today’s NFL, being a spoiled whiner isn’t all that bad. Not when you compare it to say accidentally shooting yourself, or running over someone in your car, or drinking and driving or beating your girl friend or punching a teammate out so bad he misses games. All of which happened just last year.

    And don’t think Kyle Orton doesn’t come without any baggage either: http://www.celebridiot.com/2008/09/08/kyle-orton-beats-colts-still-drunk/

    So where does that leave us? Well, I just hope that whatever McDaniel’s lacks in people skills he makes up for in X’s and O’s…

  • kirk

    Dont expect to much this year. A new qb, new head coach, and how many new starters on D?

  • wes

    Mark you are the only one on this site that sees things the way things are. Thank god Denver has a fan out there with some sense on this whole thing. Your great keep it up man.

  • Anthony

    WoW jumping off the bridge after one preseason game, great job showing supposrt of the team.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    I’m not jumping off any bridges Anthony. I’m making two points:

    1. I’m worried.
    2. In McD’s first season (and after such a tumultuous offseason), the team’s success for the entire year will branch largely on how well they do to the start.

  • Gary Hatch

    Call me stupid, but I will never forgive Pat Bowlen for two things; 1) Making out like it was the hardest thing he ever had to do in firing Mike Shanahan, when it became known after the fact, he was secretly courting Josh McDaniels two weeks before the firing of Mile.. How slimy is that~! 2) Pat Bowlen allowing Josh McDaniels to let Jay get away. How so very very stupid! Yes, I know Jay was being most difficault in not returning the calls and demanding a trade. But let me ask you this people; if you found out that your coach had lied to you, was secretly going behind your back to facilitate a trade unbeknownst to you; would you not feel just a wee bit angry, betrayed, and unwilling to communicate with this so called coach…(that quite frankly, I feel does not know his a** from a hole in the ground no matter what others may say) It would have been far better for the Broncos to swallow their pride and woo Jay back into the fold however they could, for whatever it might have took, than to have traded him for this Kyle Orton(who incidently is not worth a tinker’s damn.. not now nor ever! I know this because I have watched him for the time he has been playing in Chicago) And Chris Simms is a lousy worthless washed up quaterback as well.. So while the Denver Broncos struggle this year, it will be quite interesting to see just how Jay fares in Chicago. If the management with the Denver Broncos were not so stuck on stupid, and had kept Jay this year, they might have had a chance to win more than just a few games this season. Now however, with the quality of the quarterbacks they have chosen to lead them into battle, it will be most interesting to watch as they lose; game after game, week after week, and all because of their refusal to use even the smallest of comman sense, and to swallow their pride to do the right thing… for the fans who have supported them in the best and worst of times..

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    mark,

    I have never and will never make reference to either Cutler or Orton’s drinking habits in any way related to football. Because it’s not related to football. (Maybe an innocent create-a-caption once in a while, wink wink).

    Great points all around.

  • broncoNM

    Gary Hatch-
    Wow your criticizing bowlen for courting a replacement… ummmmmm… thats actually pretty smart… that means he had a plan in place to improve this team after mediocre outcomes the last couple of years. I have actually never heard that bowlen was “courting” McD before he fired Shanny but if thats the case than i applaud him. Who are you to question how hard it was for bowlen to fire shanny? You have no idea… and until you start writing million dollar checks i would quit criticizing bowlen for trading cutler… the dude didnt return his phone calls… This is a business and if cutler got his feelings hurt when he heard about the trade rumors than that just shows how immature he is… trade rumors happen to every player and cutler wanted out and saw the opportunity. Your problem is that you are a ‘cutler’ fan not a ‘broncos’ fan… go buy a bears cutler jersey and have a field day watching the bears… Sounds like you have figured out bowlens and mcdaniels plan to ruin this franchise and help chicago win a super bowl… sooooo… you might as well get a head start and buy your cutler jersey. Mcdaniels is the broncos head coach and he has not even coached a meaningful game yet… Why are you so willing to bash an owner who has brought 2 super bowls for a QB that has never made the playoffs?