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Published on 11/07/2010 at Sun Nov 07 12:00.
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Best of the West – Broncos Round Table: 1

Posted Sun Nov 7th by

Kyle Orton is dejected in defeat after the loss to the San Francisco 49ers in London. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Kyle Orton is dejected in defeat after the loss to the San Francisco 49ers in London. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

My countryman, my readers, my friends…

I owe you an apology.

Gone is the ‘Predicting the Future’ column, because it got so dark… I couldn’t possibly spring anyone on what I’d predicted on the future for the Broncos over the past three weeks. I should have prepared you and I am sorry, but it was tragedy.

So what do we have for you here? We have a new column we will bring you for the next seven days. The best of the best Denver Broncos bloggers will be featured here on BroncoTalk and they’re all going to play general manager.

I will present each one with a question and if they’re brave enough they will answer that question…

I asked three gentleman a question and presented them with this scenario…

  • “I have just taken over the ownership of the Denver Broncos and have hired you as the new general manager during the bye week, you have absolute rule over everything, what do you do during this week and preparing for next week?”

Up first is Bryan Douglass of Broncos Stable he’s been an adamant hater of the Broncos offensive line since day one, which I’ve staunchly gone toe-to-toe with him over. Though I feel like he was exactly right, at least he was more along the lines of Josh McDaniels thinking than I was. He does a really incredible job over at The Stable and you should add him to your RSS if you haven’t already:

This week, preparing for next week, there are so many directions you could go with this. I suppose you have to start with a full coach’s meeting to review films and ask two key questions:

“Are we ever going to create hope of running the football?”

and

“Are we even capable of creating hope of stopping others from running the football?”

I tend to believe this room is filled with a known air of the future… I don’t believe the team was built with “win today” as the overriding motivation at the decision table (and yes, I think the recent overtures suggesting Josh McDaniels is not guaranteed 2011 are a ruse, put to the public to get you to shut the hell up). I tend to believe this year is the second in a three-year plan of evaluation and formulation, so in preparing for tomorrow I don’t see how efforts to push that agenda don’t take precedent.

We’re getting Tim Tebow involved on a larger scale and giving him opportunities to showcase what he has learned and his ability to apply it… We are getting Zane Beadles at the position we want him at (not necessarily where you need him for today) and you aim to get film on that… We get those kids working in the defensive backfield more snaps… Plans need to be formulated to get any viable options at tight end involved in the offense beyond blocking and you shock the world by running the ball at least 30 times.
THE TRUTH: Pat Bowlen must have gotten his MMJ card to put me in charge and give me “absolute rule”… He hasn’t done that since Shanny Era (and he finally realized how stupid that was). This would never happen, but if he were me: (A) We’d have traded Knowshon Moreno and picks for Logan Mankins and The Law Firm (that would be BenJarvis Green Ellis), (B) Be’d flanked by Mike Iupati, (C) Lance Moore would be our best receiver (I can’t believe every team in the league had a crack at him this offseason and no one topped the third-tier offer put up by the New Orleans Saints), and (D) Someone not named Jarvis Moss would have been picked up… somehow, some way… to serve as the crutch of “hope” on D.
Next up is BroncoTalk’s own J. Kenneth K. I know him personally, he brings a smile to my face and he’s the first guy in the bar to throw his custom Denver Broncos cup at the projected screen and leave the bar mid-way into the second quarter if the Broncos are being stupid. He’s my personal drinking partner and we have missed few Broncos games together in New York City:

Sit back, enjoy my paycheck and hope for the best. I’m not going to pretend I have the answers, I don’t. I’m not a football analyst, or a wanna be GM, I’m just a dude who likes having a beer and watching the Broncos. And really what could be done? Personally, I think the Broncos lack the massive amount of talent needed to make any noise in this league, and the trade deadline has passed, and the free agent bin is a little sparse, and the draft is a long ways a way. Building a team is about #1 through #53. No one can say that from the bottom to top our team is ready to win.

Third is Waylon Williams, another personal friend/Sunday game watcher, who has kind of broken his way into the Bronco blogosphere via The Orange Page. He survived the 1980’s Denver teams like a lot of us, but he hated it so bad that he moved to California… That’s dedication.

If I’m general manager of this team, the first thing I’m doing is talking to Pat about bringing back the classic 80’s uniforms with the orange jerseys. If Pat won’t budge on the uniforms, I’m holding out for Dallas or Minnesota. I’m also insisting that they bring back the Rock & Roll (Hey) song by Gary Glitter to celebrate touchdowns in the stadium. I don’t care if Gary Glitter is a pervert. That song is an iconic piece of Broncos history and we need to get back in touch with this team’s roots.The next thing I’m doing is walking the locker room and practice fields to see what’s going on. Are the players bought on with the coaches? Do we have chemistry issues on the team? Who are the leaders on this team and who’s just going through the motions? Do we have malcontents or prima donnas that are hurting our focus? What’s up with our training staff and why do we have so many serious injuries?

Once I’ve gotten a lay of the land, I’m holding a press conference to let the fans, players, and coaches know that this season has been a failure, and that losing will not be tolerated. I’m putting everyone on notice that they have eight weeks to prove that they belong on this team. Everyone’s job is on the line.

With the trade deadline behind us and the playoffs basically out of reach, my entire focus is around 2011. I’m making a list of every defensive lineman, safety and linebacker who will be available via free agency, draft or trade this off-season and I’m updating that list each week from here on out.

Lastly, I’m going through the entire roster to determine who’s staying, who’s going, and who can be used as trade bait in the off-season. I want to know who has value to this organization in 2011, and how we can maximize that value over the next eight months.

(I’m also setting up golf outings with Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden, and any other potential head coaching candidates out there.)

And finally yours truly, Ian Henson, Mr. Orange Tinted Glasses. Mr. We’ve Got it in the Bag:

If I am general manager and I have final rule over all roster decisions… I am negotiating with Josh, move Zane Beadles to left guard, put Ryan Harris back at right tackle. You don’t go from pro bowl status to second string in the league with some type of coaching faux pas. Give Russ Hochstein a friggin’ headset, because that is his greatest value to the team.

Activate Lance Ball, he’s got that piss and vinegar that I need. Moreno’s not getting it done and I’d rather kiss my sister than give the ball to Laurence Maroney.

Privately, I would take Jarvis Moss and Marcus Thomas aside and let them know that there’s more money in this if they can actually step it up.

I’d let Cassius Vaughn put Wesley Woodyard‘s C on his jersey, Cox is a warrior and he might be a little bit of a psycho, I am ready to let him take on our secondary and mature.

I’d overstep my role as GM and insist that Perrish Cox get in on corner blitzes, flip the defense to a complete 4-3 until the team starts stopping, oh and I mentioned blitzing? I understand it’s a foreign concept in Denver, but get Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins in some poor quarterback’s face.

That’s it for Sunday, we should have a new round table for you every day through the week as the Broncos prepare for the Kansas City Chiefs. We also encourage your participation, what would you do if given the keys to the team?

  • OrangeandBlue19

    I guess its a good thing that your not calling the shots. Ryan Harris is probably leaving via free agency and the broncos are probably not resigning him, especially with Baily's contract extension on the horizon. If the Broncos resign him I would put Baily at free safety, to force more turnovers. Dawkins will likely retire, so free agent Antioine Bethea, should be brought in to replace him and the bronco's top ten pick should be used to draft Prince Nakacumara of Nebraska and the broncos need a new left gaurd and nose tackle and hopefully that should do it. A mid round pick should be used on a new running back to share the load with a talented Moreno, and Buckhalter needs to go home.

  • http://nation.theorangepage.com/blog Ian Henson

    I have been begging for the Broncos to make a move for Logan Mankins, however I do like how McDaniels has drafted offensive lineman. Finds really good value, the line seems to be one draft pick away from being complete (offensively at least). I really feel as if Ryan Harris just got stuck in the doghouse maybe and he's getting the Hillis treatment. We have all the pieces…

    Bailey is coming up on our round table (I think around Tuesday). I still feel he's the best corner in the NFL. I also hope that Dawkins can do one more season in Denver, we need to focus on the front and having to replace both Dawkins and Ronaldo Hill may be difficult… Even with McBath and Bruton, McBath I love, but he's yet to make it through a season.

  • Rande12

    FIX THE RUNNING GAME, IT WILL SOLVE EVERYTHING!

  • anthony33

    Go back and undo the Quinn for Hillis trade. Hillis gained 184 yards on 27 carries today. Worst trade I can remember in a long, long time.

  • db1

    I agree with anthony33 above Hillis can't play huh, and get rid of Mcdaniels. I know it won't happen until after next year. He destroyed the offense that was pretty good and hasn't helped the defense at all. Don't know what to say except it hurts to see the Broncos this bad!

  • Laramiefan

    Please don't let McD have anything to do with the running backs . While we are at it could or would it be possible to have some blocking to allow the “running backs ” to get on the other side of the line of scrimmage . KC is next and both coaches know each other pretty good plus KC needs to show that getting beat by the Raiders was a fluck . One other thing on the side wouldn't it be nice for McD to admit truthfully why he treated Hillis so poorly . His whistle twirling around his finger as he walks drives some people crazy, kind of a nervous twitch . Oh, heck just my frustrations showing . He is the Broncos coach and I am only a Bronco fan so lets cheer through the good and the ———–.

  • jimery

    God can we move on from the hillis trade? He wasn't productive the year before, and if I remember correctly he fumbled early on earning him a spot on the pine. I liked him as much as anybody, but it is over and done with just like our season. Move on already. Anyway it isn't our running backs that are the problem it is the blocking scheme. Hillis would be sucking it up with everyone else if he were still here. Who would have thought a move to the Browns would be an upgrade?

  • anthony33

    I am over Hillis jimery. It's the egregious mistake by McD I'm not over. Hillis is gone for good, you're right. Unfortunately we still have McD to more stupid decisions.

    Was Hillis productive last year… no. Why… he really never got a chance because the head coach was convinced he was a Shanny – Cutler guy… plain and simple.

  • http://twitter.com/bpdouglass bpdouglass

    Was honored to take part in the Roundtable, excited to jump into the following rounds and read more!

    If you want to bash McDaniels for anything, I'm onboard with the desire to question his ability to target “intelligence”… spoken/written on it before. When the motto has been “versatile, intelligent contributors” and you look at what the McDaniels crew has done, I don't see it. Kyle has said it here and I couldn't agree more… JD Walton has been his poster boy thus far, and in this league you can't survive if you waste those early draft picks (especially when you trade up to get 'em) or the funds used in free agency. You can add Quinn-via-trade in here as well if you like… have yet to see anything to suggest he fits either.

  • http://twitter.com/bpdouglass bpdouglass

    Was honored to take part in the Roundtable, excited to jump into the following rounds and read more!

    If you want to bash McDaniels for anything, I'm onboard with the desire to question his ability to target “intelligence”… spoken/written on it before. When the motto has been “versatile, intelligent contributors” and you look at what the McDaniels crew has done, I don't see it. Kyle has said it here and I couldn't agree more… JD Walton has been his poster boy thus far, and in this league you can't survive if you waste those early draft picks (especially when you trade up to get 'em) or the funds used in free agency. You can add Quinn-via-trade in here as well if you like… have yet to see anything to suggest he fits either.