Chasing Ghosts

Fans hold a sign to fire Josh McDaniels during the second half of the St. Louis Rams game. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)

In reference to the person on his staff that leaked what went on during the private meetings being held in regards to Spygate II; Josh McDaniels yesterday said “I’m not going to go chasing ghosts about [who] that [was].”

So, take a long look in the mirror Denver fans.

It’s been five years since the 13-3 season and the AFC Championship loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, four years since the Broncos tossed out Jake Plummer and a winning season to make way for Jay Cutler and mediocrity.

For every controversy McDaniels has brought to the Broncos, history has proven to make him look smart (though Cutler gave a good effort at making McDaniels look dumb Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles). Brandon Marshall‘s looking pathetic, Tony Scheffler‘s basically ineffective, Alphonso Smith admits that he single-handedly lost the Thanksgiving Day game against the New England Patriots.

The one dark horse in all of this is Peyton Hillis and he has been downright incredible as a Cleveland Brown… Yet, this isn’t the time nor place to discuss that. Four out of five ain’t bad.

Four out of five ain’t bad… Yet (and still) Broncos fans demand perfection.McDaniels says that he won’t chase ghosts, now what are Denver fans chasing?

There isn’t a quarterback in existence that can replicate what John Elway did with the Broncos. That’s what made Elway Elway… There may very well never be another Elway. That is the cold fact.

Kyle Orton has (quietly, though not around these parts) put together an incredible year, but has come up short where Elway didn’t. When the game is on the line Broncos fans are so used to seeing that composed man on a mission. Orton doesn’t deliver that, so fans scream from Tim Tebow.

As MaxDenver’s Andrew Mason put it so eloquently Sunday on Twitter, “Can Tebow play defense?”

So there in lies the problem, with McDaniels and his ambition. McDaniels was able to bring in Mike Nolan and the Broncos’ defense flourished early in 2009, whether it be McDaniels or Nolan who allowed no corrections following week six may never be known publically. McDaniels and Brian Xanders went all offense in the draft early on, addressing a wide receiver and quarterback position that didn’t quite need to be filled. Picking up offensive lineman that have experienced some growing pains in their rookie seasons. Before finally turning to the defensive side of things.

Granted an injury to Elvis Dumervil in the preseason likely wasn’t in the predictions and the same Tebow cries fans had in April would have been replicated had Denver traded up to select an outside linebacker in the first round. There’s nothing to say that Dumervil would have been able to replicate his 2009 season (which he had under Nolan) in 2010. Robert Ayers has certainly looked better and Knowshon Moreno‘s starting to look a bit like who the Broncos intended to draft (minus a costly fumble Sunday).

So let this be said, I am throwing the last tiny ounce I have behind Josh McDaniels as the Denver Broncos head coach (as is Pat Bowlen). This is it and it’s all I have, you leave the dance with the date you brought and he’s got one last season in my books. No, I’m not thinking that even playoffs are possible this year, but I am also not for the Broncos folding for a top five pick. I will be there, every Sunday hoping that Denver can mess up someone else’s opportunity to make the playoffs. Oakland, Kansas City, and San Diego have never shown any mercy on Denver, why should the Broncos lay down for them?

I am behind the Denver Broncos, as I know a lot of fans are. Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams gave the whole Broncos nation hope and a bit of that fire back and even though they failed, they failed falling forwards.

Now, my hope is fans too can stop chasing ghosts.