This past Sunday morning, I did not go to sleep until around 9:00 am. That's extremely late, even by my standards, yet I don't regret it all.
I was too busy watching the greatest tennis match, and one of the best sporting events, I have ever seen.
Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked player in the world, outlasted #2-ranked Rafael Nadal in an epic five-set thriller, winning the 2012 Australian Open after a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 victory that was the longest final in the Open era. The match took nearly 6 hours-- 5 hours and 53 minutes, to be exact-- and was Djokovic's third-straight Grand Slam title, all of which came at Nadal's expense.
Words simply cannot describe what occurred the other night in Melbourne. In the 2008 Wimbledon final, Nadal bested Roger Federer in another epic five-setter, a match that many called the greatest of all time. While Djokovic's victory may have lacked some of the astounding shot-making that the Wimbledon final had, it more than made up for it in sheer determination and willpower.
Make no mistake, though, this was not a sloppy match. This was a fine display of top-notch tennis. Almost every game was tightly contested and full of long rallies. Seemingly every Nadal service game went to deuce. There were amazing shots and even better gets. The defense in this match was incredible.
Djokovic was coming off a five-set victory over #4 Andy Murray while Nadal has dispatched #3 Federer and was looking to exact some revenge on the man who had owned him in 2011. Djokovic was shaky in the first set, missing with his forehand. Nadal came out aggressively, winning a first set that was two minutes shorter than the woman's final from the night before.
Djokovic rebounded to take the second set and cruised through the third (I can't say what happened during the third set because I dozed off and missed it). The Serb looked to have the match in hand at this point. He had finally gotten his game untracked, and it seemed inevitable that he would eventually break Nadal's serve. He had his chance at 4-3, 0-40, but Nadal rallied to hold serve. The match went to a tiebreaker, and you just had this feeling that it would be decided here. Nadal was on the rise, and Djokovic seemed to be faltering just a bit. Djokovic went up 5-3, but Nadal roared back to win the next four points and take the match to a deciding fifth set.
Rafael Nadal presents an interesting dichotomy. He is one of the nicest, most gracious people off the court, but on it, he is a vicious predator. He snarls and glares constantly as he stamps around the baseline. Whenever he wins a big point, he pumps his fist as shouts of "Vamos!" echo throughout the arena. He is a beast in a man's body... actually, judging from how ripped and muscular he is, he might just be a beast.
Nadal is one of the fiercest competitors in all of sports. He is blessed with prodigious talent and is insanely fit, but it is his iron will and refusal to yield a single inch that are his greatest strengths. He simply wears down opponents mentally, browbeating them with his fighting spirit. He won't go away, and as soon as they get just one seed of doubt planted in their mind, it's over. When Nadal senses there is blood in the water, he pounces like a shark.
Even Roger Federer, arguably the greatest player in history, is not immune. Federer dominated men's tennis for years. Nobody could beat him. In final after final, his opponent would have to play lights out with miscues from Federer just to take a set, and even then, it was won in a tiebreaker. They couldn't sustain that level of play against his brilliance. He won all four major tournaments and set the record for most Grand Slam men's singles titles with 16. People lauded him as the Greatest of All Time.
Then a funny thing happened: he couldn't beat Rafael Nadal. At first, it was simply dismissed as Nadal being so dominant on clay. Then Nadal beat Federer on the grass courts of Wimbledon, a surface and event that Federer had owned. Nadal kept on winning, proving that it wasn't just the clay where he was superior. Questions began to arise: how could Federer be the greatest of all time if he wasn't even the greatest player now?
Federer has an elegance that harkens back to the aristocracy of Europe. If this were another time, he surely would have been a nobleman. He plays tennis with an artistry and a flair, rarely showing emotion. His backhand is a picturesque thing of beauty, and his creativity is something to marvel at. Nadal, on the other hand, is a brute, all muscles and physicality. His passion and desire fuel him, and his heavy southpaw shots break down Federer's one-handed backhand. He can run down anything Federer throws at him. Nadal outlasts the Swiss star; he simply wants it more than Federer.
Entering 2011, Nadal seemed poised to break all of Federer's records. He had nine major titles and would add another at the 2011 French Open after defeating Federer in the final. He had beaten Djokovic at the 2010 US Open in four sets to claim the career Grand Slam. He was the unquestioned top player in the world.
Then Novak Djokovic brought that all crashing down.
Djokovic started the year on a tear, winning his first 43 matches. By the time the year was over, he had won three of the four major tournaments and ascended to the #1 ranking. He'd beaten Federer in two semifinals, dispatched Murray to win the Australian Open, and vanquished Nadal at Wimbledon and the US Open. He had one of the best seasons in tennis history, and Nadal even admitted that the Serb was in his head.
Going into the 2012 Australian Open final, Nadal had lost his past six matches to Djokovic, and all came in tournament finals. He was determined to stop the bleeding and show that he could beat Djokovic. As he had time and time again, the Spaniard dug deep into his reserves and clawed his way back. You could just feel the tide rising in Nadal's favor as the fourth set tiebreaker loomed. Djokovic had to seal the deal before the match went to a tiebreak. The Nadal onslaught was coming, and you had to like his chances in a tiebreak.
Lo and behold, the fourth set went to a tiebreak. Nadal jumped out to an early lead, but Djokovic came back and eventually got a mini-break to take a 5-3 lead. Nadal took it right back and then clinched the set when Djokovic pushed a forehand wide.
At that point, the result seemed a foregone conclusion. Nadal had all the momentum. He was fresher, and Djokovic was showing signs of fatigue after being on court for almost ten hours in two days. Nadal was outlasting another opponent yet again. He had seized the upper hand; the finish line was in sight, and he would not be denied.
Djokovic had the look of a man who knew the end was only a matter of time. Sure, he was going to keep fighting. He is a champion after all. It's just that it seemed like he didn't have enough left in the tank. This was not an easy match. Nearly every point was a hard-fought affair. Both players were sprinting back and forth as they ran each other ragged. There are only a few players on tour who can go toe-to-toe with Nadal physically. Djokovic is one of them, but he wasn't coming in 100 percent. That epic semifinal against Murray had taken its toll. It's tough to keep up with an energized Nadal even when you're at your peak. Djokovic was walking slowly between points and definitely did not have the same energy as before. You could see his legs start to give a bit, and the commentators were suggesting that he start conserving energy during Nadal's service games. If he didn't win the first point or two, they suggested that Djokovic concede the game.
Serving 2-3 in the final set, Djokovic finally faltered. Nadal, who had barely touched Djokovic's serve since the first set, broke to go up 4-2. That was the chink in the armor that Nadal needed. He had the match in his grasp, and like a terrier, he was not going to let go. His indomitable will would carry him through. We'd seen it so many times before.
Yet this match would not play out that way. Just as Nadal is the one man who can get the upper hand on Federer, there is one man who can do the same to Nadal. That man is Novak Djokovic.
Affectionately known as the Joker for his sense of humor and comedic impressions of fellow players such as Maria Sharapova, Djokovic is somewhere between the contrasting styles of Federer and Nadal. He plays with the same brutal, single-minded efficiency as Federer but without the artistry and elegance. He does not exude the same raw physicality as Nadal, but if there is one man who can get to a shot that Nadal can't, it's Djokovic. He has a more potent serve than Nadal and a better all-around game, and he is perhaps the best returner in the game since Andre Agassi. As this match revealed, he also has heart, grit, and tenacity to rival that of Nadal.
Djokovic promptly breaks Nadal back to put them back on serve at 4-3. The key play was when Nadal, up 30-15, pushed a backhand wide. It would have been a winner and given him a 40-15 advantage. Instead, it was 30-all. The break rejuvenated Djokovic. You could see the fire return to his eyes, and while you knew Nadal wasn't going to back down, you could tell that Djokovic was going to rise up. It was going to be a titanic clash all the way till the end.
At this point, these two warriors had been on court for over five hours. They'd sprinted almost a combined 30 miles. In the next game, they had an epic 32-ball rally that Nadal finally won. Djokovic collapsed on the court afterwards, gasping heavily. It was a miracle that he could even stand, let alone sprint all over the court like a jackrabbit. Nadal was beginning to feel the effects, too, which is something you never see. While Djokovic was sprawled on the ground, Nadal was doubled over with his hands on his knees. These two were giving it everything they had.
Nobody had ever been able to out-Nadal Nadal until now. The Spaniard is renowned for his mental toughness, yet much like Federer against him, Nadal's confidence gets shaken when it comes to Djokovic. The Serb summoned his own final reserves and willed himself to victory. His legs were rubbery, his fleet bleeding, and he was facing a pumped-up Nadal, yet he persevered and would not yield. He dug deep, tapped into his last remaining reserves, and simply refused to be beaten. That's what Nadal does; people don't do that to him, yet Djokovic did. He broke Nadal again to go up 5-4 and wouldn't surrender the advantage. After saving a break point in the final game, Djokovic hit a sharp serve that Nadal could only put back in play. Djokovic charged the short return and hit a forehand winner to end it. He had defeated Nadal for the seventh-straight time and third-straight major.
Both players could hardly stand during the lengthy trophy presentation. They were both stretching, trying to avoid cramping up, and Nadal eventually sat on the net. Mercifully, someone finally brought them chairs.
What made this match so remarkable was the determination and grit displayed by both players. They would not cede and inch. When Nadal wins the first set, his is practically unbeatable. Djokovic responded by winning the next two sets. Down two sets to one against the man who had owned him for the past year, Nadal did not give up. He fought tooth-and-nail to win the fourth and take it to a deciding fifth set where he had all the momentum and advantages. Djokovic was gassed at this point and could not have been blamed for resigning himself to his fate. Instead, he summoned the strength--God only knows how-- to keep chasing down balls and launch blistering groundstrokes at his opponent.
Every game was tightly-contested. There were countless 20- and 30-shot rallies. For nearly six hours, the two best tennis players in the world blasted away at one another, each doggedly chasing down the other's punishing groundstrokes. When one would make a tremendous shot, the other would answer in kind. Nadal was hitting the ball harder in the fifth and final set than he was in the first. Djokovic somehow found the energy to engage in a 31-shot rally after being on court for nearly 11 hours in two days. He lost that point yet somehow had the fortitude to not let it affect him as he went on to win the game and the match.
It was an incredible display of willpower and high-level tennis. It was truly a match that nobody deserved to lose and was a scintillating way to start the 2012 season. Djokovic now has five career Grand Slam titles and has won four-of-the-last five majors, including the past three. He has beaten Nadal in their past seven matches, all finals. The only major that Djokovic has not won is the French Open, where he lost in the semifinals last year to Federer, snapping his 43-match winning streak. Djokovic has never made it to the finals at the French, and it is a tournament that Nadal dominates. The Spaniard has won six-of-the-past-seven French Opens and is widely considered to be the best player in history on clay. Will Djokovic complete the career Grand Slam and triumph over Nadal in Paris, or will Nadal put and end to the streak and finally beat Djokovic, putting him one title closer to Federer's record? Speaking of Federer, will he show that he is far from finished and win another title, either by overcoming his nemesis on his own turf or defeating the reigning champion of men's tennis?
The answers remain to be seen, but one this is for certain: the French Open can't get here soon enough.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
A Lesson in Poor PR and Dumb Decision-Making: Mullen High School vs. Dave Logan
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| Former Mullen Head Coach Dave Logan |
After hanging up his cleats, Logan went on to become the play-by-play man for the Broncos as well as one of the most successful high school coaches in Colorado history. Over 19 seasons at three different schools (Arvada West, Chatfield, and Mullen), Logan compiled a record of 201-43 with six state titles. He won a title with every school he coached. At Mullen, he won four of those titles, including three straight, and had a 34-game winning streak that was halted this past season. He has never taken a salary, instead divvying up his pay amongst his assistants.
This past season, Mullen went 9-3 and was bounced from the state playoffs in the quarterfinals by Pomona.
Naturally, Mullen fired him.
For Coloradoans, this was even more shocking than when the Broncos fired Mike Shanahan. Dave Logan is high school football to many people. He's a Colorado icon. His voice can be heard every Sunday by legions of Broncos fans tuning into the game on 850 KOA. His face is seen all over the state in FirstBank advertisements. Let's face it, the guy's a legend.
As if his ouster wasn't enough, the tale just keeps getting stranger and stranger as Mullen officials, already facing a wave of negative opinion, seemingly keep digging themselves a bigger and bigger hole.
When the firing was first announced, Mullen president and CEO Ryan Clement, a former Mullen and University of Miami quarterback (who was, according to his bio, offered a scholarship by EVERY Division I school in the United States. No word about Canadian schools), said that he wanted a coach who could be around the school full-time. Clement said, "Our responsibility is to always be aware of the entire culture at Mullen according to Lasallian values. After discussions, we decided the best interest of the school in the long term was someone who can be a full-time member of the school community and be engaged in every facet. Part of that is to be a full engaged member."
Clement went on to say that Logan had become the face of the school, stating, "In the case of Coach Logan, he had a greater celebrity outside, which was even magnified more. The analysis of the impact on our culture is magnified by how the head football coach engages within the school. For that position, we felt we needed to have (the coach) be full-time faculty. If our greatest asset is our football coach, who's not here very often, you can see it's not who we've been."
Logan is not a teacher and hosts a daily afternoon talk show on 850 KOA. However, only about 10 percent of Mullen's 100 coaches are full-time faculty. Having a coach who isn't a teacher at the school is pretty common. I played baseball and tennis at Columbine, and neither of my head coaches were employed at the school, for example. Students held brief protests supporting Logan, indicating that how he "engaged within the school" was greatly appreciated by the student body.
Plus, what is the problem with football being the face of the school? Success breeds recognition, and few schools have been as successful as Mullen at football over the past decade. As a private school, Mullen needs the attention that football brings. Prospective students will hear about the Mustangs' success and become interested in learning more about the school.
It happens to schools all the time. When you think about Rocky Mountain High School, the first thing that comes to mind is their stellar baseball team. Same thing with Eaton. Cherry Creek is known for its dominant tennis program and stellar baseball team coached by legendary coach Marc Johnson. Rudy Carey and boys basketball are the face of Denver East. Columbine is known for its strong football program with its punishing ground game. One could make an argument that Coach Andy Lowry is the face of the school.
That explanation, shaky enough to begin with, became even more suspect once it was revealed that prior to last season, Mullen administrators wanted Logan to replace three assistant coaches with full-time faculty, one of whom was Clement. The former all-state quarterback wanted to become the team's quarterbacks coach. Logan admitted that Clement did talk to him several times about becoming the quarterbacks coach but that he declined because he already had a quarterbacks coach (a pretty good one, too, as the past few Mullen quarterbacks have received Division I scholarship offers). He did add that he doesn't believe that was the reason he was fired. Mullen officials, mainly Clement, have denied the reports, but according to The Denver Post, multiple sources have confirmed the school wanted full-time faculty on the football staff.
Another angle to this story indirectly revolves around Regis' Mark Nolan. Mullen's new principal, Jim Gmelich, was at Regis prior to coming to Mullen last year and is close to Nolan. Speculation is that the new Mullen administrators want Nolan to be the football coach at Mullen. I have heard the same thing from someone I know who knows someone close to the situation.
The latest bombshell is that last night, Mullen reported recruiting violations to the Colorado High School Athletic Association. The school claims the violations were committed by Logan and his staff. Clement again reiterated that the football program cannot be run by someone who is not at the school full-time and that compliance with state regulations deteriorated during Logan's tenure. .
These allegations are not surprising. Public school fans have long suspected and accused private schools such as Mullen of recruiting. The Denver Post recently ran an excellent series of articles, mainly centered around newcomer Valor Christian, about the rise of private school powerhouses in the state.
Logan himself has been accused of recruiting. Before he was the head coach at Mullen, Logan coached at Chatfield. In 2001, they won a state title behind LenDale White and several transfers from Denver South. White went on to play at USC and in the NFL. While no action was ever taken against Logan, rivals cried foul that these players all happened to transfer to Chatfield, a school that is not a football powerhouse. They went there because of Logan, and the common belief among Jeffco League rivals was that Logan and his staff recruited them.
In his defense, Denver South's football team had been going through a tumultuous time. In 2000, their head coach and an assistant were suspended, and another placed on leave, after an incident in which the coach's brother pointed a gun at an assistant coach after practice. Reports surfaced of other problems with the program, including allegations of player abuse. It is understandable that players would want to leave a program after something like that. It is a gray area between recruiting and helping kids out.
Regardless, the timing of these allegations is highly suspect. If recruiting violations did occur, then why weren't they mentioned at the time of Logan's firing? The story then was that Logan was let go because the school wanted a full-time faculty member to coach the football team, somone who could be around the school more often.
Clement said at the time, "Coach Logan is a great coach. He's a man of integrity. He does a great job in all that he does. But he's just not here as often as necessary for the head football coach at Mullen."
He won four state titles and went 110-12 in nine years at the school. Sounds like he was there often enough.
After the strong public backlash and criticism, all of a sudden now Logan and his staff were fired because of recruiting and other violations? Seriously? What about his integrity and the great job he did? If that were indeed the case, then why not come out and say it when it was first announced that he was fired? Why the charade about wanting a full-time faculty member to coach the team?
Oh, but it gets better.
Logan's name is not even listed among the people accused of committing recruiting violations in the package Mullen sent to CHSAA. Logan adamantly denies any allegations of wrongdoing, saying. A further video interview can be found here. Other members of Logan's staff have strongly denied that anything violations occurred.
In this day and age, especially after last year's college football season that was riddled with scandal, "recruiting violations" has a sinister undertone to it. Want to know what nefarious deeds Logan and staff committed?
On October 21, during a game against Arapahoe, several eighth graders were on the sideline during the game. The students were eventually asked to sit in the stands. That was it. If you've ever been to a high school football game here in Colorado, you know that there is a lot going on and that kids wander around all over the place. It wouldn't be that hard to sneak onto the sidelines, and I doubt coaches actively asked them to come stand with the team. Logan wouldn't know about them because he would have been too busy coaching the game. His attention is focused on his players and what's going on out on the field.
Logan admitted that several other eighth graders were going to eat a meal with the team but were denied once the staff realized it could be a recruiting violation. Before you think it was some plot to go around the rules, the kids had older brothers who were coached by Logan. Presumably, the older brothers were current players. It stands to reason that young kids, who usually look up to and try to emulate their older brothers, simply wanted to be a part of the team and hang out with their older brothers. They were denied, and that was the end of it.
Clement wants us to believe that was the reason Logan was fired? Some eigtht graders stood on the sideline during part of one game, and some others almost had dinner with the team? Really? That's your reasoning for firing Logan?
Clement and Mullen just keep digging themselves into a deeper and deeper hole. Public opinion was already against them, but now it's going to get even worse. Clement keeps putting his foot in his mouth. In a statement, he said, "My handling of the communication and outreach efforts to the Mullen family and the general public in the immediate aftermath of our decision to part company with our coach was handled poorly..."
Ya think?
The vague reasoning and constantly changing stories don't do much for Mullen's credibility. In fact, it comes across as Clement and Mullen trying to cover their own asses while smearing Logan's name to try and salvage their own. If indeed their side of the story is accurate, then they simply come across as incompetent and grossly lacking in PR ability and should not be allowed to run a school.
My money's on the former. Look, I've never been a fan of Mullen, and Logan has always coached schools that are rivals of my own. However, Logan has never been accused of any wrongdoing by CHSAA. By all accounts he is an upstanding and honorable man who is well-liked and admired. He has been a highly-successful coach and coaches the right way. He encourages kids to play other sports in an era of specialization and realizes football isn't everything, unlike many dictatorial coaches these days. He works for free and gives his salary to his assistants. He has taken the high road all throughout this ordeal, unlike Clement.
This whole thing just comes off as an ill-conceived and poorly executed power trip by Clement and Mullen officials. There's no good reason to fire Logan. They simply resented his power and influence. They wanted the spotlight. Well now it's shining on them, and they've proven they can't handle it. I suppose the one benefit to this whole thing is that Clement will get his wish: the football program will no longer be the face of the school because if you're a prospective football player, would you want to play for Mullen after all this? I think not.
Rumors have been rampant that Logan will end up at Cherry Creek, the state's largest high school and one with a rich football tradition of its own. Coach Mike Brookhart stepped down as football coach yesterday (he still remains the head basketball coach), leading to further speculation that Logan will replace him. I despise Cherry Creek-- pretty much every non-Creek student in Colorado does-- but I honestly hope that Logan takes the job and crushes Mullen for years to come.
Monday, January 16, 2012
The Big Picture
Remember one week ago?
The whole state of Colorado was on cloud nine, basking in the glory and good feelings that spewed forth after the Broncos' shocking upset of the heavily-favored Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh had the league's top-ranked defense, and the Broncos were coming off a three-game losing streak in which they'd looked terrible. Tim Tebow and the offense couldn't even muster a touchdown against a woeful Kansas City team with nothing to play for; how could they hope to do much of anything against the Steel Curtain?
Tebow responded with his best day ever as a pro, throwing for a career-high 316 yards with two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. Denver jumped all over Pittsburgh in the second quarter, racing out to a 20-6 lead behind numerous deep balls from Tebow. Denver was up 23-13 in the fourth quarter before Ben Roethlisberger brought the Steelers back. The game went to overtime, and on the first play, Tebow hit Demaryius Thomas across the middle. Thomas stiff-armed Pittsburgh cornerback Ike Taylor and then outran Taylor and safety Ryan Mundy to the end zone for an 80-yard touchdown pass to win the game, setting off raucous celebrations all over Denver. The Broncos had won their first playoff game since January of 2006, and did it in memorable fashion. Tebow Time was alive and well.
Unfortunately, the magic ran out.
The Broncos had to travel to Foxboro to take on the top-seeded New England Patriots in a rematch from the regular season. Denver had won six-in-a-row going into that game and gave the Patriots all they could handle, rushing for 167 yards in the first quarter alone and jumping out to a 16-7 lead. Denver unraveled in the second quarter, turning the ball over on three straight possessions, enabling the Patriots to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Things were going to be different this time around, as there was no way the Broncos were going to turn the ball over like that. New England's porous defense was atrocious all year long, so while Brady figured to put up some points, the Broncos could do some damage of their own.
Or so the theory went.
Brady and the Patriots absolutely demolished the Broncos in a humiliating 45-10 New England victory. Tom Brady threw for a record-tying six touchdown passes against a hapless Denver defense that had no answers. The Patriots marched up and down the field, throwing the ball at will. Brady was 26-of-34 for 363 yards and those six touchdowns with one interception. Tight end Rob Gronkowski caught ten passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns, and three other Patriots had at least 55 yards receiving. The game was over at halftime as New England went into the locker room up 35-7.
That porous New England defense suffocated Denver's offense, limiting the Broncos to 252 total yards. Tebow was a meager 9-of-26 for 136 yards with no touchdowns. Denver had at least 15 plays where it lost yardage. Frankly, it was embarrassing.
That being said, Bronco fans need to get over the loss and reflect upon the amazing season this team had. It's hard to believe after such a devastating defeat, but this was a great year.
Denver was coming off arguably the worst season in franchise history. The Broncos were an abysmal 4-12 and were lifeless much of the year. The defense was the worst in the NFL, and the offense couldn't run the ball to save its life. Head coach Josh McDaniels became embroiled in a videotaping controversy and was fired, becoming the most reviled figure in Denver sports in some time. The glory days of Mike Shanahan were a long, long way away.
Hell, the mediocre days of Mike Shanahan were a long, long way away.
John Elway was brought in to right the ship and turn things around. He hired John Fox to replace McDaniels, and for the first time in awhile, there was optimism and hope surrounding the franchise. Still, practically all the pundits believed it was going to take some time for Denver to become relevant again.
Sports Illustrated picked the Broncos to finish last in the AFC West. ESPN the Magazine predicted another 4-12 finish. The Broncos were on the right track, drafting lineback Von Miller, but they just had too many holes to fill and not enough talent.
These prognostications seemed to be coming true when the team stumbled out of the gate to a 1-4 start. The already shrill cries for backup Tim Tebow became even more prevalent, and the team finally decided to go with the unheralded former Florida quarterback.
What happened next defied reason.
It seems there are two kinds of people when it comes to Tebow: the Haters who believe that he is the worst quarterback in the NFL and has no business running an offense, and the Believers who think he can do no wrong and simply wills his team to victory.
Tebow proved them both right.
Numerous times, he'd look downright horrid for three quarters. Forget about hitting the broadside of a barn, he couldn't even hit the cornfields. Passes were off-target. He'd hold the ball way too long, totally unsure of whether to throw it and who to throw it to. The offense couldn't get a first down, much less put up points.
Then all of a sudden, it was a complete 180. Tebow couldn't miss. He'd fit throws into tight windows and complete nearly every pass he threw. He'd rip off chunks of yardage with his legs to get first downs and keep drives alive. The defense would make a crucial interception or force a key fumble. Marion Barber would ramble out-of-bounds and stop the clock. The Broncos would end up winning in stunning fashion. Denver won six-straight behind Tebow to thrust themselves back in the playoff picture and ended up winning its first AFC West title since 2005.
However, you can't sustain that type of winning. The miracles will run out, and they did against the Patriots. New England exposed this team's holes and showed that much work remains to be done, but this shouldn't come as a surprise. Remember, there was a reason this team was picked by so many experts to do so poorly.
Were the Broncos as good as their record? Probably not. They got incredibly lucky a few times, so this playoff run was ahead of schedule. None of that takes away from what they accomplished this year.
This season showed that the Broncos do have some pieces to work with and that the rebuilding project will not take as long as many feared. The Broncos have the right people and plan in place. More importantly, this team now has confidence in itself. The players know they can compete and win. That culture of losing has been washed away. They believe that they can win any game. Denver won four games this year in overtime and had a couple more fourth-quarter comebacks. That will pay huge dividends down the line because these guys won't get rattled or tight if they are losing in the fourth quarter. They've been there before and overcome the odds.
Like I mentioned above, some of the pieces are in place. Von Miller had an outstanding rookie season and is a favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Before he sustained torn ligaments in his hand that limited his effectiveness, Miller formed a fearsome pass rushing duo with Elvis Dumervil. He's only going to get better, and the two of them will terrorize quarterbacks for the forseeable future. Champ Bailey continues to play at a high level, and undrafted rookie Chris Harris was a great find. He showed himself to be a sound tackler and made some plays in coverage this year. He became the team's third corner. Fellow rookie Quentin Carter struggled initially but really came on late in the year, recording a pick in each playoff game. Robert Ayers, a much-maligned draft pick of McDaniels, also came on late, sacking Roethlisberger two times in the playoff win. Broderick Bunkley and Marcus Thomas had solid years up front on the defensive line. Bunkley was a great acquisition, and the defensive line held up much better than was expected.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Broncos were the number one rushing team in the NFL, a drastic departure from the McDaniels Era. Wide receiver Eric Decker had his moments, particularly early in the season, and was the team's leading receiver. Demaryius Thomas came on over the second half of the season and had a monster postseason, racking up an astounding 204 yards receiving on only four catches against Pittsburgh. If those two can stay healthy and cut down on the drops, Denver will have quite an effective tandem at wide receiver. Willis McGahee rushed for over 1,000 yards despite being over 30 years old and provided the kind of tough, inside running the Broncos had lacked. Even when teams stacked the box to stop him, he was still able to grind out the yards. The offensive line, the youngest in the NFL, was solid. They paved the way for the league's leading rushing attack but struggled at times in pass protection. They're young but talented, and will only improve. Their future looks bright.
The special teams were a bright spot for the Broncos. Punter Britton Colquitt had an oustanding season, and were it not for Shane Lechler, likely would have made the Pro Bowl. He constantly pinned teams deep and helped the Broncos win the field position battle. Kicker Matt Prater had his best season yet, kicking big field goals all year long. He hit a 57-yarder to tie the game against Chicago and kicked numerous clutch field goals during the team's winning streak. He also doesn't yield many runbacks on kickoffs. Eric Decker and Eddie Royal both had punt returns for touchdowns this year.
The season showed that the Broncos still have some work to do. As Tom Brady so brutally pointed out, the secondary lacks depth and playmakers. Andre' Goodman was burned badly this year. Percy Harvin abused him, and teams picked on him all year as they stayed away from challenging Bailey. The Broncos didn't record many interceptions or force many turnovers, and that will have to change. Brian Dawkins was hurt late in the year and may have to retire, but when he was healthy, he struggled in coverage. Plus, those guys are getting up there in years. Bailey and Goodman will be 34, Dawkins is 37. The Broncos need to infuse some youth and talent in the secondary to combat all these spread passing attacks. Safety Rahim Moore, the team's second round pick, began the season as the starter but regressed and fell down the depth chart. He was inactive for a couple of games, and the team can't have that from such a high pick. He must improve next year. The defensive line has been a problem for years that, for some inconceivable reason, has never been addressed in the draft. The Broncos seemingly refuse to draft a defensive tackle. Bunkley and Thomas played well, but the team was gashed by the run at times and failed to get pressure once Miller was hurt. More depth is needed, especially at the tackle position.
Nothing needs to improve on offense.
Okay, we all know that's not true as it's been well-documented. Unless you live under a rock, you've heard somebody give his or her opinion aobut Tebow.
Regardless of what you think of the guy or his beliefs, you can't deny that he must improve next year. He completed only 46.5 percent of his passes, and while he will never have Drew Brees' pinpoint accuracy, that number must go up. He needs to make defenses respect him as a passer to take the pressure off the running game. Plus, the team will be able to open up the playbook more if he shows he can make more throws. He also needs to work on his footwork, which will improve his accuracy, and must get better at reading defenses and making quicker decisions. He will have a full offseason with the coaching staff for the first time, which will help immensely. Tebow is known for his tremendous work ethic, so you know that if it doesn't work out, it won't be for lack of trying.
Remember, this was basically his first season as a starting quarterback, so cut him some slack. He's still a young quarterback who has more to learn than most because of the system he ran in college and his style of play. Let's see how he progresses over the offseason and into next year before rendering a final judgment on him.
The team will likely draft a quarterback, and people will go nuts about it. Backup Brady Quinn is a free agent, and if he doesn't re-sign, the team needs a backup. That has nothing to do with Tebow. The interesting part will be in who management decides to bring in. Tebow has been announced as the starter going into next year, but his unique style presents a challenge. People talk a lot about the option, but the team generally ran a normal style of offense: conventional handoffs to McGahee, dropback passes, etc. The Broncos ran more read-option and quarterback draws than most teams, but it wasn't like they all of a sudden became Air Force and were going with the triple-option every play. Drafting a dual threat quarterback makes sense because then the team can run the same plays if Tebow goes down, but a conventional quarterback can work, too, because then you just don't call the option stuff. Personally, I would love to see the Broncos draft Kellen Moore (he's deadly accurate, cool under fire, and all he does is win, even more than Tebow), but a sleeper pick would be Northern Illinois' Chandler Harnish. He's a dual-threat quarterback who averaged over 100 yards rushing a game this past season. He should be available in the later rounds.
Running back is another area that needs to be addressed. McGahee ran well but was bothered with hamstring injuries at times and is over 30. He also lacks top-end speed to break big runs. He needs someone to complement him and give him a breather. Knowshon Moreno tore his ACL and probably lists the trainer's room as his permanent address, but when he has been healthy, he hasn't done much. Lance Ball is a tough player, but he's not the answer. Jeremiah Johnson showed some flashes but wasn't given much of an opportunity. There are always diamonds in the rough when it comes to running back (see: Davis, Terrell and Foster, Arian), so the team shouldn't use a first-round pick on a running back. My Boise State love aside, I would love it if the team drafted the Broncos' Doug Martin. He's a tough, powerful running back with nimble feet who is also a skilled receiver. Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead is another guy I wouldn't mind seeing in a Denver jersey. He's quick and makes decisive cuts, and it was fun watching him run in the Liberty Bowl against Vanderbilt. He's not as well-known because the Bearcats throw the ball a lot, but he's been very productive in college.
Wide receivers Decker and Thomas showed flashes of brilliance this year, but not at the same time. Decker was hot early but cooled off and was almost an afterthought down the stretch while Thomas came on late. They must become more consistent for the offense to reach the next level. Both are young and didn't play much as rookies, so they deserve the benefit of the doubt. It typically takes longer for young recievers to make an impact than other positions, but they must make significant strides.
Tight end presents a conundrum. The Patriots have two of the league's best in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, and they killed Denver this year. By comparison, the Broncos' tight ends had a whopping one catch in the playoff debacle. Dante Rosario and Daniel Fells are both free agents. However, the team drafted Julius Thomas and Virgil Green last year. It's too early to write them off, especially Thomas. He had a great training camp but suffered an ankle injury against the Bengals and was neither seen nor heard from since. If you have any clues as to the whereabouts of Julius Thomas, please call...
Okay, I digress, but the point is, Thomas was invisible after he was hurt. Green played some on special teams and as a blocker, but I don't recall him having a catch. They need to make an impact next year. Thomas didn't play much tight end in college, so he is still raw. The team knew he was a project when they drafted him, so they shouldn't give up on him. Still, if there's a good tight end available, Denver should pick him up. They just shouldn't do it ahead of more pressing needs.
The season ended sourly, but Denver fans should take heart in what this team accomplished this year. It was a fun ride while it lasted. Nobody expected them to do what they did, yet they made the playoffs and pulled off a shocking upset in one of the most memorable Bronco games in history. The future looks a helluva lot brighter now than it did a year ago, and the Broncos are on the rise. They may take a step back next year against a tougher schedule, but the team will continue to improve.
The AFC West is wide open: San Diego is in decline, and the Chargers' window appears to be closing. Phillip Rivers will always make them competitive, but poor drafts have cost them. The defense lacks playmakers, and the offense has some holes to fill on the offensive line. Antonio Gates has been hampered by injuries, and Vincent Jackson has had some issue. Kansas City will benefit from the return of Jamaal Charles, Tony Moeaki, and Eric Berry from injury, but that team still has significant question marks. Matt Cassel has struggled, and Romeo Crennel's Cleveland teams weren't exactly stellar. The Raiders are, well, the Raiders. They just fired their head coach, and who knows what they are going to do. They put the 'fun' in dysfunctional. Trading for Carson Palmer means they won't have any picks in the first few rounds of the draft this year, so Oakland won't be able to address its issues as easily as other teams.
For the first time in years, things look bright for the Broncos. Optimism abounds, and while the Broncos suffered an ignominious end to the season, it was a success nonetheless. Remember the Miami, San Diego, Chicago, and Pittsburgh games, Broncos fans. Remember how Mile High Magic returned and how we all believed the game wasn't over late in the fourth quarter. Remember Darrelle Revis being afraid to tackle Tebow. Remember Miller laying the boom on Mark Sanchez. Wesley Woodyard stripping the ball from Marion Barber. Ayers lighting up Roethlisberger.
Remember Demaryius Thomas streaking down the sideline to the end zone in overtime.
Those are the images to take away from the 2011 season. Hopefully, it's a sign of things to come.
The whole state of Colorado was on cloud nine, basking in the glory and good feelings that spewed forth after the Broncos' shocking upset of the heavily-favored Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh had the league's top-ranked defense, and the Broncos were coming off a three-game losing streak in which they'd looked terrible. Tim Tebow and the offense couldn't even muster a touchdown against a woeful Kansas City team with nothing to play for; how could they hope to do much of anything against the Steel Curtain?
Tebow responded with his best day ever as a pro, throwing for a career-high 316 yards with two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. Denver jumped all over Pittsburgh in the second quarter, racing out to a 20-6 lead behind numerous deep balls from Tebow. Denver was up 23-13 in the fourth quarter before Ben Roethlisberger brought the Steelers back. The game went to overtime, and on the first play, Tebow hit Demaryius Thomas across the middle. Thomas stiff-armed Pittsburgh cornerback Ike Taylor and then outran Taylor and safety Ryan Mundy to the end zone for an 80-yard touchdown pass to win the game, setting off raucous celebrations all over Denver. The Broncos had won their first playoff game since January of 2006, and did it in memorable fashion. Tebow Time was alive and well.
Unfortunately, the magic ran out.
The Broncos had to travel to Foxboro to take on the top-seeded New England Patriots in a rematch from the regular season. Denver had won six-in-a-row going into that game and gave the Patriots all they could handle, rushing for 167 yards in the first quarter alone and jumping out to a 16-7 lead. Denver unraveled in the second quarter, turning the ball over on three straight possessions, enabling the Patriots to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Things were going to be different this time around, as there was no way the Broncos were going to turn the ball over like that. New England's porous defense was atrocious all year long, so while Brady figured to put up some points, the Broncos could do some damage of their own.
Or so the theory went.
Brady and the Patriots absolutely demolished the Broncos in a humiliating 45-10 New England victory. Tom Brady threw for a record-tying six touchdown passes against a hapless Denver defense that had no answers. The Patriots marched up and down the field, throwing the ball at will. Brady was 26-of-34 for 363 yards and those six touchdowns with one interception. Tight end Rob Gronkowski caught ten passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns, and three other Patriots had at least 55 yards receiving. The game was over at halftime as New England went into the locker room up 35-7.
That porous New England defense suffocated Denver's offense, limiting the Broncos to 252 total yards. Tebow was a meager 9-of-26 for 136 yards with no touchdowns. Denver had at least 15 plays where it lost yardage. Frankly, it was embarrassing.
That being said, Bronco fans need to get over the loss and reflect upon the amazing season this team had. It's hard to believe after such a devastating defeat, but this was a great year.
Denver was coming off arguably the worst season in franchise history. The Broncos were an abysmal 4-12 and were lifeless much of the year. The defense was the worst in the NFL, and the offense couldn't run the ball to save its life. Head coach Josh McDaniels became embroiled in a videotaping controversy and was fired, becoming the most reviled figure in Denver sports in some time. The glory days of Mike Shanahan were a long, long way away.
Hell, the mediocre days of Mike Shanahan were a long, long way away.
John Elway was brought in to right the ship and turn things around. He hired John Fox to replace McDaniels, and for the first time in awhile, there was optimism and hope surrounding the franchise. Still, practically all the pundits believed it was going to take some time for Denver to become relevant again.
Sports Illustrated picked the Broncos to finish last in the AFC West. ESPN the Magazine predicted another 4-12 finish. The Broncos were on the right track, drafting lineback Von Miller, but they just had too many holes to fill and not enough talent.
These prognostications seemed to be coming true when the team stumbled out of the gate to a 1-4 start. The already shrill cries for backup Tim Tebow became even more prevalent, and the team finally decided to go with the unheralded former Florida quarterback.
What happened next defied reason.
It seems there are two kinds of people when it comes to Tebow: the Haters who believe that he is the worst quarterback in the NFL and has no business running an offense, and the Believers who think he can do no wrong and simply wills his team to victory.
Tebow proved them both right.
Numerous times, he'd look downright horrid for three quarters. Forget about hitting the broadside of a barn, he couldn't even hit the cornfields. Passes were off-target. He'd hold the ball way too long, totally unsure of whether to throw it and who to throw it to. The offense couldn't get a first down, much less put up points.
Then all of a sudden, it was a complete 180. Tebow couldn't miss. He'd fit throws into tight windows and complete nearly every pass he threw. He'd rip off chunks of yardage with his legs to get first downs and keep drives alive. The defense would make a crucial interception or force a key fumble. Marion Barber would ramble out-of-bounds and stop the clock. The Broncos would end up winning in stunning fashion. Denver won six-straight behind Tebow to thrust themselves back in the playoff picture and ended up winning its first AFC West title since 2005.
However, you can't sustain that type of winning. The miracles will run out, and they did against the Patriots. New England exposed this team's holes and showed that much work remains to be done, but this shouldn't come as a surprise. Remember, there was a reason this team was picked by so many experts to do so poorly.
Were the Broncos as good as their record? Probably not. They got incredibly lucky a few times, so this playoff run was ahead of schedule. None of that takes away from what they accomplished this year.
This season showed that the Broncos do have some pieces to work with and that the rebuilding project will not take as long as many feared. The Broncos have the right people and plan in place. More importantly, this team now has confidence in itself. The players know they can compete and win. That culture of losing has been washed away. They believe that they can win any game. Denver won four games this year in overtime and had a couple more fourth-quarter comebacks. That will pay huge dividends down the line because these guys won't get rattled or tight if they are losing in the fourth quarter. They've been there before and overcome the odds.
Like I mentioned above, some of the pieces are in place. Von Miller had an outstanding rookie season and is a favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Before he sustained torn ligaments in his hand that limited his effectiveness, Miller formed a fearsome pass rushing duo with Elvis Dumervil. He's only going to get better, and the two of them will terrorize quarterbacks for the forseeable future. Champ Bailey continues to play at a high level, and undrafted rookie Chris Harris was a great find. He showed himself to be a sound tackler and made some plays in coverage this year. He became the team's third corner. Fellow rookie Quentin Carter struggled initially but really came on late in the year, recording a pick in each playoff game. Robert Ayers, a much-maligned draft pick of McDaniels, also came on late, sacking Roethlisberger two times in the playoff win. Broderick Bunkley and Marcus Thomas had solid years up front on the defensive line. Bunkley was a great acquisition, and the defensive line held up much better than was expected.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Broncos were the number one rushing team in the NFL, a drastic departure from the McDaniels Era. Wide receiver Eric Decker had his moments, particularly early in the season, and was the team's leading receiver. Demaryius Thomas came on over the second half of the season and had a monster postseason, racking up an astounding 204 yards receiving on only four catches against Pittsburgh. If those two can stay healthy and cut down on the drops, Denver will have quite an effective tandem at wide receiver. Willis McGahee rushed for over 1,000 yards despite being over 30 years old and provided the kind of tough, inside running the Broncos had lacked. Even when teams stacked the box to stop him, he was still able to grind out the yards. The offensive line, the youngest in the NFL, was solid. They paved the way for the league's leading rushing attack but struggled at times in pass protection. They're young but talented, and will only improve. Their future looks bright.
The special teams were a bright spot for the Broncos. Punter Britton Colquitt had an oustanding season, and were it not for Shane Lechler, likely would have made the Pro Bowl. He constantly pinned teams deep and helped the Broncos win the field position battle. Kicker Matt Prater had his best season yet, kicking big field goals all year long. He hit a 57-yarder to tie the game against Chicago and kicked numerous clutch field goals during the team's winning streak. He also doesn't yield many runbacks on kickoffs. Eric Decker and Eddie Royal both had punt returns for touchdowns this year.
The season showed that the Broncos still have some work to do. As Tom Brady so brutally pointed out, the secondary lacks depth and playmakers. Andre' Goodman was burned badly this year. Percy Harvin abused him, and teams picked on him all year as they stayed away from challenging Bailey. The Broncos didn't record many interceptions or force many turnovers, and that will have to change. Brian Dawkins was hurt late in the year and may have to retire, but when he was healthy, he struggled in coverage. Plus, those guys are getting up there in years. Bailey and Goodman will be 34, Dawkins is 37. The Broncos need to infuse some youth and talent in the secondary to combat all these spread passing attacks. Safety Rahim Moore, the team's second round pick, began the season as the starter but regressed and fell down the depth chart. He was inactive for a couple of games, and the team can't have that from such a high pick. He must improve next year. The defensive line has been a problem for years that, for some inconceivable reason, has never been addressed in the draft. The Broncos seemingly refuse to draft a defensive tackle. Bunkley and Thomas played well, but the team was gashed by the run at times and failed to get pressure once Miller was hurt. More depth is needed, especially at the tackle position.
Nothing needs to improve on offense.
Okay, we all know that's not true as it's been well-documented. Unless you live under a rock, you've heard somebody give his or her opinion aobut Tebow.
Regardless of what you think of the guy or his beliefs, you can't deny that he must improve next year. He completed only 46.5 percent of his passes, and while he will never have Drew Brees' pinpoint accuracy, that number must go up. He needs to make defenses respect him as a passer to take the pressure off the running game. Plus, the team will be able to open up the playbook more if he shows he can make more throws. He also needs to work on his footwork, which will improve his accuracy, and must get better at reading defenses and making quicker decisions. He will have a full offseason with the coaching staff for the first time, which will help immensely. Tebow is known for his tremendous work ethic, so you know that if it doesn't work out, it won't be for lack of trying.
Remember, this was basically his first season as a starting quarterback, so cut him some slack. He's still a young quarterback who has more to learn than most because of the system he ran in college and his style of play. Let's see how he progresses over the offseason and into next year before rendering a final judgment on him.
The team will likely draft a quarterback, and people will go nuts about it. Backup Brady Quinn is a free agent, and if he doesn't re-sign, the team needs a backup. That has nothing to do with Tebow. The interesting part will be in who management decides to bring in. Tebow has been announced as the starter going into next year, but his unique style presents a challenge. People talk a lot about the option, but the team generally ran a normal style of offense: conventional handoffs to McGahee, dropback passes, etc. The Broncos ran more read-option and quarterback draws than most teams, but it wasn't like they all of a sudden became Air Force and were going with the triple-option every play. Drafting a dual threat quarterback makes sense because then the team can run the same plays if Tebow goes down, but a conventional quarterback can work, too, because then you just don't call the option stuff. Personally, I would love to see the Broncos draft Kellen Moore (he's deadly accurate, cool under fire, and all he does is win, even more than Tebow), but a sleeper pick would be Northern Illinois' Chandler Harnish. He's a dual-threat quarterback who averaged over 100 yards rushing a game this past season. He should be available in the later rounds.
Running back is another area that needs to be addressed. McGahee ran well but was bothered with hamstring injuries at times and is over 30. He also lacks top-end speed to break big runs. He needs someone to complement him and give him a breather. Knowshon Moreno tore his ACL and probably lists the trainer's room as his permanent address, but when he has been healthy, he hasn't done much. Lance Ball is a tough player, but he's not the answer. Jeremiah Johnson showed some flashes but wasn't given much of an opportunity. There are always diamonds in the rough when it comes to running back (see: Davis, Terrell and Foster, Arian), so the team shouldn't use a first-round pick on a running back. My Boise State love aside, I would love it if the team drafted the Broncos' Doug Martin. He's a tough, powerful running back with nimble feet who is also a skilled receiver. Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead is another guy I wouldn't mind seeing in a Denver jersey. He's quick and makes decisive cuts, and it was fun watching him run in the Liberty Bowl against Vanderbilt. He's not as well-known because the Bearcats throw the ball a lot, but he's been very productive in college.
Wide receivers Decker and Thomas showed flashes of brilliance this year, but not at the same time. Decker was hot early but cooled off and was almost an afterthought down the stretch while Thomas came on late. They must become more consistent for the offense to reach the next level. Both are young and didn't play much as rookies, so they deserve the benefit of the doubt. It typically takes longer for young recievers to make an impact than other positions, but they must make significant strides.
Tight end presents a conundrum. The Patriots have two of the league's best in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, and they killed Denver this year. By comparison, the Broncos' tight ends had a whopping one catch in the playoff debacle. Dante Rosario and Daniel Fells are both free agents. However, the team drafted Julius Thomas and Virgil Green last year. It's too early to write them off, especially Thomas. He had a great training camp but suffered an ankle injury against the Bengals and was neither seen nor heard from since. If you have any clues as to the whereabouts of Julius Thomas, please call...
Okay, I digress, but the point is, Thomas was invisible after he was hurt. Green played some on special teams and as a blocker, but I don't recall him having a catch. They need to make an impact next year. Thomas didn't play much tight end in college, so he is still raw. The team knew he was a project when they drafted him, so they shouldn't give up on him. Still, if there's a good tight end available, Denver should pick him up. They just shouldn't do it ahead of more pressing needs.
The season ended sourly, but Denver fans should take heart in what this team accomplished this year. It was a fun ride while it lasted. Nobody expected them to do what they did, yet they made the playoffs and pulled off a shocking upset in one of the most memorable Bronco games in history. The future looks a helluva lot brighter now than it did a year ago, and the Broncos are on the rise. They may take a step back next year against a tougher schedule, but the team will continue to improve.
The AFC West is wide open: San Diego is in decline, and the Chargers' window appears to be closing. Phillip Rivers will always make them competitive, but poor drafts have cost them. The defense lacks playmakers, and the offense has some holes to fill on the offensive line. Antonio Gates has been hampered by injuries, and Vincent Jackson has had some issue. Kansas City will benefit from the return of Jamaal Charles, Tony Moeaki, and Eric Berry from injury, but that team still has significant question marks. Matt Cassel has struggled, and Romeo Crennel's Cleveland teams weren't exactly stellar. The Raiders are, well, the Raiders. They just fired their head coach, and who knows what they are going to do. They put the 'fun' in dysfunctional. Trading for Carson Palmer means they won't have any picks in the first few rounds of the draft this year, so Oakland won't be able to address its issues as easily as other teams.
For the first time in years, things look bright for the Broncos. Optimism abounds, and while the Broncos suffered an ignominious end to the season, it was a success nonetheless. Remember the Miami, San Diego, Chicago, and Pittsburgh games, Broncos fans. Remember how Mile High Magic returned and how we all believed the game wasn't over late in the fourth quarter. Remember Darrelle Revis being afraid to tackle Tebow. Remember Miller laying the boom on Mark Sanchez. Wesley Woodyard stripping the ball from Marion Barber. Ayers lighting up Roethlisberger.
Remember Demaryius Thomas streaking down the sideline to the end zone in overtime.
Those are the images to take away from the 2011 season. Hopefully, it's a sign of things to come.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Angriest Playoff Appearance Ever
This past Sunday, the Oakland Raiders lost to the San Diego Chargers, thus clinching the AFC West title for the Denver Broncos. It's the team's first playoff appearance in six years.
Naturally, nobody seems happy about it.
The Broncos backed into the playoffs, losing three straight and making it in despite finishing the season 8-8. The offense has looked terrible the last few weeks (and before that, to be honest). On Sunday, the Broncos lost 7-3 to the Chiefs. Quarterback Tim Tebow had a forgettable day throwing the ball, completing 6 of 22 passes for less than 100 yards. The knock on Tebow coming out of college was that he couldn't throw very well. He wasn't accurate enough, and his throwing motion is too long.
If you don't know what that means exactly, it means that he throws more like a baseball pitcher rather than a quarterback. Pitchers have long windups; their hand drops down near their waist, extends back behind the head, and then comes forward. Quarterbacks throw more like infielders. The ball is held high-and-tight near their head and doesn't go back as far.
Anyway, Tebow quieted his critics during a six-game winning streak that got the Broncos back into playoff contention and included several miraculous come-from-behind wins. That momentum stopped against the Patriots three weeks ago as the Broncos were done in by several costly turnovers. It seemed to sap their confidence.
The Broncos were blown out on the road against an awful Buffalo team that had lost seven in a row, and then laid an egg at home against a Chiefs team that had nothing to play for. Denver hasn't shown that it's capable of playing with the elite teams of the AFC, and it figures to be a short playoff appearance. The Broncos drew Pittsburgh in the first round, and the Steelers are capable of making a Super Bowl run, having done so just last year. Ben Roethlisberger is one of the top quarterbacks in the league, and the Steelers are known for their tough, rugged defense. If Tebow and the offense can only manage a feeble three points against Kansas City, how bad will it be against one of the top defenses in the NFL?
I don't understand why so many Broncos fans are so upset about all this, though. One of my friends said that he'd prefer the Broncos didn't make the playoffs so that they wouldn't be embarrassed on national tv in the playoffs. He was also upset that they played themselves out of a higher draft pick.
I've read numerous posts online from people calling for John Fox to be fired, and others have ranted and raved about how awful this team is.
My question is: why?
One that upsets me about sports fan is how impatient we can be at times. We demand instant success and have unreasonable expectations. If you had said before the season that the Broncos would be 8-8 and make the playoffs, every Denver fan would have taken it. Hardly any would have believed you. Yet now that it happened, few people seem happy about it. It's almost like it's a disappointing season.
Lest we all forget, none of this was supposed to happen. The Broncos were coming off a 4-12 season in which Josh McDaniels, the most reviled and loathed coach in Broncos history, was fired. The team was so terrible that it "earned" the number two pick in the NFL draft, the highest pick in franchise history. Everybody knew this was supposed to be a rebuilding year. I remember reading the season previews in SI and ESPN the Magazine; they both picked the Broncos to finish last in the division. One of them predicted another 4-12 season. People figured the Broncos would be in the running to draft Andrew Luck. Denver Post columnists argued that Denver should lose its games so that it could draft Luck.
You don't do that with playoff contenders.
Things didn't go according to script, though, once Tebow was named the starting quarterback. He inspired the team to play better and led them on a six-game winning streak. All of a sudden, the team had an identity: suffocating defense with a strong, punishing running game. It wasn't pretty by any means (it was pretty boring), but it was effective. All of a sudden, Denver was in playoff contention.
Let's face it, a lot of this has been a fluke. You can't rely on luck and getting every break all the time. They even out over time, as we have seen.
The Broncos will most likely get beat this Sunday, but none of us should be upset about it, at least no more so than normal (losing sucks). But this season is already a success. This was supposed to be a multi-year rebuilding project, and it still is. Things just happened to go Denver's way this year that resulted in an improved record. This team needed a big talent infusion to compete with the upper echelon and return to prominence, and that's not going to happen overnight. Cam Newton has torn it up in Carolina, for example, but the Panthers' defense can't stop anybody. Look at the Lions. They had to have several good drafts before they finally had enough pieces in place to make the playoffs this year. It was a gradual process. It'll be the same for Denver.
There are plenty of bright spots, though. Von Miller looks like he's going to be a stud for years, provided he has the use of both hands. Elvis Dumervil has returned to form and has teamed with Miller to give Denver one of the top pass rushing duos in the league. The defense that had been horrendous for years is now fearsome and will only get better provided the team drafts some good corners and safeties to take over for current aging starters Champ Bailey, Brian Dawkins, and Andre' Goodman. A team can never have too many defensive tackles, either.
The offense is still a work in progress, obviously. Major questions remain, and it all starts with the quarterback position. Tebow will be open next season as the starter. Remember, he's still basically a rookie quarterback who didn't have the benefit of an offseason. I say give him a chance and see how much he improves between now and the start of next year. He has a lot to work on, but if anyone can get it done, it'd be him.
Besides, there aren't really any alternatives. Free agent quarterbacks don't usually pan out; most teams that make it to a Super Bowl do it with homegrown guys. Brady and Rodgers were drafted by their current teams. Drew Brees was a free agent, but he was coming off major shoulder surgery. Matt Flynn, the backup in Green Bay who just set franchise single-game records for passing yards and touchdowns, will be a much-discussed name over the offseason, but he's going to cost a lot of money and is still unproven. Just look at Arizona and Kevin Kolb to see how risky that'd be.
The Broncos should draft a quarterback this year because Brady Quinn will be a free agent, so at the very least, they need a backup. The big question is do you stick with the running offense currently operated by Tebow with its quarterback runs and option plays. If so, then you need a mobile quarterback who can run. If you decide to ditch that and go with a conventional attack, then that opens up options but also takes away Tebow's strengths. That's the major question that will have to be answered.
My personal preference is Kellen Moore. Yes, I am a Boise State fan and am biased, but you can't argue with his results. He was extremely productive in an offense that is fairly close to a conventional pro-style attack and has the benefit of starting all four years in college. He's extremely accurate, smart, and has ice in his veins. He does not get rattled. Tebow supporters always say that all he (Tebow) does is win. Well, Moore is the winningest quarterback in NCAA history. He may not be very tall or have the strongest arm, but neither do Drew Brees or Dalton, for that matter. I just hope someone gives Moore a chance.
Russell Martin is much the same way with the benefit of much greater mobility. He's another option that could work out very nicely. He's very accurate, has a lot of experience, and has been very productive. Both guys, along with Brandon Weeden, should be available after the first round. Draft a defensive tackle or cornerback in the first round and pick up a quarterback later.
Sorry, I got a little sidetracked there. My point is that the Broncos weren't going to become Super Bowl contenders overnight, so everyone needs to take a deep breath and relax. They've come a long way but still have a ways to go. The idea that John Fox should be fired is ludicrous. It makes no sense. He inherited a big mess and a team that was 4-12. In one year, he improved the record by four wins and won the division while changing the offense mid-season. How is that firing-worthy? If anything, he should be a candidate for coach of the year.
Yes, I know there are gripes about the conservative style and overly cautious play-calling, and I get it. I have them myself. It's quite a jarring adjustment for fans used to the high-flying Shanahan days. Those teams were fun to watch, but they also had a ton of talent. This team doesn't have that. Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas have shown flashes of talent but need to be more consistent. They're still young players, though, so they should be cut some slack. The offensive line is young but talented and paved the way for a strong running attack. A few more pieces are needed, but they're on the right track.
People are critical of the play-calling-- and yes, McCoy should take more chances-- but remember the Miami and Detroit games? Without this current boring style, the Broncos very well could have been 4-12 again. Give Fox and McCoy credit for playing to the team's strengths. Also bear in mind that this switch occurred mid-season, so the players haven't had much time to work on everything. The offense will improve over the offseason once they figure out what type of system they want to run and have a few months to work on it. You also have to give props to Fox for changing tactics mid-season to fit his players. A lot of coaches believe it's the "system" and not the players. As the saying goes, "it's not the X's and O's, but the Jimmys and Joes." Tebow's not a great passer, so having him throw it 30 or 40 times a game makes no sense. Pound away at a defense and wear them out so you have a shot late.
As for the draft pick argument, it's not going to make much of a difference. Is there really a huge talent disparity between the 18th and 22nd picks in the draft? I just can't fathom why some people would prefer the Broncos sucked rather than making the playoffs and at least having a chance. Once you're in, anything can happen. Just look at the Arizona Cardinals a few years ago; they were 9-7 but got hot and made it all the way to the Super Bowl where they were a late drive away from winning the whole thing (they knocked off Fox's top-seeded Panthers that year, too). Look at the Rockies in 2007 or last year's Cardinals. Who's to say that the magic of Tebow Time doesn't come back and spark the Broncos on a magical run? Roethlisberger's hurt, Baltimore's inconsistent, Houston is down to its 972nd quarterback, and the Patriots can't play defense. Stranger things have happened.
The fact is, that high-flying offense that Shanahan had with Cutler and Marshall wasn't good enough to make the playoffs. It camouflaged the team's erosion into mediocrity. Fox's formula works. Defense wins championshps. Give it time.
Regardless of what happens this weekend, it's been a good season here in Denver. For the first time in a long time, there is hope surrounding the team. Optimism abounds rather than pessimism and despair. Another good draft or two, and the Broncos will be back in the thick of things, especially in a weak division.
Relax and have patience, Bronco fans. Success won't happen overnight, but the Broncos are on the right track.
Naturally, nobody seems happy about it.
The Broncos backed into the playoffs, losing three straight and making it in despite finishing the season 8-8. The offense has looked terrible the last few weeks (and before that, to be honest). On Sunday, the Broncos lost 7-3 to the Chiefs. Quarterback Tim Tebow had a forgettable day throwing the ball, completing 6 of 22 passes for less than 100 yards. The knock on Tebow coming out of college was that he couldn't throw very well. He wasn't accurate enough, and his throwing motion is too long.
If you don't know what that means exactly, it means that he throws more like a baseball pitcher rather than a quarterback. Pitchers have long windups; their hand drops down near their waist, extends back behind the head, and then comes forward. Quarterbacks throw more like infielders. The ball is held high-and-tight near their head and doesn't go back as far.
Anyway, Tebow quieted his critics during a six-game winning streak that got the Broncos back into playoff contention and included several miraculous come-from-behind wins. That momentum stopped against the Patriots three weeks ago as the Broncos were done in by several costly turnovers. It seemed to sap their confidence.
The Broncos were blown out on the road against an awful Buffalo team that had lost seven in a row, and then laid an egg at home against a Chiefs team that had nothing to play for. Denver hasn't shown that it's capable of playing with the elite teams of the AFC, and it figures to be a short playoff appearance. The Broncos drew Pittsburgh in the first round, and the Steelers are capable of making a Super Bowl run, having done so just last year. Ben Roethlisberger is one of the top quarterbacks in the league, and the Steelers are known for their tough, rugged defense. If Tebow and the offense can only manage a feeble three points against Kansas City, how bad will it be against one of the top defenses in the NFL?
I don't understand why so many Broncos fans are so upset about all this, though. One of my friends said that he'd prefer the Broncos didn't make the playoffs so that they wouldn't be embarrassed on national tv in the playoffs. He was also upset that they played themselves out of a higher draft pick.
I've read numerous posts online from people calling for John Fox to be fired, and others have ranted and raved about how awful this team is.
My question is: why?
One that upsets me about sports fan is how impatient we can be at times. We demand instant success and have unreasonable expectations. If you had said before the season that the Broncos would be 8-8 and make the playoffs, every Denver fan would have taken it. Hardly any would have believed you. Yet now that it happened, few people seem happy about it. It's almost like it's a disappointing season.
Lest we all forget, none of this was supposed to happen. The Broncos were coming off a 4-12 season in which Josh McDaniels, the most reviled and loathed coach in Broncos history, was fired. The team was so terrible that it "earned" the number two pick in the NFL draft, the highest pick in franchise history. Everybody knew this was supposed to be a rebuilding year. I remember reading the season previews in SI and ESPN the Magazine; they both picked the Broncos to finish last in the division. One of them predicted another 4-12 season. People figured the Broncos would be in the running to draft Andrew Luck. Denver Post columnists argued that Denver should lose its games so that it could draft Luck.
You don't do that with playoff contenders.
Things didn't go according to script, though, once Tebow was named the starting quarterback. He inspired the team to play better and led them on a six-game winning streak. All of a sudden, the team had an identity: suffocating defense with a strong, punishing running game. It wasn't pretty by any means (it was pretty boring), but it was effective. All of a sudden, Denver was in playoff contention.
Let's face it, a lot of this has been a fluke. You can't rely on luck and getting every break all the time. They even out over time, as we have seen.
The Broncos will most likely get beat this Sunday, but none of us should be upset about it, at least no more so than normal (losing sucks). But this season is already a success. This was supposed to be a multi-year rebuilding project, and it still is. Things just happened to go Denver's way this year that resulted in an improved record. This team needed a big talent infusion to compete with the upper echelon and return to prominence, and that's not going to happen overnight. Cam Newton has torn it up in Carolina, for example, but the Panthers' defense can't stop anybody. Look at the Lions. They had to have several good drafts before they finally had enough pieces in place to make the playoffs this year. It was a gradual process. It'll be the same for Denver.
There are plenty of bright spots, though. Von Miller looks like he's going to be a stud for years, provided he has the use of both hands. Elvis Dumervil has returned to form and has teamed with Miller to give Denver one of the top pass rushing duos in the league. The defense that had been horrendous for years is now fearsome and will only get better provided the team drafts some good corners and safeties to take over for current aging starters Champ Bailey, Brian Dawkins, and Andre' Goodman. A team can never have too many defensive tackles, either.
The offense is still a work in progress, obviously. Major questions remain, and it all starts with the quarterback position. Tebow will be open next season as the starter. Remember, he's still basically a rookie quarterback who didn't have the benefit of an offseason. I say give him a chance and see how much he improves between now and the start of next year. He has a lot to work on, but if anyone can get it done, it'd be him.
Besides, there aren't really any alternatives. Free agent quarterbacks don't usually pan out; most teams that make it to a Super Bowl do it with homegrown guys. Brady and Rodgers were drafted by their current teams. Drew Brees was a free agent, but he was coming off major shoulder surgery. Matt Flynn, the backup in Green Bay who just set franchise single-game records for passing yards and touchdowns, will be a much-discussed name over the offseason, but he's going to cost a lot of money and is still unproven. Just look at Arizona and Kevin Kolb to see how risky that'd be.
The Broncos should draft a quarterback this year because Brady Quinn will be a free agent, so at the very least, they need a backup. The big question is do you stick with the running offense currently operated by Tebow with its quarterback runs and option plays. If so, then you need a mobile quarterback who can run. If you decide to ditch that and go with a conventional attack, then that opens up options but also takes away Tebow's strengths. That's the major question that will have to be answered.
My personal preference is Kellen Moore. Yes, I am a Boise State fan and am biased, but you can't argue with his results. He was extremely productive in an offense that is fairly close to a conventional pro-style attack and has the benefit of starting all four years in college. He's extremely accurate, smart, and has ice in his veins. He does not get rattled. Tebow supporters always say that all he (Tebow) does is win. Well, Moore is the winningest quarterback in NCAA history. He may not be very tall or have the strongest arm, but neither do Drew Brees or Dalton, for that matter. I just hope someone gives Moore a chance.
Russell Martin is much the same way with the benefit of much greater mobility. He's another option that could work out very nicely. He's very accurate, has a lot of experience, and has been very productive. Both guys, along with Brandon Weeden, should be available after the first round. Draft a defensive tackle or cornerback in the first round and pick up a quarterback later.
Sorry, I got a little sidetracked there. My point is that the Broncos weren't going to become Super Bowl contenders overnight, so everyone needs to take a deep breath and relax. They've come a long way but still have a ways to go. The idea that John Fox should be fired is ludicrous. It makes no sense. He inherited a big mess and a team that was 4-12. In one year, he improved the record by four wins and won the division while changing the offense mid-season. How is that firing-worthy? If anything, he should be a candidate for coach of the year.
Yes, I know there are gripes about the conservative style and overly cautious play-calling, and I get it. I have them myself. It's quite a jarring adjustment for fans used to the high-flying Shanahan days. Those teams were fun to watch, but they also had a ton of talent. This team doesn't have that. Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas have shown flashes of talent but need to be more consistent. They're still young players, though, so they should be cut some slack. The offensive line is young but talented and paved the way for a strong running attack. A few more pieces are needed, but they're on the right track.
People are critical of the play-calling-- and yes, McCoy should take more chances-- but remember the Miami and Detroit games? Without this current boring style, the Broncos very well could have been 4-12 again. Give Fox and McCoy credit for playing to the team's strengths. Also bear in mind that this switch occurred mid-season, so the players haven't had much time to work on everything. The offense will improve over the offseason once they figure out what type of system they want to run and have a few months to work on it. You also have to give props to Fox for changing tactics mid-season to fit his players. A lot of coaches believe it's the "system" and not the players. As the saying goes, "it's not the X's and O's, but the Jimmys and Joes." Tebow's not a great passer, so having him throw it 30 or 40 times a game makes no sense. Pound away at a defense and wear them out so you have a shot late.
As for the draft pick argument, it's not going to make much of a difference. Is there really a huge talent disparity between the 18th and 22nd picks in the draft? I just can't fathom why some people would prefer the Broncos sucked rather than making the playoffs and at least having a chance. Once you're in, anything can happen. Just look at the Arizona Cardinals a few years ago; they were 9-7 but got hot and made it all the way to the Super Bowl where they were a late drive away from winning the whole thing (they knocked off Fox's top-seeded Panthers that year, too). Look at the Rockies in 2007 or last year's Cardinals. Who's to say that the magic of Tebow Time doesn't come back and spark the Broncos on a magical run? Roethlisberger's hurt, Baltimore's inconsistent, Houston is down to its 972nd quarterback, and the Patriots can't play defense. Stranger things have happened.
The fact is, that high-flying offense that Shanahan had with Cutler and Marshall wasn't good enough to make the playoffs. It camouflaged the team's erosion into mediocrity. Fox's formula works. Defense wins championshps. Give it time.
Regardless of what happens this weekend, it's been a good season here in Denver. For the first time in a long time, there is hope surrounding the team. Optimism abounds rather than pessimism and despair. Another good draft or two, and the Broncos will be back in the thick of things, especially in a weak division.
Relax and have patience, Bronco fans. Success won't happen overnight, but the Broncos are on the right track.
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