If the Broncos players, coaches and execs don’t figure things out soon they will be at risk of being kicked to the curb. Yes, even John Elway.
The "do your job" line from Josh McDaniels while coaching the Denver Broncos in 2012 is one of the most memorable Colorado sports moments of the last few decades. Most of us cringe when we hear it as it conjures up images of baby hoodie and his 22 game attempt to sabotage a proud franchise in the name of his lord and master, Darth Belicheat. And though the short-lived Denver HC dropped an F-bomb on live television and was relieved of his position shortly thereafter, we can still learn from his wise words.
Indeed, after another bad start to what we all know will be another bad season, it's time to put real thought into what "do your job" really means and how it should be applied to the players, coaches and upper management of the Denver Broncos. What are their jobs and are they doing them?
There are 52 players on a roster so it would take more than one article to give each athlete a performance review and if the readers want a rundown on Shamarko Thomas..stay tuned for another article. So since we don't have the time to judge them individually, we will judge them as a group and give them a resounding C-. 2 stars. One enthusiastic thumb...clenched in a tight fist of rage and despair.
If we just simply grade each unit as they stand compared with the rest of the league a clear picture is painted about our dear players:
Offense:
Passing - 10th in the NFL Rushing - 16th in the NFL Overall - 12th in the NFL
Defense:
Passing - 11th in the NFL Rushing - 32nd in the NFL Overall - 27th in the NFL
Special teams: Meh
If only McDaniels could come back for a day and scream at these guys like he did in the days of Tebow, this team could have a chance. *sigh* - insert "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion to a video of Timothy Richard running shirtless through the rain.
"I wish there was a way to know you're actually in the good old days, before you've actually left them."
Anyway, no use wallowing in pity and nostalgia, let's move on to the coaches.
Now that that's done let's move on to our final g...
Okay, I guess if we are going to bash on Vance Joseph, Joe Woods and Bill Musgrave we better back it up with some good ol' fashioned facts.
Offense: 12th overall
Defense: 27th overall
Let's keep in mind that this is a team that just two years before VJ arrived, won a Super Bowl and had many of the same defensive players on the squad that are playing now. Yes, Peyton Manning is gone but the vaunted D and the "No Fly Zone" should not be this historically bad.
Even if the stats were better or the wins and losses stacked up in a more pleasing way, the sheer look of "huh" that crosses VJ's face on a minute to minute basis is disturbing. He often appears to be out of his depth and it’s no surprise for a first-time Head Coach. Unfortunately for him, it’s not something that Denver Broncos’ fans will allow on the sideline of their storied franchise.
The record speaks a lot, the stats speak even more but the disjointed feel of the locker room and chaotic looks on the sideline scream it to the mountain tops; these guys can't do the job.
Now yes, I'm mostly picking on Vance Joseph here because he is the most visible and the most responsible but the other two do not escape blame that is enough to go around.
The fact that Woods called a defense that allowed Derek Carr - let that sink in - throw for 322 yards on 29 of 32 passing and allowed two running backs in consecutive games to reach 200 yards on the ground should clarify why he should be shown the door. In the words of Donald Trump, "I have never seen a thin person drinking diet coke."
As for Bill Musgrave, he was gifted two of the most talented rookie rushers the league has seen in the last several years and he can't seem to work them into a gameplan. He has a thumper of a fullback who thumps his butt on that bench on the sideline like a boss as the passing game fails again and again. He called a play on 4th and 3 that saw all four receivers run 15+ yard routes. "Noooo Mr Bill...Oh noooo Mr Billll..." - SNL
At last we reach the apex of the organization, the big cheese the guy whose job is to give all the other guys jobs. Most importantly his job is to fill the seats and make money for the owners and shareholders etc,...
You want to know the most important stat of the year so far for John Elway?
9,131.
No, that is not the amount of rush yardage the defense has given up in the last two weeks - though close - it's the amount of fans that did not show up to the Broncos vs Rams game on Sunday at Mile High Stadium in Denver. This is a city and a state - heck an entire region - that bleeds orange and blue and over 9k of these die hard fans were no shows against L.A.
To steal a quote from some broadcaster somewhere at sometime, "John Elway just pooped his big boy pants."
John Elway is in a tough position. He has to make a franchise competitive and successful year after year in a brutally talented and balanced NFL. Sadly, this job is made much more difficult when you absolutely bomb your first-round draft picks on a consistent basis and can’t identify QB talent. Playing against teams like Kansas City and L.A is then made darn near impossible when your best statistical QB in the last 4 years is Brock Osweiler. He is followed by Trevor Siemien while Case Keenum follows in the rear.
Yeah, you read that right:
Siemien: 2016 & 2017 - 40.3 QBR
Lynch: N/A
Osweiler: 2015 & 2016 - 52.1 QBR
Keenum: 2018 - 39.1 QBR (29th in NFL)
Yes QBR is imperfect and other stats may make things seem a bit more balanced for Keenum but even the eye test can tell us that he is at best only slightly better than Siemien or Osweiler.
Again, Elway has failed to hit on any position in the first round outside of Von Miller, has lost superior coaches like Wade Phillips and Adam Gase, has a brutal history in evaluating Quarterbacks and has never put together an above average offensive line.
Let's hear it one more time from everyone’s favorite ex-coach:
"Do your job and stop making **** up!"
The fans are not pleased.
You have been weighed, you have been measured and you have been found wanting.
Except Elway...he's still the goat and we love him.
- Hey if you liked this even a little, check out my podcast 'Broncos and Bratwurst' -