How Did We Go 13-3?

by GarretBarnes on Jul 9, 2008 10:43 AM MDT Comment 17 comments

What has it been 3 years since we were one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl and went 13-3? But I am looking back at it today and saying to myself how good we have it. When you think of our team I do not see any star power on our offense. Unless you count Jake Plummer and he was washed up.

I think that we should be proud of where we are today. We have a star of the future QB, one of the leagues best WRs, some great defensive backs, and a young d-line. Look at our roster from that year:

Offense

Quarterback: Jake Plummer and Bradlee Van Pelt
Runningbacks: Mike Anderson, Ron Dayne, Tatum Bell and Cecil Sapp
Fullbacks: Kyle Johnson
Wide Receivers: Ashley Lelie, Rod Smith, Darius Watts, Charlie Adams, Todd Devoe and David Terrell
Tight Ends: Jeb Putzier, Stephen Alexander, Nate Jackson and Wesley Dukes
Right Tackle: George Foster and Cornell Green
Right Guard: Ben Hamilton
Center: Tom Nalen
Left Guard: Cooper Carlisle, Chris Myers
Left Tackle: Matt Lepsis

Defense

Defensive Ends: Trevor Pryce, Courtney Brown, Ebenezer Ekuban and John Engleberger
Defensive Tackles: Gerrard Warren, Demetrin Veal and Michael Myers
Linebackers: Al Wilson, DJ Williams, Ian Gold, Keith Burns, Patrick Chukwurah and Louis Green
Cornerbacks: Champ Bailey, Darrent Williams, Domonique Foxworth, Karl Paymah and Roc Alexander
Free Safeties: John Lynch
Strong Safeties: Sam Brandon, Nick Ferguson

We could have a real good season this year. If you can name me one player on this offense at the level Brandon Marshall or Tony Scheffler is, I would be amazed. Half of these players are not even on a team let alone starting. Is Jake Plummer officially retired yet? I can only imagine what our team will be like. So where do we need to improve?

I think that our running game will need to step it up a bit. I think we also know that we need to stop the run. Jay Cutler just needs to mature a bit and if Brandon Marshall is not suspended I think that we could go all the way to the playoffs this year. Don't feel bad about your team! We are actually looking okay compared to that 13-3 season. But here is the ultimate question. Who would win in a football game? Our 2008 team or our 2005 team? That is by the way a serious question.

Poll

Who would win, our 2005 team or our new 2008 team?

2005 Team

34 votes

2008 Team

54 votes

88 votes | Poll has closed

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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veteran leadership

Wilson and Pryce on defense, Smith and Anderson on offense. Sounds crazy, but at the time the four of them were above average in their position in comparison to other teams. Don’t forget that Jake Plummer was a winner, simply put. The man won something like 70% of all games played with Denver, which was in the top three over that span for any NFL QB.

"I could never quite get the hang of Thursdays..."

by FlaBroncoFan on Jul 9, 2008 10:52 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs

Good Point

But we still have veterans like Lynch and Bailey.

"Hey Raiders fans!!! If you leave now you can beat traffic!"
-Rod Smith

by GarretBarnes on Jul 9, 2008 11:04 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

But none on offense

Until Jay steps up and takes full contrl of his team in the regular season, our offense has a lack of veteran leadership. Tom Nalen is really the only guy there that’s been with us for a while and is an elite player, but it is hard for an o-lineman to connect with the rest of the team compared to, say, a QB or WR.

Why do I live in Kansas City?

by papigrande on Jul 9, 2008 5:53 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

We have some vets on offense

who could gain some locker room respect and lead the charge.

D-Jax is veteran of a lot of great teams, including playing in a Super Bowl where he set a record for receptions in the 1st quarter. Pittman has certainly been around, and his work ethic is unquestioned. Daniel Graham has multiple SB rings, and played on one of today’s powerhouse squads.

Yeah, our “stars” are young, but I feel like Shanahan has done a great job of surrounding them with talented, experienced players. It may take some time for them to make the locker room impression that Rod Smith did, but the opportunity is there.

Why, though, isn’t Rod officially involved with this team? Special WR Coach Smith, or Training Advisor Smith or Team Uncle Rod. Something…

by jonahsilas on Jul 10, 2008 10:40 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I miss Pryce...

Too bad we let him go…

by JR_G on Jul 9, 2008 11:16 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I think

The entire season turned on 1 play. After the opening game where the Broncos got jammed 34-10 @ Miami. Denver came home and was losing to SD 14-3 at the half. Then a hurt Champ picks off Brees on SD’s first play after the 2nd half KO and takes it to the house. That turned the entire season around. From then on the rush defense was #2 in the nfl and Jake was not put in situations where he HAD to throw the ball. Plus Denver created a lot of turnover. I credit 2005 more to the defense than the offense. Plus Pryce had a great season. Not a lot of sacks but a lot of havoc. Sometimes momentum can turn any game or season around

by broncfanstuckinsd on Jul 9, 2008 11:36 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Yahtzee!!!

FlaBroncoFan hit it right on the head. What the Broncos have missed more than anything is an attitude on defense that guys like Pryce and Wilson provided. It doesn’t just grow on trees, and the Broncos have been searching for it since.

Offensively, don’t underestimate the effect Gary Kubiak had on Plummer and the offense as a whole. He has been SORELY missed!

For that reason, I’d take the 2005 team.

-TSG

www.milehighreport.com

by John Bena on Jul 9, 2008 11:36 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Great point, Guru

Kubiak is clearly a talented football mind, and the offense hasn’t thrived as much without him… Those of us that underestimated him back then are getting taught a lesson as he turns what was a stinky expansion squad into a perennial contender in a brutal division.

by jonahsilas on Jul 10, 2008 10:44 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Niko...

Hopefully the Attitude is going to be in full bright orange color from Niko. I truly believe he can get it done. The tone will bring the whole D unit together. If they can establish a sound stop to the run, champ and Bly will cover, and D. Ends (love our depth here) get to the QB. As the middle goes this year… so goes our season. D. Rob – Marcus and Niko Plug it Up Guys!

by YellowStoneBronco on Jul 10, 2008 4:45 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Put the '06 Defense with the '08 Offense...

And then you can go ring shopping.

The 2008 Defense is a HUGE question mark. Every single position EXCEPT CB is going through some level of change or progression. There’s a chance that they pull it together, but there’s also a chance that Denver has to make changes after the 2008 season.

by super7 on Jul 9, 2008 12:02 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll second that

The strength of the team has definitely shifted from Defense to Offense. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again, I think we’ve got one of the top 5 offenses this year, if B-Marsh can stay in the game.

by unkown on Jul 9, 2008 10:07 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree....we are on the way up!!!

It is funny…...but I totally agree.
If our defense this year is just AVERAGE then we will have a lot better season. We are now a pretty young team. Another year for Crowder, Thomas and Moss will be invalauble. We have Ekuban back, brought in Robertson and drafted Powell….I like all the moves we have made.
And dude, our offense is EXPLOSIVE. I like all the high character guys we have brought in, and I LOVE our draft and the unrestricted guys we brought inlike Aldridge, Polumbus and Woodhead.
This team has a good feel about it and even the veterans are syaing what a great feel this team has.
I would take them over the 2005 team, although I would take Pryce, Wilson and Smith from that team.
Peace!

by boydy2669 on Jul 9, 2008 12:42 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I voted for 2008, but I think I made a mistake...

Our 2005 team caught all the breaks and had all the luck going for them all year long. The last two seasons we have had alot of bad breaks, injuries, and overall bad luck. The Jake Plummer curse! If we stay healthy, I think this 2008 team goes 13-3.

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08
The Quest ~ TSG 5/19/08

by Tim Lynch on Jul 9, 2008 12:43 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

More of Super's ifs!

Pryce and Warren = stop the run. This makes the entire defense stronger.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. - Emerson

by firstfan on Jul 9, 2008 3:05 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I voted 2005

just for the defense.

But I think that having healthy Hamilton and Nalen, and a developed Cutler who cuts down on his mistakes (just like Plummer in 2005) will make the 2008 offense more effective than the 2005 offense. Better play selection and better play threats in 2008 all around.

Mountains, forest, sea: these render man fierce, but yet do not destroy the man.

by Jeremy Bolander on Jul 9, 2008 6:22 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Definitely was...

the 2005 defense that got us thru that year. If our def was even half as good last year we would have made the playoffs. So this year we have reverted back to the 2005 scheme installed by Coyer but now run by Slowik whom should be a better game time adjuster thatn Coyer was. I have high hopes for our team this year.

by d2soulja on Jul 10, 2008 12:48 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs