The Weekly "I'm Tired" Rant

Welcome to the Home of all things Irk-some and Tiring!  Enjoy!

1.     I am "Tired" of losing to the Raiders at home. 

     What is that now... like three years in a row?  And because of the implications of yesterday's loss, it was especially tough to stomach.  The Broncos still have their own fate in their hands, but their back is now up against the wall.  It's do or die time from here on out.

     Let this be known.... I hate the Raiders.  I hate them more than SD, or KC, or any other team in the NFL.  In fact, hate might be too small a word for it...  Despise... Loath.... Abhor... might be better descriptors.  However, as much as it pains me to say it, the Raiders have a pretty good team.  Their Achilles heal this year has been at the QB position... and honestly... now that it looks like they have given up on the JaMarcus experiment, they are becoming a team to be reckoned with.   My only hope is that Sundays game will deceive Al Davis into keeping the JaMarcus dream alive just a little bit longer.

     But sooner or later, we here at MHR are going to have to face the facts.  If the Raiders solve their QB issues, they are going to be a pain in our AFC West hide.  They have a very solid RB core... possibly among the best in the league, and certainly the best in the division.  They have some young, and more importantly, steadily improving WR's and TE's.  Their offensive line is not their strength, but they have played pretty well in their 5 wins.  And on Defense, they are well balanced across the board.... with a very good Secondary, and a pretty decent front 7.  On Special Teams, they may have the best punter and kicker in the entire NFL.  In my opinion, the only reason that the Raiders are 5-9 and not also in the Play-off mix is that they stuck with JarMarcus for the majority of the season.  Had they been running with Gradkowski or Frye from day 1... I think they could easily be 7-7... or even 8-6. 

     Now I know that the Raiders are a favorite "punching bag" here at MHR... as well they should be.  But our hatred for the Raiders, should not cloud our thinking in regards to their quality as an opponent.  3 of their 5 wins have been against playoff bound teams (if the season ended today), and 2 were against division leaders (CIN and PHI).  They also beat Pittsburgh... and honestly... should have beat San Diego the first game of the season.  As much as it may look like the Raiders suck this year... a closer look will reveal that they are, indeed, a very competitive team.

2.     Which leads me to my second point of ranting. 

To all those who are rapping on and on about how the Bronco's don't deserve to go to the play-offs because they lost to the Raiders... two words.  SHUT UP! 

     Should we exclude Cincinnati from the play-offs because they also lost to the Raiders?  Should we dump Philly as well?  What about Green Bay because they lost to the lowly, and at that time win-less, Tampa Bay Bucs?  How about the Vikingswho got kicked by a 6-8 team last night?  If your team is lucky enough to make the play-offs, they absolutely deserve to go... and anyone who says differently... well... they probably worship Chris Collinsworth who boldly pronounced the AZ Cardinals as the "worst play-off team in history" right before they marched their way to within an inch of (I'm still not convinced that Holmes got both feet in) a World Championship. 

     There have only been two teams in history to finish a season having not been defeated.  Every team loses games, and every team loses games that they should have won.  And when you add in the fact that it was a divisional game... which are always difficult... then you can't just think that this weeks game should have been a gimme.  Should the Broncos have won that game yesterday?  HECK YEA they should have won that game!  But shouldn't a competitive team win every game that they play?  We should expect them to do so... but also understand that it might not happen.  Time to stop the whinning and the snivelling and gear up for a big game at Philly.    

 3.     I'm tired of those criticizing Knowshon Moreno for his lack of productivity in the running game. 

     Just watch the games.  The guy runs as hard as anyone in the league.  He obviously has the talent and he physical tools needed to be an effective and productive back in the NFL.   He certainly has some growing to do as a RB, but to blame the running game woes on him is unfair to say the least. 

     You have to know that multiple factors effect the success of a running play, and the "ability of the RB" is just one of the many.  You have anywhere from 5 to 8 different guys up front that all have to "do their jobs" for the run to be effective, and if just one of those guys gets beat, the play looks like a total bust. 

     Go back and watch the game film of the past two weeks.  Knowshon is not the issue.  Our O-line is allowing penetration by the opponents front 4 at an alarming rate.  Penetration into the backfield by a defensive lineman destroys a teams ability to effectively run the ball.  Why do you think Mr. Hainesworth drew so much interest and that huge contract this year? 

     I'm not sure why we have seemingly witnessed a major regression by our offensive line this year, but I am getting very tired of it!  My guess is that it is mainly due to the personnel that we have and the adjustment to a new system and style of blocking.  Whatever the reason, I would sure like to see some improvement up front in the next two games.  Any chance of making the postseason will depend upon it.

4.     I am totally tired of people clamoring to trade proven, young players to other teams for lots of 1st Round Draft picks... especially given the current contract climate for rookies in this league.  Seriously... Are these people even thinking before they pick up the keyboard and type? 

     Think about this.  Brandon Marshall is one of the top 2 receivers in this league... the only receiver that is better, in my humble opinion, is Larry Fitzgerald.  Brandon is everything you could want in a number #1 receiver.  He has size, speed, good hands, is learning to run better routes, and is a monster to bring down after the catch.  He demands the attention of defenses, and ultimately makes all of the other players on offense look and play better. 

     Players such as Marshall don't just come around everyday.  They are very, very rare.  Why do you think that they then demand such a high price-tag when it comes contract time?  Because the demand for their services is very, very high.  You could draft 100 receivers every year for 5 years, and never find another player with as much talent and potential as Brandon Marshall... and that's a fact.  He is a unique talent in this league... and one that you simply can not replace with draft picks.

5.   Which leads me to another area of raving!  The whole thought that Championship Teams are made in the draft is somewhat mis-leading... if not down right false.  The draft is an important part of developing your team, but honestly, a wise GM and HC will do exactly what McDaniels and Xanders did this off-season.  They signed proven, veteran players, who they knew would fit the needs of the team and were guaranteed to provide a positive return on their investment.

     Until a rookie salary cap is implemented, I just don't see 1st round draft picks as being great investments.  Do you know that Darius No-Hands-Bey is making about 4 times what Marshall is making... this year?  Do you know that JaMarcus the Hut is being paid about 10 times what Orton is making?  Anyone think that the Raiders have benefited from all of their First Round Draft Picks over the years?  Maybe the best decision that they have made in a long time was to trade their first Round pick for Richard Seymour... a player that actually HAS proven that he can play!  Yet the majority of pundits can only criticize them because they gave up what could possibly be a top 10 pick in the draft.

     Let's just say that St. Louis was willing to trade us the No. 1 pick of the 2010 draft, plus their first rounder in 2011 in exchange for Marshall.  Let's say we draft Suh.  Do you know that the guy would probably require as big a price tag as Marshall?  Only with Suh, you really have no idea if he'll make a great NFL player or not... and with Marshall, you already know that the guy is an elite receiver who is only 4 years into his career.  However, it doesn't stop there.  You also have to sign another possible top 10 pick that we received this yea from the Bears.  Now you have two guys who will need to be signed and who will both demand large price tags, neither of which have any guarantee that they can make it as a player in the NFL. 

     Oh, but it doesn't stop there.  Then in 2011, you will have the same problem over again, only you will still be carrying the baggage of your 2010 draft with you.  You will have those 2 big contracts to pay for, plus 2 more first round salaries to try to pay.  And do you remember this year... signing Knowshon and Robert Ayres, both to healthy multiple year contracts?  Suddenly you are paying millions and millions of dollars to 6 players who may or may not make it in the NFL.  Not a great way to build a championship team, in my opinion.

     When you discover that you have a proven and elite talent on your team, such as Marshall, Doom, and possibly Sheffler, then you need to hang on to those guys... which means making the wise financial investment in a proven NFL player.  If Marshall is willing to play for the Broncos this next year, you had better believe that Mr. Bowlen will get out the checkbook in record breaking fashion.

Well, that was freaking long.  Now I know one thing that you are probably tired of.  My Ranting!

GO BRONCOS!!!