Grab the Koolaid and get ready!

The draft is over.  We are starting to get a good feel for our new HC and GM.  There may not yet be the universal feeling that we moved up in those two positions, but just about everyone should by now agree that it was not the disaster that some claimed.  Hopefully the sense of dread and gloom is evaporating and some of the nay sayers are finding reasons to hope again.

Having had a few days now to really digest the draft and CFA pick ups I am really getting excited about this years team.  In looking  back at last years team it is easy to find many areas the team needs to improve to be competitive this year.  The defense sucked, we had no special teams to speak of, injuries killed us.  The biggest thing, without a doubt the biggest thing, is that last year we ranked DEAD LAST in give away v take aways - at a pathetic -17.  8 and 8 is a remarkable record with that sort of turn over ratio.

The new staff has taken this problem on head on.  The first action was really not by design, intent or even desire.  The biggest offender in our turn over problems was a young hot shot QB that could not manage a game or protect a football.  For better or worse he is gone.  His apparent replacement has a reputation for both managing the game and protecting the football - that GA/TA was cut in half with just that one unintended move.  The second glaring fact of the TO chart is that we ranked second to last with only 6 ints!  A lot has been done to change this stat.  Bly is gone, hopefully Baily is healthy and has help.  We hired a probowl safety and drafted a bunch of young ball hawks.  My prediction number one, we will be plus 3 in GA/TA in 09. 

When was the last time you can recall Denver having a dominate special teams?  Ole Rick Upchurch is now coaching down here in Pueblo and was probably on the last dominant special teams we had.  Coach McD seems to really get excited about the special teams ability of his draft picks, I think this tells us how much importance he places on those phases of the game.  Good things coming in that direction.

Ahhhh, the much maligned Defensive Line.  It will be much improved this year due mostly to better coaching rather than dominant players.  McD seems to be building a line for the future and feels it will hold up well enough and long enough to develope players into those positions. 

Biggest improvment in the team?  We now once again have a running back that opposing teams need to game plan for.  Exactly the right back for our system and the personel around him.  Third and 5 will not necesarily be a passing down any more.  BMarsh and Royal will rip secondaries apart while the opposing D's suck up on a draw play or boot leg.  Time of pos will move decidedly in our favor.  With a full bag of tricks available, and an outstanding O line, we should move into the top of the league in terms of converting within the red zone.

With the above in mind I am now ready to show just how much Koolaid one guy can drink and still be able to write.  Our Denver Broncos will have a final record of 12 wins v 4 losses. 

Week one through three are a godsend!  These are fairly easy tests for a team that will not yet have come together and a defense that is still working out its timing.  All three wins!  Dallas will prove to be the first test.  The D struggles a little bit but the running game takes off in high gear.  Denver wins.  NE comes to town in one of the biggest hypes todate.  The 4-0 Broncos v the 3-1 Pats.  Can you say party central?  Everyone is up for the game, good week of practice, all bodies healthy and ready to go.  Denver wins in a defensive show down. 

Only so much emotion to go arround.  Denver falls at SD.  Balt is too much to handle and Pitsburg shows their stuff.  Denver falls to 5-3.  The MSM now call us a rebuilding effort and talk about the bright future of many of our players.

Washington and SD get whooped on - hard!  The Giants roll into town for what turns out to be one of the best games of the year.  Denver plays well, playoff well, yet still misses and loses narrowly.  KC looks like a practice squad as Moreno ripps through them for 180 yards combined.  Indy is riding high and expecting an easy game - Broncos blow them out 33 to 21 - these guys are starting to believe!

Final three games - no suprise, three more wins.  Broncos are 12-4 with homefeild advantage.

This must be the most accurate prediction yet - I know it is because I made it and I can tell the future as well as anyone out there (which really aint that good).