What kind of team are we?
by daddie36 on Jul 7, 2009 10:39 PM MDT
18 comments
There is something happening around here.
I have been endlessly reading article after article about how McDaniel’s made this move or “that” trade and how our defense is still broke, our offense is destined for failure. In a prior blog I made my assessment of our team and who I thought would be where and why. For this entry I want to paint a picture and it begins with this sentence.
McDaniel’s has been watching everything and he has figured “it” out.
Look at our new coaching staff. He kept the best part of Shannahans regime namely the line and running backs coaches. He hired a “conservative” OC in McCoy whose most recent project was the running back wrecking crew in Williams and Stewart. He brought in an actual DC in the form of Nolan who has orchestrated such defenses as the Ravens and Giants (forget about SanFran). He raided the divisional locker in the form of our linebacking, D-line and special teams coaches.
I believe we are all in for a surprise here. Many “experts” say we should/will focus more on the run this season. Ok, but what if we actually do? Everyone paints McD as a passing game guru who will dink, dunk and pass his way up the field but what happens when we hike, handoff and watch a “cloud of dust”. What happens on defense when we stack against the run, blitz 75% of the time and make teams earn points instead of hand them to them? For all our free agent signings and how boring or average they are, has anyone taken a look to see that we can now throw a half ton of defense at the line with only three defenders. How about the old coaches philosophy of fast over fierce and that now all our undersized tackles are now 300+ pound ends.
I have read several stories lately on McD having a “smirk” when reporters bring up questionable moves or the “trade”. What if our new Guy gets “it”? Can Denver fans forget the finesse, the 15 scripted plays, the 17 point first quarters, the 40 yard passes and the bend but not break defense of then. What if Orton is better for us, our defense earns respect, we run for daylight instead of throw at it and we put the best players on the field all the time. Fans and experts say that football goes in cycles, that what was once old will become new but what if we are witnessing something else? What if some kid has been born and breed in something, tutored by those considered experts in their craft and given a team to mold themselves. This story is just beginning and the outcome is never guaranteed but I have learned this.
Our team is now a mixing pot of veterans to rookies, rivals turned allies, new coaches seeking glory and old coaches seeking redemption. Gone are the days of consistency and complacency. It’s a new world boys (and girls), dig in.
This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR
3 recs |
18 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Indeed
Good post. Short and too the point: McD is on to something. I just posted something similar about an hour ago, you should check it out. ;D
I like how you think, my friend.
I couldn’t agree more. You simply nailed it. I’m on the bandwagon, but I got on it back when I remember watching Ricky Nattiel, Mark Jackson and Vance Johnson along with Rod Bernstein, Dennis Smith and my all time favorite player, Mr. Steve Atwater. In fact, whenever I create a player on Madden or NCAA football I ALWAYS wear #27 lol, I know, I’m a nerd. Now I won’t be able to. MR. Beast Moreno will be donning that special number this year, and hopefully many more. Any suggestions on a new number for my upcoming seasons? I usually play a FS. Now I’m rambling, I’m sorry. I’m just so excited that football is almost here, haha. I just love playing those games and figuring out all the intricacies so I can wax my buddies with ease. It’s like “geez, how did your guy get to my QB in .5 seconds” and I just let out an evil muahahahaha type laugh. I’m only 30, but I have loved our team since I knew what or who a football or an Elway was.
Take my advice, I'm not using it!
Steve Foley would be welcome on any McD team.
There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-- that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
-- Herbert Spencer
by PredominantlyOrange on Jul 8, 2009 9:18 AM MDT up reply actions
Mike Golic was praising Atwater on tonight's NFL Today
And for very good reason
Hillis/Moreno in '09
Nice post
I like the bit about Shanahan’s fast DT’s becoming big DE’s.
The thought of McCoy riding Moreno and Hillis to the endzone keeps floating through my mind.
"It's the first time that I've probably ever seen a 260 pound back run into a free safety and go flat on his back, I mean it was exciting." ~John Elway
Dang Lightning!!!
I had a nice response worked up and then friggin’ lightning struck the house or very close….bye bye electricity…
Anyway, I love this point:
Fans and experts say that football goes in cycles, that what was once old will become new but what if we are witnessing something else?
This is what has me more excited than I’ve been in years. I think McD is intent on not getting ahead of the curve, but redefining it. He wants a team that is not wedded to any particular scheme but that can deal with or exploit whatever the opposition brings to the field. Where MacDaniels is really swimming against the current is his belief that there is more to this than physically talented players. You need guys that can and will compete and who are willing to be the star one week and a bit player the next. You need guys that want to win more than anything else. And on those days when the paper talent tips in favor of the opposition, you need guys that will play with heart, passion, and determination.
Imagine a team of Peyton Hillises and Champ Baileyes— and not so much in terms of having that type of elite talent— but guys that will stick their nose in there and leave every ounce of what they have on the field. That’s the model McD is trying to bring to a league that has come to believe that it is driven by its stars. McD wants to bring the team concept back to the biggest team sport of them all. It doesn’t seem like it should be revolutionary, but it is.
Imagine a team that can lose and you’d still love the hell out of them.
Thats what I see.
There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-- that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
-- Herbert Spencer
by PredominantlyOrange on Jul 8, 2009 9:16 AM MDT reply actions
Gots to give a nod to USMCWall...
…as I wrote this before I read his post Football Equation…which captures my point better than I did. I rec’d it there and I’ll rec it here, too.
There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-- that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
-- Herbert Spencer
by PredominantlyOrange on Jul 8, 2009 9:30 AM MDT up reply actions
Their teaching Hillis to "JUKE" instead of "DUKE".
The hiring of this kid McDaniels puts a smile on my face everytime I read something negative…the media staff issues, the nutrition change, getting rid of pouting sally, acquiring tough, smart, team first players, and now teaching the Red Neck to juke it out rather than duke it out…Wow, what next, can’t wait until traing camp. 13-3 Baby!!!
The issue of McDaniels as pass-happy is overstated and inaccurate
In 1960, the run/pass ratio was 59/61 in favor of the run. By the mid 1990s it was 41/59, pass-dominant. Even with Brady (and a very good receiving corps), McDaniels averaged 56.9% pass and 43.1% run – just inside the NFL averages, a little more run-happy. Since he smiled broadly at finding Hillis on his team and promptly acquired Moreno, Buckhalter and Jordan (btw, what happened to those thousands of RBs we supposedly had?Yes, we also have a guy on IR and Walker – not exactly tons of fellas), it’s quite possible that McD will be a run-heavy HC (although not run dominant, given the modern passing rules) this season – and not because he doubts Orton, but because he has a great O line and his RBs like to block and receive as well as run. That versatility will require the defense to respect the run and hesitate a fraction of a second. Doing so is fatal, regardless of the play we do with.
Hillis/Moreno in '09
Time to wake up everyone. 13-3 and smoking something illegal
What makes you think we can run the ball. Don’t you think teams will be stopping the run first since our passing game is no longer a threat
Well at least I won’t get pissed off this year watching them under acheive. Not expecting much with all the change, hard schedule, and piss poor defesive line still.
All I ask is they give it their all and play hard! Just beat the raiders and KC and I will be content
I ride the short bus!
I think McDaniels past is going to work to his advantage.
Tom Brady and the Patriots are a strong passing team. They can run the ball, but they thrive on the passing game. I think people are expecting the same thing from McDaniels. On that basis, it’s understandable why people see Marshall as a necessity and we’d be stupid to let him go. If we were running a predictable passing game then Marshall would be a valued member of the team. Since it seems we’re going to be a 1st-2nd down run team, I highly doubt McDaniels is worried about Marshall having the same effect this year. Yes, a guy like Marshall is ALWAYS good to have on your team. However, his departure (if it happens) is NOT going to hurt our team as badly as people say.
And as far as
“what makes you think we can run the ball?” and “our passing game is no longer a threat”goes, here’s my take and I mean nothing personal.
What makes me think we can run the ball? We were 12th in the league in rushing last year. None of our guys put up huge numbers on their own, but you combine the yardage and it’s crazy to see how efficient our running game was. It hasn’t changed much. We’ve done away with the worthless backs and brought in guys that actually have some staying power (Moreno). We’ve retained the ones that fight for their yards (Hillis) and we’ve got more diversity in the running game than ANY other aspect of our team. We can run the ball. If we can’t run it with Hillis, we’ll do it with Buckhalter, if not him, then we’ll go Moreno. See my point?
And as far as the passing game not being a threat goes…Are you joking me? Are you serious?! Just because Orton doesn’t huck it 60 yards on 3rd and 2 does NOT mean we don’t have a passing game. We may not have a “long yardage” passing game, but we still got a passing game. It’s funny you mention it though, about half of Cutlers passing yards were actually YAC thanks to Marshall, Royal, etc. Just because Orton doesn’t play a senseless game doesn’t mean it won’t produce. The name of our passing game now is short passes and screen plays. That’s the point of the spread offense being implemented. The way our game is set up now is going to be 70% YAC. Orton won’t have to throw a deep bomb to get yardage. Aside from that, if the running game does it’s job even HALF as well as it should, Orton won’t have to throw 60 passes a game.
Peyton Hillis is also referred to in early Greek mythology by his other names such as Zeus or Poseidon.
I'm widely awake and cognate of the plans for our future.
This is to say ‘barring’ any injuries we should be better with the run this season than we were last, with the addition of Moreno, a healthy and ‘wiser’ Hillis, and Buckhalter. The passing game will be a little different this year than last. The QB will have a variety of targets to choose from, instead of a primary look in Marshall’s direction. The ‘change’ IMO is better on offense and defense, but I won’t struggle with the ramifications of why I feel that way, there has been too many analytical posts explaining those lines already. I believe this ‘new’ team will achieve the goals that last years team failed at. I look for an exciting season, win lose or draw.
Besides
How many times does any given team throw a Bomb each game? The Long ball is only one facet of any game plan. Remember Willie Gault in Chicago? World Class Sprinter. They threw him one, maybe two long balls a game. Yes they had Sweetness, but the point is, the long passing game is not used often enough to make any rational kind of argument about any given NFL QB’s arm strength. If they couldn’t throw the ball, they wouldn’t be in the League.
"You give 100 percent in the first half of the game, and if that isn't enough, in the second half you give what's left." – Yogi Berra
"No, I'm from Iowa, I only work in outer space."
scott is one of the members who doesn't understand the 13-3 issue
I don’;t know why, but some folks miss what’s being said.
Hillis/Moreno in '09
How True
Being new to MHR and living just north of Chargerville I love your post. Since the hiring of McD I’ve had a great feeling about the new direction our Broncs. 13-3 I’m not sure , but the record will be as good or better than last year. Also when the MSM coments about our team they don’t have all the information. Let’s remember the coaching staff works with the players everyday a nd just might have more info on who and who can’t play. Thanks MHR for being here for us and thank for letting an old QB comment. Yes a new way is coming. Go Orang.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Getting Social With MHR
Next Game
Web Stuff
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
