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Horse Tracks: What grade would you give Gary Kubiak?

Good Morning Broncos Country

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ESPN's John Clayton ranked all of the first-year NFL Head Coaches at the halfway mark on the season. Not surprisingly, Denver Broncos Head Coach Gary Kubiak is atop that list.

Here's what Clayton had to say about the Broncos Head Coach.

1. Gary Kubiak, Denver Broncos, 7-0:

Even though he was the only offensive coach hired during the offseason, Kubiak's biggest success has been on defense. He hired Wade Phillips to coach the defense, and Phillips has unleashed a one-gap, 3-4 defense that has more speed than any group he has had in any other stop. The Broncos rank first in seven defensive categories. They have 29 sacks and have forced 15 turnovers. They are the only team that hasn't allowed a point in the first quarter.

Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano compared the Broncos to the dominating 2000 Baltimore Ravens, which won a Super Bowl. Interesting comparison. That Ravens team asked little of starting quarterback Trent Dilfer. The Broncos have future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. Because the defense only allows 16 points a game, less is asked of Manning than any team on which he has played. That's a good thing. Manning's age and diminishing arm strength has been an issue Kubiak has been dealing with all season. His biggest challenge in the second half of the season is fixing the offensive line and making it easier for Manning to succeed in the cold-weather games.'

This ranking makes sense.

The Broncos are currently undefeated(7-0), they have one of the best(the best actually) defenses in the league, and a improving offense which gives them one of the best teams in the league.

Also on this list is a former Denver Broncos Head Coach, and a former Broncos defensive coordinator.

Jack Del Rio of the Oakland Raiders is ranked third on this list. He has the Raiders in second-place in the AFC West, and currently a winning record. Things might be looking up for the Raiders.

Former Denver Broncos Head Coach John Fox is near the bottom of this list. He's ranked seven out of eight coaches on this list. He's only ahead of San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Jim Tomsula.

Here's what Clayton has to say about the Broncos former Head Coach.

7. John Fox, Chicago Bears, 3-4

Of all the new coaches, Fox took on the biggest challenge. The Bears lacked talent on defense. Fox and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio have done good work. They switched to a 3-4 even though the roster lacked 3-4 personnel. The Bears are giving up 342.3 yards a game, around 25 less than last year. Offensive coordinator Adam Gase seems to be working with quarterback Jay Cutler so well that odds favor the organization staying with Cutler next year instead of unloading him in a trade.

What will be tough is doing better than a 6-10 or 5-11 season. Matt Forte is hurt. The already thin defensive line can't take one more injury. What Fox has to do in the second half of the season is how to add to the roster next year.

John Fox sure doesn't have the Bears "Kicking and screaming".

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