Monday, October 29, 2012
A Retrospective: Accrediting the Regimes
Ryan McPickel recently asked if I was glad Brian Xanders was gone. I couldn't answer the quesiton b/c I couldn't say exactly what he was/wasn't responsible for. That said, I wanted to examine the personnel choices of each of the last decision-makers the Broncos have sat at the throne - Shanny, McD and John.
Shanny was hit and miss until the end - when he was money. He just could never fix th defense. McD was either a complete miss or a homerun - mostly misses with a few notable exceptions (Eric Decker, Demerious Thomas, Zane Beadles). If Josh McDaniels had simply followed my advice, and the advice of those who proclaim themselves NFL draft "experts" who don't actually choose for any team in particular, we'd have Clay Matthews, Connor Barwin, Brian Orakpo and would likely be the best defensive football team in the NFL. Still, many of McDaniels' choices, especially from his second draft - when he had had a full year to prepare - showed true vision and genius.
That said, John Elway has been lights out since taking over. From Peyton Manning, to Vaughn Miller to Derek Wolfe to more subtle moves like picking up back-up (now starting) center Dan Koppen, picking up undrafted free agent Chris Harris, keeping Tony Carter, signing Mike Adams, and on, and on and on. Unlike Shanny and McD, Elway seems to lack the "little man" complex of needing to cut everyone he's not directly responsible for, which I think is one of his biggest assets.
I could go back and list everything out. I won't because looking it all up was pain in the ass enough. Let me sum it up for you: Shanny couldn't draft until right before he got fired and was aweful in free agency, McDaniels tried too hard and missed most of the time but, in doing so, he got us a bunch of great players because when he hit, it was a homerun, Elway has been above average in the draft, especially at the top, but has been absolutely lights out in free agency (college and pro).
Long story short, the broncos are the cumulative product of three pretty good minds - Elway seems to be the best decision maker of the three.
Go Broncs!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
The Broncos Will Finish 11-5, Face Rematch With New England
For a long time, the Denver Broncos acted as Tom Brady's kryptonite. The Broncos handed him his first playoff loss. The Broncos, for a long time, seemed to have Tom Terrific's number. Those days are long past.
The Patriots, despite the Texans and whatever other November sensations are out there, are still the team to beat in the AFC, period. Peyton and the Broncos appear poised to go on a run and make the playoffs. The question remains, what can they do once they get there?
The Rest of the Season - Simply, the Broncos are better than every team remaining on their schedule. That said, they will probably stub their toes twice more - for a division-winning record of 11-5.
Whatevs, I've already spent too much time on this post. Here's the story: We'll win our crappy division and lose in the playoffs. Eh. At least we're not the Chiefs.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
The Tebow Phenomenon - A Debate
A debate between Peerality of two weeks before the Broncos Drafted Tebow and Peerality now - 8 games into the Tebow Experiment of 2011:
2009 Peerality:
Tim Tebow cannot play quarterback in the NFL.
His throwing motion is unorthodox, leads to inaccurate passes and is just plain ugly. Sure, he wins. Sure, he inspires his defense, lifts the level of play of everyone around him, has the best instincts of any scrambling quarterback in the history of the game, blah blah blah. He'll never sustain this gimicky offense Mike McCoy has fashioned for him. He'll never win in the playoffs even if he leads the Broncos there, because he'll never be able to lead a team back from a multiple score deficit.
2011 Peerality: He has come back from a multiple score deficit.
2009 Peerality: He has, you say? When.
2011 Peerality: In his second start. And almost did it against the Chargers after replacing a flacid Kyle Orton.
2009 Peerality: Yeah, but that was against a bad Texans team. Oh, the San Diego game this year, where he came in and scored 2 fourth quarter touchdowns? That was obviously a fluke. Look at his throwing motion. I mean, come on. It's so ugly. The Broncos should just put him on kick-off coverage and play Brady Quinn, a REAL quarterback.
Tim Tebow is what John Elway says he is. He's a great football player who has been mistakenly put at the quarterback position. Right now, Elway's just hoping that some sap watches Tebow and offers something ridiculous like a second round pick for him in a trade. "HAHAHAHA!" says Elway. If I can say one thing for sure, it's that Tim Tebow will never throw for three-hundred yards in the NFL.
2011 Peerality: He did. Against the Texans.
What? He did? A game in which he overcame a 17-0 half-time defecit, threw for 308 yards and won the game? Fluke.
2011 Peerality: In his first start, Tebow became just the third quarterback in NFL history to throw for a touchdown of 30 or more yards and run for a touchdown of 40 or more yards in the same game. A game in which he had the highest passer rating EVER for a Broncos quarterback in his first start.
2009 Peerality: So what? Look at his throwing motion. He'll never be a prototypical pocket-passer. Even if he somehow makes it work, he'll never stay healthy.
Sure, Tebow's won some games. But look at his passing stats. I mean, what kind of career passing numbers can the guy really be putting up with a throwing motion like that? I mean, even Tebow fans need to realize what this kid can and can't do.
2011 Peerality: He's better than Elway was.
2009 Peeraltiy: What? Hahahaha. Suuuuure he is. I'd love to see Elway v. Tebow stat comparison.
2011 Peerality: O.k. Here you go.
John Elway vs Tim Tebow
1st 8 Career Starts
Elway Tebow
W-L 3-5 5-3
Pass yds 1,041 1,281
TD-Int 3-10 10-4
Rush yds 92 550
Rush TD 1 5
Peerality 2009: No, no no. That can't be right. That has to be inverted, right? O.k. Even if that's right, Elway was handcuffed in a run-first offense. Plus, Tebow's throwing motion is soooo ugly. I mean, come on. This guy is not a real quarterback.
Peerality 2011:
Okay, 2009. I've listened to you long enough. I've listend to Meril Hodge - a former running back who now holds himself out as some kind of QB guru. I've tried to listen to Chris Carter - a me-first receiver who can barely speak and probably hasn't even watched all of Tebow's games. Basically, I've listened to every other self-professed QB expert who hates on Tebow. Why don't you listen to Joe Montana, who said everyone needs to leave the kid alone, that he just needs to make a small adjustment to his feet and he'll be fine? Why don't you listen to guys like Terry Bradshaw - who said this style gives an o-line license to go hit someone, fosters a physical attitude, inspires your defense and keeps them off the field. It works.
It's simple, because, like NFL executives, you don't like what you don't understand. You don't like things that don't fit the mold of what you think a quarterback should look like. It's like I'm watching Moneyball all over again - a bunch of old dudes who tell me to trust their "eye" for conventional talent.
For one second, ask yourself why it has to be conventional. Does it, really? Look at Cam Newton. Look at Robert Griffin III, who I believe will be amazing in the NFL. Just because it doesn't look like everything else, doesn't mean it won't work! Start saying that you don't believe it will work, and stop saying it won't as a fact. You're not the authority, Merril Hodge. What happens between the lines is. Four and one. Suck it.
Pardon me if I trust Josh McDaniels' opinion of QBs over Merril freaking Hodge. After drafting Tebow, McDaniels explained his decision in an exchange with a local media person - stating that Tebow is the best QB prospect he's ever seen except for some subtle mechanical issues in his throwing motion, that McDaniels felt he could iron out / make consistent. He felt that, if he could fix these inconsistencies in Tebow's motion, he'd have the perfect QB - a big, strong, hard-working guy who will give you 100% of himself and would literally put it all on the line for his team to win the game. Wow. McDaniels was actually right about something.
I think everyone can agree that, if Tebow can develop, he can be something special. Imagine what would happen if Tebow becomes even an adequate passer in the NFL - we're talking about a guy who is the highest rated passer in SEC history. Fifteen yard crossing routes are open ALL DAY. If he starts hitting those, the Broncos will be unstoppable. Pardon me if I believe he can figure out how to throw those passes - especially when I've seen him do it here and there.
So, the issue of whether Tebow can work long term comes down to whether you feel that the hardest working kid on the planet, a kid who is the highest-rated passer in SEC history, can become an "adequate" NFL passer. So, for one second, abandoned your feelings about his religeon, what I've said, etc. and ask yourself one simple question:
"Would I bet against Tim Tebow being able to become an adequate NFL passer?"
I wouldn't. Especially when he's been able to put up a 76 passer rating and pretty respectable passing numbers (overall) with the motion as it is.
I mean he's got a strong arm - he just needs to be accurate. If he figures out how to be a semi-accurate passer, this offense will be scary, I mean, super-scary. Most people who actually know something about throwing mechanics say he simply needs to make his motion repeatable and work on his footwork. I'll take Tebow.
Bottom Line:
-- Tebow's style prmotoes complementary football. With Tebow, we run the ball, stop the run, don't turn the ball over, keep the Defense fresh and establish a physical style we used to beat the crap out of Rex Ryan's "ground and pound" Jets.
-- Tebow puts more points on the board then Kyle Orton ever could with the same personnel.
-- Tebow's presence inspires his teammates. They know it's never over.
-- Tebow wins. And yes, at the end of the day THIS IS THE ONLY ARGUMENT I NEED.
Let's ride!
2009 Peerality:
Tim Tebow cannot play quarterback in the NFL.
His throwing motion is unorthodox, leads to inaccurate passes and is just plain ugly. Sure, he wins. Sure, he inspires his defense, lifts the level of play of everyone around him, has the best instincts of any scrambling quarterback in the history of the game, blah blah blah. He'll never sustain this gimicky offense Mike McCoy has fashioned for him. He'll never win in the playoffs even if he leads the Broncos there, because he'll never be able to lead a team back from a multiple score deficit.
2011 Peerality: He has come back from a multiple score deficit.
2009 Peerality: He has, you say? When.
2011 Peerality: In his second start. And almost did it against the Chargers after replacing a flacid Kyle Orton.
2009 Peerality: Yeah, but that was against a bad Texans team. Oh, the San Diego game this year, where he came in and scored 2 fourth quarter touchdowns? That was obviously a fluke. Look at his throwing motion. I mean, come on. It's so ugly. The Broncos should just put him on kick-off coverage and play Brady Quinn, a REAL quarterback.
Tim Tebow is what John Elway says he is. He's a great football player who has been mistakenly put at the quarterback position. Right now, Elway's just hoping that some sap watches Tebow and offers something ridiculous like a second round pick for him in a trade. "HAHAHAHA!" says Elway. If I can say one thing for sure, it's that Tim Tebow will never throw for three-hundred yards in the NFL.
2011 Peerality: He did. Against the Texans.
What? He did? A game in which he overcame a 17-0 half-time defecit, threw for 308 yards and won the game? Fluke.
2011 Peerality: In his first start, Tebow became just the third quarterback in NFL history to throw for a touchdown of 30 or more yards and run for a touchdown of 40 or more yards in the same game. A game in which he had the highest passer rating EVER for a Broncos quarterback in his first start.
2009 Peerality: So what? Look at his throwing motion. He'll never be a prototypical pocket-passer. Even if he somehow makes it work, he'll never stay healthy.
Sure, Tebow's won some games. But look at his passing stats. I mean, what kind of career passing numbers can the guy really be putting up with a throwing motion like that? I mean, even Tebow fans need to realize what this kid can and can't do.
2011 Peerality: He's better than Elway was.
2009 Peeraltiy: What? Hahahaha. Suuuuure he is. I'd love to see Elway v. Tebow stat comparison.
2011 Peerality: O.k. Here you go.
John Elway vs Tim Tebow
1st 8 Career Starts
Elway Tebow
W-L 3-5 5-3
Pass yds 1,041 1,281
TD-Int 3-10 10-4
Rush yds 92 550
Rush TD 1 5
Peerality 2009: No, no no. That can't be right. That has to be inverted, right? O.k. Even if that's right, Elway was handcuffed in a run-first offense. Plus, Tebow's throwing motion is soooo ugly. I mean, come on. This guy is not a real quarterback.
Peerality 2011:
Okay, 2009. I've listened to you long enough. I've listend to Meril Hodge - a former running back who now holds himself out as some kind of QB guru. I've tried to listen to Chris Carter - a me-first receiver who can barely speak and probably hasn't even watched all of Tebow's games. Basically, I've listened to every other self-professed QB expert who hates on Tebow. Why don't you listen to Joe Montana, who said everyone needs to leave the kid alone, that he just needs to make a small adjustment to his feet and he'll be fine? Why don't you listen to guys like Terry Bradshaw - who said this style gives an o-line license to go hit someone, fosters a physical attitude, inspires your defense and keeps them off the field. It works.
It's simple, because, like NFL executives, you don't like what you don't understand. You don't like things that don't fit the mold of what you think a quarterback should look like. It's like I'm watching Moneyball all over again - a bunch of old dudes who tell me to trust their "eye" for conventional talent.
For one second, ask yourself why it has to be conventional. Does it, really? Look at Cam Newton. Look at Robert Griffin III, who I believe will be amazing in the NFL. Just because it doesn't look like everything else, doesn't mean it won't work! Start saying that you don't believe it will work, and stop saying it won't as a fact. You're not the authority, Merril Hodge. What happens between the lines is. Four and one. Suck it.
Pardon me if I trust Josh McDaniels' opinion of QBs over Merril freaking Hodge. After drafting Tebow, McDaniels explained his decision in an exchange with a local media person - stating that Tebow is the best QB prospect he's ever seen except for some subtle mechanical issues in his throwing motion, that McDaniels felt he could iron out / make consistent. He felt that, if he could fix these inconsistencies in Tebow's motion, he'd have the perfect QB - a big, strong, hard-working guy who will give you 100% of himself and would literally put it all on the line for his team to win the game. Wow. McDaniels was actually right about something.
I think everyone can agree that, if Tebow can develop, he can be something special. Imagine what would happen if Tebow becomes even an adequate passer in the NFL - we're talking about a guy who is the highest rated passer in SEC history. Fifteen yard crossing routes are open ALL DAY. If he starts hitting those, the Broncos will be unstoppable. Pardon me if I believe he can figure out how to throw those passes - especially when I've seen him do it here and there.
So, the issue of whether Tebow can work long term comes down to whether you feel that the hardest working kid on the planet, a kid who is the highest-rated passer in SEC history, can become an "adequate" NFL passer. So, for one second, abandoned your feelings about his religeon, what I've said, etc. and ask yourself one simple question:
"Would I bet against Tim Tebow being able to become an adequate NFL passer?"
I wouldn't. Especially when he's been able to put up a 76 passer rating and pretty respectable passing numbers (overall) with the motion as it is.
I mean he's got a strong arm - he just needs to be accurate. If he figures out how to be a semi-accurate passer, this offense will be scary, I mean, super-scary. Most people who actually know something about throwing mechanics say he simply needs to make his motion repeatable and work on his footwork. I'll take Tebow.
Bottom Line:
-- Tebow's style prmotoes complementary football. With Tebow, we run the ball, stop the run, don't turn the ball over, keep the Defense fresh and establish a physical style we used to beat the crap out of Rex Ryan's "ground and pound" Jets.
-- Tebow puts more points on the board then Kyle Orton ever could with the same personnel.
-- Tebow's presence inspires his teammates. They know it's never over.
-- Tebow wins. And yes, at the end of the day THIS IS THE ONLY ARGUMENT I NEED.
Let's ride!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
The Big Elway Gamble
John's all-in. Pat's all-in. Legacies are being gambled. The indelible image of "This One's for John" is on the line or, at least, it could be tarnished if John comes up short. Elway's image, as a guy who picked the perfect time to walk away from it all and rule a state - regardless of who the governor is - could disappear soon if the team in Denver, that we love so much, is not hastily transformed from ponies into BRONCOS.
As odd as it sounds, we could soon hear Broncos Country jeering, not cheering, John Elway. Think about that for a second. Boo McD? Sure. Boo Shanny? Yep. Boo Cutler or Orton? Absolutely. But can you ever imagine yourself booing John? Who could imagine that, after "The Drive," Bronco fans could ever cheer for Kubiak to replace Elway as they once did. Well, boys and girls, that is now an actual possibility.
I'm rooting for this experiment to work. Ultimately,however, we have absolutely no experience at any key front office position. John's never done this before (in the NFL). Xanders has never really been a GM. And our new HC, whether it's Dennison, Koetter or whoever, will likely never have been an HC before (unless it's John Fox).
I'll admit that I'm a Josh McDaniels supporter and think he should've been given at least 2 more years. That said, I'll obviously be 100% behind whoever we hire. If Elway is successful, he will enter that rarified air - occupied only by Jerry West - of great players who became great at running an organization. Dear god I hope that happens. (BTW, Elway just game on the NFL Network countdown of the Greatest Players - maybe it's a sign). Ah hell, who am I to question John Elway. This post is stupid. I appologize. Still, I will continue.
On that note, John Elway was the greatest Quarterback to ever play the game of football. Period. Is he fit to run our franchise . . . we'll see. My skepticism comes despite the joy in my heart. I love John Elway and am thrilled to see him back in the fold. I'm just not sure he should be the Head Man - given that he has no prior NFL front office experience and a GM supporting him who's never really been a GM before. I would feel a lot better about John assuming this position if he had a guy like Erik DeCosta, the director of player personnel for the Ravens, backing him up. But nope. Instead, we have Xanders - a guy who apparently has a keen ability to organize film and use technology in crafting his draft board. But again, he's never had the kind of responsibility he has now. I've heard that he wanted to draft Clay Matthews, JR and that McD went behind his back in trading Peyton Hillis. O.k. Here's your shot Xanders. Don't miss. Because if you do we'll all blame you - b/c God knows that we'll never blame John. Or will we?
Ultimately, we have no idea how talented these people are at their jobs. They could be great. They could be great enough to make up for their lack of experience. Then again, they could be terrible. We'll see. As Mr. Bowlen fades into the background, let's hope he has hired the right guy. B/c if John Elway is bad at his new job, we're in for a looooongggg, difficult and very painful journey.
BTW - how the hell is Elway #23? That is a freaking travesty.
GJ out
As odd as it sounds, we could soon hear Broncos Country jeering, not cheering, John Elway. Think about that for a second. Boo McD? Sure. Boo Shanny? Yep. Boo Cutler or Orton? Absolutely. But can you ever imagine yourself booing John? Who could imagine that, after "The Drive," Bronco fans could ever cheer for Kubiak to replace Elway as they once did. Well, boys and girls, that is now an actual possibility.
I'm rooting for this experiment to work. Ultimately,however, we have absolutely no experience at any key front office position. John's never done this before (in the NFL). Xanders has never really been a GM. And our new HC, whether it's Dennison, Koetter or whoever, will likely never have been an HC before (unless it's John Fox).
I'll admit that I'm a Josh McDaniels supporter and think he should've been given at least 2 more years. That said, I'll obviously be 100% behind whoever we hire. If Elway is successful, he will enter that rarified air - occupied only by Jerry West - of great players who became great at running an organization. Dear god I hope that happens. (BTW, Elway just game on the NFL Network countdown of the Greatest Players - maybe it's a sign). Ah hell, who am I to question John Elway. This post is stupid. I appologize. Still, I will continue.
On that note, John Elway was the greatest Quarterback to ever play the game of football. Period. Is he fit to run our franchise . . . we'll see. My skepticism comes despite the joy in my heart. I love John Elway and am thrilled to see him back in the fold. I'm just not sure he should be the Head Man - given that he has no prior NFL front office experience and a GM supporting him who's never really been a GM before. I would feel a lot better about John assuming this position if he had a guy like Erik DeCosta, the director of player personnel for the Ravens, backing him up. But nope. Instead, we have Xanders - a guy who apparently has a keen ability to organize film and use technology in crafting his draft board. But again, he's never had the kind of responsibility he has now. I've heard that he wanted to draft Clay Matthews, JR and that McD went behind his back in trading Peyton Hillis. O.k. Here's your shot Xanders. Don't miss. Because if you do we'll all blame you - b/c God knows that we'll never blame John. Or will we?
Ultimately, we have no idea how talented these people are at their jobs. They could be great. They could be great enough to make up for their lack of experience. Then again, they could be terrible. We'll see. As Mr. Bowlen fades into the background, let's hope he has hired the right guy. B/c if John Elway is bad at his new job, we're in for a looooongggg, difficult and very painful journey.
BTW - how the hell is Elway #23? That is a freaking travesty.
GJ out
Friday, September 17, 2010
Man Caves, Mascara and Mayhem - Broncos Home Opener Preview
Peearality plans to attend the Denver Bronco game this week. Peerality has no idea what to expect out of his team. Peerality thinks that they'll win, but would not be surprised if they get hammered at home by the Seaskanks. I guess I'm seeing a lot more negative right now that positive, but - dear lord - was that Jacksonville game frustrating.
That said, I'm going to try and look on the bright side. If one thinks about it, even the most skeptical fan has to acknowledge that injuries are really preventing us from accomplishing anything right now. Truth is, if we were 100% healthy, and yes I've slipped into the first person plural, I think we would've destroyed Jacksonville and I'd be predicting super bowl. Picture it:
Gaff Eddie Clady Beadles Walton Kuper Harris Graham Thomas
KO
Larsen
Knowsh (with preseason under his belt)
I won't even mention Elvis or the D.
I'd like to see several of the following things this weekend against the seaskanks:
1) Get Eric Decker in the freaking game.
2) Shore up the pass D - I was not impressed by "Wink" in the opener. He's got a lot to prove to me.
3) Get some sort of pass rush. Maybe we need to blitz more or be more exotic, but you can't do what we did v. Jacksonville last week and win ball games. David Garrard should not look like Peyton Manning.
4) If you're going to use Tebow, USE HIM. Do a sprint pass / run option. Get him out of the pocket so that he has a chance to make a play. There are all kinds of creative ways to use him - running him directly into the line is not the way to go.
5) Special teams? WTF. We got rid of all of these old, productive vets (like Andre Davis) to get younger and better on special teams. K. Then what happened in week 1. I know Darcel is hurt, but come on boys.
6) Maybe most importantly, GET HEALTHY. We need Kuper and Harris. Realize that, over the past 17 games, we're 6-0 with Ryan Harris and 2-9 without him. Yikes.
That's about it. I think if we stay home on special teams, play sound defense and smart, sound offensive football, protect the ball and play solid complementary football, we'll win. If not, we won't. Either way I expect a close game and hope the Broncs can pull one out at home.
That said, I'm going to try and look on the bright side. If one thinks about it, even the most skeptical fan has to acknowledge that injuries are really preventing us from accomplishing anything right now. Truth is, if we were 100% healthy, and yes I've slipped into the first person plural, I think we would've destroyed Jacksonville and I'd be predicting super bowl. Picture it:
Gaff Eddie Clady Beadles Walton Kuper Harris Graham Thomas
KO
Larsen
Knowsh (with preseason under his belt)
I won't even mention Elvis or the D.
I'd like to see several of the following things this weekend against the seaskanks:
1) Get Eric Decker in the freaking game.
2) Shore up the pass D - I was not impressed by "Wink" in the opener. He's got a lot to prove to me.
3) Get some sort of pass rush. Maybe we need to blitz more or be more exotic, but you can't do what we did v. Jacksonville last week and win ball games. David Garrard should not look like Peyton Manning.
4) If you're going to use Tebow, USE HIM. Do a sprint pass / run option. Get him out of the pocket so that he has a chance to make a play. There are all kinds of creative ways to use him - running him directly into the line is not the way to go.
5) Special teams? WTF. We got rid of all of these old, productive vets (like Andre Davis) to get younger and better on special teams. K. Then what happened in week 1. I know Darcel is hurt, but come on boys.
6) Maybe most importantly, GET HEALTHY. We need Kuper and Harris. Realize that, over the past 17 games, we're 6-0 with Ryan Harris and 2-9 without him. Yikes.
That's about it. I think if we stay home on special teams, play sound defense and smart, sound offensive football, protect the ball and play solid complementary football, we'll win. If not, we won't. Either way I expect a close game and hope the Broncs can pull one out at home.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Final Round Falls Flat
This is what it's come to. We now live in a world where the guy who sucks least wins. Gone are the days of Jack and Tom and Tiger charging down the back nine to win the Open. Gone are the days of watching true greatness reveal itself on the world's biggest stage. Here to stay is a limping tiger, a Phil who just can't seem to get out of his own way and a bunch of guys who belong on the Nike tour who just happen to get hot - or keep from getting too cold - for four days. After watching Sunday's final round, I literally wanted to throw up.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Judging Josh: Peerality's Guide to the Career of Josh McDaniels
I have watched and/or listened to every interview ever given by Josh McDaniels. I have read every quote, studied every move, and listened closely to the message and to the manner in which it has been delivered. From what I've seen, I believe.
I believe that Josh McDaniels will win a super bowl as a head coach in the NFL. I believe he will win far more games than he loses in his coaching career. I believe he is principled, maybe to a fault, passionate, and as hard a worker as you will ever find in any business, anywhere on the planet earth - except for ants, those little guys do REAL work - anyway . . . . I think he has gigantic balls, a very clear vision and pays absolutely no attention to the media's opinion of him (as evidenced by the fact that his assistant filters everything and just gives him the general idea of who's with him and who's against him on any particular day). He is going to do what he thinks best regardless of the consequences.
Whether you think he is a fool or a genius, a boy king or the genuine article, one thing is for sure: Josh McDaniels is his own man. If I was Pat Bowlen, I would give him 10 years. I would not make the mistake Cleveland made with Belichick by giving a talented coach a shot and then firing him just as he was ready to start winning. I don't want us to prime Josh to go win 5 super bowls in Green Bay or Tennessee. Bottom line: I believe in my guy and I'm going to stick with him.
My whole idea for this post was to 1) express my opinions of Josh McD, 2) list several observations that led to the formulation of my criteria for his judgment, and 3) list the criteria / timeline by which I will judge Josh McD's career in Denver - hopefully you will agree.
OBSERVATIONS:
1. Josh's judgment should begin this year because he is just now getting all of the pieces he wants. We are SOOOO YOUNG and SOOOOO NEW. If you scan the roster, the number of players that have been drafted or signed from '09 and later is absolutely striking. Josh is still building, but he's got HIS guys now, so it's time for him to groom them and develop them in his system. For me, the "clock" on his time in Denver starts this year.
2. Josh is a gambler, a feel player at that. If you compared him to a poker player, you'd have to go with Tom Dwan "Durrr". He's confident, makes big moves and doesn't care about what others say. He plays against the grain and usually wins. He will constantly keep your team in the spotlight, which, is valuable to the franchise in the long-run. His eyes are on the reward, not necessarily the risk.
3. Josh is brilliant and not afraid to change. This is probably the best argument for giving him a longer timeframe to succeed. He's not a constant comodity that either will succeed or fail - he has the ability and a willingness to adapt, along with the intelligence to make his adaptations effective. For instance, Tom Coughlin is who he is and he'll never be anything different. He's going to run things a certain way, want certain systems and pieces in place and his "brand" will either succeed or fail - it will not change. In contrast, Josh's system and mindset is always changing and evolving to fix problems and further fortify strengths. I don't care what business you're in - if you find and employ someone who is brilliant, hard-working, adaptable and 100% committed to success, you're going to succeed. Period. Ever read "Who Moved My Cheese?"
4. Josh's relationship with players is hard to get a read on. On one hand, he's all Parcels: "The player this" and "The player that," totally old school. On the other hand, he runs around fist-pumping to the home fans and celebrating with players. He will really test the theory that you can't be a strict disciplinarian and still be a players coach because he's obviously going for both. Jarvis Green, for one, said that Josh's enthusiasm is one of the things that brought him to Denver. It's tough to say if this will make him the most beloved coach ever, cause him to lose the locker room, or both. I think over time this will be easier to figure out. If it goes the wrong way, it could spell doom for Josh. One of the biggest criticisms of him is that he doesn't know how to differentiate his treatment among players and that he doesn't work well with others (Mike Nolan, Jay Cutler, BMarsh etc.). I'm not sure if Josh's need for control is good or bad yet. It is, however, a bit worrisome.
5. Josh McDaniels is good for Denver. He is the most controversial figure in Denver sports. He is a lightening rod, a polarizing figure and he has brought more media attention to the Denver Broncos than I have seen since . . . well, just about ever. He is exciting, interesting, brash . . . . In short, he will bring attention and money to the franchise and, if he wins, he will restore the mile-high magic that has been lacking since Elway left.
TIMELINE AND CRITERIA:
1) No matter what, Josh should have a minimum of 6 years, starting this year (7 total). This is not a one, two, or three year process. Sure, winning in the NFL is everything. That is exactly why you don't want to hand-pick a coach and then not give him a fair shot to learn, develop and build your team. There are going to be mistakes and a learning curve. There are going to be times when you want to go in a different direction - DON'T! This guy is committed, brilliant and adaptable. He has all the tools to learn and grow into a great coach. He has balls and he's going to garner attention for your program as long as he's there. He's the Jerry Jones of coaching, but smarter and far less annoying - more substance to the balls and less flash. It's like Jerry has silver balls and Josh has gold balls. Ya dig?
2) The criteria are simple:
a) winning better than 62% of his games over the next 6 years (10-6 is 62%) and
b) winning at least 3 division championships, and
c) either making it to the super bowl once or making the playoffs 4 out of the 6 years, or
d) fixing the end of the year slide routine by 2011.
OR
e) Winning a super bowl. This eliminates all of the above criteria because it is, of course, the ultimate measuring stick.
If he meets or exceeds these expectations - keep him and it's been a success. If not, it might be time to pull the plug unless we suck in years 1-4 and then go 13-3 and 14-2 and make the AFC Championship both years. I think the above-stated criteria provide a pretty suitable platform for judgment; but ultimately, he needs to win football games and perform especially well in the division, at the end of the season and in the playoffs.
Peerality OUT
I believe that Josh McDaniels will win a super bowl as a head coach in the NFL. I believe he will win far more games than he loses in his coaching career. I believe he is principled, maybe to a fault, passionate, and as hard a worker as you will ever find in any business, anywhere on the planet earth - except for ants, those little guys do REAL work - anyway . . . . I think he has gigantic balls, a very clear vision and pays absolutely no attention to the media's opinion of him (as evidenced by the fact that his assistant filters everything and just gives him the general idea of who's with him and who's against him on any particular day). He is going to do what he thinks best regardless of the consequences.
Whether you think he is a fool or a genius, a boy king or the genuine article, one thing is for sure: Josh McDaniels is his own man. If I was Pat Bowlen, I would give him 10 years. I would not make the mistake Cleveland made with Belichick by giving a talented coach a shot and then firing him just as he was ready to start winning. I don't want us to prime Josh to go win 5 super bowls in Green Bay or Tennessee. Bottom line: I believe in my guy and I'm going to stick with him.
My whole idea for this post was to 1) express my opinions of Josh McD, 2) list several observations that led to the formulation of my criteria for his judgment, and 3) list the criteria / timeline by which I will judge Josh McD's career in Denver - hopefully you will agree.
OBSERVATIONS:
1. Josh's judgment should begin this year because he is just now getting all of the pieces he wants. We are SOOOO YOUNG and SOOOOO NEW. If you scan the roster, the number of players that have been drafted or signed from '09 and later is absolutely striking. Josh is still building, but he's got HIS guys now, so it's time for him to groom them and develop them in his system. For me, the "clock" on his time in Denver starts this year.
2. Josh is a gambler, a feel player at that. If you compared him to a poker player, you'd have to go with Tom Dwan "Durrr". He's confident, makes big moves and doesn't care about what others say. He plays against the grain and usually wins. He will constantly keep your team in the spotlight, which, is valuable to the franchise in the long-run. His eyes are on the reward, not necessarily the risk.
3. Josh is brilliant and not afraid to change. This is probably the best argument for giving him a longer timeframe to succeed. He's not a constant comodity that either will succeed or fail - he has the ability and a willingness to adapt, along with the intelligence to make his adaptations effective. For instance, Tom Coughlin is who he is and he'll never be anything different. He's going to run things a certain way, want certain systems and pieces in place and his "brand" will either succeed or fail - it will not change. In contrast, Josh's system and mindset is always changing and evolving to fix problems and further fortify strengths. I don't care what business you're in - if you find and employ someone who is brilliant, hard-working, adaptable and 100% committed to success, you're going to succeed. Period. Ever read "Who Moved My Cheese?"
4. Josh's relationship with players is hard to get a read on. On one hand, he's all Parcels: "The player this" and "The player that," totally old school. On the other hand, he runs around fist-pumping to the home fans and celebrating with players. He will really test the theory that you can't be a strict disciplinarian and still be a players coach because he's obviously going for both. Jarvis Green, for one, said that Josh's enthusiasm is one of the things that brought him to Denver. It's tough to say if this will make him the most beloved coach ever, cause him to lose the locker room, or both. I think over time this will be easier to figure out. If it goes the wrong way, it could spell doom for Josh. One of the biggest criticisms of him is that he doesn't know how to differentiate his treatment among players and that he doesn't work well with others (Mike Nolan, Jay Cutler, BMarsh etc.). I'm not sure if Josh's need for control is good or bad yet. It is, however, a bit worrisome.
5. Josh McDaniels is good for Denver. He is the most controversial figure in Denver sports. He is a lightening rod, a polarizing figure and he has brought more media attention to the Denver Broncos than I have seen since . . . well, just about ever. He is exciting, interesting, brash . . . . In short, he will bring attention and money to the franchise and, if he wins, he will restore the mile-high magic that has been lacking since Elway left.
TIMELINE AND CRITERIA:
1) No matter what, Josh should have a minimum of 6 years, starting this year (7 total). This is not a one, two, or three year process. Sure, winning in the NFL is everything. That is exactly why you don't want to hand-pick a coach and then not give him a fair shot to learn, develop and build your team. There are going to be mistakes and a learning curve. There are going to be times when you want to go in a different direction - DON'T! This guy is committed, brilliant and adaptable. He has all the tools to learn and grow into a great coach. He has balls and he's going to garner attention for your program as long as he's there. He's the Jerry Jones of coaching, but smarter and far less annoying - more substance to the balls and less flash. It's like Jerry has silver balls and Josh has gold balls. Ya dig?
2) The criteria are simple:
a) winning better than 62% of his games over the next 6 years (10-6 is 62%) and
b) winning at least 3 division championships, and
c) either making it to the super bowl once or making the playoffs 4 out of the 6 years, or
d) fixing the end of the year slide routine by 2011.
OR
e) Winning a super bowl. This eliminates all of the above criteria because it is, of course, the ultimate measuring stick.
If he meets or exceeds these expectations - keep him and it's been a success. If not, it might be time to pull the plug unless we suck in years 1-4 and then go 13-3 and 14-2 and make the AFC Championship both years. I think the above-stated criteria provide a pretty suitable platform for judgment; but ultimately, he needs to win football games and perform especially well in the division, at the end of the season and in the playoffs.
Peerality OUT
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