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!

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.