DENVER, Colo. - So here we are again: watching as the Denver Broncos hang on the verge of delicious irony.
Delicious, not in the sense of celebration over the possibility the franchise could miss their fourth straight postseason. Delicious, rather in that the Broncos are confronted with the same fate that spelled their demise last season.
Once upon a time in 2008, the Broncos were 8-5 and charmed with the singular task of needing just one win to make the playoffs. Three losses later, and an 8-8 record to boot, Mike Shanahan of all people lost his job, and the rest is history.
Fast forward to one year later.
Under the leadership and lure of a young replacement from the shiny Patriots pedigree, Josh McDaniels, has the Broncos circling the same wagons at 8-7 again, but this time in need of a win against the Chiefs, and more, to make the playoffs this season.
Take a moment to ponder on that. Think about all that is different at Dove Valley, but all that is still just the same.
I spoke with Broncos defensive end Vonnie Holliday Tuesday to get the status of this team just as they prepared to face their biggest challenge yet.
Josina: At the end of last season as the Broncos were victims in the 52-21 Chargers massacre, on the outside looking in at the big dance, with a problematic defense ranked 29th in the league, everyone thought Pat Bowlen would be inclined to hire a defensive-minded coach. Instead Bowlen was attracted to the rising stock of a man who molded Matt Cassel into a magnificent stand-in for Tom Brady, and who was -the year before- connected to the numerous offensive records set in New England in 2007.
But with their fate in their own hands this past Sunday and their backs up against the wall, I watched an offense in Philly that went three and out on all of their first quarter drives against the Eagles, that scored merely seven points by halftime, and that needed Eagle penalties and a dramatic change of field position after Kyle Orton's third quarter interception to rally some kind of momentum for a comeback. I know you play defense, but what is your sense about the inconsistency on the offensive side of the ball? Last season the offense finished ranked 2nd, but right now the unit is ranked 19th in an unexpected flip-flop given who is the play caller and the expectations of creativity and innovation Josh McDaniels brought with him. So is it the play calling?
Vonnie: Everybody is asking that question: what's wrong with our play calling? Why do you keep trying to run the ball? But I know with our personnel you have to keep it balanced, you have to keep the opponent honest and not be one-dimensional. You don't want to put that kind of stress on the offensive line either. I believe we need to run the ball effectively to set up the play action so we can go deep when it's there to take a chance. So with that, I believe in Josh. I believe the guys still believe in Josh to call the game and manage the game given the personnel we do have here. Not to mention, you're also talking about a pretty complex playbook that hasn't been fully opened up yet. Furthermore, I know the defensive side of the ball can't allow as many points as we did and then settle in either. So we need to pick up our slack, so we don't put the offense in a situation where they need to come from behind by too much. We need to play complimentary football. Read more of Josina's interview>>>
Delicious, not in the sense of celebration over the possibility the franchise could miss their fourth straight postseason. Delicious, rather in that the Broncos are confronted with the same fate that spelled their demise last season.
Once upon a time in 2008, the Broncos were 8-5 and charmed with the singular task of needing just one win to make the playoffs. Three losses later, and an 8-8 record to boot, Mike Shanahan of all people lost his job, and the rest is history.
Fast forward to one year later.
Under the leadership and lure of a young replacement from the shiny Patriots pedigree, Josh McDaniels, has the Broncos circling the same wagons at 8-7 again, but this time in need of a win against the Chiefs, and more, to make the playoffs this season.
Take a moment to ponder on that. Think about all that is different at Dove Valley, but all that is still just the same.
I spoke with Broncos defensive end Vonnie Holliday Tuesday to get the status of this team just as they prepared to face their biggest challenge yet.
Josina: At the end of last season as the Broncos were victims in the 52-21 Chargers massacre, on the outside looking in at the big dance, with a problematic defense ranked 29th in the league, everyone thought Pat Bowlen would be inclined to hire a defensive-minded coach. Instead Bowlen was attracted to the rising stock of a man who molded Matt Cassel into a magnificent stand-in for Tom Brady, and who was -the year before- connected to the numerous offensive records set in New England in 2007.
But with their fate in their own hands this past Sunday and their backs up against the wall, I watched an offense in Philly that went three and out on all of their first quarter drives against the Eagles, that scored merely seven points by halftime, and that needed Eagle penalties and a dramatic change of field position after Kyle Orton's third quarter interception to rally some kind of momentum for a comeback. I know you play defense, but what is your sense about the inconsistency on the offensive side of the ball? Last season the offense finished ranked 2nd, but right now the unit is ranked 19th in an unexpected flip-flop given who is the play caller and the expectations of creativity and innovation Josh McDaniels brought with him. So is it the play calling?
Vonnie: Everybody is asking that question: what's wrong with our play calling? Why do you keep trying to run the ball? But I know with our personnel you have to keep it balanced, you have to keep the opponent honest and not be one-dimensional. You don't want to put that kind of stress on the offensive line either. I believe we need to run the ball effectively to set up the play action so we can go deep when it's there to take a chance. So with that, I believe in Josh. I believe the guys still believe in Josh to call the game and manage the game given the personnel we do have here. Not to mention, you're also talking about a pretty complex playbook that hasn't been fully opened up yet. Furthermore, I know the defensive side of the ball can't allow as many points as we did and then settle in either. So we need to pick up our slack, so we don't put the offense in a situation where they need to come from behind by too much. We need to play complimentary football. Read more of Josina's interview>>>
