T-BONE WRITES:
So, what is up with the Denver Broncos? They are off to a 3-0 start, which nobody, including us die hard fans, would have predicted. So far, they have beaten Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Oakland. These teams are not exactly the cream of the NFL crop. Denver has lost more than half of the roster from last year, they have a brand new inexperienced coach, and lost one of the premier quarterbacks in the league. So, why are they 3-0? Yes, admittedly, the competition has not been stellar. Cincinnati is the only team they have played so far that looks like they are any good and they beat them on a fluky play. So what is the key? To me, it looks like a huge change on defense. The defense has new players, a new attitude, and a new scheme. Sure, they have played some bad teams but didn't they beat them soundly which is what you are supposed to do against a bad team? In the last two games, they have given up only 9 points (6 and 3 respectively). Cincinnati did not fair much better. How about the offense? Is Kyle Orton a star in this league? Certainly not !!!! However, lets look at the system he is playing in. Why was Matt Cassel successful last year? Is he a star in this league? Definitely not!! The new offense is a methodical, take what they give you and pick your moments type system. Denver has a trio of backs that are capable of ripping off a big gain at any time so they have to be respected. When the defense sucks up to take out the run, then you attack the secondary. Kyle Orton is suited very well for this offense. Is he suited better for this offense than Jay Cutler was? Maybe so. Cutler has proven over his first couple of seasons to be immature and impatient. He can make the big play, but is also prone to the big mistake.
Orton, not being a star, will run the play that is called, be patient in the offense, and does have the ability to make the big play when it is time. If Denver had acquired Cassel, I think that they would still be 3-0 for those reasons. Hmmm, maybe Josh McDaniels knew what he was doing after all. Maybe he knew that Cutler might not be the best fit for the type of offense he wanted to run. Maybe he thought that his ego might conflict with the direction that he wanted to take the offense or maybe he just got lucky. We may never know.
What we do know is that Denver is a solid team and a lot better than we thought they would be. They have a tough road for the next 5 or 6 weeks and we will know a lot more about them after those games. But I am going to say that right now, I am officially on the bandwagon, and they are going to beat Dallas this week.
Tyler (aka the Colorado Thugz, aka tbone, tbizzle, Im sweating again, getting funky on the mike like a whole batch of c o l l a r d g r e e n s.)
THE REALIST WRITES:
Denver has done what it needs to do defensively and way beyond!!! They have a +6 turnover differential so far this year after having a -17 differential last year. Their defense is ranked #1 overall after ranking 30th overall last year. The additions of Andra Davis, Nick Griesen, Renaldo Hill, Andre Goodman and Brian Dawkins paired with Champ Bailey and DJ Williams and the installation of a 3-4 has definitely made a difference so far. Additionally, Elvis Dumervill is getting back to being able to rush the passer after falling off last year with 5 sacks. He has 6 sacks already.
However, I have to say that Denver has played some bad teams in Oakland, Cincinnati and Cleveland. The three teams are a combined 3-6 this year and none of them went to the playoffs last year in 08-09 going a combined 16-31.Offensively, Oak, Cle and Cin are all in the bottom half in total offensive yards for the year. Cleveland has given up more points than anyone this year with 95 points allowed. Also, all the teams are in the bottom half of turnover differential.
Although I agree that Orton could possibly be a better fit for the system,I just don't believe that Orton make key plays when necessary in the key moments. His career 27 INT's with 33 TD's makes me believe that. The ball should have been knocked down or interecepted in the Cincy game and he has not had to make any plays in the other two games. Kyle Orton has always won games with a 21-12 overall record but I never felt he was a championship quarterback who could manage the game and step up like he needed to in clutch situations like Big Ben and Tom Brady in his early years. Even level headed Lovie Smith never had his full faith in him as evidenced by him contiually going with Rex Grossman throughout the years. That also makes me think that the players might not have had the faith in him because I have to feel that Smith seeked the advice of the veterans to help with the decision. They can only go so far with the quarterback not making enough plays. Not only do I think he will not make the plays but I don't think he has the physical or mental ability to make the plays. Yes, I feel the defense is much improved but it is not a dominate defense like Ravens 2001 or Tampa Bay 2003 where the defense can win it by themselves. Kyle Orton will look like this in the clutch time:
Their next five games are DAL, NE, @SD, @BAL and PIT. They also play IND, NYG and @ PHI and SD again which is a brutal 9 games. That is twelve games with the four other games against OAK, KC twice and @ WASH. Let's assume they beat the last four putting them at 7 wins. Now they would have to win 4 out of the nine to win the division(11-5) in my opinion. I think they could get two from SD and Dallas in Denver which gives them 9 wins. San Diego won the division last year at 8-8 so they could potentially win the division but I don't think they do because I think SD goes 10-6 and if Denver goes 10-6 which I don't think they will, SD will have the conference tie breaker with 9 wins and Denver only having 7 conference wins which is the third tiebreaker. I think Denver and SD both go 5-1 within the division which is the first tiebreaker and they both beat Dallas, Washington, Cleveland and Cincy so the common games which is the second tiebreaker will be even. The other two wild card teams come out of the AFC East and AFC North. The last spot will be between Denver and Pittsburgh and I think Pittsburgh beats Denver and has the tiebreaker in the head to head matchup which is the first tiebreaker.
With that being said, I think Denver beats Dallas this week with Marion Barber and Felix Jones being injured, the game is played in Mile High and I DON'T BELIEVE IN TONY HOMO. lol!!!
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