Rebuild or Reload? The Two Roads Back for the Broncos
While the rest of the world prepares for the next Super Bowl this weekend, Broncos Country is already hard at work with ideas on how to get Denver back into the big game.
After reading through social media responses, tuning into local sports radio and reading way too many sports blogs, it appears the fans and the armchair experts have figured it all out. But the answers are as varied as Colorado weather. Everything from blowing up the entire offense and starting over to all we need is to draft Baker Mayfield with our rare number five overall pick and we're golden.
With the Broncos coaching staff volunteered for the Senior Bowl, that horribly played exhibition was covered by local media as if it was the Super Bowl. You could hear folks really wanting Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen to our magic answer. And well, we heard how well Oklahoma signal caller Baker Mayfield impressed the crowd of credentialed reporters when the word "aura" was utilized with great reverence after a great practice.
To quote NBA Hall of Fame guard Allen Iverson, "We ain't talking about the game. We talking about practice."
As I recall, there was a lot of similar hype about Paxton Lynch. He was slotted as the third best quarterback in the 2016 NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys were trying to trade above Denver to get Lynch. In the moment, most of the NFL talking heads considered Elway's trade to beat Jerry Jones to the pick was well played.
Now of course, the dreaded "bust" word is being assigned to Lynch and I've heard more than one source discuss maybe the kid has talent, but not the necessary effort off the field to improve.
I think a number of the quarterbacks in this year's draft have some talent. I'm not certain I see any of them who can start from week one and lead a team to the playoffs. They all have some issues to work on and I don't think this particular batch of Broncos fans has the patience for a rebuild.
A rebuild is the only path back if Elway's grabs a quarterback in the fifth spot.
Which means, trade or drop All-Pro cornerback Aqib Talib and a pile of veterans to get more picks and salary cap space and push through a few more 5-11 seasons. Or worse.
Von Miller has already cast his vote.
The face of the franchise is ready to reload.
Miller was pretty fired up at the end of the Pro Bowl. It matters not how silly the Pro Bowl game is, he still won the defensive MVP award, becoming the first defender to win MVP trophies in the Super Bowl and the Pro Bowl. He's still pretty darned good.
Von wants the Broncos to add soon-to-be free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins, who couldn't quite save the Washington Redskins from mediocrity these last few years. Miller wasn't shy, he made his wish clear on the Dan Patrick radio show simulcast on television.
The eye test to me suggests Cousins is better than the current two-headed Siemian-Lynch monster, but he may not be a lot more spectacular than say, Brian Griese was during his competent, but brief stay in the Mile High City.
Von Miller doesn't need a lot of help to win games, but he does know it is easier for him to do his job if his pals on the offense are scoring a bunch of points. Is Cousins our guy? Can we afford the big money he wants?
Big questions for sure, and we'll soon have the answers. Cousins plus a good offensive lineman with the fifth pick could put this reload on the fast track back to the playoffs. But then again, there was a time not long ago when a lot of folks thought Lynch was our guy. I may be one of the few who thinks Chad Kelly may yet prove worthy as a top of the line talent, if time and patience were virtues in Broncos Country.
That said, my favorite wild card idea floating around is pushing for Drew Brees and follow the Hall of Fame quarterback plan the Broncos used for their other three Lombardi trophies.
How's that for a reload?
After reading through social media responses, tuning into local sports radio and reading way too many sports blogs, it appears the fans and the armchair experts have figured it all out. But the answers are as varied as Colorado weather. Everything from blowing up the entire offense and starting over to all we need is to draft Baker Mayfield with our rare number five overall pick and we're golden.
With the Broncos coaching staff volunteered for the Senior Bowl, that horribly played exhibition was covered by local media as if it was the Super Bowl. You could hear folks really wanting Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen to our magic answer. And well, we heard how well Oklahoma signal caller Baker Mayfield impressed the crowd of credentialed reporters when the word "aura" was utilized with great reverence after a great practice.
To quote NBA Hall of Fame guard Allen Iverson, "We ain't talking about the game. We talking about practice."
As I recall, there was a lot of similar hype about Paxton Lynch. He was slotted as the third best quarterback in the 2016 NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys were trying to trade above Denver to get Lynch. In the moment, most of the NFL talking heads considered Elway's trade to beat Jerry Jones to the pick was well played.
Now of course, the dreaded "bust" word is being assigned to Lynch and I've heard more than one source discuss maybe the kid has talent, but not the necessary effort off the field to improve.
I think a number of the quarterbacks in this year's draft have some talent. I'm not certain I see any of them who can start from week one and lead a team to the playoffs. They all have some issues to work on and I don't think this particular batch of Broncos fans has the patience for a rebuild.
A rebuild is the only path back if Elway's grabs a quarterback in the fifth spot.
Which means, trade or drop All-Pro cornerback Aqib Talib and a pile of veterans to get more picks and salary cap space and push through a few more 5-11 seasons. Or worse.
Von Miller has already cast his vote.
The face of the franchise is ready to reload.
Miller was pretty fired up at the end of the Pro Bowl. It matters not how silly the Pro Bowl game is, he still won the defensive MVP award, becoming the first defender to win MVP trophies in the Super Bowl and the Pro Bowl. He's still pretty darned good.
Von wants the Broncos to add soon-to-be free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins, who couldn't quite save the Washington Redskins from mediocrity these last few years. Miller wasn't shy, he made his wish clear on the Dan Patrick radio show simulcast on television.
The eye test to me suggests Cousins is better than the current two-headed Siemian-Lynch monster, but he may not be a lot more spectacular than say, Brian Griese was during his competent, but brief stay in the Mile High City.
Von Miller doesn't need a lot of help to win games, but he does know it is easier for him to do his job if his pals on the offense are scoring a bunch of points. Is Cousins our guy? Can we afford the big money he wants?
Big questions for sure, and we'll soon have the answers. Cousins plus a good offensive lineman with the fifth pick could put this reload on the fast track back to the playoffs. But then again, there was a time not long ago when a lot of folks thought Lynch was our guy. I may be one of the few who thinks Chad Kelly may yet prove worthy as a top of the line talent, if time and patience were virtues in Broncos Country.
That said, my favorite wild card idea floating around is pushing for Drew Brees and follow the Hall of Fame quarterback plan the Broncos used for their other three Lombardi trophies.
How's that for a reload?
Would love Brees, but has said multiple times he had no interest in leaving NO and I don't see him pulling a Saban. Cousins for two years, get Kelly ready. Get rid of Talib and two of the three other QBs (not sure it matters which ones).
ReplyDeleteNice use of "Saban" as a verb! Well played. I keep hearing Drew wants to stay, but I also understand Saints ownership has been cheap in the past, and he is an 18 million dollar cap hit. But yeah, I'm not seeing Brees and his number 9 jersey in orange and blue anytime soon. I think they will keep Lynch because he doesn't cost much. I still want to see a healthy Kelly in camp this spring.
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