As someone who travels days by motor home rather than hours by jet, John Madden sees more than most.
Freshly coronated as a Hall of Fame coach, Madden unquestionably has been the NFL’s most popular color commentator for the past 25 years.
As his motor home was driving in from Fort Collins on Thursday afternoon, Madden was asked about the Broncos’ defense.
Although some may see the impact of cornerback Champ Bailey as the difference, and others are taken by the incredible speed of linebackers Al Wilson, Ian Gold and D.J. Williams, Madden is drawn to veteran safety John Lynch.
“Their defense, until you watch them closely, I don’t know if you realize how big an impact John Lynch is for them,” Madden said. “I watch that run defense, and he gets up there like a fourth linebacker. Everyone brings eight (men in the defensive box) and brings the safety down, but they don’t get up there and play like a linebacker. The other Bronco linebackers are good and they’re fast and Al Wilson can dominate at times. But against the run, you put John Lynch as that fourth linebacker, that’s what makes them tough.”
Madden is in town along with play-by-play announcer Al Michaels to call tonight’s prime-time game between the 3-1 Broncos and 0-4 Oakland Raiders for NBC at Invesco Field at Mile High.
“Madden had this incredible ability to connect with people,” said Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Sports. “John’s humanity, which is real – if you’ve ever had a chance to ride with him cross country, which I have done for parts, he’s a guy who stops and knows all the diners across America. He’s not a guy who turns his back to people walking into a room. His ability to communicate with 7-year-old boys or 70-year-old men is unsurpassed. I mean, I think Madden in some ways is Carsonesque.”
Although Madden is an old Raiders coach, he says he’s more familiar with the Broncos’ coaches and players because he has broadcast more of Denver’s games in recent years.
Still, Madden said he feels for the Raiders. Not only is the once proud and intimidating franchise winless, it has been at times embarrassingly uncompetitive.
Having won no more than five games in the past three seasons, the Raiders may have to dramatically improve if they are to win two or three this year.
Is there any one problem that has cost the Raiders their competitive integrity?
“I think they have to fix a lot of things,” Madden said. “But it probably starts at quarterback. Last year it was Kerry Collins, and that didn’t work. So they got Aaron Brooks and he got hurt, and then they got Andrew Walter, and whether he’s ready, I’m not sure. He looked pretty good in the first half against the 49ers last week. The Raiders really played pretty well in the first half, and then in the second half they had a punt blocked for a touchdown and then they fell apart because bad teams have a tough time reacting to adversity.
“But it’s the NFL, and you need a quarterback. And if you don’t have a quarterback, then you better have a dominant defense and good running game. And they don’t have a quarterback, they don’t have a dominant defense and they don’t have a good running game.”
Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
