Denver Post sports writer Mike Klis posts his Broncos Mailbag every Tuesday during the 2007 NFL season on DenverPost.com.
To drop a Broncos- or NFL-related question into the Broncos Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
With all the promising young talent on this team, and after that debacle Sunday against the Chargers, what’s wrong with tanking this season? Get a top draft pick and last-place schedule, and set yourself up for the future. What good does it do to go 8-8?
— D. Habrock, Kansas City, Kan.
D. – In return for all the money he’s paying coach Mike Shanahan, defensive head coach Jim Bates and the players, Pat Bowlen isn’t going to accept a tank job in return. I understand why Broncoland is distraught following the Sunday carnage at Invesco. But try to keep this perspective – at 2-3, the Broncos are a mere one Raiders loss away from leading the AFC West. This may be one of those years where 9-7, or even 8-8, wins the AFC West. And if the division winner at 8-8 matches up against an 11-5 wild card in the playoffs, guess which one gets to play at home? Team 8-8. Not that home field has been any advantage for the Broncos, but that’s another story for another mailbag.
Are the Broncos really as bad as they look? I have been a fan for 40 years and have never seen a less competitive Broncos team. Do you believe there is anything they can do after the bye to salvage this season?
— Chip Whitson, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Chip – Other than the Broncos’ run defense, . For a disaster like Sunday at Invesco Field to occur at the NFL level, there must be a confluence of unique factors. was a demoralizing blow to the team’s spirit, no matter how the coaches and players defended him and deny his troubles’ affect. Their opponent, the San Diego Chargers, was arguably the most talented 1-3 team ever. A team that good, and that desperate for a win, may have destroyed whoever it played in this game.
A fumbled kickoff, a fumble at the 9, a leg injury to Champ Bailey, a knee injury to Javon Walker – it all added up to blowout. Call me an optimist, but I will guarantee the Broncos won’t lose 41-3 in their next game against Pittsburgh in two weeks.
As for whether the Broncos can salvage their season, their porous run defense makes it uncertain. When a defense can’t stop the run, it affects the psychology of the entire team. Run defense, more than Travis’ Travails, is threatening to ruin the Broncos’ season. Simeon Rice was wrong last week. Entering their game against the Chargers, the Broncos were ranked 31st in the 32-team NFL against the run. “We can only go north,” Rice said.
After the Chargers’ debacle, the Broncos are now ranked 32nd, allowing 187.6 rushing yards a game. That dropped them past Miami, which is 31st at 174.2 rushing yards.
It wasn’t easy, but the Broncos’ rush defense went even further south.
What in the name of Dan Reeves is going on? Who would have predicted that Wade Phillips would have the league’s most exciting offense, and Mike Shanahan would be the one stifling his young gunslinger with conservative play calling?
— Shane Kryzsko, North Platte, Neb.
Shane – I like your wit. I take back all the Nebraska jokes except my favorite:
Q: How do you get a Nebraska grad off your porch?
A: Pay for the pizza.
Anyway, I think Shanahan would love to open up his offense, but he can’t because of his poor run defense. Opponents are scoring on the Broncos through methodical, 8-minute-or-so marches. If Shanahan devised an offense to score every 3 minutes, the formula would guarantee defeat because the defense would have nothing left for the second half. As it is, I think several Broncos’ defensive players are gassed entering the Week 6 bye.
Granted, the Broncos would take the occasional 3-minute TD drive. But it seems to me the Broncos’ offensive gameplan is devised in part to keep their defense off the field.
Hey, Mike. What was the real reason for ? Because from what I understood, the coaches were excited about this kid’s potential at WR. As for his bad performance at returner, well, couldn’t they have just put in somebody else instead of cutting him?
— Jose A. Valdez, Gonzales, Calif.
Jose – For four weeks straight, the mailbag is filled with letters wondering why the Broncos don’t get rid of Domenik Hixon. And now that Hixon’s gone, you ask, why didn’t they keep him?
That’s why I love this mailbag. You guys keep me hoppin’. Anyway, Jose, you make a good point. If they liked him as a receiver, why not just replace him as a returner? Truth is, the Broncos hoped to re-sign Hixon back to their practice squad. They were surprised the New York Giants claimed him off waivers, given Hixon’s shaky performance.
Then again, I saw Reuben Droughns returning kicks for the Giants on Sunday, so the claim shouldn’t have been that unexpected. As for Hixon the receiver, the Broncos must not have been all that encouraged. He was one of only four receivers who dressed in the first three games, yet I don’t think he ever ran a route much less catch a pass.
I’m a Broncos fan living in the Black Hole. Are the Raiders for real or will they fail like they always do? Please say they will fail! Their fans are living large. They think that they’re going to win the AFC West. I don’t think I could handle that.
— David, Milpitas, Calif.
David – The Raiders will fail. Then again, I generally don’t ignore pleas. Seriously, it’s too early to tell. It’s not surprising there’s optimism in Raiderland. A 2-2 record must seem Super Bowl-caliber next to the 2-14 debacle of a year ago. I’m not going to say the Raiders are a 2-2 fraud, because they had an impressive defense last year and they’re offense is running the ball better than anyone (194.3 yards a game) this year. Nor do I believe the Raiders are 2-2 and on their way to 10-6. The only way I see the Raiders winning the AFC West is if 8-8 wins the AFC West. For now, 8-8 for the Raiders and 8-8 winning the West appear possible.
Dear Mr. Klis: I am a partially disabled middle-aged woman in a suburb of Indianapolis who is unable to attend Colts games but was completely disgusted by the reception given to Brandon Stokley. Is there any way that you can get a message to him that there are many people here in Indy who still love him and wish him his greatest accomplishments as a Denver Bronco? I can’t believe how Indy acted at that game, to a guy who helped Peyton Manning attain some of his loftiest goals, a guy who was CUT! Anyway, there are a lot of unhappy people about what happened, not the least of which are Colts players. Please let him know this from us.
— Julie, Greenwood, Ind.
Julie – Assuming Stokley reads this mailbag, consider your sentiments passed. I’ll share a little story. It’s the Monday morning following the Broncos-Colts game, and I’m sitting next to , in the airport gate area. I’m reading a note in your local paper about the disappointment Colt players expressed regarding the fan treatment of their former teammate.
I say to Woody, “What is the deal with the Colt fans booing Brandon Stokley?”
Woody said something along the lines that Stokley seems like a nice guy, likeable, and he couldn’t believe it, either.
Sitting a few seats down from us was a young lady who couldn’t help but overhear our conversation. It was Brandon’s wife, Lana.
It got me to thinking: We all sometimes forget how human these players are. People make the argument: Fans pay good money for their tickets; they can boo all they want. As a member of the media, I have been critical of performances delivered by players, coaches, front-office executives and owners.
We all forget jeers and critiques bother these guys. Stokley was hurt by the boos. The boos hurt Stokley’s wife. If those same fans were sitting in a restaurant, and the Stokleys walked in, would they boo then? No, although some might ask for his autograph.
It’s weird when you think about how booing is deemed uncouth at golf and tennis tournaments, yet it’s a badge of honor to heckle players in major team sports arenas. I’m not saying this is right or wrong. I’m just saying it’s weird.
Mike – Just wondering how ol’ No. 80, Rod Smith, is doing in his rehab? Is he going to come back this season or is he doomed to retire before he wishes? Thanks and GO BRONCOS!
— Rod H., Oakley, Kan.
Rod H. – To repeat: Be surprised if Smith comes back. He is eligible to be activated from the PUP list in time for the next game against Pittsburgh, but he’s not close to being ready. It’s one thing for a blocker to overcome a surgically repaired hip; another for a wide receiver, where speed and explosiveness are at a premium. I’m not expecting Smith to return this year, but that’s me talking, not him.
Sorry, Mike. I have to take you to task on crowd noise. I come down for every game, and I have tickets on the lower and upper level. The Invesco Field noise problem is club seating. The club level has cut the faithful in half. The upper crowd (above club) is younger, more energetic and definitely loud. The lower is a little older, still faithful, but not so lively. The club crowd is quiet. When you cut off the head of a snake, the body still moves around, and the head can still bite, but the snake is basically dead.
— James H. Perry, Aspen
James – Continuing on with your analogy, if your snake is in the Garden of Eden, does Eve goad Adam into biting the apple? Never mind. (Covering a 41-3 whipping has made me a tad punchy.)
Anyway, you are referring to my contention the reason the crowd noise is down at Invesco Field is because the newer arena is twice as large, in square feet, as Mile High Stadium. I do agree, James, club-level fans are considerably more – shall we say – civilized than those whooping it up in the South Stands. There’s no doubt an increase in fan comfort creates diminishing returns in applause. And you probably don’t have to take a survey to learn fans who can afford a $9 beer make less noise than those who have to count quarters to buy a $6 beer. I get it.
I just think space is a bigger factor. I’ve been in almost all the ballparks and stadiums, and my theory, which I believe can be supported by science, is that the smaller the territory, the more crowd noise reverberates off those ancient walls and rebounds to higher decibels.
Mike Klis is in his third season of covering the Broncos after previously covering the Rockies and Major League Baseball for 15 years. To drop a question into his Broncos Mailbag, or visit DenverPost.com’s .
