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 .
Mike – Although Denver is 2-3 and all banged up, I really think despite being on the road more, the schedule should give Denver a positive sign of hope. Looks to me like there are many very winnable games for Denver. Would you say a 10-6 or 11-5 record is out of the question looking at the schedule? If Denver does make the playoffs, how do you feel about Denver stacking up with Indy and New England?
— Kooper, Connecticut
Kooper – The sun must be shining in Connecticut. Far, far away from there, Broncoland is filled with doom, gloom, woe and angst. No doubt, the Broncos could use more Koopers. And fewer guys like me, who don’t see 11-5 as a realistic possibility. At this point, the Broncos’ opponents or strength of schedule are irrelevant. What matters is how the Broncos play. San Diego was 1-3 when it whipped Denver, 41-3. Granted, the Chargers were the best 1-3 team in the land, but the Broncos may not have beaten anyone that day.
Looking ahead to the Broncos’ road schedule, Detroit, Houston and Oakland are hardly the pushovers they appeared prior to the season. Road games at Kansas City, Chicago and San Diego never looked easy.
Given the injuries and struggles on defense and special teams, Kooper, I’m looking at 9-7 (and an AFC West Division title) as the rosiest of Broncos’ possibilities this year. Then again, I’m not writing from the sunshine of Connecticut.
What in the world happened to Mike Bell? What led to his fall from grace so hard and so quickly?
— Don, Oregon
Don – Let’s back up to training camp, 2006. I was stunned when the Broncos promoted him from an undrafted rookie who was fourth on the depth chart to starting tailback before the team played its first preseason game. It appears the Broncos were a bit hasty in their evaluation then, although I liked the way Bell went Walter Payton near the goal line last season.
Bell got a good look in training camp but a preseason injury gave just enough opportunity for Selvin Young to show his skills. That left Bell in the difficult position of either switching to the blocking-oriented fullback position, or hit the NFL unemployment line.
If Henry is suspended, there’s a chance Bell could be switched back to tailback but that’s just a guess.
If the Broncos lose against the Steelers, what changes do you see happening in the not-so-peaceful valley of the doves?
— Jay, Denver
Jay – If the Broncos were going to make significant changes, it would have been during the bye week. Mike Shanahan said there would be no major changes entering the Pittsburgh game, so I don’t expect any afterward, win or lose. The one issue to pay attention to is running back Travis Henry. A final determination on his drug test is not expected to be made until mid-November, but the NFL wanted it resolved yesterday. If Henry is suspended, as most expect, then the Broncos will likely finish the season with a tailback rotation of Selvin Young and Andre Hall. If Henry is cleared, as people inside Dove Valley hope, then the Broncos figure to get a boost for the second half.
Very quick question, Mike. Why does Jim Bates still have a job?
— Bob, Mission Viejo, Calif.
Bob – Very quick answer: Because the season is only five games old. And, because I can’t ever seem to answer quickly, five games aren’t enough to pass judgment on a defensive coaching boss and system that have a decent six-year track record.
What is going on with the AFC West? We look more like the NFC West. None of the teams is a legit title contender, and it seems every week it gets worse. What do you make of this recent downfall?
— C. Jeter, Long Beach, Calif.
C. – When you look at the offseasons of the AFC West’s big three – San Diego, Denver and Kansas City – slow starts should be expected. The 14-2 Chargers lost their two coordinators, Wade Phillips and Cam Cameron, to head-coaching promotions elsewhere. Then management got sideways with head coach Marty Schottenheimer, a dispute that led to his dismissal. With all the “hot” coaching candidates snatched up, the Chargers settled for Norv Turner primarily because he had head-coaching experience, even if it was mostly bad.
The Broncos had to recover from the deaths of two players, a quarterback switch, the neck injury to defensive captain Al Wilson and hip injury to offensive captain Rod Smith. Plus, the Broncos made dramatic changes to their defensive coaching staff and system.
The Chiefs parted ways with quarterback Trent Green and dealt with the holdout of star running back Larry Johnson.
The Raiders hired the youngest coach in NFL history in Lane Kiffin, 32, and were unsettled at quarterback.
As it stands through Week 6, there’s a good chance a 9-7 record will win the AFC West.
I have some concerns with all the smiles and nonchalant attitudes I see right after our worst home defeat in franchise history (and after previous losses). I understand there are bigger things in life than football, but don’t you think these competitors should be a bit more irritated with losing?
— Jayme Medina, Kingwood, Texas
Jayme – Perhaps you’re talking about the postgame, on-field-greetings exchange between opposing players? Many times, college buddies or former teammates will meet up for a quick conversation. Win or lose. Back in the home locker room, though, I assure you there were no laughs following the San Diego debacle.
Otherwise, the Broncos’ reaction to their 41-3 drubbing by San Diego followed human nature. Had the Broncos lost on a final-play touchdown, the collective pain would have been palpable. That kind of loss usually leads to busted up furniture.
But anytime a team gets its butt whipped, embarrassment replaces disgust. Embarrassment is often salved by gallows humor. A performance that bad wasn’t worth knocking over food spreads.
Greetings, Mike. I teach leadership to people in the corporate world. The Broncos look like a company I recently worked with. They were wildly successful and full of talented people. The problem was that when things got tough a few years ago, they did not know how to respond. The leaders that built their culture had retired. The new leaders couldn’t restore the winning culture. I think the Broncos are going through the same thing. Rod Smith and Jason Elam are all that’s left. Do you see any leaders that can inspire this team?
— Fritz Black, Spanish Fork, Utah
Fritz – Nice hearing from “Executioner’s Song” country. You hit on an appropriate topic, although pardon me for wondering if your summation is slightly off. First, the Broncos’ locker room has its share of leaders. John Lynch may be the greatest leader I’ve ever been around in my more than 25 years of covering sports. Champ Bailey is a terrific leader by example. There is not one NFL player held in higher regard than Tom Nalen is by the rest of the Broncos’ offensive linemen.
As someone who knows about corporate leadership, you understand that in the field of team sports, it’s impossible for a player to stink and be a leader. The role players won’t follow. They only look up to those who play well. And lately, as the Broncos have lost three in a row, no one can say they’re playing well.
As you said, Fritz, the roster is loaded with talent, and while there may be dysfunctional leadership, it’s not the leaders’ fault. The problem is much of this talent is new to each other. The Broncos now have only five positions with the same player who started the bulk of their games in 2006 – Javon Walker, Ian Gold, Bailey, Lynch and Nick Ferguson.
That’s not turnover. It’s an overhaul. These guys aren’t fully invested in each other. Dre’ Bly, Sam Adams, Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder know what Lynch and Bailey are about, but how well can they really know them? Working further off your perceptive point, Fritz: Is it possible for this group of strangers to invest in each other as friends, fight for each other as teammates, when times get tough? We’ll find out the next two Sundays, when the Broncos play the Steelers and Packers at Invesco Field.
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 .
