If only this Broncos season was only about a couple more losses than wins.
There would be frustration, and maybe some anger, but the growing list of injuries to star players would have become a singular, convincing explanation.
A 3-5 record, though, is hardly the full story to the first half of the season. It’s 41-3 and 44-7 that has Broncoland in an uproar. Or, as quarterback Jay Cutler put it, there’s a “panic surrounding this team and everyone’s just freaking out.”
In truth, panic wouldn’t be bad.
At least there would be energy, even if it’s dysfunctional energy. Losing 41-3 and 44-7 in a span of four games – two of the worst losses in franchise history – doesn’t provoke panic so much as humiliation and, worse, resignation.
Or have people forgotten the mass exodus by Broncos fans midway through the third quarter of the 41-3 shellacking Denver took from San Diego last month at Invesco Field at Mile High? Not likely.
“This is not indicative of who we are,” Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist said this past week. “This is not Denver Bronco football. This is not indicative of the goals and standards we set for ourselves every year. We know the fans are disappointed because we are more disappointed.
“You can do one or two things: You can pack it up and say that this is a rebuilding year. But that’s not who our owner is, that’s not who our coach is, and I’ve been here for 16 years and that’s not how I was taught. We’re going to fight.”
There is reason to play on. Improbable as it seems, the Broncos could be leading the AFC West by tonight. If they beat Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium, and mighty Indianapolis defeats San Diego, a three-way tie of 4-5 teams would slouch atop the division standings.
From there, the Broncos’ remaining schedule would include only one opponent that has a winning record.
Hope or fool’s gold?
Is this reason to hope? Or is there fool’s gold laced in those AFC West standings?
“I don’t see them turning it around,” said Mark Schlereth, a starting offensive guard on the Broncos’ Super Bowl-winning teams in 1997-98. “I think Mike Shanahan is still one of the best coaches in the NFL. But they’re too deficient on the offensive line and defensive front seven. If you have an offensive line that can dominate and defensive line that can dominate, you’re going to be in every game. The Broncos had that. But because they missed on so many draft picks and because things haven’t worked out in free agency, they no longer have that.”
It’s not just that the Broncos are 3-5. It’s how they got there. Only one team has been outscored by more points this season, 0-8 St. Louis. And, the Broncos are 5-10 dating to last season’s second-half collapse, a skid clamped on a run in which the Broncos went 23-7 dating to the end of 2004.
Like most abrupt changes, there doesn’t appear to be one reason for the tumble, but a confluence of factors. Preceding the fall, in the past year, a heavy roster turnover occurred – the results of poor drafts during a four-year period, injuries, age and the deaths of two players. There was fallout from the many changes, such as leadership voids. There was also a big shake-up on the coaching staff – where new ideas on defense this season have so far brought brain lock – as well as a change in quarterback.
Seemingly more talented
Among the more confounding elements to the Broncos is they appear to have more talent, position by position, than the 2005 version that took a 14-3 record into the AFC championship game at home. But that’s with the exception, perhaps, of those who play along the line of scrimmage, where the Broncos are being dominated at times.
At receiver, the trio of Javon Walker, Brandon Marshall and Brandon Stokley is far more athletically gifted than the collection of Rod Smith, Ashley Lelie and Charlie Adams. Daniel Graham and Tony Scheffler would have the nod over Stephen Alexander and Jeb Putzier at tight end. Running back Travis Henry and quarterback Jay Cutler largely would be considered superior in skill and stats to Mike Anderson and Jake Plummer, respectively.
Yet, the 2005 Broncos ranked seventh in the NFL in scoring at 24.7 points per game. This year’s team ranks 28th with a meager 15.8 points.
Then there’s the constantly changing defense. There has been an influx of personnel, forging a new defensive philosophy brought in by new defensive head coach in Jim Bates.
Then, after the Week 6 bye, the Broncos changed their system again. They are again using eight men up near the line of scrimmage after it was obvious seven men up front weren’t enough against the run. The defensive line personnel was changed again this past week.
Yet, aside from Trevor Pryce and Al Wilson, 2005 stalwarts who are no longer around, these Broncos appear to have just as much talent.
“The cupboard is not bare,” Sund- quist said. “Yes, we’ve got holes but everybody has holes. Last year, Indy was 32nd against the run but they have rings on their fingers.”
“What can I do better?”
Why then do the Broncos, who rank 32nd against the run, seem so far away from repeating the other half of Indy’s history, which is winning the Super Bowl?
“There’s so many things you can look at, but ultimately when a team is struggling like this, you have to look at the way you’re going about your work each and every day,” safety John Lynch said. “And obviously it hasn’t been good enough. We as players have to take responsibility for that. The way you get out of that is, instead of passing the buck, it takes a mentality where everyone looks at themselves and says, ‘What can I do better?’
“Yes, we’ve had injuries. And it hasn’t just been injuries, it’s been key guys. Our best players. But we still, regardless of the injuries, have enough talent out there.”
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denvepost.com
