FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A month of distance from the disappointing end of the Broncos’ 2009 season has not provided any more clarity for veteran players about what went wrong, about how a team that started 6-0 could finish 8-8 and out of the playoffs.
“Just lots of time thinking about what could have happened and what should have happened, and then having to explain to people, that how, after we got off to such a great start, what happened,” said defensive end Vonnie Holliday, here in South Florida to enjoy the Super Bowl festivities. “No, it’s not clear.”
Though coach Josh McDaniels said several weeks ago he had no desire to watch the playoffs — not with his team sidelined — Holliday and running back LaMont Jordan, who also was in town, have been paying attention.
And both remain optimistic the Broncos aren’t as far away from being a playoff team as their 2-8 finish might have indicated.
“Next year, coming in, second time around, you know what you did wrong, know the things you can correct,” Jordan said. “I think there’s a lot of lessons to be learned. We have a lot of good guys in the locker room, and I’m excited about next year.”
Still, there are plenty of things that must be fixed if the Broncos want to make the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
“Talent-wise, there are a couple pieces of the puzzle that are definitely missing, and guys know it and Josh knows it,” Holliday said. “They’re going to fix it. From the top, they know what’s going on, and they’re going to fix it.”
While Holliday declined to point out specific needs — “I’m just employee No. 99,” he said — it is clear the Broncos have several key areas to address in free agency and the draft, especially on the offensive and defensive lines.
With a move away from the zone-blocking scheme and with a new offensive line coach, the Broncos likely will add bulkier interior offensive linemen who should improve the team’s pedestrian running game.
The Broncos’ defense still needs help up front, on the line and at linebacker to shore up a run defense that collapsed late, especially in home losses to Oakland and Kansas City.
With Brandon Marshall likely on his way out, the team will need another big-play wide receiver to join Jabar Gaffney and Eddie Royal. Veteran Brandon Stokley will be a free agent.
Plenty of fans might not be happy to hear it, but don’t expect a change at quarterback, with the Broncos expected to keep Kyle Orton for at least one more year.
That’s the right move, said Rich Gannon, a former Raiders quarterback and NFL MVP.
“I think the quarterback is going to be fine,” said Gannon, who is an analyst for CBS and Sirius Radio. “You see the most improvement in quarterbacks from Year 1 to Year 2 in the system, and my sense is that this will be a very busy offseason for them. He’ll continue to improve — and he needs to.”
The Broncos can’t — and won’t — be quite as active in free agency in 2010 as they were during McDaniels’ first offseason, when the team signed a dozen players by mid-March.
The team also has one pick in each round of the draft, and could acquire more if they are able to trade Marshall. The Broncos’ first- round pick will be at No. 10 or No. 11, pending on the results of a coin flip with Jacksonville this month.
With the 2009 season officially wrapping up tonight with the Super Bowl, current and former Broncos are starting to look ahead to how their 2010 team will look.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but I just want them to get it right,” former Bronco Shannon Sharpe said. “I’m going to always do my job. As long as I’m going to have a microphone and a camera, I’m always going to give you an honest opinion about what I think about the Broncos. But secretly, I want them to do well, just like I’m sure Dan Marino wants the Dolphins to do well.”
Lindsay Jones: 303-954-1262 or ljones@denverpost.com
