Good guys gone.
“Talk around Louie’s Barber Shop is that Josh McDaniels is in his last season as coach of the Broncos. Fans don’t care for his imperious attitude and the ‘firing’ of favorite players. The most fortunate players are the good guys that McDaniels sent to other NFL teams. Time to hang out the ‘Help Wanted’ sign in Denver.”
Jack, Broomfield
Kiz: OK, what will the buzz be at the barber shop if the Broncos go on the road and beat Jacksonville? I like McDaniels. But, in building a roster of team-first guys, the Broncos have surrendered their star power. That’s a risky way to mess with the hearts of fans. Look around the football stadium and count the people wearing orange- and-blue replica jerseys. Most of the names on the back are no longer working in Colorado. The most recognizable local sports heroes in Denver have become Troy Tulowitzki, Ubaldo Jimenez and Carlos Gonzalez. Sure, we all fondly remember Rocktober 2007. But know what? This year could be the first time this town is more excited about baseball than football in September.
Moreno master of none.
“Know- shon Moreno is a complete back with running, blocking and catching skills. Problem is: He’s not great at any one of them. He’s not a speedster, not a thumper and not a cutback master. He’s a solid back. That’s it.”
Nick, Denver
Kiz: When the final rushing yards are tallied, Moreno better have outgained Peyton Hillis of Cleveland by at least a 2-to-1 ratio, or the electronic inbox at Broncos headquarters will suffer a meltdown.
Power outage on the run.
“Our biggest mystery with the Broncos is the power offensive line. It won’t work right away, if it works at all. Moreno will not suffice running between the tackles. He is not a power runner. If McDaniels can get him the ball in space, where Moreno can at least try to fake defenders, he has a chance.”
Jim, Broncos fan since 1960
Kiz: Hard as it will be, the Broncos can survive the loss of linebacker Elvis Dumervil. But if offensive tackle Ryan Clady can’t play at a Pro Bowl level for the majority of the season, any dreams of the playoffs are dead.
High horse already dismounted.
“Come on, Kiz. Aren’t you overreacting a bit in regards to McDan- iels’ mistakes with cornerback Alphonso Smith and defensive lineman Jarvis Green? Previous coach Mike Shanahan flushed tens of millions of team owner Pat Bowlen’s dollars down the drain throughout his reign in Denver. I recall Deltha O’Neal, Willie Middlebrooks, Marcus Nash, Brian Griese, Ashley Lelie, Dale Carter and Daryl Gardener . . . the list goes on and on. Everyone knows free agents and the draft are a crapshoot. This is just Coach McD’s second year. The changes we see coming are very promising. Get off your high horse and give the guy the benefit of the doubt.”
Kevin, Longmont
Kiz: Please allow me to repeat something I told a member of the Broncos’ front office last week. If I gave McDaniels any more benefit of the doubt, from supporting the trade of Jay Cutler to predicting a 9-7 record this season, my wife might start getting jealous of this romance with the coach.
But Boston’s magic ran out in the 1967 World Series
And today’s parting shot makes an interesting comparison between the baseball team currently sprinkling pixie dust in LoDo and magic witnessed in Beantown during the summer of 1967.
“The Rockies this year are a bit like the 1967 Red Sox. CarGo is Carl Yastrzemski. Ubaldo is Jim Lonborg. Tulo? Maybe George Scott, in terms of offense. There wasn’t much else to the ’67 Sox, other than a one-man offensive wrecking crew, an ace starter and a supporting crew. The Rox have gotten to where they are and will only make the playoffs for one reason: if the supporting crew plays their roles as well as the Sox did way back when.”
Stan, Fort Collins
