Columnist Mark Kiszla on Friday talked all things Denver sports in a Lunch Special chat. Here are the highlights:
Not to get to far ahead, but who starts the play in? Grey (sic)? Freeland?
Kiz: Got it. The Rockies set up rotation for Jon Grey to start the play-in playoff game. I fully expect that’s what Bud Black will do. Kyle Freeland, after a terrific start to the season, has been working out of the bullpen in long relief. I’m guessing that will be his role on the playoff roster. Top 3 starters (in no particular order), figure to be Grey, Tyler Anderson and German Marquez. That’s assuming, of course, the Rockies a) lock down 2nd wild-card berth and b) get past the Diamondbacks.
Gray against Zack G. in the wild card game. Rookie vs guy who has 58 playoff innings. Why didn’t the GM see this coming and make some moves to get a starter who has pitched in the playoffs, Rockies have been in contention all year.. I cant recall any team ever sending a rookie to start a playoff wildcard game? Seems like a very bad GM move.
Kiz: Jon Gray. I misspelled it as Grey earlier. I am a bad speller. My apologies. But Gray is an emerging ace. His slider has long been nasty. He has added an effective curve to his arsenal. The Rockies aren’t frightened of Greinke (there’s another tough one for me to spell, I before E … or is it E before I?) I think the Rockies would have a 40 percent chance of winning that play-in game, even in Arizona, where Greinke is a much more effective pitcher than on the road. Would’ve it been sweet if the Rockies had traded for Justin Verlander at the deadline? Of course. But that was never going to happen. I have not been hesitant to criticize GM Jeff Bridich in the past. Let’s give him some kudos for building a team that’s on the verge on making the playoffs.
If Giancarlo Stanton gets to 62, is he the legit single season hr king?
:I’m not big on erasing history. I don’t believe the crazy home run numbers from the steroids era are legit. But they happened. Stanton, I’m afraid, blew his chance at reaching 62 … and if he did, you can credit Rockies pitchers for shutting him down in hitter-friendly Coors Field. But Stanton has had heckuva year. And from all indications, his homers are legit. Man, I wish he played for the Rockies. Don’t you?
Who do you think should be the Nuggets starting PG this year?
Kiz: Jamal Murray. He was drafted as a combo guard. But from the night of the draft, Murray declared he was a point guard. The Nuggets will use him at both positions. But I hope he gets at least 25 minutes a night at the point, because distributing the basketball, even in an offense where the plays go through Nikola Jokic, is a skill that takes time to learn. The faster the learning curve is for Murray, the better shot the Nuggets not only have of making the playoffs, but making some noise in the playoffs.
How does Red Miller’s legacy live on in the Bronco’s today?
Kiz: The Broncos have always had a piece of Denver’s heart. It was the 1977 team and the first Super Bowl run that turned the Broncos into a Colorado-wide religion. Credit Red Miller. Forever. I never knew Red as a football coach, as I didn’t arrive in Denver until 1983. But I did get to know Red a little at prep cross-country meets many years later, which he attended as a fan. Good coach. Better man. Known as a hard-nosed son of a gun. But I saw a kinder, gentler side of the man.
Bolles is a mean dude. If he’s healthy were better. Left tackles make a difference.
:Garett Bolles is a tough, physical dude on the field. And he seems to have heart of gold away from the game. I was not crazy about the draft pick. Kudos to John Elway for selecting him. Bolles is great in the run game. He’s a work in progress in pass pro, but that’s to be expected from an NFL rookie. Now at right tackle, where Mr. Watson is having trouble holding down the fort — or just plain holding — the Broncos might have an issue.
Will Booker play this week? If so how do you see McCoy handling the three headed monster at running back?
Kiz: The Broncos have too many running backs and only one football. It was striking to me that Jamaal Charles got 9 carries to C.J. Anderson’s 8 carries in Buffalo. C.J. is the No. 1 back on this team. But his status is more tenuous than most folks tend to think. Add Booker to the mix, and I frankly don’t know how offensive coordinator Mike McCoy gets everybody enough touches to stay happy. Interesting question. Interesting situation to follow as the NFL season unfolds.
The Broncos have given up 7 touchdown passes through 3 games, 2nd most in the league, while their run defense is number 1 overall, I believe. What has happened to the no fly zone? Missing Ward? This is a complete 180 from last season (so far at least)
Kiz: Some knucklehead columnist suggested when TJ Ward left town, the No Fly Zone was dead. Yes, Chris Harris and Aqib Talib are Pro Bowl great. But the chemistry is not yet the same. Ward not only brought thump to the secondary, he brought a lot of football savvy. The Broncos should get better against the pass. But what we’re seeing is a transition period and the pain that goes with letting a talented veteran go for financial reasons.
Herm Edwards, the “coach”, calls Trevor Siemian “the next Alex Smith”. Do you think that is an accurate statement, or does Trevor have a higher ceiling?
:Well, it’s good to hear that Herm Edwards calls Trevor Siemian the next Alex Smith. Why? in a column last week. As a seventh-round draft choice, if Siemian can be as consistent a winner as Smith at the NFL level, that will be a great achievement. There are Broncos fans that dream of Siemian being an elite QB. It’s a nice dream. Nothing wrong with dreaming. But can you win a Super Bowl with Smith or Siemian as your starting quarterback? You can bet that’s a question that has been contemplated by John Elway.
Well Mark, the Ravens won a title with Trent Dilfer and the Bucs won one with Brad Johnson. The Broncos defense has the potential to be as potent as those two teams were under coach Gruden and Billick.
:Yes, an NFL team wins a championship with a pedestrian quarterback about every 10-12 years. But more often, championships are won by Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger or a Manning brother. Siemian was a great find for the Broncos. But here’s betting Elway won’t wait 10 years to find out if Siemian is good enough to win the Super Bowl.
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