This is the “new” .
June 13: Second-year receiver misses consecutive minicamp practices with a hamstring injury.
Joseph: “He’s got to get back on the field if he wants to make this football team.”
Aug. 4: The seventh practice of training camp doesn’t impress Joseph, who is peeved by dropped passes and penalties.
Joseph: “Obviously, coaches, we’re ready to go. I’m ready to go every day. Itap on the players to come out with an attitude of, ‘Letap start fast.’ ”
Aug. 15: During the first joint practice against Chicago, the Bears take advantage of the Broncos’ second-team defense.
Joseph: “Our ‘2’ defense was terrible — too many mistakes (and) too many busted coverages.”
Observers say Joseph has displayed a sharper public view in this, his second year as the Broncos’ coach. When he doesn’t like something, he says so. The same for when he likes what he just saw.
But will the New Vance, who rarely had a negative word to say in public a season ago, be an Improved Vance?
If the Broncos are to go from worst-to-first for the third time in franchise history, they will need Joseph to be a better in-game manager and his revamped coaching staff and roster will need to thrive under his direction. Dysfunction reigned during a 5-11 season a year ago.
“There’s no question that in your first year as a head coach, you think you know what might be involved (with) being a head coach,” general manager said. “But once you get in the middle of it and go through it, then I think you understand what it takes to be that head coach.”
Joseph’s first year with the Broncos started 3-1 before disintegrating via an eight-game losing streak.
Joseph used three starting quarterbacks.
Joseph fired offensive coordinator after Week 11.
Joseph’s return for a second season was only announced by Elway a day after the season ended, after Elway said he “had to sleep” on deciding whether to bring Joseph back.
Secure for a second season, Joseph soon after fired special teams coordinator and five other assistant coaches.
Before a meaningful game is played, the locker room reviews for Joseph 2.0 have been favorable.
He played out the tailback competition during training camp but said it was basically a two-player race between and because a five-person battle is foolish.
He demoted to third-team quarterback after the first preseason game, making it clear to all that draft status (Lynch was a first-rounder) does not matter.
He referred to receiver as “14” and tailback as “2” instead of by their names, a way of not over-complimenting the rookies.
And after declaring fifth-overall pick as a strong-side linebacker, he rubber-stamped the defensive staff’s plan to play him frequently at his natural defensive end position in the preseason.
“I think he’s gotten better at everything, all-around,” veteran cornerback said. “That first year is always hard. I’ve had a lot of my coaches in my (football) career and that first year is trying to get to know the players, how to talk to certain players, how to run the team meetings, how to just do every little thing.
“He just has a total command. Everything is better.”
The roster certainly appears better. The Broncos’ offense, inept a season ago, could have as many as five new starters in Week 1, led by quarterback . And the Broncos’ defense should benefit from having Chubb.
And the staff is certainly more cohesive. Veteran offensive coordinator will call the plays and Joseph feels the addition of special teams coordinator Tom McMahon from Indianapolis was a steal.
“He’s added some quality people to his staff that I think will help him,” Elway said. “But also, with the year under his belt and the experiences he’s had before that, I’ve got full confidence that he’ll take hold of those reins, know that itap his show and go from there.”
Joseph’s debut season was the worst by a Broncos first-year coach since Lou Saban in 1967 (3-11). The seven coaches who preceded Joseph never had a losing record in their first seasons, led by 12-2 records for Red Miller in 1977 (lost ) and in 2015 (won the Super Bowl).
The Broncos have not experienced consecutive losing seasons since the dark ages of 1963-72. Joseph doesn’t need a history lesson, but must realize if this year’s Broncos join that list, changes are likely, likely starting with him. To that end, Joseph has showed urgency with his decision making and his messaging. Now he needs that to translate to the games.
“(Joseph) was showing us (practice) clips from last year and we look like two totally different teams,” inside linebacker said. “We’re faster. We’re more efficient. We’re more tenacious. The way we prepare is going to show a lot in the way we play the games.”
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