Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla answered questions about all things Denver sports in a live Lunch Special chat on Monday. Here are the highlights:
Kiz, I’ve been watching since the beginning of preseason and every week he looks like he’s improving. What’s the ceiling on his potential?
Kiszla: apountry has got Phillip Lindsay fever. As I stated in a debate with my Post colleague Ryan O’Halloran earlier today, it’s no longer a question of if Lindsay is the Broncos’ No. 1 running back, but when he will be elected mayor of Denver. Whatever ceiling has been given Lindsay, he keeps punching through it. Shortly after he was signed by the Broncos, I said Lindsay looked every bit as good in college as , the team’s third-round pick out of Oregon. Folks laughed at me. That’s OK. I’m used to be laughed at. I have kids. But, let me also add, I didn’t see Lindsay blowing up like this. I originally figured a role where he rushed for 300 yards and caught passes for 300 yards would be a fantastic rookie season for an undrafted player. Now? If Lindsay stays healthy, are there any limits? Let’s dream big. Offensive rookie of the year. How does that sound?
How did the Raiders lose that game? goes 29 out of 30 for 2 TDS and no picks and we didn’t have a first down in the first quarter! Itap a funny old game.
Kiszla: How did the Raiders lose? They did Raiders things. And Jon Gruden started playing the clock instead of trying to score more points in the fourth quarter. Denver deserved to win the game. Denver, and quarterback in particular, should get kudos for refusing to surrender after a lousy first half. But the Broncos got a lucky, as well. Recall the fourth-and-one play for Oakland? Gruden and his staff made a great call. With the line stacked, a running back came wide open in the flat, Derek Carr hit him in stride and he dropped the football. Make that catch … and there’s no talk today of a wonderful Broncos’ victory.
Hey Kiz, How’s it hanging? DT is beginning to look like more of a liability than an asset, way too many drops for his pay grade. Your thoughts?
Kiszla: The Broncos have too many high-priced players. This is not criticism, merely a financial analysis of the roster in a league with a salary cap. There’s , Case Keenum, , , … you get the idea. Somebody is going to have to go at the end of the season. Right, now, the leading candidate to be that somebody is Demaryius Thomas. He’s a very good player, despite the drops. But he has never been a truly elite NFL receiver.
I can’t believe I’m talking about this…but where do you think Keenum will end up in terms of all-time skillset as a Broncos QB? After Elway/Manning/Plummer/Morton there’s a huge drop-off. Obviously, Cutler had more raw physical talent … but Keenum is a much better leader/winner.
Kiszla: I can’t believe you’re talking about this, either. (I only kid the ones I love). Where does Case Keenum rank on the list of all-time Broncos’ QBs? C’mon now. Stick to coffee during business hours, stay away from the Orange Kool Aid. The comeback Keenum led was a fine example of his leadership, which I praised extensively in my column from the victory over the Raiders. But if you want me to keep it real … Keenum has yet to record a victory as big as beating New England in overtime. Keenum is a better QB than Osweiler. But the jury is very much out on if he can lead the Broncos to the playoffs.
Kiz, I gotta say, I was pretty impressed with Josey Jewell on Sunday. When are the Broncos going to let him play a bigger role?
Kiszla: Josey Jewell will be a starter on this Denver defense before the end of the season. He might be a starter before the end of October. I’d make him a starter before the end of September. But that’s just me.
Have you been surprised by Keenum’s four interceptions over two weeks? He only had seven last season.
Kiszla: No. Keenum got paid the big bucks for the first time in his career. And, as is human nature, he has tried to play like a big-buck quarterback. He is not. He is a fine leader. He is tough. He is smart. He is a game manager. I’ve been saying this since the day Denver signed Keenum. The Broncos have told you this. After two games, perhaps apountry has finally begun to see what I told you about Keenum is closer to the gospel than a hater’s rant. (And I certainly don’t hate Keenum. He’s a fine man.)
Will the Rockies trade ?
Kiszla: I hope DJ LeMahieu goes out and signs a big fat contract. I hope that because I hope good things for good people. I don’t root for the Rockies. I do hope that top performers, whether their field of work is baseball, engineering or journalism, get paid in a way that shows an employer can’t take them for granted.
What happened to CSU football this year? Is it coaching, player talent, other?
Kiszla: I feel for Mike Bobo, who has shown great fortitude while coaching as he deals with some serious physical issues. Get well soon. And let’s all pray for his 100 percent recovery. OK, that’s the important stuff. By comparison, football is a trifle. But, if you’re asking me my football analysis about Bobo the coach, I think he’s very close to average in almost every way, from recruiting to in-game decisions. Giving him a contract extension was a mistake. That being said, I hope Bobo proves me wrong. For his benefit. And for the benefit of everyone who cheers for the Rams.
If the NFL draft were held today, I’m thinking the Broncos would be eyeing cornerbacks. What do you think?
Kiszla: During the preseason, I appeared on a local radio station that does spin for the Broncos. I went on after writing a column on , a column that tabbed him as the breakout rookie star, when maybe I should’ve gone with Phillip LIndsay. I figured the segment would be happy talk about Sutton. Not long after the interview began, however, I made the comment that couldn’t handle Sutton in practice. One of the hosts took umbrage with my analysis, suggesting I didn’t know what I was talking about. Cool by me. But I’ve said this for months and years: Roby looks more like a safety than a cornerback to me. And he’s getting picked on with the departure of my buddy . The secondary is a mess. Adam Jones looked old versus the Raiders. Can the problems in the secondary be fixed? It’s certainly possible, because Chris Harris Jr and are good players. But if the problems in the secondary don’t get fixed, the Broncos aren’t going to make the playoffs. (I’m not certain that’s honesty you will hear on a radio station whose mission is to make the Broncos look good.)
Oh man, it’s September and the Rockies are playing games that matter! What do they need to do to win the NL West? I’ve been a fan since the beginning and this would be amazing.
Kiszla: Playoff race baseball in September. Is that sweet agony, or what? The Rockies have 3 1/2 legit starting pitchers. , , and . Depending on the day, it’s 50/50 whether Gray or Senzatela are legit starters you want on the bump in the heat of a playoff race. Now, that’s more pitching than the Rockies have typically had in the past. And it might be enough starting pitching to make a deep run in the playoffs. But is it enough starting pitching to get Colorado through the grind of the final two weeks. I’ll be honest. I’m not certain. But it’s that starting pitching that will most likely tell the story of whether the Rockies qualify for the postseason or not.
Could Isaac Yiadom provide a spark to the secondary? Or just not ready yet?
Kiszla: If he was ready, the Broncos would have never signed Adam Jones to play cornerback. When Denver signed Jones, it screamed the secondary was a problem area. And it remains a problem area. Yiadom has room to grow. But can we be certain he’s going to be a player in this league next week, next month or next year? I’d say it’s far from certain.
Is DT now the fourth best wide receiver for the Broncos?
Kiszla: Lots of DT dissatisfaction from the peeps. I don’t blame y’all. He has not been good. Here’s the beauty, though. There’s enough receiving talent on the roster than Thomas’ snap counts will go down if he doesn’t perform.
Wondering if the broncos lost yesterday would we be hearing shouts of firing VJ and bringing in in for Case? Basically, my question is how short is the leash before the lynch mob starts their annual screaming? One game? Two to three games?
Kiszla: The Broncos finished 5-11 last season after starting 3-1. They’ve won 2 games by a total of 4 points. Case Keenum’s overall passing statistics are as sad as the numbers that got fired from the job. Those are facts, not Chicken Little worries. and Case Keenum still must prove they can lead Denver to the playoffs? Isn’t that fair? Seems fair to me.
Is Kyle Freeland having the best-ever season for a Rockies’ starting pitcher? I mean, Ubaldo Jimenez had that magical first half of 2010 before he trailed off after the all-star break. Where do you think he’ll end up in the Cy Young vote?
Kiszla: Kyle Freeland’s stuff is not as electric as the baseball Ubaldo Jimenez threw during his best days with the Rockies. But Freeland is as tough a competitor as Colorado has ever sent to the mound. But my media brethren in the Cy Young voting already made up their minds on the top candidates weeks ago. It’s as aspect of instant analysis in 2018 that drives me a little nutty. If Freeland finishes 17-7, with an ERA under 3.00, that should make him top 3 in the Cy Young voting. But I think he can finish no better than fourth, with Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Aaron Nola already designated as the 1-2-3 finishers (in no particular order). My baseball brethren here in Colorado do not see it fit to give me a vote on any award, much less something so prestigious as the Cy Young. I’ve got no problem with that. But don’t come crying to me if Freeland doesn’t get his due in the voting.
I like watching the Rockies. I’m sick of listening to Drew Goodman drone on in a monotone about how great they are. Any chance he’s gone next year?!
Kiszla: Yes, the Rockies telecasts do have a large portion of homerism. But we all know that going in. I actually enjoy the television crew. Spillygoat, in particular, brings a sense of fun that makes it entertaining.
Do you believe Chad Kelly has a legitimate shot of being the Broncos future franchise QB? Or is it the usual misguided fan hope of the back-up turning into the franchise savior?
Kiszla: I have not been a big believer in Chad Kelly, as faithful followers of this chat or my Twitter timeline (@markkiszla) know all too well. Kelly, however, has made the most of his opportunity. So he has proved me wrong. Kudos to him. A future as a bona fide NFL starting quarterback? Well, Kelly could prove me wrong again.
Being at the game, the best I can describe how the Broncos won is the following: The Raiduhs had several chances to put the Broncos away but couldn’t and the Broncos hung around and in long enough to get the comeback. Played well enough in the 2nd half to get back in the game…
Kiszla: True dat. Good teams can win without their A game. So maybe, just maybe, hanging around and beating the Raiders was a sign the Broncos can be better than the 8-8 record I projected for them.
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