Vance Joseph has one job tonight: Find a way to prevent the Broncos from losing.
No, not find a way to win – though that would be nice. For a team thatap lost four games after opening the season 2-0, Denver could settle for a tie. Just look at how excited Cleveland was for its 21-21 draw with the Steelers to start the year. And don’t dump on the Browns, they have a better winning percentage than the Broncos this year. Know who else does?
Brock Osweiler. ۱…
It feels as if everyone and their uncle is calling for Joseph’s head already, and if the Broncos lose to a 1-5 Cardinals team tonight in Phoenix, itap hard to imagine him keeping his job for another week. If you’re in the camp that thinks Joseph has no chance of turning this team around, then perhaps you should consider yourself an Arizona fan tonight.
Should the Broncos lose in the desert, VJ’s end is likely. Here’s what our Ryan O’Halloran had to say following Denver’s 23-20 loss to the Rams on Sunday:
“If they lose Thursday night, it would be tough for John Elway to not do something drastic, like removing the head coach. You’ve lost five straight after a 2-0 start, you’ve lost to a bad Jets team and 1-5 Arizona if you lose to them on a short week. The question for John Elway is, ‘how culpable are you?’ Very. And also, two more things: Who’s the interim, and also, are you doing it to spark the season, or just because you want someone else in charge? I think that gives Vance the chance to hold on a little longer, but if they lose to Arizona and drop to 2-5 going into Kansas City, you have a long week, itap the ideal time to make that kind of change.”
The only reasonable option for an interim coach is Gary Kubiak, Elway’s longtime friend who led the Broncos to the Super Bowl 50 championship. His health issues have been well-documented and led to him stepping away during the 2016 season. Now Denver’s senior personnel advisor, he’s a viable option to lead the Broncos through the end of the year, but itap unrealistic to think he’d continue as coach in 2019.
Aside from Kubiak, the only person on the Broncos’ staff with head-coaching experience at a high level is offensive line coach Sean Kugler (UTEP, 2013-17) and there’s no way he’s being thrust into a top NFL job.
Defensive coordinator Joe Woods? He’s part of the problem.
Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, a Grand Junction native, and special teams coach Tom McMahon are two other options, but would they really be an improvement at head coach?
“Thatap a flaw in the staff building that there wasn’t a more veteran presence around this staff to help Vance,” O’Halloran said.
That flaw could be Joseph’s saving grace. If Kubiak doesn’t want the job, there might not be a better man available than VJ.
Here’s what you need to know for tonight’s game:
- Better be careful, Mr. Keenum. Fans are itching for a scapegoat to roast, Mark Kiszla writes.
- The onus is on several Broncos who, if they don’t pick up their play, may be on a different team in 2019. Here are four Denver players and a coach to watch.
- Broncos Game Plan: How Denver matches up against the Cardinals, injury report and predictions.
- Arizona Cardinals scouting report: Broncos to face one of NFL’s worst offenses.
- Von Miller on Arizona — “We’re going to kick their (butt).”
- Vance Joseph’s simple answer for the Broncos’ tackling woes: “Itap a want-to thing.”
- Broncos podcast: Kyle Fredrickson and Ryan O’Halloran examine who must step up at Arizona for Denver to end its losing streak.
—, The Denver Post
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What’s on Tap?
- Avalanche: at New Jersey Devils, 5 p.m., ALT |
TV/RADIO: Here’s what sports are airing today
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Scoreboard
NBA: Nuggets 107, Clippers 98
Full story |
MLB: Dodgers 5, Brewers 2
Full story |
MLB: Red Sox 8, Astros 6
Full story |
Must-Read
Michael Malone, Denver Nuggets agree to contract extension
The Denver Nuggets have agreed to a two-year contract extension with head coach Michael Malone. He has been Denver’s head coach since 2015 and has compiled a 119-127 record in three seasons. Read more…
Report: Rockies’ Seunghwan Oh considering returning to native South Korea in 2019
Right-handed reliever Seunghwan Oh, who would play a huge part of the Rockies’ 2019 bullpen, could be headed back to his native South Korea. Read more…
Rockies’ end-of-season infield analysis: DJ LeMahieu’s likely departure takes luster off golden group
Rockies infielders sparkled on the diamond and produced at the plate in 2018 — with one big exception.. Read more…
Quick Hits
+ Peyton Manning joins “Detail,” Kobe Bryantap ESPN+ sports analysis show.
+ Two of the NHL’s top scorers will be on the ice at the same time when the Avs take on the New Jersey Devils tonight.
+ Colorado Buffaloes receiver Laviska Shenault honors late father with his play and dreadlocks.
+ After struggling against USC, the CU Buffs secondary knows it must do better at Washington.
+ The Colorado State offensive line faces a big challenge in Boise State.
+ CU Buffs sophomore Tyler Bey is eyeing a breakout season for the men’s basketball team.
+ Dallas Walton is out for the 2018-19 Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball season with knee injury.
+ Denver Nuggets 2018-19 preview: Here are four storylines to watch.
+ Under coach Jon Gruden, the Raiders are disappearing into a statistical black hole.
+ Forget about just Class 4A, the Loveland Indians think they might be one of the best high school football teams in the entire state.
+ The Dodgers’ Manny Machado was fined for kicking Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar in Game 4 of the NLDS.
+ Tips for the this fall.
+ Broncos Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
+ Rockies Mailbag: Have a question about the team? .
By The Numbers
$365,000,000
How much boxer Canelo Alvarez’s 11-fight deal is worth to have his bouts shown on the sports-streaming service DAZN. Read more…
Parting Shot
Fantasy football start/sit tips for Week 7: Patriots’ Sony Michel a smart play against Bears
Your fantasy team will have to do without the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr, Ben Roethlisberger and Russell Wilson this week, as all of their respective teams are on a bye. Read more…
Get in Touch
If you see something thatap cause for question or have a comment, thought or suggestion, email me at dboniface@denverpost.com or tweet me .
