Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla answered questions about everything Denver sports on Monday. Here are the highlights:
Week in, week out, we see terrible playcalling from . When is going to cut the cord and move in a new direction?
Kiszla: You can blame Vance Joseph for many of the Broncos’ woes. Lord knows, I have. But I can’t really blame him for being ready to deal with all the pressures that come with coaching an NFL team. John Elway gave Joseph the gig before he was ready. Heck, I would’ve taken the offer, too. Angry fans understandably want Joseph fired — and now! — after his poor end of half and end of game decisions in the loss to Houston. I get that. But my take is a little different …
Hi Kiz, couldn’t agree more with your column today. I have maybe a bit of a different slant to add to it. VJ is a nice guy but an incompetent head coach. My slant is that Elway should keep him thru the season, he’s only going to help the Broncos “earn” a more attractive No. 1 pick. Your thoughts? Yes, I’m suggesting to tank the rest of the season…
Kiszla: You are far too kind. And I agree: What good would it do to fire Joseph now? It might encourage more fans to show up at Broncos Stadium on Thanksgiving weekend, but I’m guessing that game will be one big reunion of Pittsburgh ex-pats that have relocated here in God’s Country, whether Joseph is working the Denver sideline or not. What the Broncos need to do now is keep losing and lose some more and see how good a draft choice they can earn as the losses mount. I employed the word “tank” in my column. Competitive folks hate that word. But Denver can put a higher priority on getting experience for young players over winning games. For example: Why give 35-year-old Adam Jones even one snap over rookie cornerback Isaac Yiadom? Pacman is not the future for this franchise. And the Broncos need to see to what extent, if any, Yiadom can help this team down the road.
If the Broncos do fire Vance Joseph this season, who would you get to replace him?
Kiszla: I see now reason to let Joseph go until December, unless John Elway gets so mad he can no longer look at VJ’s face. In December, perhaps could return to the sideline on an interim basis without adversely affecting his health. Of course, with two or three games remaining in the season, it might not much matter: OC Bill Musgrave could fill in as HC.
Kiz, do the Broncos have a legit tight end threat in now? I know it’s just one game, but boy did he impress yesterday.
Kiszla: Thanks for that question. Gives me a chance for a little happy Broncos talk. And Jeff Heuerman deserves it. I have been a big doubter of Heuerman. Glad to see his big day against the Texans prove me wrong. I like my crow grilled, with a nice side of fava beens.
If Vance Joseph is retained as head coach, I don’t look forward to the weekly questions about his future. On the other hand, if he’s fired, I don’t look forward to the very same questions of his replacement. On a positive note, the Nuggets make me want to go out and shoot baskets, even in the Wyoming wind.
Kiszla: You’re the best. If you want to shoot hoops and sink some baskets in the tricky Wyoming wind, I suggest you take some pointers from Broncos kicker . Wait … what? Nevermind. And sorry for the snark. Couldn’t help myself. Hey, if apountry can’t laugh at this point …
Elway will never be accountable until the “trust” is broken and someone actually takes control of the team.
Kiszla: The peeps still love John Elway. Always will. But I think “In Elway We Trust” has been thrown in the dumpster that’s on fire at the team’s Dove Valley Headquarters. I watched Elway walk through the Denver locker room after losing to the Texans. And know what struck me: The losing has aged him, in the way being president often ages the person sitting in the Oval Office. OK, let’s not mix sports with politics. My bad. Besides, we all know sports are way more important.
If McManus had been able to manage just one of his kicks, we’d be singing today. Clean up the penalties and kick the blasted ball! (Offense was a lot tighter yesterday. Nice to see.)
Kiszla: Yes, and if I had talent and good lucks, I’d be George Clooney. I don’t blame the kicker because I’m not.
Who’s to blame for the Broncos’ O-line woes? Is it Sean Kugler or are we just not very good there?
Kiszla: This offensive line blocks the run quite well. In fact, I’d dare to say the Broncos have one of the better run-blocking O-lines in the NFL. But when it comes to protecting the passer, this O-line stinks. And it doesn’t figure to get much better at keeping quarterback upright, now that center has been lost for the season with a broken league. Get well soon, Mr. Paradis. I don’t think the O-line’s issues are the fault of coaching. It’s a talent dealio. If you ask me, Garett Bolles might be far more suited to be a road-grader in the run game at right tackle, rather than holding and fuming as he misses on pass blocks from the left side.
Two questions: First, it’s National Doughnut Day. What’s your poison? Second, is the NBA finally going to give NIkola Jokic the recognition he deserves? The kid is playing out of his mind!
Kiszla: Mmm, doughnuts. Let me get in touch with my inner Homer Simpson. Well, truth be told, I’m more of a pie guy than a doughnut guy. But, as the case with most things, my taste in doughnuts is a little off the mainstream. So I’ll say my fave is the blueberry cake doughnut. OK, now where were we? Yes, the Joker. If the Nuggets remain in the the top four of the Western Conference into the first of the year, Nikola Jokic will be headed to the All-Star Game. And that’s no joke.
After the USC loss, I posted a comment in this sports live chat that CU coach MacIntyre should be fired immediately for cause. You responded by saying — “hold on there” and then stated your view that I was jumping the gun or words to that effect. Now that we have been embarrassed again and again, do you still want me to “hold on there?”
Kiszla: Imagine that: Me, as the voice of reason? The guy who gives a coach a break. Many readers would tell you just the opposite. In fact, one chastised me after I wrote that the Oregon State lost was the kind that gets a coach fired for being too harsh on Mike MacIntyre, and called me The Queen of Hearts because I was too quick to shout: “Off with their heads.” But the record will also show this: I was repeatedly and adamantly against giving MikeMac a contract extension after the wonderful 2016 season by the Buffs. If he finishes the year 5-7 after starting 5-0, I think there’s a real chance MacIntyre could be shown the door.
It’s waaaaay to early to be looking forward to this, but what do you see the Broncos needing to target in the draft? I know the popular opinion is a quarterback, but my vote goes to shoring up this O-line.
Kiszla: Not way too early to ask about the draft, especially because it gives me a chance for a shameless plug. Head on over to our website, because my Post colleague Ryan O’Halloran and I posted a debate late this morning that discusses the chances of Denver losing its way to a top-five pick in the 2019 NFL draft. The Broncos obviously need a QB. But is there a QB worthy of taking in the top 10 of this defensive-rich draft? I’m not yet convinced there is, although I am keenly watching college games in the hope that a QB prospect catches my fancy. But with a top 10 pick, there are two cornerbacks that seem to be certain hits for a team that needs help in the secondary: Greedy Williams of LSU and Julian Love of Notre Dame.
Is Joseph finally on the way out? And would Elway ever look at McDaniels again?
Kiszla: If John Elway tried to reintroduce Josh McDaniels as coach of the Broncos, angry fans would march by the thousands from the stadium to the state capitol and demand the new governor of Colorado take action to stop this travesty. OK, perhaps that’s a bit of an over-reaction on my part. But not much of an over-reaction. And speaking of getting all worked up, let me rile apountry with this idea: Bringing McDaniels back as coach of the Broncos would have a better chance of succeeding than bringing Mike Shanahan back as coach of the Broncos. Mad now, folks? Easy. Settle down. All I’m trying to say is: I don’t think either McDaniels or Shanahan would be a good choice as coach of the Broncos moving forward.
Hey Kiz, can you tell me what happened from last year to this year for the Avs’ MGM line? Good god, they may be the best in the league now!
Kiszla: Love talking the hockey, eh? I do. Look at the MGM line. All growed up. And dangerous. Is that the best name for this line? I’ve heard Power Line floated. How about the Rare Air Line? Work with me here, people. We’re just spit-balling. There’s no doubt Avs have one of the more fearsome front lines in the NHL. But a return to the playoffs is not guaranteed, if Colorado doesn’t start playing better at the blue line.
Hi Kiz, Speaking of new coaches, any thoughts of who you would consider frontrunners for the job?
Kiszla: I like David Shaw of Stanford. I’m not certain if Shaw likes the idea of leaving college for the pros. But to speculate on front-runners at this point would be pure balderdash on my part.
A question about college football for you: Are the CU Buffs done this year? Is there anyone left on the schedule that they can beat for that elusive sixth win?
Kiszla: The most likely outcome for the Buffs is 5-7 at this point. That’s probably the way to bet. But, seeing as I’m eternally Mr. Sunshine, I’ll give Colorado about a 40 percent chance of finding a way to win one of the remaining three games on its schedule.
Elway did one thing right — he signed , an undrafted player from CU, who has been outstanding this year! Size doesn’t make a player great per se, but heart and desire, like Lindsay has really counts! Elway gets credit for this one — unfortunately, he also gets “credit” for the hiring of VJ, too.
Kiszla: True dat. As I asked my Twitter Village during the game against Houston: Is it just me, or is Phillip Lindsay the best reason to smile during this Broncos’ season. And some of the tweeps immediately corrected me, insisting Lindsay is the “only” reason to smile in this Broncos season.
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