Denver Post sports columnist Mark Kiszla answered questions about all things Colorado sports in a Lunch Special live chat on Monday. Here are the highlights:
Mark, that game displayed myriad of weaknesses but despite the stats, I loved the way Drew Lock kept trying and I feel he has the skill sets. I believe we have our QB so now we can concentrate on rebuilding the other team deficiencies.
Kiszla: OK, let’s start with Drew Lock. I like his demeanor. I think he’s driven. And I think he reacted well to adversity in Kansas City. He has won two of three games as a starter, and if Lock wins at a 67 percent clip for the next 10 years, he will put himself in position for Hall of Fame consideration. Now for a reality check. Grading him on a sliding scale and cutting him slack for being a rookie QB, I would give Lock these weekly grades: Chargers: B; Texans: A; Chiefs: D. By my calculation, based on a small sample size, Lock’s overall performance has been B-/C+. He has shown promise. But to declare he’s the answer at quarterback? That’s premature.
How far off is this Broncos team from the playoffs? Clearly we need a running back, wide receiver, cornerback and O-line help. I’d bring a new offensive coordinator in. Tough decision looming …
Kiszla: Could these Broncos finish 7-9, which is precisely record I predicted way back in August? Yes. Could they make jump to 10 victories in 2020? Possibly. But much go right. And said these words after loss to the Chiefs: “It’s defeating and it’s more than just winning or losing. It defeats my soul to go out there and play the way we play and lose the way you lose.” This franchise has a lot of soul-searching to do. And its young core has promise, but not a lot of guys that figure to be perennial participants.
If QB is settled for now, what priorities rise to the top of the list?
Kiszla: Drew Lock is being graded. The test is not over. And nothing is settled.
Mark, what do you think should we do with Garett Bolles next year? Keep him at left tackle, move him to another position, or cut ties?
Kiszla: Frustrated Broncomaniacs want Garett Bolles gone. If that’s the way you really feel, then should be gone, as well. But I do believe Bolles will be back in a Denver uniform. Maybe there will be a position change. He hasn’t been the player that any of us has hoped. I don’t believe, however, the Broncos will give up on a first-round pick at this point in Bolles’ career.
MadBum for 5 years, $85 million to the D-Backs … I feel like the Rockies should’ve been in on him at that price. What do you think?
Kiszla: I hear your frustration. But here’s the truth: No. 1: Madison Bumgarner wasn’t going to sign to pitch for the Rockies at 5 years and $85 million, because that’s not enough hazard pay for a pitcher to work at Coors Field. No. 2: After spending big on Nolan Arenado and the bullpen, there’s legitimately not much budget for big moves this offseason. No. 3: Part of the Rockies’ challenge is they recently agreed to a TV broadcast rights contract that was less money than the team hoped. (And that should be an indicator that the Nuggets and Avs are unlikely to get what they want in the current dispute with Comcast.)
Please let me re-phrase: Other than QB, what do you think are the 2020 priorities?
Kiszla: Talent. As regular followers know all too well, I think drafting for need is largely poppycock. I want Pro Bowl talent. , Dalton Risner and are all nice, young players. Kudos to them. Kudos to John Elway for acquiring them. But are Sutton,Risner and Lindsay such Hall of Fame locks that Denver shouldn’t draft a wide receiver, guard or running back with Pro Bowl potential? They are not.
It seems after every tough loss, you want to run Miller out of town. I understand his frustration with how things have gone, but why do you feel he should leave town because he’s frustrated? I say keep him to help develop the defense. Stop trying to run him out of town Kiz.
Kiszla: This team is playing for 2021 and beyond. I don’t think that timetable makes any sense for Von Miller and the Broncos to stay together. Run him out of town? If I wrote the words that Miller honestly spoke after yet another disheartening loss to Kansas City, many Broncos fans would say I’m unduly negative. It’s Miller who told you what this franchise is doing isn’t working for him. You can take him at his word, or blame me while ignoring his words. Either way is cool by me.
Pick one for next season: John Elway or Von Miller?
Kiszla: I like the question. But I don’t get to pick. What’s interesting to me is how John Elway will respond to Miller’s criticism, when he flat-out said for all the new coaches, new players and new approaches the Broncos try, it’s not working. I can’t say for certain Miller was throwing Elway under the bus, but it’s Elway who picks the coaches, players and sets the tone for this football team.
The NFL regular season is nearly over, so how would you grade the Broncos’ 2019 draft class?
Kiszla: It has been 14 games. I’m happy to give you grade for how this draft class has performed through 14 games, so long as we understand the grade is given with that narrow focus. I’d give the class a C+ to this point. Noah Fant is a tight end that can break big plays but doesn’t seem very interested in the dirty work. I like the promise, energy and attitude of Dalton Risner a lot but see him as a very solid starter for years to come rather than a perennial Pro Bowl selection. Drew Lock is a risk worth taking, but in the same class as , Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson? Sorry, but no. And the back end of this class? Not bad. But not spectacular.
Kiz! Rank the state’s college football coaches in terms of excitement and anticipation for the new year. Steve Addazio has to be last right? I don’t know why CSU didn’t try to get CSU Pueblo’s John Wristen. Dude knows how to recruit in state.
Kiszla: The Buffs made a good hire in Mel Tucker. If he finds a quarterback, CU will go bowling in 2020. Air Force is solid, but the Falcons are a Colorado Springs team, not a team that garners statewide interest. And Northern Colorado made a better hire than Colorado State when looking for a new coach.
The Chiefs game was horrible, but what do you think about this bright side: We lost the first game by 24 points. We lost this game by 20 points. If we keep knocking off four points per game we will finally beat them in the next two or three years.
Kiszla: The sun will come out tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar.
I have rooted for the Broncos for decades and also got loud cheering or yelling at them but any more I have given up and just tell myself it is not worth the stress! Please Elway I do respect you but take a step back and let others try to rebuild the Broncos!
Kiszla: What’s the old saying? The opposite of love is not hate. It’s apathy. The Broncos’ next home game is at the beginning of Christmas week. It will be interesting to me how sold the fan base really is on Drew Lock, after he looked brilliant against the Texans and like a rookie against the Chiefs. So what’s the over/under for no-shows for the games against the Lions? I will put the number at 8,000. Do you pick over? Or under?
Quick thought. I saw your answer about the tight ends specifically Fant and how he does not want to do the dirty work. Have the Broncos reached out to Shannon Sharpe to come in and coach them? He did not mind the dirty work.
Kiszla: Shannon Sharpe is not only a legit HoF tight end and wonderful competitor, he’s my favorite Broncos player of the past 35 years. But I’m not certain Sharpe ever really loved the blocking aspect of his job. It would be cool if Fant flew out to Sharpe and took him to dinner. But I wouldn’t get your hopes up for Sharpe spending a whole lot of time on the practice field at Dove Valley headquarters with Fant.
Did you really help push cars in the stadium?
Kiszla: The roads in KC were a mess, both before and after the game against the Broncos. At one of the main entrances into Arrowhead, near Interstate 435, three lanes of traffic were blocked approximately two hours prior to kickoff with multiple cars going sideways on a slight incline that was very slippery. I jumped out of my rental and helped push vehicles, from SUVs to big trucks to little sedans up the small hill. Was glad to do it. And wasn’t getting to the stadium until those vehicles moved.
PS: There’s a photo of vehicles scattered on the slippery slope into the stadium parking lot posted on my Twitter feed. Check it out at if you’re interested.
https://twitter.com/markkiszla/status/1206244417142771718
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