Oct 30, 2011; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos offensive tackle Ryan Clady (78) and offensive guard Zane Beadles (68) line up for a down during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Sports Authority Field. The Lions defeated the Broncos 45-10. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos have hired former offensive line coach, Alex Gibbs in a consulting capacity. Gibbs, a guru of the zone blocking scheme was the Broncos’ offensive line coach from 1995-2003. During his tenure, Denver enjoyed 4 different 1000 yard+ rushers: Terrell Davis (1995-1998), Olandis Gary (1999), Mike Anderson (2000), and Clinton Portis (2002-2003). In 2001, the three-headed running back monster of Davis (701yds), Anderson (678 yds), and Gary (228 yds) turned out 1607 yards in Gibbs’ scheme. In 2003 Portis, Anderson, and Quentin Griffin combined for 2193 yards rushing.

During the same period of time, the passing game thrived as well. In John Elway’s final 3 seasons the Broncos averaged over 3,700 yards passing per season.  Even after the retirement of the greatest QB in team history – and by many accounts, league history – the passing game still averaged over 3,700 yards per season. In today’s NFL that does not seem like a lot but the passing game was not yet as prevalent then as it is today. When you take into account the balance of the passing game and running game, Gibbs’ offensive lines protected some of the most prolific offenses to that point in NFL history. Additionally, the Broncos did not allow more than 35 QB sacks in any one season from 1995-2000.

It would appear that in bringing Gibbs back into the organization, in addition to drafting Davis-esque running back Montee Ball is a sign that the Broncos look to rely more heavily on the running game in 2013 than it did in 2012. Ball, a self-proclaimed Broncos fan who idolized Denver’s all-time leading rusher, has had his running style likened to the 1998 NFL Most Valuable Player.

Per the teams website Gibbs will work under offensive line coach Dave Maguza, focusing his efforts on the younger players’ development. We have been told since the signing of Peyton Manning in March, 2013 that there is no “Plan B”. Implementing “Plan G(ibbs)” is a sure sign that Broncos’ front office is doubling down on “Plan A”.

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December 30, 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning reacts on the sidelines during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 38-3. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

On Tuesday night, the Colorado Rockies hosted some very special dignitaries during their 2-0 win over the New York Yankees at Coors Field: the Denver Broncos. Well many of them anyway. Peyton Manning, Orlando Franklin, Eric Decker, Champ Bailey, Von Miller, and Wes Welker were among the lot of Broncos who occupied a suite for the game. While they were probably there to watch the game and engage in a team-building adventure, Manning and Decker had ulterior motives. It seems that quarterback sent his favorite possession receiver on a post pattern to perpetrate a prank on the mountainous Franklin.

The plan, as described by Root Sports’ Jenny Cavnar on the Evans and Klatt Show on FM 104.3 The Fan Wednesday morning was to interview Franklin, creating a distraction (and trust me, the lovely Ms. Cavnar is quite the distraction). So during this interview, Decker was to come up from behind the big man and give him the whipped cream pie in the face. The prank was pulled off without a hitch. What is even more intriguing about, this per Cavnar is that Decker approached her ahead of time and simply asked where she would be doing the interview so he could plan out his route to Franklin. However that was too simplistic for Manning. True to form, the future hall of fame QB and world class prankster practically took over the production of the interview segment. According to Cavnar, he started to talk about the placement of her and the “mark”, which direction they should face, and all sorts of seemingly miniscule details.

There are two parts this story which are encouraging as a Broncos fan. First of all the camaraderie of the team, including the newly acquired Welker. The fun, close-knit environment that I picked up on while watching this prank play out appeared to be similar to the vibe that we felt around that team in the late 1990′s when the Broncos hoisted the Lombardi Trophy twice. Secondly, the precision in which Manning directed the prank clearly showed that this is in fact his team. In addition, there is the vigilance which he approaches aspects outside of football. We  knew this already about Manning, but he seems as determined to create the harmony within the team off the field as the game plan on it. I am guarded about crowning the Broncos anything before the first weekend in February but I am getting THAT feeling again. I just hope it is an omen instead of indigestion.

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Fans look at busts at the Pro Football Hall of Fame before the 2012 enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. (Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports)

Over the past few months we have been dissecting the NFL Draft through mocks, film highlights, lists of teams’ needs, worrying about the non-existent love interests of some players and the off-the-field antics of others. We have been breaking down the combine and why player ‘A’ is a better value than player ‘B’ because his 40-yard dash time is .00005 seconds faster. It has been a whirlwind few months which have proceeded the Super Bowl. So what I want to do is rather than try to guess which one of the Denver Broncos’ 2013 draft picks are going to have a Hall of Fame career, is focus on which Broncos of the past DID have a Hall of Fame career and have been shut out to this point. In this first of several articles, I will focus on the anchor of the Orange Crush defenses of the 70′s and early 80′s: Randy Gradishar.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH houses the long history of this great game. It houses the busts of the men who are the very best to have thrown their bodies around the gridiron for our entertainment and amusement. Many of these men left it all on the field and all they have to show for it are the aches and pains brought on by years of Sundays of car crash-like collisions. And all for the love of the game. Some were lucky enough to have played in an era where their efforts were well compensated. Then there are the scant few whose preparation intersected with opportunity and led them to the HOF, or at least in the discussion. This is where I will do my part to convert the discussion to fruition. That is because there are several voids in those hallowed halls. Many of which left by the other 31 teams’ greats getting jilted, but I am going to focus on our greatest Broncos who have been incomprehensibly overlooked.

Randy Gradishar was drafted in the first round, 14th overall in the 1974 draft by then Denver Broncos head coach, John Ralston. He was a three year starter for Woody Hayes at The Ohio State University. There he earned consensus All-American selection in 1972 and unanimous All-American selection in 1973. His 320 tackles while at OSU still ranks 9th in school history. Also, the 1973 defense which he anchored allowed a paltry 64 points…ALL SEASON! He would go onto finish 6th in the 1973 Heisman Trophy voting. Coach Hayes said that Gradishar was:

“The best linebacker I ever coached!”

Halfway through his rookie season, Gradishar was installed as one of the starting middle linebackers. In 1975 he made his first of seven Pro-Bowl appearances. He was centerpiece, captain, and best player on the #9 all time best linebacking corps according to NFL Networks’ Top 1o series. He was a two time 1st team NFL All-Pro selection and the Defensive Player of the Year in 1978. Gradishar finished his career with 20.5 sacks, 20 interceptions, 13 fumble recoveries, and 4 defensive touchdowns. His 2049 career tackles ranked #1 all time when he retired after the 1983 season. Randy’s impact is not only supported by his statistics, but by his peers and those who know the game.

“His range separated him from others at his position. A sure and determined tackler, he was also an excellent pass defender. He had special qualities in terms of intelligence, preparation and athletic ability. His “play anticipation” was the best in football. He had a great ability to square his body into the ball carrier at the moment of impact; which made him an incredible performer on third or fourth and short.” said the late, great Steve Sabol of NFL Films.

One of Gradishar’s contemporaries and great linebacker in his own right, Matt Millen had this to say:

“Randy Gradishar was one of the most productive players I’ve watched. He was always around the ball, rarely out of position, and constantly making plays. Linebackers are difficult to evaluate because there is a lack of statistics. But someone like a Randy Gradishar was easy to judge because of what he produced.”

Hall of Fame defensive lineman, Dan Hampton remembers asking Walter Payton (also a HOF’er and in my estimation, the greatest running back the game has ever seen):

“Walter, who gave you the hardest hit you ever took in the NFL?” Payton’s response, “Randy Gradishar, 1978″, said Hampton.

In January of 2008, Pro Football Weekly (Vol 22, Issue 29) named Gradishar to the “All 3-4 Defensive Team” along with Harry Carson, Lawrence Taylor, Andre Tippett, Howie Long, Lee Roy Selmon, and Curley Culp. All of the aforementioned have their busts proudly displayed in Canton except Culp…and his will be displayed as of this coming August. So how is it that a man that belongs in such distinguished company can be the only one not elected to the Hall of Fame? Your guess is as good as mine. If Gradishar is to take is rightful place in Canton along side all the other greats of pro football, it will have to be via the Veteran’s Committee. So in case some of them need to have this debate simplified as to make their decisions easier, I have put together a side-by-side comparison with two of Gradishar’s teammates on the “All 3-4 Defensive Team” (Carson and Tippett) and Class of 2011 inductee, Chris Hanburger.

The bottom line is, you can stack Randy Gradishar’s numbers against any of his peers at the linebacker position and there is only one conclusion to be drawn. Those of us who reside on Broncos Planet should be converging on Canton sooner rather than later to cheer on their Orange Crush hero one last time as he is rightfully enshrined and his amazing career reaches its pinnacle.

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