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Denver Broncos: Joseph Aims To “Reboot” SB 50 Champs

By Russ Espinoza

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With the hiring of Vance Joseph, the new head coach is looking to reboot the Denver Broncos in order to bring them back to the Super Bowl.

The Denver Broncos introduced Vance Joseph as their 16th head coach on Thursday afternoon at Dove Valley. As a first-time head coach, Joseph, 44, is charged with rectifying several glaring areas of weakness in a talented, yet fractured squad that sputtered to a 9-7 record and failed to make the playoffs in its title defense season.

Joseph, a former University of Colorado quarterback with 12 years of NFL coaching experience, represents the Broncos’ first minority hire at the position in their 57-year history. Prized by the team’s Executive VP/GM John Elway as a strong leader of men who “knows how to work with players,” Joseph’s inaugural address in Denver contained a mixture of customary platitudes and modest insight into the team’s plans to get back on top in 2017 and beyond.

Most notably, Joseph signaled an “open competition” at quarterback between Trevor Simian and Paxton Lynch going into next season, and referred to the team’s question marks at offensive and defensive coordinator as “works-in-progress” that should be resolved within the next seven to 10 days.

Here were the day’s highlights:

John Elway on the changing of the guard: “After the shock of Gary stepping down and looking forward (to) trying to replace Gary, I’m gonna be dead honest with you, and the fact is I couldn’t be happier with the ability to fill Gary’s shoes with Vance Joseph.”

JE on why Vance Joseph fit the bill: “This team is less than a year removed from a world championship–it’s not been year since we won a Super Bowl a year ago, so it was very important to find somebody that can fit the culture that we had and also had a philosophy of the culture that we have in this building. And Vance checks that box. He has that. He worked with Gary down in Houston…

…The leadership qualities that he has are tremendous, and will carry on what started with John Fox and went to Gary Kubiak. He’ll carry that on, and that’s why I believe he’s a perfect fit for us… He knows our weaknesses and he knows our strengths… He’s very smart; he’s an ex-quarterback.”

Vance Joseph Quotes

Vance Joseph on returning to Colorado: “I’m a Buff, everyone knows that. I spent most of my young life in Colorado, so I welcome the chance to come back to this great community.”

VJ on the state of the Broncos: “This job won’t be a rebuild. Again, most jobs you take as a first-time head coach, or most jobs that are open, it’s a rebuild. It was broken. This job is not broken. It’s a reboot. So it’s my job to find the small tweaks to make this team a winning team again. That’s my call of duty right now, and hopefully we can do that quickly. But it’s not a rebuild, it’s a reboot, and I’m excited to be here.”

VJ on player expectations: “As far as the players here, my philosophy is this, guys: Just come to work, okay? Just come to work. Obviously our standard is to win championships, but we can’t skip the work. We can’t skip the season, alright? No one’s gonna give you 10 wins, 12 wins, and put you in the playoffs… (My goal) is to make every meeting, every practice, every rep a winning performance. If we do that guys, it’s gonna happen.”

VJ on Wade Phillips: “I’m not sure. Wade’s a free agent, so he’s free to go where he wants to go. That’s a work-in-progress, obviously. After this press conference I’m gonna deal with the staff issues. But I prefer not to call plays (on defense). I want to be the head coach here, but if I have to I will, so that’s something I can hold in my back pocket, but that’s a work-in-progress going forward.”

VJ on instilling an offensive identity: “I want an offense that’s attacking. Being a defensive guy my entire career (through) 14 seasons, when you play an offense that’s attacking, it kind of makes you be careful of your calls. If an offense is kind of conservative, I loved it, because I could be the attacker. But if an offense is being attacking–multiple personnel groups, multiple formations–that’s what I want it to look like. I want to score points, because points win. Obviously defense wins championships, but you have to score points. And I want an offense with swagger, and I want an offense (going) up-tempo.”

VJ on the pressure of being a Bronco: “We have to embrace the culture here. I mean, who wants to lose? I’d rather take a job (where you’re) expected to win, (as opposed to) a job where winning four or fives games is okay. I’m embracing it. I want the players to be embracing it. That’s what’s expected.”

VJ on quarterbacks Trevor Simian and Paxton Lynch: “I watched Trevor, obviously he’s got more experience. He had a fine year. I watched the kid. He’s smart. He’s fast with the ball. He makes little error with the football–that’s important. Obviously Paxton’s a big, strong guy with a big arm. So it’s two different guys. But they’re both young and they’re both capable, and obviously it’s gonna be an open competition. That’s gonna make both guys better. So whoever is the best for our team next year, that’s who’s gonna play.”

VJ on the potential of Mike McCoy as OC: “That’s a work-in-progress, and hopefully we can update you guys later on… But I’ve have known Mike a long time. Mike’s a hell of a play caller, and it would be a pleasure to talk to Mike about the job, but it hasn’t been done yet.”

VJ on the rift between offense and defense: “I’ll say this: The best teams win; not the best offense or defense or special teams. The best teams combined each Sunday win, and you should win differently every Sunday. Obviously, building a culture of team, team first, it doesn’t matter who gets the credit or who plays well that day. If the offense is playing well, and the defense is not, they pick ’em up, and that’s the way we won that day.”

VJ on coaching staff turnover: “Gary’s got a fine staff… (We need to) see what’s a good fit for our players and myself, especially. Hopefully in a week, week-and-a-half, we can start doing this thing and figure it out. (But) I’m not rushed. I’m not rushed, because a staff is critical to our success.”

More John Elway Quotes

John Elway on Miami’s defensive performance in 2016: “There’s only one stat that counts: That’s how many games you win. And I think if you look at what (head coach) Adam (Gase) (and Joseph) did down in Miami this year… they hadn’t been in the playoffs in 12 or 13 years, and they had a tremendous year down there. So, they got guys that went into a tough situation, and got guys to play and figured out how to win games. That’s ultimately what it’s all about. Sure, you’d like to look good statistically as well as win the game, but the bottom line is… winning football games.”

JE on “This is a football team that, we didn’t make the playoffs this year, but we were world champions last year. So it’s a team that knows how to win, and I think in my discussions with Vance, he understood how to fit what he does in with these players that we do have and hopefully enhance that, and I think he’s got the qualities to enhance that.”

JE on control of staff decisions: “It’s Vance’s staff, and so I think that any recommendations that he wants from me, I’ll give… Vance knows what he wants… and as well as offensively, if I can give input, I will. But ultimately it’s Vance’s staff.”

More from Predominantly Orange

JE on Joseph’s experience: “You look at experience, but you look at the person, and you believe that they can grow–and grow fast. And I think that that’s what we have with Vance. He’s gonna grow on the run. And you gotta start somewhere… (But) in the positions where he’s been… he’s been a sounding board for the head guy, and so he’s been in those conversations, and so I think he’s gained tremendous experience being in those conversations even though he (wasn’t) the head guy… He’s been in the arena, and now he is the guy.”

JE on envisioned working relationship with Joseph: “I hope I can help him. I think with the experience that I’ve had, not only as a player, but now in this role that I’ve been in as a GM, that I hope to help him tremendously. I think (our) job is to support them the best we can on the personnel side… and that’s what we’re here to do. To support Vance. To give him the best opportunity. Hopefully give him the best players. And also, any type of experience that he hasn’t been through, if I can be a sounding board for him, then yeah, I’d like to fill that role for him.”

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