Denver Broncos Are Dealing with a Two Year Superbowl Hangover
Ever since the amazing Super Bowl 50 victory, the Denver Broncos have gone 12-16. The team is currently 3-9 in 2017. What is going on with the 2017 Broncos?
Two years removed from Super Bowl 50 and the Denver Broncos seem further from a title now than ever. Quarterback play has been sub-par since 2015. Unlike 2015, however, the defense can no longer make up for the offense’s lack of firepower.
The Defense, once the best unit in the league (and paid accordingly) is suddenly on the decline. The 2017 campaign through 12 games has only resulted in 7 interceptions and 26 sacks as a team. That’s a big dip for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
The Broncos defense has 14 interceptions and 42 sacks in 2016. In 2015? 14 interceptions and a whopping 52 sacks.
Some of the declines in sack and interception numbers can be attributed to the departure of beloved defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who is now succeeding in Los Angeles with the surging Rams, but age and complacency can’t be ignored as possible reasons why Von and the No Fly Zone have seemingly disappeared and can no longer keep Denver in games let alone win them.
Talib will be 32 by the start of next season, Von Miller will be 29 as will Chris Harris Jr, both with major knee surgeries in the past. Elway has kept the D young adding Barrett, Ray, Simmons among others but the core of the Denver D is approaching or over 30 years old and dare I say their performance shows it.
I would never insinuate that John Elway doesn’t know how to do his job, I have the utmost respect for what he means to this city and fanbase. I’m simply pointing out facts and offering up a differing opinion for fans to discuss.
It is foolish to put this on Elway. Without Elway do you think Peyton Manning would have made Denver his first (and only) recruiting trip in 2012? The answer is no. Sure, Elway has missed on some pick, mainly on the offensive side, (Osweiler, Ball, Latimer, Lynch, Sambrillo) but what GM hasn’t missed on picks? He struck gold with Roby, Bolles, and Wolfe, all without trading up and later in rounds.
The point is that Elway doesn’t deserve the blame I’ve seen hurled at him from every direction. The blame lies at the feet of the play callers, and coaches tasked with developing talent. The former OC Mike McCoy was able to craft an offense for Tim Tebow. However, he can’t craft an even average one for one of the three quarterbacks on Denver’s roster to have success in.
Vance Joseph seems like a coach on his way out. There has never been a one and done coach in Denver since Pat Bowlen became the owner, but nothing Joseph has done this season indicates that that pattern will continue. As the head coach, you have to take control of the team. You definitely don’t let your special teams coordinator run Isiah Mckenzie out there to fumble punt numbers 7 or 8. The problem at QB goes deeper than play-calling however.
Decision making is the main problem with Denver’s trio of QBs, mainly Trevor Siemian. Too mainly times this year we have seen Trevor make wrong reads, try to do too much, or simply miss easy throws. Paxton Lynch has not played enough to make a fair judgment on him. But I think it is safe to say that the Broncos franchise QB is not currently on the roster.
Such has been the case since Elway retired in 1999 minus eight years of Plummer and Manning. That’s still a decade of sub-par quarterbacks. With presumably a top five pick coming in the 2018 draft and a handful of quarterbacks coming up, it could be decision time. The Broncos franchise QB may currently reside in Los Angeles, Norman, Oklahoma, or Laramie, Wyoming.
Next: Behind Enemy Lines with The Jet Press
The last time Denver picked this high they were able to draft Von Miller and Julius Thomas. Both were integral parts in both Super bowl 48 appearance and ultimately the Super bowl 50 victory.
Obviously, fans would like to see more than 2 impact players drafted this time around drafting high in every round. John Elway has been involved in seven of Denver’s eight Super Bowl appearances. This upcoming offseason will have a lot to do with if he is a part of Denver’s next Super Bowl run.