In the final Denver Broncos fanzone interview of the 2018 season, I chat with Kristal Alfonso and get her takes on the team as the season comes to an end.
Well Broncos Country, the Denver Broncos’ season is coming to a close on Sunday. What appeared to be a promising little push to the postseason fell flat with three horrible performances in a row against the 49ers, Browns, and Raiders.
It clearly is time for the Broncos to search for more answers. The first step are likely going to involve getting a new head coach. There is absolutely no way that Elway allows this to happen for a third year in a row.
I do not foresee free agency being active as there is not a big name that jumps out who’s contract will be up in March. The positions that I believe that Denver needs to improve on is the quarterback and cornerback position. Some other pass rushers would not hurt either.
Broncos Country is hoping that Denver can play spoiler one final time before their season comes to an end. Can they beat the Chargers? We do not know. It does not look likely. But hey, anything can happen.
In the final Broncos Fanzone of the season, I chat with Kristal Alfonso who is a Broncos fan that I got to know this season. Here is what she had to say about the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos were thrashed by the Oakland Raiders. What stood out to you the most in that game?
As with most of the games we have lost during the Vance Joseph time, this team was once again looking unprepared, uninspired, and not what I want to see from my team. If these 52 are truly playing for their careers and their coaches, then they are in serious trouble as professional football players.
Denver looked uninspired in that game. Do you believe that the ESPN crew was right in that they gave up on the season or is there something more to it?
I think many have chosen to play it safe to avoid injuries, especially those who will be free agents this off season. But, I also think that when you lose to a 3-11 team and blow your chances at any off season, or heck…a winning season, with that kind of performance, unless leaders step up and inspire these players to dig deep for one another, you get a performance like what we saw against the Browns and Raiders.
Leadership is about making others do what they don’t want to do…and I feel without players like CHJ or Sanders to help inspire their respective sides of the ball, this team needed others to step up and fill those voids. They certainly do not seem to be led by anyone on the coaching staff.
As a Denver Broncos fan, what is your best moment of all time?
That is a tough one…been a fan most of my life. Probably watching SB50 with my family and seeing my son watch his team hoist the Lombardi trophy after the game and then during the parade in Denver. Meeting Steve Atwater, Randy Gradishar, John Elway, and Dave Logan, plus the Tebow to DT pass, were all up there, though.
The Broncos welcome the Chargers in the season finale. What do you believe Denver needs to do to get the win?
I do not think they will win unless LAC gives them a win by imploding themselves. Without Lindsay, we have no offense whatsoever. The Chargers are going to light Keenum up given our make shift line and with a decimated secondary, Rivers is going to feast. We will need a whole lot of luck and a loud stadium…which will be a challenge as well, since I fear many fans won’t even bother to show up to cheer (which I totally understand…it wouldn’t be my choice, but I am still far down the list on the season ticket waiting list.)
As we head off into the offseason, where do you believe Denver needs to improve on to contend in 2019?
I want to see changes in the coaching staff…I had high hopes for VJ and Co., and even gave them the benefit of the doubt from last year’s debacle, given the issues we had at QB in 2017. However, time and again, this team comes out flat, looking lost, or seemingly unprepared for most games they should win…Jets, 49ers, Browns, Raiders.
I have hope because the talent we have has actually kept us in both the KC games, almost pulled wins out against Houston and the Rams, but due to poor coaching decisions (when he needs to be aggressive, VJ is conservative and vice versa) compounded by injuries and lackluster offensive play (Lindsay the exception), the first change needs to happen with the coaching staff.
I hate being on this carousel of coaching staff changes, but it seems clear now that VJ is in over his head and needs time to develop as a coordinator first. Woods has potential, but without competency at the HC position, I wonder how united these two are behind closed doors. Musgrave did wonders with Derek Carr but seems to lack trust with Keenum and week after week kept saying we needed to get the ball to Lindsay more, yet failed to find creative ways to do that (compounded by the injuries, to be sure.)
I think the front office and this whole “trust” thing needs to be resolved ASAP. More than anything, I think the dirty laundry coming out with lawsuits, countersuits, etc. has done just as much to undermine the team’s stability as the short comings of VJ and Co. have.
What coach would want to come into this hot mess of ownership/family drama? Ellis has allowed Elway to take the brunt of the blame when it comes to the coaching fiasco, but then reports come out that it was Ellis that pushed to hire and keep VJ. It is all just a mess.
The core of the team, minus a few key positions on the O-line, WR, and secondary, is solid and this rookie class has me very hopeful. But, we need to invest in our O-line, especially if we draft the franchise QB in 2020 (not in 2019), we need a true #1 WR now that DT is gone and Emmanuel (well, now both) faces Achilles surgery recovery, we need a solid corner to play #2 behind CHJ (if Roby takes a hometown discount, then I prefer him in that #3 slot), and I would like to see us shore up the interior of the D-line as well, given the likelihood we lose Peko to FA, Wolfe has been hampered by injuries these past few seasons, and Marshall is also most likely gone as well this off season (I would also love to see us re-sign Shaq Barrett.)
We also need a real TE threat (as well as a defensive answer to the Kelces of the world)…as much as I like Jake Butt, he and Heuerman are both too injury prone and I want us to move on (at least from Heuerman…give Butt until his rookie contract is done.)
My hopes for 2019 are not to contend…I want to see them right this disaster of a sinking ship and return to winning football again. Regardless, I will still cheer for my team and hold out hope that things can return to that winning culture.
Thank You Kristal for taking the time out to chat with me. Here is to the future. Go Broncos!