Denver Broncos at the Bye – How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love Wade Phillips

In his 68th year upon the Earth, Harold Wade Phillips can stand tall and look down upon his vanquished enemies. How d’ya like me now, bitch? Indeed.

Throughout his coaching career, the schlubby “Son of Bum” has been oft, and somewhat unfairly, called “son of somethin’ else” as each head coaching gig ended in respectability and not one iota more. An 82-61 overall regular season mark is hardly Rich Kotite material, but 1-5 in the playoffs…well, that will bring forth Jerral devil horns right quick.

But the man can coach some defense. Particularly, some aggressive, pressure defense. And in a move that speaks to Wade’s being a real man in ways that Tony Dungy will never understand, Wade swallowed his pride and took what would likely be his last NFL job – in Denver of all places. The organization that fired him from his first non-interim HC gig, after just two seasons (16-17 overall) to make room for a coach more QB John Elway’s liking/style. Yeah, his new boss John Elway. And good Lord, how Karma rewarded him. Blessed with an athletic front seven, and physical cover corners, Wade inherited a unit that was seemingly born to be taught his principles. Beyond that, Wade has installed belief in his charges, and is bringing out the absolute best in players Donks faithful used to cringe to see in the game (here’s looking at you, David Bruton). Von Miller is an absolute stud, and sure, his drawing double teams helps. But this has truly been a team effort on defense, and the whole has been way greater than the sum of its parts. These guys will ride or die for Wade. They are being asked to WIN games, not just keep the team from losing, and they absolutely relish the role.

Good thing, too.

Uh…about PeyPey. I am not “Team Brock.” What I have seen, I do not like. But even I have had evil thoughts creep into mind the past 2 weeks, that something simply must be done, else the defense will rise up and murder the entire offensive unit (except whatever is necessary to run the FG team). It has been more than physical, he’s making reads I would expect a college backup to be able to avoid. Perhaps, as Kubes says, he’s just pressing. But the bye week has to be used for intense, focused work instead of rest. Cleveland was stacking the line of scrimmage and jumping routes like the unspeakable Tebow Year. Even the long SandersDOWN was essentially a rerun of the Demaryius playoff OT score against the Stillers, as the Factory CB was very aggressively going for another Pick Six instead of giving any thought to knocking the ball away or making a tackle.

A better defense will absolutely immolate the Donks playing like that. And better defenses are on the horizon. VERY few of the faithful are so delusional that they believe this unbeaten mark to be sustainable, or expect anything beyond a first-round (or at best, Divisional Round) flameout. Unless, of course, adjustments can be, and are, made.

PeyPey has given body and soul to the Broncos organization to try to win another title. I respect the shit out of that, and I presume his teammates do as well. Therefore, I don’t believe there is any non-injury circustance where he loses his job, nor (rationally) should there be. By his blood, sweat, and leadership, he really has earned it. I hope the ending at least gets a little happier. He’s really a fundamentally decent human being, especially by pro athlete standards.

Oh, and if Wade Phillips is the primary Mile High deity in the new Donks universe (and he totally fucking is), this review is not complete without laying down some worship at the altar/right foot of Brandon McManus. Because of the spread-out defensive glory, McManus is in all seriousness the team MVP at this stage of the season. He’s like 4-5 from over 50, hasn’t missed from under 50, and is the best kickoff man in the league. This, after losing his job in Week 12 last season. His winning the job in pre-season was the most important choice the front office made.

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King Hippo
Reclusive, vulgar Broncos fan. Also a proud fookin' Evertonian. Likely dropped on my head repeatedly as a small child. [Insert George Carlin quote followed by thoughtful nod.]
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Moose -The End Is Well Nigh
Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

Well, most of it is good.

The interceptions; every regular football fan KNOWS that all interceptions are the sole fault of the QB. The offense is not in sync yet, the O-line play, the route/ and play combinations is combined with Manning’s physical degradation. This degradation is not as complete as a lot of media and “fans” say, as evidenced by many plays which work, throws are on time and on target. Such as the play to Sanders which was a great route, perfect against very good coverage. Shit, even two out of the three roll-outs to his right worked well. The other position that is under-performing is the slot receiver; PFM loves him some Welker, Stokely or the like that he is on the same page, the guys now show some flashes but are not at all on the same page as far as coverage reads as Manning. DT is obviously pressing as he is looking up-field to run before he has secured the ball. The bullshit line is comparing this to the Tebow year, that’s fucking ridiculous; the offense was completely different. People only need look back to aught nine with Josh McDaniels and Kyle Orton for a look at a real pretender (real pretender?). The D is legit and the O can improve, whether it will or not is the question. Right now the GBs or Pats outclass them by a ways.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh
Sharkbait
Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

This is delightful.

Cuntler

Word around town is that Manning is spending the bye week preparing for his next career in the robot soccer league: http://i.imgur.com/Gg6wa3S.gif

Cuntler

He is trying his hand at goalie as well:

http://i.imgur.com/1Yfuwrn.gif

Horatio Cornblower

That looks a lot like the recent American ‘effort’ against Costa Rica.

Old School Zero

I noticed that, much like your team, your post does not have a run game.

Old School Zero

“Sigh. When your QB can only operate from shotgun or pistol, and your OL is kinda shit, and opposing defenses are free to stack the box”

Wait, are you talking about Denver or San Diego?

Doktor Zymm

The Society for Awareness of Kickers has approved this post.

Doktor Zymm

Actually, call it the Society for Awareness of Competence in Kickers. That way the acronym is SACK.

sunrisesunrise

Nate Kaeding attempted to start the Society for Uncannily Competent Kickers but it missed the mark.

laserguru

Being a fan of one of the teams beaten by the donkeys I can attest to their beastly defense.
While being 5-0 with a great D is good if your offensive MVP is your kicker, well…..

WCS

It’s the 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes strategy in action.

blaxabbath

In Peyton’s defense, sometimes those bad reads are his mind not realizing that his body can’t make it happen anymore. Take me, for example. I never developed any useful ball-handling skills in soccer because I was always quick off the step. For decades I got by with, dribble to defender, slightly pull up, when defender pulls up kick ball past him and race by. Now I play in a small field league with early 20-somethings and that lost half-step means I just dribble the ball into the defender’s feet. So now I’m learning how to use my elbows more.

Peyton needs to use more elbow is what I’m saying. Proof, you ask?

ELway + teBOW = ELBOW

Don T

You should play wearing a Charles Barkley jersey.

Don T

Dammit, it’s true! This is just like the season before Peyton arrived. Except the previous QB did not occupy, what, 35% of the cap space?
Great post. I really like Wade and Von Miller, and didn’t know the kicker was slaying it.
/dodges Physics chapters on atmospheric pressure

Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

Fun fact: no kicker has missed a field goal attempt vs. the Raiders this year. Two kickers have missed extra point attempts.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

No it is not; they ran a high school offense that took defense by surprise for several games; the current offense is a pro multiple that is not in sync with timing and execution. Tebow ran a one read, one key option. The thing in common was that the defense played fantastic until they ran into the Pats.

ballsofsteelandfury

I concur with all your points except I think you are underestimating the value of your defense. Think Trent Dilfer Ravens. The ironic part is that PeyPey may get his brother-tying ring and go off into a graceful sunset and it will be completely due to the defense.

blaxabbath

It’s strange how the Broncos are a recent power and, yet, I somehow how don’t find them despicable. I guess that alone is a pretty commendable accomplishment on their part.

Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

It’s okay, I can hate them enough for both of us.

Rikki-Tikki-Deadly

I *can’t* let go, if I did the officials would declare my hatred for the Broncos to be incomplete because I did not complete the process of the hate.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

If you didn’t hate them it just wouldn’t feel right; it would be like sex on the beach; at first it would be really fun, then you find out there was a bunch of sand in the vagina.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

Before your Dilfer love gets out of hand; the real difference in those offense is the running game:

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/rav/2000.htm

ballsofsteelandfury

Agree, but I think you have the ingredients for a good running game. The problem, as you’ve stated above, is that the offense is not in sync. Once they figure out that Peyton can win it as a complementary player instead of the focal point of the offense, you’re golden.

Moose -The End Is Well Nigh

Yes, it cooooooooooooooooould happen………

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpm7pxpn8p1qiezyeo1_500.gif

Lothar of the Hill People

Given what crappy (ok, maybe not “crappy,” but certainly not “stellar”) defenses PeyPey has had for much of his career, I don’t think it’s too bad that he gets a leg up in hopefully his last season.

All media knob-slobbering aside, PeyPey is one of the all-time greats, and he seems to be a decent guy. I don’t have any issue with him getting another ring, especially if that means Dreambot doesn’t.

entropy

At the very least, Peyton has a self-deprecating wit I can relate to, whereas Fuckwit Brady just seems like a soulless, joyless prick who may actually *believe* he is slighted constantly without reason. I’d like Peyton to get a second ring, because he should, if no other reason than to deny Brady another.

That said, I don’t think the Donks have enough, offensively, to recreate the Dilfer Ravens success, and they will most likely fade in December. That defense is nasty, but they can’t keep bailing out the offense the entire season.