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.