Author: Bob Morris

As we approach the start of the 2017 NFL league year, I figured it would be a good time to go over the Denver Broncos’ needs again, in terms of how to think about how they should be prioritized in each phase of the offseason.

The way the NFL offseason works, you go through three phases of free agency, then the draft, then what is probably best described as the “final business” period, ranging from players who were franchise tagged getting long-term deals to veterans who take low-cost deals for a chance to compete for a roster spot.
Continue reading How Broncos Should Prioritize Offseason Needs

Continuing with where I left off the other day, here are three moves I believe each of the NFC teams should make this offseason. Again, the categories:

Re-sign: I will pick one unrestricted free agent each team should consider bringing back at the right price. This will only apply to UFAs and I will include players who are likely to get the franchise tag.

Let him walk: I will pick one unrestricted free agent each team should allow to test the market and not prioritize bringing back. Again, this only applies to UFAs.

Cut: I will pick one player on each team’s roster who is not set to become a UFA but should be cut for either cap or performance reasons. Some of these players might be put on the trading block, though.
Continue reading Three Suggested Moves For Every NFC Team

As a short offseason primer, I’m going to list three moves I believe each team should make this offseason, one in three different categories.

Re-sign: I will pick one unrestricted free agent each team should consider bringing back at the right price. This will only apply to UFAs and I will include players who are likely to get the franchise tag.

Let him walk: I will pick one unrestricted free agent each team should allow to test the market and not prioritize bringing back. Again, this only applies to UFAs.

Cut: I will pick one player on each team’s roster who is not set to become an UFA but should be cut for either cap or performance reasons. Some of these players might be put on the trading block, though.

I’ll start with the AFC and, later in the week, review the NFC.
Continue reading Three Suggested Moves For Every AFC Team

I’ve had more time to think about the reasons why John Elway opted to hire Vance Joseph over Kyle Shanahan for the head coaching position. Many people here (and elsewhere) thought Shanahan would be the better hire because he would keep the same offensive system in place. Upon further review, I think Elway’s reasoning for his choice of Joseph was more than just about keeping consistency.

When we look at the most successful current coach in the NFL, Bill Belichick, there are three things that have allowed him to achieve that success level: Evaluating personnel and getting the final say, overseeing the team and letting his coordinators handle play calling, and having stability at the quarterback position.
Continue reading More On Vance Joseph And Elway’s Thinking

No, you are not dreaming, Bronco fans. Terrell Davis is finally a Hall of Famer.

To be honest, I thought he’d have to wait a year, given the presence of LaDainian Tomlinson, a worthy HOFer, too. Instead, it sounds like voters were more swayed to give Davis the nod that’s past due.
Continue reading Gut Reaction: Well, Look Who’s In The HOF

Nick has already gone over a couple of times about the Broncos’ offseason needs and I wanted to update where I believe the Broncos’ priorities need to be when it comes to free agency, given that’s the first stop on the offseason path.

My purpose is to give people a general idea about who is available at what position and how much the Broncos should expect to commit to each position. People do need to bear in mind that certain positions will take a higher priority than others and that cap dollars need to be committed to those positions first, before you explore positions that are a lower priority.

I’ll start with where the Broncos are going to be with their cap space, assuming certain moves are made, though in one case, I will account for an alternative scenario. From there, we’ll talk about each position, in order of priority (again, with one exception based on a key decision the Broncos must make).
Continue reading Offseason Primers: Broncos Priorities And Suggested Salary Limits

UPDATE: 12:50 P.M. MST: John Elway makes it official.

It's official.

Excited to announce Vance Joseph as head coach of the Denver Broncos! pic.twitter.com/m87uUn9KXs

— John Elway (@johnelway) January 11, 2017

And Mike Klis has more details.

Broncos have reached agreement in principle on 4-year contract with Vance Joseph as new head coach. #9sports

— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) January 11, 2017

Vance Joseph served as the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins this past season. Previously, he was the defensive backs coach for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2014 and 2015. He had interviewed for the HC position in 2014 when Elway opted to hire Gary Kubiak. After the Broncos requested an interview with Joseph to be the defensive coordinator, the Bengals denied permission for an interview.

Joseph will be the Broncos’ first black head coach holding the position on a full-time basis. Eric Studesville was an interim head coach for four games in 2010.

Joseph played for the University of Colorado as a quarterback and running back, finishing his career with 454 yards passing and four touchdowns and rushing for 237 yards. He signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 1995 and switched to defensive back, playing two seasons for the Jets and Indianapolis Colts.

His first coaching job was as the secondary coach for the University of Wyoming in 2002. He also coached the secondary at the University of Colorado and Bowling Green University. He joined the San Francisco 49ers as a secondary assistant in 2005, then was promoted to defensive backs coach, a position he shared with Johnnie Lynn until 2010. He then joined the Houston Texans as defensive backs coach from 2011 to 2013.

Andrew Mason shared this statement from Miami Dolphins head coach, and former Broncos offensive coordinator, Adam Gase about Joseph.

Miami head coach Adam Gase, on Vance Joseph: pic.twitter.com/60xOco0s4q

— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) January 11, 2017

UPDATE: 12:57 P.M. MST: Joseph has two candidates in mind for offensive coordinator.

#Broncos Vance Joseph expected to interview Mike McCoy, Musgrave for OC position as soon as Thursday @DenverChannel

— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) January 11, 2017

And it sounds like Broncos defensive backs coach Joe Woods will move up to defensive coordinator.

Looks like Joe Woods will be the defensive coordinator. That's the way things are leaning at least per @AdamSchefter on @1043TheFan #Broncos

— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) January 11, 2017

While we know that the Denver Broncos will need to make some changes to get back to the playoffs next season, the one thing we can take comfort in is that we have a management structure that wants to do better each year, yet is able to get its work done without too much interference from ownership and doesn’t fall into the trap of believing that the glory days will return if they just keep doing what worked before.

That is not the case with many of the teams who have missed the playoffs this season for one reason or another. I wanted to examine some of those teams who are already in the process of making regime changes or who might be mentioned as one that is due for a change. My purpose is here to remind everyone about the roads you don’t want the Broncos to go down and that, while every team needs to evaluate where it’s at regardless of the season outcome, the last things you want to do is go to the far ends of the spectrum, one being “hit the panic button” and the other being “we’ve always done it this way.”
Continue reading Which Teams Might Have Regime Changes?