Pritchard: Broncos have a legendary QB problem, identity crisis

The 2017 Denver Broncos find themselves in the difficult transition away from a legendary quarterback.

Well, welcome to the club.

Sure, the Miami Dolphins have been back to the postseason since Dan Marino retired in March of 2000. But it’s been rare — five games and one win in 17 years.

The San Francisco 49ers went nearly 20 years before making another Super Bowl appearance following the retirement of Steve Young in 1999 while the Dallas Cowboys have not returned to the Big Game since Troy Aikman retired after the 2000 season.

The Broncos organization has experienced this situation as well.

The great John Elway led Denver to back-to-back world championships in 1997 and 1998, and some argued he could have led the Broncos to a third-consecutive Super Bowl had he not retired in 1999.

Maybe this is true, but the fact is Denver did not return back to the NFL championship game until the great Peyton Manning showed up in 2012.

It took the Broncos 17 seasons to transition from a legend in Elway, and they only accomplished that by replacing him with another legendary quarterback.

And while other teams without legendary quarterbacks have won championships, it’s rare.

Championship teams are defined by two things. First is the concept of a moment of time.

Some call it a “Super Bowl window,” and it consists of an organization taking advantage of maximizing its opportunity to win a championship by acquiring key free agents.

The second concept in which championship teams are defined is the creation of an identity, which is based on legendary players, coaches or owners and has been the prominent feature of many Super Bowl-winning teams.

Vince Lombardi, Don Shula, Chuck Noll, Al Davis, Bill Walsh, Jimmy Johnson, Mike Shanahan, and Bill Belichick are Hall of Fame or soon-to-be-Hall of Fame coaches and owners who defined the identity of their championship teams.

The Steel Curtain, the ‘85 Bears, the 2000 Ravens, and the Tampa Bay defense of the new millennium all defined their championship moment as well.

Then we have the quarterback position.

Legendary quarterbacks demand control of the identity of their team. These quarterbacks understand that their level of play with lift that of their teammates and will result into championships.

The 2017 Broncos do not have Manning anymore … or an identity. They are at a crossroads.

Denver’s struggled to gut out an average season so far, with three wins and three losses. So where do the Broncos find their confidence?

The Broncos have a first-time head coach and do not have a quarterback with the proper leadership skills to demand the identity role. Denver’s defense, while still dominant, has yet to claim the identity role for this team.

The current transition phase for the Broncos will be frustrating. Broncos Country will need to be patient.