DROP THE MIKE

Previewing what figures to be a crazy offseason in Broncos Country

Feb 15, 2022, 6:39 AM

The Super Bowl is done. The ever-increasing mediocre Super Bowl commercials have already been forgotten and the debate over the Halftime Show is still raging. (I love how many people were triggered by the show. I say next year let’s finish them off. K-Pop anyone? How about a BTS and BLACKPINK combo?).

Now, it’s time to turn the page to the 2022 season. Here are my observations of the upcoming Broncos’ offseason:

• Ownership is the most important thing happening. I’ve gone from optimistic excitement over the idea of a new owner to a feeling of trepidation. Before I was thrilled with the idea of a billionaire owner with deep pockets that would pour money into the team and build a brand new, state-of-the-art stadium. That’s been replaced by the fear of getting a rich, but egotistic owner who will micromanage the team and potentially embarrass Broncos Country with his behavior. The allegations and accusations surrounding the likes of Stephen Ross and Daniel Snyder have me re-thinking this.

• An ownership group is sounding pretty good. Give me a driven front person with a charismatic personality and a desire to win, but backed up by checks and balances without leading to hamstrung gridlock on key decisions sounds pretty good. Take a look at the Dodgers’ ownership group. Might be a good model to emulate, no?

• My impressions of Nathaniel Hackett’s coaching staff are mixed. It’s certainly younger than the last group. There’s good and bad there. The youth means a lot of energy. Lot of creativity. Plenty of new ideas and ways of doing things. Youth also means inexperience. Once these games start, it gets really real fast. There isn’t too much time for on the job training.

• Hackett’s staff is made up of a lot of guys who were assistants now getting a chance to be coordinators. I totally disagree with my cohort, James Merilatt about the idea of the retread coordinator. I understand plenty of coordinators aren’t cut out to be head coaches, but they’ve proven to be good coordinators. The idea of the retread coach may not be inspiring, but I guarantee you Patriots’ fans were every bit as excited about getting Josh McDaniels back as their offensive coordinator as Broncos’ fans were with the return of Wade Phillips to lead the 2015 defense.

• Next up, the topic that gets everyone engaged. What to do at QB? I’m still hoping for Aaron Rodgers even with all the infuriating challenges of trying to read his motives and between the lines of what he’s saying.

• After Rodgers? Who’s available? Russell Wilson? I’m in! Deshaun Watson? Yep. The first time he throws for 300 yards and three TDs, he becomes a story of redemption instead of being a social pariah. After that top tier? Now, it gets a little trickier.

• Possible trade targets? I’d rank them Kirk Cousins first (although I don’t see the Vikings trading him). Next, I’d go Jimmy G then Carson Wentz. The free-agent list is pretty thin, although I could be talked into buying time with Jameis Winston or Mitch Trubisky.

• I’m not interested in over drafting a QB at No. 9. It doesn’t really matter what DMac and I have to say about the subject; I just don’t see GM George Paton picking one there this year when he was more than willing to pass on Mac Jones and Justin Fields last year.

• What I do want to see the Broncos do is become a QB developing factory. Part of the reason I’m such a staunch defender of the “khaki pants theory” is I refuse to believe there are only a few guys in college capable of playing in the NFL. There are prospects out there to be groomed and developed with the right kind of coaching in the right system for them.

• Pick one every year. Who cares if you have multiple QBs on your roster? The position is too important, right? Have a stable of them to develop and once you hopefully have “The Guy” then the others can be used as assets to trade or continue to develop as backups or to be ‘The Next Guy.”

• The real football is over. The next season is upon us. It figures to be a lot more interesting and exciting following the Broncos’ moves than actually watching them play.

Drop the Mike

Jared Bednar...

Mike Evans

Do back-to-back wins mean the Avs have escaped the doldrums?

An 8-2 loss to the Blues still stings, but wins over the Kraken and Ducks show that the Avalanche know how to respond to adversity

4 months ago

Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets...

Mike Evans

Championship swagger, a costly gamble and Nuggets nuggets

The Nuggets have come out of the gates looking like a team on a mission, Jamal Murray's injury is costly in more ways than one, and more

5 months ago

Russell Wilson...

Mike Evans

The Broncos can’t move forward with Russell Wilson after this season

When experts watch the Broncos game film, they come to the conclusion that Denver's quarterback isn't doing the things he needs to do

5 months ago

Caleb Williams Broncos QB...

Mike Evans

Explaining why the Broncos should go all in on tanking this season

While it might seem like a path for those with a loser's mentality, being bad now is the fastest way to be really good in the future

5 months ago

Artturi Lehkonen #62, Ryan Johansen #12, Jonathan Drouin #27 and Cale Makar #8...

Mike Evans

Hungry Avs ready to reclaim Cup after last season’s disappointment

After getting bounced in the first round a season ago, the Avalanche made some roster tweaks they hope will get them back to title form

6 months ago

Davante Adams, Denver...

Mike Evans

Broncos facing a must-win in season opener against the Raiders

In his debut as the Broncos head coach, Sean Payton knows the importance of getting off to a good start and building some momentum

7 months ago

Previewing what figures to be a crazy offseason in Broncos Country