Mile High Monday: Broncos need Williams and Jeudy to be young stars

The Denver Broncos are less than three weeks from the start of training camp. It’s only 14 days of camp, but during that time we are going to see heated position battles, joint practices and glimpses of what this team can be in 2022.

I like the calm before the storm. I only have a couple of weeks left before things get crazy in my world – and I am here for it!

I also like contemplating life and sports when driving around with the top down on my old Jeep TJ! The following is a result of those trips during the week.

Buckle up, let’s take a ride through my thoughts.

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Times Change

Didn’t a wise man named Vince Neil once say, “Now it’s time for change, nothing stays the same, now it’s time for change!” Motley Crue lyrics aside, the saying is true; things change over time. That can sum up what we’re about to see in the NFL with Direct TV’s “Sunday Ticket” moving to a streaming service in 2023.

I got the Sunday Ticket the first year it came out on Direct TV. It was launched in 1994, and the idea of watching every game in real time with the touch of your remote was revolutionary. I remember being so excited about being able to watch as much football as I possibly could. As someone who has most every NFL game on VHS tape, DVD or hard drive since 1992 you can say I’m a bit of a fan. The Sunday Ticket was perfect for me, and in the mid-90s with fantasy football about ready to explode it was a boost to the NFL.

Today, being able to watch every game at once is taken for granted. In fact, it’s kind of boring when there’s just one game on like during Thursday, Sunday, or Monday night football. People are used to watching football non-stop, and with something like NFL Network’s Red Zone (eight-hour block of football) they don’t want to watch commercials. Add in the way people are changing with how they watch games – many on their phones via streaming services – and you could see how the league had to make a change.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Sunday Ticket talks with streamers:

“I clearly believe we’ll be moving to a streaming service. I think that’s best for the consumers at this stage.” pic.twitter.com/5A68U1zQ7e

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) July 8, 2022

It will be interesting to see which streaming service ends up getting the Sunday Ticket. I know I’m more of a Red Zone guy now on Sundays when I’m at home. I don’t watch much football on my phone, but I’m Gen X and I get to watch every game twice – once on Monday and once on Tuesday as I prepare projections for Footballguys.com.

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Young Stars Indeed

The Broncos do have a nice mix of experience and youth on the roster. Any team in a Super Bowl window needs to have a mix of both. Sure, teams like the Los Angeles Rams can go all in and add/rent veteran players to win a championship. However, if you want to be in a multi-year window, then going with a mix of young and old is a must.

Javonte Williams could be one of the best young running backs in the league. Even splitting carries last year with Melvin Gordon, Williams pushed for 1,000 yards on the ground. This year as the lead back, Williams should be able to push past that number and who knows how high his total could be. I think he’s a special player, and the type of runner who could lead the league in rushing if given the opportunity. Gordon is still on the roster, but the plans might be to have him more as veteran insurance rather than a 50-50 split like it was last season.

Jerry Jeudy was, by most who cover the NFL draft, the best wide receiver in the best wide receiver draft class in NFL history. Over the last two years, all those prognosticators (including myself) have been wrong about him. Instead of taking the league by storm, Jeudy has been frustrated on the field with drops, injuries and poor quarterback play. The talent as a route runner is there, but Jeudy – who has been banged up this offseason – is out of excuses for not producing. With Russell Wilson under center, Jeudy has a great opportunity to showcase his skill as a receiver and eventually earn a big-money contract. The Broncos must decide on Jeudy’s fifth-year option after this season, and at this time I’m not sure what that decision will be.

Young ⭐️s pic.twitter.com/VSgOVPxao0

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) July 9, 2022

I feel good about what Williams can do this season, but I’m not sure what we’ll see from Jeudy. If both young stars play up to their potential, that’s great news for the Broncos. I believe they are in a Super Bowl window, and that time to win multiple championships could last for around five years. Williams and Jeudy could be a big reason why the Broncos get to the top of the mountain – and perhaps stay there – while Wilson is the quarterback.

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All Three Need to Get HOF Nod

There are a few Broncos closer to being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Last week, it was announced that 54 semifinalists have been named for the Class of 2023 in the Seniors and Coach/Contributor Categories. Three former Broncos, Dan Reeves, Randy Gradishar, and Mike Shanahan were on that list.

Reeves led the Broncos to three Super Bowl appearances as their head coach. He won 110 games as the top man for the Broncos from 1981-1992. Reeves was an old school coach who loved running the ball and having a great defense as hallmarks of his team. He was a Super Bowl champion as a player (Super Bowl VI) and as an assistant coach (Super Bowl XII) with the Dallas Cowboys.

Gradishar was one of the leaders on the vaunted “Orange Crush” defense in the late 70s and early 80s. During that time, Gradishar was regularly among the tackling leaders in the NFL and went to seven Pro Bowls due to his high level of play. It’s a shame that Gradishar is not already in the Hall of Fame just based off the numbers alone. Had he played for a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers during that time, Gradishar would have already been in – and could have been a first ballot inductee.

Shanahan is a legendary coach whose impact is felt all over the league today. The hottest coaching tree in the NFL comes from Shanahan, the two-time Super Bowl champion head coach with the Broncos. From 1995-2008, the Broncos were always near the top of the pack in the NFL because of Shanahan’s coaching. Now, his system proliferates around the league with nearly a dozen teams in the league implementing some sort of Shanahan offense. There is no doubt he should be a Hall of Famer, and it’s a shame that Shanahan is not already in.

Congratulations to Randy Gradishar, Dan Reeves & Mike Shanahan on being named semifinalists for the @ProFootballHOF Class of 2023!

📰 » https://t.co/Pi8oBfKAdh pic.twitter.com/goLlS9yYhG

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) July 7, 2022

I think one day all three of these men will be in the Hall of Fame. This year, I hope at least one of them gets inducted. I have a feeling that’s going to happen, I just don’t know which one is going to get the nod in 2022.

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The Boys > Love and Thunder

It’s a great time to be a nerd. Last week, comic book nerds like me were able to see the fourth installation of Thor’s movie as “Love and Thunder” hit theaters on Thursday. On the small screen, the season three finale of “The Boys” on Amazon Prime hit on Friday and was a trending topic on social networking over the weekend.

I was able to see both, and I think The Boys was the better product. I did like Love and Thunder, and Thor is one of my favorite characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I don’t want to be picky, but if I had to pick one it would be The Boys by a nose.

Perhaps it comes down to humor versus drama. The Boys season finale was full of “OMG” moments, and it was certainly heavy on the drama with twists that went the other way than most expected. They weren’t subverting expectations, but rather The Boys wants to explore other possibilities opened by the storyline.

Love and Thunder was a fun movie – but it might have been just a touch too cheesy for my taste. I appreciate the light humor, but they were dealing with two heavy storylines (which I won’t spoil here) in Gorr the God Butcher and Jane Foster wielding Mjolnir – Thor’s powerful hammer. Again, I don’t mind the light sense of humor but these two storylines could have been done with much more drama – and in a very entertaining way.

What did you think of The Boys season finale and/or Thor: Love and Thunder? Hit me up on social networking and let me know!

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Follow @CecilLammey