Lunch Special: Do you think Brock Olivo will be fired by the Broncos?
Columnist Mark Kiszla on Monday answered questions from readers on the Denver Broncos’ latest blowout loss at the hands of the New England Patriots. Here are the highlights:
Do you think Brock Olivo will be fired today? And if not now, when?
Kiz: I imagine there were thousands in Broncos Country that wanted special teams coordinator Brock Olivo fired at halftime of 41-16 loss to the Patriots. The NFL is a brutal business. It was my thought Vance Joseph should have cut a player two weeks ago to send message that the losing streak would not be tolerated. Now, I’m afraid he might have to fire a coach. And firing assistants during the regular season does happen. Not often. But it happens. I don’t take advocating the dismissal of a man lightly. But Olivo needs to go. Today, tomorrow, soon.
Forget about returning punts, how is Isaiah McKenzie still on this roster?
Kiz: A major reason why the Broncos are in this mess is their drafting has been weak for years. It’s catching up. In the 2017 class, first-rounder Garett Bolles shows promise at left tackle (if he ever stops the penalties). But the rest of the class, including Isaiah McKenzie has been stunningly unproductive. It’s usually wise to wait and see how big a jump a rookie makes during his second NFL season. From DeMarcus Walker to De’Angelo Henderson, however, the Broncos have gotten almost nothing out of the ’17 class to this point.
When was the last good draft Denver had?
Kiz: John Elway picked Von Miller in 2011, which was Elway’s first draft. I give Elway full credit for getting a dominant player in Miller, even if it was with the 2nd pick overall in the opening round. But I would argue Elway has never had a truly stellar draft class. The final draft class of Josh McDaniels (in 2010) produced Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Zane Beadles, JD Walton and our old friend Tim Tebow. That might be a better talent haul than anything Elway has produced.
I felt pretty comfortable with Brock Osweiler being QB, more so than the other two…how did you feel?
Kiz: Brock Osweiler was not the problem versus the Patriots. But he was not a difference-maker, either. Osweiler is a place-holder. Nothing more. Nothing less. And I grade him on that generous curve.
Do you think the Broncos have any chance drafting Sam Darnold from USC?
Kiz: I got to see Sam Darnold in person, as USC dismantled the CU Buffs. I wish John Elway had not let Darnold get on the plane back to California and issued him a Broncos uniform. Darnold is better than any QB on the Denver roster. Yes, he has been very turnover-prone this season. His physical gifts, however, are top shelf. This is not Mark Sanchez or Matt Leinart. It’s no certainty that Darnold, who’s only 20 years old, will declare for the NFL draft. If Darnold does turn pro, it’s hard to imagine him going any later than No. 2 overall. So, if Elway wants Darnold in 2018, the Broncos would have to trade up in draft.
Has Vance Joseph totally lost the locker room, much like McDaniels in the past?
Kiz: This is a great question. Veterans on the Broncos never bought what McDaniels was selling from the start, because Josh was not consistent in his day-to-day demeanor. McDaniels did not know what kind of coach he wanted to be. He was a Belichick wanna-be one day, and a player’s coach the next. Vance Joseph is genuinely liked by Broncos players. So the locker room will turn on him slower. Here’s the deal, though: Lose five in a row, get embarrassed week after week, and players lose trust in what a coach says will work. There’s the real danger Joseph faces now.
The Broncos let Wade Phillips go because? Joe Woods has not done a lot, as none of this coaching staff has.
Kiz: This story has been told. I’m not certain its importance has been fully grasped throughout Broncos Country. After Super Bowl 50, Wade Phillips wanted a raise. He believed a boost to his salary was merited, after being the architect of one of the great defenses in NFL history … and also because he originally came to work for the Broncos at a very reasonable rate, by league standards. For whatever reason, the Broncos were not interested in giving Phillips the money I believed he deserved. It seemed as if John Elway saw Joe Woods as a natural successor to Phillips. The Wadester was hurt when he was shown the door after last season. He’s doing good work for the L.A. Rams, one of the NFL’s sweetest surprises of 2017. That’s no surprise. Denver’s loss is L.A.’s gain.
Aside from all the other problems (special teams, offensive line, etc.) what has gone sideways with the defense?
Kiz: What has gone wrong with the defense, lets count a few ways it has soured: 1) Joe Woods is feeling his way as a first-year defensive coordinator; 2) The linebackers are small. I love Brandon Marshall, but I strongly advocated that the Broncos take a chance on Alabama’s Reuben Foster in the draft; 3) The leadership and calming influence of TJ Ward is missed; his skills have slipped, but cutting him sent a bad message to the defense that the brotherhood of the No-Fly Zone no longer counted for much to Broncos management; 4) When Shane Ray was out, offenses were able to concentrate more on Von Miller and diminish his impact; 5) Aqib Talib is a heckuva cover corner. He’s nobody’s idea of a team captain. He’s almost certainly gone at season’s end, and I suspect Talib probably knows it.
We have the talent right now. The problem is coaching. Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy is no genius…I see the same 5 plays over and over. Woods is not sending different blitz packages…it’s the same look on that side of the ball too. I say clean house on the coaching staff NOW. Name one play call this year that actually SURPRISED you.
Kiz: I never got the infatuation with Mike McCoy. He’s a good dude, but long ago I dubbed him Milquetoast McCoy because his offense shows very little imagination. As already mentioned in this chat, Joe Woods is a great motivator with a good football mind that is experiencing growing pains as a defensive coordinator. When a first-time head coach is being let down by his coordinators, it’s a bad situation for Joseph. OK, now for the part you won’t like. The Broncos absolutely do not have Super Bowl talent right now. They don’t have playoff talent. Emmanuel Sanders, Von Miller, Ron Leary, Chris Harris Jr., Derek Wolfe, Aqib Talib and on a good day Demaryius Thomas are the Broncos only top-tier players. Everybody else? Just a guy. And a team of average guys is probably going to finish somewhere between 7-9 and 9-7 most of the time.
Can you really see the Broncos waiting yet another game to start Paxton Lynch? Even if he’s not completely “mentally” ready? I’m sure he can put up 16 points.
Kiz: The Broncos have two legit concerns with Paxton Lynch. No. 1: It would be foolish to start him until Lynch is very close to 100 percent healthy, and No. 2: Starting him will be clear sign to vets in the locker room that team has started playing for 2018. Lynch deserves a fair trial. I say put him in the game sooner rather than later, but if he gets four starts that should be enough for John Elway to evaluate his potential.
Without an improvement, what are the chances Elway cleans out the coaching staff at the end of the season? If so, who is out there?
Kiz: The history of John Elway shows he is not a patient man with coaches. Most of my reporting peers out at Dove Valley find it hard to believe Vance Joseph and his staff could be broomed after only one season. It really does pain me to say it, but it’s my belief Joseph was given this job before he was ready to be an NFL coach. Maybe Elway owes it to Joseph to let him grow into the job. Elway, however, owes it to Broncos Country to put a competitive team on the field. So I think Joseph and all his assistants should be concerned about their job security.
Can Denver afford to trade up the pieces to get a solid QB in the draft? It’s not just a QB away from a rebound here.
Kiz: Push all your chips to the middle of the table on a draft-day trade for a QB and you better be correct. The Redskins messed up going all-in for Robert Griffin III. When the Eagles traded five draft picks for Carson Wentz in 2016, draftniks thought Philly management drastically overpaid. Well, it seems now the Eagles got a bargain. It all starts with the QB in the NFL. If Elway is certain there’s a franchise QB in the 2018 draft, then he must at least explore a trade.
Do you think Broncos will select a QB with their first pick at the draft?
Kiz: It’s one of my core football beliefs: Never, ever draft for need. Draft for talent. So let’s say the Broncos finish 6-10 and have the No. 10 overall pick. Taking a QB at No. 10 just because the Broncos need a QB would be stupid. If John Elway sees a QB in the top 10 that he believes can be a franchise QB for Denver, then go get him, even if it means trading up. Draft for talent. Pursue talent.
I can’t think of one recent college draft quarterback that has been successful in recent years. I would rather see us get someone really good and experienced in a trade or through fee agency.
Kiz: Ever heard of Carson Wentz? Or Dak Prescott? Just sayin.
So if we keep at this pace now we’re scheduled to be 6th in the draft. I’m not so sold on the QBs except maybe Darnold and he’s a maybe for coming out. Do we draft for O-line or another Malik Jackson and go free agency for say a Kirk Cousins, Drew Brees or Alex Smith? Also can we agree Elway totally messed up on going with V.J. instead of Kyle Shanahan. Was not wanting to keep Wade Phillips the reason we didn’t go with Kyle?
Kiz: It never felt as if Kyle Shanahan working for his dad’s team in his dad’s town felt like a good fit. If there’s not a QB Elway likes in the draft, then the hunt for a vet QB (Alex Smith? Eli Manning? Drew Brees? Kirk Cousins?) could be very intriguing.
Who has been worse Josh McDaniels, or V.J. as head coach?
Kiz: Josh McDaniels was/is one of the better coaches with X’s and O’s I have ever met. He did not know how to manage people as a HC. Vance Joseph is comfortable in his own skin. But he was given the job of HC before he was ready to deal with all the adjustments and crisis management that can snowball. I view Joseph’s situation as closer to Wade Phillips, who was maybe too nice and definitely not ready when Pat Bowlen made the Wadester the HC in Denver way back in the 1990s.
At what point does it get so bad that Joseph doesn’t return next season?
Kiz: I think it’s that bad now. But that still seems to be a minority opinion around here.
Is Bronco-crazy Denver starting to understand that the team to watch in Denver plays basketball at the Pepsi Center? A couple good home crowds in a row, nice wins.
Kiz: I would highly recommend a trip to the Pepsi Center to watch Nikola Jokic play, or spending bucks, as I do, to watch the DU Pioneers play hockey. This is a Broncos town. We all know that. But I like more than one flavor of ice cream, especially when the orange sherbet has gone stale.
We keep talking QB, but a QB is only as good as his offensive line. We have no running game which helps with the passing game. While neither Trevor Siemen or Osweiler are Peyton Manning, they can throw the ball but the offensive line isn’t giving them the time. I would think again the objective should be get an offensive line that can block and open holes. We had no run game last night. We also need someone who can go over the middle to catch passes instead of the current game plan. Your thoughts?
Kiz: The Broncos O-line is not very good, and it’s battling injuries. But stop making excuses for Trevor Siemian and Brock Osweiler. You are correct, neither one is Peyton Manning. But neither Siemian or Osweiler is a legit NFL starter. And this team’s problems start there. Period.
I think a case could be made that Brock Olivo is still on the Chiefs payroll at much higher rate than the Broncos are giving him. I mean really, is there a professional coach in the NFL that is honestly this bad?
Kiz: I appreciate the snark. And the dark sense of humor. But when the conspiracy theories start, I’m out. Thanks for chatting everybody. Enjoyed it. Will be back next Monday. After the Bengals visit town. The Broncos have to win that one. Don’t they?
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