SB Nation Denver: All Posts by John Bena

Should the Broncos Trade For Darrelle Revis?

2013-02-12T15:24:48Z

The New York Jets are reportedly interested in moving Darelle Revis. Should the Broncos be interested?

Ryan Clady To Undergo Shoulder Surgery

2013-01-29T14:42:34Z

Denver Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady will undergo surgery to his right should the Denver Post is reporting. Clady, who first suffered the injury during the Broncos regular season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs, missed Sunday's Pro Bowl because of the injury.

Clady has started all 80 games in his NFL career, and early indications are that he should be ready for the start of the 2013 regular season, though Clady will likely miss most - if not all - of the offseason program.

The No. 12 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this off-season, but the Broncos are expected to bring him back - either with a new long-term deal or by using the franchise tag. Either way, Clady should expect a hefty payday, making close to $10 million per season.

Clady missed a week of practice during the BYE week before the Broncos 38-35 OT loss to Baltimore but played in the game.

Broncos Promote Adam Gase To Offensive Coordinator

2013-01-17T16:12:30Z

The Denver Broncos on Thursday promoted Adam Gase to offensive coordinator, Head Coach John Fox announced.

Gase, who enters his ninth NFL season and fifth year with the Broncos in 2013, spent the past two seasons as the club's quarterbacks coach following two years instructing the wide receivers.

"Adam was an integral part of the success we had offensively this season and was heavily involved in all aspects of our game plan, both during the week and on gameday," Fox said. "Maintaining that continuity with our offense was very important in this decision. While we did speak with several qualified candidates, it became clear that Adam was the best fit to be our offensive coordinator.

"His coaching background along with his familiarity with our players is very strong. He did a great job working with Peyton [Manning] and all of our quarterbacks the last two seasons. Adam is a bright coach with a great future, and I am confident he'll have success in his new role."

In 2012, Gase was part of the Broncos' offensive staff that helped the unit finish No. 4 overall in the NFL with 397.9 yards per game-the second-highest output in team history-in addition to scoring 30.1 points per contest (third-highest mark in club annals).

Denver topped the 30-point mark in a team-record 11 games and finished with the best offensive scoring improvement in the NFL from the previous season (+10.8 points per game).

Before joining the Broncos, Gase was an offensive assistant for San Francisco in 2008 after coaching three seasons (2005-07) with Detroit, including serving as the club's quarterbacks coach during the 2007 campaign. He began his coaching career in 2000 at Louisiana State University and worked at the school until taking a position in the Lions' scouting department in 2003.

As a quarterbacks coach, he has worked with several signal-callers, including Manning (2012), Tim Tebow (2011) and John Kitna (2007).

Working with Gase in 2012, Manning set every major franchise single-season passing mark in his first year with the club and was named a Pro Bowl starter. He finished the 2012 regular season with team records for completions (400), passing yards (4,659), completion percentage (68.6%), touchdowns (37) and passer rating (105.8).

In 2011, Gase coached Tebow, who started the season's final 11 games in addition to two playoff contests and posted a combined 8-5 record that included five fourth-quarter comebacks.

As Detroit's quarterbacks coach in 2007, Gase helped Kitna total the sixth-most passing yards (4,068) in the NFL while becoming only the ninth player in NFL history to post consecutive 4,000-yard passing seasons.

Gase coached a pair of Broncos wide receivers to Pro Bowl selections during his first two years in Denver, helping Brandon Marshall (2009) and Brandon Lloyd (2010) turn in career seasons.

Lloyd became the first player in team history to lead the NFL in receiving yards (1,448) in 2010, while setting career highs in receptions (77), receiving average (18.8) and receiving touchdowns (11). He also became just the second player in NFL history to record his first 1,400-yard output in their eighth season or later.

In 2009, Marshall caught 101 passes for 1,120 yards (11.1 avg.) with 10 touchdowns to cap his third consecutive 100-catch season. Included in his 2009 totals was an NFL single-game record for receptions (21 at Ind., 12/13/09).

From 2005-06, Gase coached as an offensive assistant with the Lions, working under Head Coach Steve Mariucci in 2005 and under Head Coach Rod Marinelli in 2006.

The 2005 campaign marked the beginning of Gase's NFL coaching career, working as an offensive assistant for Detroit. He broke into the NFL in 2003 with the Lions as a scouting assistant and held that position until 2005.

From 2000-02, Gase worked at Louisiana State under Head Coach Nick Saban, serving as a defensive graduate assistant for the school in 2000 while also working in recruiting. During his three years with the Tigers, the school had a 26-12 overall record, won two bowl games (Peach Bowl in 2000, Sugar Bowl in 2001) and earned one Southeastern Conference Championship (2001).

Gase attended Michigan State University from 1996-99 and received a bachelor's degree from the school. He was born on March 29, 1978, in Ypsilanti, Mich.

Chip Kelly Dumps Oregon, Will Coach Philadelphia Eagles

2013-01-16T17:58:59Z

Chip Kelly is headed to the NFL... Finally. After flirting with the NFL the past two season, Chip Kelly, the now-former Oregon Ducks head coach has agreed to become the next head coach of the Phildelphia Eagles. Kelly had nearly become the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2011 season, and had interviewed with the Cleveland Browns and Eagles this off-season before saying he was staying at Oregon.

Pending NCAA sanctions at the school may have changed his mind, however.

The Eagles will face the Broncos in Denver in 2013, joining Mike Shanahan's Washington Redskins as the NFC East teams coming to town. With Robert Griffin III in Washington and possibly Michael Vick in Philly, the Broncos defense could be in for a test!

Ryan Clady Out Of 2013 Pro Bowl

2013-01-16T17:49:23Z

Denver Broncos coaches will be there. So will Peyton Manning, Champ Bailey and Von Miller. Ryan Clady, however, will miss the 2013 Pro Bowl, dropping out due to an injured shoulder. Andrew Whitworth of the Cincinnati Bengals will replace Clady.

The injury was first reported during the Broncos BYE week when Clady was absent from practice. Clady returned last week during the Broncos preparations for the Baltimore Ravens and played during the Broncos' 38-35 loss which ended their season.

Clady is a free agent at the end of the season and the the Broncos have a decision to make. John Elway said during his end of season press conference that the team wants to get something done with Clady, and is hopeful they will be able to.

Despite several injuries, including a serious knee injury suffered during the 2009/10 offseason, Clady has never missed a game and has started 80 straight heading into 2013.

The Toughest Loss, Playing Percentages and Looking Deeper

2013-01-15T20:08:37Z

"Cold weather has an effect on any athlete, no matter what sport. In my opinion, Peyton played well enough for us to win." Denver Broncos Head Coach John Fox

This post is more about me than it is about you. The reasons for writing it, anyway. It is going to meander through the thoughts in my head and the hurt in my heart. I'm not looking to persuade or dissuade you from anything you are thinking or feeling. It's no one's business how you 'grieve'. This post will help me heal, and if it does anything for you, then all the better.

THE TOUGHEST LOSS

I am 39 years old. Old enough to remember humiliating Super Bowl losses, exhilarating Super Bowl wins, the lean years at the end of the Mike Shanahan-era, the McDaniels debacle and the resurgence under Elway. I also remember, clearly, the 1996 season. The Broncos were 13-3, the #1 seed in the AFC, and facing a huge underdog - at home - in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

The Broncos lost that day, to the Jacksonville Jaguars - 30-27. To this day it is the worst loss I have suffered as a fan of the Broncos. Many have said the loss on Saturday to the Ravens hurts more - the game was practically won - but to me it's not close. It hurts - alot - but not as much as that day. Two Super Bowl trophies will take the sting away.

Those that remember those days will get where I am coming from. Start with the stadium. Sure, Denver has a good home field advantage now. They were unbeatable then. John Elway simply didn't get beat at Mile High Stadium. In fact, while the Drive may have been the first miracle, it was comeback after comeback at Mile High Stadium that built the legend. It's why old Mile High Stadium is STILL held in such high regard with Broncos fans. Losing that day, the way Denver lost, almost seemed impossible to Broncos fans. That, in and of itself, was hard enough to deal with.

Of course, there's more. Those too young to remember the pre-Super Bowl Broncos don't realize just how many questions surrounded John Elway before winning Super Bowl 32 and 33. He was the guy that couldn't win the BIG ONE. Denver had lost three Super Bowls - 39-20, 42-10 and 55-10 - by a combined score of 136-40. They didn't just lose Super Bowls, they were embarrassed. That followed Elway throughout his career.

After Mike Shanahan was brought in for the 1995 season, the Broncos went 8-7 - much like the 2011 Broncos. 1996 was the break-out year, and the Broncos finally looked the part. Terrell Davis was the running back Elway never had. Shanahan was the coaching genius that Dan Reeves and Wade Phillips were not. Denver had Rod Smith and Shannon Sharpe in their primes. Elway finally had the cast around him to get it done.

Except he didn't. They weren't ready. The Broncos overachieved a bit in 1996 - and as such expectations rose. The loss that day, however, only made the questions about Elway grow louder. He would never win the big one 'they' said. It was Elway that was the choke artist. It was my lowest time as a fan - not just because of the loss - but because of the doubt the loss brought with it. They were real. Elway was a larger-than-life figure to me growing up, but for the first time I doubted.

The Broncos rebounded, of course, winning the next two Super Bowls. Elway retired, rode off into the sunset the way every great player wants to - as a champion, on his terms - and his legacy was secured.

None of that exists today. The stadium is different, Peyton Manning has his ring, and his legacy is secured as well.

The expectations were the same. Maybe not to start. I always looked at 2012 - with Manning coming back to football after a year off AND switching teams - as a comeback year for Denver. The Broncos of 2011 were much like the Broncos team from 1995, and both teams(1996 and 2012) had plenty of holes still yet to fill.

Like 1996, however, expectations change. I got caught up in it. The stars seemed to be aligning - with Houston faltering down the stretch and the Broncos gaining the #1 seed. That makes Saturday hard to swallow - absolutely - but also has me pumped for the future. 1996 taught me just how tough a loss can be. What happened next has allowed me look forward to 2013 and beyond.

PLAYING PERCENTAGES

John Fox talked alot about playing percentages in his end of season press conference yesterday. Fan don't want to hear it. I don't blame you. Brian Burke went deep into those percentages yesterday on Deadspin -

For teams that need a touchdown to survive, time makes a big difference. With 1:09 to play, a team typically has a 13 percent chance of scoring a touchdown. With 1:49 to go, they have around a 26 percent chance. The choice, then, is between conceding Baltimore the 13 percent shot or gambling that you'll either win the game outright or give Baltimore a 26 percent chance to win. League-wide, third-and-7 situations are converted 42 percent of the time. That means if Denver drops back to pass, Baltimore's chance of winning is (1 - 0.42) * 0.26 = 0.15 = 15 percent. According to the math, then, Fox made the right call: Punting was, just barely, the right probabilistic call.

There's a lot there to swallow. While the 42% conversion rate is nice, it doesn't take into account the conditions that day. It was easy to see - on TV at least - that Peyton Manning was struggling to stay loose as the game went on. John Fox said as much - the quote is all the way at the top of this post. The question was referring to the Broncos lack of plays downfield. Manning threw the ball 15 yards or further just TWICE in 43 attempts, and non of those came after the 1st quarter.

Of course, the Baltimore defense had something to do with that as well - playing 2-high safeties for much of the game to protect their DBs. It became obvious, however, that the Broncos were not going to test them deep - and I don't think it was because of the game plan, or conservative coaching. The frigid temperatures made it so Peyton Manning couldn't do it - especially as the game went on.

Let's look at how the Broncos fared on 3rd and 4 or longer.

QUARTER	DISTANCE	RESULT
1st QUARTER
	3rd and 6	INT - Pick 6(Failed)
	3rd and 7	21-yard Comp.(Conversion)
	3rd and 8	15-yard TD(Conversion)
2nd QUARTER
	3rd and 10	Incomplete Pass(Failed)
	3rd and 8	Incomplete Pass(Failed)
3rd QUARTER
	3rd and 5	2 yard run(Failed)
	3rd and 10	11 yard gain(Conversion)
	3rd and 10	Sack/Fumble(Failed)
4th QUARTER
	3rd and 4	Sack(Failed)

What do the numbers above tell us? On 3rd and 7 or longer, the Broncos were 3/9 for the game with a TD, a Pick-6 and a sack fumble. After the 1st quarter, the Broncos converted just 1/4(25%). On 3rd and 4 or longer, the Broncos were 1/7, or 14%.

Was it all the weather? I don't think so. A huge play in the game was the loss of Knowshon Moreno. With Willis McGahee out, Moreno is easily the best back the Broncos have in pass protection. With him gone, the Broncos have to get MUCH MORE conservative on offense. The chart above proves it. Ronnie Hillman did a nice job running the ball, but he wasn't prepared to protect and we all saw what happened when Lance Ball tried. Yikes!

The weather, combined with the flow of the game, dictated that John Fox AND Peyton Manning run the ball on 3rd and 7. Manning wasn't feeling great physically and the Ravens had snuffed out the short passing game.

On to the next point of contention - kneeling with :31 seconds to go. All the above factors play in to this as well. We also have to look at the probability that ANY coach would try and score in that situation.

Take away teams that are losing - like the Falcons on Sunday - and I can think of ONLY TWO current head coaches that may have tried to move the ball down the field - Bill Belichick and Sean Payton.

We know Belichik would because he did something very similar in Super Bowl 36 with a young, inexperienced Tom Brady. The Patriots had just blown a 17-3 lead when the St. Louis Rams tied the score with 1:30 to go. New England, with NO TIMEOUTS, got the ball at their own 15. Even John Madden suggested New England should play for OT since all the momentum was clearly with the Rams. Madden's statement just shows the way a coach may think in that situation(like him or not, Madden won 100 games in 10 seasons and a Super Bowl)

He didn't, of course. The Patriots went 59 yards on 9 plays and won the game on a 49-yard field goal as time expired. We've also seen Bill go for it on 4th down deep in his own territory - which the percentages say is the right move, too)

Why Sean Payton? While he may never have done something like we are talking about, he did call for an onside kick to open the 2nd Half of Super Bowl 44. The Saints were down 10-6, and the play completely changed the dynamics of the game. New Orleans went on to win 31-17.

Now that we can agree - or at least I do - that MOST coaches would have done the exact same thing the Broncos did AFTER the Ravens scored the TD, and we have some data from the game itself, let's go back to the 3rd and 7 play and bring back the calculations from above.:

For teams that need a touchdown to survive, time makes a big difference. With 1:09 to play, a team typically has a 13 percent chance of scoring a touchdown. With 1:49 to go, they have around a 26 percent chance. The choice, then, is between conceding Baltimore the 13 percent shot or gambling that you'll either win the game outright or give Baltimore a 26 percent chance to win

This part doesn't change. What does change is the 42% conversion rate used in part 2. The frigid temperatures - it was 4th coldest the Broncos have played, anywhere - affect that number, as did the flow of the game. The final three quarters, the Broncos were just 1/7 on 3rd and 4 or longer. They threw the ball on SIX of those, so we'll just count those. 1/6 = 16.6%. Let's plug that into the handy, dandy equation.

(1-.166) * .26 = .217 or 21.7%

That means the Broncos choice - just on the math involved - was to give the Ravens a 13% chance to win or a 21.7% chance to win. That doesn't even begin to take into account what Peyton was saying to Fox about how he felt. Add to that the loss of Moreno, and how the Ravens defense was playing the short passing game, and I think it was an easy decision. Oh yea, the Broncos also had the #2 defense in the NFL.

But Guru, the defense had struggled all day...

Is that a true statement? While I bemoan the fact that the Broncos didn't bring more pressure at times, and they did get burned for big plays, let's look at it for a second.

Baltimore went 94 yards on their first scoring drive(59-yard TD pass to Torrey Smith) and 77 yards on their final drive(70-yard TD to Jacoby Jones).

Other than that?

58 yards for a touchdown(after missed FG)

37 yards for a touchdown(after Manning fumble)

16 yards for game-winning field goal(after Manning INT)

The Broncos gave the Ravens plenty of short fields to work with based on their own blunders!

LOOKING DEEPER

Mark Kiszla (@markkiszla) on John Fox: "He treated Peyton Manning like he was Tim Tebow!" (on @dpshow) #Broncos
— Cork Gaines (@CorkGaines) January 15, 2013

As I said above, I'm not looking for you to change your mind, or not to be pissed about any of the plays above. What I want you to do it think deeper than some of the talking heads like Mark Kiszla, who chooses to insult the coaches and players instead of looking for the WHY's in it all. Sometimes the answers are hard to find and harder to listen to, but you have to look for them - unless making jokes(and making a mockery of the Broncos and us fans, getting everyone riled up to sell papers, or get listeners) is the goal.

Look. The Broncos played poorly. The Broncos coached poorly. The weather was historically cold. We haven't even begun to talk about the officiating. Like Foxy said, however, they played well enough to win. I won't say any of this should make it easier to deal with. I just hope it helps us move on - even a little bit.

Saturday was tough. 1996 was tougher. If we learned anything from one it's as low as we feel right now, thing can and do always get better! 2013 could just be a SUPER year!

GO BRONCOS!

NFL Playoff Schedule 2013: Falcons, Seahawks, Patriots and Texans Round Out Divisional Weekend

2013-01-13T15:46:17Z

I really thought I would be sitting here this morning talking about the Denver Broncos win and who they would be hosting in the AFC Championship Game. Instead the Broncos are cleaning out their lockers and it is the Ravens that will be booking a trip to either New England or Houston.

The beat goes on, however, and we'll be ok.

Today's early game finds the Seattle Seahawks traveling back to the east coast to take on the Atlanta Falcons. Matt Ryan is still searching for his first playoff win - there is likely no player in the playoffs with as much pressure on him to win.

Seattle has to be affected by two cross-country flights in back-to-back weeks. This will probably be the toughest defense Russell Wilson will face as Mike Nolan's crew does a great job of disguising their coverage.

The late game is another rematch game when the Houston Texans travel to face Tom Brady and the Patriots. Brady led New England to a 21-0 lead en route to a 42-14 win. Can the Texans compete today? I think the game is much closer, but the results are likely the same.

Here is all the important information regarding Sunday's games:

NFC Divisional round: Seahawks vs. Falcons

SB Nation blog: Field Gulls | The Falcoholic

Game Date/Time: Sunday, Jan. 13, 1 p.m. ET
Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
TV Schedule: FOX
NFL odds: Falcons -2.5
NFL picks: Seahawks, 24-20; Guru Picks: Falcons 27-20

AFC Divisional round: Texans vs. Patriots

SB Nation blog: Battle Red Blog | Pats Pulpit

Game Date/Time: Sunday, Jan. 13, 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
TV Schedule: CBS
NFL odds: Patriots -9.5
NFL picks: Patriots, 35-20; Guru Picks: Patriots 31-23

Enjoy your football Sunday, Broncos fans, and remember..... WE WILL BE BACK!

GO BRONCOS!

NFL Playoff Schedule 2013: Baltimore Ravens Advance To AFC Championship

2013-01-13T01:54:40Z

The Baltimore Ravens just wouldn't die. Trailing the Denver Broncos 35-28 with a 1:05 to go, the Baltimore Ravens tied the game in Overtime, then won the game in double-OT, beating the Denver Broncos 38-25.

Justin Tucker drilled the game winner from 47-yards, propelling the Ravens to either New England or Houston. The Patriots host the Texans on Sunday at Gillette Stadium

The AFC Championship will be played on Sunday, January 20th at 6:30PM et.

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 2013

6:30 PM

Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots/Houston Texans