My Obligatory 2022 Season Fluff Piece- (And I actually believe it)
The season is upon us! OK, the preseason is upon us. I haven't been this excited about an upcoming season since Mike Shanahan became the Broncos head coach in 1995. As I reflect back on that time, I'm seeing the same kind of culture changes happening all over again. I can't help but compare that time in Broncos history to the current season. It wasn't instant, but it seems like those of us who were around back then just knew that success was coming, and it was coming soon. I'm getting that same feeling this year. Let me explain myself.
There are a few major parallels to this team and that one:
1. Shanahan came in brought a completely new practice mentality. Players went from two-a-day practices in pads to having multiple single practice days and doing a lot of them in shorts and shells. The media and fan base immediately starting asking themselves, "Is this team going to be ready for the season? Are they going to be in shape? Are they going to be ready for the physical side of the game when the regular season starts? Is the tackling going to suffer without practicing it in camp?" The players loved the new coaching staff and were ready to run through a wall for them.
Enter Nathaniel Hackett. He has taken this mentality to another level. He has the Broncos scaling back the physical part of practice so much that they have a 'jog through' practice every 3rd day. A complete practice with 'mental reps'. They have red days, green days, and yellow days. Green days are the full speed practices. Red days are mental practice days. Yellow days are somewhere in-between. The media and a portion of the fan base are asking the same old questions. The players are loving the new coaching staff and are ready to run through a wall for them.
2. When Shanahan came to Denver, they had a future hall of fame, MVP caliber QB that never reached his true potential due to bad offensive schemes. Elway spent most of his career in the Dan Reeves 'run, run, have John bail us out on 3rd down' offense. Shanahan brought in the Bill Walsh west coast offense. It was a unique new system that the NFL hadn't seen before San Francisco created it. (I know that most refer to it as the Shanahan west coast offense, but it's really not his. When he was hired as the offensive coordinator in San Fran, the first thing he did was sit down and watch tapes of every meeting Bill Walsh had while teaching his new system to the team.) Shanny used the same system. He brought it to Denver with him with and molded it to the personnel that he had here.
Hackett comes in with a future hall of fame, MVP caliber QB that has never reached his true potential due to bad offensive schemes. Wilson has spent his entire career in the Pete Carroll run, run, have Russell bail us out on third down offense. Coach Hackett is bringing in a unique new system himself. It's a bit of a Frankenstein-ish creation berthed with concepts from the wide zone blocking scheme, west coast concepts, and things that Russell Wilson loved to do in Seattle. He's molding it around the personnel that the Broncos currently have.
3. The Shanahan team had more talent than anyone realized until they put it all together on the field. 4 Hall of famers on offense. 1 on defense, and multiple pro bowl players scattered throughout the team.
The current Broncos team has more talent on the roster than most of the football world realizes. Once this team starts to play complimentary football, the overall talent level is going to be evident real soon to even the casual fans. I might be projecting a bit here, but I trust what I'm seeing with my own eyes from past games and camp practices.
Am I saying that the Broncos are going to win the super bowl this season? What I'm saying is that the Broncos are going to win, and win real soon. Shanny started 8-8 that first season, but had back to back Super Bowl wins 3 years later. This offensive line has a long ways to go, but the defense is way ahead of where that first Shanny team was, and has more talent on it than the 97-98 Super Bowl teams did. I can't say with confidence that they are going to win a super bowl this season. For the first time since Manning retired, I also can't say with confidence that they won't. I'm pumped. Whatever happens this season, I'm ready to come along and enjoy the journey every step of the way. Multiple pundits are saying that Broncos will finish 3rd or 4th in the AFC West. I say, "Bring it!"
HOPE! Ain't it wonderful?
