Ed’s Take–Jan. 27, 2011
New Broncos coach John Fox put the final pieces of his coaching staff together this week, and all eyes are on new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
Coach Fox comes from a from a defensive background himself, and he wants toughness in his team. He wants guy who will hit you, punish you and gang-tackle all over the field. He wants to create more of a swarming defense that can force turnovers and get to the quarterback.
Fox is familiar with Allen from their recent time spent in the NFC South. Allen was most recently the Saints’ defensive backs coach, and before that was with the Atlanta Falcons, so they have a great deal of familiarity with one another from a football standpoint.
The coaching staff is the first step, but the defensive personnel is even more important. For an immediate boost, getting a healthy Elvis Dumervil back will help any coaching staff look better. He’s a tremendous talent, whose absence in 2010 hurt the Broncos’ defense immensely.
Broncos fans just want to see consistency on the defensive side of the ball. Allen is the team’s sixth defensive coordinator in six years. The key to successful defense is having a few stud players and a core group of guys who can play together a few years and not only learn the defense thoroughly, but develop an identity and an attitude that carries over to their performance.
As an offensive player, I love to see a team air out and score points, but when trying to change the attitude of an entire organization and return to a winning tradition, nothing does that more quickly than a smash-mouth tough defense that strikes fear in opponents.
What do you think? Do the Broncos’ recent moves give you confidence they’re headed in that direction?
Ed’s Take–Jan. 12, 2011
The great part about doing a weekly radio show on 87.7 FM The Ticket is that it gives me a chance to talk about the biggest stories in sports.
News came over the weekend that my former Denver Broncos teammate Shannon Sharpe has made the cut to 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011. He’s made it to this round all three years he’s been eligible, and I think this is the year. The Hall of Fame is the ultimate individual honor you can receive in the NFL. Being acknowledged in that way in front of your peers is huge, and it’s one Shannon deserves.
Shannon was the ultimate pro: On the football field, in the weight room and on the practice field he gave you everything he had all the time. Without a doubt he belongs among the greatest players in the game.
Also front and center this week is the Broncos’ head coaching search. They’ve been interviewing candidates since Sunday and one I’m very familiar with is Rick Dennison. “Rico,” as he is known, was an assistant coach on the Broncos teams I played for. He is a great guy, incredibly intelligent and has an unbelievable football mind. Rico climbed up the ranks from special teams coach to position coach to coordinator. I think he would be a great fit for Denver. He’s a class act, family man, husband, father, great coach, a hard worker and a smart guy.
Finally, I’d like to give a shout-out to D.J. Davis from Montbello, who finished his college career with Oregon in the BCS National Championship Game Monday night. The Ducks came up short, but Davis played great and represented Colorado and the Montbello community well, as he always has. It was good to see a Colorado kid represent the state so positively. If you want to know more about D.J. Davis you should read this great piece from the Denver Post.
What are your thoughts? Should Shannon Sharpe go in the Hall of Fame this year? Whom do you want to be the Broncos next head coach?
