Great Manning Read. Closer To Reality

[kczoo]

PEYTON MANNING BRINGS LEADERSHIP, BULL'S-EYE TO BRONCOS By: Steve Wyche | NFL Network Published: March 19, 2012 at 4:33 PM

The immediate gushing by Denver Broncos players over the acquisition of future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning , while emotionally expected, should give fans pause. As great as Manning has been, he is not the sole missing piece. He's close, but relying on him as a crutch is about as dangerous as the Philadelphia Eagles thinking all those flashy transactions last August would make them impenetrable.

The Broncos won the AFC West and beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs last season because they played with the aggression of fear. They knew they were a flawed team -- they did lose eight games -- but hid their blemishes with relentlessness, persistence and backed-into-a-corner heart.

The addition of Manning could cause some players to think they've got the crutch, a guy to make up for the weak spots many of them had to compensate for last season. That change in attitude could blow everything up. Manning made it happen in Indianapolis because the team was built around him. He's walking into a roster that is still being sculpted, but with the main pieces already in place for the most part.

Manning is also coming back from nerve and neck injuries that look promising now but could look different after a few AFC West dates with Tamba Hali .

Manning isn't the type to allow for slippage. Whereas many free agents want to feel their way into a new environment and not threaten existing leadership, he walks into town with enough caché to have players following him from the get-go. His abundance of juice made him the only player who could not only douse Tebowmania, but also likely send it packing after Tim Tebow rallied Denver to the playoffs and created a hysteria through effort, belief and something magical.

Manning will hold players accountable and make them take co-ownership. This, after all, will be Manning's last fling at legacy-building and trying to win a Super Bowl.

The Broncos' coaching staff already is shredding much of its playbook from last season, adding its baseline agenda but leaving pages blank for Manning to fill in. The personnel staff is beefing up an offense that lost tight end Daniel Fells and wide receiver Eddie Royal , two nice young players. It's also looking at backup quarterbacks, possibly one in free agency and one to draft.

Frankly, what would be wrong with Denver adding Vince Young and keeping some of the run-pass concepts in its hip pocket in case he's got to play? Young would learn behind one of the best and also give Denver a backup with a twist.

As for the division, Chargers coach Norv Turner said Manning's arrival turned the once one-quarterback AFC West (San Diego's Philip Rivers ) into one that boasts Manning, Oakland's Carson Palmer , Rivers -- and a good Chiefs team. While Denver clearly looks like the March favorite to win the division because of Manning, San Diego quietly has re-stocked in free agency and can't be discounted. The Chiefs won't be a walkover either.

Nobody knows about the Raiders, but with Palmer having an offseason to get ready, they could be as dangerous as any team in the AFC West.

Turner said that even though Denver will be much more of a passing team with Manning at the helm, it won't change how San Diego or other teams build their defenses. Since most teams are pass-first, possessing as many pass rushers, defensive backs and players that can tackle in the open field remains a premium.

"The tie-in is how you get ready to play against them knowing he's there," Turner said.

Last season, Broncos' opponents had to game plan for a running team with a running quarterback. This season, Denver will be more orthodox, even though Manning brings his own set of problems for defensive coordinators.

Then again, the guy running things just put a bull's-eye on the Broncos. Denver faces a schedule as unforgiving as John Elway has been to Tebowmania. The non-divisional schedule is the NFC South (Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Atlanta, Carolina), the AFC North (Cincinnati, Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh) plus Houston and New England.

Texans linebacker Brian Cushing , who no longer has to face Manning and the Colts twice a season, told me the Texans will be "excited" to play at Denver next season. That's code for: "We beat the Colts with him (rarely) and we'll beat the Broncos with him."

Teams will come at Denver much harder than they came at the Broncos and Tebow last season. Opponents didn't seem to ever take Denver as seriously as they needed to until Tebow made something special happen in the waning moments. Now, they'll be ready before kickoff.

It's a new era in Denver.

Follow Steve Wyche on Twitter @wyche89

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Finally some objectivity. I'd be doing handstands if Manning is in KC, but there's a reality here that few Bronco fans want to realize.

There was really only 1 team that was a Manning away from a title and he chose not to play in San Francisco. DEN, KC, MIA, TEN - none of those teams were a Manning away from a SB. If your team didn't play in the playoffs this past year or you haven't had a consistent level of playoff success in the last couple of years (injuries are part of the equation, it's life in the NFL)... then you're still more than a Manning away from a title.

Each of those teams that wanted him, needed help in addition to signing Manning... with the exception of a SanFran.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

There was really only 1 team that was a Manning away from a title and he chose not to play in San Francisco. DEN, KC, MIA, TEN - none of those teams were a Manning away from a SB. If your team didn't play in the playoffs this past year or you haven't had a consistent level of playoff success in the last couple of years (injuries are part of the equation, it's life in the NFL)... then you're still more than a Manning away from a title.

Each of those teams that wanted him, needed help in addition to signing Manning... with the exception of a SanFran.

See, I get the San Fran angle, but they need help too.

I don't think one year of advancing in the playoffs means that it's going to be a constant pattern year in and year out.

[Quesadilla Joe]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

The good thing about Manning going to Denver is that all their salary cap money is gone. Any chance to improve the team is out the window.

The Donks will have between 18-20 million in cap space after signing Manning. That is plenty of money to improve the team with.

[TheGuardian]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

There was really only 1 team that was a Manning away from a title and he chose not to play in San Francisco. DEN, KC, MIA, TEN - none of those teams were a Manning away from a SB. If your team didn't play in the playoffs this past year or you haven't had a consistent level of playoff success in the last couple of years (injuries are part of the equation, it's life in the NFL)... then you're still more than a Manning away from a title.

Each of those teams that wanted him, needed help in addition to signing Manning... with the exception of a SanFran.

KC doesn't belong in the same bucket with Den, Mia, or Tn. KC is genuinely a great QB away from a SB. Great line, great skill positions, top 10 defense.

So yeah, the Chiefs are a Manning away. The donks? Not so much.

[Color Red]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I expect Manning to do the same thing in Denver that Montana did in Kansas City, and Favre did in Minnesota.

Give the Donks one really good season, then fade fast and irreversibly.

My opinion: Elway thinks the Broncos have a better chance to win the Super Bowl with Manning in the next few years, than to win one with Tebow through all of his career.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

See, I get the San Fran angle, but they need help too.

I don't think one year of advancing in the playoffs means that it's going to be a constant pattern year in and year out.

Agreed and I mentioned that in regards to Denver... "or you haven't had a consistent level of playoff success in the last couple of years" ... it was a nice 2011, but it wasn't a trend. It was the first time in several years, so we'll see what they can build on in 2012.

And, yeah - all teams need help... the Giants need help. Some just need a lot less than others.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by TheGuardian

KC doesn't belong in the same bucket with Den, Mia, or Tn. KC is genuinely a great QB away from a SB. Great line, great skill positions, top 10 defense.

So yeah, the Chiefs are a Manning away. The donks? Not so much.

Again - if your team hasn't had consistent playoff success... you're not a player away from the Super Bowl. Would Manning have made KC one of the top 4-6 teams to make it to the SB? Yes... and you have a lot of people saying that now about Denver.

Truth is... while he makes any team a whole lot better... he doesn't guarantee anything and it would have been the same for KC. And, if KC really is a great QB away... you should lock your owner up and take over the team.

[InChiefsHeaven]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Again - if your team hasn't had consistent playoff success... you're not a player away from the Super Bowl. Would Manning have made KC one of the top 4-6 teams to make it to the SB? Yes... and you have a lot of people saying that now about Denver.

Truth is... while he makes any team a whole lot better... he doesn't guarantee anything and it would have been the same for KC. And, if KC really is a great QB away... you should lock your owner up and take over the team.

Regarding the surrounding cast, I think KC is far and away in much better shape than Denver. No, we wouldn't go to the SB this season with Manning, but we'd be in the hunt, and next year even more so. I think the Donks have a much longer way to go than do the Chiefs. But, Manning didn't see it that way, so there's that.

[TheGuardian]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Again - if your team hasn't had consistent playoff success... you're not a player away from the Super Bowl. Would Manning have made KC one of the top 4-6 teams to make it to the SB? Yes... and you have a lot of people saying that now about Denver.

Truth is... while he makes any team a whole lot better... he doesn't guarantee anything and it would have been the same for KC. And, if KC really is a great QB away... you should lock your owner up and take over the team.

Playoff success isn't exactly a requirement. We're talking about what roster has enough talent to pull it off. The Chiefs were what, a blocked field goal away from winning the division last year? That was with two pro bowlers lost all season, and three shit quarterbacks.

KC is far more talented than Denver top to bottom, and it's not really even close. Manning makes any team better, but he's no miracle worker. Denver isn't a SB contender just because Manning is behind center. I mean hell, he routinely choked in Indy in the playoffs each season with a FAR better team.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

Regarding the surrounding cast, I think KC is far and away in much better shape than Denver. No, we wouldn't go to the SB this season with Manning, but we'd be in the hunt, and next year even more so. I think the Donks have a much longer way to go than do the Chiefs. But, Manning didn't see it that way, so there's that.

Sure and I think I could make a case either way on the matter of talent with KC and Denver. Many here (and I realize it's CP ) have commented that Denver is littered with garbage and quite frankly, I think that's a load of bull.

Denver has a lot of really good talent - yes, they could use additional pieces, but a guy like Manning takes players and makes them better than they are with other QBs.

Hell, you guys saw that with Montana when he took over in KC... Willie Davis, JJ Birden. Really... REALLY?

Certain QBs make others rise up and play better - Manning is one of those guys and he'll have two young WRs (Thomas and Decker) chomping at the bit to learn and do well, and they should have really good seasons.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

And, if KC really is a great QB away... you should lock your owner up and take over the team.

It's the only reason every team in this division has been in a SB other than us.

KC has not, does not, will not put the importance of getting a franchise QB above the risk of making a high-pick/high-dollar mistake.

KC will stumble into a HOF QB like we stumbled into Jarred Allen or we won't ever have one at all...

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by TheGuardian

Playoff success isn't exactly a requirement. We're talking about what roster has enough talent to pull it off. The Chiefs were what, a blocked field goal away from winning the division last year? That was with two pro bowlers lost all season, and three shit quarterbacks.

KC is far more talented than Denver top to bottom, and it's not really even close. Manning makes any team better, but he's no miracle worker. Denver isn't a SB contender just because Manning is behind center. I mean hell, he routinely choked in Indy in the playoffs each season with a FAR better team.

That's all part of the fun debate... Denver has more work to do. The Patriots, Ravens and Steelers are the big 3 in the AFC. CIN is on the rise, the Texans are solid... you have teams like the Chargers and Jets, with the likes of KC and Denver right there too.

On paper - things don't always work out the way we expect. Look at PHI last year and ... the Giants.

[TheGuardian]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Sure and I think I could make a case either way on the matter of talent with KC and Denver. Many here (and I realize it's CP ) have commented that Denver is littered with garbage and quite frankly, I think that's a load of bull.

Denver has a lot of really good talent - yes, they could use additional pieces, but a guy like Manning takes players and makes them better than they are with other QBs.

Hell, you guys saw that with Montana when he took over in KC... Willie Davis, JJ Birden. Really... REALLY?

Certain QBs make others rise up and play better - Manning is one of those guys and he'll have two young WRs (Thomas and Decker) chomping at the bit to learn and do well, and they should have really good seasons.

What actual talent does Denver have in comparison to KC? I'm not talking potential. I mean guys that have already produced better than the guys in KC at the same positions.

[ShortRoundChief]

I thought we were pathetic for not getting him?

[Sofa King]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

"Nobody knows about the Raiders, but with Palmer having an offseason to get ready, they could be as dangerous as any team in the AFC West."

All credibility in this article flew out the window.

That's where i stopped reading.