Thoughts on Embree

A piece I did for principles of productions class.  I recently went around campus to get fans reactions to the hiring of the new Head Coach of the University of Colorado Football Program.  I will let the package do the talking haha...comments?

Lets start off by showing some raw emotion on the subject. I am still embarrassed to call myself a follower of the Broncos after the massacre that took place at Invesco Field at Mile High. 21-0 after 6 minutes of play in the first quarter that ends up in a humiliating 59-14 loss for the Broncos?! It’s unbelievable how one week can change a team in the NFL. The Broncos come out against the New York Jets in the previous week, had a better game plan, showed some form of life in the running game, out rushed the Jets, and made Mark Sanchez look like an average QB.  We did everything right except for the P.I. call within the last two minutes of the game on “4th and the game” essentially for the Jets (and from this day forward, I will still dispute that call should not have been made, and not directly talking about Renaldo Hill on the play). I will say that the Broncos should have felt disappointed about letting that game slip away, but you have to feel like the well Broncos played against one the best teams in the NFL. Even with the team decimated by injury on defense, they showed that they can play with anybody…..but that wasn’t the case on Sunday.  From the very beginning, the Raiders showed more intensity, will, and desire to win this game than the Broncos. Tommy Kelly came out and said he was speaking with Richard Seymour, stating just after the Raiders went up 14-0 in the first quarter “Look into the Broncos eyes right now, we score one more touchdown, they will quit”. He couldn’t have been more right. Once we were down 21-0, I truly felt that we had no chance to come back to win this game….The Broncos lack that outspoken player to come out, question everyone’s desire to play, rally the troops, and light the fire for the players, getting everyone motivated to win the game. So after this game, who is to blame? I’m not defending Josh McDaniels at all! But he can only do so much for the team. Yes, I too don’t agree with the trades he has made, changing up the way we have ran things here in Denver.  His play calling is questionable at best. But on Sunday, it also came down to execution on the field as well, and that is something only players have control over, not McDaniels. Too many times did I see a lack of fundamentals, quitting on plays early, making McFadden look like he was playing for Arkansas on this Sunday, letting him run for a career best 165 yards and 4 total TD’s. At the end of the day, the coaches and players all need to be held accountable for the lack-luster play from Sunday. As a fan, I would feel that it is necessary of this day in Raider and Bronco history that Pat Bowlen would come out and say something. I know that Bowlen is very soft spoken, but he needs to show that this just isn’t another business. He needs to show that he cares, cares for his team, that this team is beyond just a business. Just like how he sent out a letter on the team website in response to the Jay Cutler ordeal, I feel that he owes it to the fans to say something along the lines that “this type of play will not be tolerated, I will do everything in my power to improve this team and will not allow for such performance to be put on display again” and should also let the fans know that everyone, coaches and players, from here on out are put on notice. The rest of the season, McDaniels, the coaching staff, and players are coaching and playing for their job. With the current situation of the team, I wouldn’t disagree with Champ Bailey if he decides to not return to the team following the season. This is truly sad to see the team to fall to this point since the surprising firing of Shanahan. I was holding out hope that whomever Bowlen hired would help bring the Broncos back to prominence. I couldn’t be further from that statement at this point. Its sad to say this….but right now, the Broncos are closer to becoming more like the “Matt Millen Era” ran Detroit Lions than being a Super Bowl contender. Bronco fans don’t deserve to fall to this level of expectations at the beginning of each season now of fighting to get to .500 when at one point for this proud franchise, the motto was always “Super Bowl or Bust”. I only hope that things will get better and soon rather than later. This game against San Francisco in London can’t be more important to this franchise at this point. If the Broncos lose this game, things will only get worse and I see a tailspin coming along and who knows where this team will go if continue this free fall. If we win, this will be great, showing character that after such a devastating loss, we show that we won’t let one game like this decide the season. That we will continue on, fight on to try and try to win a weak AFC West, and that this game against the Raiders is just speed bump in the season…