WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.399 We're gonna go right out to the ka Comsperl hotline though, and bring Ryan 2 00:00:03.439 --> 00:00:08.960 Michaels on because we're gonna go inside the numbers, No, inside the numbers 3 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:14.960 with Ryan Michael. Ryan, how you doing this evening? Doing well? 4 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:18.440 Ben? Nick? How are you guys doing pretty well? Gave you the 5 00:00:18.440 --> 00:00:24.839 homework assignment. It's about the five greatest rookie seasons in Broncos franchise history. 6 00:00:25.399 --> 00:00:28.719 And I've seen some previewing on this stuff, and I'm going to tell you 7 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:32.520 Nick Nick has posted some of it in his group chat the former players, 8 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:35.840 and this one, uh, this one I think is going to get some 9 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:39.719 some conversation going on Twitter. So without further Ado's jump right into it. 10 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:45.399 What are the five greatest rookie seasons in Denver Broncos history? Could be honest 11 00:00:45.399 --> 00:00:47.560 with you, Ben, there were so many. I couldn't keep it to 12 00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:50.719 a top five. I had to expend it to a top seven. And 13 00:00:50.759 --> 00:00:54.600 there's some honorable mentions that I put out on Twitter. But for the sake 14 00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:57.479 of brevity, I'll start off with number seven and work my way up to 15 00:00:57.560 --> 00:01:00.960 number one. Number seven, I have one of my favorite defensive acts of 16 00:01:00.039 --> 00:01:04.519 all times. Steve Atwater came in second place for Defensive Review of the Year 17 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:10.239 honors. Three interceptions, one hundred and twenty nine total tackles. The Broncos 18 00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:14.079 in eighty nine had the number one scoring defense in the league, won the 19 00:01:14.120 --> 00:01:21.560 AFC Championship at number Did we lose Ryn? Sounds like we lost him. 20 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:23.519 I can hear you, guys. Okay, yeah we lost here. Sell 21 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:29.120 let's reset that number two, all right? So we got number six Goose 22 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:34.120 Gonslin and how this is an old school A Ring of Famer. Okay, 23 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:38.480 nineteen sixty, first year in Broncos history. He was a first team All 24 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:44.879 Pro selection. He hauled in eleven interceptions, which not only led the AFL 25 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:49.000 that year, but to this day remains the Broncos single season franchise record. 26 00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:53.120 At number five, this is one of my personal favorites. I have Ryan 27 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:57.599 Klfty in two thousand and eight and he was a second team All Pro selection, 28 00:01:57.040 --> 00:02:00.120 didn't make the Pro Bowl, which says everything it needs to say about 29 00:02:00.120 --> 00:02:04.920 what I think about the Pro Bowl. Actually came in third place for Offensive 30 00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:07.240 Rookie of the Year honors, which is not a small feat for a left 31 00:02:07.240 --> 00:02:13.479 tackle. And since you don't have stats, specifically on left tackles. I'm 32 00:02:13.479 --> 00:02:15.800 going to share a quarterback that that is just as much a credit to Ryan 33 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:19.800 Clady as it is to Jay Cutler. In two thousand and eight, Jay 34 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:24.439 Cutler led the NFL with a one point eight percent sack percentage. There have 35 00:02:24.520 --> 00:02:29.479 been eighty two seasons an NFL history where a quarterback is thrown six hundred or 36 00:02:29.479 --> 00:02:34.080 more passes. Cutler's one point eight percent sack percentage is the second highest in 37 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:37.919 the history of the NFL. Only Dan Marino in nineteen eighty eight was thatack 38 00:02:38.199 --> 00:02:43.199 one percent of the time was better. Number four I have Terrell Davis nineteen 39 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:46.759 ninety five. He put up one thy four hundred and eighty four total yard, 40 00:02:46.840 --> 00:02:50.879 eight touchdowns, average four point seven yards per carry, which is tied 41 00:02:50.919 --> 00:02:53.520 for the second best mark of his Hall of Fame career with nineteen ninety seven. 42 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:57.400 Only ninety eight did the average more yards per carry, and he came 43 00:02:57.439 --> 00:03:00.120 in second place for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Now, this might be 44 00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:05.199 a little bit controversial having Mike Anderson over Torell Davis, but Mike Anderson in 45 00:03:05.199 --> 00:03:08.080 two thousand did win Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. He put up one 46 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:14.360 thousand, six hundred and fifty six total yards from scrimmage, fifteen total touchdowns, 47 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:20.039 and averaged five yards per carry. Number two I have Von Miller came 48 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:22.800 in top ten in sacks. He had eleven and a half and he actually 49 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:25.080 missed a game, so he could have been even higher. Twenty nine quarterback 50 00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:30.319 hit, sixty four tackles, two forced fumbles, and four passes defended. 51 00:03:30.360 --> 00:03:34.840 He was a second team All Pro selection, and he was named Defensive Rookie 52 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:38.479 of the Year and at number one, and this one wasn't too much of 53 00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:42.039 a struggle. I have Clinton Portis in two thousand and two, he put 54 00:03:42.120 --> 00:03:46.039 up one thousand, eight hundred seventy two total yards from scrimmage, seventeen total 55 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:50.759 touchdowns. He played in all sixteen games, but he only started twelve of 56 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:53.000 those games. So shout out and thank you to Clinton for retweeting that before 57 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:57.360 I hopped on. That's my number one pick for the greatest rookie season in 58 00:03:57.400 --> 00:04:01.840 Broncos franchise history. Wow, that's a bunch of great rookies. But the 59 00:04:01.879 --> 00:04:08.319 one thing that jumps out to me in this seven players sample size, there's 60 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:13.319 a majority of offensive players on the board and a lot of them playing for 61 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:17.079 Mike Shanahan. So what does that say about Mike Shanahan and his creativity Because 62 00:04:17.079 --> 00:04:23.319 there's three running backs on this list. I mean, what Mike Shanahan was 63 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:27.800 able to do in the ground game during his tenure in the NFL maybe second 64 00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:30.560 to night because it wasn't just Torell Davis in his Hall of Fame career, 65 00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:34.639 but you had Alandi Scarry in nineteen ninety nine stepping in rushing for over eleven 66 00:04:34.720 --> 00:04:39.120 hundred yards. You had Mike Anderson, as we just mentioned, offensive work 67 00:04:39.240 --> 00:04:42.399 of the Year, and two years later you're plugging Clinton Portis and he's the 68 00:04:42.439 --> 00:04:46.319 offensive rookie of the year when he moved over to Washington. Alfred Morrison his 69 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:50.120 first year rushed for over fourteen hundred yards alone. So if there's a term 70 00:04:50.199 --> 00:04:54.720 running back whisperer, maybe Mike Shanahan would be that in addition to being a 71 00:04:54.800 --> 00:05:00.240 quarterback whisperer. Yeah. I mean a lot of people I think you would 72 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:02.720 would agree with you that you know, and often running backs have been called 73 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:05.319 plug and play in the Shanahan system, but there were there were special The 74 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:11.399 thing that was probably most impressive to me was what Mike Anderson did. And 75 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:13.759 I understand, you know Clinton and all that kind of stuff. I you 76 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:15.160 know that, but Mike Anderson was a guy who'd been a Marine for four 77 00:05:15.240 --> 00:05:18.319 years. Uh, you know, into college, comes out, Uh. 78 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:21.480 You know, he gets in with the uh with the with the Denver Broncos 79 00:05:21.480 --> 00:05:25.879 as a six round draft pick, and then you see him in his rookie 80 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:28.879 season, which he only started. I believe it was twelve games a year. 81 00:05:28.920 --> 00:05:30.680 I'd have to go back and double check. Uh, but he had 82 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:34.160 more yardage than than any running back had in the NFL last year. I 83 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:38.079 mean, Christian McCaffrey had had, you know, fourteen hundred yards. He 84 00:05:38.120 --> 00:05:41.600 was he was above that. Christian McCaffrey had fourteen touchdowns last year. You 85 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:44.040 know, Anderston had what fifteen is a rookie year, which would have been 86 00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:46.920 tied for uh for a second in touchdowns last year, which by the way, 87 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:49.600 would have been tied. Two of those guys were quarterbacks. I mean 88 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:51.920 Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, you know, sneaking him in goal line stuff 89 00:05:51.959 --> 00:05:55.759 or he moster would thank the only guy that that'sur passed that another guy who's 90 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:59.720 in that system. I which of these jumps out at you as as I 91 00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:02.199 mean, I get that we will ranking them as a rookie, but what 92 00:06:02.279 --> 00:06:06.480 was the most impressive feat to you? Whether or not it was Clinton Portis 93 00:06:06.519 --> 00:06:10.639 there at number one or not, what was the most impressive thing about these 94 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:15.560 rookie seasons? I would say, arguably the most impressive may have been Ryan 95 00:06:15.639 --> 00:06:18.639 Clady in two thousand and eight, because for Cutler to have the second best 96 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:23.720 sack percentage in the history of the NFL, and I posted to Twitter the 97 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:28.040 top eight sack percentage seasons of all time with six hundred and one passes. 98 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:30.480 So it's a big sample size, right, So all the other names in 99 00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:34.639 the list are all either first ballot Hall of Fame quarterbacks or future first ballot 100 00:06:34.680 --> 00:06:39.439 Hall of Fame quarterback. You have Marino one, Cutler two, Breeze three, 101 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:43.720 Roethlisberger four, Peyton Manning five, Breeze again at six, Peyton again 102 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:46.120 at seven, also tied with Marino again, So there's a tie for seventh 103 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:50.199 place. For Ryan Clady to step in as a rookie protecting the blindside for 104 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:55.079 a quarterback who only had two other top ten finishes in sack percentage in his 105 00:06:55.199 --> 00:07:00.519 career, it's one of the most astonishing statistics in Broncos franchise history. Fascinating 106 00:07:00.519 --> 00:07:02.480 stuff. We talk a lot about the running backs in the Shannian system. 107 00:07:02.519 --> 00:07:05.199 The Shannan system is not we run here anymore. But Denver does have a 108 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:09.879 great lineage of running backs. They drafted one in this past draft in order 109 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:13.560 guest Man and more Dame, what kind of rookie season could we maybe see 110 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:16.279 out of the rookie You know, I don't know if Audric is going to 111 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:19.560 be quite at the level of a Clinton Portis, or a Mike Anderson, 112 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:24.800 or even necessarily an Orlando Sciary. But what I would say to his I 113 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:28.000 like the comp that you gave us last week for Mary and Barbara, both 114 00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:31.240 of them standing five to eleven. Barbara was to eighteen estimates two twenty one. 115 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:34.800 I like him as a first and second down back. I like him 116 00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:39.519 as a red zone thread. You know, he's a smart football player, 117 00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:43.639 great pre staff vision, downfield power. He's slow off the snap, so 118 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:46.839 it takes him a little while to get going in the red zone. For 119 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:51.120 a Broncos team that only scored five rushing touchdowns amongst running backs last year in 120 00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:57.160 seventeen games, Audri estime in his final year of college football, produced eleven 121 00:07:57.279 --> 00:08:00.360 rushing touchdowns in his final five games. I'd like to see what we can 122 00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:03.879 do plugging him into some red zone situations, giving bo Nicks a little bit 123 00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:07.480 of ring to brief. All right, let's take a look in the famous 124 00:08:07.560 --> 00:08:13.800 crystal ball and look ahead, not backwards, and let's see if we can 125 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:20.720 project maybe what bow Nick's step line might be after this season campaign. So 126 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:26.079 tell me, have you dug into those stats, snaps and those stats and 127 00:08:26.199 --> 00:08:30.920 tell us what do you think those numbers could actually be. Nick, I'm 128 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:33.720 gonna channel your optimism here and you know we're going to hope for the best. 129 00:08:35.960 --> 00:08:41.039 You know, the offensive genius label has followed him for a very long 130 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:43.159 time, and obviously, as we've talked about in recent months, he's had 131 00:08:43.159 --> 00:08:48.360 a lot of struggles without your recent quarterback. So this is the ultimate opportunity 132 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:50.679 for Sean Payton to show exactly who he is as a play caller. So, 133 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:54.600 looking at the number of passing attempts we've seen out of Sean Payton offenses 134 00:08:54.639 --> 00:08:58.879 in recent years, say Bonnicks throws five hundred and fifty passes and he's able 135 00:08:58.919 --> 00:09:03.919 to start all seventeen games, I have him completing three fifty two, which 136 00:09:03.960 --> 00:09:07.759 would be sixty four percent for foury fifteen passing yards, So he'd be averaging 137 00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:13.159 seven point three yards per attempt, twenty five touchdowns to thirteen picks, a 138 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:16.399 ninety one point one passer rating. I think somewhere in that ballpark would be 139 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:20.960 a very optimistic stat line, provided he's able to start all seventeen games, 140 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:26.200 and provided Sean Payton is able to channel that offensive genius that we all know 141 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:28.399 that he has in him. So I'm looking forward to see what both can 142 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:35.039 do in the system. Wow, that's amazing. Now I want to go 143 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:39.919 back for just a second. Now, Yeah, you mentioned von milone your 144 00:09:39.960 --> 00:09:45.919 list, So I want to go back and revisit the twenty eleven draft because 145 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:48.960 I'll give you the top four picks and then I'll get to my question. 146 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:54.159 Cam went off the board first, then I believe it was Vaughn, Marcel 147 00:09:54.279 --> 00:10:00.320 Darius and AJ Green. Now with the Broncos facing off against Cam new then 148 00:10:00.360 --> 00:10:03.159 the Panthers and Super Bowl fifty. Now when we look at it, I 149 00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:09.159 mean Cam's no longer playing, Vaughn is still playing. Per say all about 150 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:13.120 the better of the pick. Was it the Panthers? What was the Broncos? 151 00:10:13.799 --> 00:10:16.879 You know, as tempted as I am to very quickly just say von 152 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:20.279 Miller, and as if it's obvious, I do want to give Cam Newton 153 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:24.480 a little bit of credit. And I just recently, as a matter of 154 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:26.919 fact, wrote a piece for the Pro Football Hall of fam that's going to 155 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:31.600 be coming out shortly about how dominant he was in twenty fifteen. So Cam 156 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:35.039 Newton at the peak of his power was as good as Von Miller was at 157 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:37.559 the peak of his power. For me, it's really a master of how 158 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:41.240 did they play throughout the totality of their careers. VN is an eight time 159 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:46.080 Pro Bowl selection of three time First Team All Pro. Cam made it to 160 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:48.919 three Pro Bowls and had that one first Team All Pro MVP season in twenty 161 00:10:50.039 --> 00:10:54.840 fifteen. So Von Miller unquestionably a better football player at his position than Cam 162 00:10:56.000 --> 00:11:00.279 was at his But the quarterback position does provide a lot more value. It's 163 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:03.120 an impact the results of games. Given the reality that we picked up Peyton 164 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:07.200 Manning in twenty twelve, which certainly would not have been the case if Cam 165 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:11.960 Newton hypothetically had fallen to number two. And we took him. I'm very 166 00:11:11.960 --> 00:11:13.960 happy with the fact that we took von Miller, and I think that if 167 00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:18.399 there was any doubt about who was the better choice between the two, Super 168 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:22.120 Bowl fifty is the evidence that provides the answer to that question. Talking with 169 00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:28.639 Ryan Michael at the Ryan Michael on Twitter, Sorry I had to coughing fit 170 00:11:28.679 --> 00:11:33.480 there for a minute there. I think as we talk about rookie performances, 171 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:35.399 all eyes here in Broncos Country are obviously all the number twelve pick. Bo 172 00:11:35.559 --> 00:11:41.200 Dick's drafted like quarterback out of Oregon. You know, he obviously he's got 173 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:43.960 to beat out Zach Wilson Jarret Stidham, which I you know, I'm not 174 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:46.759 gonna say it's a foregone conclusion, but certainly would be disappointing if he did 175 00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:50.399 not. What can we expect out of the rookie in his debut season, 176 00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:56.000 you know, I think for bone Nicks, the most important thing is going 177 00:11:56.080 --> 00:12:00.720 to be him the learning Sean Payton's system, and it's going to be a 178 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:03.639 tremendous challenge for the team to provide him with the supports in terms of pass 179 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:07.000 protection, in terms of the running game, and certainly in terms of defensive 180 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:11.639 performance. I'm excited to see what our defense can do on the opposite side 181 00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:13.600 of the ball, because if we're going to be in the bottom quarter of 182 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:18.000 scoring defenses this year, you're going to force bone Nicks into a situation where 183 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:20.200 he's going to throw a lot of picks. Rookies throw picks. Ask Peydon 184 00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:24.679 Man and he'll tell you. And so I think bone Knicks will have an 185 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:28.039 opportunity to be, as I said last week, a poor man's Drew Brees, 186 00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:33.240 provided he's given the supports that he needs to succeed. I'm also confident 187 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:37.720 that he'll get the starting nod for Week one, and we hope that he 188 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:39.720 stays healthy and is able to play through all seventeen games. For me, 189 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:45.320 you look at the rookie season as the ultimate learning opportunity. Worked for Paydon 190 00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:48.720 Man and worked for Dan Marino, and you saw how much better those two 191 00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:52.759 quarterbacks were in their second year. So I'm optimistic in terms of what we'll 192 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:56.200 see from Bow, but I'm not expecting a Robert Griffin the third CD Stroud 193 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:58.879 type of rookie season. I don't think we have the team in place to 194 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:03.919 be able to support such a year, right Ryan, does that change because 195 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:09.440 you mentioned support having a support system, and I'm really big on quarterbacks more 196 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:13.840 importantly having a support system. But with Troy Franklin, who is a rookie 197 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:18.080 and we're talking about, you know, being on your list of top rookie 198 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:22.879 performers, could this now benefit both Troy Franklin, which now benefits bon Knicks 199 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:28.320 and put him higher on this list based on his overall performance. I think 200 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:33.879 it has the potential because the chemistry that they had at Oregon was arguably second 201 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:37.399 to nine in all of college football, and there's definitely going to be an 202 00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:39.879 opening for that wide receiver two spot with the Broncos this year. So, 203 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:43.919 you know, Franklin was a guy who ranked third in the nation and touchdown 204 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:48.080 deceptions last year fourteen. Some of them were pretty deep, which is not 205 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:50.200 so bad for a guy who's claimed to be the king of the screen game. 206 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:52.840 In bon Nicks. The two of them have proven they can stretch the 207 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:56.360 field. So if we get something even comparable to what Eddie Royle did in 208 00:13:56.399 --> 00:14:00.000 two thousand and eight with Jay Cutler, I think that will be a good 209 00:14:00.200 --> 00:14:05.519 foundation of the future moving forward. Ryan, we appreciate it as always the 210 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:07.279 Ryan Michael on Twitter. What do you what are you cooking up for us? 211 00:14:07.320 --> 00:14:11.559 Next time? You know, you've got to give me an assignment. 212 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:13.120 I've been so caught up with the NBA playoffs, to be honest with you, 213 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:16.120 haven't given it a lot of thoughts. So we'll see what we can 214 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:18.879 do later this evening. But if you have any ideas, yeah, we'll 215 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:22.480 work on it. Areas of emphasis in which the Broncos maybe you weren't as 216 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:26.039 productive this past season with with Sean Payton, that they can improve on in 217 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:30.080 year two. I like that. Let's do it. Let's do it. 218 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:33.240 Absolutely, ran Michael that the Bryan Michael on Twitter looking forward to it. 219 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:35.360 Always great going inside the numbers with him.