February 18, 2025 • 44 mins
The one and only Mario Vetanze stops by A to Z to discuss what a dream offseason would look like for the Denver Broncos, whether they should target guys like Taysom Hill and Deebo Samuel, how the Broncos became a healthy team and a whole lot more!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is a KOA digital series from sports and pop
culture to news and more.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Z Yeah, covering it all from A to Z. Here's
a Rod and Zach Siggers.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Oh yes, indeedy, welcome back to it. It is once
again another episode of A to Z right here under
the KOA Colorado umbrella. I am the AA Rod. He
is the z Zach Seegers and joining us for a
fun episode Hydra Kids, Hydro Wive. Hi, everybody out here
because we've got Mario Vitanzy. Let's talk broncos altitude adjustment
for Tanzy therapy. Join us in the house, Mario mile High.
(00:40):
What's up man?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
How are you he?
Speaker 1 (00:43):
That intro is a little bit is a little bit harrowing.
I don't think that you need to hide anyone. I'm
wearing my good behavior glasses for this show.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
No, I want you to bring out the Mario that
requires the hiding of everyone that's not a part of
this podcast. I'm asking you.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
The thought.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
All right, I'm fine, but that might affect your viewership.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
I don't care. I don't care one bit. I don't
care one bit. Well, man, it's it's good to have
you here. We're excited to bring you on into the
pod first and foremost big fan of what of what
you're doing over with the Altitude Adjustment show. That that
that that show is a blast. Tell me, tell me
what's going on with that. I know you guys have
had some awesome guests, some great conversations. Just just kind
of give the people a little bit taste of what
(01:26):
you guys been doing.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Yeah, Altitude Adjustments a really fun show if you're not
familiar with it. It was a show that Patt and
I had wanted to do for a while. Like Patt
and I have known each other for a really long time,
and I think we both have really unique and fiery personalities,
and so the show works really well. We're able to
bounce things off of each other. It's not for what
(01:48):
we call a filthy casual though. You know, there's a
lot of filthy casuals out and every and you know,
a lot of this off season content that we're seeing
that's you know from some of these lesser podcasts or
some of these lesser plays, is that do articles they
pander to set filthy casuals.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
We don't do that.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Our show is a little bit more high prow It's
definitely rated NC seventeen. But it's a lot of fun
and Pat and I try to break the mold with
this show. You know, we aim to educate but also entertain.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Well, I mean you do it. I mean you're you're
one of one of my favorites for sure. I think
you're right up there. I think with what Tim Jenkins
does in terms of I mean, you said it right there,
and not for the filthy casuals. It's really deep into
the x's and nose. For me, it really helps kind
of elevate my level because one thing for me, like
I grew up playing hockey, and so there's a lot
of things the inner workings of hockey that I don't
(02:38):
really have to think twice about. I didn't I didn't
play football, and so as much as I like to
think that I know about football, I need to listen
to the individuals like yourself, like Pat, like like like Tim,
like I mentioned, like that all brights of the world
that just that just know so much more on a
on a deeper scale. So so I appreciate what you
guys do. I encourage everyone listening to this pod to
(02:59):
go to appreciate you saying that. Yeah, seriously, I mean it.
But uh, well, man, we're happy, happy to have you,
happy to have you, happy to have this little glad
to be here here with you. Yeah, it's uh, it's
gonna be It's gonna be some fun because there's, like
we were saying before we started rolling, there's a there's
a million million different things that are that are sterring
in the minds of Broncos country. I guess when you
finally got a team that you can look forward to
(03:20):
an offseason of well, number one, we've got a quarterback,
and number two, we're looking to take this thing to
another level after finally breaking this this playoff streak. Because
how have you kind of seen this transpire over the
last couple of weeks, Uh, since the Broncos used to close.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
It's yeah, it's it's crazy the difference a year will make.
You know, I'm always glass half full looking at life
through orange, orange tinted glasses, even though these ones are
more yellow.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
But I digress.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
This time last year, man, I was having a hard
time believing that this team would be competitive. You know,
you let a lot of free agents walk you, you
release a Justin Simmons, who's the heart and soul of
that defense, at the time, you didn't have a quarterback,
and even shortly after the draft when they selected bon.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Nicks, you know, I don't think that a.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Lot of people were excited about it because they didn't
see the vision. And then you fast forward to this
year and it's like, they somehow won ten games, they
somehow made it into the playoffs, and this is going
to be that was going to be the worst roster
that bone Nicks and Sean Payton ever play with. And
yet they were able to win ten games and make
the playoffs. And so the nicest thing, like what you
had mentioned, you have a quarterback that you can build around,
(04:25):
something that we've been we've been searching for and praying
for for the last decade in Broncos country. And so
now instead of trying to, you know, to some mental
gymnastics about what quarterback we want, Oh, do we want
to try to pay a Sam Darnold, Do we want
to bring Kirk Cousins in here as a bridge guy?
Do we try to trade up for a quarterback? We
don't have to worry about that. And it's so nice
(04:46):
that for the first time in a decade, the quarterback
is finally taken care of and you can build the
team around him. But I think with that is a
double edged sword, because now you have a lot of
people who are very uneducated giving very poorly thought out
take about what the Broncos should do in free agency
and what they should do in the draft. You know,
now that they are good and better than anybody expected,
(05:08):
they want this team to break it, break the bank
for you know, a high profile wide receiver, running back
in free agency, all of the top top free agents,
every single member of Broncos Country wants to overpay for
these guys. And that's not how this team was built
last year, and it's not going to be how this
team is built this year.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Yeah, I fully agree. I think they got to keep
building this thing the right way and it's going to
be a fun offseason. I can't think of the last
time Broncos Country was, you know, coming off the season
of such positive vibes and feelings and the team exceeding expectations,
and then you're heading into a year where you have
concrete reasons to be excited. You know, twenty twenty two,
(05:48):
you are maybe excited about Nate Hackett and Russell Wilson,
but that was obviously wasn't concrete. With Sean Payton and
bo Nicks, you have something more concrete and something to
really keep building on. And now they're finally starting to
get money and draft picks and these assets necessary to
build the team up where you know, like Mario was saying,
it's creating maybe a lot of bad takes, but it's
(06:09):
also a lot of good excitement about you know, the
world being this team's oyster.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Now.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Yeah, And to your point, Zach, I think it's important,
Like there's gonna be there's gonna be a lot of
crap to sift through in this offseason, and that kind
of comes with the territory, right, So I urge people
stick to shows like this, to Kowa, to everything on
the wet Stock Broncos Network, including Altitude Adjustment if you
actually want, you know, really good insight as to what
(06:39):
the team needs to do, what the team should do.
We're not just gonna throw crap against the wall and
hope that it sticks.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Well. One thing that definitely worked and one thing in
terms of insight that I definitely want to get from
you being the Heeler that you are the Jedi of
the mind, body and soul, the Denver Broncos had to
also be very, very healthy in twenty twenty four for
everything to work out the way that it did, because
they obviously weren't. They aren't the deepest, they aren't the
most talented, So for any chance to have last season
(07:07):
go the way that it did, they had to be healthy.
And I mean, we know that inside that building they
overhauled everything in terms of getting this team to get
away from being one of the more injured teams that
they've been in years past. What do you think went
into that? Obviously, I know you're not in the building,
but I know you work with a lot of players
outside that building. What do you think went into making
them as healthy of a team as they were, And
(07:28):
what did you make of that overhaul that we all
know that they did inside there.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Yeah, I think that there are a lot of aspects
to it. And this is going to be a weird
one that not a lot of people heard about, but
a couple of years ago, a lot of the players
complained about the nutritionists and like the food that they
had in there. And it's one of these oversights that
you don't really think about until it's put in front
of you, and then you realize, like, yeah, that actually
has a lot to do with general health. You know,
(07:53):
they were they headed in a more like anti inflammatory
direction with the nutrition. I know a lot of people
are going to point to the Lauren Landau.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
You know, I guess it was firing. It was kind
of mutual.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
And to that, I say, you know, you don't know
what you don't know, to quote Benjamin Altbright, like, I
assure you that there was no correlation with Lauren Landau
and the health of this team.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
In fact, it was other people.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
And I'm not going to say any names because I'm
trying to be fairly nice here, but I think that
you guys can put two and two together. It's not
Lauren Landau, but it's someone else that was actually in
charge of their well being and their health and not.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
So much the workouts per se. But yeah, they did
overhaul it.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
And part of what they did is the individual who
had so much power and so much control when the
team had the injuries that they did, he took a
back seacral and I think that and the nutrition was
the most imperative part of you know, these guys staying
on the field that and you know, the individuals that
came in to see me tended to stay very healthy.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Which you could do.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
By the way, everyone listening, you don't have to be
professional player in the Denver Broncos. You like me can
can go to Ftansi therapy and just be healed. Zak
Have you have you seen Mario? Have you worked on
Zach Mario?
Speaker 4 (09:11):
I haven't. That's why my body's in terrible shape right now.
But I mean, look at the jerseys behind him right now.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
PS.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
Two and Justin Simmons. I mean the proofs in the
pudding right there.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
That proof is in the freaking pudding. I'm gonna, I'm gonna,
I'm gonna buy schedule and pre sue Mari. I'm just
saying you can do so Ftansi therapy anywhere on all
your socials are just search Fortansi Therapy on the Google machine.
Before I get Zach and O health wise, I want
to dive into one guy that comes to mind immediately
in terms of one of those that Broncos Country is
immediately targeting the Sean Payton connection, but dealing with an
(09:41):
injury and coming back from one Taysom Hill. Should the
Denver Broncos Mario bring Taysom Hill to Denver and partner
and have him be that joker, have him be that
player that that Sean is used him and knowing the
injury that is coming off of.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
I'm gonna say right now that the joker term has
really soured on me and has almost ruined Nikola Jokich
for me. I am so sick and tired of hearing
that term. It's like it's like whose line is it?
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Any way?
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Where the skill set is made up and the size
doesn't matter. Nobody really knows how to define the joker role.
And it wasn't until he appeared on k Adams Show
that everybody really delved into like, oh, they need a
joker because he had mentioned during that interview with Kay
Adams that they need a joker role. And I think
the funny thing, if you think about it, Sean Payton
(10:31):
is kind of trolling a lot of people here because
he's putting out this arbitrary term and he's really the
only person that knows how to define it. So as
it comes to Taysom Hill, like yeah, if you can
get him on a really cheap deal, I think he's
thirty four to thirty five years old. He's a fantastic
football player. He does a little bit of everything. I
don't know if he fits the joker mold, But then again,
(10:52):
I don't know what a joker is. I don't think
anybody knows what a joker is. You know, he had
listed a guy like Jimmy Grahmm, and he listed a
guy like Darren Sproles, And if there were ever two
guys that were more opposite of football players, I think
it's those two, and somehow they were still in the
joker role. You know, I don't see the Taysom Hill
signing if it does happen, and it does kind of
seem like it will happen, because if there's one thing
(11:15):
Sean Payton loves, it's bringing in former New Orleans Saints.
And we all know the love affair that Sean Payton
has with the Taysom Hill, but to bring him in
to like, you know, be some be some voice of
reason in the tight end room, Like if they draft
a tight end early in the draft, which I assume
they will either first or second round, probably at the
latest by the third it's not like he's going to
(11:37):
be this sounding board for a rookie tight end that
comes in because you know, Zach, I think you had
said this. They list him as a tight end simply
because there's not a shrug emoji to defy or to
to define Taysom Hill. He plays quarterback, he plays ryan back,
he plays tight end, he plays wide receiver, he plays
special teams. He's like, literally, it's kind of like how
(12:00):
Travis hunder was last year. He should just be listed
as an athlete because that's what he is. He gets
some snaps at tight end, and he's technically listed as
a tight end. I don't know if he can per
se play that joker role, but he is an offensive weapon.
We know that he's good for like two or three
monster random games throughout the course of a season, and
then he just kind of disappears into obscurity. But what
(12:22):
we should be looking at as fans is to raise
the floor of this team. You know. That's why, you know,
harkening back to what we were saying earlier, I don't
think that you need these splash signings. Okay, what they
did last year in free agency, they went bargain bin
hunting and they raised the floor of the team and
in ways that people didn't really see. I think Taysom
Hill raises the floor because I can't. I don't think
(12:44):
the floor can get any lower in terms of the
tight end room and the running back room, and he
kind of plays both of those positions. So I think
it makes sense as long as you're not breaking the bank,
because again he is thirty four years old, which is
ancient in NFL terms.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
I do love that joker out there because I got
to matriculate my way down the field with bad football
cliches just to make people mad, So I do love
throwing out stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's definitely something worth looking at.
In regard to Taysom Hill, I think it has to
be cheap. This is a guy coming off injuries a
lot of and he's had a lot of them throughout
his career. He's thirty four years old, he has plenty
of tread on the tires, and I don't think he
fills a clear need for the Broncos. You know, Mario
(13:29):
mentioned how Sean Payton listed off all those different former
Saints that were his jokers. You know, Reggie Bush, Darren
S Rolls, all these different running backs, and then all
these different tight ends as well, with Jimmy Graham, and
Jeremy Shockey, notably not Taysom Hill in that bunch, which
I do think is notable. When he listed off you
know seven former Saints that did fit the role throughout
every era of his career.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
That's it.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
He is a dynamic offensive weapon, and to Mario's point,
they need any sort of help there they can get
so long as he's cheap, I'm for it. But yeah,
he's I don't want him as like the Tyler Warren mentor,
even though we've seen Tyler Warren.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Too, he could be the cheap bargain bin guy too.
I don't think he would be that expensive.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
Oh, I agree, That's what I'm saying. Like, if it
starts getting expensive, I think you need to drop out
of that. But if he's cheap, which he should be,
I think, you know, below three million dollars a year,
and again probably you're only signing him for one year.
Why not? Like Mario said, he has a game or
two a year that's very dynamic, can help the offense pop.
But he's not gonna help Tyler Warren or Gunner Helm
(14:33):
or whoever learn how to play tight end at the
NFL level, because he hasn't really played tight end at
the NFL level. He's kind of this goofy gadget player.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Anyone who thinks that is just silly?
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Yeah, yeah, seriously, Well, if it's not Tasom Hill, there's
a million different names. Like I mentioned earlier, there's a
million different names that Broncos country is throwing around in
terms of what would make their dream off season. So
a combination of free agency, the draft, or maybe trade
and I throw that out there with a very specific
(15:07):
couple names that come to mind both kind of hanging
out with the New York Jets right now. What would
be ideally, Mario, your dream off season isn't like what
you were just saying, in line with how they handled
last offseason, finding those that those special niche players that
aren't going to cost quite a bit the bargain min
hunting is that. Where is that kind of the framework
of your dream offseason for the Broncos.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
I think first and foremost you have to look in
your own building and figure out who you want to resign.
I think I think the biggest splash that they should
make in free agency is resigning Zach Allen. I think
that needs to be number one on their docket. And
he's going to command a lot of money, and rightfully so,
and so I think you start with that, and then
you start looking elsewhere and how much money are you
(15:50):
really working within the free agency market. And again, like
if this is this is not a good year for
like a free agent running back, Like we all know
about Aaron Jones, but he's thirty years old, and honestly,
I think he stays with Minnesota. After that, there's a
pretty drastic drop off in free agency WI free agency
running backs, the free agency wide receiver. You know, we
know about Chris Godwin, who kind of scares me with
(16:12):
his injury. We know about T Higgins even though it
seems like he's going to stay in Cincinnati at least
another year. I don't think it's going to be anything splashy.
So I wouldn't even necessarily call it my ideal offseason.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
But I think the blueprint that they need to follow
is if.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
You're going to spend good money in free agency, I
think you know, after you resigned Zach Allen, you need
to look at the safety and linebacker position. It's a
little bit deeper in terms of the free agency class.
And then maybe you add another safety, another linebacker.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
In the draft.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
This is the perfect draft to need a tight end,
to need a running back, to need a wide receiver.
It's incredibly deep, and so at the wide receiver position,
you know, I see them bringing in like I had
thrown out Darius Layton. I think he's a perfect floor
raising guy. You know, it's a lot like the Josh
Reynolds signing last year, where it's not going to move
the needle a whole lunch, but it makes a lot
of sense, and I think that signing would have been
(17:03):
more successful if he wasn't you know, shot coming out
of a strip club, and the chances of that happening again,
you know, it's not zero, but it's pretty low. So yeah,
I think ideally, if you're if you're dressing holes in
free agency, you know, you got to add probably another
offensive lineman who could play a couple of different positions,
you know, like a swing tackle or a diverse piece
(17:23):
like that. You have to shore up the other safety position,
and obviously you have to figure out the linebacker position.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
You know, do you bring Barton back?
Speaker 1 (17:31):
How much can you even expect from an Alex Singleton,
who I think left a little to be desired even
when he was healthy.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Do you bring a stronaut.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Back who's really a career special teamer and filled it admirably,
But I think you got everything out of him and
more that you could ever hope for, and it was still,
you know, an aggressively mediocre type of linebacker. So I
think you addressed the linebacker and safety positions in free agency,
and then you address the rest of your needs in
the draft. I think that would be the most ideal
scenario and probably the most logical.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
Yeah, I'm with that. I think linebacker in safety, some
of these more mentally taxing positions kind of the closer
you get to the line of scrim or the ball,
the opposite of the line of scrimmage, the spine of
the offense and defense, I think, the more you kind
of want to target these veteran players who have that
mental acumen that's so hard to project going from the
(18:20):
college game to the pro game. There's some appealing linebacker
options there and safety options, and they are rooms that
just I think really need help. Going back to your point,
Mario about raising the overall floor of this roster, the
floor at safety, at linebacker, at tight end. As we
saw last year, was painfully low. There's options that shouldn't
(18:41):
be overly expensive, you know, in that kind of mid
tier that they were shopping in last offseason, that will
raise the floor at all those rooms. You know, a
guy like Jawan Johnson from the Saints, who isn't overly
exciting as a tight end, but knows the Sean Payton
offense will come in and be a sizable upgrade on
anything they had last year day one. And it makes
(19:02):
you not have to trade up for a Tyler Warren
or whatever in round one of the draft, because it's
not a glary need and you can kind of take
the draft as the board falls.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
To you, exactly.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
And I think that's what they're gonna do too, Zach.
It doesn't strike They don't strike me to be in
a situation where they're going to trade up for a player.
Everything is so expensive in the first round, and if
they are going up, it's probably gonna be for Warren, right.
And I know that there are so many Bronco fans
who are on this Tyler Warren or bus train, and
I would love to be there with you. But the
fact of the matter is he's just too good to
(19:36):
fall to twenty like, if he does, then that would
be fantastic, But you know what if you could fart
rainbows and ride him to a pot of gold. You know,
we just have to be pragmatic and smart about these
kind of things, and it's probably not going to happen.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
And judging in recent memory, especially as good of a.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Draft as they had last year where pretty much everybody
that they drafted had some sort of contribution to this team,
you're probably giving up a lot to move up in
the first round, and so you're kind of weighing your
options and wondering is it worth it to move up
five to six, seven, eight spots to draft a Tyler
Warren or like you said, Zach, do you let the
(20:14):
draft fall to you as it does, maybe trade back
a few times and secure more picks that seems more
in line.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
With what they are wanting to do.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
And if they trade up, it would be later in
the draft for a guy that's high on their board
that's slipping a la Troy Franklin, of course, and we'll
see how that pans out.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
As you start to it, I think we've been in
a rebuilding now and retooling and now really, like you
guys have been saying, raising the floor of this team.
We've been in this mode for so long where it's
been so many missing pieces where you want to fill
as many pieces as you can in an offseason. We're
getting to that point now with the Broncos where the
(20:52):
floor is going to be raised to a level where
you now are going to find a way or I
guess ask the question of separating yourself from the true
contenders and eventually it's gonna be Well, the Broncos just
don't have those elite level playmakers that the top contenders do.
Between wide receiver. Let's go between wide receiver, tight end,
(21:13):
and running back. And obviously when I bring in tight end,
I don't mean about a quality guy that's also you know,
elite level blocker. I'm talking about the game breaking tight
ends that that change in offense, Like like Rob Gronkowski
was telling me about at the at the Super Bowl,
between those three if you had to nail down one
of those three positions, that you could say the Broncos
get that next level elite playmaker on offense at one
(21:34):
of those three positions. If you can only pick one,
which would you do? You prefer that they get either
this offseason in any any way shape or for him, draft,
free agency, or trade.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Yeah, that's difficult. I think for me it's between running
back and tight end. You know, could your wide receiver
room be better, Yeah, of course, but you have a
lot of young talent there, and I think you know,
a guy like Bayle exceeded expectations. They figured out how
to use Marvin Mams, Courtland Sidon is Courtland Sidon Know,
it seems like no matter who's throwing him the ball,
his production just doesn't drop off. He's incredibly solid. Would
(22:06):
you like that bona fide number one wide receiver who
can actually break tackles after the catch.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Yeah, that would be nice.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
But I think as it is compared to the tight
end room in the running back room, the wide receiver
room is fine. You add a couple of pieces. Draft like,
this is a really deep wide receiver class. It's not
nearly as top heavy as last year, but I think
it's much deeper, and I think there are a lot
of really good role guys to be had, even like
in the fourth, fifth, and sixth round of this draft.
(22:32):
So for me personally, I'm saying running back. I think
if you look back historically at the Sean Payton offense.
He has a good run game, and you could tell
he wanted to try and run the ball, and you know,
some people might say that he abandoned the run too soon,
but the fact of the matter is Javonte Williams wasn't.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Averaging enough yards per care.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
You know, there were times when Jalil McLaughlin got going,
but he's not a belcow back who's going to get
twenty carries a game, you know, orodric estimate. They thought
so highly of him that he was benched in the
playoff game for a guy that hadn't played since Week
three or four, week four, I think so, I think
that should tell you everything you need to know.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Now.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Historically, Sean Payton doesn't love I guess playing rookie running backs.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Or at least that's what I was told.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
But I think you look at this run game, and
part of the reason that we should be so enamored
with bow Nicks is because they defaulted to him over
and over and over again because they couldn't establish the run.
So their run game kind of became these short to
intermediate passes, the swing passes that we saw to Mims
and to McLaughlin out of the backfield.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
So if you can establish.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Some sort of a run game and you bring in
like a truly good running back who changes the entire
dynamic of this offense, I think you can get away
with having a lower floor in the tight end position
because a good dynamic running back who can score from
every part of the field, like a Traveon Henderson can,
who is who I would be targeting in the second round.
I think that he makes a much bigger difference for
(23:57):
this kind of an offense than a tight end does.
I don't want that to seem like tight end is
not in need, because it absolutely is. I think they
combined for something like fifty yard fifty catches and four
hundred yards and just a handful of touchdowns, and that's
between like four different.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Dudes, and that's not going to cut it either.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
But I think running back, especially with the trend that
we see the NFL heading right now, how running backs
turns out are really important. And if you want to
look at the Super Bowl, as long as it's a
copycat league, everyone's talking about how you stop Mahomes, But
what was the biggest difference between those two offenses? The
Chiefs got to the point, and granted they were down
by a lot, but they never tried to establish the
(24:34):
run game. You know, It's not like the game for
a team like the Chiefs was completely out of hand
in the first half. We've seen them come back from
more in kind of similar situations, but they had no
running back that they could fall back on, and I
think that speaks to the importance of that position.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
I'm right there with you, man. Running back is number
one for me. And it's interesting because you obviously try
to figure out what Sean wants to do and if
he had that elite runner they acquire him. Again, there's
there's great options you mentioned in the draft camp. Scataboo's
an option. I think Ashton Jancey's gonna be too far
out of their reach. He's gonna go way too high
at this point, which is really unfortunate because Sean has
(25:09):
shown obviously, you know, the Alvin Kamaraz of the world
in the third round, but he's taken a shot in
the first. You know, he drafted mark Ingram in the
first round ironically in the twenties in twenty eleven, so
Uhan John could definitely do it go and get his guy.
But but running back for me is number one acquisition. You
gotta get that, you gotta get that next level tight end.
I think they're like you said, I think their wide
(25:30):
receiver room is pretty darn good. And Sean kind of
alluded that too. If you can find a way to
get the Rams to take a bulk of that Cooper
Cup contract, I'm not interested in debo. I think you
have debo in Marvin Mims. So for me, it's it's
it's running back and then it's tight end.
Speaker 4 (25:44):
Yeah, I thought I'll go different and say tight end.
I think running back is probably the practical answer, just
because I don't think there's an elite tight end out there. Well,
you know, you have an Ashton gent Traveon Henderson. You know,
the running back class has so many just really high
end prospects. That's probably the more practical route if you're
going to add one of these three. But I'll go
(26:05):
tight end just because you know, Mario highlighted how a
nept all these guys were as receivers, and they really were.
I mean Owen Daniels in the last season of his
career with old Man, Payton Manning, and Brock Oswiler throwing
him the ball had more receiving yards than Adam Troutman
has total over these last two years, combined in better
offenses than that twenty fifteen offense. So it is really
(26:27):
really dreadful in that tight end room in terms of
pass catching. But even in terms of blocking, I don't
think Troutman is an above average blocker for the tight
end position. I think he probably maxes out around average.
Nate Adkins is you're blocking specialist, and he's maybe like
a five point five out of ten on that scale,
and then good Lucas Kroll is a complete non factor.
(26:49):
He's a worse blocker than most of the receivers in
the room. I wouldn't be surprised if he's a worse
blocker than Marvin Mims. So much like running back, I
think has the potential to impact both the run and
pass game. I think if you were to add an
elite tight end to the premise of the question, if
George Kittle were to somehow fall in the Denver Broncos lap,
and you get what practically is or you know, a
(27:11):
bonus offensive lineman in the run game and a really dynamic,
reliable pass game target that bonux can rely on in
that kind of short intermedia area where he really thrives.
I think that would be ideal. And you know, just
as much of a force multipliers running back, if not
even more of one. I just don't think that guy's
out there right now. Unfortunately, even a guy like Tyler
(27:32):
Warren is a little raw and is probably going to
take a year or two to reach that truly elite tier.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Yeah, I'm with you, Zach, and that's part of the
reason that I kind of defer to running back. It's like, again,
if Tyler Warren is an option, I think that's the
noe brainer pick, but realistically it's not going to be there.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
I would be.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Shocked if he fell into the teams even and you
look deeper in this class. I think Elijah or Royo
is a guy that a lot of Bronco fans should
keep an eye on. I think his stock is going
to start rising. But then you kind of come to
this conundrum. Up, Well, I don't think he's a first
round talent or I don't think he's quite you know,
I don't think I could justify taking him at twenty,
(28:12):
but then he would probably be gone early second And
so do you make a move for him in the
second round to go get him. And I feel kind
of the same way about Colston Lovelin. I really like
Loveland as a pass catcher, but the blocking leaves a
little bit to be desired. So do you take a
guy like Colston Loveland at twenty again, I think.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
That's a little bit rich for my blood.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
But then I think it's safe to say that both
of those guys are gone by the Broncos second round pick.
So you're either trading up for one of those guys
in the second it doesn't cost you as much as
trading up in the first, or you reserve yourself for
you know, a Terrence Ferguson or a gun or Helm.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
I know there's.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
A lot a lot of talk about Harold fannin junior
and maybe I'm gonna get killed for this. I just
don't see it. I think he's incredibly one dimensional. I
think his size leads a lot to be desired as well,
and watching him move at this senior ball it was
a little bit confounding.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Of how he had this remarkable season.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
And I get it was against inferior competition and they
fed him the ball.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
There's clearly something there to it.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
But I just don't see the vision of Harold Fannin,
and he's you know, off my board in terms of
how it is with the Denver Broncos. Like I would
rather than go after a guy like Gerande Gatstan in
the fifth or sixth round than spend like a second
round pick on Harold Fannin.
Speaker 4 (29:26):
Yeah, the numbers are exciting with Fannin, but the prospect,
I mean he's getting bullied against, you know, in that
KNAC conference as a blocker and was a really really
productive receiver. But it's hard to to your point, kind
of figure out how that's going to translate to the NFL.
I I just don't see it. I don't I think
(29:47):
he probably would have been best served coming back to
college for a year and you know, playing like some
SEC ball or something and further refining his skills, you know,
maybe getting some more meat on those bones and then
showing he can stand up up to that fl physicality.
But yeah, he's just kind of an awkward athlete and
maybe he he makes a fool out of the two
of us, and he, you know, Nikola Jokic's his way
(30:09):
to being an amazing tight end. I will I'll happily
lose that bet, you know, if that's the way it goes,
darn you know, that's a bummer. But I don't want
to bet on him.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
Well, I will say generally, as we have as we
wind up closer to the draft, the best part is
the Broncos have another bevy of picks to do everything
all this with because George Main's going to work his
mach again, not just in free agency with the bargain
bin guys, but obviously they've got They've got majority of
their picks. They've got their own one, two, three, four,
They traded their five to the Dolphins, and they've got
their own six, another six from the Eagles, so they've
(30:43):
got all these picks once again to work their magic.
Because again people forget, I don't know how he could,
but George Payton just had a hell of a draft
class once again. Nick Gargulo in the seventh round really
was the only guy that really didn't make make a contribution.
But other than that, I mean, I want to see
instead of trading up and and losing some picks, I
want to see George work his magic again both free
agency and the draft. So it's exciting times once again,
(31:06):
I will say the grand scheme of things I am
intrigued in terms of bargain beIN hunting via getting a
guy you mentioned the name Zach that's obviously intriguing. George Kittle,
a guy that's either whether it be either age or
have have has dealt with injury his career. Obviously Debo
Cooper Cups had some injuries. But there's I feel like
there's a guy out there and just at least one
(31:27):
a big name that either via health or or decline
that I think you can bargain beIN shop in the
way of a way of that form that that that
intrigues me to to bring him to Denver. So there's
a couple different names of who that who that could be,
but I I feel like there's a there's a guy
out there that the Broncos have a way to maximize
(31:48):
here in Denver. Like I said, whether it be UH
be a trade or or get a guy that gets
let go UH in free agency.
Speaker 4 (31:54):
I think of the John Franklin Myers deal last year,
you know, talking about using those picks to add talent,
you know they he did that with John Franklin Myers
and he was a super valuable contributor for the Broncos
this season. I think a guy that might make sense
to your point, maybe a guy like Mark Andrews, who
you know the Ravens have Isaiah likely waiting there in
the wings. Mark Andrews, you know, had a slow, like
(32:16):
first two games of the year, obviously had a really
rough showing in the playoffs, that middle hunk. He was
another really good tight end, one of the better, you
know ten tight ends in the league. And to our
point about how rough that room was in the past.
Adding even at the tail end of his career, a
guy like Mark Andrews, who is a plus blocker and
a plus receiver still I think would make a serious
(32:39):
difference for this offense. And he shouldn't cost too too
much to acquire in terms of like picks.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
Definitely, and I think that's the biggest thing to look at.
I don't even have any specific games.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
I'ven't dealt that deep into it, and I think, you know,
we're going to see some releases, We're going to see
teams make certain guys available, and you know it could
have been during the draft you mentioned John Franklin Myers.
I don't think he was on anybody's radar, and then
when it happened and they basically, you know, take a
John Franklin Myers for a six round pick, that might
have been the best quote unquote draft pick that they
(33:12):
made outside of Bone Nicks from a value standpoint. So
I don't want to get bogged down into any specifics.
I think that there's certain and certainly an opportunity, but
a rod I know you had mentioned guys like Cooper Cup,
guys like Deebo Samuel. Robbie over at LTB actually put
together a really nice article and went through a ton
of film and he actually sold me on Deebo Samuel
(33:34):
a little bit. I know the health is challenging, and
it seems like, you know, if he puts together a
full NFL season that he's incredibly good, but he's very
up and down. If they can get some sort of
consistency there, then I would be on board with it.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
But I think as long as you're not giving up too.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
Much, and that seems to be the problem because at
the end of the day, he's still Deebo Samuel. Everybody's
aware of what he's able to do. He could fill
that joker role, and I know I've seen some people
kind of say, oh, well, we don't need Deebo Samuel
because we have Marvin Mims. It's like, yeah, that's like
when you were going out as a kid for McDonald's
and you tell your mom like, hey, I want McDonald's
and she says, I don't need McDonald's. We have McDonald's
(34:12):
at home. And it's not a slight against Marvin Mims.
But he is not the same kind of player as
Deebo Samuel, and it's not an indictment.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
They're just in incredibly different players.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
And if Marvin Mims was really the joker we're going
to use that term again, then I'm pretty sure Sean
Payton wouldn't have said that they need to find a
joker if that was in fact Marvin Mims. And so
does Deebo Samuel even fill that void. I don't know,
because again, nobody knows what the hell a joker is.
When he ripped off all of the names in the
Saints' Lord that had been jokers, not one of them
(34:44):
was a wide receiver if I'm remembering crazy. But then again,
Deebo Samuel's not really your your true wide receiver. So
if you want to say that you don't want Deebo
Samuel because you have Marvin Mimms. I think that there's
you know, something to that, but it shouldn't deter you
from a player of Deebo say Amiel's caliber. As long
as you're not over paying for him. That is going
to be the theme of this entire offseason. They were
(35:06):
so pragmatic in what they did last year, and mostly
because they had to be, but they were able to
put together a really good team bargain ben shopping. So
I think no longer they at the dollar General, they're
at the five dollars store. You know, they're not going
to you know, these hoity toity stores like like Nieman
Marcus or Nordstrom, but they're a step up from the
(35:27):
dollar store and that's where they're going to be targeting
free agency. So a guy like Cooper Cup to me,
makes more sense from a financial standpoint if you can say,
all right, we'll give you a fifth round pick, give
us a twenty twenty sixth, sixth or seventh in return,
you know, we'll kind of split his salary so that
we're not giving up too much for him. And again,
as long as you're not overpaying for him. You're finding
(35:47):
guys that are raising the floor, but I don't think
that they're going to make the moves that will take
the top off, especially on the offensive side of the
ball in free agency.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
That's going to be done in the draft.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
I don't think I'm anti Debo. I think I'm just
more pro other options. I definitely don't think they're the
same player. But there's enough to me, enough redundancies, just enough,
bare minimum amount of enough that make me want to
go elsewhere. Like what what Sean could do with Cooper
Cup on the slot intrigues the hell out of me,
especially if it's very heavy emphasis on if you can
(36:18):
get which I heard that they will. They were willing
to take some if you can get them to take
a significant money that'd be in the rams. That intrigues
me a lot. But but as Ryan down here, I
got two more names for I want to throw out
well here, First, Zach, did you want to find a
point on Deebo really quick?
Speaker 4 (36:31):
I'm a little more pro Debo than you guys, I
think now, I do think there's a point on the overlap.
You know, it's a mixed bag. Mims will have some
of his touches cannibalized by Deebo Samuel. But Deebo Samuel
is a four or five guy with thirty pounds on Mims.
Despite them being the same height, Mims runs more of
like a four three five forty, So they're just they
(36:54):
are different types of players. Samuel can use, you know,
between the hashes more. But I think part of the
reason it's so appealing is some of those recent inconsistencies
in him missing games and his production not quite being
the same is the result of he had pneumonia last
year and he missed one week and then came back.
But as Mario or Jedi of the human body, who can,
(37:15):
I'm sure tell you pneumonia isn't a thing that or
just these NFL players in general, just because they come
back from an injury one week doesn't mean they're like
back to one hundred percent pure athleticism, especially when we're
talking about like fluid in your lungs, you know, and
trying to come back from that. After you know, four
weeks or so from the pneumonia, he was back to
producing at an elite level. And even if you look
(37:38):
at his season long numbers and don't you know, account
for any disease or whatever. You take his season long
numbers as they are, he was a top ten weapon
in terms of yards after they catch over expectation still,
and that's what you're signing the guy for. I think
that elite trade is still there in his game.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
Well, not only chat a little bit about you was
looking up this this interesting stayer. But I want to
as we wrap up here, I want one more question.
Two more names that come to mind, and that is
calling our good buddy over now with the New York Jets,
Darren Mugie, the new general manager for the Jets, George
Payton obviously knows extremely well. Two more names. Do you think, Mario,
(38:19):
the Broncos should give a call to their target Breeze Hall,
Garrett Wilson, both or neither.
Speaker 2 (38:26):
I mean, yeah, you you certainly make the call. Uh.
Speaker 1 (38:30):
Garrett Wilson still on his rookie contract. I think Breece
Holl is still on his rookie contract. Those I mean,
those would be blockbuster trades.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (38:39):
And and and obviously I see as a Broncos fan
and and supporter, wanting to add those guys. But then,
if you're looking over at the Jets side, you know
they're not just gonna give you their two best offensive weapons,
especially when their quarterback situation is so influx, and especially
when they're on their rookie deals. You know, it's like, oh, well,
we could we could have the uh, you know, the
(39:00):
offensive rookies of the year and guys who were respectively
probably top five, top ten at their position, and they're
still both incredibly young.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
I think they're both under twenty five. Or we get
traded for.
Speaker 1 (39:11):
Draft picks and hope that we draft guys who are
just as good as them. So yeah, I think you're
absolutely making a call as the Denver Broncos, and I
think if you're able to secure both of those in
some way, shape or form, both of those guys, then yeah,
I think you do what you have to do to
make it happen. But you know, again, it takes two
(39:31):
to tango, and it just would be so bizarre to
me for the Jets to let go of one of,
if not both, of those players. And I know, you know,
part of the problem with this whole Nicole or Luga
Dancics trade is now everybody thinks that any sort of
insane trade can happen.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
It's not that crazy, So.
Speaker 1 (39:50):
I want everybody to shift back into reality and realize that, yeah,
the Jets are down on their luck. They're not a
good team, They're a poorly run organization. They happen for
a really long time, and you're really cementing that notion
if you are trading by far your two best players
and two of the best weapons in the entire league.
Remember a Broncos standpoint, Hell yeah, give me both of
(40:10):
them whatever it costs to take advantage.
Speaker 3 (40:13):
From the Garrett Wilson perspective, if he does, what leads
me to believe is if he if he wants out.
I think a lot of it was was Aaron Rodgers.
So now that they're obviously they're they're moving on from Aaron,
that maybe Garrett Wilson they can convince to stay in
the building, especially with Aaron Glenn, who seems to be
like a really really high quality head coach, high quality
character guy as well. So I think there's a pretty
damn good chance a they convinced gar Wilson be part
(40:34):
of what they've got coming up. And then obviously I
think a Breesehall. I think Breestall will be obviously easier
to acquire injury history as well, but but but I'm
with you. I mean, they're both dream scenarios. I just
think what got me initially thinking of it was was
Garrett wanting out, But now I think that's that's I mean,
it never was he was official anyway, But now that
Aaron's gone, it probably less likely.
Speaker 4 (40:53):
I agree. I think it does seem like he really
wanted out if Rogers was back. Rodgers being gone probably
is going to make it hard to pry him from
their hands. I think Breace Hall is a more realistic
option that you guys are giving it credit for. Yes,
he's a very good player, but I don't think he
was as dynamic last season as he was pre ACL injury.
(41:15):
The ACL injury also might make the Jets want to
move off him, and they drafted Braylan Allen last year
with solid compensation, and Braylan Allen looked great in a
limited workload, to where if you're a Jets team looking
to rebuild, you've got Breece Hall in one year left
on his deal, and you already feel like you've got
some solid backup options in the wings with Abaconda as
(41:38):
well as Braylan Allen, why not maybe trade Breas Hall
for a second round pick. I think there's probably a
good chance they let him walk in free agency. Anyways,
after the twenty twenty five season, they're probably not going
to be all that competitive in twenty twenty five, you know,
why not make that deal? That said, you know, where
(41:58):
did Aaron Glenn come from? The Detroit Lions? A team
with two great running backs is kind of their offensive foundation.
So he might not want to part with one of
those two good backs. But I I think if you
offered like a decent mid round pick, maybe you miss
out on Henderson and gent and all those top options
in the draft. You know, maybe for a third round
pick or a second round I'm probably dreaming a bit
(42:19):
there with the third, but maybe for some you know,
second third round pick or something, you're able to get
the Jets interested.
Speaker 3 (42:25):
We're in the time now. It's fun to get ahead
of themselves. It's fun to get ahead of ourselves as
Broncos fans a little bit, because we're in that mode
now where you've got the quarterback, you're now wanting to
get the weapons you wanted to shape up a team
that can really really contend, not just in the AFC,
but in the NFL. Overall. As we wrap up here,
Mario only got amend the mental left here, I want
to ask you one more time here. I know we
front ended it here, I want to chat with you
(42:45):
about what you guys got going on again with less
top Broncos outitude adjustment, Any any fun guests coming up,
an any interesting pods coming up? Or is there anything
else you want to want to tell the people about.
Speaker 1 (42:55):
Yeah, we actually have a lot of stuff coming up,
but we will announce those things like kind of as
they happened. We have a lot of really good guests
coming down the pike, but I'm just gonna go ahead
and tease it. It's gonna be, but I assure you
that you will want to tune in when we have
said guests. There's gonna be a lot of draft coverage
over the entire network altitude adjustment included. And there will
(43:18):
also be the second annual Let's Talk Broncos Draft party
the first night of the draft, and as soon as
we get some of those details solidified, we are going
to make an official announcement.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
But go ahead and clear your schedules for that.
Speaker 1 (43:32):
It was an absolute blast last year, even though we
had no idea what we were doing this year. We
have something to go off of and it's going to
be bigger, it's going to be better, and there's rumors
that there will be a Joey Richards cardboard cutout. So
if for no other reason, I think that would be
enough to entice at least the female population to show up.
Speaker 3 (43:51):
Yes, yes, put that right along with the Big Knicks
Energy hoodie and T shirts. You can get an altitude
adjustment shop dot com. He is Mario Fanzy at the
Tansi Therapy on x formally known as Twitter. You can
also follow along all of a stuff. You just search
up the Tansi Therapy Mario a Tansy on the Google
Machine or any other social platform. You're gonna find all
of his good stuff, all this stuff he does with
let's talk Broncos altitude adjustment again. Book your session if
(44:14):
you want to be healed. I cannot say that loud enough.
Mario much appreciate you coming on ad Z, my friend.
Speaker 2 (44:21):
Appreciate you having me. It was a blast. Guy's well done.
Speaker 3 (44:24):
Thank you. He is Mario along with Zach a Z
covering it from A to Z each in every pod
Until next time, We'll catch you all though a little
bit of flip
This is a KOA digital series from sports and pop
culture to news and more.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Z Yeah, covering it all from A to Z. Here's
a Rod and Zach Siggers.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Oh yes, indeedy, welcome back to it. It is once
again another episode of A to Z right here under
the KOA Colorado umbrella. I am the AA Rod. He
is the z Zach Seegers and joining us for a
fun episode Hydra Kids, Hydro Wive. Hi, everybody out here
because we've got Mario Vitanzy. Let's talk broncos altitude adjustment
for Tanzy therapy. Join us in the house, Mario mile High.
(00:40):
What's up man?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
How are you he?
Speaker 1 (00:43):
That intro is a little bit is a little bit harrowing.
I don't think that you need to hide anyone. I'm
wearing my good behavior glasses for this show.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
No, I want you to bring out the Mario that
requires the hiding of everyone that's not a part of
this podcast. I'm asking you.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
The thought.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
All right, I'm fine, but that might affect your viewership.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
I don't care. I don't care one bit. I don't
care one bit. Well, man, it's it's good to have
you here. We're excited to bring you on into the
pod first and foremost big fan of what of what
you're doing over with the Altitude Adjustment show. That that
that that show is a blast. Tell me, tell me
what's going on with that. I know you guys have
had some awesome guests, some great conversations. Just just kind
of give the people a little bit taste of what
(01:26):
you guys been doing.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Yeah, Altitude Adjustments a really fun show if you're not
familiar with it. It was a show that Patt and
I had wanted to do for a while. Like Patt
and I have known each other for a really long time,
and I think we both have really unique and fiery personalities,
and so the show works really well. We're able to
bounce things off of each other. It's not for what
(01:48):
we call a filthy casual though. You know, there's a
lot of filthy casuals out and every and you know,
a lot of this off season content that we're seeing
that's you know from some of these lesser podcasts or
some of these lesser plays, is that do articles they
pander to set filthy casuals.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
We don't do that.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Our show is a little bit more high prow It's
definitely rated NC seventeen. But it's a lot of fun
and Pat and I try to break the mold with
this show. You know, we aim to educate but also entertain.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Well, I mean you do it. I mean you're you're
one of one of my favorites for sure. I think
you're right up there. I think with what Tim Jenkins
does in terms of I mean, you said it right there,
and not for the filthy casuals. It's really deep into
the x's and nose. For me, it really helps kind
of elevate my level because one thing for me, like
I grew up playing hockey, and so there's a lot
of things the inner workings of hockey that I don't
(02:38):
really have to think twice about. I didn't I didn't
play football, and so as much as I like to
think that I know about football, I need to listen
to the individuals like yourself, like Pat, like like like Tim,
like I mentioned, like that all brights of the world
that just that just know so much more on a
on a deeper scale. So so I appreciate what you
guys do. I encourage everyone listening to this pod to
(02:59):
go to appreciate you saying that. Yeah, seriously, I mean it.
But uh, well, man, we're happy, happy to have you,
happy to have you, happy to have this little glad
to be here here with you. Yeah, it's uh, it's
gonna be It's gonna be some fun because there's, like
we were saying before we started rolling, there's a there's
a million million different things that are that are sterring
in the minds of Broncos country. I guess when you
finally got a team that you can look forward to
(03:20):
an offseason of well, number one, we've got a quarterback,
and number two, we're looking to take this thing to
another level after finally breaking this this playoff streak. Because
how have you kind of seen this transpire over the
last couple of weeks, Uh, since the Broncos used to close.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
It's yeah, it's it's crazy the difference a year will make.
You know, I'm always glass half full looking at life
through orange, orange tinted glasses, even though these ones are
more yellow.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
But I digress.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
This time last year, man, I was having a hard
time believing that this team would be competitive. You know,
you let a lot of free agents walk you, you
release a Justin Simmons, who's the heart and soul of
that defense, at the time, you didn't have a quarterback,
and even shortly after the draft when they selected bon.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Nicks, you know, I don't think that a.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Lot of people were excited about it because they didn't
see the vision. And then you fast forward to this
year and it's like, they somehow won ten games, they
somehow made it into the playoffs, and this is going
to be that was going to be the worst roster
that bone Nicks and Sean Payton ever play with. And
yet they were able to win ten games and make
the playoffs. And so the nicest thing, like what you
had mentioned, you have a quarterback that you can build around,
(04:25):
something that we've been we've been searching for and praying
for for the last decade in Broncos country. And so
now instead of trying to, you know, to some mental
gymnastics about what quarterback we want, Oh, do we want
to try to pay a Sam Darnold, Do we want
to bring Kirk Cousins in here as a bridge guy?
Do we try to trade up for a quarterback? We
don't have to worry about that. And it's so nice
(04:46):
that for the first time in a decade, the quarterback
is finally taken care of and you can build the
team around him. But I think with that is a
double edged sword, because now you have a lot of
people who are very uneducated giving very poorly thought out
take about what the Broncos should do in free agency
and what they should do in the draft. You know,
now that they are good and better than anybody expected,
(05:08):
they want this team to break it, break the bank
for you know, a high profile wide receiver, running back
in free agency, all of the top top free agents,
every single member of Broncos Country wants to overpay for
these guys. And that's not how this team was built
last year, and it's not going to be how this
team is built this year.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Yeah, I fully agree. I think they got to keep
building this thing the right way and it's going to
be a fun offseason. I can't think of the last
time Broncos Country was, you know, coming off the season
of such positive vibes and feelings and the team exceeding expectations,
and then you're heading into a year where you have
concrete reasons to be excited. You know, twenty twenty two,
(05:48):
you are maybe excited about Nate Hackett and Russell Wilson,
but that was obviously wasn't concrete. With Sean Payton and
bo Nicks, you have something more concrete and something to
really keep building on. And now they're finally starting to
get money and draft picks and these assets necessary to
build the team up where you know, like Mario was saying,
it's creating maybe a lot of bad takes, but it's
(06:09):
also a lot of good excitement about you know, the
world being this team's oyster.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Now.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Yeah, And to your point, Zach, I think it's important,
Like there's gonna be there's gonna be a lot of
crap to sift through in this offseason, and that kind
of comes with the territory, right, So I urge people
stick to shows like this, to Kowa, to everything on
the wet Stock Broncos Network, including Altitude Adjustment if you
actually want, you know, really good insight as to what
(06:39):
the team needs to do, what the team should do.
We're not just gonna throw crap against the wall and
hope that it sticks.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Well. One thing that definitely worked and one thing in
terms of insight that I definitely want to get from
you being the Heeler that you are the Jedi of
the mind, body and soul, the Denver Broncos had to
also be very, very healthy in twenty twenty four for
everything to work out the way that it did, because
they obviously weren't. They aren't the deepest, they aren't the
most talented, So for any chance to have last season
(07:07):
go the way that it did, they had to be healthy.
And I mean, we know that inside that building they
overhauled everything in terms of getting this team to get
away from being one of the more injured teams that
they've been in years past. What do you think went
into that? Obviously, I know you're not in the building,
but I know you work with a lot of players
outside that building. What do you think went into making
them as healthy of a team as they were, And
(07:28):
what did you make of that overhaul that we all
know that they did inside there.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Yeah, I think that there are a lot of aspects
to it. And this is going to be a weird
one that not a lot of people heard about, but
a couple of years ago, a lot of the players
complained about the nutritionists and like the food that they
had in there. And it's one of these oversights that
you don't really think about until it's put in front
of you, and then you realize, like, yeah, that actually
has a lot to do with general health. You know,
(07:53):
they were they headed in a more like anti inflammatory
direction with the nutrition. I know a lot of people
are going to point to the Lauren Landau.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
You know, I guess it was firing. It was kind
of mutual.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
And to that, I say, you know, you don't know
what you don't know, to quote Benjamin Altbright, like, I
assure you that there was no correlation with Lauren Landau
and the health of this team.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
In fact, it was other people.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
And I'm not going to say any names because I'm
trying to be fairly nice here, but I think that
you guys can put two and two together. It's not
Lauren Landau, but it's someone else that was actually in
charge of their well being and their health and not.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
So much the workouts per se. But yeah, they did
overhaul it.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
And part of what they did is the individual who
had so much power and so much control when the
team had the injuries that they did, he took a
back seacral and I think that and the nutrition was
the most imperative part of you know, these guys staying
on the field that and you know, the individuals that
came in to see me tended to stay very healthy.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Which you could do.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
By the way, everyone listening, you don't have to be
professional player in the Denver Broncos. You like me can
can go to Ftansi therapy and just be healed. Zak
Have you have you seen Mario? Have you worked on
Zach Mario?
Speaker 4 (09:11):
I haven't. That's why my body's in terrible shape right now.
But I mean, look at the jerseys behind him right now.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
PS.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
Two and Justin Simmons. I mean the proofs in the
pudding right there.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
That proof is in the freaking pudding. I'm gonna, I'm gonna,
I'm gonna buy schedule and pre sue Mari. I'm just
saying you can do so Ftansi therapy anywhere on all
your socials are just search Fortansi Therapy on the Google machine.
Before I get Zach and O health wise, I want
to dive into one guy that comes to mind immediately
in terms of one of those that Broncos Country is
immediately targeting the Sean Payton connection, but dealing with an
(09:41):
injury and coming back from one Taysom Hill. Should the
Denver Broncos Mario bring Taysom Hill to Denver and partner
and have him be that joker, have him be that
player that that Sean is used him and knowing the
injury that is coming off of.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
I'm gonna say right now that the joker term has
really soured on me and has almost ruined Nikola Jokich
for me. I am so sick and tired of hearing
that term. It's like it's like whose line is it?
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Any way?
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Where the skill set is made up and the size
doesn't matter. Nobody really knows how to define the joker role.
And it wasn't until he appeared on k Adams Show
that everybody really delved into like, oh, they need a
joker because he had mentioned during that interview with Kay
Adams that they need a joker role. And I think
the funny thing, if you think about it, Sean Payton
(10:31):
is kind of trolling a lot of people here because
he's putting out this arbitrary term and he's really the
only person that knows how to define it. So as
it comes to Taysom Hill, like yeah, if you can
get him on a really cheap deal, I think he's
thirty four to thirty five years old. He's a fantastic
football player. He does a little bit of everything. I
don't know if he fits the joker mold, But then again,
(10:52):
I don't know what a joker is. I don't think
anybody knows what a joker is. You know, he had
listed a guy like Jimmy Grahmm, and he listed a
guy like Darren Sproles, And if there were ever two
guys that were more opposite of football players, I think
it's those two, and somehow they were still in the
joker role. You know, I don't see the Taysom Hill
signing if it does happen, and it does kind of
seem like it will happen, because if there's one thing
(11:15):
Sean Payton loves, it's bringing in former New Orleans Saints.
And we all know the love affair that Sean Payton
has with the Taysom Hill, but to bring him in
to like, you know, be some be some voice of
reason in the tight end room, Like if they draft
a tight end early in the draft, which I assume
they will either first or second round, probably at the
latest by the third it's not like he's going to
(11:37):
be this sounding board for a rookie tight end that
comes in because you know, Zach, I think you had
said this. They list him as a tight end simply
because there's not a shrug emoji to defy or to
to define Taysom Hill. He plays quarterback, he plays ryan back,
he plays tight end, he plays wide receiver, he plays
special teams. He's like, literally, it's kind of like how
(12:00):
Travis hunder was last year. He should just be listed
as an athlete because that's what he is. He gets
some snaps at tight end, and he's technically listed as
a tight end. I don't know if he can per
se play that joker role, but he is an offensive weapon.
We know that he's good for like two or three
monster random games throughout the course of a season, and
then he just kind of disappears into obscurity. But what
(12:22):
we should be looking at as fans is to raise
the floor of this team. You know. That's why, you know,
harkening back to what we were saying earlier, I don't
think that you need these splash signings. Okay, what they
did last year in free agency, they went bargain bin
hunting and they raised the floor of the team and
in ways that people didn't really see. I think Taysom
Hill raises the floor because I can't. I don't think
(12:44):
the floor can get any lower in terms of the
tight end room and the running back room, and he
kind of plays both of those positions. So I think
it makes sense as long as you're not breaking the bank,
because again he is thirty four years old, which is
ancient in NFL terms.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
I do love that joker out there because I got
to matriculate my way down the field with bad football
cliches just to make people mad, So I do love
throwing out stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's definitely something worth looking at.
In regard to Taysom Hill, I think it has to
be cheap. This is a guy coming off injuries a
lot of and he's had a lot of them throughout
his career. He's thirty four years old, he has plenty
of tread on the tires, and I don't think he
fills a clear need for the Broncos. You know, Mario
(13:29):
mentioned how Sean Payton listed off all those different former
Saints that were his jokers. You know, Reggie Bush, Darren
S Rolls, all these different running backs, and then all
these different tight ends as well, with Jimmy Graham, and
Jeremy Shockey, notably not Taysom Hill in that bunch, which
I do think is notable. When he listed off you
know seven former Saints that did fit the role throughout
every era of his career.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
That's it.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
He is a dynamic offensive weapon, and to Mario's point,
they need any sort of help there they can get
so long as he's cheap, I'm for it. But yeah,
he's I don't want him as like the Tyler Warren mentor,
even though we've seen Tyler Warren.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Too, he could be the cheap bargain bin guy too.
I don't think he would be that expensive.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
Oh, I agree, That's what I'm saying. Like, if it
starts getting expensive, I think you need to drop out
of that. But if he's cheap, which he should be,
I think, you know, below three million dollars a year,
and again probably you're only signing him for one year.
Why not? Like Mario said, he has a game or
two a year that's very dynamic, can help the offense pop.
But he's not gonna help Tyler Warren or Gunner Helm
(14:33):
or whoever learn how to play tight end at the
NFL level, because he hasn't really played tight end at
the NFL level. He's kind of this goofy gadget player.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Anyone who thinks that is just silly?
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Yeah, yeah, seriously, Well, if it's not Tasom Hill, there's
a million different names. Like I mentioned earlier, there's a
million different names that Broncos country is throwing around in
terms of what would make their dream off season. So
a combination of free agency, the draft, or maybe trade
and I throw that out there with a very specific
(15:07):
couple names that come to mind both kind of hanging
out with the New York Jets right now. What would
be ideally, Mario, your dream off season isn't like what
you were just saying, in line with how they handled
last offseason, finding those that those special niche players that
aren't going to cost quite a bit the bargain min
hunting is that. Where is that kind of the framework
of your dream offseason for the Broncos.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
I think first and foremost you have to look in
your own building and figure out who you want to resign.
I think I think the biggest splash that they should
make in free agency is resigning Zach Allen. I think
that needs to be number one on their docket. And
he's going to command a lot of money, and rightfully so,
and so I think you start with that, and then
you start looking elsewhere and how much money are you
(15:50):
really working within the free agency market. And again, like
if this is this is not a good year for
like a free agent running back, Like we all know
about Aaron Jones, but he's thirty years old, and honestly,
I think he stays with Minnesota. After that, there's a
pretty drastic drop off in free agency WI free agency
running backs, the free agency wide receiver. You know, we
know about Chris Godwin, who kind of scares me with
(16:12):
his injury. We know about T Higgins even though it
seems like he's going to stay in Cincinnati at least
another year. I don't think it's going to be anything splashy.
So I wouldn't even necessarily call it my ideal offseason.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
But I think the blueprint that they need to follow
is if.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
You're going to spend good money in free agency, I
think you know, after you resigned Zach Allen, you need
to look at the safety and linebacker position. It's a
little bit deeper in terms of the free agency class.
And then maybe you add another safety, another linebacker.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
In the draft.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
This is the perfect draft to need a tight end,
to need a running back, to need a wide receiver.
It's incredibly deep, and so at the wide receiver position,
you know, I see them bringing in like I had
thrown out Darius Layton. I think he's a perfect floor
raising guy. You know, it's a lot like the Josh
Reynolds signing last year, where it's not going to move
the needle a whole lunch, but it makes a lot
of sense, and I think that signing would have been
(17:03):
more successful if he wasn't you know, shot coming out
of a strip club, and the chances of that happening again,
you know, it's not zero, but it's pretty low. So yeah,
I think ideally, if you're if you're dressing holes in
free agency, you know, you got to add probably another
offensive lineman who could play a couple of different positions,
you know, like a swing tackle or a diverse piece
(17:23):
like that. You have to shore up the other safety position,
and obviously you have to figure out the linebacker position.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
You know, do you bring Barton back?
Speaker 1 (17:31):
How much can you even expect from an Alex Singleton,
who I think left a little to be desired even
when he was healthy.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Do you bring a stronaut.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Back who's really a career special teamer and filled it admirably,
But I think you got everything out of him and
more that you could ever hope for, and it was still,
you know, an aggressively mediocre type of linebacker. So I
think you addressed the linebacker and safety positions in free agency,
and then you address the rest of your needs in
the draft. I think that would be the most ideal
scenario and probably the most logical.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
Yeah, I'm with that. I think linebacker in safety, some
of these more mentally taxing positions kind of the closer
you get to the line of scrim or the ball,
the opposite of the line of scrimmage, the spine of
the offense and defense, I think, the more you kind
of want to target these veteran players who have that
mental acumen that's so hard to project going from the
(18:20):
college game to the pro game. There's some appealing linebacker
options there and safety options, and they are rooms that
just I think really need help. Going back to your point,
Mario about raising the overall floor of this roster, the
floor at safety, at linebacker, at tight end. As we
saw last year, was painfully low. There's options that shouldn't
(18:41):
be overly expensive, you know, in that kind of mid
tier that they were shopping in last offseason, that will
raise the floor at all those rooms. You know, a
guy like Jawan Johnson from the Saints, who isn't overly
exciting as a tight end, but knows the Sean Payton
offense will come in and be a sizable upgrade on
anything they had last year day one. And it makes
(19:02):
you not have to trade up for a Tyler Warren
or whatever in round one of the draft, because it's
not a glary need and you can kind of take
the draft as the board falls.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
To you, exactly.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
And I think that's what they're gonna do too, Zach.
It doesn't strike They don't strike me to be in
a situation where they're going to trade up for a player.
Everything is so expensive in the first round, and if
they are going up, it's probably gonna be for Warren, right.
And I know that there are so many Bronco fans
who are on this Tyler Warren or bus train, and
I would love to be there with you. But the
fact of the matter is he's just too good to
(19:36):
fall to twenty like, if he does, then that would
be fantastic, But you know what if you could fart
rainbows and ride him to a pot of gold. You know,
we just have to be pragmatic and smart about these
kind of things, and it's probably not going to happen.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
And judging in recent memory, especially as good of a.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Draft as they had last year where pretty much everybody
that they drafted had some sort of contribution to this team,
you're probably giving up a lot to move up in
the first round, and so you're kind of weighing your
options and wondering is it worth it to move up
five to six, seven, eight spots to draft a Tyler
Warren or like you said, Zach, do you let the
(20:14):
draft fall to you as it does, maybe trade back
a few times and secure more picks that seems more
in line.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
With what they are wanting to do.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
And if they trade up, it would be later in
the draft for a guy that's high on their board
that's slipping a la Troy Franklin, of course, and we'll
see how that pans out.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
As you start to it, I think we've been in
a rebuilding now and retooling and now really, like you
guys have been saying, raising the floor of this team.
We've been in this mode for so long where it's
been so many missing pieces where you want to fill
as many pieces as you can in an offseason. We're
getting to that point now with the Broncos where the
(20:52):
floor is going to be raised to a level where
you now are going to find a way or I
guess ask the question of separating yourself from the true
contenders and eventually it's gonna be Well, the Broncos just
don't have those elite level playmakers that the top contenders do.
Between wide receiver. Let's go between wide receiver, tight end,
(21:13):
and running back. And obviously when I bring in tight end,
I don't mean about a quality guy that's also you know,
elite level blocker. I'm talking about the game breaking tight
ends that that change in offense, Like like Rob Gronkowski
was telling me about at the at the Super Bowl,
between those three if you had to nail down one
of those three positions, that you could say the Broncos
get that next level elite playmaker on offense at one
(21:34):
of those three positions. If you can only pick one,
which would you do? You prefer that they get either
this offseason in any any way shape or for him, draft,
free agency, or trade.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Yeah, that's difficult. I think for me it's between running
back and tight end. You know, could your wide receiver
room be better, Yeah, of course, but you have a
lot of young talent there, and I think you know,
a guy like Bayle exceeded expectations. They figured out how
to use Marvin Mams, Courtland Sidon is Courtland Sidon Know,
it seems like no matter who's throwing him the ball,
his production just doesn't drop off. He's incredibly solid. Would
(22:06):
you like that bona fide number one wide receiver who
can actually break tackles after the catch.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Yeah, that would be nice.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
But I think as it is compared to the tight
end room in the running back room, the wide receiver
room is fine. You add a couple of pieces. Draft like,
this is a really deep wide receiver class. It's not
nearly as top heavy as last year, but I think
it's much deeper, and I think there are a lot
of really good role guys to be had, even like
in the fourth, fifth, and sixth round of this draft.
(22:32):
So for me personally, I'm saying running back. I think
if you look back historically at the Sean Payton offense.
He has a good run game, and you could tell
he wanted to try and run the ball, and you know,
some people might say that he abandoned the run too soon,
but the fact of the matter is Javonte Williams wasn't.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Averaging enough yards per care.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
You know, there were times when Jalil McLaughlin got going,
but he's not a belcow back who's going to get
twenty carries a game, you know, orodric estimate. They thought
so highly of him that he was benched in the
playoff game for a guy that hadn't played since Week
three or four, week four, I think so, I think
that should tell you everything you need to know.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Now.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Historically, Sean Payton doesn't love I guess playing rookie running backs.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Or at least that's what I was told.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
But I think you look at this run game, and
part of the reason that we should be so enamored
with bow Nicks is because they defaulted to him over
and over and over again because they couldn't establish the run.
So their run game kind of became these short to
intermediate passes, the swing passes that we saw to Mims
and to McLaughlin out of the backfield.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
So if you can establish.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Some sort of a run game and you bring in
like a truly good running back who changes the entire
dynamic of this offense, I think you can get away
with having a lower floor in the tight end position
because a good dynamic running back who can score from
every part of the field, like a Traveon Henderson can,
who is who I would be targeting in the second round.
I think that he makes a much bigger difference for
(23:57):
this kind of an offense than a tight end does.
I don't want that to seem like tight end is
not in need, because it absolutely is. I think they
combined for something like fifty yard fifty catches and four
hundred yards and just a handful of touchdowns, and that's
between like four different.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Dudes, and that's not going to cut it either.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
But I think running back, especially with the trend that
we see the NFL heading right now, how running backs
turns out are really important. And if you want to
look at the Super Bowl, as long as it's a
copycat league, everyone's talking about how you stop Mahomes, But
what was the biggest difference between those two offenses? The
Chiefs got to the point, and granted they were down
by a lot, but they never tried to establish the
(24:34):
run game. You know, It's not like the game for
a team like the Chiefs was completely out of hand
in the first half. We've seen them come back from
more in kind of similar situations, but they had no
running back that they could fall back on, and I
think that speaks to the importance of that position.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
I'm right there with you, man. Running back is number
one for me. And it's interesting because you obviously try
to figure out what Sean wants to do and if
he had that elite runner they acquire him. Again, there's
there's great options you mentioned in the draft camp. Scataboo's
an option. I think Ashton Jancey's gonna be too far
out of their reach. He's gonna go way too high
at this point, which is really unfortunate because Sean has
(25:09):
shown obviously, you know, the Alvin Kamaraz of the world
in the third round, but he's taken a shot in
the first. You know, he drafted mark Ingram in the
first round ironically in the twenties in twenty eleven, so
Uhan John could definitely do it go and get his guy.
But but running back for me is number one acquisition. You
gotta get that, you gotta get that next level tight end.
I think they're like you said, I think their wide
(25:30):
receiver room is pretty darn good. And Sean kind of
alluded that too. If you can find a way to
get the Rams to take a bulk of that Cooper
Cup contract, I'm not interested in debo. I think you
have debo in Marvin Mims. So for me, it's it's
it's running back and then it's tight end.
Speaker 4 (25:44):
Yeah, I thought I'll go different and say tight end.
I think running back is probably the practical answer, just
because I don't think there's an elite tight end out there. Well,
you know, you have an Ashton gent Traveon Henderson. You know,
the running back class has so many just really high
end prospects. That's probably the more practical route if you're
going to add one of these three. But I'll go
(26:05):
tight end just because you know, Mario highlighted how a
nept all these guys were as receivers, and they really were.
I mean Owen Daniels in the last season of his
career with old Man, Payton Manning, and Brock Oswiler throwing
him the ball had more receiving yards than Adam Troutman
has total over these last two years, combined in better
offenses than that twenty fifteen offense. So it is really
(26:27):
really dreadful in that tight end room in terms of
pass catching. But even in terms of blocking, I don't
think Troutman is an above average blocker for the tight
end position. I think he probably maxes out around average.
Nate Adkins is you're blocking specialist, and he's maybe like
a five point five out of ten on that scale,
and then good Lucas Kroll is a complete non factor.
(26:49):
He's a worse blocker than most of the receivers in
the room. I wouldn't be surprised if he's a worse
blocker than Marvin Mims. So much like running back, I
think has the potential to impact both the run and
pass game. I think if you were to add an
elite tight end to the premise of the question, if
George Kittle were to somehow fall in the Denver Broncos lap,
and you get what practically is or you know, a
(27:11):
bonus offensive lineman in the run game and a really dynamic,
reliable pass game target that bonux can rely on in
that kind of short intermedia area where he really thrives.
I think that would be ideal. And you know, just
as much of a force multipliers running back, if not
even more of one. I just don't think that guy's
out there right now. Unfortunately, even a guy like Tyler
(27:32):
Warren is a little raw and is probably going to
take a year or two to reach that truly elite tier.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Yeah, I'm with you, Zach, and that's part of the
reason that I kind of defer to running back. It's like, again,
if Tyler Warren is an option, I think that's the
noe brainer pick, but realistically it's not going to be there.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
I would be.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Shocked if he fell into the teams even and you
look deeper in this class. I think Elijah or Royo
is a guy that a lot of Bronco fans should
keep an eye on. I think his stock is going
to start rising. But then you kind of come to
this conundrum. Up, Well, I don't think he's a first
round talent or I don't think he's quite you know,
I don't think I could justify taking him at twenty,
(28:12):
but then he would probably be gone early second And
so do you make a move for him in the
second round to go get him. And I feel kind
of the same way about Colston Lovelin. I really like
Loveland as a pass catcher, but the blocking leaves a
little bit to be desired. So do you take a
guy like Colston Loveland at twenty again, I think.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
That's a little bit rich for my blood.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
But then I think it's safe to say that both
of those guys are gone by the Broncos second round pick.
So you're either trading up for one of those guys
in the second it doesn't cost you as much as
trading up in the first, or you reserve yourself for
you know, a Terrence Ferguson or a gun or Helm.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
I know there's.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
A lot a lot of talk about Harold fannin junior
and maybe I'm gonna get killed for this. I just
don't see it. I think he's incredibly one dimensional. I
think his size leads a lot to be desired as well,
and watching him move at this senior ball it was
a little bit confounding.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Of how he had this remarkable season.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
And I get it was against inferior competition and they
fed him the ball.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
There's clearly something there to it.
Speaker 1 (29:11):
But I just don't see the vision of Harold Fannin,
and he's you know, off my board in terms of
how it is with the Denver Broncos. Like I would
rather than go after a guy like Gerande Gatstan in
the fifth or sixth round than spend like a second
round pick on Harold Fannin.
Speaker 4 (29:26):
Yeah, the numbers are exciting with Fannin, but the prospect,
I mean he's getting bullied against, you know, in that
KNAC conference as a blocker and was a really really
productive receiver. But it's hard to to your point, kind
of figure out how that's going to translate to the NFL.
I I just don't see it. I don't I think
(29:47):
he probably would have been best served coming back to
college for a year and you know, playing like some
SEC ball or something and further refining his skills, you know,
maybe getting some more meat on those bones and then
showing he can stand up up to that fl physicality.
But yeah, he's just kind of an awkward athlete and
maybe he he makes a fool out of the two
of us, and he, you know, Nikola Jokic's his way
(30:09):
to being an amazing tight end. I will I'll happily
lose that bet, you know, if that's the way it goes,
darn you know, that's a bummer. But I don't want
to bet on him.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
Well, I will say generally, as we have as we
wind up closer to the draft, the best part is
the Broncos have another bevy of picks to do everything
all this with because George Main's going to work his
mach again, not just in free agency with the bargain
bin guys, but obviously they've got They've got majority of
their picks. They've got their own one, two, three, four,
They traded their five to the Dolphins, and they've got
their own six, another six from the Eagles, so they've
(30:43):
got all these picks once again to work their magic.
Because again people forget, I don't know how he could,
but George Payton just had a hell of a draft
class once again. Nick Gargulo in the seventh round really
was the only guy that really didn't make make a contribution.
But other than that, I mean, I want to see
instead of trading up and and losing some picks, I
want to see George work his magic again both free
agency and the draft. So it's exciting times once again,
(31:06):
I will say the grand scheme of things I am
intrigued in terms of bargain beIN hunting via getting a
guy you mentioned the name Zach that's obviously intriguing. George Kittle,
a guy that's either whether it be either age or
have have has dealt with injury his career. Obviously Debo
Cooper Cups had some injuries. But there's I feel like
there's a guy out there and just at least one
(31:27):
a big name that either via health or or decline
that I think you can bargain beIN shop in the
way of a way of that form that that that
intrigues me to to bring him to Denver. So there's
a couple different names of who that who that could be,
but I I feel like there's a there's a guy
out there that the Broncos have a way to maximize
(31:48):
here in Denver. Like I said, whether it be UH
be a trade or or get a guy that gets
let go UH in free agency.
Speaker 4 (31:54):
I think of the John Franklin Myers deal last year,
you know, talking about using those picks to add talent,
you know they he did that with John Franklin Myers
and he was a super valuable contributor for the Broncos
this season. I think a guy that might make sense
to your point, maybe a guy like Mark Andrews, who
you know the Ravens have Isaiah likely waiting there in
the wings. Mark Andrews, you know, had a slow, like
(32:16):
first two games of the year, obviously had a really
rough showing in the playoffs, that middle hunk. He was
another really good tight end, one of the better, you
know ten tight ends in the league. And to our
point about how rough that room was in the past.
Adding even at the tail end of his career, a
guy like Mark Andrews, who is a plus blocker and
a plus receiver still I think would make a serious
(32:39):
difference for this offense. And he shouldn't cost too too
much to acquire in terms of like picks.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
Definitely, and I think that's the biggest thing to look at.
I don't even have any specific games.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
I'ven't dealt that deep into it, and I think, you know,
we're going to see some releases, We're going to see
teams make certain guys available, and you know it could
have been during the draft you mentioned John Franklin Myers.
I don't think he was on anybody's radar, and then
when it happened and they basically, you know, take a
John Franklin Myers for a six round pick, that might
have been the best quote unquote draft pick that they
(33:12):
made outside of Bone Nicks from a value standpoint. So
I don't want to get bogged down into any specifics.
I think that there's certain and certainly an opportunity, but
a rod I know you had mentioned guys like Cooper Cup,
guys like Deebo Samuel. Robbie over at LTB actually put
together a really nice article and went through a ton
of film and he actually sold me on Deebo Samuel
(33:34):
a little bit. I know the health is challenging, and
it seems like, you know, if he puts together a
full NFL season that he's incredibly good, but he's very
up and down. If they can get some sort of
consistency there, then I would be on board with it.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
But I think as long as you're not giving up too.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
Much, and that seems to be the problem because at
the end of the day, he's still Deebo Samuel. Everybody's
aware of what he's able to do. He could fill
that joker role, and I know I've seen some people
kind of say, oh, well, we don't need Deebo Samuel
because we have Marvin Mims. It's like, yeah, that's like
when you were going out as a kid for McDonald's
and you tell your mom like, hey, I want McDonald's
and she says, I don't need McDonald's. We have McDonald's
(34:12):
at home. And it's not a slight against Marvin Mims.
But he is not the same kind of player as
Deebo Samuel, and it's not an indictment.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
They're just in incredibly different players.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
And if Marvin Mims was really the joker we're going
to use that term again, then I'm pretty sure Sean
Payton wouldn't have said that they need to find a
joker if that was in fact Marvin Mims. And so
does Deebo Samuel even fill that void. I don't know,
because again, nobody knows what the hell a joker is.
When he ripped off all of the names in the
Saints' Lord that had been jokers, not one of them
(34:44):
was a wide receiver if I'm remembering crazy. But then again,
Deebo Samuel's not really your your true wide receiver. So
if you want to say that you don't want Deebo
Samuel because you have Marvin Mimms. I think that there's
you know, something to that, but it shouldn't deter you
from a player of Deebo say Amiel's caliber. As long
as you're not over paying for him. That is going
to be the theme of this entire offseason. They were
(35:06):
so pragmatic in what they did last year, and mostly
because they had to be, but they were able to
put together a really good team bargain ben shopping. So
I think no longer they at the dollar General, they're
at the five dollars store. You know, they're not going
to you know, these hoity toity stores like like Nieman
Marcus or Nordstrom, but they're a step up from the
(35:27):
dollar store and that's where they're going to be targeting
free agency. So a guy like Cooper Cup to me,
makes more sense from a financial standpoint if you can say,
all right, we'll give you a fifth round pick, give
us a twenty twenty sixth, sixth or seventh in return,
you know, we'll kind of split his salary so that
we're not giving up too much for him. And again,
as long as you're not overpaying for him. You're finding
(35:47):
guys that are raising the floor, but I don't think
that they're going to make the moves that will take
the top off, especially on the offensive side of the
ball in free agency.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
That's going to be done in the draft.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
I don't think I'm anti Debo. I think I'm just
more pro other options. I definitely don't think they're the
same player. But there's enough to me, enough redundancies, just enough,
bare minimum amount of enough that make me want to
go elsewhere. Like what what Sean could do with Cooper
Cup on the slot intrigues the hell out of me,
especially if it's very heavy emphasis on if you can
(36:18):
get which I heard that they will. They were willing
to take some if you can get them to take
a significant money that'd be in the rams. That intrigues
me a lot. But but as Ryan down here, I
got two more names for I want to throw out
well here, First, Zach, did you want to find a
point on Deebo really quick?
Speaker 4 (36:31):
I'm a little more pro Debo than you guys, I
think now, I do think there's a point on the overlap.
You know, it's a mixed bag. Mims will have some
of his touches cannibalized by Deebo Samuel. But Deebo Samuel
is a four or five guy with thirty pounds on Mims.
Despite them being the same height, Mims runs more of
like a four three five forty, So they're just they
(36:54):
are different types of players. Samuel can use, you know,
between the hashes more. But I think part of the
reason it's so appealing is some of those recent inconsistencies
in him missing games and his production not quite being
the same is the result of he had pneumonia last
year and he missed one week and then came back.
But as Mario or Jedi of the human body, who can,
(37:15):
I'm sure tell you pneumonia isn't a thing that or
just these NFL players in general, just because they come
back from an injury one week doesn't mean they're like
back to one hundred percent pure athleticism, especially when we're
talking about like fluid in your lungs, you know, and
trying to come back from that. After you know, four
weeks or so from the pneumonia, he was back to
producing at an elite level. And even if you look
(37:38):
at his season long numbers and don't you know, account
for any disease or whatever. You take his season long
numbers as they are, he was a top ten weapon
in terms of yards after they catch over expectation still,
and that's what you're signing the guy for. I think
that elite trade is still there in his game.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
Well, not only chat a little bit about you was
looking up this this interesting stayer. But I want to
as we wrap up here, I want one more question.
Two more names that come to mind, and that is
calling our good buddy over now with the New York Jets,
Darren Mugie, the new general manager for the Jets, George
Payton obviously knows extremely well. Two more names. Do you think, Mario,
(38:19):
the Broncos should give a call to their target Breeze Hall,
Garrett Wilson, both or neither.
Speaker 2 (38:26):
I mean, yeah, you you certainly make the call. Uh.
Speaker 1 (38:30):
Garrett Wilson still on his rookie contract. I think Breece
Holl is still on his rookie contract. Those I mean,
those would be blockbuster trades.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (38:39):
And and and obviously I see as a Broncos fan
and and supporter, wanting to add those guys. But then,
if you're looking over at the Jets side, you know
they're not just gonna give you their two best offensive weapons,
especially when their quarterback situation is so influx, and especially
when they're on their rookie deals. You know, it's like, oh, well,
we could we could have the uh, you know, the
(39:00):
offensive rookies of the year and guys who were respectively
probably top five, top ten at their position, and they're
still both incredibly young.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
I think they're both under twenty five. Or we get
traded for.
Speaker 1 (39:11):
Draft picks and hope that we draft guys who are
just as good as them. So yeah, I think you're
absolutely making a call as the Denver Broncos, and I
think if you're able to secure both of those in
some way, shape or form, both of those guys, then yeah,
I think you do what you have to do to
make it happen. But you know, again, it takes two
(39:31):
to tango, and it just would be so bizarre to
me for the Jets to let go of one of,
if not both, of those players. And I know, you know,
part of the problem with this whole Nicole or Luga
Dancics trade is now everybody thinks that any sort of
insane trade can happen.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
It's not that crazy, So.
Speaker 1 (39:50):
I want everybody to shift back into reality and realize that, yeah,
the Jets are down on their luck. They're not a
good team, They're a poorly run organization. They happen for
a really long time, and you're really cementing that notion
if you are trading by far your two best players
and two of the best weapons in the entire league.
Remember a Broncos standpoint, Hell yeah, give me both of
(40:10):
them whatever it costs to take advantage.
Speaker 3 (40:13):
From the Garrett Wilson perspective, if he does, what leads
me to believe is if he if he wants out.
I think a lot of it was was Aaron Rodgers.
So now that they're obviously they're they're moving on from Aaron,
that maybe Garrett Wilson they can convince to stay in
the building, especially with Aaron Glenn, who seems to be
like a really really high quality head coach, high quality
character guy as well. So I think there's a pretty
damn good chance a they convinced gar Wilson be part
(40:34):
of what they've got coming up. And then obviously I
think a Breesehall. I think Breestall will be obviously easier
to acquire injury history as well, but but but I'm
with you. I mean, they're both dream scenarios. I just
think what got me initially thinking of it was was
Garrett wanting out, But now I think that's that's I mean,
it never was he was official anyway, But now that
Aaron's gone, it probably less likely.
Speaker 4 (40:53):
I agree. I think it does seem like he really
wanted out if Rogers was back. Rodgers being gone probably
is going to make it hard to pry him from
their hands. I think Breace Hall is a more realistic
option that you guys are giving it credit for. Yes,
he's a very good player, but I don't think he
was as dynamic last season as he was pre ACL injury.
(41:15):
The ACL injury also might make the Jets want to
move off him, and they drafted Braylan Allen last year
with solid compensation, and Braylan Allen looked great in a
limited workload, to where if you're a Jets team looking
to rebuild, you've got Breece Hall in one year left
on his deal, and you already feel like you've got
some solid backup options in the wings with Abaconda as
(41:38):
well as Braylan Allen, why not maybe trade Breas Hall
for a second round pick. I think there's probably a
good chance they let him walk in free agency. Anyways,
after the twenty twenty five season, they're probably not going
to be all that competitive in twenty twenty five, you know,
why not make that deal? That said, you know, where
(41:58):
did Aaron Glenn come from? The Detroit Lions? A team
with two great running backs is kind of their offensive foundation.
So he might not want to part with one of
those two good backs. But I I think if you
offered like a decent mid round pick, maybe you miss
out on Henderson and gent and all those top options
in the draft. You know, maybe for a third round
pick or a second round I'm probably dreaming a bit
(42:19):
there with the third, but maybe for some you know,
second third round pick or something, you're able to get
the Jets interested.
Speaker 3 (42:25):
We're in the time now. It's fun to get ahead
of themselves. It's fun to get ahead of ourselves as
Broncos fans a little bit, because we're in that mode
now where you've got the quarterback, you're now wanting to
get the weapons you wanted to shape up a team
that can really really contend, not just in the AFC,
but in the NFL. Overall. As we wrap up here,
Mario only got amend the mental left here, I want
to ask you one more time here. I know we
front ended it here, I want to chat with you
(42:45):
about what you guys got going on again with less
top Broncos outitude adjustment, Any any fun guests coming up,
an any interesting pods coming up? Or is there anything
else you want to want to tell the people about.
Speaker 1 (42:55):
Yeah, we actually have a lot of stuff coming up,
but we will announce those things like kind of as
they happened. We have a lot of really good guests
coming down the pike, but I'm just gonna go ahead
and tease it. It's gonna be, but I assure you
that you will want to tune in when we have
said guests. There's gonna be a lot of draft coverage
over the entire network altitude adjustment included. And there will
(43:18):
also be the second annual Let's Talk Broncos Draft party
the first night of the draft, and as soon as
we get some of those details solidified, we are going
to make an official announcement.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
But go ahead and clear your schedules for that.
Speaker 1 (43:32):
It was an absolute blast last year, even though we
had no idea what we were doing this year. We
have something to go off of and it's going to
be bigger, it's going to be better, and there's rumors
that there will be a Joey Richards cardboard cutout. So
if for no other reason, I think that would be
enough to entice at least the female population to show up.
Speaker 3 (43:51):
Yes, yes, put that right along with the Big Knicks
Energy hoodie and T shirts. You can get an altitude
adjustment shop dot com. He is Mario Fanzy at the
Tansi Therapy on x formally known as Twitter. You can
also follow along all of a stuff. You just search
up the Tansi Therapy Mario a Tansy on the Google
Machine or any other social platform. You're gonna find all
of his good stuff, all this stuff he does with
let's talk Broncos altitude adjustment again. Book your session if
(44:14):
you want to be healed. I cannot say that loud enough.
Mario much appreciate you coming on ad Z, my friend.
Speaker 2 (44:21):
Appreciate you having me. It was a blast. Guy's well done.
Speaker 3 (44:24):
Thank you. He is Mario along with Zach a Z
covering it from A to Z each in every pod
Until next time, We'll catch you all though a little
bit of flip
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.