Rookie quarterback Brock Osweiler played in five games his rookie season, mostly handing the ball off in the game’s waning moments. It wasn’t until the Denver Broncos’ regular-season finale that Osweiler attempted a pass, finishing the season 2-of-4 passing for 12 yards.

But we never expected to see much of Osweiler in 2012, and if we did, that meant Peyton Manning wasn’t playing.

In the team’s end-of-season press conference nearly three weeks ago, executive vice president of football operations John Elway and head coach John Fox each gave Osweiler their endorsement, saying the rookie quarterback has the skills to be Manning’s successor-whenever that happens.

New offensive coordinator Adam Gase, the Broncos’ former quarterbacks coach, agrees, telling DenverBroncos.com:

“He really prepared as though he was going in the next snap and he really went out of his way to make sure that when we talked about things, his release point, the way he dropped, his balance as a passer, his progressions, he really pushed himself to do those things right.”

Osweiler started training camp as the Broncos’ No. 3 quarterback behind Manning and Caleb Hanie, but moved up to backup before the 2012 season. Osweiler dressed for every game, while Hanie was often not active on game day. The Broncos were confident in having only two quarterbacks available.

The Denver Broncos are confident in Brock Osweiler. (personal photo)

Still, we know the Broncos will have probably four quarterbacks at training camp and three on the final roster. That’s just how it’s done.

What does this mean for Hanie and the Broncos? Maybe nothing. Maybe something. I’m not sure if Hanie has a future in the NFL, but that’s merely my opinion. If he’s hoping for more playing time, it won’t happen here. If he’s content being the No. 3 guy, that’s a different story.

Other Headlines:

• Bleacher Report: Denver Broncos: 5 Players That Should Go Before the 2013 Season
• Denver Broncos: Bailey, Miller to Visit Troops in Afghanistan
• Rant Sports: Peyton Manning Should Win NFL MVP

Coming up later today on DHF, I cast my vote – a vote that doesn’t count in any real balloting – for the NFL awards that will be announced this weekend: MVP, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, etc.

I’ll share my picks and see how they stack up against the rest of the Aerys Sports NFL contingent.

Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @DENHorseForce and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce.

Nearly two weeks later, and the comparisons rage on.

I recently tackled the question of “Which playoff loss was worse: Jacksonville or Baltimore?”

Saturday was painful because the Broncos by many accounts did enough to win, but managed to make just enough mistakes to not. Many could say that makes it worse than 1996 when the Denver Broncos were just outplayed. It’s a valid point, but I think we have to remember the broader context of 1996.

The Jacksonville game came at a time where the conversation had begun about how much longer Elway would be around. When Denver earned home field after a stellar 13-3 season a narrative emerged of finally getting that Super Bowl for Elway. The Broncos had not been in such an opportune position for five years, and with the clock ticking on Elway’s career it seemed this could very well be the team’s last best shot.

Yes, the Ravens divisional-round loss hurt, but the Jaguars loss during the 1996 playoffs was worse. Of course, we know what happened the following season for Denver. The Broncos, fueled by the postseason embarrassment of 1996, won the Super Bowl.

And then Denver won the Super Bowl again. The following year. For good measure.

But the questions remains: Can the 2013 Denver Broncos do the same?

The Denver Post’s Mark Kiszla writes:

 While Denver has established the talent base of a legitimate contender, the Broncos must approach next season as if it is their last, best shot to win the NFL title.

The above is perhaps the best one-sentence summary of how the team must approach 2013. It’s a mantra that hopefully players think about daily – from now until February 2014.

The 1997 Denver Broncos laid out a blueprint for the 2013 team, but that path is no guarantee we’ll see a similar result. Bottom line: A lot of things have to go well, be it luck or good fortune, not to mention the league has changed.

Other Headlines:

• Denver Broncos: (VIDEO) Practicing for the Pro Bowl means Peyton Manning gets additional on-field time with Adam Gase and Greg Knapp to get a jump on next season.
• The Denver Post: NFL and college football intersect at Senior Bowl
• The Denver Post: Broncos offense to strive for more power; defense to seek help at MLB
• Mile High Report: 2013 NFL Free Agency: Should the Denver Broncos trade for Revis?
• Predominantly Orange: History Says Broncos’ Fans Have Much To Look Forward To

Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @DENHorseForce and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce.

Still a little bitter?

Yep, same here.

Sports Authority Field was quiet Sunday, as were the nearby parking lots. No tailgating. No rowdy fans. No United In Orange fever.

The first week of the Denver Broncos offseason is officially behind us.

Paige: Take a knee? It’s still the wrong decision by Broncos (The Denver Post)

There should be a sign at the football stadium: “No Game Today.”

Because the Broncos went down not trying.

While the Ravens and the Patriots meet in New England, the Broncos sit, not play, at home Sunday.

Their guitar gently weeps.

Forever linked in infamy in Broncos lore will be the phrases “Half-A-Loaf” and “Take-A-Knee.” Continue reading >>>>

Broncos’ Rahim Moore has good company among Colorado sports “goats” (The Denver Post)

There is fame and there is fortune. And then there is failure. Epic public failure.

Broncos safety Rahim Moore discovered that in the blink of an eye. When he failed to knock down Joe Flacco’s game-tying, 70-yard bomb to Jacoby Jones in last Saturday’s AFC playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Moore became part of Colorado sports infamy, his name forever linked to one of the lowest moments in Broncos history.  Continue reading >>>>

 Other Headlines:

• The Denver Post - Mike McCoy, back in Denver, talks about leaving Broncos for Chargers
• Rant Sports - Denver Broncos QB Coach Adam Gase “Perfect” Choice For Offensive Coordinator
• Predominantly Orange - John Elway Has Midas Touch On Denver Broncos
• Mile High Report - 2013 NFL Draft: Defensive Tackle Production Ratio

Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @DENHorseForce and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce.

It was reported late last night the Denver Broncos would name their new offensive coordinator before the weekend.

And by Thursday morning, it was a done deal.

The Broncos have promoted quarterbacks coach Adam Gase to offensive coordinator. Gase has been with the Broncos since 2009 and replaces Mike McCoy, who was hired Tuesday as the new head coach of the San Diego Chargers.

Read Adam Gase’s bio >>>>

Gase is an internal hire, so he’s already familiar with players, coaches, and management. Only 34, Gase has been in the NFL since 2005, though this will be his first time as offensive coordinator.

Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt was rumored as a strong candidate to replace McCoy.

Gase’s promotion is the second Broncos coaching move made this week. Denver named Cory Undlin as its new secondary coach Tuesday after announcing Ron Milus’ contract would not be renewed. Undlin served as Broncos defensive quality control coach in 2012.

Learn more about Cory Undlin >>>>

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49ers-Broncos preseason game: Things Denver wants to see (and not see) - The Broncos will likely offer their last preseason look at the majority of their starters Sunday afternoon against the San Francisco 49ers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.  The 49ers were a fumbled punt away from the Super Bowl last season, a power-first team that finished No. 1 in run defense and No. 1 in turnover margin (plus-28). San Francisco is also one of the teams, despite coach Jim Harbaugh’s public protest over semantics, that worked out Peyton Manning this past March in hopes of signing him.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>>

Special teams could be David Bruton’s safety net for spot with Broncos - When Jeff Rodgers arrived in Denver as the Broncos’ new special-teams coordinator on John Fox’s staff in 2011, he couldn’t help noticing David Bruton on game video.  ”It jumps off the tape immediately how fast he is,” Rodgers said. “On kickoff-return coverage, I don’t know if there has been a kickoff in the last three years where he’s not been the first guy down the field.”  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>>

Former Rams coach likes what he sees from Broncos QBs coach Adam Gase - Fox NFL analyst Mike Martz, a former Rams coach, attended Friday’s practice and got a good look at quarterbacks coach Adam Gase, whom Martz helped get his start in NFL coaching. Gase was an offensive quality control assistant and quarterbacks coach when Martz was the Lions’ offensive coordinator from 2006-07. They also worked together in 2008 with San Francisco.  Read more from the Denver Post >>>>>

Catching Up with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman - On Saturday, NFL on FOX’s No. 1 broadcast crew of Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver watched practice at Dove Valley in preparation for the Broncos-49ers preseason tilt.  The game, scheduled for a 2 p.m. MDT Sunday kickoff, will be nationally televised on FOX. In advance of the game, Buck and Aikman took time to talk with DenverBroncos.com about their thoughts on Denver’s preseason, what they’ll be looking for on Sunday and how they believe the Broncos will fare in 2012.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>> 

Earning Their Spot - There are 88 players on the Broncos’ active roster. By Aug. 27, that number must be cut to 75. At the start of September, only 53 players will remain on the team.  The coaching staff has made it clear this offseason that very few players are promised a place on the team. But every single one of them is promised is a chance to earn their spot.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>> 

Notebook: Establishing Depth in the Backfield - One of the biggest stories of the Broncos’ 2011 season was the team’s league-leading rushing attack.  Starting running back Willis McGahee is coming off a career year and Denver also returns Lance Ball, the second-most productive player in the Broncos backfield last season. Behind an offensive line currently missing only one starter from last season, those backs alone would justify high expectations for the running game.  Read more from Denver Broncos >>>> 

Denver Broncos Finally Have Stability at QB? Believe Brock Osweiler Is Elway 2.0 - The Denver Broncos have been looking for John Elway’s replacement at quarterback for more than a decade now. In this year’s draft, John Elway himself believes he’s finally found the guy: Brock Osweiler.  Since Elway’s retirement after the Denver Broncos’ second consecutive Super Bowl Championship, the Broncos have had 12 different starters, almost one every season.  Read more from Bleacher Report >>>>

ESPN projects Broncos to make Super Bowl - The September issue of ESPN The Magazine is now available on newsstands and online.  An NFL Preview edition, the mag features playoff picks and predictions by ESPN contributors—and they apparently think highly of the 2012 Denver Broncos.  Read more from BroncoTalk >>>>

Denver Broncos: What To Watch For in Preseason Week Three - The Denver Broncos are welcoming the San Francisco 49ers to Sports Authority Field at Mile High this Sunday at 4pm ET, in which will be the biggest and final true test before game one when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers.  This match-up will feature most, if not all, starters playing into the third quarter and promises to shed some light on the final spots left for grabs on the 53-man roster.  It will be interesting to watch the further development of Peyton Manning and the offense against a formidable defense that was number two in the NFL in 2011.  Read more from Rant Sports >>>>

Should Denver Bronco Fans Be Concerned About Peyton Manning’s Performance? - The NFL is a 365 days a year league. There are always stories developing every day.  When one ends, another one begins.  Peyton Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen.  Manning coming to the Mile High city brings many expectations. With high expectations can often come high disappointment. Many have criticized Manning’s performance’s thus far with a few different worries. Arm strength and interceptions being among the most vocal.  Read more from Mile High Report >>>>

Broncos’ Peyton Manning takes Jack Del Rio’s son under his wing - Broncos QB Peyton Manning wanted to pay it forward.  In the early 1990s, Manning was an impressionable high-schooler, and his father Archie’s connections helped bring him to the New Orleans Saints’ practice field, where then-coach Jim Mora let him sit in on team meetings, attend practice, throw to their receivers and even take a few snaps against a formidable defense.  ”(That) may have been as nervous as I’ve ever been in my entire life,” Manning said. “I was in there looking across at Pat Swilling and some of these guys and I was just 17 years old, which was great experience for me going to college.”  Read more from CBS Sports >>>>

Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @DENHorseForce and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce.

This time a week ago, we were tracking a Broncos- affiliated plane from Centennial to Stillwater to Miami to Stillwater and back to Centennial again.

That was the unofficial kickoff to Manning Watch.

That same Broncos plane is now bound for Raleigh, North Carolina for another meeting with Peyton Manning.  Multiple sources report Manning will work out for the Broncos.  Manning is visiting coach David Cutcliffe at Duke University, scene of the recent “leaked” throwing video.

The Broncos contingent includes Brian Xanders, John Elway, John Fox, offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, quarterbacks coach Adam Gase, and a medical team, according to NFL Network’s Albert Breer.

NFL insiders caution Friday’s workout does not mean a deal with Denver is imminent; if anything, the Broncos want – and deserve – to see Manning in action, and similar meetings with other contenders could or have already happened.

Of course, if Manning somehow finds himself on the flight back to Centennial, then yeah, the Broncos are probably atop the list – especially if Manning is wearing a navy and orange hat.

Does Peyton have one of these yet?

With Miami now out of the running, Denver is believed to be one of three finalists for Manning, along with Tennessee and Arizona.  Manning met with Arizona last weekend, and spent Wednesday with the Titans.

Sources said last week Manning was hoping to make a decision before Tuesday’s start of free agency.  Manning is perhaps methodical to a fault, so it’s not too surprising that “deadline” has come and passed.  ESPN Radio in Denver tweeted Thursday a Broncos insider thought Manning would decide by 2:00 p.m. MT Friday, which adds a level of intrigue – as if that was lacking – to Friday’s meeting.

Track the flight HERE.

UPDATE: Michael Lombardi of NFL Network reports that Peyton will also throw for the Titans, though no date has been set, suggesting Manning Watch will last a little bit longer.

Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @DENHorseForce and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce.

Leave it to Oakland to foil the best laid plans.

Dennis Allen is now settling into his new role as Raiders head coach, but let’s still evaluate his performance as defensive coordinator in what was his lone season with the Broncos.

At least the Broncos acted quickly in finding his replacement – ex-Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio.  Here’s hoping he sticks around…

Just in case you missed it: DHF’s report card on John Fox.

Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen:  The Broncos’ 2010 defense ranked 32nd overall – dead last – surrendering 29.4 points a game.  The rush defense was porous (ranked 31st, and there was no pressure on the quarterback whatsoever (32nd in sacks).

A defensive coordinator's best friend? A star player like Elvis Dumervil. (courtesy Jeffrey Beall)

Under Allen, the Broncos defense improved statistically across the board, finishing 20th overall, but that doesn’t tell the entire story.  During the team’s six-game winning streak, the defense did its job: limit the opponent’s scoring.

The average: 17-points a game.

The defense routinely made clutch stops, key tackles, and recovered even bigger turnovers, putting the Broncos’ low-scoring offense in position to win the game.

Record: 6-0

The addition of rookie stud linebacker Von Miller and return of 2009 sack leader Elvis Dumervil, now playing defensive end in the 4-3, are just what the Broncos need: a pair of Pro Bowl anchors to build a team around.

Allen tinkered with the secondary’s lineup for much of the season, and the result was a mixed bag.  It’s an obvious trouble spot to focus on this offseason, as is the ongoing defensive line experiment.  Again, a mixed bag there.

Del Rio has a solid foundation to build on, but adding talent at weak positions is paramount.  Also paramount is not disrupting the defensive unit too much by ushering in a drastically different system.

Final Grade: B  

Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy: Oh, Mike. You’re lauded and vilified at the same time.

Fox is quick to give immense credit to McCoy for his midseason revamp of the Broncos offense.  That’s unheard of in the NFL, yet McCoy redesigned plays and schemes to showcase the unique qualities of Tim Tebow.

Yeah, but…

McCoy also drew the ire of fans thanks to his penchant for conservative play-calling.  Think about all those three-and-outs…the glaring lack of desire to throw on first down…the over-reliance on establishing a running game, which was sometimes successful, sometimes not.

Tim Tebow: Mike McCoy's muse. (personal photo)

That predictable Tebow-in-shotgun, option-centric offense worked wonderfully for a few games, but defenses adapted quickly.  Despite his midseason playbook adjustment, McCoy seemingly struggled to make any in-game adjustments.  What we saw in the first series was often what we saw for 60 minutes.  The only difference appeared to be that opposing defenses were tired by the fourth quarter.

Tebow’s development as a passer will be closely monitored this offseason, and unlike last season, Tebow has the benefit of working with Denver’s coaches to hone his skills.  McCoy will inevitably play a role in Tebow’s progression, which should hopefully provide the added insight for McCoy to once again give that playbook an overhaul – this time to incorporate more throws.

For all the talk of conservative play-calling, and perhaps sheltering Tebow a little too much, McCoy deserves a lot of credit for how he responded to the quarterbacking mania.  One thing we saw a lot of with this Broncos team was shots of Tebow on the sideline, bracketed by QB coach Adam Gase and McCoy.  The three did a lot of in-game communicating, and during the winning streak, a lot of post-game celebrating…together.  McCoy’s been on the staff since Tebow arrived which has to make him the best offensive coordinator in the league when it comes to realistically gauging what Tebow can, and can’t, do with the Broncos offense come the 2012 season.

As John Elway famously said in January, it’s time for Tim to “pull the trigger.”

Final Grade: B-

Up next, DHF evaluates John Elway, who just wrapped up his first season in the Broncos’ front office.

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