While keeping some stability on the offensive side of the ball may seem likely in certain circumstances, there are few, if any circumstances where we can picture retaining any of the defensive coaching staff.  Their crimes include surrendering over 400 points a year over the past two years, and taking a situation in 2007 that could only be described as "rock bottom" and bashing their heads against it until they broke through to defensive hell.

To continue the process of evaluating which coaches are free men, on parole, or sentenced to life, we'll next take a look at a rag-tag lineup of criminal minds and their accomplices, brought before the MHR jury by the crack team of MHR Special Investigators.  They were on the run for two years before they got caught, but the "Great Heist of '08" proved to be their undoing, as they attempted to steal the last jewels of self-respect from a tradition that began with the Orange Crush.

Lets meet these Defensive Schemers.

Bob Slowik, Defensive Coordinator

A former defensive back at University of Delaware, Slowik got his start with the Broncos by working with Shanny at Florida.  He worked on the opposite side of the ball coaching the secondary, but a friendship would form that would start a common theme throughout Slowik's career:  following his friends. He broke into the NFL by  joining highschool teammate Dave Wannstedt on the Cowboys defensive coaching staff, acting as an assistant, and then followed the soon to be much maligned Wannstedt to Chicago where he was promoted all the way to defensive coordinator.

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The hunt for a new Sheriff has got this dusty ol' cowtown we call MHR pretty focused, but as the search draws on, it is going to become apparent that we still have a lot of "inside" business to take care of as well, not the least of which will be an evaluation of the current coaching staff.  Bowlen will want reports on their performance, and no doubt the new Sheriff will want to review his "Deputies" when he gets to town.

To start the process off, here is an introduction to the staff, starting with the Most Wanted, a group badguys who strike fear in the hearts of defensive Fort Knoxs throughout the league, threatening to break the bank and rob the stage for a fist full of points every week.

Lets meet the Offensive Gang.

The Ringleader

A former standout linebacker for the Broncos, Dennison joined the Broncos’ coaching staff in 1995 after spending the previous three years coaching at the high school level for Suffield Academy in Suffield, Conn. He served for two years in Denver as an offensive assistant (1995-96), providing quality control work and assistance of all types to the offensive coaching staff before being promoted to special teams coach on Feb. 12, 1997.

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Its a condition that you can get used to.

Like a sailor drenched to the bone, yet always thirsty, the fires that the Broncos have lit this year to warm them are a bizarre form of torture, scorching them on one side while the other side freezes.

The great play of our undrafted rookie LB is a boon that forces us to play an unsound 4-4 alignment that our own Hoosierteacher labels "a gimmick run at the professional level."  Our QB's immaculate gifts steer the team amongst the reefs of shipwreck as often as they steer us clear.  When our best defensive players return to the field, our defense plays worse than when they were gone.

Even when this team sweats they shiver.

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This is it!  All the voting comes down today in an effort to get our guy onto the list of starters!  Noon today is the deadline, and time is flying.

Make one last trip to the ballots and give it everything you got!

On the Seventh day of Clady... 

Ryan Clady #78

Clady Bowl 2009!  Let's make it happen!

We are closing in on H-Hour C-Day, so crack those knuckles get all the lint and hair out off your optical mouse's eye and get ready to start clicking!

The appeal that I have saved for last is what I figure to be the most important:  voting Clady to the Pro Bowl will be felt by more people than just Clady.  To wit:

The oline coaching staff, including Rick Dennison.  These guys have done an unbelievable job getting our guys ready to play, and they have turned a likely weakness into the greatest strength of this team.  A unit where more than half of the line represents less than 20% of the total experience, this group had as much right as anyone to make youthful mistakes and be inconsistent, and they haven't indulged.  Thank you coaches.  This ones for you.

Shanahan and the personnell office, especially Jim Goodman.  I don't think Mr. Goodman had to show Shanny much tape to convince him that Clady was the guy, but he still deserves a lot of credit for not overlooking a smallschool prospect with underrrated talent.  And Shanny probably had to bite his knuckles a few times when thinking about some of the early RBs that would be available, and settle on cementing LT for years to com.  Thank you personnell guys.  This one is for you.

The bruised and battered running back corp.  Any one of the 7 backs who have had a chance to tote the rock could have let this line down, and every one of them refused.  They have all stepped up and taken advantage of the hard work that our oline unit has put in to even the playing field despite our setbacks.  They honor the work of our oline when they play the way they have.  Thank you Legion of the Damned.  This one is for you.

Lastly, most importantly, the entire Oline, Ben Hamilton, Casey Weigmann, Chris Kuper, and Ryan Harris.  The oline, especially in Denver, works as a unit, and none of these guys is any less deserving of the honor of their peers than Clady is.  As they have gone, so has he.  He has played well feeding the entire line, but he feeds off of them and relies on them too, so it would be remiss of us not to honor them.  That is what this vote can do.  Clady can represent the entire oline in the person of a talented, respectful, professional, intelligent and hardworking individual.  Thank you Broncos oline.

This one is for you.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR RYAN CLADY -- PRO BOWL