John Elway, the unquestioned leader of the Denver Broncos from the front office side, spoke with the media on Thursday, the eve of the team’s 2015 training camp.
One of the topics included was how Peyton Manning – one of the greatest passing quarterbacks, who revolutionized the use of the no-huddle attack – will work within Gary Kubiak’s run-first offense.
“No. 1, we’re going to have good balance on the offensive side,” Elway began. “At the end of my career my best friend was the running game. I think that running game will be Peyton’s best friend also.
“There was never ever a thought in my mind this wasn’t going to work,” Elway continued.
Elway’s job, like a gourmet chef, is to take individual pieces and combine them in just the right way to create something special. His main ingredient was Manning, added in 2012 and aging like a fine wine. Now, there’s Kubiak as the head coach, another important ingredient when it comes to cooking up a championship team; can the two compliment one another or be a harsh contrast?
“He’s been the best in the business in doing it (calling audibles) for many, many years,” Kubiak said of Manning on Thursday. “This offseason was…about getting on the same page…I think we just add it (audibles) to the playbook.”
Kubiak added, “Yes, I’ll very much be involved in calling the game.”
For Kubiak, who said he can’t wait for it to be tomorrow and the start of camp, having the opportunity to coach a third Hall of Fame quarterback must make him giddy. In 1994, he was the quarterbacks coach for offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers and their southpaw slinger Steve Young. Then came coaching Elway from 1995-1998, and now, Peyton.
“I think as coaches I remember having the conversations we’re having now, having with John,” Kubiak said of similar talks with Peyton near the end of his career as with Elway in the late 90s. “I think he (Manning) responded really well in the offseason to not practicing every day…I think it’ll be good for him, good for the team…We’ve got a plan in place and we’ll stick to that plan but I know he’s ready to go.”
For Manning, who basically held the reins of the Broncos offense the last three years, things have changed. Kubiak is in charge when it comes to the day-to-day operation of the team; even if Manning wants to practice every day, he won’t because the head coach sees the importance of resting him heading into a grueling regular season.
And Kubiak will be calling the plays, not No. 18 at the line of scrimmage. Of course, Kubiak understands the importance of allowing Manning to – at times – call his own plays from the no-huddle just as he said in OTAs, but the majority of the plays will be picked from the sideline and fed to Manning through his helmet.
This is Kubiak’s team, and Manning’s not fighting that fact. Now, Elway, Kubiak and Manning – as well as Broncos fans across the country – hope it all results in a sensational, Super Bowl season.
Broncos News
The team will not sign Jake Long after visiting with him today. John Elway did not rule out signing him at a later date, but they will stay pat on the offensive line heading into camp.
