With all the talks about the Von Miller contract and the negative press Aqib Talib has been receiving, it’s nice to look on the bright side every once in a while. . . literally.
Week six of the upcoming NFL season will feature the San Diego Chargers hosting the Denver Broncos in Denver’s second and last Thursday night game of the season. What is the significance of that? Well, not only is it the Mile High crew’s first divisional game, but both teams could be wearing a fresh version their classic 1970’s colors.
The literal Orange Crush 2.0?
The 3-4 Orange Crush defense was popularized during the 1977 season when hall-of-fame sportswriter Woody Paige debuted the name. The Crush included players such as Tom Jackson, Paul Smith, Bernard Jackson, and potential future Hall-of-Famer Randy Gradishar. Gradishar is widely considered to be one of the all-time greatest players ever to don the uniform.
Denver and the league’s No. 1 rushing defense would end up losing to Dallas in Super Bowl XII, but that did not stop them from being one of the all-time greatest. The 1977 defense was stellar, allowing only 10.6 points per game and giving up only 18 touchdowns in 14 regular-season games.
The nickname stemmed from the popular soda Orange Crush at the time, due to the almost all orange uniforms. Orange Crush soda rocketed in popularity, going from 200,000 cases sold per year to more than 2 million. A local soda distributor, Joe Iacino, who died in 2008, is among those credited with coining the nickname.
Alec Lindsey, owner of broncos2016.com, designed these concept uniforms.
The newer, oranger version of the Orange Crush would be part of the “Color Rush” gimmick put on by the league for Thursday night games. Most teams are rumored to participate in this event at least once this season.
Although nothing official has been released to confirm these unis as of yet, week six would most likely be the time you would see them on the field.
Some of the uniforms, such as the ones worn by the Jaguars last season, have been absolutely hideous but if the Broncos’ version of the Color Rush looks anything like the ones pictured here, the team will be looking good.
If true, then Lloyd vs. Harry is on. RT @NFL_Leaks: Color Rush Week 6: Broncos (Orange) vs. Chargers (Powder Blue) pic.twitter.com/3fFalov2SL
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) June 17, 2016
