Elway: “No reason” Broncos can’t get back in the playoffs
As the Broncos’ veterans reported to training camp Friday, general manager John Elway expressed supreme confidence the team he built will be much improved from the one he saw go 5-11 last year.
“Obviously, we want to make the playoffs and be able to compete for a world championship,” Elway said. “There is no reason why, in my opinion, we can’t come back and compete for that.”
During his news conference, Elway rattled off the reasons: the arrival of quarterback Case Keenum, the confidence Elway has in this year’s draft class and expected special-teams improvement.
The Broncos’ first practice is 9:30 a.m. Saturday, marking Elway’s eighth year running the football operations and 24th season with the franchise. In his first six years as general manager, the Broncos reached two Super Bowls (one win) and averaged 12.3 victories. But last year went downhill after a 3-1 start.
Elway decided to retain coach Vance Joseph, but Bill Musgrave was made the full-time offensive coordinator after finishing 2017 as the interim and special-teams coordinator Tom McMahon was hired from Indianapolis. In the offseason, Elway signed Keenum and traded for right tackle Jared Veldheer and drafted linebacker Bradley Chubb, tailback Royce Freeman and receivers Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton.
“I’m excited about the 90 guys we have coming to camp,” Elway said. “I’m excited about the coaching staff Vance put together.”
Elway pointed to offensive progress as a training camp priority.
“We all have to come together, especially on the offense,” he said. “It’s about getting continuity on the offensive line as well as the young receivers (Sutton and Hamilton) getting up to speed. Offensively, I’m excited about us, especially with Case pulling the trigger.”
The Broncos have not experienced consecutive losing seasons since a streak of 10 consecutive years from 1963-72.
“Obviously, there are things that have to break your way — you have to play well and you have to have some unexpected good things happen and try to avoid the unexpected bad things,” Elway said. “But I feel good about where we are and our chances to be able to compete.”