KC Chiefs: Grading each AFC West team’s 2019 offseason

Denver Broncos

Last Year’s Record: 6-10

Postseason Result: N/A

Denver started their offseason by canning the underwhelming Vance Joseph, the team’s head coach for the past two seasons. In that time, the Broncos missed the postseason both years while going 5-11 and 6-10, respectively.

It didn’t help Joseph’s cause that his primary starting quarterbacks in 2017 and 2018 were former seventh-round draft pick Trevor Siemian and journeyman Case Keenum, but when the man responsible for bringing in those two players is not only cemented in franchise lore but also, essentially, answers to no one, who’s going to take the fall?

That man, of course, is John Elway.

However, credit is due to Elway for naming a solid replacement for Joseph in the form of Vic Fangio, most recently the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears. Fangio, while never having been a head coach before, brings 19 years of experience as a defensive coordinator between the Panthers, Colts, Texans, 49ers, and Bears.

Last year, Fangio’s defense ranked third in the NFL in yards allowed, and first in points allowed and takeaways while playing stoutly against both the rush and the pass.

Fangio has two new, handpicked coordinators at his disposal. On the defensive side, from Chicago he brought with him Ed Donatell, who had previously coached the secondary under Fangio. And for offense, he poached Rich Scangarello away from San Francisco, where he was the quarterbacks coach for the past two seasons.