As football fans we get used to hearing the same regurgitated soundbites from the coaches and players. How many times over the years, when things have been tough, that the key to turning it all around is to log some serious hours in the film room? As Broncos fans, we’ve been conditioned to think that the more film that’s watched, the better chances are for success. It’s almost comforting to us to know that they’re getting there early and staying late watching and re-watching every play, hoping to find the hidden nuance that could be the key to dominating on Sunday.

Imagine my surprise last Tuesday when Broncos coach, Vic Fangio nonchalantly tossed out there that he hasn’t really watched that much film of the 2018 Broncos.

“In our system, in person and on the field by a long shot. I surprised [President of Football Operations/General Manager] John [Elway] when I said it, and it’s held true—I have watched very little of the Denver Broncos from the 2018 season. Very little. I bet you under 150 plays. The only guys I’ve watched are the guys we’ve had to make decisions on. If the guy’s on our roster and he’s going to be on our roster, I want to form my own opinion. I don’t want to watch other stuff.”

Gasp! Doesn’t he know that he’s supposed to tell us he’s burning the midnight oil, crushing film until the wee hours? Aren’t we supposed to be emboldened by that as fans? Nobody got to Fangio and told him that’s how this is how it has always worked for the Broncos? If he’s not watching film, what is he doing? How could he just go out there and just tell the truth about what he’s doing?

I’ll admit, at first I kind of missed the ‘film watching song and dance,’ but after some reflection it’s actually pretty damn refreshing to have someone tell you what they are actually doing and not just blowing smoke. I blogged about this team after every game of the 2018 season, and let me tell you, I have no desire to go back and look at the rank ineptitude that afforded us the No. 10 overall in this year’s draft. Why would Vic?

It’s a fact the 2018 offense under-performed due to coaching and quarterback play. As far as Fangio is concerned, both those issues have been sufficiently remedied. Plus it’s just awful football to watch. Why would any sane person subject themselves to that kind of torture?

Speaking of...Brandon Stokley doubled down on his take that Fangio needs to watch tons of 2018 film - despite fellow former Broncos Mark Schlereth and Ed McCaffrey telling him to let it go.

MHR’s docllv, however, didn’t let him get away with it.

Evaluating players isn't the job of ONLY the head coach. Fangio has been doing that for years. https://t.co/HW90HVNAPr — Doctor of Words (and tights and positive thinking) (@docllv) March 30, 2019

Vic Fangio was hired because he was a different kind of coach. Some fans are distressed that he’s not watching film. I say let Vic be Vic and let’s withhold the knee-jerk reactions and see how all this plays out.

Plus, let’s not forget that former Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels, in true Patriots fashion, once held illegal video of another team’s walkthrough... and still couldn’t win. So maybe film study isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

If you haven’t given it a listen, Tim, Laurie, and I break down reactions to Vic’s film-study and more on this week’s Something Something Broncos podcast.

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