Denver Broncos: Why They Can Win Post-Peyton Manning Under Gary Kubiak

Gary Kubiak wasn't hired to be the Denver Broncos head coach for Peyton Manning's purposes.

Kubiak, the 15th head coach in Broncos history, will take over for a team that, despite four consecutive AFC West titles, finished four straight seasons with a disappointing postseason. Now, with Manning on the verge of retirement, Kubiak will take over.

Manning is likely to return in 2015, but it's hard to see him continuing in 2016. After Manning hangs up his cleats, it was believed that the Broncos would have difficulty.

But the Kubiak hire suggests otherwise.

His offense isn't made for Manning. It is, however, made for Broncos backup Brock Osweiler.

Kubiak's offense consists of a zone-blocking scheme that has benefited many running backs and a passing game that uses fullbacks and tight ends as primary options. It has quarterbacks rolling out on bootleg passes to set receivers up for easy completions against linebackers, and it uses play-action passes to take shots downfield.

Manning, who is soon to be 39 years old, isn't fit to take shots downfield or to run bootleg passes. Kubiak could tweak his offense, but it remains to be seen how effective Manning would be.

Plus, Osweiler's contract will expire after the 2015 season, so it's worth getting a look at him to see if he can be effective under Kubiak.

If Manning does return for the 2015 season, though, the Broncos could still sign Osweiler in free agency. There's also the option of drafting a quarterback, like Colorado State's Garrett Grayson or Baylor's Bryce Petty. 

Grayson threw 32 touchdowns and just seven interceptions, and he could be available at the end of the second round. Petty threw 61 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions in his last two years (combined), and he could be available in the third round.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller said that Grayson has the "best arm" at the Senior Bowl. Joe Flacco, Kubiak's quarterback in 2014, is similar. Flacco had the second-best season of his seven-year career (via passer rating) under Kubiak. Matt Schaub was also effective under Kubiak; he even finished first in passing yards once (2009).

With Osweiler or a rookie, the Broncos offense could do well. The running game would carry the offense either way, led by C.J. Anderson.

Baltimore's running game improved from 30th in 2013 to eighth under its offensive coordinator, Kubiak, in 2014. Journeyman running back Justin Forsett thrived in Kubiak's zone-blocking scheme, and Baltimore's offense was prolific.

Even though the Ravens lost to the Patriots in the AFC divisional round, Kubiak's offense put up 31 points against New England's defense. For a comparison, the high-flying Colts scored seven in the AFC Championship Game.

When Kubiak was the Broncos offensive coordinator, he did something similar with John Elway. Elway was always a mobile quarterback, but the Broncos offense was led by running back Terrell Davis. Anderson, in an effective scheme, can run like Davis did in 1997 and 1998.

According to The Denver Post's Troy E. Renck, Anderson acknowledged that Kubiak's offense fits him well.

Additionally, the Broncos could surround him with a strong offensive line this offseason. According to spotrac.com, the Broncos have about $22 million to play with at the moment.

If they release Manning this offseason, though, the Broncos could save $16.5 million (and if he retires, they'll save $21.5 million). With that money, they could go after quality offensive linemen and Demaryius Thomas.

Even if Manning stays on, the offensive line could get by. In Kubiak's scheme, quarterbacks aren't sacked much. Flacco was sacked 48 times in 2013, but under Kubiak in 2014, he was sacked an unbelievably low 17 times.

Osweiler has been known to hold onto the ball for a long time. But under Kubiak, he could get rid of those problems and be effective as a game manager who doesn't make mistakes.

The problem with having a game manager at quarterback and a primarily run-based offense is that the Broncos would need a great defense. Luckily, they have a plethora of talent. 

Its pass rush struggled in the playoffs, but the Broncos have Wade Phillips, who transformed a Houston Texans defense from 30th to second in one year.

Denver finished third in total defense in 2014. However, its pass rush, even with Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, was awful in the divisional round. Denver constantly rushed four and couldn't get to Andrew Luck, and Luck carved up Denver's defense.

Jack Del Rio is gone now, and Phillips is in town. He can draw up effective blitz packages that, when coupled with Chris Harris, Aqib Talib and T.J. Ward in the secondary, would make Denver's defense dominant.

The offense won't break any records for points like it did in 2013. But it could control the ball effectively in the playoffs and defend the ball well, which is how teams have beaten the Broncos in past playoff games.

In fact, the Broncos could become similar to a team they've become very familiar with lately: the Seahawks.