Mike Shanahan is a master of offensive X’s and O’s, able to exploit defensive weaknesses. But he is also Head Coach and General Manager, responsible for defense and personnel. And over the past 3 or 4 years, his defensive personnel decisions haven’t panned out. This off-season, Shanahan traded Clinton Portis for Champ Bailey and a second round draft pick.

So far, so good. Quentin Griffin is the latest incarnation of Broncos running back greatness with 156 yards and 3 TDs. Champ Bailey has been the shutdown corner the defense needed. We still need to see how the running game performs against a quality defense and how the defense performs against a quality passing attack. But right now, the trade is looking like the work of a MasterMind.