John Fox has hardly finished unpacking the boxes in his new office at the Denver Broncos’ Englewood headquarters, but he’s already close to filling out his coaching staff. Eight assistant coaches have been named so far, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette, with a combined 75 years of experience, which jumps to roughly 100 if Fox’s years in coaching are added. The defensive coordinator role remains open, but former Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons head coach Jim Mora was in town yesterday meeting with Fox to discuss the job, writes the Denver Post. That role is key, considering the Broncos’ struggles on defense over the years.

Fox’s coaching staff is crucial to plugging all the holes in Denver’s sinking ship, but not everybody is sold on Fox, with critics citing his 2-14 record as coach of the Carolina Panthers and the inexplicable decline of that franchise over the last couple years. Still, the Denver Post’s Mike Klis is a bit more optimistic, predicting the team will go 8-7 in 2011 (assuming just one game is canceled with a work stoppage). In the meantime, let’s hope Fox can prevent any more players from getting into trouble with the law. Running back Laurence Maroney was arrested last night in his hometown of St. Louis on weapons and drug charges, reports KMOV TV, adding to the nearly half dozen scrapes with the law team members have had this season.