KRIEGER: Shanahan faces an offseason overhaul
Shanahan faces an offseason overhaul
By Dave Krieger, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published December 17, 2007 at 12:45 a.m.
Photo by Dennis Schroeder / The Rocky
The status of Broncos assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates is one of the major questions facing coach Mike Shanahan during the offseason. The Broncos rank 31st in points allowed and Bates might not be back in 2008.
You can imagine how excited The Worldwide Leader must be about its big AFC West showdown on Christmas Eve.
Broncos at Chargers. Monday Night Football. Santa reconfiguring his GPS unit.
Isn't this what the flex schedule was for?
It's not just Mike, Jaws and Tony who will have to find ways to fill time. The Broncos will, too. They aren't used to this.
Having been eliminated from the playoff chase with two games to play, those games mean nothing to them except draft position, which will improve if they lose them both.
The Broncos' Christmas wish list has seldom been longer. They are no longer in a position to trade away draft picks for the privilege of moving up in the first round, as they have each of the past two years.
Mike Shanahan hates to look ahead to next year until this year is over. Well, this year is over, whatever the schedule says. And Shanahan faces some big questions:
* What to do about Jim Bates?
The Broncos brought in Bates this season as assistant head coach/defense with considerable fanfare. It was reminiscent of the hiring of Ray Rhodes, another "name" defensive guru, and it had to work out better than that. Didn't it?
Um, no. Rhodes lasted two years. The Broncos have largely abandoned Bates' principles. Ironically, secondary coach Bob Slowik, who got the defensive coordinator title because Bates required something more impressive, is now actually coordinating the defense.
Shanahan seldom admits mistakes this quickly, but after this year's defensive collapse, it's hard to come up with a reason to bring Bates back.
* What to do about Scott O'Brien?
The Broncos brought in O'Brien this season as special teams coach to somewhat less fanfare than Bates, but they were hoping to add a little excitement to their transition game.
That much he certainly did.
On the bright side, O'Brien taught them how to get the field goal team lined up in record time.
On the dim side, Bears return man Devin Hester now has O'Brien on his Christmas card list. You'll be seeing the video from that one for years, sort of like the video of the Broncos waving at Corey Dillon as he set the single-game rushing record until his mark mercifully was broken.
Of course, if Bates goes, O'Brien might get a reprieve. It's hard to imagine Shanahan admitting two mistakes the same year.
* What to do at linebacker?
Al Wilson is not coming through that door. Ian Gold is a shadow of his former self. That leaves D.J. Williams, who may or may not belong in the middle, where he was moved this year to replace Wilson.
Although Williams has made the best of a bad situation, the single biggest upgrade the Broncos could make might be to bring in a legitimate middle linebacker who would allow Williams to move to the weak side and create a little havoc.
In any case, they need an upgrade over Nate Webster on the strong side. Anyway you look at it, this unit needs a makeover.
* What to do on the defensive line?
Because of their needs at linebacker, it's possible the Broncos will cross their fingers and hope that three 2007 draft choices - Jarvis Moss, Tim Crowder and Marcus Thomas - will blossom into playmakers.
It's something of a gamble since none of them exactly jumped off the page in their rookie seasons. But you can only fix so many things in one offseason, and it's unlikely Shanahan will devote two drafts in a row to the same area.
* What to do in the secondary?
Let's face it - "shutdown" corners are largely wasted in a bad defense. The NFL doesn't see many big trades anymore, but Shanahan made two when he acquired Champ Bailey and Dre Bly. If he doesn't have enough draft picks or free agent money to fill all his team's holes, might it be worth dealing a corner or two to help restock the cupboard?
All these questions and we haven't even talked about the offensive line, where the assumption seems to be that Tom Nalen will return and fix everything. Nalen will be 37 this spring. There are not many teams building lines around 37-year-old centers.
Even if Nalen can give them another year or two, the Broncos have succession issues. Ben Hamilton's season-ending concussion puts his football future in doubt.
Pass protection was a problem this year, but the Broncos have so many other areas of need, they may have to count on improvement from youngsters Chris Myers, Chris Kuper, Erik Pears and Ryan Harris.
Nor have we discussed veterans such as Travis Henry and Todd Sauerbrun, who make more news off the field than on it. Maybe the Broncos need to improve their karma quotient.
In any case, the last two games of the season become the first two games of next year's preseason.
Oh, joy. In the NFL, as you know, you can never have too many preseason games.
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December 16, 2007
7:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
kr writes:
The boltheads smacked down six TDs, and 416 yds against the team who dominated Denver by scoring 44 points on them in week nine. Next game will be a... Can you spell D_I_S_A_S_T_E_R?
I have said it before and I will say it again, FIRE the entire coaching staff!
December 16, 2007
7:44 p.m.
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crushon77 writes:
uhh... eslinger might pop, but it will be for the cleveland browns. the broncos never should have let him get away.
thanks for paying attention.
December 16, 2007
7:49 p.m.
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sickandtired writes:
Sheesh. Come on Krieger - it's bad when us idiots in the blog better know who is on the roster than you do ... ! Write this one in your sleep?
December 17, 2007
1:56 a.m.
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jaybyrd writes:
I see the Denver media is already pointing the finger at anyone and everyone except Shanahan. Get real. This mess is Shanahan's doing from the start. The late Bill Walsh said that ten years is the max for a head coach in the NFL; the game simply passes them by. Shanahan has been around too long, 12 years, I believe. He is stagnant and living in the past (the '98 & '99 seasons) as his playoff performances, or lack thereof, prove. Why bother hiring another defensive coordinator without replacing the head coach. Keep Shanahan away from the draft, the game plans, the play-calling, and free agent acquisitions and maybe this franchise will begin its long road back from being a 2nd tier NFL wannabe.
December 17, 2007
6:30 a.m.
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incognitoboy writes:
nice retraction, dave. i see the line about greg eslinger magically disappeared.
out of curiosity, how many chuckling phone calls at home did you get on THAT one?
feel free to blame it on the 70's.....that's what i always do!
December 17, 2007
10:24 a.m.
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esarem writes:
And, how about a "Merry Christmas" for the retailers. The Broncos merch. is piling up on the shelves and in the back rooms. ...can't give that stuff away. Ouch!
December 17, 2007
12:10 p.m.
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jkl writes:
Just a hunt. The Mastermind will resign at year's end and all these issues will be punted to a new head coach. Don't dream about the playoffs, Bronco fans, for at least three years.
December 17, 2007
1:09 p.m.
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usmcjetjock writes:
It's all about Mike Shanahan. His gamefilm from 10 years ago would produce the same plays, the same routes, the same blocking, the same stupid naked boot. Only 10 years ago it was leading edge, now its predictable. The red zone offense can't score touchdowns because we don't throw to the endzone. The defense knows it, the cheerleaders know it, the beerman knows it, why doesn't Mike know it? A second year high school coach could defense Shanahan's amazing offensive powerhouse. As for the defense, hard to stop the other team when you can't remember basic tackling 101. Blitz packages must be something a defensive coach puts in during his second year! We in Denver owe so much to Mike for the good years he gave us. But he has been here about 4 years too long. Time for Pat to take him aside and ask for him to resign with dignity. We need to find a new direction and an entirely new staff, top to bottom!!
December 17, 2007
2 p.m.
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broncoinSeattle writes:
Ouch, a bit tough on Shanny guys! Yes he did have some bad calls that where frustrating especially at the goal line this year, but what do you people expect? Are you guys really Raider fans hoping Shanny will get fired and come back to coach the silver and black? Show me a team that has overcome the amount of coaching turn-over, countless key injuries and a Sophomore quarterbac, who dominated the field this year and are on thier way to the SB? Shanny's problem is that he entrusts too much to certain individuals. He's not calling the defense! He hired a proven vet-coach who he entrusted it to. He needs to centralize his coaching and do what he does best, coach! Get rid of Bates, Sauerbrun and Henry, we don't need the drama and the players are going to have a hard time trusting Bates next year! Put Jevon in his place or show him the door and have Rod back for one more season and hire him on the coaching staff after that! Take a look at the players we lost to injury or FA. Including Wilson who was really injured and Cooper through FA and tell me that the whole staff needs to be replaced. Seriously, for all your gamers out there, try to simulate the same circumstances on your game and see how dominate you are!
December 17, 2007
2:02 p.m.
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brewster6308 writes:
It is time for Shanny to go..It has been for a long time and Bolwen is to Stupid to admit it. Granted the Broncos are a money machine for the NFL because of the 5 states that call it Home Team. But once the money dries up which it will when they continue to lose, even Bowlen is not that stupid to realize he will need a change to keep that money machine pumping.
One thing I don't understand Dave is how you can't throw out Slowik
as well since he is also de-facto responsible.
It is time for a change on all levels starting from the top down.
December 17, 2007
2:26 p.m.
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tootalljones writes:
this has been shanahans mess for NINE YEARS NOW, the bad draft picks the lousy free agent signings (travis henry). if this were any other organization in the nfl or the REAL WORLD mike shanahan would have been gone LONG AGO, do you think bob kraft(the best owner in sports) would put up with shanahan NOOOOOOO ! I point the finger at bowlen as well he employs this LOSER and all we are getting is LOUSY FOOTBALL!!!! Shanahan and bowlen are living in the past.he should either fire shanahan or sell the team to an owner who cares about winning!
December 17, 2007
4:27 p.m.
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broncoinSeattle writes:
Come on now! We're getting silly! We've won too many Madden SuperBowl titles on our xbox! I bet all you Shanny haters were the guys who raved about our big off-season acquisitions, especially getting Bates saying how much of a genius Shanny was!
The reality is, we have some great talent from the draft the past couple years and have pulled off some monster trades to get some big names who have played well! We play to win and be competitive every year by taking some gambles! YOU CAN'T CONTROL KEY INJURIES that undoubtedly mess with the continuity and play of the team! Look for Shanny to keep the core of this years team, maybe ax Bates and come back with the heat next year with Cutler in his third year. And stop the silly talk and be a true fan!
December 17, 2007
5:10 p.m.
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tiredant writes:
Shanny's overrated and has to go. I had the opportunity to ask certain starting linebacker a few years ago and he even said Shanny's no genius. And this was in 2004-2005!!! Look, he had the right mix in the late 90's and maybe every great team owes a lot to chance, getting certain players, having the right chemistry at the right time and such, but the mark of a great coach is to be able to overcome the problems that have plagued the Broncos for almost a decade. Even in a season w a decent record we've been mediocre at best. And the personnel decisions have been really wrong headed. I mean, a lot of us knew that Jake Plummer wasn't the answer, especially not at that price! Let's go Bowlen!
December 17, 2007
6:58 p.m.
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freesafety37 writes:
Look, I'm from San Diego, born and raised and I've been a Broncos fan since I saw them get WORKED in Super Bowl 22, I was 9, I'm 28 now. I get a grip of flack for being a fan, (especially this week), and I still give my team their props. Whoever believes one team can win and be champs every year is crazy. The play calling isn't out dated, look at Kubiak, he ran our exact offense and defense and made it look like it was supposed to. Shanahan is the reason for that. Shanahan is still the "MASTERMIND". They were just in a rebuilding, injury-prone year. Some of you sound like the fair weather Charger fans I make fun of here in SD. SHANNY/BRONCOS LOVE YA'LL! WHOOP THEM SORRY CHARGERS!
December 18, 2007
1:07 a.m.
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crashxzaminer writes:
Bronco's fans have always reserved their right to critisize anyone and everyone associated with our team. Our sound level at the games have not alwways been cheers, a lot have been boos. The sound level in our homes have always been loud at game time, go go go, what the @@##@ what an idiot how could he fumble, should've stayed home dumb ass. But nobody ever rooted for the other team in my parents house or mine or so many of my friends and family both in Denver and Those have moved away. I don't believe any team has better fans than the Bronco's do. But I must say I don't believe I am alone when I say we deserve better than what we have been seeing. It is hard enough being a fan as it is without seeing the lack of couching I have seen week in and week out. Watching the Bronco's rebuild with the currant couching staff will probably give me a heart attact. I have been a supporter Shanahan's since he began, but it appears he has been here so long he can no longer se the forest for the trees. I am a deeply dissappointed fan and if I had to vote I would have to vote to get rid of the present couching staff. I still like Shanahan, but he needs to be subortanite to a General Manager, his role shoud be head coach and that is it. The defense is not like anything I have ever seen since I have been a Bronco's fan, it is soomething to be ashamed of. The design obviuosly does not work so stop using it.
December 18, 2007
8:05 a.m.
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GJrodburner writes:
It does no good to add to the fire pit, it won't burn Shanny out of town. Only the ability of Pat Bowlen to pull the plug on the life suport to Mike "the dope" will do that. Let Mike go Pat Bowlen. Take the step most of us do every day when we go either south or north on I-25 or east and west on I-70; it's another day of the "unknown". We take our chances with it every work day of our lives. It is in that work day Pat that we extend our time and effort to make the money to buy the season tickets that help support our team. We give at the retail outlets or on line to buy the gear of our team. So don't think that can't dry up Pat. It goes beyond patience that we as fans have lost in this team. I for one have lost faith that you as an owner can do your work. If truth be told, you should sell this team back to Edgar K, and get your rump back to Canada.
There are no givens Pat, never has and never will. But a true given of this season is that all that Mike "the dope" has given us, well it ain't much. I don't live in the past, those SB's are just that...history. It has been said many times by other bloggers: "the bar of expectations has been set in Denver", and we as fans will not, should not, and cannot expect subpar ball when we have an organization that should be competing against the Pats, the Steelers, and the Colts. What is so damn pitiful is that we can't. Oh sure, we did win against the Steelers this year, so what. With two games to go in the season we are are embarrassingly out of the playoffs and will finish watching those other teams in the playoffs at home. Again!
December 18, 2007
11:57 a.m.
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DenverGuy writes:
Can you image only one win (postseason) in NINE (9) YEARS?
So it is time for Shannie to step down.
No more excuses, Shannie... You had 9 years to prove yourself. You were lucky to have John Elway to carry our team to Super Bowl. If not for John Elway, you would be out of the door in a few years instead of NINE YEARS...
December 19, 2007
10:40 p.m.
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CHILL writes:
It’s a good thing cooler heads are running the Broncos than are commenting on this article. Shanahan should stay put. End of story. Does anyone remember how many years passed between super bowl appearances for the Steelers while Cowher was coach?
Winning teams put the right people in the right situations to win. Getting the right system for our people takes time. Look at San Diego to start the season. Right people, used incorrectly, resulted in losses. Now they are winners of 8 of last 10 games.
Offensively we should see positive not negative. Under a patchwork O-line that lost 2 pro-bowlers to IR 3 different runners had 100 yard games. Travis Henry when healthy led the league in rushing to start the season. Of the three QB’s taken in the first round of the 2006 draft Denver got the best one. In his second year Jay Cutler threw for 3000 yards with a 90 QB rating. Behind that same patchwork O-line. When healthy the receiving corps has two 1,200 yard receivers in Javon Walker and Brandon Marshall. Not to mention a solid 3rd receiver in Brandon Stokely. How would the Pats or Cowboys do if they lost their #1 receiver, for as many games as Denver played without Walker? Should I even mention the chemistry between our young TE and Cutler?
For the past 3 seasons fans have realized the problems with the recycled D-line. (Mostly from the Browns). In this past years’ draft 3 outstanding athletes were taken to address this problem. Does anyone remember all the negatives said about drafting Mario Williams? Now this season sports writers are commenting on how he was snubbed for the pro-bowl. Let’s look forward to many years of watching Dumervile play beside Thomas, Moss, and Crowder. D.J. Williams is an amazing linebacker who played great football this season. It’s true he was not used correctly due to a lack of surrounding support. Why would the Broncos be unable to address this issue in free agency or the draft? Champ Bailey is peerless as a corner, and Dre Bly is as solid a # 2 guy as could be expected given the tragedy of Darrent Williams. Watch this secondary excel when the D-Line comes together with the right system.
Trust in Shanahan to make the needed changes in the offseason. If that be a new Defensive coach with a new system that better fits our players strengths, or sticking with the current coach. Perhaps the answer is allowing the current coach a season to get players and system to gel. Whatever the answer turns out to be, I’m sure it does not involve removing Shanahan.
December 19, 2007
10:48 p.m.
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CHILL writes:
And for all those fans who feel Shanahan rode Elway's coat tails to the Super Bowl, please try and remember that it was Terrell Davis' team. Elway hadnt won a ring in 3 previous appearances. It took Shanahans system with Terrell Davis, as well as outstanding play by Elway to win back to back Super Bowls.