Broncos' next hire likely will be Priefer

Chiefs assistant would take over special-teams unit

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 14, 2009 at 2:14 p.m.

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From the stables to the barber shops to the bar stools, new Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels has been the talk of the town. Special thanks to Bear Creek Ranch and Dougherty’s Neighborhood Pub.

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Photo by David Eulitt / Kansas City Chiefs/2007

Kansas City Chiefs special-teams coach Mike Priefer could be headed for the Broncos. He has one year left on his contract, but the Broncos might name him special-teams coordinator.

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January 14, 2009

2:32 p.m.

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JCut6JElway7 writes:

HHHmmmm... I don't know about this one... last I checked KC's Special Teams were not so "special"...
January 14, 2009

3:03 p.m.

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RMSportsHound writes:

about time special teams comes up for discussion. Worst part of a bad defense. Watching kick coverage creates more anxiety than crossing I-25 blindfolded at rush hour.
January 14, 2009

3:17 p.m.

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DeimosJB writes:

KC has had pretty decent special teams the last several years, but the argument could be made that that's due to Dante Hall more than to the coach. Still, I've got to believe anything is better than what we had this year. If our special teams was just mediocre, that would be an improvement and might have swayed a game or two. Good luck fella.
January 14, 2009

3:34 p.m.

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Willy writes:

Dainty Hall was cut by KC last year.
January 14, 2009

3:42 p.m.

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Dynamicdave writes:

And around and around and around she goes.... Notice it's like a revolving door? We did that with Detroit, with players, and Houston. Now the coaches. For a minute there, I was going to call ourselves "The New England Broncos" or "The Denver Patriots". I don't care, as long as Denver wins.
January 14, 2009

4:02 p.m.

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oc60 writes:

It's all about team chemistry and leadership. I think McDaniels will hire coaches that will bring mentorship and great communication skills to his staff. The new Era for Broncos will deliver another SB trophy. Just wait and see how this new Broncos team will be among the most exciting to watch and bring winning back to Mile High Denver.
January 14, 2009

4:48 p.m.

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ccorrea writes:

Broncos has a pretty tough schedule ahead of them,
the toughest I've seen.

Home and away !
January 14, 2009

4:51 p.m.

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opusuno writes:

I just hope this guy is a better head coach than Eric Mangini, Romeo Crannel, or Charlie Weis.. shudder shudder.
January 14, 2009

5:01 p.m.

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OrangeCrusher writes:

I'm glad Denver has a tough schedule!!

The tougher the road the better we will be for it. Nobody wins the SB after any easy ride.

To be the best you must beat the best!!

Broncos Rule!!
January 14, 2009

5:07 p.m.

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OrangeCrusher writes:

Ok..Scott O'brien couldn't get it done in Denver but Bilicheck thinks he can do it in NE??????????? uuuhhh...huh.. I'm definitely scratching my head over this one..
January 14, 2009

5:51 p.m.

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OrangeCrusher writes:

Ok..Here's and idea...

Special teams should not be thought of as a seperate entity or unit.

The Defensive coordinator should have plays to stop the returns with his best players.

The OC should have plays to advance the returns with his best players.

Dividing the team into that third group that requires all those extra coaches and attention? mabye they don't get as much attention, and that why they fail? lack of attention leads to lack of confidence...OCrusher..Wisdom...
January 14, 2009

7:26 p.m.

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cdmdenver writes:

NOTHING "SPECIAL" ABOUT DENVERS SPECIAL TEAMS-
They are a disaster at best, they should just spot the ball
on the 50 yard line, pathetic, we NEED HELP on Special teams!!
January 14, 2009

7:37 p.m.

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wjrudy writes:

"Spot the ball on the 50" - I like that... funny... unfortunately, also true. Hopefully we'll be able to move that spot back between 25 and 30 yards this coming year with some new blood, ideas, etc... Looks like McDaniels is cleaning house. Can't hurt. I am looking forward to next year! Getting more stoked by the day.
January 14, 2009

8:13 p.m.

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Vegas_Bronco writes:

O'Brien was supposed to be hot stuff and SP have been terrible
Bates was supposed to be hot stuff and the defense was terrible last year
Maybe Nolan and this Priefer, who don't seem like hot stuff, can get it done.
They have something to prove, instead of living off past success.
It's going to be interesting!
January 14, 2009

8:13 p.m.

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OrangeCrusher writes:

Ok..DynamicDave...aah, Dude..what do you think about my Idea? Where are you at any way..In Vagas living it up...haha...later.bro
January 14, 2009

8:51 p.m.

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jrhino writes:

Last years special team made me cry. Get someone good. If the bench primidonas dont want to play special teams get some new guys. I mean it the drop in depth on offense and defense would be worth it if we had good special teams players.

very important choice.
January 14, 2009

9:12 p.m.

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petert5 writes:

Bowlen=Imbecile
January 14, 2009

9:18 p.m.

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petert5 writes:

Home: Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants.

Away: Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins.

Looks like alot of fun here; take a stab at our record next season?
January 14, 2009

9:36 p.m.

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6_is_the_new_7 writes:

16-0 of coarse.
January 14, 2009

9:38 p.m.

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FTR writes:

Hold on Bronco Nation!!
I though we needed a new ST coach but come on off the youth movement already!! After meetings maybe they can play ping ball drink games!!! I am concerned about the over all youth movement except Nolan. Do these guys get a pop icicle as a comp plan?
I am in denial! Grieving The Shanahan lost. I have been reading all about stats this and stats that. I am good with Josh McDaniel’s and Nolan! I liked the youth movement at first but lets be real here. I see a total rebuild for the Broncos on (Yes Offense) and on (Defense). This means accepting two maybe three years of rebuilding our Broncos!! I have coached Pop Warner for three years. You may say “So what they are only kids” They still have to have a Goal and I for one see a rebuild of our Broncos taking 2 years at best.

Bleed Blue and Orange

Hope I am wrong!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!
FTR
January 14, 2009

9:48 p.m.

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catrachomilla writes:

kansas city has a football team?
January 14, 2009

9:58 p.m.

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BroncoConvert writes:

In order for a team's ST to be good, the players assigned to those units need consistency in assignments and comfortability with who is playing next to them. With all the injurys on OT and DT, the ST were a revolving door as they were repurposed to fill the injury voids on the 1st teams. I don't think the Bronco's ST had a chance to succeed. All there players except for Nico, Woodward, and Louis Green (maybe a few others) ended up playing O or D. Did they stink? Oh, yeah! Big time. If the injury bug misses us this season, we could improve to decent.My two cents.
January 14, 2009

10:46 p.m.

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BroncoConvert writes:

My bad. I mispoke. I meant to say the Nico, Woodward, and Louis Green continued to play ST even after they moved up to the O or D rotations. Another point is all the practice guys and FAs that came in and filled the ST assignment. Did'nt know their peers and didn't have any comforatability on the field. Next week it was most likely a different team than the one begore.
January 14, 2009

10:52 p.m.

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avsfan71085 writes:

huh...ok never heard of him.
January 14, 2009

10:55 p.m.

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Dynamicdave writes:

OrangeCrusher, sorry, bro, I was taking care of my mom, kinda busy. No, too much "wear and tear" on the players. ST's do a lot of running. I prefer it the way it is.

FTR, when you speak of rebuild, are you talking about coaching staff, only? The offense doesn't need a rebuild of players. Defense, yes, offense, no. I say we will be contenders this very next season. Come on FTR, get in our corner, brother. Don't be that way.

petert5, yeah, with an 8-8 record and missing the playoffs, they gave Denver one hell of a brutal schedule, but I don't agree about Bowlen being an imbecile. Give McDaniels a chance and don't try projecting the worse scenario for this season. Keep the faith and try to enjoy the future, not dread it? Where's the fun in THAT?
January 14, 2009

11:04 p.m.

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Dynamicdave writes:

BroncoConvert, you mean Niko, Woodyard, and Green? Just a friendly FYI as to their names.
January 15, 2009

7:16 a.m.

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broncoken writes:

I have made an observation lately about the D and the ST, both have had revolving doors on the coachs, and that doesn't help the players when every time they turn around there is another new coach with another new way of doing things, but both have one main thing in common and that is you have to stay in your gaps, which has been a problem for the Broncs for a few years now. McD has been with a successful team that was able to fill spots with new players year in and year out with little change to production, so he has seen what it takes to get players to buy into a system that will work. Give him time to find the right coachs to demand the players to play their positions and rely on others to do theirs and things will start to look up. I am really excited about the upcoming season, and like I say every year, we have the opportunity to go 11-5 or 12-4 if we stay consistant and that is something that McD has already been stating over and over, so let's all give it a chance to see what this new "Wunderkid" can do for our football team. He has grown up basically being a coach all his life and I really think that he will be a really good HC for a long time, and if Bowlen is correct, McD could be here for 14 years just like Shanny.
January 15, 2009

7:31 a.m.

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DeimosJB writes:

I desperately want the Broncos to be an elite team, but I see the schedule for next year and it says to me 6-10.
Oh well, draft well, build a true dynasty - a team that is in the upper tier every year with a continual influx of young talent to replace the aging or expensive talent that leaves. Go Broncos!
January 15, 2009

8:21 a.m.

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TONE writes:

I'm excited and keeping my fingers cross. Hopefully the coming season will be a good one.

OK forget it. I'm just going to get into my time machine a go check it out for myself. Well, as soon as I can find my time machine. I know it is somewhere in my junk storage... :)

GO BRONCO!!!
January 15, 2009

8:51 a.m.

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climber4life writes:

why are we getting a coach from one of the worst teams in the NFL? Oh yeah, probably because they beat us. Not sure this was the brightest move.
January 15, 2009

8:57 a.m.

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Miss_Sin_Link writes:

All that needs to happen is for Cleveland's ST coach to head to KC and it'd be a perfect four-way coaching carousel.
January 15, 2009

10:03 a.m.

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kmeissner writes:

I thought our Special Teams unit was Champ Bailey? He seems to make all the tackles on kickoffs. ha

The first thing the new ST coach should preach is tackling. And also kicking the ball into the END ZONE! None of the "kicking to the 15 yard line", Jason Elam type kickoffs.

Next year will be interesting to watch! GO BRONCOS!
January 15, 2009

10:05 a.m.

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jmgswarman writes:

Just so you know our schedule next year is basically the most difficult in the NFL. Believe it or not we have to play The Patriots, The Colts, The Ravens, The Steelers, The Giants, The Eagles, The Cowboys, The Redskins, and The Chargers (twice).

Some rebuilding job they've got...
January 15, 2009

10:17 a.m.

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BigRedCelt writes:

Denver finished 2nd in the division hence the second place schedule. Tough road. Special teams often speaks to the depth of a team. When the first team D stinks that doesnt bode well for kick coverage. Kick returns have been average, not bad, not great. There seems to be talent there so I'm not sure what the hold back is. Again, attitude and "want to" bottom line.

I mentioned in a post on another thread that McDaniels would not be in awe of Cutler. In no way did I mean he was not impressed by Cutler. Just not fawning over him as I felt bates was doing. Two different views there.

This is exciting as change always is I think. This past season kind of reinvigorated me as a fan even though things didn't end as I'd hoped. It seems the team kind of lost touch with the fans. Not because of win-loss (I was a fan long before they had their first winning season)and the glut of neo-fans after the SB wins, but because of guys like Henry, Gardener, Lett, Dale Carter. I'd rather watch a group of no-names playig their butts off and losing than some of these clowns. I will always root for the uniform, but it's nice when you can also root for the players in them.
January 15, 2009

10:40 a.m.

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curoma writes:

The only sure thing the Bronc's have on ST is Kern. He's gonna be a great punter.
And Eddie Royal, if they choose to have him return punts, still.

Hey geniuses, why do you guys keep telling us we have to play the AFC West?

The Schedule is not Bowlen's fault. It's the revolving thing.
It's our turn to play the AFC North, the NFC East & they threw in NE & Indy because those games usually make for decent Mon. niters or I could see the story line for an NFL channel game.

"Young Gun to face his Mentor & see if he can turn the table on last years game?"

The Indy game could be the Bronco's 1st chance to beat them at full force since Manning came into the league.

The schedule is NOT the thing to worry about.

This year the Bronc's had a soft schedule (when it was posted, it looked that way), and the mediocrity reigned supreme. The worst was that the injuries piled up.

Maybe against superior competition they can stay healthy and no doubt it will be the measuring stick as to where they are going. Very quickly!
Have to face some good QB's, some GREAT defenses and some ANGRY teams.

C'mon 2009. We'll see what McDanny-Boy's got right away, won't we.
January 15, 2009

11:19 a.m.

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bronc4evah writes:

I think our special teams were poor, more so because Scott had little talent to work with, than a problem with his coaching. The teams that have the top special team units draft players specifically for that job, rather than trying to multi task players taken for reserve positions and making them play special teams as a way to deepen the bench. As we have all seen, that approach leads to at least a few games being lost every season due to poor special teams play. Scott was very succussful and highly regarded when he came to Denver because he had a lot more support on personnel from his prior teams.
January 15, 2009

11:51 a.m.

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FriendlyFire writes:

Does everyone realize that our division practically has the same schedule - so there is still a chance we will win the division going 8-8
January 15, 2009

12:26 p.m.

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Spider writes:

WOW!!!! WHAT A TUFF SCHEDULE!!!! Luky thing they have the Bengals and the AFC West or the Lions could have someone to keep them company next year. Actually the Broncos have the makings of a good team and having a good year if they learn consistency.
January 15, 2009

12:34 p.m.

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JasonNM writes:

I couldn't name a single special teams coach currently in that position, but obviously these last few years have just been a disaster to watch for the Broncos. Jay and co. take a lot of grief for red zone scoring and with his turnovers of late, some of that is warranted, but we have one of the worst starting field position v. opponents starting position in the league. So we rack up yards, punt and they gain most of them back, or we score and they are back close to midfield after the return. Remember how many freakin' tackles Baily had to make when he basically was a safety on ST's. Also, Prater? dude was a stud on 50+ yard field goals but towards the end his kickoffs were landing at the ten? Never understood that.

My point? I agree with the post about starters in some capacity, playing special teams, avg. starting position's are not an official stat, but I don't think anyone can argue that we were also in the bottom of that category this year. ST is were players make their name, so I am all for the Rudy types getting their shot (i.e., Larson) but hey, Champ cannot be the only starter who benefits us on ST. 3 facets in a game, and to win you must win 2 of the 3. Yes defense and offense win games but those teams ST put em in position to win. In San Diego and Indy game, the freakin' punter was the MVP, even the hottest team in the league could not win a game when they had 6 drives start inside the 20. I don't think(just speculation) opposing teams had 6 drives all year start inside the 20. I really believe that. So if this guy or the next or McD, someone better realize that are ST needs a massive overhaul! Running the ball successfully and ST our making these teams remaining defense's so good. Minnesota lost the game in part b/c their offense was mediocre but the stopped running the ball and gave up big punt returns to Jackson that gave Philly field goals, that Minn defense gave up one play on a screen and other than that (which was fourth Q and Allen tried to get the sack) the defense lost because Philly was already in scoring position so many times... Please help are special teams!!
January 15, 2009

3:17 p.m.

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koloradokaos writes:

I hope the next coaching move Boy Woner makes is Rod Smith the WR's coach! He's the best WR in Broncos history, a sure fire first ballot HoFer, hard worker, stand up guy and a student of the game. Sounds like the perfect pick to shape the young and crop of WR's on the team.
January 15, 2009

4:12 p.m.

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kingcreolethe1st writes:

the problum with denver is the o-line is weak, they cant block at the point of attack! we have clady, harris needs to bulk up! and thats it! we need 3 horses at center and right and left guards, if our new coach cant fix the o-line, he wont be here long!-defense the 3-4 is cool but we dont have the horses for that ,here is the issue need 2 350lbs dtackles to plug the middle and a back up dtackle if you dont find 2 tht 3-4 wont work ,we broncos fans are praying mac gets it right ty kc1
January 15, 2009

9:27 p.m.

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juniork56 writes:

You really believe that the o-line was a weak spot? Are you kidding me, the o-line that tied for the second most yards per rush in the league and allowed only 12 sacks on the year. That sounds like a very strong spot to me!!!
January 16, 2009

11:50 a.m.

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Dynamicdave writes:

juniork56, yeah, I thought that was a pretty humerous remark, as well.

Home › Denver Broncos

Broncos' next hire likely will be Priefer

Chiefs assistant would take over special-teams unit

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 14, 2009 at 2:14 p.m.

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