getlynched47
01-29-2010, 12:08 AM
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcwest/post/_/id/9596/dc-hire-looms-huge-for-mcdaniels
Don Martindale's promotion from Denver's linebackers coach to defensive coordinator is just as important to the career of head coach Josh McDaniels as it is for Martindale.
Ten days ago, McDaniels and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan mutually parted ways. The word from people close to both sides said the two men decided during the season that they weren’t great fits. Nolan, however, was good at his job. He brought instant life into Denver’s defense and the Broncos finished No. 7 in the NFL.
If Martindale fails as a defensive coordinator, and Denver’s defense reverts to the final days of the Mike Shanahan era, it will be reflect poorly on McDaniels. People will blame him for not making it work with Nolan.
I’m not saying this move won’t be successful. The book on Martindale around the league is positive. He is known as a good coach whose players respond well to him.
McDaniels clearly believes there will be no philosophical problems with Martindale as the two worked well together last year. Having the head coach and defensive coordinator on the same page is essential and that’s where this relationship is heading into the 2010 season.
This offseason, Denver will focus on improving the talent on defense, especially in the front seven. There is a decent chance the Broncos’ defense will remain a unit on the rise.
Ultimately, McDaniels’ future could depend on it.
If our defense goes back to total suckage, I want McDaniels gone. He's doing stuff his way. If his way doesn't work, he can take his way and hit the highway (see what I did there :laugh:)
He's putting an immense amount of pressure for himself to succeed NOW because of the way he's handled things. He's put his stamp on this team. Now it's playoffs or bust. No excuses.
Another tid-bit:
Yet, here are Nolan's positive accomplishments:
Dumervil led the NFL in sacks and was named to his first Pro Bowl, and Williams is an alternate to the Pro Bowl.
The Broncos improved from 29th overall on defense to seventh. The Broncos went from getting 13 turnovers a year ago to 30 this past season.
The defense gave up 324 points, well below the 448 the Broncos were torched for in 2008. The Broncos allowed 20 or fewer points eight times.
Taken as a whole, the defense certainly was more impressive than any in recent years.
Here are the offense's negative achievements:
The Broncos' offense cascaded from No. 2 overall in the league in Mike Shanahan's final season to 15th in McDaniels' first season. The Broncos dropped from 6,333 yards to 5,463, from third in passing to 12th, from 12th in rushing to 18th and from being sacked 13 times to being sacked 34 times.
The Broncos scored 20 or fewer points nine times and scored 27 or more points only four times. They changed players, playbooks, schemes and a quarterback. Taken as a whole, the Broncos' offense certainly was less impressive than in recent years.
Don Martindale's promotion from Denver's linebackers coach to defensive coordinator is just as important to the career of head coach Josh McDaniels as it is for Martindale.
Ten days ago, McDaniels and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan mutually parted ways. The word from people close to both sides said the two men decided during the season that they weren’t great fits. Nolan, however, was good at his job. He brought instant life into Denver’s defense and the Broncos finished No. 7 in the NFL.
If Martindale fails as a defensive coordinator, and Denver’s defense reverts to the final days of the Mike Shanahan era, it will be reflect poorly on McDaniels. People will blame him for not making it work with Nolan.
I’m not saying this move won’t be successful. The book on Martindale around the league is positive. He is known as a good coach whose players respond well to him.
McDaniels clearly believes there will be no philosophical problems with Martindale as the two worked well together last year. Having the head coach and defensive coordinator on the same page is essential and that’s where this relationship is heading into the 2010 season.
This offseason, Denver will focus on improving the talent on defense, especially in the front seven. There is a decent chance the Broncos’ defense will remain a unit on the rise.
Ultimately, McDaniels’ future could depend on it.
If our defense goes back to total suckage, I want McDaniels gone. He's doing stuff his way. If his way doesn't work, he can take his way and hit the highway (see what I did there :laugh:)
He's putting an immense amount of pressure for himself to succeed NOW because of the way he's handled things. He's put his stamp on this team. Now it's playoffs or bust. No excuses.
Another tid-bit:
Yet, here are Nolan's positive accomplishments:
Dumervil led the NFL in sacks and was named to his first Pro Bowl, and Williams is an alternate to the Pro Bowl.
The Broncos improved from 29th overall on defense to seventh. The Broncos went from getting 13 turnovers a year ago to 30 this past season.
The defense gave up 324 points, well below the 448 the Broncos were torched for in 2008. The Broncos allowed 20 or fewer points eight times.
Taken as a whole, the defense certainly was more impressive than any in recent years.
Here are the offense's negative achievements:
The Broncos' offense cascaded from No. 2 overall in the league in Mike Shanahan's final season to 15th in McDaniels' first season. The Broncos dropped from 6,333 yards to 5,463, from third in passing to 12th, from 12th in rushing to 18th and from being sacked 13 times to being sacked 34 times.
The Broncos scored 20 or fewer points nine times and scored 27 or more points only four times. They changed players, playbooks, schemes and a quarterback. Taken as a whole, the Broncos' offense certainly was less impressive than in recent years.