Lonestar
05-16-2010, 03:10 PM
By Mark Kiszla
The Denver Post
POSTED: 05/16/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT
Josh McDaniels has demonstrated beyond the shadow of a doubt that he can:
1) Show who is the boss.
2) Erase all signs of Mike Shanahan.
3) Pump his fist and twirl his whistle.
4) Curse on national TV.
5) Exploit the NFL marketing machine.
So what's left for McDaniels to prove he can do?
Win.
During the first year McDaniels was on the job, the Broncos might have made more headlines than any 8-8 team in the history of the league.
Now, it is time for McDaniels to get down to the business of winning the Super Bowl.
Isn't that why the Broncos hired him?
Or is selling a gazillion Tim Tebow jerseys all franchise owner Pat Bowlen really desires at this point in his life?
Listen, it's no secret I like McDaniels.
His instant recognition that quarterback Jay Cutler didn't get it was spot on (ask the Chicago Bears). The non- negotiable demand to put team before self is what every legendary coach from Vince Lombardi to John Wooden has always preached. McDaniels is the brightest young mind to come through the doors at Dove Valley since, well, Shanahan.
But there are no five- year plans allowed at the professional level. This ain't college football, brother. It's the NFL.
Anything less than winning the AFC West this year must be considered a failure by the Broncos.
With all due respect to feisty Philip Rivers, the San Diego Chargers are staler than yesterday's fish tacos.
The Oakland Raiders have no future until Al Davis is watching games from heaven.
And the Kansas City Chiefs have pinned their hopes on somebody named Matt Cassel. (Whoever thought he could be a player in this league, anyway?)
Real NFL coaches don't mess around. Check the history of the Broncos. Red Miller traveled to the Super Bowl in his first season. Shanahan went 13-3 in his second season on the job. And what happened to Wade Phillips in Year 2? Hmm, he got fired. Proves the point.
This is not to suggest McDaniels must make the playoffs or hit the bricks. But, if he doesn't win at least 10 games in 2010, it's a strong sign the Broncos hired a young coach to learn from his mistakes here rather than to win big in Denver.
McDaniels truly believes character counts, which is refreshing. But if it doesn't count on the scoreboard, even good, churchgoing Broncomaniacs will take the coach's name in vain.
In Justin Bannan, Jamal Williams and Jarvis Green, the team obviously believes it has the run-stoppers to make the switch to the 3-4 defensive alignment worthwhile.
If the Broncos start Kyle Orton at quarterback, they will be deader than a lame duck. If Denver gives the job to rookie Tebow before his time, that's 10 losses waiting to happen. So here's thinking that if McDaniels doesn't see something special in Brady Quinn, the coach might be smile-challenged all season long.
The Broncos, who report to practices this week, are McDaniels' players. The malcontents have been shipped out. It's his team now. The fingerprints of Shanahan have been scrubbed clean.
There is a trait shared, however, between McDaniels and Shanahan. Both coaches always give the vibe of being the absolute smartest football man in the room.
For those who questioned anything from his play-calling to his draft choices, Shanahan stared back with how-dare- you condescension.
For the creator of the Facebook page named "Josh McDaniels is a Power-Hungry, Ego-Tripping Circus Clown" or anybody else who doubts him, however, McD responds with an almost playful glee.
Here's a prime example. Asked for the umpteenth time how well a coach could fix the flawed throwing motion of Tebow, McDaniels did not take offense.
The coach instead offered a no-doubt-about-it grin and said: "What would you think of (Tebow) if his throwing motion was perfect?"
OK, we like the spunk.
Now go out and prove it translates into victory.
Mark Kiszla: 303-954-1053 or mkiszla@denverpost.com
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_15095130
The Denver Post
POSTED: 05/16/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT
Josh McDaniels has demonstrated beyond the shadow of a doubt that he can:
1) Show who is the boss.
2) Erase all signs of Mike Shanahan.
3) Pump his fist and twirl his whistle.
4) Curse on national TV.
5) Exploit the NFL marketing machine.
So what's left for McDaniels to prove he can do?
Win.
During the first year McDaniels was on the job, the Broncos might have made more headlines than any 8-8 team in the history of the league.
Now, it is time for McDaniels to get down to the business of winning the Super Bowl.
Isn't that why the Broncos hired him?
Or is selling a gazillion Tim Tebow jerseys all franchise owner Pat Bowlen really desires at this point in his life?
Listen, it's no secret I like McDaniels.
His instant recognition that quarterback Jay Cutler didn't get it was spot on (ask the Chicago Bears). The non- negotiable demand to put team before self is what every legendary coach from Vince Lombardi to John Wooden has always preached. McDaniels is the brightest young mind to come through the doors at Dove Valley since, well, Shanahan.
But there are no five- year plans allowed at the professional level. This ain't college football, brother. It's the NFL.
Anything less than winning the AFC West this year must be considered a failure by the Broncos.
With all due respect to feisty Philip Rivers, the San Diego Chargers are staler than yesterday's fish tacos.
The Oakland Raiders have no future until Al Davis is watching games from heaven.
And the Kansas City Chiefs have pinned their hopes on somebody named Matt Cassel. (Whoever thought he could be a player in this league, anyway?)
Real NFL coaches don't mess around. Check the history of the Broncos. Red Miller traveled to the Super Bowl in his first season. Shanahan went 13-3 in his second season on the job. And what happened to Wade Phillips in Year 2? Hmm, he got fired. Proves the point.
This is not to suggest McDaniels must make the playoffs or hit the bricks. But, if he doesn't win at least 10 games in 2010, it's a strong sign the Broncos hired a young coach to learn from his mistakes here rather than to win big in Denver.
McDaniels truly believes character counts, which is refreshing. But if it doesn't count on the scoreboard, even good, churchgoing Broncomaniacs will take the coach's name in vain.
In Justin Bannan, Jamal Williams and Jarvis Green, the team obviously believes it has the run-stoppers to make the switch to the 3-4 defensive alignment worthwhile.
If the Broncos start Kyle Orton at quarterback, they will be deader than a lame duck. If Denver gives the job to rookie Tebow before his time, that's 10 losses waiting to happen. So here's thinking that if McDaniels doesn't see something special in Brady Quinn, the coach might be smile-challenged all season long.
The Broncos, who report to practices this week, are McDaniels' players. The malcontents have been shipped out. It's his team now. The fingerprints of Shanahan have been scrubbed clean.
There is a trait shared, however, between McDaniels and Shanahan. Both coaches always give the vibe of being the absolute smartest football man in the room.
For those who questioned anything from his play-calling to his draft choices, Shanahan stared back with how-dare- you condescension.
For the creator of the Facebook page named "Josh McDaniels is a Power-Hungry, Ego-Tripping Circus Clown" or anybody else who doubts him, however, McD responds with an almost playful glee.
Here's a prime example. Asked for the umpteenth time how well a coach could fix the flawed throwing motion of Tebow, McDaniels did not take offense.
The coach instead offered a no-doubt-about-it grin and said: "What would you think of (Tebow) if his throwing motion was perfect?"
OK, we like the spunk.
Now go out and prove it translates into victory.
Mark Kiszla: 303-954-1053 or mkiszla@denverpost.com
http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_15095130