TXBRONC
01-13-2011, 11:08 AM
This coaching search is beginning to take on a rudderless ship feeling. I do hope the new Broncos regime gets a grip on things quickly. The topic du jour for this coach-hiring season seems to be second chances — Mularkey, Capers, etc. with hopes of landing the next Belichick. That said, why has Mike Nolan's name not come up as a Broncos candidate? At the very least, his perspective of the first half of the '09-'10 car crash could be enlightening.
---Sean, Phoenix
Sean: I've already addressed all of these names. You failed to mention some great names none of us have thought of. I keep hearing about Brian Billick, and I mentioned him in both columns I've written on the subject. He won a Super Bowl and had some excellent years in Baltimore, but it ended poorly; his offenses were not good (even though he had been the Vikings' offensive coordinator before being named in Baltimore), and he has an abrasive style that turns off the public and the press. He really hasn't improved that image as a commentator on TV. He has been away now for a while, and he's somewhat been forgotten as a head coach candidate. But the Broncos should interview him and take a look.
Marty Schottenheimer. Even though I'm old, he's a lot older. I just honestly don't know any more. Why not bring him in for a talk? Who else gets your attention? Bill Parcells. Ain't happening here or anywhere else? Bill Cowher. Jon Gruden. Nobody's jumping on either because they're content where they are, and you'd had to give them total control and a ton of money. (By the way, it's my understanding that the Broncos didn't pay Josh McDaniels nearly what he was owed on the two remaining years. I hear it was a very comfortable settlement for the Broncos).
I've examined every possible candidate — and, to repeat, very few will have to hit the ceiling. It's not like when Mike Shanahan was hired. Who does get your attention from the playoff teams? Dom Capers. He's been in charger of two expansion teams and did a nice job, and probably deserves another chance. Do you go "wow"? Maybe. How about Rob Ryan, the other Ryan's twin brother. He did a nice job in Oakland, and Rex has been a wow head coach, but his stock fell with Cleveland this year, and you don't see the Browns screaming to promote him.
Who? Who? Forget college coaches. I liked Jim Harbaugh because he had an NFL background, but so few make the transition. Urban Meyer's not returning any time soon. Look what Nick Saban did when he took over the Dolphins. On and on. Bill Walsh turned out to be a great pro coach, but I can name 10 who failed for every one who made it.
I liked Ron Rivera; I kinda liked Gregg Williams, although he's a bit odd and didn't turn around Buffalo. John Fox might get your attention except the Panthers were so bad lately. Gary Kubiak might have gotten a lot of people excited, but he was kept in Houston. Eric Mangini? No way. Charlie Weiss? Romeo Crennel? Nobody with a Patriots background, fairly or unfairly. Kyle Shanahan? Interesting. Too young, though, and the association could be good or bad, although he will be a great head coach someday.
Mike "Don't call me Mark" Mularkey. He did coach the Bills to their last winning record and has coached Kordell Stewart and Matt Ryan, but he's been knocked around and knocked a lot. Tony Dungy would cause you to jump up and down, except he doesn't want to coach again, and even if he were talked into it, here's a truth, some of his recent anti-gay stances have caused him a problem. Would that be a problem in coaching again? I don't know.
Mike Nolan failed in San Francisco. Jim Mora Jr. Failed a couple of times. Russ Grimm? He was so close to being the Steelers' coach, and there are still questions about if he really got the job before the offer was rescinded, but the Cardinals were worse running the ball and stopping the run than the Broncos the past year. How do you sell him?
Mark Schlereth? He knows football and chili, but hasn't coached. What young head coach is out there? Would the Broncos even consider a young head coach again? I don't think so. You tell me, Sean. Where's the name that spikes your football?
http://www.denverpost.com/woodysmailbag/ci_17078384
I know settlement generally means that you're not going get very thing owed to you but I think it begs the question "Why were the Broncos able to get such a settlement that was so favorable to them?" :ponder:
---Sean, Phoenix
Sean: I've already addressed all of these names. You failed to mention some great names none of us have thought of. I keep hearing about Brian Billick, and I mentioned him in both columns I've written on the subject. He won a Super Bowl and had some excellent years in Baltimore, but it ended poorly; his offenses were not good (even though he had been the Vikings' offensive coordinator before being named in Baltimore), and he has an abrasive style that turns off the public and the press. He really hasn't improved that image as a commentator on TV. He has been away now for a while, and he's somewhat been forgotten as a head coach candidate. But the Broncos should interview him and take a look.
Marty Schottenheimer. Even though I'm old, he's a lot older. I just honestly don't know any more. Why not bring him in for a talk? Who else gets your attention? Bill Parcells. Ain't happening here or anywhere else? Bill Cowher. Jon Gruden. Nobody's jumping on either because they're content where they are, and you'd had to give them total control and a ton of money. (By the way, it's my understanding that the Broncos didn't pay Josh McDaniels nearly what he was owed on the two remaining years. I hear it was a very comfortable settlement for the Broncos).
I've examined every possible candidate — and, to repeat, very few will have to hit the ceiling. It's not like when Mike Shanahan was hired. Who does get your attention from the playoff teams? Dom Capers. He's been in charger of two expansion teams and did a nice job, and probably deserves another chance. Do you go "wow"? Maybe. How about Rob Ryan, the other Ryan's twin brother. He did a nice job in Oakland, and Rex has been a wow head coach, but his stock fell with Cleveland this year, and you don't see the Browns screaming to promote him.
Who? Who? Forget college coaches. I liked Jim Harbaugh because he had an NFL background, but so few make the transition. Urban Meyer's not returning any time soon. Look what Nick Saban did when he took over the Dolphins. On and on. Bill Walsh turned out to be a great pro coach, but I can name 10 who failed for every one who made it.
I liked Ron Rivera; I kinda liked Gregg Williams, although he's a bit odd and didn't turn around Buffalo. John Fox might get your attention except the Panthers were so bad lately. Gary Kubiak might have gotten a lot of people excited, but he was kept in Houston. Eric Mangini? No way. Charlie Weiss? Romeo Crennel? Nobody with a Patriots background, fairly or unfairly. Kyle Shanahan? Interesting. Too young, though, and the association could be good or bad, although he will be a great head coach someday.
Mike "Don't call me Mark" Mularkey. He did coach the Bills to their last winning record and has coached Kordell Stewart and Matt Ryan, but he's been knocked around and knocked a lot. Tony Dungy would cause you to jump up and down, except he doesn't want to coach again, and even if he were talked into it, here's a truth, some of his recent anti-gay stances have caused him a problem. Would that be a problem in coaching again? I don't know.
Mike Nolan failed in San Francisco. Jim Mora Jr. Failed a couple of times. Russ Grimm? He was so close to being the Steelers' coach, and there are still questions about if he really got the job before the offer was rescinded, but the Cardinals were worse running the ball and stopping the run than the Broncos the past year. How do you sell him?
Mark Schlereth? He knows football and chili, but hasn't coached. What young head coach is out there? Would the Broncos even consider a young head coach again? I don't think so. You tell me, Sean. Where's the name that spikes your football?
http://www.denverpost.com/woodysmailbag/ci_17078384
I know settlement generally means that you're not going get very thing owed to you but I think it begs the question "Why were the Broncos able to get such a settlement that was so favorable to them?" :ponder: