Astrass
11-07-2007, 12:54 PM
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7415662?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=5
Injuries, an inexperienced starting quarterback and a porous run defense have contributed to Denver's 3-5 record.
The biggest problem, though, starts up top.
Mike Shanahan is an offensive genius and Hall of Fame-caliber head coach. But as a personnel guru, Shanahan should have gotten fired long ago.
This off-season, maybe that will happen.
Broncos owner Pat Bowlen needs to reassess an organizational structure that gives Shanahan total control over roster moves. Even if it rallies to win the mediocre AFC West, Denver is showing the same cracks perennial winners like San Francisco, Miami and Green Bay did before their slides began.
NFL Roundup
Tony Romo
Sunday's games:
Falcons at Panthers
Vikings at Packers
Broncos at Chiefs
Bills at Dolphins
Rams at Saints
Browns at Steelers
Jaguars at Titans
Eagles at Redskins
Bengals at Ravens
Lions at Cardinals
Cowboys at Giants
Bears at Raiders
Colts at Chargers
Monday's game:
49ers at Seahawks
More NFL:
NFL Roundup|Scores|Stats
Leaders: Weekly|Season
Check up on your fantasy team!
Power Rankings | Online OT
Submit questions for Rapid Fire
Photo galleries:
Best of Week 9
NFL cheerleaders
The Broncos could easily be 0-8, having won all three games on the final play. Two of the losses — including last Sunday's 44-7 drubbing in Detroit — were the most lopsided since Shanahan became coach in 1995.
Poor free-agent decisions and drafts are beginning to cripple the franchise that Shanahan built.
Shanahan could do no wrong when constructing a mini-dynasty. Between 1996 and 1998, six free-agent signings reached the Pro Bowl. A seventh selection (left tackle Tony Jones) came via a trade with Baltimore. Shanahan also astutely identified other talented starters and backups, augmenting a stacked roster from previous drafts. The result was two Super Bowl titles.
But Shanahan lost his Midas touch — and Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway — shortly after the second title in 1998. Denver is one of the NFL's busiest teams every year during the off-season, yet only two veteran acquisitions this decade (safety John Lynch and cornerback Champ Bailey) have reached the Pro Bowl.
Admittedly, I thought Denver was poised for a Super Bowl run this season and even told Shanahan so in August. But some of Denver's 2007 moves were as bad as my prediction.
Running back Travis Henry faces a year-long NFL suspension should his appeal of a failed drug test be denied. Dre' Bly is being paid like a shut-down cornerback but hasn't made that kind of impact. Daniel Graham is being used primarily as a blocking tight end, a role that doesn't justify giving him $20 million in guaranteed money. Simeon Rice is quickly joining Denver's ample list of big-name defensive line busts.
Judging by their injury problems, Denver stuck too long with mainstays like wide receiver Rod Smith, center Tom Nalen and Lynch. Five of Denver's seven players on injured reserve are 30-somethings. Ten starters and both specialists are at least 29 years old.
Denver's drafts haven't produced many viable replacements. During the past five years, first-day choices were squandered on players like wide receiver Darius Watts, linebacker Terry Pierce and running back Maurice Clarett. None of the team's seven first-round picks between 1996 and 2003 are on the roster. Neither are any of the 18 picks from 2002 and 2003. Only four of 16 remain from the Classes of 2004 and 2005 (cornerback Darrent Williams, killed this off-season, falls in this group).
Shanahan's failings in this regard are damning. Yet it speaks volumes for Shanahan the coach that Denver was 51-29 the previous five seasons with one AFC Championship game appearance.
Scapegoating Shanahan's underlings for these problems is easy, but the issues run deeper than the front office. One NFL general manager said Shanahan gives some assistant coaches significant say in veteran personnel acquisitions. This can be dangerous, especially when assistants become blind to player weaknesses that a more objective scout can see.
There also is a sense among those close to the team that Shanahan isn't fond of dissenting internal opinions about players he becomes enamored with. They say Shanahan's intimidating demeanor affects constructive give-and-take discussions.
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Unlike in Seattle with Mike Holmgren, I strongly doubt Shanahan would willingly cede his front office power to concentrate exclusively on Xs and Os. Shanahan is a control freak and will never forget his miserable head coaching experience being subservient to Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis in the late 1980s.
Bowlen has steadfastly stood by Shanahan in tough times before. Shanahan also can point to having drafted quarterback Jay Cutler as hope for the future. If he continues to develop, Cutler can help Denver more quickly regain its status among the NFL's elite.
But — as loathe as Shanahan is to say the word — there is substantial rebuilding looming. Ultimately, Bowlen must take a long look at whether a coach nicknamed "The Mastermind" should be masterminding that effort.
************************************************** *****
Before anyone says Sundquist is the GM not Shanny, I'm sure the writer knows this and is besically pointing out that the amount of Power Shanny has over the decision making basicaly makes him the GM.
IMO...I think this article is pretty correct. Sundquist needs to get the boot at the end of the year and they need to hire someone who is competent. Shanny needs to let this part of his job go. He seems to spread himself too thin.
Injuries, an inexperienced starting quarterback and a porous run defense have contributed to Denver's 3-5 record.
The biggest problem, though, starts up top.
Mike Shanahan is an offensive genius and Hall of Fame-caliber head coach. But as a personnel guru, Shanahan should have gotten fired long ago.
This off-season, maybe that will happen.
Broncos owner Pat Bowlen needs to reassess an organizational structure that gives Shanahan total control over roster moves. Even if it rallies to win the mediocre AFC West, Denver is showing the same cracks perennial winners like San Francisco, Miami and Green Bay did before their slides began.
NFL Roundup
Tony Romo
Sunday's games:
Falcons at Panthers
Vikings at Packers
Broncos at Chiefs
Bills at Dolphins
Rams at Saints
Browns at Steelers
Jaguars at Titans
Eagles at Redskins
Bengals at Ravens
Lions at Cardinals
Cowboys at Giants
Bears at Raiders
Colts at Chargers
Monday's game:
49ers at Seahawks
More NFL:
NFL Roundup|Scores|Stats
Leaders: Weekly|Season
Check up on your fantasy team!
Power Rankings | Online OT
Submit questions for Rapid Fire
Photo galleries:
Best of Week 9
NFL cheerleaders
The Broncos could easily be 0-8, having won all three games on the final play. Two of the losses — including last Sunday's 44-7 drubbing in Detroit — were the most lopsided since Shanahan became coach in 1995.
Poor free-agent decisions and drafts are beginning to cripple the franchise that Shanahan built.
Shanahan could do no wrong when constructing a mini-dynasty. Between 1996 and 1998, six free-agent signings reached the Pro Bowl. A seventh selection (left tackle Tony Jones) came via a trade with Baltimore. Shanahan also astutely identified other talented starters and backups, augmenting a stacked roster from previous drafts. The result was two Super Bowl titles.
But Shanahan lost his Midas touch — and Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway — shortly after the second title in 1998. Denver is one of the NFL's busiest teams every year during the off-season, yet only two veteran acquisitions this decade (safety John Lynch and cornerback Champ Bailey) have reached the Pro Bowl.
Admittedly, I thought Denver was poised for a Super Bowl run this season and even told Shanahan so in August. But some of Denver's 2007 moves were as bad as my prediction.
Running back Travis Henry faces a year-long NFL suspension should his appeal of a failed drug test be denied. Dre' Bly is being paid like a shut-down cornerback but hasn't made that kind of impact. Daniel Graham is being used primarily as a blocking tight end, a role that doesn't justify giving him $20 million in guaranteed money. Simeon Rice is quickly joining Denver's ample list of big-name defensive line busts.
Judging by their injury problems, Denver stuck too long with mainstays like wide receiver Rod Smith, center Tom Nalen and Lynch. Five of Denver's seven players on injured reserve are 30-somethings. Ten starters and both specialists are at least 29 years old.
Denver's drafts haven't produced many viable replacements. During the past five years, first-day choices were squandered on players like wide receiver Darius Watts, linebacker Terry Pierce and running back Maurice Clarett. None of the team's seven first-round picks between 1996 and 2003 are on the roster. Neither are any of the 18 picks from 2002 and 2003. Only four of 16 remain from the Classes of 2004 and 2005 (cornerback Darrent Williams, killed this off-season, falls in this group).
Shanahan's failings in this regard are damning. Yet it speaks volumes for Shanahan the coach that Denver was 51-29 the previous five seasons with one AFC Championship game appearance.
Scapegoating Shanahan's underlings for these problems is easy, but the issues run deeper than the front office. One NFL general manager said Shanahan gives some assistant coaches significant say in veteran personnel acquisitions. This can be dangerous, especially when assistants become blind to player weaknesses that a more objective scout can see.
There also is a sense among those close to the team that Shanahan isn't fond of dissenting internal opinions about players he becomes enamored with. They say Shanahan's intimidating demeanor affects constructive give-and-take discussions.
advertisement
STORY TOOLS:
send
blog
RSS LIKE THIS STORY?
Unlike in Seattle with Mike Holmgren, I strongly doubt Shanahan would willingly cede his front office power to concentrate exclusively on Xs and Os. Shanahan is a control freak and will never forget his miserable head coaching experience being subservient to Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis in the late 1980s.
Bowlen has steadfastly stood by Shanahan in tough times before. Shanahan also can point to having drafted quarterback Jay Cutler as hope for the future. If he continues to develop, Cutler can help Denver more quickly regain its status among the NFL's elite.
But — as loathe as Shanahan is to say the word — there is substantial rebuilding looming. Ultimately, Bowlen must take a long look at whether a coach nicknamed "The Mastermind" should be masterminding that effort.
************************************************** *****
Before anyone says Sundquist is the GM not Shanny, I'm sure the writer knows this and is besically pointing out that the amount of Power Shanny has over the decision making basicaly makes him the GM.
IMO...I think this article is pretty correct. Sundquist needs to get the boot at the end of the year and they need to hire someone who is competent. Shanny needs to let this part of his job go. He seems to spread himself too thin.