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Stokley might be the best slot guy right now, but will be 33 next year. I'd put Royal in the slot while he is young and fast, get another good WR on the outside, and seek to dominate in the passing game with Cutler and McDaniels leading the charge.This offense could be very interesting.
if I had do pick one Bronco WR to use as a down field threat and one WR to throw screen passes to and let him make some moves and rack up the RAC, I'm sending Royal downfield and giving the screens to Marshall.
Magic 8-ball tells me he's going to be horrible.
"Couldn't win playoff games" with Cutler? This doesn't make a lot of sense. Griese was clearly limited even early in his career, and Plummer, a veteran, was more or less a known quantity who Shanny nevertheless extracted every bit of performance he could out of him. Cutler, who I very much like, looks like the real deal. I think we can all say that the Broncos have found their next franchise QB. With that in mind, why right now at this early date in Cutler's career would we assume that Shanny was holding him back regarding playoffs and playoff wins? Cutler's been the starter there for less than three seasons. There are plenty of QB's who took longer to win in the playoffs than that, most notably Peyton Manning. I've been on who's been critical of Shanahan's mediocre post-Elway record, but if the rationale is that he's somehow "failed with Cutler", I think that's premature. I think this firing probably has more to do with pouring resources into one of the highest payrolls in the league for a decade and having very little to show for it. Looking only at the QB position misses that, particularly the huge amounts of money spent on defenses that achieved little for the most part.
I guess it was a cruel irony that Shanny had good defenses there in Denver for much of the last decade, but never had the QB to put the team over the top, and then as soon as he finally got that stud QB, the defense went to ####. Bad timing, I guess.
Not necessary. Denver does not need to draft another WR. The defense should be the focus of draft, FA and any trades this offseason. Denver already has an explosive offense and if they do take an offensive player, it should be center or RB.An interesting side note that I haven't seen brought up here is McDaniels actually came into NE as a defensive assistant. Out of all seven interviewees, he may have been the most well-rounded as far as X's and O's. The only detriment I can see right now is his age. I'm not sure how the players will respond to him.
Denver based much of its wide-open, stretch-the-field attack this past season on what the Pats did in 2007. Jeremy Bates is also going to be kept on board (he was the QB coach and play caller). I do wonder, though, how McDaniels and the offensive coaching staff are going to get along. Will Bates still call plays or will he give that up to McDaniels? I don't understand why anyone would think Denver would invest a draft pick in a WR when they don't need one. I think the draft and most offseason personnel moves will be devoted to defense.
Agree. I don't see how it can be any other way, atleast for 2009, especially if they are going to be in the 1st year of a switch to the 3-4 Defense.McDaniels + no 'D' = throw, throw.....throw some more.
but Cutler wasn't, isn't the problem it's their defense and being a former OC it remains to be seen what his staff can do differently to improve that train wreck.
Cutler had many games where he played like crap / tried to throw into triple coverage / etc. McDaniels can definitely help Cutler improve, coaching him up, gameplanning, and making in-game adjustments.but Cutler wasn't, isn't the problem it's their defense and being a former OC it remains to be seen what his staff can do differently to improve that train wreck.I think this is clearly the rationale for the hiring. Shanahan had his pick of 3 different guys to replace Elway (Griese, then Plummer, then Cutler) and couldn't win playoff games with any of these guys. Cutler has a ton of potential and after how the Patriots brought along Matt Cassel to be Brady's replacement this year the Denver organization must be thinking that Cutler can go to a new level of play with McDaniels as the HC. My. 02.
I didn't say that Cutler was the problem - I said that Shanahan couldn't win playoff games with any of his hand picked QBs - Griese, Plummer, or Cutler. Excepting 2005, this is true. Once in the playoffs, the Broncos got blown out on both sides of the ball.2008 season: Loss 52-21 to San Diego in AFC West Championship game December 28th, week 17 - QB Cutlerbut Cutler wasn't, isn't the problem it's their defense and being a former OC it remains to be seen what his staff can do differently to improve that train wreck.I think this is clearly the rationale for the hiring. Shanahan had his pick of 3 different guys to replace Elway (Griese, then Plummer, then Cutler) and couldn't win playoff games with any of these guys. Cutler has a ton of potential and after how the Patriots brought along Matt Cassel to be Brady's replacement this year the Denver organization must be thinking that Cutler can go to a new level of play with McDaniels as the HC.
My. 02.
I agree with you but to nitpick, Reeves was in place before Bowlen bought the team. Bowlen didn't hire Reeves.I'm warming up to the McDaniels hire. I was in the Spags camp, but after thinking about things, going w/O is probably the right move.
This was my thinking exactly. Better to focus on getting the most out of the young and talented offense, and bring in a new defensive coordinator to improve the defense, if only slightly, than to bring in a defensive minded coach and risk a big regression on offense.
Chances of ANY coaching hire to succeed are not good. Let's not forget that Bowlen went out and got Shanny [snuck into the locker room after the 49ers Super Bowl], so his instincts aren't exactly shabby. McDaniels success hinges as much on the players, their health, the Broncos schedule and the assistant coaches he surrounds himself with as any "feeling" we all may have about his age, experience or who he coached under.NE_REVIVAL said:
Bowlen will certainly give him the space and time to succeed though. And the cupboard isn't exactly bare. I expect playoffs in 2009. Who am I kidding? I expect the playoffs every year.
Agreed that the chances for any new nfl coach to are not good; not sure how pointing that out does anything to weaken the case for those who feel he is not likely to suceed. I also agree that McDaniels sucess hinges on many factors beyond his control; all the more reason to believe his chances of suceeding are not good. IMO, it is not unreasonable to conclude that having BB and Tom Brady while at NE was at the very least, beneficial for McDaniels.The fact that he is 32 and never been a HC before can't be considered strengths.I don't think I said anything unreasonable; it's not as if I don't like the guy, I wish him well. It is a plus that he did not go to a team like the Jets, Denver has a strong owner so he is already way ahead of Mangini in that critical department. BB also thinks very highly of him, as do many others so he may very well prove to be the exception. I wish him and Denver well, except of course when they play the Pats
How come only 6 points vs KC then?
Winner?Magic 8-ball tells me he's going to be horrible.
19th highest scoring team. Not so sure about that.
Well at least he's managed to assemble a group of talented players and stockpiled draft picks.
Well...I can see the Broncos trying out a new coach and he will decide. But given what Denver has given up lately, and the season Orton is having, he might be some good trade bait to a team that is struggling at the QB position and allowing the team to either give Tebow a shot or completely rebuild from scratch. Arizona to me seems like a place that would benefit greatly with Orton behind center, but thats only because I own both Orton and Fitz and that combo would be deadly.Cutler has to be laughing his ### off right now though.
And Lloyd.This is a bad time of year to have so much doubt cast upon a guy who has been a fire-and-forget starter for weeks.
They'll be playing for a different head coach.
