It will be very interesting to see how it all shakes out.

what do you think about Jeremy Bates? If we cant get Cowher, why not stick a young team with a young head coach?

I really want to see Spagnuolo as our HC. For one, he has NFL experience while the two other coaches you have in mind are college. Plus Spags is a tough coach that makes the team work hard. He would be great for this team. I want someone to get in there and be tough. Make this defense spectacular and bring back the old Orange Crush Defense. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Heres what i got from the Press Conference:
Bowlen said he was letting go of all the staff. Shanahan said Bowlen would try and keep the offensive staff in tact as much as possible. Bowlen said quality is the biggest issue, and not money.
A couple of things stand out like dog bollocks to me:
By the majority of the staff being fired, it means to me that Bowlen will need to bring in a “team” and a system and not just a HC.
This will include a GM as well.
I think the Goodmans stay and take over all scouting and evaluation.
My gut is that Bowlen will go after a Pioli led team with McDaniells and a DC familiar with both of them. A possibility of Marty as a GM and Cowher as HC is intriguing, and you know that they will have access to great coaches and co-ordianators. What I also like about this is that Cowher was a ST Co-Ordinator, and PItts ST was great when he was there.
Cowher brings a system that will suit our offense, and attitude on defense.
That would be my choice.
I like Jim Johnson from Philly as well.
If we want to go young, look at a heavy hitter at GM. I would almost be Ok with Gruden as HC, bring in Morris as DC, make Bates OC officially, keep Dennison. Gruden loves QB’s and would do a good job with Cutler. He knows the AFC West too.
I really like Pioli as GM.

…said that his primary goal was to get a HC (as opposed to a GM). I’d think it would be the other way around. Maybe he has Goodman penciled in as GM?
Anyway, I’m with you, Ted, on hiring a sharp young DC as the next head coach. I like Spagnuolo just from what I know about him and his demeanor on the sidelines. I don’t know the other two, but I’ll take your word for them. Bottom line is I don’t want a retread (Cowher, Marty, or the like). this is a young team – let’s get a new, fresh HC.
Also, thanks for your statement about not saying crummy things about Shanahan or anyone. Frankly, I think the world is too small (and beautiful) to say negative things about anyone (I include the terms Fader, Dolts, etc.) except Osama bin Laden, for whom I have more than negative comments. Great post.

I disagree on hiring a defensive coach, however. Sure, Dungy has worked out great for Indy, but Manning was already running the offense when he arrived and all the pieces were in place. Look at Baltimore hiring Billik, and TB hiring Gruden. Granted these examples are idiotic because both of those guys won SBs early, but in the long run, the offenses never improved and the SBs were won in spite of the offenses. Besides Dungy, can you think of any other examples of defensive coaches taking over for offense-first teams. Was Linihan a defensive guy? If so, that didn’t work out so well.

If I owned a business where one segment was the bread and butter and constantly outperformed the other and I was hiring a President to oversee the operations of both units, I would hire a guy that was sure to take care of my bread and butter. When I took MBA courses during my accounting masters program, they called it the hedgehog principle, find out what you do best and do it relentlessly and never lose sight of it. That principle works here, focus on the offense make sure it’s okay first, and hire a good DC and get some talent on that side of the ball during FA and the draft.

Furthermore, this is a young team on offense and needs a top-notch offensive staff to mentor those guys. The only way I think it’s feasible to bring in a defensive HC is if Bobby, Rick, and Jeremy stick around. If those guys go, I think guys like Bates, Urban Meyer and Josh McDanials become serious contenders. Urban scares me because of his nontraditional, non-NFL style offense, but by all accounts he’s an excellent football coach. You’re an offensive guy Ted, what do you think of Urban.

If we do go defensive, I hope we go with one of the three guys you mentioned and keep our offensive staff. No thanks to Cower. I think any of the three you mentioned would go along with such an arraignment to get this job. Morris does sound awesome, and I think we’d all agree Tomlin worked out well for Pitt.

I will say this, the three guys you mentioned all have great personnel departments that got them players, and while I think last years draft is exceptional, history generally dictates that we aren’t going to hit that mark again for awhile. So I am concrened that if we stay with Goodman as a GM and a young coach or 1st year guy, that there may be somewhat of a power vacuum. Looking at Atlanta and Miami, they both got dynamic front office guys to go with the young HC.

Would a young GM want to come in here, with our offense pretty much set? Wouldn’t he want to build a team from scratch so he can call it his own? Obviously, it depends on the GM, but I see Pioli wanting the Cleveland job, so he can construct (or de-construct) at will. So I think it might be HC that Bowlen goes after first (especially, as others have said, after last year’s incredible draft) and either Goodmans/Xander stay, or Bowlen and the new HC decide the matter.

Chris Polian, our Vice President of Football Operations. Only problem is, I want him to stay and succeed our current GM. Bill Polian

I am still pissed so it will take me a while to calm down. But I do like Spagnulo. What about Rex Ryan of B-more? All I know is Denver has 2 full months before the start of Free agency to get a HC in place. Bowlen made his bed, now he better make sure whomever he gets can continue the legacy of success in Denver. I am willing to support any HC that comes here, cuz first and foremost I root for the Broncos. But I dont want to become average. I want to battle for the division every year and wins multiple Super Bowls.

That denver should try to acquire a GM/Coach combo package. Bring someone in who is familiar with the GM and vice versa so that both men fully understand what kind of team they want. This will limit conflicts in the draft war room and limit the amount of poor FA/Draft decisions because both parties will select players that fit the system, rather than pick up “name” Players. I think the best fit for the Broncos would be trying to pick up Josh McDaniels and Scott Pioli from the Patriots.

this was intended for a rebuilding team, but it provides what a team should look for in a GM and Coach.

Guide

Its a great read and could probably help you guys formulate a better idea of who you would want for both the GM and Head Coach

You pretty much said it all. Sometimes a change is good even though I am not fond of the firing of Shanahan. I have been proven wrong before and I hope this is one of those times. Bowlen has taken over control of the team as he should.

I agree with most that many of our offensive coaches should stay, they have earned it. I am also along the lines of getting a defensive minded coach because that is what we need right now.

I absolutely agree about the Shanar.. stuff. Lame.

I am also in agreement with the D-minded coach and think your analogy with the Colts is dead on.

I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out why Bowlen made this move and the one thing I come up with is Shanny’s motivational ability. What I mean is this: when he first came to Denver as HC, ha had a veteran-laden team, self-motivated and eager to finally win one themselves. He brought in a few more vets. Now, the Broncos are a young team and the young guys just naturally don’t have that sense of urgency that a vet does. Plus, many of the vets already have SB rings of their own. How many times did we see not only the obvious “playing down to their opponents” but the whole team seem just FLAT. I have felt a number of times over the past few years that these guys thought they just had to show up and the other team woud simply lay down before their awesomeness. It’s been frustrating. So, because of that, I think a guy like Spags or even Cowher (thought I don’t see him and would be less than thrilled by that move) may be what Bowlen is looking for. I’ve never been big on hype or whatever, but I can see where it would be valuable from a defensive-minded coach. Spags’ age doesn’t faze me at all and I think as a first-time HC, he’d be more amenable to keeping Bates on hand.

I don’t think I’ve adjusted to the Broncos w/out Elway. W/out Shanahan, I’m not too sure it’s the Denver Broncos anymore. We’ll see. This is not like hiring another frickin’ sales manager. Whoever they hire, it’s not going to feel right.

but I guess it really dosen’t matter at this point. What is done, is done.

I thought that the continuity of what was being put together with the current staff was on the right road! Instead, now the continuity is gone.

Now, we have to start over completely! Mike, after this year would have, (with the astute placement of the Goodmans) hired through FA, and drafted a great class of defensive players this year, that would have us on the way to GREATNESS!

The promotion of the Goodmans last year was no FLUKE! Why would Pat want to keep them? They are tallented, work hard, and assess tallent extreamly well. But, wasn’t that just annother one of Mike’s calls, to place them in that important position?

As you can see, I am not happy with this decision! I truly believe that it was grossly premature. That having been said, I want to thank Ted B for an excellent article that is helping all of us to “think to the future.”

What direction do we want Pat to go in?

Some say a defensive HC. Some go the other way. I could really care less at this point, because it does not matter which side of the ball a man has been coaching on! What does matter, is his ability to handle the resposibilities that come with the HC position!

The HC position, is all about choosing coaching tallent and organizing it, so that the end result is a Super Bowl WIN! It’s not good enough to just get there!

The tallent of the candidate, must be his FIRE, Organizational Skills, And, his ability to pick the right staff, and then to keep THEM on track!

I hate to have to admit this, but, I didn’t think that Mike, kept up with that, over the last 4 or 5 years…………….However, I do think that Mike was on the right track, and was actually moving toward the changes that He needed to make and that, is why, I think that Pat, JUMPED THE GUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Just My Oppinion.

I think Bowlin needed to send a message throughout the entire organization, “Complacency will not be tolerated; no one is untouchable; nothing less than the SB is sufficient.”

How else could he send that message?

and I bitched about Shanahan sometimes. But, hey, I bitch about my wife sometimes – doesn’t mean I want a divorce! Better find someone at least close to Shanahan’s stature, and I would hate to have that assignment.

i think maybe Ron Rivera from San Diego. look at what he did with the bears and then taking over a d cordinator midway through the season with the chargers. I think he could do wonders with the little talent we have. i think going with a defensive minded hc instead of offense is the way to go. Especially since bowlen wants to keep as much of the offensive staff in place. what do yall think?

He should know what SD is doing.

After the shock and awe of yesterday I am starting to feel a bit more at ease or at least the beginning stages of accepting the new situation, like I have a choice. One area that I am very excited to see and that is what is going to be done for our defense. Could be a great thing since I am now in my optimistic zen mode after yesterdays breakdown. I am very much looking forward to next draft and next season. So onward and upward. This team has always been a team of class, no matter if it was a bad or good season. Love my Bronco’s.
I also am in total agreement with you on anyone disrespecting our players and coach.
Mike Shanahan has been nothing but class and a pure professional to our team and the NFL. God speed Mike, sure am going to miss you, even when I was throwing everything at my tv these past few years. But the Broncos are my team and always will be, and Mike, You will always be a Bronco in my eyes, till they can no longer see. Good Luck where ever you go Mike and thank you for all the great years as my coach…… Great Post Ted and Happy New year to all the Bronco fans…….Great year a comin in 2009…….

The one thing that shows he is the best owner in the NFL, is that (and Shanahan stated this in his conference) Bowlen takes care of some of the staff should something happen and they need to find a job

Then WE could ELECT the coach! Who do you think we’d choose? Maybe we should hold an election and forward the results to Bowlen, not that he’d give a %@&*!

that JElway would be the perfect OC, and that the QBC, should stay in tact! That would leave the OC job exclusively that, and it would alow JE, to call plays that he knows should be called, based upon “HIS” tallent level at the position, also knowing how important the run game was to him!

Any oppinions?

Then WE could ELECT the coach! Who do you think we’d choose? Maybe we should hold an election and forward the results to Bowlen, not that he’d give a %@&*!