We gained a head coach, did we lose our assistant coaches?

by Broncoman on Jan 13, 2009 1:09 AM MST Comment 16 comments

Reading through Josh McDaniels presser, I came to one big question, with the hiring of McDaniels did we just lose Jeremy Bates and Rick Dennison? When asked the question on wether he would be calling the plays, he answered yes he would and that he would put in New England's offense. After these answers I have to believe that both Bates and Dennison will be let go. Why you may ask, well first off, Bates job was supposedly to call plays last year, with McDaniels calling the plays, this eliminates the need for Bates. I would also believe that McDaniels will see Bates as wall between him and his new star QB and jetison him so that Cutler knows that he is indeed calling the shots. Wth Dennison I see a coach that applied for the same job and may be seen as someone that would be a threat to McDaniels power and control of the team, as the offense would have more inherent trust in Dennison then they would for someone coming from the outside. I hope this will not be the case, but with such a young head coach who has to establish his leadership of the team, I feel that Bates and Dennison could be seen as potential rivals to his leadership of the offense and the team.

On a side note, I wish Coach McDaniels the best of luck and will hope that he can show maturity beyond his years. One thing I am not looking forward to is the hoodie on the sideline, one thing I would hope that McDaniels would not bring is dressing like a slob. You are a head coach in the NFL, you are the head coach of a founding member of the AFL, you are a head coach of one of the most prominant franchises, carry yourself as such. I was all for Mike Nolan and Jack Del Rio dressing in suits, it brought back a sense of professionlism and style to the he NFL coaching ranks, it showed you took pride in how you carried yourself and how you represented your team and profession. I am hoping that McDaniels realizes that he needs to understand what he is representing and dress like an adult, and not a college kid fresh off lifting weights. I agree that appreances won't win games for you, but carrying yourself with pride and professionlism will never hurt your cause.

I would also hope that Coach McDaniels also does not bring acting like a douche bag when you lose from Bilichick, Mangini, and Weiss, learn from your predessor in Coach Shanahan in how to deal with victory and defeat with dignity, even when it is burning you up inside. I am looking forward to next season, it will be interesting and exciting, and as always, Go Broncos.

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Hi broncoman !

2 things ….. I guess thats the end of the end of the zone blocking scheme on running
plays with bates gone ?

    I could care less about a hoodie I hope the media and fans put that that crap away
    fast and stop talking about it . Mc Daniels needs to find himself his own identity.
    not coppy off of whats already been done.

by broncosfaninphilly on Jan 13, 2009 4:38 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Hey Broncoman is back!

with a new avatar, no less.

I get the feeling that Bates and Dennison are gone, along with the zone block. I hope I’m wrong.

Thanks to Mike Shanahan, a great coach who will be dearly missed. But...
Let's all get on the Mac Daddy Express!
Hillis for starter next year. He wears special thigh pads so his solid brass balls don't give him repeated thigh contusions.

by 53guys on Jan 13, 2009 6:33 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

+1

It’s good to have you back Brannigan. You and your Nimbus were missed at MHR!

"You’d sacrifice this beautiful woman for a moderately attractive ape? You’ve been smoking some bad granola."

I wish Woody Paige was our coach!

by bcfunk on Jan 13, 2009 6:48 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Lets not get too ahead of ourselves....

The scheme Bates and Shanny were brining in was VERY much taken from the Pats, supplemented by our running game.
Jedi McD seems to be a pretty smart dude, and I doubt we will see a total trashing of the zone block.
What we will see, though, is the passing game used to set up the run game. This is the game plan we used against the jets…worked pretty well when mixed with a power runner like Hillis.
Get used to this notion: the whole premise od Denver using the run game to set up the pass is dead and left the building with Shanny.
I am excited for the change in scheme on both sides of the ball.

Those that cant coach, compete!
Failing to plan is planning to fail.

by boydy2669 on Jan 13, 2009 6:43 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I am of the opinion that a lot of the coaches will be the ones making the final decision about their futures. McDaniels will talk to them and give them an idea of their new roles, scheme changes etc, but I don’t think he will fire anyone directly.

Rick Dennison will probably leave if he can get a true OC job elsewhere (like SF). It is hard to argue against that move for him. I’d love to see him stay, but his path is blocked in Denver.

As for Jeremy Bates, I think it will be about the personal dynamic between Cutler, Bates and McDaniels. If Bates and McDaniels are on the same page about the scheme and direction of the offense, then Bates is a good conduit to Cutler (much like Kubiak was to Elway). My thought is that Bates will stay as QB coach and be involved with McDaniels (and maybe Dennison) in devising the game plan each week. I’ll guess that he’ll be back calling the plays in a year or so (possibly sooner depending on how McDaniels handles calling plays while running the entire team)

Dennison staying would actually help Bates out. I think if Dennison leaves, McDaniels will be very tempted to bring in someone else to help on the offensive side of the ball. One of the Horse Tracks articles mentions former Broncos lineman and current Panthers OC Jeff Davidson as a possibility. A name that I will throw out there as a complete dark horse to replace Dennison if he leaves is former BC coach Jeff Jagodzinski. McDaniels has not familiariry with him, but if he wants to keep the zone blocking scheme intact then Jagodzinski would be a good choice

by MattR on Jan 13, 2009 9:18 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

In retrospect...

It’s too bad Shanny gave Bates the OC title as I could see Dennison as OC/AHC with Bates and the QB coach. This would be a demotion for Bates now. I think Dennison would soak up what McD has to bring to the passing game and be able to supplement with his knowledge of the running scheme. Plus, it would keep Bates in there with Cutler.

I guess we’ll find out pretty soon, tho.

aka MN Bronco

by pubkeeper on Jan 13, 2009 10:52 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

He could wear a onesy if he brings home 29 wins in the next two years for all I care.

I am not as worried about losing Dennison, I see Davidson as a step up. Look what he did with the Panthers, I would not have any trouble with him retreading the zone block scheme like they did there.

"It's the first time that I've probably ever seen a 260 pound back run into a free safety and go flat on his back, I mean it was exciting." ~John Elway

by jibbons on Jan 13, 2009 10:18 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Dennison and Bates.

I think they’ll go elsewhere. Hope they keep Bobby Turner. Hope I can learn to love the spread offense. At least it’s not that thing where everyone gets in a stance, then stands up looking at the sideline before snapping the ball (Stoops style). I’m cautiously optimistic. The Broncos have to have a run game, however.

"Be not like dumb-driven cattle...."

by jcps on Jan 13, 2009 11:05 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

I saw the standing up to check with the sidelines

from more than just Oklahoma. I think the reason is that the college coaches can’t trust most of the QBs to audible properly, so they line up, see what the defense does then check with the coach to see if the play changes.

I don’t see Jay not being trusted to make audibles himself. Although, if he starts audibling out of run plays (as many here accused him of doing later in the season), I can see McD taking that responsibility away from him.

"It's all over Fat Man" - Tom Jackson to John Madden 1977 AFC Championship Game

"tough times don't last, tough people do" - Mike "The Mastermind" Shanahan

by DesertBroncoFan on Jan 13, 2009 11:55 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Two things to keep in mind...

1. NE used a ZB system similar to Denver’s, not identical but similar. Everything with NE is about economy. They use ZB because it’s chaeper to acquire and return light athletic lineman than the big hogs needed for a power running game. I don’t see big changes here.

2. Bates was trying to emulate NE’s passing game. What I see is a greater emphasis on using backs in the passing game.

by SlowWhiteGuy on Jan 13, 2009 12:00 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

mac isn't coming in alone

if he’s calling the plays, i think he would like them to be his. same with the scheme. scripted plays are out, and i would be surprised if dennison or bates remain with the team. the running game/rb situation will be interesting to watch.

taste my blintzkrieg!
2009-year of the defense.

by davecheffy on Jan 13, 2009 3:25 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Very true

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman

by Broncoman on Jan 13, 2009 4:01 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

If Dennison goes elsewhere (I hope he doesn't)...

then I think that Bates should be offered the OC spot. For one, Cutler has made it clear that he wants Bates around. Also, that would provide a great deal of continuity for the coaches and the players. Furthermore, I think it’s clear that Bates and McDaniels prefer a similar type of offense.

I am the eggman...they are the eggman...I am the Mermaid...Goo Goo Gajoob!!!

by PosterNutbag on Jan 13, 2009 3:44 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

What offensive coordinators are out there for hire?

(out there, not in here)

by RiG on Jan 13, 2009 5:27 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Good question

Well one guy would be Scott Linehan who was the Rams HC and got canned, but was the OC for the Vikings and Dolphines previously, probably not the style we are looking for, another guy would be Bill Musgrave who many may remember here as a QB coach, I think he may be a good guy, he is the QB coach at Atlanta now, but has been an OC, one that may be off the radar but might be worth a shot is Chip Kelly who is the OC for the University of Oregon, but is consisdered a very good spread offense coordinator.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman

by Broncoman on Jan 13, 2009 5:42 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs