Horse Tracks - 1/15/09

by John Bena on Jan 15, 2009 7:00 AM MST in Horse Tracks

DENVER POST

After a couple of missed connections and a game of phone tag, new Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels finally got to speak with quarterback Jay Cutler on Wednesday.

Any way you look at it, the defense of the Broncos stinks. A fine tradition crushed. From the gaudy points hung by foes on the scoreboard to the rock bottom of the NFL statistics, the Orange ain't what it used to be.

At least one of Mike Shanahan's longtime assistants is expected to be back on the Denver sideline next season. Running backs coach Bobby Turner, who has held that job since 1995, has been offered that role on new coach Josh McDaniels' staff, according to an NFL source.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS

New Broncos coach Josh McDaniels continues to make the rounds in search of assistants to fill out his staff.

OTHER

Two weeks later, and Mike Shanahan is gone from the Colorado sports landscape. Two weeks later, and Bronco Nation has its new lead architect — even if he looks like he'll need his ID in bars and liquor stores for years to come.

The collisions started occurring when Rich Larsen sent his youngest child onto the Pop Warner practice field with some simple advice.

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Turner and Dennison

So, it turns out that maybe McD meant what he said:

“We use a lot of the same blocking schemes and run-game schemes that they’ve used,” McDaniels said. “I know they get a lot of attention for that and it’s something you don’t look to pull the plug on unless you have something better to do. So we’re going to see.”

Obviously, it’s not a done deal, but I wonder if people will calm down with the “out with the zone blocking” hysteria.

aka MN Bronco

by pubkeeper on Jan 15, 2009 9:21 AM MST reply actions

I like the idea

of Gradishar as LB coach. I think he can teach the boys what it means to be a Bronco Linebacker and his experience in the 3-4 would be hard to beat!

"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 15, 2009 10:03 AM MST reply actions

I thought Kiszla's article was kind of inane

If Gradishar wants to try his hand at coaching where’s he been all these years? He didn’t retire yesterday. Greatness on the field doesn’t ordinarily translate into greatness as a coach. It’s not the same skill set. Besides, if you want to be good at something you have to dedicate yourself to it and work your way up, learning as you go, succeeding at every level, as McDaniels has. You don’t just wake up one morning, years after you’ve retired as a player, and say, “You know, I think I’d like to have a job as a coach.”

"In the empty spaces - lacunae, vacuums, pauses, voids, black holes - new things begin. We are born anew from the unexplored space, the badlands, the outlaw territory." - Sam Keen

by spock on Jan 15, 2009 11:51 AM MST up reply actions

you might wake up and say that but, reallit becomes more clear as you wipe the sleep from your eyes. Maybe he should become a consultant first.

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 1:36 PM MST up reply actions

althoug I do like Him better than the manager of the shake machine.

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 15, 2009 1:38 PM MST up reply actions

Sounds like Romo

but I think that Randy would be sooo much better than Romo could ever be for this team.

I know it’s just speculation, but the reason he gave Kiszla was that nobody called. I guess if he really thinks he can do it and really wants to, he could give Pat a call and have him put in a good word with McD.

How did Jim Ryan and Rick Dennison get their feet in the door? Did they just transition from playing to coaching or was it just more of Shanny’s nepotism?

"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 16, 2009 8:33 AM MST up reply actions

I suspect Ryan and Dennison

got started the way most coaches got started, by applying for (entry level) jobs rather than waiting for someone to call. I like Gradishar but if he really wants to break into coaching maybe he should do the calling. Who knows, he might have the makings of a good linebacker’s coach, but
he needs to be more proactive.

"In the empty spaces - lacunae, vacuums, pauses, voids, black holes - new things begin. We are born anew from the unexplored space, the badlands, the outlaw territory." - Sam Keen

by spock on Jan 16, 2009 12:24 PM MST up reply actions

Glad to see Turner staying.

That makes me feel better with some of the coaching staff getting the boot. I am also glad to see that McDaniels and Jay finally got a hold of each other. I know Cutler wasn’t too fond of the move at the time, so from the good chat I hear they had hopefully things are running smoothly with those guys, if in case there wasn’t.

"It doesn't dissipate" ~ Mike Shanahan

Cutler's 4th qtr/OT game winning drives: 9

by weazel on Jan 15, 2009 4:04 PM MST reply actions

Ya!

Retaining Turner is a great hire, also read Dennison is staying just as O Line Coach this truely makes me happy. Good luck gentlemen! Now we need an OC and Dom Capers to join the dream TEAM and possably Heckert.

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 17, 2009 4:04 PM MST reply actions