MHR Bronco's History Lesson; Know Your Coaches

by Tim Lynch on Jan 30, 2009 5:21 AM MST in MHR Broncos History Lesson Comment 40 comments

Welcome to the first official installment of MHR Bronco's History for the 2009 reloading season. All I can say is that I am excited to start. For some reason the Through the Years' post became sort of a chore. A grind of sorts during the season. I love history, especially Denver Broncos history, but during the season I don't really care about history. I care about what's going to happen on upcoming Sunday. It's fine though; I got through and didn't miss too many weeks. The reloading season really is the best time of the year for me as a blogger. I get to pick and choose the topics I write about and more importantly, I am not locked into the grind of a weekly schedule. Even so, I may end up posting more often now than I did during the season. We'll see.

Here are a few series I had begun last reloading season that will be returning in the coming weeks. Feel free to check them out if you are curious:

MHR Forgotten Broncos, Ring of Fame, and of course the traditional MHR Broncos History Lessons.

Sheesh, looking back at those posts they seem a bit rough around the edges and going back even further it gets down right ugly, but I will endeavor to continue to improve. For the next month or so the Forgotten Broncos will continue to be Ring of Famers as I want to profile each Ring of Famer in order to link them to my upcoming ROF posts. There is a master plan, so please remember that when you chastise me for calling some old Bronco great a Forgotten Bronco. Besides, if he isn't in the hall of fame then isn't he, by definition, forgotten?

For now, with our recent hiring of Josh McDaniel, I felt a lesson on the history of coaching of the Denver Broncos was a good way to kick off the reloading season. So I hope you all enjoy learning about our past coaches and feel free to add your own comment or experiences as I am still at a disadvantage when it comes to age and experience and many of you no doubt got to see these men in action up close and personal.

There has now been twelve coaches in then entire 49 year history of the Denver Broncos. Eight of those twelve had their tenures in Denver during the franchises first twenty seasons in existence. The first eight coaches had a combined winning percentage of .407 as head coaches of the Denver Broncos. The road to excellence was a long hard one for this franchise, but for the past 29 years Broncos head coaches have compiled a career winning percentage of .597. Although, I firmly believe that it took every ounce of coaching ability from each and every one of those first eight coaches for the most recent ones to have had such success in a league that is known more for its parity rather than consistency. The Denver Broncos franchise has been built upon the backs of the great head coaches who languished to compete in the early days of the franchise.

Denver Broncos Head Coaches
COACH	BIO
Frank Filchock	Head Coach: 1960-1961 Frank Filchock led an interesting and football-filled life. He was a second round draft pick out of the University of Illinois in the late 1930's. He even threw the first 99 yard touchdown pass in NFL history in 1939. Filchock served during World War II and was back in the NFL in 1945. Interestingly, as a member of the Washington Redskins he was accused of accepting a bribe to throw the 1946 NFL Title game against the Chicago Bears. It was proven he was innocent, but his guilt by association caused him to be suspended indefinitely from the NFL for being a part in bringing bad publicity to the league. Where does a football player go when he is suspended by the NFL? Welcome to Canada! Filchock was hired as a player/coach by the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1947 and played for several years. He fought and won an overturning of his suspension by the NFL in 1950, but no NFL team would take him back so he continued coaching in the Canadian Football League. He retired in 1953 and became a full time head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders where he brought in another NFL castaway to be his quarterback, one Frank Tripucka. Finally in 1960, with the formation of the new American Football League, Filchock was given a head coaching job back in America as head coach of the Denver Broncos. He would lead the rag tag bunch of guys to a 4-2 record in his first season before the wheels came off, not winning a game the rest of the 1960 season. In 1961, the Broncos would win their first game before losing all but two the rest of the season. After the season was over, Frank Filchock was fired and would retire from coaching a few years later. All told, Filchock's record as coach of the Denver Broncos was a less than stellar 7-20-1 in two seasons, but he had the unique role as the first coach of a franchise that would go one to become one of the greatest franchise's in the National Football League. To be fair, the Broncos would win more than four games in a season just three times in its first 10 years. *Regular Season Record: 7-20-1* *Playoff Record: 0-0* *AFL Championships: 0*
Jack Faulkner	Head Coach: 1962-1964 Jack Faulkner was hired by the Denver Broncos after two successful seasons coaching the Los Angeles Chargers record setting defense that went to the AFL's first two Championship games, where in true Charger fashion they lost. One of the first tasks Faulkner set about doing was to change the uniform of the Broncos. He did away with the brown and gold to bring in the vibrant new colors of orange and blue. It must have been a 60's thing. In a public ceremony of sorts, Faulkner burned the infamous vertically striped socks to kick off training camp in 1962. The team obviously responded to his style of coaching and played far beyond their talent level. Faulkner and the Broncos would defeat his former team, the Chargers, 30-21 and would streak to a 7-2 start that season. A start that included a 44-7 and a 23-6 drubbing of the Oakland Raiders in consecutive weeks. The wheels came off rather quickly after that as the Broncos would lose their final five games and finish the season 7-7. Jack Faulkner would still go on to receive the AFL Coach of the Year award for that season. Little did he know that that would be the high point of his tenure with the Denver Broncos. After the wheels came off at the end of the 1962 season, the wheels were sold for scrap and the car was traded in for a walking stick as the Broncos would finish 2-11-1 in 1963 and started 0-4 in 1964 which would end Faulkner's term as Head Coach in Denver. *Regular Season Record: 10-21-1* *Playoff Record: 0-0* *AFL Championships: 0*
Mac Speedie	Head Coach: 1964-1966 Mac Speedie experienced quite a bit of drama in his early years. Which sort of make sense with him being a wide receiver and all. Drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1942, he never played for them as he was then drafted by Uncle Sam and spent the next three years waging war with the United States Army. He was big even by today’s NFL standards. Towering at six foot three and two hundred pounds, the Cleveland Browns offered him twice as much money to play for them rather than going back to the Lions after the war ended. He and counterpart Dante Lavelli would dominate opposing teams throughout the late 40's and 50's. By 1953, Mac Speedie was getting tired of his treatment by the Browns organization, so he signed a contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and played for them for two more years before retiring. Ironically, he was Frank Tripucka's go to guy while he was with the Roughriders. Not only that, Frank Filchock was his coach while there. I think the Saskatchewan Roughriders are officially my favorite Canadian Football League team. Anyways, he was eventually hired back on as wide receivers coach by the Denver Broncos in the Spring of 1962. However, Jack Faulkner was fired after the Broncos lost thirteen straight games. Speedie would break that streak in his head coaching début with a 33-27 upset over the powerhouse Kansas City Chiefs. The good times would not last as the 60's Broncos were perennial doormats and he would win just five more games out of the next twenty-five. He would resign two games into the 1966 season after fans hurled objects at him in anger over another heartbreaking loss. *Regular Season Record: 6-19-1* *Playoff Record: 0-0* *AFL Championships: 0*
Ray Malavasi	Head Coach: 1966 At the tender age of 31, Ray Malavasi became the Personnel Director of the Denver Broncos in 1961. He would go on to build a juggernaut....oh wait. No, he would do his best to keep fans from storming the building and hanging everyone. By early 1966, the fans had nearly did just that when they hurled garbage and other items at then head coach Mac Speedie. Speedie resigned following that experience and Ray Malavasi was thrust into the spotlight. Malavasi would lead the Broncos to just four wins that year and he would be let go in favor of Lou Saban. *Regular Season Record: 4-8* *Playoff Record: 0-0* *AFL Championships: 0*
Lou Saban	Head Coach: 1967-1971 Lou Saban came to Denver on the crest of two AFL Championships as head coach of the Buffalo Bills. Saban felt he would whip the Broncos into shape and set about drafting winners. His first task, Floyd Little. Little would become the first top prospect ever to sign with the Broncos and would earn the nickname "The Franchise". The turnaround wouldn't be easy and a 3-11 season in his first year would put Lou Saban's back to the wall to produce results. 1968 was an historical year in football as the Denver Broncos would become the first team to start an African American quarterback, Marlin Briscoe, to start in the modern era. He would lead the Broncos to a 5-6 record in his eleven starts. Lou Saban would finish just 5-9 in 1968, but the marked improvement kept him from losing support of a fickle fan base. Floyd Little also emerged as a star and the team's only real threat on offense and special teams. Yet another five win season followed in 1969, then another in 1970, then came 1971. The fan base was quickly becoming one of the rowdiest in football and Broncomania was spreading like wildfire. The problem was, they were getting tired of seeing their team finish just under .500 year in and year out. It all came to a head on opening day in 1971. The would be playing the powerhouse Miami Dolphins in Mile High Stadium. With the game tied at 10, Saban opted to play for the tie rather than trying to win the game. The Denver media and its fan base were outraged. When asked about it, Saban would reply with his infamous "half a loaf" speech. The team would unravel after that and Saban would be dismissed after a 24-10 debacle by the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9 with just a 2-6-1 record. *Regular Season Record: 20-42-3* *Playoff Record: 0-0* *AFC West Titles: 0* *AFC Championships: 0* *Super Bowl Titles: 0*
Jerry Smith	Interim Head Coach: 1971 Ironically, Jerry Smith would be the only head coach ever to come close to finishing his tenure with the Broncos with a .500 record in the teams first dozen years of existence. He would finish out the 1971 season undefeated at home(1-0) as well as a win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh. *Regular Season Record: 2-3* *Playoff Record: 0-0* *AFC West Titles: 0* *AFC Championships: 0* *Super Bowl Titles: 0*
John Ralston	Head Coach: 1972-1976 John Ralston came to Denver after consecutive Rose Bowl titles with Standford. He had a unique ability to find talent and proceeded to fill the roster with talented football players. Though his first season would end with a disappointing 5-9 record, there seemed to be an invigorated feeling in Colorado for this young team. The biggest game of the year was a 30-23 victory over the Oakland Raiders. That victory would end a twenty game losing streak by the Broncos to the Raiders dating back to the early 60's. After a 2-3 start in 1973, the season and team would be saved on "Orange Monday". In front of a national audience John Ralston and the Denver Broncos would rally from behind to tie a strong Oakland Raider team. The tie would launch the team to its first winning season in its history. Finishing 5-2-1 to end with a record ov 7-5-2 for the year. Though they weren't going to the playoffs, the Bronco players and the fans felt it was only a matter of time. John Ralston would lead the team to a 7-6-1 record the following season for the teams second winning season ever. 1975 would be a let down as the team would finish 6-8. By 1976, the team and the fans were getting restless. The playoffs had still not been reached and the young talented team was turning into a veteran team in their prime. Not even a solid 9-5 record in 1976 could save Ralston as the Broncos were also swept by the hated Raiders. The players issued a vote of no confidence in Ralston and he would resign at the end of the season. To his credit, John Ralston would be the first coach of the Denver Broncos to leave with a career record above .500. *Regular Season Record: 34-33-3* *Playoff Record: 0-0* *AFC West Titles: 0* *AFC Championships: 0* *Super Bowl Titles: 0*
Red Miller	Head Coach: 1977-1980 Red Miller was brought in to do one thing - get this team to the playoffs! He did one better than that in his first season as head coach. He would guide the Broncos and their heavyweight Orange Crush defense to a 12-2 record and an AFC West division title in 1977. The Broncos would crush the dynastic Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round, then dispatched the Raiders in a classic AFC Conference Championship game, 20-17. At the conclusion of which, Tom Jackson said to John Madden, "It's all over fat man!" Though the Broncos lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl, the Broncos and their fans were a mile high. It took 18 years of toiling for the Denver Broncos to join the ranks of the elite organizations. Though that elite status has yet to be recognized by the Hall of Fame, there is no denying which organizations dominate the NFL today. Red Miller would follow up with two consecutive 10-6 records and one more AFC West division title, but would come up short in the playoffs both years. Having failed to win a playoff game since his first season as coach and a disappointing 8-8 finish in 1980 would lead to the firing of Red Miller as head coach. Miller would finish with an impressive winning percentage of .645, but the ownership and its fans were beginning to thirst for more than just a winning record. A yearning for greatness was forming in the Broncomaniac's psyche and one and done in the playoffs just wasn't going to cut it any longer. *Regular Season Record: 40-22* *Playoff Record: 2-3* *AFC West Titles: 2* *AFC Championships: 1* *Super Bowl Titles: 0*
Dan Reeves	Head Coach: 1981-1992 Dan Reeves brought a no nonsense attitude to Denver and worked to turn the team into a professional organization whose goal was to win football games. He succeeded early, with a 10-6 record but failed to make the playoffs in 1981. A strike shortened catastrophe that was 1982 was basically a throw away season, then in 1983 the Denver Broncos landed the trade of the decade by stealing away John Elway from the Baltimore Colts. A new era would begin as the Orange Crush slowly retired and the young, energetic Elway would begin to wow fans with his amazing play. Elway would reach the playoffs in his first two seasons, but those years ended after one playoff game. Then in 1985, the Broncos would be denied a playoff berth after winning eleven games! Seems like the Broncos got the shaft a lot back then. Missed the playoffs with a 9-5, 10-6, 10-6, and an 11-5 record. Then again, if you can't beat the teams in your own division then you don't deserve to play in January... Dan Reeves and Elway would go on to three Super Bowl appearances in four years to go along with five division titles. Unfortunately, the Super Bowl losses piled up and the blowouts got worse each time. By the early 1990's, the relationship between Elway and Reeves was falling apart as the organization reeled from a 55-10 blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl.. Finally, owner Pat Bowlen was forced to make a decision and fired Dan Reeves following the 1992 season. *Regular Season Record: 110-73-1* *Playoff Record: 7-6* *AFC West Titles: 5* *AFC Championships: 3* *Super Bowl Titles: 0* Ring of Fame Worthiness
Wade Phillips	Head Coach: 1993-1994 Wade Phillips was the Broncos defensive coordinator from 89-92 and was hired as the head coach mostly because Bowlen was unable to get his man in Mike Shanahan. Phillips kept the seat warm for two seasons, which included a playoff appearance that resulted in a blowout loss to the hated Raiders in 1993. A wholly average stint and two wasted years for Elway as Pat Bowlen waited for Shanahan to change his mind. The one bright spot was the freedom given to John Elway to throw the ball at will. He would top 4000 yards for the first and only time in his career, but stats were no longer important to the veteran quarterback and time was running out for a chance to get that coveted Super Bowl trophy. *Regular Season Record: 16-16* *Playoff Record: 0-1* *AFC West Titles: 0* *AFC Championships: 0* *Super Bowl Titles: 0*
Mike Shanahan	Head Coach: 1995-2008 The hiring of Mike Shanahan propelled the Broncos to back to back Championships in 1997 and 1998; allowing John Elway to retire at the top and allowing all Broncomaniacs to weep over the decades long struggle to the top. One might debate whether Mike Shanahan had anything to do with those Super Bowl teams, but looking back I think it was Shanahan's will and desire to win that got that team over the hump(not to mention the free agent's he brought in). The true character of Mike Shanahan and his desire wouldn't fully be known until the years following those glorious Super Bowl years. He toiled endlessly to keep the team competitive. The Broncos would be one and done in the playoffs in 2000, 2003, and 2004. Finally in 2005, Shanahan was able to put together a solid football team and led the Broncos to a 13-3 record and its first playoff win since 1998. Unfortunately for Shanahan, the draft busts and aging veterans began to take their toll on the Broncos and on the head coach. Starting in 2006, Mike Shanahan finally began to draft his future team and the success of his drafting was due in large part to a reorganization of the Broncos to include more people in the decision making side of the personel department. The result was the drafting of Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Elvis Dumervil, and Tony Scheffler in 2006; followed by Jarvis Moss, Tim Crowder, Marcus Thomas, and Ryan Harris in 2007. The misses among those names are far and few between. No sure busts, but the jury could still be out on a couple of those names. The 2008 draft could very well be the best draft of Mike Shanahan's tenure as he picked up valuable contributers in every round he picked from. Though the drafts were beginning to show dividends, no owner of an elite team can sit idly by and watch his team go 24-24 over a three year span and not take action. I still believe that this team should have gone 12-36 rather than 24-24 over this three year span and Shanahan should get credit for doing the best coaching of his career during this period. Pat Bowlen ended the Mike Shanahan era after the Denver Broncos blew a three game division lead with three games left to play, losing to the San Diego Chargers 52-21 in the final game of the season. The monumental collapse was too much for Bowlen and for the fans, but optimism is slowly returning to Broncoland and the future again looks as bright as ever. *Regular Season Record: 138-86* *Playoff Record: 8-5* *AFC West Titles: 3* *AFC Championships: 2* *Super Bowl Titles:2*
Josh McDaniels	Head Coach: 2009-? Josh McDaniels has an impressive resume and may turn out to be one of the best hires Pat Bowlen has ever made. In spite of his young age he appears to be making all the right moves to bring a Super Bowl title back to Denver in the near future. Only time will tell. *Regular Season Record: 0-0* *Playoff Record: 0-0* *AFC West Titles: 0* *AFC Championships: 0* *Super Bowl Titles: 0*

Poll

Who is the greatest Bronco head coach not named Mike Shanahan?

Frank Filchock

0 votes

Jack Faulkner

1 votes

Mac Speedie

0 votes

Ray Malavasi

0 votes

Lou Saban

10 votes

Jerry Smith

1 votes

John Ralston

23 votes

Red Miller

91 votes

Dan Reeves

342 votes

Wade Phillips

5 votes

473 votes | Poll has closed

5 recs | Comment 40 comments | Share

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Comments

Hopefully the best Broncos coach will be Josh McDaniels!!!

by broncoholic on Jan 30, 2009 8:39 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

+1

This is my GAP, there are many like it but this one is mine. Without my GAP I am useless, without me, they will run through my GAP. I will protect my GAP and have my brothers back on his. I will not be moved from my GAP, I am a crazed dog that patrols this area and will defeat all who entire it. I own this GAP, it is mine. I bought it with blood and sweat. I will not be pushed. I will not be moved. This Sunday I will make a stand and a statement.

by Tim Lynch on Jan 30, 2009 9:10 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Fantastic post

Rec’d

I don’t want breakaway speed. I want break-some-poor-fool-as-I-bowl-you-over power getting 6 yards off a play that should have been stopped for 2 at most.

by sadaraine on Jan 30, 2009 9:46 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

thanks!

by Tim Lynch on Jan 30, 2009 10:07 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Great job Zappa!

I voted for Ralston. In my humble opinion he was really the guy that began to bring more talent to the Broncos and to lay the foundation of tough, hard-nosed, high character football players to the Mile High city. This is not to say we did not have those type of players from the get-go, but he put that emphasis on them. I would love to hear from some of the players of the sixties and seventies on this subject. I know they are out there and read the MHR. Thanks agin for the great post Zappa.

It all starts in the trenches HT 11/11/08

by firstfan on Jan 30, 2009 10:13 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Good choice.

I voted Dan Reeves because he cemented the Broncos place among the elite organizations. Ralston would have been my second choice though.

by Tim Lynch on Jan 30, 2009 10:33 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

After reading Little's book

my impression of Ralston was that he wasn’t a good fit for the Broncos, or for the NFL really. Kind of a Pete Carrol type of guy…

He did have a plan though, which was a big change… :)

Am I missing something else about him?

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Jan 30, 2009 6:07 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Ralston

Ralston came to mind recently when I was posting on “team building.” My belief, although I’ve never verified the facts, is that Ralston was a better judge of college talent and therefore instrumental in bringing a number of excellent draft crops, which were later ‘coached’ by Red Miller, who was a better at the other aspects of coaching — ‘Xs and Os,’ motivating players, etc.

by Colinski on Jan 31, 2009 2:36 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

This choice was not as easy at it seemed.

Sure, Shanahan is taken out of the equation. But who is the next best coach?

I think strong arguments can be made for Lou Saban, John Ralston, Red Miller and Dan Reeves.

Saban was an old-school, hard-nosed, genuine football coach. He was just was the doctor ordered for the low budget, undisciplined, operation that the Broncos were. Yes, there were some good players, but organizationally, they were…well, let’s be honest, they were weak. In came Saban who kicked some butt, demanded the facilities be upgraded, built a professional organization and generally, built the fan base that would become the Broncomaniacs or Broncoholics, or whatever you wanted to call us now. So it’s hard not to choose him.

Then there is John Ralston. I think everybody agrees he had the best eye for talent of any Bronco coach, ever, and I do mean ever. He’s the one who found and brought in the members of the legendary “Orange Crush”.
And he didn’t do too badly on offense either. One of you old guys out there can correct me if I’m wrong but I believe he was the one who brought in Charlie Johnson, maybe not the most physically gifted quarterback to grace the NFL, but a really crafty, cagey old pro who put this team onto the path toward winning. Unfortunately for Ralston, many of his players refused to buy into his power of positive thinking so John was let go. But he built the first Bronco SUper Bowl teams so it’s hard not to choose him.

So Red Miller comes in, a smart, tough, former O-lineman in the true Bronco tradition. He brings in Craig Morton, another under appreciated crafty, tough vetran, only this guy also has a rocket launcher attached to his right shoulder. Red Miller takes all this talent to a 12 and 2 record, it’s first AFC West title and a Super Bowl berth. He wasn’t able to get us back to the promised land, but he did get us over the hump and he never had a losing season. So it’s hard not to choose him.

But finally, there is Dan Reeves. I don’t know if he, personally, was responsible for bringing Elway to Denver, but that alone would qualify him to be among the best. What he and Elway did together was nothing short of phenominal. Elway’s heavenly gifts and Reeves savy, took mediocre teams to the super bowl three times in four years. Say what you want about him misusing Elway and not building a team around him from the very start. What Reeves did do was truely amazing. So it’s difficult not to choose him.

All of these coaches made strong cases for themselves. Each one was vital in building what became today’s Broncos. It’s hard not to choose Saban, or Rlaston, or Miller. Granted, Reeves could not have done what he did without a weapon like Elway in his arsenal. But he did so much with so little else besides Elway, it becomes impossible not to choose him.

Anyway, that’s the way I remember it, and I’ll hire someone to beat up anyone who disagrees, lol.

If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!

by Trinidad Jack on Jan 30, 2009 10:36 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

You make an excellent point Jack

Each one of those coaches brought something different to the organization at a different time. Each was right for his time. I think the same can be said for coach Shanahan. I admire and respect him a great deal and he was perfect for the organization in his time. Now is the time for Josh Mc Daniels.

It all starts in the trenches HT 11/11/08

by firstfan on Jan 30, 2009 11:13 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, firstfan.

And I think you’re right. Each was just what we needed at the time. This probably speaks well for ownership too.

If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!

by Trinidad Jack on Jan 30, 2009 11:16 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

jack I was a child

but I remmember my mother hated Lou Saban and would’nt let it go until he was fired, hehe… She loved The Broncos! That’s when I became a fan, you can blame or thank Her.
I also remember when Jerry Smith took over and She was in love HA! He broke Her heart.
And Then came “RED” wow what a change He made to This City. I agree with everything you posted on the four Coaches you can’t not choose, but “Red” really took what Saban built to the next level and started everything we know and love about The Broncos today.
I Choose “RED”!

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 30, 2009 5:23 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

excuse me Saban and Ralston built. oops! Leap before you look.

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 30, 2009 5:26 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I went with Red as well...

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Jan 30, 2009 6:09 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Beake brought in Elway, I believe

I try to be careful when attributing too much blame or credit to individual head coaches because the front office people — like John Beake — had their hand in the draft successes and failures, too.

John Beake, a Broncos executive who helped engineer the deal, says later: “In all honesty, it was a great moment in sports history. There should probably be a plaque in that Marriott coffee shop to commemorate the event.”

by Colinski on Jan 31, 2009 2:47 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Okay...

Who’s the joker that selected Wade Phillips?

by Jezru on Jan 30, 2009 11:06 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Bum

It all starts in the trenches HT 11/11/08

by firstfan on Jan 30, 2009 11:09 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Sometimes I wonder...

…how the Broncos might have done if we had given Wade Phillips more time. He was a good DC and I don’t think he would have had problems bringing in a strong OC.

If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!

by Trinidad Jack on Jan 30, 2009 11:18 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course, Shanahan wasn't a half bad choice, lol.

If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!

by Trinidad Jack on Jan 30, 2009 11:19 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I am not so sure.

I mean look at what he has done with the Cowboys……..absolutly nothing.

"It doesn't dissipate" ~ Mike Shanahan

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

by weazel on Jan 31, 2009 1:13 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

probably a fader fan.

by Tim Lynch on Jan 30, 2009 11:23 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I can't believe he got four votes

by highlandsbuff on Feb 1, 2009 12:17 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Gotta go with Red

I voted for Red Miller simply because he took the team to that next elite level. Ralston was a great GM type and his schtick worked with a young team, but as the team got older, he was viewed as what he was – a college coach. Red took that group and added a dash professionalism and as the saying goes, there was no looking back. Dan and Mike picked up the reins and added to the tradition that has become the Broncos. Those early years (Speedie, Saban, etc.) were tough to live through, but I never missed a game. You young guys don’t realize how lucky you’ve had it.

It's "just" football

by Donkhead on Jan 30, 2009 11:30 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Miller

changed the attitude of the players. In his first meeting, he said that what this team was missing was that they hadn’t beaten the Raiders, and went into a tirade and basically said that they were going to kick their you-know-what. Before the big win in 77 at Oakland, he had the players come into a dark room. They thought that someone had died, but then Miller showed them highlights of illegal hits in games involving the Raiders. Then, he said something like “You know what I like about the Raiders, I don’t like a single * thing about them”. The players said that they were ready to go to Oakland right there with their own money and kick their butt. Then, he dressed the officials down before the game and told them how they better call a clean game. They were then able to defeat Oakland handily in what was the biggest pivotal day in franchise history.

by PABroncofan on Jan 30, 2009 12:11 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

To be fair, we were splitting the series with Oakland regularly since we ended the 20 game losing streak to them in '72.

1977 was a coming of age though in regards to that rivalry.

“It’s all over fat man!”

by Tim Lynch on Jan 30, 2009 1:16 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Not really

73: 0-1-1
74 1-1
75 0-2
76 0-2

So i would not say that was not the case my friend.
Even Red was 3-5 (4-5 if you count playoffs) against the faders losing his last 4 to them. The only coach who has had any success against the faders is no longer coaching them. Shanny was 21-7 (if my numbers are correct) Prior to Mike denver had beat the faders 19 times from 1960-1994

somethings wrong, Trying to conquer these fears i thought were gone. And it's been so long, I'm dying to live in a world i don't belong

by broncfanstuckinsd on Jan 30, 2009 5:52 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Ah yes...okay, we sorta split the series. :)

by Tim Lynch on Jan 30, 2009 6:11 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

good call

I met a fader fan last night. He was more knowledgeable than any charger fan I have ever met. Amazing. Plus we agree the charger fans are clowns

somethings wrong, Trying to conquer these fears i thought were gone. And it's been so long, I'm dying to live in a world i don't belong

by broncfanstuckinsd on Jan 31, 2009 2:33 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Faulkner

In either the HISTORY OF THE BRONCOS DVD or the AFL LOST TREASURES DVD (my family knows how to score with me at Christmas time…) they say that Faulkner’s practices consisted of four hour long games of touch football. Do drills nothing like that…

No wonder we sucked. This was an awesome post, thanks Zappa!

by Jezru on Jan 30, 2009 12:54 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

hahaha! That was out of the History of the Broncos DVD.

Thanks!

by Tim Lynch on Jan 30, 2009 1:16 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

THNX Zappa!

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 30, 2009 5:26 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Faulkner

Just based on the fact he had a public burning of those god-awful Copper Bowl unis with the vertically stripped socks!
I would say Ralston was the brains around the Denver turnaround from a crap team and organization to what they are today. He laid the foundation with picks like Riley Odoms, TJ, Wright, Gradishar, Keyworth, Armstrong, and many, many other great Broncos

somethings wrong, Trying to conquer these fears i thought were gone. And it's been so long, I'm dying to live in a world i don't belong

by broncfanstuckinsd on Jan 30, 2009 5:38 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

+1

by Tim Lynch on Jan 30, 2009 6:11 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed but "RED" took that and ran...

Tactics without Strategy is the noise you hear before Defeat!

by monodono on Jan 30, 2009 5:43 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Too Bad

Red didn’t pick up personnel-acquiring skills from Ralston. His draft picks, like taking Steve Schindler and Rob Lytle in the first two rounds in 1977 when he could have had Wesley Walker and Wendell Tyler, or the trade for Matt Robinson in 1980 when they gave away their first and one of their seconds were big examples of this. The Robinson doozy may have been Red’s death knell, although getting a new owner in 81, Edgar Kaiser, may have had a lot do do with his departure as well.

by PABroncofan on Jan 30, 2009 8:55 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Red was a coach and coach only

The GM of the team from 1977-80 was Fred Gerhke. Yes he blew chunks.

somethings wrong, Trying to conquer these fears i thought were gone. And it's been so long, I'm dying to live in a world i don't belong

by broncfanstuckinsd on Jan 31, 2009 2:34 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

Great post Zappa!

I really started following the Broncos when Ralston first joined them. I was impressed with his drafting skills. When Marv Montgomery went down in ‘73 in Pittsburg, Claude Minor took his place at LT and stayed for about 10 years.
I voted for Reeves. Interestingly when he got Elway, DeBerg still stayed the starting QB – until – from what I heard – Kaiser ordered him to play John. Reeves had said in 1982, that if all the players had performed as well as DeBerg, they would have been in the playoffs. Chris Hinton, the #1 pick in ’83 and traded for Elway, was the outstanding LT that Reeves needed in his tenure. It would have made quite a difference for him.
Thanks for tracing the Bronco roots. I really didn’t know much about the early years.

by Blackknigh on Jan 31, 2009 12:42 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks!

I credit Ralston for dragging the Broncos out from the abyss…but it was Dan Reeves that solidified the new image the Broncos organization has today. Along with Pat Bowlen.

by Tim Lynch on Jan 31, 2009 1:30 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

DeBerg and Hinton

Quote: “Interestingly when he got Elway, DeBerg still stayed the starting QB – until – from what I heard – Kaiser ordered him to play John. Reeves had said in 1982, that if all the players had performed as well as DeBerg, they would have been in the playoffs. Chris Hinton, the #1 pick in ’83 and traded for Elway, was the outstanding LT that Reeves needed in his tenure. It would have made quite a difference for him”. Quote.

I didn’t know Reeves said that about DeBerg. I did hear something along the lines, however, about how Dan wasn’t too interested in getting Elway. The Elway thing was Edgar Kaiser’s baby, with a little help from Robert Irsay trading him behind Ernie Accorsi’s back(I think Ernie said something along those lines). I don’t really see DeBerg being the long-term answer at QB, anyway. I think, in his first year, Reeves thought that Mark Herrmann, who was a rookie at the time, was going to be their QB of the future, which was ridiculous. If they didn’t get Elway, they were going to need to draft someone like Boomer Esiason in 84 or Randall Cunningham in 85.

As far as Hinton is concerned, I am not sure if he would have been the LT right away. They had Dave Studdard there, who did a good job. I remember some people saying that he should have been in the Pro Bowl one year. I think Hinton would have been LG to start, and then maybe moved to LT after Studdard left in 87 or 88.

by PABroncofan on Jan 31, 2009 5:27 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Excellent points PAB.

I listened to the final game of the ’82 season that Mark Herrmann started and lost against the Seahawks. Nothing about his performance said long term answer at QB. Your assessment is right on about DeBerg and Herrmann – probably one of the reasons Reeves drafted Kubes. The offense at North Texas State was similar to the Broncos – so he picked up the Denver offense quickly. Glad he stayed in the Elway trade.

by Blackknigh on Jan 31, 2009 11:44 PM MST reply actions 0 recs