Though I feel Bowlen has his man already…the more I learn about Morris the more I would be happy with him coming over to our side. Initially, I thought the scheme he uses was incompatible with this team, but who knows really. I would be more okay with Morris getting the job than McDaniel. I’m just hoping Bowlen has a real secretive curve ball he is about to throw at us. Like a wig, fake mustache, and a secret meeting with someone. ;-)

Some bad timing with the firing of Shanny. If Kubes doesn’t get into the playoffs next season, I can see the Texans letting him go. Too bad that didn’t happen this year so we could pick him up!

I think his loss was great. Not only him but the staff of Broncos he took with him to Houston.

Good Post and Rec’d!

I think it was a combination of horrendous drafts from 1999-04, bad free agent signings (prior and after Kubiak left), and a lack of continuity on the defensive side of the ball, I also think that since Shanahan seemed to get rid of anyone who even had any disagreement with him, that Bowlen saw the atmosphere at Dove Valley becoming very caustic. I agree Kubiak leaving didn’t help matters, I really think the bigger losses were Troy Calhoun, Rick Smith (pro player personnel dvelopment) and Tim Brewster as far as coaching. We had Mike Hermindinger in here, but Shanahan couldn’t give up control and he left to the Titans and look where they are now. So I think he could of easily had that right hand man, but I think he couldn’t get over the trust aspect, I think most of that stems from the Oakland days and Reeeves/Elway debacle.

running the offense had much to do with the other side of the ball. Granted he help make Plummer a pro bowl QB, but it the decline in Denver had more to do with the defense and lack of depth in the drafts from 2001-05. When there are new d-ccords in 2006-07-08 that takes away continuity. But the biggest factor in Denver being 24-24 in the past 3 years was the lack of depth on the defensive side. Its nice to think Kubiak was a positive influence, but it is a stretch to think he is the reason Denver has been .500 for the past 3 seasons. Cuz if I am not mistaken Denver started 7-2 in 2006. Then Shanny knew Denver was not going to do anything in the playoffs that season with Plummer, switched QB’s. The major shift in the fortunes was the injury to Al Wilson against Seattle that season. Denver has not been able to replace him, plus with Bates trying to revamp the defense which didnt work.

Notice that we began winning again when we got Hillis running the ball in the red zone. That and then him bringing back THE MILE HIGH SALUTE!!!

should be kept as the power back.

…about the many reasons why the Broncos are where they are. I’d place poor drafts (with two or three exceptions) and too many free agent busts at the top but those are on Shanahan. I think Kubiak leaving was a big contributor but just one of many nails in the coffin.

I have confidence Bowlen knows who he wants and will make the right choice. He seems like a man on a mission to get this thing right and I am positive there’s no one more tired of the Broncos’ recent mediocrity as Pat Bowlen.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed, Nation.

I think after he left things started going south. While the bad drafts year in and year out really didn’t help any, Kubiak was still able to get the offense rolling and into the playoffs…..too bad we only have one playoff win to show for it.

TImes and teams change so now is the time for a new Broncos team to emerge. Like most of you said, I too think Bowlen knows what he wants and will go after it.. I would like a HC who knows defense since that is our BIG weakness, but regardless of who is our new HC, I just want him to get this team to be more balanced and consistent on both sides of the ball.

The difference between being a mediocre scoring offense and a league leader is red zone picks. Five RZ picks is 35 points, or 2.2 ppg. The biggest contribution of Kubes was that he got John to cut down on RZ picks and got Plummer to cut down on them. When he left Plummer went back to his old ways.

I am really happy about his success at Houston and am always glad to see former Broncos play for the Texans. It is also nice to see the one-cut zone block offense used successfully by another team.

…I’m inclined to disagree. In the press conference, Bowlen professed that he did not know if he would have let Shanny go if the team had made it to the playoffs. In an interview that Schefter did with Shanny, Shanny said he believed that if the team had made it to the playoffs he would not have been fired which I think we all agree is probably a true statement.

But where I disagree with you is that specifically Kubiak, or the lack thereof, had anything to do with the demise of the Broncos. One can argue that Kubiak has been effectively replaced by Bates as far as offensive duties allowing Shanny to focus on Head Coaching duties and GM duties rather than offense, HC, and GM.

I do agree that I think in today’s football there needs to be separate and established roles with separate people manning each post. I do not think that we should have a HC / GM combination again.

Which is probably good, since I wasn’t hot on the prospect of McDaniel becoming our next HC. Although, I’d like to see SOMEONE get hired already. I wish to move on to more important things…like finding out everything I can about our now coaches style of coaching and playcalling and all that hub bub.