The Broncos' new head coach will be encouraged to keep six assistant coaches left over from...

The Broncos' new head coach will be encouraged to keep six assistant coaches left over from Shanahan's staff. According to two NFL sources, the Broncos have sent termination notices to the league office for all assistants except Dennison, Jeremy Bates (quarterbacks), Jedd Fisch (receivers), Bobby Turner (running backs), Bill Johnson (defensive line) and Rich Tuten (strength and conditioning).

The Broncos will honor the contracts of the other assistant coaches — which run through at least 2009 — but their future with the organization is at the discretion of the team's next head coach.

Offensive Coaches Appear Safe Regardless Of Hire....

6 months ago John Bena (aka TheSportsGuru) Comment 17 comments 0 recs |

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Bye Slowiks

It’s official.

Hey, good luck in the future boys. I’m just glad your future won’t be in Denver.

by TheMastermind on Jan 8, 2009 10:46 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Great news, really.

This raises Morris’ bid, right? He seemed content to keep the offensive setup intact..

Random quotes about the raiders:
They really shouldn’t play — Chris Collinsworth (12/5/08)
This is an utter disaster — Chris Collinsworth (12/5/08)
/The great Dane - formerly known as Claaaaas!

by Claus Vestergaard on Jan 8, 2009 10:56 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Good News...

about Dennison and Turner. That sounds like an endorsement of zone-block/one-cut. Bates should keep Cutler happy, but makes you wonder what McDaniel and Garrett would add to the equation.

Interesting that Watson isn’t on the list. It appears that being a former player and fan favorite is no longer enough to qualitfy for a coaching position.

Johnson surprises me given the mediocre play of the D-line this year. Someone must think that he did a good job with the players and that Slowik’s scheme (or lack of) were the cause of our D-line problems. Although I think I read that he was leaving for Seattle or somewhere anyway.

It’s also interesting that Tuten is on the keeper list but Greek isn’t. I wonder if that is a reflection of the injury problems or somethign else.

by SlowWhiteGuy on Jan 8, 2009 11:03 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

The medical staff is a bit different...

I think Greek falls under a different umbrella, something the owner/GM directly deal with. Not part of the coaching staff…I could be wrong, though….

-TSG

SBNation's Denver Broncos Blogger
MileHighReport

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by John Bena (aka TheSportsGuru) on Jan 8, 2009 11:08 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

That makes sense...

I’ve always had the impression that he was highly though of by both the players and the coaches. I will never forget his moment of fame in the Super Bowl, explaining TD’s migraine to Shanny.

He may have been the real MVP for getting TD back on the field for the 2nd half!

by SlowWhiteGuy on Jan 8, 2009 11:19 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

Grek is part of a four person medical staff. The S&C staff is Rich Tuten, Dwayne Chandler and Greg Saporta. I will profile them tomorrow, though what is the point? THey is already gone…

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

by styg50 on Jan 8, 2009 7:02 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't understand why we kept our DLine coach....hasn't he failed horribly????????????????

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 Zappa on Jan 8, 2009 11:23 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

That's one of those things that I can't argue with...

…because we as fans don’t really know what went on in the organization. We don’t know what the day to day process of game prep looked like. Yeah, the defensive line didn’t play well, but we on the outside can’t know definitively if it is the direct coaching or the general scheme. However, if I recall the game discussion here on MHR later in the season I think the consensus was that Marcus Thomas was improving and that Jarvis Moss had flashed a next level a number of times. If the individual players are improving then that is definitely on the position coach, despite the scheme.

by jaffe28 on Jan 8, 2009 11:32 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Bill Johnson obviously has something the Broncos can't succeed without...

I’m guessing compromising pictures of Pat Bowlen, as that’s about the only thing that would explain his retention.

by nycbroncosfan on Jan 8, 2009 1:08 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

re: Bill Johnson

Johnson has had a very long career coaching DLs and his hiring was considered as something of a coup (as I recall). Both the Packers and Saints appear to be ready to hire him if he leaves.

by Colinski on Jan 8, 2009 2:07 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Ok. Let's give him a chance to excel without having the lieks of Slowik's breathing down his spine.

by Zappa on Jan 8, 2009 2:49 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah!

That one surprised me too. My understanding is that the Goodman and Ellis reviewed every one of the current staff’s performance before any decisions were made. The must have decided that, given the abysmal talent, and the abrubt system changes: we’re a 1-gap team, no a 2-gap, no a 0-gap, that he wasn’t responsible for the poor play.

It may not matter since it’s rumured that he’s leaving anyway.

by SlowWhiteGuy on Jan 8, 2009 11:31 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Since the strength and conditioning coach is still here

I hope he and others can stop the rapid groing and hamstring injuries we seem to have lately.

"It doesn't dissipate" ~ Mike Shanahan

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

by weazel on Jan 8, 2009 11:41 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Johnson & the 3-4, is their a connection?

The first thing that came to my mind regarding Bill Johnson’s retention was a possible connection to Dom Capers and switching to a 3-4 defense. I don’t know about a Capers connection (someone else might) but the following report from NFP by Micheal Lombardi caught my attention recently.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/01/national-football-post-tavern-talk-91/

Johnson was all set to interview with the Seahawks, Saints and Packers, and the Packers specifically wanted to talk to him about the 3-4. Considering Capers has been linked with 2 of the candidates for HC, and is a devotee of the 3-4, I wondered if our defensive overhaul might involve switching to this scheme.

There’s a lot of speculation over this on the web.

by Colinski on Jan 8, 2009 2:27 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

That would give WW a place on this football team. DJ can play ILB I am sure.

by Zappa on Jan 8, 2009 2:55 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

we're going to change something on defense

And the question is what; it’s clear we’ll be changing something (besides coaches) since we don’t actually have a scheme. I was sorta hoping we wouldn’t be making whole scale changes requiring larger than normal personnel additions but maybe that’s the only way to go — start from the beginning, so to speak. Capers has a solid record at rebuilding defenses, even though his record as a HC is not nearly as good.

There have been plenty of posts here, and elsewhere, on this subject so I’m hardly saying something new, but it’s starting to look more and more like the coaching change is going to also involve some massive changes to the defense. It’s radical, and it will take more than one year to accomplish.

That’s my feeling.

No cosmetic changes this time around for the defense.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Re: D.J. He could be just fine as the Mac , which to my knowledge is the strong-side ILB. He fits that role very well. I don’t know about WW, since it’s the DE/OLB tweeners who can pass rush that usually play OLB in the 3-4. I could see him playing the Jack, the WLB. Terminology for these positions varies, but I’m using these more unique terms to distinguish from positions in the 4-3.

BTW — the one good thing, assuming this all comes true, is that we could find a place for some of the abundant tweeners in this draft. It’s the strongest area.

by Colinski on Jan 8, 2009 6:25 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

being reported in New Orleans that Johnson is joining the Saints as D-line coach

I’d be interested in your take on him. Read some of the posts already. Posts on the Saints SN site, www.canalstreetchronicles.com, would be welcome as well.

by MobileSaint on Jan 10, 2009 6:43 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs