In my opinion it was easy to see from the get-go that Coach McDaniels knew how to communicate to his team and who woudl respond to his coaching. I said for a long time that Jay Cutler was about to become the best QB in the league because of what Coach could teach him. However, after the whole situation I had to admit to myself that Jay was “uncoachable” in the way that McDaniels coaches. Tom Brady was always called out in New England and I don’t think Jay would have handled that well. Josh knew more about our team than we did before he even got here. Comments like “We didn’t even have the personnel to run a 4-3 here.” we very telling to me about how much time and effort Coach put into preparing for this job. To me , at least, it seems that he wasn’t hoping that this would be a possible job, it seems like this was the only head coaching job he wanted. To that end I am behind him 100%. His E.I. has been one of his biggest attractions to me as a fan.

Well written, too, walter. Thanks for contributing this.

That is a great post and really says what McDaniels is all about. He smarter than his age and what most people give him credit for. The stupidest thing that came out of people’s mouths when Bowlen hired McDaniels and all the drama was going on was compare him to Mangini, Weis, and any other Belichick disciple. This is all without coaching one game and giving him a chance.

I was excited when we got him as our HC and can’t say how wonderful it is to see how happy he gets after a win or when we take the lead. Like he said, you work too hard during the week not to enjoy it.

Great post walter.

Ko-nee-che-wan-jo-san-o-nay! Di-joboi-nay.

EI EI OOOHHH!
And on his team he had some players.
EI EI OOOHHH!

Rec’d

As a coach, I have seen McDaniels do and say things I have NEVER heard from other NFL, Rugby or team coaches. He manages to focus on the individual while maintaining the TEAM concept. In the sport I coach, I try and concentrate on creating a TEAM atmosphere while involved in a individualistic sport….I know how how hard it is to concentrate on both, and McDaniels success speaks for itself.
EI is HUGE part of this!
If I could recommend this post more than once I would my friend,
GREAT JOB!

I think this is right on, and is really important.

It has been interesting to me to contrast McD’s psychological/emotional approach with that of Mike Singletary out here in the Bay Area. McD is so consistent and even-keel. Singletary is all over the map—dropping his pants in the locker room; over-praising his guys as a potentially special team, then watching them get totally dismantled by Atlanta. That little stunt he pulled with Dre Bly after Bly’s boneheaded premature celebration/fumble was the height of psychological dysfunction.For those who missed it, Singletary had Bly step up to the microphone during Singletary’s press conference and apologize to the fans and the media basically for his stupidity. Singletary said that Bly wanted to do it, but that’s a load of malarkey. Contrast the growing loyalty BM is feeling for McD with the resentment buried in shame and distrust that Bly has to feel for Singletary. I think that McD is actually as much of a disciplinarian as Singletary, but he protects and respects his players, and his approach is worlds apart.

One of the reasons I believe Shanahan lost some of his relevance is that he seemed to become more aloof with time. It’s all well and good to play the cool customer, but personally, I started to tire of seeing him hardly react at all after big plays and big games, both good and bad.

Football is an extremely passionate game, and I think that you have pointed out perfectly how McD rides that fine line between being a robot and being a slave to his emotions. Based on how his demeanor translates to myself as a fan, I can see clearly how he has used that to mold this team. As boydy said above, it takes a special preson to be able to coach with an individual focus within a team context. McDaniels does that beautifully, and coupled with his football acumen, it has IMO been the biggest factor in bringing us to where we are today.

Once again, great post! Highly and enthusiastically Rec’d!

Thank you for the lesson. This is just one more reason why I’ve worn a smug grin since the preseason. Josh McDaniels is the Broncos best offseason acquisition for sure. Highly Rec’d.

When McDaniels was first hired, I questioned it from the standpoint that I didn’t think that this team needed an offensive-minded coach. That all went away when I watched the press conference.

In fact, I watched the press conference on my computer 3 times in my hotel room. I was just blown away listening to the guy speak. I’ve never thought that he came across as arrogant. I thought that he came across as a well-spoken individual that carefully conceives everything that he says.

I coach youth and high school baseball and softball, and in many ways, I’ve seen Coach McDaniels as being very similar to myself in a lot of ways. I’m a firm believer that the spotlight should be on the players on the field, but when it comes time to answer questions about what went on, particularly tough questions, that’s my job. The players should never have to apologize or explain anything. If they get caught out of position or if something goes wrong in a game, it’s my fault, not theirs. That’s the beauty of youth sports, and I think that Josh McDaniels has carried this in some ways into the professional ranks. On the field, it’s about the players. Off the field, he keeps it that way by putting himself in the spotlight to answer for them.

More than that, he and I seem to like the same kind of players. I was talking to a friend in the softball coaching world – a very good, highly successful, well-respected coach – and I mentioned how much I love having a certain player on my team. He mentioned that she isn’t the most talented in the world, and he’d rather have someone else. Obviously, opinions differ, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

In my opinion, though, being a great player has nothing to do with talent. Just like being a coach, players aren’t born with a “greatness gene”. It comes through work. It comes through putting the team first. It comes, simply, by playing to win every second of every game. That’s how the Broncos players play, and that’s how the Broncos coaches coach.

I’m lovin’ every second of it.