Which coaches deserve to stay in Dove Valley?

Good morning, Broncos Country!

It’s a new year, and that is going to mean a new head coach.

Broncos have started the process, interviewing Chuck Pagano, former Indy head coach, yesterday, and are scheduled to talk next Monday with Vic Fangio - reportedly the favorite at this point - after he leads his Bears defense in a playoff bout this weekend.

But as the Broncos prepare for a lot of turnover, there are several coaches who probably deserve a second look from the new guy in charge. Because sometimes getting rid of all the “old” isn’t the best thing.

In fact, while Jess Place, Tim Lynch and I were anticipating the Vance Joseph firing, we speculated on our last podcast which coaches might withstand the overhaul.

Our top choices of coaches to keep working for The Duke include:

Curtis Modkins

In his first-year as the running backs coach for the Broncos, 23-year coaching veteran Curtis Modkins developed his fourth 1,000-yard running back when he helped undrafted rookie Phillip Lindsay run for 1,037 yards in one of the best rushing campaigns in the league. While Lindsay is certainly a special player, some credit has to go to Modkins for helping two rookies give the Broncos running game a huge boost all season. Having helped three other NFL running backs to such heights - including C.J. Spiller with Buffalo in 2012, Reggie Bush with Detroit in 2013 and Jordan Howard with Chicago in 2017 - Modkins has shown his teaching skill is worthy of keeping around.

Zach Azzanni

In just his second year of coaching at the pro level and his first with Denver, Zach Azzanni definitely had his work cut out for him this season.

From managing a high-spirited and outspoken personality like Emmanuel Sanders to dealing with the trade of Bronco favorite Demaryius Thomas to preparing several rookies for first-year starting reps, Azzanni seemed to handle the pressure of his new gig quite well.

And given how well Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton and Tim Patrick responded to their coach and rose to the occasion, the young assistant seems poised for a successful career in NFL coaching and would provide some nice continuity for the rookies who will be the leaders in that room next year.

Bill Kollar

Coming to Denver with Gary Kubiak and Wade Phillips in 2015, Kollar has been a favorite among fans for his bear-wrestling reputation. But he’s been a favorite among players for his get-in-your-face style of coaching (I mean, if you’ve wrestled a bear, what’s a 300-pound lineman???) J

And just this week, Shelby Harris stated emphatically that he hopes Kollar stays in Denver.

“I want Bill back. Bill has made me play the best I ever have. He’s not your most conventional coach. But at the end of the day, we have a good working relationship. It would be nice if he could be back. Every d-lineman here would vouch for him. We want him back. Our room is one-of-a-kind and it takes a coach like Bill to bring us all together. We have so many different personalities from Wolfe to me to Zach to Peko to Adam...so you need a different type of a coach to coach those type of people. We could use Bill.”

Although Kollar’s defensive line took a big hit in the stats department this season, dropping from fourth overall in 2017 to 23rd overall in 2018, the rank was tarnished by a few running backs who torched the line on a handful of plays. But the line’s generally stout play against some of the best offenses in the league - and some big-time stops in the red zone this season - speak to his influence. And the improvement of Harris and Adam Gotsis this season are the real proof of Kollar’s worth to this line and this team.

The 30-year coaching veteran knows how to get the most out of his players and has been able to do it with multiple teams. During his stints in Houston, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Tampa Bay, he consistently developed defensive lines that ranked in the top 10 in rush defense as well as in sacks.

Horse Tracks

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How it all fell apart: A look back at Vance Joseph’s biggest blunders as head coach – The Athletic
A look back at the most bizarre decisions and devastating Broncos losses over the last two years that contributed to Vance Joseph's firing.

Broncos roster analysis: Who’s likely to stay, who’s probably gone in 2019? – The Athletic
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Vic Fangio insists, after a big Bears win, his prevailing emotion is relief. And occasionally satisfaction — if he allows it | Chicago Tribune
Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio insists, after big wins and dominant defensive performances, his prevailing emotion is relief. And occasionally satisfaction — if he allows it.

Broncos complete interview with former Colts HC Chuck Pagano
John Elway and the Broncos' search committee interviewed their first candidate on Wednesday.

Dos and don’ts for the 8 NFL teams hiring new head coaches in 2019 - SBNation.com
Broncos Do: Hire someone who can do something about a scoring offense that hasn’t ranked higher than 19th in the league the past four seasons.

Broncos Don’t: Avoid hiring an innovative offensive mind just because Gary Kubiak’s around.

Denver Broncos: Five options at quarterback this offseason
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Broncos’ Joe Ellis says Brittany Bowlen has role on front office
Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said Monday that Brittany Bowlen, one of owner Pat Bowlen’s seven children, is on a path toward returning to the organization.

Joe Ellis reiterates commitment to following Owner Pat Bowlen’s succession plan
The Broncos’ President and CEO Joe Ellis explained why he and the Pat Bowlen Trust will continue to abide by Bowlen’s wishes, no matter the timetable.

Denver’s 19 in ’19: What to look for in the new year – The Athletic
The Athletic Denver staff takes a look at 19 things to watch for in 2019.

Final rookie rankings: A new name at the top - NFL Nation- ESPN
The regular season is in the books. After 17 weeks, the season ends with a new No. 1 rookie.

The best quotes of the year in the NFL - NFL Nation- ESPN
Feeling dangerous? Like ketchup? Maybe you will after enjoying the best NFL quotes of the year -- but sit up straight, for Matt Patricia's sake.

Giants GM won't commit to Eli Manning as 2019 starter - NFL.com
Another disappointing season for New York Giants means general manager Dave Gettleman isn't fully committed to Eli Manning remaining the team's starting quarterback for 2019.

Adam Gase to interview for Jets head coaching job - NFL.com
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase is scheduled to interview for the New York Jets' coaching vacancy, sources told Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

Mind-boggling stats: Comparing playoff QBs | NFL.com
With the NFL playoffs nearly underway, take a look at how the 12 starting quarterbacks square up when it comes to playoff performances. See what the numbers have to say with these mind-boggling stats.

Antonio Brown saga: What happened, Steelers' next move, trade chances - Pittsburgh Steelers- ESPN
Antonio Brown has the numbers, a $70 million deal and a Hall of Fame trajectory. How did this go south? Here's an attempt to answer all the questions.