Guest Blog- Kevin Shone
ONE FAN’S MCDANIELS MUSINGS
I admittedly HATED this hiring from day one. I am not a Belichick fan (despite his success, I find the way he goes about it a giant turnoff, and figured wed be getting a cheap knock off if we hired someone from his coaching tree) I wanted Leslie Frazier/Steve Spagnuolo to get the job. Then McJaygate happened, which in retrospect MAY (repeat: MAY work out. I think once Cutler gets some help [better OLine, WR, offensive coordinating) He will be an elite QB, as much as I hate to say it. Orton did a fine job this year but he CANT stretch the field, and once teams figured that out they struggled in the second half of the season. He started to panic in the KC game and we saw how that turned out. They got the miracle win Week 1 which sparked them to a nice 6-0 start. I even loved seeing how firey McD was after the NE win, the first time I started to accept him as my coach. The developments of the last week have thrown be back to my initial feelings on him. I am abhorred by how he handed the Scheffler situation: From what I read it sounds like McD overreacted, and instead of calling Tony in for a meeting to work out their differences before a HUGE game, he blindly suspends him, then throws Marshall under the bus w/ the injury stuff. I think the PLAYER would have a better idea of if he can go or not, and given the misdiagnosis from last season Marshall has grounds to be skeptical of their findings. It struck me as sophomoric & NOT the way that situation should be handled. The other players look at that and think, "I can't say anything about how I'm feeling, even to OTHER PLAYERS cuz it will get back to McD & Ill get suspended, so lets all walk on eggshells this week as we are obviously collapsing" He choked this year away WORSE than Shanny did last year, in my opinion. At least Mike went into battle with his best guys on the field. I think they were beat before they even stepped onto the field with the "Leader" flaunting such boorish behavior towards his own guys. I found myself cheering AGAINST Denver, because I didn't want to see "big brother" leadership rewarded with a valient 'lets save our season' effort. He got what he deserved, IMO. How can you inspire your guys to kill themselves for you when you'll willingly bench our most talented guys over an ego driven hissy fit. This guys ego is completely out of control, and I am considering becoming a Houston Texans fan (During the NYJ pasting of Cincy, they briefly talked to Texans QB Matt Schaub, who had effusive praise for his coach, former Bronco Gary Kubiak) until McD is dismissed. I can't imagine any Bronco uttering similar sentiments about McDaniels given how the season ended.
I added McEgo's High School Card I came across, hope you don't mind Shone.
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13 Responses
Drew January 15th at 2:54 pm
Anyone-If you need to rant, more than just make a comment let me know and anyone can have a guest blog, this site is die hard fan’s voice so let people hear what you have to say.
david January 16th at 11:57 am
Drew I think I need a guest blog soon… Anyway Kevin I hope you have fun rooting for the Texans…. Another team with a lot of talent who is always going to be mediocre with Gary Kubiak at the healm. How many playoff games have they played in?? I’m not the kind of guy who wants a team who is warm and fuzzy with their coach… I want a winner and I will reserve judgement on JMAC until the end of next season. I do agree with you that JMAC should have had a meeting with Tony Sheffler but at the end of the day we all know that Sheffler was never going to be a part of this team long term (Hence trying to trade him during the draft, drafting Richard Quinn and of course Tony Sheffler can’t block making him a big, slower receiver. He doesn’t fit in the plan either way). Also there are some misconceptions that should be cleared up about the Brandon Marshall situation. Brandon was not benched because of the injury he was benched because he missed a treatment for his hamstring. Oh wait he was an hour and a half late for his treatment and then said he could play. If you’re headed into a must win playoff implicated game you probably want your star player to show up for treatment on that injured hamstring. However, Brandon Marshall had better things to do than get ready for a playoff push. Plus no offense did you Jabar Gaffney’s game… I don’t think we missed Brandon that much Kevin. What we do miss is what we’ve missed since the Super Bowl Years. A DEFENSIVE LINE…. The defenses inability to stop the run destroyed our playoff hopes guys. Put me in coach Drew I’m ready for the blog!!
Woody January 18th at 12:28 pm
Blaming a rookie head coach for making rookie head coach mistakes is like blaming a rookie QB for throwing a lot of picks.
There’s no question that McD made some mistakes this season and deserves a lot of the blame for our self destruction. But it’s unfair immediately call for his dismissal after an 8-8 first season as a head coach. Shanahan went 8-8 his first year as the Bronco’s head coach.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not praising McD or even claiming he’s going to be able to make this a good team in the next couple years. I’m just waiting until he has a chance to see what he can do. I was a division 1 athlete in college and always got infuriated by people who would crucify a coach after a single season with a team. It’s just not enough time to really do anything. Give him another year or two. If we don’t show improvement then we can start talking about dumping McD.
david January 18th at 1:25 pm
I agree Woody. I think JMAC is trying to change the culture of the Denver Broncos and that’s going to take time. This team doesn’t have the talent to compete for a Super Bowl so we have to let JMAC get his players in place and see what he can do. If in a year or 2 we are still not compteting in the playoffs then it may be time to start calling for JMAC’s head. It’s not time yet…. but I will say this draft is very important for JMAC’s future.
david January 18th at 8:33 pm
Wow now Mike Nolan is gone?!!!!???!! I hope JMAC knows what he is doing…
Woody January 19th at 1:50 pm
Ok, now it’s time to start panicking.
David January 20th at 1:53 pm
Now I have some concern about JMAC… As Nolan said JMAC has one of the highest football IQ’s he has ever seen. My concern is he has no people skills… He may be a great coordinator but I am concerned his inability to deal with his staff and players may lead to the Broncos heading into a dark stage.
Drew January 20th at 6:37 pm
Nolan gone and already acquired by Miami. After loosing RB coach and long term offensive coordinator, what does JMAC have planned hmmmm well maybe more pats coaches.
Kevin Shone January 21st at 6:13 am
Guys, this is what always scared me about McD. Any successful operation needs thoughtful input from others, opinions that are listened to & respected, eventually a general consensus is reached. Granted one guy may have final say, but the process needs to be practiced & respected if your assistants/GM are going to respect you/enjoy working under you.
I feel McD ignores all other input and wants things his way or the highway, a very arrogant and potentially dangerous (See driving away franchise players in consecutive off-seasons) Modus operandi.
Surrounding yourself with yes men (cough cough Dean Pees) isn’t the answer. They jumped out to a quick start thanks mostly to Nolan’s Defense, not McDs offense.
You might argue Shanahan had similar powers, but at least he had gone through the necessary training of being an assistant (save for the Al Davis screwjob in 88) for a decade plus, then won a couple super bowls to sway some personnel power his way. McD has done NOTHING to earn this kind of authority.
The main problem on defense is a lack of identity & playmakers, and Shanny def had a hand in this. We have had 8 different D-Coordinators in the last 10 years. That must be really frustrating for guys like Al Wilson, Champ & DJ.
I also want to clear something up, I am not calling for McDs job. He has it, we don’t need to be paying three coaches. I just feared Belicheat’s tepid tenure in Cleveland was going to repeat itself right before my eyes, and I had that thought the SECOND I found out McD was the new sheriff in Dodge.
I don’t doubt McD has it in him to be successful, I just am abhorred by his general belichickian demeanor. He hasn’t fermented in the assistant ranks long enough to be running his own show. There are other ways to win and not be a douchebag. see Cowher, Dungy, Chuck Noll, Bill Walsh etc..
He may be driven to Succeed, but at what cost? Two of my favorite young players leaving because the coach does not like them.
Granted, Jay handled it terribly & ultimately turned me against him, but you can’t tell me most, if not all, Bronco fans were jazzed about Cutler’s potential pre McD.
Guess what Mel Kiper thinks the Broncos will do in round 1? Draft WR Dez Bryant to make up for the obviously departing Marshall!
May make sense to address the aging secondary or get Elvis some help rushing the passer & just keep A TOP 3 DOMINANT WR THREAT IN HIS PRIME, (something Dez Bryant probably will never become) but what do I know.
He also fucked up last year by taking Knowshown over Brian Orakpo, something I was mad about at the time. THE DEFENSE WAS ATROCIOUS in 2008 we all know it. McD had just signed 3 running backs in free agency, plus Peyton Hillis (who showed in 08 he could tote the rock) Orakpo was the only pro bowler for the train wreck known as the Washington Redskins this season, who registered one of their 4 wins against Denver!
Also can’t forget trading 2010 #1 (ended up being 14th overall) so we could draft Alphonso Smith last year with the 37th overall pick.
If you’re telling me you’d rather have Smith than that pick (projected to be FLA stud Carlos Dunlap) Then Ive got some beachfront property in Siberia to sell you.
Kevin Shone January 21st at 6:54 am
Dave, to comment on your Texans blasts:
They just finished their 8th season, finishing above .500 for the first time and narrowly missing out on the postseason. If Cincy doesn’t lay down in that game against NYJ they may have made it. (Denver didn’t finish above .500 until their 14th season)
They were in almost all of their games this season, narrowly losing a couple. Sometimes young guys just need to get reps learning how to win, and I think the same is true of coaches. I hope Kubiak learns from the mistakes of this season & I’m happy it looks like HOU is going to give him the chance.
His players seem to really like him, and that has to count for something. Its possible to win & have fun at the same time, it doesn’t have to be life & death the way some coaches seem to make it (Polar opposites in this respect: Bill Parcells/Dick Vermiel. Give me Vermiel, even if he cries like a little girl occasionally) I’m guessing Dave would take Parcells.
Schaub killed it this year, leading the NFL in passing yards. I think the Texans future is infinitely brighter than the Broncos. They have more playmakers (Schaub, Johnson, Slaton, Owen Daniels), more young defensive studs (Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, Cushing, Okoye, Pollard) And a coach who isn’t an insufferable douchebag.
David February 19th at 4:20 pm
Kevin you make no sense…. How come Gary Kubiak gets time to learn to win but Josh McDaniels doesn’t???? I’m a little confused by the logic. And yes I would take Parcells over Vermiel. He builds winning teams… He’s built winning coaches…. Let’s just say I like winners guys…. Even if they are douchebags. Wasn’t Shanahan a douchebag????
David February 19th at 4:26 pm
And another thing Kevin remember these guys are paid millions of dollars to do their jobs… This isn’t pee-wee football so leave the ‘let’s make it fun for the young guys’ at the parks and local fields around the country. These are PROFESSIONAL football players. So the attitude that the Texans’ players ‘like’ their coach doesn’t matter to me and if you read some of the blogs and articles in Houston…. let’s just say it’s not working for a lot of fans in Texas eigther. So if your question is would I rather have a coach who is little harder on his players who wins compared to a guy who is liked but can’t make the playoffs??? Well… I’m going to go with the winners.
It’s funny how when guys leave the Patriots system they always say it was the best franchise around… I.E. Dieon Branch, Daniel Grahm.
David February 19th at 4:30 pm
One last point…. Who has been the best coach in the league over the past decade Kevin?
A. Bill Cowher
B. Tony Dungy
C. Gary Kubiak
D. Bill Belechick
The point is I don’t think you need to bag on Belechick’s attitude or the way he treats players… the proof is in the pudding.