Expectations out in Denver are mile-high
Pat Bowlen sees a bright future for his head coach in Denver.
Josh McDaniels wants a brighter present for the Broncos owner.
And therein is the groundwork for a long relationship.
In his first 25 seasons of NFL ownership, Bowlen employed just three coaches, and two lasted more than a decade. Does that mean he’s found the next Dan Reeves (12 years, three Super Bowls) or Mike Shanahan (14 years, two titles)?
It just might.
McDaniels has miles to go, results-wise. But if you listen to Bowlen, it’s easy to see where he thinks steps have been taken to build the kind of foundation Reeves and Shanahan put in place.
“We have a year under our belt here and he’s really grown a lot,’’ Bowlen said. “He had all the right tools. Obviously, being in New England, he was well-schooled.
“I’m there every day, so I see him. I think he’s going to be a great coach.
“When you come in and you’re thrust from assistant coach to head coach, that’s a big adjustment, especially for someone his age. The real question mark in a lot of people’s minds, even in the organization, was, ‘Can this young guy handle the job?’ I think he showed us he can do that.’’
McDaniels turns 34 a week from Wednesday. He’s always maintained that aptitude is more relevant than age, and with a season under his belt, he’s more equipped to prove it.
Last year, McDaniels displayed a fearlessness in detonating cornerstones of the Shanahan Era — most dramatically, with the trade of quarterback Jay Cutler — to clear room for his own building process. That process is ongoing, with a foundation to work off.
“I was trying to do what I felt was best for the team, and really focusing on doing what I was familiar with, what I knew,’’ said McDaniels. “This year, I feel like I’ve learned stuff from last year that I didn’t know, and that we’ve got plenty to feel good about. That said, there are things we can be better and more effective with.’’
One early emphasis is on finishing.
In the four years since last making the playoffs, the Broncos are 6-13 in December and January. They finished the last two years on three- and four-game losing streaks, while the slow-starting Chargers blew by them in the AFC West.
“We didn’t finish games, and there were a number of close ones we lost,’’ McDaniels said. “We didn’t finish the season like we wanted to.
“We’re focusing on finishing plays, finishing practices, meetings, everything. It’s having the mind-set to finish the right way, because those small things can become a big problem.’’
The run defense was another problem, one addressed with the addition of free agent linemen Jamal Williams, Jarvis Green, and Justin Bannan.
And while those players should help, their presence underscores a larger point also driven home by the addition of versatile corner Nate Jones from Miami: Each player was considered, in his previous locale, to be team-oriented and of strong character.
“I don’t ever remember seeing one time where a couple of individuals [were responsible] for winning a championship,’’ McDaniels said. “We’re all trying to build good, solid teams, and any coach that tells you he’s trying to assemble a bunch of individual talent is full of [expletive]. You’re trying to get the get the best for your team at every position.
“Part of the philosophy is we want to bring in smart, tough football players. But we also want them to love football and be good citizens and represent Pat and the organization the right way. I’ve been around some good teams in my career, and most of those teams were filled with solid people that were good players. I know it can be done.’’
McDaniels concedes that last year, with all the teaching going on as new systems were installed on both sides of the ball, execution wasn’t where it needed to be, nor was the club’s consistency. Since the schemes are in place, some improvement should happen naturally, outside of it being a point of emphasis.
Then there’s the departure of well-respected defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and the elevation of linebackers coach Don “Wink’’ Martindale, though McDaniels said, “The defense won’t change. We’re going to tweak and add a few things, but the calls won’t change.’’
There’s also restricted free agent Elvis Dumervil’s contract situation, and fellow RFA Brandon Marshall’s future to address. Plus, a new quarterback — Brady Quinn — comes in, though McDaniels swears that Kyle "Pro Bowl" Orton remains the guy.
“But all the players know, they determine their own roles by what they do and how they perform,’’ added the coach.
McDaniels saw the team’s burst out of training camp, improvement in ball security, and progress in the kicking game and on defense as positives to build on. But in the grand scheme, all those are micro issues that Bowlen is allowing McDaniels to approach with a macro view.
“I’m not going to hire him and two or three years out let him go,’’ Bowlen said. “If he wasn’t a high-caliber guy and a great coach, or didn’t have the opportunity to be a great coach, that’d be different. He has, in my mind, a great future with the Broncos and is going to be here for a long time.’’
That, most certainly, is what any coach wants to hear, and McDaniels has reached a greater comfort level with his surroundings. But that also leaves fewer excuses.
“There’s no reprieve being in your first or second year,’’ he said. “We’re trying to win a championship. That’s the goal for everyone.’’
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