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Darrent Williams Slayed, Justice Postponed

Published: June 2, 2009

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At 2:30 am on the morning of Jan. 1, 2007, Darrent Williams was pronounced dead.

An apparent altercation between some club goers and gang members would cost Williams his life.

The 24-year-old Williams had been at a New Year’s Eve party at a Denver nightclub. He was there to bring in the New Year and celebrate the birthday of Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin.

Williams left the club around 2:00 in the morning. Just 12 hours before, Williams had played the final game of the 2006 season for the Denver Broncos against the San Francisco 49ers.

As Williams and friends settled into their rented limousine, a second vehicle pulled alongside and fired shots into the limo. Darrent Williams was struck by a single bullet to the back of the neck and slumped into the lap of then-Broncos wide receiver Javon Walker. At 2:10 am, Williams would take his last breath.

The Denver police department would impound the car of a known Crips gang member, Brian Hicks. Hicks was already in prison and awaiting trial for attempted murder and drug charges. Immediately, the police turned to known associates of Hicks for answers.

On May 30, 2008, the Rocky Mountain News posted a story claiming they possessed a letter in which Willie Clark had confessed to firing the shot that took the life of the Broncos defensive back. That October, a grand jury indicted Clark in the murder.

Clark was set to stand trial on July 6, but a judge in the case has postponed the trial until Oct. 13 as per the request of Clark’s attorneys.

The attorneys claim that Clark was influenced by police officers trying to force a confession and, therefore, the letter should not be admissible in court. District Judge Cristina Habas will rule this week on the matter.

Handwriting analyses obtained by the Rocky Mountain News confirm that Clark was the author of the letter. The letter was examined by an independent with certification from the National Association of Document Examiners. The Denver Police also had the document examined and authenticated.

Clark’s letter was matched against 14 other samples, including a letter to the U.S. District Judge Wiley Y. Daniel.

Sources: Rocky Mountain News, ESPN

Forever My Favorite: The 1997-’98 Denver Broncos

Published: May 29, 2009

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I really enjoy these assignments where I get to talk about my favorite subject, me. It’s an opportunity for me to impart all my opinions on the world, making it a better place.

So now I’ll tell you my favorite football team and why they should be yours, too.

As I stated in a previous article, I became a Denver Broncos fan in January of 1988. The Broncos had just been destroyed by my other favorite football club, the Washington Redskins, in Super Bowl XXII. That day, I found a new respect for this team.

A team that lost the game with dignity. A team that kept its pride and held their collective heads high when they fell short of their goal. A team that said, “Congratulations, but we’ll be back.”

Well they did come back…twice.

After an early exit in the 1996 NFL playoffs (a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars), the 1997 Broncos were back with a vengeance. Posting a record of 12-4, the Broncos made the playoffs as a wild card team.

Their opponent in the first round would be the Jacksonville Jaguars. Things would finish a little differently this time, as the Broncos rolled to a 42-17 victory.

Denver would then dispatch the (AFC West Champion) Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers en route to a matchup with Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers (13-3).

Super Bowl XXXII, ten years after losing that game to the Redskins, they were to challenge for the Lombardi trophy again.

So there they were. The Denver Broncos, four times defeated in the big dance, now up against the defending Super Bowl Champions (and 11 point favorites).

The Packers had noticeable talent on both sides of the ball. Brett Favre, the gunslinger, was surrounded by sure-handed targets. Mark Chmura was a Pro Bowl tight end. Antonio Freeman and Robert Brooks were known for making the big plays downfield.

And in the background, fullback William Henderson and running back Dorsey Levens had the option of making the catch or running the ball down opponents’ throats.

On defense, Green Bay had a host of terrors. Among them were safety Eugene Robinson, cornerback LeRoy Butler, defensive tackle Santana Dotson, and defensive end Reggie White (later inducted into the Football Hall of Fame).

Luckily, the Broncos came prepared. Lead by a defensive backfield consisting of Steve Atwater, Tyron Braxton, and Darrien Gordon, the Broncos were the sixth-ranked defense in the NFL. Up front, Denver had newly acquired defensive end Neil Smith, defensive end Alfred Williams, and a linebacking corps that had John Mobley and Bill Romanowski.

The No. 1 ranked offense in the NFL that year was lead by (future Hall of Famer) John Elway. Elway had lead the Broncos to three previous Super Bowls.

All three were losses.

And to be fair, those Denver teams were John Elway. This was the first time the QB would have a host of talent around him.

Pro Bowl running back Terrell Davis would have 15 touchdowns and 1,750 yards on the ground that season. He also would amass 287 yards in the air on 42 passes.

The wide receiver group consisted of such talent as Ed McCaffery and Rod Smith. They were joined by Pro Bowl tight end Shannon Sharpe.

The offensive line was anchored by two Pro Bowlers as well, Tom Nalen and Gary Zimmerman.

Green Bay jumped out to an early seven point lead in the game, but it would soon be answered by a Terrell Davis TD run. Then, Denver would go up by 10 before the Packers knotted the score at 17. In the end, the Broncos would prove to be too much and they’d put the game away, 31-24.

The 37 year old Elway had won his first Super Bowl and Denver was alive with celebration. Everyone was excited for John Elway, a quarterback who had played his entire career in Denver and failed three previous times to capture the Lombardi trophy.

Now, he could retire “on top.”

There was just one thing…he didn’t retire. Elway and the Broncos would return the following year to finish what they started. It was time to defend that League championship.

The encore was better than the previous performance. The team was 14-2 in 1998. They were second in the league in offense and eighth in the league on defense.

Terrell Davis ran for 21 touchdowns and 2,008 yards on 392 carries that year and won the League MVP award. Davis would lead the team in scoring with 138 points.

He would never return to that glory as an ACL and MCL injury would shorten his career.

McCaffery and Sharpe both caught 64 passes that year. The team leader was Rod Smith with 1,222 yards on 86 catches.

The challenger in Super Bowl XXXIII was the Atlanta Falcons (also 14-2 in the regular season). The “Dirty Birds” had grown a following because of a silly celebration dance and a high-powered running back, (Pro Bowler) Jamal Anderson.

They were lead by Head Coach Dan Reeves. Reeves was the coach in Denver the three times Elway and the Broncos failed to capture the Super Bowl title.

The squad also had a Pro Bowl quarterback (Chris Chandler) and the second ranked defense in the league. That defense included Pro Bowler Jesse Tuggle, Ray Buchannan, and Eugene Robinson. Robinson had played for the Green Bay Packers team that lost to Elway and the Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII.

There was no denying John Elway in this Super Bowl either. He received the Super Bowl MVP and the Broncos won 34-19. The 38 year old Elway retired after 15 years in the league. He left on his terms, with back-to-back Super Bowl victories.

A lifetime of “almost” cashed in at the end.

John Elway is the reason I became a Denver Broncos fan. And after ten years, my loyalty was paid and paid again. Elway gave me my two favorite teams in football and my greatest football moment. The 1997-98 Denver Broncos, forever my favorite. They should be your favorite too.

Sources

Retrieved May 29, 2009, from NFL.com.

http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/history/recap/sbxxxiii.

Retrieved May 29, 2009, from NFL.com.

http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/history/recap/sbxxxii.

Know Your Enemy (Part Three): The San Diego Chargers

Published: May 17, 2009

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In the third and final installment of the “Know Your Enemy” series, we look at the AFC West champion San Diego Chargers. For more on the AFC West, be sure to read

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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/177033-know-your-enemy-part-2-the-oakland-raiders

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/177007-know-your-enemy-the-kansas-city-chiefs

st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }

The San Diego Chargers took the AFC West crown in 2008 with a regular season record of 8-8. This year, it may take one or two more wins to repeat as the division champs.

Unfortunately, most Bolts fans will probably remember last season for the controversial officiating rather than the division title. That being said, there were some bright spots in the Chargers’ season to celebrate.

LaDainian Tomlinson was playing injured (toe) throughout most of the 2008 campaign and still managed to rack up 1,110 yards rushing. Darren Sproles (recently tagged as the team’s “franchise player”) also made an impact when given opportunity.

Sproles was a rock in the backfield with Tomlinson’s nagging condition, and gained 330 yards rushing in 61 carries. He also gained nearly 350 yards on 29 receptions, proving his value to the team dynamic.

With Sproles’ rise in stock and LT’s worst performance statistically in his eight-year career, it’s likely we’ll see more of a platooning of the two backs this season. In that possibility, Tomlinson would be fresher longer and he’d only have to be healthy, not spectacular.

Speaking of injury-prone superstars, Antonio Gates struggled in 2008 as well. And, 2009 is playing that familiar tune already. Gates did manage over 700 yards on 60-plus catches last season while battling with ankle and toe injuries, but he was not the type of impact player he has been in seasons past.

Keeping Gates and LT pain free in 2009 will be a top task of San Diego trainers. Good luck with that.

Phillip Rivers made the trip to the upper echelon of quarterbackdom last season. The often outspoken Rivers cooled his tongue and heated up his arm in 2008, tossing 312 completions on 478 attempts and compiling 34 TDs versus 11 interceptions. He would finish the regular season with a 105.5 QB rating.

And aside from the injury bug and a weak offensive line (the right side of the ball is porous at best), the Chargers look poised to put up the types of numbers that made them the 11th ranked offense overall in the NFL.

On defense, the not-so Super Chargers looked like any other defense from the AFC West. Ranked 25th overall in 2008 (ahead of No. 27 Oakland, No. 29 Denver, and No. 31 KC), San Diego selected a defensive end in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft (No. 16 overall). The team hopes that Larry English (Northern Illinois) will eventually add a third high-octane rusher to the sack duo of Shaun Phillips and Shawne Merriman.

The other bright spots on defense, of course, are DBs Antonio Cromartie and Quentin Jammer. This cornerback tandem totaled 152 tackles and four interceptions (one for a touchdown) in 2008.

Ron Rivera will transition from the linebackers coach position (2008) into the spot vacated by Ted Cottrell. His last stint as defensive coordinator was with the Chicago Bears (2004-2006).

Rivera’s weapon of choice is the 4-3 defense.

A quick study of the San Diego Chargers’ 2009 schedule leads me to believe the team will not have an easy journey back to the top of the AFC West. Early obstacles come in matchups against AFC North powerhouses Baltimore and Pittsburgh before the bye week (Week Five). Games against the NY Giants, Eagles, Titans, and Redskins will all be substantial tests out of the division.

All in all, it’s possible the Bolts will finish the regular season with a record slightly higher than 8-8 and a wildcard berth into the playoffs. The good news for Broncos fans is that prediction is an optimistic one. With the huge shakeup division wide, the AFC West looks to be a crap shoot.

Sources

Retrieved May 17, 2009, from CBSsports.com.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/page/SD.

Retrieved May 17, 2009, from NFL.com

http://www.nfl.com/teams/sandiegochargers/profile?team=SD.

Know Your Enemy (Part Two): The Oakland Raiders

Published: May 16, 2009

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In part two of this three-part series, “Know Your Enemy”, we’re going to take a look at the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders are Denver’s most bitter rival, although in recent years, the Raiders’ record has taken some of the intensity out of the rivalry.

In 2007, the Raiders organization welcomed Lane Kiffin as the 16^th coach of the franchise. In 2008, they handed him his walking papers.

Enter Tom Cable.

The team finished 5-11 and in third place in the AFC West. It was the first time in six years they didn’t finish in last. The Raiders, ranked 29^th in total offense, amassed a paltry 263 points. The defense, ranked 27^th overall, allowing 388 points.

The team hoped to address the offensive line and the wide receiving corp in the draft. Well, with the seventh pick overall, the Raiders selected swift-footed wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey from the University of Maryland. Heyward-Bey will probably have the opportunity to make an impact. The other six rookies selected in the ’09 draft will, more than likely, have to wait their turn.

JaMarcus Russell sort of came into his own this past season with a QB rating around 77, 2423 yards in the air, and 13 touchdowns versus eight interceptions. The Raider Nation hopes Russel to Heyward-Bey will be a phrase repeated many times this season.

With little altered from 2008 to 2009, it would seem the Raiders will be hard pressed to greatly improve upon their situation. Still, a brief look at the 2009 schedule and I could see them winning anywhere from four to seven games this year.

And, that may be enough to keep them out of the basement for a second consecutive season. Only Al Davis knows if it will be enough to give Cable a second season as head coach.

Next up in the assessment, the San Diego Chargers. Be sure to check out:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/177486-know-your-enemy-part-3-the-san-diego-chargers

and

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/177007-know-your-enemy-the-kansas-city-chiefs

Sources

Retrieved May 16, 2009, from NFL.com

http://www.raiders.com/Newsroom/Default.aspx?id=132

Retrieved May 16, 2009, from CBSsports.com

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/depth-chart/OAK

Know Your Enemy: The Kansas City Chiefs

Published: May 16, 2009

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In order to accurately predict how well your team will do in the upcoming season, it is not only important to evaluate the steps taken by that team to improve, but also to evaluate the status of the teams they will be competing against.

In this three-part series, “Know Your Enemy”, I will be dissecting the Denver Broncos AFC West opponents.

The Denver Broncos: How the Grinch Stole the 2009 NFL Playoffs

Published: May 15, 2009

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Change.

Barack Obama ran an entire presidential campaign on the idea of change. When life becomes stagnant or the status quo just isn’t good enough anymore, change is the cure-all.

After 14 seasons as the Denver Broncos head coach, Mike Shanahan (146-95-0 in the regular and post season, including back-to-back Super Bowl wins in 1997 and 1998) was released from the team.

It was time for a change.

That change came in the form of Josh McDaniels.

McDaniels is a graduate of the Bill Belichick (102-42 in the regular season and three Super Bowl Championships as the head coach of the New England Patriots, 2000 to present) school of football.

Fellow graduates include Charlie Weis (29-21 as the head coach at Notre Dame, 2005 to present), Romeo Crennel (24-40 as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns, 2005-2008), and Eric Mangini (23-25 as the head coach of the New York Jets, 2006-2008).

In some cases, it would appear the apple falls quite far from the tree.

Please don’t get me wrong. McDaniels is his own man and the Broncos are nowhere near the shambles that Notre Dame and the NFL’s Browns and Jets were in when these men took over.

However, aside from the hiring of Mike Nolan as the Broncos’ defensive coordinator, McDaniels’ infancy in the head coaching arena has been mired by bad decision after questionable decision. In fact, many of his more recent moves have looked awfully “Shanahanish.”

If Mike Shanahan had made these moves (the botched Cutler fiasco or the No. 12 draft pick used to pick up Knowshon Moreno instead of addressing the defensive front seven), we’d say it was just Mike Shanahan being Mike Shanahan. Unfortunately, Pat Bowlen and the Broncos fans called for “change” and McDaniels has only given them “more of the same” (thank you, Democratic National Convention).

Some of the biggest changes came in the cuts/signing department

The Broncos not only bobbled the situation with Jay Cutler, but Patrick Ramsey was released. That means Kyle Orton and Chris Simms are their likely one and two quarterbacks.

Cornerback Dre Bly, 5’10” and 31 years old, was cut and his likely replacement is 5’9″ Alphonso Smith of Wake Forest. Did I mention the Broncos gave up a first round draft pick for Smith?

Thirty-five year old Brian Dawkins becomes the new safety for the Broncos. They’re going to need him to play in 30-year-old form.

Although Knowshon Moreno may be a game-changer some day, was it necessary to pick him up with the No. 12 when the Broncos already had Buckhalter, Arrington, and Jordan? And just recently, Denver added Darius Walker. The smart money would have guessed that pick was being applied to the OL or DL.

With a 2009 schedule that pits the Broncos up against six teams that qualified for the 2008 NFL playoffs (Baltimore and Pittsburgh back-to-back following the Week Seven bye) and five of those games are against eight of the past nine Super Bowl champions, an 8-8 finish looks like a highwater mark for this team. A 6-10 season may be a little closer to how this year plays out.

Change has come to Denver…and it may not be for the best.

Sources:

Retrieved May 12, 2009, from NFL.com

Retrieved May 12, 2009, from denverpost.com

Retrieved May 12, 2009, from Denver Broncos team page

Retrieved May 12 2009, from ESPN.com

Denver Broncos work to patch holes in defense

Published: May 15, 2009

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The Denver Broncos may not have made a huge splash in the 2009 NFL Draft, but they have drawn from the free agency pool to address some glaring weaknesses.

After an 8-3 start where a win in any of the final five games would have given them a playoff berth, the Broncos pulled on the emergency brake and changed course.

The obvious problems with the 2008 roster were quality at defensive line (particularly nose guard) and safety on the defensive side of the ball. Quarterback (the loss of Cutler was only the tip of the proverbial iceberg) and running back proved to be the trouble spots on offense.

Early in free agency, the Broncos added running backs J.J. Arrington (Cardinals), Correll Buckhalter (Eagles), LaMont Jordan (Patriots), and Darius Walker.

After acquiring Kyle Orton (Bears) in an attempt to have something to show for blowing it with the Pro Bowl selection Jay Cutler, the Broncos moved on Chris Simms (Titans).

Mike Nolan’s 3-4 defense added a few free agents as well. Linebackers Andra Davis (Browns) and Nick Greisen (released by the Ravens) were snatched up with defensive tackles Ronald Fields (49ers) and Darrell Reid (Colts) and defensive backs Brian Dawkins, Andre Goodman, and Renaldo Hill. Finally, defensive end Kenny Peterson was re-signed.

On a team lacking a star to headline its 3-4 defense, the Broncos had hoped to land a defensive lineman in the draft.

Well, with pick No. 18 the Broncos nabbed Robert Ayers.

The 6’3”, 270-pound Ayers was a run-stopping defensive end for the Tennessee Volunteers who will likely see some outside linebacker duty for Denver as well.

The Broncos addressed their hole at safety with pick No. 48, Darcel McBath and pick No. 114, David Bruton.

Running back Knowshon Moreno was taken with the first of Denver’s two first-round picks (No. 12 overall) and with the first pick in round six, Tom Brandstater was selected (No. 174).

Moreno will have a real opportunity to make an impact on the Broncos squad. Brandstater is lucky there are only two other quarterbacks on the team (for now).

Following the draft, the Broncos took a look at the undrafted collegiate free agents. In all, Denver would sign 15 of these free agents (four WRs, one RB, one TE, two OTs, two CBs, one P, two DEs, one DT, and a LB).

Let’s liken this to pickup football games we played as children. Remember the short, chubby, uncoordinated, asthmatic kid whom always got picked last? He was important for one reason … he was No. 8.

Without him, you had a four on three or an all-time quarterback situation on your hands. You let him play strictly because you needed an extra body.

Among the free agent acquisitions was wide receiver David Grimes, who played for head coach Charlie Weis at Notre Dame.

Weis was the offensive coordinator who preceded Josh McDaniels in the Patriots organization. It would be fair to predict the two systems will be comparable.

If we look at the projected depth chart objectively, six of the 11 defensive starters did not play in Denver last year. The offense is a bit more recognizable (aside from Orton and the running backs).

Most people would agree that the Broncos’ offense was mostly fine before Cutler was run out of town, so there wasn’t much to improve on that end.

The defense was 30^th in scoring and 29^th overall. Nothing short of an overhaul was going to help.

I believe the Broncos did a fair job addressing their weaknesses efficiently.

Are the holes filled? Yes.

Will it be enough to take the division? I say probably not, but only time will tell.

Broncos 2009: New Coach, New Playbook, New Quarterback: No Worries?

Published: May 15, 2009

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After finishing the regular season 8-8 and missing the playoffs, Pat Bowlen decided it was time for a change.

Well, here it comes.

Mike Shanahan was fired on December 30, 2008. His replacement, Josh McDaniels, was hired on January 12, 2009.

Shortly after taking over the new job, McDaniels shook up both sides of the ball. He brought in Mike Nolan to run the Broncos defense, and the scheme was changed from a 4-3 to a 3-4.

The Denver D was ranked 30th in points, 19th in yards, 26th in defending the pass, and 27th against the run.

There is plenty of room for improvement there. The problem comes when addressing the personnel. Six of the 11 defensive starters have changed and aside from Brian Dawkins, none of those changes scream improvement.

Ronald Fields, Darrell Reid, and Kenny Peterson will be the starters on the defensive line. Dumervil, Boss Bailey, DJ Williams, and Andra Davis will be the backing corps, while Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill will team up with Champ Bailey and Andre Goodman in the backfield.

Before the offensive playbook could be addressed, there was a meltdown at the quarterback position and Jay Cutler fled the scene.

McDaniels added Kyle Orton to run his offense, which is not Mike Shanahan’s offense. No, we have not seen the end of the west coast offesne, or the running back-by-committee. McDaniels will implement some variation of the offense he was running in Foxboro.

In fact, it’s not easy to narrow down the Patriots offense. With the receivers constantly moving around and playing off each other, the offensive system is like water. It constantly shifts and moves to better adjust to defenses around the league. Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall should shine in this offense; think Welker and Moss.

You will not be shown the same offense two weeks in a row and for a team that just drafted University of Georgia standout Knowshon Moreno, it should be noted that the Patriots were sixth n the NFL in rushing last year. Buckhalter will likely get the bulk of the load in carries this year.

Jeremy Bates was released to make room for the Broncos’ new QB coach, Mike McCoy. McCoy worked with Steve Beuerlein and Jake Delhomme in the Carolina organization and will now be an asset to Orton and the Denver O.

It’s unfortunate to see a Pro Bowler run out of town, but points on the board and a stack of ‘W’s can make that bitterness disappear. One thing’s for sure, if the Denver Broncos don’t succeed, it won’t be because they didn’t make moves.

20 Questions for Ben Hamilton

Published: May 15, 2009

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If given the opportunity to engage one of the Denver Broncos players in a sit down interview, I believe these would be the 20 questions I would ask Broncos guard Ben Hamilton.

No. 50 has been a Denver Bronco for nine seasons, longer than any other player on the squad. The 6’4” center/guard was drafted in the fourth round of the 2001 draft.

1) You anchored the offensive line in 2003 when the Broncos set a franchise record for yards from scrimmage. Clinton Portis, Mike Andersen, Reuben Droughns, and Quentin Griffin (as well as Cecil Sapp for 1 game) amassed 2629 total yards that season. Who gets the credit for that, Mike Shanahan, the RBs, or the big uglies?

2) You’ve spent your entire professional career with the Broncos, and more notably, Mike Shanahan. How did you feel about the organization releasing your head coach?

3) What are your expectations for your new head coach, Josh McDaniels?

4) From 2002 to 2006, you started every game of the season. You missed all of 2007 with symptoms due to concussions. Then in 2008, you started all 16 games again. That’s 96 starts in 96 games. How important is it to be on that field when the game starts?

5) You’ve had four different starting quarterbacks since joining the Broncos: Brian Griese, Jake Plummer, Jay Cutler, and now Kyle Orton. Who has been your favorite field general and why?

6) Let’s fast-forward to 2013. You’ve started all 176 games you’ve played in. Do you make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

7) Who’s better, John Elway (48 years old) now or Kyle Orton (26 years old) now?

8) If you were going to be traded to another team in your division, where would you want to go?

9) Who was your favorite player when you were growing up?

10) This will be your last football question. Next we’ll get to know Ben the person. What do you enjoy more, pass blocking for that long strike or run blocking for the big gain?

11) Okay, now it’s time for some fun. If you weren’t in football (in any capacity), what would Ben Hamilton’s dream job be?

12) What songs are getting heavy rotation on your ipod right now?

13) Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, (NFL favorite) Jessica Simpson, or Jessica Rabbit?

14) You’re on a desert island with only your carry-on bag. What did you bring along?

15) They’re making a movie about your life… “The Gopher Who Became a Bronco”, who plays you?

16) Who plays the female love interest?

17) What do you like best about Germany (former Berlin Thunder)?

18) Orange Crush or Bronco Blue?

19) If you could have dinner and a conversation with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be?

20) Heads or tails?

Sources

Retrieved May 14, 2009, from the Denver Broncos team site.

http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=720.

Profiling the Denver Broncos’ Journeyman Coaches

Published: May 15, 2009

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The 2009 Denver Broncos will look quite different from the 2008 squad.

And though a lot of attention will be paid to the new QB, the new running backs, and the new 3-4 defense, success starts with the coaches…who are also mostly new.

Let’s take a look at some of the key personnel who will be sharing the sideline this year.

Josh McDaniels, head coach

How many times have you heard that old cliché “It’s in his blood”? Well, that phrase couldn’t fit anyone better than Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels.

McDaniels father, Thom, is a coaching legend in the Ohio high school football world. In fact, Thom coached his son (as the team quarterback) at Canton McKinley.

After high school, McDaniels was able to benefit from his father’s friendship with Nick Saban. Josh landed a graduate assistant role at Michigan State then joined the Patriots’ organization.

He spent 2001 as a personnel assistant with the Patriots before taking on a defensive coaching position in 2002. In 2004, he traded defense for offense as he became the team’s quarterbacks coach.

Two years later, he parlayed that role into the offensive coordinator’s position (following the exit of Charlie Weis to Notre Dame in 2004).

In 2007, under McDaniels’ guidance, the Patriots’ offense set NFL records for touchdowns and points scored.

Now McDaniels has the opportunity to showcase his style of offense in Denver.

The assistants

Though Mike Shanahan had hoped his staff would be retained, McDaniels thought it best to bring in some new minds.

The newcomers include special teams coach Mike Priefer, offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, wide receivers coach Adam Gase, defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, defensive line coach Wayne Nunnely, and secondary coach Ed Donatell, who is back for a second term (1995-99).

Mike Priefer has been in the coaching ranks since 1994, when he coached at his alma mater, Navy.With four college coaching positions under his belt, Priefer made the jump to the NFL in 2002 when he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars. Before coming to Denver, he spent time in the Giants’ organization and, most recently, with division rival Kansas City as the Chiefs’ special-teams coach.

Mike McCoy spent time as quarterback at Long Beach State and Utah before making a jump to the pros (Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe and the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League).

His short-lived pro career segued into a coaching career when he became an offensive assistant for the Carolina Panthers in 1999. McCoy made his way to quarterbacks coach in Carolina before making the transition to offensive coordinator for the Broncos.

Speaking of noted pedigrees, Mike Nolan‘s father, Dick, was a revered coach for the 49ers, and Mike has worked with Brian Billick, Al Groh, and Norv Turner, as well as Dan Reeves in Denver.

Nolan lettered three years at safety for Oregon and then took a graduate assistant position with the Ducks. From there, he moved on to Pac-10 rival Stanford to be linebackers coach. Nolan also coached at Rice (defensive line) and LSU (linebackers) before joining the Broncos’ staff in 1987.

He coached the linebackers in Denver until 1992 then worked for the Giants, Redskins, Jets, and Ravens before getting his own head coaching position in San Francisco in 2005.

Nolan, who will run a 3-4 (last year, the Broncos worked from a 4-3), inherits a defense that has given up over 400 points in each of the last two seasons and last year ranked 29th in the league.

Josh McDaniels has assembled a fine staff of coaches to help the Broncos add another Lombardy Trophy to their collection. After several disappointing seasons, they may have the pieces in place to begin their ascension back to the top.

These journeymen coaches hope they have finally found a home.

Sources

Retrieved May 14, 2009, from the Denver Broncos team site.

http://www.nfl.com/teams/coaches?coaType=head&team=DEN.

Retrieved May 15, 2009, from NFL.com.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?archive=false&conference=null&role=OPP&offensiveStatisticCategory=null&defensiveStatisticCategory=GAME_STATS&season=2008&seasonType=REG&tabSeq=2&qualified=true&Submit=Go.

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