Watching Josh McDaniels man the sidelines on gameday is a fascinating and somewhat inexplicable experience—a conundrum wrapped tightly inside a paradox.

At times, he seems like the ultimate authority figure, surveying every detail of every play, barking out commands like a crazed platoon leader, disciplining his players for even the slightest mistake.

Other times, he comes across like an old college buddy you call when you want to go grab a beer and shoot some pool.

In today’s NFL, it seems like a coach, fairly or unfairly, inevitably gets slapped with the label of either being a player’s coach or a disciplinarian.

Player’s coaches are criticized because they are at times too lenient, allowing the players to over-influence the locker room. This can be disastrous when the makeup of the team is not strong enough to handle the freedom.

Disciplinarians are criticized because they come across too dictatorial, issuing commands in a “my way or the highway” manner and not allowing any room for flexibility. This can be disastrous when a team becomes too rigid, loses respect, and begins to resent their coach.

When Josh McDaniels took over the Broncos last January, it was clear that his strategy was to immediately assert his authority onto a franchise that was losing direction under Mike Shanahan.

Trading Jay Cutler to the Bears was a clear indication that McDaniels would stand his ground at whatever cost—an attribute of a disciplinarian.

He would then continue his power play over the course of training camp, through the entire pre-season, and into the regular season. First by issuing a suspension to Brandon Marshall displaying conduct detrimental to the team. Then by limiting Marshall’s playing time in the first few games of the season, reinforcing his message of authority.

Only once he felt like Marshall had earned the respect of his team did McDaniels begin to yield his control. Then, and only then, have we begun to see his lighter side.

Now we’re seeing video clips of him on the sideline pumping his fist in elation like a teenager on steroids, mic’d-up snippets of McDaniels mixing it up with his players on the sidelines like he is just one of the guys, and even friendly embraces from formerly embittered players. These are all attributes of a player’s coach.

McDaniels has somehow struck the perfect balance between overt discipline and good-willed leniency, clearly earning the respect of his team. The 33-year-old coach has the 36-year-old veteran Brian Dawkins calling him “sir,” for God’s sake. If that isn’t respect, I don’t know what is.

They say winning tends to cure all ills and there is wisdom within that statement. But winning doesn’t come effortlessly or without sacrifice. To say that McDaniels has only garnered this level of reverence because he is winning games is too simplistic.

The reason the Broncos are winning games is because they are the most prepared team in the NFL week-in, week-out. They are prepared because the entire team has bought into McDaniels and his leadership. They have bought into his leadership because he has earned their respect. He has earned their respect because he understands the balance between camaraderie and authority.

McDaniels is the perfect coach for this team brought in at the perfect time. He has made perfect personnel decisions and he has perfectly handled all controversies. His game management is perfect and he makes the perfect halftime adjustments.

My apologies for ever doubting him.

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