Josh McDaniels Fired!

[kamandi]

But not after first dismantling 2008's 2nd best offense in the NFL. Probowl QB, probowl WR, and (most likely this season) probowl RB - gone.

At least Denver is left with an excellent OL to build on -- glad he didn't trade away the 2 tackles and the one guard Shanahan drafted, and he did draft what seems to be a very good guard and center.

Lots of wasted draft picks that didn't address the original weakness of the Broncos -- defense -- and a really bad move to get rid of your defensive coordinator who worked miracles with other teams' castoffs.

A young team filled with promise in 2008 just went backwards into full rebuild mode.

Welcome to the Tebow era. The kid is gutsy, but very, very unpolished at the QB position.

[Richie3Jack]

I thought McDaniels was doing a good job with the passing offense, but not much else. Kyle Orton was putting up numbers and he's a very average QB. Getting the numbers out of Brandon Lloyd seemed almost improbable. That's why I would've been high on Tebow because I think McDaniels could've molded him into a very good, if not great, QB.

I'm always a bit leery of hiring former QB's to run the offense or be the HC (yes, I'm still leery about Jason Garrett). They typically become so pass happy and the team becomes a finesse team.

Although I knew the Broncos were doomed with McDaniels after the Patriots win where he celebrated like a madman and it was embarrassing to see. That stuff may work in the college game, but in the pros it's such a long haul of a season that you need to stay pretty even keeled. You may see a HC get excited a bit *during* the game (like Tom Cable did against the Chargers on Sunday, but even he was even keeled afterward).

I'm guessing the Broncos will go offense because of Tebow when it comes to the next HC. I'm hoping that Norv and his staff gets fired and the Cowboys get to bring in Ron Rivera. But he may be a guy that the Broncos want to look at.







3JACK

[kamandi]

McDaniels has shown that he can design very good passing offenses, and develop QBs well. One thing about Orton's numbers, though; a good portion of them are garbage time stats, specially when teams are playing prevent, because they are way ahead.

There was a stat someone put up which said Orton had a ridiculously low quarterback rating when the game is close, but a much higher rating when the score is far apart.

Here's FootballOutsider's Adjusted Comeback Efficiency rating that rates QBs on their ability to lead a game tying or game winning drive, with their data based on the period 1998 to 2009, and taking into account QBs who've had at least 30 opportunities to win the game for their team in the end. It also takes into account other factors, like success from a drive from your own 10 would have a higher score than if the defense gives you the ball at your opponent's 5 yard line, etc.

www.footballoutsiders.com/ramblings/2010/guest-column-adjusted-comeback-efficiency

Cutler was actually 7th, and it's really reflective of most of his wins as a Bronco and as a Bear; he's had quite a few, exciting comeback games. Orton was ranked 41.

Orton is a fine QB, but his strength is managing the game and not the making mistakes to make his team lose the game. His critique by Denver fans is that he fails to deliver at close games; that's unfair, though. He wasn't brought in to win games, but just to do his job to manage the offense, which he's been doing really well. In some Bronco games this season, they were forcing him to make the risky throws that by his nature he avoids; that's not his fault.

Good observation about being even keeled.

In one game last season, he was verbally dressing down his defensive coordinator, Mike Nolan, in front of the whole team during a game. This guy brought the Broncos defense from 29th the prior season to 7th, using scraps, and this is how he's thanked. No wonder he left for Miami this season.

Latest rumor is that he had a heated argument with Champ Bailey and DJ Williams. It's also been reported that the more his team loses, the more irritable he became, such that the mood in the Broncos facilities was dark.

It's important for a head coach to have good composure no matter the situation; people skills is another trait McDaniels didn't have, which got him to alienating players and at least one coach, maybe more.

Speculation is that McDaniels was unwilling to play Tebow at QB even though they were now mathematically out of playoff contention, because he might not show that he's ready to be an NFL QB. He was McDaniels' project without NFL passing skills, even though he was taken in the 1st round. Truth is, none of us know if Tebow has developed enough to be a competent NFL QB. That might be a negative situation for an incoming head coach.

If the Broncos can't fire him for cause, Bowlen will now be paying both Shanahan and McDaniels for the next 2 or so seasons, plus whoever they choose as a head coach. Ouch! Honestly, though, I believe they should get a coach to finally fix their defensive woes first and try to keep the offense the same; that's what everyone was saying 2 years ago when Shanahan was fired.