04-02-2008, 04:40 AM
Shanahan defends staffing changes
[EMAIL="mklis@denverpost.com?subject=The%20Denver%20Post:%20Shanahan%20defends%20staffing%20changes"]By Mike Klis
The Denver Post[/EMAIL]
Article Last Updated: 04/01/2008 01:15:38 PM MDT
var requestedWidth = 0; if(requestedWidth < 200){ requestedWidth = 200; }![[Image: 20080401__shanahan%7Ep1_200.jpg]](http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2008/0401/20080401__shanahan%7Ep1_200.jpg)
Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan watches the video replay of a call he successfully challenged Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007, at Invesco Field at Mile High. (THE DENVER POST | Steve Nehf)
if(requestedWidth > 0){ document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.width = requestedWidth + "px"; document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.margin = "0px 0px 10px 10px"; } PALM BEACH, FLA. â Poke fun at Mike Shanahan for building such a big house.
Second-guess his decisions after his Broncos missed the playoffs the past two years.
Question whether he has the organization moving closer to his third Super Bowl, or third losing season.
Just don't refer to him as some sort of oppressive, power-monger hatchet man.
"What bothers me is everything's about...Ray Rhodes got fired. Ray Rhodes never got fired," Shanahan said today during the AFC coaches breakfast at the NFL owners meetings.
Shanahan was responding to the spreading perception he's never met a top assistant he wouldn't eventually fire. Since he took charge of the Broncos in 1995, he's had five defensive coordinators - including Rhodes, who resigned for health reasons following the 2002 season - three in the last three years. This past offseason, defensive coaching boss Jim Bates was seemingly forced to resign, offensive assistant Mike Heimerdinger left to take a coordinating job in Tennessee and general manager Ted Sundquist was fired.
"Jim Bates. I didn't fire Jim from the organization," Shanahan said. "I made a decision to go in a different direction with Bob (Slowik) calling plays, but Jim had a chance to stay on our staff. That's a big difference between getting fired."
Shanahan did have one offensive coordinator, Gary Kubiak, for 11 seasons. Kubiak then became head coach of the Houston Texans following the 2005 season, but his replacement, Heimerdinger, left after just two seasons.
"Heimerdinger was a no-brainer," Shanahan said. "First of all, (coach) Rick Dennison, anything we do right in the running game, Rick's going to get credit for it. Anytime we do something with the passing game, I'm going to get credit for it. Mike's got a chance to be the guy in Tennessee. If you have a great year offensively with a young quarterback in Vince Young, he'll be a head coach in the National Football League."
It was the Sundquist firing that inflamed public concern as to whether Bronco headquarters had become a chaotic, boss-fearing environment.
"With Ted, I don't make a decision like that very quickly," Shanahan said. "It was a very tough decision. But I thought it was one I needed to make because eventually it gives us the best chance to be a better football team. I don't go into any reasons why."
Not that Shanahan spent the entire breakfast in serious defense. When it was mentioned how his team stayed away from making its usual headliner purchase from the free-agent market, Shanahan said: "It seems like I made enough headlines anyhow didn't I?"
He was referring not only to his staff changes, but the stir created with the revelation he has sold his existing home for $16 million and is building a new 35,000 square-foot mansion.
Other topics Shanahan addressed today for the first time since his season-ending press conference:
*Moving D.J. Williams back to outside linebacker. Williams was drafted as a weakside (Will) linebacker in 2004, moved to strongside (Sam) in 2005, then played middle (Mike) linebacker for the first time in his career in 2007. But after the Broncos finished 30th in rushing defense last year, the team made several personnel changes, including signing free-agent middle linebacker Niko Koutouvides and moving Williams back to the outside.
"It's tough to be thrown into a position and be great at it," Shanahan said of Williams' temporary shift to the middle. "I thought he did a good job. You look at all the tackles he had, but I just don't think it was really natural for him."
*The severe forearm injury of star receiver Brandon Marshall. A horseplay incident with relatives resulted in Marshall's right arm going through a TV set and damage to tendons, muscles and an artery. He is expected to recover in time for the Broncos' training camp in late-July.
"He's lucky he didn't die," Shanahan said.
After the incident, Marshall said he needed to grow up.
"There's a black cloud over him right now," Shanahan said. "He's got to make sure he does everything he can possibly do to stay out of trouble, and stay away from injury."
*Quarterback Jay Cutler. Look at the career stats of many great quarterbacks and it will show their third season was pivotal in their development. Cutler will be entering his third season.
"What you always emphasize to a guy with a great arm is he's got to know when to dump the ball off," Shanahan said. "That's the problem you want, when a guy wants to throw the ball downfield. Most quarterbacks want to dump the ball off all the time, get your percentages up. Jay's not that way. He's a lot like John (Elway) - he wants to throw the ball downfield, make plays. If something's not there, you have to have the confidence to dump the ball off knowing that big play will come eventually."
[EMAIL="mklis@denverpost.com?subject=The%20Denver%20Post:%20Shanahan%20defends%20staffing%20changes"]By Mike Klis
The Denver Post[/EMAIL]
Article Last Updated: 04/01/2008 01:15:38 PM MDT
var requestedWidth = 0; if(requestedWidth < 200){ requestedWidth = 200; }
Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan watches the video replay of a call he successfully challenged Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007, at Invesco Field at Mile High. (THE DENVER POST | Steve Nehf)if(requestedWidth > 0){ document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.width = requestedWidth + "px"; document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.margin = "0px 0px 10px 10px"; } PALM BEACH, FLA. â Poke fun at Mike Shanahan for building such a big house.
Second-guess his decisions after his Broncos missed the playoffs the past two years.
Question whether he has the organization moving closer to his third Super Bowl, or third losing season.
Just don't refer to him as some sort of oppressive, power-monger hatchet man.
"What bothers me is everything's about...Ray Rhodes got fired. Ray Rhodes never got fired," Shanahan said today during the AFC coaches breakfast at the NFL owners meetings.
Shanahan was responding to the spreading perception he's never met a top assistant he wouldn't eventually fire. Since he took charge of the Broncos in 1995, he's had five defensive coordinators - including Rhodes, who resigned for health reasons following the 2002 season - three in the last three years. This past offseason, defensive coaching boss Jim Bates was seemingly forced to resign, offensive assistant Mike Heimerdinger left to take a coordinating job in Tennessee and general manager Ted Sundquist was fired.
"Jim Bates. I didn't fire Jim from the organization," Shanahan said. "I made a decision to go in a different direction with Bob (Slowik) calling plays, but Jim had a chance to stay on our staff. That's a big difference between getting fired."
Shanahan did have one offensive coordinator, Gary Kubiak, for 11 seasons. Kubiak then became head coach of the Houston Texans following the 2005 season, but his replacement, Heimerdinger, left after just two seasons.
"Heimerdinger was a no-brainer," Shanahan said. "First of all, (coach) Rick Dennison, anything we do right in the running game, Rick's going to get credit for it. Anytime we do something with the passing game, I'm going to get credit for it. Mike's got a chance to be the guy in Tennessee. If you have a great year offensively with a young quarterback in Vince Young, he'll be a head coach in the National Football League."
It was the Sundquist firing that inflamed public concern as to whether Bronco headquarters had become a chaotic, boss-fearing environment.
"With Ted, I don't make a decision like that very quickly," Shanahan said. "It was a very tough decision. But I thought it was one I needed to make because eventually it gives us the best chance to be a better football team. I don't go into any reasons why."
Not that Shanahan spent the entire breakfast in serious defense. When it was mentioned how his team stayed away from making its usual headliner purchase from the free-agent market, Shanahan said: "It seems like I made enough headlines anyhow didn't I?"
He was referring not only to his staff changes, but the stir created with the revelation he has sold his existing home for $16 million and is building a new 35,000 square-foot mansion.
Other topics Shanahan addressed today for the first time since his season-ending press conference:
*Moving D.J. Williams back to outside linebacker. Williams was drafted as a weakside (Will) linebacker in 2004, moved to strongside (Sam) in 2005, then played middle (Mike) linebacker for the first time in his career in 2007. But after the Broncos finished 30th in rushing defense last year, the team made several personnel changes, including signing free-agent middle linebacker Niko Koutouvides and moving Williams back to the outside.
"It's tough to be thrown into a position and be great at it," Shanahan said of Williams' temporary shift to the middle. "I thought he did a good job. You look at all the tackles he had, but I just don't think it was really natural for him."
*The severe forearm injury of star receiver Brandon Marshall. A horseplay incident with relatives resulted in Marshall's right arm going through a TV set and damage to tendons, muscles and an artery. He is expected to recover in time for the Broncos' training camp in late-July.
"He's lucky he didn't die," Shanahan said.
After the incident, Marshall said he needed to grow up.
"There's a black cloud over him right now," Shanahan said. "He's got to make sure he does everything he can possibly do to stay out of trouble, and stay away from injury."
*Quarterback Jay Cutler. Look at the career stats of many great quarterbacks and it will show their third season was pivotal in their development. Cutler will be entering his third season.
"What you always emphasize to a guy with a great arm is he's got to know when to dump the ball off," Shanahan said. "That's the problem you want, when a guy wants to throw the ball downfield. Most quarterbacks want to dump the ball off all the time, get your percentages up. Jay's not that way. He's a lot like John (Elway) - he wants to throw the ball downfield, make plays. If something's not there, you have to have the confidence to dump the ball off knowing that big play will come eventually."