Shanahan taking chances after playoff win drought

[Bronco9798]

By VITO STELLINO, The Times-Union


Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan is thinking outside the box these days.

While most teams have stopped offseason drills to rest the players and coaches before the start of the training camp grind at the end of the month, Shanahan decided to hold his mandatory minicamp last week.

"We've never done it this way before, but I thought we'd give it a try,'' he told Denver reporters last week.

Shanahan is trying a lot of different things as he attempts to recapture the magic when the Broncos won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997-98.

His teams haven't won a playoff game since, and were routed by the Colts the last two years in the playoffs by a combined score of 90-34.

Shanahan's biggest problem is he hasn't found a quarterback to replace John Elway. Nobody has confused his current quarterback, Jake Plummer, with Elway.

Of course, finding another Elway isn't easy.

So Shanahan keeps reaching with controversial moves, such as spending big money for Brian Griese, Dale Carter and Daryl Gardener. None of those moves paid off.

This year, Shanahan has topped himself with moves even more bizarre.

To start, he traded his leading rusher for the second consecutive year. Last year, he dealt Clinton Portis, who was unhappy with his contract, for Champ Bailey. This year, he traded Reuben Droughns for two Cleveland defensive linemen -- Michael Myers and Ebenezer Ekuban.

What made that deal even more puzzling was he had already signed two former Cleveland defensive linemen (Gerard Warren and Courtney Brown) as free agents.

That means he collected four defensive linemen from a team that ranked 32nd against the run.

The NFL doesn't keep records on such things, but it's unlikely any team has ever picked up four defensive linemen from the worst rush defensive team in the league.

The fact that Shanahan hired former Browns defensive line coach Andre Patterson as an assistant coach probably played a role in his decision to get the four Browns.

In an interview on the Broncos' Web site, Patterson said that Brown and Ebenezer were slowed by injuries and Warren has matured after being dumped by the Browns.

Meanwhile, the Broncos let Bertrand Berry leave as a free agent and he registered 14 1/2 sacks in Arizona last year. This year, they didn't keep Reggie Hayward, who signed with the Jaguars after making 10 1/2 sacks in 2004.

Shanahan also signed punter Todd Sauerbrun despite his off-the-field problems, including being named by 60 Minutes in a steroid investigation.

He gambled on aging Jerry Rice and young Maurice Clarett, who was expected to go on the second day of the draft before being taken by the Broncos at the end of the first round. And he signed running back Ron Dayne, an underachiever with the Giants.

The Broncos were 10-6 the past two seasons. But Shanahan still must find a way to win a playoff game without Elway if he's to prove he's on the right track with his unconventional moves.

[elsid13]

The guy doesn't even have his facts straight, Warren was traded for 4th. And if Shanahan is success he write he knew it along.

[RhymesayersDU]

I don't like the comment about trading leading rushers... I mean, we all know Reuben isn't that great of a back... Portis had real talent, IMO... Droughns was purely the system.. You can't even compare the two.

[SpringStein]

Why do I even bother reading this garbage?

He gambled on aging Jerry Rice and young Maurice Clarett, who was expected to go on the second day of the draft before being taken by the Broncos at the end of the first round.

And here I thought all along we had traded our first round draft pick away. :bash:

[watermock]

These idiotic bashings from the east coast aren't going to end until we rub their noses in it, and since most of these clowns have ADD, they won't remember they wrote it when that day comes.

I also found it amusing he's hammering a TWO DAY minicamp that ended with bowling. Cito is hammering about they are not working them hard enough, this fool: "While most teams have stopped offseason drills to rest the players and coaches before the start of the training camp grind at the end of the month, Shanahan decided to hold his mandatory minicamp last week.[/quote]

So what? It was moved back a couple weeks. Other teams don't have offseason drills? You can tell this was cranked out between a couple Manhattans on a laptop in a lounge. It might work better to give them a little less time between mini-camp and training camp, they might be in better shape from the earlier work. I may be way off, but again, considering where we were on the cap, moving our first rounder to Gibbs to keep Pryce for half price was brilliant IMO. The players are going to be worn out before training camp? He can't be serious. What about when they play 20 games in 21 weeks plus any playoffs. I think that the LB moves are designed to mimick New England's a bit more. They are one of the only teams that have had significant success against INDY in the playoffs.

I skimmed over taking Clarett in the first round, I was getting so irritated I didn't notice. how he could be that innacurate is amazing. Second day pick? Dallas was going to take Clarett early in round 4. He was getting in his car to go home when we took him LAST in day one with supplemental pick. So what's the difference?

[Atlas]

I resently saw a list where they rated NFL coaches. They had Shanny at #7, behind Cowher, Dungy and Edwards. WTF have they done?? I mean Pitt has had some great teams but they never win sh+t. and Edwards hasn't done squat. Dungy has had some of the most talented teams in the NFL and they have always fallen short in the playoffs.....geez do you think that might be because of coaching? I like Shanny because Denver always has a good team and HE always does everything he can think of to improve the team. He'll do whatever he thinks will improve the team and doesn't care what you or I or Kizla thinks about it. He has balls of granite. Sometimes it doesn't work but he isn't scared to take risks and is always thinking of ways to get better. How often does SD and KC just sit on their wallet in the offseason and not do anything to improve?

Denver had lots of flaws last year from 3rd down efficiency to redzone offense to not getting any turnovers or sacks from the defense and they still finished 10-6. Shanny did everything he could think of to improve this team without ruining the cap and if only a few of the moves pay off Denver will be a better team.

When your 10-6 it's not about drafting or signing 4 all pros it's about making the one or two of the right decisions that can get you another one or two victories.

Did Shanny do the right moves for making this team better? I don't know but I do know that he can't be faulted for lack of trying.

[Kaylore]

Sometimes I wish the media would just make a column that says:Teams We Do Not Watch/Care about and therefore will NEVER write columns about. It would save everyone a lot of face and go a long way toward honesty as well as accuracy.


...Clarrett in the first round....http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/sprachlos/speechless-smiley-007.gif

[Atlas]

...Clarrett in the first round....http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/sprachlos/speechless-smiley-007.gif

I thought that was odd too. I was hoping it was just a typo.

[crazyhorse]

Sometimes I wish the media would just make a column that says:Teams We Do Not Watch/Care about and therefore will NEVER write columns about. It would save everyone a lot of face and go a long way toward honesty as well as accuracy.


...Clarrett in the first round....http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/sprachlos/speechless-smiley-007.gif

I think he meant to say the end of the 1st day on the Clarrett comment.

I really dont see where he said anything derogatory. He seemed like he was trying not to become sarcastic.

Listen people, reporters aren't picking on you. You really did hire the worst line in the league from the Browns. You really did let your best sacker over the last 2 seaons walk out the door. You really did trade your best rushers away. You really did draft Clarrett on the 1st day. You really did hire a punter that has been named in a steroid scandal. And you really did sign Ron Dayne.

Now according to most of you, none of that means anything but more wins for next year. To you it means the Broncos will be better than before. You could be right.

But you shouldn't hold it against other people who think they are goofy moves. Because frankly, if you aren't a Bronco fan, you aren't likely going to see Planahans genius in his most recent moves.

Dont worry folks. When the season starts, you will have the opportunity to show the rest of the world just how brilliant Planny is. Hilarious!

[Tredici]

Dont worry folks. When the season starts, you will have the opportunity to show the rest of the world just how brilliant Planny is. Hilarious!


Yup. Watch and learn, little grasshopper.

[rbackfactory80]

Yup. Watch and learn, little grasshopper.

Shanny needs to be a little more like a players coach and that was the direction he was taking on the 3rd day of minicamp.

[TotallyScrewed]

Another fabulous post by a person who can't read/think beyond the headlines...

"...You really did hire the worst line in the league from the Browns. You really did let your best sacker over the last 2 seaons walk out the door. You really did trade your best rushers away. You really did draft Clarrett on the 1st day. You really did hire a punter that has been named in a steroid scandal. And you really did sign Ron Dayne..."

It's been said over and over again that D-line needs help from the rest of the defensive team/coaches and EVEN the offensive team/coaches but will the crazies listen...Nope. Give me the headlines!

Best sacker meaning player with the most sacks doesn't equal best player. Trevor is the BEST player and they still got him. But just give me the headlines.

Best rusher meaning player with the most rushing yards but Bell is better and probably so is Anderson. But just give me the headlines.

Drafted in the last position of the first day which is soooo much higher than the sixth position of the second day but alas...ridiculous is ridiculous.

Now go away or I will taunt you a second time.

[Phantom]

Listen people, reporters aren't picking on you. You really did hire the worst line in the league from the Browns. You really did let your best sacker over the last 2 seaons walk out the door. You really did trade your best rushers away. You really did draft Clarrett on the 1st day. You really did hire a punter that has been named in a steroid scandal. And you really did sign Ron Dayne.

Now according to most of you, none of that means anything but more wins for next year. To you it means the Broncos will be better than before. You could be right.

But you shouldn't hold it against other people who think they are goofy moves. Because frankly, if you aren't a Bronco fan, you aren't likely going to see Planahans genius in his most recent moves.

Dont worry folks. When the season starts, you will have the opportunity to show the rest of the world just how brilliant Planny is. Hilarious!


Anyone can take ONE stat and build a case. Phrase it ... "The Browns traded three former first round picks for Droughns and a fourth".

Who has a better eye for talent to fill needs - you, me, numb-nuts reporter, or Shannahan.

That's what I thought. Now STFU!! :~ohyah!:

[Ninjafied]

Not to just jump on the band wagon here, but I found this line particularly insightful -
“Of course, finding another Elway isn't easy”
Those type of players only come around every couple of years, right. :wave:
He should have just stepped it up a notch and said that finding another team to win back-to-back Super Bowls isn’t easy.

[Sodak]

So... Tell me something I didn't know Vito.

He forgot to mention the Broncos team colors are Orange and Blue.