O'Brien Article

[SpringStein]

http://www.gazette.com/articles/special_24821___article.html/teams_broncos.html

A reason to be optimistic that we are finally going to have more emphasis on special teams.

[OrangeShadow]

todd sauerbraun is going to go a loooooooooooong way in helping as well.

[bronco610]

If this season doesnt start soon I'm going to go crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CHANGSTER]

Very encouraging.

[Kaylore]

That's an awesome article. It not only addresses a huge addition but it addresses one no one is talking about. With him, plus Sauerbrun coming back, plus Hixon, I think our special teams will be the most improved unit this year.

Broncos are paying special attention
MILO F. BRYANT
THE GAZETTE
July 15, 2007 - 12:42AM

ENGLEWOOD - Scott O’Brien is going to make Mike Shanahan look like a genius.

Every football coach alive wakes up, rolls off the office couch preaching about the three phases of football: offense, defense and special teams. Two of the three get stressed. More often than not, special teams gets the preglass slipper-Cinderella treatment.
Coaches talk about its importance but rarely act on their talk.

Shanahan was one of those wayward coaches until he hired Scott O’Brien earlier this year. O’Brien comes to the Broncos with 22 years of experience (14 in the NFL) just coaching special teams.

O’Brien is to special teams what Shanahan and defensive coordinator Jim Bates are supposed to be to their respective positions — he’s a guru, a trendsetter.

O’Brien even has a special teams playbook that rivals some offensive playbooks.

Special teams are O’Brien’s passion. They’re his endgame. If he wants to be a head coach or an offensive or defensive coordinator, he hasn’t shown it.

“He’s the first person I’ve been around in special teams who plays the game,” Broncos defensive assistant Keith Burns said. Burns spent 13 years in the NFL mostly as a special teams player. “By that, I mean he wants the players to know what to do in every situation. Four minutes out, offense knows what it’s going to do. Defense knows what it’s going to do. Well, we have a fourminute punt. Whether we’re up or down, we know what we’re going to do.”

That may seem small, mundane or insignificant. But, remember this is the Broncos. For at least the past four seasons their special teams have been mediocre at best.
So, even the smallest things will improve that squad.

“He is thorough, and that is the difference between him and a lot of the other special teams coaches around the league,” Broncos fullback Kyle Johnson said. The Carolina Panthers drafted Johnson in 2002, and O’Brien was his first special teams coach. “You’re going to be well versed in knowing exactly what you’re supposed to do per play, per situation depending on how much time is on the clock. He’s exact.

“He was my first taste of a special team’s coach. I thought they were all like that. As time goes by, the bar for special teams gets raised, inch-by-inch. He will not subside.”

The Broncos finally have a three-headed creature that should demand respect — three ways.

A full year with secondyear quarterback Jay Cutler gives Shanahan, widely thought of as an offensive guru, the time needed to steer the Broncos’ offense the correct way. Bates is the defensive specialist, the brains behind successful squads in Miami and Green Bay. Expect a more aggressive Broncos’ defense this season, starting with training camp in two weeks. And in my book, in the NFL, more aggressive equates to being better.
O’Brien’s job will be to equal or surpass Shanahan and Bates.

Think back to last season’s Broncos’ home game against the San Diego Chargers for proof of the importance of special teams — not just on a game, but a season.

The Broncos had a 24-7 lead when their special teams, and season, fell apart. The Chargers scored on their last four possessions.

On three of the possessions, the Broncos’ special teams allowed the Chargers to start on their 40-yard line or better. The other was an interception returned for a touchdown.

San Diego’s kick returner, Michael Turner, averaged 36.5 yards, helping the Chargers to an average starting field position of their 36-yard line, 15 yards better than the Broncos.

Those with great field position dramatically increase their opportunities to win. Those without lose the game, then lose 5-of-7 games, and don’t make the playoffs.

“Football is a game of situations,” O’Brien said. “The only thing we can do is dress rehearsals. For us as coaches, it’s not only our responsibility to give them a good plan, to practice them hard, but we’ve got to teach them football. We’ve got to teach them strategy.

“You’ve got to teach so players know what to expect. If you practice like that, when you play, to me, it’s like déjà vu. They’ve been there before. They’re poised. They know how to handle it. You don’t just teach them their responsibilities, but you teach them why they have responsibilities and why we do it like that and how it fits into the big picture.”
Columnist Milo F. Bryant can be reached at 636-0252 or milo.bryant@gazette.com. Check out Milo's blog, The Extra Milo, at
http://milobryant.blogspot.com/

I'm goint to put this on the front page.

[cutthemdown]

Special teams could make the difference is a couple games. I'm glad Shanny has stopped using a scrub coach at that spot. Now if they just could return a kick for a td that would be swell.

[backup qb]

If this season doesnt start soon I'm going to go crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quote of the year! I can't stand it either.

[Odysseus]

Are you sure I'm not in a coma? This offseason has time standing still.

[Los Broncos]

If this season doesnt start soon I'm going to go crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It sucks holding my breath for so long.

[Los Broncos]

Are you sure I'm not in a coma? This offseason has time standing still.

Memories of Mock.

[MechanicalBull]

Him and Jim Bates are arguably Denvers biggest and most important offseason pick ups. Isn't the new FB Paul Smith supposed to be a great special teamer?

[dragondawg]

hopefully denver can get some better field position this year

[bronco610]

I can not find one area of offense or defense or special teams that wont be fun to watch grow and change or come together as the season goes on. This is the first season in a long time where even the most knowledgeable dedicated Bronco fans are not sure how good we are going to be.
START THE SEASON, AAHHHG!!!!

[Kaylore]

I can not find one area of offense or defense or special teams that wont be fun to watch grow and change or come together as the season goes on. This is the first season in a long time where even the most knowledgeable dedicated Bronco fans are not sure how good we are going to be.
START THE SEASON, AAHHHG!!!!

I think that's why it's exciting. There were so many changes and a lot of them at least appear to be positive ones. Even if most don't make things that much better, a lot of people are interested in seeing how things will be different. The curiosity is piqued.

[SoCalBronco]

We are almost there, my friends. Just a couple more weeks.....the sight and smell of freshly cut grass, the sounds of coaches whistles, players grunting, sleds moving and ofcourse Fred yelling.

It is almost time for the true fall classic: Denver Broncos football.

Dreams of Jay Cutler lighting up the Denver skies with footballs abound. Big plays, crushing hits, frozen rope passes, touchdowns and shutdowns. What fun awaits.

Just a little bit longer. But the time is coming. Very soon.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w19/Florida_Bronco/fearthis.jpg