Schefter: Shanahan onto something in Denver - The Orange Mane

clint7 · 07-14-2005, 11:03 AM

http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/8644368

Broncos work while others play

By Adam Schefter
Special to NFL.com

Adam Schefter's "Around the League" reports and commentaries can be seen regularly on NFL Total Access.

(July 14, 2005) -- While every other team in the league was vacationing, resting, napping and enjoying what was left of its summer, the Denver Broncos were going through their modified version of an early Labor Day.

At the Broncos training complex, they were laboring away.

Now, ordinarily, mandatory minicamps in July are about as common as snow in August. They just don't happen. But Broncos coach Mike Shanahan might have stumbled onto something as novel as the five wide-receiver sets he began using during the 1997 season.

Shanahan pushed back his team's mandatory minicamp, weeks past the times when every other team holds them, to a time much closer to training camp. Here was his thinking:

Put players through football-conditioning drills closer to training camp so that when they report, they will be in better shape. Start installing the playbook closer to training camp so players remember more once they report. Break up the summer break so players don't have one long six-week layoff to fall out of shape and into trouble.

What about this doesn't make sense? It makes so much sense that, in this copycat NFL league, where more and more teams are installing the 3-4 defense, where more and more teams are staging training camps at their home training facilities, this could be the next big trend.

And if they want, they can even copy another of Shanahan's twists. On the final day of the Broncos' three-day mandatory minicamp, Shanahan cancelled his team's practice. Instead, after two long days of drills, he rewarded his players for good behavior. He took them bowling.

When the players heard Shanahan's plan, there was cheering in the locker room that was almost loud enough be heard around the Rocky Mountains.

Clearly Shanahan's idea -- every part of it -- was a strike.

Rohirrim · 07-14-2005, 11:09 AM

Damn! Never thought I'd miss Shyster.

illbroncsfn · 07-14-2005, 11:09 AM

Solid article clint!

You know I must admit I do miss Schefter's nose for news- just not the food reviews, although I'm sure Burger Bill was a huge fan...

bronco militia · 07-14-2005, 11:10 AM

what a lame article...screw Adam and his food reviews.

Master___Pain · 07-14-2005, 11:16 AM

Bet the Titans are wishing they did this, although it would have only delayed the ineviable with Pac Man

Atlas · 07-14-2005, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronco militia

what a lame article...screw Adam and his food reviews.

I agree. Sheftner sucks

NaptownChief · 07-14-2005, 11:28 AM

He is only writing this cause all of the media hates you guys.

bronco militia · 07-14-2005, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaptownChief

He is only writing this cause all of the media hates you guys.

lol...another "kiss Shanny's ass" puff piece.

Beantown Bronco · 07-14-2005, 11:33 AM

Schef is the only member of the Denver media/ex-players to make it national and not cave in to the "I must bash where I came from so my takes seem credible" pressure. I applaud him for it. Guys like Sharpe and Schlereth seem to go out of their way to bash the Broncos, because they feel if they don't, everyone will assume they're just being homerish and no one will listen to what they have to say. This is wrong IMO. Just tell it like it is and people will respect you a lot more.

clint7 · 07-14-2005, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illbroncsfn

Solid article clint!

You know I must admit I do miss Schefter's nose for news- just not the food reviews, although I'm sure Burger Bill was a huge fan...

I miss him too. I know several folks on here liked to bash him when he was around, but as the saying goes, "You don't know what you got until it's gone." Ol' Adam was a good beat reporter and was a day or two early with news on several signings and moves. But his food reviews were rather odd, I must admit.

Atlas · 07-14-2005, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clint7

I miss him too. I know several folks on here liked to bash him when he was around, but as the saying goes, "You don't know what you got until it's gone." Ol' Adam was a good beat reporter and was a day or two early with news on several signings and moves. But his food reviews were rather odd, I must admit.

He was the worst columnist in Denver. Kizla wrote better stuff. He might be a little better than Williamson but I doubt it. After Williamson get's fired maybe the Post can find someone good.

bronco militia · 07-14-2005, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clint7

I miss him too. I know several folks on here liked to bash him when he was around, but as the saying goes, "You don't know what you got until it's gone." Ol' Adam was a good beat reporter and was a day or two early with news on several signings and moves. But his food reviews were rather odd, I must admit.

I bashed him because Jim Armstrong, Pat Saunders, Joe Sanchez and even Woody Paige were better....Adam's best work as a member of the media was on Channel 9 on Broncos Beat on Sunday evenings.

clint7 · 07-14-2005, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlas

He was the worst columnist in Denver. Kizla wrote better stuff. He might be a little better than Williamson but I doubt it. After Williamson get's fired maybe the Post can find someone good.

He wasn't a columnist. He was a beat reporter. I'd say the folks at NFL Network picked him to be one of their main guys for a reason. Several reporters out there would have loved to have had Adam's new gig. The guy was a very good beat reporter.

Atlas · 07-14-2005, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clint7

He wasn't a columnist. He was a beat reporter. I'd say the folks at NFL Network picked him to be one of their main guys for a reason. Several reporters out there would have loved to have had Adam's new gig. The guy was a very good beat reporter.

He was horrible. Listen anyone can do what Sheftner does. The reason the NFL netwaork got him was because he is good on TV. He seems nice and he is good looking. It's not because he was a great beat writer.

Kaylore · 07-14-2005, 12:27 PM

It was an ok story, but I think he overestimated the value of something like this. 3-5 defenses are things that can change the outcome of a game plan. Camp and going bowling are more general things that affect morale and general ability, but it would be hard to make a claim that "we won this game because mini-camp was in july!" or "Lelie cought this ball because BJ Johnson bowled a 270!" Anyway, I don't think everyone is scrambling to copy this move.

clint7 · 07-14-2005, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlas

He was horrible. Listen anyone can do what Sheftner does. The reason the NFL netwaork got him was because he is good on TV. He seems nice and he is good looking. It's not because he was a great beat writer.

The NFL Network isn't Access Hollywood...and not everyone can do what he does/did. Being a good beat reporter isn't as easy as holding up your hand and hoping someone calls on you at a press conference. Come on, now.

Atlas · 07-14-2005, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clint7

The NFL Network isn't Access Hollywood...and not everyone can do what he does/did. Being a good beat reporter isn't as easy as holding up your hand and hoping someone calls on you at a press conference. Come on, now.

The NFL Network is exactly like Access Hollywood. They want people that are good looking and someone who the camera likes.

You don't think they looked at the fact that he was good on film and that he was good looking. Do you think they would have considered hiring some fat slob like Fatsquerelly? Hell, no. He got the gig because he was the closest thing to an actor that they could find.

broncogary · 07-14-2005, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlas

The NFL Network is exactly like Access Hollywood. They want people that are good looking and someone who the camera likes.

You don't think they looked at the fact that he was good on film and that he was good looking. Do you think they would have considered hiring some fat slob like Fatsquerelly? Hell, no. He got the gig because he was the closest thing to an actor that they could find.

Sort of like porn, eh?

clint7 · 07-14-2005, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlas

The NFL Network is exactly like Access Hollywood. They want people that are good looking and someone who the camera likes.

You don't think they looked at the fact that he was good on film and that he was good looking. Do you think they would have considered hiring some fat slob like Fatsquerelly? Hell, no. He got the gig because he was the closest thing to an actor that they could find.

No, he got the gig because he's a good beat reporter...and doesn't look Shrek, a plus for TV. NFL Network pulls their stars in for the studio round table crap. Ol' Adam is mostly off somewhere reporting in...and about the only guy doing actual reporting for the show. There's a difference between a studio talking head, and the guy they empower to break a few news stories around the league.

You can say he is an ego hound, his personality might rub you the wrong way, he was wrong for his notorious "Bledsoe story" and silly food reviews, but the guy was as solid as you can get as a beat reporter with many well developed relationships with those front office brass and coaches in the know. That's what makes someone a good beat reporter...and that's what he is/was. If you try to say he is a horrible beat reporter...well, I'd say you have an axe to grind and have a bias. You can not like him as a person, but the dude is a good beat reporter. And the job of beat reporter isn't as easy as you'd like to make it sound.

maven · 07-14-2005, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronco militia

what a lame article...screw Adam and his food reviews.

I'll second that...

Rock Chalk · 07-14-2005, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlas

He was horrible. Listen anyone can do what Sheftner does. The reason the NFL netwaork got him was because he is good on TV. He seems nice and he is good looking. It's not because he was a great beat writer.

Really? Shefter may not live up to your expectations bub, but the one thing he did have was contacts and the ability to get the news that few other reports could out of Dove Valley.

Bag on him all you want, that is your choice, but he IS a great beat writer and he gets more scoops than baskin robbins on a hot summer day.

Arkie · 07-14-2005, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronco militia

lol...another "kiss Shanny's ass" puff piece.

Nobody needs to be kissing a piece of Shanny's ass puff.

baja · 07-14-2005, 01:15 PM

I'd trade Adam for Burger Bill in a heart beat.

We had it good and did not know it.

bronco militia · 07-14-2005, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bosko

Nobody needs to be kissing a piece of Shanny's ass puff.

NO DOUBT

Arkie · 07-14-2005, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaylore

"we won this game because mini-camp was in july!"

It's the Butterfly Effect.

07-14-2005, 11:03 AM	#1
clint7 Ring of Famer Join Date: May 2001 Location: Parts Unknown Posts: 3,046	Schefter: Shanahan onto something in Denver http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/8644368 Broncos work while others play By Adam Schefter Special to NFL.com Adam Schefter's "Around the League" reports and commentaries can be seen regularly on NFL Total Access. (July 14, 2005) -- While every other team in the league was vacationing, resting, napping and enjoying what was left of its summer, the Denver Broncos were going through their modified version of an early Labor Day. At the Broncos training complex, they were laboring away. Now, ordinarily, mandatory minicamps in July are about as common as snow in August. They just don't happen. But Broncos coach Mike Shanahan might have stumbled onto something as novel as the five wide-receiver sets he began using during the 1997 season. Shanahan pushed back his team's mandatory minicamp, weeks past the times when every other team holds them, to a time much closer to training camp. Here was his thinking: Put players through football-conditioning drills closer to training camp so that when they report, they will be in better shape. Start installing the playbook closer to training camp so players remember more once they report. Break up the summer break so players don't have one long six-week layoff to fall out of shape and into trouble. What about this doesn't make sense? It makes so much sense that, in this copycat NFL league, where more and more teams are installing the 3-4 defense, where more and more teams are staging training camps at their home training facilities, this could be the next big trend. And if they want, they can even copy another of Shanahan's twists. On the final day of the Broncos' three-day mandatory minicamp, Shanahan cancelled his team's practice. Instead, after two long days of drills, he rewarded his players for good behavior. He took them bowling. When the players heard Shanahan's plan, there was cheering in the locker room that was almost loud enough be heard around the Rocky Mountains. Clearly Shanahan's idea -- every part of it -- was a strike.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

07-14-2005, 11:09 AM	#2
Rohirrim Partisan Human Cannonball Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Twixt Hell & Highwater Posts: 49,109	Damn! Never thought I'd miss Shyster.

07-14-2005, 11:09 AM	#3
illbroncsfn Ring of Famer adopt a bronco- Barrel Man's Barrel Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Land o' Lincoln Posts: 3,998	Solid article clint! You know I must admit I do miss Schefter's nose for news- just not the food reviews, although I'm sure Burger Bill was a huge fan...

07-14-2005, 11:10 AM	#4
bronco militia Ring of Famer THE GREATEST Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: colorado springs, co Posts: 22,711	what a lame article...screw Adam and his food reviews.

07-14-2005, 11:16 AM	#5
Master___Pain Ring of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: The Springs Posts: 4,605 Adopt-a-Bronco: Rock Hoover	Bet the Titans are wishing they did this, although it would have only delayed the ineviable with Pac Man

07-14-2005, 11:28 AM	#7
NaptownChief Donkeys Nightmare Football Pimp Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 7,490	He is only writing this cause all of the media hates you guys.

07-14-2005, 11:33 AM	#9
Beantown Bronco Athletic Supporter Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mass Posts: 19,117 Adopt-a-Bronco: Matt Prater	Schef is the only member of the Denver media/ex-players to make it national and not cave in to the "I must bash where I came from so my takes seem credible" pressure. I applaud him for it. Guys like Sharpe and Schlereth seem to go out of their way to bash the Broncos, because they feel if they don't, everyone will assume they're just being homerish and no one will listen to what they have to say. This is wrong IMO. Just tell it like it is and people will respect you a lot more.

07-14-2005, 12:27 PM	#15
Kaylore 6-37, Raider fans. Yummy birds and snow! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ceti Alpha V Posts: 41,327 Adopt-a-Bronco: Wesley Duke	It was an ok story, but I think he overestimated the value of something like this. 3-5 defenses are things that can change the outcome of a game plan. Camp and going bowling are more general things that affect morale and general ability, but it would be hard to make a claim that "we won this game because mini-camp was in july!" or "Lelie cought this ball because BJ Johnson bowled a 270!" Anyway, I don't think everyone is scrambling to copy this move.

07-14-2005, 01:15 PM	#23
baja It is what it Is. Pay attention. Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: in a bunker Posts: 54,378 Adopt-a-Bronco: Julius Thomas	I'd trade Adam for Burger Bill in a heart beat. We had it good and did not know it.