Bill Johnson set to be appointed Defensive Line Coach - The Orange Mane

eddie mac · 01-13-2007, 08:26 PM

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...278527,00.html

Broncos continue coaching maneuvers

With coaches interviewing all around the league in recent days, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan continued to move quickly to fill his available slots.
Having already secured Jim Bates as defensive coordinator this week, Shanahan continued over the weekend to zero in on former Atlanta Falcons defensive line coach Bill Johnson, according to two league sources.

The Broncos and Johnson have agreed in principle and Johnson could be formally announced as soon as Monday as a new Broncos defensive line coach.

Neither Shanahan nor Johnson could be reached for comment Saturday.

Johnson will replace Andre Patterson, who was fired earlier this week, and split duties with long-time Broncos assistant Jacob Burney in the team's defensive front. The Broncos are looking for more production up front in a defense that finished with just 35 sacks this past season.

The 51-year-old Johnson was a long-time college assistant, including stops at Miami (1987), Arkansas (1990-91, 2000) and Texas A&M (1992-99). He had been with the Falcons since 2001.

Falcons defense end Patrick Kerney, who will be an unrestricted free agent in March, has said publicly the Falcons retaining Johnson would be one of the factors he would consider before re-signing in Atlanta.

The Broncos hiring Johnson could give them a chance in free agency at Kerney at what is a need position for the team.

The Broncos are also believed to still be pursuing Pete Rodriguez to join the staff as well.

Rodriguez is one of the most respected special teams coaches in the league and at the moment he's available for the right offer. The Jacksonville Jaguars fired Rodriguez and four other assistants earlier this month when Jack Del Rio re-shuffled his staff in the wake of the team's playoff miss.

However, Rodriguez still has a year remaining on his contract with the Jaguars, and said Thursday he wouldn't be in a hurry to take anything but the right offer.

Rodriguez and Shanahan are long-time friends. Rodriguez was a Los Angeles Raiders assistant in 1988-89, hired by Shanahan when he was the Oakland's head coach. Special teams were a trouble spot for the Broncos this season. Denver was 31st in the league in average drive start after kickoffs, did not have a returner among the AFC's top 12 in punt returns and did not have a returner in the AFC's top 17 on kickoffs.

"I'm going to look at everything,'' Rodriguez said. "I'm just enjoying my time right now.''

Rodriguez, a former Denver Gold assistant and graduate of Western State in Gunnison, has coached five Pro Bowl punters in his career and was named special teams of the decade in the 90s by the Dallas Morning News, which conducts an annual special teams report each season.

The Broncos hired Bates this past week as assistant head coach/defense while Bob Slowik, who is the Broncos secondary coach, was also promoted to defensive coordinator. Slowik and Bates will participate in the game-planning during the week, but Bates is expected to call the plays on gameday.

The Broncos had a similar arrangement on offense this past season with Mike Heimerdinger as assistant head coach and Rick Dennison as offensive coordinator. Heimerdinger coordinated the team's passing game, Dennison the running game with Shanahan calling the bulk of the plays on gameday.

The re-shuffling of the defensive staff came in the wake of the 9-7 finish that did not get the Broncos into the postseason.

The Broncos led the league in scoring defense after six games in '06 and at that point in the year the team was 5-1 and had surrendered just 272 yards per game. However, by the end of the season they had fallen to 14th in total defense, allowing 326.4 yards per game including 359.2 yards per game over the last 10.

The Broncos also surrendered leads of at least eight points in home losses to Indianapolis, San Diego, Seattle and San Francisco over their last five games at Invesco Field at Mile High.

scorpio · 01-13-2007, 08:28 PM

Cool.

Rascal · 01-13-2007, 08:29 PM

Don't know much about him or Kerney to frank, but what the hell.

ukbroncosfan · 01-13-2007, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rascal

Don't know much about him or Kerney to frank, but what the hell.

Bill Johnson was highly regarded in Atlanta.

Mort was on 790 the ticket in Miami and said the Denver defense just got better with these two hires.

Hercules Rockefeller · 01-13-2007, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rascal

Don't know much about him or Kerney to frank, but what the hell.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/player...?playerId=1782

Kearney is solid, missed the last 7 games of this season though.

Atlanta has gone 14th, 14th(t), 1st, 13th(t) working backwards to 2003 in sacks.

Odysseus · 01-13-2007, 08:50 PM

The guy looks hot on paper but if they cannot make adjustments during the season better than Coyer the result is the same.

TheChamp24 · 01-13-2007, 08:50 PM

Kerney is a very good DE. If he's healthy, I'll take him on the Broncos

eddie mac · 01-13-2007, 08:51 PM

Kerney was one of the top DE's in the NFC a couple of years ago but his production has dropped the past 2 seasons.

Defensive Stats
Year
1999 Atlanta Falcons 2.5 SACKS
2000 Atlanta Falcons 2.5 SACKS
2001 Atlanta Falcons 12 SACKS
2002 Atlanta Falcons 10.5 SACKS
2003 Atlanta Falcons 6.5 SACKS
2004 Atlanta Falcons 13 SACKS
2005 Atlanta Falcons 6.5 SACKS
2006 Atlanta Falcons 4.5 SACKS
TOTAL 58 SACKS

ro_50 · 01-13-2007, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jth1331

Kerney is a very good DE. If he's healthy, I'll take him on the Broncos

I wonder what is Kerney's market value.

Will he get Reggie Hayward type of money ($25 mill over 5 yrs) or more or less?

-Slap- · 01-13-2007, 08:54 PM

If we're going spend enough to sign Patrick Kerney, we should spend whatever extra it would take to sign Justin Smith. Four years younger and a better all around player.

eddie mac · 01-13-2007, 08:56 PM

Looks like Courtney's return in 2007 is in doubt as well so at least 1 if not 2 decent DE's are needed this offseason.

This is from Legwold's recent inbox.

Brown's injury, I've said since early in the season, was bigger than most believed because of what it did to the Broncos rotation up front. Brown's extensive injury history certainly meant it was a possibility the Broncos would need to address in '06, but they were banking on the idea Brown could play early downs.

His bulk, power and quickness, when he's healthy, is tough to find and made the Broncos a far better run defense. By the time his season was officially over, the regular season had started and the pool of available defensive linemen was shallow. The Broncos had kept hoping his left knee would respond to treatment.

He had a second microfracture surgery on the knee -- small holes are drilled in the bone to promote the growth of substitute cartilage -- so his return for '07 is in question at the moment.

The Broncos lacked size in early-down run situations when he could not play. Suddenly, they had Kenard Lang, about 25 pounds lighter than Brown, playing full-time at end. Lang had expected to play primarily on passing downs.

Warren also, because of the two injuries, didn't have nearly the year as he did in '05. Some personnel executives in the league believe his conditioning suffered so much from missing most of training camp with a toe injury and then having another toe injury early in the season that he never regained his edge.

Warren disputed this theory late in the season, but it's clear from watching him he did not have the same explosion and consistent push late in games that he showed in '05.

He flashed at times, but just couldn't maintain the level of play he did the year before. He has to be better in '07 if the Broncos are going to improve up front, no matter how many players they add.

As far as positions of need, the Broncos have the basic list of a team that didn't make the postseason. They need help at defensive end, defensive tackle (depending on whether they sign Michael Myers), kick and punt returners, running back and offensive tackle.

Erik Pears would be in the mix at right tackle and depending on the schedule of Matt Lepsis' return from knee surgery at left tackle, they may need to look there as well. In what is considered a down year overall in the draft among senior prospects -- you'll see many underclassmen join in because they will move up the board faster this year -- the group at tackle is actually pretty good.

Hercules Rockefeller · 01-13-2007, 08:58 PM

Was anyone actually counting on Courtney to be able to play next season? I always looked at his return as a bonus due to all his past injuries.

Clockwork Orange · 01-13-2007, 09:01 PM

I figured that Brown was pretty much finished.

Billy Clyde Puckett · 01-13-2007, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddie mac

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...278527,00.html

Rodriguez, a former Denver Gold assistant and graduate of Western State in Gunnison, has coached five Pro Bowl punters in his career and was named special teams of the decade in the 90s by the Dallas Morning News, which conducts an annual special teams report each season.

.

Hotrod - Got any WSC dirt you could blackmail him with to get him to Denver?

ZONA · 01-13-2007, 09:05 PM

I agree - I'd rather draft a top DE then sign Kearney. I'm tired of retreads. It's time we drafted some tough bastards up front this year. Cut Brown to make room, not just cap space but the roster spot will be important to the DL rotation. A 2nd microfracture- he's done. Can some of those Browns linemen and let's overhaul this Dline.

TheChamp24 · 01-13-2007, 09:16 PM

Kerney will get Hayward type money at least probabyl. He is good at rushing the passer and stuffing the run. Heck, why not sign both Kerney and Justin Smith?

Florida_Bronco · 01-13-2007, 09:28 PM

That's funny, I've heard Brown's injury was progressing better than expected.

TheDave · 01-13-2007, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Florida_Bronco

That's funny, I've heard Brown's injury was progressing better than expected.

Microfracture seems to have a 50/50 chance of working for NFL players...Just my opinion, but i wouldn't bet on him playing

theAPAOps5 · 01-13-2007, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDave

Microfracture seems to have a 50/50 chance of working for NFL players...Just my opinion, but i wouldn't bet on him playing

Even without the microfracture surgery you could say that and most likely be right.

Rascal · 01-13-2007, 11:01 PM

I'll take the zero for Brown and apply all 100% to Lepsis who also had a microfracture surgery.

watermock · 01-13-2007, 11:01 PM

Let's try to scout right and get some young guns instead of some washed overpriced DL like a TP.

It's quite typical for both DL and RB to make dramatic drop offs.

NaptownChief · 01-13-2007, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Slap-

If we're going spend enough to sign Patrick Kerney, we should spend whatever extra it would take to sign Justin Smith. Four years younger and a better all around player.

The crazy part about that is I wouldn't be shocked if Kerney gets as much or more money than Smith. He shouldn't be crazier stuff happens every off season.

-Slap- · 01-13-2007, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaptownChief

The crazy part about that is I wouldn't be shocked if Kerney gets as much or more money than Smith. He shouldn't be crazier stuff happens every off season.

Kerney has the sexier sack numbers in his past, so that might happen. I would love it. Let Kerney and Freeney suck $100 million out of the marketplace and we can get Smith that much cheaper.

Barry Ramey · 01-13-2007, 11:41 PM

Looks like a good hire for the DL. I like it.

Kerney would be a good pickup at a reasonable price of course. I don't see the Broncos in the running for Justin Smith. Some other teams with much more cap room will grossly overpay for him.

Courtney Brown is done. I felt that even before the bit from Legwold. Even if Brown could play, not realistic to think he would be offering much with his bad knees. I'd rather they moved on to improve the DL than expect and count on anything from Brown.

Willynowei · 01-13-2007, 11:42 PM

I think the Broncos should quit the these unrealistic fantasies for FA D-linemen who will always be too expensive. They need to use the draft to get some young talent, and only move on a FA if they can get a good deal. The first step is to get rid of the dead weights from cleveland, the lazy fatass and the injury prone joke need to get the hell out of town.

01-13-2007, 08:26 PM	#1
eddie mac Ireland's No1 Bronco Eddie Mac 87 gone but never forgott Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: IRELAND Posts: 15,573 Adopt-a-Bronco: Rod Smith	Bill Johnson set to be appointed Defensive Line Coach http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...278527,00.html Broncos continue coaching maneuvers With coaches interviewing all around the league in recent days, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan continued to move quickly to fill his available slots. Having already secured Jim Bates as defensive coordinator this week, Shanahan continued over the weekend to zero in on former Atlanta Falcons defensive line coach Bill Johnson, according to two league sources. The Broncos and Johnson have agreed in principle and Johnson could be formally announced as soon as Monday as a new Broncos defensive line coach. Neither Shanahan nor Johnson could be reached for comment Saturday. Johnson will replace Andre Patterson, who was fired earlier this week, and split duties with long-time Broncos assistant Jacob Burney in the team's defensive front. The Broncos are looking for more production up front in a defense that finished with just 35 sacks this past season. The 51-year-old Johnson was a long-time college assistant, including stops at Miami (1987), Arkansas (1990-91, 2000) and Texas A&M (1992-99). He had been with the Falcons since 2001. Falcons defense end Patrick Kerney, who will be an unrestricted free agent in March, has said publicly the Falcons retaining Johnson would be one of the factors he would consider before re-signing in Atlanta. The Broncos hiring Johnson could give them a chance in free agency at Kerney at what is a need position for the team. The Broncos are also believed to still be pursuing Pete Rodriguez to join the staff as well. Rodriguez is one of the most respected special teams coaches in the league and at the moment he's available for the right offer. The Jacksonville Jaguars fired Rodriguez and four other assistants earlier this month when Jack Del Rio re-shuffled his staff in the wake of the team's playoff miss. However, Rodriguez still has a year remaining on his contract with the Jaguars, and said Thursday he wouldn't be in a hurry to take anything but the right offer. Rodriguez and Shanahan are long-time friends. Rodriguez was a Los Angeles Raiders assistant in 1988-89, hired by Shanahan when he was the Oakland's head coach. Special teams were a trouble spot for the Broncos this season. Denver was 31st in the league in average drive start after kickoffs, did not have a returner among the AFC's top 12 in punt returns and did not have a returner in the AFC's top 17 on kickoffs. "I'm going to look at everything,'' Rodriguez said. "I'm just enjoying my time right now.'' Rodriguez, a former Denver Gold assistant and graduate of Western State in Gunnison, has coached five Pro Bowl punters in his career and was named special teams of the decade in the 90s by the Dallas Morning News, which conducts an annual special teams report each season. The Broncos hired Bates this past week as assistant head coach/defense while Bob Slowik, who is the Broncos secondary coach, was also promoted to defensive coordinator. Slowik and Bates will participate in the game-planning during the week, but Bates is expected to call the plays on gameday. The Broncos had a similar arrangement on offense this past season with Mike Heimerdinger as assistant head coach and Rick Dennison as offensive coordinator. Heimerdinger coordinated the team's passing game, Dennison the running game with Shanahan calling the bulk of the plays on gameday. The re-shuffling of the defensive staff came in the wake of the 9-7 finish that did not get the Broncos into the postseason. The Broncos led the league in scoring defense after six games in '06 and at that point in the year the team was 5-1 and had surrendered just 272 yards per game. However, by the end of the season they had fallen to 14th in total defense, allowing 326.4 yards per game including 359.2 yards per game over the last 10. The Broncos also surrendered leads of at least eight points in home losses to Indianapolis, San Diego, Seattle and San Francisco over their last five games at Invesco Field at Mile High.

01-13-2007, 08:58 PM	#12
Hercules Rockefeller Ring of Famer Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 16,013 Adopt-a-Bronco: DJ Williams	Was anyone actually counting on Courtney to be able to play next season? I always looked at his return as a bonus due to all his past injuries. Last edited by Hercules Rockefeller; 01-13-2007 at 09:02 PM..

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01-13-2007, 08:28 PM	#2
scorpio Cubicle Pimp Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,499	Cool.

01-13-2007, 08:29 PM	#3
Rascal RIP Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 16,582 Adopt-a-Bronco: Turf	Don't know much about him or Kerney to frank, but what the hell.

01-13-2007, 08:50 PM	#6
Odysseus Fan of the home team Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Durango, Colorado Posts: 12,107 Adopt-a-Bronco: Mark Schlereth	The guy looks hot on paper but if they cannot make adjustments during the season better than Coyer the result is the same.

01-13-2007, 08:50 PM	#7
TheChamp24 DERP DERP DERP The Legend Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Broncos Country Posts: 4,904	Kerney is a very good DE. If he's healthy, I'll take him on the Broncos

01-13-2007, 08:51 PM	#8
eddie mac Ireland's No1 Bronco Eddie Mac 87 gone but never forgott Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: IRELAND Posts: 15,573 Adopt-a-Bronco: Rod Smith	Kerney was one of the top DE's in the NFC a couple of years ago but his production has dropped the past 2 seasons. Defensive Stats Year 1999 Atlanta Falcons 2.5 SACKS 2000 Atlanta Falcons 2.5 SACKS 2001 Atlanta Falcons 12 SACKS 2002 Atlanta Falcons 10.5 SACKS 2003 Atlanta Falcons 6.5 SACKS 2004 Atlanta Falcons 13 SACKS 2005 Atlanta Falcons 6.5 SACKS 2006 Atlanta Falcons 4.5 SACKS TOTAL 58 SACKS

01-13-2007, 08:54 PM	#10
-Slap- Ring of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 31,895	If we're going spend enough to sign Patrick Kerney, we should spend whatever extra it would take to sign Justin Smith. Four years younger and a better all around player.

01-13-2007, 08:56 PM	#11
eddie mac Ireland's No1 Bronco Eddie Mac 87 gone but never forgott Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: IRELAND Posts: 15,573 Adopt-a-Bronco: Rod Smith	Looks like Courtney's return in 2007 is in doubt as well so at least 1 if not 2 decent DE's are needed this offseason. This is from Legwold's recent inbox. Brown's injury, I've said since early in the season, was bigger than most believed because of what it did to the Broncos rotation up front. Brown's extensive injury history certainly meant it was a possibility the Broncos would need to address in '06, but they were banking on the idea Brown could play early downs. His bulk, power and quickness, when he's healthy, is tough to find and made the Broncos a far better run defense. By the time his season was officially over, the regular season had started and the pool of available defensive linemen was shallow. The Broncos had kept hoping his left knee would respond to treatment. He had a second microfracture surgery on the knee -- small holes are drilled in the bone to promote the growth of substitute cartilage -- so his return for '07 is in question at the moment. The Broncos lacked size in early-down run situations when he could not play. Suddenly, they had Kenard Lang, about 25 pounds lighter than Brown, playing full-time at end. Lang had expected to play primarily on passing downs. Warren also, because of the two injuries, didn't have nearly the year as he did in '05. Some personnel executives in the league believe his conditioning suffered so much from missing most of training camp with a toe injury and then having another toe injury early in the season that he never regained his edge. Warren disputed this theory late in the season, but it's clear from watching him he did not have the same explosion and consistent push late in games that he showed in '05. He flashed at times, but just couldn't maintain the level of play he did the year before. He has to be better in '07 if the Broncos are going to improve up front, no matter how many players they add. As far as positions of need, the Broncos have the basic list of a team that didn't make the postseason. They need help at defensive end, defensive tackle (depending on whether they sign Michael Myers), kick and punt returners, running back and offensive tackle. Erik Pears would be in the mix at right tackle and depending on the schedule of Matt Lepsis' return from knee surgery at left tackle, they may need to look there as well. In what is considered a down year overall in the draft among senior prospects -- you'll see many underclassmen join in because they will move up the board faster this year -- the group at tackle is actually pretty good.

01-13-2007, 09:01 PM	#13
Clockwork Orange Persona Non Grata I seen him! Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 21,438	I figured that Brown was pretty much finished.

01-13-2007, 09:05 PM	#15
ZONA Ring of Famer If you smacked your screen, hahaha Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,477 Adopt-a-Bronco: Chris Harris	I agree - I'd rather draft a top DE then sign Kearney. I'm tired of retreads. It's time we drafted some tough bastards up front this year. Cut Brown to make room, not just cap space but the roster spot will be important to the DL rotation. A 2nd microfracture- he's done. Can some of those Browns linemen and let's overhaul this Dline.

01-13-2007, 09:16 PM	#16
TheChamp24 DERP DERP DERP The Legend Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Broncos Country Posts: 4,904	Kerney will get Hayward type money at least probabyl. He is good at rushing the passer and stuffing the run. Heck, why not sign both Kerney and Justin Smith?

01-13-2007, 09:28 PM	#17
Florida_Bronco Got trolls? Welcome to Mile High, Brady! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 13,810 Adopt-a-Bronco: Brady Quinn	That's funny, I've heard Brown's injury was progressing better than expected.

01-13-2007, 11:01 PM	#20
Rascal RIP Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 16,582 Adopt-a-Bronco: Turf	I'll take the zero for Brown and apply all 100% to Lepsis who also had a microfracture surgery.

01-13-2007, 11:01 PM	#21
watermock "Hoodie Jr" "Hug me!" Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Hot Springs, Ouachitah Posts: 77,090	Let's try to scout right and get some young guns instead of some washed overpriced DL like a TP. It's quite typical for both DL and RB to make dramatic drop offs.

01-13-2007, 11:41 PM	#24
Barry Ramey Ring of Famer Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,700	Looks like a good hire for the DL. I like it. Kerney would be a good pickup at a reasonable price of course. I don't see the Broncos in the running for Justin Smith. Some other teams with much more cap room will grossly overpay for him. Courtney Brown is done. I felt that even before the bit from Legwold. Even if Brown could play, not realistic to think he would be offering much with his bad knees. I'd rather they moved on to improve the DL than expect and count on anything from Brown.

01-13-2007, 11:42 PM	#25
Willynowei Some dude Football is a wonderful thing. Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 2,848 Adopt-a-Bronco: Eddie Royal	I think the Broncos should quit the these unrealistic fantasies for FA D-linemen who will always be too expensive. They need to use the draft to get some young talent, and only move on a FA if they can get a good deal. The first step is to get rid of the dead weights from cleveland, the lazy fatass and the injury prone joke need to get the hell out of town.