Shanahan represents stability in Denver

[SoCalBronco]

Shanahan Represents Stability In Denver

By C.E. Wendler
Warpaint Illustrated Columnist
Posted Apr 11, 2007

After Mike Shanahan’s Denver Broncos failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in four seasons last year, there where whispers that “Coach Kevlar,” as one dubious website refers to him, was on the hot seat. One playoff win in eight seasons doesn’t look good.

Fortunately for the people of Denver, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen has always kept that seat relatively cool. He knows what he has in Shanahan, who signed a three-year extension on Monday. He has stability, in what is otherwise – for the most part – an unstable NFL world.

Consider the fact that since Shanahan was hired to coach the Broncos in 1995, there have been 14 other coaches within the AFC West division. As if that fact wasn’t remarkable enough, there is also this to note: even since he lost John Elway, Shanahan has guided the Broncos to the division’s best record.

Denver is 76-52 since winning the Super Bowl in 1998. The Raiders? 55-73. The Chargers? 61-67. Kansas City? 70-58.

Shanahan has outclassed nine other head coaches within the division in this time frame, and has done it without the services of the division’s best player.

Who has Denver really had to hang their hat on since “The Duke” retired? Brian Griese was a laughable replacement for #7, and Terrell Davis was on his last legs, as was Shannon Sharpe. Clinton Portis was nice for a couple of seasons, but didn’t provide any longevity, which Champ Bailey is now attempting to gain.

It’s easy to see the Chiefs (Priest Holmes) and Chargers (LaDainian Tomlinson) have had the best player in the AFC West within this time frame. And yet, neither squad has so much as won a playoff game.

If there is any great argument for the importance of coaching in the NFL, it is the above. Shanahan’s teams have led the NFL in scoring and total yards since 1995. He has done this with a variety of characters leading the way – Elway and Davis, yes, but also misfits like Ed McCaffrey, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Jake Plummer, Ruben Droughns and Ashley Lelie.

Shanahan has squeezed absurd numbers out of his offense, even in the absence of Hall of Fame players. One of them, Sharpe, bolted to the Baltimore Ravens in 2000. He posted a fine season with 810 yards and five touchdowns.

What did Shanahan do? Replaced the 10-year veteran with three backup tight ends who combined for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns. All three originally entered the NFL as Broncos, by the way.

It is this kind of production that spells out the best argument as to why Bowlen will maintain a death grip on Shanahan for as long as possible. With the influx of young offensive talent entering Denver’s organization within the last two offseasons, Shanahan has his chance to build a truly elite offense once again.

It’s difficult to look around the NFL and find a more talented young quarterback than Jay Cutler. Javon Walker is easily the best wide receiver the Broncos have had since Rod Smith was in his prime, and up-and-comer Brandon Marshall will (hopefully) give the Broncos a legitimate threat at the No. 2 position. Lord knows Shanahan has tried and failed in that regard (Lelie and Marcus Nash bring up painful memories for Broncos fans).

The running game? You might as well start worrying about Halliburton’s profit margin going down. The Broncos have had no trouble producing 1,000-yard running backs year in and year out, even when casting off the previous year’s leading rusher, as they did recently with Tatum Bell.

It will be interesting to see what Shanahan can do with Travis Henry, a 1,200-yard rusher in Tennessee last season. The league can only hope Shanahan doesn’t find another elite back in the Davis mold to feature.

No, Shanahan definitely deserves the chance to finish the job with all this young talent he’s acquired. Bowlen owes him that much – and, really, quite a bit more as we’ve already spelled out.

Meanwhile, the rest of the AFC West will continue to pray there’s somebody new coaching in Denver every offseason. Give us a break!


http://chiefs.scout.com/2/634810.html

[Los Broncos]

Denver is 76-52 since winning the Super Bowl in 1998. The Raiders? 55-73. The Chargers? 61-67. Kansas City? 70-58.

Any questions?

[Conklin]

but they beat us in arrowhead last year!

[Kaylore]

Closet Bronco fan. I really should neg rep you for always posting his crap, SoCal.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Clayton the welcher

[SoCalBronco]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

Closet Bronco fan. I really should neg rep you for always posting his crap, SoCal.

haha...i thought it was a good piece.

You are right about the closet Bronco fan part, it is getting quite obvious.

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

haha...i thought it was a good piece.

You are right about the closet Bronco fan part, it is getting quite obvious.

I'll give you this: If Bob made even half an effort to make his posts like the article above and did half as much trolling I wouldn't have him on ignore. Why can't we have more rival posters like Rausch, TheNextStep and PatsWin?!?!?

[Bob's your Information Minister]

Originally Posted by Conklin

but they beat us in arrowhead last year!

You know what's funny? You walked right past my seats that night.

[ward63]

"If there is any great argument for the importance of coaching in the NFL, it is the above. Shanahan’s teams have led the NFL in scoring and total yards since 1995. He has done this with a variety of characters leading the way – Elway and Davis, yes, but also misfits like Ed McCaffrey, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Jake Plummer, Ruben Droughns and Ashley Lelie."

They really aren't misfits, well at least not Ed and Mike imo.

[DomCasual]

I swear, he pulls a lot of this crap right from here on the Mane. He's written a couple things that were almost verbatim arguments I had with him.

[Conklin]

Originally Posted by Bob's your Information Minister

You know what's funny? You walked right past my seats that night.

i did? how come ya didnt introduce yourself!!! i was sure as hell makin lots of friends in red that night

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by DomCasual

I swear, he pulls a lot of this crap right from here on the Mane. He's written a couple things that were almost verbatim arguments I had with him.

Oh there's little doubt in my mind he plagiarizes most of his work. He's proven over and over what a gutless, honor-less puke he is.

[Odysseus]

Originally Posted by DomCasual

I swear, he pulls a lot of this crap right from here on the Mane. He's written a couple things that were almost verbatim arguments I had with him.

All these attorneys playing around here and we can't muster a class action suit for infringement or anything?

I don't mind the management of the Orangemane ALWAYS looking the other way with this guy but when are they going to get that bend over and cough should not be part of the deal? Don't the rubber gloves give away anything?

[SureShot]

Originally Posted by Bob's your Information Minister

You know what's funny? You walked right past my seats that night.

So your fat ass has to pay for two seats? That must get pretty expensive for your mother.

[s0phr0syne]

Sometimes I really do feel bad for Bob. But then I remember some of the lame stuff he's done and how long some of you have put up with it.

[watermock]

Originally Posted by SureShot7

So your fat ass has to pay for two seats? That must get pretty expensive for your mother.

*bada bing* *cymbal crash*

Despite Foster letting Jay see stars, if Cincy makes a 37 yard field goal KC would of been eliminated and Denver in even with a loss. If Coyer doesn't play a soft prevent defense in an OT game, we could and probably would, of won. Jay was getting his second wind.

I'm more sold on getting Jenkins than ever. I also don't understand the urgency to move Wilson. Who is going to play Sam if we move D.J. inside? Predator is history. Smack him around a little and cut some salary. He's on the back end now that agents love to brag about but ultimately bites many players in the ass.

We are getting several injured players back and had a great draft of guys that are now familiar with the NFL after their first tour of duty.

Snag Jenkins for a third, keep Rhino for now with an adjustment, and do due dilligence in this draft. Take Griffin, snag Antonio Pittman at two if he's there, and then another DL in round 3. Fox can play nickle. Obviously DWill still stings but life goes on for the living I guess. Still stings. Hard to believe someone so alive could be so dead and buried in a senseless drive by murder. I would have that one guy hung upside down and hooked up to jumper cables. He knows damn good and well who the shooter is. I'm getting pissed off now yet again. Anyway...

Get me some popcorn Beezer, there's gonna be a show. We are closer than people realize. A good draft and we are right back...San Diego is still there but they stupidly got rid of Marty.

[Bob's your Information Minister]

Originally Posted by ward63

They really aren't misfits, well at least not Ed and Mike imo.

Ed McCaffery certainly was. He was a retread from the Giants. Mike has shown he's nothing special over the course of his career.

[Bob's your Information Minister]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

Oh there's little doubt in my mind he plagiarizes most of his work. He's proven over and over what a gutless, honor-less puke he is.

You're a real dick. I didn't plagiarize a word of that.

[Bob's your Information Minister]

Originally Posted by quiettiger

All these attorneys playing around here and we can't muster a class action suit for infringement or anything?

You've got nothing to stand on. A class action suit. You guys really try too hard sometimes.

[Bob's your Information Minister]

Originally Posted by Conklin

i did? how come ya didnt introduce yourself!!! i was sure as hell makin lots of friends in red that night

I didn't know it was "you." To me you were just another idiot Bronco fan invading our territory.

[Circle Orange]

I've decided to stop making sense about pretty much everything these days, and plan to join every lunatic fringe I can think of. That being said, I think its time to start a petition to get rid of Shanahan. Why, you might say? Simply this...its a known fact that after ten years coaches go stale. The commenators and talking heads all say so, which makes it true. Shanahan's shelf life is up. Thus, it is safe to conclude that he must go.

http://Shanahanafootuphisass.com

join, along with other fringe nuts!

[DomCasual]

Has anyone else noticed how angry Bob's been lately - both here and on Chefs Planet? I'd worry about a workplace shooting on the horizon, if he had a job.

[Bob's your Information Minister]

Originally Posted by DomCasual

Has anyone else noticed how angry Bob's been lately - both here and on Chefs Planet? I'd worry about a workplace shooting on the horizon, if he had a job.

I take accusations of plagiarism very seriously. As for anger, nothing raises this places ire like yours truly. Some people around here need to chill.

[DomCasual]

Originally Posted by Bob's your Information Minister

I take accusations of plagiarism very seriously. As for anger, nothing raises this places ire like yours truly. Some people around here need to chill.

You let accusations about copulating with your mother roll off your back, but you get worked up about plagiarism?

[kamakazi_kal]

Originally Posted by Bob's your Information Minister

I didn't know it was "you." To me you were just another idiot Bronco fan invading our territory.

yeah sure, after that win that thing in your chest the size of a canned ham called your heart was about ready to burst and you needed all the o2 to keep from passing out