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Published on 12/15/2008 at Mon Dec 15 23:26.
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Shanahan, “I just did a bad job…”

Posted Mon Dec 15th by

Mike Shanahan looks on during the Broncos loss to the Panthers. (Getty Images)

Mike Shanahan looks on during the Broncos loss to the Panthers. (Getty Images)

It seems there’s a call to fire just about everyone in Dove Valley in the week following a loss. It certainly seemed that the Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan had his name mentioned once or twice this season and past off-season as to having to either win or else. All of this while rumors swirled that the coach was leaving to coach for the Michigan Wolverines, amongst other possible scenarios. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen crowned him Pope infoulable coach for life.

The fans in Denver don’t seem to be totally in love with the fact that Shanahan may actually be the coach for life. And just like Denver went into the game thinking that the Kansas City Chiefs had beat the San Diego Chargers (insuring their playoff berth), Coach Shanahan goes into a game thinking that he’ll be coaching the Broncos next season.

When questioned Monday about the loss to the Carolina Panthers, Shanahan said,

“I think I just did a bad job of preparing these guys to play. I think we are better than that, we just didn’t play at the level we are capable of playing at. Hopefully we can get back to that this week and turn things around.”

Shanahan is notorious for scheduling his moments during a day, he couldn’t have done a bad job of preparing the Broncos to play. Why would he spend every possible waking moment in an effort to not prepare the Broncos to play? Who is he covering for? Better yet, what is he covering for?

Throughout the league Denver is viewed as one of the best places to either coach or play, because Shanahan creates an atmosphere that is professional and enjoyable. He even protects his players to a fault (see last-season with Travis Henry), yet with all the Broncos have accomplished this season, they’ve given up just as much.

Denver has yet to lose to a team of Carolina’s caliber. Yep, they’ve beat them all. Sure there have been loses to Kansas City, the Oakland Raiders, and the Jacksonville Jaguars (amongst the worst teams in the league), but there have also been wins against the New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons.

So, what gives Coach? Was it really a loss to the Panthers or is there something deeper (or even darker) in the mix?

  • Truman

    eh. nice piece but i wouldn’t read too much into this. If you’re gonna get on a coach, get on him for losing games he should win, not the ones he should lose. This is just typical coachspeak following a beatdown.

  • Ryan M.

    interesting conspiracy theory…perhaps Cutler’s fickle play is directly related to his blood sugar level? I dunno…

  • Jason

    I didn’t expect to find an attempt at sensationalism here; however, I can’t decide if it is intentional or sarcastic.

    Hoping for sarcasam.

  • T-Money

    You can coach a player to win, but a player has to execute. If the player doesn’t execute the team doesn’t win. If the team doesn’t win the coach looks bad.

    Here something that some people might not know. Shanahan has not called the plays for 9 years.

    Here’s another thing to consider too… We have 13 ROOKIE STARTERS. There is so much potential for this team that any us care to recognize. There are going to be growing pains and there are going to be rough spots.

  • broncobear

    This was a good loss. We got to go up against a top team quickly on the rise who has a perfect record at home and we just aren’t at that level yet. Our holes on the D and at RB coupled with our youth and inexperience came up and bit us. Hopefully we’ll grow and develop, but it’s probably not this year. We are having a good run and should clinch the division this week. I look forward to this teams future.

  • flbronc

    t-money, totally agree with you. our young team took one on the chin playing a veteran team that is flying under the radar at their house. i had no clue they were 10-3 and i consider myself a pretty up to date nfl fan.

    as for shanny’s comment- it occurs to me that he is trying to take the blame for the loss, and not put it on the players. i’d rather have a coach say that to the public and get on the guys in the locker room, than the opposite.

  • Anthony33

    Yes, very young team with a seemingly bright future. The best thing that could happen in the offseason is for Wade Phillips to get released in Dallas and Denver IMMEDIATELY hire him as the D coordinator. The other possiblity is Romeo C from Cleveland.

    The bottom line with this defense is there consistent inability to rush the passer. Watching the likes of Philly, Pittsburgh and Baltimore and the incredible amount of pressure they apply on every play is astounding.

    Yes, we need more defensive talent, no question. We also need an experienced, PROVEN defensive coach to bring it all together. Please, no more coaches with resumes that boast bottom half of the league results.

  • Steve

    It seems as if everyone is acting as if our D is completely to blame for this rout that got put on us by Carolina. Lets see, our offense scored 10 points and committed two turnovers. Our D shut down one of the best running games in the NFL and got one turnover. Yea they allowed 7.5 ypp and gave up 30 points. Here’s one to something to think about with regards to our D:
    1. They kept the Panthers from scoring on a short field on Cutlers first int. That was early and we were up 10-7.
    2. At the end of the half of the half our Offense gave them an easy 3 with the Young fumble so our D actually only gave up 27.
    3. Just two more sustained scoring drives from our offense, just two, with Praters two missed FG’s would have gave us 30 points and significantly reduced the Panters time of possession which means they might have scored less than 27 and we would have won easy.

    No folks as bad as it looks, this whipping is mostly due to an ineffective offense just like it always is when you only score 10 points in the NFL. I personally think our D has improved a lot since earlier on and with the Champ coming back it will get even better. We just need some consistency in our Offense and to do that the following needs to change.
    1. Develop a running game some way or another.
    2. Shanahan needs to take Cutler in the locker room and bang his head on the locker until he is convince every freakin pass doesn’t have to go mid to long range. He is spending way too much time trying to find the deep receiver and forcing balls to a covered receiver when he has something underneath wide open.
    3. Marshal needs to spend time just catching balls and he needs his head banged into the locker until he understands that you should run towards the endzone or first down marker once you make a catch. We lost a first down last week because Marshal ran backwards trying to make a big play instead of tucking his head and plowing over the DB for the yard he needed for the first down. That crap has got to stop.
    4. Scheffler and Royal has got to get more involved in the passing game.
    5. When nothing is open Jay needs to run more or just throw the ball away. Teams are playing the passing game so he should have some runs available when nothing is open. Even if he only picks up 2-3 yards it forces DB to watch for the run from the QB and can cause them to drop off their coverage which can open the passing game up as the game goes.

  • http://broncotalk.net Ian Henson

    Such intelligent Bronco fans so early in the morning… You guys are fun to read, I don’t feel like there is an answer- yes we’re starting a lot of rookies and a lot of them are good. However, we’re only starting rookies out of necessity. Josh Barrett is a guy that they kept on the practice squad, Josh Bell was a very lucky pickup, but is he the nickel that we need? When will Jack Williams come along? Kory Lichtensteiger is going to get a start this week most likely, he gave up a sack on his very first play.

  • adam

    I’m confused, what exactly are you suggesting?

  • TD30isMVP

    I think with the talent we do have from the young bucks that now we can troll the free agency waters and find the missing pieces instead of the old way of trying to bring in a load of free agents. Just need to pray we don’t have a team wide Sophomore slump…

  • dee

    just spit out what you mean, dont be a prick and talk in riddles

  • Lyncho67

    What about Dre-Bly return to sender better name for him. Since we traded for this BUM!!!! Trade his ass too oakland anywhere but Denver.

  • ssc

    i’m good with shanny as broncos coach for life

  • broncoNM

    I agree with steve. The offense did not show up on sunday. Its hard to win a game scoring 10 pts. Thats alot of pressure on the defense. After that first drive we really had nothing. The defense did keep that explosive running game in check except for one play. Deangelo’s run. Thats my big problem with our defense right now. Some have brought up the steelers/ravens defense and what they can do is make game changing plays. Im talking about INT’s for TD’s or 3rd down sacks for a 10 yd loss. These plays can change the scoreboard or field position. Our defense lacks big play ability. I understand Champ is out and we are just trying to stay alive but sometimes the defense needs to jump start the offense. A INT deep in their territory. Create an easy TD for the offense once in awhile. The Other problem besides not creating big plays is giving up big plays. We stop the run execpt for one TD run. Same with Thomas Jones and the jets. Jones did nothing but still got 138 with 2 TD’s. It doesnt matter if you hold him the rest of the game he already created 14 pts. You take the ravens and steelers D those guys go after the offense. They dont sit back. Its like they smell blood. They dont stop and they go after the QB and everyone else who is holding the ball. The Defense needs to get some confidence and make some game changing plays. Make it easy on the offense for once. I understand that these are the top defenses in the league but as i and others have said we are 2-3 players from being that kind of defense. We need some ball hawks to create problems for the opposing offense. Our safties and CB’s sit back and wait for the receiver to catch the ball and our D line waits for the runner to run into them. We need to go after them. I want a D cordinator that will create this atmosphere. A blood thirsty Defense. Our D is ok but its not game changing.

  • jchase8410

    Before the game I was talking with my sister about the Broncos. She asked, “I wonder which Broncos team is going to show up for this game.”

    The Broncos took the ball on the first drive, took it down the field for a touchdown, and I thought we had gotten the answer. Then the Panthers got the ball, and it seemed like the broncos had 10 players on defense, because nobody was near Steve Smith the entire drive.

    Mike Shanahan took responsibility for this loss because it ultimately goes on the coach when a team quits on a game. He may not call the plays, but when your OC runs 4 screens on 4 3rd and long for about -15 yards, you have the power as a head coach to say something. When your DC runs a generic scheme without any stunts twists or blitzes and gives the opposing QB 6 seconds to throw the ball on every play, he has the power as a head coach to say something. When your kicker has admitted to having a mental block on field goals in the 40-49 yard range, you have the power as a head coach to bring in someone who won’t miss 2/3 of his kicks.

    I’m glad that Mike took some accountability for the teams performance. Now its time for him to do something about it. Hold the players accountable, hold his coordinators mostly accountable.

  • kerry

    Yeah!!! NO S**T MIKE!! you did a terrible job! you have been doing a terrible job since Elway left. and NOW you step up and take responsibility for the failures of this team?!?!?!? only ten years later but ok. its about time you stepped up to the fire and took responsibility. i guess with no Ted Sundquist around there isnt anyone else to blame eh Mike?? and i cant believe what some of you are saying?? “Oh its the defenses fault” “Oh Cutler didnt execute” “oh its the injuries” “oh its the youth”. GET OVER YOURSELVES!!!! Shanahan himself just took the blame and all of you wanna play “pin the excuse on everybody else accept the man in charge”!!! its about time Mike!!! nobody left to blame but yourself Shanahan. you did a terrible job with clock management, gameplanning and overall preparation. then you get conservative after Cutler throws an INT. and everybody serioiusly, dont give me that “oh Bates calls the plays” bates may call the plays but throughout Shanahan’s tenure he has ALWAYS gone conservative after an INT. so blaming it on bates isnt right. Shanahan tells him to dial it back, just as he has always done. Shanahan always does his best to put a mediocre team on the field, and after the first 10 minutes of the game, you could tell Shanahan phoned this game in. if Shanahan stays this is how it will be until he retires or is fired.

  • adam

    Kerry…really, you really think Shanny’s done a terrible job since Elway. I’d say if your logic is true, he’s never done a good job because if you think he’s the reason for their struggles then you also must conclude that he only won with Elway because of his talent. Right?

    What if you stopped and thought about just how many things have to line-up inorder to win in this league? Perhaps the greatest secret of the NFL is that winning is about way more than schemes, coaches, and players…it’s also about luck (injuries) and chance.

    If you want a sure thing, go be a Yankees fan. Oh wait, even they outspend other teams by nearly 300% and still they haven’t won it in a while. Maybe you should be a Charger fan, best talent in the league…oh wait, they haven’t translated that to a super bowl either.

    Enjoy the game, because if you have to win super bowls to be loyal to your coach, you’re going to be a miserable fan!

  • Bucky

    Oh, you don’t have to tell Kerry that, he is the most miserable football fan i know, and i live in Detroit.

  • (stuck in) raiderland

    I’m going to make this point again and again: I think Shanny is a capable, talented coach, but that all coaches have a sort of shelf life in the NFL. After a certain point even the great coaches (Shanny fits in that category) seem to have their tenure run out at a place. I don’t know if they get too comfortable, too complacent, or if the people around them get too familiar, but for whatever reason they just can’t hang around forever. I think Shanny has lost command over the psyche of this team. They have played very well, dramatically over-achieving at times, but then turn right around and dramatically UNDER-achieve. I think it’s time for Shanny to go because his time has just come, even though I think he can move on to another team and be very successful.
    And that is the gospel according to (stuck in) raiderland.

  • Thomas

    this loss was flat out depressing… losses hurt… but the sting from a blowout lingers in my mind all week.

    I really can’t pinpoint what exactly went so horribly wrong with the team. I don’t think Shanahan was responsible for our turnovers, but the playcalling was way too conservative. I can only hope we can put this in the past and move ahead, as this team has been blown out by KC, NE, and OAK, and we are 2-1 in games following a blowout. In that one loss to Miami we stuck around until the last quarter (while Cutler had his worst game as a pro).

    I was at the NYJ – BUF game last sunday, I guess I got an early look at what we will see this sunday.

    Their pass rush is very lackluster without Aaron Schobel. Their secondary is hurting big time with Whitner out and McGee battling injuries for some of the season. I see Cutler lighting this D up and not getting sacked once.

    Here’s what scares me: MARSHAWN LYNCH. The Jets D could not stop him if their lives depended on it, and if not for Jauron’s shoddy playcalling, Buffalo would be headed into this game at 7-7. This matchup should not be taken lightly AT ALL.

    Marshawn matches up quite well against us… this could be arguably one of the toughest home games of the season, we all know how hungry Buffalo is for a win. Hopefully Trent Edwards doesn’t play because we could be in big trouble here.

  • kerry

    hey Adam. take away John Elway and Shanahan NEVER wins the SB. period. that is indisputable. Shanahan was a joke in Oakland, comes to denver and inherits a talented team, a team that John Beake built as the GM by the way, wins two, loses Elway and has one playoff win since Elway. is Shanahan the reason for the failures YES YES YES!!! no other reason. yes i know you wanna blame everybody else for the failures of this team. but there is one man in charge and its Shanahan. nice try to pass the blame and justify the reasoning for Shanahan’s failure’s “oh things have to lineup to win in the league” yeah and it takes talent to win in the league too. saomething Shanahan hasnt had on the defensive side of the ball for a decade. yes that is also Shanahans fault being that he is the GM and has final say on everything. but im sure that is somebody elses fault too right?? maybe its the janitors fault too. and for the record iam a Yankees fan. have been my whole life.

  • Rob Bronco

    Oh, I see the old Kerry is back. Off the bandwagon again, huh Kerry? You were touting a Broncos cheerleader’s outfit when we won against the Jets and tattooing a horse’s head on your arm when we beat KC, but you’re lighting the bonfire to burn Shanahan at the stake when we lose to Carolina? Figures.

    The team is out of balance, and anyone with any sense can see that. First of all, you’re not going to beat Carolina without an established running game, which you can’t establish with your top 5 running backs in IR. Carolina KNOWS you’re not going to have much success in running the ball, so they are going to pressure the QB like crazy, which is going to cause Cutler to force the ball into places its not going to fit.

    Second, the Broncos D has struggled agains the pass all season long. Why? Because they DON’T PRESSURE THE QB. If we are relying on Elvis to save us, we’re going to be one and done in the playoffs anyway. You need an established pass rush to force the QB to make some bad decisions. If there’s no pressure, then the QB has a lot more team to make reads and find the open guy, which is why the Broncos are almost dead last in sacks and interceptions (FYI Kerry, that has nothing to do with Shanahan). And just so we can shut the door on this whole “We need a new coach” thing, here are some stats for you:

    In the 14 seasons that Shanahan has coached the Broncos:

    Shanahan has had a .500 season or better 12 times (85%).

    The Broncos have finished 1st or 2nd in the division 9 times (64%).

    The Broncos have won 2 Superbowls (The Patriots are the only other team to have won 2 or more Superbowls in that time).

    Shanahan has drafted and coached FIVE-1,000 yard backs (no other coach has done that).

    His record against the Raiders: 20-6.

    That’s just a small bit of information to think about. So if you decide to run him out of town, what coach are you going to get to replace him, and are they going to be able to reproduce the results above? Or are we going to have multiple coaches like the Raiders, Chargers, and Chiefs? Do you think those teams have done better with multiple coaches?

  • Dakota fan

    Oh Kerry- you never disappoint. Didn’t hear from you during the weeks we beat the Falcons and the Jets except for a few meek little comments and now here you are going ballistic on your favorite target. You pissed me off at first, but everyone’s got a right to an opinion, even if it’s the wrong one.

    I forgot how much great coaching and GM talent will be available in the upcoming offseason. Maybe we snag Romeo Crennel? Matt Millen? Mike Nolan? How about Norv Turner? He’s sure been a whiz as an NFL coach.

    I’ve written time after time about how foolish I think it would be to fire Shanahan. Look at Belichick this year. He’s basically lost ONE major player and he won’t make it to the Super Bowl. Look at Jeff Fisher- fourteen years as a head coach and no Lombardi trophies. Bill Cowher is everyone’s hero, but he won ONE Super Bowl in Pittsburgh after fourteen straight years without one.

    This team has been built for the future. Stick in a few impact defensive free agents, get our team healthy again and we contend. Firing Shanahan and starting from scratch sets this team back five years.

    One replacement (besides Cowher) that I’d like to see in Denver if Shanahan goes? Gary Kubiak. Other than that, Pat Bowlen’s loyalty is no different than the Rooneys in Pittsburgh or Bud Adams in Houston (OOPS- I mean Tennessee) who have more than week to week patience like Al Davis.

  • Bucky

    Holy crap on a cracker!!!!!! we finally figure it out!!! Kerry is a YANKER!!! oh wow, this explains sooooooooooooo much, i totally get you now, all of the sudden it makes sense, this is one of those same guys that called for the Yankers to let go of Joe Torre, wow lot of good that did you huh? is Girardi gonna be your savior? and who is your savior for the Broncos? Cower? he was just about run out of the Pitt before he one that Superbowl(that 1 Superbowl), and lets see why was that, oh yeah, they said he was an inconsistent coach that put mediocre teams on the field. And you can say what you want about bad D’s in Denver but as I remember we had the number one ranked Linebacking core, and a top ten D only 3 years ago, but maybe Beake put that together for Shanahan as well. Kerry you keep spoutin all this hate when the Broncos loose but your are completely mum when they win, that’s not a fan, that’s a Jack Ass in a foam finger, yellin for the team to get rid of Martyball, and how well did that work for them huh? yeah get rid of the coach bring in a new guy, that will fix all our ails, dude it doesn’t work that way.

    It may be time for Shanahan to redefine his role for this team, i think him making the same kind of move the Tuna made would be well fitting, but to go around blaming everything on Him, that’s as dumb as passing the blame of onto everyone else, something even Shanahan wont do. but Yankers like you, you love to play the blame game, its in your blood. I gotta tell ya, i feel better, i really just thought you were an immature Hothead, that liked to blow up at the real fans for having the ability to be objective, but i get it now, its not all that, your just a Yanker.
    with fans like you, who needs rivals.

  • TD30isMVP

    I did not expect to win this game so I am not overly angry that Steve Smith did what Steve Smith has done for years, make DB’s look foolish. I figured they would run the ball a lot better against us so I am happy that we did well enough against the run. We could not run the ball so we could not throw the ball, and the line gave up only two sacks when they were coming hard all day…I will take it. Young team with an abundance of upside I cannot wait to watch these guys every week.

  • robtink242

    when i saw the topic i new it was going to be a feild day for mr. kerry. he gone when we win games and when stuff like this he’s present. no surprises there. shanny is the head coach of the team. and hes the direct reflection of his players.

    so in other words if he was better players = better coach= more wins= playoffs= rings.

  • TJ

    SNUBBED!!! Clady did not make the Pro Bowl!!

  • http://broncotalk.net Joe

    Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall have been added to the Pro Bowl roster, CBS 4 reports

  • http://broncotalk.net Ian Henson

    Joe- Saw that awhile ago, I wasn’t expecting Marshall to get in- even with the fan vote.

  • jcampb72

    dude if we don’t beat the bills this sunday i am going to cry…or drink….maybe both.

  • Anthony33

    Ian and Steve,
    It’s really to figure out what’s wrong with this team I think you need to look at few facts. I might be over simplifing this, but here’s what I see.

    – Shanahan’s offense is always it the top half, if not the top third of the league over the past 10 years.
    – The talent level determines how high they eventually rank, but again, always at the least in the top half. I.E. Greise and whoever as talent and they’re middle of the pack. Plummer and whoever, they are better. Elway and 3 hall of famers, they are the best.
    – Yes, offense may have been the problem last Sunday, but you have to look at multiple seasons and averages to really see what’s happening.
    – The man can flat out coach offense and you simply do not mess with that.
    Now for the defense:
    – Almost always in the bottom half of the league and often in the bottom third over the past 10 years.
    – Occasionally they have risen to the occasion and whalla, playoffs and Super Bowls.
    – I believe there was one year when the offense and defense finished in the top 10 and they did not make the playoffs, chalk that up as an anomaly.

    So, we have to get e defensive coordinator that can coach the defense to a minimum of the middle of the pack every year and let the talent level adjust that upwards. Slowik is a nice guy and probably a good position coach, but what we need is a Shanahan on defense. It is Shanhans responsibilty, along with the GM’s and Bowlen to find that person and that’s where I fault him.

    To say he should be ousted because of the offenses’ perfromance is utterly rediculous. Get the man a top defensive coordinator and we are in the playoffs for the next 10 years.

  • Broncoholic

    Bucky: Out of all of the comments ever posted replying to Kerry’s nonsensical drivel, your last one was the best. Spot-on accurate. It explains so much. There is one small consolation in Kerry’s revelation however, countless Yankees fans have been dealing with his onslaught of negativity for even longer than us. If there is any fan base that truly deserves that castigation it Yankees fans.

    No wonder Kerry’s been so mad, for the last 8 years he’s been simultaneously rooting for a Yankees title and calling for Shanny’s head. Disappointment has been mounting one year at a time on both regards.

    A wise man once said: you’re either a fan of baseball, or you’re a fan of the Yankees.

  • T-Money

    jcampb72 I’m with you on that one.

  • ssc

    right on anthony33. i just watched nfl replay of the steelers/ravens, and it’s inspiring watching the sophisticated coordination of DLs and LBs in lebeau’s defense. perfectly timed, bewildering combinations of stunts and blitzes. one move setting up another’s move. awesome stuff. shanahan, with good scouting personnel whom he trusts (which seems to now be in place) plus a top tier DC … very exciting prospect. unfortunately my guess is shanahan feels obligated to keep slowik around for at least another year.

  • http://broncotalk.net Ian Henson

    The thing about the Defensive coordinator job that I don’t understand- whenever there’s a big free agent that needs to be signed (Steve Young, Deion Sanders, Terrell Owens, etc.) they all make a trip through Denver. Why haven’t we had a hot Defensive Coordinator come through Denver in awhile? I guess that Jim Bates was probably that, but there’s so many available or why can’t we just Madden one of them and pay them three-million a year for three-years? I guess that’s just as much a Madden video game thing as a Jerry Jones thing.

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  • Curt

    I always liked Shanahan and I’m sad to see him go but also realize that the injuries were very hard to overcome ths year. On the positive side, many young players got playing time which will add to next year’s productivity. Seems to me that the Broncos should consider enticing Bill Cower to coach, and beef up our defense. Once the running game gets back in gear, the offense should be fine and less one dimensional. Thanks for the memories Mike!