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Published on 01/13/2009 at Tue Jan 13 12:09.
Tagged: ,,,,.



Mike Nolan named Defensive Coordinator

Posted Tue Jan 13th by Mr.East

According to the Denver Post Josh McDaniels has named former San Fransisco 49ers Head Coach Mike Nolan as the defensive coordinator.  “Mike is a very good coach, he’s a good communicator and he’s been around this league for a long time, and he’s been a head coach in this league,” McDaniels said. “All those things are very valuable, and his experience on the defensive side is absolutely a value to any organization.”

Dan Reeves extended his compliments as well. “He just did a phenomenal job for me there,” Reeves said Monday of Nolan’s first stint in Denver. “He’s a great communicator. He’s been around the game all his life. His dad was about as good a defensive coach as there’s ever been in this business.”

This suit wearin’, defensive minded coach has had his fair share of successes and downfalls throughout the years. One of his unusual successes was changing the sideline wardrobe rule. Lindsay H Jones from the Denver Post wrote,

“Nolan’s tenure in San Francisco will be remembered more for his wardrobe choices, though, than for producing standout defenses. Nolan wished to wear a suit on the sidelines, a violation of league rules that coaches wear only Reebok gear. Because of Nolan, the rule was changed.”

Nolan started out his career here as the linebackers coach and then went on to be a defensive coordinator at many teams such as the Giants, Redskins, and Ravens before landing the head coaching job at San Fransisco. Nolan was fired seven games into the 2008 season. Below is a better summary thanks to the Denver Post… again.

 

Bronco Nation, what are your thoughts? Excited for Mike Nolan? Or angry yet again at Pat Bowlen and crew?

  • ssc
    meh, his record doesn't look so great. what role did he play in baltimore? can we get some color on what type of defense he plays? notable scheme philosophies?
  • flbronc
    i like it on several levels.
    1. its not dom capers
    2. hes a solid defensive mind and has been associated with some pretty good defenses
    3. he's not bob slowik
    4. he's fresh to the organization and will objectively evaluate talent
    5. he has head coaching experience, and provided he and mcd get along professionally he will be a good source of advice for our young hc
    6. from what i gather, he's pretty no nonsense- which is what our defense needs.
    7. lets face it- we cant bring in another top flight current defensive coordinator (spags, ryan, frazier) due to compensation issues, so this hire is better than hiring some position coach from somewhere else in the league imo
  • flbronc
    ssc- he's known for a 3-4 i believe
  • "When in doubt, trust Schefter." = Still true.
  • Jordan C
    I think that he prefers a 3-4, but from McDaniel's vague language at the press conference last night, they may stick with the 4-3 if they can't make the personnel fit.

    I, for one, hope and think that they will switch to a 3-4.
  • Jordan C
    Although I have some reservations about his chemistry (trouble getting along with Alex Smith, who may have just been a big baby), I agree with flbronc that Nolan was by far, the best real possibility.
  • ssc -

    His role in Balitimore would be defensive coordinator... as in the head of the defense.

    Nolan has had his ups and downs but I do like his history as a defensive coordinator.
  • Jordan C
    With the exception of his time in Washington and a year in Baltimore (while Ray Lewis was out the whole year - just sayin'), he generally improved defenses. Sometimes it was quickly and sometimes it was slowly.

    Even the numbers at the Niners got better generally, albeit too slowly. I discount the head coaching years anyway. As we've discussed, head coaching skills are different entirely.
  • Agreed Jordan C.

    Doesn't he look so badass in that suit?
  • Danish Denver-fan!
    I agree with flbronco!

    Also i like the suit. Now sporting a suit AND a hoodie on the same sideline...
  • Bob W
    Mike Nolan needs to take us back to the old days of the ORANGE CRUSH DEFENSE and bring back the 3 - 4 defense . Hopefully some of the D players can adapt to it or just move . Just like Robertson who is due to get 4 million roster bonus, no way daddio your out of here.
  • meh.

    Enough of all the coach talk, lets just draft and get to training camp.
  • Love the picture, it's very agent Smith.
  • Cutty
    The first big step in the return to Orange crush would be to wear Orange. Dump the blue and lets get back to Orange Crush and Orange Sunday.
  • Rob4Broncos
    To the more knowledgeable minds: what do you think of Jarvis Moss as an OLB in the 3-4? The physical specimen is certainly there; could he end up being as much of an impact in that role as, say, Harrison is for Pittsburgh? Or is that just wishful thinking?
  • MIAbronco
    that may be just wishful thinking, moss is still like 6'6" 240 pounds, a bit on the light side for that height. harrison is like 6'1" 260 and can get under those blockers for a solid rush
  • ssc
    @ east: for some reason i thought rex ryan was the DC during those years. maybe because of rex ryan's own chest thumping, i assumed he was responsible for 2000-on. i wikipedia'ed and noticed that wasn't the case.

    so chad jackson was dumped by mcdaniels and winborn by nolan? are they both out?

    are nolan's defenses notable for anything other than base alignment? legwold mentioned that the ravens are known for being particularly adept at targeting specific gaps to overload on blitzes (they actually practice the timing), some commentator mentioned a distaste for spag's use of DL stunts (i believe he opined you have to have a DE with unusual lateral agility/speed like tuck to make it work, otherwise it just takes too long), dungy was known for basic-but-mistake-free, no-frills tampa2 responsibilities, etc. does nolan have a notable approach?
  • flbronc
    rob- wishful thinking... he may end up contributing, but a star/impact player is a bit too much.... he may develop into a solid player, but thats about it. i'm sure he'll at least get a shot since we have so much invested in him.

    cutty- i absolutely agree... orange sunday has been gone for too long!
  • J
    ESPN reports that Mays will come back to USC next year so, I guess, we should keep our fingers crossed that Maliuluga falls to 12.
  • jchase8410
    At 6'6" he has more length to knock down balls, strip the QB, yet still has the same if not more quickness than Harrison. This move would also improve his run stopping game as well. He would have more time to read and react to plays without having to engage an offensive lineman right off the snap. He is definately athletic enough to make that transition...but what do I know?
  • I wish Denver wore suits... That'd be bad ass.
  • jcampb72
    that terrible news J, so now I seriously doubt mau will drop to 12, but it really all depends on our defensive scheme this year. If we are going to use a 3-4 we need a big boy nose tackle and that will not be easy to find. I'm stumped but I'm sure Jim and Josh and Mike will decide which way is the best to go.
  • Steven
    I could moss as an olb, but he first needs to stay healthy. Switching to a 3-4 will be at least a 3 year project. In another post someone mentioned that he runs a lot of zone.
  • Jordan C
    "Jim and Josh and Mike".

    That sounds so weird. I'm not even sure if they are on a first name basis with each other, yet.

    Ian - I agree about the suits. (Most) college basketball coaches look classy with the suit as the standard. Plus it's not without precedent. Remember Vince Lombardi?

    Or, I might be in favor of a hybrid look - the suit jacket over the hoody. Hmm... Who's good with photoshop?
  • mark in Carolina
    I, for one, welcome a 3-4 defense. To anyone who says we don't have the personnel for a 3-4, I'd counter that we don't have the personnel for a 4-3 either.

    Nolan has had ups and downs, but generally he's had a positive influence. He's not the best out there, but the best out there have their sights set on a HC job - a lateral DC move to a rebuilding D would be out of the question.

    Nolan is the safe bet. McDermott or some other positional coach might be a better long term DC choice, but if we are going to roll the dice @ head coach, might as well play it conservative at DC.
  • Roy
    I think Moss in a 3-4 may be serviceable. If he can stay healthy and learn the techniques. He may have to put on somemuscle, but then that would not be a bad thing anyway. I agree that he will probably not blossom into the allstar Shanny thought he could be, but he could an every sunday contributer.

    I am with everyone that they should switch to the orange. Can the fans start a petition or something?
  • Dakota fan
    Here's a draft day scenario- with Goodman calling personnel shots and the coaching staff (specifically the HC) not so involved with choosing personnel, how will the Broncos draft now? Will they be willing to sacrifice lower picks to move up for quality, or sacrifice the higher round picks for moving down (quantity, higher number of lower round picks)?

    101 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes to the draft, my bretheren. This is going to be a blast!!!
  • MIAbronco
    THANK GOD Mays is staying for another year and mcdaniels wont blow his first year by blowing that pick. Mays has a future, and that future is as a futrue bust.
  • Roy
    I don't know about that MIA. He is a hell of a player. Another year in college may tasech him how to wrap up and drive with his legs instead of trying to kill whoever is in his vacinity. He would have added a mean streak to our defense though, one that we have been lacking for quite some time.
  • Roy
    Seeing that he is staying though, Denver picks the best d-player available at 12. If not, they try to trade down.
  • Roy
    Here is something to chew on----and it sucks!

    http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/01/13/bronc...
  • broncoNM
    Ouch! Dude that sucks if bates takes off to Oak.
  • i think a 3-4 switsh will be good cause it will give us a chance to put woodyard and williams both on the field as OLB's. This would allow all of our current play makers like champ and bly to stay on the field along with elvis but add another one in the way of woodyard
  • Bucky
    I cant click on that link just based on its title. makes me a little sick.
  • BroncoinVA9986
    bates will follow shannahan along with kennison....well see my dumb ass was hoping for scott pioli for GM...I think that General Manager is the key to rebuilding this team. I believe that Mcdaniels is just about as talented as Bates but we will see
  • SivNiz
    Sounds like Bowlen know something we didn't when he hired McD
  • SivNiz
    I saw a part of an interview with Bowlen and it sounded like he WASN'T going to hire a GM and that he was going to give that responsibility to Goodman
  • BroncoinVA9986
    Mike Nolan is a decent pickup I was hoping when they fired nolan in san Fran that singletary wouldn't get the job he would have been a perfect fit......but we will not know whether MCdaniels or Nolan will be a good fit.....can't wait till September...this could be a scary time with oakland on the rise and the Chiefs hiring scott pioli.....I believe that San Diego's days as the Division leader are numbered.......
  • Bucky
    I gotta say, i still don't think a linebacker in the draft is the best way to go this year (unless curry fell to us, which WILL NOT happen) I think they finally get their premier runner, i know that sounds nuts, but the Defensive side of the ball is loaded with young, fairly inexpensive talent in Free Agency. i think we should land a couple of players through FA, maybe one big signing in a guy like Peppers (pry a long shot, but who knows) and some other lesser knowns at LB like Michael Boley (OLB) and Carlos Dansby or Channing Crowder (MLB). work on the D line by trading down with that first pick, or stay there and get a premier runner, and help the line in the second round (where there might be better NT talent/value anyway).

    Maybe I'm crazy but i think we could put a better overall team on the field that way then just going best available D players in the draft. if Moreno were to fall to us.... i dont know, im just thinking out loud here.
  • Bob W
    Shanny goes to Dallas next year and Bates , Dennison , Turner follow him .
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