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Published on 10/25/2010 at Mon Oct 25 03:50.
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Josh McDaniels: The only question worth asking

Posted Mon Oct 25th by

Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels watches the action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/ Ed Andrieski)

Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels watches the action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/ Ed Andrieski)

There’s a perfectly-worded poll currently running on the Denver Post’s website. It asks, “Do you believe Broncos coach Josh McDaniels can keep his team from quitting on him this season?”

The choices: “No. The loss to the Raiders shows they’ve already quit,” and, “Yes. I think the Broncos will rebound and at least keep trying.”

This is the question McDaniels is undoubtedly asking himself after his players spit in the face of everything he claims to stand for Sunday in Denver.

If actions speak louder than words, the vast majority of the 45 players who dressed in Broncos blue gave their coach, and their fans, the virtual middle finger on October 24th. McDaniels lost his players in humiliating totality in Week 7. Has he lost them for the season?

“It’s not good enough – it’s not even close to good enough,” McDaniels said. “I apologize to (Owner) Pat (Bowlen) and the organization, all the fans and everyone else. It was awful.”

Like his apology to the fans, McDaniels’ message to his players has fallen on deaf ears. You can count the number of players who “did their job” on one hand. There was no essence of “smart football” or “playing tough,” physically or mentally.

The defense, physically outmatched and mentally ill-prepared, quit on Wink Martindale when the scoreboard still read 0-0, when quarterback Jason Campbell scrambled past defensive back Nate Jones for a long first down. There was not an iota of fire or spark from the defense for the 57 minutes of football that followed. The Broncos allowed a franchise-record 59 points to the rival Raiders, along with 328 rushing yards, the second highest number posted in 25 years.

Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels leaves the field after his team's 59-14 loss to the Oakland Raiders during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels leaves the field after his team's 59-14 loss to the Oakland Raiders during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

The offense, physically outmatched and mentally ill-prepared, quit on Josh McDaniels after Kyle Orton‘s first snap. Orton made a dreadful, terrible throw, and McDaniels got cute with a Tim Tebow/Demaryius Thomas end around on the next play.

Even had Thomas not fumbled, the move was so finesse even the Broncos cheerleaders were rolling their eyes.

After a loss like this, don’t ask if the Broncos should start Tim Tebow. They shouldn’t. Not in Week 8. Kyle Orton is still their best chance to win.

Don’t ask if McDaniels should be fired midseason — he won’t be. The only realistic interim coach would be a coordinator, and the Broncos only have one of those. The Broncos are likely thinking about firing Wink Martindale before promoting him.

Don’t ask if the Broncos players have quit on their coach — they have.

Ask if McDaniels can get them to un-quit. Because that’s the only way this season can be salvaged, if one considers a 6-10 finish “salvaged.”

The repeated theme of post-game quotes by the coach and players was of “soul searching.”

If one isn’t found, the Broncos will be coach-searching.

Do you believe Broncos coach Josh McDaniels can keep his team from quitting on him this season?

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  • Thelonelyfan

    Again I think its four comments after mine where these so called “fans” think they know what there talking about… first of people, get over the cutler bs, the marshall bs, and all the other dummies that left cause guess what none of them are that good to keep and damn sure wouldn't have helped us. (FYI cutler threw four picks yesterday.. ya pro bowl player). Draft picks? Thomas was a great pick up and will out shine anybody we let go already, Tebow was a good pick, and ALSO Mr.Cox – this guy will be a stud years to come… which is why we stopped discussions with Bailey. Let me say something else, unlike some people on here I am only 21 years old, I didn't go through the whole elway era, but I know from my pops that things have been worse. Ya it would be great to get to the playoffs, ya great to get to the superbowl, but remember how long it took us to win One, win Two for that matter. Y'all need to be patient and still see how this year turns out before you should even speak on this matter. McD is a good coach, again none of y'all were saying jack when we was 6-0, to last week when we almost be the jets. Me get real??? y'all get real… your just a bunch of fans that think you know but really you know nothing and speak when you shouldn't even speak. If anybody has tickets that DON'T want to go to the games anymore get at me…I'll be more than happy to take umm off your hands

  • kerry

    this team has sunk to an all new low. period. and this clown above my post hasnt an idea what he is saying. demaryius Thomas has done JACK SQUAT!! neither has Tebow or ANY Mcd draft pic for that matter. yet guys like Hillis and Marshall are off having success. McD is a joke coach. his system has ALREADY been figured out. ALREADY!! he cant draft, cant call plays, cant sign good free agents. um yeah our 6-0 start was a fluke as we finished 8-8 and it has further been reinforved by the fact that we are 2-5 and have just gotten smoked by one of the worst teams in football. oh and yeah we ALMOST beat the Jets, yeah ALMOST doesnt count in the NFL there genius. Orton is EXACTLY like Jay Cutler only with a weaker arm. lots of yards with few TD's and even fewer wins. wanna know something funny, Cutler has the same amount of wins as a Bear as Orton does a Bronco. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA. what a joke team!!

  • wyrob

    Cutler was hypersensitive. I don't blame the coach there.
    I DO blame the coach for this loss. Cable got the Raiders AMPED UP for this game by showing them highlights of the Bronco-Raider rivalry over the years. McDaniels apparently overlooked the rivalry altogether. Before the game, Broncos players were saying, “this is just another game.”
    Coaches head is still in the AFC East.

  • wyrob

    I agree, BUT…
    Coach should have done more to get his team MOTIVATED to play in a division rivalry.
    Game plan may have been fine, but our players were not nearly as motivated as the Raiders were.

  • hire cowher

    First of all, ROLL DOWN YOUR STUPID SLEEVES!!!!!! How can people think for even a second that Orton should be on the chopping block? Last week he was the highest rated QB in the league, and he accomplished that with NO running game, a revolving O line and tough match ups. Tebow is years away, Orton is having a pro bowl year, but he can't do it all, and he can't counter act McDaniels waisted downs with little tebow tests, and end arounds, and division 2 college plays. He throws picks, but his amazing resolve has kept those pics from being game ending. McDaniels panicked in the 2nd with a failed 4th down attempt, and NEVER firing up his players unless they already did something good.

  • MiamiMike

    With all respect and I do mean that. I think the fans are not out to crucify McDaniel's for this ONE LOSS IT IS FOR THE 4 wins out of 17 games. This is not like it was the first blow out and it is not like he has not had a chance to adjust his coaching philosophy. When you win 4 out of 17 games and AGAIN get a blow out at home then it is time to crucify him. If this was a 1-2-3 time thing maybe you let it go but not with this record and not after this team get blown off the field by a lower tier team like the Raiders. No excuse for what happened Sunday. I'm sorry I think fans have eraned the right since McDaniel's has not earned it.

  • Mhhurricanes

    You need to realize fans here have a right to voice their opinion just as you do. We might not agree with yours and you might not agree with others but as a fan everyone has the right to speak their mind. You can be a great fan and still not be happy with how this team is playing. Your voice in not the only one and by no means just because you speak it does it make it any more right than others here.

  • Broncofan123

    afaik, he did give shanny a chance to fire the dc and get a new one, and he refused. therefore shanny was gone.

  • Et4la

    I don't think Bronco fans get it when in it comes to this team. We simply don't ahve enought talent. You can get any defensive coordinator in the historyof the NFL to coach for us and we will still stink as long as we bring in over the hill defensive linemen and career second teamers and think that will get the job done. Bronco fans wake up!! Josh McDaniels will lose his because of all his ban personell decisions Jarvis Green, Justin Bannan, Ronnie Fields, Jamal Williams and you can add Renaldo Hill to that list. We are the new version of the over the hill gnang, just not nearly as talented as that old Redskin bunch. No-show Moreno is small and slow, not a good comibnation for a running back and we move up in the draft to take Alfonso Smith, only to trade him. Peyton Hillis anyone??? We don't even need to talk about the insanity of trading him for Brady (can't platy a lick) Quinn. While we bring in the old folks the Chiefs patiently build with the draft and make great draft and player decisions and guess where they are now?? Let's rebuild the right way next time00not this stop gap method that has left our cupboard bare of young talent on defense. We hae some offensive weapons that bode well for the future, but our problem with McDaniels is the same one we had with Shanahan at the end of his career here, he wouldn't no a defense player if he was sacked by one.

  • areferee

    uh…to keep Orton alive for the NEXT game…duh?

  • areferee

    There is NO question that McDaniels was intimidated by Mike Nolan. You got it right!

  • areferee

    What the team is lacking right now is passion and an undying will to win and pay the price in doing so.

    Tebow has that! In SPADES!

  • areferee

    Yep.

  • areferee

    Now, if you could just get all that venom under control, and then direct it to where it needs to go to turn up the pressure to perform on the field, that bright little panacea you describe may leave fantasyland and find its way to the real world.

    Most of what you are reading here is written by Bronco fans that love the team just as much as you do. We don't have to “goose step” with the fuhrer to prove it. Relax a bit. OK?

  • areferee

    Hey Ben. Nobody listens when you shout!

  • jdkchem

    The players need to be motivated? They are paid to show up and be motivated every Sunday. If they have a problem with that they can always sell cell phones or make sandwiches.

  • jdkchem

    I have yet to see Orton throw 4 picks to the same player in the same game. Lloyd can take the next 4 games off before Marshall even gets close to him in stats. If you have a valid point then state it. Whining just makes you look like yet another band wagon New York transplant.

  • jdkchem

    After this season there will be 2 more years of McDaniels. Grow up and deal with it. It is one game and the problems with the Broncos go back long before McDaniels showed up.

  • Doom92

    We had one of those, one of the best in the league and McImmature couldn't get along with him and/or didn't like him…

  • Doom92

    I agree putting little Timmy in now would be a huge mistake, especially for him. I still think we could have easily gotten him in the second round but I liked getting him and still do, he is a winner and will be a winner in the NFL also, just not yet. Putting him in now will do nothing more than end up making the fans hate him and get him hurt trying to do to much.

    My fingers are crossed for Gruden coming here and hated that Tampa let him go so late, when all knew it was coming. I mention Gruden because he really liked the subject… Tebow. Gruden praised him greatly so i think that factor might just be enough to draw him here.

    J-Gru and a top notch GM combo would be nice and I believe there are enough pieces to the puzzle to not need a complete rebuild.

  • Robert

    I would have given Tebow a chance to run the 1st offence in the second half, when the game was clearly gone. I doubt that he's ready to start, particularly with a short week of practice and a long trip to England. He could have gotten some valuable experience in a game situation – don't know why McDaniels didn't see it that way. It may well be 2012 before Tebow is ready to play and win in the NFL. Probably by then both McDaniels and Orton will be long gone.

  • Robert

    The Broncos are way short of talent on both offense and defense, due to several factors – Shanahan didn't leave a good nucleus, McDaniels has made some poor choices, and several key people are out with injuries.

    I don't agree with recycling former NFL coaches – the ones mentioned are all out of work for a reason, and all have had some notable failures as well as successes. At least you aren't proposing Ditka or Bill McCartney! McDaniels has the potential of improving, if he can rally the team and get them to play like pros. They should have some good draft choices this year, with a likely 4-12 or worse record. Give young Josh at least another year to get the team improving.

  • ms_c

    I am with you…I really like the thought that Gruden would be our new coach…he is passionate about football and love his coaching abilities! Well said! : ) As for now…I stand behind Orton but also do not want to see him hurt…Tebow is a rookie and has a lot to learn..I come off as hating on him but I don't…just hate hearing the chants “Tebow” when in reality we need to applaud Orton on doing well this season..The whole entire team is not Orton or Tebow..they can only do so much…This past Sunday's loss was just too much for me not to rant! lol… now onto the game against SF…don't know WHAT to expect…

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  • Jimhuls

    The minute they drafted Tebow I thought the very same thing… he did it to secure his job by drafting a “project” that everyone knows will take years to develop. To be honest it's the SMARTEST thing he's ever done because he's certainly not ready to be a head coach!

  • Msl3077

    I agree everyone has to chill on the whole fire McDaniels crusade. Nobody likes change and thats the only reason ppl dont like Josh. I dont see why ppl feel as though he ruined the team and why ppl are so upset about cutler and marshall. I think that these last 2 seasons have shown why Cutler was disposed of and Josh really had nothing to do with Cutler it was more between Cutler and the organization not Cutler and the coach. It's rediculous to think u can just bring in a new coach and win the superbowl… I'm gona stick by the Broncos and McDaniels no matter what plus in all honesty the majority of Denver fans are acting just like Eagles fans and that is the most upsetting part. The other thing that kills me is that everyone is down on the team when there biggest problem is their list of injuries. Hopefully they can pick it up after the bye week.

  • Msl3077

    I agree everyone has to chill on the whole fire McDaniels crusade. Nobody likes change and thats the only reason ppl dont like Josh. I dont see why ppl feel as though he ruined the team and why ppl are so upset about cutler and marshall. I think that these last 2 seasons have shown why Cutler was disposed of and Josh really had nothing to do with Cutler it was more between Cutler and the organization not Cutler and the coach. It's rediculous to think u can just bring in a new coach and win the superbowl… I'm gona stick by the Broncos and McDaniels no matter what plus in all honesty the majority of Denver fans are acting just like Eagles fans and that is the most upsetting part. The other thing that kills me is that everyone is down on the team when there biggest problem is their list of injuries. Hopefully they can pick it up after the bye week.

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