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Published on 03/30/2011 at Wed Mar 30 12:30.
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Reliving the High Moments of 2010: Josh McDaniels Fired

Posted Wed Mar 30th by

Colts Broncos Football

Things didn't pan out as the Broncos hoped they would when they named Josh McDaniels Head Coach in January of 2009. (AP Photo/ Barry Gutierrez )

As we continue to relive the high moments of the Broncos 2010 season, we look back at the day all of Broncos Country rejoiced at the news of Josh McDaniels being fired.

December 6th, 2010, Denver Broncos Head Coach Josh McDaniels has been fired, team owner Pat Bowlen confirmed on Monday morning.

The news broke via the team’s official Twitter account (it was the first time in the history of the NFL that a team announced the firing of a Head Coach over social media.  See there, the Broncos were all into Twitter even before John Elway returned).

After a highly controversial tenure with the Broncos, McDaniels was finally cut loose.  Over the course of (almost) two seasons, McDaniels made several fan-angering trades and tarnished the team’s image in SpyGate II. His overall record in Denver was 11-17.

McDaniels has since landed with the St. Louis Rams as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, two positions that this blogger thinks fit McDaniels far better than a Head Coaching gig.

The Broncos new Head Coach, John Fox, is now left to pick up the pieces in Denver.  It’s won’t be an easy job (the defense is in shambles), but Fox seems to be up to the challenge.  For all his short comings, McDaniels did do a few things right, and may have left some players behind that will help Fox and the Broncos get back on track.

  • He drafted running back Knowshon Moreno in the 2009 NFL Draft.  While Moreno hasn’t quite lived up to his expectations, he has a lot of potential and could become a pivotal part of the Broncos offense in the near future.
  • The same year, McDaniels drafted linebacker Robert Ayers, who’s been a similar case to Moreno.  In Denver’s new 4-3 defense however, Ayers will go back to playing defensive end (the position he played his entire life) and could become the force on defense the Broncos hoped to see him become when the drafted him.
  • In last years draft, he selected several offensive players and two cornerbacks that have loads of potential.  Among those players is quarterback Tim Tebow, who many have speculated will become a great quarterback, if the Broncos can upgrade their defense and place the proper weapons around Tebow.
  • McDaniels also acquired several players through free agency and trades that could contribute in Denver for years to come.  In 2009, he signed free agent wide receivers Brandon Lloyd and Jabar Gaffney who have both been solid receiving threats.  A year later, McDaniels traded injury-prone running back J.J. Arrington to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for linebacker Joe Mays (who is projected to become a starter in Fox’s 4-3 defense).  The same offseason, the Broncos signed free agent linebacker Jason Hunter (who was one of the most productive pass rushers last season and is expected to become a defensive end next season).
  • He also left the team with a 2nd overall selection in the upcoming draft.  And though going through what it took to get a 2nd overall pick was anything but acceptable, it will help Denver add a top-tier player to the team.

In the end, nearly every Bronco fan was overjoyed when the news broke that McDaniels was being replaced.  At the moment, it looks like Denver made the right choice and are moving in the right direction to getting back to their winning ways.

  • areferee

    Thanks Jon. I appreciate your remembering my personal high point from last season. :-)

  • TheTroglodyte

    Overall I believe the Broncos will be better for having hired and fired McD than if they just kept Shanny who has proved once again in Washington the game has passed him by.

    Ayers was vastly improved in year 2 from year 1 and going back to his natural position may be enough to put him in the above average range which along side Doom (if we upgrade at DT) could make him an occasional pro-bowler.

    Moreno hasn't been healthy in either of his two years but he did show glimpses of solid vision and power last year. If he can get healthy he may prove to be an above average back as well. If the O-Line improves to above average that could = great running attack.

    I also still believe D.T. has the most upside of any WR in last years draft. Depending on how his therapy goes he may never have a chance to showcase his talents but his raw speed, size & strength still make him a genetic freak and his work ethic might be verging on the best the NFL has seen from a WR in the last decade. At any case I really like the kid so I am hoping for the best for him as well as the Broncos.

  • JackfnBurton

    Hey, you have to break a few eggs to make an omelette. We broke a lot of eggs over the last two years, so I expect John Fox to make us one hell of a big fat fluffy omelette.

  • stuckinraiderland

    Hey, finally a story in this series I can bring myself to read. Sorry guys, but the rest were all too tough to think about.

  • areferee

    Make it a DENVER omelette…but hold the cheeseheads…

  • stuckinraiderland

    I'm going to pretend I hate that comment while secretly enjoying it.

  • Gradishar53

    You definitely are a cup is half full guy! I think Tebow could be a surprising stroke of genius (but a blind squirrel occasionally finds a nut).

    But I have to say the HIllis trade defies all common sense…. A high school coach could have seen he was something special… They excused that he didn't fit the system, but that's like saying: “We can't use Earl Campbell because he doesn't fit out scheme.”

    Further, our opportunity w/ 4 1st round picks that were squandered… That first year we could have drafted the entire USC linebacker corp. of Mathews, Cushing, and Malauga… But Moreno, Ayers, and Smith????

  • Jack_

    Did you just compare Hillis to Earl Campbell?

  • Gradishar53

    Yes I did… Both powerbacks… Both beasts at their positions… Hillis first full starting year was 1,177 rushing w/ 477 receiving… Similar production to Earl… Hillis' YPC is 4.5… Campbell's was 4.4…

  • MrEast

    I mean Josh did a lot of questionable things, but his biggest folly wasn't Cutler, Marshall, or Scheffler. The biggest problem with McDaniels was relying on a mixture of old and inexperienced defensive players. This is one of the reasons why Denver would start out hot but then fade during the stretch.

    The second biggest problem with McDaniels is that he was a jerk and 33 years old. The combination of the two is very important. As a youngster taking a head leadership position myself, I can tell you that people older than you (the fans included, in McDaniels case that is) do not appreciate someone younger than them parading around like a know-it-all.

    The third biggest problem wasn't McDaniels' drafting skills, but his affinity to draft offensive players in the upper rounds when the team probably didn't need another wide receiver or a tight end.

    However, despite his questionable moves I think he should have had one more year. With the lockout threatening the season it isn't the best idea to change horses mid stream, and especially with the only coach that technically did “worse” than McDaniels did last year (and that guy got to coach all of his games).

    That's just my two cents.

  • MrEast

    I mean that's kinda like comparing apples to oranges. Also, Peyton fumbled a whole lot in Denver and didn't get the job done on third down when given the chance.

  • flbronc

    i think that the one thing you left out was the split with nolan. had he not had the ego battle with nolan our defense would have been at least average last year. an average defense probably would have put us around .500.

  • http://Facebook.com/BroncosZone Jon

    Everybody makes mistake and yes he did fumble alot and needs to work on that but I'd take him over Moreno any day of the week.

  • Acerfman

    Didn't he lead the NFL in fumbles last year? Isn't his offensive line awesome?

    It wasn't that Hillis didn't fit the system. It was that he needed to get a few carries to get going and we just didn't have the carries to give him. We did give him a few opportunities in third and fourth and short and he failed and fumbled, so he was gone. That's how it goes. McD doesn't take kindly to fumbling. Cleveland will take what they can get.

  • Acerfman

    That's why nobody will hire you as a GM

  • MrEast

    I agree 100%. It's a lot easier running behind an all star line and Lawrence Vickers blocking for you.

    Hillis had some moments in the sun and some that put him on the bench. McDaniels saw a deal that he thought would benefit his team. It just sucks that the deal sucked, but hey, at least Chris Simms isn't the backup anymore.

  • Acerfman

    I agree with you. But looking back at who we could have hired when we hired McD and who we have now, it worked out pretty well. Also, I think Josh did a good job creating a tight, unified locker room.

    Only problem is, they were unified in wanting to see him leave.

  • http://Facebook.com/BroncosZone Jon

    You should see all the offers I get everyday!

  • Gradishar53

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…

    Hillis is a beast in any system… Wanna screw up as a coach–bench a guy who fumbled a couple so you can give him the case of the yips and mess w/ his confidence… Hillis is a flat-out football player… 477 receiving yards is proof that its more than just a good o-line.

  • Acerfman

    Didn't he lead the NFL in fumbles last year? Isn't his offensive line awesome?

    It wasn't that Hillis didn't fit the system. It was that he needed to get a few carries to get going and we just didn't have the carries to give him. We did give him a few opportunities in third and fourth and short and he failed and fumbled, so he was gone. That's how it goes. McD doesn't take kindly to fumbling. Cleveland will take what they can get.

  • Acerfman

    That's why nobody will hire you as a GM

  • MrEast

    I agree 100%. It's a lot easier running behind an all star line and Lawrence Vickers blocking for you.

    Hillis had some moments in the sun and some that put him on the bench. McDaniels saw a deal that he thought would benefit his team. It just sucks that the deal sucked, but hey, at least Chris Simms isn't the backup anymore.

  • Acerfman

    I agree with you. But looking back at who we could have hired when we hired McD and who we have now, it worked out pretty well. Also, I think Josh did a good job creating a tight, unified locker room.

    Only problem is, they were unified in wanting to see him leave.

  • http://Facebook.com/BroncosZone Jon

    You should see all the offers I get everyday!

  • Gradishar53

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…

    Hillis is a beast in any system… Wanna screw up as a coach–bench a guy who fumbled a couple so you can give him the case of the yips and mess w/ his confidence… Hillis is a flat-out football player… 477 receiving yards is proof that its more than just a good o-line.