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Published on 12/09/2010 at Thu Dec 09 09:35.
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How McDaniels lost his players

Posted Thu Dec 9th by

Former Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels. (REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

Former Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels. (REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

This FanHouse piece by Thomas George details the deteriorating relationship Josh McDaniels had with his players as the end neared.

Several Broncos players and coaches told me that this coach’s in-game knowledge is superior. But his managing skills — of players and people, of even practices — was subpar. A Bill Belichick disciple, he sounds every bit like the young Belichick that was fired in Cleveland in 1996.

More nuggets after the jump.

One Broncos player, requesting anonymity, said: “We became all business and less family-oriented as a team. Some coaches, you hear what they are saying but you don’t take it all in. That began to happen. He was very hands on and did a lot of yelling. Guys prefer a coach who lets his assistants do more of that and he oversees things. He had a tough time really knowing how to reach players. We know as players you still have to go out there and play football and win. That’s on us. But the way we were playing and the way we were responding, that wasn’t a good combination.”

Losing breeds frustration breeds more losing breeds more frustration, and it seems McDaniels and the Broncos were certainly susceptible to this trend. Desperate for wins, the disconnect between McDaniels and his players only grew as McDaniels’ intensity increased.

So will McDaniels, if given a second chance in the NFL somewhere down the line, better figure out how to connect to his players? You get the feeling he just might. If so, he’ll take the league by storm.

It’s too bad his fiery bravado didn’t spark the reaction in Denver winning might have.

Josh McDaniels, Broncos Went Down Fighting to Bitter End [AOL FanHouse]

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  • MrEast

    Sounds about right when a young coach receives too much power at once. Too bad Bowlen and Ellis didn't structure the power appropriately, because when McDaniels finds someone who does, that will be a good team.

  • http://twitter.com/DantePakistan Michael Land

    I always hear about how “smart” McDaniels is and how his football IQ is off the charts but I never really saw it. His game plans were always sub-par and his play calling was awful. How many times does a bubble screens on third and long have to fail before you stop calling them? He always seemed to be setting up a big play by calling a lot of short dump off plans but then never capitalized on it. I just never saw anything positive about him as a HC, maybe someday he will get another chance and prove us wrong but I'm glad he's gone.

  • mikebirty

    If i was in charge of the cardinals, 49ers, vikings, titans i'd be talking to Josh now. even if not as HC, he seems to have too much knowledge to be out of a job for long

  • Fan From Spain

    I agree with the play calling comment and I don't think this guy will ever be a good HC after this, just a good QB coach at best. I'm curious to see how he would of made Tebow a good QB in the NFL. Don't be surprised if he tries to take him from the Broncos to which ever team he ends up on, like what he tried to do with Castle.

  • jdkchem

    Seems a bit like a replay of the John Ralston era. As far in the players revolting. Though Ralston did have a winning season or two when he was fired he just never got over the hump and into the playoffs.

  • jdkchem

    A name that has not been brought up is Rick Dennison as head coach. He could be what Art Shell was for the raiders years ago.

  • http://nation.theorangepage.com/blog Ian Henson

    Titans make a lot of sense with the unfortunate circumstances of Mike Heimerdinger.

  • AKfan

    Abundantly clear from the very beginning with the optional Cutler fiasco that Josh had no idea how to handle a NFL ego. Tough to find someone with worse personal skills than Josh. This perception that Josh is bound for glory is not based on actual performance. He came up with a gimmicky offense that caught the NFL off-guard and resulted in record breaking stats, but when it mattered in the super bowl the offense failed. There is a reason the Pats abandoned Josh's offense when he left. Josh is a perfect qb coach but that is all unless he makes some serious changes in his approach.

  • ROCKSTAR69P69W

    i think rick dennison is a bad choice! this team needs a leader with some years under his belt as a head coach. we have done way to much losing and deserve some stability. i say Jon Gruden or Bill Cowher would be best cause both input a stiff defense….We also need to see what Tebow can do before the end of the year! I have been more mad about us not having a chance to see if tebow could give a spark to the team since we have been out the playoff race. I would like for us to trade orton away for some draft picks or for a playmaker ( orton is a good qb..just not for denver ) and roll with tebow

  • http://twitter.com/DantePakistan Michael Land

    People need to get over Tebow, dude is a joke and will never ever be a legitimate NFL QB, LET IT GO!!!!!

  • 5280

    somebody give me some proof that tebow will absolutely fail in this league?!? Why? everyone who says that on here never offers a reason. WHY? any takers?

  • BroncoMan24

    But we would stupid to just trade him away before seeing how well he can do. Yeah he may suck it up in this league, but at least give him a chance to see what he can do. I don't think we will start him this year simply cause Studdes wants the HC job and doesn't want to risk it with a rookie QB. Granted I don't think we should start him either, but at least get him out there (in the next 4 games) to throw the ball around and get an idea of what he looks like. This running him up the middle on every play is stupid. It is not that he is bad, but that the defense automatically knows what we are going to since we run him everytime fricken play he is in. I love what they did with him on goal line, but on the other plays not so much.

  • Ocbronco

    People need to go to 104.3 the Fan and listen to Brandon Lloyd's comments about McDaniels. Doesn't sound like a guy who lost his locker room to me. Even Champ was pissed about the move. I am sure you can find some players that didn't like him but saying he lost the locker room is a bunch of media BS. I don't buy it but with that being said, what player is actually going to be happy when your 3-9?
    McD lost the fans and with Ellis a marketing guy calling the shots he lost his job for that reason. I agree his playcalling was bad. He gets too enamored with throwing the ball even when we are running well.
    Pointing to LLoyd's interview again, he said the game plans were incredible but the execution lacked. he thinks McD's problem was that these are the guys he brought in so he's responsible for their execution. But he said he hasn't played for anyone else that ad his team as prepared as McD did. His comments, not mine. And this after he was fired.
    We've also heard Haggan's coments in the past. Instead we trust the word of some “anonymous” player. Again, McD got fired because of Spygate 2 and because the fans are in revolt. Not the locker room.

  • bigboyblue

    broncos are having a bad year but i got a play i think will help them score more points on offense and shut down offenses on defense

  • bigboyblue

    if u think im lyin just email me at gamemastervo14@yahoo.com

  • ROCKSTAR69P69W

    your a moron…you dont do what tebow did in college and have no talent. college isn't the nfl…but it damn sure is the farm for fucking talent. tebow is better than orton and we would be stupid not to see what this guys has to offer…he was a first round so no sweeping that under the rug. and by the way every qb in the nfl throws the ball different and each has their own release so the bs about him having poor release is just the HATERS…EVERYONE HAS SOME HATERS DOING THEIR JOB…HATING!!! dont believe me look at peyton throw and then look at rivers and then TAKE A LOOK AT VICK AND SEE HOW SIMILAR TEBOWS THROWING MOTION IS TO HIS,,,,,,,,,,,,GO BLOW YOUR MOM

  • mikebirty

    Would Jeff Fisher happily bring in his successor though?

    Apparently they called Josh and told him they wanted him to make Vince Young into a star QB and he replied, I'm a good coach not a miracle worker.

    And Bret Kern is worried that if McD comes in and the Titans win 6 on the bounce he's gonna be cut.

  • mikebirty

    erm, because he's left handed and left handers are witches

  • ROCKSTAR69P69W

    ALSO JOSHIE MIGHT SUCK AT BEING A COACH….BUT THE MAN KNOWS QBs! LOOK WHAT HE DID TO ORTON, CASSEL, BRADY (YES HE HELPED BRADY OUT..CHECK OUT BRADY AT THE COMBINE AND YOU WILL SEE) I AM SURE HE HAS AN EYE FOR QB TALENT…i would actually be down with have mcdaniels as our OC or qb coach for a year to bring tebow along…not that that would happen..but it would be ideal

  • falconium

    Bernie Kosar threw sidearmed and he did pretty good in Cleveland all those years. I agree. Start him. NOW.

  • http://nation.theorangepage.com/blog Ian Henson

    I wonder if Fisher will make it through the season. What do you think? Think the Vince Young situation is too much?

  • AKfan

    Brandon Llyod is having a career year with McD and has a job because of him. Pretty obvious he is going to be big fan and not the best gauge of the locker room. So your premise if McD lost his job because he lost the fans? He lost the fans because of his failures as a coach. He lost his job because of his failures as a coach. He put together the worst streak in THIRTY YEARS of Broncos football. He was involved in a cheating scandal. He got destroyed at home by the Raiders. The offense and defense is performing worse 2 years later than when he took over. Take your pick, there are plenty of legitimate reasons to fire McD. Really if he lost the locker room or not is pretty irrelevant, his inability to win games and improve the team, and embarrassing the organization is more than reason enough to send him on his way.

  • TheTroglodyte

    Tebow is left handed because the right hand of god was already occupied!

  • MrPete

    I have to agree with getting Tebow on the field and seeing what he can do. Didn't we just experience this same situation with Hillis. We saw potiental the short time he played a couple years ago, before he was hurt. Then McDaniels didn't give him a chance to prove what he could do. And we all know the rest of the story. So lets learn from the past.

  • Sports Professor

    Tony Dungy is at the top of that list, IMO

  • Sports Professor

    NOT TRue…tebow could play circles around at least 15 other NFL QB's

    CLausen?
    Smith?
    Young?
    Carr?
    Delhomme?
    Anderson?
    Henne?
    Pennington?
    Jackson?
    Just to name a few

  • Sports Professor

    well said!

  • Ocbronco

    So you agree with me? I don't dispute your points and you are right Lloyd is having an unreal year. And why? Because he traded Brandon Marshall. Not so stupid with that move IMO. And Lloyd isn't the only player with McDaniel's back. I just laugh that everyone buys in to this crap about McD not connecting with his players.
    That being said….. we suck! That is why he was fired. And Spygate 2 as I mentioned. And yes, that is how he lost the fans.
    We are the laughing stock of the NFL but I don't JUST blame McDaniels for that. If you hire a 32-year-old NFL Head Coach, how in the world do you expect that he won't make mistakes? You've got to think he will learn from them. I mean they let him tear the f'ing franchise apart and then get rid of him after 1.5 years? That's insane to me. And that's why we're the laughing stock. I have no confidence we will be able to get a solid coach next year. And this with a lock-out looming.
    So this offseason, we will need to install a new offense and defense with a new HC and when? There could be as little as 3 weeks to prepare for next season. You think we suk now? We are really going to get stung next year. AND I guess I am OK with that as long as we make the right decision this time and allow our Coach to play his vision out.

  • Deltap4

    What did art Shell do for the faiders as a coach?

  • Deltap4

    Ken Stabler was left handed and so was Steve Young.
    Stop picking on us lefties :}

  • jdkchem

    He had some good years not great years but he did bring some stability to the organization. He had only one losing season in his first stint as head coach.

  • jdkchem

    So you want a coach who has years under his belt but has failed at every opportunity. What exactly did Gruden do? He won a superbowl with Tony Dungy's players. Say whatever you want but enjoy your good cry when reality rears it's head.

  • WhidbeyBronco

    would less front office power have helped him call more running plays in the 4th qtr of the KC game?

    Or NOT punt with the 31st ranked defense and 3 minutes left?

    Or NOT cheat?

    hmmm

  • virginiabronco

    I see no reason to keep discussing this matter. Mc D is gone. He ain't coming back. Cutler is gone. Marshall, gone. Hillis, gone. TE's, linemen, Gone. Running game, gone. Offense scoring, gone. Defense, not been there in a long while. 1st round draft picks, sitting on the bench or traded. Playoff hopes in 2010, gone.
    Who's to blame?

  • Mokptt

    I remember us running for 3 quarters and not scoring, why would we of scored in the last quarter?

  • Doom92

    The most stupid thing I have ever read on here by far…

  • Doom92

    He rebuilt Traiders from essentially nothing and had them one very, very bad and bogus call by the officials from going to the Super Bowl and then added pieces to a team that Dungy repeatedly could NOT get to the show and one a SuperBowl… I've heard Warren Sapp say a number of times the Gruden was exactly what they needed to win that Super Bowl. A little research would have answered your own question :-)…

  • Doom92

    The dude that is gone…lmao

  • Doom92

    The name I have heard on a couple of the radio shows and that I would really like to see is an old foe… Yes Marty Shottenhiemer… I know some will laugh at that, scuff at it or make fun of it but Marty was one fumble and one Elway drive away from the hall of fame… He strait up built the Chargers into an awesome team and one like crazy out there, his last year he was 14-2. Yes I know Marty cant win in the playoffs… As history has it that is true but I think he is a winner and I think Marty Ball would be awesome here and I think he could absolutely turn the Broncos around. NOT to mention he knows the AFC West…

  • Ocbronco

    nothing to laugh at Doom. they say that about a lot of the great ones before they win it regardless of sport. I don't think Schottenheimer would be a bad choice at all.

  • Dan1e1

    It is clear that there are those that have not taken a real lopok at Tebow's record. It speaks for itself. The man is a leader and has always been a leader his entire career of football, at every level. Why not put him on the field and let him play and see what he can do. It isn't going to affect us the remainder of the season either way the games go, as long as he he goes out there and tries. The results might surprise us all!

  • Fan From Spain

    If Marty would come back to coaching I say grab him, he made SD a good team from not much. I still like Wink to coach D for another year also.

  • WhidbeyBronco

    That's your logic for going away from our 7 ypc running game!!??
    SEVEN!!

  • areferee

    HEY! I'm a Southpaw too, and…and…

    “I'll get you, my pretty … and your little dog too!”

    :-)

  • http://twitter.com/DantePakistan Michael Land

    Tebow was great in college back he was surround by superior talent, his teams were loaded with NFL players, in the majority of his games his team was far superior to his opponents. In college he was bigger and stronger then most defensive players and was faster then quite a few of them too, not the case in the NFL. I'm pretty sure there are quite a few DL that could out run him. I won't deny him of his leadership abilities but that's not going to win games, he was a waste of a first round pick, maybe in the 4th or 5th round I would have taken a flier on him but not any higher. Orton is a far superior QB and Tebow will never be half as good as him, he is a gimmick and that's all he will ever be. By the way, Orton is not the problem, he's been one of the few bright spots.

  • http://twitter.com/DantePakistan Michael Land

    Wink needs to be the first to go, our defense has been awful.

  • jdkchem

    7 ypc and how many points? Much like the “2nd” ranked offense in Shanahan's last year. A lot of big numbers except where it mattered.

  • jdkchem

    Actually he did give Hillis a chance and Hillis fumbled. Unfortunately the early mistakes left Hillis in the dog house the rest of the season.

  • NMBronc

    And now Cox is arrested for sexual assault. Oye Vey!

  • jdkchem

    So he is a younger version of Red Miller than. Because he made it to one super bowl and did not do much after that. In fact A little research would have told you that the only playoff games he won as HC in Tampa were his first year. If you are going to talk about doing research perhaps you should do a little yourself.

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