In his first season with the Broncos, linebackers coach Don Martindale helped Denver's defense to 39 sacks, 17 interceptions and 17 forced fumbles. (Zach Eisendrath/DenverBroncos.com)

The search for the replacement for defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, who abruptly left the team to join the Miami Dolphins this week, finds the Denver Broncos looking at one of their own.

Per Jeff Legwold of the Denver Post, the Broncos are considering linebackers coach Don Martindale.  Martindale, 46, joined the Broncos in 2009 after spending the previous five years as linebackers coach of the Oakland Raiders.

“Martindale would be great,” Broncos linebacker Andra Davis told KDVR’s Josina Anderson Monday.  “When it’s your position coach, you know them a lot more from being around them. Your relationship is more personal. The way he had us prepare, coach Wink (Martindale’s nickname) definitely knew his X’s and O’s.

“Hands down, Wink is one of the best coaches I have worked with.”

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Mike Nolan was the defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos this time yesterday.  Today, he fills that role for the Miami Dolphins.

As expected, Nolan went and interviewed with the ‘Fins for the defensive coordinator job, an opportunity that was likely the catalyst to he and Josh McDaniels’ “mutual” split.  The interview must have gone well; Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports that the deal is already done.

At this point, any plans the Broncos have at finding Nolan’s replacement are pure speculation.  New England Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees, whose contract ends in January and has expressed that he isn’t hoping to be renewed, is the hot name, but nothing official has come of that.

Farewell, Mr. Nolan, we hardly knew ye.  And that’s a shame.

• Denver Broncos defensive coordinators have been one-and-done every year since Mike Shanahan fired Larry Coyer following the 2006 season.  Conventional wisdom is that Dean Pees will be the man to succeed Mike Nolan… at least, for this year.  [All Things Broncos]
• Andra Davis throws current linebacker coach Don Martindale‘s name into the ring.  [Fox 31]
• Without a CBA, the rules pertaining to playoff teams signing free agents could prevent the Baltimore Ravens from making a play for Brandon Marshall. [Carroll County Times]
• Legwold discusses Josh McDaniels‘ timeline with the Broncos if things go south in Year 2.  [Denver Post]
• Vincent Jackson was pulled over and handcuffed before Sunday’s playoff game, where he was shut down and handcuffed by Darrelle Revis.  [Shutdown Corner]
• The AFC West will continue to be Norv‘ed after the Chargers signed their head coach to a three-year contract extension.  [NFL.com]
• A lot of people skewered Norv Turner for the onside kick decision.  [ESPN]

Denver Broncos Coach Josh McDaniels talks with defensive coordinator Mike Nolan during practice at Broncos Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009, at Dove Valley. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

As citizens of Broncos Country react to the news that Mike Nolan has resigned as Denver Broncos defensive coordinator, the most overwhelming question persists to be, simply, “Why?”

One possible explanation has surfaced from ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Schefter reports that, before the Broncos and Nolan parted ways, the Miami Dolphins formally requested permission to interview him for their open defensive coordinator job. Furthermore, according to multiple news outlets, Nolan and Miami already have an interview lined up.

As is the case with these things, we’ll probably never get the full extent or every detail on how things went down. But this certainly suggests that an opportunity to coach elsewhere was appealing to Nolan, and *perhaps* was even the catalyst for their “mutual separation.”

Mike Nolan resigns as Broncos coordinator [BroncoTalk]

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

In a surprising move Monday, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Mike Nolan has resigned after one season with the club.  The decision to part ways was mutual between Josh McDaniels and Nolan after a meeting Monday.

“I have great respect for Mike and wish him success in the future,” McDaniels said in a brief team statement.

Nolan was hired by McDaniels in 2009 and transformed the Broncos’ 2008 29th-ranked 4-3 defense into the 7th-ranked 3-4 unit of last season.

As the Broncos turn their eye to filling Nolan’s place, one name to keep an eye on is Dean Pees. McDaniels’ colleague in New England resigned from his post as defensive coordinator of the Patriots last week.

Whomever McDaniels hires will be the Broncos’ fifth defensive coordinator in five years.

It’s hard to describe this in any other way than as a big loss to the Broncos.  More as it develops…

The Denver Broncos have formally asked permission from the Buffalo Bills to interview running backs coach Eric Studesville, the Denver Post reports. Studesville, along with the entire Bills coaching staff, was released by the Bills at the end of the season, but permission is needed since he is still technically under contract.

Studesville has been coaching running backs and coordinating team running games off and on over the past decade, as the Post details below —

Prior to his six seasons with the Bills, Studesville was the New York Giants‘ running backs’ coach from 2001-03. His 1,000-yard runners include Tiki Barber, Willis McGahee, Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson, who has developed from an undrafted rookie from Division III Coe in 2003. Jackson spent two years playing in indoor football leagues, and a third year in NFL Europa before getting his chance with the Bills in 2007.

The Bills ranked 16th in rushing in 2009; the Broncos, 18th.

Broncos interested in Bills’ RB coach [Denver Post]

schadenfreude — [shahd-n-froi-duh]

N. Satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else’s misfortune.

New York Jets running back Shonn Greene (23) runs for a touchdown past San Diego Chargers' Quentin Jammer (23), Steve Gregory (28) and Antonio Cromartie (31) in the fourth quarter of their NFL Divisional playoff football game in San Diego, California January 17, 2010. (REUTERS photo/Mike Blake)

It’s really time the AFC West was represented by someone in the playoffs who didn’t totally embarrass themselves. Another San Diego electric chokejob. Go Broncos 2010!!

Previewing, breaking down, and picking the winners of this weekend’s playoff action. Your picks and game discussion in the comments.

Jets (9-7) at Chargers (13-3)
2:40 p.m. MT
The Line: Chargers by 8.5

The Story: The New York Jets are the Cinderella story of the 2009 playoffs, media darlings thanks to a character of a coach, a rookie quarterback, and, let’s be honest, a favorable geographic location to the news center of the world. Their top-ranked defense will face a San Diego Chargers team that has won 11 straight games and has nothing short of a Super Bowl trophy on its collective mind.

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Previewing, breaking down, and picking the winners of this weekend’s playoff action. Your picks and game discussion in the comments.

Cowboys (11-5) at Vikings (12-4)
11:00 a.m. MT
The Line: Vikings by 2.5

The Story: Quarterback Tony Romo and coach Wade Phillips are the two most popular dudes in Texas these days, a far cry from the previous three January’s, where they were the least popular.  That’s because the two won their first career playoff games while delivering the Dallas Cowboys‘ first playoff win in 13 years.  Speaking of first playoff wins, Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress will be looking for his.  Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Previewing, breaking down, and picking the winners of this weekend’s playoff action. Your picks and game discussion in the comments.

Ravens (9-7) at Colts (14-2)
6:15 p.m. MT
The Line: Colts by 6.5

The Story: Can the Indianapolis Colts regain the fire they enjoyed for fourteen weeks? They haven’t bothered to play a meaningful game — by choice, mind you — in nearly a month, and now they face a red hot Baltimore Ravens team that enjoyed a thorough dismantling of the New England Patriots a week ago.

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