Head Coach Josh McDaniels and his Rams counterpart Steve Spagnuolo have taken parallel paths to the peak of professional football.
Each man accepted his first NFL head coaching gig in 2009, and both of them contributed to Super Bowl championships with other franchises. McDaniels won three titles with the Patriots, but his New England team fell to Spagnuolo’s Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
Spagnuolo spent his last two years in New York as the defensive coordinator, while McDaniels served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for his final three years in New England. The coaches forged a mutual respect through their quick rise up the ranks in professional coaching.
“I have an affinity for Steve Spagnuolo because the relationship I kind of formed with him when we were competing against each other as coordinators,” McDaniels said. “He happens to have to the same agent that I have. We have had an opportunity to meet each other and really kind of get to know one another.”
Before Sundays matchup against Spagnuolo’s squad, McDaniels reflected on why he respects his opponent so much. He said the Rams coach is “putting his stamp” on the franchise, putting together a defense that consistently wreaks havoc.
“He is doing it his way, and I really respect the way that he does it,” McDaniels said. “He always makes you fix problems in the middle of the game, and that is not the case with every other coordinator. He will always take something, he will hurt you with it, and then you better fix it or else you could be in trouble.”
McDaniels isn’t the only person at Dove Valley familiar with the head coach in St. Louis.
For eight years in Philadelphia, Spagnuolo worked with Brian Dawkins, who earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2001 — Spagnuolo’s first year as defensive backs coach.
“Steve was huge in some of the things I was able to do in Philadelphia, a lot of it came from his insight and him helping me out,” Dawkins said. “He is a great human being, a great guy to talk to, very approachable, and he is a straight-shooter as well.”
For his part, Spagnuolo reflected praise back onto McDaniels and Dawkins, whom he said he “respects a great deal and loves even greater.”
On Sunday, McDaniels and Spagnuolo will match wits as head coaches for the first time, and Spagnuolo expects a chess match from a coach who knows how to utilize each piece of his team.
“One thing about Josh is that he’s a creative guy,” Spagnuolo said.
“He’s going to take his talent, whatever he has asset-wise, talent-wise and he’s going to use it effectively. I can see that throughout the film that I watch. I have a great deal of respect for him. He’s done a lot of good things in this league as a coordinator and he’s doing a lot of good things (in Denver) as a head coach.”
INJURY REPORT
Andre’ Goodman (hip), Darcel McBath (quadricep) and Demaryius Thomas (ankle) did not practice all week and are out for Sunday. D.J. Williams (concussion) was limited in practice all week and is questionable, while Robert Ayers (foot) fully practiced all week and is probable.
For the Rams, WR Danario Alexander (knee) was limited all week in practice and is questioable. P Donnie Jones (left calf) was limited all week as well, but he is probable, and WR Laurent Robinson (toe) and T Rodger Saffold (shoulder) are also probable after fully participating all week in practice.
-Gabe Hiatt, DenverBroncos.com
Below are photos from Friday’s practice:
Tags: Denver Broncos, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, St. Louis Rams, Steve Spagnuolo, Week 12
Or some of you are far too lenient?
For anyone who really wants an in depth look into the incident, check this out in the All things broncos blog in the DP:
Full transcript of national conference call with Broncos COO Joe Ellis
Well, well… I go to NFL.com and the Broncos website for the first time today and what do I find? Another McD controversy. Who could have guessed?
Seriously, this is getting beyond ridiculous. Pat Bowlen hates negative attention, and that’s all he’s gotten since McD got hired. Come on Mr. B, how much more is it going to take for you to fire this guy and bring some legitimacy and integrity back to this once proud organization?
So much for bringing in character guys. Seems like it only applies to players as far as McD is concerned. If you’re a staff member, anything goes!
What a load of nonsense…
Ellis said McDaniels made a mistake, but it wasn’t a fireable offense.
“We’re disappointed with the season as it’s gone thus far, but we have six games left to play,” he said. “This particular incident that one employee took advantage of does not sway Mr. Bowlen’s feelings about Josh one way or the other.”
boooooooo
I don’t know what was the purpose of recording the 9ers! It didn’t do us any good for one thing bc we lost. 2nd there just wasn’t a need to do it! This is the NFL and teams have game footage of other teams at their disposal. Kind of like how NFL players have cars at their disposal yet they still drink and drive!!
Ash, keep ya head up sis and I’m glad the USA Soccer team helped ease your mood.
Bay are you going watch the game at your main spot again tomorrow?
I know Bowlen keeps saying he has McD’s back, but I have to think he’s getting sick of all this negative publicity. Hopefully the organization is saying all these things just to make it look like they’re still in his corner. I’m crossing my fingers that this pushes him just a little closer to being fired.
I haven’t been on in a day or 2 but I guess McD is taking after Bilichek,he cheated too!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, mellow, definitely and with my Bronco attire as always, I’m sure those Cowboys and Texans fans around here will have a few kind words for me about this mess, but that has been the nature of the beast under McD, always something controversial to talk about, but what keeps me going is the Broncos will outlast all these clowns eventually, no way I’ll ever give in, I’ll be rooting hard again, I even picked the Broncos to win!!!
OH YEAH………..FIRE MCD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alright Bay,what exactly is the cheating incident,recording the 9ers??
We need a new McD nickname contest.
How about McDoh! (Homer Simpson reference)
Any suggestions lol
I think Mr.B is being brainwashed,that’s the only thing that makes sense to me,
Better be careful about namecalling on here,you’ll be sorry bro!
BFE, maybe Mr. B is just too nice of a guy. He can hire me for one day and I’ll do the firing for him. Heck, I’ll do it for free. lol
Ditto that BFE, that has been the feeling for many Bronco fans today, check out the comments on the DP below the NFL fines Broncos/McD article. It is way more voiceful there than here.
I heard that bro!
BFE, if you don’t want to go to the DP, just read all the posts on this blog starting early pm today, you’ll get the info you want about what happened.
AWHHHHHH man get rid of this guy already,as if it wasn’t bad enough,now he has to cheat,and still we lose,that’s a damn shame….fire this clown already!!!!!!!!!!
I’m sure I’ll be censored sooner or later. I just don’t see a point in being positive about these things anymore. If it happens, it happens. I’ll go voice my opinion on the DP blogs instead if that’s the case.
Thanks Bay…….I read enough on the DP to make me sick,as if i wasn’t sick enough of this arse clown!!!!!!!!!!
mhm88…You can be banned!!!!
Actually it all started with my 8:27am post this morning in this blog, two pages back, check it out.
So can I tho!!!
ok.
I know BFE, I know.
I’m just tired of all this craziness.
I hear ya Bay! Everyday a Saints fan is trying to convert me over to he other side. I’m just like you…. All I know is Orange and Blue and it’s the only colors that look good on me!
On another note for my Fantasy football peeps or anyone who just want to answer this. Who do I start tomorrow…. Orton or Rivers?
McD just keeps the blood raining down on OUR team,this is just getting ridiculous now,Mr.B please stop the bleeding.
Fire Ellis 4 letting McD have 2 much control.
fire Xanders 4 not having an eye 4 talent.
fire McD 4 cheating and depleting our team.
Rivers, I have us winning this one 20-17 and I think Rivers will put up a bigger score on the Colts, Plus why go with #2 when you can go with#1?
I think the Kool-Aid barrel just went dry for this guy!!!!!!!!!
This is one of the many things I said earlier today about what to do with McD:
I have a simpler answer than all your band aid needs to make McD successful, fire McD and start over, after all that would be only two wasted years, it would be the smart thing to pull off now, limit the damage sort of speak, it’s horrendous as is but has the potential to get way worse. This honeymoon lasted 6 games, now a divorce is inevitable, everything about where we are at and what is going on reeks of foul smell, not cool in pure Mile High air, we need to breath again, not going to happen under McD and even if it does it will always make me nauseous, McD is no prize, just a liability, worse choice for HC Bowlen ever made, at least Phillips was a gentleman.
Exactly right Bay!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well said as usual Bay. The mile high air never tasted so stale.
Thanks Bay and you’re right. I went with Orton on Monday night bc I was trying to be loyal to my team. Look where that got me as I left Rivers and his 32 points on the bench.
As you guys know I am from Tennessee and follow the University of Tennessee,and as bad as I am ashamed to admit it,Bruce Pearl,the head basketball coach,was caught cheating(inviting high school players to a cookout at his house) and was fined 1.5 million,by the University,and has to sit out 8 SEC games,asessed by the SEC,and still has to answer to the NCAA,so McD got off easy with only a 50,000 fine.
You know it’s time like these where it’s real nice to have real Bronco buddies to share our justified frustrations with, I always feel better after a few posts than right after I’m faced with such horrible news like today, you guys rock!
Haha… I hear ya Bay. That’s the whole reason I keep coming on here, to see who else is as frustrated as I am. The Broncos have been a huge part of my life since birth. Knowing there are others who feel like I do helps me keep my chin up in these kind of times.
Mr.B….I demand that McD be fired..as a loyal fan since ’83,I cannot take anymore of this ludicris behavior from a coach that is making a mockery of the team I have loved for so many years,and have instilled the values of a descent and respectible team into the hearts of my children.Even my 14 y/o son shakes his head at the things that have happened to this team,he is a BIG Champ Bailey fan,and told me if they don’t resign him,wherever he goes next year,that is the team he is going to root for,so you see the situation that I am in,so please take a step back and look at what is happening to our team,and at the fans we are going to lose,respectfully yours………BFE
caramello……bro being faithful don’t mean you have 2 go against everything in your gut telling you not to pick against us,fantasy football is all about the points bro! and I would go with my gut!!!!!!!!!
Sorry guys for being so emotional,I just came from the pub….and I guess it might be the beer talkin’ a lil’ bit,but damnit this is my team and I’m taking it back!!!!!!!!!!!
No worries, BFE. I feel the same way. I know I need to watch what I say but how long can we take this? Imagine if we lose our first round pick next year like New England did after Spygate. We are on pace for a top 10 pick next year at the very least, and if we lose that, we’re really in trouble. This man has to be stopped. It’s not fair to the fans that we have to just sit back and watch while an inexperienced coach destroys the integrity of what was once the proudest franchise in sports!
I hope Mr. Bowlen is just as sick as we are, and I hope he wants to see this franchise returned to respectability as much as we do. That’s the only chance we have for climbing out of the muck we have fallen into since the day McD was hired.
Bay…………were all family here,we may disagree with each others opinions,GOD knows I’ve ruffled a lot of feathers on here with my posts,but we all love our Broncos and this is one big Bronco family!!!!!!!!!!
Beast I’m with you bro. My gut said Rivers this past Monday, but my blind faith said Orton would shine. It seems like I need to have a guy who’s playing the Broncos every week bc at least two opposing players rack up points against us.
mhm88………I hope Mr.B listens to us and hears our cries,if he don’t then we are all doomed the players,assistant coaches,personnel,and fans.
Always go with your gut bro! especially this year!
I feel so ashame. I hope things change real soon. We all know what Mr. Bowlen needs to do.
sndvl……we should have emphasized fire McD more,I know you were the 1st one to say it,but I think I might have been 2nd.LOL
On another note,I’ve been deer hunting 4 times and ain’t even seen a damn deer,well I’ve seen 6 does,but we ain’t allowed to kill does with big gun down here,so I’m trying like Hell 4 a buck,I’ll prob go tomorrow,since they don’t show many Bronco games locally,so maybe I get my big buck tomorrow.I think I’ll wear my TD jersey hunting,since it don’t work for winning games like it used to.Orange is hunting law,so why not Bronco Orange!!!!!!!!!!!
well since McD cant cheat i will take the Rams 29-17
Sounds like we’ve had the same luck as far as seeing bucks, BFE. So does everyone realize that it wasn’t McDaniels who cheated, it was the employee? McDaniels actually refused to watch the tapes and told the guy to delete it. His error was not reporting the incident to the NFL.
Im with u bfe! How much more do we have to endure, terrible trades , wrong FAs terrible head stratchn draft who can’t start/play,wrong asstants, over paying xpats,chaging schems that work, losing great asstants, blow out loses and now this
MANIAC……I don’t really know the whole story so I can’t really coment on it,but seems to me he knows to report it,after Billicheck went thru it in NE.