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
statement question? thats kind of an oxymoron isnt it?
There’s a question we are all asking that we’ll never know the answer to, “Did anybody within the Broncos organization question McD’s hiring of this idiot?” If not, why not?
I’m not a drinker, but this whole fiasco makes me want to go out and get blind drunk so I can momentarily not have to think about what has happened to my Broncos.
AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!
To you probably, haha.
so bay… are you trying to get under my skin or what! you have been givin me heck for about the last 3 or 4 weeks it seems like! ease the tension bro. not everything HAS to be an argument!
The thing about McD is he is big with talk, he talks a big game, he is very eloquent, he has a very good control of his football linguo, so he is easy to fall for, I think we all did after his first couple of press conferences last year, he talks the talk better than anyone, so it sort of conned everybody in the Bronco organization, including I when I first heard him, gotta keep the info in the memory bank for the next HC hiring, but please start with hiring a GM first, had Bowlen done that last year, a good GM would of probably read right through McD.
ya that was a bit of a backward way of doing things! build from the top down, not from the middle out!
And so says the king of arguing, haha. It’s all cool, just having fun, sorry if I upset you, but take a good look in the mirror sometime, you may be doing onto others what you don’t like others doing onto you, just saying.
That is what builds successful teams.
Definition of INTEGRITY
1
: firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility
2
: an unimpaired condition : soundness
3
: the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness
Would you rather have a coach that doesn’t want players with integrity? Does it appear like Coach McDaniels is hypocritical in certain matters? Yes, that seems to be obvious. Does that therefore make the argument that it would be unreasonable for him to want his players to hold a virtue that he himself may not; in all aspects of his character.
ya i tend to play devils advocate with you a lot because you have VERY strong opinions on many issues. so yes, i generally am argumentative with you!
but not on a personal level. 
its all in fun.
Man, it’s a good thing I don’t blog with McD, talk about fireworks!!! LOL.
At the end of the day, it is all about results. I compare current results from those prior to Coach McDaniels hiring. First evaluate the “state” of the franchise upon day 1 of his hiring. If you believe it to be promising with only a couple of pieces missing, well we are in agreement that at this time, as that of Shanahan departure, I believe us to be just a couple of pieces away from success.
The only reason, I am baffled is that so many want to crucify Coach McDaniels, not by the last two seasons that he has been the HC but for the last five seasons of failure.
Steve, I don’t think you have your facts in order, at least as far as I’m concerned, the reason I think McD is a total failure here is because in his second year as a HC in Denver he has the worse second year record in process than any coach has ever had here since Saban in the sixties. The proof is in the pudding, this guy has set the clok back on us to the sixties!
I see the irony. Winning heals all wounds. Fans were not in such in uproar during the previous regime’s reign when integrity was suspect.
This is the honest truth that I consider. Fans who hold coaches to different standards based upon the W-L record of the franchise are in serious danger of question in regards to our own integrity.
I know I have found myself guilty of such hypocrisy on multiple occasions. What I refuse to do, is not acknowledge this fault and take it into consideration when forming an opinion of another. Thus the reason I am not willing to crucify Coach McDaniel s as a result of recent questionable integrity.
And for my point, it seems to me that if we were 8-2 this would not be a scandal in the fans’ eyes. If we had made the playoffs last year, as proved by no one calling for McDaniels’ job when we started 6-0 last year, it is always during a time of losing records.
Thanks for the revelation.
ya, the broncos being average has been the story of the last decade. except for the one afc championship game we have been just a middle of the pack team since SB 33.
Stinky fish…
Did ya ever notice how you can smell a stinky fish from a long ways away??
These two fish heads are soo deep in it the place reaks like the sea food market…
They worked together in NE from 00-05 and then Chia went with Mangini to the Jets. Well a couple years later what do you know, someone inside the Jets catches NE filming calls… humm? Then to find out that “chia” the Film guy for the Jets is ALSO found guilty of filming calls during his 00-05 NE days..? A very twisted plot at this point…
Forward to present: Broncos Hire new HC who was right smack dab in the middle of the first spygate, who in turn hires the double agent film man that cost Bilichick/NE $1M and a 1st rd pick…! woah, humm? The plot thickens like cold tar…
Then, low and behold… The double, turned tripple-double agent Scarnecchia tries to get the HC to view forbidden footage when they BOTH KNOW FULL WELL the damming implications of such behavior. And then somehow a week later an (undisclosed) source whispers in the ear of our Mgmt??? wow.. keeping secrets from HQ even…?
These two stinkers knew full well how dangerous is was to have this kind of film.. I find it absolutely interesting that they both are right in the middle of it again. Where there’s smoke…. we’ll you know…. theres smoked fish…lol
I guess now we know how NE went 16-0 that one year… hummm, Wasn’t it Spaggs defense that finally thwarted the NE cheaters in the SB?
The motifs, implications and involvement could run deep and incredibly twisted in this thriller…
I have no idea how to get rid of the fish smell in the building though… I think you have to tear it down and build a new one?? lol
Thanks for the statistical reference. I always appreciate your vast knowledge of Broncos history. Call me a simpleton if you will, which I no doubt prove to be true quite consistently, but does it not appear that the standard being used against McDaniels is biased. Minus the two Superbowl wins, Shanahan never acceded better results than in the 80′s and early 90′s. So in fact, it seems to me that our progress prior to McDaniel’s arrival had stopped as of 2000.
“I guess now we know how NE went 16-0 that one year…”
And such the conspiracy delves deeper into the mass physiological void. Could it be, that Coach McDaniels learned the ultimate lesson during Spygate; not that not getting caught was the greatest lesson. No, the greatest could have been, how to make suspicious and often unpopular roster transactions to acquire a team capable of executing a 16-0 season with foreknowledge of the opposing team’s practices.
Mr Bowlen should of fired McD as soon as he found out about the filming. This would of brought some respect back to the organization. Sorry bay i couldn’t remember if i made my prediction this week. Kinda scary how close they were.
lost me on that one bro!
as sad as this all may be, i still dont see Bowlen firing McD unless he can get out of paying the remainder of his contract. too much dead money hurt us under shanny. and paying 3 coaches = lots of dead money! got a feeling we are stuck.
stevecan look at Shannys win lose record. Even while rebuilding we were at or around .500. DC were scared of Shanny O. He owned Belicheat, & Gruden,had the better of Cowar most of the time. Only Dungy had the #s agaist Shanny.
Statistics I have looked at. I believe all coaches deserve three years.
Bill Walsh- SF 49ers 1979 to 1988
1979- 2-14
1980- 6-10
1981- 13-3 SB Champs
Jimmy Johnson- Dallas Cowboys 1989 to 1993
1989- 1-15
1990- 7-9
1991- 11-5 Lost Division round playoffs to Detroit
For the purpose of space and time taken to read more coaches results, I will stick with just two of the multiple examples. I have also kept in mind the exhaustive factors that go into a success program and what adversities coaches face when charged with transforming a broken program. Also the key factor, not all coaches are able to. Some, possibly even Coach McDaniels are not capable. And there are indications already showing Coach McDaniels to be among the unable. However with not two complete seasons finished, is it impossible to get a notion that even Bill Walsh was exhibiting signs of failure, prior to the rise and dominance of the 49ers…
Yah ray i’m thinking the same thing that Bowlen will not fire Mc Cheat cuz of the money issues which is REAL SAD. If i had an employee like Mc Cheat i would of fired him to at least send the right message
good point tnalen66. IMO it all comes down to the running game! shanny had a running game year in and year out and a good running team always has a chance.
Steve non of those coaches took over the #2 Offense and a team with a ton of yough talent. Jimmy Johnson is not even responible for Irving or Aikman, both were Landry’s .
@ steve.. the only glaring difference i notice between those stats and McD’s is that those 2 coaches got better each year, not worse!
great point made ray enough said!
We didn’t have a “broken” program when McD came in, all we needed was a better D, you can’t even compare what Bill Walsh and Jimmy Johnson took over with what McD had when he got here, just saying. What he has now, yeah, but that’s a different story and that was of his own doing.
yup!
Johnson and Walsh were in the process of re-buliding, McD is in the process of destructing.
sorry steve don’t mean to bust your bubble but the team has only gotten worse. All the wasted picks , chased out all the young talent and good coaches, changed schems that worked, constant drama, and now this.
the good news is that who ever takes over after McD will have a VERY high character team!
Great point Bay lol
ray but very little talent and a very old D.
i have to disagree! i think on offense we have a lot of talent… except at tight end…. you nailed it on the D tho!
Walsh drafted how many of the top 20 players in NFL history ? 3 and alot of very good players. Only Knoll drafted better
That is what i was refering to is no talent on D. The O has some talent to build on, but it needs a few upgrades espcially at TE.
Jamie Dukes who I really dislike said it best after we drafted Tebow. “McDaniels just drafted a QB for the next coach”
Im out. Taking the kids ice skateing
“stevecan look at Shannys win lose record. Even while rebuilding we were at or around .500. ”
I have, and also that last year we were 8-8. (.500) This year, worse. possibly looking at 6-10, same as 1999.
Based on a strict w-l record, I don’t see this massive decline that is being stated. My reactions and statements made today are in direct response to the doomsday comments and atrocious misrepresented character and personal assassinations against Coach McDaniels. As of today, he is the HC of my favorite NFL franchise. I attempted at making an argument as to how opinions stated recently may not be as sound as they appear on the surface. I would suffice to say that due to the great emotional burden that a losing franchise burdens it fans with, emotional responses delivered as logic or understanding must themselves be held under the same scrutiny as another(including my own).
Long story short… Coach McDaniels is being held under expectations that not even Bill Walsh was able to deliver within the first two seasons. K. Orton is my best example, it seems to me that the majority of the fire McDaniels now crowd had wrote K. Orton off before he even played one game and still deny the enormous amount of progress made within two years, further illustrating the inability to look from outside of the box, not in a collected point where all the “outside of the box” thinkers, gather and collectively maintain their position. But to think not “outside of the box” but underneath it, above it, to the side of it, etc.
We didn’t have a “broken” program when McD came in, all we needed was a better D,
Which is a broken program in direct comparison to not being successful.
Under the pretense of what of only needing a better D…. Shanahan produced a 7-9 and then an 8-8 record without any major adjustments the last two seasons. McD comes in, tips the damn boat over and goes 8-8. Now we are sinking… It does not look good. However looking at the arrival of Shanahan, it seems to me that Shanahan was given a two time SB caliber team. Since then, we average around .500 making the playoffs and one AFC Championship appearance in 9 seasons.
I am not a counselor to Mr. Bowlen or Coach McDaniels, they will never know who I am. So until the day that Mr. Bowlen fires coach McDaniels, he is the HC of my favorite NFL franchise.
“I will defend my team’s coach against all adversaries whether they be fans or rivals.”
and that is my mission statement.
But I do this in all honesty, I appreciate the debate and am thankful to all fans who post on these boards and have time and time again proved why no matter who the coach or the personnel on the field, the Denver Broncos have greatest fans in the NFL. From this point on, I will lighten my tone and check my arrogance at the keyboard. I want to apologize in advance for the anger and hostility I have produced here today.
for what its worth steve… i think that a coach needs 3 seasons to really get a fair shake. one year for clean up, one year for rebuilding and the 3rd season to show what you can do! i was hoping it would be sooner but obviously not!
it is tough to believe that McD can produce a winning season next year. But I do, and until he doesn’t, I obviously have his back.
if he fails again next year then you can kiss McDingus good bye! lol
In two years, I am curious if Bo Pelini would be ready for the NFL. Defense guy, great success in college with LSU and now Nebraska. Anyone that can recover from Callahan and be poised to win the Big 12 in two years has my vote.
I totally disagrre with you ray….the biggest thing that u fail to note…each of those coaches got BETTER each year. They established a solid nucleus and progressed each year. We do not have a solid nucleus and we r not getting better we are getting worse. I also disagree because I thought mcd should have been dismissed during the hot start. This team is not playing at a high level. And we did not get better year two
just to give everyone one more thing to cry about…. Hillis has 3 TDs in the first half today! he absolutely ROCKED some guy on the way to the endzone for his 3rd TD. true power running…. where did that guy come from again? terrible personel move!