A day after the Broncos lost for the sixth time in seven games when their spirited fourth-quarter rally fell short against the Rams, Head Coach Josh McDaniels explained some of the factors behind his team’s disappointing 3-8 record.
The head coach concluded there are no easy answers to his team’s recent inconsistency but took responsibility for that lack of success.
“I’ll be the first one to stand up and say, ‘I can do a better job doing what I’m doing,’ but I think that again, this is a team game — a situation where you have to have a lot of people do the right thing and execute it at a high level,” McDaniels said. “We’re playing against really well-coached and really well-put-together teams that play hard every week too.”
Earlier in the press conference, McDaniels vowed to focus on what he can control through the season’s final five games and continue to do his best to put the team in position to win on a week-to-week basis. The head coach pointed out that consistency remains a major goal for a team that has showed flashes of brilliance in recent weeks, such as a 49-29 home win against Kansas City on Nov. 14 and yesterday’s 20-point fourth quarter against the Rams.
It’s a positive outlook McDaniels hopes will serve his team well down the stretch of the season that includes three more division rematches and plenty of opportunities to show progress in many phases of the game despite a difficult last few weeks.
“There are no excuses — everybody else has injuries, everybody else has to fight through adversities, everybody else has to play home games and road games, everybody else has to deal with in-game problems or something that comes up on game day and everybody else — every once in awhile — gets outplayed or outcoached, because that’s just this league and it’s so competitive,” McDaniels said. “It’s not luck either. It’s not luck. You have to make yourself win in this league. You don’t just try to get close and then hope. That’s a bad game plan and I think our guys are still determined to try to go out there and play good football and coach good football — and that’s what it comes down to.”
AYERS RETURNS
After missing six games with a foot injury, Robert Ayers didn’t wait to make his presence felt on Sunday afternoon.
On the Rams’ first offensive play from scrimmage, Sam Bradford handed off to Steven Jackson. Ayers read the play quickly and dropped the former Pro Bowler for a 1-yard gain, setting the tone for a defensive effort that held Jackson to 2.5 yards per carry.
After the team’s 36-33 loss, Ayers, who finished the game with two tackles, remained positive about his first action since Oct. 10 in Baltimore.
“It felt real good,” Ayers said. “I was excited to be out there. The foot held up great. It didn’t bother me the whole game. I felt good cardio-wise. I just wish we could’ve got the win.”
The second-year linebacker warmed up before Monday night’s Week 11 game in San Diego but was ultimately not active. After another week of practice — this time with full participation — Ayers was more ready health-wise to play.
On Monday, McDaniels said Ayers showed signs of “rust from the time off,” such as when he got caught too far inside on a reverse and allowed Danny Amendola to get outside. But overall the head coach was pleased with the youngster’s progress in his return and hopeful he’ll continue to improve over the team’s final five games.
“I thought he’s getting back into that physical part of his game, which is really the thing you can’t work on for six-seven weeks when you’re not out there practicing,” McDaniels said. “He started to make some strides as the game went on in some of his bull rush techniques and did a decent job in the running game.”
INJURY UPDATE
McDaniels began his press session by announcing that Andre’ Goodman, Demaryius Thomas and Brian Dawkins will each likely miss Sunday’s game in Kansas City.
Goodman (hip) and Thomas (ankle) each missed yesterday’s game, while Dawkins hurt his knee in the third quarter of the loss.
McDaniels said Darcel McBath (quadricep) has a chance to play against the Chiefs after missing Sunday’s game, and Joe Mays, Jabar Gaffney, David Bruton and Kevin Vickerson sustained injuries against the Rams but “should be OK” as the week goes forward.
Tags: 2010, Denver Broncos, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Robert Ayers, St. Louis Rams, Week 12
Dungy would be a nice fit if he wanted to coach again! I respect the heck out of that guy. Put Josh as the OC and hire Elway as the GM. That would be cool!
Go Broncos!
when I saw a press conference showed up, I was hoping McDaniels was doing the responsible and mature thing, and step down, self impeachment if you will for his utter inability to coach, maybe he should think about coaching pee-wee and work his way up to college, if he coaches well there for say 5-6 years, then make a claim for head coach in the NFL, good coordinator maybe, he did have Billicheck, good Head Coach, not now, maybe one day, but not now
I had knew what Haley said after that game. DVR. Lol. I wasn’t gonna touch on it tho. Not on this site. That’s why I said ‘choice words’ in a previous post.
I really hope Bowlen does the right thing!
Dear McDaniels~ I love you
Sincerely~
Raiders Fan
In the most non pathetic way, all I have to say is…I just want my Denver Broncos back, ok Josh, give them back, give me my Sundays back. Please, I’ll beg, I don’t care. Just give them back.
I just read the article about Mr. B saying McD would be back next year,and it goes on to say Mr.B said “we still have a chance to make the playoffs”.I know he is not that dumb or nieve.I don’t believe everything I read either!
You have just entered the…………
I have Bronco notifications on my phone and I read the article that said josh would be back and about 30min later I got another notification that said Bowlen was going to wait till the end of the year to make his decision. What is the real story?
lol man Josh McDaniels must be spiking the water cooler at the office, how in the world can Mr. Bowlen even fathom saying that, I read the same article, the Denver Broncos were one of the proudest organizations around, if we weren’t going to playoffs we’d at least play to put other teams out too, now Josh McDaniels has come in and in two years tarnished everything that I became a Broncos fan for, I’ve only followed the NFL for about six years now, I’m only 23, but I’m not naive enough to think we have a chance at anything more than a top 5 pick in the draft at the rate we’re going. it makes me so angry that our team is playing like this, and yes the players are partially to blame, but it all starts from the top. man I can’t wait til next year, I have very few good things to say about this year, it’s adding to my depression, I’m going to sleep now.
Like Yovi just said, Bowlen is saying some interesting things now. So here’s another link for everyone:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81c831fd/article/bowlen-this-has-been-a-very-trying-season-for-all-of-us?module=HP_headlines
Now again, this doesn’t necessarily mean anything since we still have 5 weeks to go, but it’s interesting that Bowlen doesn’t sound too thrilled in that statement.
Who knows? I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
I hope that the Broncos don’t finish close to the bottom of the league but it seriously looks like they might. So I was hoping to get anyones opinion on who we should draft in the first round. Me personally I really like Marcell Dareus or Da’Quan Bowers. Both DL and could make an impact right away.
I say Patrik Peterson from LSU, if Champ does leave like most people say he will
Yeah I agree about Peterson, if Champ leaves that is. Either him or Prince Amukamaru from Nebraska. Without Champ we’ll need an elite cover corner. Besides, we have 2 2nd round picks next year, so I like the idea of getting one of those stud corners first, then using both those 2nd round picks on D-line help.
Although I wouldn’t complain about Dareus or Bowers. They’d be instant help as well.
Great coaches with bad starts.
Tom Landry – Didn’t even make .500 until his 6th season. Took 12 seasons to win first SB. (would have been fired today)
Chuck Knoll – Took 4 seasons to reach .500, and 6 before first SB. (would have been fired today)
Mike Shanahan – Took 3 seasons and 2 teams to reach .500, and 5 years before winning SB.
Bill Belechick – 4 seasons to reach .500 in Cleveland, with 4 of 5 years losing record. 5-11 first year in NE.
Bill Cowher – Took 14 years to win SB. Started off great then went through some lean years. Had they fired him during the tough times, they might not have won the SB.
Bill Walsh – Went 2-14 first year, 6-10 second year before winning SB third year. (what if they fired him after his dismal 2nd year?)
Bill Parcells – 3-12-1 first year, took 4 years to win SB against Broncos in 1986. 5-11 first year with NE.
Dick Vermeil – Reached .500 his 3rd year with Eagles, also took 3 years to reach .500 with Rams and win SB, and 3 years with Chiefs to
reach .500.
Based on history, is Josh McDaniels really doing that bad?
I SAY WE GIVE THE KID SOME TIME TO LEARN! This team did not quit on him against the Rams. We need a defensive line, like we have for years going back to Shanahan. Even John Lynch said our secondary is awesome. Kyle may not be the SB savior, but Josh has made him into a legitimate QB with a deep ball. Tebow will get his shot and it is clear that McD can develop QB’s.
It’s just not fair to throw him under the bus like most of the media and even some fans are doing. Coaching a team to greatness is not like microwave popcorn.
Go Broncos! Go McDaniels!
Agree 100% with sharp idea. Teams are not made in 1 or 2 seasons.
Got to give him at least next season. We really are shaping up offensively. Defense has been poor but with ayers having another year dumervill back and are rookie corners more experienced plus a decent draft this team will be taking shape.
Be careful what you wish for this gut is winning a superbowl as head coach I just hope it is with us.
aSharpeIdea_84 – Totally with ya…. It’s just like ANY rookie, you really have to give them more than two seasons to properly be able to judge… After his third season We’ll really have a better idea of what he can help this team accomplish. Thanks for the other (successful) head coach examples! Go Broncos!!!
Here is something that will wake you up better than a cup of java:
The Broncos are the only team in the NFL that has forced fewer than 12 turnovers this season. Denver has forced 11 — six interceptions and five fumble recoveries.
Nine of those forced turnovers came in three games, with four against Seattle, two against Tennessee and three against the New York Jets. The Broncos have forced only two turnovers in their other eight games combined.
TWO TURNOVERS IN EIGHT GAMES!!!!!! Awake yet? LOL.
“This has been a very trying and disappointing season for all of us,” Bowlen said in his statement. “We haven’t had the success we had hoped to achieve. Josh McDaniels is the head coach of the Broncos, and you always strive for stability at that position. However, with five games left in the 2010 season, we will continue to monitor the progress of the team and evaluate what’s in the best interest of this franchise.”
HALLELUJAH!!! At least Bowlen doesn’t seem to have his head stuck in the sand as deep as some of the fans do, he seems as if he is keeping all doors open and is aware that there is a major problem here.
I’ll keep repeating it to whoever cares to listen:
I don’t care if McD can ever turn us into a winning team, it is the man’s character I cannot deal with, anything he does here will always leave a sour taste in my mouth and all over the league, the more we will win the more people will say it is because we cheat, there is no way to ever reverse that, he just fessed up to the fact that it was a way of doing business in N-E, he brought a video guy over from there and got caught doing the exact same thing here. This is not the kind of stuff that this franchise has been known for and I truly feel for Mr. Bowlen, he does not deserve that, but unfortunately he has to deal with it now, we can’t, but Mr. B can, and I just hope for all our sakes he finds it in his heart and finds the financial means to do so and terminate McD’s employment at least at year end. Anything less would be unacceptable, we are the laughing stock of the NFL now and no amounts of win or time will change that under McD.
This is an experience that has failed like many others have in any business anywhere and the only option at times like these is to go in a different direction, swallow your losses like big men and move on. Anything else is nothing short of suicidal, we can either choose to be hurt by this short time or we can let it ruin us long term with much worse consequences.
This is now no longer about wins and losses folks, this is about the pride of our franchise, and it has already been tainted much more than acceptable by anyone’s standards, in less than two years we have had more soap opera material here under McD than in the entire history of this team, and that, as you all should very well know, is nothing but the truth. I really don’t follow my Broncos for soap opera trash watching purposes, I follow them to watch football, I’m sick of this mess!
Please Mr. Bowlen, do the right thing, put an end to this masquerade.
uh….looks like someone within spoke to what Bay has been saying all season! LOL…
WAIT A MINUTE!…Bay are you part of the Broncos staff? LOL!
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/category/rumor-mill/
On a side note. I simply want to say that there is A LOT about Josh McDaniels that I like. I have even been one of his supporters. However, I am not happy abou this at all.
So when I post links to “interesting” reporting, I’m simply being respectful to some of the bloggers that have been calling him and his coaching decisions out for various reasons. I’m simply giving credit where it is do is all!
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
Thanks, broncfalls, as you know it’s a tough job to stand for your convictions here, and I like to think I do my best to do that regardless of the abuse I take for it.
In the end I would be absolutely no use to anybody if I didn’t call it as I saw it and stuck with it. So many bloggers go along with the flavor of the moment you really never know where they stand and it really doesn’t do anyone any good.
Stick to your principles, and if you are half the man you oughta be, you will probably get it right, go with the flow while setting your principles aside and you will probably finding yourself on the wrong side of everything.
Bay, that may be the most impassioned post of yours I have read yet. Of course Mr. B recognizes failure when he sees it. I’m sure he got the attendance figures from the other day (lowest in Invesco Field history) and saw what an abomination we are. At least he’s getting the fan perspective of that. I think the only reason Josh still has a job is that there is not anyone on the staff who can be an interim HC. We have no Leslie Fraziers or Jason Garretts in the wings. Of course the prognosticators and gurus, like Gruden, have pinpointed our shortfalls. Poor drafting is one of those and has been well covered in these blogs. I watch guys like Pouncy and Bulaga and Iupati starting for thier respective teams and wonder why at least one of them is not starting for us. Again I’m comparing us to Tampa Bay and the Rams because we had the chance to hire those coaches. This video scandal is a blemish that doesn’t go away either. Even if we win out by some miracle I think we will have a new HC next year and yet another DC. I could keep going but why. I supported Josh up until recently and feel like I have betrayed myself. I’ll get over it when the Broncos start winning.
All this fire McDaniels talk is too negative. How are we gonna bash a guy who turned orton into a probowl caliber quarterback, not only that but got so much production out of a guy like Brandon Loyd. The man knows offense, i say fire the GM. Why would we let such a talented young mind go right now Cutler didnt really fit the system hes always trying to do more than he can throws picks everywhere. Brandon Marshall was just such a bonehead that they had to get rid of him. The truth is the defense is the weak spot and they have tried to get better on that side but they dont draft on that side and that probably has to do more with the GM following what McDaniels wants for his offense hes an offensive guy. They should have gotten a GM who would work with the head coach but at the same time was stubborn enough to tell McDaniels no. Keep Mcdaniels fire the GM. The defensive culture need to change i blame that on the captains. You dont really see any fire in their eyes out there and i blame that on the captains who are Shanahan guys Champ, and DJ Willams. Brian Dawkins is just too old and Champ and DJ are truly lead by example guys and if one of your captains is out there getting dui’s there not gonna take them seriously get rid of those guys we dont need guys who wont play hurt who are sissys who wont put it out on the line for your team. Those are just my thoughts i dont believe the blame all lies with Mcdaniels he is a good coach young but he knows his football i wouldnt want Cutler or Marshall on this team right now can you imagine the drama lol.
I’m confused. I thought McD filled his coaching staff with his people? Now there’s reports coming out about his tirades, usually reserved for players on the sidelines, in coaches meetings?
Maybe instead of being ‘disappointed’ the info was leaked, McD could be disappointed that he made some wrong decisions. (there are many.
Too many to list. So many it could fill the pages of a book).
Obviously there is something fundamentally wrong there. It’s one thing when it’s a coach-
player spat. But when its coach-coach spats….
Well in a nutshell, we are not on the same page.
So while the losses mount, player performance declines, fans support wanes and The soap opera continues, I for one can take solace in the fact that I knew his lack of maturity would be the ultimate responsibility for a dismal season.
He put himself in this position. He wanted the ultimate power. He should be man enough to accept responsibility for this garbage!
One mans opinion, that only means a helluva lot to me! Go Broncos!!!
Fire McD. Happy Holidays!!!
sndvl, remember when we kept saying all off season the season would ultimately come down to whether McD could mature or not, well seems to me that other than cutting down on the public swearing on the sidelines it has been nothing but a regression in that department, mainly behind close doors, and with coaches now as you say and it could very well be that the rogue element at Dove Valley who has been ratting on him is one of those. McD will never be able to fire enough people this time as he did last year to regain control of this runaway train. It’s over!
I still can’t believe there are a few people coming to McD’s rescue. Like Bay said, the record doesn’t even matter anymore. If McD ever wins a Super Bowl with the Broncos, I won’t even count it in my mind. It’s the smugness, the brashness, the constant controversy surrounding McD that I want run out of town. Forget turning Orton and Lloyd into Pro Bowl players. Lots of good offensive coordinators have turned journeymen into Pro Bowl players. That means absolutely nothing. The fact is, all the negativity that surrounds what was once the most positive franchise in sports overshadows any offensive success these once-forgotten vets may have under McD. I can’t stress it enough, regardless of how much success this team may have under McD, I can’t in all honesty tell people I’m a Broncos fan anymore because I’m embarrassed about what this franchise stands for with McD at the helm. Forget 3-8. Forget the #27 ranked defense. The real tragedy is the arrogance that this franchise now reeks of. I refuse to support that.
So are you saying we would be better right now if we woulda kept shanahan? not only that but cutler and marshall?
I’m not talikng for others here, but I’m going forward, all those folks you mention have absolutely nothing to do with our future, I just want McD out of our future too, and Xanders.
When did anyone say that? The point is, it doesn’t matter how many bad apples are on your roster when the head coach is the baddest apple of them all: hypocrisy, smugness, cheating. If these are qualities you are fond of, than by all means, continue rooting for McD to succeed.
Outside of Bill Cower or Tony Dungy coming out of retirement I’m fine with our current situation!!!
And truthfully yes josh is smug arrogant bold not afraid to make changes. Isnt that what made bill parcells good isnt that what makes bill billicheat good. I dont like the way he goes about it but i mean you would have spats with your coaches too if your defense was that bad.
McD hired EVERYBODY on his coaching staff, if he can’t get along with them then what?
B4Life, in hindsight, ABSOLUTELY.
I heard the rumor that Shanny got axed because he declined Mr. B’s request to get a new DC. (Nolan was the target all along).
Oh well!
Not afraid to make changes? When was the last time McD actually made an adjustment during a game? I’m pretty sure that’s why this team is 3-8.
And yes, it’s fine to have spats with your coaches. But to go on a tirade in front of the owner? To tell them about cheating and then say don’t tell anybody? I’m still waiting for someone to justify these behaviors.
Every organization has coaches who have spats with coaches its just that most organizations can keep it on the down low you cant really say just cuz hes having spats he should get fired. if that was the case we should hire bobby petrino after josh hes never fights with anybody he wont even talk to people face to face he leaves letters. Spats arent something new that only denver has.
Anyway these types of arguments always end up being fruitless, we will never see eye to eye on McD and who cares, what’s important is how I feel and how you feel, and I’m glad I don’t feel like you do but I respect it nonetheless, and there is a new Mike Rice blog up now so we can start different arguments there, LOL.
No one is saying spats are bad. Did you hear the report about how he lambasted his coaches in front of Bowlen? That’s what everyone has a problem with. If you’re a true man at head coach, you have your spat with the assistants, then you go to the owner and take the blame personally for the loss. What he did was paranoia, trying to deflect any and all blame for job security reasons. Please tell me, what is so great about that?
Ok, I’m done with this. My blood pressure is rising a little too quickly. lol
Our team has changed soooooooooo much in the past two years that I can almost not recognize it as the team I knew and loved. With Cutler, Marshall, Hillis, and even Alphonso Smith leaving this team has made big changes and not all are good. Each of those players are making big contributions to their new teams and are at this point long GONE.
However, I like Orton as our franchise QB! I think Lloyd has broken out as one of the greatest WR in the current league and he has a bright future in Denver. I think Royal and Thomas compliment him well, but I want to see more out of our number one pick even though some of his flashes have been briliant! I think our O-line has more talent than ever and I can’t wait for them to fully jell as a unit to see what they are capable of! I think our biggest weeknesses are at Defense and we need to address this in the offseason. Dummerville will make the entire team better and we I quantify about three more wins with him in the line-up. We need to stablize our Running Game with or without Moreno. I think he can become good! We need a FULL-BACK! And we NEED a TIGHT END! And we need some more STUDS on Defense!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!
omg imagine hillis on this team. Beastly lol
If it looked like he was learning from his mistakes then everyone would give him a pass but he believes he is above the coach’s and players and that just doesn’t fly in the ultimate TEAM sport. “We tell the players…x” If he practiced what he preached I would be on his side but he is arrogant and stubborn and all this heat is self inflicted.
the only way I would have josh McDaniels here (before the video scandal) would be as Offensive Coordinator, you demote him to that posistion and hire another Head Coach who knows what he’s doing, but of course that would only have Mr. B getting his money worth to a point. But yeah spygate 2 is unforgivable for all the reasons mentioned, and combined with everything else, how is he not gone this year, I see no way he can stay at this point, something has to give, the fans and the team, or Josh McDaniels, cause if he stays, it will be real ugly…..
I just have to say, if the players have his back…so do I. Those are the guys with him every day, on the practice field, in the film room and in meetings. I have not heard one peep from any player, unnamed source or anything that the players have had it with McDaniels. If a ship is sinking, and you hate the captain, do you stay on the ship? Or do you jump off? Not one hint of discord. And Cutler? The bears are winning because of their D, not because of him. He has good game every now and then, but he is a headcase already being compared to Jeff George. When is he going to lose it? Will you get the 4 TD pass Jay Cutler in the SB or the 4 INT version? Marshall has already started his meltdown in Miami. And all that stuff last year about Sheff and Marsh being benced for the final game against KC, that was not something that Josh initiated. The team captains came to him and told him that something needed to be done about them. All this talk about him being 5-16 since starting 6-0…are we just going to throw away those first 6 games? He is 11-16 overall. And to just ignore the injury issues we had and put it all at Josh’s feet is unfair. In a 3-4 OLB’s are crucial to success. Doom has been out all year and Ayers has been injured for most of it. And Goodman and McBath being out essentially the entire year has pushed Cox, SydQuan and Vaughy up to #’s 2, 3, and 4. Not being able to rush the passer and rookies in coverage would doom any 3-4 defense. And our running game? The past three games we have had all of our starters healty and in the right positions Clady-Beadles-Walton-Kuper-Harris and Moreno is over the hamstring issues and we have averaged 110 rushing yards per game the last three. Coincidence? I think not. How much better has Orton looked in year 2 in McDaniels system? Expect Tebow, Bay Bay, Decker, Beadles and Walton to only look better next year. So I think we cannot write him off, if the players still beleive in him, I think we should too.
elvisdoom4qbs…
I like the post and am behind you 100%. Many posts that are similar give an honest picture of actual progress and hope for our current franchise. However the line has been drawn and certain fans are unable to see the forest through the trees. I don’t blame anyone for their positions, given the great emotional burden of two disappointing seasons. But it shows the absolute irony that many of these fans are adamant and hellbent on the destruction of our current coach, despite success or failure.
For all who may be concerned!!! Mc Daniels job is safe for now!! If he were to be fired though next year or not brung back. The whiper is in Broncos Country from upper management. That they will hard for who you may ask???? Not Gruden, Cowher, or a who you may be thinking. It will be Urban Meyer!!! Yes URBAN MEYER you heard it here first!!!
are you kidding me some of you idiots that are behind mcdaniels he has turned this organization into a joke, lets see cutler and the bears 8-3 moron mcdaniels 3-8 lets all get rid of a top 5 receiver in the nfl and get freakin brady quinn for peyton hillis boy ask the browns how that worked out and most of you backed mcdaniels during the cutler trade and now want to whine how bad we suck when you get rid of talent its what happens
I will not lament the “loss” of Baby Jeff George and Baby TO. When Marshall is sitting out an entire year because he cant keep himself out of trouble and Cutler is imploding his team by blaming everything up to Global Warming on his WR corp and O-line talk to me then. Would you rather be watching them destroy their teams or our team? Watch how they block for him then. And can you honeslty tell me that anyone knew Hillis was going to run for almost 1,000 yards and 10 TD just over halfway into the season? And our running game did not suffer because of bad backs, it was suffering because our O-line was injured non-stop as well as injured backs. Hillis would have been getting stuffed too behind an injury-riddle line. The line is healthy now and we are averaging 110 yards rushing per game.
Thanks broncofan, I have been told “never change” so many times, so no risk of that, and if some can’t take it, tough luck, haha.