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
Yeah “the teams we play are well put together,and play hard every week,and are well coached alright”,no wonder we’re losing,that’s just the opposite of everything we are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the way McD brags on all the teams that beat us.
All those everybody else excuses McD is using,well everybody else don’t cheat and still lose either.
always tough to swallow a home loss, especially to a struggling team.
what can be done? I still hope we finish this season strong.
C’mon Broncos, rally up!
Maybe, but isn’t he old as dirt? haha If we got Dungy I would act like a kid on Christmas morning! I’m assuming that we won’t get him tho, I haven’t heard anything about him even considering a comeback. I bet he could make a great system for Tebow!…well for McD’s sake I hope he doesnt read this blog, I think he might be upset to find all the fans talking about his replacement. With everything said, it would be a shame to sit through another awful season because we dont have the finances to fire him.
a bit of a side note…I have to say I was a bit impressed by Cutler’s postgame interview (atleast the short clip Espn showed)..sounded professional, PLUS he didnt say “you know”..aha..
the defense looks confused…what happend to the brilliant OL play we saw 2 weeks ago?i sense a coaching/coordinator change nearing..imo
No excuses. Just bad coaching. No heart from the players, atrocious defense, mediocre offense most of the game, no ball control, no balance, no proper time management, bad situational football, no fundamentals, horrible tackling, anyway…. all boils back to the coaching.
This season has been lost for a couple of weeks now. Time to give the “future” a chance to get experience. Let’s see more Decker, Tebow, and younger players everywhere.
well everyone, ive been trying to think of something fun and positive to do to buoy my spirits during this tragic time in broncos history.. so here you all go. feel free to add in your ideas too. some of them kinda stumped me so…..
hope you all at least got a smile out of it! now lets see your ideas to improve on it! its the little things right?
On the first day of christmas the broncos gave to me…. an offensive line that blocks properly!
On the second day of christmas the broncos gave to me…. 2 more superbowls and an offensive line that blocks properly!
On the third day of christmas the broncos gave to me…. 3 defensive linemen, 2 more superbowls and an offensive line that blocks properly!
On the fourth day of christmas the broncos gave to me 4 new coaches calling, 3 defensive linemen, 2 more superbowls and an offensive line that blocks properly!
On the 5th day of christmas the broncos gave to me…. Teeeeebow starting!!! 4 calling coaches, 3 defensive linemen, 2 more superbowls and an offensive line that blocks properly!
On the 6th day of christmas the broncos gave to me…. 6 wins in our division Teeeeebow starting!!! 4 calling coaches, 3 defensive linemen, 2 more superbowls and an offensive line that blocks properly!
On the 7th day of christmas the broncos gave to me…. a front 7 all a sacking, 6 wins in our division, Teeeeebow starting!!! 4 calling coaches, 3 defensive linemen, 2 more superbowls and an offensive line that blocks properly!
On the 8th day of christmas the broncos gave to me…. number 8 as a backup, a front 7 a sacking, 6 wins in our division, Teeeeebow starting!!! 4 calling coaches, 3 defensive linemen, 2 more superbowls and an offensive line that blocks properly!
On the 9th day of christmas the broncos gave to me….9 cheerleaders cheering, number 8 as a backup, a front 7 a sacking, 6 wins in our division, Teeeeebow starting!!! 4 calling coaches, 3 defensive linemen, 2 more superbowls and an offensive line that blocks properly!
On the 10th day of christmas the broncos gave to me….a 10 yard per carry average, 9 cheerleaders cheering, number 8 as a backup, a front 7 a sacking, 6 wins in our division, Teeeeebow starting!!! 4 calling coaches, 3 defensive linemen, 2 more superbowls and an offensive line that blocks properly!
On the 11th day of christmas the broncos gave to me….11 broncs in ORANGE, 10 yards per carry average, 9 cheerleaders cheering, number 8 as a backup, a front 7 a sacking, 6 wins in our division, Teeeeebow starting!!! 4 calling coaches, 3 defensive linemen, 2 more superbowls and an offensive line that blocks properly!
On the 12 day of christmas the broncos gave to me….the 12th man back in denver, 11 broncs in ORANGE, 10 yards per carry average, 9 cheerleaders cheering, number 8 as a backup, a front 7 a sacking, 6wins in our division, Teeeeebow starting!!! 4 calling coaches, 3 defensive linemen, 2 more superbowls and an offensive line that blocks properly!
Keep on buckin broncos (and fans)
TTT—GGG
Here’s an idea. Fire McD. Happy Holidays!!!
ray…..that was pretty good dude but if I may add,I’d say on the 9th day of Christmas the broncos gave to me a #9 pink slip.haha
FIREMCD*FIREMCD*FIREMCD*
Thats all I want for Christmas!!!!!!
After 44 years of Bronco ball, we’re now the team I used to say “..at least we’re not as bad as…” It’s famine time
Ray, I’ll keep mine short and sweet.
My idea to improve on things: Fire Xanders and McD.
“No excuses”. That’s right, McD… there are no excuses for the current state of the team. You made your bed, now lie in it.
I’m going to watch Monday night football with interest tonight, I need to find out if we may be able to get one more win this season at Arizona. It sounds like a joke, but the sorry thing is I’m dead serious, LOL.
Haha that was great rayjr!
I agree bay, but add start Tebow to that! haha honestly at this point what do we have to lose?
“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.
If you really take a close look at what he says, he immediately backs off his first statement, I’ll be the first one to say I can do a better job, following it with, but again it’s a team game where a lot of people have to do the right things. Amazing how tough it is for him to simply admit that he has problems as a head coach, it still sounds like he is in total denial to me.
I feel bad for saying this, but there is a huge bright side to us losing this week. The chiefs would be one step closer to destroying the chargers playoff hopes!
You know, I just gotta tell you all how much I enjoy reading your comments! I feel like I’m sitting in football church or something cuz I just sit here saying “mm hmm that’s right” and “amen to that”. I look forward to the blogs just so I can read everyone’s comments…and in my opinion, all of you would be a better coaching staff than the one we have now! You guys are awesome!
)
Yovi, that still wouldn’t mean much, the Chargers are only one game back of KC but they play them again in SD and both are 1-2 in the division so they would easily get the tie breaker if they beat them and win the division again.
Tebow-GoBroncos, thanks a million buddy, glad to know someone out there is enjoying it, some of us work very hard at it, thanks again.
And SD has Oakland, KC and SF at home and Cinci and us on the road, if I were a betting man I say they win it again, just saying.
Did anyone see the FOX pregame show yesterday? If not, check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-D5L-jnsoc&feature=player_embedded
There’s nothing I can say about yesterday’s abysimalshowqing that hasn’t already been said, so I’ll comment on the HOF nominees, or, as we Broncos fans call it, Passover.
If I understand the way it works, a maximum of 5 players can get in a time and does not include the “Contributors” nominees, e.g. Art Modell.
Guaranteed in:
Jerome Bettis: A no brainer
Marshall Faulk: Also a no brainer
Deione Sanders: Guaranteed, but it totally galls me that a DEFENSIVE player elected to the HOF will have FEWER tackles in his CAEEER than any good ST player would get in ONE SEASON!!!
That’s 3 out of 5.
Should get in:
Cris Carter: He finished 2nd in everything to Jerry Rice and we passed over becasue Rice wasn’t in when he first became elegible for the HOF.
Total screw job.
Willie Roaf: One of the 5 best OT’s ever. Probably won’t happen because OL rarely get in first time they’re elegible.
Richard Dent: Exceptional DL. Been passed over way to many times.
Shannon Sharpe: Redefined the TE position. Retired #1 in every TE stat.
Andre Reed: Excellent WR during Buffalo’s 4 straight SB’s.
Curtis Martin: No hype. No fame. Just did his job and ended up one of the highest career yardage players.
Roger Craig: Redefined the RB postion with his pass catching expertise.
Of these six, my guess is Cris Carter and Richard Dent get the nod.
The rest:
Tim Brown: Excellent WR/KR but too soone for him.
Terrell Davis: Will always be plagued by his short career.
Dermontti Dawson: Incredible C. Deserves to get at some point in time.
Chris Dolemen: Don’t see him ever making it.
Kevin Greene: See Chris Doleman.
Ray Guy: Redefined the Kicked position. Should get in, but never will. Best bet is Oldtimers Coimmittee.
Charles Haley: Boarderline HOF.
Lester Hayes: Scuttlebutt is that he’ll never get in beacuse there’s already to many Riders of his era in the HOF.
Cortewz Kennedy: Not HOF material.
Aenneas Williams: Nah.
At least it was almost a great comeback!!!
What is it with you crazy folks wanting to fire McDaniels!?!?
Seriously, give him the four years… If after year three of ENTIRELY REBUILDING a team, We don’t see results, then I could see where you’re coming from. I think the more important factor here is to get a GM in here, and alleviate any decisions from the personnel aspect from McDaniels. It seems two complete rookies in the HC and GM positions wasn’t a great idea, but give the head coach (again a brand new head coach, mind) his full opportunity to get all the things in line.
Building a team doesn’t happen overnight. As long as McDaniels is a Bronco, and I’m not on the payroll to make personnel decisions, I’ll always disagree with you there. Go McDaniels and Go Broncos!!!
It’s called supporting the team. I see you can all easily do it after We slaughtered KC, but We lose, and it’s all calling for people’s heads again.
My main thing is, I don’t want all this experience McDaniels is accumulating to amount to him doing good for another team. Give him the four years (or at the very least three) to show Us what he can do in developing (and again, don’t forget) and completely rebuilding a team.
Sincerely,
Gary Funk
It’s funny you quoted that McD line Bay, I was thinking the same thing. I’ll give McD credit for one thing: he’s a rhetoric genius. He’s great at saying one thing while meaning something else. It’s actually quite a skill.
A terrible slide in the last two years… hard to overcome. JMO.
PJ, are you actually Josh McDaniels in disguise?
If I were to vote HOF the last two in my opion would be Dent and Sharpe.
It’s funny how the guys supporting McD just because he is our coach all point out that we need to give McD more time since we are completely re-building. These folks forget the most important thing: McD has always claimed that he is not re-building here in Denver, that he is doing things the way he does to win now, period. How funny is that!!!!!!
Magic88, thanks for that FOX Sports video link you just posted, anyone who has any doubt as to how damaging the taping incident really is ought to check it out.
Sorry but he has to go. I think we need to just recognize a mistake and start “Officially” re-building with someone solid. T Dungy, Bill Cowher, John Gruden.
McDaniels made the decision to try to fix something that was not broken (offense ranked 3rd in the league when he took over) instead of focusing all our efforts on Defense. He also was the person who decided not to play Hillis, insult our starting QB (Culter), etc, etc. Enough is enough!
I bet with spygate2 MrB can get out of paying him next year from negligence. Someone needs to look through his contract and find a loop hole.
Mike Nolans Defense looks a million times better then what we have today. Sorry Wink
pj….I thought we poured out the last batch of the McD spiked Kool-Aid,and we find out somebody is bootlegging it back in,open your eyes son!!!!!!
LMAO…
Every time I see McD in a press conference it is as though I am looking at a scared rabbit caught in the glare of the headlights of an oncoming car. It strikes me he is obstinate but does not have the mental toughness, not even to admit to his mistakes.
Maybe he was appointed Head Coach and is paid by the owner, but that does not make him a Bronco in my book. True Broncos pay to support their team and are with them through thick and thin. This gives them the RIGHT to lambast a coach who we can all see has been unable to put in place a team that can actually play for 60 minutes. At times they have given up, and that is not good enough.
I am not saying he doesn’t do his best, what I am saying is his best is not good enough for the Broncos.
A lot of this is Mr. Bowlen’s fault because in his position he should be managing expectations. Broncos’ fans expect a good defence and a good running game. These are essential ingredients when playing in Denver’s conditions. We also expect to have players who will play for the coach, like they did for Shanny.
The whole idea of getting rid of Shanny was to bring in new bright ideas which would improve the team and its performance. The opposite has happened and in two seasons McD has destroyed a team which would have been near perfect now if Shanny had stayed. We just needed to draft defensive players and get a pass rush.
These are my opinions and they do lead me to the conclusion that we need to get rid of the current HC and GM and bring in some experience.
His eyes are not open yet because he is still in his PJ’s, haha.
Well stated Crazy.
LMAO.
Your preaching to the choir,but keep it comin bro!
Thanks Bay, it means a lot coming from you.
2 more years HAHAHAHA,..I’ll be in the looney bend before then,haha
Beast, in England we say “preaching to the converted”.
By the way thanks to all of you giving such impassioned and knowledgeable information and comments. I enjoy it all immensely.
Just listened to the Fox video. It’ll mean 6 DC’s in 6 years, but McD’s conduct has made it an absolute necessity that he be fired. What he did to the coaching staff is absolutelty, totally unprofessional and has guaranteed total chaos amongst not only the players, but the coaching staff.
You are correct, everyone needs to check that video link.
I have a feeling that link might get me in trouble. But I decided to take one for the team anyway.
Gurden is going to get taken by The University of Miami or Dallas. We need to move fast and grab him…ASAP
Magic, re the Fox Sports report
Is it true that McD took all his coaches in with him to see Bowlen and then castigated them for their coaching performance against the Raiders?
Doesn’t this remind you of the Apprentice when the losing team manager has to select two team members to join him/her in the boardroom before one gets sacked by Donald Trump. I think Trump would sack McD, don’t you?
Crazy, I don’t know if it’s 100% true or not. We’ll probably never know. As of now it’s just one report.
But if is true, how can anyone still defend McD?
And yes, Trump would sack McD… Haha
TEBOW TEBOW TEBOW…..GRUDEN GRUDEN GRUDEN
It must have plenty of truth to it guys, this is what is reported in the DP McD said after he heard about the FOX report:
McDaniels said it was “disappointing” to hear information from a private meeting was made public.
“Our staff meetings, our squad meetings are very private things, and very important to me and to them. The things that we talk about in there are supposed to be for our staff and our squad,” McDaniels said. “I don’t know exactly what that was or who said it and I’m not going to go chasing ghosts about what that is. I have a lot of faith and trust in our staff and believe in them very much. I know they’re going to work extremely hard here this week and the rest of the season as we go forward.”
There is obviously a rogue element somewhere at Dove Valley, first he brought up the taping thing so McD had no choice but to fess up, now this private meeting conversation reported to the press…