Josh McDaniels’ History

I decided that in the wake of the all the drama surrounding Josh McDaniels at this very moment, it may be educational to take a look back at what it is he has accomplished.  I believe in McDaniels’ play calling and coaching ability, but his personnel decisions have been less than spectacular, or perhaps a better word, intellectual.  He has made a few good decisions but he has also made a few too many bad decisions.  I will try to keep this as unbiased as possible and allow you to make your own opinion of all the wheeling and dealing that is the Josh McDaniels era.  Here’s a history of the Josh McDaniels tenure….after the “jump.”

December 30, 2008 – Mike Shanahan was fired by the Denver Broncos.

• Pat Bowlen had had enough of the poor free agency pick ups that resulted in the loss of millions of dollars due to wasted contracts
• Mike Shanahan had yet again put together another poor defense
• The season ended at .500 and the Broncos missed the playoffs again after starting the season strong

January 11, 2009 – Denver Broncos hire New England Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels

• Regardless of the porous defense, the move was made to hire an offensive minded coach
• The idea was that Mike Shanahan had left the new coach a very powerful offense, one that consisted of a strong and talented QB found in Jay Cutler, a top 5 WR found in Brandon Marshall, a pass catching and decent blocker in Tony Scheffler, and a diamond in the rough RB in Peyton Hillis
• The offensive minded McDaniels would further Jay Cutler as a QB and optimally use all his weapons that had been given him

January 12, 2009 – Confirmed reports that Broncos will hire Mike Nolan as Defensive Coordinator

• McDaniels is officially the head coach of the Broncos and thus has begun putting together his staff.  Mike Nolan was his first DC option and a very good one at that given the calamity of the Denver Defense

February 27, 2009 – Brian Dawkins signs with the Broncos

• A much needed move as B-Dawk left Philly
• Added experience and leadership to a team with almost none in both categories

March 2009 – The date is unclear when, but we know at some point, Jay Cutler got word of a trade that involved him and the former NE Patriot backup QB Matt Cassel

• Jay Cutler is the jealous type and demands that he be pampered, so naturally this wouldn’t go over well
• Why McDaniels was even interested in Cassel is beyond anyone’s comprehension.  Perhaps it was solely meant for QB competition and depth.  I only say that because of the recent Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn acquisitions
• Resulted in a permanent rift between Cutler and Broncos organization, mainly Josh McDaniels

March 17, 2009 – Jay Cutler formally asks the Broncos to trade him

• There was reportedly a meeting beforehand that didn’t go over well and resulted in Cutler not speaking to McDaniels
• At some point McDaniels tried to get it across that he didn’t try to trade him for Matt Cassel and then later changed his tone to anyone is trade-able, which later became the Broncos didn’t initiate the talks, but they were involved.
• McDaniels’ lost a mail-box  (not really, but you get the idea)

April 2, 2009 – The Broncos trade Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears.

• The Bears got Jay Cutler as well as a 2009 fifth round pick
• The Broncos got QB Kyle Orton, a first and third round pick in 2009 and a first round pick in 2010
• The trade seemingly appeared that the Broncos got the better end of the deal (some might say differently)

April 25 – 26, 2009 – The Broncos’ first NFL draft under Josh McDaniels

• The Broncos did some extremely questionable trading to acquire CB Alphonso Smith (2010 first round draft pick for 2009 second round draft pick – 37th overall) and TE Richard Quinn (2010 third round and 2009 third round picks for 2010 second round – 64 overall)
• RB Knowshon Moreno and project hybrid OLB Robert Ayers in the first round
• Results in barely addressing the much needed addressing defense

July 31 – August 20, 2009 – Josh McDaniels runs his first training camp as the Broncos’ Head Coach

• Runs first camp and prolongs the announcing of Kyle Orton as the starting QB
• Brandon Marshall contract talks stall which then results in the suspension of Brandon Marshall due to an on-field outburst by Brandon Marshall
• Strain between McDaniels and the players begins

September 13, 2009 – Broncos and Josh McDaniels win first NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals

• Not necessarily the most spectacular win of all time…great defensive performances by both teams
• Broncos win in the final minutes of the game thanks to Brandon Stokely’s miraculous catch

September 13 – October 19, 2009 – Broncos start season 6 – 0

• Wins include: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers
• Broncos Defense ranked number one with only 11 points allowed
• Elvis Dumervil leads the league in sacks
• Josh McDaniels up for coach of the year
• Only one of three teams still undefeated

November 1, 2009 – Broncos lose first game of the season to the Baltimore Ravens

• Broncos just returned from their bye
• Porous rush defense exposed
• Season decline begins

January 03, 2010 – Broncos play and lose thief final game of the season to the Kansas City Chiefs

• Broncos were 8 – 7 and needed to win to keep playoff hopes alive.
• McDaniels benches Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler due to insubordination
• The Broncos lose and Jamaal Charles ran all over the defense totaling 259 yards

January 04, 2010 – Josh McDaniels’ first season officially over

• Season summed up to be a huge disappointment
• Broncos blow divisional lead and 6 game winning streak
• Whispers of trade talk begin regarding Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler
• McDaniels severely questioned for his inability to run the game and not using RB Peyton Hillis more often for short yardage situations
• Obviously, Josh McDaniels lost candidacy for Coach of the Year

March 5 – 9, 2010 – Broncos Beef up Defensive Line

• Justin Bannan
• Jamal Williams
• Jarvis Green
• All three were meant to beef up the D-Line and make them bigger and stronger in order to stop the run
• McDaniels receives praise

March 14, 2010 – Broncos trade popular RB Peyton Hillis to the Cleveland Browns for QB Brady Quinn

• Trade also consisted of a 2011 sixth-round pick and a 2012 conditional draft pick
• Brady Quinn considered potentially excellent QB and assumed to be quality QB under McDaniels
• Mixed feelings surround trade but McDaniels still gets a little criticism

April 15, 2010 – Brandon Marshall traded to the Miami Dolphins

• Broncos receive two second-round draft picks, one in 2010 and one in 2011
• Brandon Marshall receives $47.5 million
• Josh McDaniels receives grief

April 19, 2010 – Tony Scheffler traded to the Detroit Lions in a three way trade

• Scheffler and a seventh round pick sent to Detroit
• Philadelphia receives Outside Linebacker Ernie Sims, a former top 10 draft pick
• Denver receives a fifth-round draft pick
• McDaniels receives more slack
• Shanahan regime officially removed

April 22 – 24, 2010 – McDaniels runs his second ever NFL draft

• McDaniels wheels and deals to move down in the first round and acquire a second first round pick
• First pick questionably used on WR Demaryius Thomas instead of Dez Bryant (Cowboys)
• McDaniels trades up to acquire big name college QB Tim Tebow (Who is doubted by many sports analysts) even though McDaniels already traded for Brady Quinn

July 23, 2010 – Elvis Dumervil receives contract extension

• Receives $61.5 million through 2015
• $43.168 million in guarantees
• McDaniels Applauded

August 1 – 27, 2010 – McDaniels’ second official training camp

• Injuries plague the team
• Lose Elvis Dumervil for the season

September 4, 2010 – Broncos cut Jarvis Green

• Broncos lose $3.255 million
• McDaniels’ ability to evaluate players extremely questioned

September 6, 2010 – Broncos Trade CB Alphonso Smith to Detroit Lions

• Broncos receive TE Dan Gronkowski and an undisclosed draft pick
• McDaniels is greatly criticized for this maneuver, especially because of what Denver gave up for Smith

September 12 – December 05, 2010 – McDaniels’ Second NFL sesaon

• Broncos only win three games
• Get blown out a few times
• Displeasure for McDaniels greatly increases
• Fan base disappears
• Nothing but bad things happen

November 27, 2010 – Spygate II

• McDaniels accused of yet another video taping scandal
• McDaniels and Broncos organization both fined $50,000
• McDaniels’ head demanded

December 06, 2010 – McDaniels Fired

• Pat Bowlen fed up with all the losing and poor personell decisions, decides to fire McDaniels
• Broncos lose tons of money
• Fans applaud the decision
• Eric Studesville hired as the interim coach
• McDaniels’ history comes to an end

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