Denver Broncos: Big changes coming to roster and coaching staff
The Denver Broncos are on an historic losing streak, and heads are going to roll. Figuratively speaking, of course. Big changes are on the horizon…
If you don’t like what you’ve seen so far this season from the Denver Broncos, you’re in luck — it’s not going to be that way much longer.
The Broncos are in the midst of the worst losing streak in franchise history (during the Super Bowl era) and sweeping changes appear to be imminent.
That is, at least, what we have gleaned from many national reports and local sources alike. The Broncos that we have been watching in recent weeks will be vastly different from the Broncos we see opening up next year’s offseason activities, but where do they start?
Coaching Staff
The Broncos are likely to finish out the season with what they’ve got, unless we see/hear about more fights on the field at practice or in games. The lack of discipline with this team has become incredibly disheartening as a fan.
That being said, the place to start in this particular rebuild is with the coaching staff. The Broncos took a roster with many experienced, Pro Bowl caliber players that had just won a Super Bowl in the 2015-16 season and essentially gave them rookie coaches and coordinators.
That was not the case offensively, where the Broncos brought in veterans like Mike McCoy, Bill Musgrave, Geep Chryst, Jeff Davidson, and a number of others to oversee the side of the ball that had struggled so badly since 2014.
The Broncos appeared to have made the correct hire at head coach in 2015 when they fired John Fox and hired Gary Kubiak, whose reputation for being an excellent offensive coordinator blossomed in Denver.
Kubiak had obviously been the head coach in Houston before he was relieved of his duties there, and spent a year (successfully) with the Baltimore Ravens as their offensive coordinator.
Almost two years into his time with Denver, Kubiak was experiencing health issues and decided to resign from his role as head coach because of them. It was certainly wise of Kubiak, and not a risk worth taking with his life literally in question.
Though Elway tried to convince Kubiak to stay, they both knew the decision for him to step down was the right one, and the Broncos found themselves in the midst of another coaching search, but what’s interesting is the number of coaching changes that were made despite Elway’s desire for Kubiak to stick around.
Much of Kubiak’s staff dispersed around the league, including defensive coordinator Wade Phillips who was not retained by Vance Joseph. Denver opted to keep Joe Woods — the defensive backs coach — instead of renew Wade’s contract.
At this point in time, it would shock no one if the Broncos again had a new head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, and special teams coordinator by early January.
Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy has already been relieved of his duties, and Bill Musgrave’s promotion from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator doesn’t appear to be a permanent switch.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Kubiak had a hand in the hiring of Vance Joseph, though he had some ties both to Joseph and another top candidate, Kyle Shanahan.
Kubiak could have vouched for either guy, but the Broncos chose the one they believed to be the best ‘leader of men’ in Joseph.
Not that everyone is an overnight success, but so far, nothing has worked with this current group of coaches. Offensively, defensively, and on special teams, the Broncos are a complete mess.