Denver Broncos coaching rumors: Zac Taylor impresses

The Denver Broncos are looking for a new head coach. Will it be Zac Taylor? What will Gary Kubiak’s role be? How are the interviews progressing?

The Denver Broncos’ head coaching search is well underway and on Thursday, the team’s brain trust led by John Elway traveled to California to interview Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor.

According to Broncos insider Mike Klis, the Broncos came away from their interview with Taylor ‘quite impressed’.

Add in the fact that Elway is apparently keeping a much more open mind in this year’s coaching search than he has in years past, and Taylor seems to be an ascending candidate.

As Klis noted in the interview linked above, all three of Elway’s previous coaching searches were essentially pre-determined. He knew he would eventually hire John Fox, Gary Kubiak, and Vance Joseph. The interview process was merely a formality.

Elway did state at his end-of-season presser he covets a coach with experience, but he said it didn’t necessarily have to be ‘head coaching’ experience. That is certainly a bonus for guys like Chuck Pagano and Mike Munchak in the interview process, but Taylor is being interviewed by the team despite his inexperience.

What does that say?

The Broncos might be interviewing Taylor for an offensive coordinator position, but if he was that impressive in his interview, why not make him the head coach and surround him with experience?

The Sean McVay model has worked in Los Angeles, who of course also had a former number one pick at quarterback in the fold. The Broncos don’t have that yet, but they do have a bunch of solid pieces offensively and they need someone who can beat teams with a gameplan and creative offensive approach.

In addition to experience, a transition to the modern NFL offense — which is becoming more and more like college offense — is something Elway also covets.

There is no Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay on the coaching market this year. That said, the Broncos may have to take a chance on someone they feel can be the ‘next’ guy like those two. Taylor may not be there yet, but can he get there?

If the answer to that question is ‘yes’, there are some solutions that may work for Elway and company.