Denver Coaching In 2009: A Mile High Change

The 2009 Denver Broncos will have a long road ahead of them as they have to deal with a mostly new coaching staff.

After the 2008 season the old era of Mike Shanahan came to an end and Josh McDaniels became a household name in Bronco nation.

McDaniels, has had a successful career before his arrival in Denver, however not as a head coach. McDaniels served as the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots from 2005 to 2008.

During that time the Patriots won a Super Bowl. Then two years later they went undefeated. In the undefeated season of 2007, McDaniels offense had an NFL record 75 touchdowns.

In 2008, when star quarterback of the Patriots, Tom Brady, went down McDaniels helped Matt Cassel come into the league and start games after not starting a single game in previous years or even in college.

The 2008 Patriots missed the playoffs but still had an impressive record of 11-5.

Now McDaniels will make another step up as he moves from offensive coordinator to head coach. The reason why Pat Bowlen promoted McDaniels to a head coach position is probably a big thanks to the success that he had experienced at New England.

The offensive is going to be rebuilt indeed. Not only at the helm with McDaniels, but also offensive coordinator, Mike McCoy.

McCoy comes from a team that knows a little something about the Patriots, or at least what it is like to lose to the Patriots. Carolina was a kick return away from winning the Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Patriots before time ran out.

Passing in Denver has never been a big part of the offense, but in 2009 that could all change as McCoy comes from the Panthers, and together with McDaniels’ history with helping out quarterbacks, McCoy helped a start-up quarter back himself, as he helped Jake Delhomme make a Super Bowl, a pro-bowl selection, and four 3,000-yard passing seasons.

Under McCoy’s guidance the Panthers went on to a 12-4 record last season, and the Panthers were able to receive a first-round bye.

In 2007, McCoy did not have a fun year. He was the passing game coordinator/ quarterbacks coach. The Panthers were torn apart by injuries. In 2007, not a single quarterback would start more than three games in a row for the Panthers.

Despite numerous injuries to the Carolina offense in 2007 the Panthers did not finish last in their division, and finished the season at 7-9. Proving that McCoy can teach the quarterbacks and offense several key things they need to know to continue to win, despite who might be throwing the ball. Which is good news for the Broncos which still have a question mark for quarterback.

McCoy is no stranger to the Broncos, Denver signed him as a free-agent quarterback in 1995, but released him. He went on to play practice squad for the Green Bay Packers.

While the offense is sure to get a big change in coaching and playing in 2009 for the Broncos, the defense is going under a big change as well.

Denver is going to try the 3-4 defense, and to that some key players will have to change position.

Somebody that will be able to help in that transition is new linebackers coach, Don Martindale.

Martindale comes from one of the biggest rivals of Denver: The Oakland Raiders. From 2004 to 2008 Martindale served as the Raiders’ linebacker coach.

In that time Martindale helped make some Oakland linebackers rack up some impressive numbers. Which means that Denver’s new defense might be very tough in 2009.

One player that starred for Martinsdale is Kirk Morrison. Morrison was a third-round pick in 2005 and in four years with Oakland and under Martindale, he was able to gobble up almost 500 tackles. That ranked him first in the AFC and second in the NFL.

Before entering the NFL Martindale was the defensive coordinator at Western Kentucky University. In that time the Western Kentucky defense allowed the sixth fewest yards for division 1-AA.

As linebackers coach for the Broncos, Martindale is going to have to switch players around and turn linebackers into a duo threat, both stopping the run but also helping out on the pass.

So as a new season looms a lot of changes for the Denver Broncos. These changes are going to make the 2009 Denver Broncos a new threat in some ways.

The offensive is being held up with mostly first year coach’s for the Broncos, after racking up big numbers elsewhere while the defense plans to change schemes.

McDaniels brought in a bunch of new faces with him, sometimes change can be good, sometimes all change does is make people look for other changes to fix the changes that happened.

For the Broncos there is going to be a big change and hopefully, if everything works out, then the new change might just be OK.

The members of the new coaching staff have plenty of past successes. Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy received his position after proving in Carolina that he can help out starting quarterbacks.

Linebackers coach, Don Martinsdale, has made a tough line backing core in Oakland and helped several rookies over there record several tackles and interceptions, which fits right into the Broncos new defensive scheme.

And of course, there is Josh McDaniels who proved to be a great offensive leader in New England, and now hopes to lead an entire team of Denver.

It’s going to be a year of change in Denver, and at the end of the season, another change maybe adding another Super Bowl victory.

It may not happen in 2009, but it might happen soon.

Pat White: Next Stage In Evolution Of Wildcat

The “wildcat” formation was unveiled to a national audience in 2008, to rave reviews. In 2009, the Dolphins look to take the next step with the formation, through the addition of second round draft pick, quarterback Pat White.

White set West Virginia and Big East total yards and touchdown record with 9,961 yards and 99 touchdowns.  Coming into the draft, the six-foot 197 lbs White was considered to be a future NFL wide receiver by many pundits, but during the offseason he silenced some critics with a Senior Bowl performance that earned him MVP honors. 

He continued to impress at the NFL Draft Combine, where White participated in quarterback drills.  White was awarded with the General Motors Top Combine Performer award. 

White posted impressive triangle numbers of a 4.49 “40”, 7.06 seconds in the cone drill, and a 35-inch vertical jump.  Scouts raved of White’s potential in the NFL as a quarterback and during his subsequent pro day event held in Morgantown at West Virginia’s campus, he was not asked to perform wide receiver drills. His stock as a professional quarterback was cemented.

White was drafted by the Dolphins with the 44th overall pick (second round) of the draft, and pundits and experts immediately purred over White’s potential in the wildcat formation the Dolphins utilized in 2008. 

They addressed the potential of White to be used in a set that can utilize not only his ability to run the football, but to capitalize on his ability to throw had draniks abuzz.

The wildcat is predicated on offsetting the defensive unit’s numbers advantage after the snap.  By taking away the quarterback and putting the primary run option behind center, the offense is basically 11-on-11 and, should the offense execute their blocks fundamentally, the ball carrier should theoretically have to beat one man—his man. If he does, it should result in a score.

Last season, the Dolphins began using this formation, made famous by Gus Malzahn (the former Arkansas offensive coordinator) and David Lee (a staffmate with Malzahn at Arkansas and current Dolphins running backs coach) at Arkansas with Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.

In the third game of the season and over the course of the next seven games, the Dolphins would average over seven yards per play out of the set. 

In what would be the set’s magnum opus of the season, on September 21 against the Patriots, the Dolphins ran from the wildcat formation six times and the result was five touchdowns in a 38-13 win.

In the Dolphins final seven games, the set lessened in its effectiveness.  With teams around the NFL implementing the wrinkle into their individual offenses, teams were able to focus more on the Dolphins’ attack and what resulted was a lack of results from the formation.

Enter White.

One of the vital elements that went missing from the Dolphins’ version of the wildcat was the threat of the vertical passing game.  With running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, the pass was not feared and it gave opposing teams the ability to bring more players into the box. This negated the perceived numbers advantage the wildcat is predicated off of, which would allow the speed sweep, counter, and split zone variations of the offense to flourish. 

These gadget or “trick” plays that give the formation variance put the defense in a position to be off balance and ill-prepared for the attack.  The threat of a legitimate pass allows this to happen and it is that White—skilled as a passer and a runner—brings to the table as the next step in the evolution to the wildcat formation in the NFL.

Coach’s Corner: The Five Most Effective Plays in The Falcons’ Playbook

The 2008 Atlanta Falcons had a breakout season on offense. The team finished sixth in the NFL in total yards, averaging 361 per game. Running back Michael Turner gained 1,699 yards and scored a franchise-record 17 touchdowns. Wideout Roddy White made the Pro Bowl after finishing fourth in the NFL in receiving yards. Quarterback Matt Ryan looked like a seasoned veteran most of his rookie year.

Overall, the offense looked good under first-year coordinator Mike Mularkey. While the former Bills head coach earned the nickname “Inspector Gadget” for his tendency to run trick plays, the 2008 Falcons’ were a no-frills team that punished opponents. 

After finishing second in the league in rushing, it would be easy to list five running plays as the Falcons’ most effective. But, in reality, it took a shrewd mix of run and pass to take the Dirty Birds to the playoffs. The following break down and video highlights should explain the most successful parts of Atlanta’s playbook. 

Carolina Panthers: Ten Questions for an Anonymous Panther, Chad Upshaw

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Everyone knows the superstars, the guys who find ways to get the ball in their hands with the game on the line. But what about the guys who don’t even get to stand on the sideline?

Practice squads help NFL teams prepare each week by running the opposing team’s plays. To do so, they make a decent salary, $5,200 per week. However, as a practice squad player, there is no job security.

Chad Upshaw knows this all too well. Upshaw was a tight end at the University at Buffalo and signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent. Like many players on the fringe, Upshaw’s NFL biography is a series of transactions.

He bounced to Denver’s practice squad and back to Carolina. Now, he is unsigned and is likely working out in the hopes that he will be one of eight players selected to the practice squad after cuts are made.

Upshaw isn’t just a man that isn’t quite good enough. He is the son of former Major League first baseman Willie Upshaw. He is the second cousin of NFL Hall of Famer Gene Upshaw.

Because people can’t see him on television each Sunday, to most people, he is nothing.

To me, Chad is the three-sport stud (football, basketball and baseball) whom I read about in the Connecticut Post the day after he transferred to St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, Conn., my school. Chad is the guy I competed for playing time with on the baseball field.

I remember a teenage Chad, like the rest of us, searching for his identity. Unlike the rest of us, he did so in the large shadows of an athletically successful family.

Now that I’m out of touch with the man, there is so much I’d love to know as a former teammate, curious journalist, and supporter of the underdog. Here are some of the questions I would ask Chad if given the opportunity to interview him.

1. Your father played in the Major Leagues for 10 seasons, and your cousin has been widely involved in the NFL as a player and as an executive director of the NFL Players Association. Obviously, there were a number of advantages in having their counsel and experience available to you. What were some of the disadvantages?

2. Because of your family’s athletic background, were you pushed toward any one sport? If so, how did that affect your athletic life as a young player?

3. What is your reaction when you hear comments about athletes only playing for the money?

4. As a member of a practice squad, what are your goals? And how do you try to accomplish them?

5. From when you played youth sports in Connecticut to your time at the University at Buffalo, you were one of the best players on any court or field you stepped on. How have you adjusted to being one of the least-talented players for the first time in your career?

6. What separates you from the players ahead of you on the depth chart?

7. How is your personal development affected as you attempt to imitate the opposing team’s plays in practice?

8. Since you are not as financially secure as players under contract and on the roster, how do you balance preparing for your football season and managing your life financially?

9. How do you deal with the highs and lows of being consistently cut and signed?

10. If you don’t get the opportunity to play on the active roster, how many seasons do you envision yourself spending on the practice squad before ending your career?

The Universal Hatred of the Denver Broncos

We all have a team out there we hate. I have a few close friends that are into football, and we’re all into different teams. None of us have one team that we cheer for. However, we do have one team that we absolutely hate: the Denver Broncos.

Don’t ask me why but if there was one team that could just disappear, it would have to be the Broncos. I know, being a Chiefs fan I should hate the Raiders. And I do. Just…not as much as the Broncos.

I can’t tell you exactly why or how I came to hate them. I assure you, it wasn’t like I woke up one morning and decided to hate them. On the contrary, I actually use to tolerate the Broncos. I never liked them per se, but I tolerated them.

Champ Bailey is an amazing athlete. Terrell Davis is one of my favorite running backs ever to play the game. And don’t get me started on that beast named John Elway.

However, I have come to realize that the Broncos and the Chiefs cannot co-exist together. I’ve never been able to make friends with a Bronco fan. Everyone I have ever met has been an obnoxious drunk who thought Jay Cutler was the second coming of Jesus.

And well, we all know how that turned out.

And I seriously believe that the Chiefs formulated last season to screw the Broncos over. Pollard takes out Brady, throwing the entire AFC off track. Matt Cassel becomes a franchise quarterback all of a sudden. Dwayne Bowe drops an onside kick, helping San Diego secure the AFC West.

Denver’s coach is fired, and the new coach is interested in Matt Cassel. This of course pisses current quarterback Cutler off, who demands a trade. Cutler gets traded, Cassel goes to the Chiefs. So the Broncos are left with no good quarterbacks (you’re kidding yourself if you think Kyle Orton is the answer Denver), and the Chiefs have suddenly found themselves only in contention with San Diego in the AFC West (sorry Raiders but Al Davis is still alive).

Well anyways, that’s my two cents on this whole thing. Kansas City is slowly but surely taking over the NFL.

I know you’re all laughing at me right now, but in two or three years…you’ll all remember me as the prophet of the NFL.

*This is just a humorous article. I really do hate the Broncos, but I don’t believe that the Chiefs are leading a conspiracy.

Upstate Pride: Why It’s OK to Root for the Buffalo Bills

New Yorkers have entirely too many teams to choose from. There are multiple teams in every major sport, but only one plays football in the Empire state. 

That’s right, it’s those wagon-circling, hot-wing eating Buffalo Bills. 

There’s a sense of upstate pride associated with the Bills. In my travels around the country, when you tell people you’re from New York they automatically assume you mean the city. 

There’s always a sense of shock when you tell them, “No. I’m from upstate.” It’s like they can’t fathom the idea that there’s an entire state outside of the five boroughs. 

When you meet someone from the city itself, there’s often a reaction of, “Oh, you’re from upstate.” 

For a long time, I was embarrassed of where I was from simply because people made me feel like that was how I should feel. I hail from the land of fine wine, dairy farms, and not a whole lot else. 

Over time I’ve grown to embrace these things and the number of strange subtleties that make upstate New York and Buffalo such a unique place. 

Whether it’s loganberry juice, Mighty Taco, or even non-food landmarks like the numerous Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes sprinkled throughout the area, there are plenty of things that make Buffalo a world unto itself. 

Nothing, however, makes the area more unique than the people.

Upstate New Yorkers seem to have a giant chip on their collective shoulder, and no group has a larger chip than the Buffalo Bills and their fans. 

The Bills have always been lovable losers to me. Even when they won four consecutive AFC championships in the 90s, they just never could win the big one, and they’ve been mired in mediocrity ever since. 

When the team starts off well, the hopes of all of western New York rise with the team’s place in the standings. When the record heads south, so too do the moods of the faithful as they plunge head first into the frigid teeth of the New York winter sans a playoff berth. 

Every year, however, hope springs eternal with the promise of a new football season.

Some might call it foolish or masochistic, but there’s an admirable optimist hiding beneath those blue-and-red-painted chests. 

Far away from the glitz and glamour of the big city lights the other New York teams play under, there is a fan base stretching across a state holding onto the belief that this is the year our team will finally slay that Super Bowl demon. 

In college I had an English professor with a thick southern drawl who, fittingly enough, taught Southern Literature. 

Her family was a collection of mountain people, and she was extremely proud of that fact. She often made a point to tell us to be proud of our heritage no matter what it was or where we came from.

That sums up Bills fans. They don’t try to be anyone else. They know who they, are and they embrace it, the way only upstate people can.

A 30 Pack (of Questions) for Devin Hester

1. How difficult has the transition to becoming a full-time receiver been?

2. What are your current strengths as a receiver?

3. What are the major areas of improvement you need to work on?

4. How much of a struggle was it to juggle the duties of being a full time receiver and all of the work and preparation that came with that along with your duties as a returner?

5. Would you still prefer to be a full-time kick returner along with being a full-time receiver?

6. How much film work do you do in the average week?

7. How has your relationship with Jay Cutler developed on and off the field?

8. How would you compare your brief experiences playing with Cutler to playing with guys like Orton and Grossman?

9. Which, if any, receivers do you try to model your game after and study?

10. What receivers past and present on the Bears have been most helpful in your transition to receiver?

11. Do you feel more comfortable lining up on the outside as a split end or flanker or inside as a slot receiver?

12. How do you work in your instincts as a returner to your game as a receiver?

13. Do you mind blocking in the running game or for fellow receivers?

14. What are your goals for the 2009 season entering training camp?

15. With the wildcat formation coming into vogue last year, do you feel like you would be a good fit running it like Ronnie Brown in Miami?

16. Following up on that last question. Besides receiver, where might you line up this year?

17. In your heart of hearts, what position would you ideally play?

18. Over the years, how immersed have you become in the Bears-Packers rivalry?

19. What is the most memorable play of your career?

20. How was it playing football at “The U”?

21. Do you still follow the Miami program?

22. What players from Miami past and present do you keep in contact with, and have you worked with someone like Michael Irvin in the off-season?

23. When did you start playing football? 

24. At what point did you seriously consider playing football as a career?

25. What you do think of the nickname “Windy City Flyer”?

26. How much of a problem do you have living a regular life as a high-profile sports figure in such a sports-crazy city?

27. Any significance wearing the number 23? And are you able to keep wearing it as a full-time receiver now?

28. What are some of your favorite activities off the field?

29. What player on the team do you hang out with most off the field?

30. What was it like to be first player rated as 100 speed in the Madden video-game franchise?

Laurence Maroney, Could This Be It?

A glance at the Patriots’ roster reveals several positions, which could provide interesting training camp battles.

At outside linebacker, who will fill the spot of the departed Mike Vrabel?

Will special teams ace Pierre Woods finally make his mark on defense? Or will Shawn Crable, who missed his rookie season with an injury, give the Patriots speed off the edge?

How will things shake out in the secondary? And with veteran tight ends Chris Baker and Alex Smith in tow, where will holdovers Ben Watson and David Thomas fit in?

Perhaps the most intriguing battle will be at running back. Despite having a slew of injuries at the position in 2008, New England still ranked sixth in rushing yards.  With a solid offensive line and potent passing attack, whichever back gets the majority of the touches should put up some nice numbers in 2009. 

But with a crowded backfield, newcomer Fred Taylor joins incumbents Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, and Laurence Maroney—could it be the oft injured and thus far disappointing Maroney who is the odd man out?

Maroney was a first-round pick out of Minnesota in 2006 and teamed with Corey Dillion to give the Patriots a two-headed rushing monster that season.

Despite showing flashes during the end of 2007, Maroney has largely been a disappointment since being tagged with the lead back role in New England. That culminated in an injury plagued 2008, which saw his season end after just 28 carries and three games.

Taylor, for one, is no stranger to injuries, having carried the “Fragile Freddy” tag throughout his career. The eleven-year veteran could offer invaluable guidance to Maroney.

Two possibilities seem likely for Maroney. One, he learns from the veteran Taylor and uses the competition as motivation to stake claim to the starting job.

Two, he falls out of favor in training camp and goes the route of former Patriot receiver Chad Jackson, who could never harness his talent and was released last summer.

But the indecisive Maroney, who by all accounts is a good guy, needs to cure his injury woes and hit the hole with more authority, as the Patriots have proved they can be decisive when it comes to making tough personal decisions.

Donald Driver a Surprising No-Show for Packer OTA’s

Donald Driver was a surprising no-show to the Green Bay Packers’ Organized Team Activities (OTA’s) on Thursday and is reportedly unhappy with his contract, according to a Wisconsin State Journal report.

Driver has two years left on his current deal and has approached the team in the past about his desire to renegotiate the deal.

The Packers re-worked his deal in 2007, after Driver made the Pro Bowl. But the 34-year-old receiver is still reportedly displeased with his compensation.

Considering his advancing age, decreasing production, and the Packers wealth of talent at wide receiver, it appears unlikely that Driver will get the upgraded contract he seeks.

The 34-year-old receiver caught 74 passes for 1,012 yards in 2007, his lowest output since 2003.

Meanwhile, the Packers boast emerging star Greg Jennings across from Driver, along with the talented young receivers like James Jones and 2007 second-round pick Jordy Nelson behind them.

The OTA’s are technically voluntary, but only Driver, Charles Woodson, and Nick Collins missed them on Thursday.

Woodson was excused for personal reasons by Head Coach Mike McCarthy, and Collins was absent following the death of his father, according to the report.

McCarthy refused to discuss the absences following the session.

Receivers don’t often age like fine wine, and though Driver has been a stalwart for the Packers both on and off the field, he will likely have to suck it up and play for the $3.9 million he is slated to make this season.

With the talent the Packers have at receiver, Driver has very little leverage to work with.

’08 Baltimore Ravens Were Something Special

The 1996 Ravens brought football back to Baltimore. They were important. The 2000 Ravens brought a championship back to Baltimore. They were very important. But when I look back years from now on my favorite Baltimore Ravens team of all time, the 2008 campaign will stick out in my mind.

It was a season in which expectations were defied and foundations for legacies were forged, and they are no doubt my favorite Ravens team of all time.

My reasons are half selfish, half sentimental. 2008 was the season I actually worked for the team. As an intern and contributing writer for BaltimoreRavens.com, I got to cover the team on a very personal and in-depth level.

But putting aside that ‘cool’ factor, I was a 22-year-old fresh out of college still trying to find my way in this industry (and I suppose the world in general), there was this brand new head coach and this brand new quarterback doing the same. In my city. For my team.

2008 was the year Baltimore met John Harbaugh. It was the year they fell in love with Joe Flacco. It was the year when a team defied all expectations from the previous season to make it all the way to the AFC Championship game.

Rookie quarterbacks and rookie head coaches don’t do that. Harbaugh and Flacco did.

The two of them have endeared themselves to the city, and the city has reciprocated in kind. If 2008 is any indication (and I believe it is), Harbaugh and Flacco will go down with the likes of Johnny Unitas, Cal Ripken Jr., and Ray Lewis as among the heroes of Charm City sports. Baltimore loves its heroes.

They didn’t win the championship. They didn’t even win the division. But when Ravens fans look back on the legend of Joe Flacco and the legacy of John Harbaugh, they’ll remember 2008 was when it began.

I’ll remember 2008 was my first year in this business (and quite possibly my last), but it was an important year for me nonetheless. I don’t know what my future as a writer or my future in sports will be like. But 2008 will remain a signature marker on the time line of my career and my life.

John Harbaugh always speaks of creating something, being a part of something bigger. It’s not about winning championships. Championships will come if you devote yourself to a larger ideal. That lesson can be applied in football and in life. 2008 was the year I learned that. So did Baltimore, and so did the Ravens.

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