(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
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.
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