NFL 2010: 10 Reasons Josh McDaniels Is on the Hot Seat This Season

Denver Broncos fans can often be divided along a single line these days-those who support Josh McDaniels and those who want his head on a pike outside Mile High.

Regardless of which side fans are on, there is no doubt that the man known as Mc-D has some explaining to do. His personnel changes and coaching philosophy certainly failed to mesh with former Denver uber-coach Mike Shanahan and the system that was in place.

It may be just a case of "in with the new and out with the old," but Mc-D needs to watch his back, since he is now ON THE HOT SEAT.

Cue ominous music.

Let's explore the top 10 reasons why Josh McDaniels is on the hot seat for the 2010 NFL season.

Explosive Emotional Outbursts

With outbursts that rival the infamous "YEAH!" of past presidential candidate Howard Dean, McDaniels regularly flaunts his youthful exuberance.

While some may appreciate these bursts of excitement and/or anger, most agree that the maturity level needed to win is not entirely there. Hopefully, the head coach can pull back to more reasonable levels of exuberance to avoid the backlash from nit-picking critics.

Early, Erratic Opinions

There was once a day when Jay Cutler was supposed to be the quarterback of the future for the Denver Broncos. When he ousted Jake Plummer from the starting spot, he was expected to be a rocket-armed extraordinaire that would continue the yearly playoff run Denver fans had grown accustomed to.

Then, McDaniels took over as coach. Before anyone could stop him, McDaniels sent Cutler to the Chicago Bears in a trade that happened so suddenly that some fans are still trying to figure out which way is up.

The new head coach seemed to have his mind made up before giving the kid a chance. That's like your annoying high school history teacher who disliked you before you even walked in the door because one other teacher complained about you a little.

McDaniels has to prove that the move was not without warrant, or else he will have to answer mightily for the next slide....

The 2009 Draft

Unless you are a devout Broncos fan, you probably don't recognize number 33 at all. That smiling gentleman would be cornerback Alphonso Smith, selected in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft. His overall price tag is a little higher.

Alphonso was acquired courtesy of a draft day trade in which McDaniels shipped off the 2010 first round pick he gained from the Chicago Bears for Smith.

This was after the confusion caused by the Robert Ayers pick in the first round. (Knowshon Moreno was an understandable selection.)

Note to Mc-D: When using draft picks you gained from a trade that left the team without a franchise quarterback, try to go big with those picks and be careful.

Playoffs? You Kiddin' Me? Playoffs?

The Broncos haven't tasted playoff glory since the days of linebacker Ian Gold (pictured here) and the 2005 season, back when Al Wilson lined up next to Gold.

Since then, hopes have been high for a return to the post-season. It doesn't matter how; it just needs to happen. McDaniels was brought in because Shanahan was no longer achieving enough regular season success to get the Broncos in the playoffs.

The Mc-D playoff clock is ticking.

The 6-0 Start

...with a 2-8 finish.

The Broncos started out on fire last year-no doubt about that fact. A 6-0 start is no time to turn up the nose, especially after a high-profile victory against the New England Patriots in which McDaniels toppled his mentor, Bill Belichick.

Like the most recent seasons in Broncos history, the team barely managed to stay alive down the all-important stretch. The only hope came in a Thanksgiving day victory over the New York Giants.

It just fell apart.

McDaniels must provide consistency this year. Even if it means he spends the year going win-loss-win-loss, etc., he needs to spread out the victories.

Losing streaks are for teams that need a new coach.

The Playbook

Between Shanahan and McDaniels,the Denver Broncos players should be used to complex offensive schemes by now. The McD offense was certainly a change from the Shanahan days.

The focus has shifted in favor of the pass, yet McDaniels does not seem to recognize that Kyle Orton is not Tom Brady. The long ball is not much of an option.

Instead, the Broncos resorted to tossing the ball to Brandon Marshall on a bubble screen and let him do the work.

Oh yeah, there were also slant routes.

Plenty of slant routes.

Which is good...if you're trying to win in the Madden video game series.

McDaniels needs to prove that he has brought in the right personnel to succeed in his system or else that system may be on its way out.

The Shoulda-Been-Wins

Losses to the Ravens and Steelers could be accepted-and they came after the 6-0 start. But the third loss in a row was a tough bullet to bite.

After all, it was to the paltry squad known as the Washington Redskins.

It should have been a win, yet the Broncos lost by 10 points.

Then there was a last-second, one point loss to the Oakland Raiders. The defense simply sat down and let the final touchdown drive happen. There was no attempt to prevent that score.

The field goal loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was a close one, but it could have/should have been a win.

To end the season, after thrashing them only four weeks earlier, the Denver Broncos laid down at the feet of the Kansas City Chiefs. It was a pathetic move. Mockery of the team was well-deserved.

Despite winning some high-profile games, McDaniels had trouble winning games that he supposedly should have no problem with, another example of the team's troubling lack of consistency.

Wave Bye-Bye!

While the loss of Brandon Marshall rocked the offseason Denver headlines, the departure of defensive coordinator Mike Nolan was just as newsworthy.

Most people would agree that "if somethin' ain't broke, don't fix it." Unfortunately, McDaniels disagreed after his rookie year. Clearly, he had no appreciation for the new 3-4 scheme that ranked 7th in the league.

Of course, the defense had a large number of faults, but it was certainly an improvement from the 31st ranked unit.

Whatever caused the behind-the-scenes drama between Mc-D and Nolan may forever be unknown. What is known, however, is that if the defense struggles to find a strong form this year, all eyes with be on the temperamental head coach.

And they will be shooting lasers.

Where Did the 2006 Draft Class Go?

McDaniels clearly has it out for what ended up being one of Denver's best draft classes in recent years. Jay Cutler, Tony Scheffler and Brandon Marshall, the top three Denver picks that year, have all been moved to another team despite the success they've had.

It is unclear whether McDaniels was eager to put his stamp on the team or if he just hates big contracts. Defensive end/linebacker Elvis Dumervil was nearly shown the door as well. Instead, he was pushed into signing his tender and some resentment may brew.

It is starting to look like the 2006 draft never even happened for the Broncos...

Which means that the next slide had better pan out extremely well for Josh McDaniels.

The 2010 Draft

If the 2006 draft class was a landmark installment, then the 2010 class had better be prepared to fill those shoes.

The out-of-left-field selection of Tim Tebow will be talked about for years to come. McDaniels better do some of that praying stuff that Tebow likes so much to make sure it comes out in his favor.

Tactically, McDaniels maneuvered the draft board extremely well. He started with six picks and ended with nine, though more of those could have been in the first three rounds if he didn't jump the gun on Tebow.

They say it takes three years to evaluate a draft class. McDaniels had better hope he still has a job at that point.