The Broncos certainly have an interesting selection on their hands.
Today's list of possible NFL coaches ranges from proven, old-school veterans like Bill Cowher and Marty Schottenheimer, to new and innovative young minds like Steve Spagnuolo and Josh McDaniels.
Whom should they pick?
My first instinct, along with several Broncos fans that I know, was to blurt out "Cowher!"
Bill Cowher is a proven coach with a solid philosophy and a track record to prove that it works. He provides a defensive strategy that is basically still in tact today in Pittsburgh. This strategy produces not just defensive stops but also scoring opportunities.
Cowher's philosophy is an exciting prospect for Broncos fans, and we certainly won't be disappointed if he becomes the next head coach. However, upon my own further review, Cowher should not be the No. 1 choice for Bowlen and Company.
Many NFL insiders suggest that Cowher will either want General Manger-like control of an organization, or to at least bring in "his people" to manage player personnel.
This model, in my opinion, seems too old-school for today's NFL. While it may provide for some interesting short term improvements, even playoff appearances, will it work for the long term?
Bowlen would like nothing more than to have another coach that provides him with a good gut-feeling for the next 10 years. A coach with total control, or at least control of the people who manage personnel, will likely create conflicts and power struggles within the organization.
This struggle can wear down the organization to the point where a coach like Cowher, who's already proven and Super-Bowl-ringed, would simply retire again and go on about his merry way (see Bill Parcells after his short Jets and Cowboys tenures).
If I were in charge, I would shorten the list down to the "Young Guns." Get a smart, up-to-date General Manager. For head coach, hire a fiery coordinator with a chip on his shoulder.
Fill the rest of the staff with coaches that all have something to prove. And keep Jeremy Bates. His young, innovative mind is the main reason why Denver was second in total offensive yards last season.
They say the NFL is a copycat league. The team to copy is the one with the best track record in the modern NFL: New England. They have a great GM (whom Denver should go after) and a very talented coaching staff.
Belichick started as a relatively unsuccessful and unproven head coach with a chip on his shoulder and became a Hall-of-Famer under this very model. The Patriots have created a dynasty with this model.
Get out your Xerox, Bowlen, and make some copies!
5 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Kevin Boeckman 6 months ago
I agree. I'm hoping for Steve Spagnuolo and the smart, up-to-date General Manager.
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Jeff Peters 6 months ago
Spagnuolo would be my choice too. And Scott Pioli as GM is the hot pick right now, although Cleveland is gunning hard for him. Hard to argue that Denver wouldn't be better with those two.
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Henry Gula 6 months ago
Looks like you're thinking the same way Bowlen is. They've already scheduled interviews with Spagnuolo and the Bucs DB's coach, Raheem Morris. McDaniels is also said to have an interview. That doesn't rule out a Bill Cowher type as the GM, but it looks like they're going to go young with the coach, just like you say will be good.
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Joseph Hiller 6 months ago
I'm hoping for Raheem Morris. Spagnuolo seems like a solid coordinator, but the Broncos need to be strategically consistent at coaching and player levels. For a number of years, the team attempted a patchwork retread with infusion of veteran free agents. Now, the team is going with self-renewal through the draft.
In my humble opinion, it does not make sense to target youth through the draft, and then target an older, veteran coach. For teams like the Jets, Cleveland and Detroit, an older, veteran coach (with great power) potentially makes sense. For the Broncos, we need to be shooting for a coach who will continue the tradition of long tenure. Spagnuolo will almost certainly not be around as a head coach for 15 years (like Shanahan).
Bowlen is a patient owner, and for that reason Morris might make sense. Morris had solid tutelage under Mike Tomlin, so he has a great defensive resume (and could thus make a pitch to keep Jeremy Bates on the offensive side), he's young enough to relate to the players, and he's also young enough that if he's successful in his emergence in Denver, he could stay around here for quite a while.
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Jeff Peters 6 months ago
Hi Joseph. You make some excellent points. I agree, Morris is an intriguing candidate as well. I have to somewhat disagree on your comments about Spagnuolo. He's only 49, and while this may be older than many of the new era of coaching, it's still pretty young as coaches go. Not to mention, his youth really lies in his inexperience with head coaching. It probably doesn't matter, because 15 years is probably not going to happen for many coaches regardless of age. I think he has a better upside only because the Giant's defensive line was arguably the best in the NFL the last 2 years, and that's what Denver needs more than anything. But we'll see! It's an exciting time for Broncos fans, lets hope it pays off!
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