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Front Office and Coaching Staff
Owner: Pat Bowlen
General Manager: Ted Sundquist
Head Coach: Mike Shanahan (Executive Vice President of Football Operations)
Assistant Head Coach: Mike Heimerdinger
Offensive Coordinator: Rick Denison
Defensive Coordinator: Larry Coyer
2005 Results
13-3 (AFC West Champions)
2005 Performance
Offense
Total Offense: Rank 5th (360.4 yards per game)
Points For: Rank 7th (24.7 points per game)
Rushing Offense: Rank 2nd (158.7 yards per game)
Passing Offense: Rank 20th (210.8 yards per game)
Defense
Total Defense: Rank 15th (312.9 yards per game)
Points Against: Rank 3rd (16.1 points per game)
Run Defense: Rank 2nd (85.2 yards per game)
Pass Defense: Rank 29th (227.7 yards per game)
Key Acquisitions and Losses
Acquired: DE Kenard Lang; LB Nate Webster.
Lost: RB Mike Anderson; DE Marco Coleman; DT Monsanto Pope; DE Trevor Pryce; TE Jeb Putzier; CB Lenny Walls.
Also lost Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak, whom is now Head Coach of the Houston Texans.
Analysis
Offense
Denver defeated the Patriots in the divisional playoffs; then hosted the AFC Championship, where they fell short to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. As close as Denver was to the Super Bowl, their obvious weaknesses must be addressed for them to get over the hump.
A look at the numbers reveals the second best running attack in the NFL. Starting running back Mike Anderson has been lost to free agency, but the Broncos ground game has had plug and play efficiency for years. We'll monitor the RB situation closely through training camp. For now the key players are Tatum Bell and Ron Dayne. Bell looks to be the beneficiary of Anderson's departure, but Shanahan successfully deployed a committee approach a year ago and may very well do so again. They like what they've seen from Dayne so far. Expect Denver to add another running back through free agency or the draft, the draft being most likely at this point. If they break with tradition and use one of the two first rounders on a running back (it's possible) the fantasy implications will create pure entertainment for those of us who enjoy watching people pull their hair trying to figure out the situation.
Denver ranked a below average 20th passing the ball a year ago. That number is partially due to the commitment to the running game and partially due to the inability to develop a number two receiver to compliment the ageless Rod Smith. Promising tight end Jeb Putzier has been lost to free agency, and Ashley Lelie has failed to emerge as a productive big play receiver. Both tight end and wide receiver need upgrades.
Some fantasy enthusiasts are giddy over the potential of "top secret" tight end project Wesley Duke. He's a converted basketball player who briefly flashed excellent hands and athleticism in game situations. The bad news is he's currently struggling to be productive in NFL Europe, and the project probably has another year of development (if it ever develops). The good news is this is a great year for drafting a tight end. There's rumblings expecting Shanahan to package his two first round picks, move up and grab Vernon Davis. Davis is a futuristic athletic marvel at tight end. Faster than most receivers, stronger than most offensive lineman, exceptionally athletic, he reminds me of Shannon Sharpe-- a wide receiver in a tight end's body. But Denver has many other needs and with five of the first 126 picks in a year packed with solid tight ends, the move up for Davis is probably wishful thinking.
More realistic is the expectation of Denver taking the first wide receiver with the 15th pick. Chad Jackson and Santonio Holmes are still competing for that honor, and different teams probably rate the two differently. This isn't a year with obviously elite wide receiver talent, but there is considerable depth and nearly 20 intriguing prospects. Shanahan may already have a couple oddball draft picks in waiting from this crop of wide receivers, so don't be surprised if they address other needs and bring a couple mid to late rounders to camp.
Jake Plummer is entrenched at quaterback, and the Broncos have done an admirable job transforming the gunslinging Snake into No Mistake Jake. No offense to Brad Van Pelt and Preston Parsons, but they have virtually no quarterback to develop for the future and no quarterback to back up Plummer if needed. There's still viable options in free agency and that seems like the safest approach given the situation. Still there's rumblings that Shanahan covets one of the top three quarterbacks in the draft, and he could take one with the 15th pick should one be available. He's even joked about trading up for Vince Young. He and Jay Cutler have the skillsets to run Shanahan's demanding version of the West Coast Offense. It's a matter of understanding how Shanahan grades the prospects, his team needs, and players at other positions. I've given up trying understand the inner workings of Mike Shanahan's mind, so how he addresses his need for a back up quarterback is a mystery to be solved with patience.
The offensive line remains the strength of this team. With left tackle Matt Lepsis signed to a new deal, the five starters return for another year as one of the best groups in the NFL. However, this is a draft with tremendous offensive line potential, and Shanahan may have his eye on some youth and depth from this class. Tom Nalen will be 35 next season, and like Rod Smith he can't play forever.
Defense
The Broncos ranked 15th in total defense giving up over 310 yards a game. Somehow they managed to end up ranked a very high 3rd in points against, only allowing opponents an average of 16 points a game. I find those numbers interesting, but there's no sense dwelling on them. A closer look reveals a team that was an impressive 2nd against the run and a dismal 29th against the pass.
Part of the atrocious pass defense can be attributed to the great run defense. Many teams gave up trying to run and went to the air to attack Denver. Obviously, those teams were successful, and obviously there's a big problem for Denver here. What isn't so obvious is that the secondary is pretty good. Shanahan drew two aces in last year's draft, finding Darrent Williams and Domonique Foxworth to play opposite Champ Bailey at cornerback. John Lynch and Nick Ferguson are average safeties, but they weren't the problem either. An upgrade at safety via the draft is a high probability, but this secondary was hung out to dry most of the season.
The pass defense woes are attributable to a laughable pass rush, but the Cleveland Browns could have told us that a year ago. Denver deployed a virtual punt blocking scheme to pressure the quarterback last season. It was funny when it worked, but it wasn't funny (unless you're a Steeler fan) in the conference championship. The Steelers picked up the bizarre scheme with ease. Their receivers frolicked through the outmanned secondary and Roethlisberger calmly picked Denver apart.
Compounding the problem, their best pass rusher, Trevor Pryce, has departed in free agency. Help for the defensive line was available, but most all of it has signed elsewhere. Darren Howard, John Abraham, and a long list of defensive line upgrades were passed over, and Denver added Kenard Lang while resigning Gerard Warren. I know I didn't list Amon Gordon above with acquisitions, and that's because those are "key" acquisitions. Mike Shanahan may need counseling to subdue his fetish for Cleveland defensive lineman. It's just bizarre.
Unfortunately for Denver help may not be available in the draft. There's one elite defensive end available (Mario Williams), and he'll be gone before Denver picks. A trade up is possible and highly recommended. After him the pass rushers all leave something to be desired. Tamba Hali and Mathias Kiwanuka have both been ranked second only to Mario, but they've both had very disappointing off seasons. Manny Lawson and Kamerion Wimbley are next in line, and while both are explosive pass rushers, they lack size and are being projected to outside linebacker.
The linebacking corps is the strength of this defense and a little needed depth was brought in with the addition of Nate Webster.
Summary
Needs by priority:
1. Defensive Line - Pass rushers preferred. Interior lineman may apply.
2. Tight End - Putzier's departure and Duke's delayed development create a problem.
3. Wide Receiver - Need a future #1 to eventually replace Rod Smith and help out in the meantime.
4. Safety - A fast ballhawking free safety and a big hitting strong safety to eventually replace Lynch.
5. Quarterback - An athletic backup to groom or a journeyman free agent for insurance. Or both.
6. Running Back - Bell and Dayne may be great together, but maybe not.
7. Psychiatrist - Need a good 12 step counselor for the Brown DL addiction.
Eight Draft Picks - #s 15 22 61 119 126 130 161 198
Denver is in a great position to address all needs but the top priority. Perhaps Courtney Brown can finally tap into his potential. Perhaps not. I wouldn't fault Shanahan for using both first rounders on the best available pass rushers. This team is an impact player away from the Super Bowl but could slip down the hill before reaching the summit.
(via New York Rangers official site)
The New York Rangers have issued a press release announcing the signing and are holding a conference call at 2:00 PM today as well.
So ends another era in Detroit, less than a week after the Yzerman Era ended. Shanahan came to Detroit in at the start of the '96-'97 season and scored 46 goals for the Wings through 79 games. He is generally seen as the final piece of the Stanley Cup puzzle for the team and has become one of the most popular players in the city over time.
Ansar Khan reminds us of the scene in the lockerroom after the Wings were eliminated by Calgary in 2004 where Shanahan was in tears because he was afraid that he would be taking off the Winged Wheel for the last time. And now he's gone, despite the Wings desperately trying to bring him back by offering more than they could afford in a two-year deal at $4 million in the first year.
Since Shanahan went on the market last week, there had been many conflicting reports on where he was headed. Some thought he was just testing the market as a staunch union man or for kicks, to see what he would get, but that he always intended to sign with the Wings. Others said he was looking to leave the Wings because of Mike Babcock or because he wanted more money than the Wings were willing or able to offer him.
It was easy to believe Babcock and Shanahan had clashed due to the coach's apparent distaste for the older players on the team but I remembered Shanny's resurgence this past season and thought perhaps that Babcock made an exception with him. Therefore, I allowed myself to believe reports such as a blog post by Ansar Khan, which came late last night, that assured Wings fans that Shanahan wasn't going anywhere (Khan has since taken the post down - a big no-no in the blogging community, Ansar). We even had it straight from The Captain.
Well, the Wings have lost two of their greatest leaders in just a few days. I have no idea what Holland can, or will, do to fill in the holes. The leadership shoes will have to be filled by players such as Henrik Zetterberg, Niklas Kronwall and Pavel Datsyuk with the help of Nick Lidstrom, Kris Draper and the rest of the remaining veterans. The hole left in the offense by Shanahan's departure will be harder to fill (remember, he scored 41 goals last year). Anson Carter, Michael Peca and Scott Gomez are names already being thrown around. None of them will really replace Shanahan, even if they produce 20-30 goals a year.
Ken Holland is not to blame for this. The Wings really couldn't afford to give Shanahan such a raise and the real shame here is that he wouldn't take a pay cut to help the team stay competitive. I will not be angry at Brendan for leaving. He's done too much for the team to deserve that. But I am very disappointed in him.
We wanted change this off-season and we're getting it, folks. It hurts, doesn't it?
The Wings' 2002 Playoff CD had a variation of Shanny's Irish Jig that incluced Ken Daniels and Ken Kal calling a number of Shanahan goals from that season. I don't know about you guys but I can picture a number of the goals and it's hard to believe that we'll never again hear the Jig played for a Shanahan goal at JLA. Click here to listen to it and remember (.wma, 1.2 MB).
Goodbye, Brendan. Thanks for the memories. I hope you find what you're looking for in New York.
Denver Broncos Schedule
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