The talk around Broncos Country today will revolve around their failed stay at the "Bates Motel." Safe to say, most of the residents (wait, make that "players") checked out of the "Bates Motel" in week six. Then, in week 19 of the season, Jim Bates himself got the boot.
Just like Larry Coyer before him.
Just like Ray Rhodes resigned prior to Coyer.
Just like Greg Robinson was shown the door before that.
I am guessing that there will much written about Bates today, so I will switch to a topic that doesn't directly involve him, though, one that is residual in nature.
I know Mike Shanahan has won two Super Bowls. He has taken Denver to four AFC Championship Games. He has only had two losing seasons in 13 years on the sidelines here.
All of that should give him an enormous sense of gratification. However, all of that does not make him immune from criticism.
Shanahan coaches the team, picks the players, and picks the coaches. If he does the latter-and none of his defensive coaching choices work out, isn't he partly culpable? Sure, the position coach has to directly answer for the performance of his unit, but what about the guy who hires him to supervise? Isn't he partly responsible, too?
Sure he is, especially if this is a perennial problem and coaches are being shuttled in and out of Dove Valley, like its some sort of timeshare that everybody eventually has to vacate.
Put it this way: You are a fan of a certain college program. The last five coaches have not gotten you to a bowl game. Who do you blame? Those five coaches? Yeah. Although, how about blaming the athletic director that is making one hiring mistake after another? In a way, Shanahan is that athletic director.
Yesterday, while on the way to work, two radio hosts on our partner, KKFN-AM, were discussing the 2008 Broncos. The prediction from one host was 11-12 wins while the other went with nine victories. They, of course, were basing their thoughts on...well, nothing.
The only place to bring an adequate assessment of the program is to scrutinize everything Shanahan does. Many might disagree and feel he is above reproach because of his tremendous success. I don't think anyone is above evaluation, at the most, and self-introspection, at the least. You can most likely bet Shanahan is doing a little of each.
In regards to coaching, it is fair to say that Chargers head man Norv Turner did a better job--and did it under far more pressure.
It is more than obvious to say that Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith is more savvy than Shanahan when it comes to personnel decisions. Sure, Denver's 2006 draft class looks promising. Though, do you also want to discuss how he did in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004?
The draft picks that Denver has made since 2001 that look to be the core of their team consist of Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Tony Scheffler, D.J. Williams, and Elvis Dumvervil. All but one was drafted in 2006. A combined zero Pro Bowls among them.
In that same time frame, the Chargers have selected LaDanian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, Shawne Merriman, Luis Castillo, Philip Rivers, and Antonio Cromartie.
This is not meant to be some sort of rudimentary analysis of Denver and their new bitter rival (thanks to both Cutler and Rivers for that).
The bigger picture here is that just because you have been a great coach, doesn't give you a lifetime exemption from accountability. Two Super Bowls are great memories. Those are for reliving the glorious past. We, however,are living in the present, in 2008, not 1998. Why else do you think the NFL is half-jokingly referred to as the "Not For Long"?
What I am saying is that not only is Shanahan slipping a bit across the board, now, he doesn't even appear to be the best in his own division.
So is that a fair statement? Maybe.
Is it fair to actually just state that? Yes, no matter who you are and no matter how many Super Bowls you've won.
-"Z"
