Comments on: I’d Hire Mike Shanahan in Two Seconds

By: Gene

Gene — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:14:20 +0000

I agree that he was not good on both sides of the ball. However, if, before the season, you told Denver fans that they would lose SEVEN running backs to injury and sustain several key injuries on the defensive side of the ball, they would have been thrilled with an 8-8 record.

However, LB, you are basically right and the owner agreed with you. I read that Pat Bowlen asked Shanahan to fire the defensive coordinator and some other defensive assistants, and he refused. That is what led to the firing. Otherwise, if Shanahan had acquiesced, he would still be there today.

By: Larry Brown

Larry Brown — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 04:57:27 +0000

Signal, you definitely did pick out the thin point in my argument and on Shanahan’s resume. There wasn’t one positive thing I mentioned about his defenses and that’s certainly the side of the ball that led him to get fired.

By: Bill Tsiu

Bill Tsiu — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 04:49:26 +0000

The Lions should do this right now. Shanahan’s offensive scheme is efficient, and is run so well the wheels last all game. He knows D, but for one thing he’s good at hiring a solid staff. He makes running backs kings, and he has the guts to play to win the game. The NFC won’t be able to keep up with that sort of offense if he gets it up and running. Calvin needs some help though, and I’m sure if he was our coach he’d bring someone to Detroit to throw the ball and someone to draw some attention away from Calvin. I’d love to see Pat White on Ford Field. /Cool widgets at statbeast. Take a look.

By: Signal to Noise

Signal to Noise — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 04:47:25 +0000

For all his good work with offensive players, Shanahan could not draft for the defensive end of the ball, period. Yes, he beat the Patriots in the divisional round with Jake Plummer, but that defense got plowed by Pittsburgh. Those losses to the Colts were not even close. I believe the Colts scored in the 40s both times while the Broncos didn’t break 20.

He went through defensive coordinators damn near every year. Eventually, that has to reflect on the head coach, and the failure to sign or draft impact defensive personnel reflects on the head of the front office — and he held both roles.