|
|
 |
|
McDaniels making impactDaniel Williams, DDN Staff WriterFriday, July 31, 2009 | |
Some are already calling for his head, others say give him a chance — either way, 33-year-old new Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels is here to stay.
And the former New England Patriots assistant coach has already made quite an impression the franchise and on the city — and training camp has barley begun.
He traded away a 25-year-old Pro Bowl quarterback and he is currently feuding with the Broncos’ best player, but he still thinks he has what it takes to take Denver back to the playoffs.
“We are going to come in and work hard everyday, we are going to be very physical trying to get the players in a mental game mode as much as possible,” said McDaniels Wednesday at Dove Valley on what to expect during camp.
The real start of training camp is today. All players will be present and two-a-days will begin, and McDaniels will lead his first full NFL training camp as a head coach.
“Most everyone came in healthy and everyone passed their conditioning tests,” McDaniels said at Dove Valley.
The “conditioning tests” he is referring to is a Patriot tradition, and something never done by former head coach Mike Shanahan.
This is one of just many changes going on within the franchise McDaniels has implemented — some seen as positive, some seen as questionable.
However, veteran Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins is buying what McDaniels is selling, so much so that he chose not to return to a Philadelphia Eagles’ team that is one of the NFL’s best.
“Just hearing Josh and how excited he was and how much they wanted me here, I felt more like it was a necessity for me to be here. That’s something that every player wants to feel from an organization,” said Dawkins.
Still, it is the Denver Broncos’ fans who are going to need the most convincing and even though Denverites have been graceful to the McDaniels’ family, the honeymoon can end quickly.
McDaniels said the people of Colorado have been great to him and his family, and he couldn’t have ended up in a better place.
“Colorado is beautiful, the people have been great to me and my famil,y and we are looking forward to raising our family here,” said McDaniels.
However, the homecoming could be short-lived. Even during the darkest days of the Shanahan era, the Broncos were always competitive, never giving into “rebuilding.”
Many Broncos’ fans have never had to suffer through four- and five-win seasons ending in high draft picks, and many expect McDaniels’ version of the Broncos to severely struggle.
How long will it take for Broncos Nation to turn its back on McDaniels if the team struggles its way to five wins?
“He will be one [year] and done, no way will Broncos fans tolerate less than seven wins, no matter who is on the field,” said 30-year-old Denver native John Kirtland.
More Broncos news
The Denver Daily News yesterday reported a rumor saying the Broncos may be holding disgruntled receiver Brandon Marshall out of practice because they are shopping him to another team.
That report is gaining steam, and Yahoo Sports reported said the Baltimore Ravens are revisiting the idea of trading for Marshall.
The report says the Ravens are the most likely candidate to land Marshall if he was to be traded.
The Broncos have been quiet about dealing Marshall, saying that they aren’t shopping Marshall but will listen to offers for him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
