It appears Pat Bowlen knew Mike Shanahan better than anybody else.
Go back to this time in 2003. Bowlen, the Broncos’ owner, had just given Shanahan a three-year extension on a coaching contract that was still two years away from expiring. Why give so much security to a coach who was already secure? Especially one who had gone a mediocre 34-30 with no playoff victories in the four years since the Broncos’ previous Super Bowl title, after the 1998 regular season.
Isn’t it possible security could bring reasons for not going over the opponents’ film one more time, excuses for leaving the office an hour early?
Move ahead to this season, the first from that three-year extension that ties Shana- han to the Broncos through 2008. Fans saw Shanahan’s team demolish the Tennessee Titans 35-10.
The first-team offense scored touchdowns on its first three drives. The second-team offense might have gone 3-for-3 in touchdown drives had one not started with 1:14 left in the first half.
The execution was so efficient, it drew admiration from friend and foe alike.
“We want our offense to perform like Denver’s offense,” Tennessee quarterback Billy Volek said.
Such domination did not appear to be the work of a content man. Is Shanahan’s intensity as strong as ever?
“I don’t see any less,” Bowlen said. “The point with Mike is preparation. Mike does his homework. There’s not many things that get by Mike.”
After going seven years without a playoff win, Shanahan’s Broncos snapped the skid last season by going 13-3 in the regular season for a first-round bye, then beating New England in the second round before losing in the AFC title game to Pittsburgh.
Here’s something that may keep Shana- han going, as if he needs added motivation: The past two teams to lose a conference championship game at home – the 2003 Philadelphia Eagles and 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers – went to the Super Bowl the following season.
Even in a preseason game, when a team plays as the Broncos did Saturday, it’s easy to get carried away.
“As hard as we worked through training camp and with this being our first game at home, it didn’t surprise me we played particularly well,” Bowlen said. “But as well as we played, that doesn’t mean I’m ready to say we’re ready for the season.”
Captain Al and Champ
The way it works, Shanahan makes all the major personnel decisions but confers with Bowlen before carrying out orders. So when Shanahan decided to bench defensive captain Al Wilson and star cornerback Champ Bailey from the game Saturday for breaking curfew the previous night, the coach had the owner’s support.
“I was disappointed,” Bowlen said. “They are two of our most important leaders on the defensive side of the ball, guys we count on to lead by example. And in this particular case, they did not set a good example. So of course I agreed with Mike’s decision.”
Bring on the former Broncos
Next up are the Houston Texans, coached by former Broncos offensive coordinator and quarterback Gary Kubiak, for a preseason game Sunday night at Invesco Field at Mile High. Other former Broncos now employed by the Texans are general manager Rick Smith, tight end Jeb Putzier and offensive coordinator Troy Calhoun. Then there’s Houston receivers coach Kyle Shanahan, son of Mike.
“I’m sure there will be a lot of emotions,” Kubiak said at his weekly press conference. “I mean, I haven’t seen my wife and kids in a month, so it will be nice to see them. They’ll be at the game. There will be a lot of emotion there for me, but we’ve got to find out as a football team where we’re heading, so it will be down to business once we get started.”
Footnotes
In two preseason games, Cedric Cobbs has rushed for 107 yards on 21 carries….The combined quarterback preseason stats for Jay Cutler and Jake Plummer: 31-of-46 for 421 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 118.1 passer rating. For comparison’s sake, Peyton Manning led the NFL last season with a 104.1 passer rating.
Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
