Larry Coyer understood the circumstances when he was promoted to defensive coordinator of the Broncos. When things go bad, people in power are in danger.
Four years later, the danger zone caught up to Coyer, who was fired in the first major move by the Broncos after their late-season collapse. In addition to Coyer, the team also let go of defensive line/tackles coach Andre Patterson.
Down the stretch of a 9-7 season, Denver’s defense wore down. The Broncos lost five of their final seven games and didn’t qualify for the playoffs after a 7-2 start.
The defense was torrid at the start, with the Broncos allowing only 44 points in the first six games. The defense didn’t allow a touchdown in the first 11 quarters of the season.
The Broncos ended up ranked No. 14 in the 32-team NFL in yards allowed, and gave up at least 20 points in eight of their final 10 games. In all four of their home losses, the Broncos blew second- half leads.
Potential candidates coach Mike Shanahan might consider to replace Coyer are former Miami interim coach Jim Bates, former Atlanta coach Jim Mora and Denver secondary coach Bob Slowik.
Bates is sure to get a close look as the fourth defensive coordinator under Shanahan in Denver. Shanahan long has admired Bates, considered one of the better defensive minds in the NFL. Bates left Green Bay after the 2005 season after coach Mike Sherman was fired. Bates also is considered a candidate for the Dolphins’ head coaching job.
“I’m looking at a couple of things,” Bates said. “I’m a free agent, and I may look to jump back into the league.”
One of Bates’ sons, Jeremy, is an offensive assistant coach with the Broncos. Another son, James, resides in Denver. Bates attended the Broncos’ home game against Cincinnati on Dec. 24.
Coyer, 63, met with Shanahan on Monday night and Tuesday morning. Coyer was the Broncos’ linebackers coach from 2000-02 before taking over for Ray Rhodes as defensive coordinator.
Coyer and Patterson are the fourth and fifth coaches Shana- han has fired in 12 seasons as Broncos’ coach. Shanahan fired defensive coordinator Greg Robinson in 2001, secondary coach David Gibbs in 2004 and defensive line coach Keith Millard in 2005.
The team issued a statement announcing Coyer no longer is defensive coordinator, but offered no direct statement from Shanahan. Patterson’s firing was not announced.
Patterson was with the team for the past two seasons. He was previously a coach in Cleveland, where he coached several defensive linemen Denver since has brought in.
“I appreciated my time here,” Patterson said. “I loved being a Bronco.”
Coyer released a written statement on his departure. Like Patterson, he expressed appreciation for his time in Denver.
“There is no animosity,” Coyer said in a written statement. “I appreciate everything, and it’s been a great ride.”
Coyer pointed toward issues on his side of the ball.
“Make no mistake, I was very aware that some hard changes had to be made in several areas and as the season worked its way to the end, and then after it ended, I made my concerns known as it pertained to the defense,” Coyer said. “Prior to the season’s end, I opted to put all my efforts into the game-planning, and at least we were able to win two of the last three games.
“Did we always coach and play to our best ability? No. No one does it … There is always room to do better. However, I am not the person judging my decision to put all my game-planning efforts into the last three games while I was laying a plan for changes I would like to see at season’s end or the decision to replace me.”
The Broncos spent most of the season using a four-man pass rush from the defensive line instead of using a blitz-heavy attack the team used in 2005.
The firing surprised defensive tackle Demetrin Veal.
“I didn’t see that coming,” Veal said. “My first reaction is shock. When something like this happens, I guess there’s always questions, but they must have felt like this was a good idea.”
Moving forward, the focus likely will be on Bates, Mora and Slowik. Shanahan previously has considered Mora, fired last week as the Falcons’ coach. Slowik, with Denver the past two seasons, has been a defensive coordinator for Green Bay, Cleveland and Chicago.
Footnote
Quarterback Preston Parsons was signed to a future contract. Parsons was on the Broncos’ practice squad last season.
Staff writer Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
