Over the years, an occasional cry from Broncos fans will urge Mike Shanahan to relinquish some operational command.
Sorry, folks, but with Shanahan possibly at his head-coaching crossroads after back-to-back, nonplayoff seasons, his instinct is to attain greater control. After all, Shanahan essentially surrendered his defense over to Jim Bates for the start of the 2007 season and look what happened.
One 7-9 season, 2,282 yards rushing and 409 points later, Shanahan did not feel he could delegate complete defensive authority to Bates for a second season. They mutually parted ways Tuesday in a move expected since the bye week after Game 5 of the regular season, when Shanahan basically stripped Bates of his seven-man box concept.
“I’ve heard the scuttlebutt where people are disappointed in Coach Shanahan because we just had his worst record since ’99,” Broncos cornerback Dre Bly said. “But I know Coach Shanahan is going to get this thing straightened out and we’re going to move forward. I think once we get some stability with the guys up front, you’re going to see our defense get better and better.”
Whenever a boss is removed, tumult usually is left behind. In this case, the Broncos hope Bates’ departure will bring greater stability. The players have been told Shanahan will stay in-house and make defensive coordinator Bob Slowik the new boss of the defense.
According to an NFL source, the Broncos also reassigned linebackers coach Joe Baker and are expected to replace him with Jim Ryan, a 10-year Denver linebacker who has been an assistant coach since 2005. Ronnie Bradford, a 10-year NFL defensive back and former University of Colorado star, is expected to receive a promotion to replace Slowik as defensive backs coach.
Slowik is more accustomed to Shanahan’s methods than those used by Bates, having been here as a defensive backs coach since 2005. Bates brought in a defensive system that worked wonders in Miami and Green Bay, but in Denver it had all the effectiveness of a round peg in a square hole. And it wasn’t just the drastic change in defensive system. There also were the constant changes in personnel, particularly with the front four.
Where have you gone, Gerard Warren? Considered the cornerstone of the Broncos’ defensive front after the 2005 season, Warren was deemed a bad fit by Bates early in training camp. Warren’s replacement, Amon Gordon, was a surprise starter for three games, but didn’t even dress in the fourth game at Indianapolis, where the Broncos used a perplexing front of four defensive ends.
“First, I am disappointed it didn’t work out here for Coach Bates,” defensive back Domonique Foxworth said. “But I think it was needed. We had so much change on the defensive line that it made it difficult for the entire defense. We just never had a system we could sink our teeth into.”
After a Week 5 home thrashing by San Diego, Shanahan informed Bates an eighth man had to be added to the box and the Broncos used a more conventional defense, to mixed results, the rest of the season.
Bates had two years and roughly $2.4 million left on his contract, and Shanahan offered him a chance to stay with the organization. Instead, they worked out a settlement.
“Mike has been very fair to me, and the final decision, for the Broncos and for me, was to step aside,” Bates said in a statement.
The expense of the settlement was perhaps one reason the Broncos took the cost-cutting route of promoting from within. Slowik’s background, and his strong relationship with such defensive back stalwarts as Champ Bailey and John Lynch, were others.
“As a secondary, we didn’t deal much with Coach Bates,” Bly said. “Our meetings were always run by Coach Slo. Bates stayed with the defensive linemen and linebackers. We wish Coach Bates well, but Slo is a good coach.”
Slowik had been a defensive coordinator once before, in 2004 with Green Bay. Fired after that season, Slowik was replaced by Bates.
“I had no problem with Coach Bates,” Broncos defensive tackle Alvin McKinley said. “But if there’s something good that came out of this, it’s that they’re not bringing in a new coordinator who would then have to bring in six of his own assistant coaches.”
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
Bill Williamson: 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com
