INDIANAPOLIS — Mike McCarthy and Jason Garrett might have been a coincidence.
But Gary Kubiak will not make it a trend.
Garrett, the Dallas Cowboys’ head coach, surrendered his play-calling responsibilities two years ago. McCarthy, the Green Bay head coach, announced last week he no longer will call plays for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, even though his Packers led the league with 30.4 points per game last season.
“You give it up when you’re not good, not when you’re leading the league in scoring,” Kubiak said, smiling.
Kubiak has been a play caller much longer than he’s been a head coach. He’ll be both for the Broncos in 2015. His play-calling sheets will be compiled in conjunction with offensive coordinator Rick Dennison and passing-game coordinator Greg Knapp.
“I am very comfortable with Rick being able to call a game and he and Knapper working together,” Kubiak said Wednesday after his NFL scouting combine news conference. “But at the same time, it is something I love to do. It’s something that’s my passion in football on game day. So I am never going to get away from that. I could sit here and tell you I might, but I am probably never going to get away from it.”
Kubiak will be one of nine NFL head coaches who will also call the offensive plays. The others: Arizona’s Bruce Arians, Houston’s Bill O’Brien, Kansas City’s Andy Reid; San Diego’s Mike McCoy, Philadelphia’s Chip Kelly, New Orleans’ Sean Payton, Tennessee’s Ken Whisenhunt and Washington’s Jay Gruden.
The way it will work for the Broncos is Dennison will be up in the coaches’ box with a headset that will communicate directly with Kubiak, who will hold a large-play-calling sheet on the sideline. Knapp will be on the sideline with a head set. Knapp will be relaying the calls to quarterback Peyton Manning or Brock Osweiler.
“I could be in position where Rick’s calling the game and I am hearing what’s going on,” Kubiak said. “Been through it all.”
He hasn’t been through Manning. No quarterback has ever controlled the game at the line of scrimmage as Manning has for more than a decade. Providing Manning returns to play as expected, he’ll continue to call a significant percentage of the plays.
“Oh yeah,” Kubiak said. “Obviously, at the line of scrimmage, he’s as good as there has ever been in this game. You don’t ever take that away from your players. It’s something I really look forward to talking with him about, his mindset, his philosophy. I have been a part of both. Been with guys who wanted me to call every play and guys who wanted to do more at the line of scrimmage.”
Mike Klis: mklis@denverpost.com or
