Who’s the real offensive genius here: Kyle Shanahan or Josh McDaniels?
Kiz: 51 is a meeting of the greatest young offensive minds in football. It’s also a showdown between two men rejected by the Broncos. New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was fired by the Broncos in 2010, while Atlanta offensive guru Kyle Shanahan lost out to Vance Joseph during Denver’s most recent coaching search. Who would you rather have calling your plays: Shanahan or McDaniels?
Jhabvala: Neither have completely clean records. Shanahan has had documented issues with players or coaches at nearly every stop and any coaching change in Denver always brings back memories (mostly negative) of The McDaniels Era. But their offensive genius cannot be denied. But if you’re going to make me pick one, I’m picking Shanahan. This isn’t the only reason, but itap a big one for me: He turned an offense that was tied for 21st in scoring a year ago into one of the most exciting and the most prolific in the NFL, all the while helping become, arguably, the game’s MVP.
Kiz: Shanahan did an amazing job with the Falcons’ offense. But the shocker would be if an offensive coordinator couldn’t put points on the scoreboard with Matt Ryan, , and as weapons. I know Josh is a four-letter word in apountry, but McDaniels did more with less for the Patriots this season. Their offense is and who’s that?
Jhabvala: You could say that about many teams, though, Denver included. In 2015 it had , one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play, and a pair of Pro Bowl receivers in and . That offense held on for a title, but it was a far cry from the record-setting team of 2013 — the one that got blown out of Super Bowl XLVIII. Assembling an all-star cast doesn’t always yield results.
Kiz: At first glance, it seems inconceivable there were six coaching vacancies in the NFL this season, yet Shanahan and McDaniels will fill no more than one of the openings. But long ago, the late, great John Wooden taught me: The better the players, the smarter a coach looks. Shanahan and McDaniels both have a beautiful mind for X’s and O’s. But the real genius of coaching is in making it all about the players, rather than all about you.
Jhabvala: Agree completely. Especially for the head coach. That is a big reason McDaniels faltered in his time as a head coach in Denver and why he’s succeeding in New England. Itap also a big reason, the Broncos say, why they chose Joseph over other candidates, because of his ability to lead and manage players. McDaniels will get another shot at a head coach — soon. Few will forget his tenure in Denver, but I don’t think his future can be based on that. It shouldn’t be, anyway.
