Shanahan signs three-year extension to stay in Denver

[broadwayjoe]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2830939

Looks like Mikey will be around a few more years in Denver.

 

[chunkypony]

He is easily my least favorite coach. It used to be Cowher, but now it is Shanahan by a land slide. I hope we change our ways lately and find a way to embaress this guy; he looks like a psycho killer.

Anyway, good for him. He deserves it, he does a pretty good job in Denver.

 

[The 12th Man]

Yeah, means we'll probably be seeing Denver multiple times in the playoffs in the next few years. Let's just give BB his extension too and we're set.

 

[zippo59]

PFT doesn't think so highly of him.

The Denver Broncos have announced that coach Mike Shanahan has agreed to a three-year extension. His contract now runs through the 2011 season.

Not bad for a guy who has been to only one AFC title game since winning nearly a decade ago back-to-back championships with a roster that was held together via salary cap shenanigans.

At a time when the NFL has morphed from a "What have you done for me lately?" proposition to a "What are you doing for me right now, and what can I get out of you tomorrow?" deal, Shanahan is the rarest of all rarities -- a head coach who continues to hold his job despite a chronic inability to climb to the top of the mountain.

And ultimate success in the NFL is judged by whether a team can win the ultimate prize. In most cities. In Denver, carefully crafted statistical observations like "Shanahan is one of only three coaches in the 87-year history of professional football with more championships than losing seasons with one team among those with at least 10 years with that club" will instead justify a virtual lifetime arrangement.

In 2006, Shanahan's Broncos flamed out after a strong start, missing the postseason for the first time since 2002. The Broncos also failed to qualify for the playoffs in 1995, 1999, and 2001.

So, in twelve seasons, Shanahan is 7-5 when it comes to makes the playoffs. It's good but not great; Coach Chin was 10-5 in that category through 15 seasons with the Steelers, and the Big Show is 11-4 in 15 years with the Packers and the Seahawks.

Even Denny Green had eight playoff appearances in ten years with the Vikings. Even with three crappy years in Arizona added to his resume, Green's 8-5 playoff-or-not mark is better than Shanahan's.

So, in our view, the entire Shanahan body of work is not nearly good enough to get a three-year extension, at a time when he has two full years left on his current contract.

Then again, it doesn't surprise us. Owner Pat Bowlen has held Shanahan to a far different standard than the bar that over the past 12 years has claimed many other coaches. Every NFL coach so be so fortunate.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

 

[Fixit]

In other news, he also signed a lifetime extension for being an a-hole.

 

[zippo59]

I have to wonder if Shanahan's numbers aren't just a little but inflated by the fact that he gets to play half his games in mile high each year. That is such a strong homefield that he can have a pretty mediocre team but they would still finish the season around 500. He's had some teams that have looked good in the regular season but have really gotten exposed in the playoffs, and I think that is part of the reason why. They are able to get farther than the actual ability of that team would merit, and that shows when they play other very good teams. Hasn't Shanahan won one playoff game in eight years and it was the choke jobe we pulled where we turned the ball over 5 times?

 

[fillylabinga]

I hate Shanahan as much as the next guy and even agree with some of the criticism (like Denver having the biggest home field advantage in football), but how can anyone say he isn't one of the best coaches in the league?

The Broncos have the Pats number and you have to allow that Shanahan is a huge part of the reason why. Even with a rookie quarterback I was praying they wouldn't make the playoffs last year.

I don't care how well the Colts did last year--I'm still more afraid of the Broncos...

 

[zippo59]

I hate Shanahan as much as the next guy and even agree with some of the criticism (like Denver having the biggest home field advantage in football), but how can anyone say he isn't one of the best coaches in the league?

The Broncos have the Pats number and you have to allow that Shanahan is a huge part of the reason why. Even with a rookie quarterback I was praying they wouldn't make the playoffs last year.

I don't care how well the Colts did last year--I'm still more afraid of the Broncos...

He has won one playoff game in the last eight years.

 

[fillylabinga]

He has won one playoff game in the last eight years.

Yeah? Against who?

 

[Elway]

PFT doesn't think so highly of him.



http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

You shouldn't be surprised with this because they always find every opportunity to bash Denver.

 

[groundgame]

PFT aside, Shanahan is highly respected and rates easily as one of the top 3 active NFL coaches. However, Shanahan loses style points by employing the technically legal, but lethal-to-your opponent offensive chop blocking schemes.

 

[patriotsdynasty12189]

Smart move by Denver.

 

[evendelae]

PFT aside, Shanahan is highly respected and rates easily as one of the top 3 active NFL coaches. However, Shanahan loses style points by employing the technically legal, but lethal-to-your opponent offensive chop blocking schemes.

Zone blocking isn't chop blocking. Chop blocking is used in zone blocking, but it's used in every blocking scheme, and for some reason zone got a rep for being dirty. Watch a Patriot game and watch only the O lineman and FB. You'll see some chop. Zone blocking isn't a way you block, it's a whole scheme. Scout describes it much better than I can. And aren't you guys employing it this year?