Gary Kubiak

[Mingo]

Well - we got to see him for virtually the entire season now. What's the verdict?

You can hold him accountable for the Oline troubles - he has been kind of stubborn in trying to establish his offense - without the personnel to run it.

Here are the positives:

1) This team has been emotionally more resilient (kicking and screaming).
2) The Practice schedule to the work week to the game management - the Kubiak system has conserved the players very well - they are not tired in the 4th quarter and play like demons in OT.
3) He got Oz ready to play - without disrespecting Peyton Manning - which is a very big deal. IMO
4) He pretty much lets Wade Phillips run the defense the way he wants to - avoiding the Mike Shanahan control disease.
5) The zone blocking scheme has worked to spring some very important runs during the season.
6) He has worked both new talent and young talent into the system very well.


The most important thing- has yet to be proven. Will this team have enough in the tank to compete during the playoffs? I think they will....

 

[CEH]

3 times they have come back from 14 down to win. 3 times more than any other team

 

[TDs3nOut]

Always loved Kubiak as a player. He didn't get to play much, but as I recall he played well when called upon.

That said, winning games is no sentimental affair. Elway and Kubiak battling to get us another Lombardi. Can't really ask for any more.

 

[Orange Crush77]

I'll give him a fair and honest judgement after the playoffs. He inherited an extremely talented team. He is frustrating with his insistence on running his scheme, despite all signs pointing otherwise. To me, that is a fatal flaw. His scheme is inherent on personnel and timing. 4 new starters across the line dictate that's a recipe for disaster. Not to mention I question if 3 out of the 4 could actually successfully run it. Oz is taking a lot of punishment, and the kid is showing he has the grit and nads to play with the big boys, I just hope he don't break. Even still, oz looks 100% better running the Moore offense. Now that's both Qb's, who look exponentially better running the other offense. I'm no matmetician, but one would figure the variables point to running the other offense, no?

 

[cdumler7]

Positives: I haven't seen this team quit in any single game. Heck even in that Chiefs game where Manning forgot how to play football our defense battled to the very end. Very impressed with the fight in this team. As has been pointed out only team in football to come back from 14 points down against 3 different teams and all 3 of those teams are playoff bound.

This team has been prepared for the big games. This was maybe my biggest issue with Fox. It seemed like any time we played a very good team in a big game for playoff position we found a way to get blown out or just look silly at times. This season we have now beaten the #1, 3, and 5 seed (if things remain the same) in the AFC and the #3 and 5/6 seed in the NFC. Probably some of our best football has actually been against the best teams in the league.

Long Runs--I can't remember the last time we had this many long runs. To me there is nothing more devastating to a defense than to give up a long run.

Young talent--Kubiak and his coaching staff have not been afraid to play young players in some of the biggest moments of games. This has not only helped keep our players well rested but has really done well to build some confidence that has paid off this year and I think will in the future. p


Negatives--We seem to play to the level of our competition. Some of these games should have been blow outs early on but we have let some very bad teams hang around much longer than we ever should have.

OL--For Kubiak's system supposedly being very OL friendly so far we haven't seen it much this year. He has plugged no name players before and they have done well but this year obviously that has not been the case. Even top talent guys like Mathis and Vasquez have looked overwhelmed at times this year.

Stubbornness--We have seen a few times this year that Kubiak and his staff are just a little late in adjusting. The Oakland game was probably the worst coaching job that Kubiak has done all year. Thankfully it does seem like these last couple of weeks have humbled him and the staff a bit and we saw them do something with Osweiler they have not done so far. Heck from what I understand they didn't even practice it. Kubiak just knew the team needed a change and trusted Osweiler to go do his job. Hopefully that is the Kubiak we see moving forward.

 

[MileHigh64]

Positives: I haven't seen this team quit in any single game. Heck even in that Chiefs game where Manning forgot how to play football our defense battled to the very end. Very impressed with the fight in this team. As has been pointed out only team in football to come back from 14 points down against 3 different teams and all 3 of those teams are playoff bound.

This team has been prepared for the big games. This was maybe my biggest issue with Fox. It seemed like any time we played a very good team in a big game for playoff position we found a way to get blown out or just look silly at times. This season we have now beaten the #1, 3, and 5 seed (if things remain the same) in the AFC and the #3 and 5/6 seed in the NFC. Probably some of our best football has actually been against the best teams in the league.

Long Runs--I can't remember the last time we had this many long runs. To me there is nothing more devastating to a defense than to give up a long run.

Young talent--Kubiak and his coaching staff have not been afraid to play young players in some of the biggest moments of games. This has not only helped keep our players well rested but has really done well to build some confidence that has paid off this year and I think will in the future. p


Negatives--We seem to play to the level of our competition. Some of these games should have been blow outs early on but we have let some very bad teams hang around much longer than we ever should have.

OL--For Kubiak's system supposedly being very OL friendly so far we haven't seen it much this year. He has plugged no name players before and they have done well but this year obviously that has not been the case. Even top talent guys like Mathis and Vasquez have looked overwhelmed at times this year.

Stubbornness--We have seen a few times this year that Kubiak and his staff are just a little late in adjusting. The Oakland game was probably the worst coaching job that Kubiak has done all year. Thankfully it does seem like these last couple of weeks have humbled him and the staff a bit and we saw them do something with Osweiler they have not done so far. Heck from what I understand they didn't even practice it. Kubiak just knew the team needed a change and trusted Osweiler to go do his job. Hopefully that is the Kubiak we see moving forward.

^^^^^
Spot On!

 

[Mingo]

Nice and thoughtful rundown by CD - Thanks,

If Kubiak has this team fresh and motivated for the playoffs - it solves the problem that needed to be fixed.

He did inherit a talented team, but he also overcame some very significant challenges - one being that the wheels came off Peyton Manning and fast. This could not have happened smoother under anyone else -and here at the end of the season - you can see the team respects Gary Kubiak and want to play for him.

 

[cdumler7]

Nice and thoughtful rundown by CD - Thanks,

If Kubiak has this team fresh and motivated for the playoffs - it solves the problem that needed to be fixed.

He did inherit a talented team, but he also overcame some very significant challenges - one being that the wheels came off Peyton Manning and fast. This could not have happened smoother under anyone else -and here at the end of the season - you can see the team respects Gary Kubiak and want to play for him.

Very good point. While yes he inherited a very talented team we also saw that the old coaching regime leaned on Manning to go out and win a lot of games for us. It wasn't until this year that we saw the team consistently win even when Manning had a bad day. Heck I think in 2013 if Manning had a QB Rating under 92 we lost the game. This year though we have seen the team find many different ways to win. WE have won with Special Teams. We have won running the football. We have won a ton of games on the back of the defense. Really I would say there isn't a single game this year where I felt like Manning was the main reason we actually won a game. Been a long time since we could say that as fans.

I honestly think if Fox is the coach of this team with Manning struggling as much as he has we are lucky to win 9 games this year.

 

[Mingo]

Very good perspective CD. It seems like just yesterday - I was snorting the Koolaid powder dry from the bag - when Peyton Manning was setting every record known to man and the Bronco offense looked un-stopable.

 

[SpringStein]

About the coming back from 14 down three times - how many other 12 win teams were down 14 three times? Not sure I like bragging about being down so often.

 

[Orange Crush77]

Wade was the one of the best hires of all NFL teams. Not only has he infused character and an attitude with this D, he has them playing to their strengths, something JDR did not do. This is the second coming of the Orange Crush, make no mistake about it. That is our team identity and we have Wade to thank for it. It's amazing to watch how he keeps offenses guessing. He brings waves of pressure from all over. It's like watching a graceful violence

 

[Orange Crush77]

It reminds me as a kid watching the Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom shows with Marlin Perkins. We're the alpha predators on the field

 

[SpringStein]

Wade was the one of the best hires of all NFL teams. Not only has he infused character and an attitude with this D, he has them playing to their strengths, something JDR did not do. This is the second coming of the Orange Crush, make no mistake about it. That is our team identity and we have Wade to thank for it. It's amazing to watch how he keeps offenses guessing. He brings waves of pressure from all over. It's like watching a graceful violence

And don't forget - Wade wasn't Plan A.

 

[Orange Crush77]

And don't forget - Wade wasn't Plan A.

I know, could you imagine. It was meant to be

 

[Mingo]

I'll just point out - Vance Joseph has done one heck of a job with Reggie Nelson - I wish him the best.

 

[Broncos6482]

And don't forget - Wade wasn't Plan A.

Wait, he wasn't? Who was plan A?

 

[Orange Crush77]

V. Joseph from the Bengals

 

[cdumler7]

About the coming back from 14 down three times - how many other 12 win teams were down 14 three times? Not sure I like bragging about being down so often.

Well New England has been down by 14 twice this season from what I can tell. They are 0-2 in those games.

Cincinnati has been down by 14 three times this season going 1-2 in those games with the lone win against the Seahawks. They lost to the Cardinals who were up 28-14 at one point and Steelers when down by 14.


The Chiefs are 0-2 when coming back from 14 down losing to the Bengals who had a 29-15 lead in the 3rd quarter and to the Packers who were winning I think 21-7 at one point.

Arizona has not been down by 14 points yet this year.

The Panthers have once from what I can tell against the Saints where they were able to come back after being down 14 in the 1st quarter.

 

[Broncos6482]

Most of you have already covered pretty much everything, so I'll be brief. I think Kubiak is a good coach but not a great coach. His biggest positive IMO is that the team certainly embodies the kicking and screaming mentality that Elway talked about. Biggest negative is slow to adjust when things aren't working.

One thing I'd like to see going forward is a little more creativity in the red zone. I wonder how much is them being cautious with Osweiler and not wanting to risk the turnover, but I'd like to see them open it up a little more. I know Kubiak had some creative red zone plays in Houston, it's time to trust Brock with them.

 

[cdumler7]

Wait, he wasn't? Who was plan A?

As was said Vance Joseph of the Bengals was choice number 1. The Broncos called the Bengals and they refused to allow him to come in for an interview for the DC position. Teams are only forced to allow teams to interview a candidate if they are moving up to the Head Coach position so because he was under contract the Bengals could block the deal from happening.