Special Teams Coordinator Ben Kotwica fired

[megalodon30]

Broncos fire ST coordinator Ben Kotwica

The Broncos have made a change to head coach Sean Payton's staff.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[Mountain Bronco]

While I thought the coverage units on punts could have been a bit better that move surprises me a bit.

 

[Duffman]

 

[Duffman]

 

[Draft Crazy]

Hoping my guy Chris Banjo gets the ST's job.

A guy I still chat with to this date from my draft site days who went to SMU.. Hard working player. Like Davis Webb he wasn't even retired when Sean Payton offered him a coaching position on the team.

One of the most humble and hardest working players I have known. Special teams standout in the NFL for 9 years.

 

[LGM]

Lost more than one game on ST's. Not surprising.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Lost more than one game on ST's. Not surprising.

Which games?

 

[SpringStein]

I’m surprised. From my vantage point, STs were underwhelming before he arrived. Yes, there were some critical mistakes, i.e. the blocked FG to win in KC, but overall a major improvement from when he got here.

 

[LGM]

Which games?

Seriously?

 

[Draft Crazy]

Seriously?

Yes. Trying to remember.

Minus the Chiefs FG block. The obvious one.

 

[SpringStein]

Yes. Trying to remember.

Minus the Chiefs FG block. The obvious one.

I think the running into the kicker, was that vs Chargers?, was also a really costly error.

But if perfection is the expectation - FIRE EVERYONE!

 

[LGM]

Yes. Trying to remember.

Minus the Chiefs FG block. The obvious one.

The obvious is ranking bottom 3 most punting categories and ridiculous mental lapse in the blocked kick. I think Mims was obviously a bright spot and well as Lutz, but our coverage teams were average at best

 

[LGM]

I think the running into the kicker, was that vs Chargers?, was also a really costly error.

But if perfection is the expectation - FIRE EVERYONE!

I wanted to say that, but couldn't remember through my PTSD trauma from those UT playoff games if it was Denver or UT.

Plus, we all know DC likes playing these little mind games, pretending not to know something just to see if someone is spouting off, or actually knows the facts behind their opinion.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Our coverage teams were way better then any year the last 8 seasons.

Punter was below par, IMO... Did punt well against the Bills though.

 

[Draft Crazy]

I wanted to say that, but couldn't remember through my PTSD trauma from those UT playoff games if it was Denver or UT.

Plus, we all know DC likes playing these little mind games, pretending not to know something just to see if someone is spouting off, or actually knows the facts behind their opinion.

That is part of it. I just wanted to see what you could come up with.

 

[Draft Crazy]

Also, I don't believe the Chargers game you guys are thinking about was running into the kicker.. If only that was the case as that is just 5 yards.

I believe you are talking about the 15 yards Tremon Smith got for running into the return man which resulted into the free kick? That's more bad luck the anything. Can't really blame the special teams coach on that. Smith is one of our better if not our best special teams player. He did it once and a normally a mistake free special teamer, what is the special teams coach suppose to do? Predict it and sit him out that play?

 

[LGM]

Just out of curiosity I was listening to some Broncos podcasts about this. Some interesting things.

Westhoff resigned 36 hours after the blocked fg.
Kotwicka was a package deal designed by Westhoff.
Kotwicka's ST group after Westhoff left was worse than earlier in the season, culminating in a missed fg against the Bills, and two long Bill returns.
Payton made up his mind after Westhoff left he was starting over at the end of the year regardless due to personality conflicts.

Interesting, because as most have said there's been marked improvement.

 

[SpringStein]

I’m not mad about a change. Just saying there was great improvement over the past two seasons on ST.

And I do hope we either draft or bring in a replacement punter. If I understand what I’m reading on Over the Cap, Dixon is a FA this year, so I think we could save some money while making an improvement there.

 

[CEH]

it had to be the KC issue. a known problem that other teams saw that was not addressed correctly and cost denver not only a game but the game for denver

had they fixed the issue and made the kick denver comfortable rolls into the playoffs.

 

[Draft Crazy]

I’m not mad about a change. Just saying there was great improvement over the past two seasons on ST.

And I do hope we either draft or bring in a replacement punter. If I understand what I’m reading on Over the Cap, Dixon is a FA this year, so I think we could save some money while making an improvement there.

Agree It is whatever to me but at the same time our ST’s was definitely better . It was horrible before. Sorta hoping/thinking it could be more about not losing Banjo and giving him the job.