Evans: What a Fangio-Kubiak tag team means for Broncos Country
Jan 9, 2019, 1:18 PM | Updated: Jan 10, 2019, 1:51 am
» I like the Denver Broncos hiring of Vic Fangio from the standpoint that he will preach toughness and discipline.
In what I believe is the absence of enough talent, those are characteristics that can be added immediately and can be a big part of the foundation you’re trying to build while you wait for the talent to build up.
» I do not like the Fangio hiring because he has never been a head coach.
If it were easy to make the transition from outstanding coordinator to head coach, then Wade Phillips would have been a better head coach. The same goes for Norv Turner and all those failed New England Patriots’ assistants.
There is a difference in becoming a head coach. There is a learning curve, and I do not understand why general manager John Elway wants to break in another first-time head coach, especially since the last one failed so miserably.
» I said from Day One of the coaching search that Gary Kubiak would cast a huge shadow over this, and, boy, was I right.
Let us not kid ourselves. Whoever was going to be the next head coach of the Broncos had to understand Kubiak as offensive coordinator was going to have to be part of the package.
Any thoughts of getting a “big time” coach dissolved upon that being a condition.
» For those who like outside the box thinking, this move has to excite you.
Fangio runs the defense and Kubiak the offense. In effect, there will be co-coaches running the Broncos.
I would not be surprised if fourth-down decisions and whether to kick the field goal or punt is left up to Kubiak.
Non-traditional for sure. Can it work? We will see.
» Elway’s reliance on Kubiak is fascinating.
I believe John leans on Kubiak’s advice, especially in personnel, so much so that he was willing to throw in letting Gary be the offensive coordinator. So much so that the head coach had to take on Kubiak as his offensive coordinator.
I do not know if we have ever seen anything quite like it in the annals of the NFL.
» I love this move from the standpoint of now there are real expectations in place.
Elway is sending a very clear message. He believes the talent level is not dire. He believes coaching will make a huge difference. Plenty of Broncos fans I hear from believe the same thing.
That six-win team last year would’ve/should’ve won nine to 10 games with better coaching.
Great. This means next year the bar is set at nine wins-minimum. Fantastic. Real expectations.
» If the Broncos are in win-now mode, then they have to go after Joe Flacco.
The Ravens quarterback had a career-best season when he worked with Kubiak in Baltimore.
Case Keenum isn’t the answer. If you are serious about winning now, go after Flacco.
If they stay with Keenum, then they are not serious about winning.