ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson

Another great round of "sound off" this week. The question was: Did Denver make the right call in hiring Josh McDaniels to replace Mike Shanahan? At 32, the former New England offensive coordinator is the youngest coach in the league.

Your responses were great and varied. Here is a sampling:

Bruce from Irvine, CA: I think the Broncos hit a home run. I really liked Mike Shanahan, but he just wasn't getting it done on Special Teams and Defense. I am liking the pick even more with Mike Nolan and I hear that Dom Capers will join the staff, too. I don't think this would have happened with Mike. Also, if Seely joins the staff as special teams coach then it is a grand slam. We have been getting killed in 2 of 3 phases and that directly impacted the offense, Bruce

Mike from Colorado Springs: I love the move to get McDaniel's. Great for a young offense and his apparent hire of Nolan on defense shows he means business. Are we going to see a cut-off hoody standing next to a suit? The only bad thing about this is all the "Happy Meal" references Woody Paige will make every time something goes well for McD.

Dave from Denver: From all the information posted so far. Definitely the right first step for Denver.

Adam from Kansas City: No. In fact, Josh McDaniels was a great hire. Many are skeptical about McDaniels. Many feel that he will be another failed Belichik disciple, that he is too inexperienced or that he is an offensive savant who knows nothing about defense. Those people are completely wrong. The more I see, hear and read about McDaniels, the more I see what he is. He is a young, brilliant, energetic, no-nonsense football coach who, above all else, wants desperately to win championships. He is meticulous in his preparation, superhuman in his attention to detail and he possesses a highly sophisticated understanding of the game of football. While in New England, he excelled in player personnel, as a defensive backs coach and as the QB coach / offensive coordinator. With Mike Nolan at DC, I believe that this staff will fix the D and take the O to new heights (by implementing the NE scheme rather than merely copying it as we did in '08). Pat Bowlen hired the right guy. I loved Mike Shanahan and hated to see him go. I will pull for him (except for when he plays the Broncos) and feel that he will find success wherever he winds up. However, Josh McDaniels is now our Coach, Broncos Country, let's get behind him because there's plenty to be excited about.

Stu from St. Joseph, MI: Bill, Though the thought of Denver's new coach Josh McDaniels working with Jay Cutler is very exciting I do not feel like Bowlen hired the right guy. Can McDaniels handle everything that comes with being a head coach in the NFL? No longer are the days where he can just focus on offensive schemes and budding qb's. How will he handle a star reciever with a history of off the field incidents? Randy Moss was not his problem in NE. How will he deal with a stubborn defensive coordinator who is used to having his way? Can McDaniels earn the respect of a Champ Bailey or a Tom Nalen? Will taking a less than average defense (to put it nicely) and changing their entire alignment make them better? As a Denver Broncos fan I hope he can handle all the challenges he will face as a 32 year old first year head coach. Looking back ten years from I hope we compare McDaniels with young coaches like Jon Gruden & Bill Cowher rather than Lane Kiffin & Dave Shula.

Matt Hubert from Erie, PA: There's no way of knowing whether this was the "right" hire. I don't think there is one right or wrong hire. I do think it was a good hire, though. McDaniels should work well with a talented young quarterback like Cutler. My worry for a young guy like McDaniels would be his ability to build up a team like the Bengals or Lions. But the Broncos are close. They were on the verge of the playoffs this year, and a fresh voice along with fresh playcalling might get them over the hump in the AFC West.

Bert Jan Brands from The Netherlands: Although I have to admit that I was hoping Steve Spagnuolo would get the call, I think the Broncos did make a good move. Even though Shanahan is one of the greatest coaches to coach this game, I think there was too much comfort around the organization. It's time for some fresh ideas and fresh perspectives. Even though McDaniels worked as OC for the Patriots, he also has experience with their defense, and with the right DC hire in Denver, I think he can be very succesful.

Rocco from Coos Bay, OR: The Broncos made a very inspiring choice in hiring McDaniels as head coach followed up with Nolan as the D-Coordinator. This provides a solid young HC with one of the best defensive minds to shore up their biggest weakness. I would say the Broncos made a huge splash that depending how well they draft could have them competing for the playoffs this year. Plus he received Belichick's support which should take away from the age concerns!

Indianapolis: This was a very good move on the Denver Broncos organizations part

Ryan from New Jersey: Before I start I'd like to say although shanny will always be a legend in Denver, and though his departure hurt to watch, it was time for him to move on. After Shanny was gone, I wanted Denver to pick up a defensive minded coach, and it seemed like they would do so. When they first announced Mcdaniels, at first I thought it was a bad move because Mcdaniels was not only offensive minded, but he was also a former quarterback coach. I was mad because I thought that part of Denver's game was the part we least needed help in. However, after I thought about it, I now know it was a great move because it will only make Cutler better and it would also help the offense execute on the scoreboard, and not just in the yards column. Also, Belichick had great things to say about him. And if a future HOF coach gives him praise, I feel that it is much deserved, and that he will be a great coach for Denver.

John from Youngstown: I believe Denver made a sound decision. when you look back when they brought in shanahan, he was fairly young and was an offensive minded coach. i think there are similarities between the two. actually, being that McD has experience on the defensive side of the ball, he might have one up on shanahan. i believe this move will ignite the broncos not only next year but for many years. he is coming into a great situation where there is not a lot to change on the offensive side of the ball. he can focus more on getting our defense shored up which, coming from belichicks system, he should have the fortitude to get the job done. i dont think we can give him too much credit though if denver comes back next year and is a playoff team. shanahan had things in the works to make this team great.

Conrad from Parker: Well, from everything I've read, McDaniels is extremely impressive. He just might be the next Shanahan. Either Nolan or Capers would be decent defensive coordinators. I'm curious to see if they will go 3-4 or stay 4-3.

Jay from Chicago: Bill - I think the Broncos made a great decision in hiring McDaniels. And if we can combo his signing with Nolan on the defensive side, I think it will be just what the do
ctor ordered to get the Broncos back on track. It will now be interesting to see what happens to the rest of the staff, namely Dennison and Bates. Have you heard if McDaniels plans to retain them? I hope the three of them can work together to combine the current offense with McDaniels' playbook. Cutler has to be a top 10 draft pick in fantasy drafts next year.

Matt from PHX: Hi Bill, I think all in all this was the right move. Now some fans may be upset that we didnt go after a defensive minded coach. However no matter how abysmal our defense is, we are an offensive minded team, and it is our strength. Also McDaniels was a part of the ragtag New England defense that went to win a ring. So he isnt oblivious to defense, and also with Nolan as the rumored DC, that might be a great 1-2 punch. Denver is a scoring town, we like points and lots of em. Who better than the "'New' Mastermind" who was behind the Tom Brady powered scoring juggernaut??

Ben from Columbia: I consider myself a diehard Broncos fan. When I saw the news that Shanahan was fired i was shocked, angry, and disappointed. I am 18 years old and Shanahan is the only coach I have ever known. I tried to look on the bright side and thought that the Broncos would get a defensive coach since the defense is horrible. Well they didn't do that. However, I am very happy with the hire. I trust Bowlen and I think that this is going to work out. He is going to help Cutler and the offense. I mean look what he did with Matt Cassel! Plus, Mike Nolan is an amazing hire for the defensive coordinator job. I can only see him helping that side of the ball tremendously. Watch out NFL!

David from San Diego: Not sure about the McDaniels hire. Time will tell. I will say that I was hoping he was not chosen (mostly because he is from the Belichick tree and that tree has not produced much good fruit so far). I don't think age plays a factor. McDaniels might be a great choice for Cutler's development, but for the team as a whole? The end of the Bronco's season made it abundantly clear to me that the players need a fire lit under them. So I was hoping for a tough, hard-nosed coach that could instill a sense of urgency and pride in the players. Is McDaniels that guy? I don't know. Initially I didn't think so. After listening to his introduction/press conference yesterday I have some hope. Only time will tell.

Jack from Boston: I am a long time Broncos fan and from the city and I know how important the franchise means to everyone. I think Shanahan's message got stale and they needed some energy. Although I was hoping for someone else I am thrilled with the choice. I think he will bring a new enthusiasm to the organization and there will be some oversight which there hasn't been in years. I am expecting a good season next year and a Super Bowl contender in the next few.

Atlanta: Everybody can have their opinion on rather he's the right choice or not, but the truth of the matter is nobody know's, we just have to wait and see. people say it was the wrong move to fire Shanahan but at the same time the broncos missed the playoffs 3 straight years!Ultimately the success of the team won't just be a result of the head coach and neither will a failure be so evaluating a coach isn't just about if the team make the playoffs or wins a Super Bowl it should be judged by how the player's perform considering their evaluated potential week in and week out, basically did the team play to the best of their ability, if so he's the right pick! but at the end of the day making the playoffs next year will validate him for being the right guy if they miss the playoffs he'll be judged as the wrong guy, it's as simple as that, all he has to do is get in the playoffs and he will be the right choice and vise-versa!

Tim from Denver: I think the actual head coaching position was by far the least important aspect of the transaction. To me it is all about: 1. Reorganizing the coach/back office staff to share responsibility. 2. Hire a new D coordinator to run the 3-4 such that Moss + Crowder can be integrated as useful components, hiring 1-2 FAs and drafting 1-2 starters. 3. Maintaining Offensive coaches. 4.
Eventual salary reduction. Shanahan stood in the way squarely of 3 out of 4 of those items.

Tim from Medford, OR: I think that the Broncos made a good call in getting McDaniels. I like the fact that he is a young coach. He has been around the league for eight years and obviously has a good head on his shoulders if he moved up the ranks so quickly with Belichick. The real question I think is are the players going to respond to him. I am only an enthused fan and I honestly have no clue at this time if it was a good or bad call. We will find out next year what kind of a call it was and if anyone will take to his ways.