The Marshall Plan
Posted on 09. Sep, 2009 by Jesse in Articles
If you fail to plan, plan to fail.
When rookie head coach Josh McDaniels suspended WR Brandon Marshall a few weeks back, Broncos backers rolled their collective eyes. McDaniels hasn’t endeared himself to the Mile High faithful at all since taking over for longtime stalwart HC Mike Shanahan, and his explanation about the Marshall suspension did little to comfort anyone in Denver. “You know, the league and — and — and our organization were trying to follow, you know, an escalating discipline schedule,” McDaniels said while fidgiting profusely. “You know, you don’t — you don’t just come out, you know, and — and — and throw the most, you know, significant discipline you can at a player.” Throughout the presser, the 33-year old coach looked like a deer in headlights. Somewhere east of the Rocky Mountains, one pumpkin pie haircutted-freak of a QB was laughing.
Yes Marshall had become a distraction. His antics in practice were unacceptable, and many of his teammates have also said (off-record) that something needed to be done about B-Marsh’s attitude. McDaniels had little choice in the matter, but with the fallout from the Cutler saga still hovering overhead, the way he handled the situation just made him look foolish. Again. Now Marshall has returned to action a few weeks later, but are we to believe that all is right in the world?
Amid unsubstantiated rumors of a trade to the Jets, Marshall has taken to the field in preparation for Denver’s opening game. He can’t be happy about working with Kyle Orton, who has a maimed hand and looked dismal in preseason. Furthermore, Marshall is still disgruntled about his contract and wants nothing to do with McDaniels at this time. Marshall has never been a reasonable dude, so I suspect things will implode soon enough.
Look, Marshall watched the Jay Cutler saga play out, and he sees Cutler now smiling in Chi-Town. B-Marsh thinks that if he’s enough of a distraction, the Broncos may be forced to move on without him. Fans in Denver have already made the switch mentally, as the average Bronco backer has grown completely tired of his diva act. Eddie Royal may be just as good anyway, and he plays ball with his mouth shut.
Things in Denver won’t likely improve any time soon either, as the team faces a brutal schedule in 2009. Not only do they have to play the Chargers twice, but a midseason run including opponents like Dallas, New England, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington, the Giants, Indy and the Eagles makes me think the Broncos may struggle to get to six wins. And since losing fosters animosity, don’t expect Marshall to play a full schedule.
Still, McDaniels carries a lot of the blame in the disintegration of the team’s nucleus since his arrival. When the 2008 year closed, Marshall and Cutler were arguably the best two players on the entire roster, and both obviously hate McDaniels to their core. It seems like McDaniels may be in over his head, and I worry he lacks a real plan. Unless his plan is to ultimately sever ties with Marshall, lose a ton of games, and make everyone in the state fashion Joshy voodoo dolls, McDaniels looks confused. Sarcasm aside, the absence of a plan is apparent.
If you fail to plan, plan to fail.
