On January 20, 345 days ago, Gary Kubiak was announced as the 15th head coach in Denver Broncos franchise history, returning to the team he played on for eight years and coached to two Super Bowl Championships as the offensive coordinator. With 2015 coming to a close, the year for the Broncos has been just as it was advertised last January. Now, Kubiak is ready to finish what he promised 11 months ago.
“You have to make sure you are positioning yourself all the time to take that next step,” Kubiak said January 20. “Hopefully you are kicking and screaming every week, not just one week and that’s what we are going to try to do. There is no substitution for playing hard. If you are doing those things, good things will happen to your football team. That’s a mindset you better have everyday.”
Every day Kubiak has strived for effort and intensity and has had to deal with a multitude of tough injuries and subsequent decisions, no bigger than announcing this week that the great Peyton Manning would serve as Brock Osweiler’s backup in the regular season finale. While John Fox led the Broncos to some great years and an impressive regular-season winning percentage (.719) in four seasons, something was lacking.
“He’s brought some extra fire that was missing. I think Kubiak has had a great year,” Brandon Marshall said Thursday. “It is not just him either. I’m talking from the whole staff; they have brought a different fire to the group. That is what it is. They coach us hard and we definitely appreciate that.”
With the Broncos regular season coming to a close, they sit at 11-4 and have struggled and scraped for each win, winning eight of them by one score or less. While that may be a red flag to some, it also proves that his team is relentless and never ready to give in as past seasons have appeared to have ended. The offense that Kubiak was hired to overhaul has gone through a rough transition this season, ranking in the bottom half of almost every statistical category entering Week 17. Kubiak’s reputation of being an offensive mind has taken a slight hit but his leadership certainly has not.
“What he teaches very well is being accountable and playing hard until the end. I think that is something he teaches very well and we do a lot better this year,” Ronnie Hillman said Thursday. “You can definitely tell he has been in some tough situations and thrived in tough situations. You’re definitely able to tell he has a lot of wisdom and knowledge of the game.”
On the other side of the ball, the defense is playing at an all-time high. They have blossomed, turning nearly the same personnel from last season into a wrecking crew. They rank first in several statistical categories, including net yards allowed per game (280.9), net passing yards allowed per game (199.1) and sacks (49). Defensive captain and 11-year veteran, DeMarcus Ware sees the change in the team during Kubiak’s first season as head coach.
“I think that little spark. That little spark that all the guys need,” Ware said Thursday of the difference that Kubiak has brought to this year’s team. “We had all the essential parts from all the players. The coaching staff now, its that little grit that he brings to the game and it has carried throughout the coaches. You can see how the coaches communicate really well and it trickles all through the players and we communicate well and then we play better.”
Last week Kubiak led the Broncos back to the playoffs for the 22nd time in team history with an overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals, but he understands that the ultimate goal is still ahead of them – one that him and John Elway agreed on from day one.
“I know his goals are the same as mine. That is to win and to win world championships. To have that ability to be able to have a guy like Gary that you trust, that I trust, that I respect deeply about his football knowledge and what he can do for this football team, hopefully to take it to that next level—he’s got all those qualities,” Elway said January 20.
Kubiak helped bring back defensive coordinator Wade Phillips in the offseason and his experience is as extensive as any coach in the NFL. Phillips’ return to the Broncos this season marks his 37th in the NFL and his tenth season with Kubiak as his coach, during Kubiak’s playing days, or as part of his staff. While Phillips is possibly the largest reason the defense is ranked atop the NFL; he placed the credit and high praise, with Kubiak Thursday.
“Part of the reason that I’m here is because I believe in Gary. I’ve had the opportunity and had opportunities to go with other coaches, but Gary is an outstanding coach. He’s a great motivator besides being a terrific football mind, especially offense, even of the whole team,” Wade Phillips said Thursday. “I got to be with my dad [Bum Phillips], but I also got to be with Buddy Ryan. I got to be with Marty Schottenheimer. I got to be with Marv Levy, the Hall of Famer Marv Levy. [Ring of Fame coach] Dan Reeves. These are top-notch, outstanding coaches. I include Gary in that group.”
Kubiak has been a part of the Broncos for 21 seasons. He has seen Super Bowl losses and of course, the two victories. He has also seen failure as the head coach of the Houston Texans (2006-13) but through it all he has kept that “fire” his players, general manger and fellow coaches appreciate and it is that fire that will be needed in the early going of 2016.
“Well, it’s not time to look back yet. We have a long way to go. Obviously, it’s an honor to be back, be back with this organization, have a chance to come to work here every day and represent Mr. [Pat] Bowlen and his family and the orange and blue.” Kubiak said on the last day of 2015. “Hopefully, somewhere down the road I’ll look back on all of that. It’s not time to reminisce, but yeah, it’s obviously very special having an opportunity to be back and be in the position that we’re in.”
What would be more special for everyone involved is to reminisce this time next year and have no regrets in 2016 with another Lombardi Trophy in hand.
Email Sam at sam@milehighsports.com and follow him on Twitter @SamCowhick.
