<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The collapse of his unit over the second half of the season has cost Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Larry Coyer his job, as the veteran assistant was informed Tuesday morning by head coach Mike Shanahan that he will not return to the team in 2007.Coyer, 62, served the past four seasons as the Broncos' defensive coordinator and coached the linebackers in Denver for three seasons before that.It is not yet known if Shanahan has already targeted a successor, possibly an assistant already on staff, or will conduct a search for a new defensive boss. The dismissal of Coyer, a coach in the pro ranks since 1984, was not totally surprising, given the performance of the Denver defense in the final 10 games of the regular season.Over the first six outings, the Broncos surrendered only 272.0 yards per game and allowed only 44 points, the fewest points permitted in the first six games since the adoption of the 16-game scheduled in 1978. In the final 10 games, however, the Broncos allowed 26.1 points and 359.2 yards per contest.</div>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2725472
I'm kinda split over this.On one hand the D had that great start to the season.On the other hand they sucked the 2nd half of the season.I'm torn on this. It really depends on who replaces him.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Just one day after dismissing defensive coordinator Larry Coyer, Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan on Wednesday night reached a contract agreement with longtime NFL assistant coach Jim Bates to run a unit that collapsed over the second half of the 2006 season.Substantive negotiations between the two sides began on Wednesday afternoon and an accord was quickly struck. Details of Bates' contract were not yet available, but the deal almost certainly will make him one of the game's highest paid assistant coaches.It is believed that Bates will receive the title of assistant head coach/defense and that Denver will promote current secondary coach Bob Slowik to defensive coordinator. Those titles aside, it will be Bates who will oversee the defensive side of the ball.</div>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2727177Huge Hire, Great Coach. Good job Denver IMO.
Bates is a great coach, I guess we didnt interview him which Im really not too happy about. He was the one I wanted to see replace Wanny before Saban took the job.
