Kubiak provided spark Broncos needed
Gary Kubiak’s sideline demeanor when he was the Texans’ head coach from 2006-13 could best be described as stoic.
It hasn’t changed much in his first year back in Denver as the Broncos head coach, but with the team one game away from the Super Bowl, players credit Kubiak with being the spark for the team’s drive.
“He’s brought some extra fire that was missing,” linebacker Brandon Marshall recently told Mile High Sports. “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.”
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.
“Part of the reason that I’m here is because I believe in Gary,” Phillips told Mile High Sports. “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. 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.”
When Kubiak was hired last January, he was coming back to an organization where he had spent 21 years as a player and coach. He was reunited with John Elway, the quarterback he backed up for so many years who is now the team’s GM.
“I know his goals are the same as mine,” Elway said upon introducing Kubiak last year. “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.”
At that same press conference, Kubiak gave a simple outline for the Broncos to win.
“You have to make sure you are positioning yourself all the time to take that next step,” he said. “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.”
The Broncos did that as they went 12-4 and won the AFC West. They did it in a season when Kubiak changed the offense and dealt with injuries to QB Peyton Manning.
“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,” running back Ronnie Hillman told Mile High Sports. “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.”
Even thought Kubiak has been known as an offensive coach for his career, his impact hits the defense as well.
“I think that little spark. That little spark, that’s all the guys need,” defensive captain DeMarcus Ware told Mile High Sports. “We had all the essential parts from all the players. The coaching staff now, it’s 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.”
The Broncos, who host the Patriots on Sunday in the AFC title game, are in the playoffs for the 22nd time and another Super Bowl is in sight. But Kubiak is keeping his focus.
“Well, it’s not time to look back yet,” he told Mile High Sports. “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.”
“You have to make sure you are positioning yourself all the time to take that next step ... There is no substitution for playing hard.”
Gary Kubiak
Denver Broncos head coach