Rich Scangarello's Vision to Reignite Broncos Offense Rooted in Creativity
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Rich Scangarello’s vision to reignite Broncos offense rooted in creativity By Kyle Fredrickson Denver Post Jan. 19, 2019 Rich Scangarello’s big break came as a result of working on an intern’s salary at age 43 while crashing in a co-worker’s spare bedroom. Call it unpredictable. Much like his offense. The Broncos hired Scangarello (pronounced SKANE-guh-rel-OH) this past week to coordinate their offense under first-year head coach Vic Fangio. His success in 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s system for two seasons as quarterbacks coach solidified his candidacy. But Scangarello’s vision is one rooted through lessons of an unorthodox coaching journey. “It’s an example of someone betting on themselves,” said Jason Houghtaling, head coach at FCS Wagner College where Scangarello once served as offensive coordinator, “and saying, ‘I’m going to take a step backward to take 100 steps forward.’ It began in 1998 with Scangarello an assistant quarterbacks coach at then D-II UC-Davis. Kevin Daft, who went on to be a fifth-round draft pick, was a junior quarterback when Scangarello joined the UC-Davis staff. Daft set five NCAA D-II records. “(He) can talk to quarterbacks, be on the same level and treat each other like men,” Daft said. “That was the relationship that we had in college.” Scangarello spent the next decade jumping between coaching roles at UC-Davis, Idaho and Carleton. The Oakland Raiders hired him in 2009 as offensive quality control coach at the same time Kyle Shanahan coordinated the Texans’ offense, using a heavy dose of pre-snap motion and a quick passing game. Scangarello left the NFL in 2010 for the college ranks, this time a rung lower as offensive coordinator at D-III Millsaps College. But Shanahan’s philosophies stuck with him. Scangarello outwitted defensive coordinators in D-III and earned a promotion to FCS Northern Arizona. “He had a great handle on the big picture,” then NAU coach Jerome Souers said. “He understood the game is four quarters, how to be patient and how to set things up. The sequencing truly had a thought of; attack first, and when they adjust, we have a plan to attack back behind it. He highlighted matchups and was really creative in how to create opportunities for the offense.” Some in Scangarello’s shoes might have come to grips with a career relegated to bouncing around the collegiate ranks. He wanted more. A quality control position working for Shanahan, then an offensive coordinator, on the Falcons’ 2015 staff opened the door to big things. But the job came with a pay cut, which led to cutting expenses and sleeping in the home of Atlanta assistant offensive line coach Keith Carter. A year later, he returned to the college game as offensive coordinator at FCS Wagner to showcase what he learned under Shanahan. Wagner coach Jason Houghtaling credited Scangarello’s success to an ability to teach and empower quarterbacks in addition to high-level knowledge of defensive schemes. Shanahan soon after hired Scangarello back, this time to his new 49ers staff in 2017. “He’s always under control on game day,” Houghtaling said. “Not a yeller or a screamer or anything like that. He’s got that quiet confidence and he doesn’t say much, but under that calm demeanor is a fierce competitor who is trying to score 100 points on you every game.” Daft, the first college quarterback to learn under Scangarello, remains close with his mentor and sent him a congratulatory text this past week. He knows some might question Scangrello’s lack of NFL experience. Daft isn’t. No risks. No reward. “He’s not going to just dust off this cookie-cutter playbook,” Daft said. “Coaches that love the game and really get into the scheme side of it are able to be creative and think outside the box. Just his experiences being different places, he’s going to be the guy who takes things from everywhere he’s been, mold it into his own offense and evolve.” NFL Journal: Dom Capers’ most memorable Vic Fangio game was history-making By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post Jan. 19, 2019 From 1984-2005, Dom Capers and Vic Fangio coached on the same team for 16 seasons. They were position coaches (Capers with the secondary and Fangio with the linebackers) for two years with the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars and six years with the New Orleans Saints. And in Capers’ four-year stints as the head coach with Carolina and Houston, Fangio was his defensive coordinator. “I can’t say enough good things about him,” Capers said earlier this month after Fangio was hired by the Broncos. “I’ve known him since he started right up until now.” Of all those games together, one has to stand out, right? “I’ll tell you one game because it’s probably down in history,” Capers said. Capers is right. In December 2002, the first-year Texans (3-9) were a 14-point underdog at Pittsburgh (7-4-1). The Texans were outgained 422-47 … and won 24-6. It remains the fewest yards for a winning team in NFL history. The Texans had four first downs, only the 13th time in NFL history that the winning team had four or fewer first downs. Fangio’s defense scored three touchdowns — a 40-yard fumble return by Kenny Wright and Aaron Glenn interception returns of 70 and 65 yards. “They scored 24 points and I gave them 21 of them,” Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox said after the game. “You can put it on my shoulders. I will take the heat.” The Texans also had six sacks. “It cost Pittsburgh a home playoff game,” Capers said. The Steelers finished third in the AFC, a half-game behind Tennessee. Pittsburgh beat Cleveland in the wild card round, but lost at the Titans the following weekend. Around the Broncos Fullback friendly. Offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello’s hiring should make fullback Andy Janovich happy. Last year, San Francisco’s Kyle Juszcyk led NFL fullbacks with 662 offensive snaps, including 42 of 72 in its Week 14 win over the Broncos. The 49ers often used one tailback/one fullback as their base offensive personnel group. Janovich played 239 snaps in 2018, third-most among fullbacks. On-point interview list. The Broncos interviewed five candidates for their coaching post. All five will have new jobs in 2019. They hired Fangio and offensive line coach Mike Munchak. Chuck Pagano replaced Fangio as the Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator. And Zac Taylor and Brian Flores are presumably headed to Cincinnati and Miami, respectively, as the head coach. Kubiak’s role. Still no comments from Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer about how assistant head coach Gary Kubiak will support offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski. Kubiak was hired by the Vikings on Monday, ending his fourth tour with the Broncos. Did the semi-slamming of Kubiak after it was decided he would not be the Broncos’ offensive coordinator bother anybody else? It should have. You don’t last as long as Kubiak has without learning how to change the playbook to adjust to talent and trends. A 24- year member of the Broncos and the Super Bowl-winning coach in 2015, he merits Ring of Fame consideration. Around the NFL Book shelf. This week’s recommendation is “Guts and Genius: The Story Of Three Unlikely Coaches Who Came To Dominate The NFL In The ‘80s,” by Newsday NFL writer Bob Glauber. It tracks the paths of Bill Walsh, Joe Gibbs and Bill Parcells, three coaches who dominated the NFC in the 1980s (combined six Super Bowl titles). Glauber’s narrative toggles between the three coaches and brings back vivid pro football memories for me, who grew up in NFC territory (North Dakota) during that time period. I covered Gibbs during his second tour with the Redskins (2004-07) but still discovered new layers of his first tenure through Glauber’s reporting. Redskins are a mess. The Redskins will never top the dysfunction of January-February 2008 when they hired both coordinators (Jim Zorn — offense; Greg Blache — defense) before hiring a head coach. Their search flummoxed, they promoted Zorn. This month, the Redskins openly interviewed defensive coordinator candidates Gregg Williams, Todd Bowles and Steve Wilks … while Greg Manusky still held the title. They decided to keep Manusky, but like many things Redskins, it could have been handled more professionally. Fired coaches find work. A rundown of the eight fired head coaches and where they have landed. The Broncos’ Vance Joseph (Arizona defensive coordinator), Miami’s Adam Gase (Jets coach), Tampa Bay’s Dirk Koetter (Atlanta offensive coordinator), the Cardinals’ Wilks (Cleveland defensive coordinator), the Jets’ Bowles (Tampa Bay defensive coordinator) and the Browns’ Williams (Jets defensive coordinator) joined other teams. Green Bay’s Mike McCarthy is sitting out 2019 and Cincinnati’s Marvin Lewis has not resurfaced. Early 2020 odds. The Broncos are a 66-1 shot to win next year’s Super Bowl, according to BetOnline. That is the second-longest number on the board, tied with eight teams and ahead of only Miami (100-1). Kansas City is first at 7-1. Sunday’s predictions. NFC — New Orleans 34, Los Angeles Rams 27. AFC — Kansas City 24, New England 21. 9 'senior' Broncos who deserve Hall of Fame consideration By Mike Klis 9 News Jan. 19, 2019 Once Pat Bowlen and Gil Brandt receive rubber-stamped election on the eve of Super Bowl LIII in two weeks, it will be time for the Pro Football Hall of Fame board of trustees and advisors to reassess their subcategories.