The door at Dove Valley is continually revolving, letting in defensive coordinators and letting them back out just as quickly as they enter.
With Denver DC Dennis Allen leaving the Mile High City to head coach the rival Raiders, the Broncos will have their seventh defensive coordinator in as many years coaching that side of the ball in 2012.
Losing Allen was a big blow to the Broncos, who improved from 32nd in scoring and yards allowed in 2010 to 20th and 24th respectively, and now it's up to head coach John Fox and Vice President of Football Operations John Elway to find a capable replacement.
“John Fox with his defensive background is still going to be the backbone of that defense,” Elway said of his defensive-minded head coach on 1023 ESPN Thursday, and Fox has worked with many different DCs during his time in the NFL.
Jack Del Rio, who was the Panthers' DC under Fox in 2002, is a candidate to replace Allen in Denver according to NFL Network's Jason La Canfora. Del Rio head coached the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003-2011, and his defense was second-best in the league in Carolina in 2002 as it gave up only 18.9 points per game.
Elway discussed another candidate on the radio saying, “Everyone knows Richard Smith, Richard Smith knows everyone else, that's one of the positives." Smith is the Broncos' linebackers coach and held the same position with Carolina from 2009-10.
What helps his case is that Smith has four years of defensive coordinator experience, from 2006-08 with Houston and in 2005 with Miami. Smith's defenses averaged 22.8 points per game allowed over that four-year span, which would be an improvement from Denver's 24.4 per contest in 2011.
Another possible candidate is Brian Baker, the defensive line coach in Dallas.
Who the next contestant as Denver Broncos defensive coordinator is remains to be seen and the team has made it clear they're in no rush to come to a decision.
And whoever it is better be ready to leave the Mile high City in a year because the position has been in constant flux for nearly a decade.
Rich Kurtzman is a freelance journalist actively seeking a career in journalism. Along with being your Denver Broncos Examiner, Rich is your CSU Rams Examiner and Kurtzman also writes for Blake Street Bulletin, Stadium Journey, Bleacher Report, and Mile High Hoops.
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