(4 of 7)
Coach Red Miller understood. At 50, he had gypsied around the pros for 17 years as an offensive coordinator, the eternal bridesmaid who devised ways to put points on another man's Scoreboard. Feisty and indisputably tough, he was a trench slugger, a coach who did his demonstrating amid the sweat and grunting on the field, as well as at the blackboard. During one such session this year, he split open his forehead knocking his unprotected head against the helmet of 280-lb. Offensive Tackle Claudie Minor. But he was also a jokester who regularly inserted a trick play, say a quadruple reverse, to confound the defensive starters during practice sessions, providing his players with a few moments of grass-rolling laughter at their teammates' expense.
He was passed over as head coach for such antics and a tendency to hoist a beer and become close to his players. Says Miller: "I was a free spirit. I operated on a different wave length than most coaches. I was highly excitable, and I'd get down in the pits with the players. I think some owners thought I was too exuberant. Too many coaches believe you just play the game. I happen to feel the opposite. I believe you play the game with emotion. I enjoy life. They couldn't identify with me." When his chance came at Denver, he toned down the off-field activities in favor of ceaseless preparation: "I haven't had a drink in about a year. I'm not saying I will never drink again, but I stopped as a matter of self-discipline."
If Miller needed discipline, the Broncos needed it more. After last season, a dozen players sent a petition to Co-Owner Phipps expressing their lack of con fidence in then-Coach John Ralston. An already solid defensive unit carped at the woefully inadequate offense. The center did not hold. They had climbed to a 9-5 record, but believed they could have done better. Says Wide Receiver Haven Moses: "We knew we had the people to win, but we had no direction, no someone or something to pull it together. We had to have someone to crack the whip." Lyle Alzado describes the initial, outwardly insignificant lash: "The first day of training camp, Miller pointed to the soda and candy machines and said he didn't want us to bring any of that stuff into the meetings because it would disturb our concentration. He looked at us for a second and screamed, 'I mean it!' " End of munchies in meetings.
The arrival of Quarterback Craig Morton in a trade with the New York Giants injected stability on-field to match Miller's sideline command. Haven Moses on Morton: "Last year we had no one in the huddle who would take charge. Craig has given us that added dimension, offensive motivation. When we get behind, we know that he is still capable of pulling it out." Morton was the 26th man to step into the Broncos' revolving quarterback door in 18 years. A much-maligned performer during twelve frustrating seasons in Dallas and New York, he is now Denver's once and future king.
The Broncos' offense is still far from an inexorable machine, but Miller's innovative strategy superbly complements Morton's skills, and the team can now capitalize on the good field position that the Orange Crush defense constantly wrests in fumbles and interceptions.