Denver Broncos DC Wade Phillips: 'I was a lousy head coach'

Phillips critiqued his performance as head coach but spoke confidently about Denver's defensive prospects.

Speaking at his introductory press conference on Tuesday, new Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips reflected critically on his past as a head coach and underscored his optimism about his new role with the Broncos.

"I was a lousy head coach but I'm a pretty good defensive coordinator. That's what I do well," Phillips said to laughter on Tuesday.

Phillips was previously a coach with the Broncos from 1989 to 1994, serving as head coach during his final two years. He went 16-16 with one playoff loss. Denver rehired Phillips in January in order to bolster the team's defense.

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According to Phillips, he would implement a 3-4 defensive alignment with a more aggressive posture.

"We will be aggressive. That doesn't mean blitzing all the time. It's pseudo blitzes, looking like it's all out, but it's not. Attacking is how players like to play," Phillips said. "When you take that away, I think it hurts them."

Denver set a franchise record for rushing yards allowed during 2014, permitting just 79.8 per game, and gave up just 305.2 total yards per game, the third best in the league. However, the Broncos finished the season 21st in the league in sack percentage.

Phillips served as defensive coordinator with seven other teams prior to joining Denver, most recently for the Houston Texans. He has served as head coach on a permanent or interim basis six times, most recently as interim head coach for the final three games of the Texans' 2013 season.

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According to Mike Klis of the Denver Post, Phillips compiled a 82-64 record as head coach. When his time as an interim coach is subtracted, he went 79-57 with the Broncos, Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys.

In eight full seasons as coach, Phillips went to the playoffs five times, earning a 6-5 record.

The Broncos finished last year 12-4 and lost to the Indianapolis Colts 24-13 in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.

- Christopher Woody