New coach. New quarterback. Same, old Broncos.
Four weeks into the season and these Denver Broncos are only 2-2. One-quarter of the way through the campaign and, honestly, it looks like Vic Fangio never left.
And basically like Russell Wilson never came to the Mile High City.
After three years of a struggling offense under Fangio — and old, curmudgeony defensive coach — the Broncos offense is actually worse under Nathaniel Hackett. But he’s the young, fun, offensive-minded head coach.
Sometimes reality is stranger than fiction.
Through four games, Denver’s offense is averaging 16.5 points per game. That woeful number won’t win many contests, and it ranks them 29th of 32 teams. They’re also 30th in first downs, 23rd in 3rd down conversion rate (35.1%) and dead-last in red zone scoring (30%).
Russell Wilson isn’t the problem, though, it does look like he’s lost a step of athleticism in recent years.
Wilson’s been running for his lives in Denver much like he was in Seattle. What seemed to be a clear improvement at offensive line hasn’t lived up to the billing. In Sunday’s loss to the previously defeated Las Vegas Raiders, the line gave up three sacks, and while the numbers aren’t out yet, he’s been pressured 14 times per game on average.
That’s not the only thing the line has done poorly; they were called for three holding penalties on Sunday and the running game was nearly nonexistent (85 yards).
Cam Flemming looked like a high school senior going against Maxx Crosby, who used and abused Denver’s starting right tackle (in for the injured Billy Turner). Lloyd Cushenberry missed a block on one run which resulted in a loss of yards and he’s been one of the worst centers in the league for years. And Garett Bolles reverted to his former self, with two holding penalties while Graham Glasgow had one as well.
Speaking of penalties, it’s one category the Broncos actually lead the league. Of course, it’s one no team wants to lead in; Hackett’s undisciplined team has 37 calls accepted against them, which is 9.25 per game. It’s basically twice as many as last year under Fangio (4.8 per game).
And, the Broncos have wildly been even less prepared under Hackett than they were under Fangio, who oftentimes looked in over his head.
We know about the 7 mistakes he made in the win over the Houston Texans, and while he’s seemingly cleaned things up a little bit in the last two games, the lack of overall preparedness is somewhat shocking.
Sticking to the offensive side of the ball, it’s become clear over four weeks that Denver’s woefully thin when it comes to playmakers at wide receiver and tight end. Sure, Tim Patrick is injured, but I’m not sure even a healthy Patrick — who never drops passes — could even save this group.
Courtland Sutton has become the go-to guy, and rightfully so. He’s the hardest working receiver and most reliable one, too. Jerry Jeudy’s been wildly inconsistent, although he finally had a great game in the loss to the Raiders. K.J. Hamler has been nonexistent, but did haul in that 55-yard pass from Wilson on Sunday. Now, if only he could’ve kept his feet and scored instead of falling over the 5-yard line. And we all appreciate Kendall Hinton’s heart, but, come on. He should be on the practice squad, not the game day roster.
For the last six years, Denver fans desperately wanted a quarterback. Rightfully so.
But, maybe what we’re seeing is the Broncos receivers weren’t that great with Teddy Bridgewater, Drew Lock or anyone else throwing them the ball.
Similarly, Albert Okwuegbunam has become a nonexistent piece of the offense. He can’t block, leading to getting on the field for one, single play on Sunday. Eric Saubert is fine and all, but it looks clear that Wilson desperately needs more playmakers to throw the ball to.
Defensively, Denver’s been surprisingly very good. Although, we saw some cracks in that defense against the Raiders, which could point to the fact the Broncos didn’t play anyone in the first three weeks of the season.
Josey Jewell and Alex Singleton don’t have the athleticism needed to play middle linebacker, as Josh Jacobs and Las Vegas exploited yesterday for 212 yards of rushing. Patrick Surtain has been a shining star of that unit, and Bradley Chubb has performed well, too.
The defense isn’t the problem — nor is the improved special teams — it’s basically all been on offense.
That’s the most disheartening part for Broncos fans.
Offense is what wins games in today’s NFL. One only has to look at the Sunday Night Football game from this week, with Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady going toe-to-toe in a 41-31 shootout under the lights.
Hackett was supposed to be that young, innovative head coach but his offense is arguably the worst in the NFL. His play calling lacks creativity at the right times as he tries to get too cute in every game.
General manager George Paton went out and landed Russell Wilson, but a superstar quarterback alone cannot score points. We’re seeing that.
Wilson needs to be surrounded by a decent offensive line — this one is awful — and he needs at least one more pass-catcher who can turn nothing into something.
For all those Broncos fans who believed Wilson would get the Broncos over the hump and back into the playoffs, think again. This Denver team is the same one we’ve seen for years here; they’ll end up around or under .500 and on the outside looking in once again.
