Speech! Broncos’ Joseph has plenty to address
Broncos coach Vance Joseph’s address to his players Monday lasted the usual 20 minutes, and the main theme was obvious but necessary: A recap of the 13 penalties that helped doom them in Sunday’s 2714 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Obvious because coaches always do a postloss review of the key mistakes.
Necessary because the Broncos are already in the mode of making sure their first loss doesn’t turn into their first losing streak.
“It has to be reinforced,” receiver Emmanuel Sanders said. “You have to come into work after a loss and accept your responsibilities.”
The responsibility for the Broncos falling to 21 was teamwide.
The defense couldn’t produce a turnover and their search to solve opposing quarterbacks is ongoing.
The offense didn’t score after the 7:02 mark of the first quarter and their new quarterback who’s guaranteed $25 million through 2019, Case Keenum, leads the league with five interceptions.
And Joseph poked punter Marquette King for another subpar outing.
All three units played a part in
committing 120 yards in penalties.
“(Joseph) wanted to show us and we watched all of the clips that didn’t go our way, why they didn’t go our way and he showed us how exactly we need to fix it,” said right guard Connor McGovern, who had two penalties. “Not a good game for us by any means.”
Said Joseph: “We can’t talk around penalties, we have to own them. They called them so we have to own them.”
The Broncos can take solace that having at least 10 penalties and at least 100 penalty yards is not common. They have not had consecutive games of doubledigit penalties since 2014. And they last had consecutive games of at least 100 yards worth of penalties in 1978 — 103 in an overtime win at Seattle and 105 the next week in a 76 loss at the Baltimore Colts.
Just as big of an issue for the Broncos: How will they contain Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has 13 touchdowns, no interceptions and a 137.4 rating during a blazing 30 start? Mahomes should be counting the hours until he faces the Broncos’ struggling secondary.
Through three games, the Broncos’ cornerbacks have no interceptions.
“We’ve got to challenge more at the corner position and make more plays,” said Joseph, echoing his theme from after Sunday’s game. “It’s a blueprint on tape right now the last three weeks: Throw it quick, challenge the (defensive backs), throw it quick and keep Von Miller and (Bradley) Chubb and those (pass rushers) at bay.”
Cornerback Bradley Roby is a former firstround pick who has allowed 14 completions out of 16 targets in man coverage this year. He must be better.
The same goes for another former firstround pick, left tackle Garett Bolles, who was called for two penalties. The Denver Post’s game charting booked him for one sack and two quarterback pressures.
“He’ll be fine,” Joseph said. “He played against a Hall of Fametype rusher (in Terrell Suggs) and the guy is crafty and the guy is chippy. It’s like being a corner. Being a left tackle, every play you can be exposed if you’re not playing with great technique. He’ll get better from it and move forward.”
Roby and Bolles are under scrutiny but so should the entire roster after a performance void of composure and execution like Sunday’s loss.
“We have to play smarter football,” Sanders said. “Everybody has to grow from the mistakes. If we don’t, we’re going to be in the same predicament next Monday.”