OffEnsE still sEArChing For its strEngth
The Broncos’ offense ran 548 plays during the season’s first half, plenty of chances to show off their modus operandi.
Instead, everything is basically a mystery.
What is known: The statistics are bad ( ranked 26th or worse in 10 categories) and the depth chart ultra- young ( nine players who are rookies or in their second year played against Atlanta last week).
But what can the Broncos hang their collective hat on? If they need five yards on third down, who can get six? In the red zone, who can win a contested pass?
Receiver Courtland Sutton was going to be quarterback Drew Lock’s top target, but he departed in Week 2 ( torn ACL). Running back Phillip Lindsay has been limited to 130 snaps because of a toe injury and a concussion. And Lock’s shoulder injury cost him nearly three full games.
Maybe the lack of an offseason program kept this offense from getting on the right track. Maybe the injuries have stunted the progress. Maybe the Broncos are too young to have success. Regardless of the reason, the offense has been sluggish. Youth isn’t an excuse after eight games.
“I think they have a chance to be really, really good,” coach Vic Fangio said. “But they have a lot of growing to do also. Part of that growing is just playing together. Playing together means practicing. The more these guys can rep together on the practice field and in the games, the better off we’ll be. We think ( the young core) can develop into a good group.”
Here is a review of the offense through eight games:
Stocr up
1. WR Jerry Jeudy. Drafted 15th overall, Jeudy overcame two Week 1 drops and is just shy of a 1,000- yard pace ( 484 through eight games). He’s the real deal.
2. LT Garett Bolles. The analytics folks are in love with No. 72; we merely like what he’s put on tape through eight games. We’ve booked Bolles for a half- sack in eight games.
3. Sutton. His value, and leverage for a contract extension after the season, has increased in his absence.
Stocr dowt
1. Tight end depth. Remember when the Broncos rolled out Noah Fant, Nick Vannett, Jake Butt, Andrew Beck and Albert Okwuegbunam in training camp? At the season’s halfway point, Butt, Beck and Okwuegbunam are on injured reserve.
2. Interior line play. Rookie center Lloyd Cushenberry, left guard Dalton Risner and right guard Graham Glasgow have combined for 15 ½ “bad” run plays and 33 ½ pass protection “disruptions.” Not nearly good enough.
3. QB Jeff Driskel. The Broncos’ hand- picked backup quarterback didn’t last a full game in his first start, replaced by Brett Rypien in the Tampa Bay loss. Rypien leapfrogged him and is the current No. 2.
By tie tu bers
League rankings. Points scored — 21.8 ( 27th); yards — 336.6 ( 26th); rushing — 111.6 ( 16th); passing — 225.0 ( 24th); third down — 37.4% ( 29th); red zone — 47.6% ( 27th); sacks allowed — 21 ( tied for 12th- most); and turnovers — 16 ( third- most).
Playing time leaders ( 548 snaps). Bolles and Cushenberry have played every offensive snap. The other notables — Jeudy 406, WR Tim Patrick 376, Fant 354, Lock 350, RB Melvin Gordon 319 and Lindsay 130.
Statistical leaders. Passing — Lock ( 108- of- 191, 1,240 yards, six touchdowns, six interceptions); rushing — Gordon 96 carries- 393 yards, Lindsay 53- 310; receiving — Fant 32 catches- 349 yards, Jeudy 30- 484, Patrick 27- 383; — Gordon 5.
Possession by possession. The offense had 95 possessions in the first eight games. The Broncos have scored 18 touchdowns and 16 field goals. They have 17 threeandouts, 16 10- play drives, seven five- minute drives and 12 drives of 75 yards or more.
Stretching the field. On attempts of at least 16 “air” yards, Lock is 10- of- 40 passing for 298 yards, three interceptions and no touchdowns. Lock’s longest deepshot completion was 34 “air” yards to Patrick at New England ( gain of 35).
Dropped passes. The offense had 13 dropped passes in the first half — Jeudy 5, Fant 2 and one apiece for Gordon, Sutton, Hamler, Butt, Okwuegbunam and receiver DaeSean Hamilton.
Pass protection breakdown. Opponents have rushed at least five players on 114 of the Broncos’ 348 drop- backs ( 32.8%). The high rate was by Tampa Bay ( 60%) and the low rate was by the Chargers ( 6.4%). The Broncos have allowed 92 “disruptions” — 21 sacks, 42 knockdowns and 36 pressures; high of 24 by Pittsburgh and low of six by New England. The unblocked player has accounted for 30 disruptions ( seven sacks). Cushenberry has the most among the players with 15 ( 4 ½ sacks), followed by Risner ( 12 ½ , but no sacks). Against extra rushers, touchdowns
Broncos quarterbacks are 40- of75 for 580 yards, two touchdowns, five interceptions and 12 sacks.
In the red zone. The Broncos have scored 12 touchdowns in 22 red zone possessions. In the first five games, they had only five touchdowns in 15 possessions but have gone 6- of- 7 in the last three games. Lock is 11- of- 18 passing for 86 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in the red zone.
On third down. The Broncos are 40- of- 107 on third down. Broken down by distance — 1- 3 yards ( 14- of- 22); 4- 7 yards ( 17- of- 34); and eight or more yards ( 9- of- 51). They’ve reached 50% in only one game — Jets ( 6- of- 12).
Generating explosive plays. The Broncos have 63 “explosive” plays — 46 passes of at least 16 yards and 17 rushes of at least 12 yards. Their high was 14 against Pittsburgh and low was five against Tampa Bay and the Chargers. Jeudy has 13 explosive receptions and Lindsay seven explosive rushes to lead the offense.
Running game. The offense has been booked for 49 “bad” run plays ( gain of one or fewer yards not including short- yardage/ goalline) — unblocked player 11, Glasgow 5 ½ , Risner 5 ½ , Cushenberry 4 ½ and Bolles 3 ½ .
Giveaways. The offense has thrown 12 interceptions ( Lock 6, Rypien 4 and Driskel 2) and lost four fumbles ( Gordon 3, Lock 1).
Opponents have scored 59 points off those turnovers. The Broncos are 1- 3 when they lose the turnover battle.
Penalties. The Broncos’ offense has 20 accepted penalties, the most common being holding ( six). Bolles leads with three penalties and Glasgow and Lock have two apiece.
Secotd- iash objectnves
1. Get Lock ready for 2021. The way we figure it, Broncos general manager John Elway faces three scenarios at quarterback for next year — stick with Lock, add a more veteran backup to push him or start over. For continuity’s sake, the focus should be on letting Lock endure the ups and downs this year with an eye toward next year and him remaining the starter.
2. Prioritize Jeudy. In the last two games, Jeudy has been the intended receiver 24 times ( 11 catches198 yards- one touchdown). That should be the norm in the season’s second half. He’s the Broncos’ best offensive playmaker — use him.
3. Tailback pecking order. Make Lindsay the early- down starter and Gordon the third down/ two- minute offense back. A fine idea, but the Broncos must get a lead or three to allow Lindsay to shine.