BRONCOS QB LOCK DEALING WITH INJURED RIBS
Kiz: Death by inches has turned into miles of trouble for the Broncos. During a humbling 37- 12 loss to the Raiders, this looked like a poorly coached football team. Quarterback Drew Lock has regressed. The Denver defense couldn’t get the right number of players on the field at the goal line. And the special teams were pure Keystone Kops from the opening kickoff. How does Vic Fangio fix this mess? Maybe he should start by firing special teams coordinator Tom McMahon.
O’Halloran: Fangio needs to look at himself and two other people before he gets around to McMahon — general manager John Elway and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. The pass rush was a joke Sunday, failing to take advantage of Las Vegas missing left tackle Kolton Miller and right tackle Trent Brown ( no sacks). It’s on Fangio the defensive play- caller to fix that. Shurmur will be this week’s pinata because, as you said, Lock is going backward and, well, the whole attack just looks impotent. And let’s fire a few arrows at Elway for good measure because this roster, even if healthy, wasn’t a playoff contender. I’d finish out the season with McMahon leading the special teams because if the errors pile up, so will the losses and that could allow the Broncos to sneak into the top 10 of the draft.
Kiz: I’m generally not a big fan of scapegoating or November shake- ups of a coaching staff. The Broncos have bigger problems than McMahon. But here’s why I think McMahon has to go. And go now. This once- great franchise has learned to accept losing and, even worse, lost all sense of accountability. As cornerback Bryce Callahan said on his way out of Las Vegas: “We’ve got to get this ( expletive) turned around.” Firing McMahon would be a clear message to the locker room that a whole lot more people will lose their jobs if the Broncos think they can wait until next year to get their act together.
O’Halloran: Firing McMahon would have the feel of re- arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. In your Monday column, you called for Brett Rypien to replace Lock — that would send the locker room a message. So does benching rookie cornerback Michael Ojemudia on Sunday because he has forgotten how to tackle. I don’t think turfing McMahon would move the needle on the roster. What would? More demotions. Maybe a few cuts. If asked to defend McMahon, I would say the trickle down impact of the injuries means he is having to train new guys virtually every week. Not an excuse, just a fact.
Kiz: In Brandon McManus, the Broncos have one of the NFL’s best place- kickers. Special teams should be a strength, rather than an embarrassment, for Denver. Week after week, McMahon earnestly pledges his group must play better. Broncos Country wants victories, not empty promises. Before this team blows another kickoff or punt coverage, John Elway should sit down with Fangio and decide a nice way to tell McMahon his services will no longer be needed.
O’Halloran: McManus has done his part ( 18- of- 19 field goals) and punter Sam Martin has been decent. Hurting McMahon’s group was losing Diontae Spencer for three weeks with a shoulder injury. The Broncos rank eighth in punt returns and 21st in kick returns. The coverage teams rank 19th ( punt) and 31st ( kickoffs). Elway should definitely sit down with Fangio for a “State of the Broncos” discussion about personnel, not about firing coaches.