Why has Sutton’s production declined over last four games?
Q: What is going on with Courtland Sutton? Is there a reason his activity is so low these past few games?
— Rich Berger, Idaho Springs
Ryan: Rich is correct — Sutton’s production has dipped in the four games since Jerry Jeudy returned from injury. The totals against Washington, Dallas, Philadelphia and the Chargers:
•Sutton — 12 targets, seven catches, 95 yards and no touchdowns.
•Jeudy — 24 targets, 18 catches, 181 yards and no touchdowns.
•Tim Patrick — 17 targets, 12 catches, 192 yards and one touchdown.
Coverage dictates where the football goes and the Broncos had only 25 pass attempts against the Chargers. Plus, they have gotten Jeudy involved with shorter passes. But if this offense wants to get more explosive, it starts by challenging teams more often downfield with Sutton.
Q: What do you think it’s going to take to get our passing game booted up? General manager George Paton gave Tim Patrick and Courtland Sutton nice extensions, but the two combined for just four catches for 43 yards. I feel like we should be throwing to them more.
— Harold, Fort Collins
Ryan: Four catches for 43 yards, but that represented 26.7% of the Broncos’ completions and 27.7% of their passing yards against the Chargers.
Sunday’s game was ideal from a Broncos’ offensive standpoint. They improved to 4-0 when they rush at least 30 times — they ran 33 times for 147 yards.
Sutton had only two catches for 17 yards, but he did draw a 15-yard pass interference penalty on the Chargers.
But you’re right, Harold. Starting Sunday night at Kansas City, finding ways to complete chunk passes to Sutton and Patrick (and Jeudy) will be required.
Q: Being that Vic Fangio was a great defensive coach when calling plays from the booth, would it be beneficial to hire an offensive coordinator as a co-head coach and move Fangio back to the booth?
— Matthew Gomez, Pueblo
Ryan: Well, I give Matthew an “A” for not just thinking outside the box, but outside the box that contains the box. As a defensive coordinator, Fangio did call games from upstairs, but the scenario presented has no chance of conspiring. If Fangio is sitting upstairs next year during a game, it’s because he’s the defensive coordinator for another NFL team.
Q: Ryan, what the heck was Drew Lock thinking on that awful pass that was picked off by Derwin James? He’s done here in Denver.
— Mike, Denver
Ryan: A question and a comment from Mike. Lock’s interception was a great catch by safety Derwin James, but an awful decision considering the score (14-0) and situation (late in the first half).
Lock was trying to make something
happen and it backfired.
At that point, Teddy Bridgewater was going to re-enter the game so long as he could protect himself.
Lock will only play this year if Bridgewater is injured.
Fangio said on Monday that Lock remains the No. 2 quarterback.