DMac: Joseph not right for Broncos if he can’t make ‘tough’ changes

After Denver dropped a third straight game Monday night, 29-19 to the Kansas City Chiefs, calls for Vance Joseph to switch up the quarterback role rang out through Broncos Country.

However, both DMac and Big Al of “The Drive” had further suggestions befitting a Broncos team that has sunk below .500 since Peyton Manning’s first year in Denver: Even more shakeup.

Among the targets, punter Riley Dixon and kick returner Isaiah McKenzie.

“I would cut Riley Dixon, cut Isaiah McKenzie, we’re changing to Brock Osweiler, and I’d send a strong message to this unbelievable defense that we’ve got your back and this is not acceptable,” DMac said on Tuesday.

DMac and Big Al also took aim at the Broncos coordinators, specifically special teams coach Brock Olivo and offensive play-caller Mike McCoy.

Big Al said that if what many speculate comes true and quarterback Trevor Siemian is benched in favor of Brock Osweiler, then “why not make the change in the play-caller too?”

During a weekly press conference on Tuesday, Joseph said he understands the frustrations of his defensive leaders like Chris Harris Jr, who said tension in the locker is high and the team’s “giving the games away.”

“I’m not moved by Chris or Talib’s comments because they’re upset. I’m upset and we’re upset as a football team. That’s why it’s my job to find an option where he can go win football games,” Joseph said. “It doesn’t bother me that guys are upset, they should be because this is a hard business, and it takes a lot of work to get ready to play games each week.”

DMac, however, said Joseph needs to take the next step and make some hard choices with his personnel, both on and off the field, or the rookie coach isn’t ready to lead an NFL team.

“If you can’t make these changes, Vance Joseph, in all honesty, you’re not the right guy for this job,” DMac said. “You’ve got to start making some tough, leadership changes.”

Among the grievances regarding McKenzie, DMac and Big Al said, is his tendency to muff returns, which cost the Broncos a turnover against the Chiefs.

“I mean, you muffed one, gave them the football and basically another field goal, right? And the next time you get the football, you feel so confident in your return ability that you catch the ball and you hold it with one hand?” Big Al asked. “In what league is that taught?”

Joseph bemoaned inconsistency with the punting unit after Monday’s game, saying, “You know, we had one bad punt that it was a holding call on. We survived that barely, but again it is inconsistency. It is major errors that we can’t have. That has to stop.”

DMac pointed to the Broncos previous game, against the Chargers in Los Angeles, wherein a Dixon punt that was intended to go out of bounds was returned for a touchdown by Travis Benjamin.

“Your coach last week stood next to you for 15 minutes while you practiced kicking the ball out of bounds. That’s how practice began last week,” DMac said. “Fifteen minutes, we were all standing there, and the media had to avoid the footballs because his special teams coach was standing next to him while he was kicking the balls.

“I’m over it. You don’t get it. … You’re cut. We’ll find somebody else in America who can do that.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.