Clough on Broncos returner McKenzie: ‘What’s the tipping point?’

On the first drive of Sunday’s tilt with the New England Patriots, the Denver Broncos held Tom Brady and company to a three-and-out.

However, any momentum garnered by stuffing the stalwart offense was lost on play No. 4, when punt returner Isaiah McKenzie muffed a punt deep in Denver territory.

“That was the killer for us,” Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said on Monday, though he added that “guys still felt good” and the team was “still right there.”

Two plays later, Brady connected running back Rex Burkhead for a 14-yard touchdown.

McKenzie’s muffed punt led to seven Patriots points, which would turn into 24 points by the end of the evening with several other special teams blunders.

It was also McKenzie’s fifth muffed punt in 28 attempts, Joseph said.

So, Sandy Clough asked on Monday, “What’s the tipping point for Isaiah McKenzie?”

“This becomes a head coaching issue because the head coach has got to go to the special teams coach and, among many other things, say, ‘You’ve got to get this kid out,’” Clough said. “Put anybody else back there. Put Emmanuel Sanders back there and have him signal for fair catches every time.”

Joseph said not only after the game but also on Monday that indeed if McKenzie can’t “do the job,” the club would look to change things up.

However, Clough maintains that point has come and past, saying teams are actively taking advantage of McKenzie’s propensity to fumble kicks.

“That’s not the first punt McKenzie’s muffed this year. We had one chance on the kickoff return, and took advantage of it,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said after the game on Sunday.

“I don’t care if Isaiah McKenzie is Rick Upchurch, Devin Hester, and Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, if he can’t catch the ball you can’t play him,” Clough said. “That’s how you minimize mistakes. You don’t play the guys who are continually making them..

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.