Schlereth: If ‘ineptitude’ continues, Broncos HC Joseph will be out
Jan 8, 2018, 12:00 AM | Updated: 12:01 pm
Several factors hampered Vance Joseph’s first year as head coach for the Denver Broncos, or any team, including by his own admission not doing a good enough job “coaching the coaches.”
Mark Schlereth said Friday that because Joseph didn’t get to pick his staff that he was more an “appointed” coach rather than an “empowered” one.
But, with that in mind, the “Schlereth & Evans” co-host said Joseph wouldn’t last through his entire second season with the Broncos if “ineptitudes” persist.
“If the second verse is the same as the first, then he’s not going to make it through the season,” Schlereth said. “Honestly. If the same ineptitude is displayed on a week to week basis, he won’t make it through the season next year.”
Schlereth pointed to two examples during the 2017 campaign in which “inept” decision were made, including continuing to allow rookie returner Isaiah McKenzie return kicks even after several muffed fumbles.
“Incompetence is continuing to send Isaiah McKenzie out there fumble after fumble after fumble and continue to give the guy more opportunities. That’s an incompetent decision,” Schlereth said. “That kid should have sat down on the pine or should have been cut. That’s the way it goes in this league.
“I’m sorry, it’s nothing against Isaiah McKenzie. But that’s the way this league and this team needs to be operated. That’s an incompetent decision.”
Another example, Schlereth said, was Joseph continuing to say a winning formula is running the ball and play-action pass but instead allowing a “seventh-rounder, journeyman quarterback” in Trevor Siemian throw it 45 times.
“That’s ineptitude. You don’t have to be smart to understand that. That is inept,” Schlereth said.
However, Schlereth said to “pump the brakes” and “relax” because of the extenuating circumstances with the Broncos coaching staff leading to some of Joseph’s decisions.
“I hope after everybody owns up to those mistakes that you find a way, next season, to rectify them and this team is much better in Season 2 under Vance Joseph than it was in Season 1.”
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
