Broncos special teams coordinator Stukes: Rosburg isn’t here to help me
Sep 29, 2022, 5:40 PM
The Broncos recently hired veteran coach Jerry Rosburg to assist head coach Nathaniel Hackett with his game-management issues.
The move was met with mixed reactions from fans, but it was clear Hackett needed help. His decision making against the Seahawks and Texans simply wasn’t good enough.
After Rosburg’s “debut” against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, Hackett said he helped the game run smoothly. If that’s the case the rest of the year, that’s good news. The less we have to talk about Hackett and his decisions, the better.
Rosburg spent 11 seasons working under John Harbaugh as Baltimore’s special teams coordinator before retiring in the 2019 offseason. So, naturally, people wondered if he would help Denver’s special teams. That unit is led by Dwayne Stukes, his first year in the role with the Broncos.
Stukes was asked about that during his Thursday press conference and didn’t seem particularly pleased. He made it clear Rosburg isn’t involved with his bunch.
“We all know that he’s been hired for game management and that’s what he will do. I have an assistant, his name is Mike Mallory. He’s the guy that I lean on and the other guy that I conversate with on a regular basis is Joe DeCamillis. Obviously, we play them this year, so I have to be careful what we talk about, but if I need someone to lean on, those are the two guys I’m leaning on.”
Well, okay then. That settles that. Stukes will rely on Mallory and his mentor DeCamillis and that’s it. DeCamillis was Denver’s special teams coordinator from 2015-2016. He and Stukes worked together last year in Los Angeles with the Rams, where DeCamillis is still the special teams coordinator.
Denver’s special teams has been a roller coaster ride thus far this season, but improved against the 49ers. Punter Corliss Waitman even won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He booted the ball 10 times for 476 yards.
So, don’t ask Stukes about Rosburg. He’s here for Hackett and Hackett only. Stukes doesn’t want or need the help.
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