Russell Wilson led the NFL in one positive passing category this season

Jan 9, 2023, 6:25 AM

Denver Sports Analyst

The Denver Broncos finished the 2022 regular season with a win over the Los Angeles Chargers. It doesn’t mean much in the record book, but it feels good, and it shows that there’s hope with some of the players who will be here in 2023 and beyond.

I like when the Broncos give us hope. It seems impossible to some, but I do have hope for the future with this team.

I also like contemplating life and sports when driving around with the top down on my old Jeep TJ! The following is a result of those trips during the week.

Buckle up, let’s take a ride through my thoughts.

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Over the Moon

Broncos QB Russell Wilson loves to throw “moon balls” down the field. He’s one of the best deep passers in the league, and we’ve seen that this season. Even though it was statistically a poor season for Wilson, there are some stats which hint things could have been much better.

Wilson was the No. 1 quarterback in the NFL when it comes to passes over 50 yards. He led the league with eight passes over 50 yards this season, and Wilson threw two of those eight against the Chargers on Sunday. He has always done a good job of leading receivers down the field, and that was evident again in Week 18.

It’s his rushing ability that opens up the shots downfield. Wilson is a scrambler, and the best part of his game comes through when he’s attacking a defense with his legs. Defenders will be concerned with Wilson’s legs, and that opens up the opportunity for play-action passing and big plays through the air. Now that the Broncos are more focused on getting the best out of Wilson, that means more rushing and more play-action passing. Earlier this season, the Broncos were trying to get deep shots merely out of the shotgun with no threat of the run. That didn’t work, and Wilson’s play suffered because of it.

#Broncos QB Russell Wilson had the most passes over 50 yards in the 2022 season (8). Next closest was Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa (7). @DenverSportsCom

— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) January 9, 2023

One has to wonder, what kind of numbers Wilson could have posted with a better offensive plan? He had eight passes over 50 yards this season, and it was the worst season of his pro career. With better coaching, Wilson should be filling the air with footballs – which means plenty of moon balls – in 2023.

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Bring it Back

The NFL world is not as simple as “rinse and repeat.” I’ve never been one to look at what is happening and merely insist that things stay the same with the hope that production continues or improves along the way. That being said, I want RB Latavius Murray to come back with the Broncos in 2023.

Murray is a seasoned pro who has played good football for a few teams over the last decade. He’s a large back with an old school, upright running style that he uses to gash defenders between the tackles. In addition to swift and powerful running, Murray can be trusted as a receiver out of the backfield. Murray was added from the Saints’ practice squad about halfway through the 2022 season, and he worked his way into the starting role. Gone are the days of the stupid RBBC former Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett insisted on. Instead, Murray emerged as the primary running back with a large workload – and he produced with that role.

Set to hit free agency this offseason, Murray’s play should earn him an offer from the Broncos to stick around. Javonte Williams was lost with a major knee injury in the 2022 season, and there’s no guarantee that he will be able to begin the 2023 season as the starter. If he is ready, there’s no guarantee that Williams will be the player he used to be. The Broncos need to have a good plan in place, so they don’t need to rush Williams back before he’s ready. That plan needs to include Murray.

Who wants #Broncos RB Latavius Murray to return for the 2023 season? THIS GUY.

We have no idea when RB Javonte Williams will be ready, and honestly he may never be the same player again (or it could take 18 months to fully heal). Keep Murray! @DenverSportsCom

— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) January 9, 2023

I still expect the Broncos to look at running backs in the 2023 NFL draft. They won’t take a back early because they have too many needs at other positions (offensive line). However, there are some Day 3 backs I really appreciate and think the Broncos should be considering in Rounds 4-7 or as undrafted free agents.

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Cecil Season

I love the NFL draft. Hope springs eternal in the NFL, and I have enjoyed professionally covering the NFL draft for almost two decades. For 17 years, I have traveled to the Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl in the month of January. During these college all-star games, I have been able to identify quality talent before most in the media. The amount of star talent I’ve personally scouted and interviewed is too much to recount, but this is the time of year I love the most because I get to see these players before they become household names in the NFL.

The regular season is a grind – especially now with 18 weeks and 17 games. I did a better job this year of not getting burned out until the end, mostly by managing my personal time better and making time for the things that are most important (my family). I feel blessed that I get to cover this game, and I remember the days of working in a machine shop, working construction, or working on a farm – so I know what hard work is. Covering the NFL is easier than those physical jobs, but it’s mentally tasking.

The draft season is when I get to catch up with old friends in the scouting community. I have a lot of sources with many teams across the league. I don’t run with the rumors that agents try to spread, so when I report something on the draft you can be assured that it’s coming from within the NFL and from decision makers across the league. I don’t hit on every player – nobody does. However, I do promise the audience that nobody will work harder to find the talent available in the draft every year. I learn from my mistakes, and I listen to the professionals that do the job for NFL teams with all the pressure in the world. I love talking to scouts and general managers about the draft – because they love it as much as I do!

Best thing to look forward to this offseason…@CecilLammey passion and insight leading up to the draft! #GoBroncos

— Krista Hughes (@khughesrmsa) January 9, 2023

I cannot wait to get back on the road again later this month. It sucks the Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl are the same week, but just like last year I’ll be able to make it work. I will be getting plenty of frequent flier miles this month going from Las Vegas to Alabama and back to Denver before I start traveling for college pro days in March. Draft season is here aka Cecil season – and I’m over-the-moon excited about it (again).

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The Last of Us

We are going to see more video games brought to movie theaters and streaming services in the near future. One of the biggest video games in history is going to debut on HBO Max on January 15. “The Last of Us” first debuted on the Sony Playstation back in 2013, and it was an instant and smash hit for the console. Players control Joel, a smuggler who must escort a teenage girl Ellie across a postapocalyptic United States. After nearly a decade of gameplay, “The Last of Us” is considered one of the best video games of all time. Having completed the game multiple times, I can say it’s one of the most immersive games I’ve ever played.

Hollywood loves franchises with built-in fan bases, and that’s why we’re going to see more video game properties in other media forms. Video games are a multi-billion-dollar industry, and it’s been bigger than Hollywood for some time. To capitalize on that popularity, movie and TV show makers have turned to gamers for other stories to tell.

One of my favorite video games of all time, Gears of War, is in development as a movie. Netflix is going to release a live action movie of the franchise, then they will move towards adult animated features. Gears is one of the most violent video games out there (you have a machine gun with a chainsaw on it for the love of God), so the cartoons will most certainly not be for kids. If shows like “The Last of Us” and movies like “Gears of War” end up being popular, we could see a change from the superhero genre to more video game-centric movies. Hollywood has tried this before, with varying results, but as big as games are now it might finally work in a big way.