BRONCOS

By adding Tremon Smith, Broncos offer another sign they’re serious about special teams

Mar 15, 2023, 12:35 PM | Updated: 12:36 pm
Tremon Smith...
(Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images)
(Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images)

The Bill Parcells tree has branched in many different directions. But one maxim of Parcells that virtually all of his former lieutenants espouse is this: The first, easiest place to make an impact on a struggling team and turn it around is on special teams.

Denver’s special teams has been among the NFL’s stragglers in recent years. Denver ranked 24th or worse in special-teams DVOA in each season since Gary Kubiak’s departure; the Broncos were 29th last year. And in Rick Gosselin’s annual special-teams rankings, the Broncos finished 21st or worse in each of the last six seasons, including 25th last year.

To wit:

Rick Gosselin’s rankings:

  • 2022: 25
  • 2021: 27
  • 2020: 21
  • 2019: 21
  • 2018: 24
  • 2017: 31

Football Outsiders special-teams DVOA:

  • 2022: 29
  • 2021: 30
  • 2020: 24
  • 2019: 24
  • 2018: 31
  • 2017: 30

Special teams can win you games at the margins. But they can lose them for you, too. And failures in that phase represent a massive reason why the Broncos have the NFL’s second-worst record in one-score games — 19-34 — in that span.

So, Sean Payton — who worked under Parcells from 2003-05 as Dallas’ offensive coordinator — brought in long-time special-teams guru Mike Westhoff as his second-in-command, with Ben Kotwica handling the special-teams coordinator role. And some recent moves have shown that they want to shuffle the deck in that phase.

Adding Tremon Smith is part of that. The former Texans returner and cornerback agreed to terms Wednesday, as first reported by Aaron Wilson of KPRC-Ch. 2 in Houston.

Smith provides cornerback depth. He started four games at cornerback for the Texans in the last two years. And while his snaps were few and he was targeted infrequently, he still had two interceptions in 2022 — averaging a pick once every eight times opposing QBs threw in his direction, per the data compiled by SportRadar.com.

But it’s all about special teams for Smith, is a proven kickoff returner with a career 24.7-yard average. Kickoff returns have been a constant for Smith during stints with the Chiefs, Packers, Colts and Texans. But he handles other roles on multiple special-teams units, including as a gunner on punts.

Smith saw action on 77 percent of the Texans’ special-teams snaps in 2021. That rose to 78 percent last year.

Thus, Smith continues a thread running through some of the Broncos’ recent additions.

Fullback Mike Burton played over half of the Chiefs’ special-teams snaps last year. Tight end Chris Manhertz played a career-high 137 special-teams snaps last year for Jacksonville. He’s been a part of special-teams units throughout his career. Re-signed inside linebacker Alex Singleton should factor on multiple special-teams phases, too.

And while Lil’Jordan Humphrey’s regular-season special-teams experience is sparse — just 76 career snaps — he has potential as a gunner on punts, a role he played in preseasons. Payton had Humphrey in New Orleans and knows his skill set.

One doesn’t know how the Broncos will fare this year.

But the safest prediction might be this: Their special teams will be better. Much better.

The Broncos’ moves prove that they’re taking it seriously.

***

Broncos

Courtland Sutton (14) of the Denver Broncos gets pumped up before the first quarter against the Det...
Cecil Lammey

Orange and Blue Today – March 30 ,2023

In This Episode: Cecil Lammey and Andrew Mason discuss the latest news and notes for the Denver Broncos. Topics Include: why the Baltimore Ravens are sniffing around the Broncos WR room, the Broncos should draft a tight end – or TWO – in this year’s class, the early season role of Samaje Perine, plus more! […]
19 hours ago
Courtland Sutton...
Andrew Mason

The trade rumors about Broncos receivers just won’t go away

An ESPN report Thursday added another team to the list of those who checked into trading for Courtland Sutton.
19 hours ago
Sad Broncos fan...
Jake Shapiro

Broncos now among the five-longest active playoff droughts in sports

Some of the longest playoff droughts across sports have ended over the last few months, moving in to take those spots are the Denver Broncos
19 hours ago
Luke Musgrave...
Cecil Lammey

Could the Broncos go back to the well to tap into an A+ class of tight ends?

A year after taking Greg Dulcich in the third round, Denver could once again be looking for a playmaking tight end to bolster their offense
19 hours ago
Greg Penner and Sean Payton...
Andrew Mason

With lessons learned from 2022, Greg Penner has clear direction for Broncos

At the NFL league meeting this week, Greg Penner didn’t sound like a rookie NFL CEO. He sounded like someone with a firm plan.
19 hours ago
Arch Manning...
Cecil Lammey

Orange and Blue Today – March 29, 2023

In This Episode: Cecil Lammey and Andrew Mason break down the latest news and notes for the Denver Broncos. Topics Include: why it’s very early for talk of a new Broncos stadium, why Greg Penner’s business philosophy could be good news for GM George Paton, a dream scenario for Broncos fans, plus more! Follow @CecilLammey
2 days ago
By adding Tremon Smith, Broncos offer another sign they’re serious about special teams