Fangio’s plan for improving the Broncos offense is the definition of insanity
Dec 6, 2021, 4:20 PM
On Monday, Vic Fangio stated the obvious. The day after his team scored nine points in a pivotal game against the Chiefs, the head coach offered an honest assessment of the Broncos offense.
“We (have) to figure out a way to score more points,” Fangio said. “We’re in the bottom third in the league in that and we’ve got it we’ve got to do better scoring points. No doubt about it.”
Well, he’s not wrong. Currently, the Broncos are averaging 19.8 points per game, placing them 23rd in the NFL in that category.
They’re nearly in the bottom quarter of the league when it comes to scoring offense. Their ineptitude is bettered only by the Panthers, Dolphins, Jets, Falcons, Giants, Lions, Bears, Jaguars and Texans. That’s a who’s who of bad offensive teams.
At this point in the season, it’s clear that the struggles aren’t an aberration. They’re a pattern. They’re the norm.
So it stands to reason that the Broncos would do something to change things up. Since what they’re doing hasn’t worked through 12 games, it seems logical that they’d try a new approach.
They could redefine roles. Maybe Pat Shurmur goes to the sidelines, where he can communicate directly with his quarterbacks? Maybe someone else write the script for the first 15 plays of the game?
They could change personnel. Maybe Teddy Bridgewater goes to the bench and Drew Lock gets a start? Maybe Javonte Williams becomes the full-time feature back and doesn’t split time evenly with Melvin Gordon down the stretch?
They could rethink their philosophy. Maybe every drive that ends in a kick, even when it’s a punt, isn’t a good thing? Maybe playing conservative, don’t-make-a-mistake football isn’t a good approach?
All of these things seem like fair questions. They appear to be potential solutions to what ails the Broncos.
So which one is Denver going to implement? Well, none of them.
“No, not really,” Fangio answered on Monday when asked if he had any plans to change personnel, roles or anything on offense.
His additional explanation was no more satisfying.
“Our starters and the guys we’re playing are the guys that we have,” Fangio added. “And we’re gonna stick with them.”
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting a different result. The Broncos are living proof of that axiom.
