The last two weeks proved that the Broncos biggest problem was coaching
Jan 9, 2023, 6:00 AM | Updated: 6:18 am
This article is brought to you by Mercedes-Benz of Loveland
The Broncos had plenty of problems during the 2022 season. A team doesn’t finish 5-12 without a plethora of weaknesses.
But there has been plenty of room for debate about what the biggest issues were in Denver. Arguments have been made for what was most to blame for a season gone awry.
Plenty of people blamed the coaching staff, with Nathaniel Hackett being on the hot seat from Week 1 until he was fired after a Christmas Day debacle. Some pinned things on Russell Wilson, as the big-money quarterback failed to live up to the billing that came with the blockbuster trade that brought him to the Broncos or the contract extension that he inked before the season. And other leaned toward the roster, suggesting that George Paton hadn’t built a 53-man group with enough overall talent to compete on a weekly basis.
All three theories had merit. Each was certainly a factor in Denver finishing in last place.
The last two weeks, however, provided ample evidence as to what the biggest issue was for the Broncos. They had a coaching issue. More specifically, they had a Nathaniel Hackett problem.
Nobody is going to mistake Jerry Rosburg for Vince Lombardi, Don Shula, Bill Parcells or Bill Belichick. But the Broncos interim head coach proved to be eminently competent during his two-game stint at the helm in Denver.
He corrected things that needed to be fixed. He had a brand of football that he wanted his team to play and he stuck to it. And he put players in a position to succeed, leaning on their strengths.
It wasn’t magical. There wasn’t anything earth-shattering about his methods or decisions. It was simply solid, smart and steady.
Rosburg was also the polar opposite of Hackett. And the results are hard to ignore.
The Broncos finished 1-1 under Rosburg, losing last week at the Chiefs and winning on Sunday against the Chargers. But the record isn’t what matters. It’s the way Denver played that was eye-opening.
For a change, the Broncos didn’t beat themselves. That doesn’t mean they didn’t make mistakes; they certainly did. But they didn’t repeatedly shoot themselves in the foot with penalties and bone-headed blunders. That gave them a chance.
The Rosburg-led Broncos also were much better on offense. During 15 games under Hackett, a coach who was brought in because he was supposedly an offensive wizard, Denver averaged 15.5 points per game. In the two games after he was fired, the team put up 27.5 per outing.
Not surprisingly, the improvement also coincided with much better play from Wilson. The quarterback was 26-of-38 for 222 yards and one touchdown, plus two more on the ground, against Kansas City. He was 13-of-24 for 283 yards and three scores against Los Angeles.
Those are numbers that will win a lot of games. That’s much more in line with what the Broncos expected when they sent two first-round picks, two seconds and three players to Seattle for the nine-time Pro Bowl QB.
What was the difference? Well, Rosburg had a much better plan than Hackett. He turned play-calling duties over to offensive coordinator Justin Outten, who was in the coaches box during games. That allowed quarterbacks coach Klint Kubiak to be on the field, where he could talk directly to Wilson in between drives.
Together, they executed an offensive approach that is much better suited to their quarterback’s skills. They ran the ball, setting up play action and rollouts. And they asked Wilson to run a little bit, letting him keep the opposing defense on their toes with his legs.
The results were dramatic. The offense was better, with players like Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton suddenly shining. And the quarterback didn’t looked “cooked,” as Wilson seemed to thrive in the new setup.
None of this means Rosburg is the long-term answer. He’s not a candidate to be the next Broncos head coach, nor should he be. But the interim leader did show what is needed from the next hire.
The Broncos have to have a personality. And they need to stick with it. Hackett never seemed to know what he wanted his team to be from one week to the next. They seemed to be constantly searching for answers.
Denver also has to protect their quarterback from himself. It doesn’t matter what Wilson wants to do. The coaching staff needs to tell him what he’s going to do. It’s not about Russ; it’s about us.
And they need to be buttoned up. They can’t be the most-penalized team in the league. They can’t pull hamstrings getting off the bus because they aren’t in football shape. They can’t mismanage the clock, timeouts and challenges.
With a competent head coach, the Broncos were competitive. With a great one, they could be even better.
Why did this season go off the rails? There are a lot of reasons, with plenty of blame to go around. But the two-game Jerry Rosburg era showed what’s atop the list.
Nathaniel Hackett was the biggest problem the Broncos had in 2022. The last two weeks made that clear.
***
