ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Despite Sunday’s comeback in Chicago, the Denver Broncos are on shaky ground.
The Broncos appear to be moving quickly to address some of their defensive issues, releasing linebacker Randy Gregory on Tuesday. Gregory, 30, signed a five-year, $70 million contract in March 2022. He was left out of the starting lineup last week against the Chicago Bears and was replaced by second-year outside linebacker Nick Bonitto. Gregory played 33 snaps Sunday, finishing with three tackles and one QB hit. He has just nine tackles and one sack in four games this season.
Through four games, the Broncos’ defense ranks at or near the bottom in every major statistical category.In Football Outsiders Key defense metrics DVOAThe Broncos gave up 150 points and 1,846 yards in four games.
In 2022, the team didn’t return its 150th point until Las Vegas scored its first touchdown in the Raiders-Broncos game on Nov. 20 and an opponent topped 1,800 yards in a Week 7 loss to the Jets.
It’s natural to place a lot of emphasis on defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who was hired by coach Sean Payton to replace Ejiro Evero, but two of the team’s veteran defensive players, safety Kareem Jackson and defensive tackle Zach Allen said there’s more to it than that. Conflict and enough blame to those around you.
“Everyone wants to blame someone, but if you look at the Dolphins tape, if you look at the first half (of the win over the Bears), it was guys not making tackles or not doing their jobs properly. It wasn’t a question of ‘plans or anything like that,”’ Allen said. “Everyone can say whatever they want to say…I love (Joseph).”
“We didn’t do anything we set out to do,” Jackson said after a 70-20 loss to the Dolphins two weeks ago.
So what happened to the group that held 10 opponents to 20 points or less last season? Here are the five biggest reasons for the change.
Jackson gathered defenders on the sideline in the first half Sunday and hurled harsh words at the group, even saying, “It’s the same guys.”
But the truth is, the defense hasn’t been the same since Bradley Chubb was traded to the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 1, 2022.
The Broncos were allowing 16.5 points per game before the Chubb trade, but after the trade, they allowed 25.2 points in nine games last season. In the 13 games since Chubb was traded, the team has allowed 29.0 points per game and is now 37.5 points per game this season.
Chubb missed 32 games in four seasons due to his own injuries, so his absence is certainly not the only reason, but injuries, poor tackling, and an inability to consistently win at the line of scrimmage also play a role. However, he definitely established an advantage at the end of the match. Although he was on the field, the Broncos were unable to fully replace his impact on the run and pass rush.
Off-off coverage
In an informal survey of personnel executives and coaches from multiple opponents over the past two weeks, many believe defensive backs give too much of an edge to “off” coverage with zone looks. I observed that it was too much.
Essentially, those evaluators believe the Broncos are trying to cover for an overall lack of speed and limit the potential for big plays. However, defensive backs line up from receivers with a significant buffer, sometimes even beyond the first down stick. And while it’s common to drop safeties deep to make it work, the front six has to win more often, and defenders have to get close to the ball carrier and tackle well, often in one-on-one situations. there is.
Each team has enjoyed the catch-and-run room. The Broncos are last in the league in net yards per pass attempt at 8.9, one of only two teams in this category with more than 8 yards per pass attempt.
Loss of nickel value
K’Waun Williams’ ankle injury (he has yet to play since undergoing surgery in training camp) took a toll on the entire unit. A nickel cornerback who is physical along the line of scrimmage and athletic enough to defend passes down the field is one of the hardest players for general managers to find.
When healthy, Williams is considered one of the best players around.
The Broncos have played more nickel snaps this season with five defensive backs, including four- or five-man fronts, than any other team.
Opponents, particularly Miami and Chicago, rushed for 350 and 171 yards, respectively, repeatedly crushing the Broncos’ nickel packages in the run game. In two snapshots, the Dolphins converted their first four rushing attempts against the Broncos’ nickel for 47 yards and a touchdown on their first drive alone, but in just a six-play span Sunday, the Bears’ first four rushing attempts against Justin Fields A 29-yard touchdown pass against DJ Moore and a 24-yard run against the Broncos nickel.
QB in comfort zone
The Broncos currently rank last in the league in pass rush win percentage (30.5%) according to ESPN, while the Cowboys, by contrast, are No. 1 with a win percentage of 60.6%. They miss Baron Browning dearly, who is still recovering from offseason knee surgery, Frank Clark (hip) is injured, Gregory has one sack in four games, and Allen has half a sack. ing.
The Broncos have seen flashes from Bonitto (whose game-changing forced fumble and 2.5 sack day was exactly what the Broncos needed in Chicago) and Jonathon Cooper, who scooped up that fumble and scored on Sunday. Those two have accounted for 6.5 of the Broncos’ eight sacks.
However, opposing passers were relatively calm, with success rates of 76.9%, 69%, 89%, and 80%, and 13 passing touchdowns.
hurt confidence
There is a very human element to all of this. When mistakes happen, more mistakes follow.
Even former All-Pro and third-year cornerback Pat Surtain II missed a play on a 68-yard touchdown run from Dolphins backup quarterback Mike White to Robbie Chosen against Miami. I admitted–“I can’t do that,” Thirteen said.
The Broncos don’t just miss one tackle, they often come in clusters. Look at Devon Ashen’s touchdown run. They fail because they desperately want to do something well. That’s one reason Jackson blistered his teammates Sunday in Chicago, on a day when the Bears’ previously dormant offense finally scored on three of its first four possessions. .
“I just want to emphasize to the players, we’ve got to do it the right way,” Jackson said. “Whenever we work on the details and do things the right way, we’re pretty hard to beat.”