The Denver Broncos offense has struggled to find any sense of rhythm in the first two weeks of the regular season, and while rookie quarterback Bo Nix has struggled himself, Denver’s offense has a multitude of problems that are running up against the clock to fix.
Denver Broncos offense against the clock as unit’s struggles continue
First-round rookie quarterback Bo Nix is off to a rough start to his NFL career, but it’s not just him, it’s the entire offense. While Nix will absorb a lot of criticism, it should be noted that there is an equitable share of blame and criticism to go around. Nix is one of several rookie quarterbacks who are showcasing struggles for their respective teams. As a matter of fact, not a single rookie signal-caller has thrown a touchdown in the first two weeks.
Denver has faced a lot of pressure from opposing team’s defenses in the first two weeks, and they’ve also seen a lot of long-field situations that made it easy for the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers to sit back in zone coverage and keep everything in front of them.
“It was obviously a disappointing loss,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton said after Sunday’s loss. “I think we went into the game expecting more of a low-scoring game. We felt it was going to be very important for us to be patient with the run game and play field position. We had some things that really hurt us obviously. Offensively, we were not near good enough. Our third-down numbers, I think, were two-of-something. We turned the ball over once. I thought we played good defense. We gave up some yards. We have a big play in the second half down six, we bust an assignment in a route, and we throw an interception. I think that hurt us. It was disappointing. I just finished telling the coaches that that side of the ball needs to get cleaned up. That starts with me. We have to start really looking at who we are asking to do what. It was frustrating because there were certain elements that went according to plan field position-wise. Our inability to score and convert third downs ultimately hurt us.”
Denver was 2-of-12 on third down, and they entered halftime with only 62 net yards of offense and three first downs. Early down struggles and inefficiency put them in bad field positioning on third down, and there were a handful of times the Broncos offense couldn’t convert third and short. On one play in particular, Denver faced a 3rd and one play and lost four yards.
Payton acknowledged he has to look at some of the things he’s doing as the team tries to find answers, particularly in the run game after the offense had seven carries going into halftime.
“How many snaps at the half?” Payton said. “So seven-of-20. We just have to keep looking at it and that starts with me. I am calling the plays.”
For two weeks in a row, Nix has led the team in rushing yards while Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin have struggled to generate any rhythm on the ground that could prompt some potential scheme changes.
“There are probably a number of answers to that question,” Payton said. “It is a fair question. It does not turn around overnight. It has to be something that we are all committed to even before the players come in and get the plan. In other words, what scheme fits our players and what scheme fits our quarterback? I think that is going to be important.”