No, the season’s not lost. There’s still plenty of reason of hope; we’ve seen this story before.
That said, it’s okay to be a little nervous.
Safe to say, things aren’t going great in Broncos Country. The offense has long since sputtered to a stop, and nobody knows if AAA is going to get here in time for us to get revved back up and on to Houston. Defensively, it’s status quo in the back end, but the defensive line has taken a massive step back, tumbling near the bottom of all run defenses in the NFL.
Denver has lost three of their last five games, and the primetime loss to the Oakland Raiders has set many a Broncos fan over the edge.
So what’s wrong?
Simply, not everyone is living up to expectations, especially these five players.
(NOTE: You won’t find Trevor Siemian on this list, because for as poor as he’s played, he has not failed to meet expectations. In fact, this is exactly what we should have expected from a seventh-round, second-year quarterback who had yet to start a NFL game.)
I could care less that he missed his rookie season with a torn ACL — that happens. What concerns me is that he’s been completely invisible this season. So invisible that Elway went out and gave up another draft pick to trade for a tight end the New England Patriots selected three rounds after Heuerman, A.J. Derby.
What gives?
Heuerman was supposed to be the future, and yet he’s hauled in a grand total of two receptions for 48 yards in six games.
It’s only been a few weeks, but at best Heuerman is a disappointment; at worst he’s a bust.
4. Derek Wolfe
Down the homestretch last year, Wolfe may very well have been the best defensive end in the NFL, and I’m including J.J. Watt. He was dominate, a force to be reckoned with.
This year, he’s simply been good.
The Broncos needed more. They needed him to be so good nobody remembered the name Malik Jackson. And while he’s outplayed Jackson this season, he hasn’t been that All-Pro-caliber defensive end many of us were hoping for.
When you’re competing for championships, sometimes good isn’t good enough.
3. Sylvester Williams
As the centerpiece of Denver’s run defense, Williams has been a mess. According to Pro Football Focus, Williams is the 99th-ranked interior lineman against the rush (43.0), which is, uh, not good. It should be no wonder that the Broncos are giving up the fourth most rushing yards in the NFL (128.6 yards/game).
There’s no getting around it, Sylvester Williams has been a massive disappointment.
Maybe they should have bit the bullet and traded for Sheldon Richardson, no matter the cost …
2. Demaryius Thomas
There may not be a player on the Denver Broncos that draws more ire than Demaryius Thomas, and it’s easy to see why: The guy has all the talent in the world, and yet he seems to have the hands of a 5-year-old.
Yes, he’s still a productive wideout, and yes, he doesn’t exactly have a spectacular quarterback situation, but he doesn’t make a difference. He doesn’t turn nothing into something. If DT isn’t handed a play, he’s not going to make it.
Can he turn it around? Boy, I sure hope so, because with the way this offense is playing, they need their superstar players — and he’s being paid like a superstar — to step up and drag them towards success.
1. Donald Stephenson
Let that sink in …
This is a guy the Broncos were counting on to help stabilize their offensive line, and now he’s playing like the worst tackle in the NFL — Ty Sambrailo has a better grade (37.7) than him.
If you’re wondering why Trevor Siemian and the Broncos running game can’t get things going, it starts with Stephenson, who, right now, is the worst starter on the Denver Broncos roster.
It’s about that time we really start wishing we traded for Joe Thomas, huh?