Since when did the City of Denver, the great state of Colorado, or the Denver Broncos organization, for that matter, get so gosh-darn soft?
Maybe it’s the first cold snap of winter, but shouldn’t anyone and everyone who cares about the orange and blue be steaming today? Since when is this acceptable?
There’s not a city in America – or an NFL front office – that wouldn’t be questioning the job security of Trevor Siemian and (or) Vance Joseph this morning. Not after last night’s loss in Kansas City, a game that the Chiefs tried to hand Denver more than once. Not after three straight, crippling losses. Not with a world-class defense that only allowed one touchdown against one of the NFL’s most-dynamic offenses.
Joseph apparently promised the ESPN broadcast crew the night before the game that Siemian would indeed be his quarterback – regardless of how Siemian played. At least that’s what Lisa Salters told viewers via her halftime report. She then reported that Joseph was sticking to his guns, sighting the fact that it at 17-3, it was still just a two-possession game.
He told Salters: “Trevor Siemian is our quarterback; we are sticking with him.”
Salters wasn’t stirring up controversy. Tackling the topic was certainly warranted. After all, Siemian had just turned in one of the worst halves of football he’d played as a Bronco. At half, Siemian was 5-of-14 for 56 yards and two interceptions. He had a quarterback rating of 8.9.
But true to Joseph’s word, out trotted No. 13 after the intermission.
The numbers don’t lie; Siemian has been awful.
(Stop. I know what all the Siemian defenders are about to say: The offensive line, Bennie Fowler’s drops, a “much better” second half. Blah. Blah. Blah. Enough already. If anyone is evaluating any other quarterback on any other team, Siemian would be viewed as a journeyman, a “Jacksonville Jaguar type” at best. If Russell Wilson or Carson Wentz played behind Denver’s offensive line, the big fellas up front wouldn’t be Denver’s favorite punching bag. Siemian’s pocket awareness is atrocious; his confidence is shot. That’s just the cold, hard truth at the moment. And even though Siemian’s second half was “better,” he still managed to throw his third pick of game and it was the dagger. He’s a smart guy who seemingly makes at least two or three very dumb decision’s each week.)
But, you either knew that or you’re in serious Siemian denial.
Back to a more appropriate question though: At what point is Joseph responsible for Siemian’s ineptitude? Siemian’s shortcomings are what they are, but when is it on Joseph to do something about it?
Publically, Joseph always has his quarterback’s back. That’s admirable. But Joseph is a head coach in the NFL, not the leader of the pep club. When does he have to make a tough call?
He should have yanked his quarterback at halftime of the Chargers game. He should have done it at the beginning of the week following a second consecutive loss (a shutout – the organization’s first in 25 years). He should have done it at halftime in Kansas City.
And he should do it today.
This is not a witch hunt (on Halloween, no less). It’s not personal – both Joseph and Siemian are likeable fellows. But as someone who’s watched the Broncos for more than four decades, I’ve got to ask: What gives?
Never, ever – not for Josh McDaniels, not for Kyle Orton, not for head coach Wade Phillips – has a similar situation been acceptable in Denver. Not once. McDaniels bought himself some time with a 6-0 start (that ended at 8-8), but was canned 12 games into his second year. Phillips was 9-7, then 7-9, then whacked. And Orton was replaced by Tim Freaking Tebow, an improbable quarterback who pulled off some improbable wins, each of which made John Elway squirm just a little more.
If I’m Joseph, I’ve got to think my ship is sinking quickly with a quarterback who can’t play captaining the vessel. If he sticks with Siemian, the coach may not make it 28 games like McDaniels. If Joseph turns to Brock Osweiler, the current backup, or even injured first-round draft pick Paxton Lynch – and neither one of them can play – then the blame shifts from “coaching” to “personnel.”
Why not make a switch? At this point, it’s 100 percent justified – absolutely nobody would question that call.
But it’s not just the quarterback situation that should be questioned. Some additional topics to ponder:
Why wasn’t Isaiah McKenzie yanked? (He was an adventure at best.)
Why wasn’t Aqib Talib or Chris Harris covering Travis Kelce? (Seems like that’s been mildly effective in the past, even against New England’s Rob Gronkowski.)
Why go for it on fourth-down, knowing that you’ve got one of the game’s worst offenses and easily the league’s best defense? (By the way, the Broncos are 0-for-6 on fourth down conversions this season; that’s bad coaching, bad play calling and an offense that has zero ability to make a clutch play – and that starts at quarterback).
And while we’re busily asking a bunch of not-so-pleasant questions, here’s another to ponder:
Where were the Broncos when San Francisco swapped a measly second rounder to New England for Jimmy Garoppolo last night?
The Niners don’t have a Super Bowl defense that – you can bet your bottom dollar – is getting angrier by the down. Denver does. Isn’t it time to press the panic button on this debacle while this great defense is still intact?
Guess not. “Trevor Siemian is our quarterback; we are sticking with him.” Remember?
The problems in Denver are many, and a makeshift quarterback is definitely one of them. But there’s no rule that enforces blind loyalty in the NFL. Seems like the biggest problems with the Broncos can found outside the lines.
In Denver, that’s never been acceptable. Not that I can recall.