Whatever side you come out on, there’s no doubt that Peyton Manning and the Broncos offense have become quite the conversation starter, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.
On Monday, the conversation extended into Dove Valley where head coach Gary Kubiak was asked about the team’s offensive struggles. And like any good head coach, there was a whole lot of “coach speak.”
Let’s try to read between the lines and see what Kubiak was actually trying to say:
On Demaryius Thomas’ dropped passes:
“He’ll correct those things. He’s a hard worker. He’s hard on himself. The one play there is a big glaring one because it could have probably gotten us pretty close to field goal range in regulation. He was targeted 17 times yesterday, so he gets a chance to make a lot of plays and we count on him. When he doesn’t make a play, I know he’s hard on himself. I know he’ll bounce back. We’ve got great expectations for him, but nobody is harder on himself than he is.”
There’s no way Kubiak patted DT on the back and said “You’ll get them next time, buddy.” Those drops weren’t bad; they were inexcusable, and they’re not the first ones we’ve seen this year, either.
It would be one thing if either catch was even slightly contested, but he was wide open. When you’re getting paid as much money as DT is getting paid, you CANNOT drop passes like that; it’s literally his job.
But Kubiak and the Broncos don’t really have a choice here. Despite the drops, DT is still a great wide receiver, and Denver needs him confident and at his best. Crucifying him on the podium isn’t going to do anybody any good.
