Mile High Report - Week 5: Colts 12, Broncos 9 - Everything we knowBy Fans, For Fans....Your Source For Denver Broncos News and Commenthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50905/mhr-fav.png2022-10-15T14:33:20-06:00http://www.milehighreport.com/rss/stream/231537842022-10-15T14:33:20-06:002022-10-15T14:33:20-06:00Broncos vs. Colts Film Review: Week 5
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<p>Breaking down the tape from the Broncos 9-12 defeat against the Colts.</p> <p id="NxEdvJ">Week 5 brought more disappointment on offense for the <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com">Denver Broncos</a>, as they fell to a disappointing 2-3 record after losing a 60-minute slopfest 9-12 against the <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a>. </p>
<p id="7xEwWA">It was the story of the season so far, as we saw baffling late game decisions by Hackett combined with the worst game we’ve seen from Russ in a Denver uniform. </p>
<p id="2Uzxib">It was a heartbreaking display for fans hoping to see the Broncos’ offense return to a semblance of respectability, but as with any other week, there were still positives to take away from the film. So, for the second week in a row, I will only be highlighting standout players on the defensive side of the ball. </p>
<p id="gd3Rhf">With no further lamenting on the slop, let’s dive into the impressive performances of Baron Browning, Caden Sterns, Bradley Chubb, and Alex Singleton from week 5.</p>
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<h3 id="e8TkUc"><strong>Baron Browning</strong></h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Baron Browning clips vs. Indianapolis Colts<br>-Browning won in nearly every way imaginable against some weaker OT's<br>-Browning/Chubb loop was run repeatedly on 3rd downs to great success<br>-Spins, ghosts, speed to power, the hand swipes, and some of the best snap jumps of the year <a href="https://t.co/QZwVxAHqZX">pic.twitter.com/QZwVxAHqZX</a></p>— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) <a href="https://twitter.com/FrankiesFilm/status/1579151806185508864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2022</a>
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<p id="lYfQSX">Baron Browning is simply a revelation.</p>
<p id="8Cqd5j">Browning delivered pressure after pressure in Denver’s first game without standout free agent signing Randy Gregory, totalling an absurd 10 pressures and 2 sacks on only 22 pass rushing snaps. He posted the highest single game pressure rate that PFF has ever recorded, and was beating the Colts offensive line with a plethora of moves that left me speechless.</p>
<p id="TvMFMu">It was a “Von Miller-esque” performance (which is thrown around all too frequently), all it was missing was one final sack to seal the game, which, if Browning doesn’t get injured… who knows.</p>
<p id="JFqSvj">Browning flashed the entire toolkit; bull-rushing a tackle into Matt Ryan, utilizing the spin-move we saw in the preseason, utilizing the ghost technique, and flexing some of the most absurd getoff I’ve seen in recent memory. Browning has the ability to beat tackles in every way imaginable but what’s equally impressive to me as Browning’s freak athleticism, is the way defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero utilizes these traits. </p>
<p id="S8SYxS">One of Denver’s best defensive looks on 3rd down sees Bradley Chubb lined up outside the OT’s shoulder with Browning extended even further outside lined up in a wide-nine technique. </p>
<p id="Fd3JvN">Bradley then fights inside to absorb the guard, and Browning’s elite speed sees him able to loop inside around Chubb for a free lane to the QB. The Colts’ o-line struggled with this repeatedly, and it led to multiple sacks and losses of down for their offense. </p>
<p id="Dg3p97">Evero also utilizes a ton of simulated pressure looks (basically fake blitzes) to scare offensive lines into thinking Browning is rushing the passer, then on the snap he uses his speed and agility to drop into coverage picking up crossers. This allows more 1-on-1s upfront with o-linemen dedicated to Browning, and takes away quick reads for QBs over the middle with Baron’s impressive coverage ability.</p>
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<h3 id="RuC6ax"><strong>Caden Sterns</strong></h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Caden Sterns clips vs. Indianapolis Colts <a href="https://t.co/bv5f5MyIqY">pic.twitter.com/bv5f5MyIqY</a></p>— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) <a href="https://twitter.com/FrankiesFilm/status/1580942183628038144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2022</a>
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<p id="KMmD4E">Since the injury to Justin Simmons, Caden Sterns has filled the role of ‘ballhawk’ in the Broncos secondary. </p>
<p id="OfFh4H">Sterns’ range and ball skills are no-joke, but over the past couple weeks we’ve seen an incredible knack for baiting throws and timing up PBUs and INTs.</p>
<p id="SAJeW2">Twice, Matt Ryan made ill-advised throws that ended in the hands of Sterns, both times with him rotating down as the robber, leaving Kareem as the single-high. Both throws were ugly from Ryan, but on one we saw an impressive job from Sterns reading the eyes of Ryan and lurking just out of his vision before reacting and leaping for the INT. </p>
<p id="JAa5mO">We also saw him break up a deep dig route being run by Michael Pittman with excellent timing on the hit, leading to a Pittman drop that would’ve seen Indianapolis enter Denver territory. Instead, they punted.</p>
<p id="Di9aMJ">Caden isn’t quite the battering ram that Kareem Jackson is, but he’s more than serviceable in the run game and rarely misses open field stops. He makes the correct reads, triggers really fast on runs, and plays the last line of defense role well in a defense designed to bend not break. </p>
<p id="xii6MY">With Justin set to return Monday, I hope Denver looks at Caden and Simmons as the primary safety duo. Kareem has played fine, and is an important voice in the locker room, but the playmaking we’re seeing out of Sterns is too valuable to pass up in favor of the leadership Kareem brings. Especially in the AFC West against Mahomes and Herbert, where the team will be playing 2-high all game, there’s no reason to not have the two best coverage safeties out there. </p>
<p id="0pGWDf">In no way do I think Kareem is washed, as I hope he still plays an integral part of the defense as the 3rd safety, dime-backer, and possible nickel depth. But the time has come for a changing of the guard, and a sneak peak at what could be the Denver starting safety tandem for the coming years.</p>
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<h3 id="1bk6tO"><strong>Bradley Chubb</strong></h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bradley Chubb clips vs. Indianapolis Colts <a href="https://t.co/GeG0GLm24l">pic.twitter.com/GeG0GLm24l</a></p>— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) <a href="https://twitter.com/FrankiesFilm/status/1580956167869562882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2022</a>
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<p id="vcbyht">Give Bradley Chubb his money.</p>
<p id="SylTCQ">This may be unpopular among fellow Broncos fans, but keeping Bradley Chubb around is massive if Denver hopes to win or even get close to a <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> during the Russell Wilson era. </p>
<p id="MrOQoI">Right now he has the 5th most sacks in the league, he’s top-3 in pressure rate against around the league, and he’s one of the better run defenders at the edge position. Bradley Chubb deserves to be paid.</p>
<p id="ljN0Go">People will be quick to point to injuries as a reason Chubb shouldn’t be paid, as he’s missed basically two of a possible five seasons due to them. I don’t know who needs to hear this, but NFL players, especially edge rushers, get injured. You can’t look at the list of highest paid edge rushers without realizing that nearly all of them have endured some kind of season ending injury at some point .</p>
<p id="8P2oNy">Some people will point to sack numbers as though those are the only serviceable defensive measures we have at our fingertips. Bradley Chubb has two separate 50+ pressure seasons, and if he continues on his current pace is well on his way to a third. He’s the only Broncos pass rusher with 50 pressures in a season besides Von Miller since 2015.</p>
<p id="xT7AVs">On top of that, he’s a difference-maker in the run game, and consistently creates turnovers while also being one of the best leaders in the locker room.</p>
<p id="dohrfY">Denver isn’t short on cap space– they have the 12th most in the league. Denver isn’t starved for picks– they have five still this year with two in the top-100, with an already young roster. They just were purchased by the richest owner in pro sports and as we’ve seen with the Rams and <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Buccaneers</a>, that plays a massive role in being able to pay players.</p>
<p id="68ealz">I know it doesn’t feel like it, but Denver is in the midst of a “Super Bowl” window since the acquisition of Russell Wilson. Even though these first five weeks haven’t been promising, to abandon ship, sell off talent, and let stars walk is not the quickest path for this team to return to the postseason. Bradley Chubb is one of the few proven, consistent players on this roster, and to see him walk out the door would be a complete tragedy, authored by George Paton and company. They will at best get back a day-2 pick through compensation or trade, and that player will need ample time to become a late season contributor near that of Bradley. </p>
<p id="Mk8sji">This team doesn’t have ample time with Russell Wilson at the helm.</p>
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<h3 id="Yy6gqG"><strong>Alex Singleton</strong></h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alex Singleton clips vs. Indianapolis Colts <a href="https://t.co/wMahmJG2ud">pic.twitter.com/wMahmJG2ud</a></p>— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) <a href="https://twitter.com/FrankiesFilm/status/1581064847420452865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2022</a>
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<p id="GLqI5P">Josey Jewell’s absence is never fun as the outlaw is one of the headdier, harder-hitting members of the defensive unit. </p>
<p id="zpuFuO">But in Jewell’s place came a different ass-kicker, and he picked up right where Jewell left off. </p>
<p id="Kbo4Xu">Singleton hits everything, and he hits everything hard. He only played the second half for Denver, but he played a massive role in limiting the Indianapolis run game. </p>
<p id="RFqq0e">He constantly beat linemen on blocks, clogged running lanes, and stacked up runners for short gains forcing long 3rd downs. </p>
<p id="dq8AEy">In coverage he isn’t quite the athlete that Griffith or Jewell are, but he held his own reading out multiple screen passes for stops and hunting down swing passes for short gains. </p>
<p id="dtt2kI">He’s been a standout player on special teams, and deserves more recognition for the stability he’s provided along with the communication he brings wearing the green dot for Evero’s defense with Jewell out. </p>
https://www.milehighreport.com/2022/10/15/23406247/broncos-colts-film-review-week-5frankiesfilm2022-10-13T09:18:49-06:002022-10-13T09:18:49-06:00After Further Review: Broncos Officiating Week 5
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<p><em>Breaking down the good, the bad, and the silent from the officials during the Denver Broncos 12-9 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5.</em></p> <p id="RhEk1f"><em>Thursday Night Football</em> between the <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com">Denver Broncos</a> and <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a> saw a lot of flags and unusual moves by the officials in what was otherwise a pretty boring game. </p>
<p id="HmjOMk"><strong>Officiating Non-Impactful Penalties</strong></p>
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<p id="1C1T0g">On the second play of the game, Denver DL Dre’Mont Jones lined up offsides. Officials can handle this type of foul in a number of ways, but almost all competent officials will either talk to the player after the play, or talk to a coach. In this case, I would guess they talked to a coach because the official positioned to see the foul is the Line Judge / Down Judge, who is on the sideline, and they can easily have a quick chat with the coach. These type of conversations happen constantly, and are one of the more important duties for a coaching staff. Some coaches are great at having constructive conversations with the officials, and so when you mention something like this play, they say thanks. Others will use it as an opportunity to curse out officials or make snide remarks about something officials are doing, and don’t take corrective action. </p>
<p id="Z3Z7kG">A common complaint about officials is to look at some spectacular play late and note how the formation is illegal because either tackle A72 is too far back or how wide receiver A19 is too far forward to be a “back,” or like above, how defensive tackle B55 is too close to the line. These are fouls that are almost never going to be called, because the penalty is the ultimate result from a conversation about how the game is going. If a player is called for one of these fouls, it is either going to be totally egregious, part of a trick play, or most likely the result of a series of conversations that included warning the coach and/or player. This is a big reason why there are certain parts of the rulebook that we cannot really evaluate from home. The unsportsmanlike conduct against the Broncos in week 1 could have been a terrible call, or it could have been the result of a series of events. Lots of calls are that way, and we cannot really evaluate them without being on the field.</p>
<h3 id="d9uJmY"><strong>Game Time</strong></h3>
<p id="KlEuFU">Officials have the responsibility to run the game. At the professional level, there are lots of capable assistants adding little tweaks and making it easier on them. But there is always one official tasked with verifying the game time and one tasked with verifying the play clock (normally the Side Judge and Back Judge respectively). These jobs are pretty thankless, and rarely are noticed except if there is a mistake. Right before halftime, referee Brad Rogers ordered time taken off the clock, and the commentators found that quite unusual. This was not the complete story. The previous play had ended at approximately :38 on the clock, and there had been a fumble recovered by Indy on the play. Frank Reich didn’t immediately seem to know that he had the ball, he did not call time out until approximately eight seconds later. The time stopped at :28. That close to half, the game clock operator tried to put time back on to when the timeout was first called, but either did his math wrong, or tried to put time back on without considering the action of the play, but originally :41 was put on the clock. The officials had a quick discussion, and Side Judge Anthony Jeffries or replay official Bob Hubbell or both decided to set the clock at :30. This was a good correction, though not the smoothest look from the officials.</p>
<p id="1pxnjY">The game clock and play clock are way more complicated than most people realize. In the NFL there are slightly different timing rules for near the end of the game and near the end of the half. One of those rules caught Matt Ryan in the 4<sup>th</sup> quarter, where he got caught for delay of game because he thought the play clock would reset fully instead of moving back to 10 seconds when there was a stoppage to pull Nick Bonitto from the game because of possible head injury. The officials were generous on this play and waited probably five seconds after Bonitto had cleared the field before blowing the play ready, but the Colts wanted to treat the injury as a time out and got penalized for it. Using an injured opponent to gain extra strategy time irritates officials universally, and we tend to have no sympathy for teams like the Colts in this situation. It was correct and merciless for Ryan to receive delay of game there.</p>
<h3 id="nOei7c"><strong>Garett Bolles</strong></h3>
<p id="p84VMS">Garett Bolles broke his leg late in the game and is out for the year. I had wanted to take a moment to discuss his play, and how referees interact with it. He is an incredibly strong player, and plays in a way that invites holding calls.</p>
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<p id="qvB6QA">This play from the first quarter is a great example of Bolles playing into holding calls. Watch him live, and it just looks like he is all over DE Ben Banogu. But watch it again and we see a technique that screams hold but doesn’t impact the play. He had plays like this in every game this year, where he uses insane athleticism to pull back from a hold. As an official who hates holding calls, I love this playstyle and wish the NFL chose to reward it more. Unfortunately, the league wants holding called at a slightly higher rate than I do, and the impact is particularly felt by Bolles. I hope he recovers well and look forward to watching more of his play in 2023.</p>
<h3 id="tVnp4R"><strong>Would You Call A Penalty?</strong></h3>
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<p id="ZZz8Wu">The officials called holding on rookie Bernhard Raimannon the play. They may have had the wrong number, but most of the time this play is not called a hold. </p>
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<h3 id="amxmuR"><strong>Conclusion</strong></h3>
<p id="osZQuI">Thursday Night Football was not perfect officiating. Umpire Carl Paganelli and Referee Brad Rogers were trigger happy with holding flags, the wings “missed” a spot that was overturned after a challenge, and the crew had a lot of borderline calls go for one team. This would have been easy complain about if those calls were against the Broncos, but this game they were for the Broncos. I charted seven plays that I felt could have easily gone the other way. Six of those calls favored Denver. In short, Denver got lucky with the officiating on Thursday Night Football, something that should absolutely terrify us.</p>
https://www.milehighreport.com/2022/10/13/23402456/broncos-officiating-week-5-coltsJohn Holmes2022-10-08T18:52:28-06:002022-10-08T18:52:28-06:00Russell Wilson getting treatment on shoulder injury sustained vs. Raiders
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<figcaption>Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The news comes after the quarterback struggled badly during a Thursday night loss to the Indianapolis Colts. </p> <p id="twCcap">When the <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com">Denver Broncos</a> released their first injury report on a short week after a road loss to the <a href="https://www.silverandblackpride.com/">Las Vegas Raiders</a>, it was noted that Russell Wilson was <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com/2022/10/3/23386230/broncos-colts-practice-report-monday">dealing with a shoulder issue but that it was not a big deal</a>. </p>
<p id="2eaQTz">In a report from Adam Schefter, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34755364/sources-broncos-qb-russell-wilson-partially-torn-lat">Wilson has a partially torn lat near his right shoulder</a>. While the injury won’t require surgery, it was clearly affecting his game on Thursday Night against the <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a>. He completed just over 50% of his passes and threw two costly interceptions. Schefter went on to state that ‘doctors believe the injury could linger for multiple weeks.’</p>
<p id="FsM6Or">Tom Pelissero of NFL Network also reported that Wilson flew to Los Angeles on Friday to receive an injection to help with the discomfort he is dealing with in his throwing shoulder. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sources say Russell Wilson has been dealing with a strained latissimus dorsi -- an injury more commonly seen in baseball players, and one that is not usually treated with an injection. Wilson intends to play through it and be ready for next Monday night against the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chargers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chargers</a>. <a href="https://t.co/4th07EMyfG">https://t.co/4th07EMyfG</a></p>— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1578841237653983232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2022</a>
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<p id="tCkMui">It was a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection, which should help <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/broncos-qb-russell-wilson-underwent-procedure-on-throwing-shoulder-following-los">with his strained latissimus dorsi in his throwing shoulder</a>. </p>
<p id="GL9Epj">With the short week ahead of the Thursday Night Football game, this injury could explain how poorly Wilson played that night. He hasn’t looked this inaccurate in most games, but the issues on offense certainly extend beyond Wilson at this point. It just happened to be all the more catastrophic with him not being able to hit even open receivers with any consistency.</p>
<p id="ebORof">We should not expect this injury to keep Wilson on the sidelines and he is planning to play in Week 6 against the <a href="https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/">Los Angeles Chargers</a>. And yes, that game is also on prime time on <em>Monday Night Football</em>. </p>
https://www.milehighreport.com/2022/10/8/23394712/broncos-russell-wilson-shoulder-injury-injections-raiders-coltsTim Lynch2022-10-08T12:00:00-06:002022-10-08T12:00:00-06:00Roundtable discussion: Has Broncos Country become a fair-weather fanbase?
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<p>Have Broncos fans become too spoiled? Or are they right to walk out on a tie game heading into overtime? Mile High Report staffers debate.</p> <div id="hg2KnD"><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/4QxygD6Z4VLwa2JFQIbzTS?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>
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<p id="v8cnAv">As much as the <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com">Denver Broncos</a> offensive performance on Thursday night enraged me, the thing that flabbergasted me the most was seeing thousands of Broncos fans walk out on the game as it was tied and heading into overtime. In my 43 years, I’ve never seen a fanbase bail on a winnable game like that. Sure, if its a blowout and the game is over it would make sense to beat the traffic, but a tie game? </p>
<p id="LJBrI8">To me it felt soft and weak for a fanbase to just give up on their team in a winnable game like that. For one, the defense feeds off the crowd and the defense actually was playing a hell of a game. Maybe the louder crowd doesn’t matter and the <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a> score anyway, but it was sure quiet for Matt Ryan and that offense in overtime.</p>
<p id="f6iuIP">Anyway, I encountered enough resistance on social media with my opinions on this that I thought it might be fun to get a roundtable-type discussion going with our MHR staff and then see what people think in the comments section as well.</p>
<h4 id="gpqGYZ">Has the Broncos fanbase become too fair-weather after leaving during a tie game?”</h4>
<p id="nJCJQx"><strong>Sadaraine: </strong>This is a complicated question for sure. The bottom line answer is that yes, they have. Fans have a role in NFL football and that role is to cheer for the home team. The fans that left early in a game going into overtime failed at helping the team by being there to add crowd noise and make it hard on the Colts.</p>
<p id="1yPZdH">That being said, I get it. We’ve suffered years since this team has had success and this fan base is absolutely sick of it. The Broncos organization has crowed about the “Broncos Standard” for years and this team has failed to live up to that standard for far too long. Our fans are sick of cheering for sub-standard play and they have every right to be upset when our shiny new head coach and big money quarterback keep talking about how shiny this turd is week in and week out.</p>
<p id="IgcdXg"><strong>Frankie Abbott: </strong>Fans pay money to be entertained. If the thing they paid money for isn’t entertaining, and is instead as I’d imagine for many last night frustrating. They have every reason to leave. Based on what we saw in OT, those fans saved themselves a ton more heartache.</p>
<p id="1XqaIi"><strong>Jess Place: </strong>Here’s the thing though. The Broncos have shrouded themselves in this premium product marketing ploy.</p>
<p id="btFYvN">$50+ for parking, $16 beers, $8 hot dogs, $80 sweatshirts, $45 hats, and that’s before the tickets. Then to have the Broncos come out and poo poo down their leg like they did… and have for the last 6 seasons. They have every right to be furious.</p>
<p id="c4yuXD">There was nothing energizing about that game. Nothing to feel grateful for. Absolutely nothing to cheer for up to that point. Why would an OT that never should have happened in the first place be any different? The kicker is that those who left were RIGHT in their assumption that the game was over. Let that sink in.</p>
<p id="unxi8Y">Fan loyalty will be there through thick and thin. Fan obedience is what is at issue. They’re sick of it. They’re sick of paying for it. Sick of watching it.</p>
<p id="qgs4HT"><strong>Joe Mahoney: </strong>The voice of customer is a big thing in business. Last night the voice of the customer was heard loud and clear. The product they were being sold was terrible (at least the offense) and they voiced their opinion by leaving before the game was over because they could feel the loss coming. The fanbase has seen the Broncos, in seven years, go from <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> Champions to a team that loses at home to one of the worst teams in the league (like Denver currently is) that was missing their best defensive and offensive players.</p>
<p id="kNm7ZA"><strong>Nick Burch: </strong>I think the fans are just at a boiling point. I’d feel different if this franchise had done anything on the field to offer excitement and hope in the past five years, but when I saw the fans leaving, it just had a feel of, “I’ve seen this movie, I know how it ends.” I’d also maybe feel different if it was a Sunday afternoon game and people didn’t have to work today.</p>
<p id="21wIM9"><strong>Adam Malnati: </strong>This is one of those gatekeeping topics that fans engage in all the time. Calling people out for not being the right kind of fan is trivial and silly. Watching the fans leave as the game rolled into overtime caused a lot of discussion about whether or not fans are being “good” fans, or if they should have stayed and contributed. The bottom line is that those fans that left voiced their opinion about the direction of the team by walking out. That has nothing to do with being fair-weather or bandwagon and everything to do with being frustrated. The product on the field has not met the hype of the off-season. Put a better product on the field and we won’t have to have this ridiculous discussion about whether or not fans who spent their own hard earned money are doing the right thing.</p>
<p id="kNUv4k"><strong>Jeff Essary: </strong>“There is only one boss; the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.” - Sam Walton</p>
<p id="D8U2og"><strong>Chad Workman: </strong>Every fan base has the fair weather type of fans, and that’s fine, but Broncos country is one of the best and most intelligent fan bases in football. While a mass exit before overtime is an embarrassment and includes fair weather fans, it’s also a statement from a fan base who sat through years of poor QB play, only to be sold a bag of goods with Russ and company. They (supposedly) continued the longest sellout streak last night, but tickets were available throughout the day which says a lot, as do the nearly 5 thousand no-shows. Even through the toughest years, attendance was never a question. </p>
<p id="4a6ah0"><strong>Ian St. Clair: </strong>Who am I tell anyone how to act when it’s something they spent their money on? As Adam said, this is trivial fan BS that distracts from the fact the product on the field continues to suck.</p>
<p id="N01TtS"><strong>Mike DeCicco: </strong>No. They’re fair-weather if it was the Chiefs fans doing it after all this success. We’re the Lions and the Raiders right now. If the team doesn’t give a shit why should the fans?</p>
<p id="uH3PgD"><strong>Laurie Lattimore-Volkmann: </strong>Yes they are. I get the frustration. After decades of so much success, the product the last six years has continued to be way below par, despite so many promises to fix it. </p>
<p id="1yG0xt">But the thing is, walking out on a boring game and/or booing the guys on the field - who with very little exception are working their asses off - is misplaced anger. Yeah, you’re mad that they can’t play better and entertain you more - especially because you’re used to such great entertainment with this team. But those guys aren’t trying to lose. They aren’t trying to drop the ball. They aren’t trying to miss tackles (well, they may be doing that on occasion,lol). If you want players to play better, dig in with them. Push them. Cheer for them. Getting better is hard work, and fans who can’t grit it out from the sidelines shouldn’t be mad at players who can’t win every Sunday or play awesome all the time.</p>
<p id="E6hjfP">Being mad about the product and “firing the boss” by spending money elsewhere is the way to send a message to the right people. But you have to commit. Don’t go to the games and don’t turn on the TV. Show the Broncos and the NFL you really won’t be there until they are better. That’s how you “fire” the right people. </p>
<p id="boqVeL">Walking out on a game where players are trying - especially a defense that is exhausted but is doing everything it can to get the offense a chance and could use some love from the crowd - is not firing the CEO; it’s firing the guy working the cash register who put in a 10-hour day and made a mistake giving someone too much change.</p>
<h5 id="IB6VST">What do you think of this situation? Let’s debate in the comments below.</h5>
https://www.milehighreport.com/2022/10/8/23394182/have-broncos-fans-become-fair-weather-fanbaseTim Lynch2022-10-08T11:00:00-06:002022-10-08T11:00:00-06:00Stupidity is killing the Broncos
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<img alt="NFL: Houston Texans at Denver Broncos" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FfoOKSmexH0WuGOTWoug9osrmyI=/0x0:5616x3744/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71470852/usa_today_19075446.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Low football IQ decisions have been the downfall for Denver all season.</p> <p id="jGuFam">After the <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com">Denver Broncos</a> loss to the <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a> on Thursday Night Football, I had to step away for a day. The loss was baffling, infuriating, and just plain ugly.</p>
<p id="nsqCg5">All the jokes about Denver being featured in prime time games are valid after one of the worst offensive games I have ever witnessed. And this isn’t an anomaly. The Broncos have been offensively inept all season.</p>
<p id="i9YIJ3">In an offseason filled with hype videos, and excitement over the potential of this new direction for the franchise, we failed to truly comprehend how it could all go so horribly wrong.</p>
<p id="LUt54h">And no, this isn’t a “sky is falling” moment. I believe there is plenty of time to get things right. There is far too much talent on the roster to count this team out. Still, there have been some harrowing decisions made that keep pointing to one major problem.</p>
<p id="UDsYfv">The football IQ of the leader of this team seems to be lower than a snake’s belly in the Grand Canyon.</p>
<p id="2PDw3n">Nathaniel Hackett, as a first year head coach, has yet to display the understanding of the game of football that is required to be the head coach of an NFL franchise. One could argue that he is the reason Aaron Rodgers stayed in Green Bay, but I won’t do that here.</p>
<p id="4abXj0">Instead, let’s just look at some of the head scratching decisions from the Colts game. The end of the first half saw one of the strangest decisions. After making a field goal to cut the Broncos lead to 3, the Colts committed an offsides penalty on the ensuing kickoff. Rather than take the ball at the 30 yard line and push the field from their for a potential field goal with just 12 seconds left, Hackett elects to have them re-kick.</p>
<p id="6YpSHE">Kickers routinely kick the ball out of the back of the end zone in Denver, so this seems like a pointless move. Turns out it was worse than that. The kickoff goes deep in the end zone, but Montrell Washington fields it this time and takes it out. That’s a mistake, but a decision he never should have had to make.</p>
<p id="TMuPxN">He fumbles, and luckily Denver recovers. What could have been a quick 3 for Denver turned into almost a quick 3 for Indy. This is football stupidity.</p>
<p id="omjKPC">At the end of regulation, while driving to take the lead, Hackett is faced with what should be a simple decision. Just north of the 2 minute warning, with the ball already deep in Colts territory another head scratcher.</p>
<p id="ygixPW">The Colts were out of timeouts. All the Broncos needed to do was run some plays, let the clock wind down, kick a field goal, and allow the defense to do what it had done most of the game. Instead, Hackett calls for a pass play on 3rd down. Russell Wilson promptly throws an interception in the end zone. </p>
<p id="80aAZT">All you need is a field goal, and you put the ball in the air and risk that? With your opponent sitting there without a timeout? With a QB who has been off all night on his throws? Stupidity.</p>
<p id="XZJVID">Overtime. Driving. 4th and one from the Indy 5 yard line. The Colts kicked a field goal, but going for the win here is the right play. Then Hackett or Wilson, depending on which quote you want to believe decides to throw it. What happens? Another bad throw. A missed wide open KJ Hamler. A play that gave the offense only one opportunity to score. </p>
<p id="uRdmkw">Stupidity. And that is just the loss to the Colts. </p>
<p id="8m7Nvx">I can forgive physical mistakes. I can let it go when the other team just beats you. But to look stupid on the football field? Nope. Unforgivable. Unacceptable. </p>
<p id="KFL4jk">Now, injuries are starting to ravage this team. Overcoming those physical issues will be nearly impossible if the football IQ of this team’s leaders doesn’t dramatically increase, and we will be mired in another lost season in Broncos Country.</p>
https://www.milehighreport.com/2022/10/8/23393997/stupidity-killing-the-broncosAdam Malnati2022-10-08T05:00:00-06:002022-10-08T05:00:00-06:00KJ Hamler: “We have to execute better as an offense.”
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<figcaption>Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Receivers KJ Hamler and Courtland Sutton addressed shortcomings and the need to move forward from that horrendous TNF.</p> <p id="SdxTfl">If you read the title and thought, “Well, THAT’S obvious,” you’re not alone.</p>
<p id="329BSf">The glittering promise of a franchise quarterback falls flat on its face during nights like Thursday, when an offense consistently underperformed so much that one of the most loyal fanbases in the NFL walked out of the stadium before overtime even started.</p>
<p id="EvwYkN">To make this particular night even worse, the same franchise quarterback couldn’t execute a TD on fourth-and-1 because he neglected to identify the open receiver. WR KJ Hamler was ready for that pass, but it was targeted for WR Courtland Sutton instead.</p>
<p id="ilRIcc">Defense tried to carry the team; but no matter how many times you give the ball back to your offense, you can’t force them to churn out results. </p>
<p id="NfDpjv">I don’t think it’s fair to pretend Broncos Country is overreacting. At the end of the day, whoever walked out of that stadium wasn’t intending to walk out; they were intending support the Broncos. They purchased tickets (or even annual passes) to say, “Hey, this is my team and I’m going to cheer them on tonight.”</p>
<p id="tID465">No sports team is entitled to blind approval of every move they make. We’re still going to bleed orange and blue. We’re not going to stop watching these games or rooting for them to get their crap together. We’re still holding the proverbial umbrella over them (and each other) in this ugly rain. And you know what? We’re allowed to be upset.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Final. <a href="https://t.co/3ncAK5l9yu">pic.twitter.com/3ncAK5l9yu</a></p>— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) <a href="https://twitter.com/Broncos/status/1578230522215538689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2022</a>
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<p id="jrGhJt">Denver’s had a borderline-atrocious beginning to the season: losing to the <a href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seahawks</a>, beating the <a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Texans</a> in a victory so sloppy it seemed accidental, providing a ray of light with that win over the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a>, and now last night’s game. </p>
<p id="8SyaWj">Despite these factors, WR KJ Hamler — who referred to their fiasco as “self-inflicted wounds” — insists they have to keep moving forward.</p>
<p id="gfLmeK">“You have to [move on], you’re forced to. This is the NFL,” Hamler said, “I know we are all professionals, but you know, that’s how games are going to be sometimes...So, you know, we just have to execute better as an offense.”</p>
<p id="TItmhG">Hamler continued, giving props to the defense for fighting their [butts] off, and acknowledging that the offense needs to deliver the same courtesy. “So, we just have to back them up, but overall, I think it was a great play call...but there’s always things we can do differently.”</p>
<p id="5rxGim">WR Courtland Sutton also acknowledged the disappointment, pointing out that the team has a long weekend and it’s up to them to use it to figure out their stuff.</p>
<p id="Htbl0H">“We can be upset about the loss and whatever else we want to be upset about, but then we have to wake up and figure out ways to get ourselves individually ready so that we can go out and help the team be successful,” Sutton shared, “Then we have to go in next week and have the best week of prep that we’ve had, whether that’s in the meeting rooms or on the practice field. “</p>
<p id="vIvjKY">Sutton confessed that he knows he’s spitting out the same information over and over. “I feel like I sound like a broken record, but we have to be even more locked in and be even more keyed into the details and just ready for anything.”</p>
<p id="SLlHZf"></p>
https://www.milehighreport.com/2022/10/8/23393707/broncos-kj-hamler-we-have-to-execute-betterEli Nicholson2022-10-07T15:00:00-06:002022-10-07T15:00:00-06:00The time for talk is over ... the Broncos offense needs to do its job
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<figcaption>Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The first five games have been some of the most brutal offensive football to watch. Get it fixed before it’s too late.</p> <p id="Jm4UwX">The <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com">Denver Broncos</a> offense is broken. </p>
<p id="RbtIR2">Through five games, Russell Wilson, Nathaniel Hackett and Co. are averaging 15 points per game. This after lighting up the scoreboard for 9 points in Thursday’s 12-9 loss to the <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a>. </p>
<p id="qSvbF1">The Broncos struggle on first down. </p>
<p id="N9FXlg">They struggle on second down. </p>
<p id="un9y1u">Denver is somehow even worse on third down. </p>
<p id="0RDGK7">When the Broncos do put a drive together, a stupid penalty stalls the offense. The receivers drop a ball. Denver’s offensive line can’t block the wind, leading to pressure on Wilson or a running back tackled for a loss. Wilson misses a target or throws a pick (especially on Thursday). </p>
<p id="DcfC65">Denver sucks on third down and is even worse in the red zone.</p>
<p id="6o4kPP">Notice how I haven’t mentioned the playcalling yet? </p>
<p id="l3jDeO">In other words, it’s a comedy of errors. And anyone watching the Broncos offense is thinking to themselves, “Well, how are they going to screw this up?”</p>
<p id="tOfQ5n">“I think we had a lot of opportunities,” Hackett told the media after the game. “Again, those things continually show up and we’re not capitalizing on it. Whether it is a drop, a missed throw, just too many things that aren’t coming together. For us, the offense is going through some adversity, and I believe that they’ll get through this and they’re going to learn from it and we’re going to grow from it. We have to.” </p>
<p id="Pv398u">The best thing for this offense to do is to stop shooting itself in the foot. But after five games, Denver has already shot one foot off and moved onto the other one. </p>
<p id="UjEp1w">As Hackett said to the media on Friday: </p>
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<p id="7tpTwZ">“It starts with efficiency on first and second down. All those third downs, when you look at them, they’re very, very long. I mean, we’re talking seven-plus (yards) for all of them and a lot of them in 10-plus and 11-plus. We have to do better on those first downs. We’re playing behind the chains, and I feel like a broken record. We’ve been saying that for the first five games, whether it be a penalty, whether it be a drop, a mis execution or things like that and it starts with me. </p>
<p id="mKLW9R">“I have to do better coaching the guys, I have to do a better job of making sure the guys know where to be, when to be there and ‘Russ’ to be able to see it and be able to execute it. It’s across the board, whether it’s a run play or a pass play, because if you’re playing behind the chains as much as we are, it’s going to be hard to move the ball. I think that’s where it starts on that third down. We’re putting ourselves in bad positions there.”</p>
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<p id="M2D8k3">At some point, Hackett and the Broncos must back these words up before a change has to be made.</p>
<p id="N8KKa9">Up next is another prime-time affair against the <a href="https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/">Los Angeles Chargers</a> on Monday Night Football. If the last three prime-time games are any indication, the country will need to stock up on eye cleansers. </p>
<p id="CEMsIC">But if Hackett and Denver get embarrassed again, George Paton will have to make a difficult decision. </p>
<p id="DtRr3W">It’s great the locker room is sticking together. Until it leads to success on the field, that doesn’t mean jack squat. All that matters in the NFL is winning, and this season is fast getting away from Denver. </p>
<p id="3rXrqZ">For the Broncos, it starts and stops with the offense. </p>
<p id="yvCpXK">The time for talk is over. Make it happen.</p>
<p id="Y2ggfF">“It starts with me,” Wilson said. “It’s not on Hackett. It’s not on anybody else. He’s called some really good plays — we have to make the plays. I have to be able to hit (throws). We have to be able to get that first down — whatever it is. It’s disappointing tonight, obviously. </p>
<p id="B9y99X">“We felt like we should have won that game. I felt like I let us down tonight. In this locker room, we believe in what we can do. There’s a lot of season left, there’s a lot of opportunity left, (and) there’s a lot of belief. (With) how great the defense is doing, if we can to turn it around on offense — how quickly we can turn it around on offense. That’s the key. We just have to keep battling and keep believing.”</p>
https://www.milehighreport.com/2022/10/7/23393348/denver-broncos-offense-needs-to-do-its-job-russell-wilsonIan St. Clair2022-10-07T12:30:00-06:002022-10-07T12:30:00-06:00A Nightmare in Mile High
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<img alt="Denver Broncos vs Indianapolis Colts during week 5 of the NFL season" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CzSEPLVP7t9CFMfAlId_fJ6ZrX4=/0x0:6673x4449/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71467655/1431231075.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>We are all living a nightmare and Russell Wilson is Freddy Krueger. </p> <p id="qCbh2Z">We are all living a nightmare and Russell Wilson is Freddy Krueger.</p>
<p id="yhW9rX">The <em>Thursday Night Football</em> game between the <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com">Denver Broncos</a> and <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a> was an utter embarrassment on behalf of Russell Wilson, Nathaniel Hackett, and the entirety of the Denver offensive coaching staff.</p>
<p id="KbsApf">There were countless moments in this game that simply left me stunned and speechless as I sat helplessly confused by what I was watching. This is not an Elite QB. Russell Wilson is atop the list of people who need to be blamed for this debacle. Missed reads, errant throws, turnovers, poor pocket management, poor ball-placement; it was all there. This was a shocking display from a QB who will likely end his career in a gold jacket. </p>
<p id="BZiHRp">The final play of the game, where Russ ignored a wide-open KJ Hamler (who was the designed read for the play!) and instead threw late to a blanketed Courtland Sutton, will be the one that sticks in fans minds, but let it be known, this was the worst game we’ve seen out of Russ all season, and he was missing reads and throws all night. So allow me to run back through it all.</p>
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<p id="Z49m18">Early on we saw the chance for a massive play to Jeudy off play action, who was running open deep on the crosser, but instead of just putting the ball on Jeudy or leading him away from the defender for some YAC, Russell placed the pass way upfield, allowing the DB to recover and make a play on the ball for a PBU.</p>
<p id="ybyhQ8">Then the next play he misses the read on mesh for a 3-and-out. It’s mesh… two drags with one defender… and he missed the read. KJ Hamler, who he missed, easily would’ve had the first down and likely generated a chunk of YAC. Instead… Denver punt.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Russell Wilson misses wide open K.J. Hamler (1) for potential 3rd down conversion <a href="https://t.co/KT4fKhhVxZ">pic.twitter.com/KT4fKhhVxZ</a></p>— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) <a href="https://twitter.com/SethWalder/status/1578185739015098369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2022</a>
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<p id="z77Iwp">At this point in time Russ is only working half the field, and repeatedly goes from first read to checkdown far too quickly. </p>
<p id="gZjAlY">He’s not letting routes develop downfield and he seemingly only trusts Courtland Sutton or Jerry Jeudy to make plays on the ball.</p>
<p id="KeNXXh">The second half saw even more egregious errors. On the first drive in the third quarter, with Denver looking to push over midfield, Russ left a ball woefully behind a wide-open Tomlinson on a seam route, another big-play missed.</p>
<p id="qrilPT">Russell’s biggest play of the day was a 500 ball aided by a referee tripping a defender, and if that doesn’t sound like Broncos Football, I don’t know what does.</p>
<p id="w1BUdK">Later in the 3rd, after Caden Sterns’ second pick of the game, Hackett called up a slot wheel that saw Jeudy find separation up the left sideline… Russ missed him.</p>
<p id="e2rTqF">3rd and 13, fourth quarter now. Broncos drive to the Indy 35-yard line, and once again a wide-open KJ Hamler running over the middle is overthrown by about 7 KJ Hamlers, directly into the hands of the opposing safety. To be fair Russ was taking a hit and leaping as he made the throw, but it was so painfully awful and ill-advised that there is no excuse. It was as though Drew Lock had possessed the body of Russell Wilson.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/Colts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Colts</a> get a turnover of their own It's anybody's game in the 4th quarter. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsDEN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvsDEN</a> on Prime Video<br>Also available on NFL+ <a href="https://t.co/qcjXnKpdxz">https://t.co/qcjXnKpdxz</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ro8dulB0Ux">pic.twitter.com/Ro8dulB0Ux</a></p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1578213977301159937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2022</a>
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<p id="1zhK5d">Now, even with ALL of this. The game was still in the Broncos favor with time ticking away.</p>
<p id="509dlh">They led 9-6, and the offensive line started to get some push, allowing the Broncos to drive all the way to the Indianapolis 13-yard line with 2:19 seconds to go. It’s 3rd and 4 and the Colts just used their last timeout, this one should be done for…</p>
<p id="UBiK9I">Unless Russ makes an ill-advised throw to Tyrie Cleveland, who’s being blanketed by Stephon Gilmore in the endzone, but surely that didn’t happen right? RIGHT?</p>
<p id="HnlOzz">It did happen… I honestly am still shocked describing it now. The decision, the matchup, the throw, the missed Jerry Jeudy… it was all there and it still hurts. </p>
<p id="WUDhN6">The Colts would then drive down the field on an exhausted and likely flabbergasted Denver defense for a game-tying field goal to force OT.</p>
<p id="OYCuR8">Surely there can’t be more right? That has to be the end.</p>
<p id="n4jA9k">“There was more” -Narrator.</p>
<p id="7davsW">It’s OT, the Colts kicked a field goal making it 12-9, BUT DENVER IS DRIVING.</p>
<p id="vkOIqJ">They’ve managed to get the ball all the way to the Indianapolis 4-yard line… but it’s 4th and 1. </p>
<p id="Ojm6AN">Any normal coach probably goes under center but alas… Hackett is no normal coach. </p>
<p id="b1LWYO">We’re going from the gun, we’re facing a single high safety and they’re showing man across the board and in all fairness, Hackett has the perfect call.</p>
<p id="YHhrgW">Jerry and KJ combine for the perfect pick route providing a MASSIVE opening in coverage with KJ begging to be thrown the game-winning touchdown. </p>
<p id="fYCXpG">As he said himself, “I coulda walked in”.</p>
<p id="T4QsVG">But Russ didn’t throw to KJ…</p>
<p id="wHjBAq">Russ didn’t even so much as look at the right side of the field. Instead he stared down Sutton on a backside dig against Stephon Gilmore and threw it incomplete for the loss. Ballgame.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The final play. There was a window to hit Hamler (1). <a href="https://t.co/GJ3tznldlM">pic.twitter.com/GJ3tznldlM</a></p>— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) <a href="https://twitter.com/SethWalder/status/1578231646947532801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2022</a>
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<p id="e1yYAL">This loss doesn’t fall solely on Russ as no football game falls on the mistakes of one player, but he deserves by far the largest portion of blame, especially considering the contract he was rewarded with before playing a single snap in Denver. Wilson was expected to raise all ships and bring a level of veteran competency to the offense fans haven’t seen in close to a decade. </p>
<p id="tRsyL3">After 5 weeks, it feels as though the Broncos are further from a solution to their offensive woes than ever, with no end in sight. In years prior it was easy to look ahead to the eventual development of our young players, the draft, and hopeful acquisition of a top-tier QB/HC/OC to ease the pain.</p>
<p id="vndPXc">With the investment Denver made this offseason in Russell, Hackett, and his staff, it’s difficult to find many silver linings for this team if Russell and Hackett can’t find a way to get the offense going. </p>
<p id="CwzrdK">Russell is tied to the team through at least 2024, and at quite a hefty price tag. Hackett will be the Denver coach through the end of the season, but what worries me more than Hackett are the positional coaches and assistants he’s entrusted with most of Denver’s young offensive talent. The QB, RT, and TE3 are new players on offense… that’s it! Yet every player outside of Courtland Sutton looks worse from a technical standpoint. </p>
<p id="Z7UEUv">The offensive line is the most glaring example with players such as Cushenberry, Risner, and Bolles all seemingly regressing especially from a penalty standpoint. Albert O was a promising athletic tight end who seemed to be growing before our eyes, he’s now relegated to under 10 snaps per game, and seemingly not in the offensive plans. Javonte Williams’ vision was still an issue before his injury, and Melvin’s fumbling issues seem worse than ever. </p>
<p id="0E03qb">This offensive coaching staff Hackett brought in has so far been a disaster and the effects of losing a year of player evaluation/development is truly worrisome for a team lacking in draft capital and excess cap space to acquire proven talent. </p>
<p id="O7EObZ">So the head coach is a disaster, the offensive staff is a disaster, and Russell Wilson looks like a disaster…</p>
<p id="qdkg6n">At least we still have the defense and Ejiro Evero!</p>
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https://www.milehighreport.com/2022/10/7/23393013/nightmare-in-mile-highfrankiesfilm