After a poorly handled Week 1 loss against Seattle, rookie coach Nathaniel Hackett has come under fire. To help him with in-game management, he has already brought on a seasoned special teams coach. He has also been in charge of an awful offense that is extremely concerning in the red zone and not very flexible. The new owner Rob Walton took over Hackett, his staff, and Denver’s front-office management. The billionaire made one costly decision, agreeing to a $245 million contract with quarterback Russell Wilson, who was signed in the offseason by Denver General Manager George Paton before Walton took over.
It’s enough to say that Wilson bears some of the blame for Denver’s offensive shortcomings. But whatever Wilson and Hackett have come up with has been so offensive that, with the Colts game still hanging in the balance, already irate fans—who have been jeering Hackett—have fled in large numbers on October 6. That kind of picture usually hits home for someone who spent $4.65 billion to purchase a once-vibrant franchise. Naturally, Wilson is not going anywhere, so there has been a lot of discussion in the league about how patient this new ownership group will be, or ought to be, with a product that has consistently been well below professional level.
Speaking with executives, evaluators, and coaches who have closely observed the Broncos, they paint a dire picture of their offensive scheme, game-day operations, and identity. The issues are so pervasive that they question whether a staff that is mainly inexperienced can make the necessary corrections. To try to spark more immediate gains, a few suggested that it would be necessary to at least bring in additional outside consultants. Fair enough, Hackett’s ability to make it through his first season on the job is being discussed in the league and at the offices of other teams.
One NFL general manager, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to his inability to publicly discuss other teams’ front-office decisions, said, “I hate to say it because it’s only six weeks, but [Paton] needs to start separating himself from the coach.” I think George is great, and that’s what I would advise him to do. If [Hackett] accepts assistance, keep trying to help him, but you might also need to be prepared to acknowledge that this was a mistake far sooner than you had anticipated. Neither of them was employed by this owner. It’s been a complete failure thus far, so you need to exercise caution in how hard you push to demonstrate that this can work. Additionally, if you don’t exercise caution, you’ll
Another veteran personnel executive, who has closely observed the Broncos and spoke under similar restrictions, stated: “Unless something changes quickly, I don’t think he gets through the year.” It appears too large on him. For him, it appears too quick. The play-calling in the red zone has been terrible. I think not enough changes are being made.
Although there are many unanswered concerns regarding this offense, some outside evaluators find it puzzling that Wilson isn’t being used more in option reads or run-pass scenarios to better utilize his legs in the offense. (On the other hand, a different personnel executive considered trading for Wilson during the offseason and stated that Wilson’s time as a potent runner is over.) Others questioned the Broncos’ lack of use of motion to try to set up advantageous matchups; according to TruMedia, Denver ranks 25th in the NFL in this regard. The Broncos have a 21.4 percent success rate in the red zone, with just three touchdowns in 14 trips; Seattle is the next worst team with 38.5 percent, while the NFL average is 57 percent.
The opposing general manager stated, “I don’t think they have the right people in that building right now to fix it, but they don’t seem to have a lot of ideas when the field gets tight. Some of that is definitely on the quarterback.”
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Aside from defensive-minded former head coach Dom Capers, a senior defensive assistant, many have questioned the makeup of Hackett’s staff, which lacks proven coordinators and head coaches and experienced offensive coaches like pips on the staffs of other inexperienced head coaches. Jerry Rosburg, the special teams assistant, was rushed in last month as a result. It was suggested by some that Hackett try to get his overall operation more organized by removing himself from the game-calling scene.
The adored former Denver quarterback led the Broncos to a Super Bowl victory; his son, Klint, is a quarterbacks coach on Hackett’s staff. Before Gary retired, Klint and Gary were teammates on the Minnesota Vikings’ staff, and there wasn’t a more steady hand. After games against the Los Angeles Chargers, New York Jets, and Jacksonville Jaguars (in London) at the end of the month, Denver has a bye. Maybe Gary Kubiak could join the team as an adviser or, gulp, as the interim head coach. A returning hero would probably have the support of his troubled fan base.
