5 things we learned during the Broncos week one loss vs. the Seahawks

That recreation sucked.

The Denver Broncos misplaced an emotional one to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Evening Soccer by the rating of 17-16. We already know the fundamentals of why that loss occurred. The 2 fumbles, the purple zone woes, the defensive miscommunications, the penalties, and so forth.

With that stated, we did come away from that recreation with some brilliant spots, fascinating usages, issues they should repair transferring, and a few remaining questions they should repair ahead.

So I’m going to provide you 5 issues we discovered in the course of the Broncos’ week one loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

1. Broncos’ offense appears promising

Neglect in regards to the purple zone woes for one second. The Broncos’ offense regarded legit final evening. They have been operating the ball with ease, Russell Wilson was making performs, the receivers performed properly when focused, and the display screen recreation was lovely to look at as properly. Hell, even Andrew Beck regarded like a possible gamechanger for the Broncos early on as properly (why he didn’t get extra snaps is past me)

This can be a recreation the place in the event you regarded on the stat ebook alone, you’ll assume the Broncos gained by a blowout. Nonetheless, that was not the case, sadly, however nonetheless, it confirmed promise.

That they had 433 whole yards on offense, 180 extra yards than the Seahawks. That they had over 100 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per rush try. In addition they averaged 6.8 yards per play which is fairly spectacular as properly. In case you instructed me this could be the case earlier than the sport, I might have been thrilled. Once more, everyone knows the way it went.

Wilson had 340 yards passing and a quarterback ranking of 101.3 whereas operating again Javonte Williams had 6.1 yards per carry as properly. Once more, two very spectacular stat traces. Receivers Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy mixed for 8 catches for 174 yards as properly. Even Javonte Williams obtained into the pass-catching recreation and hauled in 11 balls for 65 yards. He had 108 whole mixed yards which is a stable recreation for any operating again.

These are all spectacular stats however penalties, turnovers, failed purple zone makes an attempt and a few curious teaching selections derailed what ought to have been a double-digit victory over the Seahawks. In case you clear up even simply a few of these errors, the Broncos’ offense appears harmful and explosive. I do know it’s exhausting to be optimistic after that defeat however this Broncos offense ought to maintain them very aggressive transferring ahead.

2. Defensive Coordinator Ejiro Evero reveals that he could make mid-game changes

The Broncos’ protection was upsetting to look at within the first half. They have been blowing coverages, committing fouls, showcasing poor tackling, getting no go rush, and blowing assignments that led to 2 simple touchdowns. It regarded like Seattle was going to run away with this one probably, however issues modified within the second half.

No matter adjustments defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero did at halftime, they labored. The protection was protecting higher, the go rush awakened, Bradley Chubb had two key sacks together with a strip sack(essentially the most unluckiest bounce), and restricted the Seahawks to simply 37 whole yards (and in some way the Broncos nonetheless misplaced).

Evero is a first-time defensive coordinator so his in-game changes have been a complete query mark. No less than for that recreation, he handed that check for me and confirmed some promise as properly.

As for the protection, it was good to see Bradley Chubb make some performs and get two sacks. He wanted a recreation like that and hopefully, that kind of manufacturing continues. Additionally, Randy Gregory who entered the sport as questionable was pressuring the quarterback all recreation. Contemplating how a lot time he missed this offseason and summer season, that was additionally promising to see.

I might (cautiously) chalk up the first-half woes to some rust and probably the absence of inside linebacker Josey Jewell had a unfavourable impression as properly. It was not the most effective evening for Alex Singleton, so get wholesome quickly Josey.

General, the protection regarded stable, changes have been made they usually shut down the Seahawks after a tough first half. Allow us to hope they will carry over that second-half momentum into subsequent week vs. Davis Mills and the Texans.

3. Rising pains are going to occur

This isn’t me making excuses for what occurred on Monday Evening Soccer, however these kinds of issues needed to be anticipated. I don’t know to the extent we noticed in week one, however the inexperience this crew has with the teaching employees, the brand new schemes, and the shortage of taking part in time from the starters seemingly imply extra rising pains are on the best way.

The actual query right here is how they develop from this. An embarrassing loss like this on primetime could make or break a crew. It might result in finger-pointing, a scarcity of belief, and probably a divided locker room. It might additionally humble a crew and make them develop as a crew and develop from these struggles. It stays to be seen which highway these Broncos take, however immediately, Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett took a superb first step ahead.

He began off immediately’s presser by admitting he made a mistake within the closing moments of the sport. This reveals some self-reflection by the Broncos head coach and hopefully a educating second for him transferring ahead.

“Wanting again at it, we undoubtedly ought to have gone for it. It’s a kind of issues the place you look again at it and also you say, ‘In fact, we should always go for it.’ We missed the sector purpose. However in that scenario, we had a plan. We knew that 46 was the mark. We have been third-and-15, I believe, third-and-13. I’m extra upset about that play earlier than, to lose yards. Getting that there would have undoubtedly been higher capable of name that very same play and get additional yards, however he dumps it out to Javonte. Javonte makes a transfer and goes loads farther than I believe we had anticipated. We have been anticipating to go for it on fourth down and you then hit the mark. The mark that we had all set earlier than we began. We stated the 46-yard line was the place we wished to be, and we obtained there so we needed to decide. We wished to provide it to Brandon McManus, and we did. It didn’t work, it sucks however that is part of it.”

Additionally, it sounds just like the Broncos gamers have Hackett’s again. One veteran participant texted Benjamin Allbright that they really feel higher about this 0-1 Broncos crew than they did in regards to the 3-0 Broncos underneath Vic Fangio.

These Broncos might have extra rising pains in them, but it surely appears like internally, they continue to be assured within the crew and the teaching employees they’ve.

On the finish of the day, I do too. This Broncos crew has expertise and will have simply defeated the Seahawks. I really feel like they’ll care for enterprise in opposition to the Texans and get themselves transferring in the correct course. Particularly at residence and never going through the gang noise and setting they confronted in Seattle.

4. Fascinating utilization on offense

You actually don’t know the way everybody will likely be used till you take a look at the post-week one snap counts and targets. For the Broncos, we had some fascinating ones that stood out among the many relaxation.

Beginning with the operating backs, I’m shocked by the way it all ended. Veteran Melvin Gordon was given essentially the most carries with 12 whereas Javonte Williams, who many assumed was RB1 solely obtained 7 carries. We additionally noticed Gordon obtain a superb quantity of purple zone carries forward of Williams. Each did obtain their possibilities, however Gordon was first in line. Nonetheless, when it got here to targets within the passing recreation, Javonte had 12 targets whereas Gordon had simply 2 targets within the passing recreation. Nonetheless, when it got here to general snaps, Williams obtained the sting with 38 whereas Gordon had 27 snaps.

I might have assumed Javonte would have been given extra of the carries whereas Gordon would have been used within the passing recreation extra. Ultimately, the alternative ended up being true which is fascinating. I’m all for getting the bowling ball Javonte is into open house and going in opposition to defensive backs who’re a lot smaller and far much less bodily than he’s. It will likely be fascinating how these snap counts look within the coming weeks.

As for the receivers, the targets have been non-existent for a lot of the first half. The primary goal to a receiver didn’t come till late within the second quarter when Russell Wilson related with Jerry Jeudy for an extended landing. Ultimately, each Sutton and Jeudy ended the evening with 7 targets every. The one different receiver to obtain a goal was Okay.J. Hamler who had 2 however didn’t register a reception within the recreation. Particular teamer Tyrie Cleveland had 8 snaps and ran 5 routes as properly, however was not focused in any respect in the course of the recreation.

I might have thought the receivers would have been an even bigger emphasis within the recreation, particularly contemplating all of the hype they obtained all through the offseason. It was an fascinating offensive recreation plan by Hackett and the Broncos, particularly contemplating they have been behind all recreation. Hopefully, we see them extra concerned within the upcoming video games.

One place that was concerned all recreation was the Broncos’ tight ends. All 4 tight ends have been concerned to some extent and have been emphasised early on within the offensive recreation plan. Fullback/tight finish Andrew Beck was the swiss military knife within the first drive and carried the offense. Starter Albert O. performed essentially the most reps of the bunch with 44 however was off the sector for an honest quantity of snaps. He ran a route 34 occasions of his 44 snaps, so he wasn’t tasked to run block all that a lot. In the meantime, Eric Tomlinson performed in 20 snaps, ran 6 routes, and was focused as soon as(so near a landing). Eric Saurbet performed 18 snaps, ran 9 routes, and was focused as soon as (ought to have caught it).

So, it seems that Tomlinson and Saurbet are available for blocking conditions whereas Albert O. is used because the transfer tight finish. Just about what we anticipated, however fascinating to see the snap counts of all of them.

Tomlinson and Saurbet must be extra productive of their restricted passing recreation possibilities. Each had game-changing alternatives and couldn’t catch the ball or maintain their toe in bounds.

5. Week 2 vs. the Texans is a must-win recreation now

The Broncos got two cupcake video games to begin the season they usually blew one already. Now you might have Davis Mills and the 0-1 Houston Texans coming into Denver on week two and the Broncos are going through an early season “should win” recreation.

The AFC is a aggressive convention and the AFC West might be essentially the most aggressive division within the NFL. So, the Broncos can’t afford to go 0-2 as a result of the historical past of groups beginning out 0-2 is bleak.

So, we’d like the Broncos to care for enterprise at residence in opposition to the Texans and get this ship on the right track earlier than they dig themselves right into a gap too deep to beat.