The fans have turned quickly in Denver. In week 1, Hackett chose to try a 64 yard FG instead of going for a 4th down conversion. That unusual decision seemed to key people off. Fans have also taken to counting down the play clock to help the Broncos.
Yesterday, more clock management problems, and lack of success in the red zone. The boo birds came out. They did win over Texas. They're 0-3 in the red zone.
Paul Klee: Time to hit the panic button on Nathaniel Hackett and the Broncos
"...Sunday was bad. To be more specific, Sunday was bad-bad. Hackett’s Broncos look like they don’t know what they’re doing. At the very least, they look like a messy operation that sure could have benefited from taking the preseason seriously. Make that 25 penalties through two games, a franchise record (not the good kind) for a two-game stretch. Their 13 penalties on Sunday were the team’s most in four years. Both Vance Joseph and Vic Fangio coached the Broncos to at least 12 flags in a game. Turns out that "first-time head coach" label is no joke."
"...Is Week 2 too early to panic? Nah. Not at all. Not in this division. While Wilson acknowledged “we’re growing together,” the competition in the AFC West is full grown. Meanwhile, the Broncos are calling timeout on a punt because they don’t have a punt returner on the field, and Broncos fans are counting down the play clock to give their slow-to-align offense a helping hand."
"...All that stuff is fixable, Wilson pointed out. And he's right. What's bizarre is how little emotion and enthusiasm exists on the Broncos sideline. Wasn’t this the coach who believes in the power of hugs and positive reinforcement? If you were there and watched the sideline, the Broncos looked like they were waiting at a bus stop. At least bring a cell phone to check your fantasy scores."
I will add, softly, that the Broncos have played Houston and Seattle, two of the worst offenses in the League (after 2 weeks they are 30th and 31st respectively). The Niners are stronger, much stronger, and better coached.
ESPN: "Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson played Thursday night against the Colts, and three quarters of the previous game against the Raiders, while battling a partially torn lat near his right shoulder, according to sources."
Another ugly loss for Denver. Wilson started hot, 10 of 10 and went up 10-0. Then the offense melted. Game went to OT, tied at 16-16, the teams traded possessions, and then the Denver return man muffed a punt. Chargers recovered, ran a few plays, and kicked the winning FG. Chargers win 19-16.
Bronco offense struggling, Hackett may have little time left. The Broncos commit lots of penalties, and had 150 yds of penalties tonight. The bright side is that Aggie Ejiro Evero's defense is playing great.
Broncos only net 258 total offensive yards. Wilson sacked 4 times.
I'm torn. On one hand, I can't stand Broncos fans and seeing them squirm is satisfying. On the other hand, I really want UCD to get better representation in the NFL.
The woes continue. Russell Wilson was hit 18 times yesterday, and it sounds like they have a lot of injuries. NH post-game interview, he's a teacher (like Dad). Another Aggie is keeping them in games with defense, and players.
Ejiro Evero as Candidate for Broncos' Interim HC: Pros & Cons
If the Denver Broncos fire Nathaniel Hackett, would Ejiro Evero be the right interim head coach?
"...The Broncos currently rank second in total defense and against the pass, fourth in scoring, and fourth in sacks. For a first-time defensive coordinator, those rankings are astounding and show that his defensive prowess is a blueprint that is helping Evero become a rising star in the NFL."
AP: Hackett hands off play-calling duties, Broncos still sputter
"DENVER (AP) — To spark a sputtering offense, first-year Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett took himself out of the play-calling role.
"His handoff, though, didn’t gain much ground. Same as all season.
"In his new position of calling plays, quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak couldn’t provide the blueprint Sunday to unlock vintage Russell Wilson as the Broncos tumbled 22-16 in overtime to the Las Vegas Raiders.
"Their sixth one-score loss dropped the Broncos to 3-7 and pushed them closer to a sixth straight losing season and seventh year without a playoff berth. It also kept the heat on Hackett...."
"A column in the Denver Post published Sunday night appeared to aptly sum up the state of the franchise, with the headline: “Broncos need to end the madness. Fire Nathaniel Hackett. Make defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero the head coach.” ..."
"It’s a legitimate question as the Broncos dropped to 3-7 and last place in the AFC West with the home loss. Under Hackett, Denver is the lowest-scoring offense in the NFL, averaging 14.7 points per game. It gets even worse when you consider that they are also one of the best defenses in the league – only allowing 17.1 points per game. If they had scored just 18 points in regulation in every game this year, they would be 9-1."
Mile High Sports: Are the Denver Broncos in danger of losing Ejiro Evero to a HC job?
"One of the very few positives for the Denver Broncos this season has been the arrival of Ejiro Evero as one of the foremost defensive coordinators and young minds in the NFL.
"In a sick twist of fate, Evero has been such an incredible defensive play-caller, that the Broncos are now in danger of losing of him, as he’s become a trendy head coaching candidate.
"It’s easy to understand why too.
"Ejiro Evero took over a defense that was run by defensive forefather Vic Fangio, and dramatically improved it, despite losing his top two safeties, top four edge rushers, No. 2 and No. 3 cornerbacks, and starting inside linebacker (just to name a few). The Broncos went from ranking 21st in weighted defensive DVOA in 2021, to ranking third in 2022.
"He’s also been an innovator, with his creative pressure fronts, who has pushed forward some of the NFL’s cutting-edge defensive ideas. Simulated pressures — a relatively new defensive concept that sends only four rushers to maintain their coverage numbers, but sends their pass rushers from unexpected locations, to still create free rushers and isolated matchups — have taken the league by storm in 2022, and no one has utilized them more or more effectively than Evero...."
Not trying to defend Hackett because it seems like he's done a poor job, but Russell Wilson is not good anymore and it's hard to win in this league without a good QB. Wilson has 8 TD passes in 10 games. That's not all on the head coach and the playcalling.
It's definitely up there as far as worst moves. Because they're stuck with him for a few years due to the dead cap money if they cut him. I don't know exactly how it works but if you cut a player, sometimes there's money left on the contract that goes to the salary cap for the next season. I believe the record dead cap hit is $40.5M for Matt Ryan this year with Atlanta. The league salary cap this year is $208M. If Denver cuts Wilson after this year, they'd have a dead cap hit of $107M in 2023. If they cut him after the 2023 season, they'd have a dead cap hit of $85M in 2024. After the 2024 season and it would be $49.6M for the 2025 season.
Then, like you said, there are the draft picks. They gave up the 9th overall pick in 2022, a 2022 2nd round and a 2022 5th rounder. They also owe a 2023 1st rounder (which should be in the top-10 and could be top-5) plus a 2023 2nd rounder.
One theory I've heard is that Wilson pretty much doesn't run anymore. And if you don't have to worry about a mobile quarterback running, it makes them easier to defend. He'd averaged at least 21 rushing ypg in 8 of his first 9 seasons. Last year he was at 13.1 and this year he's at 13.7. He's always been a good passer but he was never Tom Brady. He used his legs to buy more time before throwing. And teams had to be wary of his running. So if he's not running anymore, that means teams can drop an extra guy into coverage, which will make it harder to find open receivers.
Wilson will be the Broncos QB for the next 2 years minimum. The question is how to get him clicking with what the Broncos have on offense, easy to blame Hackett, but Wilson is part of this equation too...and "reports" say RW isn't exactly liked at this time in the locker room, so maybe it is more on the quarterback, pretty sure Hackett is scouring the tape to find ways to open up those big play receivers they have in Denver. They should be banking 22-23 pts. a game minimum, but to be so bad that you're dead last at 14.1 pts. per game - in an offensive driven NFL, it's downright dreadful, something has to dramatically change...and those changes are tied to money. RW has the money, Hackett doesn't. Looks like Hack is making about $4M a year which is on the lower end for Head Coaching salaries in the NFL.
Since NH is likely gone, does he have the fortitude to try a backup in Q3 or Q4? If that QB started clicking, he might have a chance, and eyes would focus more on RW and the GM. The GM shares equal or greater blame for inking RW.
Wait now, am I to understand that Nathaniel Hackett cannot HACK IT in Denver ? Perhaps he should tap the Rockies with Coors Light. It worked for the guy in the 1990's radio ad. He got visiting hours at the jail with his granny after a horrible day in which he also lost his dog and boots. Perhaps he could team up with Wreck-it Ralph ?
And Russell Wilson should go back to baseball. If Tim Tebow can do it..