ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Among the head scratchers from the Broncos’ latest loss was the case of Tyler Badie.
Try as they might, the Broncos can’t run the ball unless quarterback Bo Nix takes off on a scramble. No. 1 running back Javonte Williams has just 40 yards on 19 carries – a meager 2.1 a pop. No. 2 back Jaleel McLaughlin has 13 carries for 33 yards, or 2.5 yards per.
Up from the practice squad comes Badie, filling in for injured rookie Audric Estime. Badie got one carry in the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cut inside, exploded through a hole, then pushed forward a second-level pile of humanity for a 16-yard gain. The run of the day.
And that was the last time anyone saw Badie carry the ball.
There is a predisposed, running back-by-committee plan, but can’t there be a way to adjust that rotation for a back who immediately flashes?
“Fair question. It’s about trying to find touches for the third back,’’ Broncos head coach Sean Payton said in his day-after-game conference call Monday. “Much easier with the rotation of two. Getting the third back involved sometimes is with special teams, sometimes with the passing game and obviously it was a good run by him.
“You take notice of it, though. It’s something as a playcaller who’s looking at the game, I’ve got to be able to see that. He’s a player, though, who had his name on a lot of different plays that either were red zone or situational plays that we weren’t able to get to.
“But it’s not intentional. It’s not like we’re not aware. You’re into the flow of the game and you have to be better that way.”
As for Williams, he needs to start running the ball better – or the Broncos could look at someone else as the top back. It’s not just his first two games and 2.1-yard average early this season. He also averaged a paltry 2.6 yards per carry in the final four games of last season. Six consecutive games of averaging less than 3 yards a carry is a disturbing trend.
Payton has more than been patient in sticking with his lead back.
“I would say it’s probably a collection of all of us,’’ Payton said of Williams’ struggles. “Let’s start with design and scheme and then let’s get into some execution. I just finished looking at a play that we gained 3 yards and should be a gain of 7 yards and how are we blocking the back side of this? Do we need to clean that up?
“He misses a cut or two in the game, we need to make sure we get his eyes where we need to be. … I saw it (Williams running well) in training camp, I look forward to seeing it this season. In the meantime, some of these other guys are doing a good job. Jaleel is another one that needs more touches. We talked about Badie earlier. Your patient and at some point – it starts up front obviously -- but you want to see those runs.”
Other topics Payton discussed in his 12-minute media call:
Bo Nix.
While his end-zone interception was the costliest mistake in the Broncos’ 13-6 home loss Sunday to the Pittsburgh Steelers, there were signs the game had slowed down for Nix from the season-opener the previous week in Seattle.
“I think when you go back and watch the film, I think I took a good step,’’ Nix said Sunday evening after completing 20 of 35 for 246 yards but no touchdowns and two interceptions. “Sometimes good steps don’t turn into wins, though. So it’s a long process. It’s a tough league for a reason. We just have to continue as a crew, as a group, find ways to get better, and build and take steps. I have to do the same.”
Said Payton: “I thought he processed pretty quickly yesterday. I thought he got into some of his progressions really well at the line. Yeah, I would agree with him when I watch the tape. Look, I just finished talking to the team, we’re getting in our own way at times relative to penalties, third downs. Our numbers have to be better.”
Reason behind making Nix his rookie quarterback.
“He’s been through the firestorm if you will,’’ Payton said. “So you’re better prepared, better served when it comes around again. By no means are we in that position right now. Obviously, we would have liked to have started better but my point is he’s someone who by nature is confident in his preparation, in his ability. And is not going to be discouraged easily if you will.”
Nuances of Nix’s footwork and receivers beating man coverage.
There are times when Nix’s scrambling, off-balanced throws – plays where proper feet set-up is impossible -- bleeds into not setting his feet properly to deliver from the pocket.
“I agree,’’ Payton said. “You see early on a struggle (with protection) inside which forces him out of the pocket, then you do see later in the second half a cleaner pocket and then him hurry it. So it’s developing the confidence of climbing (the pocket), it’s developing the confidence within the framework of your protection.
“He does have good pocket protection for the most part. He’s not someone who’s going to look to take off and look to scramble. So we’ve got to build on that. It begins with that relative to the design of what you’re trying to do in the drop-back passing game.”
More nuance, this time with the receivers getting open against man-to-man coverage.
“We’ve got to separate a little bit more and give our guys better opportunities when we’re getting a lot of match or man coverage,’’ Payton said. “We’re counting on the on-on-one matchups and we need to get into other schemes that can help that way.
“We had a handful of RPOs he executed well. We’ll build on that. But I would agree, it felt like we saw steps (in Nix’s progress). And again, I feel a confident player. So I think from that standpoint I’m encouraged.”
Payton was asked about what he sees from his offensive line both in run blocking and pass protection.
“I would say we were inconsistent.”
Getting the team turned around.
Since their takeaway-filled, five-game winning streak in the middle of last season, the Broncos have gone 2-6 with both wins coming against Easton Stick. Broncos’ veteran receiver Courtland Sutton said his team’s turnaround from its 0-2 start this season must come from the guys inside the building. No one outside can get them through this.
“I had a chance to listen to Courtland and I think it does come from within,’’ Payton said. “Knowing how to win certain games, especially close games. We just finished two of them. The concerning thing for me is the rushing game and then the rushing numbers defensively. Those have to switch or you’re just going to be playing behind the 8 ball.”
The Broncos rank 27th in rushing offense, averaging 81.5 yards per game. Denver's defense is allowing 143.5 yards per game, which ranks 25th in the league.
The upcoming 10-day roadtrip.
The Broncos play this Sunday at 2-0 Tampa Bay, then will practice next week in West Virginia before moving on the following weekend to New Jersey where they will play Sunday, Sept. 29 against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
“We’re going to have a better idea – now it’s not a make-or-break – but we’re going to have a better idea where this team is going to be after these next two weeks going on the road to Tampa and practicing a week on the Eastern seaboard and then playing the Jets,’’ Payton said. “Sometimes that can work as a positive. Your team’s together the whole time. But there’s still no ways around it, we’ve got to look into the teeth of this and get better quickly.”
