ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said after his team’s listless offensive performance Thursday night against the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium that “to win in our league you’ve got to be better throwing the ball.’’
The passing game begins and ends with the quarterback.
After Russell Wilson threw for just 196 and 95 yards the past two weeks, both losses, Payton was asked if one of the issues with the passing game was a reluctance by the Broncos’ quarterback to “pull the trigger,’’ as former general manager John Elway once implored of Tim Tebow.
“It’s been a handful (of issues), it’s hard to point to one, specifically,’’ Payton said during his conference call Monday morning with reporters. “You want to have confidence in the pocket. We need to find ways to get guys open. Technically speaking, that has to happen efficiently on early downs. It can’t just be on third down.
“That’s one of the things we’ve discussed here early today in looking at our pass list and drive starters. Obviously on first down you’re going to be mixed run or pass with your sequencing. The feeling after that (19-8 loss to the Chiefs) was simply we have to be able to throw it better to win in this league and that wasn’t directed at any one player, that was directed at all of us on offense.”
Co-No. 1 receiver Jerry Jeudy in particular has been criticized by former players for not producing nearly as he did through the first six games this year (20 catches, 222 yards, 0 TDs) as he did in the final six games last year (37 catches, 523 yards, 3 TDs). Jeudy has shot back at his critics, including former players.
“He’s frustrated I’m sure,’’ Payton said. “He’s a talented player. We need to continue to look for ways to get him throws, not only in the slot but outside.
“The other stuff, I don’t try to keep track of as long as it’s not a distraction to what we’re doing as a team. That being said, he’s very competitive. He’s smart. He’s a playmaker for us so we have to continue to look for ways to put in position to make plays.”
Payton also addressed the team’s release last Friday of veteran outside linebacker Frank Clark, who played part-time in just two games for the Broncos without registering a sack.
“It was kind of a win-win for both sides,’’ Payton said. “Frank was frustrated with the snaps, or lack thereof. We brought him in hoping we could get more from him. In fairness to Frank I don’t think he felt like he was getting enough (plays) in a row to play well. And yet some of the other younger guys were earning those spots. It was a difficult decision and we just felt it was in the best interest in the club.”
The trading deadline is two weeks away. The Broncos with a 1-5 record figure to trade off a high-priced veteran or two, but in the meantime there are games this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers and the following Sunday against the Chiefs again.
“The focus is on the schedule and winning the next week,’’ Payton said. “Certainly every year when the time comes there’s speculation. And people call. And people calls teams that aren’t playing well or are struggling, looking to see if they’re interested in moving players.
“But that doesn’t require a four-day summit relative to what the plan is. George will bring any information to Greg (Penner, the team’s chief owner) and myself, but right now our focus is on playing Green Bay.”
As for the Denver defensive improvement from allowing 70 points in week 3 vs. Miami to only 19 points in week 6 against the Chiefs, Payton pointed to the fundamental priority of all defenses.
“It was significant, and significant against one of the better offenses we’ve seen,’’ Payton said. “I think it starts with the running game. When you can defend the running game and have success then your distances change. But when you’re struggling in that area, the play-action, all the other things that come off it become much more challenging. You’re dealing with the second-and-shorts, second-and-mediums. So the first thing I would point to specifically last week would be our ability to handle the running game.”
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