The Broncos are coming off of their worst season since 2010, when the team finished 4-12. After finishing the 2017 season 5-11, a lot of the blame has rested on then-rookie head coach Vance Joseph. Joseph. After the disastrous season, Broncos general manager John Elway nearly fired Joseph. Despite a roster loaded with talent, the team looked lost for most of the season under Joseph’s guidance. Entering 2018, it’s unclear how short of a leash Joseph is on. For Vance Joseph to secure his future in Denver. beyond 2018, will need to lead the Broncos to a successful season. Here are key factors on how Vance Joseph can secure his future in Denver.
Vance Joseph Needs to Hold his Players Accountable
In 2017, one of Joseph’s biggest flaws was failing to take a struggling player off of the field. The prime example of this was punt returner Isaiah McKenzie, who struggled mightily with ball security all season. Despite leading the league in turnovers, Joseph remained faithful to McKenzie. McKenzie continued to make mistakes on the field as the Broncos’ season continued to unravel. Joseph also remained committed to struggling quarterback Trevor Siemian, despite the superior play of Brock Osweiler.
Heading into 2018, Joseph will need to do a better job of putting the right players on the field, while taking struggling players off. Thus far, Joseph has already shown improvement in this area. After week four of the preseason, Joseph dubbed star rookie Royce Freeman as the team’s starting running back over ineffective incumbent starter Devontae Booker. Choosing the more productive player, despite his rookie status, shows that Joseph is taking the initiative to put the best team on the field. To keep his job and lengthen his tenure in Denver, Joseph will need to continue making the tough calls when it comes to who plays.
Broncos Offense Needs to Perform
At the end of the day, the success of the Denver Broncos 2018 season is likely to be determined by the success of the offense. New quarterback Case Keenum will play a key factor in the overall success of the team’s offense, but the responsibility will still land on Joseph’s shoulders. Joseph made his first blunder as a head coach with the hiring of former offensive coordinator Mike McCoy. After McCoy‘s offense failed to produce results, Joseph relieved McCoy of his duties. The flux in offensive coaching wasn’t received well by players.
Heading into 2018, the Broncos will turn to new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave to take full advantage of Keenum’s strengths. How Vance Joseph can secure his future in Denver begins with putting the offense in the best position possible to be successful. While Joseph won’t have as much input in the Broncos offense as other head coaches in the NFL, putting the right players on the field and making smart, decisive decisions about field position will help the Broncos immensely as they look to rebound in 2018. If the Broncos cannot find offensive success, the team might turn to a new coach going forward.
The Broncos need to make the correct adjustments
While “having a great week of practice” is great food for fans and media hungry for any sort of positive news, it never quite yielded on-field results for the Broncos in 2017. One of the biggest flaws of the Broncos last season was their inability to make in-game adjustments on both sides of the ball. The offense abandoned the run early, the defense shied away from its bread-and-butter zone-blitz scheme. While the game slipped out of reach, Joseph often looked confused and ill-prepared on the sidelines. Hopefully, for Broncos fans, Joseph has learned enough from his rookie season to make proper adjustments mid-game. Making these key adjustments beyond the practice field is key for Vance Joseph.
Get the Broncos Back to the Playoffs
Ultimately, how Vance Joseph can secure his future in Denver boils down to one thing. Getting the Broncos back to the playoffs is the primary objective for 2018. Just two seasons removed from a Super Bowl victory, it has been astonishing how quickly the Broncos have fallen from best in the NFL. With a team arguably as talented as the 2015 championship team, the Broncos are primed for a playoff run. It will be up to Joseph’s ability to coach the team that determines where the team goes when the season starts.
The Broncos host the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday, in a home opener packed full of hopeful broncos fans eager to move past the nightmare of 2017. If Joseph wants to secure his future in Denver moving forward, his journey begins this Sunday. To earn the support of fans, the Denver media and the Broncos front office, Joseph will need to make 2018 a very special year. Preferably, one that ends with the Broncos playing into late January.
