Vic Fangio must prove he is the right head coach for the Denver Broncos. Obviously, two losing seasons in a row is not an ideal start to anyone’s career. To remain a head coach long-term in the NFL, your team needs to win. It is ostensibly simple, but few can say they have won consistently. And it isn’t up to anyone outside of the professionals to presume they know how to do a coach’s job better than a coach. But from an objective point of view, it is clear that Fangio’s job rests on this season’s performance.
Vic Fangio Must Prove He Should Remain Denver Broncos Head Coach
What Does Fangio Need To Do?
Since taking the job in 2019, Fangio has been dealing with a shaky quarterback situation and multiple injuries on his team. Is it even possible to accurately evaluate his performance as a head coach? Maybe not, but if he has any hope of extending his career in Denver, Fangio must lead the team not just to victories, but to the playoffs. That is a big ask when you consider how poorly the Broncos have performed since winning Super Bowl 50. He has already missed the playoffs in his two first seasons. Missing them in his third could easily be enough to send him packing.
Will Fangio’s Defensive Mind Be Enough?
Fangio has been highly regarded as a “defensive genius,” but since coming to Denver, he hasn’t been able to live up to that reputation. This off-season has been a productive one for the Broncos, though. General manager George Paton made several smart moves, making the 2021 defense a much-improved unit. Fangio is determined to relive his glory days as a defensive specialist, and this group has enough talent to help in that goal.
With the injuries piling up and the substandard talent in 2020, Fangio can still be applauded for what he was able to do. Additionally, with the uncertainties that COVID presented in 2020, a team could be forgiven for being all over the place. But some teams (Cleveland Browns for instance) actually thrived and became even more determined to overcome the challenges. The Broncos unfortunately seemed to lack the same drive last season.
Quarterback Play Will Be One of the Deciding Factors
No matter how many rabbits Fangio can pull out of his defensive hat, the wins can only happen if the quarterback performs well. Quarterback play is crucial in determining the team’s success or failure as a whole. Paton’s decisions, especially those surrounding the quarterback, will play a significant role in Fangio’s successes or failures.
Paton made a lot of big moves that are supposed to propel the Broncos into a winning season. The Broncos picked up Von Miller’s option, they traded up for running back Javonte Williams and signed Kyle Fuller to a one-year deal. All of those moves are indicators of a general manager expecting big things.
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Can the Broncos Be Playoff Contenders?
They have a really talented roster, but if the Broncos want to have success in 2021, they need to remain healthy. And having a great defensive scheme is fantastic, and the Broncos have that, but poor clock management can keep a team from being successful. Fangiodesperately needs to limit his mistakes in this area. The Broncos will most likely be in a lot of close games and they cannot afford any more losses stemming from poor clock management.
There will always be factors that a team cannot control, so it is not fair to expect miracles from any head coach. Ultimately though, the head coach has to bring out the very best of his team’s roster. Broncos fans hope Fangio will do exactly that this season.
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