Changes in coaching staff should be a priority for the Denver Broncos as they face yet another year with no postseason appearance. It has been difficult to find anything positive to say about this franchise over the last several years. Officially eliminated from their sixth consecutive postseason, it’s back to the drawing board. The Broncos have a strong roster, but new coaching staff must be brought in, and that is something to look forward to.
Coaching Staff Changes Should be a Priority for Denver Broncos
The Hope Was Short-lived
For a brief while, Denver was in the playoff hunt following a victory over the Detroit Lions on December 12. As Jeff Legwold says, the Broncos have deeply rooted issues that eventually overwhelmed their optimism. Their decline was all but cemented from Week 14 onwards, and with COVID-19 hitting some of their key starters, it was too easy for the Los Angeles Chargers to squash the little hope they had left.
A Change in Coaching Staff… Please!
The offense has been atrocious for the last two years. The fans and media have done what Vic Fangio has not – placed the blame firmly on offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. While the Broncos remained competitive into December which had not happened since 2016, it is clearer than ever that incompetent coaching staff is hurting this team.
Offense and special teams were headed by NFL coaching veterans hand-picked by Fangio, and they simply were not good enough. In fact, it starts with Fangio as a game manager and extends to Shurmur, along with special teams coordinator Tom McMahon. The latter is responsible for some of the worst special teams performances in recent memory.
Fangio’s loyalty to bad coaches set in their ways has destroyed the Broncos’ ability to win games or to even just be competitive against good teams. He stuck to his decisions for two years, but now the time has come for general manager George Paton to intervene. The only way for Denver to improve is to be on the lookout for a new head coach and coordinators in 2022.
Denver’s Roster Core Is Still One of the Best
Amongst the rough was a diamond, and that was Denver’s core. One might dare say it is one of the best in the league. There is no denying that the on-field production and depth of the roster was better than anticipated.
On both sides, the Broncos have players worth investing in for the future. Rookie cornerback Patrick Surtain II and rookie running back Javonte Williams emerged as stars. It will be a joy seeing what they can do in the future.
Meanwhile, Paton invested heavily in players like Justin Simmons, Courtland Sutton, Ronald Darby, Shelby Harris, and Tim Patrick. Moving forward, these will be core guys – they have done enough to instill much-needed confidence.
Over much of the 2021 season, the Broncos showed that offensive line play was at least average with solid pieces capable of improvement. Denver’s skill positions have been remarkable offensively and while the roster has some weak spots, there are evidently pieces in place for a legitimate run. They just need stability at the quarterback position.
While the past has been bleak, the Broncos have a bright future. Once they have a new coaching staff in place and a consistent quarterback, a true rebuild can take place. They are already halfway there.
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