Denver Broncos Fanzone: Interview with Steven Kriz
By Tylor Walden
What do the Broncos need to work on this week in order to get back on the right track?
Let’s start on the defensive side of the ball: Run defense has obviously been a big problem, and losing Derek Wolfe to a fractured elbow won’t help matters one bit.
When teams are able to run the ball on the Broncos, it neutralizes two strengths of this team, the pass rush and No Fly Zone. They have got to find a way to stop Mark Ingram and Tim Hightower this week or it could be a long afternoon for them.
On offense, these guys need to execute better around the board. Running the ball has to be a priority, because without it, I think Trevor Siemian will struggle. Trevor seems to be regressing some with teams squatting on the short routes that he was so efficient in hitting early in the year.
It has shown as his completion percentage has dropped significantly in the past four games. Instead of coming out of the gate trying to throw the ball all over the field, run the ball on 5 of the first 6 plays. Be sure to throw some variety in the run game. Zone left and zone right are fine, but run some pitch/toss, run some counter, and if Janovich’s hand is feeling alright, put the ball in his hands some.
The Broncos have a bye week coming up after this game. If a switch to the rookie is going to be made, this would appear to be the ideal time to do it. Let’s be honest, the Broncos have played some bad defenses in recent weeks.
The Broncos offense has made these defenses look very good with their inability to generate first downs. The Saints defense they will be facing this week may take the cake for the worst they’ve seen. If the offense comes out and struggles the way they did in the first half against the Oakland Raiders, it may be Paxton Lynch leading them on to the field in the second half—not Trevor Siemian.