Denver Broncos: 2019 Rookie report card at the bye week
Offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello
We have to probably start this one with a disclaimer, and if you’re really excited, you can jump into a 90-minute podcast with Brandon Keckler and I talking about the marriage-that-was between Scangarello and quarterback Joe Flacco.
After watching the Broncos’ offense against the Cleveland Browns with Brandon Allen at quarterback, it doesn’t seem overly fair to judge Scangarello based on the eight games this offense had with Flacco.
Scangarello has called some really nice plays this season, especially early on, but the last four games of Flacco, in particular, were borderline unbearable to watch.
The Broncos’ offense lacked basic execution, energy, and tempo. There were far too many mental errors and it seemed like there was a distinct lack of interest from the quarterback.
Ultimately, how much of that falls on Scangarello, and how much is on the players?
It’s hard to say, but what we do know is, if only on a one-game sample, the offense played with more cohesiveness and confidence in one game with Brandon Allen at quarterback than it did in any of Flacco’s eight starts.
Even when Flacco was playing, there were good moments, especially late in games when the Broncos were able to do just enough offensively to be in a position to win games against the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars before penalties and big plays let those teams claw back for wins.
I would put it this way:
- First 4 games of 2019: Scangarello was solid
- Second 4 games of 2019: Scangarello was limited
- Most recent game of 2019: Scangarello was on point
There were issues with Scangarello in how he schemed touches for Emmanuel Sanders in that second stretch of games. Incidentally, those were also the games that included the Broncos’ first two wins of the season.
I think considering the limited talent at receiver, the inability of the offensive line to play consistently well, and Joe Flacco’s limitations, Scangarello has done fine and flashed his huge potential as a play-caller against the Browns.