The Denver Broncos have slipped to 3-2 on the 2021 season after a tough road loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Some big-time changes need to be made.
The Denver Broncos are now 3-2 this season after a road loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were previously losers of three straight. It was, unfortunately, much of the same issues and struggles the Denver Broncos have had the past five years no matter who is the head coach, no matter who is the quarterback, and no matter what the personnel is on the field.
The Denver Broncos can’t seem to get out of their own way consistently enough to prove themselves to be a viable playoff candidate, but hope is not yet lost. As far as the 2021 season goes, not even one-third has passed.
There’s plenty of time to get things right, but in order to get things right, some major changes need to be made.
Denver Broncos: 5 major changes that need to be made after Steelers loss
The Denver Broncos don’t really have time to afford the insanity of doing the same thing over and over again, hoping for a different result.
Some injured players are getting ready to come back. The Broncos started with a nice three-game cushion. It may not be time to panic but obviously, some things that were issues in the first three games of the season that were masked by victories are now costing the team games.
Vic Fangio and the Denver Broncos need to make some big, tough decisions and some major changes. What are they?
Denver Broncos: 5 major changes that need to be made after Steelers loss
1. Bench Kyle Fuller
Frankly, the Denver Broncos cannot afford to keep Kyle Fuller in the starting lineup playing significant snaps any longer.
At least not for the time being.
Since week one, Fuller has been victimized in coverage by big plays on his side of the field. He has given up big plays to a variety of receivers, but the big plays he surrendered against the Pittsburgh Steelers have to be the final straw.
The Steelers’ first touchdown of the game to Diontae Johnson came on a play in which Kyle Fuller was absolutely torched deep downfield.
Later in the game, he gave up another big play getting beat inside by Chase Claypool.
He cost the Broncos big-time by not getting his head around on a pass interference call on 3rd-and-15. Even if it was a ticky-tack type of call, it was called, and Fuller continues to find himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The Broncos happen to be getting Ronald Darby back next week and when he’s ready to go, he should be taking Fuller’s spot in the starting lineup, not Patrick Surtain II’s.
Denver Broncos: 5 major changes that need to be made after Steelers loss
2. Move on from special teams coordinator Tom McMahon
The Denver Broncos’ need to move on from special teams coordinator Tom McMahon is long past due.
McMahon’s special teams units have routinely been among the worst in the NFL since he came aboard in Denver, no matter what the team has attempted to do to mask his apparent inability to coach up the unit.
The Broncos have traded actual draft selections to acquire players to help on special teams coverage units. They are one of the most penalized special teams units in the NFL.
As a matter of fact, that was one of the big killers from this particular game against the Steelers.
After letting the Steelers get into field goal range, the Denver Broncos’ defense held the Steelers to a field goal attempt. Pittsburgh kicked it through to increase their lead, at the time, to 20-6.
Unfortunately, Dre’Mont Jones was called for a 15-yard “leverage” penalty.
I can’t say I’ve heard that one called, but McMahon’s special teams finds a way every week to impress, don’t they?
It’s time to make this change.
Denver Broncos: 5 major changes that need to be made after Steelers loss
3. Get Avery Williamson into the lineup for Justin Strnad
The Denver Broncos have not exactly been “exposed” when you’re just talking about one bad game against the run, but the team has missed Josey Jewell more than anyone could have imagined when he went down with a season-ending pectoral injury.
Justin Strnad is a young player the Denver Broncos like and believe in. His development is worth investing in, but at this point, at what cost?
There is no question that Strnad is a talented player, but he should probably be playing a bit more of a limited role at this point than he has been.
The Denver Broncos need more of a veteran presence at that off-ball linebacker position next to Alexander Johnson, and the evidence that they agree with that sentiment is their decision to sign Avery Williamson to the practice squad.
Williamson signing onto the practice squad is undoubtedly a precursor to his joining the active roster at some point in the near future, and that “near future” could come sooner rather than later.
Williamson is a very strong run defender at the linebacker position and that’s an area where Strnad has struggled a bit. Although he does a solid job of attacking the line of scrimmage with speed and quickness, he simply misses too many run fits and that was exploited by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Williamson just got his playbook last week, but he needs to get up to speed rather quickly so Strnad can play a more limited role.
Denver Broncos: 5 major changes that need to be made after Steelers loss
4. Move on from OC Pat Shurmur, promote WR coach Zach Azzanni
Here is the really big one.
The Denver Broncos may need to consider making a bold move to let Pat Shurmur go and promote Zach Azzanni.
Unfortunately, it’s become painfully clear that the Broncos’ offensive ineptitude is more than just a “player” thing and is very much a coaching, schematic, and player development thing.
Drew Lock’s development was not Pat Shurmur’s only responsibility, but he and Lock obviously failed collectively in that regard.
The offense has not been able to establish itself on the ground despite having multiple huge investments at the running back position.
Shurmur’s play-calling has been predictable at times, to put it kindly, and he’s had some of his worst play calls on third downs, where the Denver Broncos are obviously one of the absolute worst teams in the NFL right now.
There are plenty of reasons for Vic Fangio to move on from Pat Shurmur. The question is — will he have the stones to do it? He did it after just one season with Rich Scangarello. The key is, you’ve got to have an actual plan if you move on.
I think Fangio has it in Zach Azzanni. Although the Broncos’ wide receivers coach has been primarily in that role as an NFL coach, he’s also been a passing game coordinator, back when he was with the Tennessee Volunteers program.
Based on the fact that the Broncos may have let one get away with former OLBs coach Brandon Staley, now doing a tremendous job with the Chargers, they should preemptively make sure one of their best developers of talent — Azzanni — doesn’t get away by giving him an in-season promotion as a way of seeing what they’ve got.
Denver Broncos: 5 major changes that need to be made after Steelers loss
5. Someone order some YAC, please
The Denver Broncos’ inability to generate tons of yardage after the catch is, at this point, infuriating.
This is a team that has no shortage of weapons to get the ball to who can make plays after the catch, not just at wide receiver, but at tight end and out of the backfield.
That’s simply not happening.
This ties in with point number four, that Pat Shurmur’s play-calling is simply not conducive to YAC opportunities. He prefers to push the ball deeper downfield with lower percentage passing plays but plays that, if you hit them, are guaranteed to gain you big chunks.
Shurmur has effectively made it a deliberation of air yards for the QB vs. YAC for the receivers. There needs to be a healthy complement of both.
That’s simply not happening.
Notably, tight end Noah Fant is not getting opportunities to show what he can do in the YAC department, arguably his greatest trait.
As a matter of fact, Fant inexcusably had zero targets until the fourth quarter of the team’s loss to the Steelers. That is disgusting.
When Teddy Bridgewater was with the Carolina Panthers, their receivers and backs feasted after the catch. I guess offensive coordinator Joe Brady got a few things right last year in that regard.
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Bridgewater can still push the ball downfield at times, but Pat Shurmur needs to figure out ways to set his pass-catchers up to make plays after they catch the ball.