On Thursday, the Denver Broncos made a puzzling choice as they hired Vance Joseph to be the team's next defensive coordinator.
The Denver Broncos are hiring Vance Joseph as their Defensive Coordinator, per source. @gmfb @nflnetwork @NFLonFOX
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) February 23, 2023
Frankly, I think this is a bad move. It's clear that Sean Payton is going for experience with his coaching staff. Joseph has been a head coach before, as we know, and was a defensive coordinator before that. Payton is very clearly wanting to bring a sense of experience and discipline to the Broncos, something that they need, but I don't think Joseph is the right move.
It has nothing to do with his failed stint as head coach. In fact, I think being a head coach before and now taking this role could be a very positive thing for Joseph.
However, in looking at his defenses over his career, it's clear that he's never really been that great of a coordinator, so I'm a bit uneasy about this hire.
His defenses have never ranked higher than 11th in points allowed. He's had five seasons overseeing defenses that have ranked 20th or lower in rushing yards allowed, and he's had three seasons overseeing passing defenses ranked 20th or lower.
To me, Rex Ryan, who has had a stronger track record as a DC and a HC, would have been the much stronger higher. Ryan was interviewed by the Denver Broncos and has had much more success in the NFL as a coach than Joseph has.
I guess this could be justified by Joseph's familiarity with the team and some of the players, and there were never any reports that Joseph ever lost the locker room, so I guess that is worth something.
We'll see what Joseph does in his third stint as a DC in the NFL. Right now, I am personally not a huge fan of this move, but it's a new era in Broncos Country, and Sean Payton generally knows what he's doing, so maybe this is the right move.