Loads of causes for Broncos Nation to query Hackett’s strategies

The Payments performed their starters. The Broncos didn’t. However that’s not why Saturday’s preseason sport was a lopsided, embarrassing affair for Denver.

Sure, Josh Allen appeared good. The star quarterback completed 3-for-3 for 45 yards and a landing in his restricted motion. However he didn’t beat the Broncos. It was Buffalo’s backups who dominated Denver.

Case Keenum, a one-time Broncos QB and Allen’s backup, torched his former staff. The veteran completed the primary half 16-of-18 for 192 yards and a landing. He guided three scoring drives in all, because the Payments had their manner with Denver within the first half.

At intermission, Buffalo led 28-6. It felt prefer it was 56-0.

Matt Barkley picked up the place Allen and Keenum left off. The Payments third-string QB was 7-for-8 for 65 yards and led two extra TD drives.

In all, Buffalo scored a landing on their first six possessions. They led 42-9 at one level, en path to a 42-15 victory that wasn’t as shut as that rating would point out.

The Payments did every part they wished to do. They threw the ball with ease. They ran the ball by way of gaping holes. The averaged greater than 10 yards per play within the first half.

A part of that was as a result of the Broncos had been taking part in backups. However a lot of the harm was finished by the Payments second-team gamers. So there was no excuse for Denver’s poor efficiency.

As a substitute, the staff must look within the mirror. Nathaniel Hackett must re-evaluate his staff. And maybe the brand new head coach must rethink his method.

The Broncos appeared flat. They’d no vitality. They weren’t flying round. And so they go dominated within the trenches.

In addition they couldn’t sort out. Working backs repeatedly bought to the second degree earlier than contact, the place they’d break away and run for large yardage.

Whereas it’s inconceivable to pin all of that mess on the best way Denver has gone about coaching camp, the place they don’t hit a lot in any respect in observe and spend lots of days going by way of “jog throughs,” it’s additionally onerous to not join the dots. The Broncos appeared like a staff that weren’t able to play soccer on Saturday. That’s tough to dispute.

Hackett has spoken brazenly about the truth that he dislikes the preseason. His staff appeared equally as disinterested within the exhibition sport towards Buffalo.

Consequently, they bought dominated. In each manner, form and type.

Ultimately, the ultimate rating doesn’t matter. However the truth that the Broncos confirmed so little pleasure, permitting the Payments to push them all around the subject, is a trigger for concern.

Denver appeared like a staff with no coronary heart. They appeared like they had been completely nice with getting throttled on nationwide tv.

Up till this level, all has been good in Hackett’s first season. He’s a likable man, offering a breath of recent air on the heels of Vic Fangio. And his staff has answered the bell, trying good towards the Cowboys in a joint observe and the opening preseason sport.

However the honeymoon is over. Hackett is going through his first take a look at as a head coach.

His staff was terrible of their second preseason sport. They bought pushed round and performed poorly, in all three phases.

What does Hackett do in response? Does he stick along with his plan, trusting that he and his employees are heading in the right direction? Or does he push the panic button and alter issues up, an admission that his offseason plan hasn’t been a superb one?

If he stands pat and the Broncos play of their season opener like they did in Buffalo, they’ll get beat by the Seahawks. That’s not the sort of begin Hackett needs, because it’ll get him off on the unsuitable foot with the Denver devoted.

But when he modifies now, he’ll be admitting that the Broncos have wasted precious time with re-gen days. That’ll trigger his staff to doubt Hackett and his employees.

Thus, the top coach has to remain the course. He wants to stay with the plan.

Nevertheless it’s a chance. Primarily based on what was on show towards the Payments, there are causes to marvel if the Broncos are going to be able to go on Sept. 12.

The honeymoon is over. It’s time to get it proper.

Nathaniel Hackett is immediately in sizzling water. Right here’s hoping his plan is the precise one.

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