Broncos Journal: Using play action hasn’t been big-play producer for offense – The Denver Post

Eleven things about the Broncos entering Sunday’s game at Las Vegas:

1. A common refrain from readers about offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is his hesitancy to use play action. Per my charting, the Broncos have used play action 128 times in 14 games (9.1 average). The most was 16 at Jacksonville in Week 2, the low was two in Week 14 against Detroit. Circumstances dictate play action usage. It is pointless on third-and-long or chase-the-game-mode. The offense had 11 play-action snaps against Cincinnati last week, including four by Drew Lock (1 of 3 for two yards).

2. Some of the play-action fakes led to scrambles by quarterback Teddy Bridgewater or dump-off passes to the running backs. Off play action, the Broncos have 13 explosive receptions (gain of at least 16 yards) out of 108 pass attempts, including a check-down that tight end Noah Fant turned into a 28-yard gain against Cincinnati. The offense had two explosive completions apiece off play action in the wins over Washington (31 and 19 yards) and Dallas (25 and 17 yards).

3. The Broncos are closing the season with three consecutive AFC West games for the first time since 1995, when they lost to Seattle and Kansas City and beat the Raiders to finish 8-8. I applaud the NFL going to the all-division format in Week 18, but the Broncos will play five of their six division games in Weeks 12-18. Not ideal. My idea is a Week 1 all-division schedule (rivalries to kick off the season), one game apiece in October and November and three in December/January (out of the final six games).

4. Sixteen Broncos enter Sunday having played at least 100 special teams snaps (including the specialists) compared to 21 players through 16 games last year. The injury issues at inside linebacker in particular has forced frequent changes on the coverage/return units. “Guys play certain positions and they get comfortable at it,” special teams coordinator Tom McMahon said. “When you get injuries, what happens is guys have got to go play a different position. Moving from the left side of the punt to the right side is a big deal for a lot of these guys. That’s been the hardest part.”

5. The top five position players in special teams snaps: Safety P.J. Locke (262), tight end Eric Saubert (246), cornerback Nate Hairston (221), outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper (203) and fullback/tight end Andrew Beck (189). Beck was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with an elbow injury.

6. I promised myself to move on from the no-Broncos-in-the-Pro-Bowl hubbub around 6:19 p.m. Wednesday (19 minutes after the rosters were revealed). But some context for the Broncos at 7-7 getting no players, but Indianapolis (8-6 entering Saturday night) getting seven and the Los Angeles Chargers (also 8-6) six.

7. The Broncos getting skunked from the initial list isn’t an indictment on their talent level, but their relevance. Players and fans, who represent 2/3 of the vote, don’t see the Broncos on television that much and when they did — at Cleveland and at Kansas City — the product wasn’t impressive. The Chargers beat Las Vegas on a Monday night. Wins in general and wins in prime-time in particular create Pro Bowl buzz. The only surprise was safety Justin Simmons’ five interceptions not being enough to make the initial list. Outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (no sacks in five games) being a third alternate is ridiculous and he would probably agree.

8. The Broncos already knew their task of climbing back to contention was difficult, but this really illustrates it: The Raiders, Chargers and Chiefs made up eight of the 21 offensive spots and six of the 18 defensive spots (35.9% on offense/defense) on the Pro Bowl roster. Five of the Chargers’ six Pro Bowlers were their draft picks compared to three for Kansas City and one for Las Vegas.

9. Those attending Broncos games might notice how quarterbacks coach Mike Shula stands way beyond the line of scrimmage when the offense is on the field. Has Shula always done that? “No,” he said with a laugh. “It’s awfully crowded here (on the sideline) compared to other places and I just started doing that. I’ve normally been at the line of scrimmage or even to the huddle. There are a lot of (coaches) involved with substitutions and getting their guys in and my guy is already in the game.”

10. When Shula was Carolina’s offensive coordinator, Ken Dorsey was the quarterbacks coach and stood beyond the line of scrimmage. “He said he could see the defense a little better and get a quicker diagnosis of what the defense is doing,” Shula said.

11. Cooper failed to record a pass-rush disruption against Philadelphia, the Chargers and Kansas City, but has rebounded with three pressures and a half-sack in the last two games. As the tape shows, Cooper knows one speed. “Nothing is going to get in my way,” he said last week. “A lot of people describe as relentless and giving max effort and I try to do that on every single play whether a guy is holding or grabbing my face-mask. I can’t use those as excuses. I have to get to the quarterback or wherever the ball is.”

Source: Read Full Article