Stokley: Broncos should attack Titans ‘through the air’
Dec 9, 2016, 12:00 AM | Updated: 3:13 am
Heading into Friday, it’s still unsure who will be under center for the Denver Broncos when they take on the Tennessee Titans in Nashville on Sunday, Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch.
But whether it’s the banged up second-year starter or the rookie first-round draft pick, Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan’s Brandon Stokley says he should be putting it up more “through the air.”
The “C.J. and Stokley” co-host said Thursday that the Broncos should look to exploit the Titans defensive weakness, especially when Denver’s likely to struggle running the ball anyway.
“It’s through the air where you’re going to try to make your plays, especially if you’re the Denver broncos,” Stokley said. “You struggle running the football anyway. You’ve got a stout defensive front in Tennessee. It’s going to be hard to run the football regardless, even if you’re a good running football team. You’ve got to attack this Tennessee defense through the air.”
While Tennessee ranks among the top 10 in the NFL in rushing defense, giving up just 92.3 yards per game and 4.1 yards per attempt, it’s defense is ranked No. 26 in the league, giving up 270.3 yards per game.
Stokley, however, did show some concern for the plan to air it out if it’s Lynch that gets the nod in relief of Siemian, who’s working back this week from a sprained foot.
“I think it’s paramount … that Trevor Siemian plays. Because if he doesn’t play, I don’t know if you can make those plays through the air with Paxton Lynch,” Stokley said.
Lynch made only his second career start on Sunday in Jacksonville, completing only 12 of 24 passing attempts for 104 yards, no picks and no touchdowns. In three games this year, including another start in which the Broncos loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Lynch has completed 59 percent of his passes for 497 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.
Siemian, however, has a 7-3 record in his first year as an NFL starter, tossing for nearly 2,400 yards with 15 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
Denver on the ground in 2016 has put up just 1,202 yards and 9 touchdowns, an average of 100.2 yards per game and 3.6 yards per attempt.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.
