Evans: For the Denver Broncos offense in 2018, boring is better
Jun 13, 2018, 10:15 AM | Updated: 11:00 am
“Boring is Better!!!!”
I put four exclamation points instead of three to really drive home the point. This is an idea, a slogan, Denver Broncos fans should embrace when it comes to this year’s offense.
Let’s be honest, what I’m really talking about is having an efficient offense, but “Boring is Better!!!!” grabs your attention.
What I want from a Case Keenum-led offense is efficiency. It’s taking what the defense gives you. It’s what our buddy, and Fox Sports analyst, Joel Klatt often shares with us from his days playing at the University of Colorado under Gary Barnett — “never go broke making a profit.” It’s knowing your offense inside and out, recognizing what their defense is trying to do, and finding the best matchup.
What’s wrong with that? If that’s boring, then sign me up.
Look around the NFL. Do you see what’s happening? Boring is in. Teams aren’t trying to beat you with the home run anymore. They’re trying to single and double you to death.
In the last two years combined only eight quarterbacks have thrown 30 or more touchdown passes. Meanwhile, interceptions are way down.
The top quarterbacks throw only a dozen or fewer picks per season. Keenum only had seven last year. Offenses are being coached to avoid risk rather than take gambles.
Take the completion percentage statistic. Poor Josh Allen was beat up because he couldn’t crack 60 percent in college. These days you better be 65 percent or better.
Well, how do you think you get there? By winging the ball all over the field? No, it is short passes. It is high-percentage throws. It is peck, peck, peck, and take a shot.
I can already hear the complaints. “But Evans, we’ve seen boring. We’ve been boring the last couple of years.”
That’s wrong.
The Broncos haven’t been boring on offense; they’ve been dysfunctional. They’ve been mistake-prone. There’s a difference.
The last three years Broncos quarterbacks have thrown 58 touchdowns to 47 interceptions. That’s awful. Last year, Broncos quarterbacks were picked off 22 times. Denver’s defense only had 10. Throwing 22 picks doesn’t fit in today’s NFL offenses.
The Broncos don’t have the pieces. That’s on general manager John Elway. There’s been a huge talent drain on offense. Elway hasn’t drafted Pro Bowl offensive talent, and now Denver’s paying the price.
I’m hoping Courtland Sutton is going to be the next Julio Jones or Calvin Johnson — throw it up there and let him make a jaw-dropping play.
Maybe Royce Freeman is the next big difference-making running back.
Maybe Jake Butt is the next Gronk.
If that happens, then the Broncos have legitimate playmakers who can transform this offense into one that’s explosive and fun.
Until then? “Boring is Better!!!!”
