There’s bad, and then there’s so terrible all a viewer can do is laugh.
For the Denver Broncos in their first preseason game on Friday night, special teams were laughably bad. It was a shame, too, because the rest of the team – the offense and defense – played well. Denver ultimately won the game, but for fans who’ve been paying attention the last few years, it’s deja vu all over again.
While there were few bright spots, there were many more dark ones, with the Broncos’ kickoff and punt coverage units being the worst. Seahawks wideout Tyler Lockett exploded onto the scene, averaging a ludicrous 46 yards per kick return on four kicks, partly thanks to his 103-yard touchdown return in the second quarter.
Broncos players aren’t staying in their lanes, collapsing down towards the return man and opening up the edge of the field for him to blaze past them.
B.J. Daniels also took two kickoffs an average of 25 yards, with one of 35 yards.
In the second half, Lockett took a punt 18 yards after it looked like the Broncos had him surrounded with four players. None of them tackled him though and it set Seattle up with supreme field position once again.
Covering kicks is a major part of the game because it involves all-important field position. When a team’s offense doesn’t have it going, relying on a solid punter and coverage unit means flipping the field. And following scores, kickoffs simply cannot be returned for touchdowns or anywhere near the opponent’s 40 yard line. Giving offenses a short, 60-yard field, will result in the Denver defense allowing tons of points. Even if they have a roster full of stars.
Moving on, the Broncos return game was nearly as ghastly as their coverage execution. Solomon Patton, who had impressed in training camp – especially when returning kicks, not necessarily punts – muffed a punt on Denver’s eight yard line in the second quarter.
In the second half, Justin Norwood should’ve let a ball go on a punt but went after it; turnover. A mistake like that can cost the team a game, especially when it’s a grind-it-out affair like it always is against Seattle.
Denver narrowly won the contest 22-20 no thanks to their sorry special teams. Luckily for the Broncos, they have a three more weeks of preseason to work out all the kinks, to mold something solid out of the lifeless ball of clay.
Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis is working hard at every practice, jumping on players when they’re not following his tutelage. The poor execution on Friday night is on the players. They must step up.
