Broncos Roundtable: Midseason report card for offense, defense and special teams

DENVER — Midway through the season, the Broncos boast a 3-5 record and are third in the AFC West.

However, despite being on pace for a 6-10 season, as it stands entering Week 10, Denver only sits two games out of the playoffs with their next two games against the final two playoff teams.

Will the Broncos be able to pull off the upset victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday and keep their playoff hopes alive?

The DNVR Broncos Crew breaks it down and hands out their midseason grades.

MIDSEASON REPORT CARD

Offense

Zac

C-minus — We knew the Broncos’ young offense was going to struggles given all of the unfortunate circumstances of 2020. However, outside of the past two fourth quarters, the offense under Drew Lock has struggled mightily.

In 18 of the 20 quarters Lock has played in full this season, the Broncos’ offense has averaged 3.5 points per quarter — a pace of 14 points per game. That would be second-worst in the NFL only behind the winless Jets.

However, the past two fourth quarters can’t be ignored. In those two quarters, Lock and the Broncos dropped 42 total points — 21 in each quarter. Those two quarters showed the high ceiling for this offense is there. But the offense has to show up more than just 10 percent of the time.

Overall, the Broncos’ offense has been disappointing. Pat Shurmur’s group is the sixth-worst scoring offense only dropping 21.8 points per game and they have committed the fourth-most turnovers per game (2).

Additionally, their rushing attack ranks 16th in the league racking up 111.6 yards per game, despite having two Pro Bowl running backs. In the passing game, Denver is a bottom-10 ranked team in nearly every category, including leading the league in interceptions and almost last in passer rating.

The talent has flashed, but the production has not been nearly consistent enough.

Mase

C-minus — The Broncos are on pace to score more points than in any other year since Super Bowl 50. But that is only good enough for 27th in the league this year.

This grade is on a curve. Drew Lock has just 11 pro starts to his name and missed nearly three games due to a shoulder injury this year. He hasn’t had his most reliable target, Courtland Sutton, since Week 2 due to Sutton’s torn ACL. Right tackle has been a revolving door since Ja’Wuan James opted out of the season because of COVID-19 concerns; if Calvin Anderson starts there Sunday, he will be the 17th starter at the position since 2014 and the sixth in the last 13 games. Lloyd Cushenberry has endured some rookie moments, and having young starters at quarterback and center has led to some inevitable issues in diagnosing a defense’s intent before the snap.

There are reasons why the offense has struggled, and they are perfectly valid ones. At the same time, the Broncos haven’t maximized the effectiveness of running backs Phillip Lindsay and Melvin Gordon, and they haven’t taken as many steps as they could to defuse opposing pass rushes. Screen passes could help with the latter; utilizing more two-back sets in shotgun formations could aid in the former.

Ryan

C — The Broncos have scored 27 or more points three times already this season, which is the most of any season in the post-Peyton-Manning era, but unfortunatly the offensive output has been too unbalanced.

If the offense was able to spread these points out over the course of a game, it might be a different story, but over the last two weeks, most of their offensive output has been in the fourth quarter. In the first three quarters of the game, the offense has been a dissappointment.

Drew Lock and Pat Shurmur have simply not been able to find a rhythm so far, and the organization absolutely needs this to happen before the season is over.

Defense

Zac

C-plus — When Von Miller suffered a potential-season-ending injury just days before the season began, the expectations for the league’s highest-paid defense went from being elite to being a top-10 unit.

However, they haven’t even been a top-10 defense. In fact, they have the 11th-worst scoring defense, giving up an average of 27.1 points per game. While they allow the 11th-fewest yards per play, their pass and run defense are in the middle of the league.

Even without Von, a bright spot has been Denver’s pass rush. The Broncos’ 22 sacks on the season rank in the top 10.

Much like the offense, the defense has flashed their potential as they held the Tennessee Titans to 16 points and the New England Patriots to 12. Outside of those two games, however, Vic Fangio’s unit has allowed 26 points or more in the other six games. While the defense has been put in many tough situations, at the end of the day, they’ve still allowed too many points.

The Broncos have suffered many big-time injuries to their defense, but have still disappointed. In the past three games, opposing teams are averaging over 30 points per game, which is certainly not good enough.

Mase

C — The Broncos’ success in Vic Fangio’s scheme is predicated on rush-and-cover equation. Get enough pass rush — especially without having to blitz — and count on the secondary to cover enough ground to leave only narrow windows for quarterbacks and receiving targets to exploit.

With Miller on injured reserve, A.J. Bouye missing five games and parts of two others and Jurrell Casey lost for the season, the Broncos’ plans were torn asunder. Defense was expected to carry this team, and with injuries accumulating, the unit has been as inconsistent as its injury-and-COVID-altered week-to-week lineups.

If Bouye can remain healthy and Bradley Chubb and Malik Reed sustain their recent pass-rushing form, Fangio’s unit should find its footing and settle as an above-average group. But the dreams of the defense reaching elite status vanished as injuries mounted.

Ryan

C-minus — I completely synpathize with the fact that this defense has been banged up across the board for most of the season, but the composition of this team is dependant on the defense being dominant and they havent been anywhere close to that.

Vic Fangio was hired for one reason and one reason only: to being elite an elite defense to Denver, and he simply hasnt, despite having the highest paid defense in football. 30 points allowed in three straight weeks just simply isn’t good enough.

Special Teams

Zac

C — Brandon McManus gives a big boost to Tom McMahon’s group. Denver’s kicker has hit 16-of-17 field goals, and extra points for that matter, which easily puts him in the top-10 in the league for accuracy.

Additionally, the Broncos have the seventh-best punt return average in the league. However, that’s where the good news stops.

Denver statistically has a below-average kick return unit and punt-coverage unit, while having the NFL’s worst kick-coverage unit giving up a whopping 31.8 yards per kickoff.

Thanks to McManus putting the ball through the upright, the Broncos have an average special-teams unit.

Mase

C-plus — McManus is on pace for the finest season of his career. While there are analytical arguments to be made against his contract extension based on his struggles from beyond 50 yards in previous seasons, there is value to the team, its coaches — and yes, its fans — in secure confidence in its veteran kicker. The Broncos might have 100 problems, but kicker isn’t one, and it won’t be with the steady McManus on the job.

Punter Sam Martin has provided the upgrade the Broncos needed from the position. He ranks sixth in gross average and 13th in net average, a number impacted by the team’s subpar punt coverage.

But the Broncos rank 22nd in punt-return average allowed and dead last in kickoff coverage, and the unit has shown a propensity for backbreaking negative plays: a dropped punt snap for a safety in Pittsburgh, a blocked punt against Tampa Bay and a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown allowed to the Chiefs. Further, the conflicting statements and perspectives as to whether to try a 59-yard field goal in Atlanta last week demonstrates that the unit is apparently not on the same page.

Ryan

D-plus — Brandon McManus has been awesome, but that should be considered a given. Across the board, Denver’s coverage units have been underwhelming and punter Sam Martin has been underwhelming ever since Week 1.

With this being Tom McMahoin’s third year in Denver, there are some legitimate questions as to whether he is the right man to be coaching the special teams units for the Brocnos.

If I had to guess one coach who won’tbe here next season, I would put my money on McMahon.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTIONS AT RAIDERS (-4)

Zac

Raiders 31, Broncos 27 — For the first time ever, the Broncos will travel to Las Vegas to play the Raiders. This game has a chance to be quite an offensive show in Vegas.

If there’s ever a time for the Broncos’ offense to put 60 minutes together, it would be against the Raiders’ defense. Las Vegas is allowing over 28 points per game and has given up more than 30 points five times. Denver’s offense will find some consistency against the Raiders, although it won’t be enough.

Earlier in the week, I felt great about the Broncos’ chances in this game. I liked Denver’s chances so much, in fact, I had them winning. However, without Shelby Harris and uncertainty at right tackle, I can’t even pick the Broncos to cover.

In four of the Raiders’ five wins, they have scored more than 30 points. On the flip side, the Broncos have allowed over 30 points in their past three games — the first time they’ve allowed that in over a decade.

With Denver’s defense struggling, the offense will have to win a shootout. Drew Lock and Co. will come up short.

Mase

Raiders 30, Broncos 27 — Las Vegas’ shaky defense has given up at least 24 points in seven of its eight games so far this season. The only exception was in Cleveland two weeks ago, when sustained winds of up to 35 miles per hour effectively made the offenses one-dimensional, choking off any hopes of sustained success through the air. So, expect the points to fly.

But if the Broncos can’t take an early lead, the Raiders should be able to play their preferred game. That involves heavy doses of running back Josh Jacobs, a controlled passing game that spreads the ball among Nelson Agholor, Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow, and occasional deep shots to Henry Ruggs III that force a defense to account for the vertical threat. Las Vegas is 4-0 this year and 8-2 in the last two seasons when Jacobs has at least 20 carries.

Yet another clunky start would likely be too much to overcome, as it was last week.

Ryan

Raiders 31. Broncos 24 — While the offense has been a big problem for Denver, I’m most worried about the defense in this one.

With the entire starting defensive line out due to injury, the Raiders should be able to run the ball and when you allow this defense to be multi-dimentional, they can be dynamic.

If they were healthy, I would be all about the Broncos, but I simply don’t trust the defense in this one.