What if the Broncos’ solution for the next several weeks without Jerry Jeudy rests in multiple-tight end formations?
If that is the case, Sunday’s 27-13 win over the New York Giants brought a preview of what could be to come: a team that uses multiple tight ends more often than not.
The game situation helped dictate it. Playing with a lead allowed the Broncos to tilt their tactics more toward the ground and controlling the clock, especially as the game progressed and the Broncos made more frequent use of multiple-tight end packages.
By the time the Broncos’ win over New York was complete, they had run more than half of their plays with at least two tight ends — 34 of 66 snaps, a percentage of 51.5 percent. Only against Miami last year did offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur use multiple-tight end sets for a higher percentage of the snaps; that day, the Broncos went with at least two tight ends 58.1 percent of the time.
That game, the reasons for the heavy-personnel emphasis were obvious. The Broncos needed to minimize the risk of giveaways in the passing game after the team’s quarterbacks had averaged 2 interceptions a game in the previous eight contests, including four in a 37-12 loss at Las Vegas seven days earlier. They also wanted to exploit Miami’s emphasis on packing the interior, so they used the extra tight ends to set the edges and create outside-running opportunities. It worked.
Against the Giants, it was all about creating balance.
“We got our guys out there and we were able to get some run game stuff going. So, it went well,” said tight end Noah Fant, whose six receptions in Week 1 matched Jeudy for the team lead. “I expect that for that to keep going well.”
Denver had 12 runs and 12 passing plays in their 24 two-tight end snaps against the Giants. They averaged 3.4 yards per pass play, including the third-quarter touchdown pass from Teddy Bridgewater to Albert Okwuegbunam. But they also averaged 5.3 yards per rush with two-tight end packages, compared with 2.0 yards per attempt on eight runs with one tight end on the field.
It is obvious that you would run more with two-tight end packages than with one tight end and one running back. Indeed, the 50-50 balance achieved with 12 personnel was far different than the 75-25 ratio that favored the pass in 11 personnel; Denver had 24 pass plays and eight runs with those three-wide sets.
A key going forward will be to be able to generate more explosive passes out of the two-tight end packages.
They could take a page from their work in three-tight end packages for that; their two passes in 13 personnel went for 18 and 25 yards, respectively.
By the end of Sunday’s win, the Broncos had run 10 plays from three-tight end sets. By tally and percentage — 15.1 percent — this was the most frequent use of three-tight end packages since Shurmur became the Broncos’ offensive coordinator last year. During that 2020 season, the Broncos never ran more than seven plays in any game with three tight ends, both of which were in wins (at New England in Week 6 and at home against the Dolphins in Week 11.
It was no surprise that the Broncos ran eight times on those 10 plays they ran with 13 personnel. They averaged 10.6 yards per carry on those plays, but that tally was boosted by Melvin Gordon’s 70-yard, game-clinching touchdown gallop in the fourth quarter; the other seven runs averaged 2.1 yards per attempt.
But a key to making three-tight end packages viable is the willingness to pass from them. As noted earlier, the Broncos did so successfully.
If they can improve their aerial efficiency in 12 personnel to match their proficiency with 13 personnel, the multiple-tight end packages could become a base offense that proves deadly for opponents.
