3 Hard Takeaways From Broncos' Preseason Debut Under Sean Payton
The Denver Broncos fell to the Arizona Cardinals 18-17 on Friday night, thanks to a defensive collapse on the home team's final possession. Although it was a low-scoring preseason affair, we learned a lot about Sean Payton's operation.
It was a bit of a disjointed debut for the Broncos in a losing effort, but there was plenty to take away from the game. Let's dive into a few key observations and the implications thereof.
Payton Exorcising the Demons
After three fruitless possessions for the Broncos' first-team offense, few expected Russell Wilson to trot out for a fourth. But that's how it shook out at State Farm Stadium. A less experienced and confident coach would have perhaps buckled under the reality of Wilson getting hit too much in an exhibition game and left well enough alone.
But Payton kept the starters out there for one more possession, leading the unit by taking the bull by the horns and showcasing his resolve. Payton showed his players that they can't get it twisted; faith precedes the miracle. It's never the other way around.
It panned out for the Broncos, though it took a fourth-down try deep in Arizona territory to come to fruition, as Wilson connected with Jerry Jeudy on a 21-yard touchdown toward the end of the second quarter.
There was a palpable sense of relief along the Broncos' sideline and in the collective fan base. Payton rolled the dice, risking Wilson to the predations of the Cardinals and a leaky offensive line because the old demons of last year need to be exorcised with prejudice.
Although it didn't go perfectly for the Broncos' first-teamers, Payton taught them something along the way. And the unit picked up a modest boost of confidence, perhaps helping Wilson and company to resist the urge to listen to the boo-birds and look backward on what happened in the past instead of keeping their focus on the present.
This is about the now. It's about relearning the little things. It's about learning how to win again.
Worry About the O-Line
If Broncos fans need something to worry about, put the Wilson anxieties to the side for the time being, and fret over the fourth highest-paid offensive line in the NFL failing to answer the bell in its debut. I get it; injured, high-priced right tackle Mike McGlinchey wasn't out there on Friday night (that's a ball of wax unto itself), but the unit as a whole was leaky in pass pro.
The Broncos' O-line opened up a few holes for Samaje Perine, but with the exception of one productive 10-yard rush, most of his yardage came by way of hard-earned second effort. Meanwhile, Wilson showed the familiar propensity for holding onto the ball a beat too long, and in at least one instance, breaking the pocket early — and making the tackles' job harder.
But Wilson's sideline coaching from QBs Coach Davis Webb, and, ostensibly, Payton, showed incremental improvement in that department on each possession. Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi talked about coaching some new muscle memory into Wilson and that'll take a little time.
What Broncos Country hopes won't be a long work in progress is left tackle Garett Bolles' return to the starting lineup after missing most of last season with a broken leg. Bolles was a sieve on Friday night, relinquishing multiple pressures and hits on Wilson.
Hopefully, Friday night's O-line showing was a case of the jitters and shaking off rust. If the tackle play is going to be that bad moving forward, it's going to be much harder for Payton to get Wilson to critical mass.
Kicker Competition is Clear as Mud
Both Brett Maher and Elliott Fry missed their first field-goal attempts in the desert. Maher's miss was an ugly 47-yarder, while Fry's went wide from 50.
Fry slightly redeemed himself by nailing a 55-yarder late in the second quarter, but Maher's successful extra point won't be enough to make up for his initial miss. Fry also hit his extra point in the clutch to give the Broncos a seven-point lead, though it would be relinquished by the defense.
On the heels of Maher's disturbing playoff meltdown with the Dallas Cowboys, the veteran's Broncos debut may have already shown Payton all that he needs to see.
Fry is young and inexperienced, and Broncos special teams czar and assistant head coach Mike Westhoff and coordinator Ben Kotwica might be more inclined to try teaching a young dog the right tricks instead of endeavoring to fix a broken hound, old though he may be, who simply can't hunt anymore.
Somewhere out east, Brandon McManus was laughing on Friday night.
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