Simplicity the Best Chance for Rich Scangarello to Right the Broncos' Offensive Ship

First-year offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello was under enough heat as it was without his starting quarterback choosing to turn up the temperature a few notches after the Denver Broncos' trip to Indianapolis.

What has become crystal clear since the collapse at Lucas Oil Stadium is that Scangarello is now coaching for his future over the remainder of the Broncos' 2019 campaign.

Over recent weeks, criticism has increased and the rookie play-caller must now find solutions to the biggest core issues that continue to stall the Broncos offense or face sliding back down the coaching ladder in double-quick time. Anger and frustration have been the focus over the core construction of personnel and how the passive offensive play-calling has blunted scoring totals and opportunities.

Looking back over the first portion of the season, it’s blatantly obvious that the vital components and coaching of the offensive line are the insurmountable obstacles to any great offensive plans and execution.

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In large part, there was a feeling that the issues were going to be solved when GM John Elway poached offensive line guru Mike Munchak away from the Pittsburgh Steelers during the offseason. Harsh reality points to this being a disappointing false dawn as the O-line has routinely put up performances that have been hard to fathom.

It is the inability of the former first-round draft pick at left tackle — Garett Bolles — to progress and respond to coaching that has caused the most damage upfront. What is emerging is that Bolles is out of his depth when facing elite NFL opposition and he has become equally ineffective in pass protection as he is in run-blocking assignments.

Accountability for the ongoing mess not only resides with Bolles, it also runs from the scouting department down through Elway and at present, Munchak, Vic Fangio and the ever-shaky Scangarello, who all continue to trot Bolles out as a starter.

Injury problems that have deprived the coaches of prized free-agent signing Ja’Wuan James for long periods could easily be highlighted as it has severely restricted the options in the swing tackle role. One success story has proved to be the immediate impact of brawling rookie left guard Dalton Risner, who has not only excelled but has also developed into a genuine team leader who can potentially reach All Pro level in coming seasons.

Scangarello has been massively limited two-fold in the passing game by his QB, Joe Flacco. Firstly, the limitations have come by way of Flacco's lack of mobility and secondly, his tendency to hold on to the ball for far too long behind a fractured offensive line.

Newfangled starter Brandon Allen enters the situation due to Flacco’s neck injury and at the very least he is an upgrade in terms of having more youthful legs but is sure to find things uncomfortable when he drops back to throw.

For the embattled and inexperienced coach to dig himself out of the hole, Scangarello might be smart to return to the football basics by playing old fashioned pound-the-rock football with Philip Lindsay and Royce Freeman, behind simple, effective blocking schemes and a big fullback in Andy Janovich. Sometimes the best answers are the most obvious ones.

Follow Keith on Twitter @KeithC_NFL and @MileHighHuddle.

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