The Denver Broncos have heard the calls to fix their struggling offense, and coach Sean Payton apparently started making changes before anyone noticed.
Payton, known for his offensive mind, has already begun taking back play-calling duties from first-year offensive coordinator Davis Webb and will take on more in the coming weeks, according to former Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley, now a Denver Sports host on 104.3 The Fan.
Stokley shared the news on social media Wednesday night.
“Sean (Payton) was more involved last week calling plays and I’m hearing he’ll be more involved this week,” Stokley, the host of Stokley and Evans with Mark Schlereth, wrote. “Will it be 100 percent we shall see but I’m hearing he’s taking over the majority if not all of the play calling.”
Stokley had first reported that Payton was taking over play-calling completely, starting with Sunday’s Week 5 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. His updated report reflects a bit more what Payton described in the preseason. Webb as the main play-caller but Payton’s input being part of the equation. But moving forward maybe Payton is the driver more so than the navigator.
The report that Payton was already more involved last Sunday raises its own questions, given how the offense looked in a 24-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Denver ran for just 3.7 yards per carry in the loss. The Broncos fell to 2-2, two games and the tiebreaker (for now) behind the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.
After the game, Payton wouldn’t say whether he was thinking about changing play-callers.
“It’s too early — it’s a fair question; I appreciate it. And, man, it’s tough to discuss any of that right now,” Payton said.
He did admit the offense needs answers quickly.
“We’ve had some opportunities, but there are a handful of things that aren’t clicking,” Payton said. “And we gotta figure it out fast, because we’re going into Week 5.”
Quarterback Bo Nix backed Webb after the loss.
“Yeah, I’m real confident in him,” Nix said. “I think when you look at the overall landscape, we’ve played four of the top teams in the league, and (it’s) not easy for a first-time OC as young as he is to go against some of the, quite frankly, the best teams in the league.”
Denver changed its offensive staff this offseason even after going 14-3 and reaching the AFC Championship Game. The Broncos moved on from offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. Payton had called plays for a middle-of-the-pack offense, and he handed those duties and the coordinator title to Webb, the team’s quarterbacks coach last season.
The move also helped keep Webb in Denver. He interviewed for head coaching jobs with the Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens last offseason
For now, who’s in Nix’s ear on Sunday, and for how many snaps, is anyone’s guess.
