LONDON — The Broncos have not performed the way they hoped. This is reflected in Denver’s low scoring offense of 14.3 points per contest.
Beyond the issues surrounding quarterback Russell Wilson or coach Nathaniel Hackett. One of the most surprising problems has been the absence of participation from their five tight end. The Broncos have been drawn to Wilson, playing in a shotgun formation with three wide receiver groups. This has caused the contributions of the five tight ends to drop.
“Versatility is crucial for this system and just building on that, their athletic ability as well as their ability to learn all,” stated the offensive coordinator. Justin Outten.
However, the Broncos have a long way to go before they can achieve that level of versatility.
Rookie tight end Greg Dulcich missed most of training camp as well as the Broncos’ first five games of the season with a hamstring injury, and yet he leads the team’s tight ends in catches (eight) and has one of the two touchdown receptions the tight ends have made thus far this season.
And while that’s good for Dulcich’s progress, it’s a fairly strong indicator that in an offense with few bright spots, the tight ends are not what the Broncos need them to be.
Wilson worried about the close calls he made on scoring plays at tight ends during the season-opening defeat to the Seattle Seahawks: “[Eric Saubert] Nearly caught a great one. [Eric Tomlinson] The one where I kinda rolled out right. His foot was apparently out of bounds. That would’ve been a touchdown. I did a little flip. [Andrew] Beck [negated by penalty] — that’s another touchdown.”
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Beck was able to receive 52 yards in the opener. In the last six games, he has only had three targets. Tomlinson only has four targets in his last six games while Saubert has been targeted just twice in those two games. That’s still better than Albert OkwuegbunamFourth-round draft pick, he has gone from five receptions to the opener to three targets over the last six games. He was also a game-day inactive for the last two.
Dulcich, who was selected in the third round this year’s draft has definitely made an impact over the last two week. Dulcich had his first ever career touchdown, a catch-and-run of 39 yards against the Chargers. He also recorded a six-catch, 51 yard effort against the Jets.
“It doesn’t really surprise me because of the way he was trending when he was first with us,’’ Hackett said. “I think I am a little bit blown away at how he hasn’t skipped a beat. Just shows, a testament to him, even with the injury and the time he was how hard he worked to pick up this system.’’
Okwuegbunam, whose role as the best athletic matchup among the tight ends for the Broncos in the passing game has been essentially filled by Dulcich’s return, has been one of the names floated around The league is a possible trade target. The league’s trade deadline is Tuesday and general manager George Paton has repeatedly said he is on the hunt for additional draft picks for 2023 if he can acquire them “in something that makes sense.’’
Hackett knows that Hackett has an offense that has not scored more than eight touchdowns in seven games. But when asked if Dulcich and the others can carve out a bigger slice of production, he has simply said “we’re going to need everybody on this team … we have to dig ourselves out of this.’’