OK, the new quarterback is in. Does that mean the Broncos’ offensive problems are magically solved with the flip of a switch? Jay Cutler in, Jake Plummer out, offense suddenly on point?
Perhaps it puts the rest of the offense on alert.
“I think it does,” fullback Kyle Johnson said. “We all know we have to do a better job.”
Cutler’s promotion and Plummer’s demotion aren’t necessarily a signal to the other 10 starters that their jobs are on the line, but it shows the players the coaching staff wants the sluggish play to cease.
It is December and the Denver offense has yet to find an identity and lacks consistency. As a unit, it has scored more than 17 points only three times. Tight end Stephen Alexander says he feels bad for Plummer because the offense as a whole has struggled.
“It’s everyone,” Alexander said. “We all have to do a better job. We all have to do our part to get where we want to be, where this offense is supposed to be.”
While many hope inserting Cutler on Sunday night against Seattle at Invesco Field at Mile High will be a cure-all, there have been more problems than just Plummer. Yes, Plummer missed some open receivers and threw 12 interceptions and only 11 touchdowns in 11 games. But he wasn’t the only player responsible for numerous three-and-outs.
“We have to get better on offense, and the quarterback change doesn’t mean the end of it,” said Mike Heimerdinger, Denver’s assistant head coach. “We have to block better, we have get the running game going. We have to separate better on pass plays and get open better.”
The Broncos’ running game has struggled with starter Tatum Bell out because of turf toe, but he is expected to be ready against Seattle. In three of the past four games, Denver has failed to gain 100 yards rushing.
“It’s been very disappointing for me,” veteran Rod Smith said. “I’m probably the only receiver in the league’s history to ever want to run the football, but that’s what makes our offense go.”
Smith said he is glad Tatum Bell is healthy and likely to get the call Sunday.
“Nothing against the other guys, but I think he has the ability to give us that threat we need in the backfield,” Smith said.
The offensive line has struggled to find continuity. Erik Pears has done a decent job since taking over for left tackle Matt Lepsis, who was lost for the season to a knee injury on Oct. 22 at Cleveland. But Pears, in his first NFL season, struggled last week at Kansas City.
Adam Meadows took over at right tackle for struggling George Foster on Nov. 12 at Oakland, but Foster came back in at Kansas City when Meadows suffered a hamstring injury. Foster is scheduled to play Sunday night if Meadows, who is hoping to practice today, can’t play.
In an offense traditionally heavy on tight-end passing production, Denver’s tight ends have caught only 26 passes. Nine of the catches came in one game, at Oakland.
Still, Denver is confident it can get the offense going with Cutler in charge. Because Cutler is comfortable in and outside of the pocket, Denver will have more options. Plus, with Bell healthy, the running game should provide more balance.
Another option in the offense could be rookie tight end Tony Scheffler. He has only six catches this season and has been inactive two of the past three games, but Cutler and Scheffler built a strong relationship in training camp and preseason games.
“I hope to get in there and to help out,” Scheffler said. “Jay and I have a good chemistry.”
And if Denver’s offense is in need of anything, it’s chemistry.
Staff writer Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com
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Fixing the offense
The Broncos hope replacing struggling quarterback Jake Plummer with rookie Jay Cutler will give their offense a boost, but quarterback play has been only one of several problems. Broncos reporter Bill Williamson counts the ways the offense has struggled and what it needs to do to improve:
Problem: The running game has failed to gain 100 yards in three of the past four games.
Solution: Tatum Bell, who has missed three of the past four games with turf toe, needs to return to form. Perhaps he and Mike Bell can provide a tough tandem.
Problem: The offensive line has been in flux because of injuries.
Solution: Adam Meadows needs to recover from a hamstring injury, and first-year starter Erik Pears needs to continue to improve in place of Matt Lepsis, who is out for the season.
Problem: The tight ends have caught only 26 passes this season.
Solution: Rookie Tony Scheffler had a great preseason connection with Cutler. The two need same thing in regular season.
