This just in. The Broncos had a lousy day at the office Sunday.
And their boss didn’t exactly have a day for the scrap book, either.
I give you third-and-two inside the Jacksonville 5-yard line, Broncos trailing 20-7 in the second half. With Travis Henry, the league’s leading rusher, at his disposal, Mike Shanahan decides to run undrafted rookie free agent Selvin Young on a draw play.
After about a half-yard gain, the Broncos faced a fourth-and-one-and-a-half on the Jaguars’ 3. The play call? A quarterback sneak by Jay Cutler that went nowhere.
“Obviously,” Shanahan said, “we thought it would work.”
It didn’t, and, while we’re on the subject, nothing else worked, either. It wasn’t just the Broncos’ inability to move the ball, though. It was the ball distribution that left you scratching your head.
Javon Walker, who was leading the league in catches with 17, caught two balls for 10 yards. Daniel Graham, signed to a five-year, $30-million contract in the off-season, had two balls thrown his way. One was nullifed by a penalty, the other Graham had in his hands for an instant before losing control as he hit the ground.
The Broncos will have to step it up considerably if they want to beat the Colts Sunday. And so will their coach.
Follow Jim Armstrong’s daily Broncos commentaries on The Jimmy Page at 7 a.m. and noon. And read his Third & Short column on Sundays and the day after Broncos games.
He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
