Maybe, if the defense were merely bad, life would be more tolerable at Dove Valley.
There is one statistic, however, that says the Broncos’ defense is worse than bad. The stat is the most important of them all. It says the Broncos’ defense is not only bad, it’s the worst defense Denver’s franchise has assembled in almost 40 years.
With three quarters gone from what has been a disappointing 2007 season, the Broncos are allowing 27.4 points a game. That’s more than two points worse than the abysmal strike-replacement team of 1982.
To find a Broncos’ defense more indefensible, historians would have to flip all the way back to 1968, when Lou Saban’s orange was crushed more often than not in a 14-game season.
“Heck, yes, it’s embarrassing,” Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said. “All the talent we have in this room? Definitely, embarrassing. But it’s a total team effort when it comes to points. It’s not just defense, I’ll say that.”
What this defense needs is a game against the offensively challenged Kansas City Chiefs. It will be the Resistible Force vs. the Movable Object on Sunday at Invesco Field when the Broncos play the Chiefs, who are averaging only 14.3 points.
Bailey makes a fair point. Truth is, points scored and points allowed are two of football’s most skewed statistics. If a defense scampers with a fumble or interception for a touchdown, or special teams scores on a kick return, the points go in the offensive column.
Contrarily, if special teams surrender touchdowns to Devin Hester, or the offense fumbles the ball away deep in its own territory, the subsequent points go to the defense.
Such was the case in the Broncos’ past two games.
Broncos’ special teams were either directly or indirectly responsible for 21 of the 37 points Hester’s Bears scored Nov. 25. And Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Monday that 31 of the 34 points scored Sunday by the Raiders could be blamed on four offensive turnovers and a running into the punter penalty.
It’s why offensive and defensive leaders are ranked by total yards, not points. Then again, total defense doesn’t exactly support the Broncos, either, as they’re ranked 27th in the 32-team NFL by allowing 351.9 yards a game.
“I don’t know how the scoring breaks down, but I do know we have given up a ton of points,” said Jim Bates, the Broncos’ defensive head coach. “No matter what situation you start from, it’s our job to (surrender) field goals instead of touchdowns. When you give up four out of five (touchdowns) in the red zone (like the Broncos did Sunday), your defense isn’t holding up its end. The bottom line for a defense is keeping points off the scoreboard, and we’re not doing a good job of it.”
Many of the players in the Broncos’ locker room swear by Bates, while people outside the locker room simply swear at him. He is in his first year with the Broncos. He handpicked many of the new defensive players. He brought in a new defensive system that has since been altered by adding an eighth man in the box.
The Broncos’ 5-7 record, coupled with a defensive struggle that harkens to before the merger of the NFL and American Football League, has placed Bates under scrutiny.
“As soon as there is a little adversity, it’s going to go back to the coach,” Shanahan said Monday at his news conference. “We are all disappointed. We’re not scoring as many points and putting the ball in the end zone. I’m disappointed in myself. It’s my job to get the job done. If we don’t get it done, it comes back to me. Don’t worry about Bates, the offensive line coaches or the other assistant coaches. Talk about my situation, and we’ll be all right.”
Most of the Broncos’ defensive problems have been in stopping the run — until opposing quarterbacks such as Brett Favre or Josh McCown really need to complete a pass. The defensive line has been blamed for lacking strength. The linebackers have been blamed for not fulfilling their gap assignments. The secondary has been blamed for getting burned.
And sometimes, the defense isn’t to blame at all, and it still gives up points.
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
