Mike Shanahan, on the state of the Broncos’ defense, circa nine days ago: “We’re starting to build and starting to make some strides forward. Hopefully we can keep it going.”
Let me guess. You’re thinking what I’m thinking: What’s he supposed to say?
Enough already with wishful thinking and talk of a blown assignment here or a missed tackle there. And don’t blame the officials, either.
To be kind, the Broncos aren’t very good on the defensive side of the ball. Not only that, there’s no particular reason to believe they will be. Not this season. Not until a handful of new starters arrives. And frankly, even then you would have to wonder.
Given the lengths Shanahan has gone to make it not so, it’s beyond perplexing how the Broncos’ defense could be in such shambles. He has played musical coordinators. He has switched to the 3-4. He has tried trades and free agency and first-rounders. He swapped arguably the best tailback in franchise history for a cornerback bound for the Hall of Fame.
And still the Broncos have one of the NFL’s poorest defenses.
The Tampa Bay game may have served up a slice of hope, but the Jacksonville game provided the reality check. It wasn’t just that the Broncos lost, but how they lost. The defensive players knew the offense was short-handed, knew it was on them to step up and control the game.
So what happens? They get dominated in the trenches. At home. By the league’s 20th-ranked offense.
Talk about deju vu all over again. A year ago, it was the same kind of loss to the same team at the same place. That’s what cost Jim Bates his job. It didn’t become official that day, just obvious.
Question is, why should anything be different this time? What evidence is there to think that Bates’ successor, Bob Slowik, is the answer?
The Broncos are last in the league in yards allowed and on pace to set an NFL record for highest completion percentage allowed. They have two interceptions through six games, one by a defensive tackle. Last year’s No. 1 draft pick, Jarvis Moss, has been on and off the inactive list.
Not that Slowik is necessarily the problem. At this point, you have to wonder if any coordinator could make a difference. And if the problem lies with the talent Slowik is working with, the blame lies with the man who hired him.
At least Shanahan knows what the problem is. It’s up to him, and only him, to fix it.
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
