From the e-mail bag: “One simple question. Why can’t the defense tackle?”
Or cover anybody. Or stop anybody. Or get off the field on third down.
This is ugly. There’s no other word for it. The Patriots were a struggling team, a banged-up team, a team looking for answers. And the Broncos provided all of them.
No, it’s not all on the defense. Not when you have five turnovers. If you’ve lost your scorecard or circular-filed it in a huff, that’s 12 turnovers in the Broncos’ three losses.
But that defense
As we speak, no player in the league is under more pressure than Jay Cutler. We’re left to wonder what runs through his mind when he stands on the sideline and watches other teams’ offenses – often ones that rank as mediocre at best – carve up the Denver defense.
Mike Shanahan’s quote during training camp still hangs in the air: “This team will not miss the playoffs.” Obviously, having said that, he felt the defense would be improved, at least enough for the Broncos to win 10-plus games.
The defense isn’t improved. If anything, it’s worse than ever. Four times, the Broncos have allowed 30-plus points – 38, 32, 33 and 41. That’s no way to go about your business if you consider yourself a playoff team.
The biggest problem of all is that there’s no way out. Not now. Not during the season. The answers won’t come until the off-season, until the draft and free agency. And even then, history suggests Shanahan may not come up with a solution.
The Broncos don’t need new schemes. They need new players. It’s as obvious as those ugly numbers on the scoreboard. And you could argue they need a new coach, too, or at least a new bottom-line decision maker on draft day.
But that’s not going to happen. It’s all on Shanahan, Pat Bowlen’s coach for life, to get this fixed.
Follow Jim Armstrong’s sports updates on The Jimmy Page morning and afternoon Monday-Friday. And read his columns on Sundays at .
He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
