Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag weekly during the season.
You can pose a Broncos- or NFL-related question for the Broncos Mailbag here. Follow Ryan for more daily updates on Twitter.
Where are the touchdowns? Why is Drew Lock throwing the ball in the critical minutes late in the game?
— Manny, El Paso, Texas
The Broncos’ nine touchdowns entering Week 7 rank 30th in the NFL, ahead of only the Jets (seven) and Giants (eight). The key to scoring more touchdowns is better play in the red zone. The Broncos have scored only six touchdowns in 15 trips inside the 20-yard line — not good enough.
As for Lock’s second fourth-quarter interception, I agree. What were they thinking? Were they thinking at all? The Broncos took over with 3:23 remaining. The Patriots had two timeouts left — make them use them. Three receivers lined up to the right should have been a key for the Broncos to run left, which would have gained yards, milked the clock and not made things interesting. Instead, Lock threw the pick.
I’m a long-time Broncos fan and Sunday was a magical day for Brandon McManus. Will the incoming cold weather affect how far he kicks the ball? Thanks for the mailbag!
— Francois Piche, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Thanks for reading. That’s a good thought about McManus’ statistical splits early in the year vs. late in the year. I searched McManus’ field goal work divided by month.
September: 86.5%,
October: 84.4%.
November: 76.9%.
December: 81%.
There is a small drop-off, but not too concerning. Helping McManus down the stretch will be that he plays road games in Atlanta, Las Vegas and Los Angeles — all domed stadiums.
As McManus has said in the past, late-season road games can have all kinds of tough conditions — last year, it was the wind in Buffalo and the snow in Kansas City.
What has been the key to the improvement of Garett Bolles this season? Has he earned himself a new contract with the Broncos moving forward?
— Jeff, Delta
The key to Bolles’ improvement: He’s been more consistent in his technique, not lunging at the pass rusher and thus getting himself out of position. He’s carried over his solid run-blocking work from last year. And the big thing, of course, he isn’t hearing his jersey number called by the referee for a penalty.
Left tackles are hard to find in this league, but the Broncos shouldn’t regret declining Bolles’ fifth-year (2021) contract option. He will be a free agent in March. Bolles’ next contract, if his play continues to be solid, will be fascinating to monitor. Will Bolles move on because he felt the Broncos didn’t have faith in him via the option? Will the Broncos feel the first round of the draft is a better option than paying Bolles?
Hi Ryan. Love your mailbag. I’m writing to you from Sweden and I’ve been a Broncos fan since the 1980s. I have a TV-related question for you. Why do the broadcasts of NFL games have so many close-up views? When the quarterback has the ball, all you can see is him and the offensive/defensive lines. Do Americans have bad eyesight or what?
— Anders, Helsingborg, Sweden
Good to get a question from the home country of Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog.
My theory on the close-ups: The networks want to humanize the players — who are in pads and helmets — just like they do with the NBA and baseball players. Plus, directors often can’t help themselves — they want to cut to as many close-ups as possible instead of just showing the formations.
For the football nut, I would recommend NFL Game Pass, which provides the All-22 Coaches’ Tape a few days after the game. It can be a frustrating website with frozen screens and skipped plays, but it’s also educational.
I saw that coach Vic Fangio said that the COVID-19 situation with the Patriots will expose who the “complainers and (whiners)” are. Most people took it as a shot at the Patriots. My take is that he was actually talking about his own players. With that said, isn’t it insensitive to call out his players for wanting a bye week with all of the injuries that have come in practices and in games? I think the players have every right to feel robbed as well as concerned!
— Jamal, Portsmouth, Va.
I didn’t think Fangio was calling out the Patriots last weekend when he said that because New England wasn’t doing any of the complaining.
I disagree with you that Fangio was being inconsiderate toward his players who were upset about sacrificing their bye week. It wasn’t ideal. Was it fair? The NFL isn’t fair and these are extraordinary times.
In Fangio’s defense, he gave the players four consecutive days off after the Jets game and three consecutive days once the New England game was moved.
Ryan, how long are we going to keep DaeSean Hamilton on the roster? He dropped yet another catchable ball on Sunday. I feel like we have more talented players with better potential who need game reps than to keep rolling him out. What say you?
— Marshall, Lakewood
Injuries have created playing time for Hamilton and he isn’t taking advantage, catching just three passes in the first five games.
If Courtland Sutton was healthy (he’s out for the year with a torn ACL) and KJ Hamler was available (currently sidelined with a hamstring injury), Hamilton would be further down the depth chart. Now, though, he’s No. 3 behind Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick.
I mentioned this in Tuesday’s debate with Mark Kiszla — the Broncos should take a look at rookie receiver Tyrie Cleveland.
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