Broncos’ Payton backs Bo Nix amid struggles: ‘Simply maintain firing’

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton defended quarterback Bo Nix‘s mechanics Thursday with the promise that huge performs will come. However Payton mentioned the offense’s greatest drawback is that it hasn’t discovered its identification, and that has been affecting Nix, as nicely.

The Broncos have misplaced back-to-back video games on the final play — to the Indianapolis Colts and the Los Angeles Chargers — and Nix’s play has been scrutinized due to the offense’s struggles. He’s twenty fifth within the league in QBR (41.8), and, based on NextGen, his tight-window completion proportion is sixteenth (37.5%), tied with lately benched Giants quarterback Russell Wilson.

Nix narrowly missed a number of potential huge performs within the loss to the Chargers on Sunday, all on overthrows, together with one to a wide-open Courtland Sutton within the fourth quarter that may have probably sealed a win. The Broncos additionally had seven possessions during which they totaled 9 or fewer yards and 4 possessions during which that they had 1 yard or fewer.

Requested Thursday about Nix’s mechanics by way of three video games, Payton inspired him to “simply maintain firing.”

“He will hit loads of these. … [And] there’s occasions I am certain once we sit and watch the tape [there are things to repair],” Payton mentioned. “However one of many issues that is a present are his off-schedule throws, however you simply need to watch out of how a lot you inform him. Once you settle into sure performs, there is a rhythm to the mechanics. … However total, I believe [the ball] is popping out nicely.”

Payton mentioned the Broncos’ actual wrestle is extra of a big-picture scenario. The workforce is twenty seventh in third-down conversions and common yards to go on third down, and nineteenth in huge performs (runs of 10 or extra yards and passes of 20 or extra yards) and passing yards per sport. The Broncos are additionally one of the vital penalized offenses within the league with 14.

Although they’re eighth within the league in dashing yards per sport (129.0), they’re twentieth in makes an attempt. Payton mentioned it is all a part of an offensive rhythm and “identification” the workforce hasn’t discovered. He mentioned it is on the coaches to assist the workforce set up one.

The Broncos face the Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) on Monday night time in Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive.

“Finally, you need to go on the market and hit each single considered one of them,” Nix mentioned of the missed huge performs. “I’ve but to truly play a sport the place I’ve hit all of them. However I am engaged on that, and I really feel assured that at some point I can go on the market and do it. And which may be loopy on my half, however I really imagine it.”