Fangio: Flacco Needs to 'Make Better Reads & Get The Ball Out Quicker'
The last time the Denver Broncos stepped onto the field of play, they were embarrassed on a national scale at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Since the Broncos fell to the Chiefs 30-6 on Thursday Night Football, the team has been licking its wounds and doing the type of reflecting and self-scouting a mini-bye can provide.
One thing Vic Fangio is unfraid to admit, in the wake of the eight sacks the Broncos relinquished in their crushing defeat, is that starting quarterback Joe Flacco has to play better. The Broncos head coach rightly didn't put it all on Flacco's shoulders, but was also unflinchingly frank in his estimation of how the offense's pass protection has to improve.
“We have to block better, we have to get open, we have to make better reads and get the ball out quicker," Fangio said on Wednesday ahead of Denver's Week 8 bout with Indianapolis. "I know that sounds like a vanilla answer, but that’s the truth.”
On the season, Flacco has completed 65.7% of his passes for 1,648 yards, with six touchdowns and five interceptions. He's been the epitome of impotent as a passer and overall triggerman for the Broncos.
Now, it doesn't help that he's been sacked 23 times already through just seven games but you can attribute about half of those QB-takedowns to the very issues Fangio spoke to. Namely, not making the correct pre- and post-snap reads and holding onto the ball too long.
When the offensive tackles are a turnstile, it's incumbent upon the QB to recognize that and adjust his play accordingly. The likes of Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton and Noah Fant also need work to create separation earlier in the routes, while OC Rich Scangarello needs to adjust the scheme for shorter drop-backs.
But Flacco himself has to always recognize his hot-route before the snap and understand that, no matter what, the ball has to come out quickly. Period. End of story.
In the NFL, no one player can be totally blamed for the struggles or failure of a unit. But at the same time, the QB is ultimately responsible for the success of an offense. It's one of those dichotomies of the NFL.
The onus is on Joe Flacco to step his game up. Until he does, the fan outcry will only continue and the organization will increasingly have to face the existential demand of getting Drew Lock onto the field.
Next up on the schedule is a trip to Lucas Oil Field to take on the 4-2 Indianapolis Colts.
Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.
