The Starting eleven: Where Do the Broncos and Redskins Go From Here?

Posted On Oct 2, 2019 By admin With Comments Off

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Denver and Washington are both sitting at 0-4, but unlike other winless squads around the NFL, neither seems to have a clear plan for how to turn things around. Plus: Nick Chubb has the Browns offense back on track and Chase Daniel is … good?

Welcome to the Starting 11. This NFL season, we’ll be rallying the biggest story lines, spotlighting the standout musicians, and featuring the most jaw-dropping undertakings of the week. Let’s dive in.

1. Denver and Washington both precipitated to 0-4 on Sunday, and their seasons are slipping away. Where do these two storied but rudderless dealerships get from here? Let’s start in Denver, where the team’s launched veterans seem to be losing patience. On his way out of the cupboard chamber following the Broncos’ 26 -2 4 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday, cornerback Chris Harris Jr. shrugged off reporters and made it clear that he’s already eyeing the end of Denver’s dysfunctional season. “I ain’t saying nothing, ” Harris Jr. said, according to The Denver Post. “Thirteen more weeks for me.” The four-time Pro Bowl corner will be a free agent at the end of this season, so his escape mean should be fairly simple. But others in the organization won’t have it quite so easy.

The most distressing part of Denver’s sickening start is that this season was supposed to be the start of a new period. General manager John Elway hired 61 -year-old Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio as the Broncos’ brand-new president coach this offseason and distributed a fourth-round pick to Baltimore for quarterback Joe Flacco. It seemed that Elway was scheming on Fangio to hoist Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, and the rest of the protection, while Flacco stabilized the offense and Denver formulated a long-term plan at QB. Through four plays , none of those things have happened. The once-vaunted Broncos defense lastly recorded its first bag of the season on Sunday, but Denver remains the only team in the conference to have not forced a turnover. Jacksonville running back Leonard Fournette, who hadn’t rushed for more than 100 grounds since December 10, 2017, finished with 225 on 29 carries. That’s 46 more grounds than Fournette had on the season coming into Sunday’s game. Flacco had a solid but unspectacular outing against the Jaguars, shedding for 303 grounds and three touchdowns, but the offense has still been dreadfully mediocre. A month into the season, Denver has no perceptible identity–and no obvious track to finding one.

Typically, a squad involved in this type of rut would try to constitute some key changes–like feel a brand-new QB or top coach–that might inject life into the organization. But the Broncos simply did both sets of things this offseason, and now they’re committed to this plan beyond 2019. In early September, the front office converted $13.6 million of Flacco’s base salary into a signing bonus to create extra cap space. Before the move, Flacco had no guaranteed coin left on his treat. Now, he’ll carry a $13.6 million dead cap indict if the Broncos trade or release him before next season, and a $10.2 million thumped if he’s let go before the 2021 season.

Trading for Flacco and then tying up even more future the resources available to the 34 -year-old is just the latest QB-related blunder for Elway. After signing Peyton Manning ahead of the 2012 season, Denver’s search for his replacing has been a comedy of missteps, filled with shameful stints from the likes of Brock Osweiler, Trevor Siemian, and Case Keenum. Rookie quarterback Drew Lock is the latest potential answer, but the 2019 second-round pick is currently on IR with a dislocated thumb. When a season slips away, teams can generally find some solace in giving young participates an opportunity to develop, but with Lock on the shelf and second-year line rusher Bradley Chubb now out for the season with a charge ACL, the franchise’s two most important rookie-contract cornerstones won’t have that chance in 2019.

Considering Fangio is unlikely to be fired after a single time, it’s fair to wonder whether Elway’s time as the Broncos’ primary decision maker has run its course. The Denver Broncos aren’t likely to fire the best player in franchise autobiography, but steering Elway into an ambassador role and siding the keys to a seasoned geniu evaluator might be in everyone’s best interest. If ownership–which is currently a mess in its own right–does decide to let Elway ensure the Lock experiment through, the freedom move for the Broncos may be to try and trade pending free agent like Harris Jr. and Emmanuel Sanders and rehabilitate this roster on the fly. Because right now, whatever the current plan is for Denver merely isn’t working.

2. Like Denver, Washington is also trying to pick up the patches after a winless start–but there’s not a good deal of hope on the horizon. The Redskins eventually turned to Dwayne Haskins on Sunday, but it was immediately clear that the rookie QB won’t be enough to save their crumple season. Haskins finished 9-of-17 passing with simply 107 yards and three interceptions, and he presented everyone why manager manager Jay Gruden was so hesitant to convulse his young QB into the fire so early. Even if Haskins fights as a rookie, though, his improvement is at least something to look forward to. With Alex Smith’s outlook uncertain as he continues his recovery from the undermined leg he suffered late last-place season, Haskins is the future of the right. The question for Washington is that it’s nearly impossible to find much hope elsewhere.

If the Redskins fail to correct course–which seems likely at this point–Gruden may lose his job. And soon. But even if Washington ten-strikes on its next psyche manager, the other issues that have affliction this dealership for years aren’t going away. Team president Bruce Allen has left Washington almost completely devoid of any high-end talent, and the franchise’s mismanagement of its listing continues to boggle the subconsciou. Trent Williams, the team’s star left undertake, refuses to play for the Redskins again after a dispute about a medical controversy last season. Their Pro Bowl right guard, Brandon Scherff, is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the two sides supposedly aren’t close to finalizing an extension. Washington was forced to cut two starting-caliber linebackers this offseason to create the cap room necessary to sign safety Landon Collins to a six-year, $84 million contract–which isn’t precisely the characteristics of vigorous move a rebuilding squad should constitute. Josh Norman, whose $14.3 million detonator hit is the fifth highest in the organization among cornerbacks this season, has looked completely lost. Aside from rookie receiver Terry McLaurin and some promising young actors on the defensive line, there is almost no homegrown talent that will be around past this season.

The Norman and Collins contracts are the exact type of headline-grabbing moves that Washington has favored for years, and Allen and owned Dan Snyder will likely try to procreate the same kind of big-hearted splash when searching for the team’s next premier manager. But whoever comes tapped to make the job will end up in the same situation as all the other instructs who’ve supported the reins during Snyder’s tenure: Washington has a habit of realizing the inaccurate decisions for the incorrect concludes, and even a great head coach and quarterback might not be enough to solve what ails it.

3. After another brutal outing from Kirk Cousins in the Vikings’ 16 -6 loss to Chicago, the irritation is starting to show in Minnesota. In the locker apartment after Sunday’s game, wide receiver Adam Thielen was asked about the Vikings’ inability to consistently move the ball through the air this season, and he didn’t mince words. “At some quality, you’re not gonna be able to run the pellet for 180 yards, even with the best running back in the NFL, ” Thielen said. “And that’s when you have to be able to throw the projectile. You be capable of being conclude plays.” In four starts this season, Cousins has averaged 183.8 grounds per tournament on fewer than 25 aims. The 2-2 Vikings haven’t asked Cousins to do much because for the most part, they haven’t had to. Mike Zimmer and brand-new coordinator Kevin Stefanski have built a republican pique around Dalvin Cook and the running game, but against the Bears’ excellent defensive breast, Cook didn’t have much room to work. With good-for-nothing going on the soil, the Vikings turned to Cousins, and the offense crumbled. Cousins finished the first half 7-of-10 guiding for really 49 grounds, and the Vikings computed just 10 on the dirt over the first two districts.

Minnesota’s brand-new arrangement under Stefanski and senior advisor Gary Kubiak was supposed to align with Cousins’s concentrations as a quarterback. He’s systematically been one of the most effective play-action passers in the NFL, and an emphasis on a strong running game and complementary hurls seemed to align with his preferred style of participate. But this season, Cousins has actually been one of the least effective play-action passers in the NFL. His 6.7 grounds per assault in order to use a performance forge is confined for dead last among 22 qualified quarterbacks, and both his YPA and finish percentage are actually worse when using play action. With Cousins fighting, Minnesota’s excellent wide receiver duo of Stefon Diggs and Thielen have failed to make much of an impact; the question now is what the Vikings plan to do with Cousins moving forward. He’s set to count $31 million against the ceiling next season on the final year of his fully guaranteed three-year, $84 million contract. Minnesota’s franchise trajectory was primarily tied into its limited opening with Cousins, and the team’s move toward this offensive approach was partially motivated by trying to get all it could from its expensive quarterback. Twenty plays into his tenure in Minnesota, it seems like the venture has neglected.

4. Chase Daniel’s action against Minnesota raises the question of whether the Bears offense is actually better off with the veteran backup under middle. After Mitchell Trubisky went down with a shoulder gash in the first quarter of Sunday’s game, Daniel participated and went 22 -of-3 0 for 195 grounds and a touchdown in the Bears’ win. And while those multitudes may not seem eye-popping, the offense generally extended smoother with him at the limits. With the acces Chicago’s defense is currently playing, the Bears don’t need stellar gambling from their quarterback to emerge as a probable contender in the NFC. An pique that dines up era, generally moves the bonds, and doesn’t prepare back-breaking misconceptions might be enough to get Chicago back to the playoffs–and Daniel demonstrated he’s capable of doing all those things. During Matt Nagy’s tenure as the Bears’ play-caller and ability tutor, Chicago’s scheme has regularly caused adequate segregation for its receivers simply to see inaccurate throws sabotage the game plan. Daniel may not have the physical skills and capacity that Trubisky possess, but he does have the ability to process quickly, get the ball to the correct receiver, and identify and tweak particular calls and protections. If Trubisky misses provided time with his injured shoulder, it’s probable that Chicago’s offense could actually improve over what we’ve seen so far this season.

. @ChaseDaniel stumbles Javon Wims on the deep throw! #MINvsCHI @Javon_Juice: CBS: NFL app // Yahoo Play appWatch free on portable: https :// t.co/ lm0vvtP8ei pic.twitter.com/ U7PTHtCqsg

— NFL (@ NFL) September 29, 2019

5. Four sports in, Lions cornerback Justin Coleman looks like one of the best free-agent discoveries of the offseason. The former Seahawks slot cornerback indicated a four-year, $36 million deal( with $17.9 million guaranteed) with the Lions in March, and he’s been excellent so far this season. Coleman was all over the field in Detroit’s 34 -3 0 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday. On a third-and-goal from Detroit’s 5-yard line early in the second quarter, Coleman lined up across from Sammy Watkins on the right side of the formation. Anticipating man coverage near the goal line, Kansas City flowed a series of crossing routes designed to create traffic and pick Coleman off as Watkins weaved across the formation. But instead of getting clipped by another receiver, Coleman steered through the bodies and managed to knock away the pass and power a Kansas City field goal. By the end of the game, Coleman added another pass breakup in the end zone and a beautiful pressured fumble that would have established Peanut Tillman proud. The Lions likely waken up this morning feeling like they let one slip away against one of very best units in the tournament, but Detroit inspects poised to compete in the NFC all season. And bringing in a quality addition like Coleman is a big reason why.

Justin Coleman saves the touchdown with the( via @thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/ NrxMSqnAeM

— B/ R Gridiron (@ brgridiron) September 29, 2019

6. By holding the Patriots to 16 items, the Bills had their own moral win of sorts on Sunday–and this justification looks like it’ll hinder Buffalo in abundance of plays. Inconsistent play from Josh Allen and a late interception by Matt Barkley eventually expenditure the Bills Sunday against New England, but Buffalo’s front four assured video games along the line of scrimmage, and the secondary was more than able to hold up their resolve of the bargain. Micah Hyde’s end zone interception in the second quarter was a perfect example of what becomes this unit so efficient. With the Patriots facing a third-and-goal from the 2-yard line late in the second quarter, New England motioned into a trips bunch set on the right. Even though the street combination was designed to exploit man coverage, the Bills deftly prevented trail of all three receivers on that side of the field and forced Tom Brady to extend the play by moving to his right out of the pocket. Rather than stick with wide receiver Jakobi Meyers near the pylon, Hyde read Brady’s gazes, fell off his receiver, and made an acrobatic leaping interception in the end zone. That combining of resonate naming football and smart-alecky risk-taking is what huge justifications are made of.

PICKED! @micah_hyde read it and gets the goal line interception. #NEvsBUF #GoBills: CBS: NFL app // Yahoo Sport appWatch free on portable: https :// t.co/ lm0vvtP8ei pic.twitter.com/ 3iYuMOEJQX

— NFL (@ NFL) September 29, 2019

7. The Browns rebounded back in a big way in their 40 -2 5 win over the Ravens on Sunday, and they did it by tilt on Nick Chubb. On a team with huge identities like Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr ., it’s easy to forget just how talented Chubb is. He finished with 165 gardens on 20 carries on Sunday, and seemed to rip off a solid income every time he got the ball. Chubb is one of only nine backs to handle at least 70 percent of his team’s offensive snaps so far this season, and he’s determined the most of that workload. There are few–if any–backs in the league who marry Chubb’s width with his ability to create home run romps. On his game-clinching, 88 -yard touchdown drain against Baltimore, Chubb made a acceleration of 21.95 miles per hour–the top list any ball carrier has hit this season. Chubb weighs 227 pounds. That is absolutely terrifying.

8. Luke Kuechly may be the star of the Panthers defense, but on Sunday, fellow linebacker Shaq Thompson was Carolina’s best advocate. Thompson finished the team’s 16 -1 0 win over the Texans with 12 attacks and was a consistent force against the running. Two specific participates impart just how many behaviors he impacted this activity. On a second-and-1 2 midway through the first fourth, Thompson made right guard Greg Mancz with a vicious sorority move directly after the click, hurled into the backfield, and dropped Deshaun Watson for a 7-yard loss. Later, with the Texans trailing 13 -1 0 and facing a third-and-1 9 from their own 16 -yard line, Houston sent running back Duke Johnson on a rotation itinerary down the left sideline. But Thompson, the 230 -pound linebacker, had no trouble checking Johnson 20 gardens down the field and smacking the pass harmlessly to the turf. There is perhaps more eras during Cam Newton’s extended absence that the Panthers “re going to have to” win ugly, and they proved on Sunday that they’re capable of doing just that.

9. This week’s line play moment that become me smacked rewind: Khalil Mack is at it again. Mack has been absolutely ridiculous for Chicago this season. He’s already forced four fumbles and tallied 4.5 sackings in four recreations. It feels like he’s good for one turnover per sport, and he another on Sunday. Mack’s ability to win with power originates it tempting to forget just how adaptable he can be around the edge. On this strip sacking against the Vikings, Mack troughs his shoulder to the point that left tackle Riley Reiff has nothing to block. His balance–which allowed him to keep his feet while stooping that far–combined with the explosion to finish off the participate is part of what represents him such a special musician.

#Bears — OLB Khalil Mack. Dips under the LT, closes with speed to the QB. Get the ball out. @NFLMatchup @DickersonESPN pic.twitter.com/ dAodfNvjW2

— Matt Bowen (@ MattBowen4 1) September 30, 2019

10. This week in NFL musicians, they’re absolutely nothing like us, Part 1: Jadeveon Clowney somehow racetracks a deflected pass, enclosures it with one handwriting, and teleports 25 grounds in the end zone.

JADEVEON CLOWNEY PICK-6! @clownejd #SEAvsAZ: FOX: NFL app // Yahoo Sports appWatch free on mobile: https :// t.co/ lm0vvtP8ei pic.twitter.com/ xDCzPsAjtW

— NFL (@ NFL) September 29, 2019

11. This week in NFL musicians, they’re absolutely nothing like us, Part 2: How Travis Kelce thought to do this mid-play will never make sense to me.

Travis Kelce catch it and sloped it to Shady! #KCvsDET #ChiefsKingdom @tkelce @cutondime25: FOX: NFL app // Yahoo Sport appWatch free on portable: https :// t.co/ lm0vvtP8ei pic.twitter.com/ lPhASpXYIN

— NFL (@ NFL) September 29, 2019