Broncos can't Hackett and Russ Can't Cook

The Broncos won the off-season according to most "expert" writers with the lowest grade being a B+.  Unfortunately winning off the field doesn't equal wins on it for this 2022 Broncos team.  We all know the off-season main move that made the Broncos considered one of the top 10 favorites for the Super Bowl, Russell Wilson.  Or is it DangeRuss or Mr. Unlimited or some other corny ass nickname.  Yes, Russell Wilson is corny, we all know it.  He suited up for pre-season games like a youth football player that was not eligible to play because he didn't have enough practices in.  He makes social media posts and does cringe things like practice the high fives of entering the stadium.  But enough about the off-field stuff about Russ, let's talk about what Russ has been cooking!

Trash!  Yes, Russ has cooked up a hearty plate of crap, trash, poop, shit, whatever you feel it is best called.  We can blame it on poor Offensive Line play or the 3rd injury that has been brought up in only six games.  I'd like to blame part of it on Wilson.  He does have the 30th rated completion percentage and only has 5 passing TDs which is ranked T-23rd, his QBR is 25th and Rating is 23rd, but despite being ranked in the bottom 3rd in key QB stats, the majority of the blame rests with Nathaniel Hackett.

Hackett came to the Broncos and was part of the reason the Broncos won the off-season.  He brought charm and a cheesy smile from the Cheese Heads of Green Bay where he served as OC-INO (Offensive Coordinator - In Name Only, yes that's a little shot at MAGAts RINO nonsense) under Matt LaFleur.  Hackett had some success in 2017 in Jacksonville having the leagues best rushing attack, but struggled in 2018 being fired after 11 games due to having one of the Bottom 6 in scoring and yardage.  But let's not ignore the fact that Hackett was offensive coordinator under Doug Marrone in both Buffalo and Jacksonville.  Marrone was a run happy head coach that had his hands in the call playing of Hackett. 

This season's Hackett led offense appears to stink like garbage, while the Broncos rank 22nd in the league in yards at 329.3, their ineptitude in the red zone and goal to go situations has them ranked dead last in points per game with 15.2!  The Broncos have only scored more than 20 points once and that was 23 in a 32-23 loss to the Raiders.  The Broncos sit at 2-4 and have lost their other 3 games by a total of 7 points.

Yes, the Broncos have dealt with injury issues losing a number of players to torn ACLs but the defense has stood on their head, limiting all but the Raiders to under 20 points.  If the Broncos were 5 points a game better, they would likely sit at 5-1 or 4-2 at worse, instead they sit at 2-4 and are at a crossroad in their season where if they don't win their next two games, the wheels could fall off on this thing.  The Broncos play the Jets at home before flying over the pond before playing the Jaguars in London.  Both games are truly MUST wins going into the Bye week after London.  If the Broncos sit at 2-6, you could see a rarity, Hackett getting fired less than halfway into his first season.  Why would the Broncos panic and make that move then?  Here are a few reasons:

•  BYE week, you make a change and get a week to implement a new staff and philosophy and adjust your team to it and then get a week to treat like a normal game week.  It's not rushed, it's not sudden and the team can rally to the change.
• After the Bye Week, you have 3 winnable games in a row facing the Titans, Raiders at home and Panthers.  The Titans and Panthers both average less than 20 ppg on offense.  If the Broncos are at 2-6, you have to hope they win all 3 to get back into it.  The same ineptness will not get you there.
• After those next 3 games, it's a nightmare remaining schedule with the Chiefs twice, Ravens, Rams, Cardinals and Chargers.  While both remaining NFC West teams are struggling on offense, I find it tough to believe our offense can outduel a Rams team that will be jockeying for playoff position.  All but the Cardinals are likely playoff bound so 5 of the last 6 games are against playoff teams. 
• The Broncos have a very good defensive staff and may want to show Ejiro Evero that they want to retain him at all costs.
• Klint Kubiak is already on staff and while I am not a fan of the Shanahan offense, there is no doubt it still shows better results than this year.  Klint would likely take a bigger role with his history and lineage which may lead to what many are calling for...
• Gary Kubiak to be interim head coach.  Kubiak led the Broncos to Super Bowl glory and again, while his offensive system is archaic, maybe just leading the day to day will get the results needed, wins.

Why the urgency to fire Hackett?  Why not give him a chance?  A 4-13 or 5-12 season is 5-7 games at minimum from where they were expected to be at with their Vegas win total projected at 10.5 wins and the majority of the league experts expecting them to have a minimum of 10 wins and wild card while others projected Super Bowl.  The expectations were set high with the moves made and Hackett hasn't cut it.  It's time to take out the bad pork chops and give Russell Wilson something fresh to cook with.