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The Denver Broncos were penalized 113 times last season, tied for the second-highest total in the NFL. Of those penalties, 23 were for false starts, tied for the third-most in that category last season.
The Broncos were extremely undisciplined last year. New coach Sean Payton aims to fix that in 2023, but his goal is still a work in progress.
Denver had officials at a spring practice session last week and Payton was not happy with how many penalties his players committed.
“[There were] too many flags on the ground for me today,” the coach said on June 13. “It was good to have the officials here, and yet, we ran out of sand in some of the penalty flags, so they had to go get backup flags. Before you start figuring out how to win, you have to know how not to lose. Last year, we ranked — I don’t even want to give it to you — 28th and 27th or 29th in pre-snap fouls on both sides of the ball.
“That’s going to change. It’s good to have that pointed out. I like the way that they’re practicing. I like the intensity. I like their effort, and I think they are working hard. But you also have to be smart. That would be one takeaway from today’s practice.”
In 2021, Payton’s last season with the Saints, they committed 98 penalties, representing the 12th-fewest in the league. The Broncos will never be able to eliminate all penalties, but they can significantly reduce their total from last year. In a game in which every yard counts, the 970 yards Denver surrendered via penalties in 2022 undoubtedly cost the team wins.
Payton will aim to field a more disciplined unit in 2023.
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