Tag: Greg Dulcich

Sean Payton hints at potential personnel changes for Broncos

“We have to start really looking at who we are asking to do what,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said.

Two weeks into the 2024 season, the Denver Broncos are struggling to move the ball and score points.

Broncos coach Sean Payton has attributed those struggles to several factors, including his own scheme and play-calling. Payton has also said Denver might be rotating in too many different players, and he seemed to hint that some personnel changes could be on the way.

“I just finished telling the coaches that that side of the ball needs to get cleaned up,” Payton said after a 13-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. “That starts with me. We have to start really looking at who we are asking to do what. It was frustrating because there were certain elements that went according to plan field position-wise. Our inability to score and convert third downs ultimately hurt us.”

Broncos running backs Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin have averaged 2.28 yards per carry this season, and improving the ground game is a point of emphasis this week.

Denver’s passing attack hasn’t been much better.

“When you run a play and it has success, you look at the pieces,” Payton said. “When you run a play and it does not have success, are we putting our guys in the best position? We are rotating a lot of different personnel groups in and out. I do not know if that is helping us quite honestly. We need to evaluate that closely relative to our personnel.”

Payton said Wednesday that he thinks “reducing the variables” could help the offense, perhaps by simplifying the offense and using fewer personnel groups. The coach might also make changes to the specific players involved.

“It’s something that I think you have to look at as a coach,” Payton said. “You have to start, ‘All right, what could we do better?’ I think that’s one of the things that we’ve talked about quite a bit. How do we reduce the variables, and then who’s doing it? Those two things I would point to.”

Payton did not mention any specific players by name, but tight end Greg Dulcich has struggled as a blocker and dropped two passes on Sunday, and the team’s receivers have been unremarkable while Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin have barely seen the field.

Already 0-2, the team now has a tough road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on deck. Changes could be coming for the desperate Broncos.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

5 takeaways from the Broncos’ 13-6 loss to Steelers

Here are five quick takeaways from the Broncos’ loss to the Steelers in Week 2.

The Denver Broncos dropped to 0-2 on Sunday afternoon following an ugly 13-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Empower Field at Mile High. Here are five quick takeaways from the team’s latest defeat.

1. The run game is a mess: For the second straight week, quarterback Bo Nix ended the day as Denver’s leading rusher (four carries for 25 yards). Javonte Williams rushed 11 times for 17 yards with an awful 1.5 yards per carry average. Jaleel McLaughlin wasn’t much better, rushing three times for six yards. Either the backs aren’t running well, the offensive line isn’t blocking well, or defenses aren’t respecting Nix and selling out to stop the run. Perhaps it’s a combination of all three factors. Whatever’s to blame, Broncos coach Sean Payton needs to fix it quickly.

2. Greg Dulcich is running out of opportunities: After two injury-plagued seasons, Dulcich is finally healthy, but he’s not contributing much on offense. Dulchich remains a liability as a blocker and he had two poor drops on Sunday. The tight end only hauled in three catches for 16 yards on eight targets. Denver has to consider making Lucas Krull active next week — it’s hard to imagine Krull playing any worse than Dulcich at this point.

3. Kristian Welch won a role quickly: Just days after joining the Broncos, Welch ate into Cody Barton’s snaps in Week 1. Denver’s staff must have liked what they saw because Welch got the start against the Steelers in Week 2. Welch finished the game with two tackles and Barton rotated into the game, adding six tackles. Time will tell if one of Barton or Welch can lock down the inside linebacker job.

4. Sean Payton made questionable decisions: Trailing the Steelers by 13 points in the fourth quarter, Payton opted to kick a 34-yard field goal instead of attempting to convert a 4th-and-6 at Pittsburgh’s 16-yard line. After that field goal, the Broncos still needed two possessions to tie or take the lead. Had the team failed to pick up a fourth down, they still would have needed two possessions. Later in the game, after making it 13-6 with another field goal, Denver kicked it deep despite being past the two-minute warning with only one timeout left. After forcing a punt, the Broncos did end up getting the ball back with nine seconds, but that wasn’t enough time for a comeback. Payton opting to kick a field goal and his later deciding to not attempt an onside kick were curious decisions.

5. Bo Nix needs a lot more time: Through two games in the NFL, Nix now has zero touchdown passes and four interceptions, including a terrible interception in the red zone and a game-clinching turnover on the last play of Sunday’s game. Nix also made numerous inaccurate passes on Sunday. Fans in Denver can only hope it’s rookie jitters for the quarterback. There’s a lot of room for improvement for Nix going forward.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos TE Greg Dulcich comments on drops: ‘It’s unacceptable’

“I obviously had two drops, and it’s unacceptable,” Broncos TE Greg Dulcich said. “I have to correct those things.”

The first step to fixing a problem is identifying it.

Denver Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich has step one down.

After the team’s 13-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dulcich was asked about the offense’s struggles.

“We’ve got to make the plays when they’re there,” Dulcich said. “I obviously had two drops, and it’s unacceptable. I have to correct those things.”

https://twitter.com/ZacStevensDNVR/status/1835466510199832944

Dulcich was targeted a team-high eight times against the Steelers but he ended the game with just three receptions for 16 yards. The Broncos now find themselves in an 0-2 hole going to a stretch of back-to-back road games on the East Coast.

“Yeah, we’ve got to get things rolling,” Dulcich said. “We have to make the plays that are in front of us and play better football.”

After hauling in 33 receptions for 411 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie in 10 games in 2022, Dulcich missed all but two games due to injury last fall. The 24-year-old tight end is healthy now, but his performance is lacking. Denver’s offense needs to improve across the board, Dulcich included.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

10 things to watch for when Broncos face Seahawks in Week 1

Bo Nix will make his first NFL start against the Seahawks on Sunday. Here are 10 things to watch for when the Broncos travel to Seattle.

The Denver Broncos are set to go on the road to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. Going into the weekend, here’s a quick look at ten things to watch for on Sunday.

1. NFL’s new kickoff format: The league has switched to a new XFL-style kickoff format this year and the Broncos believe they will benefit from it. We’ll see if Marvin Mims can take advantage of more opportunities to return.

2. Season-opening roster construction: Denver can elevate two players from the practice squad to the game-day roster each week. It seems like a fairly safe guess that wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey and fullback Michael Burton will be the top candidates to be elevated in Week 1. That could lead to rookie Troy Franklin being a healthy scratch.

3. Luke Wattenberg at center: After losing Lloyd Cushenberry during free agency, the Broncos have replaced him in the starting lineup with Wattenberg. The four other starting linemen are all returning from 2023. Denver will hope Wattenberg is not a weak link as the only new starter.

4. It’s now or never for Greg Dulcich: He’s finally healthy, so can the tight end utilize his speed to make a big impact in Sean Payton’s offense?

5. A lighter Javonte Williams: The running back lost 11 pounds this offseason and Payton has said he looks like “a completely different player.” Sure, that could be coach speak, but Williams is now two years removed from his 2022 knee injury. Perhaps we’ll see a rejuvenated RB in 2024.

6. New-look defensive line: The Broncos signed Malcolm Roach during free agency, then they acquired John Franklin-Myers in a trade with the New York Jets. JFM and Roach joined a d-line rotation that already featured Zach Allen and D.J. Jones. Denver also has Eyioma Uwazurike returning from last year’s gambling suspension, and the team has been impressed with Jordan Jackson. The defensive line could be one of the Broncos’ big strengths in 2024.

7. Cody Barton replacing Josey Jewell: Denver lost Jewell in free agency and replaced him with Barton, who has started 24 games over the last two seasons. Will there be a noticeable difference at ILB?

8. Riley Moss at cornerback: Moss was never able to get going on defense as a rookie after undergoing core muscle surgery last summer. Now healthy entering Year 2, Moss is set to start across from Pat Surtain at cornerback. Let’s see what he can do.

9. Replacing Justin Simmons at safety: After moving on from both Simmons and Caden Sterns this offseason, the Broncos are poised to start free agent addition Brandon Jones and P.J. Locke at safety. There’s obviously going to be a drop-off going from one of the NFL’s best safeties to players with no career accolades, but can Jones and Locke hold their own?

10. Bo Nix makes his NFL debut: Nix is set to become the team’s 14th starting quarterback in the post-Peyton Manning era. Nix will also become Denver’s first rookie quarterback since John Elway to start in Week 1. No pressure, rookie.

After facing the Seahawks, the Broncos will return home to host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2. First things first, Seattle’s on deck.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

25 sleeper prospects to target in fantasy football

These 25 players are being undervalued in fantasy football this summer.

The 2024 NFL season begins tonight, as does the fantasy football season. For anyone with last-minute drafts, we’ve put together a list of 25 sleeper prospects to target this season.

Note that by “sleeper,” we mean a player we expect to outperform their average draft position in 2024. They’re not necessarily “unknown” players, but undervalued players going into the season.

Let’s get to it.

1. QB Jayden Daniels (ADP 102): Daniels (QB12) is not being drafted as a starter in 10-QB leagues, yet it’s extremely easy to imagine a top-10 (or better) finish for the rookie this season. After rushing for 2,019 yards and 21 touchdowns in two years at LSU, Daniels should continue making plays with his legs in the NFL.

2. QB Justin Herbert (ADP 123): Herbert’s stock tanked this summer following a foot injury, but he’s been practicing since mid-August. Herbert averaged 18.5 points per game last season, which ranked 11th among QBs. Yet he’s being drafted as QB17 this summer. Herbert’s injury might cause a slow early start, but getting him as QB17 should be a good value.

3. QB Kirk Cousins (ADP 135): Yes, he’s coming off an Achilles injury, but Cousins has never been much of a threat to run and he was cleared to play again in July. Cousins will be surrounded by talent in Atlanta and he should easily top his QB19 ADP. With a small sample size of eight games, Cousins ranked seventh among QBs with 19.3 PPG last fall. Before that, he ranked 13th in 2022 (18 PPG) and 12th in 2021 (19.2 PPG). Cousins seems unlikely to drop from QB13 to QB19 this season, but that’s where fantasy managers are drafting him.

4. QB Bo Nix (APD 186): Nix is a late-round flyer to serve as a QB2 in re-draft leagues and an intriguing dynasty option. Nix was tailor-made for Sean Payton’s offense and he rushed for 20 TDs in two seasons at Oregon. Denver ran read-option plays with Nix in preseason and while Payton obviously won’t want to run Nix into the ground, the QB’s speed will be utilized in 2024. He might not finish in the top 12 as a rookie, but it’s easy to imagine Nix finishing much higher than his QB23 ADP thanks to his rushing ability.

5. QB Justin Fields (ADP 194): Fields is an extremely deep sleeper because he won’t begin the year as Pittsburgh’s starter. Fields could get special packages early in the season near the goal line and if Russell Wilson struggles, it’s easy to imagine Fields eventually taking over as QB1. Fields is being drafted as QB27 so you obviously shouldn’t reach for him, but he could offer great value later in the year.

6. TE Dalton Schultz (ADP 125): Schultz finished as TE11 last season so his being drafted as TE13 isn’t a huge discrepancy, but he should prove to be a good value pick for fantasy managers who opt to wait to draft a TE.

7. TE T.J. Hockenson (ADP 126): Please understand that this is not a recommendation to overdraft Hockenson, who will miss at least the first four games of the season. Hockenson will eventually return from an ACL injury, though, and when he does, he could rank among the top fantasy TEs to close out the season. Drafting Hockenson late and stashing him on IR could pay dividends later in the year.

8. TE Pat Freiermuth (ADP 129): Freiermuth still hasn’t returned to the seven-touchdown production of his rookie season, and a five-game injury hurt his 2023 campaign. Now healthy again, he’ll look to outperform his TE15 ADP in 2024.

9. TE Taysom Hill (APD 151): Hill is a feast-or-famine fantasy prospect because a three-touchdown game could be followed up by a 12-yard game. Despite his up-and-down nature, Hill averaged 9.1 points per game last fall, which ranked ninth among TEs. He’s being drafted as TE21.

10. TE Greg Dulcich (ADP 239): It’s now or never for Denver’s former third-round pick. He missed seven games due to injuries as a rookie in 2022 and was unavailable for 15 games last fall. Now finally healthy, Dulcich will look to utilize his speed to make plays in Sean Payton’s offense that has been friendly to TEs in the past. Dulcich is being drafted as TE29 (undrafted in most leagues), so there’s no need to reach for him, but he could be an early-season waiver-wire target.

11. WR Cooper Kupp (ADP 34): It feels insane to list Kupp among “sleepers,” but he’s being drafted much later than his ceiling due to last season’s injuries. If he stays healthy — even with Puka Nacua added to the mix — Kupp should finish much higher than his WR17 ADP this season.

12. WR Malik Nabers (ADP 45): Marvin Harrison Jr.’s hype is through the roof, understandably so. But MHJR is being drafted as WR9 while Nabers is going off the board as WR24. MHJR should obviously be ranked higher than Nabers, but the sixth overall pick is also headed for a big year.

13. WR Rashee Rice (ADP 65): Eventually, Rice could face discipline from the NFL, but he’s set to play in the season opener and he’s a top receiver in KC’s high-flying offense. Landing him as WR30 could be a steal.

14. WR Xavier Worthy (ADP 82): Two Chiefs receivers make the list as Patrick Mahomes looks to have a bounce-back season. Worthy isn’t “the next Tyreek Hill,” but his speed could make him a great value as WR37 this fall.

15. Ladd McConkey (ADP 97): The Chargers lost Keenan Allen and Mike Williams this offseason, and Quentin Johnston has struggled to make an impact. That could leave McConkey as a PPR gem playing in the slot. He’s going off the board as WR42.

16. RB Alvin Kamara (ADP 46): He’s not the fantasy monster he once was, but Kamara could prove to be a big steal at RB17 after finishing as RB3 in PPR points per game (17.9) last year.

17. RB Javonte Williams (ADP 77): Getting a clear-cut starter at RB27 is a steal. Williams lost 11 pounds this offseason and coach Sean Payton has said he looks like “a completely different player.” Now another year removed from his 2022 knee injury, Williams is healthy and the clear RB1 in Denver.

18. RB Jonathon Brooks (APD 93): Understand that Brooks will miss at least the first four games of the season on the PUP list as he continues to recover from his ACL injury. He might not pay dividends until the second half of the season, but he would be the perfect use of an IR spot early in the season. Brooks is being drafted as RB34.

19. RB Jerome Ford (ADP 105): He will start at least the first four games of the season while Nick Chubb is on the PUP list. Chubb is recovering from a serious knee injury, but he’s being drafted as RB30 while Ford is going off the board as RB35. That should be flipped. Ford averaged 12.4 PPG last season, a serviceable number for RB3/flex, and depending on your roster, perhaps even an RB2. Getting him at RB35 should be a good value.

20. RB Chase Brown (ADP 104): Following the Joe Mixon departure, Brown might be the next man up in Cincinnati’s backfield. Zack Moss hurts his value, but a potential starter being drafted as RB37 is an intriguing option.

21. RB Trey Benson (ADP 113): If James Conner is ever sidelined, Benson will be the next man up. Conner has never played a full 16- or 17-game season and Arizona just used a third-round pick on Benson. He’s being drafted as RB39.

22. RB Blake Corum (ADP 111): Corum is arguably the most important sleeper and handcuff running back in fantasy football this year. He should have standalone value in L.A.’s offense and if Kyren Williams misses time like he did in each of his first two seasons, Corum’s stock will skyrocket. He’s currently being drafted as RB40.

23. RB J.K. Dobbins (ADP 120): Dobbins will likely be the lead running back for the Chargers this fall and if he stays healthy, Dobbins should easily finish higher than his RB41 ADP.

24. RB Tyler Allgeier (ADP 141): Similar to Corum, Allgeier already has standalone value, and if anything happens to Bijan Robinson, Allgeier’s stock will skyrocket. He’s a value at RB48 even as a rotational option.

25. RB Jaylen Wright (ADP 139): He’s currently behind De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert on the depth chart, but Wright’s speed should lead to him getting opportunities sooner than later. And once again, if there are injuries ahead of him, Wright’s stock will increase. He’s a flyer at RB48 with big upside.

For more fantasy football coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Fantasy Football: 5 sleeper tight ends for 2024 NFL season

Taysom Hill averaged 9.1 PPG last season (ninth among tight ends), but he’s being drafted as TE21 this summer.

The 2024 NFL season will kick off this week when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night. The return of the NFL’s regular season also marks the return of fantasy football.

Ahead of Thursday’s opener, we’ve put together a quick list of sleeper tight ends for the 2024 season. Sleepers, for our purposes, are players we believe will finish higher than their average draft position (ADP) this fall. They’re not necessarily unknown players, but they are being undervalued by fantasy managers this offseason.

1. Dalton Schultz (ADP 125): Schultz finished as TE11 last season so his being drafted as TE13 isn’t a huge discrepancy, but he should prove to be a good value pick for fantasy managers who opt to wait to draft a TE.

2. T.J. Hockenson (ADP 126): Please understand that this is not a recommendation to overdraft Hockenson, who will miss at least the first four games of the season. Hockenson will eventually return from an ACL injury, though, and when he does, he could rank among the top fantasy TEs to close out the season. Drafting Hockenson late and stashing him on IR could pay dividends later in the year.

3. Pat Freiermuth (ADP 129): Freiermuth still hasn’t returned to the seven-touchdown production of his rookie season, and a five-game injury hurt his 2023 campaign. Now healthy again, he’ll look to outperform his TE15 ADP in 2024.

4. Taysom Hill (APD 151): Hill is a feast-or-famine fantasy prospect because a three-touchdown game could be followed up by a 12-yard game. Despite his up-and-down nature, Hill averaged 9.1 points per game last fall, which ranked ninth among TEs. He’s being drafted as TE21.

5. Greg Dulcich (ADP 239): It’s now or never for Denver’s former third-round pick. He missed seven games due to injuries as a rookie in 2022 and was unavailable for 15 games last fall. Now finally healthy, Dulcich will look to utilize his speed to make plays in Sean Payton’s offense that has been friendly to TEs in the past. Dulcich is being drafted as TE29 (undrafted in most leagues), so there’s no need to reach for him, but he could be an early-season waiver-wire target.

For more fantasy football coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos roster series: No. 80, TE Greg Dulcich

After two injury-plagued seasons, Broncos TE Greg Dulcich is now healthy and aiming to make some noise in 2024.

Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at third-year tight end, Greg Dulcich, No. 80. 

Before the Broncos: Dulcich (6-4, 245 pounds) was a big-bodied target at UCLA from 2018-21. In his four-yearc college career, Dulcich caught 77 passes for 1,353 yards and 11 touchdowns as a Bruin.

Broncos tenure: Dulcich was selected by the Broncos on Day 2 of the 2022 NFL draft, in the third round (80th overall). In 2022, Dulcich began the season on the bench with an injury, but came out swinging in the last 10 games of the season, catching 33 passes for 411 yards and two touchdowns. Last year, Dulcich was healthy for just two games (starting one), catching only three passes for 25 yards.

Chances to make the 53-man roster: On the bubble. Dulcich has not been healthy for most of his career in Denver. He has problems as a run-blocker and only has seven starts in his young career. If Dulcich doesn’t show the potential that Broncos coaches saw in him as a third-round pick, he could be cut in favor of fellow tight end Lucas Krull this summer. Dulcich is currently healthy, though, so a good summer could land him a spot on the 53.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

Broncos TE Greg Dulcich ‘close’ to returning to action

“He’s close … We’re encouraged. I think you’ll see him sooner than later, and we want to be smart,” Sean Payton said of Greg Dulcich.

Story update: Greg Dulcich had foot surgery this offseason and its his foot — hit his hamstring — that has kept him sidelined this offseason, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. See our original post below. 

Denver Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich missed seven games as a rookie in 2022 and 15 games last fall due to various injuries.

In May, Broncos coach Sean Payton said Dulcich “feels that urgency” to put his injury woes behind him. One month later, the injury bug still lingers as Dulcich was working on the side at practice on Thursday.

Payton does not seem to be concerned. He indicated that Dulcich is close to returning to the field and the team is merely being cautious.

“He’s close,” Payton said. “He’s had all the work done. We’re encouraged. I think you’ll see him sooner than later, and we want to be smart.”

Payton hinted that Dulcich will be back on the field in time for mandatory minicamp in June.

“His rehab has gone well,” Payton said. “It’s not going to be we don’t see him until training camp.”

The Broncos are expected to begin training camp in late July. Entering his third season, Dulcich will need to stay healthy this summer if he wants to turn his career around this fall.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos TE Greg Dulcich hopes to put injuries behind him in 2024

“The plan’s just going to be trying to get healthy and then just stay healthy and make sure I put this stuff behind me,” Greg Dulcich said.

After missing seven games due to injury as a rookie in 2022, Denver Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich missed all but two games in 2023 due to hamstring and foot injuries.

Now going into his third season, Dulcich is hoping to leave those injury woes behind him in 2024.

“The plan’s just going to be trying to get healthy and then just stay healthy and make sure I put this stuff behind me,” Dulcich said on Jan. 8, via Mike Klis of 9News.

After he recovered from a hamstring injury in 2023, Dulcich immediately injured his foot in practice. The tight end said he has “bony feet” and his cleat irritated his foot in a “really kinda freaky way,” which led to significant swelling. The Broncos then shut him down for the season.

It was a frustrating scenario for both Dulcich and the team because he had worked hard to recover from the lengthy hamstring injury.

“There’s a lot of factors, I think, that kinda could go into it, and that’s why we were trying to think of all the things and leave no stone unturned,” Dulcich said of his reoccurring hamstring injuries. “That was kind of the plan with, like, losing some weight — I mean, it worked, because my hamstring feels great, it was just [the foot].”

Dulcich has been healthy for 12 games over the last two seasons. He totaled 36 receptions for 436 yards and two touchdowns in those contests.

Now going into his third offseason, Dulcich’s hamstrings are healthy and his foot does not seem to be a long-term injury. The 23-year-old tight end will aim for the first healthy season of his career in 2024.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]

Broncos will get a close look at every TE at the Senior Bowl

Broncos quality control coaches Logan Kilgore (National) and Zack Grossi (American) will coach tight ends at the Senior Bowl next week.

If the Denver Broncos plan to target tight ends in the 2024 NFL draft, they should be well-briefed on the TEs who participated in the Senior Bowl.

Sean Payton will have a member of his staff coaching tight ends for each team at the college all-star game in Mobile, Alabama next week. Broncos quality control coach Logan Kilgore will coach TEs for the National team and fellow QC coach Zack Grossi will coach the American team TEs.

The list of TEs set to participate in this year’s Senior Bowl includes PSU’s Theo Johnson, Minnesota’s Brevyn Spann-Ford, Michigan’s AJ Barner, Kansas State’s Ben Sinnott, FSU’s Jaheim Bell, Arizona’s Tanner McLachlan and TCU’s Jared Wiley.

Denver tight end Greg Dulcich is coming off another disappointing season in which he missed 15 games due to injury. Adam Trautman, who served as the team’s No. 1 TE in 2024, is scheduled to become a free agent in March.

The Broncos currently own six picks for April’s draft. Senior Bowl participants will begin practicing next week ahead of the all-star game set to be played on Saturday, Feb. 3.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=482983128]