Tag: Joe Lombardi

Broncos will have to make a tough decision at center soon

Alex Forsyth started the last four games with Luke Wattenberg on injured reserve. With Wattenberg now returning from IR, who should start?

The Denver Broncos will soon have to make a tough decision at center.

After spending the last four weeks on injured reserve with an ankle injury, center Luke Wattenberg returned to practice on Wednesday. He now has a 21-day window to return to the active roster.

Wattenberg started the team’s first five games of the season. Pro Football Focus gave him a 71.3 pass-blocking grade, a 53.1 run-blocking grade and a 58.0 overall grade in those five games. Wattenberg was penalized once and was not credited with allowing any sacks from Weeks 1-5.

After Wattenberg went down, the Broncos turned to second-year center Alex Forsyth, who played with quarterback Bo Nix at Oregon. Forsyth started the last four games while Wattenberg was on IR.

“You never like for your guys to get hurt,” offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said on Oct. 10. “We have a lot of confidence in the guys that are filling in. Alex was right there with the center battle during training camp, and obviously he and Bo have a good relationship. That’s always important with centers and quarterbacks.”

By PFF’s estimation, Forysth has played better than Wattenberg. Forysth has a 58.7 pass-blocking grade, a 68.9 run-blocking grade and an overall grade of 67.5 this season. Forysth has not been penalized, but PFF credits him with allowing two sacks.

So, what will Denver do when Wattenberg returns to the active roster, perhaps as early as this weekend? Do they go back to their Week 1 starter, or stick with the center who now has four starts under his belt and previous experience with Nix?

It will be a tough decision for coach Sean Payton and Co. to make. Payton rarely reveals lineup decisions, so we probably won’t get an answer until the first snap on Sunday.

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Broncos prepare for ‘Aaron Donald-like’ disrupter T.J. Watt

“He kind of has a Aaron Donald-like effect on the game,” Broncos OC Joe Lombardi said of Steelers edge defender T.J. Watt.

T. J. Watt is one of the NFL’s best defenders.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ edge defender is a six-time Pro Bowler, five-time All-Pro and one-time Defensive Player of the Year (2021). He led the NFL with 19 sacks last season and he will be a huge test for the Denver Broncos‘ offensive line on Sunday.

“I don’t get into naming who the top defensive players are, but he’s in that discussion,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of Watt. “He’s certainly disruptive in the run game and disruptive in the pass game. Each film you look at, he’s beating doubles. He’s very athletic. I think he’s very strong, and he can bend. Those are all good traits to have, and he’s exceptionally smart.”

Watt totaled four tackles and a sack in Pittsburgh’s 18-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons last week.

“He kind of has a Aaron Donald-like effect on the game,” Denver offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said. “There are great players in this league, but there are just a couple guys that I can remember that are as disruptive consistently as this guy. So you better know where he is every play.”

Broncos offensive tackles Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey will do their best to keep rookie quarterback Bo Nix upright on Sunday. Payton and Lombardi would be wise to give those tackles extra support with double teams and chips against perhaps the NFL’s best pass rusher this week.

Watt isn’t the only disruptive player in Pittsburgh’s defense, either.

“It’s definitely a challenge,” Nix said of facing the Steelers. “They have great players. They’ve been a great defense for a long time. I [have] a lot of respect for them. [It’s] going to be fun playing them for the first time and seeing what it’s like.”

Denver wide receiver Courtland Sutton is willing to do whatever it takes to beat Pittsburgh, even if it takes an unconventional game plan.

“Any chance I can to go impact the game, whether it’s catching however many passes, or catching a big touchdown or getting a key block in on a run play to get one of our backs out in the open, [I’ll do it],” Sutton said. “Whatever it may be, my job is to do my job at the highest level I can possibly can so that we can have the best success to go win. I’m probably one of the last people that’s going to be like, ‘It’s me, me, me.’ It’s going to take all 11 of us on the field, and whatever they need me to do in that specific moment, I’m going to go do it.

“If I have to go put my hands on T.J. Watt, then I’m going to go do that. If I have to go run a route and go get open against the secondary, then that’s what I’m going to do. Whatever job they need me to do, whatever task they need me to go do, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability so that we can go be successful.”

The Broncos’ game against the Steelers will be regionally televised on CBS. Denver is considered a betting underdog despite playing at home.

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Broncos OC reveals how Bo Nix can improve, with a positive spin

“There’s going to be growth from when he makes mistakes,” Broncos OC Joe Lombardi said of rookie QB Bo Nix.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix struggled in his NFL debut against the Seattle Seahawks last week but he never quit, battling back to help the Broncos make it close at the end.

Speaking to media members on Thursday, Denver offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi was asked what areas Nix can improve in Week 2.

“There was one play in particular where I think we had a chance at a big play, and he just had the wrong footwork,” Lombardi said. “He was a little ahead of the throw, which caused it to look very inaccurate. Just a couple little details like that and a couple of throws. The two interceptions, he kind of forced them in there.”

There’s plenty of room for improvement from Nix, but Lombardi put a positive spin on the QB’s ability to learn from mistakes.

“The thing I like the most is when we came in on Monday and watched the film, before anything was said, he knew,” Lombardi said. “He had answers for everything. You could see that there’s going to be growth from when he makes mistakes. So I would say that nobody on offense, including the coaches, had a great day on Sunday. I think everyone getting a little bit better is going to help him the most.”

Nix (and everyone on offense) will get an opportunity to bounce back when the Broncos host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2.

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Broncos RB Jaleel McLaughlin has done everything right this offseason

“I don’t know if there’s anyone who works harder than him,” Broncos OC Joe Lombardi said of RB Jaleel McLaughlin.

Denver Broncos coaches continue to praise the work ethic of second-year running back Jaleel McLaughlin.

About a week after head coach Sean Payton noted McLaughlin’s early-morning routine at the team’s facility, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi echoed praise for the running back’s diligence.

“One thing you know about Jaleel is that he’s going to work hard,” Lombardi said on June 12. “Whatever you ask him to do, he’s going to work at it.

“Obviously, we’re not in pads so you can’t see everything, but just as far as his intention and assignment on pass protection has been outstanding. I don’t know if there’s anyone who works harder than him. His speed, his acceleration, his explosiveness has all been impressive this spring.”

McLaughlin, 23, signed with the Broncos last year as an undrafted free agent out of Youngstown State. He carved out a role as the team’s third-string running back in 2023 and totaled 570 yards from scrimmage and scored three touchdowns as a rookie.

With brilliant on-field speed and impressive off-field determination, McLaughlin seems poised to take another step forward in Year 2.

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Broncos QB Bo Nix ‘doesn’t feel like a rookie’ to coaching staff

“He has seen a lot and doesn’t make the same mistake twice very often,” Broncos OC Joe Lombardi said of QB Bo Nix.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix played five years in college and he’s 24 years old going into his first season in the NFL (just six months younger than fourth-year QB Zach Wilson).

One downside to being an older rookie is that his potential pro career window is slightly shorter, but there are positives, too.

“I would say, you can feel his 61 games played in college,” Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said of Nix on June 12. “With experience, a calmness comes along with it. So he certainly doesn’t feel like a rookie. He’s learning a brand-new system, so whether you’re a veteran or a rookie coming in, that’s common to all these people.

“He has seen a lot and doesn’t make the same mistake twice very often. There is a maturity level. I think when you draft a guy who is a little bit older, you hope that that comes with it, but he’s certainly shown that.”

Nix is five years younger than his quarterbacks coach, Davis Webb.

“Bo is a great kid,” Webb said. “He’s been really good out here. … I think he is coming along just nicely.”

Jarrett Stidham has an advantage in the QB competition this summer because he’s entering his second year in the offense, but Nix will get an opportunity to climb the depth chart during training camp and preseason. Lombardi was asked at the end of mandatory minicamp about what has surprised him about the rookie QB.

“The good thing is there haven’t been a lot of surprises,” Lombardi said. “What we thought we saw, what we hoped we saw, I think has shown itself this spring. So maybe a little bit more of a dry sense of humor as you get to know the guy better, but as far as a player, I think what we saw and what we hoped we were getting, so far he’s been as advertised.”

Nix hasn’t been perfect — Webb noted that he’s made some rookie mistakes like all rookies do — but he’s certainly off to a good start in Denver. Judging from the comments from the Broncos’ coaching staff, it seems safe to assume Nix is a legitimate contender for the starting job.

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Justin Herbert on quarterbacks coach Shane Day’s return: ‘I thought he was best for that position’

Justin Herbert thinks highly of Shane Day.

Justin Herbert spoke to the media for the first time since the rehiring of quarterbacks coach Shane Day. Herbert would confirm that he was asked about the vacant position under Jim Harbaugh’s staff before Day’s return:

He’s an incredible coach. He’s done such a great job for this quarterback room. And the relationship that he has with Easton (Stick) and I, and now with Max (Duggan) and Casey (Bauman), he’s done a great job of just picking up and moving right where we left off. Obviously, tough losing him for a year. But when the question came up who I thought was best for that position, Shane was the number one guy and I’m really glad to be working with him again.

Day and former offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi were fired from Brandon Staley’s staff. While that was likely an attempt to get the best possible offensive coordinator available with Staley being on the hot seat at the time, it’s telling that Herbert had the urge to work with Day again after not having him on staff last season.

2023 offensive coordinator Kellen Moore brought in quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier with him to Los Angeles last offseason. One year later, both are paired in the same package deal with the Eagles.

Time will tell if the Chargers can have a consistent offensive coaching staff under Harbaugh in the future, but it’s certainly a positive start that he has a good working relationship with Day in the future.

Chargers WR Keenan Allen on former OC Joe Lombardi: ‘I was stuck at the slot the whole time’

Keenan Allen had some interesting comments regarding his role with the current Chargers offense.

Wide receiver Keenan Allen had some interesting comments at his Tuesday media availability regarding his role with the current Chargers’ offense. Most of the attention was on his remarks regarding usage under former offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi vs. Kellen Moore:

“With Lombardi, I was stuck at the slot the whole time,” Allen said. “I’m inside and outside now, we’re all kinda inside and outside now, playing everything.”

Allen did play significantly more slot snaps in 2022 under Lombardi than he did under previous offensive coordinators for the Chargers. Allen’s percentage of pass snaps in the slot jumped from 51.7% to 64.3% when comparing Shane Steichen’s 2020 vs. Lombardi’s 2022. The percentage of snaps out wide tells a similar story. Under Steichen, Allen lined up out wide 47.7% of the time. With Lombardi, that dipped to 35.1%.

It’s hard to tell precisely what Moore’s split will be, but the plan seems to be cross-training all receivers to play inside and outside, as Allen suggested.

Allen was also asked how often the Chargers’ receiving room watches Dallas tape. For their offensive installs under Moore, Allen says the team “pretty much watches them (the Cowboys) every day.”

Cowboyswide receiver CeeDee Lamb was the name Allen brought up when asked about which player he “mimics” from Moore’s Dallas team:

“He [CeeDee Lamb] moves around a lot, slot, inside and outside. He is a change of direction guy, going left or right.”

Looking at the usage of Lamb in his last two seasons yields interesting results. Lamb spent 52.5% of his snaps in the slot vs. 46.3% out wide when looking at the previous two years on average. That’s much closer to the previously mentioned Steichen split than the Lombardi split.

Allen seems to allude to the fact that Moore will be slightly less set on always following a specific offensive structure instead of consistently seeking out mismatches.

How can Kellen Moore get the most out of Justin Herbert? Just get out of the way!

All new Chargers OC Kellen Moore has to do to get the most out of Justin Herbert is to get out of the way, and let the big dog eat!

Under offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi in 2021 and 2022, quarterback Justin Herbert was one of the most unfairly limited players at his position in the NFL. Herbert, the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, has one of the best deep arms in the NFL. Sadly, he’s been unable to use it in the ways in which it was intended.

Last season, per Pro Football Focus, Herbert completed 25 of 73 passes of 20 or more air yards for 806 yards, seven touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer rating of 91.5. To put that in perspective, Josh Allen of the Bills led the NFL with 41 such completions on 104 attempts for 1,386 yards, 12 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 97.4.

It’s time for new Chargers OC Kellen Moore to do what Lombardi refused to do — let the big dog eat. Fortunately, Herbert’s new play-designer seems to get it.

“Yeah, there’s some obvious stuff,” Moore recently told Albert Breer of the MMQB, regarding the talent of his new quarterback. “The biggest thing is obviously his arm talent. But his combination of size, throwing ability, athleticism, I mean, there’s only a few on earth that can have that combination, and play at such a high level. It’s really fun to see. I was a 6-foot, kind of hanging-on quarterback for six years. And I laugh, there’s a few throws sometimes he makes that I say, I would never think about trying that throw, but here we are. It’s opened my eyes to some things.”

We can but live in hope.

Broncos QB Russell Wilson getting a fresh start with new staff

“It’s a new year, a new coaching staff and a new scheme,” Broncos OC Joe Lombardi said of QB Russell Wilson getting a fresh start.

Last month, Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said he was “really happy” with how quarterback Russell Wilson looked during the team’s offseason program.

Lombardi was asked during his media availability during organized team activities if he watched 2022 film with Wilson or if he’s giving the quarterback a clean slate.

Lombardi said they did watch last year’s film, but the quarterback will also get a fresh start with the new coaching staff this summer.

“He’s a guy that has been in the NFL a long time, so I’ve watched a lot of film on him,” Lombardi said on June 4. “Certainly, we watched last year to see what happened, so a little bit of both.

“You want to see what a player does well and maybe what he struggled with, but also you don’t want to make too many assumptions. It’s a new year, a new coaching staff and a new scheme. We have a lot of time to figure out exactly the best plan forward for all these players.”

Wilson had the worst season of his career under former head coach Nathaniel Hackett last year with a career-low 16 touchdown passes in 15 games. The 34-year-old quarterback will hope to have a bounce-back season under Payton and Lombardi in 2023.

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Broncos OC Joe Lombardi sees a bright future for QBs coach Davis Webb

“I certainly see a bright future for him in the coaching profession,” Broncos OC Joe Lombardi said of rookie QBs coach Davis Webb.

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It seems that Davis Webb was born to coach football.

When he was still playing in the NFL as a backup with the Buffalo Bills, the Bills asked Webb to retire so he could become their quarterbacks coach last year.

Webb declined Buffalo’s offer because he wanted to continue playing for at least one more season. Webb ultimately decided to retire after the 2022 season and Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton quickly hired him as QBs coach.

Although he is the head coach, Payton will call offensive plays for the Broncos and offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, a former QBs coach, will work under Payton. Webb will work under Lombardi.

Lombardi has been coaching in the NFL since 2006 and he foresees a bright future for Webb.

“[He is a] really hard worker and he takes it seriously,” Lombardi said on June 14. “He’s young and he’s just starting out as a coach. With his background, the coaches he’s been with, and the experience of being a quarterback where you’re really responsible for knowing what everyone’s doing, I think he has a really good base.

“He’s good at building relationships with the guys that he coaches, so I certainly see a bright future for him in the coaching profession.”

Webb, 28, will be younger than Denver quarterback Russell Wilson, but that won’t be a strange concept to the 34-year-old veteran. Wilson’s personal QBs coach, Jake Heaps, is three years younger than him. It’s not very common in the NFL, but it has happened before to have a coach younger than players.

After serving as a backup quarterback in the NFL from 2017-2022, Webb will make his coaching debut with the Broncos this fall. He’ll hope to follow in the footsteps of Payton and Lombardi, who both coached quarterbacks in the NFL before moving up the coaching ranks.

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