Nobody lacks for opponent film in the NFL, but even by modern standards the Broncos defense has plenty to work with this week.
In fact, players and coaches don’t even have to look outside the building. They have every single practice from last year. Fifteen games worth of Nathaniel Hackett offense. Installs and techniques and as much detail as you could possibly imagine.
Since the schedule came out in May, this game’s been circled.
Hackett would have been intriguing enough. Then Aaron Rodgers joined the fold — before he tore his Achilles four plays into the season. Then Sean Payton lit the NFL news cycle on fire in July when he torched Hackett and pretty much everything about the 2022 Broncos during an interview with USA Today as training camp started.
But for all of the drama, the most impactful actual connection between Hackett and the Broncos leading into Sunday’s matchup is also the most practical. The Denver defense should be more than just a little familiar with what they’re going to see from a Hackett offense.
“Yeah, we had to watch the tape from last year,” inside linebacker Josey Jewell said with a smile Thursday. “Throw that on from last year. It’ll be fun to see him again.”
These guys were not only coached by Hackett last year, but they also saw the Jets at Empower Field in Week 7.
For the most part, Jewell said, the 2023 Jets offense looks like the 2022 Broncos offense schematically.
“There’s a lot of similarities, I think, between that one and this one,” he said. “I honestly couldn’t tell you the difference. (In the run game) it’s a lot of duo, a lot of stretch, a little bit of gap scheme stuff. The passing game stuff is pretty similar to me.
“I haven’t seen anything crazy different.”
This is where one could insert a joke about Denver averaging 15.5 points in Hackett’s 15 games last year and the Jets averaging 15.5 points through four games this year.
Practically speaking, though, Denver’s defense carries a lot of similar personnel from a year ago, too, especially if it gets Jewell, safety Justin Simmons and defensive lineman Mike Purcell back in the fold from myriad injury issues. Perhaps safety P.J. Locke and/or outside linebacker Baron Browning, too.
“His plans are always clean,” Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said of Hackett. “It’s clean, it attacks what you do well. Your first 15 plays of the game with this play-caller, you’d better be careful because he’s having a good plan coming in. As you go through the game you can kind of figure out what he’s doing, but he always shows up with a couple of curveballs.”
Hackett was asked Thursday about how Miami took advantage of the Broncos defense and if he takes anything from that for Sunday’s matchup. He said the Dolphins are unique because of their skill talent, but that you’re always trying to find new ideas.
“One of the best players on their team is Justin Simmons,” Hackett said of the safety he used to coach. “I know him being out was something that kind of triggered that (70-20 result), but I thought Miami had a great game plan vs. them. You always look at some of those things and see what you can pull from it. But every game is a challenge and every defense is going to play you a little bit different and might not do the exact same things.
“So you’ve got to be ready for how you think they might play you.”
The Broncos have to be ready, too, but Jewell thinks the familiarity gives them the upper hand rather than the other way around.
“We saw it through that whole year,” he said. “I think it’s definitely to our advantage. Hopefully we can go out there and react quick to it.”
Blinded by the light
Hindsight is 20/20. Unless there’s a glare, of course.
That’s what happened to Marvin Mims, Jr. when he muffed a kickoff return attempt in Chicago.
“It was going up, it was clear and then last-second it got in the sun,” Mims said. “And I knew the kickoff team had it blocked perfectly, exactly how I wanted it, and (the ball) just smacked me right in the facemask. … Luckily I got the ball back, but I just put the offense in a real tough position.”
The dynamic rookie was able to put the mistake behind him. Later in the game he ripped off a 25-yard punt return. Then he caught a 47-yard ball up the right sideline from quarterback Russell Wilson that helped set up a Wil Lutz go-ahead, 51-yard field goal in the final two minutes.
Mims gave credit in particular to a guy who’s not even playing this year.
“It sucked, especially on such a stupid mistake,” he said. “But the vets on the sideline were just in my ear about, hey, next play, you’re going to get a big one coming up. Especially Tim Patrick talked to me a lot, just about, especially at the end. ‘Hey, it’s coming. You’ve got to stay ready.’ Eventually it came.”
Number to know
18.9: Outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper’s miles-per-hour speed on his fumble return touchdown against Chicago, per the NFL’s GPS tracking data. The number impressed fellow OLB Nik Bonitto. “He was moving for real,” said Bonitto, who forced the fumble and sprinted alongside Cooper to the end zone.
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