Javonte Williams rolls out of bed breaking tackles, 220 pounds of rolling thunder and healthy disdain.
No. 33 uses his shoulder the way Monet used a paintbrush. Williams makes anger beautiful, running downhill like a snowball at elevation, bouncing off defenders as if they were millionaire bowling pins.
Do you know how many times he’s touched the ball on third-and-3-or-less or fourth-and-3-or-less for coach Nathaniel Hackett and the dumpster fire dressed up as the Broncos’ offense?
That would be four. Three in Seattle. Once this past Sunday against the Houston Texans.
The kicker? The Broncos tailback managed to pick up a first down or a score on three of those four. Kicker No. 2? On those four touches, he’s averaged 3.8 yards per tote.
On a team searching for an identity, looking for answers, there’s No. 33, all alone in the end zone, staring Hackett and quarterback Russell Wilson squarely in the face.
Here’s the good news heading into Little Shanny Week and a prime-time visit from the San Francisco 49ers Sunday: The Broncos have become must-watch television for NFL neutrals. They’re a national story now. The Orange & Blue are one of the most fascinating teams in the league, enticing viewers with the possibility of catching something they’ve never seen in a pro game before.
The bad news? They’re tuning in for all the wrong reasons.
Instead of watching to see what kind of magic Hackett and Big Russ can create between the hash marks, they’re waiting for the train wreck. The 64-yard field goal try. The 12.5 penalties per game. The gaffe that’s going to set Twitter on fire and leave the talk-show hosts doubled over in hysterics.
Wilson wasn’t handed a $245 million contract extension for this franchise to remain the AFC West’s punch line. ESPN’s tiresome graphics about Denver’s quarterback carousel have been replaced by a real-life circus of high panic and low comedy. It’s like Uncle Vic never left.
“It’s about organization and communication,” Hackett said during his day-after news conference Monday, raising a hand in blame and, unlike last week, not walking it back. “And in those moments, you know, it happens so fast … we just need to tighten that process up so we can make better decisions faster.”
He needs fewer voices on the headset. He needs fewer stats. He needs to keep it simple. He needs to stop trying to be clever. And start trying to run the dang ball down the other team’s throats.
“Javonte and Melvin (Gordon) had been unbelievably efficient,” the Broncos coach said Monday. “I mean, they have made some very good plays. The run game is doing really well right now. And we need to continue that, going with them and keep giving them the ball.”
Deeds, coach. Deeds. Not words.
Of the 24 NFL tailbacks who’ve carried the ball more than 20 times this season, only two as of Monday afternoon were averaging more yards per run than Williams’ 5.4. The two: Cleveland’s Nick Chubb (5.8 per carry) and the Giants’ Saquon Barkley (6.1).
Hackett needs to start using No. 33 as a tool to set up Wilson, instead of the other way around. DangerRuss throwing off play-action, over his career, sports a career completion percentage of 74.22% and a passer rating of 121.2 with 24 touchdowns and just three picks. Non-play-action? A 64.67% completion rate and a career 100.0 passer rating, with a TD/interception ratio of 3-to-1 instead of 8-to-1.
Going back to the end of the 2020 regular season, the last 10 teams to beat Little Shanny’s Niners have one thing in common: They didn’t get cute with the game on the line.
In those 10 setbacks, including last year’s NFC Championship game defeat to Von Miller and the Los Angeles Rams, San Fran’s foes chewed up an average of 114 rushing yards on 30 carries per tilt, or 3.8 yards per pop.
In other words, coach, you make Jimmy Garoppolo work for it. Otherwise, the next thing Broncos Country will start counting out loud will be the weeks left on your contract.
“When it comes to fans, they were awesome,” Hackett said of the viral play-clock keepers at Empower Field. “I mean, golly, they’re loud. I mean, it was great for the defense. It was great.
“And the countdown, all that kind of stuff — I mean, they’re smart. There were some issues that were going on. And it was a great warning for us. And, I mean, I love that environment … it’s awesome. And I think it’s going to be hard for people to come in here. We want to continually win at home.”
Join the club, man. Join the club. It’s time to stop listening to all the voices in your ear, Nate. And start listening to the one coming from your gut.
