Old ties die hard, and so Sean Payton took to Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi’s staunch defense on Friday.
“Darren’s been outstanding,” Payton said then.
Two days later, it was difficult to find anything outstanding about how Rizzi’s unit performed against the Houston Texans.
Outside of stalwart kicker Wil Lutz’s 34-yard game-winner in an 18-15 slugfest, the Broncos’ special teams were dominated in just about every possible fashion on Sunday. The numbers showed it: Houston outgained Denver 147 to 106 in combined punt and kick-return yardage. The eye test showed it: Lutz had a first-quarter field goal try blocked, practice-squad elevation Michael Bandy had a muffed punt in the second quarter, and Houston rookie Jaylin Noel got free for a 45-yard punt return in the third quarter.
Without directly name-dropping Rizzi, Payton didn’t mince words on the Broncos’ struggles in the third phase of the game on Sunday.
“Without watching on tape, my concern was just the late subs,” Payton said. “It was a little bit sloppy in the kicking game. We’ll get that cleaned up, or we’ll find someone else that can do it.”
Perhaps that someone else was in reference to Rizzi. Perhaps it was referring to the Broncos’ kickoff personnel. In any case, it was a direct admission from Denver’s head man that things on special teams need to change. Broncos opponents have now outgained Denver in combined kickoff and punt-return yardage in five out of the Broncos’ nine games despite a 7-2 start, and Rizzi’s group continued to struggle with penalties on Sunday, as long snapper Mitchell Fraboni and safety JL Skinner both were dinged for flags. Somehow, Skinner was called for holding on one fourth-quarter punt — despite being on the coverage team.
The blocked Lutz field goal attempt was particularly damning for Rizzi. On Friday, Payton gave an extended spiel on the efficacy of Houston specialist Denico Autry, who’d blocked 13 kicks in his career entering Sunday’s game. Guess who swatted Lutz’s try on Sunday? Autry.
Payton’s reference to late subs was the second straight week he’s noted a clear coaching error on special teams, as he said last Monday that Marvin Mims Jr. wasn’t supposed to be in the game on the play he suffered a concussion against Dallas.
“The thing that was troubling me a little bit was — we went into it wanting to play as much of the game on their side of the field,” Payton said postgame. “And I felt in the kicking game, we didn’t do enough to leverage the field-position battle.”
Palczewski Flu Game: On Saturday, Broncos left guard Alex Palczewski was suddenly downgraded to questionable against the Texans with an illness. It was evident as early warm-ups dawned at NRG Stadium in Houston. After he took a sip from a waterbottle, a trainer took the bottle to the sideline and put a piece of tape on it — seemingly to indicate no other player should drink it.
Palczewski, though, gritted it out for four quarters, as Denver avoided having to start their fourth left guard of the year. It’s another feather in the 26-year-old reserve’s cap, as Palczewski has done admirable work since filling in for the injured Ben Powers before the Broncos’ Week 7 matchup with the Giants.
“He’s doing a really good job,” Payton said on Monday. “He’s physically smart. The experience he’s had as a player over the years, you know what you’re getting, and there is a great value to that.”
Greenlaw ramped up: The Broncos appeared to take the reins off on Dre Greenlaw against Houston, as the inside linebacker played a heavy dose of fourth-quarter snaps against the Texans. Reserve Justin Strnad still saw plenty of time, but Greenlaw finished with eight tackles and a sack in his return from a one-game suspension. His usage should only continue to rise as Denver hits their stretch run.
Lewis makes history: Just a few days after signing a practice-squad deal with Denver, 41-year-old tight end Marcedes Lewis took the field in the first quarter on Sunday, officially marking him the oldest tight end to ever play in an NFL game.
Payton threw him in a heck of a spot, too: He lined up as the lead blocker against Texans edge star Will Anderson on a J.K. Dobbins outside run. And Lewis executed his assignment perfectly, as Dobbins popped for 12 yards on his most effective carry of the game.
“I mean, his routine, his regimen, all of it is extremely impressive,” Payton said of Lewis on Friday. “I’m glad he’s here.”
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