Despite the acquisition of Russell Wilson, the Broncos’ offense has been a complete disaster this season — Denver is averaging an NFL worst 14.6 points per game and its $245 million ($A366m) man has thrown just seven touchdown passes to go with five interceptions. But one former Bronco thinks he knows why the offense has stunk, and the reason is stunning.
Former offensive lineman Tyler Polumbus — after speaking to people inside the Broncos organization — alleges that Wilson has been using audibles from his days with the Seahawks, which of course means none of his new teammates understand what he’s saying.
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“Probably over the last two or three weeks you’ve had Russell Wilson and Nathaniel Hackett have their first real marital problems on the philosophy of the offense,” Polumbus said on 92.5 FM Altitude Sports Radio Denver on Wednesday. “There’s been some behind-the-scenes conversations about those disagreements and how they should be calling plays.
“More concerning to me, though — Russell is losing his mind out there. He’s losing his mind. He’s at the line of scrimmage using audibles from the Seahawks. The guys don’t know what the audibles are. He’s using code words and guys don’t know what the code words are. They’re coming back to the huddle like, ‘Dude, what are you saying out there? We don’t know what that is.’ He’s losing his mind right now.”
That would be an enormous and inexplicable problem. It also comes after Wristband-gate has become a thing in Denver.
Last week, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll praised his current quarterback, Geno Smith, for his willingness to wear one in what has been a surprising 6-4 start for Seattle, which sits atop the NFC West. In the same breath, Carroll noted how there was “resistance” to do so in the past in a clear dig at Wilson.
When Wilson, who recently agreed to start wearing one for the Broncos, was asked about Carroll’s comments, he shot back that Seattle won plenty of games without him wearing one.
The Broncos, of course, have not. At 3-6 they’re a game out of last place in the AFC West and are last in the league in red-zone offense, second-to-last on third down and have scored just 12 touchdowns.
Denver’s 131 points are also the fewest from a Wilson-led offense in the first nine games of any year in his career, per ESPN’s Stats and Information Group.
“We are close, but that is not what we are here for,” Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett told reporters this week. “We are not here to be No. 1 in close games. We are here to win football games… we have to get this stuff fixed.”
That apparently includes using audibles players understand.
This story originally appeared on the New York Post.
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