September 21st 2024.
Dear fellow Broncos fans, let's take a moment to relax and give our rookie quarterback, Bo Nix, some grace. It's been a rocky start to his time in Denver, especially after all the hype and excitement he generated during training camp and the preseason. With the Broncos currently at 0-2 and Nix throwing for 384 yards, four interceptions, and zero touchdowns, it's hard not to be discouraged. But let's not panic just yet, it's still too early in the season.
Nix is facing the challenges that come with being a first-year starting quarterback, just like his fellow rookies Jayden Daniels from Washington and Caleb Williams from Chicago. A telling statistic of their difficult transition is that together, they have thrown 196 passes without a single touchdown. According to Opta Stats, this is the most consecutive pass attempts without a touchdown by rookie quarterbacks at the start of a season in NFL history.
It's fair to say that none of the rookie quarterbacks have set the league on fire, as some may have expected after being drafted in April. But this shouldn't be a cause for concern, rather a reminder to be patient. Not only do Nix, Daniels, and Williams need to work on their own performance, but they have also joined teams with their own set of challenges and flaws.
One common issue that all three quarterbacks have faced is a lack of protection from their offensive line. Williams, Daniels, and Nix have been pressured a total of 92 times, as reported by Next Gen Stats. Chicago and Denver rank fourth and fifth in the league for most pressures allowed, respectively. Williams has been sacked nine times, tying with Gardner Minshew from Las Vegas and Jacoby Brissett from New England for the most in the league. In Chicago's Week 2 loss to the Houston Texans, Williams was constantly under pressure and was blitzed on 41.7% of his dropbacks, resulting in only 3 completions out of 12 attempts for 15 yards and one interception, according to Next Gen Stats.
In Washington, there's cause for alarm as quarterback Daniels and star wide receiver Terry McLaurin have yet to establish a connection on the field. So far, McLaurin has only caught eight passes for 39 yards in two games. While Daniels has the arm strength to make big plays, Washington's offensive line has made it difficult for him to do so. The team has given up 25 pressures, tying for the 12th most in the league. Additionally, Daniels has the shortest amount of time to throw among all NFL quarterbacks, at only 2.33 seconds, according to Next Gen Stats.
Despite the struggles of their respective teams, Daniels has been the most successful of the three rookie quarterbacks. The Heisman trophy winner has thrown for 410 yards, rushed for 132 yards, and scored two touchdowns. On the other hand, it's not just the offensive line that has let Nix down. The entire offense, including the coaching staff, has struggled. Denver's running game has been predictable, and rookie running back Javonte Williams has not been productive. As a result, Nix has been forced to make 88 dropbacks, tied for the fourth most in the league. It also doesn't help that Denver's receivers have struggled to create separation from defenders in man coverage.
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton acknowledges that it takes a team effort for their offense to succeed. "We trust in the system and the game plans being put together, it's just that we're not executing them," he said. "It takes all 11 of us to make sure we are executing and knowing our assignments to the highest level."
However, Nix and Williams are not without fault. There have been moments when they've looked overwhelmed and tried to do too much on their own. All four of Nix's interceptions were a result of him trying to make something out of nothing, throwing into double or triple coverage. In Chicago's season opener against the Titans, Williams was sacked for a 19-yard loss after backpedaling more than 10 yards. And in their Week 2 loss to the Texans, Williams threw two interceptions, including one in the fourth quarter when he escaped pressure but threw into triple coverage, resulting in an interception by cornerback Kamari Lassiter.
Despite Williams' struggles, he has thrown for under 175 yards in both games and has the lowest average yards per attempt in the league, at only 4.0. Nix, on the other hand, has completed 59.7% of his pass attempts and has a passer rating of 51.
But let's not hit the panic button just yet. The NFL is a tough league, and every quarterback has their own journey and struggles to overcome. Look at Josh Allen from Buffalo, who threw for 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as a rookie before becoming one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Jared Goff, the first overall pick in 2016, went winless in his first seven starts with the Rams, throwing for five touchdowns and seven interceptions. Two seasons later, he threw for almost 4,700 yards and led the Rams to the Super Bowl.
Head coach Sean Payton, who coached Nix during his time at Auburn before transferring to Oregon, understands the challenges that come with being a young quarterback. "He's been through the firestorm, if you will," Payton said. "You're better prepared and served when it comes around again. By no means are we in that position right now."
So let's not lose hope and continue to support our rookie quarterback and the team. And for more Broncos news and analysis, make sure to sign up for the Broncos Insider.
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