How Denver Broncos Can Fix Peyton Manning, Struggling Passing Attack

The Denver Broncos are undefeated after six weeks, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have flaws. The Broncos offense is struggling to move the ball on the ground or through the air. This has definitely been a change from what we’re used to seeing from a Peyton Manning-led team.

Manning has not looked consistently comfortable this year. There are a few plays here and there where he looks like his old self, but most of the time Manning’s play leaves a lot to be desired.

The team is off this week as they get a Week 7 bye. They’ll regroup after some time off then get ready for their Week 8 game against the Green Bay Packers.

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak doesn’t take a break during the bye week.

“I don't really ever get away. We're trying to evaluate right now. It's about communication today from coaches to players and we want feedback, too. We sat down and watched all of the cut-ups with the players and got a lot of feedback.” Kubiak specified, “We need to narrow down. The deeper that you get into the season, I think, the more you narrow down on, hopefully, what you do best.”

How can the Broncos fix Manning and this struggling passing attack? Let’s take a look.

Protect Manning Better

David Richard/Associated Press

The offensive line has seen many different combinations so far this year. The only positions that haven’t seen changes up front are center Matt Paradis and right guard Louis Vasquez. Outside of those two, we’ve seen six different players line up at the other positions in 2015.

The team has allowed Manning to be sacked 12 times this season. For a 39-year old quarterback, those hits can add up quick and do a lot of damage. In their Week 6 game against the Cleveland Browns, Manning didn’t get sacked once, and the offensive line looked much improved compared to previous weeks.

The doubters will point to the offensive struggles as a sign that the Broncos are not as strong as their record shows. Tackle Ryan Harris believes the team does not need to be motivated by the people who doubt them.

“As a team, we're very motivated to do whatever it takes to win. Whatever stats people are looking for, we've got a great stat and that's 6-0 and No. 1 in the division.”

Harris explained, “Those are things that motivate us and our goals that we've set out before the season. Despite what people may say or opinions, we're going to hold fast to those goals and work to accomplish them.”

Another way to improve protection is have Manning line up a little further back. Instead of having him under center, where he awkwardly drops back to find a receiver, the Broncos could use the shotgun formation. They’re splitting snaps in recent weeks between shotgun and pistol formations, but Manning just seems to be more in tune when taking snaps in the shotgun.

With the line getting healthier and improving in recent weeks, they should be able to protect Manning better than they did earlier this season.

Run the Ball

Aaron Josefczyk/Associated Press

If the Broncos can establish a consistent rushing attack, then it should help open things up in the passing game. Running the ball effectively will pull defenders closer to the line of scrimmage. Once that happens, the Broncos will have a more effective play-action passing game.

Starter C.J. Anderson has been banged up this year, and he’s struggling to find much running room behind the offensive line. Backup Ronnie Hillman has had two 100-yard rushing games this season, and his speed makes him a threat to score anytime he runs the ball.

Against the Browns, the Broncos had their best rushing day of the season. Hillman had a career-high 111 rushing yards, while Anderson had the second-highest number of yards he’s had in a single game in 2015 (41 yards).

After the Browns game, Manning praised the rushing attack.

“I thought it was good. I thought (Broncos RB) CJ (Anderson) and (Broncos RB) Ronnie (Hillman) ran the ball well. I thought the line did a good job. We were trying to stay in-phase.” Manning continued, “I thought those guys ran hard, and there were some good holes there. Especially on that last drive, there were some good holes.”

After the bye week, the Broncos may change their starting running back—even though both backs will continue to split reps on the field.

A Third Wide Receiver Needs to Emerge

Joe Mahoney/Associated Press

The Broncos are set on the outside, with two star receivers in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, but they could use a third wideout to emerge in this offense. Second-year pro Cody Latimer was supposed to see a larger role this year as the team’s third wide receiver. Instead of breaking out, Latimer has suffered through a groin injury and seems to have lost confidence on the field. He’s barely playing as others get opportunity.

Players like Bennie Fowler and Jordan Norwood have each flashed potential at different times this season. At 6'1" and 212 pounds, Fowler has a great size/speed combination, and he plays with great “my ball” mentality when the pass is in the air. Norwood is a seasoned veteran who can get open on underneath routes and make difficult catches.

Offensive coordinator Rick Dennison likes what he’s seen from Fowler and Norwood.

“If we make a first down, it's him and [WR] Jordan [Norwood] right now. We're throwing to those two guys, who [have done] a great job. Bennie just goes out, he's a big man, he can run and catches the ball. When you see a guy make a play when he doesn't have that many reps, it's a great thing, so maybe we have to get him some more reps.” Dennison revealed, “Our personnel has kind of moved around a little bit and we have depth at wide receiver, so we're trying to do the best that we can with that.”

The third receiver in a Kubiak offense isn’t going to have a huge role. However, finding a consistent playmaker at the position would greatly help the passing game when a third receiver is needed.

Use the Tight Ends More

Aaron Josefczyk/Associated Press

The Kubiak offense is known for utilizing the tight end position, but that really hasn’t come to fruition yet for the Broncos this year. After six weeks, the Broncos rank 30th in the league, with only 123 receiving yards gathered in by their tight ends.

That should change if the team wants Manning to be more effective as a passer.

Owen Daniels is the lead tight end for this team, and he knows the offense like the back of his hand. He’s snared two touchdowns this year, but there are many games where he’s been a non-factor.

Virgil Green is primarily used as a blocker, but he’s a seriously underrated receiver who could do a lot more if called upon. As the offensive line plays better, perhaps we’ll see Green get a chance to prove himself as a pass-catcher.

Summary

Making Manning as comfortable as possible should be the goal of this coaching staff, and that means better offensive-line play, an improved rushing attack, a consistent third receiver, more targets for the tight ends and more snaps out of the shotgun might be their best bet.

Kubiak is well aware of what this team needs to do in order to get the best out of Manning.

“We’re very humble in our situation right now and I know we have to improve a great deal. I think it’s a lot to do with me getting comfortable with putting him in the things that he’s real comfortable with and what he’s doing. That’s what I’m looking at.”

Kubiak continued, “He knows that we have to get rid of some of these things, and I think he’s trying to do too much at times. He’s also doing everything for us at times to help us win the football games. We have to find a medium there. We’re doing a better job with him protecting the ball better.”

The veteran coach finished, “We’re all in this together, and that’s the way we’ll stay.”

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos media department unless otherwise noted. Advanced stats via ESPN's employees-only database.

Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions.