Defenses ‘Don’t Know What to Do’ with New Look

Denver Broncos The offense finally looks like it’s starting to come together. Leaving the defense behind to start the 2024 season (as well as the last decade), the Broncos were able to go out and inflict an absolute upset on their home field against the opposing team. Atlanta Falcons 38-6.

The Broncos, who scored four touchdowns on their first five possessions, were meticulously efficient and executed Sean Payton’s game plan almost perfectly. Of course, the main reason for the Broncos’ offensive improvement is the weekly improvement of rookie quarterback Bo Nix. But it’s also notable that Payton has figured out how to maximize the offensive pieces he has.

One player who was overlooked by many in the second half of his career was wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. Aside from the big game in Week 2 of last season, he was extremely quiet and uninspiring as an offensive player.

After earning five snaps in the backfield against Kansas City in Week 10, the Broncos turned back to Mims in the gadget role, lining up seven times in the backfield, four times in the slot and three times outside. Mims didn’t make much of an impact as a runner, but had two receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown.

Even though Payton is an older coach, the innovative side of offensive design isn’t just in the youth game. In his postgame press conference Sunday, Payton praised Mims and his role.

“We’re finding new ways to get ‘Mimsy’ involved and she’s making some big plays,” Payton said.

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Mims added value on special teams as a returner but was not a meaningful contributor at wide receiver. Many had even begun to circulate the “B-word” (bust) for Mims, thinking the Broncos would move up and select him at the end of the second round in 2023.

But maybe Mims isn’t just a wide receiver, he’s also a quarterback. That’s what Payton’s staff groups have been recommending for the past two weeks.

Mims also appears to be embracing gadget distribution.

“It’s a lot of fun. You know, I joke with the running backs every week that I need to gain some weight, but we’ll see how that goes,” Mims said postgame. “It’s a lot of fun, just giving the defense a different look. “Sometimes when I come running back out there you can tell they don’t know what to do.”

In fact, having Mims huddled and being moved from the outfield to the backfield creates pre-snap problems for opposing defenses, and Mims has noticed this. Mims may never be a full-time player, but he’s embracing his new role as an offensive innovator.

From being the primary decoy to create confusion on Nate Atkins’ opening kick to sliding out of the backfield for a 37-yard reception (and not including the 12-yard touchdown pass on a wide receiver screen), Payton is coming up with new and new things. Smart ways to get the ball into the hands of young quarterbacks.

Heading into the season, many analysts rated the Broncos as having one of the worst groups of offensive skill position players in the entire league. Denver had receiver Courtland Sutton as a known quantity, but the rest had a lot of questions regarding health and talent.

Denver will likely need to continue retooling its quarterback this offseason, but don’t count out some of the players yet on the roster, including Mims.

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