Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - PROBLEM: Sean Payton’s Tight End Usage MUST CHANGE for Denver Broncos

Starting point is 00:00:00 When it comes to the Denver Broncos tied-in position, there is an imbalance between the production of the group and also the utilization through personnel. You are locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. What's up, Broncos country? Welcome to another bonus episode, Locked on Broncos, your daily Denver Broncos podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, the number one sports podcast network in the country. Thanks all the everydayers out there. Thanks for tuning in, making us your first listen. Here on today's bonus episode of show, we're going to talk about the Broncos tight-end room

Starting point is 00:00:38 and the lack of production equated to the overall usage of the position and why this is a room that must get upgraded in 2026. You're going to get that here on today's episode of the show. We'll also talk about whether or not the talent at the position gets hidden because of that usage. We'll break it all down here. So let's jump into it here. Broncos country, as we know, the tight-end position in 2025 for Denver left a lot to be desired in terms of overall production from that group of efficiency.

Starting point is 00:01:05 see in terms of usage in the past catching department. I think the numbers, when you look at the comparisons of Denver's two tight ends, their primary guys, which was Adam Troutman, and obviously Evan Ingram, it shows that there was a discrepancy. Now, for Evan Ingram, we know very well that this was the first year in his career where he played the overall lowest number of percentage snaps offensively compared to a year where he had, I think, an injury one season that impacted it. 42% of the team's offensive snaps here in 2025.

Starting point is 00:01:36 He played 458 overall snaps. He only missed one game for the team due to a way back injury this year. But when on the field, I mean, in 16 games, he was hardly used. And his percentage seems to also indicate that in comparison to a player like Adam Troutman, who when you look at the overall number of snaps, he was tied in one by comparison. He played 57% of Denver's offensive snaps. 651 for Troutman compared to the 458 compared to Ingram. And when you talk about the skill set difference between both players,

Starting point is 00:02:07 Adam Troutman arguably redeemed as a better blocking tight end. We understand that, right? That makes sense there. But the approach in how Sean Payton has used these guys, it was puzzling throughout the season. When you look at the numbers, it makes you scratch your head even more. And it leaves a lot of questions about, well, if the Broncos offense with Bow Nix is going to continue to ascend forward, how is this going to change here?

Starting point is 00:02:28 in 2026. Right now that's a large unknown. Look, we know Adam Troutman is set to be an unrestricted free agent. Evan Ingram is still under contract. He's expected to be back with the team. The Broncos obviously could add a player here in NFL free agency. But I think the approach here from Sean Peyton is certainly has to change here. And no disrespect to Adam Troutman in no way, shape, or form should there ever be a situation where Adam Troutman is playing more overall offensive snaps than Evan Ingram? Evan Ingram has a vastly superior, past catching skill set compared to Troutman. And look, I think when we talk about maybe critiques of Evan Ingram,

Starting point is 00:03:03 okay, I think we can talk about the drops. I think that's a fair critique for him to be playing 458 snaps, a career low 42%. And in those snaps, you have eight drops, which tie the team with Cortland Sutton there. That was certainly an issue, okay? It was Cortland Sutton, Evan Ingram tied at eight. RJ Harvey Harvey, he had seven drops this season.

Starting point is 00:03:24 That was a huge issue for the Broncos and their skill players in general. But the issue here is how this tight end groom is being used. And I want to go to some interesting numbers, according to our friends over there at True Media. When you talk about percentage of snaps played in certain personnel groupings here, the Broncos, they played 50% of their offensive snaps and 11 personnel, right, which is one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers there essentially. So you're telling me, okay, that's the highest percentage of snaps played the season. Okay, look at that.

Starting point is 00:03:55 Well, where was 12 personnel in? That's one running back, two tight ends. Denver played that quite a bit at times last season. When you look at the overall volume of offensive snaps played, but it was a significant drop off from 11 personnel, right? So 15.1% of Denver's offensive snaps were played out of 12 personnel, according to true media, 13 personnel, which is one running back, three tight ends, right? You're kind of heavier formations there, 2.1%.

Starting point is 00:04:22 And then you had 21 personnel, which is two backs, one tight end. And that doesn't really go into where we're at here for this conversation. 11 personnel, right? So you're telling me, when you have three wide receivers on the field, you have one tight end primarily. That one tight end is Adam Troutman. To me, that doesn't make sense. And when I think you look at the overall numbers and the fact that Bo Nicks last season,

Starting point is 00:04:46 he didn't really get a target the tight end position as much as maybe he would want to. And look, I watched him at Oregon where the tight end position was a little bit of a security blanket for him. Ferguson, who's now with a lot of Terrence Ferguson, who's with the Los Angeles Ram's one of his favorite go-to guys outside of Troy Franklin. But I think in today's NFL, any quarterback needs that tight-in position. That's security blanket. We've seen it benefit so many players, so many QBs over time because you're not just limited to saying, hey, I can only throw it to the left side of the field, the right

Starting point is 00:05:15 side of the field. I need somebody to attack the middle of the field. And the best overall option is a tight-in. Now, also in these 11 personnel situations, at times Adam Trotman is. running a standard route. But for the most part, they're having the tight end chip a pass rusher and then leak out as a checkdown option there. That's not using the tight end position where it needs to be used here. And just to put things into perspective here, Adam Troutman played 57% of the offensive snaps, 651, which was a drastic increase from what he played

Starting point is 00:05:45 in 2024 for this team. He also played a little bit more of role in special teams. But you're telling me with those high number of snaps played here inside of the offense, for him, his overall production, 20 catches on 23 targets, right? So, hey, they made the most of his targets, but those are essentially checked down options. 195 yards on 20 catches this season. To me, I just don't think that's going to be what the Broncos need in order for the tight-end position to succeed, whereas you look at how the Raiders utilize Brock Bowers. You look at how other teams like the Detroit lines before his injury use Sam Leporta.

Starting point is 00:06:22 to me, it's how can the Broncos don't have that? Evan Ingram has the skill set that you certainly can use there. The Broncos, they have a tight-in problem, and it's not necessarily the players at that position. It's how they are used. And coming to next Broncos country, we're going to talk about whether or not talent is getting hidden at the position because of Sean Payton and how he's using these schemes,

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Starting point is 00:09:23 As we talked about the overall percentage use of personnel that the Broncos certainly were in in 2025, we talked about the snap count percentage of guys like Adam Troutman and Evan Ingram here. This room anticipates to look differently in 2026 minus Evan Ingram, right? There is a chance that maybe Nate Adkins could be back. There's some cost control that the Broncos could have there. And I think arguably he's one of their best blockers has a hybrid role that he can be used. I'm not opposed to that, but I think the Broncos are going to go out there.

Starting point is 00:09:50 They're going to add a tight end, whether it be in the NFL draft, whether it be an NFL free agency. But it cannot be the status quo of what we saw in 2025 here. And Sean Payton has to be able to sell to potential free agents that could come in, so to speak, that, hey, we're going to find a way to use all you guys. To be an 11 personnel, 50% of the time and to hardly utilize your tight end certainly is problematic. And when your next personnel percentage is 12 personnel, and it's very, very, very, low in comparison by what we talked about there in that number obviously was 15.1 percent. Okay, well, how do you get more usage out of the tight-in position?

Starting point is 00:10:27 You know, typically when you're facing teams that have very elite pass rushers, I understand if you go a little heavier at times, if your game plan is, hey, we're going to block these guys and maybe the tight-in in a game against a very elite pass rusher, he might not be used as much. I can understand that. But when you're facing all these other teams that play different defensive of personnel packages or, you know, if a key pass rusher comes off the field here, you need to find a way to get that tight-in involved a little bit more because what we need

Starting point is 00:10:55 to see is tight-in production inside the red zone. Those guys have been used primarily as decoys. I mean, when you're just blocking, blocking, blocking. Defenses, when they're going through their game plan, they're not looking at everything and saying, hey, we need to be aware of this guy. I mean, teams, you could even tell by how defenses played Denver when Evan Ingram was in because of his snap percentage being one of the lowest of his careers, they were able to compile early on some of the routes that Evan ran in certain situations down and distance,

Starting point is 00:11:23 and it made it easier for defenses to scout. And look, there's always going to be this nature where defensive coordinators are going to figure out what your strengths and your weaknesses are, so to speak, and your tendencies. But it's up to the coaches on Denver staff to be able to break those tendencies by saying, hey, you know what? This week, we like our tight-end matchup against this linebacker, right? I thought that there were several moments this year where Evan Ingram shined in some one-on-ones against the New York Jets in London. where the Broncos converted on a key fourth down because Evan Ingram beat his guy clean one-on-one. I think he was Jamie and Sherwood that he beat. And then you saw him make a couple of clutch catches later on that game.

Starting point is 00:11:58 You saw him step up against the Philadelphia Eagles late. Oh, and hey, in overtime against the Washington commanders, had you isolated him on a matchup against Bobby Wagner with a little shake move that ended up giving you the yardage that you needed to score a touchdown in overtime that ultimately helped you win that game. Evan Ingram was a big part of that. but it wasn't consistent in terms of how they used Evan. Evan's going to be back. And if they're going to, if they're going to go in and add another tight end, Sean Payton and his staff have to emphasize and sell and free agency.

Starting point is 00:12:27 Hey, you know what? You have talent. We're going to find a way to use it. They did the same thing for Evan. They sold Evan on being able to come to Denver to be this, that, and the other inside of that Joker rule, but we never saw it. And yes, once again, I'll reiterate the drops by Evan Ingram. It's a valid critique here.

Starting point is 00:12:44 but you have to use these guys more. When they're coming in and they're just running routes and they're essentially a decoy, they're not touching the ball. You're not expecting them to stay warm, so to speak, but you always have to be ready. And I'll say, I'm not making an excuse for the drops, but it's hard to expect a guy to be ready when he's cold and he's not being used properly there. And if you're running him on routes,

Starting point is 00:13:03 it's identifying, hey, like, we're a third and short. Where's the matchup here? We've got him matched up against a slower inside linebacker. You know what I'm doing? I'm favoring that matchup nine times out of 10. especially with teams bracket covering Cortland Sutton and keying in on Troy Franklin on other key downs, the tight-in position has to evolve here in the Mile High City or else you're not helping Bo Nix. We see other quarterbacks benefit from having a good tight end.

Starting point is 00:13:28 There are some tight-ins that also can make up for bad quarterback play, but you know what? You have a really good quarterback here in Denver. Find a way to amplify that there, right? You haven't had a consistent enough run game for Bo Nix to help him take that pressure off his shoulders. But if you're going to have him throwing the ball, you know, the most times, the NFL in 2025. Well, guess what? That distribution certainly needs to be spread out, but primarily the tight end is going to help him in those key situations. We talk about the

Starting point is 00:13:53 Broncos having the most punts, so to speak, or being up there in terms of top five in terms of puns and three and outs in the NFL. Well, guess what? It's because you can't run the football, and it's because you're not using your tight ends. Teams are focused on Cortland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims, Pat Bryant. It makes it easier to game plan when you're not using the tight end. So that obviously has to change here, going forward if the Broncos are going to help Bo Nix, especially while he's on a rookie contract, find a security blanket option for him and find a way to use Evan Ingram a lot more. It doesn't matter if Evans not necessarily the best blocking tight-in, so to speak.

Starting point is 00:14:27 He is a weapon. He's got athleticism and he's got a good skill set that could benefit and open things up here for this offense. If Denver wants to be better, not only they have to use Ingram more, but they have to get somebody else in as well that can help balance things out from just being all on Evans plate. If you're going to use more tight ends, use them in the passing game. That is our plea to Sean Payton and the Broncos coaching staff. Broncos country, let us know what you thought of today's bonus episode of the show.

Starting point is 00:14:53 Curious for your thoughts on Denver's overall tight-in production. Make sure you know here on today's episode, Locked on Broncos, wherever you're tuning into us. We appreciate you so much. We'll be back tomorrow for a brand new episode of the show.

Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos - PROBLEM: Sean Payton’s Tight End Usage MUST CHANGE for Denver Broncos

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