Denver Broncos testing if defense enough with Joe Flacco

Its defense or bust for the Denver Broncos. Will they find a winning formula with Joe Flacco at quarterback? The test has begun, but the answers are unclear.

Is Joe Flacco elite? The ultimate football question in NoVa has now transported to the Mile High City with the trade of the “legendary” Baltimore quarterback to the Denver Broncos. The answer, of course, is no — unless it’s January 2012 — but the Broncos likely need an elite Flacco to make any strides in the tough AFC West.

Denver has not been able to find a Peyton Manning successor at quarterback to take advantage of the franchise’s normally premiere defense. Flacco would not appear to be the answer, particularly long term. The defense may also not be among the best in the sport anymore thanks to roster turnover.

Whereas the West looked like a mash of squads of equal ability this time last year, it now surely looks like a pair of haves and a pair of have-nots with Denver unfortunately a member of the latter. Have the Broncos turned the tables by doubling down on defense and adding Flacco? The ultimate test has begun.

Two brothers from New York, Dan Salem and Todd Salem, debate the Denver Broncos in today’s NFL Sports Debate.

Todd Salem:

Last year, the Broncos offense found its heading on the ground behind rookie star Phillip Lindsay. It wasn’t enough to pick up the entire unit any higher than league average. Will Flacco change that? I would be surprised.

Demaryius Thomas is no longer around; Emmanuel Sanders and Courtland Sutton were a pair without any support. Flacco did average more than 7.0 yards per attempt during his slinging heyday, but that came with a completion percentage lower than 60 percent. And those marks just won’t cut it in the league today.

On defense, Denver was just as good as it’s always been last year, but we are witnessing overhauls of multiple units on this side of the ball. Outside linebackers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb are the soul of this group, and they need to remain one of the best pairs in the league to boost up a churned secondary.

More from NFL Spin Zone

• Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
• Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
• Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
• Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
• Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens

Perhaps this is why the organization went against league trends by signing defensive-minded Vic Fangio as its new head coach. While everyone else searched for the new and young offensive guru, John Elway and company went the other direction. Retaining a top five defense is certainly a goal, but Chubb and company are also sensing an overall culture change.

I’m not sure showing up to an 8:00 a.m. meeting at 7:55 instead of 7:59 is the difference between making and missing the playoffs, but as Broncos Wire points out, it can’t hurt.

Only time will tell whether Fangio, specifically, is right for the job, and whether the larger idea of doubling down on defense and not bringing in an offensive mind was the right move. If Denver uses its 10th overall pick in the draft on a quarterback of the future, we will have to wait until 2020 or later to really see. And at that point, Flacco’s elite credentials won’t matter.

Dan Salem:

Flacco proved you consistently win in the NFL with great defense and competent quarterback play. This combination earned him a championship and years of above average success. He managed to elevate his game at precise moments throughout his career, pushing the Ravens farther than people expected.

Despite the average numbers, Flacco does have some key intangibles that make him a solid NFL quarterback. Denver has doubled down on defense and brought in Flacco, hoping to create what worked so well in the recent past. Defense still wins championships.

My issue with the Denver Broncos is that their defense is not quite elite. The NFL Draft may shift things, but currently Denver lacks an elite defense. They are very good, but not good enough to compensate for an offense that has yet to prove it can control the football. Flacco will succeed in Denver with a good running game and solid slot receivers to eat up yards. Do the Broncos have this right now?

Making the Denver Broncos’ defense elite will help cover for a lacking offense, because Flacco is not known to elevate an offense all by himself. He is not known for a high completion percentage or dynamic playmaking. He needs a healthy Lindsay all season and at least one “Mr. Reliable” in the passing game. I expect the Broncos to make a few key veteran additions after the draft, because they can’t fill every hole with rookies.

Denver is going to keep the defensive train running in the draft. This means the addition of veterans on offense to help foster some continuity and reliability. The names won’t be flashy, but this is not a flashy football team and Flacco is not a flashy leader or player. Hiring a defensive head coach is not a flashy move, but flashy doesn’t get you very far. Winning does.

This is not a complete rebuilding season for Denver, but its certainly a transition year. Flacco is not a long-term answer and the Broncos are not stacked with talent for a short-term fix. He is here to usher in an era of defense and hopefully groom his replacement.