06 February 2023 , 22:55
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Sean Payton was formally introduced as Denver Broncos head coach on Monday, and he's already making big changes.
The Broncos are in desperate need of a lift, and they've recruited one of the best coaches in the business to sort them out. Payton has been a wanted man in the NFL since stepping down as New Orleans Saints HC in 2022, and the Broncos won the race.
Payton will now coach veteran quarterback Russell Wilson, and there is hope that the duo can turn the franchise around quickly. But Wilson will have to adapt to Payton's ways, as the quarterback will no longer be allowed his own personal coach.
Wilson has his own personal quarterback coach, and also employs other specific coaches as part of his entourage. Payton was unaware of this, and during his formal unveiling as Broncos coach he was asked if this would continue.
“That’s foreign to me. That’s not going to take place here," Payton replied. "I’m unfamiliar with it, but our staff will be here, our players will be here and that’ll be it."
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Payton clearly was not a fan of that idea, and Wilson will have to settle with the coaches available at the Broncos. But Wilson and the Broncos were the lowest scoring team in the league this season, so the specialised staff weren't exactly inspiring greatness anyway.
There is a lot for Payton to resolve at the Broncos, as they've lost 10 or more game in five of the last six years. And he will want to get Wilson firing, as quarterback recorded a career-low 16 touchdown passes and a career-high 55 sacks throughout the season.
Four of those 16 passing touchdowns came in the final two games of the season, and Payton believes that it proves there is potential. "[The] last couple weeks [of the season] we saw a little more of what we were expecting, what we'd become accustomed to,'' Payton said.
"[The] number 1 job for us as coaches in evaluating players is what are the things that they do well and then let's try to put them in those positions. Highlight their strengths and minimise their weaknesses.''
Payton will also want to try and get the Broncos back into the play-offs, something they've not featured in ever since winning Super Bowl 50. Their Super Bowl win was their last play-off game, and they've trailed off since.
Not many fans are expecting Payton to produce a dramatic turnaround right away, but there is hope he can work his magic. The Broncos have given up a lot of draft picks to secure Wilson, and now Payton, so if it doesn't fit, it could be disastrous.