If there’s one thing that’s both obvious and transparent in coach Sean Payton’s decision to turn over the Denver Broncos’ play-calling chores to new offensive coordinator Davis Webb, it’s that he’s giving up something he loves. Payton has made his reputation as a future Hall of Fame coach by pulling surprises off his call sheet, and it’s clear he’s going to miss doing that.
But Payton also knew something had to change. His offenses have ranked inside the top ten in yards 13 times, and 11 times in points, according to Denver Post columnist Troy Renck, and while Payton pointed out that the Broncos finished tenth in total offense, he also knew the offense struggled with inconsistency and the play-calling process was often too slow.
“It is also about being quicker and look, it’s only if there is someone who is good enough to do that,” Payton said.
Players around the NFL found it unfathomable that Payton would be willing to do this, and one was long-time backup quarterback Chase Daniel, who played with Payton as his coach with the New Orleans Saints.
“It should tell you everything you need to know about Davis Webb,” Daniels said, and Payton also commented on this, saying Webb has what he calls a “gift” for play-calling.
But that gift won’t be graded on a curve when Webb inevitably stumbles here and there. In fact, Payton says it won’t be graded at at all—-maybe.
“I am going to do everything I can to support him, so we are not going to sit and grade his play-calling each week,” Payton said. “At least hopefully we are not.”
Payton has his own memories of this to fall back on if he needs to remind himself of how tricky this process can be. He’s been there before in New Orleans, when coach Jim Fassel elevated him from QB coach to offensive coordinator.
“I can recall how it was. I am sure there are going to be times I will say this is what I want to run,” Payton admitted. “But there is trust there with his ability and trust in our relationship.
The Denver coach has given a lot of freedom to coordinators Vance Joseph and Darren Rizzi, but everyone knows defense and special teams are different. Offense has been his baby, and everyone knows it, but at least Payton is aware of one of his strongest tendencies.
“I probably micromanage all those areas. It’s not any one person’s defense or special teams. It’s the Broncos,” Payton said. “I give them some freedom, and yet, you guys just haven’t been in enough meetings.”
Those meetings almost certainly produce a wide array of opinions, and in the end Payton’s may end up being the one that matters, no matter how much he jokes about how this change is going to play out.
“Listen, I am going to have opinions on plays,” Payton said. “Mine will be the bad ones and his will be all the good ones.”