While the Denver Broncos are trying to solve their problems on offense through switching their playcallers from offensive coordinator Davis Webb back to coach Sean Payton, Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner took a crack at explaining what is going on.
In a film review of the Broncos' offense from their Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Warner first took aim at quarterback Bo Nix and turning down shots downfield.
"Why does he play so well late in games but struggle in the beginning of the games?" asked Warner of Nix. "What is it? Is it the play calling? Is it just him getting to a rhythm? Is it him finding his footing so he can be more aggressive? So, I was watching the San Francisco game and one of the things that can obviously jumpstart
an offense is to make big plays early. And in this game, there are a number of opportunities here in the first half to do that."
Warner has previously spoken about Nix's footwork and comfort level in the pocket as something he had wanted the third-year quarterback to improve upon, a critique which he revived in his film study.
Warner gave his final word on Nix and the offense at the end of his analysis.
"There's an impatience in Bo that I've seen throughout his career," Warner said. "And it doesn't mean he doesn't make great plays and make big plays and he's been great late in games, but he gets impatient when he gets to the top of his drop and wants to move and wants to create, wants to find that quick completion instead of letting the plays work for him. See what's there. Anticipate, read the defense, find your big plays that are out there, especially early in the game, and it could change everything for this Broncos offense."
In an interview with Rich Eisen, Warner not only offered some advice to Nix, but reminisced about a drill he used to do in high school, one which he believes could help Nix settle down more in the pocket.
"When I would drop back in the pocket (in high school), I would want to take off and run just kind of like what I'm talking about with Bo," Warner said. "I was like, 'I don't want to stand in here and get hit.' I want to go and create and move and make a play. And my high school coach designed a drill called the 'Kill Kurt' drill. The drill was set up where I could not leave the pocket. I had to drop back. I had to stand in the pocket until either a defensive guy hit me or I found a guy open on whatever concept they gave me.
"But we did that over and over and over again... You wonder if something like that has to be done with Bo, like, 'Hey, Bo, there's no moving out of the pocket in this drill.' You have got to stand in and you've got to let things develop. You got to tie your feet to things. You got to get comfortable with bodies around you and your feet set and you got to make some of these throws."
If the Broncos can unlock the late-season version of Bo Nix in Week 5 and beyond, Denver could find themselves right back in playoff contention. The key may lie in finding ways to keep Nix searching for the big play and driving the ball downfield to his receivers when the opportunity arises.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Kurt Warner shares advice to Bo Nix after reviewing QB’s film
