Sean Payton with the Broncos and DeMeco Ryans down in Houston? They just spent the last few days unraveling decisions Sean McVay has straight-up refused to make, and it is a wild scene. The lesson for everyone else in the league is simple: don’t create a problem you then have to fix in October, especially when you’re the one getting paid big bucks for your expertise.
Payton’s Broncos: From Hot Shot Coordinator To Quarterback Chaos
Remember when Sean Payton gave the Broncos’ offensive keys to Davis Webb? It was supposed to be a smart move, right? Keep the rising star on the coaching staff. But fast forward to now, and Denver is sitting at 2-2. They were in the AFC Championship last season, and this year, quarterback Bo Nix has only five touchdowns to three interceptions. Not exactly setting the world on fire. Payton himself had to come out on Thursday and flat-out say, “We’ll make a change offensively; I’ll call the plays.” He’s framing it as instinct and experience, which honestly, makes you wonder what he was thinking before. Webb, who was legit on the cusp of head coaching last offseason, is now totally directionless. That’s a brutal fall, man.
Houston’s Defense Went From Elite To… What Exactly?
Over in Houston, DeMeco Ryans just flipped the script in an even wilder way. He snatched defensive playcalling back from Matt Burke after a winless 0-4 start. Get this: the Texans had one of the NFL’s best defenses for the last two years. Now? They look absolutely nothing like themselves. We’re talking communication lapses, production that’s way worse than their talent level. And here’s the kicker: Burke actually took playcalling from Ryans last year after a similar 0-3 start. This year, it’s Ryans taking it back. Does it really matter which guy is pulling the strings? You can’t change schemes overnight. The plays might vary, but the menu is largely the same. And let’s be real, head coaches are always giving significant input, even when they’re not the primary playcaller. This whole saga just feels like drama getting way more coverage than it deserves.
The McVay Playbook: Why You Never Let Go Of What Makes You Great
NFL franchises aren’t exactly coaching factories, no matter how much we want to believe it. Sure, it’d be awesome for the Broncos or Texans if their hotshot coordinators eventually got head coaching gigs elsewhere. That helps recruit new talent. But let’s be honest, bad teams rarely see their coaches leave for promotions anyway. The Rams aren’t forking over around $15 million annually to Sean McVay so he can develop other teams’ future head coaches. They’re paying him that monstrous check because he gives his offense a serious edge with his scheme and by calling the right plays at the right time. Handing over those duties to someone like Nate Scheelhaase, just because he’s on the head coaching radar, would be absolutely insane. Even if it nets the team two future third-round picks. Payton and Ryans are basically admitting, super publicly, that being a head coach doesn’t mean you have to surrender the thing you’re best at. Payton has been a playcaller for two decades, and Ryans built his whole reputation as a defensive mastermind. They both tried to outsource that job, watched their teams suffer, and now they’ve reclaimed it. It just makes you wonder why they ever gave it up in the first place, right? Sometimes you just gotta stick to your strengths.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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