It would be easy to forget Greg Dulcich’s only target in the Broncos’ 10-9 win over the Jets last Sunday.
It came in the first quarter when the third-year Denver tight end pushed off a defensive lineman before running to the flat where quarterback Bo Nix’s pass slipped out of his hands for an incompletion.
Dulcich finished with a total of 24 offensive snaps in the Meadowlands, and not one yard gained to speak of.
That’s not exactly what head coach Sean Payton had in mind when he spoke of how the UCLA product could someday be the Broncos’ “Joker” — a versatile, and dynamic, weapon in the Denver offense.
A hamstring injury prevented Dulcich from living up to Payton’s vision in 2023. This season, he is healthy but the lack of pass-catching production from Denver’s tight ends remains. If Payton wants to “paint the perfect picture” for Nix and the offense, getting Dulcich more involved is one of many factors in achieving that goal.
“We’re working through different personnel groupings,” Payton said. “We have to keep finding creative ways where (Dulcich gets the ball) — not even just on third down, but first and second down. Obviously, last week was a little bit more challenging, but it’s still a work in progress.”
Through four weeks, Dulcich has five catches for 28 yards on 12 targets. He has been nonexistent during Denver’s two-game win streak, logging one target on a combined 41 offensive snaps.
Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said he can’t pinpoint anything specific that has led to Dulcich’s low numbers. Similar to the Broncos trying to find more consistency out of the run game, the team has to keep working at getting their most explosive weapons involved.
One thing that’s certain: Dulcich’s slow start hasn’t been for a lack of trying. Lombardi said the team goes into the week with a plan for certain players to be the first read. Sometimes the Broncos have different coverage or the opposing pass rush changes their plans.
The last time Dulcich received significant looks was in Week 2’s loss against Pittsburgh when he had three catches for 16 yards on eight targets. Dulcich’s underwhelming numbers were a mix of dropped passes and solid coverage from the Steelers secondary.
Dulcich was meant to improve the tight ends’ production from last year (39 receptions for 362 yards and four touchdowns). Yet the group has combined for eight catches for 47 yards through four games — a clear indication that the plan has yet to materialize.
“For whatever reason, it (hasn’t) worked out,” Lombardi said. “(We have to keep) looking at the big picture and don’t get caught up in the short term.”
As a whole, Denver has struggled to find rhythm in its passing game, ranking 27th in the league in yards per game (159.8).
The Broncos have been fortunate that the defense has been one of the best in the league. However, as the season progresses, they will have to rely on more than the defense to pull off victories.
“I know this Shangri-La doesn’t exist, but the execution and the details still have to get better with younger players,” Payton said. “It’s that mix of running game, passing game and third down. It gets back to this month — ascending or going the other way. We have to be stepping on the gas right now.”
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